least haue thought of For in great matters that happen seldome Homer sayeth and crieth out in this sorte The goddesse Pallas she vvith her fayer glistering eyes dyd put into his minde suche thoughts and made him so deuise And in an other place But sure some god hath t'ane out of the peoples minde both vvit and vnderstanding eke and haue thervvith assynde some other simple spirite in steede thereof to byde that so they might their doings all for lacke of vvit misguyde And in an other place The people of them selues did either it consider or else some god instructed them and so they ioynde together Many recken not of Homer as referring matters vnpossible and fables of no likelyhoode or trothe vnto mans reason free will or iudgement which in deede is not his meaning But things true likely he maketh to depend of our owne free wil and reason For he oft speaketh these wordes I haue thought it in my noble harte And in an other place Achilles angrie vvas and sorie for to heare him so to say his heauy brest vvas fraught vvith pensiue feare And againe in an other place Bellerophon she could not moue vvith her fayer tongue so honest and so vertuous he vvas the rest among But in wonderous and extraordinarie thinges which are done by secret inspirations and motions he doth not say that God taketh away from man his choyce and freedom of will but that he doth moue it neither that the doth worke desire in vs but obiecteth to our mindes certaine imaginations whereby we are lead to desire and thereby doth not make this our action forced but openeth the way to our will and addeth thereto courage and hope of successe For either we must say that the goddes meddle not with the causes and beginninges of our actions or else what other meanes haue they to helpe and further men It is apparaunt that they handle not our bodies nor moue not our feete and handes when there is occasion to vse them but that parte of our minde from which these motions proceede is induced thereto or caried away by such obiectes and reasons as God offereth vnto it Now the ROMAINE Ladies and gentlewomen did visite all the temples and goddes of the same to make their prayers vnto them but the greatest Ladies and more parte of them were continuallie about the aulter of Iupiter Capitolin emonge which troupe by name was Valeria Publicolaes owne sister The selfe same Publicola who did such notable seruice to the ROMAINES both in peace warres and was dead also certaine yeares before as we haue declared in his life His sister Valeria was greatly honoured and reuerenced amonge all the ROMAINES and did so modestlie and wiselie behaue her selfe that she did not shame nor dishonour the house she came of So she sodainely fell into suche a fansie as we haue rehearsed before and had by some god as I thinke taken holde of a noble deuise Whereuppon she rose and thother Ladies with her and they all together went straight to the house of Volumnia Martius mother and comming in to her founde her and Martius wife her daughter in lawe set together and hauinge her husbande Martius young children in her lappe Now all the traine of these Ladies sittinge in a ringe rounde about her Valeria first beganne to speake in this sorte vnto her We Ladies are come to visite you Ladies my Ladie Volumnia and Virgilia by no direction from the Senate nor commaundement of other magistrate but through the inspiration as I take it of some god aboue Who hauinge taken compassion and pitie of our prayers hath moued vs to come vnto you to intreate you in a matter as well beneficiall for vs as also for the whole citizens in generall but to your selues in especiall if it please you to credit me and shall redounde to our more fame and glorie then the daughters of the SABYNES obteined in formerage when they procured louinge peace instead of hatefull warre betwene their fathers and their husbands Come on goodladies and let vs goe all together vnto Martius to intreate him to take pitie vppon vs and also to reporte the trothe vnto him howe muche you are bounde vnto the citizens who notwithstandinge they haue susteined greate hurte and losses by him yet they haue not hetherto sought reuenge apon your persons by any discurteous vsage neither euer conceyued any suche thought or intent against you but doe deliuer ye safe into his handes though thereby they looke for no better grace or clemency from him When Valeria had spoken this vnto them all thother ladyes together with one voyce confirmed that she had sayed Then Volumnia in this sorte did aunswer her My good ladies we are partakers with you of the common miserie and calamitie of our countrie and yet our griefe exceedeth yours the more by reason of our particular misfortune to feele the losse of my sonne Martius former valiancie and glorie and to see his persone enuironâ—ed nowe with our enemies in armes rather to see him foorth comminge and safe kept then of any loue to defende his persone But yet the greatest griefe of our heaped mishappes is to see our poore countrie brought to suche extremitie that all the hope of the safetie and preseruation thereof is nowe vnfortunately cast vppon vs simple women bicause we knowe not what accompt he will make of vs sence he hath cast from him all care of his naturall countrie and common weale which heretofore he hath holden more deere and precious then either his mother wife or children Notwithstandinge if ye thinke we can doe good we will willingly doe what you will haue vs bringe vs to him I pray you For if we can not preuaile we maye yet dye at his feete as humble suters for the safetie of our countrie Her aunswere ended she tooke her daughter in lawe and Martius children with her and being accompanied with all the other ROMAINE ladies they went in troupe together vnto the VOLSCES campe whome when they sawe they of them selues did both pitie and reuerence her and there was not a man amonge them that once durst say a worde vnto her Nowe was Martius set then in his chayer of state with all the honours of a generall and when he had spied the women comming of farre of he marueled what the matter ment but afterwardes knowing his wife which came formest he determined at the first to persist in his obstinate and inflexible rancker But ouercomen in the ende with naturall affection and being altogether altered to see them his harte would not serue him to tarie their comming to his chayer but comming downe in hast he went to meete them and first he kissed his mother and imbraced her a pretie while then his wife and litle children And nature so wrought with him that the teares fell from his eyes and he coulde not keepe him selfe from making much of them but yeelded to the affection of his bloode as if he
great twynnes which made Amulius more affrayed then before So he commaunded one of his men to take the two children and to throwe them awaye and destroye them Some saye that this seruants name was Faustulus other thincke it was he that brought them vp But whosoeuer he was he that had the charge to throwe them awaye put them in a troughe and went towards the riuer with intention to throwe them in Howbeit he found it risen so highe and running so swiftely that he durst not come neere the waters side so they being in the troughe he layed them on the bancke In the meane time the riuer swelling still and ouerflowing the bancke in such sorte that it came vnder the troughe dyd gently lifte vp the troughe caried it vnto a great playne called at this present Cermanum and in the olde time Germanum as I take it bicause the Romaines called the brothers of father mother Germani Nowe there was neere vnto this place a wilde figge tree which they called Ruminalis of the name of Romulus as the most parte thought or els bicause the beasts feeding there were wont to come vnder the same in the extreame heate of the daye and there dyd Ruminare that is chewe their cudde in the shadowe or perhappes bicause that the two children dyd sucke the teate of the woulfe which the auncient LATINES call RVMA and they at this day doe yet call the goddesse on whom they crye out to geue their children sucke RVMILIA And in their sacrifices to her they vse no wine but offer vp milke and water mingled with honye To these two children lying there in this sorte they write there came a she woulfe gaue them sucke and a hitwaw also which dyd helpe to norishe and keepe them These two beastes are thought to be cōsecrated to the god Mars the LATINES doe singularly honour reuerence the hitwaw This dyd much helpe to geue credit to the wordes of the mother who affirmed she was conceyued of those two children by the god Mars Howbeit some thincke she was deceyued in her opinion for Amulius that had her maidenhead went to her all armed and perforce dyd rauishe her Other holde opinion that the name of the nurce which gaue the two children sucke with her breastes gaue occasion to cōmon reporte to erre much in this tale by reason of the double signification thereof For the LATINES doe call with one selfe name shee woulfes Lupas women that geue their bodyes to all cōmers as this nurce the wife of Faustulus that brought these children home to her house dyd vse to doe By her rightname she was called Acca Laurentia vnto whom the ROMAINES doe sacrifice yet vnto this daye and the priest of Mars doth offer vnto her in the moneth of Aprill the sheading of wine and milke accustomed at burialls and the feast it selfe is called Larentia It is true that they honour also another Larentia for like occasion The clercke or sexten of Hercules temple not knowing one daye howe to driue awaye the time as it should seeme of a certaine liuelines and boldnes dyd desire the god Hercules to playe at dyce with him with condition that if he dyd winne Hercules should be bounde to send him some good fortune and if it were his lucke to lose then he promised Hercules he would prouide him a very good supper and would besides bring him a fayer gentlewoman to lye with all The conditions of the playe thus rehearsed the sexten first cast the dyce for Hercules and afterwards for him selfe It fell out that Hercules wanne and the sexten meaning good fayth and thincking it very mete to performe the bargaine that him selfe had made prepared a good supper and hyered this Laurentia the courtisan which was very fayer but as yet of no great fame to come to it Thus hauing feasted her within the tēple and prepared a bedde readye there after supper he locked her into the temple as if Hercules should haue comen in dede layen with her And it is said for trothe that Hercules came thither cōmaunded her in the morning she should goe into the market place salute the first man she met kepe him euer for her friend Which thing she performed the first man she met was called Tarrutius a man of great yeres one that had gathered together marueilous wealth riches He had no children at all neither was he euer maried He fell acquainted with this Laurentia loued her so dearely that shortely after chaūcing to dye he made her heire of all he had whereof she disposed afterwards by her last will and testament the best and greatest parte vnto the people of Rome Moreouer it is reported also that she now being growen to be famous of great honour as thought to be the lēman of a god dyd vanishe away sodainely in the self same place where the first Laurentia was buried The place at this day is called Velabrū bicause the riuer being ouerflowen they were oftentimes compelled to passe by bote to goe to the market place and they called this manner of ferrying ouer Velatura Other saye that those tomblers common players which shewed sundrye games and pastimes to winne the fauour of the people were wont to couer that passage ouer with canuas clothes and veyles by which they goe from the market place to the lystes or shewe place where they ronne their horses beginning their race euen at the place and they call a veyle in their tongue Velum This is the cause why the seconde Laurentia is honored at Rome Faustulus chief neate heard to Amulius tooke vp the two children and no bodye knewe it as some saye or as other reporte and likest to be true with the priuitie knowledge of Numitor Amulius brother who secretly furnished them with money that brought vp the two young children It is sayed also they were both conueyed vnto the cittie of the GABIANS where they were brought vp at schole taught all other honest things which they vse to teache the sonnes childrē of good noble mē Further they saye they were named Remus and Romulus bicause they were founde sucking on the teates of a woulfe Nowe the beawtie of their bodyes dyd presently shewe beholding onely but their stature and manner of their countenaunces of what nature and linadge they were and as they grewe in yeres their manly corage increased maruelously so as they became stowte and hardy men in so much as they were neuer troubled or astonied at any daunger that was offered them Howbeit it appeared plainely that Romulus had more wit vnderstanding then his brother Remus For in all things wherein they were to deale with their neighbours either cōcerning hunting or the boundes and limites of their pastures it was easely decerned in him that he was borne to commaund and not to obeye For this cause they were both
and their brethern They brought meate and drincke for them that would eate They dressed vp the woundes of those that were hurte They caried them home with them to their houses They shewed them howe they were mistresses there with their husbands They made them see howe greately they were accompted of and esteemed yea howe with a wedlocke loue and reputation they were honored So in the end peace was concluded betwene them wherein it was articled that the SABYNE women which would remaine with their husbands should tarye still and be exempted from all worke or seruice as aboue recited saue only spinning of wolle And that the SABYNES ROMAINES should dwell together in the cittie which should be called ROMA after Romulus name the inhabitants should be called Quirites after the name of the cittie of Tatius king of the SABYNES that they should reigne gouerne together by a comon consent The place where this peace was concluded is called yet to this daye Comitium bicause that Coire in the Latine tongue signifieth to assemble So the cittie being augmented by the one halfe they dyd choose of the SABYNES another hundred new PATRICIANS vnto the first hundred of the ROMAINES that were chosen before Then were the Legions made of sixe thousand footemen six hundred horsemen After they diuided their inhabitāts into three Tribes wherof those that came of Romulus were called Ramnenses after his name those that came of Tatius were called Tatienses after his name and those that were of the third stocke were called Lucerenses as from the Latine word Lucus called with vs a groue in English bicause thither great number of people of all sortes dyd gather which afterwards were made citizens of ROME The very worde of Tribus which signifieth bands wards or hundreds dothe witnesse this beginning of ROME from wards or hundreds For hereupon the ROMAINES call those at this daye their Tribunes which are the chiefe heades of the people But euery one of these principall wardes had afterwards ten other particular wards vnder them which some thincke were called after the names of the thirtie SABYNE women that were rauished but that semeth false bicause many of them cary the names of the places they came frō Howbeit at that time many things were stablished ordeined in honour of women as to geue them place the vpper hande in meeting them the vpper hand in streets to speake no fowle or dishonest word before them no man to vnraye himselfe or shew naked before them that they should not be called before criminall iudges sitting vpō homicides murderers that their children should weare about their necks a kind of a Iuell called Bulla facioned in māner like these water bubbles that rise vpō the water when it beginneth to raine that their gownes should be garded with purple Now the two Kings dyd not straight cōferre together so sone as any occasion of busines was offered them but either of them dyd first counsell alone with his hundred Senatours and afterwards they dyd all assemble together Tatius dwelt in the place where nowe is the temple of Iuno Moneta Romulus in the place called at this present the stayers of the fayer bācke then the descēt of mount Palatine as they goe to the showe place or great listes where they saye was somtime the holy cornell tree whereof they make so great accompt Romulus one daye desirous to proue his strength threwe as it is sayed a darte from mount Auentine toward mount Palatine The staffe whereof was of a cornell tree the Iron of it entred so deepe into the ground being a lustye farte soyle that no man could pul it out although many proued it and did the best they could The ground being very good and fit to bring forth trees did so nourishe the ende of this staffe that it tooke roote and beganne to spread braunches so that in time it became a fayer great cornell tree which the successours of Romulus dyd inclose with a walle dyd kepe and worshippe it as a very holy thing If by chaunce any went to see it and found it looked not freshe and grene but like a tree withered and dryed awaye for lacke of moysture he went awaye straight as one affrayed crying to all he met they with him went crying still in euery place water water as it had bene to haue quenched a fyre Then ranne they thither out of all quarters with vessels of water to water and moyste the tree In the time of Caius Caesar who caused the stayers about it to be repayred they saye the labourers raysing the place and digging about this cornell tree dyd by negligence hurte the rootes of the same in suche sorte as afterwardes it dryed vp altogether Nowe the SABYNES receyued the moneths after the manner of the Romaines whereof we haue written sufficiently in the life of Numa Romulus againe vsed the SABYNES sheldes and both he and his people chaunged the facion of their armour and weapons they vsed For the ROMAINES before dyd carye litle sheldes after the facion of the ARGIVES As for either of their holy dayes and sacrifices they kept them bothe together and dyd not take awaye any of them which either the one or the other people obserued before but they added thereunto some other newe As that which they call Matronalia which was instituted in honour of the women bicause by their meanes peace was cōcluded And that also of Carmentalia in the honour of Carmenta whom some suppose to be the goddesse of fate or destinie bicause she hathe rule power ouer the natiuities of men by reason whereof the mothers call vpon her often reuerence her very much Other saye she was the wise of Euander the Arcadian who being a prophetesse inspired by the god Phoebus gaue the oracles in verse wherupō she was surnamed Carmenta bicause that Carmina in Latine signifie verses for it is of certaintie that her proper name was Nicostrata Howbeit there are some which geue another manner of deriuation and interpretation of this worde Carmenta which is the liklier to be true as if they would saye Carens mente which signifieth wanting wit for the very furie that taketh them when they are inspired with the propheticall spirite For in Latine Carere betokeneth to lacke and Mens signifieth wit. As for the feast of Palilia we haue tolde of it before but the feast of Lupercalia considering the time of celebrating thereof it seemeth it is ordeined for a purification For it is celebrated on the vnfortunate dayes of the moneth of Februarie which are called the purging dayes The dayes in the olde time on which they did celebrate the same were called Februata But the proper name of the feast is as much to saye as the feast of woulues Wherefore it seemeth to be a feast of great antiquitie and instituted by the ARCADIANS which came in with Euāder albeit the name of
to be but hauing supped soberly at his ordinarie came home secretly to the house where the bride was and there vntied his wiues girdell tooke her in his armes layed her vpon a bed and talked together a while and afterwards fayer softely stole awaye to the place where he was wonte to sleepe with other young men And so from thenceforth he continued allwayes to doe the like being all the daye time and sleeping most of the night with his companions onles he sometime stale to see his wife being affrayed and ashamed euer to be seene by any of the house where she was And hereunto his younge wife did helpe for her parte to spye meanes and occasions howe they might mete together and not be seene This manner endured a great while and vntill somme of them had children before they boldely met together and sawe eache other on the daye time This secret meeting in this sorte did serue to good purposes not only bicause it was some meane of continencie and shamefastnes but also it kept their bodies in strength and better state to bring forth children It continued also in both parties a still burning loue and a newe desire of the one to the other not as it were luke warme nor wearie as theirs commonly be which haue their bellies full of loue and as muche as they lust but they euer parted with an appetite one from another keeping still a longing desire to deuise howe to mete againe Nowe when he had stablished suche a continencie and so kynde a framed honestie in mariage he tooke no lesse care to driue awaye all foolishe iealousie therein thinking it very good reason to beware there should be no violence nor confusion in mariage and yet as reason would they should suffer those which were worthie to get children as it were in common laughing at the mad follie of them which reuenge such things with warre and bloudshed as though in that case men in no wise should haue no fellowshippe together Therefore a man was not to be blamed being stepped in yeres and hauing a young wife if seeing a fayer young man that liked him and knowen with all to be of a gentle nature he brought him home to get his wife with childe and afterwardes would auowe it for his as if him selfe had gotten it It was lawfull also for an honest man that loued another mans wife for that he sawe her wise shamefast and bringing forth goodly children to intreate her husband to suffer him to lye with her and that he might also plowe in that lustie grounde and cast abroade the seede of well fauored children which by this meanes came to be common in bloude and parentage with the most honorable and honestest persones For first of all Lycurgus did not like that children should be priuate to any men but that they should be common to the common weale by which reason he would also that such as should become cittizens should not be begotten of euery man but of the most honestest men only So Lycurgus thought also there were many foolishe vaine toyes and fansies in the lawes and orders of other nations touching mariage seeing they caused their bitches and mares to be limed and couered with the fayrest dogges and goodliest stalons that might be gotten praying or paying the masters and owners of the same and kept their wiues notwithstanding shut vp safe vnder locke and key for feare least other then them selues might get them with childe although they were sickely feeble brayned and extreme olde As if it were not first of all and chiesly a discommoditie to the fathers and mothers and likewise to those that bring them vp to haue vnperfect and feeble children borne as it were begotten of drie and withered men and then to the contrarie what pleasure and benefit is it to those that haue fayer and good children borne as gotten of like seede and men These things were done then by naturall and ciuill reason neuertheles they saye women were so farre of then from intreatie as euer they were before so as in olde time in SPARTA men knew not what adulterie ment For proofe whereof the aunswer made by Geradas one of the first auncient SPARTANS vnto a straunger maye be alledged that asked him what punishement they had for adulterers My friend q he there be none here But if there were replied the straunger againe Marye sayed he then he must paye as great a bull as standing vpon the toppe of the mountaine Taygetus maye drincke in the riuer of Eurotas Yea marye but howe is it possible q the straunger to finde such a bull Geradas laughing aunswered him againe And howe were it possible also to finde an adulteretin SPARTA And this is that which is found of Lycurgus lawes touching mariages Furthermore after the birthe of euery boye the father was no more master of him to cocker and bring him vp after his will but he him selfe caried him to a certaine place called Lesché where the eldest men of his kinred being set did viewe the childe And if they founde him fayer and well proportioned of all his limmes and stronge they gaue order he should be brought vp and appointed him one of the nine thousand partes of inheritaunce for his education Contrariwise if they founde him deformed misshapen or leane or pale they sent him to be throwen in a deepe pyt of water which they commonly called Apothetes and as a man would saye the common house of office holding opinion it was neither good for the childe nor yet for the common weale that it should liue considering from his birthe he was not well made nor geuen to be stronge healthfull nor lustie of bodie all his life longe For this cause therefore the nurce after their birthe did not washe them with water simply as they doe euery where at that time but with water mingled with wine and thereby did they prooue whether the complexion or temperature of their bodies were good or ill For they suppose that children which are geuen to haue the falling sicknes or otherwise to be full of rewmes sicknesses cannot abide washing with wine but rather drye and pyne awaye as contrarilie the other which are healthfull become thereby the stronger and the lustier The nurces also of SPARTA vse a certaine manner to bring vp their children without swadling or binding them vp in clothes with swadling bandes or hauing on their heades any crosse clothes so as they made them nimbler of their limmes better shaped and goodlier of bodie Besides that they acquainted their children to all kinde of meates and brought them vp without muche tendaunce so as they were neither fine nor licorous nor fearefull to be lefte alone in the darcke neither were they criers wrallers or vnhappy children which be all tokens of base and cowardly natures So that there were straungers that of purpose bought nources out of LACONIA to bring vp their children as they
betweene those that were euidently forced by constraint and those that were compassed and wrought by subornation at length to doe a thing against their will taking fraude in this case equall with violence and pleasure with sorowe as passions with madnes which commonly haue as much force the one as the other to drawe and driue men from reason He made another lawe also in which he appointed women their times to goe abroade into the fieldes their mourning their feastes and sacrifices plucking from them all disorder and wilfull libertie which they vsed before For he dyd forbid that they should carie out of the cittie with them aboue three gownes and to take vittells with them aboue the value of an halfe pennie neither basket nor pannier aboue a cubite highe and specially he dyd forbid them to goe in the night other then in their coche and that a torche should be caried before them He dyd forbid them also at the buriall of the dead to teare and spoyle them selues with blowes to make lamentations in verses to weepe at the funeralles of a straunger not being their kinseman to sacrifice an oxe on the graue of the dead to burie aboue three gownes with the corse to goe to other mens graues but at the very time of burying the corse all which or the most parte of them are forbidden by our lawes at this daye Moreouer those lawes appointe a penaltie vpon such women as offend in the same to be distrayned for by certaine officers expressely named to controll and reforme the abuses of women as womanish persones and faynte harted which suffer them selues to be ouercome with such passions and fondnes in their mourning And perceyuing that the cittie of ATHENS beganne to replenish daylie more and more by mens repayring thither from all partes and by reason of the great assured safetie and libertie that they founde there and also considering howe the greatest parte of the Realme became in manner heathy and was very barren and that men traffeking the seas are not wonte to bring any marchaundise to those which can geue them nothing againe in exchaunge he beganne to practise that his cittizens should giue them selues vnto craftes and occupations and made a lawe that the sonne should not be bounde to relieue his father being olde onles he had set him in his youth to some occupation It was a wise parte of Lycurgus who dwelt in a cittie where was no resorte of straungers and had so great a territorie as could haue furnished twise as many people as Euripides sayeth and moreouer on all sides was enuironned with a great number of slaues of the ILOTES whom it was needefull to keepe still in labour and worcke continually to haue his cittizens allwayes occupied in exercises of feates of armes without making them to learne any other science but discharged them of all other miserable occupations and handy craftes But Solon framing his lawes vnto things not things vnto lawes when he sawe the countrie of ATTICA so leane and barren that it could hardely bring forth to susteine those that tilled the grounde only and therefore much more impossible to keepe so great a multitude of idle people as were in ATHENS thought it very requisite to set vp occupations and to geue them countenaunce and estimation Therefore he ordeined that the counsaill of the Areopagites should haue full power and authoritie to enquier how euery man liued in the cittie also to punishe such as they found idle people and dyd not labour But this was thought to seuere and straight a lawe which he ordeined as Heraclides Ponticus writeth that the children borne of common harlotts and strumpets should not be bounde to relieue their fathers For he that maketh no accompt of matrimonie plainely sheweth that he tooke not a wise to haue children but only to satisfie his lust and pleasure and so such an one hath his iust reward and is disapointed of the reuerēce that a father ought to haue of his children since through his owne faulte the birth of his childe falleth out to his reproche Yet to saye truely in Solons laws touching women there are many obsurdities as they fall out ill fauoredly For he maketh it lawfull for any man to kill an adulterer taking him with the facte But he that rauisheth or forcibly taketh awaye a free woman is only condemned to paye a hundred siluer drachmes And he that was the Pandor to procure her should only paye twenty drachmes Onles she had bene a common strumpet or curtisan for such doe iustefy open accesse to all that will hier them Furthermore he doth forbid any persone to sell his daughters or sisters onles the father or brother had taken them abusing them selues before mariage Me thincketh it is farre from purpose and reason with seueritie to punish a thing in one place and ouer lightly to passe it ouer in another or to set some light fine on ones head for a great faulte and after to discharge him as it were but a matter of sporte Onles they will excuse it thus that money being very harde scante at that time in ATHENS those fines were then very great grieuous to paye For in setting out the charges of offerings which should be made in sacrifices he appointed a weather to be a conuenient offering and he setteth a busshell of corne at a siluer drachme More he ordeined that they which wonne any of the games at ATHENS should paye to the common treasurie an hundred drachmes And those wōne any of the games Olympicall fiue hūdred drachmes Also he appointed that he which brought a he woulfe should haue fiue drachmes him one drachme for reward of a she woulfe Whereof as Demetrius Phalerian writeth the one was the price of an oxe and the other of a mutton For touching the rates he ordeined in the sixtenth table of his lawes mete for burnt sacrifices it is likely he dyd rate them at a much higher price then ordinarilie they were worth and yet notwithstanding the price which he setteth is very litle in comparison of that which they are worth at this daye Nowe it was a custome euer amongest the ATHENIANS to kill their woulfes bicause all their coūtrie laye for pasture not for tillage Some there be that saye the tribes of the people of ATHENS haue not bene called after the names of the children of Ion as the common opinion hath bene but that they were called after their diuers trades manners of liuing which they tooke them selues vnto from the beginning For such as gaue them selues vnto the warres were called Oplites as who would saye men of armes Those that wrought in their occupations were called Ergades as much to saye as men of occupation The other two which were husbandmen followed the plough were called Teleontes as you would saye labouring men And those that kept beastes cattell were called AEgicores as much to saye as heard men Nowe
