with these Magical chains they kept indeed the Field but still were more afraid of their own Companions than of the Enemy The Romans press'd on from either Wing and the Main-Body with all imaginable fury and butchered them at pleasure whil'st they stood thus as it were astonish'd with a double dread of Gods and Men The resistance they made was small and faint and nothing but pure fear kept them from running away So that by this time execution was done upon them up to their very Standards when on a sudden there appeared at a distance on one side of them a great cloud of Dust as if some mighty Army had rais'd it with their march for Sp. Nautius Octavius Metius some call him who had the Conduct of the Alarian Bands before-mentioned purposely made a far greater dust than could be expected from so small a number by causing his Regiment of the Black-Guard as they sat on their Mules to trail after them thick boughs of Trees their Arms and Ensigns in the Front first appeared as it were through a duskish Light but the dust behind them rising higher and thicker seem'd to represent a great Body of Horse flanking an Army of Foot and deceived not only the Samnites but the Romans too And to keep up that useful Error the Consul so loud that even the Enemy might hear him cryed out That Cominium was taken and his Victorious Colleague was come That now they should use their utmost endeavors to compleat the Victory before the other Army snatch'd the Honor of it out of their hands Thus he spake as he gallop'd to and fro amongst the Ranks and at the same time commanded the Colonels and Captains of the Foot to widen their Files and make room for the Horse He had before given Orders to Trebonius and Caedicius that when they should see him flourish his Spear over his head they should advance with the Cavalry and as hard as they could drive Charge the Enemy All things were punctually put in execution according to Order the Files opened to the Right and Left and the Horse thundered out upon the Enemy and broke into the middle of their Main-Body disordering their Ranks which way soever they turn'd their Force Volumnius and Scipio bravely seconded them with the Infantry and whil'st they were thus disarray'd beat down all before them Then the Linnen Brigade went to pot and fell under the fury both of the Gods and Men the sworn and unsworn fled both alike and no longer feared any but the Enemy Their Foot as many as escaped in the Battel were beat into their Camp at Aquilonia their Noble-men and Horse got to Bovianum the Foot were by the Foot pursued and the Horse by Horse the two Wings separated themselves the Right marching up to the Samnites Camp and the Left to the Town Volumnius was somewhat the nimblest and soon made himself Master of the Camp Scipio had an harder task to win the City not that they had greater Courage being all alike dis-heartened with their Over-throw but because Walls will better keep out Assailants than a plain Trench and Rampire and besides from the Courtine they had an advantage to shour down Stones upon them so fast as none could endure it Scipio considering that it would prove a tedious piece of Work unless he could carry the Town at this first Heat whil'st they within were in a fright and before they could recollect their Spirits ask'd his Soldiers If they would suffer this disgrace to see the Camp bravely won by the other Wing and themselves Conquerors too as well as the others to be shamefully repulsed from the City They all testifying their Resolutions to the contrary by a loud shout himself clapping his Target over his Head march'd foremost up to the Gate and all the rest following him in that posture by main force they broke into the City and knocking down those Samnites that were about the Gate made themselves Masters of the Walls but durst not venture up into the middle of the City being so few in number The Consul at first knew nothing of all this but was busie in bringing the Main-Body of his Army to an orderly Retreat for the Sun was now almost down and Night coming on apace made every thing seem dangerous and suspicious even to the Victors themselves but when he was advanced further he saw on his right hand the Enemies Camp taken and on the left heard a confused Cry and Tumult in the City as composed of the mix'd clamors of Men fighting and People in a fright for it happened at that instant the Conflict was at the Gate Upon this he rides up nearer and at last discovered his own Men upon the Walls and that his Work was not yet at an end since by a few Mens rash adventurousness there was an opportunity of performing an excellent piece of Service whereupon he recalled the Forces that were retreating and caused them with Banners displayed to enter the City where near the Gate they took up their Quarters because the Night came on so fast and before Morning the Enemy had deserted it There were slain that day of the Samnites Thirty thousand three hundred and forty taken Three thousand eight hundred and seventy and ninety seven Colours 'T is Recorded That never any General was more chearful and pleasant than Papirius during this Battel whether it were of his own natural Disposition or upon assured confidence of Victory 't was upon this strength of mind that he would not be diverted from fighting by the controverted Auspice and in the heat of the Conflict when others are wont to make Vows of building Temples to the Immortal Gods he only Vow'd That if he defeated the Enemies Legions he would present Jupiter Victor with a Cup of Metheglin before himself tasted a drop of strong Wine Which Vow the Gods accepted and turn'd the ill Presages to good The other Consul had no less success at Cominium for drawing up all his Forces by break of day to the Walls he invested it quite round and set strong Guards at all the Gates to prevent any Sallies But just as he was about to give the Signal for a general Assault the Messenger from his Brother Consul in a great fright brought word That twenty Cohorts of the Enemy were upon their march to relieve the City which made him for a while defer the Storm and draw off part of his Forces For immediatly he dispatch'd the first Legion and twenty Cohorts of the Wings and Horse under the Command of D. Brutus Scaeva to meet this Party of the Enemy with orders to stop or divert their march wherever they should find them and if need were to fight them rather than suffer them to come up to Cominium This care being taken he commands the Scaling-Ladders to be set to the Walls round the Town and several parties in close Order with their Targets over their heads to make up to the Gates so that at once
only the Senate but the Commons also very much ashamed The Tribunes therefore remitting their intercession there was an Assembly held by an Interrex at which there were chosen for Tribunes U. C. 385 Military L. Furius A. Manlius Ser. Sulpicius Ser. Cornelius with A. and C. Valerius who did not find the People in any wise so obedient at the Levy as in the Assembly But nevertheless having with much ado raised an Army they not only removed the Enemy from Tusculum but forced them into their own Walls and Velitrae was now Besieged with much greater vigour than Tusculum had been before But yet it could not be taken by those who first began to besiege it There were new Tribunes Military first created whose names were Q. Servilius C. Veturius A. and M. Cornelius Q. Quintius and M. Fabius though U. C. 386 even these Tribunes also did nothing at Velitrae worth remembring Things were now in greater danger at home for besides Licinius and Sextius that made several Laws and were now the eighth time made Tribunes one year after another Fabius also being a Tribune Military and Stolos Father in Law said he would certainly stand up for those Laws that he had formerly proposed And whereas there had been eight of the College of Tribunes Plebeians at first against those Laws there were now but five only who as it usually happens among those that revolt from their party being blinded in their understanding spoke other mens words and back'd their Intercession with nothing but what they had been taught at home saying That a great part of the Commons were absent in the Army at Velitrae that the Assembly ought to be differr'd till the coming of the Soldiers that the whole Commonalty might Vote for their own good Sextius and Licinius