event of these things was inclined to go as Lieutenant with Dolabella into Syria But Hircius and Pansa being designed Consuls after Antonius good Men and Lovers of Cicero intreated him not to leave them undertaking to suppress Antonius if he were present But he neither wholly distrusting nor trusting them left Dolabella to go without him promising Hircius that he would go and spend his Summer at Athens and return again when he entred upon his Office So he took his Voyage by himself but lingring in his Passage such News came to him from Rome as is usual in such cases that Antonius repented and was strangely changed doing all things and managing Publick Affairs at the Will of the Senate and that there wanted nothing but his Presence to reduce things to a happy Settlement and therefore blaming himself for his great Cowardice he return'd again to Rome and was not deceived in his hopes at the beginning For such multitudes flock'd out to meet him that the Complements and Civilities which were paid him at the Gates and at his entrance into the City took up almost one whole day's time On the Morrow Antonius convened the Senate and summoned Cicero thither he came not but kept his Bed pretending to be ill of his Journey but the true reason seem'd the fear of some Design against him upon a suspicion and intimation given him on his way to Rome But Antonius took this Affront very hainously and sent Souldiers commanding them to bring him or burn his House but many interceding and supplicating for him he was contented only to accept Sureties for the payment of his Mulct for absence Ever after when they met they pass'd one another with silence and continued reserved till Caesar the younger coming from Apollonia entred upon the Inheritance of Julius Caesar and had a Controversie with Antonius for two thousand five hundred Myriads which he detained of that Estate Upon this Philip who married the Mother and Marcellus the Sister of this Caesar came with the young Man to Cicero and agreed with him That Cicero should assist with his utmost Power in Eloquence and Politicks with the Senate and People and Caesar give Cicero the defence of his Riches and Arms for at this time the young man had a great Party of the Veterane Souldiers of Caesar about him and Cicero 〈…〉 em'd very willing to embrace the Friendship of Caesar For it seems while Pompey and Caesar were yet alive Cicero in a Dream seem'd to summon some Sons of the Senators into the Capitol as if Jupiter design'd to declare one of them for a Governour of Rome the Citizens with curiosity running stood about the Temple and the Youths sitting in their Purple Robes kept silence On a sudden the Doors opened and the Youths arising one by one in order passed round the God who review'd them all and dismist them displeased but this Youth passing by the God stretched forth his right hand and said O ye Romans this young Man when he shall be Lord of Rome shall put an end to all your cruel Wars It is said that Cicero by this Vision in his Dream had framed the perfect Idea of the Youth and preserved it in his Mind though he did not then know him The next day going down into Campus Martius he met the Boys returning from their Exercise and the first that Cicero saw was he just so as he appear'd to him in his Dream Being astonished at it he ask'd him who were his Parents And it prov'd to be this young Caesar who had for his Father Octavius one of the most eminent Citizens for his Mother Actia the Sister of Caesar and therefore Caesar wanting Children of his own made him by Testament Heir of his Estate and Family From that time it is said that Cicero very studiously saluted the Youth whensoever he met him and he as kindly received the Civility and by Fortune he happened to be born when Cicero was Consul These were the pretended Reasons but it was principally Cicero's Hatred of Antonius and a Temper unable to resist Honour which fastned him to Caesar with an opinion of uniting Caesar's Power to his publick Designs for he had so insinuated himself into the young Man that he call'd him Father at which thing Brutus was so highly displeased that in his Epistles to Atticus he reflected on Cicero saying That it was manifest by his courting Caesar for fear of Antonius he did not intend Liberty to his Country but design'd a bountiful Master to himself Notwithstanding Brutus took Cicero's Son then studying Philosophy at Athens gave him a Command and by his Advice directed much of his Affairs At this time Cicero's Power was at the greatest height in the City and he did whatsoever he pleased for he had suppressed and driven out Antonius and sent the two Consuls Hircius and Pansa to follow him with an Army but perswaded the Senate to decree to Caesar the Lictors and Praetorian Ensigns as fighting for his Country But after Antonius was defeated and both the Consuls slain the Forces which came from the Battel joyn'd themselves with Caesar The Senate fearing the young Man and his extraordinary Fortune endeavoured by Honours and Gifts to call off the Souldiers from him and to lessen his Power pretending there was no further need of Arms now Antonius was put to flight This giving Caesar an Affright he privately sends some Friends to intreat and perswade Cicero to procure the Consular Dignity for them both together and that he should manage the Affairs as he pleased have the Supreme Power and govern the young Man who was only desirous of Name and Glory And Caesar himself confessed That in fear of Ruine and in danger of being deserted he had seasonably made use of Cicero's Ambition perswading him to stand with him assist and joyn his Votes for the Consul-ship And thus was old Cicero wheedled and gull'd by the young Man to bring over his Suffrages and engage the Senate on his â—ide His Friends soon blamed him for it and within a little time after he himself perceived he was ruin'd by it and had betray'd the Liberty of the People for the young Man was so exalted by obtaining the Consular Authority that he bid Cicero Farewell and reconciling himself to Antonius and Lepidus united his Power with theirs and divided the Government with them as if it had been part of a common Estate Thus united they made a Schedule of above two hundred Persons who were designed to be put to Death But the Proscription of Cicero made the greatest Contention in all their Debates For Antonius was inclinable to no Agreement till he was first killed To Antonius Lepidus consented but Caesar opposed them both Their Meetings were held alone by themselves remote from Company for three days near the City of Bononia The Place where they met was over against the Camp encompassed with a River Caesar as it is said very earnestly contended for Cicero the
