or daūger visited one another making great cheere as if out of the springing fountaine of Numaes wisedom many pretie brookes streames of good honest life had rōne ouer all ITALIE had watered it that the mildnes of his wisdom had frō hand to hand bene disparsed through the whole world Insomuch as the ouer excessiue speaches the Poets accustomably doe vse were not sufficiēt enough to expresse the peaceable raigne of that time There spiders vveaue their cobvvebbes daye and night in harnesses vvhich vvont to serue for vvarre there cancred rust doth fret the steele full bright of trenchant blades vvell vvhet in many a Iarre There mighty speares for lacke of vse are eaten vvith rotten vvormes and in that countrie there the braying trompe dothe neuer seeme to threaten their quiet eares vvith blasts of bloudy feare There in that lande no drovvsie sleepe is broken vvith hotte alarmes vvhich terrours doe betoken For during all king Numaes raigne it was neuer heard that euer there were any warres ciuil dissention or innouation of gouernment attempted against him nor yet any secret comitie or malice borne him neither any cōspiracie once thought on to reigne in his place And whether it was for feare of displeasing the godds which visibly seemed to take him into their protectiō or for the reuerent regarde they had vnto his vertue or for his prosperous good successe all the time he raigned I cannot tell howbeit he sought to keepe men still pure honest from all wickednes layed most open before the eyes of the whole world a very exāple of that which Plato long time after did affirme saye concerning true gouernmēt which was That the only meane of true quietnes remedy from all euill which euer troubleth men was when by some diuine ordinaunce from aboue there meteth in one person the right maiestie of a King the minde of a wise philosopher to make vertue gouernesse ruler ouervice For in deede happie is such a wise man more happy are they which maye heare the graue counsaill good lessons of such a mouthe And there me thincks needeth no force no cōpulsion no threates nor extremitie to bridle the people For men seeing the true image of vertue in their visible prince in the example of his life doe willingly growe to be wise of them selues doe fall into loue liking and friendshippe together and doe vse all temperaunce iust dealing and good order one toward another leading their life without offence and with the commendation of other which is the chiefe pointe of felicitie and the most happie good that can light vnto men And he by nature is best worthy to be a King who through his wisdome and vertue can graffe in mens manners such a good disposition and this Numa aboue all other seemed best to knowe and vnderstand Furthermore touching his wiues and children there are great contrarieties amōg the historiographers For some of them saye he neuer maried other wife then Tatia and that he neuer had any children but one only daughter and she was called Pompilia Other write to the contrarie that he had foure sonnes Pompo Pinus Calpus and Mamercus of euery one of the which by succession from the father to the sonne haue descended the noblest races and most auncient houses of the ROMAINES As the house of the Pomponians of Pompo the house of the Pinarians of Pinus the house of the Calphurnians of Calpus the house of the Mamerciās of Mamercus All which families by reason of their first progenitor haue kept the surname of Reges Kings There are three other writers which doe reproue the two first saying that they dyd write to gratifie the families making them falsely to descend of the noble race of king Numa Moreouer it is sayed he had his daughter Pompilia not by Tatia but by his other wife called Lucretia whom he maried after he was made king Howbeit they all agree that his daughter Pompilia was maried vnto one Martius the sonne of the same Martius which persuaded him to accept the kingdome of ROME For he went with him to ROME to remaine there where they dyd him the honour to receyue him into the number of the Senatours After the death of Numa Martius the father stoode against Tullus Hostilius for the succession of the Realme and being ouercome he killed him selfe for sorowe But his sonne Martius who maried Pompilia continued still at ROME where he begotte Ancus Martius who was king of ROME after Tullus Hostilius and was but fiue yere olde when Numa dyed Whose death was not so daine For he dyed consuming by litle and litle aswell through age as also through a lingring disease that waited on him to his ende as Piso hath written and Numa at his death was litle more then foure score yere old But the pompe and honour done vnto him at his funeralles made his life yet more happie and glorious For all the people his neighbours friendes kinsemen and allies of the ROMAINES came thither bringing crownes with them and other publicke contributions to honour his obsequies The noble men selues of the cittie which were called Patricians caried on their shoulders the very bedd on which the course laye to be conueyed to his graue The Priestes attended also on his bodie and so dyd all the rest of the people women and children in like case which followed him to his tumbe all bewaling and lamenting his death with teares sighes and mournings Not as a King dead for very age but as they had mourned for the death of their dearest kinseman and nearest friende that had dyed before he was olde They burnt not his bodie bicause as some saye he commaunded the contrarie by his will and testament but they made two coffines of stone which they buried at the foote of the hill called Ianiculum In the one they layed his bodie in the other the holy bookes which he had written him selfe much like vnto those which they that made the lawes among the GRECIANS dyd write in tables But bicause in his life time he had taught the priestes the substaunce of the whole conteined in the same he willed the holy tables which he had written should be buried with his bodie For he thought it not reasonable that so holy matters should be kept by dead letters and writings but by mens manners exercises And he followed herein they saye the Pythagorians who would not put their worckes in writing but dyd printe the knowledge of them in their memories whom they knew to be worthy men and that without any writing at all And if they had taught any manner of persone the hidden rules and secretes of Geometrie which had not bene worthy of them then they sayed the goddes by manifest tokens would threaten to reuenge such sacriledge and impietie with some great destruction and miserie Therefore seeing so many things agreable and altogether like betweene Numa
the vertues and qualities they haue had and what singularitie eche of them possessed and to choose and culle out the chiefest things of note in them and their best speaches and doings most worthie of memorie Then I crie out O godds can there be more passing pleasure in the vvorlde Or is there any thing of more force to teach man ciuill māners a ruled life or to reforme the vice in man Democritus the philosopher writeth that we should praye we might euer see happy images and sightes in the ayer and that the good which is meete and proper to our nature maye rather come to vs then that is euill and vnfortunate presupposing a false opinion and doctrine in philosophie which allureth men to infinite superstitions That there are good and bad images flying in the ayer which geue a good or ill impression vnto men and incline men to vice or to vertue But as for me by continuall reading of auncient histories and gathering these liues together which now I leaue before you and by keeping allwayes in minde the actes of the most noble vertuous and best geuen men of former age and worthie memorie I doe teache and prepare my selfe to shake of banishe from me all lewde and dishonest condition if by chaunce the companie and conuersation of them whose companie I keepe and must of necessitie haunte doe acquainte me with some vnhappie or vngratious touche This is easie vnto me that doe dispose my quiet minde not troubled with any passion vnto the deepe consideration of so many noble examples As I doe present vnto you now in this volume the liues of Timoleon the CORINTHIAN and of Paulus AEmilius the ROMAINE who had not only a good an vpright minde with them but were also fortunate and happie in all the matters they both did take in hand So as you shall hardly iudge when you haue red ouer their liues whether wisedome or good fortune brought them to atchieue to suche honorable actes and exploytes as they dyd Many the most parte of historiographers doe write that the house and familie of the AEmilians in ROME was allwayes of the most auncient of the nobilitie which they call Patricians Some writers affirme also that the first of the house that gaue name to all the posteritie after was Marcus the sonne of Pythagoras the wise whom king Numa for the sweetnes and pleasaunt grace of his tongue surnamed Marcus AEmilius and those specially affirme it that saye king Numa was Pythagoras scholler Howsoeuer it was the most parte of this familie that obteined honour and estimation for their vertue were euer fortunate also in all their doings sauing Lucius Paulus only who dyed in the battell of CANNES But his misfortune doth beare manifest