Valley At which the Stranger being awed for he desired to do every thing according to order that the event might answer the Prodigy went down immediately to the Tiber and in the mean while the Roman Priest Sacrificed the Heifer to Diana which Action of his was exceeding grateful both to the King and the City Servius although by tract of time he was now put into undoubted possession of the Kingdom yet because he heard that young Tarquinius should sometimes say He Reigned without the Peoples consent having first reconciled the minds of the Multitude by dividing certain Lands that he had taken from the Enemy among them he ventured to refer it to the People Whether it were their will and pleasure that he should Reign Whereupon he was Declared King by a consent more Universal than any man had hardly been before him But that did not diminish Tarquinius's hopes of gaining the Kingdom no he therefore conceiv'd a greater Animosity because he perceived that the Peoples Property was Invaded against the will of the Senate and thought he had a good opportunity to accuse Servius before the Fathers and to grow great himself in that Court being himself a young man of an hot Spirit nor only so but having at home a Wife called Tullia who instigated his restless mind for even the Roman Palace produced an example of Tragick wickedness that out of hatred to the Tyranny of Kings their Liberty might be the sooner accomplished and that might be the last Kings Reign that was gain'd by injustice It is not very well known whether this Lucius Tarquinius was the Son or Grand-son of Tarquinius Priscus but most Authors say he was his Son He had a Brother called Aruns Tarquinius a young man of a mild disposition and these two as aforesaid had Married the two Tullias Daughters to the King who were likewise very different in their inclinations It so fell out lest two violent natures should be coupled in Marriage through the good fortune I suppose of the Roman People that the Reign of Servius might be the longer and the Constitutions of the City in his time be made The fiercer Tullia was mightily vexed that she found nothing in her Husband that looked like Ambition or Audacity wherefore she was wholly inclin'd to the other Tarquinius admired him said he was a Man and came of Royal Blood but despised the Sister in that she by being Married had lost the true Courage of a Woman In a little time the likeness of their manners engaged them two as it commonly happens and their mischievous Designs were very suitable to each other but the beginning of all confusion sprang from the Woman For she being accustomed to the secret conversation of another man spared no disgraceful Words either of her Husband to his Brother or of her Sister to her Husband but said It had been better for her to be a Widow and for him to have been still a Batchellor than to be so unequally yoaked that she her self must languish under anothers sloth that if the gods had given her the man whom she deserved she should quickly have seen that Dominion in her own House which now her Father enjoyed With these rash words she soon fired the young man Aruns Tarquinius and Tullia the younger when they by almost continual Funerals had made the Houses empty upon their new Marriage were joyned in Matrimony not only with Servius's allowance but approbation too But then Tullius's Age began every day to be more tedious to him and his Reign more uneasie for that Woman daily contrived some new Villany nor did she suffer her Husband to rest either night or day lest her former Parricides should seem too little to deserve thanks telling him She did not lack a man who bore the Name of an Husband nor one to whom she was a silent Slave but she wanted one who could think himself worthy of a Crown who could remember that he was the Son of Tarquinius Priscus who could be desirous rather to have than hope for a Kingdom If thou said she art that man to whom I think I am married I may make bold to call thee not only Husband but King if not the case is now much altered for the worse since Villany here is joyned with slothfulness Rouze up thy self Thou hast no need to seek for Foreign Kingdoms from Corinth or from Tarquinii as thy Father had thy Houshold-gods and those of thy Country thy Fathers Image the Kings Palace the Regal Throne in that Palace and the Name of Tarquin creates and calls thee King But if this be not enough to raise thy Soul why doest thou frustrate the expectations of the City Why doest thou go under the Name of a young Prince Get thee hence to Tarquinii or Corinth run Retrograde into thy Family and prove more like thy Brother than thy Father With these and other taunting words she teazed the young man nor could she rest her self to think that Tanaquil who was a Foreigner could carry on such great Designs as to confer two Regal Successions upon her Husband first and then upon her Son-in-law and yet she though come of Royal Blood could be no instrument at all either in the giving or taking away a Crown Tarquinius being possess'd with this Female Fury went about to get the Votes of the inferior Senators especially whom he put in mind of his Fathers kindness to them and upon that Account desired their favour He made the young men his friends by Mony and then promising great things of himself and laying great crimes to the Kings charge advanc'd his Credit among all People At last when he thought he had a fair opportunity to effect his Design he came on a sudden guarded with a Company of Soldiers into the Forum at which all People were affrighted and there sitting down in the Kings Seat he commanded the Senators to be summoned into Court by the common Cryer and to appear before their King Tarquinius whereupon they immediately came some being prepared for it before-hand and others for fear lest their not coming might turn to their Damage but were astonished at the Novelty and Strangeness of the sight and thought also that Servius was taken off Then Tarquinius began with all the reviling Language that he could think on and told them That a Slave and the Son of a Slave after the death of his Father who was basely murthered without any Interregnum or space between the Reign of two Kings which had been formerly used without any publick Assembly without the Votes of the People or the approbation of the Senate but by the gift of a Woman had been possessed of that Kingdom and that he so Born and so made King being a great Patron of the basest sort of men among which himself is one had out of envy to other Peoples prosperity taken their Lands from all the best in the City and divided it among a pack of sordid fellows that he had laid
Friend and shar'd with them in their g eâ—tâ—â—â— Victory He came to Rome to see certain Games that were design'd to be celebrated the year following For the third Secular Games according to some Authors were celebrated during the Consulships of P. Cornelius Lentulus Caudinus and C. Licinius Varus as we have hinted before M. Aemilius and Livius Salinator were appointed as Stewards to prepare all things for the setting out of these Games In the mean time the Princes of the Boii being back'd and strengthen'd with numerous Troops of Auxiliaries A. U. 517 of the Transalpine Gauls sent to the Consuls to demand That the Town and Territory of Ariminum should be restored to them for to these places they pretended an indisputable Right and Title which if not comply'd with they threatned the Romans with a bloody and most destructive War The Consuls had not as yet got their Forces together so that fearing to expose a handful of Men to so much hazard and yet unable to grant the Gauls their demands they made Answer That if they had any business they should send their Ambassadours to the Senate The Gauls lik'd this Proposition well enough and a cessation of Arms was concluded betwixt both till the Ambassadours were return'd When the Ambassadours came to Rome the Senate gave them an Answer contrary to their expectations and withal made great preparations to oppose this inundation which afterwards came to nothing Fortune alone baffling them without the effusion of any Roman blood For whilst the Ambassadours were going homewards the Boii and the Transalpine Gauls quarrell'd among themselves upon this account The Transalpine Army unknown to the Boii marched to Ariminum which it was suspected they did with a design to possess themselves of that place and hereupon they fell out and having kill'd Ates and Galatus their Kings laying treachery to their charge they endeavoured by force of Arms to expel these Aliens out of their Country Hereupon they fought very desperately and when they had weaken'd and broken one another sufficiently the Transalpine Gauls return'd home and the Romans granted Peace to the Boii having first taken some part of their Country from them This War being so soon ended the Consuls departed into Liguria where P. Lentulus defeated all the Enemies Forces that met him and marching with his Army through their Country took some Castles by storm and others upon surrender And now C. Licinus designing to cross over into Corsica and being not provided with Ships enough to carry over the whole Army at once sent M. Claudius Glycias with part of the Forces before who seeing the Corsi terrified at his arrival and forgetting his Character and place and the duty he owed to his Consul makes a Composition with the Corsi in his own name upon certain Articles intending to ingross to himself all the honour of having reduc'd the Island but Varus arriving with the rest of the Army though the Corsi appeal'd to their Peace made with Claudius never ceas'd his Attacks upon them till he had quite subdued them The Senate