whereof had never been made since the expedition of Alexander the Great threatning to fall upon Asia awakened Seleucus Ptolomy and Lysimachus to look to themselves which obliged them to enter into a confederacy for their mutual defence and security They therefore dispatched Embassadors to Pyrrhus to represent to him the necessity of rejecting the peace he had made which Demetrius and to perswade him to give him a deversion by making an incursion into Macedon for that Demetrius had only concluded the late Peace with him to be at liberty to prosecute his greater Designs and that should he become victorious he would too late be sensible of the danger of so potent a Neighbour Pyrrhus finding Reason in the Proposition presently closed with them so that in an instant Ptolomy with a mighty Navy invaded Greece Lysimachus entred Macedon upon the side of Thracia and Pyrrhus fell in upon that part next to Epirus spoiling and wasting the whole Country This was an unexpected Surprize to Demetrius but however leaving his Son Antigonus to look after the Affairs of Greece he marched in great diligence to the relief of Macedon and to oppose Lysimachus He was no sooner arrived near the Frontier but he received the ill News that Pyrrhus had taken the City Beraea and the Report being once gotten among the Souldiers the whole Camp was filled with Disorders and Confusion Cries and Lamentations the Souldiers grew insolent and mutinous and bestowing a thousand Execrations upon Demetrius they openly declared that they would march home to take Care of their Country Friends and Families but in reality the Design was to revolt to Lysimachus Demetrius finding them in these Distempers resolved to remove further from Lysimachus for he judged that though by reason of their former kindness to that Prince under whose Conduct many of them had served in the Wars of Alexander might make them unwilling to combat with him yet they would make no difficulty to oppose Pyrrhus a Foreigner and Invader who had spoiled their Country but he found himself under great Mistakes in these Conjectures for when he was advanced near to Pyrrhus these Mutineers took occasion to extoll the Gallantry and Courage of Pyrrhus his generous usage of those who had been his Prisoners and to declare that the Kingdom by the fundamental Custom the Law of Antiquity ought to devolve upon the bravest Man and in short to meditate a general Defection and Revolt For at first some stragling Parties only deserted but in a little time the whole Army broke out into an universal Mutiny insomuch that some of them insolently told him that if he consulted his own Safety he were best to make haste to be gone for that the Macedonians were resolved no longer to hazard their Lives to combat for the satisfaction of his Luxury and Ambition these were moderate Reproaches in comparison of some others which he was obliged to endure and therefore easily guessing what would be the Issue if he should expose himself longer to their Rage he retired to his Tent and putting off the Imperial Purple stole away in the disguised habit of a private Souldier and he was no sooner gone but the Mutinous Army were all together by the Ears about the Plunder of his Tent but Pyrrhus coming immediately repressed their Fury and took possession of it himself and he with Lysimachus parted the Realm of Macedon betwixt them after Demetrius had possessed it just seven years As for Demetrius being thus suddenly despoiled of his Crown he retired to Cassandria where Queen Philla oppressed with insupportable grief to see her Husband from the top of his Glory reduced to the despicable condition of a private and banished person reproaching Fortune for her blind Inconstancy and overcome with the violence of her Despair she took a fatal Potion chusing rather to end her Days with the quick operation of the mortal Drug than to languish out a miserable Life in the tedious delays of an adverse Fortune But Demetrius did not love her so well as to bear her company in that sort of Nectar as great a Friend as he was to Liâ—uors but kept his hopes still warm at the heart and studying how to repair the Shipwrack of his Affairs he parted for Greece and there assembled all his Friends and Captains who had formerly served him in order to the forming an Army to endeavour the recovery of his former Dignity and Dominions and one may well apply that of Sophocles concerning Menelaus to the various changes of this Prince's Estate Mounted on Fortune's ever rowling Wheel Like that inconstant Deity I reel Or like the fickle Lady of the Night Who still puts on a diff'rent dress of Light A Silver Cornet first adorns her Head And the pale Beauty still does larger spread Till her grown Lustre blushing Stars admire And hide their out-of-Countenance sparks of Fire But then her dwindling Glories fade again And are reduced to their former Wane And certainly this changeable Planet was the exact Emblem of this Prince whose Accessions of Glory and Eclipses of Honour his Rises and Falls are perfectly figured by her several Faces for even when his expiring Glory seemed to give the last Gasps his Power would strangely revive and his Hopes flourish as they did at this time by the coming of divers Troops to his assistance which gave him encouragement to hope for the re-establishment of his Affairs He had not however since his last disgrace re-assumed the Royal Robe whereupon a certain Theban seeing him in the mean habit of a private Person applied to him the Distich of Eurypides Of an immortal God again a Mortal made He courts Ismena's Banks and Dirce's cooler Shade But so soon as he began to entertain a prospect of Hope of the change of his Fortune he re-assumed the Regal Habit and kept a little kind of Court at Thebes though at the same time he restored their Democratick Government to that City As for the treacherous Athenians in this Misfortune they again basely deserted him and to do him the greater Disgrace they displaced Diphilus who was that year the Priest of the two Tutelar Deities and by a Popular Edict restored the Priesthood to its ancient Form and hearing that Demetrius grew very powerful they sent to King Pyrrhus to beg his Assistance and Protection Demetrius justly enraged against them for their repeated Perfidies marched to Athens and laid close Siege to the City In this Distress they sent out to him Craterus the Philosopher a Person of great Authority and Reputation to mediate a Composure who managed his Negotiation with so much dexterity that what with his humble Intreaties and Remonstrances and the solid Reasons which he offered Demetrius was persuaded to raise the Siege and shipping his Army which consisted of eleven thousand Men he resolved upon an Expedition into Caria and Lydia to take those Provinces from Lysimachus arriving at Miletus he was met there by Eurydice the Sister of Philla his
deceased Lady who brought along with her Ptolemaida the Daughter whom she had by King Ptolomy which young Lady had before been affianced to Demetrius and with whom he now consummated his Nuptials but he was too intent upon his other Designs to be diverted from them by his new Amour and therefore he presently began the Campagne and was so fortunate in the beginning that many Cities revolted to him and others as particularly the City of Sardis he took by force divers Troops of Lysimachus also came over to him with a considerable Sum of Money But his Fortune which was never constant was now never lasting for Agathocles the Son of Lysimachus with a powerful Army made head against him which obliged him with his Army to divert into Phrygia with an intention to pass into Armenia for he had an imagination that if he could persuade the Medes or Armenians to revolt he should thereby gain many convenient Sea-Ports and Places of Retreat to secure him against any ill Accident or Disaster that might befall him Agathocles pressed very hard upon him and many Skirmishes and Conflicts passed between Parties wherein Demetrius had still the Advantage But Agathocles being much superiour in number straightned him so much in his Forage that his Souldiers were forced to conflict more with Famine than with their Enemies and shewed a great unwillingness to go into Armenia and Media so that for fresh Quarters he was obliged to pass over the River Lycus and in the passage many of his Men by the rapidness of the Torrent were carried down the Stream and drowned