testimonie of his wisedome and valliancy together For he was forced to fight against his will when he sawe he could not bridle the rashnes of his fellowe Consul that would nedes ioyne battell and to doe as he dyd sauing that he fled not as the other who being first procurer of the battell was the first that ranne awaye where he to the contrarie to his power dyd what he could to let him and dyd sticke by it fought it valliantly vnto the last gaspe This AEmylius left a daughter behind him called AEmylia which was maried vnto Stipio the great and a sonne Paulus AEmylius being the same man whose life we presently treate of His youth fortunately fell out in a florishing time of glorie and honour through the sundrie vertues of many great and noble persones liuing in those dayes emong whom he made his name famous also and it was not by that ordinarie arte and course which the best esteemed young men of that age dyd take and followe For he dyd not vse to pleade priuate mens causes in lawe neither would creepe into mens fauour by fawning vpon any of them though he sawe it a common practise policie of men to seeke the peoples fauour and good willes by suche meanes Moreouer he refused not that common course which other tooke for that it was contrarie to his nature or that he could not frame with either of both if he had bene so disposed but he rather sought to winne reputation by his honestie his valliantnes and vpright dealing as choosing that the better waye then either of thother two in so much as in maruelous shorte time he passed all those that were of his age The first office of honour he sued for was the office of AEdilis in which sute he was preferred before twelue other that sued for the selfe same office who were men of no small qualitie for they all came afterwardes to be Consuls After this he was chosen to be one of the number of the priestes whom the ROMAINES call Augures who haue the charge of all the diuinations and soothe sayings in telling of things to come by flying of byrdes signes in the ayer He was so carefull and tooke suche paynes to vnderstand how the ROMAINES dyd vse the same with suche diligence sought the obseruation of the auncient religion of ROMAINES in all holie matters that where that priesthood was before esteemed but a title of honour desired for the name only he brought it to passe that it was the most honorable science best reputed of in ROME Wherein he confirmed the philosophers opinion that religion is the knowledge how to serue God. For when he dyd any thing belonging to his office of priesthood he dyd it with great experience iudgment and diligence leauing all other thoughtes without omitting any auncient ceremonie or adding to any newe contending oftentimes with his companions in things which seemed light and of small moment declaring vnto them that though we doe presume the goddes are easie to be pacified and that they readilie pardone all faultes scapes committed by negligence yet if it were no more but for respect of common wealths sake they should not slightly not carelesly dissemble or passe ouer faultes committed in those matters For no man sayeth he at the first that committeth any faulte doth alone trouble the state of the common wealth but withall we must thincke he leaueth the groundes of ciuill gouernment that is not as carefull to keepe the institutions of small matters as also of the great So was he also a seuere captaine and strict obseruer of all marshall discipline not seeking to winne the souldiers loue by flatterie when he was generall in the field as many dyd in that time neither corrupting them for a second charge by shewing him selfe gentle and curteous in the first vnto those that serued vnder him but him selfe dyd orderly shewe them the very rules and preceptes of the discipline of warres euen as a priest that should expresse the names and ceremonies of some holy sacrifice wherein were daunger to omit any parte or parcell Howbeit being terrible to execute the lawe of armes apon rebellious
kinge Philip Philips verses against Alcaeus Priuy grudge betwixt Quintius and the AEtoliaÌ„s T. Quintius graunted Philip peace Hannibal was with kinge Antiochus Chalcide Corinthe Demetriade called by Philip of Macedon the Chaines of Greece Isthmia Crowes flying fell downe by the sounde of mens voices Quintinâ—care to stablish the liberty of the Greecians The feast Nemea kept at Argos Lycurgus the orator rescued Zenocrates the Philosopher saued him from prison Nero did set Greece at liberty VVhy Quintius made peace with Nabis the tyran of Lacedaemon The honor of Philopoemen Twelue hundred Romaines solde for slaues The Achaians redeemed the Romaines that were solde for slaues in Greece The ceremony of slaues maâ—onised T. Quintius triumphe Manius Acilius Consud T. Quintius Lieutenaunt sene into Greece Antiochus ouerthrowen in Thermopyles by Manius the Consull Quintius intreateth for the AEtoliaÌ„s King Antiochus maried Cleoptolemus daughter in the city of Chalcide Honors done vnto T. Quintius for sauing the Chilcidians and the Greecians Quintius curtesie and good nature Emulation betwixt T. Quintius and Philopoemen T. Quintius sayinges Antiochus Ambassadors doe boast of their kinges great army Titus Quintius witty ansâ—ere to the Ambassadors braggeâ— T. Quintius chosen Censor with Marcellus P. Scipio and M. P. Cato great enemies Secret grudge betwixt Titus and Cato A cruell dede of Lucius Quintius Cato beinge Censor did put Lucius Quintius Flaminius of the Senate T. Quintius vnworthy acts against Caro. Lucius Quintius restored to his place by the people T. Quintius ambition T. Quintius cause of Hanniballs death Titus sent Ambassador vnto Prusias king of Bithynia Hannibal deceiued by an oracle concerning his death Hanniball kept at Libyssa in Bithynia Hanniballs death Midas and Themistocles poysoned them selues Hanniballs last wordes Looke in Pyrrus life for the story as large Scipio Africans clemency commended Talke betwixt Scipio African Hannibal Hannibals iudgement of Captaines Aristonicus Mithridates Marius To be meane or great in this life is nothing but death bringeth the estimacion T. Quintius benefits vnto Greece Philopoemenes malice Titus Quintius wiser theÌ„ Philopoemen Quintius coÌ„maunded good souldiers Philopoemen made good souldiers A Generall must nes be at his prayers wheÌ„ he should occupy his sword Quintius clemency to the Greecians Philopoemenes liue to the Romaines Pyrrus kinred and beginning of the kingdome of Epirus Pyrrus redd How Pyrrus being an infant was saued Megares a city of Macedon Glaucias king of Illyria Pyrrus countenaunce and teeth Pyrrus healed them that were sicke of the splene The fier could not burnt Pyrrus great set Pyrrus realme taken froÌ„ him in his absence Pyrrus valliantnes at the battell of Hipsus Pyrrus behauior Pyrrus maried to Antigona the daughter of Philip king of Macedon and of his wife a Berenice Pyrrus restored to his kingdome againe Pyrrus deuideth the realme of Epirus with Neopulemus Pyrrus slue Neoptolemus Berenicida a city of Epirus in the I le of Preseque Pyrrus first iorney into Macedon King Lysimachus craft to deceiue Pyrrus Theodotus iudgement a Soothsayer Pyrrus quarrell and warre with Demetrius Pantauchus Demetrius Lieutenant in AErolis Pyrrus fight with Pantauchus Pyrrus victory of Pantauchus Pyrrus likened to Alexander the great Pyrrus skil in warlike discipline Hanniballs iudgement of Captaines Pyrrus wise answer Pyrrus goodnes and curtesie Certaine witty sayinges of Pyrrus Pyrrus wiues and children Pyrrus called an Eagle Pyrrus inuadeth Macedon Demetrius army both by land and sea Demetrius maried Lanassa Pyrrus wife Pyrrus dreame Pyrrus secoÌ„de iorney into Macedon Pyrrus praises Her Pyrrus ware his head peece Pyrrus proclaimed kinge of Macedon Macedon deuided betwene Pyrrus and Lysimachus Couetousnes hath no ende Peace and warre vsed lyke money Pyrrus ayded the Graecians against Demetrius Lysimachus maketh warre with Pyrrus The Tarentines hauinge a warre wish the Romaines determine to make king Pyrrus their Generall Meton counterfeating the foole wisely perswaded the Tarentines not to send for Pyrrus Tarentum a city in Italie Metons counsell to the Tarentines The Tarentines sende Ambassadors to Pyrrus Cineas the orator a Thessalian borne and attending in Pyrrus courte Cineas great talke with Pyrrus to moderate his ambitious minde Pyrrus iudgemeÌ„t of orators corruption A daungerous thing to withstande the Princes mind Pyrrus iorney into Italy Pyrrus daunger by tempest on the sea Pyrrus cast on shoare apon the contry of the Messapians Pyrrus being receiued of the TereÌ„tines reformed their vaine voluptoâ—s life Marshall discipline Leuinus Consul sent against Pyrrus Pyrrus camped in the plaine betwene Pandosia and Heraclea Siris fl Pyrrus Battel Pyrrus first conflict with the Romaines Pyrrus wisedom foresight in battell Pyrrus changed his armor cloke Megacles slaine taketh for Pyrrus Pyrrus victory of Leuinus the Consull Cineas sent Ambassador to Rome The noble minde of the Romaines Appius Claudius disswated the Romaines from making peace with Pyrrus Appius Claudius oration to the Senate The maiestie of the Senate at Rome Caius Fabricius Ambassador to Pyrrus Caius Fabricius a noble Captaine but very poore Fabricius refused king Pyrrus giftes The opinion of the