with part of their Collegues with Fabius one of the Tribunes Military who had learnt by experience in so many years time to manage the People teized the chief of the Senate whom they called forth to answer for themselves by interrogating them upon the several Cases which were proposed to the People How durst they desire that when the Commons had but two Acres of Land a piece they might have above 500 That they might each of them enjoy the Estate of almost 300. Citizens when a Commoners Land was scarce enough to build a convenient House upon or for a Burial place Would you have the poor Commons who are overwhelmed with Usury unless they 'll pay that rather than the Principal deliver their Bodies up to bonds and torture and to be haled in droves every day out of the Forum into Slavery Noblemens Houses to be fill'd with Prisoners and a private Jayle to be wherever any Patrician dwells Having inveighed against these base and wretched doings before the Peeple who stood in fear of their Creditors so as that they stirred up greater indignation in their Audience than in themselves they farther affirm'd That the Senate would never make an end of getting the publick Lands into their own hands nor murdering the People with Usury till the Commons had chosen one of the Consuls out of their own Body to be the keeper and maintainer of their Liberty That the Tribunes of the People were now contemned as being an Order who by interceding themselves destroy'd their own Authority That there could be no right done as long as the Consuls had all the power of commanding and they only of forbidding and that till the right of commanding was communicated the Commons would never have an equal share in the Common-wealth Nor ought any man to think it enough that there should be some respect had to the Commons in the Consular Assemblies for unless it were made absolutely necessary that one of the Consuls should be a Commoner no Plebeian would ever be chosen Had they already forgot though it was Voted that they would choose Tribunes Military rather than Consuls for that very reason that the Commons also might be advanced to the highest Honours yet there has not been one Tribune Military chosen out of the Commonalty these four and forty years How could they imagine that they would willingly bestow Honour upon the People where there was but two Places to dispose of who had been used to fill eight places with Patricians at their choice of Tribunes or that they would suffer any way to be made to the Consulship who had so long blocked up the Tribuneship But that might be gained by a Law which could not be obtained by favour and therefore they ought to put one of the Consuls places out of dispute for the People to have access to because if it were left in question it would always be theirs that could make the best interest Nor could that be now said which they were formerly wont to throw out viz. that there were none among the Commons fit to make curule Magistrates For has the Commonwealth been managed with more sloth or imprudence since P. Licinius was Tribune who was the first that was chosen out of the Commonalty than it was in those times when none but Patricians were Tribunes Military No quite conurary for some Patricians after their Tribuneship were condemn'd for what they had done in their Office and so was never any Plebeian The Questors too they said as well as the Tribunes Military began a few years ago to be elected out of the Commons nor did the Roman People repent of e'r an one of them That the People therefore had nothing now to get but the Consulship which was the very Fortress and Pillar of their Liberty If they once arrived at that then the People of Rome would think that their Kings were certainly Banished and their Liberty was secured For from that day the People would be possessed of all things wherein the Senate outdid them viz. Authority Honour the glory of War Birth and Quality which were great things for them in their own Persons to enjoy but greater to be left to their Posterity When they saw that these kind of Speeches were acceptable they promulgated a new Bill That instead of Duumvirs two Officers to look after the Sacrifices there should be Decemvirs Ten such created in such a manner that part of them should be chosen out of the Commons and part out of the Senators but they differr'd the Assembly to pass those Bills till the coming of that Army which was then Besieging Velitrae But the Year was at an end before the Legions were brought back from Velitrae and therefore the business touching those Laws was put off for the new Tribunes Military to finish for the Commons chose the same Tribunes again and especially those two that were the proposers of those Laws The persons elected for Tribunes Military were T. Quintius Ser. Cornelius Ser. Sulpicius Sp. Servilius L. Papirius and L. Veturius At the very beginning of the Year they came to the last push about the Laws and when the Tribes were called seeing no Intercession of their Collegues
Van consisted of fifteen Companies placed a small distance from each other of Spear-men or rather Javelyneers called Hastati each Company having twenty Light-arm'd Soldiers and the rest a sort of Targeteers They call'd those Light-arm'd who carried only Spears or Javelins to fight with at hand and a small sort of Darts to throw at a distance In this Fore-front were placed the Flower of the Youths that grew up as Apprentices to the Art of War Then came as many more Companies of those of riper and more manly Age which were called Principes In the next place thirty Companies of Targeteers all with very brave and extraordinary Armor and these were called Antepilani because they were followed by fifteen Squadrons more each of which contained three Divisions and each first Division being that next to the Standard was called Pilum and consisted of three Colours or Companies every one of which contained 186 Men the first Company was of old Soldiers of approved Courage call'd Triarii the second of men of less Force and Experience call'd Rorarii and the third of raw Fellows new listed to fill up the Muster-Rolls call'd Accensi who being of small account always march'd in the Rear When the Army was thus drawn up in Battalia the Hastati or Javelyneers began the Battel and if they were not able to Rout the Enemy they softly and in order Retâ—eated and fell back into the Intervals between the Squadrons of the Principes who receiv'd them and then advanced themselves to Charge the Enemy and were therein seconded by the said Hastati the Triarii all this while abiding firm about their Ensigns setting out their left Legs before them at length their Targets on their shoulders and their short Pikes or Javelins stuck into the Ground at the wrong end sloping and with their Heads bending forwards so that they seem'd Fortified with Palisado's Now if the Principes also prov'd unsuccessful and could not break the Enemy then they orderly by little and little retired from the Fore-front back to the Triarii whence grew the Proverb when a thing was at a dead lift to say ad Triarios redisse that it was come to the Triarii or last pinch then the Triarii at once rising up as soon as they had received the Principes and Hastati into the void spaces between their Files suddenly drew to a close Order and shut up as it were all Passages and Entrance and so with one joint close Body of the whole Army there being now no further reserve or hope left resolutely advanc'd to Charge the Enemy who were herewith most surpriz'd and dis-heartened when thinking to Chase those that they seem'd to have vanquish'd they saw a new Battel of fresh Men starting up and the same more numerous The Romans commonly levyed for their Army four Legions each consisting of 5000. Foot and 300. Horse to whom were wont to be added just as many more Auxiliaries furnish'd by the Latines but they now were Enemies and had Marshal'd their Army exactly in the same manner so that they knew well enough before-hand not only that they were to encounter Ensign with Ensign all the Pikes and Javelins with Pikes and Javelins and Principes with Principes but also one Centurion with another if the Armies were not disordered In each Army there was a Primipilus Chief Centurion or Leader of the Triarii The Roman but of a weak and slender Body but otherwise a Man of Courage and Conduct The