they should throwe their goods out after them Howbeit this was the least parte of Tarquines intent to seeke his goodes againe but vnder pretence of that demaund he secretly corrupted the people and practised treason which his ambassadours followed pretending only to get the Kings goodes and his fauourers together saying that they had already solde some parte and some parte they kept and sent them daylie So as by delaying the time in this sorte with such pretences they had corrupted two of the best and auncientest houses of the cittie to wit the familie of the Aquilians whereof there were three Senatours and the familie of the Vitellians whereof there were two Senatours all which by their mothers were Consul Collatinus nephewes The Vitellians also were allied vnto Brutus for he had maried their owne sister had many children by her Of the which the Vitellians had drawen to their stringe two of the eldest of them bicause they familiarly frequented together being cosin germaines whom they had intised to be of their conspiracie allying them with the house of the Tarquines which was of great power and through the which they might persuade them selues to rise to great honour preferment by meanes of the Kings rather than to trust to their fathers willfull hardnes For they called his seueritie to the wicked hardnes for that he would neuer pardone any Furthermore Brutus had fayned him selfe mad and a foole of long time for safety of his life bicause the tyrannes should not put him to death so that the name of Brutus only remained After these two young men had geuen their consent to be of the confederacie and had spoken with the Aquilians they all thought good to be bounde one to another with a great and horrible othe drincking the bloude of a man and shaking hands in his bowells whom they would sacrifice This matter agreed vpon betweene them they met together to put their sacrifice in execution in the house of the Aquilians They had fittely pickt out a darke place in the house to doe this sacrifice in where almost no bodye came yet it happened by chaunce that one of the seruants of the house called Vindicius had hidden him selfe there vnknowing to the traytours and of no set purpose to spye and see what they dyd or that he had any manner of inckling thereof before but falling by chaunce vpon the matter euen as the traytours came into that place with a countenaunce to doe some secret thing of importaunce fearing to be seene he kept him selfe close and laye behinde a coffer that was there so that he sawe all that was done and what they sayed and determined The conclusion of their counsell in the ende was this that they would kill both the Consuls and they wrote letters to Tarquinius aduertising the same which they gaue vnto his ambassadours being lodged in the house of the Aquilians were present at this conclusion With this determination they departed from thence and Vindicius came out also as secretly as he could being maruelously troubled in minde at a maze howe to deale in this matter For he thought it daungerous as it was in deede to goe and accuse the two sonnes vnto the father which was Brutus of so wicked and detestable a treason and the nephewes vnto their vncle which was Collatinus On the other side also he thought this was a secret not to be imparted to any priuate persone and not possible for him to conceale it that was bounde in duety to reueale it So he resolued at the last to goe to Valerius to bewraye this treason of a speciall affection to this man by reason of his gentle and curteous vsing of men geuing easy accesse and audience vnto any that came to speake with him and specially for that he disdained not to heare poore mens causes Vindicius being gone to speake with him and hauing tolde him the whole conspiracy before his brother Marcus Valerius and his wife he was abashed and fearefull withall whereupon he stayed him least he should slippe awaye and locked him in a chamber charging his wife to watche the doore that no bodie went in nor out vnto him And willed his brother also that he should goe and beset the Kings palace round about to intercept these letters if it were possible and to see that none of their seruants fled Valerius selfe being followed according to his manner with a great traine of his friendes and people that wayted on him went straight vnto the house of the Aquilians who by chaunce were from home at that time and entering in at the gate without let or trouble of any man he founde the letters in the chamber where king Tarquines ambassadours laye Whilest he was thus occupied the Aquilians hauing intelligence thereof ranne home immediately and founde Valerius cōming out at their gate So they vould haue taken those letters from him by force and strong hande But Valerius and his company dyd resist them and moreouer hudded them with their gownes ouer their heads and by force brought them doe what they could into the market place The like was done also in the Kings palace where Marcus Valerius founde other letters also wrapt vp in certaine fardells for their more safe cariage and brought away with him by force into the market place all the Kings seruants he founde there There the Consuls hauing caused silence to be made Valerius sent home to his house for this bondman Vindicius to be brought before the Consuls then the traytours were openly accused and their letters redde and they had not the face to aunswer one worde All that were present being amazed honge downe their heades and beholde the grounde and not a man durst once open his mouth to speake excepting a fewe who to gratifie Brutus beganne to say that they should banishe them and Collatinus also gaue them some hope bicause he fell to weeping and Valerius in like manner for that he held his peace But Brutus calling his sonnes by their names come on sayed he Titus and thou Valerius why doe you not aunswer to that you are accused of and hauing spoken thryse vnto them to aunswer when he sawe they stoode mute and sayed nothing he turned him to the sergeants and sayed vnto them They are now in your handes doe iustice So soone as he had spoken these wordes the sergeants layed holde immediately vpon the two young men and tearing their clothes of their backs bounde their hands behinde them and then whipped them with roddes which was such a pittiefull sight to all the people that they could not finde in their hartes to behold it but turned them selues another waye bicause they would not see it But contrariwise they saye that their owne father had neuer his eye of them neither dyd chaunge his austere and fierce countenaunce with any pittie or naturall affection towards them but stedfastly dyd beholde the punishment of his owne children vntill they were
PELOPONNESVS and there they should assemble the whole strength and power of GREECE within the barre of the same make a strong substantiall walle from the one sea to the other The ATHENIANS were very angrie at this deuise were half discoraged out of harte to see thē selues thus forsakē and cast of by the rest of the GREECIANS For it was out of all speache that they alone should fight against so many thousands of enemies therefore their only remedy was to leaue their cittie to get them to the sea The people were very vnwilling to listen hereūto making their reckoning it was nedeles to be carefull to ouercome or to saue them selues hauing once forsaken the tēples of their godds the graues of their parents Wherfore Themistocles seeing that neither reason nor mans persuasion could bring the people to like his opinion he beganne to frame a deuise as men doe vse somtimes in tragedies to threaten the ATHENIANS with signes from heauen with oracles aunswers from the goddes And the occasion of Mineruaes draggō serued his turne for a celestiall signe token which by good fortune dyd not appeare in those dayes in the tēple as it was wont to doe the priests found the sacrifices which were daylie offered to him whole vntouched by any Wherefore being enformed by Themistocles what they should doe they spred a brute abroade amongest the people that the goddesse Minerua the protectour defendour of the cittie had forsaken it pointing them the waye vnto the sea And againe he wanne them by a prophecie which cōmaunded them to saue them selues in walles of wodd saying that the walles of wodd dyd signifie nothing els but shippes And for this cause he saied Apollo in his oracle called SALAMINA diuine not miserable nor vnfortunate bicause it should geue the name of a most happy victorie which the GREECIANS should get there And so at the last they following his counsell he made this decree that they should leaue the cittie of ATHENS to the custodie of the goddesse Pallas that was lady gouernour of the country that all those which were of age to carie any weapon should get thē to the gallyes for the rest that euery man should see his wife children bondmen placed in some suer place as well as he could After this decree was past authorised by the people the most parte of them did conuey their aged fathers mothers their wiues litle children into the cittie of TROEZEN where the TROEZENIANS receyued them very louingly gently For they gaue order that they should be entertained of the cōmon charge allowing them a pece two obulos of their money a daye suffered the young children to gather fruite wheresoeuer they founde it furthermore dyd hier schoolemasters at the charge of the cōmon wealth to bring them vp at schoole He that was the pēner of this decree was one called Nicagoras The ATHENIANS at that time had no comō money but the Senate of the Areopagites as Aristotle sayeth furnished euery souldier with eight drachmas which was the only meane that the gallyes were armed Yet Clidemus writeth that this was a crafte deuised of Themistocles The ATHENIANS being come downe vnto the hauen of PIRAEA he made as though Pallas tergat on the which Medusus heade was grauen had bene lost was not found with the image of the goddesse and faining to seeke for it he ransacked euery corner of the gallyes and founde a great deale of siluer which priuate persones had hidden amongest their fardells This money was brought out vnto the people and by this meanes the souldiers that were shipped had wherewithall to prouide them of necessary things When time came that they were to departe the hauen that all the cittie of ATHENS had taken sea one waye it was a pittie to beholde them Another waye it made all sortes to wounder that considered the boldnes and corage of those men which before sent awaye their fathers and mothers from them and were nothing moued at the teares cries sherikes imbrasings of their wines their children departures but stowtly and resolutely helde on their course to SALAMINA Notwithstanding there were many olde cittizens left still of necessitie in ATHENS bicause they could not be remoued for very extreme age which sturred many with compassion toward them There was besides a certen pittie that made mens harts to yerne when they saw the poore doggs beasts cattell ronne vp downe bleating mowing and howling out alowde after their masters in token of sorowe when they dyd imbarke Amongest these there goeth a straunge tale of Xanthippus dogge who was Pericles father which for sorowe his master had left him behinde him dyd cast him self after into the sea swimming still by the galleys side wherein his master was he helde on to the I le of SALAMINA where so sone as the poore curre lāded his breath fayled him dyed presently They saye at this daye the place called the doggs graue is the very place where he was buried These were straūge acts of Themistocles that beholding the ATHENIANS sory for the absence of Aristides and fearing least of spyte he taking parte with the barbarous nation might haue bene the ruine distruction of the state of GREECE being banished fiue yeres also before the warres by Themistocles procurement that he dyd set forth a decree that all those which had bene banished for a time might returne home againe to doe to saye to geue counsell to the cittizens in those things which they thought best for the preseruation of GREECE And also where Eurybiades being generall of the GREECIANS whole army by sea for the worthines of the cittie of SPARTA but otherwise a rancke coward at time of neede would in any case departe from thence retire into the goulfe of PELOPONNESVS where all the army of the PELOPONNESIANS was by lande assembled that Themistocles withstood him and did hinder it all he could At that time also it was that Themistocles made so notable aunswers which specially are noted gathered together For when Eurybiades sayed one day vnto him Themistocles those that at playes games doe rise before the company are whistled at It is true said Themistocles but those that tarie last so doe neuer winne any game Another time Eurybiades hauing a staffe in his handle lift it vp as though he would haue striken him Strike thou wilt said he so thou wilt heare me Eurybiades woūdring to see him so paciēt suffered him then to saye what he would Then Themistocles beganne to bring him to reason but one that stoode by sayed vnto him Themistocles for a man that hath neither cittie nor house it is an ill parte to will others that haue to forsake all Themistocles turning to him replied We haue willingly forsaken our houses and walles sayed he cowardly beaste that thou arte bicause we would not
sent three hundred of their lusty youthes to accompany him and conducte him out of their countrie They saye at the next feastes and assembly of the playes Olympicall that were made after this victorie when Themistocles was once come into the showe place where these games were played the people looked no more on them that fought but all cast their eyes on him shewing him to the straungers which knewe him not with their fingers and by clapping of their handes dyd witnesse howe much they esteemed him Whereat he him selfe tooke so great delite that he confessed to his familiar friends he then dyd reape the fruite and benefit of his sundry and painefull seruices he had taken in hande for the preseruation of GREECE so ambitious was he of nature couetous of honour as we maye easely perceyue by certen of his dedes and notable sayings they haue noted of him For being chosen admirall of ATHENS he neuer dispatched any causes priuate or publicke howsoeuer they fell out vntill the very daye of his departure and taking shippe and all bicause that men seeing him ryd much busines at once and to speake with so many persones together they should esteeme him to be the notabler man of the greater authoritie Another time he walked vpon the sandes by the sea side beholding the dead bodies of the barbarous people which the sea had cast vp vpon the shore and seing some of them that had on still their chaynes of golde and bracelets he passed by on his waye but shewed them yet to his familiar friende that followed him and sayed vnto him take thou those for thou art not Themistocles And vnto one Antiphates who in his youth had bene a goodly young boye and at the time dyd scornefully behaue him selfe vnto him making no reckoning of him and now that he sawe him in authoritie came to see him he sayed O my young sonne and friend we are both euen at one time but to late growen wise He sayed the ATHENIANS dyd not esteeme of him in time of peace but when any storme of warres were towardes and they stoode in any daunger they ranne to him then as they ronne to the shadowe of a plane tree vpon any sodaine raine and after fayer weather come againe they cut awaye then the braunches and bowghes thereof There was a man borne in the I le of SERIPHA who being fallen out with him dyd cast him in the teethe that it was not for his worthines but for the noble cittie wherein he was borne that he had wonne such glorie Thou sayest true sayed he but neither should I euer haue wonne any great honour if I had bene a SERIPHIAN nor thou also if thou haddest bene an ATHENIAN An other time one of the captaines of the cittie hauing done good seruice vnto the common weale made boast before Themistocles and compared his seruice equall with his Themistocles to aunswer him tolde him a prety tale That the working daye brawled on a time with the holy daye repining against her that he laboured for his liuing continually and howe she dyd nothing but fill her bellie and spende that they had gotten Thou hast reason sayed the holy daye But if I had not bene before thee thou haddest not bene here nowe And so if I had not bene then where had you my masters bene nowe His owne sonne was a litle to sawsie with his mother and with him also bearing him self ouer boldely of her good will by meanes of her cockering of him Whereupō being merely disposed he would saye that his sonne could doe more then any mā in all GRECE For sayeth he the ATHENIANS commaunde the GRAECIANS I commaunde the ATHENIANS my wife commaundeth me and my sonne commaundeth her Moreouer bicause he would be singular by him selfe aboue all other men hauing a pece of lande he would sell he willed the crier to proclaime open sale of it in the market place and with all he should adde vnto the sale that his lande laye by a good neighbour An other time two men being suters to his daughter he preferred the honester before the richer saying he had rather haue to his sonne in lawe a man that lacked goodes then goodes to lacke a man These were Themistocles pleasaunt conceites and aunswers But after he had done all these things we haue spoken of before he tooke in hande to buylde againe the cittie and walles of ATHENS and dyd corrupt the officers of LACEDAEMONIA with money to the end they should not hinder his purpose as Theopompus writeth Or as all other saye when he had deceyued them by this subtiltie he went vnto SPARTA as ambassadour sent thither of purpose vpon the complaintes of the LACEDAEMONIANS for that the ATHENIANS dyd inclose their cittie againe with walles who were accused vnto the counsaill of SPARTA by an orator called Poliarchus who was sent thither from the AEGINETES of purpose to prosecute this matter against the ATHENIANS Themistocles stowtely denied it to them and prayed them for better vnderstanding of the trothe they would sende some of their men thither to see it This was but a fetche only to winne by this delaye the ATHENIANS so muche more time to rayse vp their walles and that the ATHENIANS should keepe as ostages for suertie of his persone those they should send to ATHENS to bring backe the reporte thereof and so it fell out For the LACEDAEMONIANS being informed of the trothe as it was dyd him no hurte but dissembling the misliking they had to be thus abused by him sent him awaye safe and sounde Afterwardes he made them also mende and fortifie the hauen of PIRAEA hauing considered the situation of the place and all to incline the cittie to the sea Wherein he dyd directly contrary to all the counsell of the auncient kings of ATHENS who seeking as they saye to withdrawe their people from the sea and to accustome them to liue vpon the lande by planting sowing and plowing their groundes dyd deuise and geue out abroade the fable they tell of the goddesse Pallas And that is this how she contending with Neptune about the patronage of the country of ATHENS brought forth and shewed to the iudges the olyue tree by meanes whereof she preuayled and obteined the preheminence Euen so Themistocles dyd not ioyne the hauen of PIRAEA vnto the cittie of ATHENS as the comicall poet Aristophanes sayeth but rather ioyned the cittie vnto the hauen PIRAEA and the lande vnto the sea By this meanes he made the people strong against the nobilitie and brought the communaltie to waxe bolder then they were before by reason the rule and authoritie fell into the handes of saylers mariners pilottes shippemasters and such kinde of seafaring men so as the pulpet where all the oracles were made stoode in the market place of PNYX and dyd looke towardes the sea But the thirtie tyrannes that came in afterwardes dyd remoue it and turne it towardes the lande holding opinion
a certen booke he wrote of the soule that there was newes come from the West parte that an armie which came from the HYPERBORIANS had taken a cittie of GRECE called ROME situated in that country neere the great sea But I wonder not that Heraclides who hath written so many other fables lyes dyd amplifie the true newes of the taking of ROME with adding to of his owne deuise of the HYPERBORIANS by the great sea It is a most true tale that Aristotle the philosopher had certain knowledge it was taken by the GAVLES howbeit he sayeth also it was recouered againe afterwards by one called Lucius where in deede it was by Marcus Camillus not by Lucius But all this in manner is spoken by cōiecture Moreouer Brennus being entred ROME dyd appointe parte of his souldiers to besiege those which were gotten into moūt Capitoll And he with the residue of his armie marched on towards the market place where when he saw the aunciēt Senatours set so grauely in their chayers spake neuer a word nor offered once to rise though they saw their enemies come armed towards them neither chaunged coūtenance nor culler at all but leaned softely on their staues they had in their hands seeming to be nothing affrayed nor abashed but looked one vpon another he maruelously wondred at it This their so straunge manner at the first dyd so dampe the GAVLES that for a space they stoode still and were in doubt to come neere to touche them fearing least they had bene some goddes vntill suche time as one of them went boldely vnto Marcus Papyrius layed his hand fayer softely vpon his lōg bearde But Papyrius gaue him such a rappe on his pate with his staffe that he made the bloud ronne about his eares This barbarous beaste was in such a rage with the blowe that he drue out his sworde and slewe him The other souldiers also killed all the rest afterwardes and so the GAVLES continued many dayes spoyling and sacking all thinges they founde in the houses and in the ende dyd set them all a fyer and destroyed them euery one for despite of those that kept the forte of the Capitoll that would not yeld vpon their summons but valliantly repulsed them when they scaled the walles For this cause they rased the whole cittie and put all to the sworde that came in their handes young and olde man woman and childe Nowe this siege continuing long and the ROMAINES holding them out very stowtely vittells beganne to growe scante in the campe of the GAVLES in so much as they were driuen of force to seeke it abroade without the cittie Hereupon they deuided them selues whereof some remained still with the King at the siege of the Capitoll and the rest went a forraging and spoyling all the champion countrie and villages thereaboutes scattered as it were by bandes companies some here some there fearing nothing nor passing vpon watch or warde they liued in suche securitie of their victorie Howbeit the greatest company amongest them went by fortune towardes the cittie of ARDEA where Camillus dwelt liuing like a priuate man medling with no matters of state from the time of his exile vntill that present time But then he beganne not to bethinke him self as a man that was in safety and might haue escaped the handes of his enemies but rather sought to deuise and finde out all the meanes he could to subdewe them if occasion were so offered Whereupon considering that the inhabitants of ARDEA where enough in number to set vpon them although saynte harted and cowardly by reason of the slouth and negligence of their gouernours and captaines who had no manner of experience in the warres he beganne to cast out these words among the young men That they should not thinke the ROMAINES misfortune fell vpon them through the valliantnes of the GAVLES nor that their calamitie who had refused good counsaill had happened vnto them by any worke or acte of the GAVLES hauing done nothing for their parte to make them carie awaye the victorie but that they should thinke it was no other thing but fortune alone that would needes shewe her power Therefore that it were nowe a notable and honorable enterprise although somewhat daungerous to driue these straungers and barbarous people out of their countrie considering that the only ende of their victorie was but to destroye and consume as fire all that fell into their hands Wherefore if they would but only take a good lusty harte and corage vnto them he would with opportunitie and place assure them the victorie without any daunger The young men were pleased with these words of life comforte Whereupon Camillus went to breake the matter also vnto the magistrates counsellours and hauing drawen them by persuasion vnto this enterprise he armed all that were of age to carie armor would not suffer a man to goe out of the cittie for feare least the enemies which were not farre of should haue intelligēce of the same Now after the GAVLES had rōne ouer all the chāpion countrie were loden with all sorts of spoyles they did encāpe them selues negligētly in open fields neuer charged watch nor warde but hauing their full cariage of wine layed them down to slepe made no noyse at all in their cāpe Camillus being aduertised therof by his seuerall skowtes caused the ARDEANS with as litle noyse as might be forthwith to goe out into the fields hauing marched somwhat roūdly the distance betwene the cittie the cāpe of the GAVLES they came thither much about midnight Then he made his soldiers make great showtes cries the trūpets to besoūded on euery side to put a feare in their enemies who yet with all the lowde noyse they made could hardly be made to wake they were so deadly drōke Yet there were some notwithstāding that for feare to be takē tardy dyd bustle vp at this sodaine noyse coming to them selues fell to their weapons to resist Camillus which were slayne by and by The rest the greatest number of them laye here there scattered in the middest of the field without any weapon dead a sleepe starcke droncke with wine were put to the sworde neuer strake stroke Those that fled out of the campe that night which were but fewe in number were ouerthrowen also the next daye by the horse men which followed killed them as they tooke them straggling here there in the fieldes The brute of this victorie was blowen abroade incontinently through all the townes and villages thereabouts which caused many young men to come ioyne them selues to Camillus but specially the ROMAINES desired the same that had saued thē selues in the cittie of VEIES after the battell lost at ALLIA who made their mones amongest them selues there saying O goddes what a captaine hath fortune taken from the cittie of ROME What honour hath the cittie of ARDEA by