EpicuriaÌ„s touchinge felicity King Pyrrus Phisitian wryeth to Fabricius offereth to poyson his master Fabricius letter to Pyrrus aduertising him of his Phisitians treason Pyrrus sendeth the Romaines their prisoners without raunsome Pyrrus second battel with the Romaines by the caty of Asculum Pyrrus victory of the Romaines The wyters agree not about Pyrrus battell Ambassadors out of Sicilia to pray aide of Pyrrus Pyrrus iorney into Sicilia Pyrrus wanne the city of Erix in Sicilia Homer of valliantnes The Mamertines why so called Pyrrus cruelty in Sicilia The Samnites and Tarentines sone ser Pyrrus to returne into Italie Pyrrus returne into Italy out of Sicile Pyrrus hurt on his head with a sworde Pyrrus with a blow of his sword claue his enemies head in the middest and layed it on his shoulders Manius Curius Consull Pyrrus thirde battell with the Romaines Pyrrus ouerthrowen by Manius Curius in battell Pyrrus compared to a dyce player Pyrrus returne into Epirus out of Halie Pyrrus victory of Antigonus king of Macedon Antigonus flieth from kinge Pyrrus The couetousnesse of the Gaules Areus made king of Sparta and Cleonymus pus downe The cause of Pyrrus inuading Peloponnesus Pyrrus stratageame to the Spartans Mandricidas stowe aunswer to king Pyrrus Pyrrus besiegeth Lacedaemon The corage of the women of Sparta VVomen wrought in the trench VVomen encoraged their men to fight Pyrrus battel Acrotatus valliantnes Pyrrus dreame Pyrrus in daunger of his life at the siege of Sparta King Areus arriued in Sparta with new aide Sedition in the city of Argos Pyrrus repulsed from Sparta goeth to Argos Ptolomie kinge Pyrrus sonne slaine by Oraesus Cretan Pyrrus slue Eualcus Antigonus aunswere to Pyrrus chalenge Tokens of Pyrrus death Pyrrus fight in the city of Argos Aspides the Castell in Argos A bull and wolfe in copper set up in the â—ity of Argos fighting together Danaus wan the â—â—ty of Argos from king Gelanor Apollo Lycias Gelanor king
as Pericles sayed they would come to passe for with ambition to imbrace to muche they ouerthrewe their estate But the ROMAINES contrariwise hauing sent Scipio into AFRICKE to make warres with the CARTHAGINIANS wanne all that they tooke in hande where their generall dyd not ouercome the enemie by fortune but by valliantnes So that the wisedome of the one is witnessed by the ruine of his countrie and the errour of the other testified by the happy euent of that he would haue let Now the faulte is a like in a generall to fall into daunger for lacke of forecaste as for cowardlines to let slippe a fit oportunitie offred to doe any notable pece of seruice For like defaulte and lacke of experience maketh the one to hardie and the other to fearefull And thus muche touching the warres Now for ciuill gouernment it was a fowle blotte to Pericles to be the author of warres For it is thought that he alone was the cause of the same for that he would not haue them yeld to the LACEDAEMONIANS in any respect And yet me thinkes Fabius Maximus also would no more geue place vnto the CARTHAGINIANS but stood firme bold in all dauÌ„ger to mainteine thempire of his countrie against them But the goodnes clemency Fabius shewed vnto Minutius doth much condeÌ„ne Pericles accusations practises against Cimon and Thucydides bothe of them being noble good men taking parte with the Nobilitie whoÌ„ he expulsed out of ATHENS banished for a time So was Pericles power authoritie in the coÌ„mon weale greater by reason whereof he dyd euer foresee that no generall in all his time dyd rashely attempt any thing hurteful vnto the coÌ„mon weale except Tolmides onely who fled from him in despight of him went to fight with the BOEOTIANS where he was slaine As for all other generals they wholy put theÌ„selues into his haÌ„ds dyd obey him for the greatnes of his authoritie But Fabius although for his parte he neuer committed any faulte and that he went orderly to worke in all gouernment yet bicause he was not of power to keepe other from doing ill it seemeth in this respect he was defectiue For if Fabius had caried like authoritie in ROME as Pericles dyd in ATHENS the ROMAINES had not fallen into so great miserie as they dyd And for liberalitie the one shewed it in refusing the money offred him and the other in geuing vnto those that needed and redeeming his poore captiue contry men And yet Fabius might dispend no great reuenue for his whole receiptes came only to sixe talents But for Pericles it is hard to saye howe riche he was who had comming in to him great presents by his authoritie aswel of the subiects as of the friends and allies of the ATHENIANS as also of Kings and straunge Princes yet he neuer tooke bribe for all that of any persone liuing And to conclude as for the sumptuous building of temples the stately workes and common buildings put all the ornaments together that euer were in ROME before the times of the Caesars they are not to be compared with those wherewith Pericles dyd beawtifie adorne the cittie of ATHENS For neither in qualitie nor quantitie was there any proportion or like comparison betweene the exceeding sumptuousnes of the one and of the other The ende of Fabius Maximus life THE LIFE OF Alcibiades ALCIBIADES by his fathers side was aunciently descended of Eurysaces that was the sonne of Aiax and by his mothers side of Alemaeon for his mother Dinomacha was the daughter of Megacles His father Clinias hauing armed and set forth a gallye at his owne proper costes and charges dyd winne great honour in the battell by sea that was fought alongest the coaste of ARTEMISIVM and he was slaine afterwardes in another battell fought at CORONEA against the BOEOTIANS His sonne Alcibiades tutours were Pericles and Ariphroa Xanthippus sonnes who were also his neere kinsemen They saye and truely that Socrates good will and friendshippe dyd greatly further Alcibiades honour For it appeareth not neither was it euer written what were the names of the mothers of Nicias of Demosthenes of Lamachus of Phormion of Thrasibulus of Theramenes all which were notable famous men in their time And to the contrarie we finde the nource of Alcibiades that she was a LACEDAEMCNIAN borne and was called Amicla and that his schoolemaster was called Zopyrus of the which Antisthenes mentioneth the one and Plato the other Now for Alcibiades beawtie it made no matter if we speake not of it yet I will a litle touche it by the waye for he was wonderfull fayer being a child a boye and a man and that at all times which made him maruelous amiable and beloued of euery man For where Euripides sayeth that of all the fayer times of the yere the Autumne or latter season is the fayrest that commonly falleth not out true And yet it proued true in Alcibiades though in fewe other for he was passing fayer euen to his latter time of good temperature of bodie They write of him also that his tongue was somewhat fatte and it dyd not become him ill but gaue him a certen naturall pleasaunt grace in his talke which Aristophanes mentioneth mocking one Theorus that dyd counterfeat a lisping grace with his tongue This Alcibiades vvith his fat lisping tongue into mine eares this trusty tale and songe full often songe Looke upon Theolus ê™ he lo there he bovves beholde his comely crovvebright face vvith fat and flatling blovves The sonne of Clinias vvould lispe it thus somevvhiles and sure he lisped neuer a lye but rightly hyt his vviles And Archippus another poet also mocking the sonne of Alcibiades sayeth thus Bicause he vvould be like his father euerie vvaye in his long trayling govvne he vvould goe ietting daye by daye And counterfeate his speache his countenaunce and face as though dame nature had him geuen therein a perfect grace To lispe and looke aside and holde his head avvrye even as his father lookt and lispt so vvould he prate and prye For his manners they altered and chaunged very oft with time which is not to be wondred at seing his maruelous great prosperitie as also aduersitie that followed him afterwards But of all the great desiers he had and that by nature he was most inclined to was ambition seeking to haue the vpper hand in all things and to be taken for the best persone as appeareth by certaine of his dedes and notable sayings in his youthe extant in writing One daye wrestling with a companion of his that handled him hardly and thereby was likely to haue geuen him the fall he got his fellowes arme in his mouth and bit so harde as he would haue eaten it of The other feeling him bite so harde let goe his holde straight and sayed vnto him what Alcibiades bitest thou like a woman No mary doe I not ê™ he but like