Latine a mighty stout Fellow and a Devilish Fighter They knew one another well enough as having always equal Charges heretofore when the Roman and Latine Forces used to be united The Roman not greatly trusting to his own strength had got leave of the Consuls before they march'd out of Rome to choose whom he would to be his Deputy Centurion who might be his Second and defend him from this one designed Enemy And it fell out that the young Man by him made choice of in the heat of the Battel engaged the Latine Centurion and slew him The Battel was fought not far from the Foot of the Mountain Vesuvius in the Road to Veseris The Roman Consuls before they put their Army into Battalia having severally killed their Beasts for Sacrifice the Aruspex or Bowel-prying Sooth-sayer is said to have observed in Decius's the head of the Liver to be wounded but in all other respects an acceptable Sacrifice But as for Manlius in his there appeared as good tokens as could be wish'd whereupon quoth Decius 't is well enough since my Brother Consul has the favor of the Gods The Army being drawn up as before related they march'd into the Field Manlius commanding the Right Wing and Decius the Left At first they fought on both sides with equal Courage as well as Forces But after a while the Roman Hastati of the Left Wing no longer able to bear the violent Shock of the Latines retreated to their Principes in which disorder Decius calls aloud to M. Valerius I see O Valerius we have need of the Assistance of the Gods Let the publick High Priest of the People of Rome come and pronounce the Solemn Words with which I am to devote my self for our Army that I may say them after him The Priest ordered him to put on a long Purple Robe embroidered before call'd Praetexta to cover his Head and put forth his hand under the said Robe at his Chin and standing upon a Javelin with both his Feet to say after him as follows O Janus Jupiter Father Mars Bellona you Houshold Deities Novensiles and Indigetes you Gods likewise who have special Power over us and our Enemies and all you Infernal Gods you I invocate you I adore your pardon and leave I implore and your favor I require That you would prosper Power and Victory unto the People of Rome and strike their Enemies with Dread and Terror and Slaughter And as I have solemnly call'd upon you by Name so for the Weal-Publick of the People of Rome and Quirites their Legions and Auxiliaries I here do Devote the Army of the Enemies and all their Aids together with my self to Tellus and the Infernal Gods As soon as he had recited this Prayer he dispatch'd a Lictor or one of the Provost Marshals to T. Manlius to advertise him That his Collegue had seasonably Devoted himself for the Army And then tucking up his Gown after the Gabine Fashion that is one part thrown under his right Arm and the same Lappet back again over the left Shoulder a posture the Gabii were wont to Sacrifice in and being once surprized at their Devotions by an Enemy Charg'd them in that posture and obtain'd the Victory whence for Lucks sake the Roman Consuls used it when they denounced War he mounted his Horse Arm'd at all Points and so spurr'd into the thickest of the Enemy To both Armies he seem'd to carry a Presence full of Majesty and something more than Humane As he sent from Heaven to Atone
Adversaries the Commons and implore the protection of the Tribunes rather than to justifie themselves and abide a legal Trial And at last having there too met with a repulse thinking all means safer than to stand upon their Innocency they have faln upon us with unjust Calumnies and not blush'd being private Men to arraign your Dictator Therefore that God and the World may see That as they in vain endeavor to avoid the giving an account of their own undue Practices so I am frankly ready to meet their Charge and expose my self to the strictest scrutiny of my Enemies I do here resign my Dictatorship and do request you My Lords the Consuls if the Senate shall commit this Affair to your management That you would begin with me first and this Gentleman M. Foslius that it may appear how we through our own Innocency alone and not by the priviledge of our Offices are protected and safe from these Slanders and pretended Crimes Then forthwith he gave over his Dictatorship and immediatly after Foslius did the same with his Generalship of the Horse And these two were the first that were proceeded against before the Consuls for to them the executing of the aforesaid Commission was awarded by the Senate but notwithstanding all the Prosecution and Depositions of the Nobility they came off with Honor. Likewise Publilius Philo though he had so often pass'd through the highest Offices and perform'd so many gallant Services both at home and abroad being much envyed by the Nobility was forced to take his Tryal and acquitted But this Inquisition into the actions of Persons of Quality was quickly over descending first to meaner People and at last by the same Cabals and Factions which it intended to remedy and punish it was wholly overthrown The report of these Jars at home and especially the hopes of the revolt of Campania as was design'd recall'd the Samnites who before seem'd altogether intent upon Apulia back to Caudium that so being near at hand if any disturbances should administer opportunity they might take Capua from the Romans The Consuls march'd thither with a formidable Army and lingred a while about the Passes and Streights being not able either way with safety to come at the Enemy who at last fetching a compass through the open ways came down into the Plains of Campania and there first both sides came to have a sight of each others Camp after which they exercised each other with petty Skirmishes especially between the Horse Nor had the Romans any cause to complain of the success of those Encounters nor of the delay and spinning out of the War but the Samnites Generals found that their Forces were diminish'd every day and much weakned by this tedious work and therefore resolve upon a Battel placing their Horse in the two Wings but with express charge to have a strict eye towards the Camp to prevent any mischief there and not so much to engage themselves in the Battel which would be safe enough with the Infantry Sulpitius the Consul led on the Right Wing and Paetelius the Left The Right Wing was ranged more wide and open and with thinner Ranks and Files because the Samnites had done the like on that side with a design either to surround the Enemy or prevent being enclosed themselves The Left besides that it was in closer Order happened to be reinforced by the sudden policy of Paetelius causing the subsidiary Legions which were planted in the Rear for Reserves to march up to the Front and so with all his Forces at once charging the Enemy made them retreat The Samnites Cavalry seeing their Foot worsted prepared to relieve them but as they rod cross between the two Armies the Roman Horse gallop'd up to flank them and put both Horse and Foot into Confusion so far that all that part of the Enemies Army was routed On that Wing there was now not only Paetelius but Sulpitius too to encourage the Soldiers for he had strayed from his own Party before they joyn'd Battel upon the extraordinary shout given by the Left Wing at their first Charge and seeing on that part undoubted Victory hasten'd back to his own Charge accompanied with Twelve hundred Men but found things there in a quite contrary posture the Romans retreating and the Victorious Enemy marching full upon them with Ensigns displai'd However the lucky coming in of the Consul presently altered the Scene for as his Men were encouraged at the sight of him so the party he brought with him being very stout Men yielded them a more effectual assistance than might be expected from so small a number This and the news of the other Wings success renewed the Fight and thenceforwards the Romans bore all before them and the Samnites giving over all defence were every where either cut to pieces or taken Prisoners except those who escaped to Maleventum a Town that has since changed its name and is now call'd Beneventum 'T is Recorded That Thirty thousand Samnites were that Day killed or taken After this glorious Victory the Consuls led their Legions to besiege Bovianum and took up their Winter-Quarters before the Town till C. Paetelius made Dictator by