This Mischance exasperated the Souldiers to that degree that one of them fixed this Paper upon the Door of his Pavillion taken out of Oedipus with a little variation of the Name Thou Son of blind Antigonus Whither dost mean to hurry us And to add to his Misfortune the Pestilence as is usual when Armies are driven to such Necessities as to subsist upon unwholsom Diet began to assail them as well as the Famine so that he lost eight thousand of his Men and with the rest he retired to Tarsus and because that City was under the Dominion of Seleucus he strictly prohibited his Souldiers the committing any manner of outrages or violence being unwilling to create himself a new Enemy of Seleucus but when he perceived it was impossible to keep the Souldiers in order they being reduced to extreme necessity and Agathocles having block'd up all the Avenues of Mount Taurus to prevent their foraging in his Territories he resolved to write to Seleucus to appease him in this Matter The Letter contained a long and tragical Relation of the miserable state to which he was reduced and passionate Intercessions for his commiseration to a distressed King and Relation who was fallen into such a deplorable condition as might extort Tenderness and Pity from his very Enemies These Letters did so mollifie the Heart of Seleucus that he gave out positive Orders to the Governours of those Provinces that they should furnish Demetrius with all Accommodations suitable to his Royal Quality and with sufficient Provisions for his Troops But Patrocles a Person of great Authority and the Confident of Seleucus persuaded him that this entertainment of Demetrius especially of his Souldiers within his Dominions was not at all agreeable to the sound Maxims of Policy in regard that of all the Kings of his time Demetrius was the most violent in his Inclinations and addicted to bold and daring Enterprizes and that now being driven to Extremities by his adverse Fortune a Condition which many times tempted Persons of the greatest Temper and Moderation to the most desperate Attempts he could not with any Security to himself afford him this Retreat or Entertainment Seleucus animated with this Discourse advanced with a powerful Army towards Cilicia and Demetrius astonished at this sudden alteration betook himself for safety to the Strengths and most inaccessible places of Mount Taurus from whence he sent Envoys to Seleucus to request from him that he would permit him the liberty with his Army to seek to repair his broken Fortunes among the barbarous Nations and there to establish a Kingdom where he might pass the remainder of his Life in quiet and repose and not in that rigorous Season of Winter to expose him in this distressed naked condition to the fury of his implacable Enemies but to allow him a competent Time and Maintenance for the support of his small Army till he might with convenience depart But Seleucus whose Jealousie was now the governing Passion of his Soul sent him this peremptory Answer That he would permit him to stay two Months and no longer in Cataonia provided he presently sent him the principal of his Friends and Officers as Hostages for his departure then and in the mean time he shut up all the Passages into Syria So that Demetrius who saw himself thus encompassed as in a Toil like an enraged Lion flew upon the Prey and fell to wasting the Territories of Seleucus and in many Encounters had the advantage of him and particularly when he was assailed by the Armed Chariots he entirely defeated them and thereby opened his passage into Syria And now finding his Souldiers animated by these Successes he was resolved to push at all and to have one deciding Blow for the Empire with Seleucus but that crafty Prince having refused the assistance of Lysimachus whom he both mistrusted and hated made no great haste to the Encounter but chose rather to weary Demetrius and waste his Power by Delays for there was nothing that he dreaded more than the perpetual vicissitude of that Prince's Fortune which he had so often known to have been raised from the most deplorate state to the greatest excess of Glory But now all things seemed to conspire to the Ruine of this miserable Prince for he was seized with a violent Distemper which did not only endanger his Life but deprived him of his Reason so that his Army began to moulder away insensibly some deserting and others stealing away from the Service which they concluded desperate after forty days he began to be so far recovered as to be able to rally his Forces and marched as if he directly designed for Cilicia but in the Night in great silence he took a Counter-March and passing the Mountain Amanus he forraged all the Country as far as Cyrrhestica Whereupon Seleucus advanced towards him and encamping at no great distance Demetrius took a resolution to surprize him in his Camp but the Design being by some Fugitives discovered to Seleucus he had but just time in great consternation to leap out of his Bed and give the Alarm to his men as he was putting on his Boots to mount to Horse Sirs said he to the Officers about him Look well to your Charges for we must now expect to combat with a furious and enraged wild Beast But Demetrius by the Noise and Murmur he heard in the Camp finding they had taken the Alarm
unworthy of himself But Ismenias being commanded to do obeisance to the King dropt his Ring before him upon the ground and so stooping to take it up he seem'd to pay him homage For some secret intelligence that pleas'd him he bestowed upon Timagoras the Athenian ten thousand Darius's by the hand of his Secretary Beluris and fourscore Milch Kine were driven after him standing in need of Milk from the Cow by reason of his indisposition Moreover he sent him a Bed Furniture and Valets the Grecians having not skill enough to make it as also Chair-men to carry him being infirm in Body quite to the Sea side Not to mention the Treat made for him at Court which was princely and splendid Insomuch that Osthanes the Kings Brother thus spoke to him Be mindfull of this Table which is not put before you thus spread for nothing Which was rather a reflection upon his Treason than to remind him of his Brothers bounty The Athenians therefore condemned Timagoras to death for taking Bribes But Artaxerxes gratify'd the Grecians in one thing in lieu of the many wherewith he plagu'd them and that was by taking off Tisaphernes their most hated and malious Enemy whom he put to death Parysatis adding her charge to those accusations that were already drawn up against him For the King persisted not long in wrath with his Mother but was reconciled to her and sent for her being assur'd that she had Wisdom and Courage fit for an Empire and there being now no cause discernable but that they might converse together without suspicion or offence And from thence forward humouring the King in all things according to his hearts desire and by brooking nothing ill which he did she got a mighty influence upon him and prevail'd in whatever she requested of him She perceiv'd he was desperately in love with Atossa one of his own Daughters and that he conceal'd and checkt his passion chiefly for fear of her self tho' if we may believe some Writers he had privately enjoy'd the young Princess already Now as soon as Parysatis suspected the intrigue she was more fond of her Grand-daughter than before and extoll'd both her vertue and beauty to him as being truly Imperial and Majestick In fine she persuaded him to marry the Maiden and to declare her to be his lawfull Wife in spight of the opinions and