it were with a certaine compassion considering what great power secret and diuine causes haue ouer mens weakenes and frailtie and those thinges that daily passeth ouer our heades For the world then did neuer bring forth any worke of nature or of mans hand so wonderful as was this of fortune Who made the world see a man that before was in maner Lorde and King of all SICILE sit then commonly in the cittie of CORINTHE talking with a vitailer or sitting a whole day in a perfumers shoppe or commonly drinking in some celler or tauerne or to brawle and scolde in the middest of the streetes with common whores in face of the world or els to teach common minstrels in euery lane alley and to dispute with them with the best reason he had about the harmony musike of the songs they sang in the THEATERS Now some say he did this bicause he knew not els how he should driue the time away for that in dede he was of a base mynde and an effeminate person giuen ouer to all dishonest lusts and desires Other are of opiniō he did it to be the lesse regarded for feare lest the CORINTHIANS should haue him in gealouzy and suspicion Imagining that he did take the chaunge and state of his lyfe in grieuous part and that he should yet looke backe hoping for a tyme to recouer his state againe and that for this cause he did it and of purpose fained many thinges against his nature seeming to be a starke nideotte to see him do those thinges he did Some notwithstanding haue gathered together certaine of his answers which doe testifie that he did not all these thinges of a base brutish mynde but to fitte himselfe onely to his present misery and misfortune For when he came to LEVCADES an auncient cittie built by the CORINTHIANS as was also the citty of SYRACVSA he told the inhabitants of the same that he was like to yong boyes that had done a fault For as they flye from their fathers being ashamed to come in their sight are gladder to be with their brethrē euē so is it with me said he for it would please me better to dwell here with you then to go to CORINTHE our head citty Another tyme being at CORINTHE a stranger was very busie with him knowing how familiar Dionysius was with learned men and Philosophers while he raigned in SYRACVSA and asked him in the ende in derision what benefite he got by Platoes wisedome and knowledge he answered him againe how thinkest thou hath it done me no good whē thou seest me beare so paciently this change of fortune Aristoxenus a musitian and other asking him what offence Plato had done vnto him he answered That tyrans state is euer vnfortunate and subiect to many euills but yet no euill in their state was comparable to this That none of all those they take to be their most familiars dare once tell them truely any thing and that through their fault he left Platoes company Another tyme there commeth a pleasaunt fellow to him and thinking to mocke him fiuely as he entred into his chamber he shooke his gowne as the manner is when they come to tyrans to shewe that they haue no weapons vnder their gownes But Dionysius encountred him as pleasantly saying to him do that whē thou goest hēce to se if thou hast stollē nothing And again Philip King of MACEDON at his table one day discēding into talke of songs verse and tragedies which Dionysius his father had made making as though he wondred at thē how possibly he could haue leisure to do them he answered him very trimly and to good purpose He did them euen at such tymes quod he as you and I and all other great Lordes whom they recken happy are disposed to be drunke play the fooles Now for Plato he neuer saw Dionysius at CORINTHE But Diogenes Sinopian the first tyme that euer he met with Dionysius sayd vnto him O how vnworthy art thou of this state Dionysius stayed sodainely and replied Truly I thanke thee Diogenes that thou hast compassion of my misery Why sayd Diogenes againe Doest thou thinke I pitty thee Nay it spiteth me rather to see such a slaue as thou worthy to dye in the wicked state of a tyrant like thy father to lyue in such securitie and idle lyfe as thou leadest amongst vs When I came to compare these wordes of Diogenes with Philistus wordes the Historiographer bewailing the harde fortune of the daughters of the LEPTINES saying that they were brought from the toppe of all worldly felicity honor and goodes whereof tyrannicall state aboundeth vnto a base priuate and humble life me thinkes they are the proper lamentations of a woman that soroweth for the losse of her boxes of painting cullers or for her purple gownes or for other suche prety fine trimmes of golde as women vse to weare So me thinkes these things I haue intermingled concerning Dionysius are not impartinent to the description of our liues neither are they troublesom not vnprofitable to the hearers oneles they haue other hasty busines to let or trouble them But now if the tyraunt Dionysius wretched state seeme straunge Timoleons prosperitie then was no lesse wonderfull For within fiftie dayes after he had set foote in SICILE he had the castel of SYRACVSA in his possession and sent Dionysius as an exile to CORINTHE This did set the CORINTHIANS in suche a iollitie that they sent him a supply of two thousand footemen and two hundred horsemen which were appointed to land in ITALIE in the countrie of the THVRIANS And perceyuing that they could not possiblie goe from thence into SICILE bicause the CARTHAGINIANS kept the seas with a great nauie of shippes and that thereby they were compelled to staye for better oportunitie in the meane time they bestowed their leysure in doing a notable good acte For the THVRIANS being in warres at that time with the BRVTIANS they dyd put their cittie into their hands which they kept very faithfully and friendly as it had bene their owne natiue countrie Icetes all this while dyd besiege the castel of SYRACVSA preuenting all he could possible that there should come no corne by sea vnto the CORINTHIANS that kept within the castell and he had hiered two straunge souldiers which he sent vnto the cittie of ADRANVS to kill Timoleon by treason who kept no garde about his persone and continued amongest the ADRANITANS mistrusting nothing in the world for the trust and confidence he had in the safegard of the god of the ADRANITANS These souldiers being sent to do this murther were by chaunce enformed that Timoleon should one day do sacrifice vnto this god So apon this they came into the temple hauing daggers vnder their gownes by litle and litle thrust in through the prease that they got at the length hard to the aulter But at the present time as one encoraged another
continually acquainted them with playing of the flute beinge highly estemed of them in those dayes They brought in the vse also to make loue in the middest of all their youthefull sportes exercises of their bodies to frame the young mens manners and to bring them to a ciuil lyfe And therfore they had reasoÌ„ that gaue the goddesse HARMONIA to the THEBANS for defender and patronesse of their cittie who was begotten as they say betwene Mars and Venus For that geueth vs to vnderstande that where force and warlike corage is ioyned with grace to winne and perswade all thinges by this vnion and accorde are brought to a goodly proffitable and most perfect gouernment Now to returne againe to the matter of this holy bande of the THEBANS Gorgidas deuiding it in the former ranckes and placing it all alongest the fronte of the battell of the footemen it did not appeare what they were able to doo of them selues for that he brought them not all into one body so as thereby they might see what seruice the whole companie coulde doo being togeather considering that it was deuided and mingled amongest manie other that were a great deale of lesse value then them selues But Pelopidas that had made good proofe of their valliauntnes before when they sought about him of them selues without others by them at TEGYRA woulde neuer after deuide nor seperat them one froÌ„ the other but keeping them together as one entier body that had al his members he would alwaies beginne with them to geue a charge in his most daungerous battels For as we see in running of coches at games that horses being tyed all together in a fronte doo runne faster and stronger then they doo when they are lose and put to it alone and not for that they being many togeather doo breake through the ayer better but for that the contention and enuy betweene them to outronne one another doth in dede set their hartes and stomakes a fyre Euen so he thought that valliaunt men geuing one another a desire and enuie to doo well shoulde haue the more corage and woulde be of greater force when they fought one in another sight But the LACEDAEMONIANS afterwardes being at peace and league with all the other GREECIANS proclaymed open warres against the THEBANS onely and kyng Cleombrotus went to inuade them with an army of tenne thowsande footemen and a thowsande horsemen Wherupon the THEBANS were not only in the like daunger they stoode in before to lose their libertie but the LACEDAEMONIANS did openly threaten they would vtterly destroy them for euer so that all the contrie of BOEOTIA stoode in greater feare then euer they did before And one day as Pelopidas went out of his house to goe to the warres his wife bringing him out of the doores to take her leaue of him weeping she praied him hartely to looke well to him selfe But he aunswered her againe my good wife it is for priuate souldiers to be carefull of them selues but not for captaines for they must haue an eye to saue others liues And when he came to the campe he founde the captaines and the Lieuetenantes of the armie in sundrie opinions and he was the first that agreed with Epaminondas opinion who thought it best they shoulde gaue battell to the enemies Pelopidas at that time was neither gouernor of BOEOTIA nor general of the armie but onely captaine of the holy bande notwithstanding they had great affiance in him gaue him great authoritie in couÌ„saile concerning their affaiers