the new Consuls L. Papirius Cursor the fifth time and C. Junius Bubulcus the second came down with M. Foslius General of the Horse and received the charge of the Army He being advertiz'd that the Samnites had taken the Fort at Fregellae left Bovianum march'd thither but the Samnites fled away by night so that he recovered the place without a blow struck and having placed there a strong Garison return'd into Campania with a particular design to take the City of Nola by force of Arms within whose Walls all the Peasants thereabouts and a vast multitude of Samnites sheltered themselves The Dictator having taken a view of the place that he might have the more open access to the Walls set all the Houses on Fire that were in the Suburbs along the Counterscarp and there they stood thick and were well inhabited and not long after that Town was taken whether by Paetelius the Dictator or C. Junius the Consul I know not for it is reported of the one as well as the other Those that ascribe the Honor on 't to the Consul add That he also took Atina and Calatia And that Paetelius was created Dictator only for the Ceremony of driving the Nail or Spike for appeasing the Wrath of the Gods by reason the Plague was broke out That Year Colonies were sent to Suessa and Pontiae the former a Town of the Auruncans the latter an Island of the Volscians situate within sight of their own shoar A Decree also passed the Senate for sending other Colonies to Interamna and Cassinum but the same was not done till the time of the next Consuls M. Valerius and P. Decius who created Triumvirs to manage that Affair and sent Four thousand to people those places The Samnite War was now pretty well dispatch'd but before the Senate was
coming from Epirus in their Towns and Ports But the commodiousness of the Haven of Brundusium which with the Wind blowing from the same Point receives and sends forth Vessels together with the easie passage into Dalmatia and Albania from thence as also the convenience of having their Dominions terminated by the bounds of Italy were deemed the most important reasons of the War Both the Consuls triumph'd over these people in one day being the 20th of February The Sallentines being overcome they took Brundusium the most eminent Town in that quarter and atchiev'd other matters very prosperously being assisted as they gave out by Pales the Goddess of Shepherds said to have requested for reward of the Victory a Chappel to be consecrated for her A. U. 487 at Rome The greater part of the Sallentines being subdued by these men the Consuls of the year following compleated the Victory their names were Numerius Fabius C.F.M.N. and Decius Junius D. F.D by these the Vmbrians and Sallentines also were subjected to the Roman Yoke Thus Italy being conquer'd where it is bounded by the Seas and the Po the Roman Power immediately began to be magnify'd by the hopes of some and fear of others in the neighbouring Islands and the Continent lying to the Ionian and Adriatic Seas For those who desir'd to aggrandize themselves by oppressing others were affraid to be hinder'd in their designs by the Romans whilst others on the contrary imbrac'd their aid as sent from Heaven against the outrages of their Adversaries The Apollonians first of all desired by their Ambassadours to be admitted into an Alliance with the Romans The Town of Apollonia is distant from the Sea sixty furlongs being built by the Corinthians and Corcyreans it has a commodious Harbour and the shortest passage from Brundusium into Greece lies that way the Illyrians and Macedonians inhabit about it therefore the people can hardly maintain their ground against their ambitious and potent Neighbours The Embassie was graciously received by the Senate not regarding so much the Wealth and Power of that People being but small as future hopes and opportunity open'd for greater matters in reversion whence the punishment taken upon some young Noblemen for beating the Ambassadours in a scuffle was the greater for neither could the dignity of his Office for he was Edile nor the nobleness of his Extract rescue Q. Fabius from being deliver'd up to the Apollonians for that misdemeanour Q. Apronius likewise an Edile and an Accomplice in the same Crime was surrendered to the Apollonians for the Senate decreed that these should be deliver'd by the Heralds to the Apollonian Ambassadours and that a Questor should go along with them to Brundusium lest the Relations of the persons surrendred should offer any injury to the Ambassadours in their Journey This was a signal demonstration both of the justice of the State and of their prudence too for whilst by an Opinion of honesty they desir'd to attract the minds of forein Nations to an Amity with them it nearly concern'd them in some signal manner to revenge the Affronts offer'd to those who first came to propose an Alliance with them for nothing could have prov'd more prejudicial to their Interest than to let matters come to such a pass that the Apollonians should have cause to repent of their action and others for their Example And hence in after-times it went for a constant Rule that those who had beaten the Ambassadours of a free People should be delivered into the hands of those to whom the Ambassadours belonged The Apollonians however when these persons were brought to them wisely considering that they should reap more good by their Humanity than Revenge sent them home safe This year both the Consuls triumph'd twice D. Junius before the 27th of September and Numerius Fabius before the 5th of October over the Sarsinates a people of Vmbria Fabius also the first of February and Junius the 5th triumph'd over the Sallentini and some Messapians assistants to then Neighbours the Sallentini This yeâ—r was made an end of the Italian Wars for the War which was wâ—g'd the year following Q. A. U. 488 Fabius Gurges being the third time Consul having for his Colleague L. Manilius Vitulus was not against a just Enemy but onely a Revenge taken upon recreant Villains in behalf of Allies The Volsinians a powerful People of Hetruria implor'd the protection of the Romans against their quoudam Slaves for whether it were in hopes to recruit their strength impair'd by former Wars or to indulge themselves in ease shunning the toil of War they imprudently permitted their Slaves being made Freemen to bear Arms and afterwards communicating Honours to them chose some of thâ—m for Senators and some for other Offices in the State so that these in a short time over-topping the ancient Citizens and wresting the Power into their own hands most impudently exercised their liberty against those men to whom they were indebted for it So that now it became their common Trade to ravâ—sh the hâ—nourable Dames and Virgins to answer the complaints of Parents and Husbands for these injuries with mockery and reproaches instead of redress and correction of the Offenders and to plunder destroy and harrass all things as they pleas'd themselves And not to pass by a signal demonstration of thâ—t brutish impudence to which servile Spirits may arrive when they have power on their side they published a Law whereby the Libertines were authoriz'd to ravish the Wives and Daughters of their Pations and that every Maid that was to many a Freeman should first be deflâ—wr'd by one that had been a Slave Now the old Volsinians being neither able to endure these miseries nor yet to remove them with their own strength entring into private consult determin'd to send Ambassadours to Rome who by addresses underhand prevail'd to have the Senate assembled in a private House for they foresaw that the thing if it should be discover'd would undo them declared in a lamentable harangue the calamities of their City whereat the Senate being moved promised to assist that distressed people in order to the recovering of their ancient rights and priviledges But whilst these matters were thought to have been transacted Incognito they were discovered by a certain Samnite to those very men against whom all the complaint was made This Fellow being a Guest to the Master of that House when the Senate assembled lay ill and being forgotten stay'd behind in that place whereby he over-heard and betray'd the whole matter The Ambassadours therefore being returned from Rome were put to the torture and the business being found out both they and the chief Men of the City were barbarously murthered This gave a juster pretence for making a War and Q Fabius was sent with an Army against them who defeated them in Battel and slew a great number of them in the pursuit and as for those who betook themselves into their fortresses he resolved to attack them by storm but whilst they