to free their people from the reproach of having falsify'd their faith sentenc'd the Author of that dishonourable Peace to be deliver'd up to the Corsi and when he was not receiv'd by them they order'd that he should be executed in Prison L. Cornelius Lentulus Caudinus and Q. Lutatius Cerco were Censors that year but they did not perform the Lustration because Q. Cerco died in his Office Though M. Claudius had been offer'd to be deliver'd to the Corsi and had been afterwards punish'd yet these Barbarians could not be satisfied that the Romans had any just cause afterwards to invade them Wherefore this People who were still uneasie and discontented for these injuries were ready enough to rise again in Arms when they saw their Neighbours the Sardi leading them the way For some secret Promises of the Carthaginians had wheedled the Sardi to raise a Rebellion those Barbarians being prone enough to do so who neither hated their old Masters nor lov'd their new ones over-much When this news came to Rome it filled all people with fear and indignation not for the loss of Sardinia which they valued not so much but because a War with Carthage was like to break out again But because they thought it would prove the easier the sooner it was begun whilst the Carthaginians as yet had not recovered fully their former strength since the late Wars they determined to fall to the business roundly and immediately to declare War with Carthage But the Carthaginians who at this juncture were willing to submit to any terms rather than quarrel with the Romans were so terrified at this news that they dispatch'd several Ambassadours to Rome to treat for a continuation of the Peace but these not prevailing in the business they sent ten of their principal Men to beg in terms of the greatest submission that they might enjoy the Peace which was before concluded But nothing would prevail with this angry and jealous People till one Hanno the youngest of the Ambassadours a person of an undaunted Spirit and a bold Addressor spake thus Ye Romans if you are resolved not to grant us that Peace which we did not buy at your hands for one or two years but for ever restore us again Sardinia and Sicily the price thereof for in private Contracts when a bargain is broken no honest Man will require his Commodities again without restoring the Money paid for the same At which the Romans for shame lest they might A. U. 518 seem to make War upon unjust grounds dismissed the Ambassadours with a better Answer So that now C. Atilius Bulbus one of the Consuls who bore this Office a second time continued in Italy but Tit. Manlius Torquatus to whose lot Sardinia fell went to his Province where having at several times defeated the Enemy he reduced the whole Island and subdued the Sardi for which Victories he triumph'd before the sixth or the Ides of March. These things done and no Enemy appearing the Romans had repose from Arms which occasioned the shutting of Janus his Temple an unusual Spectacle to the warlike City for this sign of Peace had not been seen since Numa's days very near four hundred and forty years before For which reason I think the Romans very unhappy because that after such toils and labours they could never reap the fruits of them for whereas wise Men wage War onely for the sake of Peace this City after so many Wars ended successfully could not often obtain Peace and could never keep it long And now within a few months afte they were alarm'd again and forc'd to part with that Peace the benefits whereof they had but just tasted for both the newly conquer'd Sardi began to shake off the yoak and some like designs of the Corsi were descover'd and at the same time in Italy it self the Ligurians made an insurrection Hereupon L. Posthumius Albinus and Sp. Carvilius Maximus the Consuls were
exasperated and thereupon they set the Army in Array Nor did the Veians and the Etrurians refuse the offer for they were pretty confident that the Romans would not fight with them any more than they had done with the Aequi yea that they ought not to despair now that the Enemy was so incensed and in such doubtful circumstances of accomplishing some greater end But it fell out quite contrary for the Romans never came into the Field with greater Resolution than at that time so far had the reproaches of their Foes and the dâ—lay of the Consuls exasperated their Spirits The Etrurians had hardly time enough to Marshal their men before the Romans upon the first effort threw down their Javelins in haste rather than Darted them at the Enemy and the Fight came to handy-strokes with their Swords wherein Mars is most destructive Among the Nobility the Fabian Family made an eminent show and gave a very good example for the rest to follow one of whom called Quint. Fabius who had been Consul three years before being in the Front of the Army Attacked the Body of the Veians but being unwary and amidst a crowd of his Enemies was run through the Breast by a Tuscan who was no less vigorous than skilful so that when the Weapon was drawn out of his Body he sunk down and died of that Wound Both the Armies were sensible of the fall of that great man and that caused the Roman Army to retire 'till M. Fabius the Consul leapt over the Corps as it lay along and holding his Shield against them cryed out Was this what you sware fellow-soldiers That you would return with flight to your Camp Are you more afraid of such contemptible Foes than you are of Jupiter and Mars by whom you sware I am resolved though I took no Oath either to return a Conqueror or fighting to fall by you dear Q. Fabius With that Caeso Fabius who had been Consul the year before replied Do you think Brother to prevail upon them to fight by using such words as those The gods by whom they have sworn will make them do it but let us inflame their minds as it becomes men of Honour as befits the Fabian Name rather by fighting our selves than by exhorting them thereunto Which he had no sooner said but the two Fabii fell furiously upon the Enemies Van and with them drew on the whole Army By this means the Battel being renewed in one side the Consul Cn. Manlius was as industrious in the other Wing to encourage his men who were almost in the same condition For as in the other Wing the Soldiers cheerfully followed Q. Fabius so they did in this the Consul Cn. Manlius who was now as it were in pursuit of the routed Enemy But when being grievously wounded he retired out of the Fight they supposing him to be slain gave way and had quitted the Field if the other Consul coming briskly up to them with some Troops of Horse and crying out His Collegue was yet alive and that he had routed the other Wing had not kept up their drooping spirits Manlius also to reinforce the Battel appeared before them and then the Soldiers seeing both the Consuls present were mightily encouraged whilest at the same time the Enemy was very indiscreet in that relying upon their Multitudes they drew off their Reserves and sent them to Attack the Roman Camp Into which having made an irruption without much ado they spent more time in looking after the Plunder than in opposing the Enemy so that the Roman Triarii old and stout Soldiers that were placed in the Rere who could not withstand their first Shock sending Messengers to the Consuls with advice how the case stood returned in a full Body to the Praetorium or Generals Tent and on their own accord themselves renewed the Fight besides that Consul Manlius also returning to the Camp set a Guard upon each Gate thereof to block the Enemy up Which desperate circumstance enflamed the Tuscans more with rage than audacity for having ran to all places where-ever they had hopes of getting out but still to no purpose a Party of young men among them made up to the Consul himself who was at that time remarkable for his Armour which he wore and though their first Darts were received by those that stood about him yet afterward their force became insupportable the Consul had a mortal Wound of which he presently died and all the men about him were defeated Whereupon the Tuscans grew much bolder whilest the Romans were in a consternation over all the Camp nor had they ever recovered themselves had not some of the Officers who took away the Consuls Body opened a Gate and made way for the Foe who thereby breaking out and going in confusion away fell into the hands of the other Consul who was Victorious and were a second time by him not only many of them killed but the rest put to flight By this means the Romans got a glorious Victory though it was obscured and clouded with the death of two such great men For which reason the Consul when the Senate ordered him to Triumph and said That if an Army could Triumph without their General they would readily suffer it for the extraordinary service done in that Battel made answer That he seeing his Family was all in tears for the death of Q. Fabius his Brother and the Commonwealth partly destitute as having lost one of her Consuls now that he was forced to Mourn both upon a publick and a private account too would not accept of the Lawrel Which refusal of his was more honourable than any Triumph that ever was made so much is glory sometimes advanced by being seasonably contemned Then he led the two Funeral Pomps of his Brother and the Consul one after another and made both the Funeral Orations in which by giving them their due commendations he gained a very great share of Elogy himself remembring well what he had resolved on in the beginning of his Consulship which was to reconcile the People and distributing the maimed Soldiers among the Senators for their Cure The Fabii had a great many allotted to them nor had any more care taken of them from whence the Fabii grew popular but that by no other Arts than what were consistent with publick good Then Caeso Fabius being made Consul with T. Virginius as well by the consent of the People as of the Senate concerned himself neither in Wars nor Levies of Men or any U. C. 273 other Affair before he had done his endeavour now that there was some hopes of an accommodation assoon as possible to unite the People with the Senate For which reason in the beginning of his Year before there was any Tribune to stand up for the Agrarian Law he thought fit that the Senate should make their present and give the People the Land taken from their Enemies in equal portions for it was reason and justice that they should enjoy