such as became a man that had made so good testimonie of his naturall loue affection to his contrie as he had done Now being determined in counsaile that they shoulde geue the enemie battell they all mustred together in the valley of LEVCTRES where he had a vision in his dreame that troubled him verie muche In that valley there are the tombes of the daughters of one Scedasies whiche by reason of the place they call the LEVCTRIDES for that they were buried there after they had bene defyled and rauished by certaine guestes of the SPARTANS that laye in their house trauayling that way This act being so horrible and wicked the poore father of these defiled virgines coulde neither haue iustice nor reuenge of the LACEDAEMONIANS and therefore after he had bande and cursed the LACEDAEMONIANS with most horrible and execrable raylinges and curses as might be possible he kylled him selfe vpon the graues of his daughters The LACEDAEMONIANS had many sundrie oracles prophecies signes of the goddes to warne them to take heede of the wrathe of the LEVCTRIDES howbeit euerie man vnderstoode not the signification of this prophecie but were deceiued by the equiuocation of the name For there was a litle towne in the contrie of LACONIA standing apon the sea called LEVCTRVM and in ARCADIA also by the cittie of MEGALIPOLIS there was another towne called by the same name This misfortune chaunced longe before the battell of LEVCTRâ—S but then Pelopidas dreaming in his tente thought he sawe in a vision the daughters of Scedasus weeping about their graues and cursing the LACEDAEMONIANS and that he sawe their father also commaunding him to sacrifice a red mayden to his daughters if they woulde obtaine the victorie This commaundement at the first seemed verie cruel and wicked whereuppon when he rose he went to the Prognosticators and generalles of the armie and tolde them his dreame So some of them saide this was no matter to be lightly passed ouer but to be considered of alledging manie examples in the like cases As of Menecius the sonne of Creon in olde time and of Macaria the daughter of Hercules And yet of later memorie the wise Pherecydes whome the LACEDAEMONIANS slue and whose skynne their kynges doo keepe at this daye by commaundement of an oracle And Leonidas who following a prophecie of the goddes did as it were sacrifice him selfe for the safetie of GREECE And furthermore the younge boyes which Themistocles did sacrifice to Bacchus Omestes to say eating rawe fleshe before the battell of Salamina And all these sacrifices were acceptable to the goddes as the victories following did plainely shewe it In contrarie manner also king Agesilaeus comming from those very places from whence king Agamemnon came in the time of the warres of Troia and going also against the same enemies dreamed one night in the cittie of AVLIDE he sawe the goddesse Diana asking him his daughter for sacrifice But he tenderly louing her would by no meanes perfourme it and thereupon was compelled to breake of his iorney before he had execused his enterprise and departed with small honor Other to the contrarie stoode to it stowtely and saide it was not to be done For so cruell abhominable and brutish a sacrifice could not be acceptable to any of the goddes nor to any god better ot mightier then ours considering that they be no impressions in the ayre nor gyants that rule the world but the
as the lawe doth appoint Then aunswered Pompey alowde yes verily that I haue and vnder no other Captaine then my selfe The people hearing that aunswere made an open showte for ioy they were so glad to heare it and the Censors them selues came from their iudgement seate and went to accompaine Pompey home to his house to please the great multitude of people that followed him clapping of their handes with great signes of ioy At the ende of their Consulshippe when mislikinge increased further betwext Pompey and Crassus there was one Gaius Aurelius of the order of Knighthoode who till that time neuer spake in open assembly but then got vp into the pulpit for orations and tolde the people openly how Iupiter had appeared to him in the night and had commaunded him to tell both the Consulls from him that they should not leaue their charge and office before they were reconciled together For all these wordes Pompey sturred not But Crassus first tooke him by the hand and spake openly to him before the people My Lordes I thinke not my selfe dishonored to geue a place to Pompey sith you your selues haue thought him worthie to be called the great before he had any heare of his face and vnto whom you graunted the honor of two triumphes before he came to be Senator When he had sayd his minde they were made frendes together and so surrendred vp their office Now for Crassus he held on his former maner of life which he had begon Pompey as neere as he could gaue ouer to plead mens causes any more began litle and litle to withdraw him selfe from frequenting the market place and matters of iudgement comming seldome abroad when he did he had alwaies a great traine following him It was a rare thing also to see him any more come out of his house or talke with any man but he was euer accompanied with a great number he reioyced to him selfe to see that he had alwaies such a traine with him for that made him to be honored the more gaue him greater counternaunce to see him thus courted thinking it dishonor to him to be familiar with meane persons For men that rise by armes are easily despised when they come to liue like priuate citizens bicause they can not facion them selues to be cōpanions with the common people who citizen like vse a common familiaritie together but looke to be their betters in the city as they are in the field Yea and cōtrarily they that do acknowledge themselues to be their inferiors in warres will thinke fowle scorne if they be not their superiors in peace And by this meanes when they haue a noble warrier amonge them that followeth publike causes which hath triumphed for many victories and battells he hath obtained they obscure his glory and make him an vnderling vnto them whereas they doe not otherwise enuy any souldiers that are contented equally to geue them place and authority as plainly appeared shortly after by Pompey him selfe By such an occasion the power of pirates on the sea tooke beginning in the contry of CILICIA which was not reckoned of at the first bicause it was not perceiued vntill they grew bold venturous in king Mithridates warres being hyered to do him seruice And afterwards the ROMANES being troubled with ciuill warres one fighting with an other euen at ROME gates the sea not being looked to all this while it set them a gogge and made them go further then euer they did before For they did not only rob spoile all marchāt venterers by sea but rifled also all the Ilandes townes vpon the sea coast insomuch as then there ioyned with them men of great wealth and nobility of great wisedom also entred into their fellowshippe as into a commendable faculty Now they had set vp arsenalls or store houses in sundry places they had sundry hauens and beacons on the land to geue warning by fire all alongest the sea coast those well kept watcht moreouer they had great fleetes of shippes ready furnisht with excellent good galliots of ores skilfull pilots mariners their shippes of swift saile pinnases for discouery but withall so gloriously set out that men lesse hated their excesse then feared their force For the poopes of their galliots were all guilt the coueringes of the same all of purple silke delighting only to make a glorious show of their pillage All the sea coast ouer there was no sight of any thinge but musicke singing banketing and rioting prises of Captaines and men of great quality raunsomes of a thowsand prisoners all this was to the shame dishonor of the ROMANES Their ships were about a thowsand in nūber they had takē aboue foure hūdred townes They had spoiled destroyed many holy tēples that had neuer bene touched before As the temple of the twynnes in the I le of CLAROS the temple of Samothrecia the temple of Earth in the city of HERMION the tēple of AEsculapius in EPIDAVRVM the temples of Neptune in ISTHMOS TAENARIA CALABRIA the temples of Apollo in ACTIVM in the I le of LEVCADES the temples of Iuno in SAMOS in ARGOS in LVCANIA They had also many straunge sacrifices certen ceremonies of religion amongest thē selues in the mount Olympus among other the mistery of Mithres which is the sunne remaineth yet in being vnto this day being first shewed by them But besides all these insolent partes and iniuries they did the ROMANES vpon the sea they went a land and where they found any houses of pleasure vpon the sea coast they spoiled destroyed them on a time they tooke two ROMANE Praetors Sextilius Bellinus being in their purple robes with their sergeaūts officers attending on thē caried them quite away An other time also they stale away the daughter of Antonius a man that had receiued honor of triumphe as she went a walking abroad in the fields she was redemed for a great summe of money But you the greatest spight mockery they vsed to the ROMANES was this That when they had takē any of them and that he cried he was a citizen of ROME and named his name then they made as through they had bene amazed and affrayed of that they had done For they clapped their handes on their thighes and fell downe on their knees before him praying him to forgeue them The poore prisoner thought they had done it in good earnest seeing they humbled them selues as though they seemed fearefull For some of them came vnto him put shooes on his feete others clapt a gowne on the backe of him after the ROMANE facion for feare sayd they least he should be mistaken an other time When they had played all this pageant mocked him their bellies full at the last they cast out one of their shippe ladders and put him on it had him go his way he should haue no