Leaguer Then they dismiss'd M. Attilius the last Years Consul who desired to be excused by reason of his Age that he might return to Rome and gave Cn. Servilius the Charge and Command of one Roman Legion and Two thousand Horse and Foot of the Allies in the lesser Camp Annibal though he perceiv'd the Enemy so reinforced and half as strong again as before yet was glad at the coming of these new Consuls For not only all his Provisions which he plundered every day from hand to mouth were spent but there was no possibility of getting more For after the Country found themselves plagued with his continual Incursions they carried all their Corn into Cities and Walled Towns so that as was known afterwards he had not Bread enough left for ten days and the Spaniards for want of Victuals were ready to desert him and only waited for a fit opportunity As the Consul Varro was naturally rash and over-hasty so Fortune administred apt Fewel to put him into a greater Flame for in a tumultuary Skirmish with a Party of Annibals Forragers began rather by a casual Rancounter of the Soldiers than by any considerate Counsel before-hand or directions from the Generals the Carthaginians happened to be worsted there being a matter of Seventeen hundred of them kill'd and not above One hundred of the Romans and their Allies But as the Victors were with full speed pursuing the Chace the Consul Paulus who had the Command that day for they took it by turns restrained them for fear lest they should fall into some Ambuscade which Varro took in great indignation and bawl'd out wherever he came against his Colleague That he had wilfully let the Enemy escape out of his hands and if he had not thus given over the Pursuit the War might have been ended at once Annibal did not lay this loss much to heart but rather made full reckoning that he should thereby as with a Bait draw on the Fool-hardy Consul and his new-rais'd Soldiers for he knew all that pass'd in their Camp as certainly as in his own viz. That the Generals were of disagreeing Tempers always jarring and thwarting one another and that their Army consisted two parts in three of raw untrain'd Soldiers Therefore supposing he had now a fit time and place for putting some Stratagem in execution the next night he marches away all his Men carrying nothing with them but their Arms out of his Camp leaving the same full of all things as well private Goods and Furniture as publick Ammunition and Provisions and behind the next Mountains privately plants his Foot ready drawn up in good order on the left hand and his Horse on the right and his Carriages in the middle that whil'st the Enemy should be busie in rifling the abandon'd Tents and encumbred with Pillage he might fall upon them and cut them to pieces He also left abundance of Fires burning in his Camp to make them believe that he had a mind to amuse the Consuls with a false shew of his continuing there and so get the further off before they pursued him as he cheated Fabius the other Year with the like policy As soon as 't was day the Romans seeing the Enemies Out-guards drawn off and afterwards upon a nearer approach perceiving nothing but an unwonted silence and solitude wondred much what the meaning on 't might be but after they certainly discovered that the Camp was abandoned old running there was to the Consuls Pavilions with the news That the Enemy was run away in so much hast and disorder that they had left all their Tents standing and that their flight might not be perceived left abundance of light-fires all over their Camp The Soldiers began to bawl out and desire That the Ensigns might presently advance that they might pursue the Enemy and rifle their Camp And indeed one of the Consuls was no less eager than the common Soldiers but Paulus told them and frequently repeated it That they must look before they leap'd and proceed cautiously for fear of some trick And at last seeing he could not stop the mutiny nor otherwise appease his Partner the Ring-leader thereof he sent out M. Statilius a Captain with a Troop of Lucan Horse to discover how matters stood who advancing up to the Ports commanding the rest to stay without the Works himself with two Troopers entred within the Rampire and having taken a careful view brings back word That undoubtedly it was a Design for the Fires were only left in that part of the Camp next the Romans The Tents stood open and all things of value exposed besides in several places they saw mony carelesly scattered as a Bait to train them on in hopes of a Booty But all this which was related to check their minds from the over-greedy and dangerous desire of Pillage did but the more enflame them to be at it so that the Soldiers set up a general Cry That if the Signal were not given they would go on without their Officers Nor need they want a Leader for Varro forthwith sounded a March and as he was just going out at the Ports Paulus who made no such hast finding that the Auspices were not favorable caused notice thereof to be given him and though Varro could scarce be held back yet the remembrance of the late Misfortunes of Flaminius and the overthrow of Claudius the Consul at Sea in the first Punic War caused some awe of Religion in his mind but indeed it was the Gods themselves who that day deferred for a time rather than quite remov'd the sore Judgment that was impending on the Romans for when the Consul commanded the Ensigns to be carried back into the Camp and the Soldiers were so set upon Plunder that they refused to obey just upon the nick of the Mutiny two Servants that waited the one upon a Formian the other on a Sidicin Cavalier and had last Year been taken Prisoners amongst the Forragers by some Numidian Horse having made their escape return'd to their Masters and being brought before the Consuls assured them That Annibal's whole Army lay in Ambush behind the Hills This seasonable Intelligence caused the Consuls to be obeyed when one of them by his Ambition in seeking and ill compliance with Popular humors in managing his Office had quite lost that Majesty and Reverence that belong'd to it Annibal perceiving that the Romans though they at first began to stir and make a tumult yet did not proceed to come out according to his expectation concluding that his Plot was discovered returned again into his Camp where he was not able to remain many days for want of Provisions and not only his Soldiers being a mixture of several Nations began to entertain new designs in their Heads but he himself was almost at his Wits end For first they grumbled and after with open mouth call'd for their Arrears and complain'd of the scarcity of their Allowance of Victuals and at last grew afraid of being starv'd
wittingly or willingly then do thou O mighty Jupiter confound me my House and Family and bring me and all that I have to destruction and a most shameful end And you Metellus I require to swear after me as I have done and all the rest of you to take the same Oath for whoever shall refuse let him be assured 't is against him I have drawn this Sword Terrified no less than if it had been the Conqueror Annibal himself they all took the Oath and yielded themselves up to Scipio's Conduct Whil'st these things were doing at Canusium about 4000 Horse and Foot who were dispersed over the Country in the Rout were rallyed together and came up to the Consul at Venusia whom the Inhabitants received very courteously and having Quartered them from House to House bestowed upon the Horse to every one a Vest and Tunick and 25 Quadri-gates or pieces of mony with Chariots and four Horses engraven on them the whole sum amounts to about 15 s. 7 d. ob a Man and to the Foot ten such pieces and what Arms they wanted and in all other respects publick and private treated them most Hospitably as if they had strove that it should not be said All the People of Venusia were out-done by the kind Offices of one single Gentlewoman of Canusium But indeed by this time the Multitude at the later place were grown very burthensom to Madam Busa for they were now near