which they were neuer wont to doe but in great and common calamities But the Senate fearing least some cōmotion would ryse hereupon they dyd set him at libertie againe He being thus out of prison was no whit the better nor wiser thereby but dyd still stirre vp the commons more boldely and seditiously then before Then was Camillus chosen againe Tribunus militaris and Manlius was accused in his time of office But when this matter came to pleading the sight of the Capitoll troubled his accusers much For the very place it selfe where Manlius had repulsed the GAVLES by night and defended the Capitoll was easely seene from the market place where the matter was a hearing and he him selfe pointing with his hande shewed the place vnto the goddes and weeping tenderly he layed before them the remembraunce of the hazarde of his life in fighting for their safety This dyd moue the iudges hartes to pittie so as they knew not what to doe but many times they dyd put ouer the hearing of his case vnto another daye and neither would they geue iudgement knowing he was conuicted by manifest proofes neither could they vse the seueritie of the lawe vpon him bicause the place of his so notable good seruice was euer still before their eyes Wherefore Camillus finding the cause of delaye of iustice dyd make the place of iudgement to be remoued without the cittie into a place called the wodde Petelian from whence they could not see the Capitoll And there the accusers gaue apparent euidence against him and the iudges considering all his wicked practises conceaued a iust cause to punishe him as he had deserued So they gaue sentence of death against him that he should be caried to the mount Capitoll and there to be throwen downe hedlonge the rockes thereof Thus one and the selfe place was a memory of his notable good seruice and also a memoriall of his miserable and vnfortunate end Besides all this they rased his house and built in the same place a temple to the goddesse they call Moneta◠and made a lawe also that no Patrician from thenceforth should dwell any more in the mount Capitoll Camillus after this being called againe to take the office of Tribunus militaris the sixt time he sought to excuse him selfe as well for that he sawe he was well stepte in yeres as also for that he feared fortunes spight or some mishappe after he had obteined such glorie for his noble actes and seruice Howbeit the most apparent cause of his excuse was his sickenes which troubled him much at that time But the people would allowe no excuse by any meanes but cried out they dyd not desire he should fight a foote nor a horse backe but that he should only geue counsaill and commaunde and therefore they compelled him to take the charge and to leade the armie with one of his companions named Lucius Furius against their enemies the PRAENESTINES and the VOLSCES who ioyning together dyd inuade the confines of the ROMAINES friendes So he led his army out immediately to the field and camped as neere the enemy as he could being minded for his parte to drawe the warres out in length that he might fight afterwards if neede required when he had recouered strength But Furius contrarilie coueting glorie was whottely bent to hazarde the battell whatsoeuer perill came of it and to this ende he sturred vp and incoraged the captaines of euerie priuate bande Wherefore Camillus fearing least they should thinke for ill will he bare the young men that he went about to hinder and take awaye the meanes to winne their honour and to doe some noble acte suffered Furius against his will to put his men in order of battell and he in the meane season by reason of his sicknes remained with a fewe about him in the campe So went Lucius vpon a head to present battell to the enemie so was he as headilie also ouerthrowen But Camillus hearing the ROMAINES were ouerthrowen sicke as he was vpon his bedde got vp and taking his householde seruantes with him he went in haste to the gates of the campe and passed through those that fled vntill he came to mete with the enemies that had them in chase The ROMAINES seeing this that were already entred into the campe they followed him at the heeles forthwith and those that fled also without when they sawe him they gathered together and put them selues againe in arraye before him and persuaded one another not to forsake their captaine So their enemies hereupon stayed their chasing and would pursue no further that daye But the next morning Camillus leading his armie into the fielde gaue them battell and wanne the field of them by plaine force and following the victorie harde he entred amongest them that fled into their campe pelmel or hand ouerheade and slue the most parte of them euen there After this victorie he was aduertised howe the THVSCANS had taken the cittie of SVTRIVM and had to the sworde all the inhabitants of the same which were the ROMAINES cittizens Whereupon he sent to ROME the greatest parte of his army and keeping with him the lightest and lustiestmen went and gaue assaulte vnto the THVSCANS that nowe were harbored in the cittie of SVTRIVM Which when he had wonne againe he slue parte of them and the other saued them selues by flight After this he returned to ROME with an exceeding spoyle confirming by experience the wisedome of the ROMAINES who dyd not feare the age nor sicknes of a good captaine that was experte and valliant but had chosen him against his will though he was both olde and sicke and preferred him farre before the younger and lustier that made sute to haue the charge Newes being brought vnto the Senate that the THVSCVLANIANS were reuolted they sent Camillus thither againe willing him of fiue other companions to take out one he liked best euery of the which desired to be chosen and made their sute vnto him for the same But he refusing all other dyd chose againe Lucius Furius beyounde all expectation of men seeing not long before he needes would against his will hazarde battell in which he was ouerthrowen Howbeit Camillus hauing a desire as I thincke to hyde his faulte and shame he had receaued dyd of curtesie preferre him before all other Nowe the THVSCVLANIANS hearing of Camillus coming against them subtilly sought to culler the faulte they had already committed Wherefore they put out a great number of people into the fields some to plowe other to keepe the beastes as if they had bene in best peace and dyd set the gates of the cittie wide open sent their children openly to schoole their artificers wrought their occupation in their shoppes the men of hauiour honest cittizens walked in the market place in their long gownes the officers and gouernours of the cittie went vp and downe to euery house commaunding them to prepare lodgings for the ROMAINES
him as the cittie of CAPVA being the chiefest and greatest cittie of all ITALIE but ROME and dyd receyue Hannibal and were at his deuotion Thus we maye plainely see that as the poet Euripides sayeth it is a great mischief not onely to be driuen to make triall of friendes but proofe also of captaines wisdom For that which before they accompted cowardlines and fainte harte in Fabius immediatly after the battell they thought it more then mans reason and rather a heauenly wisdome and influence that so long foresawe the things to come which the parties selues that afterwards felt them gaue litle credit vnto before Vpon this occasion ROME reposed incontinently all their hope and truste in Fabius and they repaired to him for coūsell as they would haue ronne vnto some temple or altar for sanctuarie So as the first chiefest cause of staying the people together from dispersing them selues abroade as they dyd when ROME was taken by the GAVLES was the only opinion confidence they had in Fabius wisedome For where before he seemed to be a coward and timerous when there was no daunger nor misfortune happened then when euery man wept and cried out for sorowe which could not helpe and that all the world was so troubled that there was no order taken for anything he contrarily went alone vp and downe the cittie very modestly with a bold constant countenaunce speaking curteously to euery one and dyd appease their womanishe cries and lamentations and dyd forbid the common assemblies fonde ceremonies of lamenting the dead corse at their burialls Then he persuaded the Senate to assemble in counsell and dyd comforte vp those that were magistrates and he alone was the only force and power of the cittie for there was not a man that bare any office but dyd cast his eye vpon Fabius to knowe what he should doe He it was that caused the gates of the cittie straight to be warded and to keepe those in for going their waye that would haue forsaken the cittie He moreouer dyd appointe the time and place of mourning dyd commaund whosoever was disposed to mourne that he should doe it priuately in his owne house and to continue only but thirtie dayes Then he willed all mourning to be left of and that the cittie might be cleane from such vncleane things So the feast of Ceres falling about that time he thought it better to leaue of the sacrifices procession they were wont to keepe on Ceres daye then by their small number that were lest and sorowe of those that remained to let their enemies vnderstand their exceeding great losse For the goddes delite to be serued with glad and reioycing hartes and with those that are in prosperitie But all this notwithstanding whatsoeuer the priestes would haue done either to pacifie the wrath of the goddes or to turne awaye the threatnings of these sinister signes it was forthwith done For they dyd sende to the oracle of Apollo in the cittie of DELPHES one of Fabius kinsemen surnamed Pictor And two of the Vestall Nunnes being deflowred the one was buried aliue according to the lawe and custome and the other made her self awaye But herein the great corage and noble clemency of the ROMAINES is maruelously to be noted and regarded For the Consul Terentius Varro returning backe to ROME with the shame of his extreme misfortune ouerthrowe that he durste not looke vpon any man the Senate notwithstanding and all the people following them went to the gates of the cittie to meete him and dyd honorably receyue him Nay furthermore those that were the chief magistrates and Senators among whom Fabius was one when silence was made they commended Varro much bicause he did not despaire of the preseruation of the common weale after so great a calamitie but dyd returne againe to the cittie to helpe to reduce things to order in vsing the authoritie of the lawe and the seruice of the cittizens as not being altogether vnder foote but standing yet in reasonable termes of good recouery But when they vnderstoode that Hannibal after the battell was gone into other partes of ITALIE then they beganne to be of good chere againe and sent a newe armie and generalles to the field among which the two chief generals were Fabius Maximus and Claudius Marcellus both which by contrary meanes in manner wanne a like glorie and reputation For Marcellus as we haue declared in his life was a man of speedy execution of a quicke hande of a valliant nature and a right martiall man as Homer calleth them that valliantly put them selues in any daunger by reason whereof hauing to deale with another captaine a like venturous and valliant as him selfe in all seruice and execution he shewed the selfe boldnes and corage that Hannibal dyd Bu◠Fabius persisting still vpon his first determination dyd hope that though he dyd not fight with Hannibal nor sturre him at all yet continuall warres would consume him and his armie in the end and bring them both to nought as a commō wrestler that forceth his bodie aboue his naturall strength doth in the ende become a lame and broosed man Hereupon Possidonius writeth that the one was called the ROMAINES sworde and the other their target And that Fabius constancie and resolutnes in warres to fight with securitie and to commit nothing to hazard daunger being mingled with Marcellus heate and furie was that only which preserued the ROMAINES empire For Hannibal meting allwayes in his waye the one that was furious as a strong ronning streame founde that his army was continually turmoyled and ouerharried the other that was slowe as a litle prety riuer he founde that his army ranne softely vnder him without any noyse but yet continually by litle and litle it dyd still consume diminishe him vntill he sawe him selfe at the last brought to that passe that he was weary with fighting with Marcellus and affrayed of Fabius bicause he fought not For during all the time of these warres he had euer these two captaines almost against him which were made either Praetors Consuls or Proconsuls for either of them both had bene fiue times before chosen Consul Yet as for Marcellus Hannibal had layed an ambushe for him in the fifte and last yere of his Consulshippe where he set vpon him on a sodaine and slue him But as for Fabius he layed many baytes for him and dyd what he could by all the skill and reache he had by ambushes and other warlike policies to entrappe him but he could neuer drawe him within his daunger Howbeit at one time he put him to a litle trouble and was in good hope then to haue made him falle vpon his ambushe he had layed for him and by this policie He had counterfeated letters written and sent vnto him from the cittie of METAPONT to praye him to come to them and they would deliuer their cittie into his handes and withall that such as
SICILE returning towardes ROME and caried the goodliest tables pictures and statues and other such ornamentes as were in SYRACVSA meaning first to beautifie his triumphie with them and to leaue them afterwardes for an ornament to ROME which before that time neuer knewe what such curious workes ment For this finenes and curious tables and imagery neuer came into ROME before but was throughly set out with armor and weapons of barbarous people and with bloody spoyles and was also crowned with monumentes of victories and triumphes of diuerse enemies which were no pleasaunt but rather fearefull fightes to looke apon farre vnfitte for feminine eyes But euen as Epaminondas did call the plaine of BOEOTIA Mars scaffolde where he kept his games and Xenophon also called the city of EPHESVS the armorers shoppe euen so me thinkes as Pindarus said they might rightly haue tearmed ROME the temple of Mars fighting And this wanne the peoples good willes much more to Marcellus bicause he did so passingly set foorth ROME with such excellent fine toyes of GREECE But Fabius Maximus on the other side was better beloued of the old men bicause he brought no such toyes with him from the city of TARENTVM when he wanne it In deede he brought away golde and ready coyne and much other goodes that were profitable but for images and tables he left them standing in their places speaking a thing of great note Let vs leaue the TARENTINES their goddes offended with them And furthermore the noble men were angry with Marcellus saying that by this act he had purchased ROME great malice and hate First bicause he did not onely leade men prisoners in his triumphe but the gods also and secondly bicause he had filled the people full of pritle pratle idle curiosity spending all the whole day in gasinge and wondering at the excellency of the workemen and of their workes where before they woulde fall to their labor or else they went to the warres not being acquainted with curiosity nor idle life as Euripides sayd speaking of Hercules In vvicked practises he simple vvas to see but he excelld in vertuous dedes and feates that vvorthy be Notwithstandinge Marcellus did glory amongest the GREECIANS them selues sayinge that he had taught the ROMAINES to esteeme the wonderfull workes of GREECE which they knewe not before But at his returne out of SICILE his enemies procured that his honor of triumphe was denied him So Marcellus knowing that he had yet left somewhat to do in SICILE and that the warre was not altogether ended and fearing besides least a third triumphe would make him to much enuied he was contented with good will to haue the honor of the great triumphe in the mountaine of ALBA only of the litle triumphe in the city of ROME This maner of litle triumphe is called in Greeke Euan and the ROMAINES call it Ouatio And this difference there is betwene them that in the Ouation triumphe the party to whom it is graunted doth not enter into the city apon triumphing charet drawen with foure horses nor doth cary any lawrell apon his head in token of triumphe nor hath any trompettes or hornes blowen before him but doth marche a foote with a payer of slippers on his fete hauing flutes and how boyes playing before him and wearing a garlande of fyrre tree apon his heade so as this maner of entry is nothing warlike and is rather a pleasaunt then fearefull sight And that reason doth flatly drawe me to beleue that these two kindes of entries they graunted to the Captaines returning from the warres with victorie were deuided in the olde time rather for the maner then for the greatnes of the doings For such as had ouercomen their enemies by great slaughter and bloody battells they did make their entry with pompe of triumphe that was altogether marshall and terrible followed with their souldiers armed and crowned with lawrell garlandes as their custome was in musteringe their campe in the warres But they on the contrary side that without any exployte of armes returned home with victorie either by peaceable meanes or by force of their eloquence the law graunted them the honor of Ouation triumphe which was quiet and full of all ioy and mirth For the flute is an instrument of pleasure belonginge to peace and the fyrre tree is a tree consecrated to Venus which goddesse aboue all goddes and goddesses doth most detest warres This second kinde of entry was called Ouatio not as many GREECIANS haue taken it comming of this word Euan which is a voyce and song of ioy although they did vse also to accompanie the Captaines making their entry in this sorte crying and singing Euan but there were certeine GREECIANS that would haue fetched the deriuation of this word from an old common custome they had were of opinion besides that parte of this honor did apperteine to god Bacchus whose surname we cal Euius and somtimes Thriambus Howbeit this is not the true deriuation of the name but after this sorte At the great triumphe and entry made the Captaine or generall that triumpheth as a conqueror did offer and sacrifice by the old orders and ancient customes of ROME one or diuers oxen where at the seconde triumphe called the Ouation he onely sacrificed a mutton which the ROMAINES call in their tongue Ouenm and thereof was it called Ouation And here by the way is to be noted the difference betwixt the lawe maker of the ROMAINE lawes and customes and the law maker of the LACEDAEMONIANS how both of them were contrary to the other in appointinge their sacrifices for victorie For at SPARTA the Captaine or generall that had done his feate by policy or frendshippe the sacrifice he did offer vppe to the goddes was an oxe and he that by force and bloody battell had obtained victory only offred vp a cocke for sacrifice For though they were very good souldiers yet they thought better of his seruice that by his wisedom wise perswasions obteined victory then of his that wanne it by valliantnes and force of armes Thus may you see which of these two lawemakers hadde best reason in his ordinaunces But nowe to Marcellus againe He beinge chosen Consull the fourth time his enemies and euill willers did stirre vppe the SYRACVSANS against him and perswaded them to complayne to the Senate of him that he had cruelly and vncurteously vsed them contrary to the auncient league allyances made long time before with the ROMAINES Marcellus beinge sacrificinge one day in the Capitoll while the Senate were sette in counsaill the SYRACVSANS deputies came before them kneeling downe besought thē to giue them audience that they would do them iustice The other Consull that was present rebuked them being angry they had so maliciously spyed the occasion of Marcellus absence But when Marcellus hearde of it he straight left of all and came to the Senate and first satte him downe in his
Aristides drew very neere him in reputacion and creditte bicause he did very good seruice in obtaining the victorie specially when he agreed with Miltiades in counsaill to geue battell apon the barbarous people and also when he willingly gaue Miltiades the whole rule and order of the army For euery one of the tenne Captaines did by turnes leade the whole army for one whole day and when Aristides turne came about he gaue his preferment thereof vnto Miltiades teaching his other companions that it was no shame but honor for them to be ruled by the wisest Thus by his example he appealed all strife that might haue growen amonge them and perswaded them all to be contented to follow his direction and counsaill that had best experience in warre And so he did much aduaunce Miltiades honor For after that Aristides had once yelded his authority vnto him euery one of the rest did the like when it came to their turne and so they all submitted them selues vnto his rule and leading But on the day of the battel the place where the ATHENIANS were most combred was in the middest of the battell where they had set the tribes of the Leontides and of Antiochides for thither the barbarous people did bend all their force and made their greatest fight in that place By which occasion Themistocles and Aristides fighting one hard by an other for that the one was of the tribe Leontides and the other of Antiochides they valiantly fought it out with the enemies enuying one an other so as the barbarous people at the last being ouerthrowen they made them flie and draue them to their shippes But when they were imbarked gone the Captaines of the ATHENIANS perceiuing they made not towardes the Iles which was their direct course to returne into ASIA but that they were driuen backe by storme of winde and pyrries of the sea towardes the coast of ATTICA and the city of ATHENS fearinge least they might finde ATHENS vnfurnished for defence and might set apon it they thereupon sent away presently nine tribes that marched thither with such speede as they came to ATHENS the very same day and left Aristides in the campe at MARATHON with his tribe and contry men to looke to the prisoners and spoyle they hadde wonne of the barbarous people Who nothing deceiued the opinion they had of his wisdom For notwithstanding there was great store of golde and siluer much apparell moueables and other infinite goodes and riches in all their tentes and pauillions and in the shippes also they had taken of theirs he was not so couetous as once to touch them nor to suffer any other to medle with them vnlesse by stealth some prouided for them selues As amongst other there was one Callias one of Ceres Priestes called Dadouchos as you woulde saye the torche bearer for in the secret sacrifices of Ceres his office was to holde the torche whom when one of the barbarous people saw and how he ware a bande about his head and long heare he toke him for some king and falling on his knees at his feete kissed his hand and shewed him great store of golde he hadde hidden and buried in a ditche But Callias like a most cruell and cowardly wretch of all other on the earth tooke away the gold and killed the poore soule that had shewed him the place bicause he shoulde not tell it to others Hereof it commeth that the comicall Poets do call those that came of him in mockery Laccoplutes as made rich by a ditch bicause of the golde that Callias founde in it Immediatly after this battell Aristides was chosen prouost of ATHENS forthe yeare albeit Demetrius Phalerius writeth that it was a litle before his death after the iorney of PLATEES For in their Chronicles where they set in order their prouosts of ATHENS for they yere since Xanthippides time there appeareth no one name of Aristides in that yeare that Mardonius the kinge of PERSIAES Lieutenant was ouerthrowen by PLATEES which was many yeares after But contrariwise they finde Aristides enrolled amonge the prouostes immediatly after Phanippus in the yeare the battell was fought at MARATHON Now the people did most commende Aristides iustice as of all other his vertues and qualities bicause that vertue is most common and in vse in our life and deliuereth most benefute to men Hereof it came that he beinge a meane man obteined the worthiest name that one coulde haue to be called by the whole city a iust man. This surname was neuer desired of kinges princes nor of tyrannes but they alwayes delited to be surnamed some Poliorcetes to say conquerors of cities other Cerauni to say lightening or terrible other Nicanores to say subduers and some other Aeti and Hicraces to say Eagles or Fawcons or such like birdes that praye desiringe rather as it should appeare by those surnames the praise and reputacion growinge by force and power then the commendacion that riseth by vertue and goodnes And notwithstanding God whom men desire most to be likened to doth excell all humaine nature in three speciall thinges in immortality in power and in vertue of which three vertue is the most honorable and pretious thing For as the naturall Philosophers reason all the foure elements and Vacusm are immortall and vncorruptible and so are force and power earthquakes lighteninge terrible stormes runninge riuers and inundacions of waters but as for iustice and equity no man is partaker of them saue onely God by meanes of reason and vnderstandinge Therefore bicause men commonly haue three sundry honors to the gods the first that they thinke them blessed the second that they feare them the third that they reuerence them it appeareth then that they thinke them blessed for the eternitie and immortality of their godhead that they feare them bicause of their omnipotency power and that they loue and worshippe them for their iustice and equitie And yet notwithstanding of those three men do couet immortality which no flesh can attaine vnto and also power which dependeth most vppon fortune and in the meane time they leaue vertue alone whereof the goddes of their goodnes haue made vs capable But here they shewe them selues fooles For iustice maketh the life of a noble man and of one in great authority seeme diuine and celestiall where without iustice and dealinge vniustly his life is most beastly and odious to the worlde But now againe to Aristides This surname of a iust man at the beginning made him beloued of all the people but afterwardes it turned him to great ill will and specially by Themistocles practise Who gaue it out euery where that Aristides had ouerthrowen all iustice bicause by consent of the parties he was euer chosen Arbitrator to ende all controuersies how by this meanes he secretly had procured the absolute power of a kinge not needing any gard or souldiers about him The people moreouer beinge growen very dissolute and