sacrificed to the goddes returned to imbarke againe At this going out of the city he red two wrytinges that were made in his praise the one within the gate which sayd thus The humblier that thou doost thy selfe as man behaue The more thou doost deserue the name of god to haue And the other wryting was without the gate which sayd VVe vvisht for thee vve vvayt for thee VVe vvorship thee vve vvayt on thee Nowe bicause Pompey hauing taken certaine of these rouers by sea that kept together did vse them gently when they required pardon and hauing their shippes and bodies in his power did them no hurt at all their other companions being in good hope of his mercy fled from his other Captaines and Lieutenauntes and went and yeelded them selues their wiues and children into his handes Pompey pardoned all them that came in of them selues and by that meanes he came to haue knowledge of the rest and to followe them where they went whome he tooke in the ende but knowinge that they deserued no pardon they hid them selues Yet the most parte and the richest of them had conueyed their wiues children and goodes and all other their family vnmeete for warres into strong castells and litle townes apon mount Taurus and such men as were able to cary weapon imbarked and lay before a city of CORACESIVM where they taried Pompey and gaue him battell first by sea and there were ouercome and afterwardes they were besieged by lande Howebeit shortly after they prayed they might be receiued to mercie and thereuppon yeelded their bodies townes and Ilandes which they had fortified and were hard to haue taken and worse to haue approached Thus was this warre ended and all the pirates in lesse then three monthes driuen from the sea wheresoeuer they were He wanne also a great number of other shippes besides foure score and tenne gallies armed with copper spurres And touching the men whom they had taken who were in number aboue twenty thowsand persones he did not only consider whether he should put them to death but also thought it no wise parte on thother side to let them goe at liberty to gather force againe being so great a number of them as in deede they were and all poore men and souldiers Therefore weying with him selfe that man by nature is â—â—â— borne a wild or sauage beast but contrarily becommeth a brute beast chaunging nature whâ— he falleth to vice and againe is made tame and ciuill in time chaunging place and maner of life as brute beastes that being wilde by nature doe also become gentle and tractable with gentler vsage by continuance he determined to draw these pirats from the sea into thupland and to make them feele the true and innocent life by dwelling in townes and manuring the ground Some of them therefore he placed in certaine small townes of the CILICIANS that were scant inhabited were very glad of theÌ„ geuing them land to keepe them with The city of the SOLâ—ANS also that not long before had bene destroyed by Tigranes the king of ARMINIA being desirous to replenish that againe he placed many of them there He bestowed diuers also in the city of DYMA in the contry of ACHAIA which at that time lacked inhabitants and had great store of very good land Now therefore his enemies reproued him greatly and for that he did in CRETA they that were his best and greatest frendes misliked him For Metellus that gentle person a cosen to that Metellus which was his colleague and made warres in SPAYNE with him against Sertorius was sent Praetor into CRETA before Pompey was chosen Generall against the pirates This CRETA next vnto CILICIA was euen a seconde denne of pirates Metellus finding there a great number of these theeues tooke many of them and put them to death euen all that came to his handes Then such as had scaped from him being straightly besieged sent vnto Pompey to pray him of pardon and to take them to mercie declaringe vnto him that the I le of CRETA was within the precinct of his charge bicause all partes of that region from the sea came iust within the coÌ„passe limited him on the land Pompey pardoning them apon their submission wrote vnto Metellus commaunded him to leaue of his warre and therewithall charged all the cities that they should not obey Metellus commaundementes After that he sent Lucius Octauius one of his Lieutenauntes who entred into the townes Metellus besieged and fought for the pirates This made Pompey not only hated enuied but derided also for that vnder his name he had protected such vile theeues that had neither God nor law and geuen them his authority to saue their liues for a litle enuie and emulacion he bare vnto Metellus And therefore they rightly reproue Achilles and say that he shewed not the parte of a wise man but of a young foole besides him selfe for desire of glory making a signe to the GRAECIANS forbidding them to strike at Hector to th end that as Homer sayd Least he too late should to the battell runne VVhen others had the honor of it vvonne But Pompeys fact was worse then this For he fought for the coÌ„mon enemies of the world and only to depriue a ROMANE Praetor of triumphe who had done great good seruice to haue destroyed them This notwithstanding Metellus left not of his warre for Pompeys letters but hauing taken the pirates by assault he put them to death and afterwardes hauing done Octouius open shame through his campe he let him goe When newes came to ROME that the pirates warre was brought to good end that Pompey hauing no other seruice in hand went visiting the cities vp downe one Manilius a Tribune of the people put forth an other decree vnto them of this effect That Pompey taking all the army Lucullus had the prouinces vnder his gouernment with al BITHYNIA which Glabrio kept should go make warre vpon the kings Tigranes and Mithridates keping in his handes notwithstanding all his iurisdiction and army by sea in as royall maner as he had it before In fine this was euen to make one man Monarke and absolute Prince of all the ROMANE Empire For by this second decree he had all these contries not named in his former commission added to amplifie his authority as PHRYGIA LYCAONIA GALATIA CAPPADOCIA CILICIA high COLCHIDA and ARMENIA with all the armies and forces with the which he had ouercomen those two mighty kinges Then the Senate stucke not so much at the iniurie that was offered vnto Lucullus depriuing him of the honor of his doinges to geue it to an other that should rather succeede him in honor of triumphe then in daunger of warres knowing that they did him too manifest iniury shewed them selues too vnthankefull but that which most griued them was to see Pompeys power established in a plaine tyranny Hereuppon therefore one of them perswaded and encoraged an other stowtly to withstand
women who stealing out of Alexanders campe taking his horse backe rode vnto Darius to bring him newes of the death of his wife Then Darius beating of his head weping bitterly cried out alowd Oh goddes what wretched happe haue the PERSIANS that haue not onely had the wife and sister of their king taken prisoners euen in his life time but now that she is dead also in trauell of childe she hath bene depriued of princely buriall Then spake the Eunuch to him and said For her buriall most gracious king for all due honor that might be wished her PERSIA hath no cause to complaine of her hard fortune For neither did Queene Statira your wife whilest she liued prisoner nor your mother nor daughters want any parte or iot of their honor they were wont to haue before sauing onely to see the light of your honour the which god Oranusdes graunt to restore againe if it be his will vnto your maiestie neither was there any honor wanting at her death to set forth her starely funeralles that might be gotten but more was lamented also with the teares of your enemies For Alexander is as mercifull in victorie as he is valliant in battell Darius hearing the Eunuches wordes being vexed in minde for very griefe tooke the Eunuche aside into the secretest place of his tent and said vnto him If thou be not with the misfortune of the PERSIANS becomen a MACEDONIAN but doest in thy hart acknowledge Darius for thy soueraine Lord and master I pray thee and do also coniure thee by the reuerence thou bearest vnto this bright light of the sunne and to the right hande of the king that thou doe tell me truely Are these the least euills which I lament in Statira blest imprisonment and death And did she not in her life make vs more miserable by her dishonor than if we had dishonorably fallen into the hands of a cruell enemy For what honest communication I pray thee can a young victorious Prince haue with his enemies wife a prisoner hauing done her so much honor as he hath done Darius going