they thought themselves not only invincible but irresistable at any tiâ—e or in any place Which hopes of theirs was such an encouragement to them that whe◠〈◊〉 saw a slock of Sheep at a great distance from Cremera they ran towards them though â—â—e Enemy appeared here and there in many places and having tâ—oâ—â—h inadvertency passed the place where the Ambuscade was planted they straggled froâ— each other to catch the Sheep that being frighted as in such a case they use to be were dispersed over all the Fields till on the sudden the Enemy rose up and opposed them on every side Whereupon the noise set up quite round the Plains at first surprized them and then the Darts which flew upon them from all parts and the Etrurians gathering into a Body theâ— were so hedged in with that as the Enemy came on they were forced to draw themselves into a narrower compass which made them appear very few and the Etrurians very many now that their Ranks were reduced to their close Order Then quitting their design of engaging the whole Army they made toward one place only and forced their way by putting themselves into a posture called Cuneus i. e. the form of a Wedg The way that they took led gradually up an Hill where they at first stopt but soon after having taken breath there and recovered themselves from the fright they were put into they drove back the pursuers By which means though they were few they might with the advantage of the place have gotten the Victory had not the Veians gone round the Hill and come up to the very top for by that contrivance the Enemy became a second time too hard for them Whereupon the Fabii were every man of them slain and their Garrison taken It is certain that three hundred and six of them then died nor was there any more of the Fabian Family left save one young Lad to be a strong support to the Roman People who were or might be in dubious circumstances upon many future occasions as well at home as in the Wars When this slaughter happened among the Fabii C. Horatius and T. Menenius were Consuls U. C. 275 Of which two Menenius was presently sent against the Tuscans who were now proud of their Victory but he also had bad success and the Enemies possessed themselves of Juniculum nor had the City scaped a Siege for the Etrurians having passed the Tiber had made all provisions scarce as well as brought a War upon them if the Consul Horatius had not been recalled out of the Country of the Volsci Yea so near did that War approach their very Walls that they fought first upon equal terms near the Temple of Hope and a second time by the Gate called Porta Collina Where though the Romans had but little the better of it yet that Contest made the Soldiers more fit for future Action because they thereby recovered their former Courage Then A. Virginius and Sp. Servilius were created Consuls U. C. 276 and the Veians after their late Defeat came no more to a pitched Battel though they ravaged the Country and made havock of the Roman Territories even from Janiculum it self nor were either the Cattel or the Country People secure from their violence But they were taken by the same Stratagem whereby they had taken the Fabii for following the flocks of Sheep which were driven forth on purpose to invite them that way they ran headlong into a great Ambuscade who made a greater slaughter of them Yea that was such a provocation to them as caused a farther destruction among them for passing the Tiber in the night time they attacked the Camp of Consul Servilius from whence being repelled with great loss of men they with much ado retired into Janiculum With that the Consul also immediately passed the Tiber and pitching his Camp under Janiculum the next day early in the morning being flushed with the success of the day before but more because he wanted Provisions which made him too precipitate in his Designs he hastily led his Men up Janiculum to the Enemies Camp from whence being beaten with more dishonour than he the day before had routed the Enemy himself and his men were preserved by the interposition of his Collegue whilst the Etrurians were all slain between the two Armies as they were running away from both of them Thus was the Veian War made an end of by a successful piece of rashness Now therefore when the City was at peace the provisions grew again more plentiful not only upon the account of Corn that was brought out of Campania but inasmuch as every one being now no longer in fear of a Famin produced the stock that they had formerly concealed Whereupon they enjoyed such store and ease that they began again to grow wanton and for lack of mischief at home to seek it abroad The Tribunes began to infest the People with their poyson which was the Agrarian Law inciting them against the Senate who opposed it and not only against them all in general but against single Persons too Q. Considius and Genutius were the promoters of the Agrarian Law and gave T. Menenius warning to appear and make his defence on such a day whose crime was that he had lost the Garrison of Cremera though his Post when Consul was not far from thence Him therefore they ruined though the Senate stood up in his behalf as much as they had done for Coriolanus yea though his Father Agrippa's name was not yet forgotten But the Tribunes were pretty moderate in the mulct they laid upon him for when he was convicted they imposed no greater fine upon him than 34 pounds Yet even that proved his death for they say he could not bear the disgrace and dissatisfaction of it but died with grief After whose death there was another accused and that was Sp. Servilius U. C. 277 assoon as he quitted the Consulship when C. Nautius and P. Valerius were Consuls being summoned to his Tryal in the beginning of their Year by C. Caeticius and T. Statius who were then Tribunes but he did not like Menenius oppose the Tribunes fury either with intreaties of his own or the Senate but with great confidence in his own innocence and integrity whose crime was the Battel he fought with the Tuscans at Janiculum But he being a man of a stout spirit behaved himself at that time in his own case as he had done formerly in publick danger and baffling not only the Tribunes but the People also by an Oration that he made wherein he upbraided them with the Condemnation and Death of Menenius whose Father was formerly the restorer of the People who by his means obteined those very Laws and Magistrates which made them then so insolent by his courage escaped the danger Virginius also his Collegue being brought as a Witness against him did him some service by speaking in his commendation but the Judgment against Menenius was most to his advantage so much
but to bound that with time to which the Law had set no bounds That other Magistrates were annual but that the Censorship was of five years continuance that it was hard for the People to live so many years a great part of their life obnoxious to the same persons wherefore he would make a Law that the Censorship should not last above a Year and half Accordingly the next day with general consent of the People he pass'd the Law and then told them Romans that you may see I don 't at all fansie Offices of long continuance I at this instant lay down my Dictatorship Whereupon having quitted his own Office and limited that of others he was attended to his House with great applause and favour of the People The Censors taking it ill turned him out of his Tribe for having diminished a Magistracy of the Roman People and setting a rate upon him of eight times as much as he ought to pay made him only a Tributary to the State Which thing they say he bore with great courage as considering the cause of his disgrace more than the disgrace it self and that the chief of the Senate though they had desired before to have the Censors powers restrained did now much more approve of it being offended to see such an example of their severity for each of them foresaw he might be longer and oftner subject to the Censors than he should bear the Office But the People were so inraged that no body save Mamercus could have kept them from laying violent hands upon the Censors The Tribunes of the People by their daily assemblies obstructing the Consular Convention so that the matter was almost reduced to an Interregnum they at last prevailed to have Tribunes of the Soldiers chosen with Consular Authority But they had not what they desired though they carried the day which was to have a Plebeian chosen for they were all Patricians and their names were M. Fabius Vibulanus M. Foslius L. Sergius Fidenas That U. C. 321 Year a Pestilence kept them from minding any thing else and a Temple was vowed to Apollo for the recovery of the People the Duumviri doing many things prescribed in their Books to appease the wrath of the gods and turn the Plague away from the People But for all that they could do there was a great Mortality in the City and Country both of Men and Cattel Yea they feared