fortunate blessed time of GREECE and specially when shortly after it did double and treble on the sodaine For the taxe Aristides made came to about foure hundred three score talents and Pericles raised it almost vnto a third parte For Thucydides wryteth that at the beginninge of the warres of PELOPONNEEVS the ATHENIANS leauied sixe hundred talentes yearely vppon their confederates And after the death of Pericles the orators and counsellers for matters of state did raise it vp higher by litle and litle vntil it mounted vnto the summe of thirteene hundred talentes And this was not bicause the warres did rise to so great a charge by reason of the length of the same and of the losses the ATHENIANS had receiued but for that they did accustome the people to make distributions of money by hand vnto euery citizen to make them set vp games and make goodly images and to builde sumptuous temples Thus was Aristides therefore iustly honored praised and esteemed aboue all other for this iust imposition of taxes sauing onely of Themistocles who went vp and downe flering at the matter sayinge it was no mete praise for an honest man but rather for a cofer well barred with iron where a man might safely lay vp his gold and siluer This he spake to be euen with Aristides which was nothing like the sharpe girde Aristides gaue him openly when Themistocles talking with him tolde him it was an excellent thing for a Captaine to be able to know and to preuent the counsells and doinges of the enemies and so is it sayed Aristides againe not onely a needefull but an honest thinge and mete for a worthy generall of an army to be cleane fingered without bribery or corruption So Aristides made all the other people of GREECE to sweare that they woulde truely keepe the articles of the allyance and he him selfe as generall of the ATHENIANS did take their othes in the name of the ATHENIANS and so pronouncing execrations curses against them that should breake the league and othe taken he threw iron wedges red hotte into the sea and prayed the gods to destroy them euen so that did violate their vowed faith Notwithstandinge afterwardes in my opinion when there fell out great alteracion in the state and that the ATHENIANS were forced to rule more straightly then before Aristides then willed the ATHENIANS to let him beare the daunger and burden of periury and execration and that they should not let for feare thereof to do any thing whatsoeuer they thought mete or necessary To conclude Theophrastus wryteth that Aristides was not only a perfect an honest and iust man in priuate matters betwixt party party but in matters of state and concerning the common weale he did many thinges oftentimes accordinge to the necessitie of the time and troubles of the citie wherein violence and iniustice was to be vsed As when the question was asked in open counsell to know whether they might take away the gold siluer that was left in the I le of DILOS safely layed vp in the temple of Apollo to beare out the charges of the warres against the barbarous people and to bring it from thence vnto ATHENS apon the motion of the SAMIANS although it was directly against the articles of the allyance made and sworne amonge all the GREECIANS Aristides opinion beinge asked in the same he aunswered it was not iust but yet profitable Now notwithstanding Aristides had brought his citie to rule and commaund many thousandes of people yet was he still poore for all that and vntill his dying day he gloried rather to be praised for his pouertie then for all the famous victories and battells he had wonne and that plainely appeareth thus Callias Ceres torche bearer was his neere kinseman who through enemies came to be accused and stoode in hazard of life so when the day came that his matter was to be heard before the Iudges his accusers very faintly and to litle purpose vttered the offences whereof they accused him and running into other byematters left the chiefest matter spake thus to the Iudges My Lords you al know Aristides the sonne of Lysimachus and you are not ignoraunt also that his vertue hath made him more esteemed then any man else is or can be in all GREECE Howe thinke ye doth he liue at home when you see him abroade vppe and downe the city in a threde bare gowne all to tattered Is it not likely trow ye that he is ready to starue at home for lacke of meate and reliefe whom we all see quake for very colde beinge so ill arrayed and clothed And yet M. Callias here his cosin germaine the richest citizen in all ATHENS is so miserable that notwithstandinge Aristides hath done much for him by reason of his great credit and authoritie among you he suffereth him and his poore wife and children readie to begge to starue for any helpe he geueth him Callias perceiuing the Iudges more angryer with him for that then for any matter else he was accused of he prayed Aristides might be sent for and willed him to tel truely whether he had not offered him good rounde summes of money many a time and oft and intreated him to take it which he euer refused and aunswered him alwayes that he coulde better boast of his pouerty then him selfe coulde of his riches which he sayd many did vse ill and few coulde vse them wel and that it was a hard thing to finde one man of a noble minde that could away with pouertie and that such onely might be ashamed of pouerty as were poore against their willes So Aristides confirmed all he spake to be true and euery man that was at the hearinge of this matter went wholly away with this opinion that he had rather be poore as Aristides then rich as Callias This tale is written thus by AEschines the Socratian Philosopher and Plato reporteth of him also that notwithstandinge there were many other famous and notable men of ATHENS yet he gaue Aristides praise aboue them all For others sayd he as Themistocles Cimon and Pericles haue beautified the citie with stately porches and sumptuous buildinges of golde and siluer and with stone of other fine superfluous deuises but Aristides was only he that vertuously disposed him selfe and all his doinges to the furtherance of the state and common weale His iustice and good nature appeared plainely in his doinges and behauiour towardes Themistocles For though Themistocles was euer against Aristides in all things and a continuall enemy of his and that by his meanes and practise he was banished from ATHENS yet when Themistocles was accused of treason to the state hauing diuerse sharpe enemies against him as Cimon Alemaeon with diuerse other Aristides sought not reuenge when he had him at his aduantage For he neither spake nor did any thinge against him at that time to hurt him neither did he reioyce to see his enemie in misery
Some saye he didde thus for very miserie and couetousnesse other thinke and tooke it that he liued so sparingely to moue others by his example to cutte of all superfluitie and wast Neuerthelesse to sell slaues in that sorte or to turne them out of dores when you haue hadde the seruice of all their youth and that they are growen olde as you vse brute beastes that haue serued whilest they may for age me thinkes that must needes proceede of to seueare and greedie nature that hath no lenger regarde or consideracion of humanitie then whilest one is able to doe an other good For we see gentlenesse goeth further then iustice For nature teacheth vs to vse iustice onely vnto menne but gentlenesse sometimes is shewed vnto brute beastes and that commeth from the very fountaine and springe of all curtesie and humanitie which shoulde neuer drye vp in any manne liuinge For to saye truely to keepe cast horses spoyled in our seruice and dogges also not onely when they are whelpes but when they be olde be euen tokens of loue and kindenesse As the ATHENIANS made a lawe when they builded their temple called Hecatompedon that they shoulde suffer the moyles and mulettes that did seruice in their cariages about the buildinge of the same to graze euerie where without lette or trouble of any manne And they say there was one of those moyles thus turned at libertie that came of her selfe to the place to labour goinge before all the other draught beastes that drewe vppe cartes loden towardes the castell and kept them companie as though she seemed to encorage the rest to drawe which the people liked so well in the poore beast that they appointed she shoulde be kept whilest she liued at the charge of the towne And yet at this present are the graues of Cimons mares to be seene that wanne him thrise together the game of the horse race at the games Olympian and they are harde by the graue of Cimon him selfe We heare of diuerse also that hadde buried their dogges they brought vppe in their house or that wayted on them as amonge other olde Xanthippus buried his dogge on the toppe of a cliffe which is called the dogges pit till this day For when the people of ATHENS did forsake their citie at the comminge downe of Xerxes the kinge this dogge followed his master swimminge in the sea by his gallies side from the firme lande vnto the I le of SALAMINA And there is no reason to vse liuinge and sencible thinges as we woulde vse an olde shooe or a ragge to cast it out apon the dongehill when we haue worne it and can serue vs no longer For if it were for no respect els but to vse vs alwayes to humanitie we must euer showe our selues kinde and gentle euen in such small poyntes of pitie And as for me I coulde neuer finde in my hart to sell my drawght Oxe that hadde plowed my lande a longe time bicause he coulde plowe no longer for age and much lesse my slaue to sell him for a litle money out of the contrie where he had dwelt a long time to plucke him from his olde trade of life wherewith he was best acquainted and then specially when he shal be as vnprofitable for the buyer as also for the seller But Cato on the other side gloried that he left his horse in SPAYNE he had serued on in the warres duringe his Consulship bicause he would not put the common wealth to the charge of bringing of him home by sea into ITALIE Now a question might be made of this and probable reason of either side whether this was noblenes or a niggardlines in him but otherwise to say truely he was a man of a wonderful abstinence For when he was general of the army he neuer tooke allowance but after three bushells wheat a moneth of the common wealth for him selfe and his whole family and but a bushel and halfe of barley a day to keepe his horse and other beastes for his cariage On a time when he was Praetor the gouernment of the I le of SARDINIA fell to his lot And where the other Praetors before him hadde put the contry to exceeding great charge to furnish them with tents bedding clothes and such like stuffe and burdened them also with a maruelous traine of seruaunts and their frends that waited on them putting them to great expence of feasting and bancketing of them Cato in contrary maner brought downe all that excesse and superfluitie vnto a maruelousneere and vncredible sauinge For when he went to visite the cities he came a foote to them did not put them to a penny charge for him selfe and had onely one officer or bailife of the state that waited on him and caried his gowne and a cuppe with him to offer vp wine to the goddes in his sacrifices But though he came thus simply to the subiects and eased them of their former charges yet he shewed him selfe seuere and bitter to them in matters concerning iustice and spared no man in any commaundement or seruice for the state and common wealth For he was therein so precise that he woulde not beare with any litle fault So by this meanes he brought the SARDINIANS vnder his gouernment both to loue and feare the Empire of ROME more then euer they did before For his grace both in speakinge and wrytinge did rightly shewe him selfe bicause it was pleasaunt and yet graue sweete and fearfull mery and seueare sententious and yet familiar such as is meete to be spoken And he was to be compared as Plato sayed vnto Socrates who at the first sight seemed a plaine simple manne to them that knew him not outwardly or else a pleasant tawnter or mocker but when they did looke into him and found him throughly they sawe he was full of graue sentences goodly examples and wise perswasions that he coulde make men water their plantes that hearde him and leade them as he would by the eare Therefore I can not see any reason that moues men to saye Cato hadde Lysias grace and vtteraunce Notwithstandinge lette vs referre it to their iudgementes that make profession to discerne orators graces and styles for my parte I shall content my selfe to write at this present onely certaine of his notable sayinges and sentences perswadinge my selfe that mennes manners are better discerned by their wordes then by their lookes and so doe many thinke On a time he seeking to disswade the people of ROME which woulde needes make a thankefull distribution of corne vnto euerie citizen to no purpose beganne to make an oration with this preface It is a harde thinge my Lordes of ROME to bringe the bellie by perswasion to reason that hath no eares And an other time reprouinge the ill gouernment of the citie of ROME he sayed it was a hard thinge to keepe vppe that state where a litle fishe was solde dearer then an Oxe He sayed also that
gouernors or Captaines ouer them For Aratus as it seemed was somewhat to softe and colde for the warres and therefore the most thinges he did were by gentle intreaties by intelligences and by the kinges frendshippes with whome he was great as we haue at large declared in his life But Philopoemen beinge a manne of execution hardy and valliant of persone and of very good fortune in the first battell that he euer made did maruelously encrease the corage and hartes of the ACHAIANS bicause vnder his charge they euer foiled their enemies and alwayes hadde the vpper hande ouer them The first thinge Philopoemen beganne withall at his comming he chaunged the manner of settinge of their tables and their facion of arminge them selues For before they caried litle light targettes which bicause they were thinne and narrowe did not couer halfe their bodies and vsed speares farre shorter then pykes by reason whereof they were very light and good to skirmishe and fight a farre of but when they came to ioyne battell their enemies then hadde great vantage of them As for the order of their battelles they knewe not what it ment nor to cast them selues into a snaill or ringe but onely vsed the square battell nor yet gaue it any such fronte where the pykes of many ranckes might pushe together and where the souldiers might stande so close that their targettes should touch one an other as they do in the squadron of the battell of the MACEDONIANS by reason whereof they were soone broken and ouerthrowen Philopoemen reformed all this perswading them to vse the pyke and shielde in steade of their litle target speare or borestaffe and to put good morryans or burganettes on their heades corselettes on their bodies and good tasses and greaues to couer their thighes and legges that they might sight it out manfully not geuinge a foote of grounde as light armed men that runne to and fro in a skirmishe And thus hauinge perswaded and taught the younge men to arme them selues throughlie first he made them the bolder and more coragious to fight as if they had bene menne that coulde not haue bene ouercome then he turned all their vaine superfluous charge into necessarie and honest expences But he could not possibly bring them altogether from their vaine and riche apparell they had of long time taken vp the one to exceede an other nor from their sumptuous furniture of houses as in beddes hanginges curious seruice at the table and delicate kinde of dishes But to beginne to withdrawe this desire in them which they hadde to be fine and delicate in all superfluous and vnnecessarie things and to like of thinges necessarie and profitable he wished them to looke more nerely to their ordinarie charge about them selues takinge order as well for their apparell as also for their diet and to spare in them to come honorablie armed to the fielde for defence of their contrie Thereuppon if you had looked into the goldesmithes shoppes ye should haue seene nothinge else in their handes but breakinge and batteringe of pottes of golde and siluer to be cast and molton downe againe and then gildinge of armors and targettes and siluering of bittes In the showe places for the runninge of horses there was mannedging and breakinge of younge horses and younge men exercisinge armes Womens handes also were full of morryans and heade peeces whereto they tyed goodly braue plumes of feathers of sundry colours and were also full of imbrodered arminge coates and cassockes with curious and very riche workes The sight of which brauerie did heaue vppe their hartes and made them gallant and liuely so as enuy bred straight in them who shoulde doe best seruice and no way spare for the warres In deede sumptuousnesse and brauerie in other sightes doth secretely cary mens mindes away and allure them to seeke after vanities which makes them tender bodied and womanishe persones bicause this sweeteticklinge and intisinge of the outwarde sence that is delighted therewith doth straight melt and soften the strength and corage of the minde But againe the sumptuous cost bestowed apon warlike furniture doth incorage and make great a noble harte Euen as Homer sayeth it did Achilles when his mother brought him newe armor and weapons she hadde caused Vulcan to make for him and layed them at his feete who seeinge them coulde not tarie but was straight sette on fyre with desire to occupie them So when Philopoemen hadde brought the youth of ACHAIA to this good passe to come thus brauely armed and furnished into the fielde he beganne then to exercise them continuallie in armes wherein they did not onely shewe them selues obedient to him but did moreouer striue one to excell an other and to doe better then their fellowes For they liked maruelous well the orderinge of the battell he hadde taught them bicause that standinge so close together as they did they thought surely they coulde hardly be ouerthrowen Thus by continuaunce of time beinge muche vsed to weare their armor they founde them a great deale easier and lighter then before besides the pleasure they tooke to see their armor so braue and so riche insomuch as they longed for some occasion to trye them straight vppon their enemies Now the ACHAIANS at that time were at warres with Machanidas the tyranne of LACEDAEMON who sought by all deuise he coulde with a great armie to become chiefe Lorde of all the PELOPONNESIANS When newes was brought that Machanidas was come into the contrie of the MANTINIANS Philopoemen straight marched towardes him with his army so they mett bothe not farre from the citie of MANTINEA where by and by they put them selues in order of battell They both hadde entertayned in paye a great number of straungers to serue them besides the whole force of their contrie and when they came to ioyne battell Machanidas with his straungers gaue such a lustie charge vppon certaine slinges and archers being the forlorne hope whome Philopoemen had cast of before the battell of the ACHAIANS to beginne the skirmishe that he ouerthrew them made them flie withal But where he should haue gone on directly against the ACHAIANS that were ranged in battell ray to haue proued if he could haue broken them he was very busie and earnest still to follow the chase of them that first fled and so came hard by the ACHAIANS that stoode still in their battel and kept their ranckes This great ouerthrow fortuning at the beginning many men thought the ACHAIANS were but cast away But Philopoemen made as though it had bene nothinge and that he set light by it and spying the great fault his enemies made following the forlorne hope on the spurre whom they had ouerthrowen and straying so farre from the battell of their footemen whome they had left naked and the field open apon them he did not make towardes them to stay them nor did striue to stop thē that they should not follow those that fled but suffered thē
caused thē to be taken which afterwards were put to death with all kind of tormēts That done they burnt Philopoemenes body and did put his ashes into a pot Then they straight departed from MESSINA not in disorder one apon an others necke as euery man listed but in such an order and ray that in the middest of these funeralles they did make a triumphe of victorie For the souldiers were all crowned with garlandes of lawrell in token of victory notwithstanding the teares ranne downe their cheekes in token of sorowe and they led their enemies prisoners shackled and chained The funerall pot in the which were Philopoemenes ashes was so couered with garlandes of flowers nosegaies and laces that it could scant be seene or discerned and was caried by one Polybius a young man the sonne of Lycortas that was Generall at that time to the ACHAIANS about whom there marched all the noblest and chiefest of the ACHAIANS and after them also followed all the souldiers armed and their horses very well furnished The rest they were not so sorowfull in their countenance as they are commonly which haue great cause of sorow nor yet so ioyful as those that came conquerers from so great a victory Those of the cities townes and villages in their way as they past came and presented them selues vnto them to touche the funerall pot of his ashes euen as they were wont to take him by the hande and to make much of him when he was returned from the warres and did accompany his conuoy vnto the city of MEGALIPOLIS At the gates whereof were olde men women and children which thrustinge them selues amongest the souldiers did renewe the teares sorowes and lamentacions of all the miserable and vnfortunate city who tooke it that they had lost with their citizen the first and chiefest place of honor among the ACHAIANS So he was buried very honorably as appertained vnto him and the other prisoners of MESSINA were all stoned to death about his sepulchre All the other cities of ACHAIA besides many other honors they did vnto him did set vp statues and as like to him as could be counterfeated Afterwards in the vnfortunate time of GREECE when the city of CORINTHE was burnt and destroied by the ROMAINES there was a malicious ROMAINE that did what he could to haue the same pulled downe againe by burdening accusing Philopoemen as if he had bene aliue that he was alwaies enemy to the ROMAINES and enuied much their prosperity and victories But after Polybius had aunswered him neither the Consul Mummius nor his counsellers nor lieutenaunts would suffer them to deface take away the honors done in memory of so famous worthy a mā although he had many waies done much hurt vnto Titus Quintius Flaminius vnto Manius So these good men then made a differēce betwene duety profit did thinke honesty profit two distinct things and so separated one from the other according to reason and iustice Moreouer they were perswaded that like as men receiue curtesie and goodnes of any so are they bound to require them againe with kindenes and duety And as men vse to acknowledge the same euen so ought men to honor and reuerence vertue And thus much for the life of Philopoemen The ende of Philopoemenes life THE LIFE OF Titus Quintius Flaminius IT is easie to see Titus Quintius Flaminius forme and stature by Philopoemenes statue of brasse to whome we compare him the which is now set vppe at ROME neere to great Apollo that was brought from CARTHAGE and is placed right against the comming in to the show place vnder which there is an inscription in Greeke letters But for his nature and conditions they say of him thus he would quickely be angry and yet very ready to pleasure men againe For if he did punish any man that had angered him he would do it gently but his anger did not long continew with him He did good also to many and euer loued them whom he had once pleasured as if they had done him some pleasure was ready to do for them still whom he founde thankefull bicause he would euer make them beholding to him and thought that as honorable a thinge as he could purchase to him selfe Bicause he greatly sought honor aboue all thinges when any notable seruice was to be done he would do it him selfe and no man should take it out of his hand He would euer be rather with them that needed his helpe then with those that could helpe him or do him good For the first he esteemed as a meane to exercise his vertue with the other he tooke them as his fellowes and followers of honor with him He came to mans state when the citie of ROME had greatest warres and trouble At that time all the youth of ROME which were of age to cary weapon were sent to the warres to learne to traile the pyke and how to become good Captaines Thus was he entred into marshall affaires and the first charge he tooke was in the warre against Hanniball of CARTHAGE where he was made Colonell of a thousande footemen vnder Martellus the consull who being slaine by an ambush Hanniball had layed for him betwene the cities of BANOIA and VENVSA then they did choose Titus Quintius Flaminius gouernor of the prouince and city of TARENTVM which was now taken againe the seconde time In this gouernment of his he wanne the reputacion as much of a good and iust man as he did of an expert and skilfull Captaine By reason whereof when the ROMAINES were requested to send men to inhabite the cities of NARNIA COSSA he was appointed the chiefe leader of them which chiefely gaue him hart and corage to aspire at the first to the Consulshippe passinge ouer all other meane offices as to be AEdile Tribune or Praetor by which as by degrees other younge men were wont to attaine the Consulshippe Therefore when the time came that the Consulls should be elected he did present him selfe amonge other accompanied with a great number of those he hadde brought with him to inhabite the two newe townes who did make earnest sute for him But the two Tribunes Fuluius and Manlius spake against him and sayed it was out of all reason that so younge a man should in such manner prease to haue the office of the highest dignitie against the vse and custome of ROME before he hadde passed through the inferior offices of the commonwealth Neuertheless the Senate preferred it wholly to the voyces of the people who presently pronounced him Consull openly with Sextius AElius although he was not yet thirtie yeare olde Afterwardes AElius and he deuidinge the offices of the state by lotte it fell apon T. Quintius to make warre with Philip kinge of MACEDON In the which me thinkes fortune greatly fauored the ROMAINES affaires that made such a man Generall of these warres for to haue pointed a Generall that by force and violence woulde haue
he marueled how he could further it that he was not euen then the cheifest man of the worlde When Sylla was returned againe to ROME one Censorinus accused him of extorcion that he had caried away a great summe of money with him contrary to the lawe out of one of their confederates contry howebeit he prosecuted not his accusation but gaue it ouer In the meane time the enmity begonne betwixt him and Marius kindled againe vppon a new occasion of king Bocchus ambition who partely to creepe further into the peoples fauor of ROME and partely also for to gratifie Sylla gaue and dedicated certaine images of victory carying tokens of triumphe vnto the temple of Iupiter Capitolin and next vnto them also the image of Iugurthe which he deliuered into the handes of Sylla being all of pure golde This did so offende Marius that he attempted to take them away by force but others did defend the cause of Sylla So that for the quarrell of these two the city of ROME taking armes had like to haue brought all to ruine had not the warres of the confederats of ITALIE bene which of longtime did kindle and smoke but at the length brake out into open flame and sedition for that time In this maruelous great warre which fell out very daungerous by sundry misfortunes and great losses to the ROMAINES Marius did no notable exployte whereby it appeareth that the vertue of warlike discipline hath neede of a strong and lusty and able body For Sylla to the contrary hauing done notable seruice and obtained many profitable victories wanne the fame and estimacion among the ROMAINES of a noble souldier and worthy Captaine and among thenemies them selues of a most fortunate man Notwithstanding Sylla did not as Timotheus ATHENIAN the sonne of Conon had done Who when his aduersaries and ill willers did attribute his noble deedes vnto the fauor of foretune and did painte fortune tables that brought him all the cities taken and snared in neâ—â— whilest he slept he tooke in very ill parte and was maruelous angrie with them that did it saying that they robbed him of the glory that iustly belonged vnto him Wherefore one day when this Timotheus was returned from the warres with the great victories after he had openly acquainted the ATHENIANS with the whole discourse of his doings in his voyage he sayd vnto them my Lordes of ATHENS fortune hath had no parte in all this which I haue told vnto you Hereupon the goddes it should seeme were so angry with this foolish ambition of Timotheus that he neuer afterwardes did any worthy thing but all went vtterly against the heare with him vntill at the length he came to be so hated of the people that in th end they banished him form ATHENS But Sylla to the contrary did not only paciently abide their wordes that sayed he was a happy man and singularly beloued of fortune but also increasinge this opinion and glorying as at a speciall grace of the goddes did attribute the honor of his doings vnto fortune either for a vaine glory or for that he had in fansy that the goddes did prosper him in all his doinges For he wrote him selfe in his commentaries that the enterprises which he hazarded most hottely according to the sodaine occasion offered did better prosper with him then those which by good aduise he had determined of Furthermore when he sayd that he was a better borne vnto the fortune then to the warres it seemeth that he confessed all his prosperity came rather by fortune then by his worthinesse And to conclude it appeareth that he did wholly submit him selfe vnto fortune acknowledging that he did altogether depend vpon her considering that he did attribute it to the speciall grace and fauor of the goddes that he neueâ— disagreed with Metellus his father in law who was a man of like dignitie and authoritie as him selfe was For where it was thought he woulde haue bene a greate hinderer of his doings he found him verie curteous and gentle in his behalfe in all that they had to deale in together by reason of the societie of their office And furthermore in his coÌ„mentaries which he dedicated vnto Lucullus he counselled him to thincke nothing more certaine and assured then that which the goddes should reueale vnto him and commaunde him in his nightes dreame He wryteth also that when he was sent with an army vnto the warres of the confederates the earth sodainly opened about LAVERNA out of the which immediatly came a maruelous bright flame of fire that ascended vp to the element The wise men being asked their opinions about the same made aunswere that a very honest and also a maruelous fayer man of complexion taking soueraine authoritie in his handes should pacifie all tumultes and sedition which were at that time in ROME Whereupon Sylla sayed it was him selfe whome the goddes ment bicause that amongest other things he had that singular gift of beawty that his heare was yellow as golde and he was not ashamed to name him selfe an honest man after he had wonne so many notable great victories Thus haue we sufficiently spoken of the trust he had in the fauor of the goddes And furthermore he seemed to be very contrary in his manners and vnlike to him selfe For if he tooke away much in one place he gaue as much more also in an other Some he preferred without cause and others he put downe without reason He would be very gentle to them of whome he would haue oughtâ— and vnto those that sought of him he would stand much apon his honor and looke for great reuerence Wherby men could hardly decerne his nature whether pride or flattery did more abound in him And as for the inequality he vsed in punishing of them that had offended him sometimes he hanged vp men for very small and light causes Some other times againe to the contrary he paciently aboade the most grieuous offences in the worlde and lightly pardoned and forgaue such faultes as were in no wife to be forgiuen And afterwards againe would punish right small crimes with murders effusion of blood and confiscation of goodes This iudgement may be geuen of him that by nature he had a malicious and a reuenging minde yet notwithstanding he qualified that naturall bitternes with reason geuing place to necessary and his benefit For in this warre of the confederates his souldiers slue Albinus one of his Lieutenauntes beating him to death with staues and stones being a man of good quality and one that had bene Praetor This great offence he passed ouer with silence vsing no manner of punishment and turned it to a boast in the end saying that his men were the more obedient and diligent in any peece of seruice that was to be done and that he made them amende 〈…〉 faultes by worthy seruice And furthermore he did not regarde them that he did reproue 〈…〉 but hauinge determined with him selfe to destroy