on with these speeches Tireus the eunuch fell downe on his knees besought him not to say so neither to bleamish the vertue of Alexander in that sorte nor yet so to dishonor his sister and wife deceased and thereby also to depriue him selfe of the greatest comfort he could wish to haue in this calamitie which was to be ouercome by an enemy that had greater vertues than a man could possibly haue but rather that he should wonder at Alexanders vertue who had shewed him selfe chaster to the Ladies than valliant against the PERSIANS And therewithall the eunuch confirmed the great honesty chastity and noble minde of Alexander by many great and deepe othes Then Darius comming out among his frendes againe holding vp his handes vnto the heauens made this prayer vnto the gods O heauenly gods creators of men protectors of kings and realmes first I beseech you graunt me that restoring the PERSIANS againe to their former good state I may leaue the realme vnto my successors with that glorie and fame I receiued it of my predecessors that obtaining victory I may vse Alexander with that great honor and curtesie which he hath in my misery shewed vnto those I loued best in the world Or otherwise if the time appointed be come that the kingdom of PERSIA must nedes haue end either through diuine reuenge or by naturall chaunge of earthly things Then good goddes yet graunt that none but Alexander after me may sit in Cyrus throne Diuers writers do agree that these things came euen thus to paste Now Alexander hauing conquered all ASIA on this side of the riuer of Euphrates he went to meete with Darius that came downe with ten hundred thowsand fighting men It was told him by some of his frendes to make him laugh that the slaues of his army had deuided them selues in two parts and had chosen them a Generall of either parte naming the one Alexander and the other Darius and that at the first they beganne to skirmish only with cloddes of earth and afterwardes with fiftes but at the last they grew so hot that they came to plaine stones and staues so that they could not be parted Alexander hearing that would needes haue the two Generalls fight hand to hand one with the other and Alexander selfe did arme him that was called Alexander Philotas the other which was called Darius All the army thereupon was gathered together to see this combat betwene theÌ„ as a thing that did betoken good or ill lucke to come The fight was sharp betwene them but in th end he that was called Alexander ouercame the other and Alexander to reward him gaue him twelue villages with priuiledge to goe after the PERSIAN maner Thus it is written by Eratosthenes The great battell that Alexander fought with Darius was not as many writers report at Arbeles but at Gausameles which signifieth in the PERSIAN tongue the house of the cammell For some one of the auncient kings of PERSIA that had scaped from the hands of his enemies flying vpon a drumbledary cammell lodged him in that place and therefore appointed the reuenues of certaine villages to keepe the cammell there There fell out at that time an eclipse of the moone in the moneth called Boedromion now August about our the time that the feast of the misteries was celebrated at ATHENS The eleuenth night after that both their armies being in sight of the other Darius kept his men in battell ray and went him selfe by torche light viewing his bandes and companies Alexander on thother side whilest his MACEDONIAN souldiers slept was before his tent with Aristander the Soothsayer and made certaine secret ceremonies and sacrifices vnto Apollo The auncient Captaines of the MACEDONIANS specially Parmenio seeing all the vallie betwext the riuer of Niphates and the mountaines of the GORDIEIANS all on a bright light with the fires of the barbarous people and hearing a dreadfull noise as of a confused multitude of people that filled their campe with the found thereof they were amazed and consulted that in one day it was in maner vnpossible to fight a battell with such an incredible multitude of people Thereupon they went vnâ—â— Alexander after he had ended his ceremonies and did counsell him to geue battell by night bicause the darkenes thereof should helpe to keepe all feare from his men which the sight of their enemies would bring them into But then he gaue them this notable aunswere I wil 〈…〉 steale victorie ê™ he This aunswere seemed very fonde and arrogant to some that he was so pleasaunt being neere so great daunger Howebeit others thinke that it was a present noble corage and a deepe consideration of him to thinke what should happen thereby to geue Darius no maner of occasion if he were ouercomen to take hart againe and to proue another battell accusing the darkenes
in any daunger of warres And likewise their fortunes seeme to me to be both much alike For it is harde to finde two Orators againe that being so meanely borne as they haue comen to be of so great power and authoritie as they two nor that haue deserued the ill will of kings noble men so much as they haue done nor that haue lost their Daughters nor that haue bene banished their contries that haue bene restored againe with honor and that againe haue fled and haue bene taken againe nor that haue ended their liues with the libertie of their cōtry So that it is hard to be iudged whether nature haue made them liker in manners or fortune in their doings as if they had both like cunning workemaisters striued one with the other to whome they should make them best resemble But first of all we must write of the elder of them two Demosthenes the father of this Orator Demosthenes was as Theopompus writeth one of the chiefe men of the citie and they called him Machaeropoeus to wete a maker of sworde blades bicause he had a great shoppe where he kept a number of slaues to forge them But touching AEschynes the Orators report of his mother who said that she was the Daughter of one Gelo◠that fled from ATHENS beeing accused of treason and of a barbarous woman that was her mother I am not able to say whether it be true or deuised of malice to doe him despite Howsoeuer it was it is true that his father died leauing him seuen yeare olde and left him reasonable wel for his goods came to litle lesse then the value of fifteene talents Howbeit his gardians did him great wronge for they stale a great parte of his goods them selues and did let the rest runne to naught as hauing litle care of it for they would not pay his schoolemaisters their wages And this was the cause that he did not learne the liberall sciences which are vsually taught vnto honest mens sonnes and to further that want also he was but a weakling very tender and therefore his mother would not much let him goe to schoole nether his masters also durst keepe him too hard to it bicause he was but a sickly childe at the first and very weake And it is reported also that the surname of Battalus was giuen him in mockery by other schooleboyes his companions bicause of his weaknes of bodye This Battalus as diuers men doe report was an effeminate player on the flute against whom the Poet Antiphanes to mocke him deuised a litle play Others also doe write of one Battalus a dissolute Orator and that wrote lasciuious verses and it seemeth that the ATHENIANS at that time did call a certaine part of mans body vncomely to be named Battalus Now for Argas which surname men say was also giuen him he was so called either for his rude and beastly maners bicause some Poets doe call a snake Argas or els for his maner of speech which was very vnpleasant to the eare for Argas is the name of a Poet that made alwayes bawdy ill fauored songs But hereof enough as Plato said Furthermore the occasion as it is reported that moued him to giue him selfe to eloquence was this Calistratus the Orator was to defend the cause of one Oropus before the Iudges and euery man longed greatly for this daye of pleading both for the excellencie of the Orator that then bare the bell for eloquence as for the matter and his accusation which was manifestly knowen to all Demosthenes hearing his schoolemasters agree together to goe to the hearing of this matter he prayed his schoolemaster to be so good as to let him goe with him His Maister graunted him and being acquainted with the keepers of the hal dore where this matter was to be pleaded he so intreated them that they placed his scholler in a very good place where being set at his ease he might both see and heare all that was done and no man could see him Thereuppon when Demosthenes had heard the case pleaded he was greatly in loue with the honor which the Orator had gotten when he sawe howe he was wayted vpon home with such a trayne of people after him but yet he wondred more at the force of his great eloquence that could so turne and conuey all thinges at his pleasure Thereuppon he left the studie of all other sciences and all other exercises of witte and bodye which other children are brought vp in and beganne to labor continually and to frame him selfe to make orations with intent one day to be an Orator amonge the rest His Maister that taught him Rethoricke was Isaeus notwithstanding that Isocrates also kept a schoole of Rethoricke at that time either bicause that beeing an orphane he was not able to paye the wages that Isocrates demaunded of his schollers which was ten