a Famin too for want of Men to Till the Land and therefore sent into Etruria Pometia to Cumae and at last even into Sicily for Corn. In the mean time there was no talk of any Consular Assembly but there were Tribunes of the Soldiers made U. C. 322 with Consular Authority and all Patricians whose names were L. Pinarius Mamercus L. Furius Medullinus and Sp. Postumius Albus That Year the force of the Disease was abated nor was there any danger of their wanting Corn they had so much before-hand Mean while there was a Council held among the Aequi and the Volsci and in Etruria at the Temple of Voltumna concerning a War But there they put off the business for a Year and made a Decree That no Council should be held before such a time whilst the Veians to no purpose complained That the same fortune attended Veii by which Fidenae was destroyed Whilst this was done the heads of the Commons at Rome having long waited in hopes of greater honour but all to no end whilst there was peace abroad they began to call Conventions into the Houses of the Tribunes of the People And there making secret Cabals they complained That the People so despised them that though for so many Years there had been Tribunes of the Soldiers made with Consular Authority no Plebeian was ever yet admitted to that Honour That their Ancestors indeed were very provident in taking care that no Patrician should ever be a Plebeian Magistrate or else the Tribunes of the People had been most commonly Patricians so despicable were they even in the sight of their own Party nor contemned less by the Commons than by the Senate Thereupon some began to acquit the People and lay the blame upon the Senate That by their ambition and ill arts it was that the Peoples way to honour was blocked up if the People could but once be rid of their intreaties mixt with menaces they would bethink themselves and Vote for Commoners and having the assistance of the Tribunes would vindicate the Authority of the Commons Then it was thought fit in order to the taking away all canvassing for Offices that the Tribunes of the People should promulgate a Law That no Man should make his Garment whiter than ordinary when he went to get Votes which Law though it now may seem a small matter and scarce worth serious consideration yet then inflamed the Senate and the People to a very great degree At last the Tribunes got the day and past their Law and it appeared very plainly when their minds were provoked that the People would for the future favour their own Party Wherefore lest they should be totally free to do what they pleased there was an Order of Senate made for the holding of a Consular Assembly At which juncture there was a sudden tumult in the City caused by the news which the Latins and the Hernicans brought from the Aequi and the Volsci Thereupon T. Quintius the Son of Lucius Surnamed Cincinnatus and Pennus too and U. C. 323 C. Julius Mento were created Consuls nor was the terror of the War any longer deferred By a sacred Law which with those People is of greatest force for the raising of Soldiers they having made a Levy two mighty Armies marched forth and met in Algidum where the Aequi and the Volsci fortified their Camps apart from each other their Generals being at that time more industrious than ever before they had been not only to defend but to exercise their Men which put the Romans into a greater fear Then the Senate ordered a Dictator to be made because those Nations though they had been often Conquered yet still rebelled again with greater spirit than ever before besides that some part of the Roman Youth was taken off by the sickness but above all the private quarrel between the two Consuls and their thwarting of each other in all their Counsels increased their dread There are who say these Consuls had but ill success in a Battel in Algidum and that that was the reason why a Dictator was created But this is manifest that though they disagreed in other things they consented even against the will of the Senate in this one thing that they would not make a Dictator 'till one thing coming still more terrible after another and yet the Consuls would not submit to the Senate Q. Servilius Priscus one who had bore the greatest Offices with extraordinary applause applying himself to the Tribunes said You Tribunes of the People since things are come to such an extremity the Senate
and other works Which when he saw they did not hinder by any Sally forth thinking the Enemy had too little resolution in them for him upon that account to expect and wait for so lingring a Victory he encouraged his Soldiers not to tire themselves with a tedious fatigue as they that attack'd the Veians for Victory was in their hands and so scaling the Walls on every side through the great alacrity of his men took the Town The Volscians laying down their Arms surrendred themselves But the Generals mind was set upon a greater matter which was the taking of Antium the chief City of the Volscians For that was the first cause of the late War But because so strong a City cou'd not be taken without great preparation Instruments and Engines of War he leaving his Collegue with the Army went to Rome to perswade the Senate to Sack Antium Whilst he was discoursing upon this affair I suppose the Gods were pleased that the Antian State shou'd continue somewhat longer there came Embassadors from Nepete and Sutrium to desire aid against the Tuscans saying that they had but a small time to bring in their Auxiliaries Thither therefore did Fortune divert Camillus's Force from Antium For since those places were opposite to Etruria and as it were Barriers and Gates thereunto they did what they cou'd upon any new design to get possession of them as the Romans did to recover and defend them Wherefore the Senate thought fit that Camillus shou'd be treated with to quit Antium and undertake the Etrurian War The City Legions which Servilius had Commanded were assigned him though he wou'd rather have had that experienced and well disciplin'd Army which was in the Country of the Volsci but yet he refused nothing that was offer'd by the Senate only he desir'd that Valerius might be his assistant and partner in the Command Quintius and Horatius were sent as Successors to Valerius in the Volscian Territories So Furius and Valerius setting forth from the City arrived at Sutrium where they found one part of the Town already taken by the Etrurians and the Townsmen in the other part scarce able to repell the Enemies force by blocking up the Streets But then not only the arrival of the Roman aids but the very name of Camillus which was of such renown both among the Enemies and their Allies for the present supported their declining condition and gave their Friends time to bring in their Succours Wherefore Camillus having divided the Army ordered his Collegue to go with his Forces about and attack the Walls on that side which the Enemy had gotten possession of not so much out of any hopes he had that they might be able to take the City by Scaling it as that when the Enemy was diverted to the defence of that part the Townsmen who were now wearied with fighting might be eased of their toil and he himself have an opportunity to enter the Walls without any opposition Which being done at the same time on both sides so that the Etrurians were environed by a double terror seeing their Walls attack'd with the greatest vehemency and the Enemy already within their City they Sallied forth at a certain Gate which was the only one not Besieged in a consternation all at once There were a great many of them slain as they fled both in the City and all over the Country but the most part of them were killed by Furius's men within the Walls whilst Valerius's Soldiers being more nimble and fit for a pursuit followed them and made no end of killing those they overtook before night when they cou'd no longer see them When Sutrium was retaken and restored to the Allies the Army was led to Nepete which the Etrurians now had wholly in their hands being taken by Surrender They thought it wou'd cost the more pains to retake that City not only because it was all in the Enemies possession but also because the Surrender had been made by the contrivance of some part of the Nepesines who betray'd their City Yet they resolved to send to the chief of them to separate themselves from the Etrurians and shew that integrity and fidelity in themselves which they had required of the Romans Whereupon when answer was brought back That they were not able to do any thing at all in the case for the Etrurians had possession of their Walls and the Guards of their Gates They first of all put the Townsmen into a fright by pillaging the adjacent Country and seeing that they had a more sacred regard to the Surrender which they had made to the Etrurians than to their Alliance with the Romans the Roman Army got Fagots out of the Neighbouring Fields and march'd up to the Walls Where having fill'd the Trenches they apply'd their scaling Ladders and upon the first shout and effort took the Town Thereupon the Nepesines were ordered to lay down their Arms and the Soldiers were commanded not to meddle with any of them that was unarmed but the Etrurians were all kill'd arm'd or unarm'd And of the Nepesines also those that had been the authors of the Surrender were beheaded though the innocent multitude had their Estates again and the Town was left with a Garrison in it Having in this manner retaken two Allied Cities from the Enemy the Tribunes brought back their Victorious Army with great glory to Rome The same year the Latins and the Hernicans were called to account and asked Why for several years together they had not sent their Quota of Soldiers according to agreement To which both Nations in full Assembly made Answer That there was no publick fault or design to be laid to their charge for that some of their Youth were Soldiers in the Volscian Territories but that those young Men themselves underwent the penalty of an ill design for there was ne'r an one of them that came home again But that the reason why they did not send in such a number of Soldiers was their daily dread of the Volscians who were a pest that stuck so close to them that they cou'd not be rid of it even by so many continued Wars one upon the neck of another Which when the Senate heard they were of opinion that they rather wanted a fit opportunity than good grounds to make a War The following Year when A. Manlius P. Cornelius T. and L. Quintius Capitolinus L. Papirius Cursor again and C. Sergius again were Tribunes with Consular Authority there broke out a grievous War abroad but a more grievous Sedition at home the War from the Volscians to which there came in as an addition a revolt of the Latins and Hernicans and the Sedition from whence it was least to be feared even from a person of a Noble Family and great Honour viz. M. Manlius Capitolinus who being a man of a proud Spirit as he contemn'd all their Noblemen envied one and that was M. Furius a person very extraordinary both for his Honours and his Virtues