went him selfe away and in the day time caried a lowe sayle but in the night packt on all the cloth he could for life so that by this craftie fetche he wanne RHODES and lost not one shippe The RHODIANS they also furnished him with shippes besides thē he so perswaded the GNIDIANS and the inhabitantes of the I le of Co that they forsooke king Mithridates and went to make warres with him against them of the I le of SAMOS But Lucullus him selfe alone draue kings Mithridates men out of CHIO restored the COLOPHONIANS againe to libertie and tooke Epigonus the tyranne prisoner who had kept them in bondage Now about that time Mithridates was compelled to forsake the citie of PERGAMVM and to retyre to the citie of PITANE within the which Fimbria kept him besieged very straightly by lande Wherefore Mithridates hauing the sea open vpon him sent for his force and nauy out of all partes not daring to hazard battell against Fimbria who was very valliant of a venturous nature at that time moreouer was him selfe a conqueror Fimbria perceiuing what Mithridates ment and hauing no power by sea of his owne sent straight to Lucullus to request him to come with his nauie into those partes to his ayde for thouercomming of this king the greatest and most cruell enemie that euer the ROMANE people had Bicause that so notable a praye which they followed with such daunger and trouble should not escape the ROMANES while they had him in their handes and was come him selfe within their daunger and that therefore he should so much the more harken vnto it bicause that if it fortuned Mithridates to be taken no man shoulde winne more honor and glorie by his takinge then he that had stopped his passage and layed handes on him euen as he thought to haue fled And thereby should the praise of this noble victorie runne in equalitie betwene them both the one that had driuen him from lande and the other that had stopped his passage by sea And furthermore that the ROMANES would nothinge regard all the famous battells and victories of Sylla in GRAECE which he had wonne before the cities of CHAERONEA and ORCHOMENE in comparison of taking the king This was theffect of Fimbriaes message sent vnto Lucullus wherein there was nothing in the which there was not great likely hoode For there is no man that can doubt of it but if Lucullus would haue beleued him at that time and haue gone thither with his ships to stoppe the hauens mouth of the citie in the which Mithridates was besieged considering also that he was so neere at hande this warre had taken ende there and the worlde besides had then bene deliuered of infinite troubles which fell out afterwardes But whether Lucullus preferred the consideration and respect he had vnto Sylla whose Lieutenaunt he was before all other due regarde of priuate or common benefit or that he detested and abhorred Fimbria as a cursed persone who not long before had through his wicked ambition imbrued his hands on the blood of his Captaine or else that it was through the secret prouidence and permission of the goddes that he spared Mithridates at that time to the end he might be reserued as a worthie enemie against whom he might afterwardes shew his valore howsoeuer it was it so fell out that he harkened not vnto Fimbriaes message but gaue Mithridates time and leasure to flye and finally to scorne all Fimbriaes force and power But Lucullus selfe alone afterwardes ouercame the kinges armie by sea once neere vnto the head of Lectum which is on the coast of TROADE and an other time neere vnto the I le of TENEDOS where Neoptolemus Mithridates Lieutenaunt by sea lay in wayte for him with a farre greater number of shippes then he had And yet so soone as Lucullus had discried him he sayled before all his nauie being Admirall in a galley of the RHODES at fiue ores to a bancke whereof one Demagoras was master a man well affected to the seruice of the ROMANES and very skillfull in battell by sea And when Neoptolemus on the other side rowed against him with great force commaunding his pylot that he should so order his galley that he might stemme him right in the prowe Demagoras fearinge the full meetinge of the kinges galley which was very strong and heauie and furthermore well armed with poyntes and spurres of brasse before durst not encounter her with his prowe but nimbly made his gallie to winde about turned his poupe towardes him Whereby the galley being low at that end receiued the blow without hurte considering that they hit vppon the dead workes and those partes which are alwayes aboue water In the meane time Lucullus other shippes were come who commaunding his master to turne the beakehead of his gallie forward did many famous actes so that he made his enemies flye and draue Neoptolemus away And departing from thence went to seeke out Sylla euen as he was readie to passe ouer the seas about CHERHONESVS holpe him to waft his armie and so passed him ouer with safety Afterwardes when peace was concluded and that king Mithridates was comen into his realme and contries againe which lye vpon the sea Maior Sylla condemned the prouince of ASIA to pay the summe of twenty thowsand talentes for a fyne by reason of their rebellion And for leauying of this fyne left Lucullus there with commission to coyne money which was a great comforte and hartes ease vnto the cities of ASIA considering the extreamitie that Sylla had vsed towardes them For in so grieuous and odious a commission vnto them all as that was Lucullus did not only behaue him selfe vprightly and iustly but also very fauorably and curteously For as touching the MITYLENIANS that were openly in armes against him he was very willing they should know their fault and that for satisfaction of th offence they had committed takinge Marius parte they should suffer some light punishment And seeing that they were furiously bent to continewe in their naughtines he went against them and hauing ouercome them in battell compelled them to keepe within their walles and layed siege vnto their citie where he vsed this policy with them At none dayes he launched into the sea in the view of all the MITYLENIANS and sayled towardes the citie of ELEA howbeit in the night time secretly returned backe and making no noyse layed an ambushe nere vnto the citie The MITYLENIANS mistrusting nothinge went out the next morning very rashly without order without any maner watche or ward to spoyle the campe of the ROMANES supposing euery man had bene gone but Lucullus comming sodainly vpon them tooke a great number prisoners slue about fiue hundred such as resisted and wanne sixe thowsande slaues with an infinite quantitie of other spoyle Now did the goddes happely preserue Lucullus that he was no partaker at that time of the wonderfull miseries and troubles which Sylla and Marius
that was payed monethly the hundred parte of the principall deâ— onely and no more Secondly he out of all vseries that passed the principall Thirdly which was the greatest matter of all he ordained that the creditor vserer should enioy the fourth parte of the profites reuenues of his detter And he that ioyned vsery with the principall that is to say tooke vsery vpon vsery should lose the whole So that by this order all dettes were payed in lesse then foure yeares and the owners landes and reuenues set clere of all maner payments This surcharge of vseries came of the twenty thowsande talentes wherein Sylla had condemned the contrie of ASIA the which summe they had payed twise before vnto the farmers and collectors of the ROMANES who had raised it still heaping vsery vpon vsery to the summe of sixe score thowsand talents Wherefore these collectors and farmers ranne to ROME and cried out vpon Lucullus saying that he did them the greatest wrong that could be and by meanes of money they procured certaine of the common counsellers to speake against him which they might easily doe bicause they had diuerse of their names in their bookes that delt in thâ—ffaires of the common wealth at ROME But Lucullus was not only beloued of those contries whom he did good vnto but was wished for and desired also of others who thought the contries happy that might haue such a gouernor Now for Appius Clodius whom Lucullus had sent before from PALAVRÌ„A vnto king Tigranes in ARMENIA and whose sister at that time was Lucullus wife he first tooke certaine of the kings men for guides who of very malice guided him through the high contry making him fetch a great compasse about by many dayes iorneys spent in vaine vntill such time as one of his infranchesed bondmen that was borne in SYRIA taught him the right way Whereupon he discharged these barbarous guides and leauing the wrong wayes they had led him within fewe dayes past ouer the riuer of Euphrates and arriued in the citie of ANTIOCH surnamed EPIDAPMNE Where he had commaundement to abide Tigranes returne who was then in the contry of PHENICIA where he subdued certaine cities had some other yet to conquer Appius in the meane time wanne secretly diuers of the princes and noble men that obeyed this ARMENIAN king but for feare by force and against their willes amongest whom was Zarbienus king of the prouince of GORDIAENA promised the aide of Lucullus also to many the cities that sent vnto him which had not long before bene subdued brought into bondage to whom neuertheles he gaue in expresse charge that for the time they should not once sturre not alter any thing For the rule of these ARMENIANS was intollerable to the GRAECIANS and specially the pride and arrogancie of the king Who by reason of his great prosperitie was growen to such pride and presumption that whatsoeuer men did commonly esteeme best make most reckoning of he would not only haue it and vse it as his owne but also tooke it that all was made for him â—elfe whatsoeuer and this great ouerwening grew by reason of fortunes speciall grace and fauor towardes him For at the beginning he had but very litle and yet with this litle which few made reckoning of he conquered many great nations and plucked downe the power of the PARTHIANS as much as any man that euer was before him He replenished the contry of MESOPOTAMIA with GRAECIAN inhabitauntes which he brought by force out of CILICIA and CAPPADOCIA compelling them to inhabite there He made the ARABIANS chaunge their maner of liuing who are otherwise called the SCENITES as much to say as tent dwellers bicause they are vagarant people that dwell in no other houses but tentes which they euer vse to carie with them and brought them out of their naturall contrie and made them followe him vsing them for his commodity in trade of marchaundise There were euer many kings in his courte that waited on him but amongest others he had foure kinges that waited continually on his person as his footemen for when he rode abroade any whether they ranne by his stroppe in their shirtes And when he was set in his chaire of state to geue audience they stoode on their feete about his chaire holding their handes together which countenaunce shewed the most manifest confession and tokens of bondage that they could do vnto him as if they had shewed thereby that they resigned all their libertie and offered their bodies vnto their Lord and master more ready to suffer then any thing to doe Notwithstanding Appius Clodius being 〈…〉 thing abashed nor feared with all this tragicall pompe when audience was geuen him tolde king Tigranes boldly to his face that he was come to carie king Mithridates away with him who was due to the triumphe of Lucullus therefore did summone him to deliuer that king into his handes or else that he proclaimed warres vpon him selfe They that were present as this summons knew well enough that Tigranes although he set a good countenaunce of the matter openly with a fainte counterfeate laughing yet hearing these wordes so boldly gallantly spoken out of this young mans mowth was galled to the quicke and hitte at the haâ—â— For Tigranes hauing reigned or to say better tyrannically gouerned fiue and twenty yeares space had neuer heard any bold or francke speache but that Notwithstanding he aunswered Appius that he would not deliuer Mithridates and if the ROMANES made warres with him that he would defende him selfe And being greatly offended that Lucullus in his letters gaue him not the title king of kinges but only king simply in the letters he wrote backe to Lucullus againe he did not so much as vowchesaue to call him Captaine onely But when Appius tooke his leaue he sent him goodly riche presentes which he refused Whereupon the king sent others againe vnto him of the which Appius tooke a cuppe only bicause the king should not thinke he refused ought of anger or ill will and so sending all the rest againe vnto him made great hast to returne to his Captaine Lucullus Nowe Tigranes before that time would not once see king Mithridates his so neere kinseman who by fortune of warres had lost so pâ—isant and great a kingdome but prowdly kept him vnder in fennie marrishe and vnholsome grounds without any honor geuen vnto him as if he had bene a very prisoner in deede howbeit then he sent for him honorably and receiued him with great curtesie When they were neere together in the kinges palace they talked secretly one with an other excusing them selues clearing all suspicions conceiued betwene them to the great hurt of their seruauntes and frendes whom they burdened with all thoccasion of vnkindnes betwene them amongst which number Metrodorus SCEPSIAN was one a man excellently well learned eloquent in speache and one whome Mithridates so much
withall but two dishefulls of barley for their breade and one of water for eche man a day In deede many of them were conueyed away and sold for slaues and many also that scaped vnknowen as slaues were also solde for bondmen whom they branded in the forehead with the printe of a horse who notwithstanding besides their bondage endured also this paine But such their humble pacience and modesty did greatly profit them For either shortly after they were made free men or if they still continued in bondage they were gently intreated and beloued of their masters Some of them were saued also for Euripides sake For the SICILIANS liked the verses of this Poet better than they did any other GRAECIANS verses of the middest of GRAECE For if they heard any rimes or songes like vnto his they would haue them by hart one would present thē to an other with great ioy And therfore it is reported that diuers escaping this bondage and returning againe to ATHENS went very louingly to salute Euripides to thanke him for their liues and told him how they were deliuered from slauery only by teaching them those verses which they remembred of his workes Others tolde him also how that after the battel they scaping by flight wandering vp and downe the fieldes met with some that gaue them meate drinke to sing his verses And this is not to be maruelled at weying the reporte made of a shippe of the city of CAVNVS that on a time being chased in thether by pyrates thinking to saue thē selues within their portes could not at the first be receiued but had repulse howbeit being demaunded whether they could sing any of Euripides songes and aunswering that they could were straight suffered to enter and come in The newes of this lamentable ouerthrow was not beleued at the first when they heard of it at ATHENS For a straunger that landed in the hauen of PIRAEA went and sat him downe as the maner is in a barbers shoppe thinking it had bene commonly knowen there beganne to talke of it The barber hearing the straunger tell of such matter before any other had heard of it ranne into the city as fast as he could and going to the gouernors tolde the newes openly before them all The magistrates thereupon did presently call an assembly and brought the barber before them who being demaunded of whom he heard these newes could make no certaine reporte Whereupon being taken for a forger of newes that without ground had put the city in feare and trouble he was presently bound and layed on a wheele wheron they vse to put offenders to death and so was there tormented a great time vntill at last there arriued certaine men in the city who brought too certaine newes thereof and told euery thing how the ouerthrow came So as in fine they found Nicias wordes true which now they beleued when they sawe all those miseries light fully apon them which he long before had prognosticated vnto them The end of Nicias life THE LIFE OF Marcus Crassus MArcus Crassus was the sonne of a Censor who had also receiued the honor of triumphe but him selfe was brought vp in a litle house with two other of his brethren which were both maried in their fathers mothers life time and kept house together Whereuppon it came to passe that he was a man of such sober and temperate dyet that one of his brethrē being deceased he maried his wife by whom he had children For women he liued as continent a life as any ROMANE of his time notwithstanding afterwardes being of riper yeares he was accused by Plotinus to haue deflowred one of the Vestall Nunnes called Licinia But in troth the cause of that suspicion grew thus Licinia had a goodly pleasaunt garden hard by the suburbes of the city wherewith Crassus was maruelously in loue and would faine haue had it good cheape and vpon this only occasion was often seene in speeche with her which made the people suspect him But foras much as it seemed to the iudges that his couetousnes was the cause that made him follow her he was clered of thincest suspected but he neuer lest followinge of the Nunne till he had got the garden of her The ROMANES say there was but that only vice of couetousnes in Crassus that drowned many other goodly vertues in him for mine owne opinion me thinkes he could not be touched with that vice alone without others since it grew so great as the note of that only did hide and couer all his other vices Nowe to set out his extreame couetous desire of getting naturally bred in him they proue it by two manifest reasons The first his maner and meanes he vsed to get and the seconde the greatnes of his wealth For at the beginning he was not left much more worthe then three hundred talentes And during the time that he delt in the affayers of the common wealth he offered the tenthes of all his goodes wholly vnto Hercules kept open house for all the people of ROME and gaue also to euery citizen of the same as much corne as would kepe him three monethes yet when he went from ROME to make warre with the PARTHIANS himselfe being desirous to know what all he had was worth founde that it amounted to the summe of seuen thowsande one hundred talentes But if I may with license vse euill speeche wryting a troth I say he got the most parte of his wealth by fire and blood raising his greatest reuenue of publicke calamities For when Sylla had takē the citie of ROME he made portesale of the goods of them whom he had put to death to those that gaue most tearming them his booty onely for that he would the nobility and greatest men of power in the citie should be partakers with him of this iniquity and in this open sale Crassus neuer lest taking of giftes nor bying of thinges of Sylla for profit Furthermore Crassus perceiuinge that the greatest decay commonly of the buildinges in ROME came by fire and falling downe of houses through the ouermuch weight by numbers of stories built one apon an other bought bondme that were masons carpinters and these deuisours and builders of those he had to the number of fiue hundred Afterwardes when the fire tooke any house he would buy the house while it was a burning and the next houses adioyning to it which the owners folde for litle being then in daunger as they were and a burning so that by proces of time the most parte of the houses in ROME came to be his But notwithstanding that he had so many slaues to his workemen he neuer built any house from the ground sauing his owne house wherein he dwelt◠saying that such as delighted to builde vndid them selues without helpe of any enemy And though he had many mynes of siluer many ploughes and a number of hyndes and plowmen to followe the
could do them but litle hurt and yet were very likely to take the greater harme them selues For as fast as the ROMANES came apon them so fast did the PARTHIANS flie from them and yet in flying continued still their shooting which no nation but the Sâ—â—â—â—Dâ—â—S could better doe than they being a matter in deede most greatly to their aduantage For by their fight they best doe saue them selues and fighting still they therby shunne the shame of that their flying The ROMANES still defended them selues and held it out so long as they had any hope that the PARTHIANS would leaue fighting where they had spent their arrowes or would ioyne battell with them But after they vnderstoode that their were a great number of camels lodeÌ„n with quiuers full of arrowes where the first that had bestowed their arrowes fetched about to take new quiuers then Crassus seeing no end of their shotte began to faint and sent to Publius his sonne willing him in any case to charge vpon the enemies and to geue nan onset before they were compassed in on euery side For it was on Publius side that one of the winges of the enemies battell was neerest vnto them and where they rode vp and downe to compasse them behinde Whereuppon Crassus sonne taking thirteene hundred horsemen with him of the which a thowsand were of the men of armes whom Iulius Caesar sent and fiue hundred shot with eight enfignes of footemen hauing targets most neere to the place where him selfe then was â—he put them but in bredth that wheling about they might geue a charge vpon them that rode vp downe But they seeing him comming turned straight their horse and fled either bicause they met in a marrisse or else of purpose to begine this young Crassus intising him thereby as farre from his father as they could Publius Crassus seeing them flye cried out these men will not abide vs and so spurted on for life after them so did Censorinus and Megabacchus with him the one a Senatour of ROME a very eloquent man the other a stowte coragious valliant man of warre both of them Crassus well approued frendes and in maner of his owne yeares Now the horsemen of the ROMANES being trained out thus to the chase their footemen also would not abide behinde nor shew them selues to haue lesse hope ioy and corage then their horsemen had For they thought all had bene won and that there was no more to do but to follow the chase till they were gone farre from the army and then they found the deceit For the horsemen that fled before them sodainly turned againe and a number of others besides came and set vpon them Whereuppon they stayed thinking that the enemies perceiuing they were so few would come and fight with them hande to hande Howbeit they set out against them their men at armes with their barbed horse made their light horsemen whele rounde about them keeping non order at all who galloping vp and downe the plaine whurled vp the sand hilles from the bottome with their horse feete which raised such a wonderfull dust that the ROMANES could scarce see or speake one to an other For they being shut vp into a litle roome and standing close one to an other were sore wounded with the PARTHIANS arrowes and died of a cruell lingring death crying out for anguish and paine they felt and turning and tormenting them selues apon the sande they brake the arrowes sticking in them Againe striuing by force to plucke out the forked arrowe heades that had pearced farre into their bodies through their vaines sinewes thereby they opened their woundes wider and so cast them selues away Many of them dyed thus miserably 〈…〉 tyred and such as dyed not were not able to defend them selues Then when Publius Crassus prayed and besought them to charge the men at armes with their barbed horse they shewed him their handes fast nailed so that targets with arrowes their feete likewise shot 〈…〉 and raised to the ground so as they could neither flie nor yet defende them selues Thereâ—pon him selfe incoraging his horsemen went and gaue a charge and did valliantly set vppon thenemies but it was with too great disaduantage both for offence and also for defence For him selfe and his men with weake light staues brake apon them that were armed with 〈…〉 races of sâ—â—cke or stiffe leather iackes And the PARTHIANS in contrary manner with mighâ—â— strong pykes gaue charge apon these GAVLES which were either warmed or else but lightly armed Yet those were they in whom Crassus most trusted hauing done wonderfull 〈…〉 of warre with them For they receiued the PARTHIANS pykes in their handes tooke them about the middells and threw them of their horse where they lay on the ground and could not storre for the weight of their harnesse and there were diuers of them also that lighting from their horse lay vnder their enemies horse bellies thrust their swordes into them That horse flinging bounding in the ayer for very paine threw their maisters vnder feete their enemies one apon an other in the end fell dead among them Moreouer euer came 〈…〉 and thirst did maruelously comber the GAVLES who were vsed to abide neither of both and the most parte of their horse were slaine charging with al their power apon the men at armed of the PARTHIANS and so ranne them selues in apon the pointes of their pikes At the length they were driuen to retyre towardes their footemen Publius Crassus among them who was very ill by reason of the woundes he had receiued And seeing a sand hill by chaunce not faâ— from them they went thither setting their horse in the middest of it compassed it in round with their targets thinking by this meanes to couer and defende them selues the better from the barbarous people howbeit they founde it contrary For the contry being plaine they in the formest ranckes did somewhat couer them behinde but they that were behinde standing heir than they that stoode formest by reason of the nature of the hill that was hiest in the middest could by no meanes saue them selues but were all hurt alike as well the one as the other bewailing their owne miserie and misfortune that must needes dye without reuenge or declaration of their valliancy At that present time there were two GRAECIANS about Publius Crassus Hitronymus and Nitomachus who dwelt in those quarters in the city of CARRâ—â— they both counselled P. Crassus to steale away with them and to flie to a city called ISCHNES that was not farre from thence and tooke the ROMANES parte But P. aunswered them that there was no death so cruell as could make him forsake them that dyed for his sake When he had so sayd wishing them to saue them selues he embraced them tooke his leaue of them and being very sore hurt with the shot of an arrow through one of his handes commaunded one of his gentlemen to