Ten thousand in number Therefore as soon as Appius and Scipio understood that the other Consul was safe they sent an Express to acquaint him what Forces Horse and Foot they had with them and to know his pleasure Whether they should continue there or march to him at Venusia Varro thought best to go himself with what strength he had to Canusium so as now they made a pretty good shew of a Consular Army and seemed able to defend themselves if not by force of Arms in the Field yet at least by the strength of the Walls within the Town But at Rome the news went currant That not so much as any remnant of Citizens and Allies was left but that both the Consuls with their two Armies were all put to the Sword and hew'n to pieces to the last Man Never was there known whil'st the City was yet safe so much terror and tumult within the Walls of Rome I will therefore even at first sink under so great a Burthen and say nothing at all rather than undertake to set forth that which after I have used all the words I can will be represented far short of Truth After the Consul Flaminius and his Army destroy'd but last year at Thrasymenus this was not only a new wound added to that before it was heal'd but a Defeat that was as bad as many Overthrows altogether for every body said That with the two Consuls two whole Consular Armies were cut off That there was no longer any such thing in the World as a Roman Camp a Roman General or a Roman Soldier That Annibal was already Lord of Apulia of Samnium and as good as all Italy Nor was there certainly any other Nation under Heaven but would have fainted and suffered themselves to have been utterly over-whelm'd and crush'd with the weight of so mighty a Disaster Shall I compare hereunto the Defeat with the Carthaginians received at Sea near the Isle Aegates wherewith their Spirits were so broken that at once they were content to part both with Sicily and Sardinia and also to make themselves Subjects and Tributaries to the Romans Or their other Overthrow afterwards in Africk which utterly broke the back of this very Annibal and made him confess himself vanquish'd Neither of them are in any respect comparable to this save only that they were born and supported with less Courage and Resolution P. Furius and M. Pomponius the Praetors summon'd the Senate to sit in the Hostilian Court and consult for the safeguard of the City for they could not doubt but the Enemy having defeated their Armies would advance to assault Rome the only work that was behind to compleat the War But as the Fathers were much to seek what Remedies to apply to Calamities so great and yet not known to the full so their Debates were disturb'd with the loud Out-cries of the Women who almost in every House fill'd the Air with Lamentations and promiseuously mourn'd for the Quick as well as the Dead it not yet being certainly known who was slain Whereupon Fabius advised That Parties of Light-Horse should be sent out both on the Appian and Latine Road to enquire of such as they met that came from the Fight and were straggling home if any of them could give a true account of the Consuls and Armies misfortune and if the Immortal Gods had in compassion suffered any of the Roman name to survive where those Forces were Whither Annibal march'd next after his Victory What Preparations he makes What he is doing at present and what he probably designs for the future That in this Affair the nimblest and most active Young Men should be employed and in the mean time the Senators because there were few inferior Magistrates in Towns or at least the People would not so much reverence their Authority should themselves in Person appease this Hurly-burly and fearful tumult in the City by debarring the Dames and all sorts of Women from coming abroad into the streets but every one to keep in their own House by restraining the mournful Exclamations of whole Families and making silence through the Town To take order that all Posts and Messengers of News should to rights be brought before the Praetors without prattling to the Rabble by the way and that every body should patiently at home wait for such Tidings as particularly concern'd them Likewise to set Guards at the Gates to keep all Persons from going out of the City and make all Men see That they can have no hopes to preserve themselves but in defending the City and its Walls And when by these means the Hurry was over then might the Fathers fitly be called again together and take further Measures for the Publick Safety This Advice being generally approved and the Magistrates having cleared the Forum of the multitude that were thronging together the Senators divided themselves into several parts of the City to still the Uproars Then at last arriv'd Letters from Terentius the Consul giving an account That L. Aemilius the Consul was slain and the greatest part of the Army That himself was at Canusium rallying those that escaped this mighty Over-throw as scattered Planks after a Ship-wreek That the Forces he had got with him were about Ten thousand strong but disordered and of several Regiments and Bands intermixt That Annibal still continued at Cannae busie in taxing what Ransoms the Prisoners shall pay and intent upon the rest of the Pillage and neither measuring his late Victory with that Grandieur of Mind usual to Conquerors nor making that advantage
he pleased he wrested whither he would He likewise fortold them that the Gods had given encouragement to them to go out to fight as to their Forefathers when they formerly ingaged at the Islands called Aegateis and therefore that there would be an end of the War and they should be at rest that the Booty of Carthage was as good as in their hands and that they should very shortly return into their Country to their Parents Wives Children and Houshold-Gods All which he spoke wich such an haughty carriage and pleasant aspect that you would have thought he had already gained the Victory Then he placed the Spear-men first and behind them the Principes the first Soldiers in the Van of the Army who were furnished with a Javelin c. and put the Triarii in the Reer He did not set the Regiments each in close Order before their Ensigns but the Maniples or Companies at some distance one from the other that the Enemies Elephants might have room enough when they came in so as not to break their Ranks He planted Laelius who had formerly been his Lieutenant but that was Questor by an Order of Senate without drawing Lots for it with the Italian Horse in the left Wing and Masinissa with the Numidians in the right He also filled up the wide spaces between the Maniples with the Velites of the Antesignani or light-arm'd Soldiers that fought among those that were before the Ensigns to whom he gave a charge That at the coming up of the Elephants they should either retire directly behind the Ranks or applying themselves to the Antesignani by running to the right and left among them should give the beasts way to rush in upon the dangerous Weapons Annibal for a terror set the Elephants which were eighty in number and more than he had ever had in any Battle before first in Array and after them the Ligurian and Gallick Auxiliaries with the Balearians and Mores mixt among them In the second Division of the Army he placed the Carthaginians Africans and the Legion of Macedonians and then leaving a small interval he put the Italian Soldiers in the Reer who were most of them Bruttians that of force and necessity more than any good will had follow'd him out of Italy He also rang'd the Horse all round the Wings the Carthaginians in the right and the Numidians in the left His address to the Army was very various being made to so many different sorts of men whose Language Manners Laws Arms Garb Complexion and ground of War was no ways the same The Auxiliaries he said should have a present and manifold reward out of the Booty The Gauls were inflamed with a natural and peculiar hatred toward the Romans The Ligurians had the fruitful Plains of Italy being brought down out of craggy Mountains into great hopes of Victory shewn unto them The Mores and Numidians he terrified with the tyrannical sway that Masinissa was like to bear over them infusing several hopes and fears into the rest of them and minding the Carthaginians of the Walls of their Country their Houshold-Gods the Sepulchres of their Ancestors their