Centurions also began to mix with the Soldiers nor did they now murmur in Crowds only among one another but in the Principia too where the chief Officers where quartered and in the Praetorium i. e. the General 's Tent they were all of one mind so that the Tumult encreased to the bigness of a publick Assembly and they cryed out in all places That they would go immediately to the Dictator and that Sex Tullius should speak for the Army as became their courage This Tullius had now been a Centurion of the Vanguard for seven years nor was there any one in the Army that had been a Foot-soldier who was more eminent for his services He therefore going before the body of the Soldiers marched up to the Tribunal and told Sulpicius who admired not at the Crowd more than at Tullius the leader of it who had always been a most obedient Soldier to all orders Sir said he the whole Army thinking themselves by you condemned of sloth and almost disgracefully forsaken as being without Armsi desired me to plead their cause before thee If it could be said that we had ever given ground turn'd our backs upon the Foe or dishonourably lost our Ensigns yet this I think is reasonable for you to grant that we may by our courage make amends for our Crime and blot out the memory of our offence by gaining new honour The Legions that were routed at Allia going afterward from Veij recovered by their valour that same Country which by their fear they had lost But our honour and affairs through the bounty of the Gods their good success and that of the Roman People are still intire though I dare hardly talk of honour since even our Enemies speak as disgracefully of us as if we were a company of Women shut up within a Bullwark And thou our General too which we take more unkindly thinkest that thy Army is without Souls without Arms and without Hands and before thou hast tryed us hast so far despaired of us that thou thinkst thy self General of maimed and weak Wretches For what else can we believe is the reason that thou who art an old Commander a stout Warriour sittest as the saying is with thy hands in thy Pockets For what ever the matter is 't is more certain that you seem to have doubted of our courage than we of yours But if this be not your own but a publick design so that the Senates censent too and not the Gallick War does in some measure detain us like People banished from the City and our own Houses I desire that what I say you would not look upon as said by the Soldiers to their General but to the Senate by the Commons who say as you have your designs so they too will have theirs Pray who can be angry with us for saying that we are Soldiers and not your Slaves sent forth to War not into banishment and such men as if any man would give the Signal and lead us forth into the field would fight as became men and Romans but if there be no need of our Arms would rather spend our time quietly at Rome than in a Camp Thus much we have to say to the Senate As to you my Lord General we your Soldiers humbly beg that you would give us leave to fight for we not only desire to get the Victory but to get it under your conduct to confer upon you an honourable Laurel Wreath to enter with you Triumphant into the City and following your Chariot to go with gratulations and ovations to Jupiter Opt. Max's Temple The Prayers of the multitude seconded Tullius's speech and they on all sides loudly desired that he would give the Signal that he would command them to handle their Arms. The Dictator seeing a good thing done though in such an irregular manner promised to do what the Soldiers desired but privately asked Tullius what this business was and how it came to pass Whereupon Tullius begged of the Dictator that he would not think he had forgot either the discipline of War himself or the honour due to his General But that he had not refused to head the multitude who are most commonly ruled and acted by their leaders when they were once raised lest any other such Person should have appeared as the mobile when they are moved use to create For he would do nothing contrary to his Generals mind but then he also ought to take great care to keep the Army in obedience That such hot and vehement spirits could not be put off who would themselves take time and place to fight if the General would not give it them Whilst they talked thus two Roman Soldiers took certain Beasts that by chance were feeding without the Bullwark from a Gaul that was driving them away For which the Gauls threw stones at them and then there was a shout made in the Roman Camp upon which they ran forth on both sides And now they were very near being engaged in a set Battel had not the fight been defered by means of the Centurions Now by that accident the Dictator was confirmed in the truth of what Tullius had said and therefore seeing the business admitted of no delay they declar'd that the next day they would engage in a field Battel Yet the Dictator relying more upon the courage than the strength of his Army began to consult and consider all ways how he might by some stratagem strike a terror into the Foe And accordingly through his extraordinary policy he invented a new device which many of ours as well as Foreign Generals have made use of yea and some of 'em in our time too He ordered the pack-saddles to be taken off from the Mules and leaving on them only two Horse-cloths set their drivers whom he equipped partly with Arms which had been taken and partly with those of Persons that were Sick upon their Backs These making about a thousand he mixed an hundred Horse-men among them commanding them to get in the night time up to the mountains above the Camp and hide themselves in the Woods nor stir from thence till they had notice from him He himself assoon as 't was day began with all speed to range his men a long the foot of the Mountains that the Enemy might stand opposite to the Hills When he had now made provision for a false fright which was indeed of equal advantage as real force the Gallick Commanders at first thought that the Romans would not come down into the Plain but afterward when they saw them descend on a sudden they themselves too ran as furiously to battel so that the fight began before the Generals had given the Signal The Gauls pressed very hard upon the right Wing nor could they have been endured had not the Dictator been in that place who calling to Tullius chid him and asked him Had he promised that the Soldiers should fight after that rate Where were those shouts that they made
which caused the Senate to command the Decemvirs to consult the Sybilline Books whence Directions were given to hold a Solemn Festival for appeasing the Wrath of the Gods call'd Lectisternium or the preparing of the Beds because therein rich Beds on which the Ancients were wont to eat were set up in the Temples before the Images of the Gods as if they had been invited to a Banquet The same year a Colony was drawn out from the City Antia to people Satricum which City having been destroyed by the Latines was now re-edified Also at Rome a League was concluded with the Ambassadors of Carthage who came on purpose to desire Friendship and Society The same Tranquillity as well at home as abroad continued the year following when T. Manlius Torquatus and C. Plautius were the second time Consuls The Interest of Money which before was at One per cent was now reduced to half so much And for the payment of Debts 't was ordered That one fourth part being presently paid down upon the nail three years time should be given for the rest to be satisfied at three payments by equal proportions And though for all that it still lay very hard upon some of the Commons yet the Senate had more regard to see Credit kept with the Chamber of the City than of the streights of private Persons But things went so much the better because having now no Wars they forbore levying of Soldiers and collecting the Tribute The third year after Satricum was rebuilt by the Volscians M. Valerius Corvus being the second time Consul with C. Paetelius upon Advice from Latium that Ambassadors from Antium went about to all the Tribes of that Country solliciting them to take Arms He was commanded to make an Expedition against the Volscians before the Enemies Forces were too much augmented Accordingly he advanced towards Satricum