maner That the women in those parts of long time haue bene commonly possest with the spirite of Orpheus and the diuine fury of Bacchus whereupon they are called Clodones Mimallones as much as warlicke fierce and doe many things like vnto the women of EDONIA and THRACIA dwelling about the mountaine AEmus Hereby it appeareth that this word Threskeuin signifying in the Greeke tongue too superstitiously geuen to the ceremonies of the gods came from them For Olympias aboue other womē louing to be inspired with such diuine madnes fury did celebrate their solemne sacrifices with a certaine horrible barbarous maner For in these daunces to Bacchus she caried a great number of tame snakes about her the which gliding apon the Iuie wherewith the women were dressed in those ceremonies winding thē selues about the litle iauelings they had in their hands the garlands about their heades therby they made men the more afraid of them Whereupon Philip after this dreame sent Ghaero MEGALOPOLITAN vnto the oracle of Apollo at DELPHES to inquier what it signified Answere was geuen him that he should do sacrifice vnto Iupiter Hammon honor him aboue all gods that he had lost one of his eyes with the which he peeping in at a crany of his chamber dore saw the god in forme of a snake lye by his wife Furthermore Olympias as Eratosthenes writeth bidding her sonne farewel whē he went to conquer ASIA after she had secretly tolde him alone by whom he was begotten she prayed him to be valliant to shew himselfe worthy his sonne that begat him Others tel also that she was angry with this report saying will Alexander neuer leaue to make me suspected of Iuno So it is that Alexander was borne on the sixt day of the moneth of Hecatombaeon in english Iune which the MACEDONIANS call Lous On the very same day the temple of Diana in the city of EPHESVS was burnt as Hegesias MAGNESIAN doth witnesse whose crie exclamation was so terrible cold that it was enough to haue quenched that fire It is not to be wondred at that Diana suffred her temple to be burnt being like a midwife busie about Alexanders birth But this is true that all the priests magitians and soothsayers which were at that time in EPHESVS iudging that this did prognosticate some maruelous great misfortune to come like men bestraught of their wits they ran vp downe the city smiting of their faces crying that some great plague mischief was borne that day vnto ASIA Shortly after that king Philip had wonne the city of POTIDAEA three messengers came to him the same day that brought him great newes The first that Parmenio had wonne a notable battell of the ILLYRIANS the second that his horse only wan the bell price at the Olympian games the third that his wife had brought him a sonne called Alexander Philip being maruelous glad to heare these newes the soothsayers did make his ioy yet greater assuring him that his sonne which was borne with three victories all together should be inuincible Now for his stature personage the statues and images made of him by Lysippus doe best declare it for that he would be drawen of no man but him only Diuers of his successors frends did afterwards counterfeat his image but that excellent workeman Lysippus only of all other the chiefest hath perfectly drawen and resembled Alexanders maner of holding his necke somwhat hanging downe towards the left side also the sweete looke cast of his eyes But when Apelles painted Alexander holding lightning in his hand he did not shew his fresh colour but made him somewhat blacke and swarter then his face in deede was for naturally he had a very fayre white colour mingled also with red which chiefly appeared in his face in his brest I remember I red also in the cōmentaries of Aristoxenus that his skin had a maruelous good sauor that his breath was very swete insomuch that his body had so swete a smell of it selfe that all the apparell he wore next vnto his body tooke thereof a passing delightfull sauor as if it had bene perfumed And the cause hereof peraduenture might be the very temperature constitucion of his body which was hot and burning like fire For Theophrastus is of opinion that the sweete sauor commeth by meanes of the heate that dryeth vp the moisture of the bodie By which reason also it appeareth that the drie hot contries pearched with heate of the sunne are those that deliuer vnto vs the best spices bicause that the sunne drieth vp the moysture of the outward parts as a matter of corruption This natural heate that Alexander had made him as it appeareth to be giuen to drinke to be hasty Euen from his childhood they saw that he was giuen to be chast For though otherwise he was very hot hasty yet was he hardly moued with lust or pleasure of the body would moderately vse it But on thother side the ambition desire he had of honor snewed a certaine greatnes of minde noble corage passing his yeares For he was not as his father Philip desirous of all kind of glory who like a Rethoritian had a delite to vtter his eloquence stamped in his coynes the victories he had wonne at the Olympian games by the swift running of his horse coches For when he was asked one day bicause he was swift of foote whether he would assay to run for victory at the Olympian games I could be content said he so I might run with kings And yet to speake generally he misliked all such contention for games For it seemeth that he vtterly misliked all wrestling other exercise for prise where men did vse all their strength but otherwise he him self made certen festiual daies games of prise for common stage plaiers musitians singers for the very Poets also He delighted also in hunting of diuers kindes of beastes and playing at the staffe Ambassadors being sent on a time from the king of PERSIA whilest his father was in some iorney out of his realme Alexander familliarly entertaining of them so wan them with his curteous entertainment for that he vsed no childish questions vnto them nor asked them trifling matters but what distance it was frō one place to an other which way they went into the high contries of ASIA of the king of PERSIA him selfe how he was towards his enemies what power he had that he did rauish them with delight to heare him insomuch that they made no more account of Philips eloquence sharpe wit in respect of his sonnes corage noble minde to attempt great enterprises For when they brought him newes that his father had taken some famous city or had won some great battell he was nothing glad to heare it but would say to his playfellowes sirs my father will
and affectation but stout full of wit and vehemency and yet in the shortnes of his sentences he had such an excellent grace withall that he maruelously delighted the hearers and furthermore shewing in nature a certaine grauetie besides it did so please them that he made them laugh He had a very full and audible voyce that might be heard of a maruelous number of people and such a strong nature besides that he neuer fainted nor brake his speache for many times he would speake a whole day together and was neuer wearie So when he had obtained his cause against the Tribunes he returned againe to keepe his former great silence and to harden his bodie with painefull exercises as to abide heate frost and snow bare headed and alwayes to goe a foote in the fielde where his frendes that did accompany him to rode a horsebacke and sometime he would come and talke with one somtime with an other as he went a foote by them He had a wonderfull pacience also in his sickenes For when he had any agew he would be alone all day long and suffer no man to come and see him vntill he perceiued his sit was of him and that he founde he was better When he supped with his frendes and familiars they drewe lottes who should choose their partes If he chaunced not to choose his frendes notwithstanding gaue him the preferrement to choose but he refused it saying it was no reason sith the goddesse Venus was against him At the first he did not vse to sitte long at the table but after he had dronke one draught only he would straight rise But when he came to be elder he sate long at the table so that oftentimes he would sit it out all night with his frends till the next morning But they seeking to excuse it sayd that his great busines and affaires in the common wealth was the cause of it For following that all the day long hauing no leasure nor time to studie when night came he delighted to talke with learned men and Philosophers at the bord Wherefore when Memmius on a time being in company sayed the Cato did nothing but drinke all night Cicero taking his tale out of his mouth aunswered him thou doest not adde this vnto it that all the day he doth nothing but play at dyse To be short Cato thinking that the maners and facions of mens liues in his time were so corrupt and required such great chaunge and alteracion that to goe vprightly he was to take a contrarie course in all thinges For he saw that purple red the lightest colours were best esteemed of he in contrarie maner desired to weare blacke And many times also after dinner he would goe abroade bare footed without shooes and without any gowne not bicause he would be wondered at for any suche straungenes but to acquaint him selfe to be ashamed only of shameles and dishonest things and to despise those which were not reproued but by mens opinions Furthermore land being left him to the value of an hundred talentes by the death of a cousin of his that likewise was called Cato he put it all into ready money to lend to his frendes that lacked and without vsury And there were some of his frends also that would morgage his land or his slaues to the chamber of the city for their owne priuate busines the which he him selfe would either giue thē to morgage or else afterwards confirme the morgage of them Furthermore when he was comen of age to marry hauing neuer knowen womā before he was made sure to Lepida This Lepida had bene precontracted vnto Metellus Scipio but afterwardes the precontract being broken he forsooke her so that she was free when Cato was contracted to her Notwithstanding before Cato maried her Scipio repenting him that he had refused her made all the meanes he could to haue againe so he had Cato tooke it so grieuously that he thought to goe to lawe for her but his frendes disswaded him from it Then seeing no other remedie to satisfie his angrie minde he wrote verses against Scipio in the which he reuiled him all he coulde vsing the bitter tauntes of Archilocus verses but not suche impudent lewde and childishe reproaches as be there After that he maried Attilia Soranus daughter being the first woman he euer knewe yet not the onely woman whome he did knowe as is reported of Lalius Scipioes frende who therein was counted the happier bicause all that long time wherein he liued he neuer knewe other woman but his first wife Furthermore in the warre of the bondemen otherwise called Spartacus warre one Gellius was chosen Praetor of the armie vnder whom Cato serued of his owne good will for the loue he bare vnto his brother Capio who in that armie had charge of a thowsand footemen Now Cato could not as he wished shewe his valliantnesse and good seruice bicause of the insufficiencie of the Praetor that gaue ill direction This notwithstanding in the middest of al the riot insolency of them in the campe he shewing him selfe a stayed man in all his doinges valliant where neede was and very wise also all men esteemed him to be nothing inferior vnto Cato the elder Whereuppon Gellius the Praetor gaue him many honors in token of his valliantnes which are giuen in reward of mens good seruice howebeit Cato refused them and sayd that he was nothing worthie of those honors These thinges made him to be thought a maruelous straunge man Furthermore when there was a lawe made forbidding all men that sued for any office in the common wealth that they should haue no prompters in any of the assemblies to blowe into their eares the names of priuate citizens he alone making sute to be Colonell of a thowsand footmen was obedient to the law committed all the priuate citizens names to memory to speake vnto euery one of them and to call them by their names so that he was enuied euen of them that did commend him For by how much they knew his deedes praiseworthie by so muche more were they grieued For that they could not followe them So Cato being chosen Colonell of a thowsande footemen he was sent into MACEDON vnto Rubrius Praetor there Some say that at his departure from thence his wise lamenting and weeping to see him go one Munatius a frend of his sayd vnto her take no thought Attilia and leaue weeping for I promise thee I will kepe thy husband for thee It is well sayd aunswered Cato Then when they were a dayes iorney srō ROME Cato after supper said vnto this Munatius thou must looke well to thy promesse thou hast made Attilia that thou wouldest keepe me for her therefore forsake me not night nor day Thereupon he commaunded his men that from thence forth they should prepare two beds in his chamber that Munatius also might lye there who was rather pleasantly him selfe looked vnto
the matter and in fine Lucius Caesar being ready to departe Cato recommended his sonne and frendes vnto him and imbracing him tooke his leaue of him Then he returned vnto his lodging and calling his sonne and frends before him and talking of many matters among others he charged his sonne in no ease to meddle in thaffaires of the common wealth For said he to deale vprightly like Catoes sonne the corruption of the time and state will not abide it and contrarily obseruing the time thou canst not do like an honest man Towards euening he went into his bath to washe him selfe and as he was a bathing thinking apon Statilius he cried out a lowde well Apollonides thou hast at length yet perswaded Statilius to goe his way and pulled downe his stowt courage he had and is he gone without bidding vs farewell Howe gone sayd Apollonides Nay his hart is now more stowt and couragious then euer it was notwithstanding all the perswasions we could vse vnto him for he is determined to tary to take such part as thou doest After he had bathed him selfe he went to supper fare at his meate as he had alwaies vsed after the battell at Pharsalia and neuer lay but when he went to bed So he had all his frends the chiefe Magistrats of VTICA to supper with him After supper they fell into graue talke and matters of Philosophie till at length they came vnto the straunge opinion of the Stoick Philosophers which was this that only the good man is free and all the euill be slaues The Peripateticke Philosopher that was present there was straight against it But Cato was very earnest against the Peripatoricke and argued the matter a long time with a vehement speach and contencion insomuch as they that heard him found then that he was determined to ende his life to rid him him selfe out of all those troubles But then when he had ended his argument and sawe that euery man helde his peace and looked sadly of it to comfort them againe and to put the suspicion of his death out of their heades he beganne againe to fall in talke of their affaires and seemed to be carefull of them as though he had bene affrayed least some misfortune were come vnto them apon the sea or vnto them that were gone by land bicause they passed through desertes where there was no water to be had Now when supper was done and the straungers gone he walked as his manner was with his frends and hauing taken order with the Captaines of the watch for matters of seruice as the time required going into his chamber he embraced his sonne and his frendes more louingly then he was wont to doe whereby he made them againe suspect the execution of his determination When he was come into his chamber and layed in his bedde he tooke Platoes dialogues in his hand treating of the soule and red the most parte of it Then looking by his beds side and missing his sword which his sonne had taken from him when he was at supper he called one of the groomes of his chamber to him and asked him who had taken his sword away his man made him no aunswere he fell againe to read his booke Then a prety while after not seeming to be importunate and ouerhastie of the matter but as though he woulde only know what became of it he willed thē to bring him his sword againe They taried long and he had red ouer all the booke but yet his sword was not brought him againe Wherupon he called for all his men one after an other very angrily asked them his sword gaue one of them such a blow in the face that his nose fell a bleeding his hand was all bloody withal and cried out that his sonne and his seruaunts would deliuer him naked into the hands of his enemie vntill his sonne and frends at length ranne vnto him falling downe on their knees lamented and besought him to be contented Cato then rising out of his bedde looked grimly vpon them and sayd vnto them O goddes who euer saw me in this taking Why doth no man by reason perswade me if they see me out of the way not to kepe me from my determination by plucking my weapons from me why doest thou not bind thy father my sonne his hands behinde him that when Caesar commeth he may finde me in case not to defend my selfe I doe not desire my sworde to hurte my selfe for if I had any suche minde I neede but hold my breath a litle or geue but a knocke of my head against the wall onely and dispatche my selfe quickely When he had sayd thus his sonne went out of his chamber weeping and all his frends also no man remayning with Cato but Demetrius and Apollonides vnto whom he spake more gently and reasoned in this sorte What doe you thinke to keepe an old man as I am aliue by force And haue you taried behinde but to sit staring apon me and say nothing vnto me If otherwise else by reason you come to perswade me that it shall be no shame for Cato dispairing of the safetie of his life to seeke it by the grace and mercy of his enemy why then doe you not now tell me your reasons to perswade me that forsaking all other fancies determinatiōs which hetherunto we haue holden for good being on a sodaine become wiser by Caesars meanes we should be bound the more therefore to geue him thankes I do not tell you this that I haue determined any thing of my life but that it is in my power if I lift to put the thing in execution I haue determined but yet I will consult with you when I am so determined to heare the reasons and opinion of your bookes which your selues doe vse in discourse and argument together Goe your way therefore hardily vnto my sonne and tell him that he must not thinke to compell his father vnto that which he can not proue good vnto him by reason After this talke Demetrius and Apollonides being nothing comforted weeping departed out of his chamber Then his sword was brought him by a litle boy When he had it he drew it out and looked whether the point and edge of his sword was sharpe and woulde cut when he saw it was well O sayd he now I am where I would be and so laying downe the sword naked by him he tooke his booke againe in his hand and red it ouer as they say twise together Then he slept so soundly after it that his men which were without his chamber heard him snort againe About midnight he called for two of his freemen Cleanthes his Phisitian and Butas whom he chiefly employed in his weightiest affaires of the common wealth So he sent him vnto the hauen to see if all his men that were imbarked were vnder saile and gaue his hand vnto the Phisitian to be bound vp bicause it was
the bare name of a gouernor But in deede the perfect good and honest man should neuer couer outward glory but as a meane to bringe him to noble attempts whereby he might procure the better credit of his doings And for a younge man that coueteth honor by vertue giue him leaue a litle to glory in his well doing for as Theophrastus sayth vertue buddeth and florisheth in youth and taketh fast roote by prayses giuen as wit corage groweth in them But ouermuch praise is daungerous in euery person but chiefly in ambicious gouernors For if they be men of great power it makes them commit many desperat partes for they wil not allow that honor proceedes of vertue but that honor is vertue it selfe But in deed they should say as Phocion did vnto Antipater that requested an vnlawfull matter of him Thou canst not said he haue Phocion a friend and a flatterer both This or the very like may be sayd vnto the people you can not both haue one a Maister and a seruaunt that can commaunde and obey together Or els the mischiefe spoken of in the tale of the Dragon must needes happen which was the taile on a time fell out with the head and complained saying it would an other while go before would not alwaies come behind The head graunted the taile which fell out very ill for it not knowing howe to guide the heade and besides that the head thereby was tormented euery way beeing compelled against nature to follow that part and member which could nether heare nor see how to guide it The like matter haue we seene happen vnto many which in the administracion of the common wealth did seeke to please the humors of the multitude For when they haue once put their heads vnder their girdles to please the common people which without cause reason doe soone rebell they can by no possible meanes afterwards bridle their furie insolencie Now the reason that made vs to enter into discourse against the ambition and vaine glorye amongest the people was the consideracion I had of their greate power remembring the misfortunes of Tiberius and Caius Gracchi bothe the which comming of a noble house and hauing bene maruelous well brought vp maneging also the affayres of the common wealth with a good desire were notwithstanding in the ende cast away not so much through couetousnes of glorye as for feare of dishonor which came also of no base mind For they hauing receiued great pleasures and friendships of the people were ashamed to be indetted to them and therefore earnestly sought to exceede the people in good will by new decrees and deuises which they preferred for common benefit and the people also for their partes contended to honor them the more by how much they striued to shewe them selues thankefull So with like strife on either side they go gratifie the common people and the people also to honor them were vnwares so entangled with publike causes that they could no more follow the common prouerbe which sayth Although our deedes discent from equitie Yet can vve not desist vvith honestie This thou shalt easily finde by the declaracion of the historie With these we doe compare two other popular men both kinges of LACEDAEMON Agis and Cleomenes For they as the Gracchi seeking to increase the power of the common people and to restore the iust and honest gouernment againe of the common wealth of LACEDAEMON which of long time had bene out of vse did in like manner purchase the hate of the nobilitie which were loth to lose any part of their wonted couetousnes In deed these two LACONIANS were no brethreÌ„ borne but yet did both follow one selfe course forme of gouernment which had beginning in this sort After that couetousnes of gold and siluer crept againe into the citie of SPARTA and with riches couetousnes also and miserie and by vse voluptuousnes and licentious life SPARTA then was void of all honor and goodnes and was long time drowned in shame and dishonor vntill king Agis and Leonidas came to raigne there Agis was of the house of the Eurytiontides the sonne of Eudamidas the sixt of lineall descent after Agesilaus who had beene the greatest Prince of all GRAECE in his time This Agesilaus had a sonne slaine in ITALY by the MESSAPIANS called Archidamus before the citie of MANDONIVM Archidamus had issue two sonnes Agis and Eudamidas that was king who succeeded his brother Agis whom Antipater slue before the citie of MEGALIPOLIS and left no children behind him Eudamidas begat Archidamus which Archidamus begat another Eudamidas which Eudamidas also begat Agis whose life we now write of Leonidas also the sonne of Cleonymus was of the other familie of the Agiades the right of succession after Pausanias who slue Mardonius the kings Lieuetenant general of PERSIA in a battell fought before the citie of PLATâ—â—S This Pausanias had a sonne called Plistonax and Plistonax also an other called Pausanias who flying from SPARTA vnto the citie of TEGEA his eldest sonne Agesipolis was made king in his fathers roome who dying without issue his yonger brother Cleombrotus succeeded him in the kingdoÌ„ Cleombrotus had two sonnes Agesipolis and Cleomenes of the which Agesipolis raigned not long king and dyed without issue Then Cleomenes his brother who was king after him had two sonnes Acrotatus the elder that dyed in his fathers life time and Cleonymus the yonger which suruiued him and was not king but one Areus his Nephewe the sonne of Acrotatus This Areus dyed before the citie of CORINTHE who hauing an other Acrotatus to his sonne he succeeded him in the kingdome He also dyed at a battell before the citie of MEGALIPOLIS and was slayne there by the tyrant Aristodemus leauing his wife great with childe She beeing brought to bedde after his death of a sonne whome Leonidas the sonne of Cleonymus taught and brought vp the childe dying very young the crowne by his death was cast apon Leonidas him selfe Howbeit his maners conditions neuer liked the people For though all men generally were corrupted through the coÌ„mon wealth and cleane out of order yet Leonidas of all other exceeded deforming most the auncient LACONIAN life bicause he had bene long time brought vp in Princes houses followed also Seleucus Court from whence he had brought all the pride and pompe of those Courts into GRAECE where law reason ruleth Agis on the contrary part did not onely farre excel Leonidas in honor and magnanimitie of mind but all other almost also which had raigned in SPARTA from the time of Agesilaus the great So that when Agis was not yet twenty yeare old and being daintily brought vp with the finenes of two women his mother Agesistrata and Archidamia his grandmother which had more gold and siluer then all the LACEDAEMONIANS els he began to spurne against these womanish delights pleasures in making him selfe fayer to
place where notwithstanding they had much a doe to make it burne Tiberius seeing that to make the common people mutyne the more he put on mourning apparell and brought his sonnes before them and besought the people to be good vnto them and their mother as one that dispayred of his health and safetie About that tyme dyed Attalus surnamed Philopater and Eudemus PERGAMENIAN brought his will to ROME in the which he made the people of ROME his heires Wherefore Tiberius still to encrease the good wil of the common people towards him preferred a law immediatly that the ready money that came by the inheritaunce of this king should bee distributed amonge the poore Citizens on whose lot it should fall to haue any parte of the diuision of the landes of the common wealth to furnishe them towardes house and to set vppe their tillage Furthermore he sayd that concerning the townes and cities of the kingdome of Attalus the Senate had nothing to doe to take any order with them but that the people were to dispose of them and that he him selfe would put it out That made him againe more hated of the Senate then before insomuch as there was one Pompey a Senator that standing vp sayde that he was next neighbour vnto Tiberius and that by reason of his neighbourhed he knew that Eudemus PERGAMENIAN had giuen him one of king Attalus royall bands with a purple gowne besides for a token that he should one day be king of ROME And Quintus Metellus also reproued him for that his father being Censor the ROMANES hauing supped in the towne and repayring euery man home to his house they did put out their torches and lights bicause men seeing them returne they should not thinke they taryed too long in companie bancketing and that in contrary maner the seditious and needy rabble of the common people did light his sonne home and accompany him all night long vp and downe the towne At that tyme there was one Tiberius Annius a man that had no goodnes nor honestie in him howbeit taken for a great reasoner and for a suttell questioner and aunswerer He prouoked Tiberius to aunswer him whether he had not committed a shamefull facte to his companion and brother Tribune to defame him that by the lawes of ROME should haue bene holy vntouched The people tooke this prouocation very angrily and Tiberius also comming out and hauing assembled the people commaunded them to bringe this Annius before him that he might be endyted in the market place But he finding him selfe farre inferior vnto Tiberius both in dignitie and eloquence ranne to his fine suttill questions to take a man at his worde and prayed Tiberius before he did proceede to his accusation that he would first aunswer him to a question he would aske him Tiberius bad him saye what he would So silence being made Annius asked him if thou wouldest defame me and offer me iniurie and that I called one of thy companions to helpe me and he should ryse to take my parte and anger thee wouldest thou therefore put him out of his office It is reported that Tiberius was so grauelled with this question that though he was one of the readiest speakers and the boldest in his orations of any man yet at that tyme he held his peace and had no power to speake and therefore he presently dismissed the assemblie Afterwards vnderstanding that of al the things he did the deposing of Octauius from his office was thought not onely of the nobilitie but of the common people also as fowle and wilfull a parte as euer he played for that thereby he had imbased and vtterly ouerthrowen the dignitie of the Tribunes the which was alwayes had in great veneration vntill that present tyme to excuse him selfe therefore he made an excellent oration to the people whereby shall appeare vnto you some special poyntes thereof to discerne the better the force and effect of his eloquence The Tribuneship sayd he in deede was a holy and sacred thing as perticularly consecrated to the people and established for their benefit and safetie Where contrariwise if the Tribune doe offer the people any wronge he thereby minisheth their power and taketh away the meanes from them to declare their wills by voyces besides that he doth also imbase his owne authoritie leauing to doe the thing for the which his authority first was giuen him Or otherwise we could not choose but suffer a Tribune if it pleased him to ouerthrow the Capitoll or to set fire on the arsenall and yet notwithstanding this wicked part if it were committed he should be Tribune of the people still though a lewde Tribune But when he goeth about to take away the authoritie and power of the people then he is no more a Tribune Were not this against all reason thinke you that a Tribune when he list may take a Consul and commit him to prison and that the people should not withstand the authoritie of the Tribune who gaue him the same when he would vse his authoritie to the preiudice of the people for the people are they that doe choose both Consul and Tribune Furthermore the kingly dignitie bicause in the same is conteyned the absolute authoritie and power of all other kindes of Magistrates and offices together is consecrated with very great and holy ceremonies drawing very neare vnto the godhed and yet the people expulsed king Tarquin bicause he vsed his authoritie with crueltie and for the iniurie he offered one man onely the most auncient rule and gouernment by the which the foundacion of ROME was first layed was vtterly abolished And who is there in all the citie of ROME to be reckoned so holy as the Vestall Nunnes which haue the custodie and keeping of the euerlasting fire and yet if any of these be taken in fornication she is buried aliue for her offence for when they are not holy to the goddes they lose the libertie they haue in respect of seruing the goddes Euen so also it is vnmeete that the Tribune if he offend the people should for the peoples sake be reuerenced any more Seeing that through his owne folly he hath depriued him selfe of that authoritie they gaue him And if it be so that he was chosen Tribune by the most parte of the trybes of the people then by greater reason is he iustly depriued that by all the whole trybes together is forsaken and deposed There is nothing more holy nor inuiolate then thinges offered vp vnto the goddes and yet it was neuer seene that any man did forbid the people to take them to remoue and transport them from place to place as they thought good Euen so they may as lawfully transferre the office of the Tribune vnto any other as any other offring consecrated to the goddes Furthermore it is manifest that any Officer or Magistrate may lawfully depose him selfe For it hath bene often seene that men in office haue depriued them selues or otherwise haue