determinations of the Greek Sages forasmuch as she said he was designed by Providence for a Law to the Persians and to be the great Arbitrator of good and evil Some Historians further affirm in which number is Heraclides the Cumean that Artaxerxes married not only this one but his second Daughter Amestris also of whom we shall speak by and by But he so intirely lov'd Atossa when she became his Consort that tho' Leprosie had run through her whole body he was not in the least offended at it but putting up his prayers to Juno for her he ador'd her alone among the Deities being prostrate upon the earth His Nobles also and Favourites made such Offerings to that Goddess by his direction that all a long for about two miles betwixt the Court and her Temple the road was choaked up with Gold and Silver with purple and Horses devoted to her He wag'd War out of his own Kingdom with the Aegyptians under the Conduct of Pharnabazus and Iphicrates but was defeated by reason of their dissensions So in his expedition against the Cadusians he went himself in person with three hundred Thousand Footmen and ten Thousand Horse And making an incursion into their Country which was scarce through its roughness passable and withal very misty having neither Seed-time nor Harvest but with Pears Apples and other Tree-fruits breeding up Warlike and valiant men he unawares fell into great distresses and dangers For there was nothing to be got fit for his men to eat of the growth of that place nor to be imported from any other He would only have beasts for burthen slaughter'd insomuch that the head of an Ass was sold for near forty shillings In short the King himself was at a loss for provision and there were but few horses left the rest they had spent for food Then Tiribazus a man for his Valour often in great favour with his Prince and as often for his buffoonery quite out of it particularly at that time being low and despicable did yet preserve the King and his Army There being two Kings amongst the Cadusians and both of them encamping separately after he had made his application to Artaxerxes and imparted his design to him he went to one of the Princes and sent away his Son privately to the other So each of them deceived his man assuring him that the other Prince had deputed an Embassador to Artaxerxes suing for friendship and alliance with him alone and therefore if he were wise he told him he must apply himself to his Master before he had decreed any thing and that he would lend him his assistance in all things Both of them gave credit to these Words and because they suppos'd there was a mutual grudge betwixt them the one dispatcht away Envoys along with Tiribazus the other with his Son But Tiribazus staying somewhat long the surmises and accusations of his Enemies made an impression upon Artaxerxes Who was very Melancholick and being sorry that he had confided in Tiribazus gave ear to his Rivals who impeacht him But at last he came and so did his Son both of them bringing the Cadusian Agents along with them and so there was a League and Peace sign'd with both the Princes And now Tiribazus being great and splendid return'd with the Persian Monarch who plainly prov'd that cowardice and effeminacy are the effects of a base degenerous Nature guided by erroneous notions and not of niceness and superfluous excesses as most men suppose For notwithstanding his Jewels of Gold his Robe of State and the rest of his costly attire worth no less than twelve thousand Talents with which he was constantly clad his labours and toils were no less than those of the meanest persons in his Army Nay turning up his Horse with his Quiver by his side and his Shield on his Arm he led them through craggy and steep ways insomuch that the other Souldiers observing his cheerfulness and unwearied strength took wing and went the more swiftly along with him Whose daily march was above two hundred furlongs After he had arriv'd at one of his own Mansions which had lovely Parks nobly kept in order though situated in a Region naked and without Trees the weather being very cold he gave full Commission to his Soldiers to provide themselves with wood by cutting down any without exception even the Pine and Cypress When they were at a stand and for sparing them being large and goodly Trees he taking up an Ax himself fell the greatest and fairest of them After which his men us'd their hatchets and piling up many Fires past away the Night with
regarded not so much the Plunder as to destroy and kill all they met For Dionysius despairing to re-gain the Kingdom and mortally hating the Syracusians resolved to bury his lost Empire in the utter Ruin and Desolation of Syracuse The Enemy therefore to prevent Dion's Succours resolved upon the most terrible and ready way of destruction to lay the City in ashes firing all at hand with Torches and other Combustibles and at distance with flaming Arrows and other Fire-works shot from their Bows and Engines The Citizens in great distraction fled every way before them They who to avoid the Fire forsook their Houses were taken in the Streets and put to the Sword They who betook themselves for Refuge into the the Houses were forced out again by the flames Many were burnt and many kill'd by the fall of Houses and Ruines of Walls and Towers This fresh misfortune by general Consent opened the Gates for Dion It hapned that he made no extraordinary hast when he received advice that the Enemies were retreated into the Castle but early in the Morning some Horse brought him the news of another Assault and soon after some of those who before oppos'd his coming fled now to him to entreat him he would hasten his Relief The Fire and Desolation increasing Heraclides sent his Brother and after him his Uncle Theodotes to beg him to help them for that now they were not able to make any longer Opposition that he himself was wounded and the greatest part of the City was either in ashes or in flames When Dion met this sad News he was about sixty furlongs distant from the City When he had acquainted the Soldiers with the Exigency and exhorted them to behave themselves like men the Army no longer marched but ran forwards and by the way were met by several who begged them to quicken their pace By the wonderful eagerness of the Soldiers and their extraordinary Speed Dion quickly came to the City and entered at the Gate Hecatompedon sending his Vanguard presently to charge the Enemy that seeing them the Syracusians might take Courage In the mean time he drew up in good Order his main Body and all the Citizens that came in and joyn'd him forming his Battalions long and setting over them double Officers that he might as occasion required make Detachments and to amuse and terrifie the Enemy fight them in several Quarters at once As they saw him in the Streets advance at the Head of his Men to engage the Enemy a confused Noise of Shouts congratulations Vows and Prayers was rais'd by the Syracusians who now called Dion their Deliverer their Tutelar-Deity and his Soldiers their Friends Brethren and Fellow-Citizens none seem'd to regard themselves or value their safeties but to be concerned more for Dion's Life than for all their own together So daringly he marched before them to meet the danger first through Blood and Fire and over heaps of dead Bodies that lay in his way And indeed the Posture of the Enemy was in appearance terrible for they were flush'd with Victory enrag'd and had posted themselves very advantageously along the demolish'd Works which made the approach to them very hazardous and difficult yet