Parents Children fearful Wives and how they must expect either destruction and slavery or to be Emperors of the whole World but said no mean thing to them that tended to promote either their hope or fear And just as their General was saying this among his Country-men to the Carthaginian Officers that led their own People and to the Foreigners also by Interpreters that were mingled among them the Trumpets and Cornets sounded from the Roman Army and there was such a noise set up that the Elephants ran upon their own Men especially in the left Wing where the Mores and Numidians stood Masinissa seeing that with ease increased their dread and bereft the Army on that side of all assistance from their Horse But some few of the Beasts being unaffrighted were driven up into the Enemy and made a greater slaughter among the light-arm'd Soldiers though they receiv'd many wounds themselves For the light-arm'd Men retiring into the Maniples and having made way for the Elephants to save themselves from being trod to pieces threw their Spears on both sides into them nor were the Antesignani with their Javelins idle till such time as being by the Weapons which fell upon them from all parts forced out of the Roman Army they put to flight even the Carthaginian Horse in their own right Wing Laelius when he saw the Enemy in a confusion supplied fresh matter of terrour to them The Punick Army was now on both sides bereft of its Horse when the Foot fell on notwithstanding it was not equal to the Enemy either in hopes or strength Besides which though it he a small thing to speak of it was of great moment in the managing of the same affair the clamour or shout the Romans made was all of one tone and consequently so much the greater and more terrible whilst the Enemies voices were dissonant because their Languages were so different The Fight likewise on the Romans side was steddy because they lay heavy upon the Enemy not only through their own weight and strength but that of their Arms too whilst on the other side there was only more swiftness and agility than strength shown in their first Onset Wherefore upon the first effort the Romans made the Enemy immediately give way and then with their Elbows and Bucklers punching them on still as they got ground upon them they proceeded for some time without resistance the Reer pressing on the Van assoon as they perceived the Enemies Body to move which very thing also conduced very much to the routing of them On the other hand among the Enemies the second Division of their Army consisting of Africans and Carthaginians were so far from enduring the Retreat of their Auxiliaries in the Front that they gave back lest the Enemy when they had killed the Vanguard should have fallen upon them Wherefore the Punick Auxiliaries immediately turned their backs upon the Romans and facing their own Men fled partly into the second Division part of which they also slew for not receiving them as being e'rewhiles not assisted by them and then moreover excluded And now there were in a manner two Battles the Carthaginians being forced to ingage not only with the Enemy but their own Party also Yet notwithstanding they did not let them into their Body when they were so dismay'd and furious but closing their Ranks turned them out into the Wings and the open Plains beyond the Army because they were afraid to mingle men in such a consternation and so much wounded with a fresh and steady Army But the heaps of dead Men and Arms had so filled up the place in which the Auxiliaries a little before had stood that their passage that way was full as difficult as it had been through the main Body of the Enemy Wherefore the Spear-men that were first pursuing the Enemy over the
have kept his Kingdom not only if the Romans had not been Victorious but also if they had not waged a War against Antiochus Where he is oblig'd to you not you to him But as to my Kingdom every part of it was so far from being in danger that I slighted Antiochus's offer though he promised me three thousand Talents fifty men of War and all the Cities of Greece which I was formerly possessed of as a reward if I would be his Ally For I pretended to be his Enemy even before that Manius Acilius came with his Army into Greece and with him as Consul I bore any share in the War that he appointed me to take To the succeeding Consul L. Scipio also when he resolv'd to lead his Army by Land to the Hellespont I not only granted a free passage through my Kingdom but I secur'd the wayes too made Bridges and provided him all sorts of necessaries and that not only through Macedonia but Thrace too where among other things the Barbarians were to behave themselves peaceably also For this my kindness not to say desert toward you whether Romans became you most to add somewhat in order to enlarge and encrease my Dominions by their munificence or to take from me what I had either in my own right or of their bounty as you now do The Macedonian Cities which you your selves confess were once part of my Kingdom are not restored Eumenes comes to rob me just as he did Antiochus and pretends forsooth a Decree of the ten Embassadours to cover a most impudent Calumny though by that he may be most of all bafled and put out of countenance For therein it is plainly and literally set down That Chersonesus and Lysimachia should be given to Eumenes Where I pray are Aenus Maronea and the Cities of Thrace named What he durst not so much as desire of them shall he obtain of you as if they had granted it to him It imports me to know in what number you would have me to be with you If you resolve to persecute me as an open Enemy go on and do as you have begun But if you have any respect for me as a King that is your Ally and Friend I beseech you do not think I deserve such hard usage The Kings Speech made the Embassadours somewhat concern'd wherefore by a moderate kind of Answer they left the matter in suspense saying That if those Cities were given to Eumenes by Decree of the ten Embassadours they would make no alteration But if Philip had taken them in the War he should enjoy them as the reward of Victory by right of War If neither of those suppositions were true they thought fit to refer the decision of the case to the Senate and to the end that all things should continue entire that the Garisons which were in those Cities should be drawn out These were the chief reasons that alienated Philips affections from the Romans so that we may suppose this War was not raised by his Son Perseus upon any new grounds but was entailed upon him for these causes by his Father At Rome there was no suspicion of a Macedonian War L. Manlius the Pro-Consul was return'd from Spain who desiring of the Senate a triumph in the Temple of Bellona might have obtain'd it by the greatness of his atchievements but the example hinder'd it for that there was such provision made according to the usage of their Forefathers that no Man who had not brought home his Army should triumph unless he had left his Province totally subdu'd and in perfect Peace to his Successor Yet they allow'd Manlius a middle sort or a less degree of honour to wit that he come Ovant into the City He brought along with him fifty two golden Crowns a hundred twenty two pounds of gold and sixteen thousand and three hundred of silver besides that he declared in the Senate that Q. Fabius the Questor was coming after him with ten thousand pound of silver and eighty of gold which he would likewise bring into the Treasury There was a great insurrection of the Slaves in Apulia that Year L. Postumius the Praetor had Tarentum for his Province who made a strict inquiry concerning the Conspiracy of the Shepherds who infested all the publick roads and pasture grounds with Robberies condemning seven thousand of them though many fled for it many whereof he punish'd The Consuls having been long detain'd in the City about the business of their Levies went at length into their several Provinces The same Year in Spain the Praetors C. Calpurnius and L. Quintius having at the beginning of the Spring brought their Forces out of their Winter Quarters and join'd each other in Beturia march'd forward into Carpetania where the Enemies Camp was being unanimously resolved and ready to engage Not far from Hippo and Toletum two Cities there happen'd a Skirmish between their Foragers Whom whilst they on