sued to be discharged This was the effect of Tiberius purgation Now his friendes perceiuing the threats the riche and noble men gaue out against him they wished him for the safetie of his person to make sure to be Tribune againe the next yeare Whereuppon he began to flatter the common people againe afresh by new lawes which he preferred by the which he tooke away the time and number of yeares prescribed when euery citizen of ROME was bound to goe to the warres being called and his name billed He made it lawfull also for men to appeale from sentence of the Iudges vnto the people and thrust in also amongst the Senators which then had absolute authoritie to iudge among them selues a like number of the ROMANE Knightes and by this meanes sought to weaken and imbase the authority of the Senate increasing also the power of the people more of malice then any reason or for any iustice or benefit to the common wealth Furthermore when it came to the gathering of the voyces of the people for the confirmacion of his new lawes finding that his enemies were the stronger in the assembly bicause all the people were not yet come together he fell a quarrelling with his brethren the Tribunes alwayes to winne time and yet in the end brake vp the assembly commaunding them to returne the next morning There he would be the first man in the market place apparelled all in blacke his face be blubbered with teares looking heauely vpon the matter praying the people assembled to haue compassion vpon him saying that he was affrayed least his enemies would come in the night and ouerthrow his house to kill him Thereupon the people were so moued withall that many of them came and brought their tentes and lay about his house to watche it At the breake of the day the keeper of the chickins by signes of the which they doe diuine of thinges to come brought them vnto him and cast them downe meate before them None of them would come out of the cage but one only and yet with much a doe shaking the cage and when it came out it would eate no meate but only lift vp her left wing and put forth her legge and so ranne into the cage againe This signe made Tiberius remember an other he had had before He had a maruelous fayer helmet and very riche which he ware in the warres vnder it were crept two snakes vnwares to any and layed egges and hatched them This made Tiberius wonder the more bicause of the ill signes of the chickins notwithstanding he went out of his house when he heard that the people were assembled in the Capitoll but as he went out he hit his foote such a blow against a stone at the thresshold of the dore that he brake the nayle of his great toe which fell in suche a bleeding that it bled through his shooe Againe he had not gone farre but he saw vpon the toppe of a house on his left hand a couple of rauens fighting together and notwithstanding that there past a great number of people by yet a stone which one of these rauens cast from them came fell hard at Tiberius foote The fall thereof staied the stowtest man he had about him But Blossius the Philosopher of Cumes that did accōpany him told him it were a great shame for him and enough to kill the harts of all his followers that Tiberius being the sonne of Gracchus and nephew of Scipio the AFRICAN and the chiefe man besides of all the peoples side for feare of a rauen should not obey his citizens that called him and how that his enemies and ill willers would not make a laughing sporte of it but would plainly tell the people that this was a tricke of a tyran that raigned in dede and that for pride and disdaine did abuse the peoples good wills Furthermore diuers messengers came vnto him and sayd that his frends that were in the Capitoll sent to pray him to make hast for all went well with him When he came thither he was honorably receiued for the people seeing him comming cried out for ioy to welcome him and when he was gotten vp to his seate they shewed them selues both carefull and louing towardes him looking warely that none came neere him but such as they knew well While Mutius beganne againe to call the tribes of the people to geue their voyces he could not procede according to the accustomed order in the like case for the great noyse the hindmost people made thrusting forward and being driuen backe and one mingling with an other In the meane time Flauius Flaccus one of the Senators got vp into a place where all the people might see him and when he saw that his voyce coulde not be heard of Tiberius he made a signe with his hande that he had some matter of great importance to tell him Tiberius straight bad them make a lane through the prease So with much a doe Flauius came at length vnto him and tolde him that the riche men in open Senate when they could not frame the Consull to their wills determined them selues to come and kill him hauing a great number of their frendes and bondmen armed for the purpose Tiberius immediatly declared this conspiracy vnto his frends and followers who straight girte their long gownes vnto them and brake the sergeaunst iauelins which they caried in their handes to make roome among the people and tooke the tronchions of the same to resist those that would set apon them The people also that stoode furdest of marueled at it and asked what the matter was Tiberius by a signe to tell them the daunger he was in layed both his bands on his head bicause they coulde not heare his voyce for the great noyse they made His enemies seeing the signe he gaue ranne presently to the Senate crying out that Tiberius required a royall bande or diadeame of the people and that it was an euident signe bicause they sawe him clappe his handes apon his head This tale troubled all the companie Whereupon Nasica besought the Consul chiefe of the Senate to help the common wealth and to take away this tyran The Consul gently aunswered againe that he would vse no force neither put any citizen to death but lawfully condemned as also he would not receiue Tiberius nor protect him if the people by his perswasion or commaundement should commit any acte contrarie to the law Nasica then rising in anger sith the matter is so sayd he that the Consull regardeth not the common wealth all you then that will defende the authoritie of the law follow me Thereupon he cast the skirt of his gowne ouer his head went straight to the Capitoll They that followed him also tooke their gownes and wrapt them about their armes and layed at as many as they might to make them geue way and yet very few of the people durst meete with such states as
take bribes was reckoned no shame but to handle it discreetly he was the better thought of and beloued for it he shewed plainely that he regarded not money and gaue foorth many proofes of his curtesie and goodnes Furthermore Cicero being created Consul by name but Dictator in deede hauing absolute power and authoritie ouer all thinges to suppresse the rebellion and conspirators of Catiline he proued Platoes prophecie true which was That the cities are safe from daunger when the chiefe Magistrates and Gouernors by some good diuine fortune doe gouerne with wisedome and iustice Demosthenes was reproued for his corruption and selling of his eloquence bicause secretly he wrote one Oration for Phormio and an other in the selfe same matter for Apollodorus they being both aduersaries Further he was defamed also for receiuing money of the king of PERSIA and therewithall condemned for the money which he had taken of Harpalus And though some peraduenture woulde obiect that the reporters thereof which are many doe lye yet they can not possibly deny this that Demosthenes had no power to refraine from looking of the presentes which diuers kinges did offer him praying him to accept them in good parte for their sakes neither was that the part of a man that did take vsurie by trafficke on the sea the extreamest yet of all other In contrarie maner as we haue sayd before it is certeine that Cicero being Treasorer refused the gifts which the SICILIANS offered him there and the presentes also which the king of the CAPPADOCIANS offred him whilest he was Proconsul in CILICIA and those especially which his frendes pressed vpon him to take of them being a great summe of money when he went as a banished man out of ROME Furthermore the banishment of the one was infamous to him bicause by iudgement he was banished as a theefe The banishment of the other was for as honorable an acte as euer he did being banished for ridding his contrie of wicked men And therefore of Demosthenes there was no speeche after he was gone but for Cicero all the Senate chaunged their apparell into blacke and determined that they would passe no decree by their authoritie before Ciceroes banishment was reuoked by the people In deede Cicero idlely passed his time of banishment and did nothing all the while he was in MACEDON and one of the chiefest acts that Demosthenes did in all the time that he delt in the affaires of the common wealth was in his banishment For he went vnto euery city and did assist the Ambassadors of the GRAECIANS and refused the Ambassadors of the MACEDONIANS In the which he shewed him selfe a better citizen then either Themistocles or Alcibiades in their like fortune and exile So when he was called home and returned he fell againe to his old trade which he practised before and was euer against Antipater and the MACEDONIANS Where Laelius in open Senate sharply tooke vp Cicero for that he sate still and sayd nothing when that Octauius Caesar the young man made peticion against the law that he might sue for the Consulshippe and being so young that he had neuer a heare on his face And Brutus selfe also doth greatly reproue Cicero in his letters for that he had maintained and nourished a more grieuous and greater tyrannie then that which they had put downe And last of all me thinketh the death of Cicero most pitiefull to see an olde man caried vp and downe with tender loue of his seruauntes seeking all the waies that might be to flie death which did not long preuent his naturall course and in the ende olde as he was to see his head so pitiefully cut of Whereas Demosthenes though he yeelded a litle intreating him that came to take him yet for that he had prepared the poyson long before that he had kept it long and also vsed it as he did he can not but be maruelously commended for it For sith the god Neptune denyed him the benefit of his sanctuarie he betooke him to a greater and that was death whereby he saued him selfe out of the souldiers handes of the tyran and also scorned the bloody crueltie of Antipater THE LIFE OF Demetrius WHo first likened arts to our sences semeth to haue respected especially that one property of them both in receiuing obiects of contrary quality for in the vse end of their operacion there is great difference The senses receiue indifferently without discretion and iudgement white and blacke sweete and sower soft and hard for their office is only to admit their seuerall obiects and to carie and referre the iudgement thereof to the common sence But artes being the perfection of reason receiue and allow those things onely which make for their operacion regarding eschuing the contraries Thone chiefly and for vse thother by the way and with intent to auoyde them So Phisicke dealeth with diseases Musicke with discordes to thend to remoue them and worke their contraries and the great Ladies of all other artes Temperaunce iustice and wisdom doe not only consider honestie vprightnes and profit but examine withall the nature and effectes of lewdnes corruption and damage And innocencie which vaunteth her want of experience in vndue practises men call simplicitie and ignoraunce of thinges that be necessarie and good to be knowen And therefore the auncient LACEDAEMONIANS in their solemne feastes forced their ILOTES to boundmen to ouercharge them selues with wine and suche they shewed them vnto their youth by the apparant beastlines of dronken men to worke in them an abhorring of so lothesome vice Wherein although I can not much praise them for humanity or wisedom that corrupt and spoile one man by example of him to correct and reclaime an other yet as I hope it shall not be reprehended in me if amongest the rest I put in one or two paier of suche as liuing in great place accompt haue increased their fame with infamy Which in truth I doe not to please draw on the reader with variety of report but as Ismenias the THEBAN Musitian shewed his schollers both those that strake a cleane stroke with do so such as bungled it with do not so Antigenidas thought men should like better with greater desire cōtend for skill if they heard and discerned vntunable notes so thinke I we shall be the forwarder in reading following the good if we know the liues and see the deformity of the wicked This treaty conteineth the liues of Demetrius surnamed the Fortgainer M. Antony the Triumuir great examples to confirme the saying of Plato That from great minds both great vertues great vices do procede They were both giuen ouer to women wine both valliāt liberal both sumptuous high minded fortune serued them both alike not only in the course of their liues in attēpting great matters somtimes with good somtimes with ill successe in getting losing things of great consequence ouerthrowing
that praised be the goddes he should not now neede his presence to aide him After these words the one began to mistrust the other So it chaunced one day that as Demetrius went to Alexanders lodging where the feast was prepared there came one to him to tell him of an ambush that was layed for him and how they had determined to kill him when he should thinke to be merie at the banker But Demetrius was nothing abashed at the newes and only went a litle softlier not making such hast as he did before and in the meane time sent to commaunde his Captaines to arme their men and to haue them in readines and willed his gentlemen and all the rest of his officers that were about him which were a greater number by many than those of Alexanders side euery man of them to go in with him into the hall and to tarie there till he rose from the table By this meanes the men whome Alexander had appointed to assault him they durst not being affrayed of the great traine he had brought with him Furthermore Demetrius faining that he was not well at ease at that time to make merie he went immediatly out of the hall and the next morning determined to depart making him beleue that he had certaine newes brought him of great importaunce and prayed Alexander to pardon him that he could no lenger keepe him companie for that he was driuen of necessitie to depart from him and that an other time they woulde meete together with better leasure and libertie Alexander was verie glad to see that Demetrius went his way out of MACEDON not offended but of his owne good will whereuppon he brought him into THESSALY and when they were come to the citie of LARISSA they began againe to feast one an other to intrappe eche other the which offered Demetrius occasion to haue Alexander in his hand as he would wish him selfe For Alexander of purpose would not haue his gard about him fearing least thereby he should teach Demetrius also to stand vpon his gard Thus Alexander turned his practise for an other vpon him selfe for he was determined not to suffer Demetrius to scape his handes if he once againe came within daunger So Alexander being bidden to supper to Demetrius he came accordingly Demetrius rising from the borde in the middest of supper Alexander rose also being affrayed of that straunge manner and followed him foote by foote to the verie dore Then Demetrius sayd but to his warders at the gate kill him that followeth me With those wordes he went out of the dores and Alexander that followed him was slaine in the place and certaine of his gentlemen with him which came to rescue him of the which one of them as they killed him sayd that Demetrius had preuented them but one day All that night as it is no other likely was full of vprore and tumult Howbeit the next morning the MACEDONIANS being maruelously troubled affrayed of Demetrius great power when they saw that no man came to assaile them but that Demetrius in contrarie maner sent vnto them to tell them that he would speake with them and deliuer them reason for that he had done then they all began to be bolde againe and willingly gaue him audience Nowe Demetrius needed not to vse many wordes not to make any long Orations to win them vnto him for bicause they hated Antipater as a horrible manqueller and murderer of his mother and bicause they had no better man to preferre they easely chose Demetrius king of MACEDON and thereuppon brought him backe into MACEDON to take possession of the kingdom This chaunge was not misliked of the other MACEDONIANS that remained at home in their contrie for that they yet remembred the traiterous and wicked fact of Cassander against Alexander the great for which cause they vtterly hated detested all his issue posteritie And furthermore if there were any sparke of remembrance in their harts of the bounty goodnes of their grandfather Antipater Demetrius receiued the frute and benefit for his wife Philaes sake by whom he had a sonne that should succeede him in the kingdom and was a proper youth in campe with his father Demetrius hauing this great good happe and fortune comen vnto him he receiued newes also that Ptolomy had not onely raised his siege from the citie of SALAMINA where he kept his mother and children straightly besieged but further that he had done them great honor and bestowed great giftes vpon them On the other side also he was aduertised that his daughter Stratonice who had before bene maried vnto Seleucus was now maried againe vnto Antiochus the sonne of the sayd Seleucus and how that she was crowned Queene of all the barbarous nations inhabiting in the high prouinces of ASIA and that came to passe in this maner It chaunced that this young Prince Antiochus as loue ouercommeth all men became in loue with his mother in law Stratonice who alredie had a sonne by Seleucus his father She being young passing fayer he was so rauished with her that though he proued all the wayes possible to maister his furie and passion that way yet he was still the weaker So that in the end condemning him selfe to death bicause he found his desire abhominable his passion incurable his reason vtterly ouercome he resolued to kill him selfe by litle and litle with abstinence from meate and drinke and made no other reckoning to remedie his griefe faining to haue some secret inward disease in his body Yet could he not so finely cloke it but that Erasistratus the Phisitian easely found his griefe that loue not sicknes was his infirmitie howbeit it was hard for him to imagine with whom he was in loue Erasistratus being earnestly bent to finde out the partie he loued he sate by this young Prince all day long in his chamber and when any sayer young boy or wife came to see him he earnestly looked Antiochus in the face carefully obserued all the partes of the bodie and outward mouings which do commonly bewray the secret passions affections of the mind So hauing marked him diuers times that when others came to see him whatsoeuer they were he still remeined in one selfe state and that when Stratonice his mother in lawe came alone or in companie of her husband Seleucus to visite him he commonly perceiued those signes in him which Sappho wryteth to be in louers to wit that his words and speech did faile him his colour became red his eyes still rowled to and fro and then a sodaine swet would take him his pulse would beate fast and rise high and in the end that after the force and power of his hart had failed him and shewed all these signes he became like a man in an extasie traunse white as a kearcher he then gathering a true coniecture by these so manifest signes and declaracions that it was only Stratonice
before For the rumor was that there were not much fewer then forty thowsand horse bicause their king sent thither euen the very gard about his person as vnto a most certaine and assured victorie that they might be partners of the spoyle and booty they hoped to haue had for as touching the king him selfe he was neuer in any conflict or battell Then Antonius desirous to speake to his souldiers called for a blacke gowne to appeare the more pitifull to them but his friends did disswade him from it Therefore he put on his coate armor and being so apparelled made an oration to his armie in the which he highly commended them that had ouercome and driuen backe their enemies and greatly rebuked them that had cowardly turned their backes So that those which had ouercome prayed him to be of good chere the other also to cleere them selues willingly offred to take the lotts of Decimation if he thought good or otherwise to receiue what kind of punishment it should please him to laye vpon them so that he would forget any more to mislike or to be offended with them Antonius seeing that did lift vp his hands to heauen and made his prayer to the goddes that if in exchaunge of his former victories they would nowe sende him some bitter aduersitie then that all might light on him selfe alone and that they would giue the victorie to the rest of his armie The next morning they gaue better order on euery side of the armie and so marched forward so that when the PARTHIANS thought to returne againe to assaile them they came farre short of the reckoning For where they thought to come not to fight but to spoyle and make hauock of all when they came neare them they were sore hurt with their slings and darts and such other iauelings as the ROMANES darted at them the PARTHIANS found them as rough and desperat in fight as if they had bene fresh men they had delt withall Whereuppon their harts beganne againe to fayle them But yet when the ROMANES came to goe downe any steepe hills or mountaines then they would set on them with their arrowes bicause the ROMANES could goe downe but fayer and softly But then againe the souldiers of the legion that caried great shields returned backe and inclosed them that were naked or light armed in the middest amongest them and did kneele of one knee on the ground and so set downe their shields before them and they of the second ranck also couered them of the first rancke and the third also couered the second and so from ranck to rancke all were couered Insomuch that this manner of couering and sheading them selues with shields was deuised after the facion of laying tiles vpon houses and to sight was like the degrees of a Theater and is a most stronge defence and bulwarke against all arrowes and shot that falleth vpon it When the PARTHIANS saw this countenaunce of the ROMANE souldiers of the legion which kneeled on the ground in that sorte vpon one knee supposing that they had bene wearied with trauell they layed downe their bowes tooke their speares launces and came to fight with them man for man Then the ROMANES sodainely rose vpon their feete and with the darts that they threwe from them they slue the formost and put the rest to flight and so did they the next dayes that followed But by meanes of these daungers and lets Antonius armie could winne no way in a day by reason whereof they suffred great famine for they could haue but litle corne and yet were they driuen daily to fight for it and besides that they had no instruments to grynd it to make bread of it For the most part of them had beneleft behind bicause the beasts that caried them were either dead or els imployed to cary them that were sore and wounded For the famine was so extreame great that the eight parte of a bushell of wheate was sold for fifty Drachmas and they sold barley bread by the waight of siluer In the ende they were compelled to liue of erbes and rootes but they found few of them that men doe commonly eate of and were inforced to tast of them that were neuer eaten before among the which there was one that killed them and made them out of their witts For he that had once eaten of it his memorye was gone from him and he knewe no manner of thing but onely busied him selfe in digging and hurling of stones from one place to another as though it had bene a matter of great waight and to be done with all possible speede All the campe ouer men were busily stouping to the ground digging and carying of stones from one place to another but at the last they cast vp a great deale of choller and dyed sodainly bicause they lacked wine which was the onely soueraine remedy to cure that disease It is reported that Antonius seeing such a number of his men dye dayly and that the PARTHIANS left them not nether would suffer them to be at rest he oftentymes cryed out sighing and sayd O tenne thowsand He had the valliantnes of tenne thowsand GRAECIANS in such admiration whome Xenophon brought away after the ouerthrow of CYRVS bicause they had comen a farder iorney from BABYLON and had also fought against much moe enemies many tymes told then them selues and yet came home with safetie The PARTHIANS therfore seeing that they could not breake the good order of the armie of the ROMANES and contrarily that they them selues were oftentymes put to flight and welfauoredly beaten they fell againe to their olde craftie suttelties For when they found any of the ROMANES scattered from the armie to goe forrage to seeke some corne or other vittells they would come to them as if they had bene their friends and shewed them their bowes vnbent saying that them selues also did returne home to their contry as they did and that they would follow them no further howbeit that they should yet haue certaine MEDES that would follow them a dayes iorney or two to keepe them that they should doe no hurt to the villages from the high wayes and so holding them with this talke they gently tooke their leaue of them and bad them farewell so that the ROMANES began againe to thinke them selues safe Antonius also vnderstanding this being very glad of it determined to take his way through the plaine contry bicause also they should find no water in the mountaines as it was reported vnto him So as he was determined to take this course there came into his hoast one Mithridates a gentleman from the enemies campe who was Cosen vnto Monaezes that fled vnto Antonius and vnto whome he had giuen three cities When he came to Antonius campe he praied them to bring him one that could speake the PARTHIAN or SYRIAN tongue So one Alexander ANTIOCHIAN a famillier of Antonius was brought vnto him Then the