with a formidable Army where the Antiates and other Volscians having long before provided Forces in readiness to oppose any Army sent from Rome came up to meet him and there being an inveterate hatred on either side against each other without any delay the Battel was joined wherein the Volscians a Nation more forward to Rebel than hardy to Fight and apter to begin Quarrels than able to maintain them were routed and fled in disorder to shelter themselves within the Walls of Satricum which proving too weak a Sanctuary when the Town being invested round with the Roman Bands was just ready to be taken by Scaling and Storm they to the number of 4000. besides the common Rabble unfit for Service Surrendred themselves at discretion The Town was rased down and burnt only they saved the Temple of Mater Matuta or the Goddess of the Morning from the Flames The whole Spoil was given to the Soldiers but therein was not comprehended the 4000. Prisoners for those the Consul reserved to be led in Chains before his Triumphant Chariot and afterwards by selling them fot Slaves brought in a good round sum of money into the Publick Treasury Some Authors write that the multitude thus sold were only the Captive Bond-men which is more probable than that they should sell such as yielded themselves to mercy The next Consuls were M. Fabius Dorso and Ser. Sulpicius Camerinus Then began the Auruncan War upon a sudden Invasion that they made and a suspition that the Act of that single City might be by the joint consent and abetment of the whole Latine Nation L. Furius was created Dictator as if all Latium had been up in Arms He chose for his General of Horse Cn. Manlius Capitolinus and according to the Custom in great and sudden Exigencies levyed Soldiers without any respect of Immunity or Exemption and withal adjourned the Terms or proclaimed a cessation of all Courts of Law The Legions advancing with all possible Expedition against the Aruncans found they had the spirit of Robbers rather than of Soldiers so that in the very first Fight they were subdued and that War dispatcht However since they were the Aggressors and readily offered to bid him Battel the Dictator supposing there might be more danger than indeed there was to engage the favor of the Gods had before the Engagement vowed to Build a Temple to Juno Moneta if he gain'd the Victory and being charg'd to perform the same when he returned Conqueror to Rome gave up his Dictatorship whereupon the Senate commanded two Officers called Duumvirs to be Created for the Erecting of such a Temple suitable to the Grandieur and Magnificence of the People of Rome The place appointed and set out for it being on the Capitol Hill on the very plot of Ground where sometime before stood the Dwelling-house of M. Manlius Capitolinus The Consuls having imployed the Dictators Army in the Volscian War by a surprize took the Town Sora from the Enemy The Temple of Moneta next year after it was Vowed was Dedicated C. Marcius Rutilus the third time and T. Manlius Torquatus the second time Consuls Immediately after this Dedication a strange Prodigy happened not much unlike that antient one of the Albane Hill for it both rained Stones and the Day seemed to be turned into Night Whereupon the Books of the Sybills being consulted for the City was full of Superstitious fears the Senate thought it requisite to have a Dictator chosen for the constituting and ordering of certain Feasts and Holy-days for appeasing the Gods and diverting the Judgments threatned P. Valerius Publicola was the Person pitcht upon and Q. Fabius Ambustus for his General of Horse Order was given that not only all the Tribes should go in Procession with their Solemn Prayers and Litanies but also the bordering Nations with precise Directions upon what days each of them should make their Supplications This year 't is said the Userers were prosecuted by the Aediles and severe Sentences given against them by the People and without any notable cause that is Recorded they came to an Inter-regency wherein M. Valerius Corvus the third time and A. Cornelius Cossus were chosen Consuls both of them Patricians which seems to have been the occasion and design of the Inter-regency But hence-forwards we must advance to the Relation of greater Wars both for the Puissance of the Enemies and the Distance of the Regions that were the Seats of them as also for their long Continuance For this year the Romans took up Arms against the Samnites a People of great Wealth and formidable Courage which War manag'd with doubtful Success was scarce over when Pyrrhus declared himself their Enemy and after him the Carthaginians How many Difficulties were to be surmounted How often were our Ancestors reduced to the Extremities of Danger before this Empire could be built up to that Grandieur which hath now enough to do to hold its own and seems ready to sink under its proper Weight The Ground of the Romans Quarrel with the Samnites arose not amongst themselves for they were in Amity and League with each other but happen'd from a
Consul sent out upon such and such pretended Services as aforesaid They soon got together a notable Force and nothing was wanting to give them the Reputation of a compleat Army but a Commander in Chief disorder'd therefore as they were they went Plundering along as far as the Alban Country where under the Ridge of the Mountain called Alba longa they encamp'd and fortified themselves And when their Works were finish'd spent the rest of the day in consultation touching the choice of a General There was none of their own Company that they could confide in as sufficient for that Charge And whom say they can we send for from Rome Is there any man either Senator or Commoner that will wittingly and willingly expose himself to so great an hazard as to run our Fortune Or to whom the Cause of the Army inraged by the Injuries they have received may in Prudence be safely trusted The next day whil'st they were still debating this Point some of the stragling Forragers brought in Advice that T. Quintius was retired into the Country and held a Farm in Tusculanum where he employed himself in Husbandry minding neither the City nor its Honors This Gentleman was of Noble Birth and had serv'd with great Credit and Renown in the Wars till happening to be Lamed by a Wound in one of his Feet resign'd his Command and resolved to spend the rest of his days in the Country far from Ambition and the turmoils of State They no sooner heard his Name but they knew the Man and acknowledged his Merit and in a good hour unanimously agreed he should be sent for Small hopes they had that he would willingly meddle and therefore concluded to use Force and bring him to it by Fear So in the dead of Night a Party of them came to his House and got in where finding Quintius fast asleep they awaken him propound their Business assure him There is no middle Course but either he must accept the Honor of being their General or if he refuse it present Death and thus carryed him away by force to their Camp where immediatly he is saluted Lord General and had the Insignia or Ornaments of that Command put upon him whil'st he was yet amaz'd at the suddenness of the thing as if all had been Dream or Miracle Then they require him to Lead them to Rome and accordingly having advanced their Standards in an Heady Fit of their own rather than by the Advice of their new Commander they march'd in a Warlike Posture till they came within eight miles of the City on the Causey or High-road now called the Appian-way and had immediately come up to the City but that they heard there was an Army advancing to oppose them under the conduct of M. Valerius surnamed Corvus created Dictator on this occasion and L. Aemilius Mamercinus his General of Horse As soon as ever they came within view of each other and took notice of the same Ensigns on either side the remembrance of their Native Country began to work upon them all and allay and mitigate their Heats for they were not yet so desperate as to embrew their Swords in the Blood of their Fellow-Citizens nor had they known any Wars but with Foreigners their greatest madness at home had hitherto proceeded but to a Secession or sullen going by themselves for a while Therefore as well the Generals as Soldiers on either side were desirous that a Meeting might be appointed for a Parley Whereupon Quintius who was long since weary of bearing Arms for his Country much more against it and Corvus than whom none could be more affectionately tender of all his Fellow-Citizens especially Soldiers and above all others of those of his own Army advanced to confer together Corvus spoke first and as soon as he came so near as to be known had no less Reverence paid him by the Enemy than respectful Audience from those of his own Party When I march'd saith he now forth of the City to meet you O Soldiers I heartily implor'd the Immortal Gods as well those that are common to us all as the particular Patrons of my Family that they would vouchsafe me not a Victory but rather the Glory of reducing you to Terms of Concord and Unity There have and ever will be occasions enough wherein we may win Honor by Arms but here nothing is so passionately to be desired as Peace That which so devoutly and with solemn Vows I requested of the Gods it lies in your Power to make me happy in If you will but remember That you are not now in Samnium nor amongst the Volscians but Encamp'd upon Roman Ground That those are the Hills of your dear Native Soil which you behold That this Army consists of your own Countrymen and Fellow-Citizens That I my self am that Consul under whose auspicious Conduct you twice last year defeated the Samnite Legions