that which discouraged Dion's Men most was the apprehension they were in of the Fire which made their march very troublesome and difficult for the Houses being in flames on all fides they were surrounded with them and treading upon burning Ruines every minute in danger of being overwhelm'd with falling Houses through clouds of Ashes and Smoak they labour'd hard to keep their Order and maintain their Ranks When they came near to the Enemy by reason of the advantage of their Post and the inconvenience of a Defile they were to pass but few of them could engage at a time but at length fighting with great Bravery and the Syracusians with shouts encouraging their Party Nypsius's Men were beaten off and routed most of them escaped into the Castle which was near at hand all that could not get in were pursued and pick'd up here and there by the Soldiers and put to the Sword The present Exigence did not suffer the Citizens to reap the benefit of their Conquest in such mutual Congratulations and expressions of Joy as become the Victorious for now all were busily employed to save what Houses were left standing labouring hard all Night and could scarce master the Fire The next day not one of the Popular Haranguers durst stay in the City but all of them knowing their own Guilt by their flight confessed it and secured their Lives Only Heraclides and Theodotus voluntarily surrendred themselves to Dion acknowledging that they had wrong'd him and begging he would be kinder to them than they had been just to him adding how much it would be for his Honour who was Master of so many excellent Accomplishments to moderate his Anger and be generously compassionate to the ungrateful confessing that they who were formerly his professed Enemies were now absolutely overcome by his Vertue Tho' they humbly addressed to him his Friends advised him not to pardon those turbulent and ill-natured Men but to leave them to the mercy of his Soldiers and utterly root out of the Common-wealth the ambitious Affectation of Populacy a Disease as pestilent and pernicious as the most Arbitrary Power whatever Dion endeavoured to satisfie them telling them That other Generals employed their thoughts and designs chiefly about warlike Acquists but that he had long studied in the Academy how to conquer his Passions and not let Emulation and Envy conquer him That to do this it is not sufficient that a Man be obliging and kind to his Friends and those that have deserved well of him but also indulgent and favourable to those from whom he has received Injuries and Affronts That he was resolved to let the World see that he valued not himself so much upon excelling Heraclides in Ability and Conduct as he did in out-doing him in Justice and Clemency herein to have the Advantage is to excell indeed The Honour of Victory in War is never entire for Fortune will be sure to claim her share tho' no man pretend to rival the Conqueror What if Heraclides be perfidious malicious and base must Dion therefore sully his Honor or injure his Vertue by a passionate Concern for it For tho' the Laws determine it juster to revenge an Injury than to do an Injury Yet it is evident that both Originally proceed from the same deficiency and weakness of Humane Nature The malicious Humor of Men tho' perverse and refractory is not so savage and invincible but it may be wrought upon by Kindness and habitually altered by repeated Obligations Dion making use of these Arguments pardon'd and dismiss'd Heraclides and Theodotes And now resolving to repair the Blockade about the Castle he commanded all the Syracusians to cut Palisado's and bring them to the Works and then dismissing them to refresh themselves and take
of the Day for that he knew he must at any other time as impiously offend her whensoever he who introduc'd him into her Religion should be the Murderer of her Devoto There were a great many in the Conspiracy and as Dion was at home with several of his Friends in his Entertaining-Room some of the Conspirators beset the House round others secur'd the Doors and Windows The Assassines were Zacinthians who went in to him in their ordinary Habit unarm'd The Guard without shut the Doors upon them and kept them fast The Murderers fell upon him endeavouring to stifle and dispatch him but not being able they call'd for a Sword but none durst open the Door There were a great many within with Dion but every one was for securing himself supposing that by letting him lose his Life he should save his own and therefore no man ventur'd to assist him When they had waited a good while at length Lycon the Syracusian reach'd a short Sword in at the Window to one of the Zacinthians and stunn'd and almost senseless as he was like a Sacrifice at the Altar they cut Dion's Throat his Sister and Wife big with Child they hurried to Prison who poor Lady in her unfortunate condition was there brought to Bed of a Son which by the consent of the Keepers they intended to bring up the rather because Calippus began already to be embroyl'd in Troubles After the Murther of Dion he was the only man that was look'd upon had the sole Government of Syracuse in his Hands and to that effect writ to Athens a place which next the Immortal Gods being guilty of such an abominable Crime he ought to have reverenc'd and fear'd But true it is what is said of that City That the good Men she breeds are the most Excellent and the bad the most notorious as their Country Attica produces the most delicious Honey and the most deadly Poyson Calippus did not long continue to scandalize Fortune and upbraid the Gods with his Prosperity who seem'd to wink at and bear with that wretched man while he purchas'd Riches and Power by the most heinous and enormous Impieties but he quickly receiv'd the Punishment he deserv'd for going to take Catana he lost Syracuse whereupon they report he said He had lost a City and got a Bauble Then attempting Messene he had most of his Men cut off and among the rest Dion's Murtherers When no City in Sicily would admit him but all hated and abhorred him he went into Italy and took Regium there being necessitous and not able to maintain his Soldiers he was kill'd by Leptimns and Polyperchon and as Fortune would have it with the same Sword that Dion was Murther'd which was known by the size being but short as the Spartan Swords and the Workman-ship of it very curious and Artificial Thus Calippus receiv'd the Reward of his Villanies When Aristomache and Arete were releas'd out of Prison Icetes one of Dion's Friends took them to his House and for a while entertain'd them well and like a faithful Friend afterwards being perswaded by Dion's Enemies he provided a Ship and pretended to send them into Peloponnesus but commanded the Sailors when they came out to Sea to kill them and throw them over board Others say that they and the little Boy were thrown alive into the Sea This Man also escaped not the due recompence of his wickedness for he was taken by Timoleon and put to Death and the Syracusians to revenge Dion slew his two Daughters of which I have Discours'd more particularly in the Life of Timoleon THE LIFE OF MARCUS BRUTUS Translated by Mr. Duke BRUTUS M Burghers sculp Cato the Philosopher was Brother to Servilia the Mother of Brutus and he it was whom of all the Romans his Nephew most admir'd and study'd to imitate and afterwards marry'd his Daughter Porcia But of all the Sects of the Greek Philosophers tho' there was none of which he had not been a Hearer and in which he had not made some proficiency yet he chiefly esteem'd the Platonists and not at all