fighting with their Emperor and Captaine Antonius hearing these newes being yet in ARMENIA commaunded Canidius to goe presently to the sea side with his sixteene legions he had and he him selfe with Cleopatra went vnto the citie of EPHESVS there gathered together his gallies and shippes out of all parts which came to the number of eight hundred reckoning the great shippes of burden and of those Cleopatra furnished him with two hundred and twenty thowsand talents besides and prouision of vittells also to mainteyne al the whole army in this warre So Antonius through the perswasions of Domitius commaunded Cleopatra to returne againe into AEGYPT and there to vnderstand the successe of this warre But Cleopatra fearing least Antonius should againe be made friends with Octauius Caesar by the meanes of his wife Octauia she so plyed Canidius with money and filled his purse that he became her spokes man vnto Antonius and told him there was no reason to send her from this warre who defraied so great a charge neither that it was for his profit bicause that thereby the AEGYPTIANS would then be vtterly discoraged which were the chiefest strength of the army by sea considering that he could see no king of all the kings their confederats that Cleopatra was inferior vnto either for wisedom or iudgement seeing that longe before she had wisely gouerned so great a realme as AEGYPT besides that she had bene so long acquainted with him by whom she had learned to manedge great affayres These fayer perswasions wan him for it was predestined that the gouernment of all the world should fall into Octauius Caesars handes Thus all their forces being ioyned together they hoysed sayle towards the I le of SAMOS and there gaue them selues to feasts and sollace For as all the kings Princes communalties peoples and cities from SYRIA vnto the marishes Maeotides and from the ARMENIANS to the ILLYRIANS were sent vnto to send and bringe all munition and warlike preparation they could euen so all players minstrells tumblers fooles and ieasters were commaunded to assemble in the I le of SAMOS So that where in manner all the world in euery place was full of lamentations sighes and teares onely in this I le of SAMOS there was nothing for many dayes space but singing and pyping and all the Theater full of these common players minstrells and singing men Besides all this euery citie sent an oxe thither to sacrifice and kings did striue one with another who should make the noblest feasts giue the richest gifts So that euery man sayd what can they doe more for ioy of victorie if they winne the battell When they make already such sumptuous feasts at the beginning of the warre When this was done he gaue the whole rabble of these minstrells such kind of people the citie of PRIENE to keepe them withal during this warre Then he went vnto the citie of ATHENS and there gaue him selfe againe to see playes and pastimes and to keepe the Theaters Cleopatra on the other side being ielous of the honors which Octauia had receiued in this citie where in deede she was maruelously honored and beloued of the ATHENIANS to winne the peoples good will also at ATHENS she gaue them great gifts and they likewise gaue her many great honors and appointed certaine Ambassadors to cary the decree to her house amōg the which Antonius was one who as a Citizen of ATHENS reported the matter vnto her made an oration in the be halfe of the citie Afterwards he sent to ROME to put his wife Octauia out of his house who as it is reported went out of his house with all Antonius children sauing the eldest of them he had by Fuluia who was with her father bewailing lamenting her cursed hap that had brought her to this that she was accompted one of the chiefest causes of this ciuill warre The ROMANES did pitie her but much more Antonius those specially that had seene Cleopatra who nether excelled Octauia in beawtie nor yet in young yeares Octauius Caesar vnderstanding the sodain wonderful great preparation of Antonius he was not a litle astonied as it fearing he should be driuen to fight that sommer bicause he wanted many things the great and grieuous exactions of money did sorely oppresse the people For all manner of men els were driuen to pay the fourth part of their goods and reuenue but the Libertines to were those whose fathers or other predecessors had some time bene bond men they were sessed to pay the eight part of all their goods at one payment Hereuppon there rose a wonderfull exclamation and great vprore all ITALY ouer so that among the greatest faults that euer Antonius committed they blamed him most for that he delayed to giue Caesar battell For he gaue Caesar leysure to make his preparacions and also to appease the complaints of the people When such a great summe of money was demaunded of them they grudged at it and grewe to mutinie vpon it but when they had once paied it they remembred it no more Furthermore Titius and Plancus two of Antonius chiefest friends and that had bene both of them Consuls for the great iniuries Cleopatra did them bicause they hindered all they could that she should not come to this warre they went and yelded them selues vnto Caesar and tolde him where the testament was that Antonius had made knowing perfitly what was in it The will was in the custodie of the Vestall Nunnes of whom Caesar demaunded for it They aunswered him that they would not giue it him but if he would goe and take it they would not hinder him Thereuppon Caesar went thither hauing red it first to him self he noted certaine places worthy of reproch so assembling all the Senate he red it before them all Whereuppon diuers were maruelously offended and thought it a straunge matter that he being aliue should be punished for that he had appoynted by his will to be done after his death Caesar chiefly tooke hold of this that he ordeyned touching his buriall for he willed that his bodie though he dyed at ROME should be brought in funerall pompe through the middest of the market place and that it should be sent into ALEXANDRIA vnto Cleopatra Furthermore among diuers other faultes wherewith Antonius was to be charged for Cleopatraes sake Caluisius one of Caesars friends reproued him bicause he had franckly giuen Cleopatra all the libraries of the royall citie of PERGAMVM in the which she had aboue two hundred thowsand seueral bookes Againe also that being on a time set at the table he sodainly rose from the borde and trode vpon Cleopatraes foote which was a signe giuen betwene them that they were agreed of That he had also suffred the EPHESIANS in his presence to call Cleopatra their soueraine Ladye That diuers times sitting in his tribunall and chayer of state giuing audience to all kings and Princes he had receiued loue
and vprore it was thought then that Brutus woulde take parte with Caesar bicause Pompey not long before had put his father vnto death But Brutus preferring the respect of his contrie and common wealth before priuate affection and perswading himselfe that Pompey had iuster cause to enter into armes then Caesar he then tooke parte with Pompey though oftentimes meting him before he thought scorne to speake to him thinking it a great sinne and offence in him to speake to the murtherer of his father But then submitting him selfe vnto Pompey as vnto the head of the common wealth he sailed into SICILIA Lieutenant vnder Sestius that was Gouernor of that prouince But when he saw that there was no way to rise nor to do any noble exployts and that Caesar Pompey were both camped together and fought for victory he went of him selfe vnsent for into MACEDON to be partaker of the daunger It is reported that Pompey being glad and wondering at his comming when he sawe him come to him he rose out of his chaire and went and imbraced him before them all and vsed him as honorablie as he could haue done the noblest man that tooke his parte Brutus being in Pompeys campe did nothing but studie all day long except he were with Pompey not only the dayes before but the selfe same day also before the great battell was fought in the fieldes of PHARSALIA where Pompey was ouerthrowen It was in the middest of sommer and the sunne was verie hotte besides that the campe was lodged neere vnto marishes and they that caried his tent taried long before they came whereuppon being verie wearie with trauell scant any meate came into his mouth at dinner time Furthermore when others slept or thought what woulde happen the morrowe after he fell to his booke and wrote all day long till night wryting a breuiarie of Polybius It is reported that Caesar did not forgette him and that he gaue his Captaines charge before the battell that they shoulde beware they killed not Brutus in fight and if he yeelded willinglie vnto them that then they shoulde bring him vnto him but if he resisted and woulde not be taken then that they shoulde lette him goe and doe him no hurte Some saye he did this for Seruiliaes sake Brutus mother For when he was a young man he had bene acquainted with Seruilia who was extreamelie in loue with him And bicause Brutus was borne in that time when their loue was hottest he perswaded him selfe that he begat him For proofe hereof the reporte goeth that when the waightiest matters were in hande in the Senate about the conspiracie of Catiline which was likelie to haue vndone the citie of ROME Caesar and Cato sate neere together and were both of contrarie mindes to eache other and then that in the meane time one deliuered Caesar a letter Caesar tooke it and red it softlie to him selfe but Cato cried out vpon Caesar and sayd he did not well to receiue aduertisementes from enemies Whereuppon the whole Senate beganne to murmure at it Then Caesar gaue Cato the letter as it was sent him who red it and founde that it was a loue letter sent from his sister Seruilia thereuppon he cast it againe to Caesar and sayde vnto him holde dronken soppe When he had done so he went on with his tale and maintayned his opinion as he did before so commonlie was the loue of Seruilia knowen which she bare vnto Caesar. So after Pompeys ouerthrowe at the battell of PHARSALIA and that he fledde to the sea when Caesar came to beseege his campe Brutus went out of the campe gates vnseene of any man and lept into a marishe full of water and reedes Then when night was come he crept out and went vnto the citie of LARISSA from whence he wrote vnto Caesar who was verie glad that he had scaped and sent for him to come vnto him When Brutus was come he did not onelie pardon him but also kept him alwayes about him and did as muche honor and esteeme him any man he had in his companie Nowe no man coulde tell whether Pompey was fledde and all were maruelous desirous to knowe it wherefore Caesar walking a good waye alone with Brutus he did aske him which way he thought Pompey tooke Caesar perceiuing by his talke that Brutus gessed certainlie whether Pompey shoulde be fledde he left all other wayes and tooke his iorney directlie towardes AEGYPT Pompey as Brutus had coniectured was in deede fledde into AEGYPT but there he was villanouslie slayne Furthermore Brutus obteyned pardon of Caesar for Cassius and defending also the king of LYBIAES cause he was ouerlayed with a worlde of accusacions against him howebeit intreating for him he saued him the best parte of his realme and kingdome They say also that Caesar sayd when he hearde Brutus pleade I knowe not sayd he what this young man woulde but what he woulde he willeth it vehementlie For as Brutus grauetie and constant minde woulde not graunt all men their requests that sued vnto him but being moued with reason and discretion did alwayes encline to that which was good and honest euen so when it was moued to followe any matter he vsed a kinde of forcible and vehement perswasion that calmed not till he had obteyned his desire For by flattering of him a man coulde neuer obteyne any thing at his handes nor make him to doe that which was vniust Further he thought it not meete for a man of calling and estimacion to yeelde vnto the requestes and intreaties of a shamelesse and importunate suter requesting thinges vnmeete the which notwithstanding some men doe for shame bicause they dare deny nothing And therefore he was wont to say that he thought them euill brought vp in their youth that coulde deny nothing Nowe when Caesar tooke sea to goe into AFRICKE against Cato and Scipio he left Brutus Gouernment of GAVLE in ITALIE on this side of the Alpes which was a great good happe for that prouince For where others were spoyled and polled by the insolencie and couetousnesse of the Gouernours as if it had bene a contrie conquered Brutus was a comforte and rest vnto their former troubles and miseries they susteyned But he referred it whollie vnto Caesars grace and goodnesse For when Caesar returned out of AFRICKE and progressed vp and downe ITALIE the things that pleased him best to see were the cities vnder Brutus charge and gouernment and Brutus him selfe who honored Caesar in person and whose companie also Caesar greatlie esteemed Now there were diuers sortes of Praetorshippes at ROME and it was looked for that Brutus or Cassius would make sute for the chiefest Praetorshippe which they called the Praetorshippe of the citie bicause he that had that office was as a Iudge to minister iustice vnto the citizens Therefore they stroue one against the other though some say that there was some litle grudge betwext them for other matters before and
multitude of souldiers they gathered together was to subdue the tyrannes that would keepe them in slauery and subiection Wherefore regarding their chiefe purpose and intent they should not be farre from ITALY as heare as they could possible but should rather make all the haste they could to helpe their contry men Cassius beleued him returned Brutus went to meete him and they both met at the citie of SMYRNA which was the first time that they saw together since they tooke leaue eche of other at the hauen of PIRAEA in ATHENS the one going into SYRIA and the other into MACEDON So they were maruelous ioyfull and no lesse coragious when they saw the great armies together which they had both leauied considering that they departing out of ITALY like naked and poore banished men without armor and money nor hauing any shippe ready nor souldier about them nor any one towne at their commaundement yet notwithstanding in a short time after they were now met together hauing shippes money and souldiers enowe both footemen horsemen to fight for the Empire of ROME Now Cassius would haue done Brutus as much honor as Brutus did vnto him but Brutus most commonly preuented him and went first vnto him both bicause he was the elder man as also for that he was sickly of bodye And men reputed him commonly to be very skilfull in warres but otherwise maruelous chollerick and cruell who sought to rule men by feare rather then with lenitie and on the other side he was too famillier with his friends and would iest too brodely with them But Brutus in contrary manner for his vertue and valliantnes was wellbeloued of the people and his owne esteemed of noble men and hated of no man not so much as of his enemies bicause he was a maruelous lowly and gentle person noble minded and would neuer be in any rage nor caried away with pleasure and couetousnes but had euer an vpright mind with him and would neuer yeeld to any wronge of iniustice the which was the chiefest cause of his fame of his rising and of the good will that euery man bare him for they were all perswaded that his intent was good For they did not certainly beleue that if Pompey him selfe had ouercome Caesar he would haue resigned his authoritie to the law but rather they were of opinion that he would still keepe the souerainty and absolute gouernment in his hands taking onely to please the people the title of Consul or Dictator or of some other more ciuill office And as for Cassius a hot chollerick cruell man that would oftentymes be caried away from iustice for gayne it was certainly thought that he made warre and put him selfe into sundry daungers more to haue absolute power and authoritie then to defend the libertie of his contry For they that will also consider others that were elder men then they as Cinna Marius and Carbo it is out of doubt that the ende and hope of their victorie was to be Lordes of their contry and in manner they did all confesse that they fought for the tyranny and to be Lordes of the Empire of ROME And in contrary manner his enemies them selues did neuer reproue Brutus for any such chaunge or desire For it was sayd that Antonius spake it openly diuers tymes that he thought that of all them that had slayne Caesar there was none but Brutus only that was moued to doe it as thinking the acte commendable of it selfe but that all the other conspirators did conspire his death for some priuate malice or enuy that they otherwise did beare vnto him Hereby it appeareth that Brutus did not trust so much to the power of his army as he did to his owne vertue as is to be seene by his writings For approaching neare to the instant daunger he wrote vnto Pomponius Atticus that his affayres had the best happe that could be For sayd he eyther I will set my contry at libertie by battell or by honorable death rid me of this bondage And furthermore that they being certeine and assured of all thinges els this one thing onely was doubtfull to them whether they should liue or dye with libertie He wrote also that Antonius had his due paiment for his folly For where he might haue bene a partner equally of the glory of Brutus Cassius and Cato haue made one with them he liked better to choose to be ioyned with Octauius Caesar alone with whome though now he be not ouercome by vs yet shall he shortly after also haue warre with him And truely he proued a true Prophet for so came it in deede to passe Now whilest Brutus and Cassius were together in the citie of SMYRNA Brutus prayed Cassius to let him haue some part of his money whereof he had great store bicause all that he could rappe and rend of his side he had bestowed it in making so great a number of shippes that by meanes of them they should keepe all the sea at their commaundement Cassius friendes hindered this request and earnestly disswaded him from it perswading him that it was no reason that Brutus should haue the money which Cassius had gotten together by sparing and leauied with great euill will of the people their subiects for him to bestowe liberally vppon his souldiers and by this meanes to winne their good willes by Cassius charge This notwithstanding Cassius gaue him the thirde parte of his totall summe So Cassius and Brutus then departing from eche other Cassius tooke the citie of RHODES where he too dishonestly cruelly vsed him selfe although when he came into the citie he aunswered some of the inhabitants who called him Lord and king that he was nether Lord nor king but he onely that had slaine him that would haue bene Lord and king Brutus departing from thence sent vnto the LYCIANS to require money and men of warre But there was a certaine Orator called Nauâ—rates that made the cities to rebell against him insomuch that the contry men of that contry kept the straights and litle mountaines thinking by that meanes to stoppe Brutus passage Wherefore Brutus sent his horsemen against them who stale vppon them as they were at dinner and slue six hundred of them and taking all the small townes and villages he did let all the prisoners he tooke goe without payment of ransome hoping by this his great curtesie to winne them to drawe all the rest of the contry vnto him But they were so fierce and obstinate that they would mutyne for euery small hurt they receyued as they passed by their contry and did despise his curtesie and good nature vntill that at length he went to beseege the citie of the XANTHIANS within the which were shut vppe the cruellest and moste warrelikest men of LYCIA There was a ryuer that ranne by the walls of the citie in the which many men saued them selues swymming betweene two waters and fledde howbeit they
honoring him for his Philosophie Thus Cato did pull downe the pride of the king at that time who before had vsed Scipio and Varus as his noble men and subiects howebeit Cato did reconcile them together againe Furthermore when all the companie prayed him to take charge of the whole armie and that Scipio him selfe and Varus both did first geue him place and willingly resigned vnto him the honor to commaunde the whole campe he aunswered them he woulde not offende the lawe sith he made warre onely to preserue the authoritie and priuiledge thereof neither would take vpon him to commaunde all him selfe being but Vicepraetor where there was a Viceconsull present For Scipio was created Proconsull and furthermore the people had a certayne confidence that their affaires woulde prosper the better if they had but the name of a Scipio to leade them in AFRICKE Nowe when Scipio was Generall ouer them he woulde straight for Iubaes sake haue put all the inhabitantes of the citie of VTICA without respect of age vnto the sworde and haue rased the houses to the grounde as those that had taken Caesars parte Howebeit Cato woulde not suffer him but protesting vnto them that were present and calling the gods to witnesse in open counsell with great difficulty he saued the poore people of VTICA from that cruell tragedy and slaughter Afterwards partly at the request of the people and partly also at Scipioes instance Cato tooke apon him to keepe the city fearing least by treason or against their wills it should come into Caesars hands bicause it was a strong place of scituacion and well replenished with all things necessary for him that should kepe it Cato did both furnish it also fortifie it For he brought in great store of corne he repaired the rampers of the walls made great high towers cast depe trenches round about the city paling thē in betwext the trenches and the towne he lodged all the young men of VTICA compelled them to deliuer vp their armor weapon and kept all the rest within the city it selfe carefully prouiding that neuer a man of thē should be hurt by the ROMANES besides did also send corne armor munition money vnto the campe so that the city of VTICA was the staple storehouse of the warres Moreouer as he had before counselled Pompey not to come to battell the like counsell he now gaue also vnto Scipio not to hazard battel against a man of great skill experience in warres but to take time whereby by litle and litle he should consume the power strength of Caesars tyranny But Scipio was so stowt that he regarded not Catoes coūsell but wrote otherwhile vnto him twitting him with his cowardlines in this maner that it was enough for him to be safe in a good city compassed about with walls though otherwise he sought not to hinder men to be valliant to execute any enterprise as occasion was offred Cato wrote againe vnto him that he was ready to goe into ITALIE with his footemen and horsemen which he had brought into AFRICKE to draw Caesar from them and to turne him against him Scipio made but a spor◠at it Then Cato shewed plainly that he did repent him he had geuen him the preferrement to be generall of the army bicause he saw he would but fondly prosecute this warre also that if he chaunced to ouercome he could not moderately vse the victory against his contry men Then he beganne to mistrust the good successe of this warre and so he told his frendes for the Generalls hastines and vnskilfulnesse and yet if beyonde expectacion it fell out well and that Caesar were ouerthrowen he would neuer dwell at ROME any more but would flye the crueltie and bitternes of Scipio who euen at that present time did prowdly threaten many But in the ende that fell out sooner then looked for For a poste came to him late that night who but three dayes before departed from the campe and brought newes that all was lost in a great battell by the citie of THAPSES which Caesar had wonne that he had taken both campes that Scipio and king Iuba were fled with a fewe men and that all the rest of their armie was slaine These newes did put the citizens in such a feare and maze and specially being in the warre and in the night time that for very feare they could scant keepe them selues within the walles of their citie But Cato meeting with them stayed them that ranne vp and downe crying in the streetes and did comfort them the best he could Yet he tooke not all their feare from them though he brought them againe vnto them selues from the extasie they were in declaring vnto them that the losse was nothing so great as it was made and that it was a common matter to enlarge suche newes with wordes enowe By these perswasions he somwhat pacified the tumult and vprore and the next morning by breake of day he made proclamacion that the three hundred men which he had chosen for his counsellers should come and assemble in the temple of Iupiter they all being citizens of ROME which for trafficke of marchaundise lay in AFRICKE and all the ROMANE Senators and their children also Nowe whilest they gathered them selues together Cato him selfe went verie grauely with a set modest countenaunce as if no suche matter had happened hauing a litle booke in his hande which he read as he went This booke conteyned the store and preparacion of minicion he had made for this warre as come armor weapons bowes slings and footemen When they were all assembled he began greatly to commend the good loue and faithfulnes of these three hundred ROMANES which had profitably serued their contry with their persons money and counsell and did counsell them not to depart one from an other as men hauing no hope or otherwise seeking to saue them selues scatteringly For remeining together Caesar would lesse despise them if they would make warre against him and would also sooner pardon them if they craued mercie of him Therefore he counselled them to determine what they would do and for his owne parte he sayed he would not mislike whatsoeuer they determined of for if their mindes followed their fortune he would thinke this chaunge to proceede of the necessitie of time But if they were resolued to withstande their misfortune and to hazard them selues to defend their libertie he then would not only commend them but hauing their noble corage in admiration would him selfe be their chieftaine and companion euen to proue the fortune of their contrie to the vttermost The which was not VTICA nor ADRVMETVM but the citie selfe of ROME the which oftentimes through her greatnes had raised her selfe from greater daungers and calamities Furthermore that they had many waies to saue them selues the greatest meane of all was this that they should make warre with a man who by reason of his warres was
compelled to be in many places For SPAYNE of the one side was vp against him and tooke parte with the younger Pompey and the citie of ROME also not being vsed to be brideled with the snaffle of such insolencie could not abide it but would rather rise with any other chaunge Furthermore that they were not to refuse any daunger but to take exāple of their enemy who to worke his mischieuous intent spareth not his person in any daunger And contrarily also that vnto them the incertaintie of the warre if victorie followed would make them happy as also in being ouerthrowen their death would turne to immortall glory Notwithstanding they were to thinke of the matter among thēselues to make their praiers to the gods that in recōpence of their vertue good seruice which they had shewed thithervnto they would graūt thē grace to determine for the best After Cato had ended his oration there were diuers of thē that were stirred vp by his liuely perswasions but the most part of thē were incoraged by his constancy noble minde also by his kindnes so that they presently forgate the daunger they were in prayd him to cōmaund their persons goods weapons as he thought good taking him for their only inuincible Captaine of whom fortune had no power thinking it better to dye obeying his counsell then to saue them selues forsaking so valliant and worthy a man. Then when one of the assembly made a motion that they shoulde make their bondmen free that diuers also did confirme it Cato sayd he would by no meanes suffer it because it was neither meete nor lawfull howbeit if their maisters would manumise them that he was cōtented to receiue thē for souldiers that could weare any weapon Diuers promised him to do it Cato commaunded their names should be enrolled that would so went his way Immediatly after letters were brought him frō king Iuba Scipio of the which king Iuba was hidden in a moūtaine with few men with him who sent vnto him to know what he would determine to do For if he ment to forsake VTICA he would tary him there if otherwise he determined to kepe VTICA then that he would come helpe him with an army Scipio on thother side riding at ancker at a point of the land not farre from VTICA staid for the like aunswere Then Cato thought it best to stay the messengers which had brought him their letters till he saw what was the determination of the three hundred For all they that were Senators of ROME were verie glad men did presently make their bondmen free gaue them weapons But the other three hundred which were marchant venterers that liued by vsury exchaunge who had the most parte of their goods in slaues bondmen did not long follow Catoes counsell but like men whose bodies soone receiue heate are soone cold againe when they are once gone from the fire euen so those marchāts while Cato was present among them had some good prety will desire but when by them selues they had cast their accōpt the feare they had of Caesar made them forget the reuerence they bare vnto Cato vnto their duety For sayd they what are we what is he whom we disdaine to obey Is it not Caesar him selfe who at this day is Lord Emperor of ROME Neuer a one of vs is Scipio Pompey nor Cato yet now when all men for feare in maner compelled do yeld submit thē selues we will nedes take vpon vs within the wals of VTICA to fight for the liberty of ROME against him for whom Cato flying with Pompey forsooke ITALIE and we now make our bondmen free to fight with Caesar hauing no better liberty our selues then it pleaseth him to geue vs Let vs therefore now know our selues whilest we haue time craue mercie at his handes that is the stronger send vnto him to pray him to pardon vs The greatest wisest men of those three hundred marchants had this speache But the most parte of them sought meanes how to entrappe the Senators hoping the better of mercy at Caesars hand if they did deliuer them vnto him Cato did looke for this chaunge in them but yet vttered not that he thought returned the messengers backe againe vnto king Iuba and Scipio and wrote vnto them that they should beware they came not neere VTICA bicause he did mistrust these three hundred marchants Now there were a great number of horsemen which had escaped from the battell who comming towards VTICA sent three of their company vnto Cato the which brought him not one selfe determination from all the company For some of them went to go vnto king Iuba others also to ioyne with Cato parte of them were affraid to come into VTICA These things being thus reported vnto Cato he commaunded Marcus Rubrius to take care of these three hundred men to receiue the names of the bondmen which they willingly manumised without compelling of any man In the meane time Cato with all the Senators went out of VTICA to meete with these horsemen there he spake to the Captaines praid them that they would not forsake so many noblemen Senators of ROME as were there that they would not haue king Iuba for their Captaine before Cato but to come into VTICA where they might saue thē selues the citie was of suche strength and besides so well armed and vitteled for many yeres The like request did the Senators also make vnto them with the teares running downe their cheekes Thereupon the Captaines went spake with their souldiers Cato in the meane time sate him downe on a litle hill with the Senators tarying for aunswere But then on the sodaine came Rubrius vnto him in great hast complaining of the tumult of these three hundred marchants which went about to make the city to rebell whereupon the rest their harts failing them fell to bewaile their miserable fortune But Cato sought to comfort them and then sent vnto the three hundred marchantes to pray them to haue a litle pacience So the Captaines returned againe with vnreasonable demaundes of the horsemen For they sayd that they cared not for king Iubaes pay neither were they affrayed of Caesars malice so that they had Cato for their generall yet to be pende vp within the walls of a citie with AFRICANES that were PHOENICIANS and a traiterous nation as could be that grieued them most of all For sayd they though now they sturre not and be quiet yet when Caesar comes they will be the first that will betray vs and cut our throates And therefore if Cato woulde haue them to ioyne with him in this warre that he should either kill or driue away all the VTICANS out of the citie and then that they would come into it when it was cleere of all those barbarous people their enemies Cato thought this a cruell and barbarous condicion