and twice with down-right blows beat them out of their Camp I am Sirs that M. Valerius Corvus of whose Nobility you have had proof and experience not by any Injuries offered but good Offices and Benefits always readily conferr'd upon you Never was I the Promoter of any insolent Law against you or of any harsh Act of the Senate but in all my Government and Commands have been more rigorous to my self than severe to you If great Parentage or approved Valour if Authority or Honor may swell and elevate any mans Spirit of such Progenitors am I descended such proofs of Courage and Vertue have I given so early did I attain to the Consular Dignity that being but yet Three and twenty years old I might have been formidable not only to the Commons but even to the Senate it self Yet I challenge any man to name one Word one Act said or done by me when a Consul more haughty or grievous than when I was but a Tribune with the same moderation did I manage my two following Consulships such and no other will I also shew my self in this supream and lofty Office of Dictator Nor will I be more kind and gentle to these that are mine and my Countries Soldiers than to you whom I abhor to call Enemies You shall therefore first draw your Swords upon me before I will draw upon you From your side let the Trumpets first sound a Charge thence let the Shoutings and Onset begin if needs we must go to it and Fight Now find in your hearts if you can to do that which neither your Fathers nor your Grand-fathers could endure neither these when they retreated into the Mount Sacer nor those who afterwards placed themselves upon and held the Aventine-Hill Wait a while till your Mothers and Wives with disheveled Hair come forth of the City to meet each of you as heretofore they did Coriolanus With that sight the Volscian Legions were stopt and pacified because they had one Roman for their Leader And will not you being all an Army of Romans desist from so impious and unnatural
would now yield to any thing rather than displease them Therefore under a colour of making Preparations against the Samnites they summoned and held frequent Councils one after another where the chief Persons secretly amongst themselves in all their Consultations mainly intended the settling and adjusting a War against the Romans wherein the Campanians consented to joyn as well as the rest and bear Arms against Those who so lately had preserv'd and protected them Now although these Councils were industriously concealed because they were desirous to have utterly cut off the Samnites behind them before the Romans should take the Alarm yet the Plot was discovered and some hints thereof given at Rome by some amongst them who were obliged to the Romans for private Kindnesses and hospitable Entertainment Hereupon the Consuls were commanded to resign their Office before the usual time that new ones might the sooner be created to make Preparations against the eminent danger threatned but here a scruple of Conscience arose whether it might not be ominous if the Assembly for Election should be held by those whose Government was thus abridged therefore they rather chose to have an Inter-reign and two Inter-regents there were one after another M. Valerius and M. Fabius the later created Consuls T. Manlius Torquatus the third time and P. Decius Mus. That year Alexander King of the Epirots arrived in Italy with a Navy and had his first attempts met with success would no doubt have push'd forwards his Fortune and at last have involv'd the Romans in War In the same Age his Sisters Son Alexander the Great flourish'd who whil'st in another part of the World he shewed himself Invincible by Arms was in the prime of his years conquered by death As for the Romans although they plainly perceived the Revolt of their Associates and all the Tribes of the Latins yet they thought it best to dissemble the matter and make shew as if they were only concerned for the Samnites and not for themselves To which purpose they sent for ten of the Principal Persons amongst the Latins to come to Rome pretending to give them in Charge what their pleasure was to have done The Latines at that time had for their two Praetors L. Annius of Setia and L. Numicius of Circeia both Roman Colonies by whose means not only Signia and Velitre two other Colonies of Rome but the Volscians also were excited to take Arms and joyn in the Confederacy These two Gentlemen therefore it was thought fit to summon by Name nor could they be ignorant what it was they were sent for about However they presently call a Council to whom they Declare how they were cited to Rome and what Treatment they expected desiring the Advice of that Assembly what answer they should make After one had given his Opinion this way and another that Annius stands up and says Although I my self moved you to consult of an Answer yet I conceive it more concerns the main Interest of our State to determine what to do than what to say For when we are once come to a Resolution how to conduct our Affairs it will not be difficult to accommodate Words to our purpose For if even now already under the umbrage of an equal Alliance we can be content tamely to suffer Slavery what hinders but that betraying the Sidicins we truckle to all the Commands not only of the Romans but the Samnites too and fairly tell the Romans that we will lay down our Arms whenever they please to nod us into Obedience But if at length the Natural desire of Liberty make any Impression upon our Hearts or can set an edge upon our Spirits If in truth there be a League between us and if Association ought to be nothing else but an equal Fruition of the same Liberty and Priviledges If we may now glory what heretofore we were asham d to own that we are Kinsmen to the Romans and of their own Blood If that be indeed an Associated Army which they have by whose Accession they double their Strength and which their Consuls in beginning or ending their proper Wars will never separate from their own Why is there not an Equality in all things else Why is not one of the Consuls chosen by the Latins Where there is part of the Burthen why is there not part of the Government Nor would this in it self be any great matter of Honor to us since thereby we shall acknowledge Rome to be the Head of Latium but by our remissness hitherto and truckling wholly under them with patience so long we have made it seem to be an Honorable Demand and worthy to be insisted upon But if ever you wish'd to see the Day wherein you might participate in the Government and assert your Rights and Liberties Behold That time is now presented to you by your own Courage and the Gracious favor of the Gods you try'd their patience by denying to levy Soldiers at their Command who can doubt but they were mad at heart when we brake that Custom which had pass'd uncontroul'd above 200. years yet they calmly pocketed the Affront We waged War against the Peligni in our own Names yet They who heretofore would not allow us a Right to defend our own Borders never Interpos'd That we had taken the Sidicins into our Protection That the Campanians were revolted from them to us That we were raising Forces against the Samnites their own Confederates all this they heard and knew well enough yet still they stirr'd not once out of their City How come they to be thus modest and quiet Can it proceed from any thing but a Consciousness of our Puissance and their own weakness I have it from very good hands That when lately the Samnites made their Complaints against us the Roman Senate returned such a cold Answer as plainly shewed That they themselves pretended not to require that Latium should be under the Roman Empire You have nothing to do but assume and lay Claim to that which they already tacitly yield unto you If any be afraid to be the Speaker Behold here am I who not only in the Hearing of the People of Rome and their Senate but of Jupiter himself who resides in the Capitol am ready to tell them plainly That if they expect we should continue in League and Amity with them They must from us receive one of their Consuls and part of the Senate All that were present hearing him not only perswade but promise to undertake this with so great a Spirit and Resolution signified their Approbation with a Shout and consented That he should do and say whatsoever he thought expedient for the wellfare of the Latine Nation and suitable to the Trust reposed in him When he with the rest came to Rome the Senate appointed to give them Audience in the Capitol where when T. Manlius the Consul by the Direction and Authority of the Senators pressed them earnestly Not to make War on the Samnites who were now the