approving of the modern and the middle Academy as it was call'd apply'd himself wholly to the study of the Ancient He was all his Life-time a great Admirer of Antiochus of the City of Ascalon and took his Brother Ariston into his own House for his Friend and Companion a Man for his Learniug inferior indeed to many of the Philosophers but for the evenness of his Temper and sweetness of Conversation equal to the best As for Empylus of whom he himself and his Friends made often mention in their Epistles as of one that constantly liv'd with Brutus he was an Orator and has left behind him a short but well penn'd History of the Death of Caesar entitled Brutus In Latin he was a good Speaker and had by constant exercise attain'd a sufficient Excellency in making publick Orations and pleading Causes But in Greek he was remarkable for affecting the sententious and short Laconick way of Speaking In his Epistles especially as when in the beginning of the War he writ thus to the Pergamenians I hear ye have given Dolabella Money if you gave it willingly ye must own ye have injur'd me if unwillingly shew it by giving willingly to me And another time to the Samians Your Councils are careless your Actions slow what think ye will be the end And of the Patareans thus The Xanthians suspecting my Kindness have made their Countrey a Grave of Despair The Patareans trusting themselves to me have lost nothing of their former Liberty It is in your Power to choose the Judgment of the Patareans or the Fortune of the Xanthians And this is the Style wherein his most remarkable Letters were usually writ When he was but a very young Man he accompanied his Uncle Cato to Cyprus who was sent with an Army against Ptolomy King of Aegypt But as soon as Ptolomy had kill'd himself Cato being by some necessary Business detain'd in the Isle of Rhodes sent one of his Friends nam'd Caninius to take into his care and keeping the Treasure of the King but afterwards suspecting his Fidelity he writ to Brutus to sail immediately to Cyprus out of Pamphylia where he then stay'd to refresh himself being but newly recover'd of a Fit of Sickness He obey'd his Orders but with a great deal of unwillingness as well out of Respect to Caninius that was thrown out of this Employment by Cato with so much Disgrace as also because he esteem'd such a Commission too mean for a Gentleman and not at all becoming him that was in the prime of his Youth and given to Books and Learning Nevertheless applying himself to this Business he behav'd himself so well in it that he was highly commended by Cato and having turn'd all the Goods of Ptolomy into ready Money brought the greatest part of it in his own Ship to Rome Upon the Division of the Empire into two Factions when Pompey
the Power and Titianus only the Name Celsus and Paulinus had the Title of Coucellors and Friends but shared nothing of the management All things likewise were full of confusion among the Enemies paticularly in Valens's Camp who hearing of the Rencounter at the Ambuscade grew out of all patience that they should not be there to relieve so many brave persons as fell upon the spot So that Valens having much ado to perswade and keep them from revenging it upon himself was sorced to dislodge and join with Caecinna Hereupon Otho arrived at Bebriacum a Village near Cremona to consult about giving Battel Proculus and Titianus were for fighting while the Souldiers were in heart with their late success and not by sitting still to blunt their Courage and give Vitellius leisure to come upon them out of Gaul Paulinius on the contrary affirm'd that the Enemies whole force was there without the least recruit whereas Otho might expect an Army out of Mysia and Pannonia no whit inferiour to that in the Field if he would but stay his own time and not serve his Enemies occasions neither was it likely that the Spirit of those few Souldiers should be lessened by the encrease of more Forces but rather that the supply would add to their assurance Over and above this delay made for the Othonians who lived at home in absolute plenty while the Vitellians lodging in an enemies country must encrease their wants with their stay Celsus concurr'd with Paulinus Annius Gallus was absent and under cure by a fall from his Horse Yet Otho consulting him by Letter received the same advise not to be forward but wait the Mysian Forces which were already on the March However Otho deaf to these inclined to that side which held for a Battel There are several Reasons given for this Result in which few men agree this is plainly one The Praetorians and the Life-guard having then a taste of War in good earnest and so much the more lingring after the delicacies and quiet diversions of Rome could not be kept in clamouring for a Fight as if at the very first course they had been able to over-run their Enemies Neither did Otho himself seem tough enough to hold out in such uncertainty or so soft so little us'd was he to struggle with thoughts of such danger but quite broke with care he shut his eyes as one that leaps from a Precipice and spurr'd on to trust Fortune with his All. This Account gives Secundus the Orator and Secretary to Otho According to some other Relations it was more than once moved in both Armies to joyn and especially that with one consent they might elect the best of the Captains then present or in case of disagreement to call a Senate upon the place and submit the choice of the Emperour to them Neither is it unlikely that the right experienced and understanding Souldiers having no extraordinary favour for either of the contesting Emperours might fall upon such projects For what could be more detestable and grievous than wilfully to embrace those miseries which the Romans groan'd under long ago while they were cutting of Throats for Sylla and Marius and since that for Caesar and Pompey only that the Empire might serve the Gluttony and Drunkenness of Vitellius or the Luxury and Tenderness of Otho It is supposed that Celsus out of some such meaning sought to spin out the time as hoping to decide the point without the pains of an Encounter as on the contrary that Otho suspecting his Design made haste to engage Upon this Resolve Otho himself returned back to Brixillum by another grand Mistake not only in withdrawing his presence from the eyes of his Champions who did even adore and dote on him but in carrying back for his Horse and Foot-Guard the stoutest and most resolute of his Men he plainly cut off the Body of his Army About that time there happened a skirmish at the River Po which Caecinna sought to pass by a Bridge of Boats Otho's Men to oppose yet gaining little by plain force they threw Fire-brands daub'd with Pitch and Brimstone into the Vessels which the Wind taking as they fell suddenly kindled and blew into the Faces of the Enemies who being first troubled with the Smoke and then with the Flame leap'd into the Water overturning the Floats and exposing their Bodies with derision to the Enemy But the Germans attacking Otho's Gladiators in a small Island upon the River defeated and cut off a great Party Whereupon the Othonians that-were at Bebriacum being transported with fury to revenge it Proculus led them forth about fifty furlongs before he encamped and withall so inconsiderately and ridiculously that even in the Spring and the Fields round about full of Rivalets and Currents yet they were distressed for Water On the morrow when he would have led them at least twice as far against the Foe Paulinus put a stop declaring in his opinion that they ought rather to keep their