both sides assisted from their Camp all their Forces were by degrees drawn forth into the Field In that tumultuary Battle both the place and manner of the sight were for the Enemy The two Armies of the Romans were beaten and forced back into their Camp But the Enemies did not pursue them So the Roman Praetors lest their Camp should have been the next day attack'd about the dead time of the next night gave the signal privately and led away their Army At break of day the Spaniards came in Battalia up to their Bullwark and marching into the Camp which contrary to their expectations were deserted they took what was left there in the hurry which the Romans at their departure were in and going back into their own Camp continu'd there at quiet for some few dayes Of the Romans and their Allies in the Battle and their flight there were slain five thousand with whose spoils the Enemy arm'd themselves and thence they march'd to the River Tagus In the mean while the Roman Praetors spent all that time in mustering up of Spanish Auxiliaries out of the several Cities that were their Allies and in recovering their Souldiers Courage from the terrour of the late unfortunate Battle When they thought they had strength enough and that the Souldiers also to obliterate their former disgrace desired to see the Enemy they went and encamped twelve thousand paces from the River Tagus From whence at the third Watch taking up their Ensigns they came in a square Body at break of day to the Bank of Tagus The Enemies Camp was beyond the River upon an Hill Immediately therefore in two places where they could wade through Calpurnius on the right hand and Quintius on the left led the Army over whilst the Enemy lay still and wondering at their sudden arrival stood to deliberate though they might have put them into a consternation even as they were passing the River In the mean while the Romans having carry'd and gather'd all their Baggage into one place because they saw the Enemy now coming
my self and my men to be overcome After that from an Hostile Engagement as if it had been but a Brotherly sort of sport you would have drawn me in to Sup with you Do you believe Father that I should have supp'd among unarm'd persons when there came arm'd men to Feast with me Do you believe I was in no danger in the night time whom they almost kill'd in the day even whilst you looked on Why camest thou at this time a night what like an Enemy to one that was angry or with Companions all girded with Swords I durst not trust my self with you as a Guest shall I entertain you when you come with arm'd men to Feast with me If the Gate had been open you must have been preparing for my Funeral Father at this time that you hear me complaining to you I do not say any thing maliciously as an Accuser nor from arguments make doubtful deductions For what Does he deny that he came to my Gate with a multitude or that there were arm'd men with him Pray send for those that I shall name They indeed may dare to do all things that durst do this but yet they will not dare to deny it If I having laid hold of them within my threshold with their Swords in their hands should have brought them to you you would have thought it true and therefore take them for as good as caught when they confess it Now Curse Ambition for the Kingdom and heighten Brotherly rage but let not your Execrations Father be blind but discern and distinguish between an Assassinate and he that was designed upon That he is guilty He that would have kill'd his Brother let him lie under the displeasure of his Fathers Gods and let him that was like to fall by his Brothers wickedness find a refuge in the Mercy and Justice of his Father For whither else shall I fly whom neither the solemn lustration of thy Army the exercise of thy Souldiers nor his own House nor a Feast nor the Night which was by natures kindness design'd for mortals to rest in can secure If I go upon his invitation to my Brother I must die if I receive my Brother to an entertainment within my Gate I must die also So that I cannot avoid his evil designs upon me either by going or staying Whither shall I betake my self I have paid homage to none Father but the Gods and you I have not the Romans to fly to They desired my destruction because I am sorry for their injuries because I am vext that so many Cities so many Nations and now of late that the Seâ— Coast of Thrace was taken from thee They do not hope that Macedonia will be there whilst either you or I am alive If my Brothers wickedness take off me and old Age you or that they have not the patience to stay till that time they know that the King and Kingdom of Macedonia will be theirs If the Romans had left you any thing out of Macedonia I should believe that left as a receptacle for me also But there is security enough you 'll say among the Macedonians You saw yesterday the Souldiers violence against me What did they lack but Swords But that which they wanted in the day my Brothers guests took up in the Night What should I speak of great part of the Nobility who have reposed all their hopes of honour and Fortune in the Romans and in him who can do what he pleases with the Romans Nor do they only prefer that Boy before me who am his Elder Brother but almost even before you that are his King and Father For 't is he forsooth upon whose account the Senate remitted your penalty who now protects you from the Roman Arms and think fit that your Age should be obliged and obnoxious to his Youth For him the Romans stickle for his sake all the Cities were freed from thy command and all the Macedonians too that enjoy the Roman Peace But for me Father what hopes or security is there save in you only What do you think is the design of that Letter which T. Quintius just now sent you in which he sayes that you did your self great Service in sending your Son Demetrius to Rome and advises you to send him again with more Embassadours and those the chief men of Macedonia too T. Quintius is at present his Counsellor and Master in all affairs He hath renounced you as a Father and taken him in your stead There first of all their sacred designs are contrived And now they seek assistance to carry on their Counsels when he â—dvises thee to send more and those the best men in Macedonia along with him They that go hence entire and sincere to Rome believing that they have Philip for their King return from thence ting'd and infected by Roman Arts. Demetrius with them is all in all and him they call King though his Father be yet alive Now if I resent these things I ought immediately to hear not only from others but from you Father also an accusation against ambition for a Kingdom But I if it be laid to my charge do not acknowledge it For whom do I put out of his place that I may succeed him my self My Father is the only person before me and that he may long be so I beseech the Gods May I so survive him if I deserve it as he would have me If my Father deliver to me the Inheritance of the Kingdom I 'll take it But he desires the Kingdom and that wickedly too who hastens to leap over the order of Age of nature the Macedonian Customs and the Law of nature His elder Brother to whom the Kingdom not only of right but according to the will of his Father belongs stands in his way I 'll take him off says Demetrius I shall not be the first man that has got a Crown by killing of a Brother My Father being an old man and alone when he has lost his Son will be more afraid upon his own account than to revenge his Sons death The Romans will rejoice at it and defend the fact These Father are uncertain but not vain hopes For so the case stands you may remove all danger of life from me by punishing those who took up Swords to kill me but if he should second their wickedness thou couldst not revenge my death When Perseus had made an end of speaking the Eyes of them that were present were set upon Demetrius as though he had been going immediately to Answer him But for a good while they were all silent till mere necessity at last though they all saw that before he could not speak for crying overcame his grief and since he was bid to speak Demetrius thus began All those things which formerly have been the greatest help to persons accused my Accuser Father hath anticipated For by pretended tears shed in order to anothers ruine he hath render'd all my real tears suspected to you