Minas or rather for that he founde Isaeus manner of speeche more propper for the vse of the eloquence he desired bicause it was more finer sutler Yet Hermippus writeth notwithstanding that he had red certayne bookes hauing no name of any author which declared that Demosthenes had bene Platoes scholler and that by hearing of him he learned to frame his pronunciation and eloquence And he writeth also of one Cresibius who reporteth that Demosthenes had secretly redde Isocrates workes of Rethoricke and also Alcidamus bookes by meanes of one Callias SYRACVSAN and others Wherefore when he came out of his wardeshippe he beganne to put his gardians in sute and to write orations and pleas against them who in contrary manner did euer vse delayes and excuses to saue them selues from giuing vp any accompt vnto him of his goods and patrimony left him And thus following this exercise as Thucydides writeth it prospered so well with him that in the ende he obtayned it but not without great paynes and daunger and yet with all that he could doe he could not recouer all that his father left him by a good deale So hauing now gotten some boldnes and being vsed also to speake in open presence and withall hauing a feeling and delight of the estimation that is wonne by eloquence in pleading afterwards he attempted to put forward him selfe and to practise in matters of state For as there goeth a tale of one Laomedon an ORCHOMENIAN who hauing a grieuous paine in the splene by aduise of the Phisitions was willed to runne long courses to helpe him and that following their order he became in the end so lusty nymble of body that afterwards he would needes make one to ronne for games in deede grew to be the swiftest runner of all men in his time Euen so the like chaunced vnto Demosthenes For at the first beginning to practise oratorie for recouerie of his goods and thereby hauing gotten good skill and knowledge how to pleade he afterwards tooke apon him to speake to the people
Caesars law for deuiding of landes Law Agraria Pompey gaue his consent with Caesar for passing his law Agraria Pompey maried Iulia the daughter of Caesar. Bibulus the Consull driuen out of the market place by Pompey The Law Agraria confirmed by the people Gaule and Illyria appointed vnto Caesar Piso and Gabinius Consulls Cato foresheweth the ruine of the common wealth of Pompey Clodius the Tribune Testeth vppon Pompey Pompey was grieuously scorned of Clodius Commission geueÌ„ to Pompey for bringing of corne into Rome The restoring againe of Ptolomy king of AEgypt to his realme Great repaire vnto Caesar winering at Luca. The violence of Pompey obtayning the second Consulship Pompey and Crassus secoÌ„d Consulships Prouinces deuided vnto Pompey Caesar and Crassus The death of Iulia the daughter of Caesar. The beginning of the dissention betwext Pompey Caesar. Variance among the Senate for Pompeys honor Cato spake in Pompeys fauor Pompey chosen Consull Pompey maried Cornelia the daughter of Scipio The vertues of Cornelia the daughter of Metellus Scipio Pompeys prouinces assigned him foure yeares further Pompey fell sicke at Naples Great reioycing for the recouery of PoÌ„peis helth Pride and foole conceit made Pompey despise Caesar. Appius soothed Pompey and fed his humor PoÌ„peys proud wordes Paule the CoÌ„sul bribed by Caesar. Curio Antonius Tribunes of the people bribed by Caesar. Pompey chosen to goe against Caesar. Cicero moueth reconciliation betwext Caesar and Pompey Rubicon fl Caesar passed ouer the riuer of Rubicon Caesars saying let the dye be cast Phaonius ouerbold words vnto PoÌ„pey Tumult at Rome apon Caesars comming Pompey forsooke Rome Caesar entred Rome when Pompey fled Caesar followeth Pompey Pompeis stratageame at Brundysinians for his flying thence from Caesar. Cicero reproued Pompey Caesar leaueth Pompey and goeth into Spayne PoÌ„peys power in Greece Pompey lying at Berroee traineth his souldiers Labienus forsaketh Caesar and goeth to Pompey Cicero followeth Pompey The clemency of Caesar. Caesar coÌ„ming out of Spayne returned to Brundusium Pompey ouerthrewe Caesar Pompey followeth Caesar into Thessaly Pompey mocked of his owne souldiers Caesar conquests Labienus general of Pompeis horsemeÌ„ Pompeys dreame before the battell of Pharsalia VVonderfull noises herd in Pompeys campe Pompeys army set in battel raye in Pharsalia Caesars order of fight Pompeis ordinance of his battell Caesar misliketh Pompeis ordinance Battel betwene Caesar and Pompey in Pharsalia Caius Crassinius geueth the onset of Caesars side Crassinius slaine PoÌ„peis horsemen put to flight by Caesar Pompeis flying in the fields of Phaâ—salia Asinius Pollio reperteth this battell The miserable state of Pompey Peticius dreame of Pompey Pompey â—â—baâ—keth in Peticius shippe a Romane Pompey arriueth in the Isle of Lesbos at the citie of Mitylene The sorowe of Cornelia for Pompeys ouerthrow The meeting of Pompey and his wife Cornelia The words of Cornelia vnto Pompey Pompeis aunswere vnto Cornelia Pompey reasoneth with Cratippus the Philisopher about diuine prouidence Pompey arriueth at Attalia in the contrie of Pamphylia Pompeys great error and Caesars crafty euise Theophanes Lesbian perswaded Pompey to flie into AEgypt Pompey arriueth AEgypt goeth to Pelusium Pothinus are eunuche and groome of the chamber to king Ptolomy ruleth all AEgypt The deliberacion of the AEgyptians for the receiuing of Pompey Theodotus perswaded them to kill Pompey A dead man byteth not Achillas appointed to kill Pompey How Pompey was received into AEgypt Pompey the great cruelly slaine as he landed The manlines and pacience of Pompey at his death The funeralls of Pompey Lucius Lentulus slaine Caesar arriueth in AEgypt Pompeis ring The murtherers of Pompey put to death How Pompey and Agesilaus came to their greatnes The faultes of Agesilaus and Pompey Thinges done by Agesilaus and Pompey in warres Agesilaus lost the signorie of the Lacedaemonians Pompeis faâ—le to forsake Rome A speciall point of a skilfull Captaine Agesilaus constanter than Pompey Pompeys flying into AEgypt is excused The face sheweth mens maners and condicions The parentage of Alexander Olympias the wife of Philip king of Macedon Olympias dreame King Philips dreame Olympias serpent The birth of Alexander The temple of Diana burnt at Ephesus VVonderfull things seene at the birth of Alexander Alexanders stature and personage Alexanders body had a maruelous sweete sauor Alexander coueted honor The noble minde of Alexander Leonidas the gouernor of Alexander Bucephal Alexanders horse The agility of Alexander in taming the wildnes of Bucephal the horse Philip prophecieth of his sonne Alexander Aristotle was Alexanders schoolemasters Aristotle borne in the city of Stagira An Epistle of Alexander vnto Aristotle Alexander the great practised phisicke Some thinke that this place should be meÌ„s of the riche coffer that was found among king Darius iuelle in the which Alexander would haue all Homers works kept Alexanders first souldierfare The city of Alexandropolis The quarells of Philip with Olympias and Alexander Alexander mocketh Philip his father Aridaeus king Philippes bastard begotten of a common strumpet Philima Philip king of Macedonâ— slaine by Pausanias The beginning of Alexanders reigne Alexander ouercome Syrmus king of the Triballians Thebes â—on and rased by Alexander The noble acte of Timoclea a noble womaÌ„ of Thebes Alexander chosen generall of all Graece Alexanders talke with Diogenes 〈…〉 signes appearing vnto Alexander before his iourney into Asia Alexanders armie into Asia The liberalitie of AlexaÌ„der Alexanders saying of Achilles Battell betwixt AlexaÌ„der and Darius at the riuer of Granicus Clitus saued Alexander Alexanders victory of the Persians at Granicus The memorie of Theodectes honored by Alexander The citie of Gordius in Phrygia where king Midas kept Darius armie and dreame Alexanders sicknesse in Cilicia Cydnus fl The wonderfull trust of Alexander in his phisitian Darius contemneth Amyntas profitable counsell Battell betwixt AlexaÌ„der and Darius in Cilicia Alexanders victory of Darius in Cilicia Darius mother wife and two daughters taken by Alexander The clemency of Alexander vnto the captiue Ladies The chastitie of Alexander Alexanders pleasant spech of womens beautie Alexander temperate in eating How Leonidas brought vp Alexander Alexanders life when he was at leisure Alexander pleasant prince as any could be Alexander beseegeth the citie of Tyre Alexanders dreame at the citie of Tyre Alexanders secoÌ„d dreame againe at Tyre Alexanders iorney against the Arabians Antiliban mens The corage and agilitie of Alexander The citie of Tyre beseged and taken by Alexander Alexander tooke the citie of Gaza The building of the citie of Alexandria Alexanders dreame in Eypt The lie of Pharos A wonder Alexanders iourney vtno the oracle of Hammon Cambyses army slaine by sandehilles Crowes guided AlexaÌ„der in his iorney The saying of Psammon the philosopher of the prouideÌ„ce of God. Alexander ascribeth god-head to himselfe Alexander made playes and feastes Darius sent Ambassadours vnto Alexander Statirae king Darius wife died in trauell of childe Tirius reporte to Darius of Statirae buriall Darius talke with Tireus the Eunuche The commendation of Alexanders chastisty Darius prayer