Station and not harrass themselves nor just upon a long March with their Baggage to engage the Enemy that would be armed and ranged at leisure In the midst of this Dispute among the Commanders a Numidian came post from Otho bringing Orders without stop or stay to lead strait upon the Enemy which incontinently they did Caecinna was surprized at the News of their approach and leaving hastily his Works at the River he return'd into the Camp Valens having posted great part of his Army and given the Word sent out a choice forlorn of Horse to amuse the Enemy whilst he drew up the Legions Otho's Van were possess'd with belief from a flying Report that Vitellius his Captains would come over to them Therefore when they drew near they saluted them by the friendly Term of Fellow-Souldiers which not being answered by the others with Civility but with an angry hostile Murmur both discouraged them that had given the Salute and fill'd the rest with suspicion of Treason This began a disorder at the very first Charge which was spread throughout the Field not a little confounded by the cumbersome Carriages they receiv'd also no small disadvantage from the place of Battel full of Ditches and Trenches to avoid which they were forc'd to change their Order and fight one among another as they could compass it in little Parties Two only Legions that called Rapax for Vitellius and Adjutrix for Otho being drawn out in a Champaign fought fairly a long time Otho's Men were lusty and valiant but in their Apprenticeship Vitellius's old and experienced Souldiers Otho's Men therefore charged hotly gained ground knock'd down the formost and took one of their Eagles Shame and Rage drave the others back upon them again and with the death of Orphidius the Collonel they surprized divers of Otho's Eagles in revenge for their own The Gladiators Men of no small credit for Courage and Address were attack'd by Varus Alphenus's Batavians the Flower of the German Horse which were drawn from
sent Cleopatra into Egypt and staid himself in a very solitary condition having no Company but two of his familiar friends the one Aristocraces a Grecian the other Lucilius a Roman We have already spoken of the last in the life of Brutus and how that to give him leisure to escape at the Battel of Philippi he suffer'd himself to be taken pretending to be Brutus Antony gâ—ve him his Life and he remained firm to him to his last day To add to the afflictions of Antony he understood that he who commanded for him in Libya to whose care he had committed all the Troops of that Country was gone over to Caesar there he had a great mind to kill himself but was hindred by his friends and coming to Alexandria he found Cleopatra busied in a most prodigious enterprise There is but a small space of Land which divides the Red Sea from the Mediterranean which also separates Asia from Africk and in the narrowest place is not much above thirty six miles over Cleopatra had formed a project of dragging her Gallies over this Neck of Land and of setting them on Float in the Red-Sea with all her riches aboard to seek some remote Country where she might live in peace secure from War and Slavery But the first Gallies which were carried over being burnt by the Arabians of Petra and Antony not knowing but that the Army before Actium stood yet firm she desisted from her enterprise and gave orders for the fortifying all the avenues of her Kingdom but Antony leaving the City and the conversation of his friends built him a house nigh Pharos upon a little Mount which he had cast up in the Sea and there secluding himself from the company of mankind he resolved to imitate the life of Timon because he had received the same hard usage and that for the ingratitude and injuries which he suffer'd from those he had obliged and esteemed his friends he would hate and mistrust all Mankind This Timon was a Citizen of Athens and lived in the time of the Peloponnesian War as may be seen by the Comedies of Aristophanes and Plato in which he is lashed as the hater and enemy of mankind This Man having a long time avoided and despised the converse of every Body and meeting Alcibiades a bold young Gentleman he civilly saluted him and embraced him Apemantus was astonish'd and demanding the reason Oh says Timon you cannot imagine what mischief this young Man will one day do the Athenians He never admitted any one into his Company but this Apemantus who was much of the same humour and a zealous imitator of his way of Life At the celebration of the Feasts for the Dead these two were eating together and Apemantus saying to him Oh Timon this is a pleasant Feast It would be so he answer'd if thou wert away One day he got up in a full Assembly into the Pulpit and a great silence being made by reason of so unusual a sight he began his Speech which was thus Ye Men of Athens I have a little Court-yard and in it grows a Fig-Tree on which many of your Citizens have been pleas'd to hang themselves and now having resolved to build in that place I could not omit the making publick Declaration of my design least I should prejudice any one by cutting down my Tree that has a mind to hang himself He died and was buried at Hales nigh the Sea which swells in that place and flowing round his Monument makes it inaccessible the Monument had this inscription The wretches heart who here does lie Did burst with grief and misery Ask him not his name to tell But God confound ye all farewel And this Epitaph was made by himself while yet alive that which is usually reported to be his was made by Callimachus Here Timon lies who hated man begon Curse mortal curse again but pray march on Thus much of Timon of whom much more might be said Canidius brought Antony word of the loss of his Army which was before Actium then he received news that Herod of Judea was gone over to Caesar with very considerable Troops that several great Commanders had deserted him and that his interest was quite ruin'd every where All this did not in the least move him but quitting all hope that he might be rid of all care and leaving his habitation by the Sea which he call'd the Timonium he was received by Cleopatra in the Palace and the whole City was diverted by him with feasting drinking and presents The Son of Caesar and Cleopatra was registred among the youths and Antyllas his own Son by Fulvia received the Gown without the purple border which was given to them that are come of age so that the Citizens of Alexandria did nothing but feast and revel for many days they broke up the order of the inimitable Livers and constituted another in its place nothing inferior to the former in splendor and luxury and called it the Diers together for all those that would die with Antony and Cleopatra gave in their Names passing their time in all manner of pleasures and treating one another by turns But Cleopatra was busied in making a collection of all manner of poysonous drugs and desirous to know which of them were the least painful in the Operation she sent them to be tried upon such as were condemn'd to die but finding that those poisons that had a quick effect caused sharp pains and great convulsions and that the milder were so very long a working she set her self to the examination of venomous Creatures applying one sort to one Body and another to others and this was her daily practice still finding that nothing was comparable to the bite of the Asp which without the least convulsion or groaning caused a great heaviness in the head and desire of sleep with a gentle sweat all o'er the Face the senses being stupify'd by degrees the patient in appearance being sensible of no pain but rather troubled to be disturb'd or awaken'd like those that are in a profound natural sleep They both sent Ambassadors to Caesar into Asia Cleopatra petition'd for the Kingdom of Egypt for her Children and Antony that he might have leave to live a private Man in Egypt and if that were thought too much that he might retire to Athens for want of friends so many having deserted and the remainder not deserving to be trusted Euphronius his Son's Tutor was sent of this Embassie For Alexas of Laodicea who by the recommendation of Timagenes came acquainted with Antony at Rome and had the greatest power over him of any of the Grecians and was of all the insinuating Spirits which Cleopatra made use of to perswade Antony the most successful and the only Man that could oppose Octavia's Counsels was sent to Herod to keep that King from desertion but he betraying his Master staid with him and confiding in Herod's interest had the impudence to come into Caesar's presence
but Herod was not able to protect him for he was presently bound in Fetters and sent into his own Country where by Caesar's order he was put to death this reward of his Treason did Alexas receive while Antony was yet alive Caesar denying Antony's request made answer to Cleopatra that there was no manner of favour which she might not reasonably expect if she put Antony to death or banish'd him He sent back with the Ambassadors his own Servant Thyreus a Man of no ordinary parts and not unlikely to succeed coming from an Emperour in his youth to a vain Woman easily pust up with her own praises and putting so great trust in her Charms This Man making his audience much longer than ordinary and receiving great honours from her made Antony very jealous so that he order'd him to be first whipp'd and then sent back to Caesar writing him word he had been provok'd by his proud insolent Carriage and that a Man in his Circumstances was no great Master of his passions but that if he took it ill he had his Servant Hipparchus by him whom he might use after the same manner that they might be upon even Terms But Cleopatra that she might make atonement for her own indiscretion and lay his jealousie made all the submission imaginable When her Birth-day came she kept it as was suitable to their deplorable Fortune but his was observ'd with great splendor and magnificence so that many of the Guests sate down in great want and went home wealthy Men. After the defeat of Antony Agrippa writ many Letters to Caesar to let him know how necessary his presence was at Rome for which reason the War was deferr'd for a season but the Winter being over he began his march he himself by the way of Syria and his Captains through Africk Peleusium being taken there went a report as if that Town had been delivered to Caesar by Seleucus not without the consent of Cleopatra but she to justifie her self gave up into Antony's hands the Wife and Children of Seleucus She had caused to be built joyning to the Temple of Isis several Tombs and Monuments of a stupendious height and very considerable for the workmanship thither she removed her Treasure her Gold Silver Emeralds Pearls Ebony Ivory Cinnamon and after all of Torches and Flax a great quantity upon which Caesar began to fear least she should in a desperate fit set all these riches on fire therefore while he was marching towards the City with his Arms he omitted no occasion of giving her assurance of his respect Caesar having incamped in the Court where they used to manage their Horses Antony made a fierce Sally routed the Horse and beat them back into their Trenches and so return'd with great satisfaction to the Palace where meeting Cleopatra arm'd as he was he kist her and recommended to her favour a brave Fellow that had signaliz'd himself in this engagement to whom she made a present of a Coat of Armour and Helmet made of Gold which he having received went that very Night and rendred himself to Caesar After this Antony sent a Challenge to Caesar to fight him hand to hand who made him answer that he might find several other ways to end his Life and he considering with himself that he could not die more honourably than in Battel resolved to fight Caesar both by Land and Sea As 't is reported he commanded his Servants to treat him chearfully and fill him his Wine plentifully that to morrow they should not do the same but become Servants to a new Master when he should lie extended on the ground a poor dead Corps a very Nothing His Friends that were about him wept to hear him talk on this manner which he perceiving he told them he should not leâ—d them out to fight with greater expectation of an honourable Death than of a glorious Victory At the dead of Night when the whole City was in a deep silence and consternation it expecting the event of the next day on a sudden was heard the sound of all manner of Instruments and a horrible noise like to that which is made at the Feasts of Bacchus this tumultuous Procession seem'd to have broke in at one Gate of the City to have quite travers'd it and have gone out at the Gate which the Enemy lay before and this did signifie to them that understand Prodigies that Bacchus the God whom he had always a particular inclination for and whom he did study to imitate had now forsaken him Assoon as it was light he march'd his Foot out of the City and posted them upon a rising ground from whence he saw his Fleet make up to the Enemy There he stood in expectation of the Event but as soon as ever the Fleets came nigh to one another his first saluted Caesar's which having returned the Complement they presently joyn'd and with all their force row'd up to the City Antony had no sooner seen this but the Horse deserted him and rendred themselves to Caesar and his Foot being defeated he retired into the City roaring out that Cleopatra had betrayed him when he had fought only for her sake She being afraid lest in his fury and despair he might do her a mischief sled to her Monument and making it as fast as she could with Bars and Bolts she sent to make Antony believe she was dead He believing it cries out Now Antony what hast thou to do in this World Fate now has snatch'd away the only cause for which thou could'st endure to live Going into his Chamber and opening his Coat of Armour I am not says he troubled Cleopatra to be at present bereaved of you for I shall soon be with you but this does much afflict me that so famous a General should be inferiour in greatness of Mind to a Woman He had a faithful Servant whose Name was Eros he had engaged him formerly to kill him when he should think it necessary and now he put him to his Promise Eros drew his Sword as designing to kill him but when his back was turn'd he slew himself and falling dead at his Feet Well hast thou done my Eros who since thou hadst not the heart to dispatch thy Master hast taught him what he ought to do and so he ran himself into the Belly and laid himself upon the Couch He died not presently of the Wound and by reposing himself the Blood being a little stopp'd he came to himself and intreated those that were about him to put him out of his pain but they all fled out of the Chamber and left him bewailing and tormenting himself whilst Diomedes Secretary to Cleopatra came to him having been commanded to bring him to her in the Monument when he understood she liv'd with a great deal of Vigour he gave order to his Servants to take him up and in their Arms was carried to the door of the Monument Cleopatra would not open the door but looking