Allies of the People of Rome Annius as if he had been a Conqueror that had taken the Capitol by force of Arms and not an Ambassador protected only by the Law of Nations to deliver his Errand began thus to Hector It was now certainly time O Titus Manlius and you Senators of Rome to have left off your domineering and to treat us not in a Commanding fashion as if we were your Vassals when we cannot but see Latium through the favour of the Gods flourishing both in Men and Arms as having vanquish'd the Samnites by dint of Sword taken the Sidicins and Campanians into Confederacy wherein the Volscians are also joyned and even your own Colonies chuse to be our Subjects rather than yours But since you are still so loth to put an end to your proud and outragious Tyranny although we could easily by Arms restore Latium to her Antient intire Freedom yet for Kindreds-sake we are content to offer Terms of Peace fair and equal to both Parties since it hath pleased the Immortal Gods to make us equal in Strength and Power It is therefore necessary That of the two Consuls one be chosen a Roman the other a Latine That the number of Senators be equally Elected out of one Nation as well as the other That both Nations to all intents and purposes be United and Incorporated into one People and Commonwealth And since there must be one Imperial Seat and one Common Name to all wherein one part must of necessity yield to the other we are content and may it be lucky to Both That this your Country have the Precedency and let us all be call'd by the name of Romans It happened by chance that the Romans to match him had at this time a Consul altogether as stout and hot viz. T. Manlius who was so unable to conceal his Resentments as he openly declared That if the Senators should be so mad as to receive Laws from a Fellow of Setin he would come into the Senate-House with his Sword by his side and whomsoever he should see there in Council of the Latines he would not fail to Kill them with his own hand upon the Spot And then turning to the Image of Jupiter Hear O Jupiter quoth he this Wickedness and Indignity Hear you O Justice and Piety Wilt thou O Jupiter as if thou wast Conquer'd and made a Captive endure to behold strange Consuls and a Senate of Foreigners in thy Holy Consecrated Temple Are these you Latines the Covenants which Tullus King of Rome made with the Albans your Ancestors Or which L. Tarquin afterwards concluded with you Do you not remember the Battel at the Regillian Lake Or have you altogether forgot your Old Defeats as well as the New Benefits we have conferr'd upon you This generous Speech of the Consul raised the general Indignation of the Senate against the Latines and 't is said That whil'st the Consuls did often Invoke the Gods as Witnesses of those Ancient Leagues Annius was heard to Joque at and despise the Power and God-head of the Roman Jupiter This is certain that as in a Fury he went hastily from the Porch of the Temple he fell down the Stairs and hurt his Head so grievously against the Pavement that he Swooned away But whether he dyed out-right since all Authors are not agreed in that Point I must leave it doubtful as I find it As likewise that other Tradition That whil'st they were thus upbraiding the Latines with breach of Faith a violent Storm happened on a suddain with mighty Thunder-claps For as these things may perhaps be true so 't is not possible but they may be handsomely devised on purpose to represent more fitly the Vengeance of the Gods Torquatus being sent by the Senate to dismiss the Ambassadors when he saw Annius thus lying along cry'd out with a Voice so loud that both the Senate and People might hear him ' T is well it became you O ye Gods to begin so Pious a War Surely there is a Divine Power and Deity in Heaven Thou art no Phantasm O mighty Jupiter Nor in vain have we Hallowed thee in this Temple as the Father both of Gods and Men Why delay ye then O Romans and Conscript Fathers to take Arms when you see the Gods themselves are your Leaders So will I lay flat and sprawling the Latine Legions as now you behold their Ambassador lying at the stairs foot These Words of the Consul made such Impressions on the People That the Latine Ambassadors if it had not been more for the care of those Officers that were appointed to attend them than respect to the Law of Nations would scarce have escaped the violence and fury of the Rabble The Senate also agreed the War and the Consuls having levyed two Armies march'd through the Country of the Marsians and Pelignians and having joyn'd the Forces of the Samnites Encamp'd themselves before Capua where the Latines and their Confederates had already drawn their Troops to a general Rendezvouz There as the Story goes both the Consuls in their sleep saw an Apparition in the shape of a Man but much greater and more stately which told them That of the two Armies now facing each other The General of the one and the whole Body of the other must be a Sacrifice or Tribute to the Infernal Spirits and Mother Earth and which soever of the opposite Generals should Devote to those Infernal Spirits his Enemies and with them himself That Party and People should win the day The Consuls communicating these Night-Visions one to another thought fit that for appeasing the Anger of the Gods Sacrifices should be kill'd to the end that if in their Entrails inspected according to Art the same things were found to be portended as in the Dream then one or other of the Consuls should answer the expectation of the Destinies The Answers of the Sooth-sayers or Priests that were wont for Divination to view the Bowels of the Sacrifices agreed very much with that Superstitious Conceit which the Dreams had implanted in the Consuls minds whereupon they call'd together the Commissary-Generals of the Senate that attended the Army and the Colonels and plainly declaring to them the pleasure of the Gods that the voluntary Death of one of the Generals unexpected might not affright or discompose the Army in the Field They agreed between themselves That on which part soever the Roman Batalions should begin first to shrink or give Ground the Consul that Commanded there should presently Devote himself for the good of the People of Rome At the same Council it was also debated That if ever at any time before any War had been manag'd with strict and severe Government it would now be necessary to advance that ancient rigorous Discipline That which sharpned their Care and Caution in that behalf was because they were now to engage with a Nation agreeing with themselves in Language Manners Weapons Customs and especially in the same Arts and Methods of War For
disadvantage he resolv'd to venture the fortune of a Battel and removing his Baggage out of the way drew up in Battalia The Enemy did the like being inferior to them neither in numbers or courage and the more heartned on because not knowing that the true Cause of the Romans Retreat was the Inconveniency of the place they ascrib'd it to fear and imagined them affrighted and themselves that pursued them to be very terrible in their Eyes This held the Fight a good while in equal Ballance whereas for a long time before the Samnites were wont scarce to endure the Romans first Charge But verily that Day from nine a Clock in the Morning till five in the Afternoon the Fortune of the Field continued so doubtful that after the first On-set there was never a second Shout given on either side nor were the Ensigns either advanc'd or retreated but stood fix'd in the same place Nor did the Soldiers any where flinch one Foot but every one in his Rank pressing forwards with their Shields continued obstinately Fighting without any Intermissions for Breathing-times or the least looking back The same murmuring Fierceness was heard on either side and the same Resolution to Conquer or Dye shew'd that the Battel was likely to continue till the extremity of Weariness or Night should part them They had now fought so long that the Men had scarce any strength left their Weapons were blunted with continual hacking at one another and the Commanders were to seek for Counsel what to do next when on a sudden it happened That the Samnites Horse having Intelligence that the Romans Carriages and Baggage attended only with one Troop were gone a good way off from their Army and stood there without any other Guard or Fortification They being greedy of the Spoil hastned thither and set upon them A trembling Messenger giving notice of this to the Dictator Let them alone quoth he let them encumber themselves a Gods name with the Booty Soon after others came running one after another Crying out That they were ransacking every where and all the Soldiers Goods would be lost Then sending for the General of the Horse Look you saith he M. Fabius do you not see that the Enemies Cavalry have abandon'd the Battel They are now all busie in rifling our Carriages Charge them therefore now whil'st they are scattered and in disorder as a Multitude intent upon Pillage must needs always be you shall no doubt find few of them Mounted or with their Arms in their hands whil'st they are loading their Horses with Spoil you may easily kill them unarm'd and make it a bloody Booty to them Let me alone with the Charge of the Legions and Foot-men Take you the Honor of the Horse-Service Immediatly the Cavalry in most excellent Order advanc'd and rush'd in upon the Enemies who were in Confusion rummaging up and down and over-clog'd with the Plunder they had got There they made a mighty Slaughter for being as they were amongst Packs and Fardles which they suddenly cast from them and now lay against their Feet to stumble on as they fled and in their Horses way they were not in this Surprize well able either to fight or fly but for the most part cut to pieces on the place The Enemies Horse being thus defeated and almost all destroyed M. Fabius wheeling about return'd and fell upon the back of their Infantry with a great Shout which both terrified the Samnites and encouraged the Romans for the Dictator hearing it and withal perceiving the Enemies Front ever and anon to look back their Ensigns disordered and their main Body in a kind of Confusion made use of all his Skill and Rhetorick to raise the spirits of his Men calling upon the several Colonels Captains and other Officers by name to follow him briskly in a new Charge and so with a repeated Shout advanc'd but the nearer they came on the more disordered they perceiv'd the Enemy to be By this time their own Horse making way through the midst of the Enemy appear'd in sight and the Dictator with his Voice as loud as he could and with signs gave his Men notice of it shewing them the Ensigns and Targets of their Fellow-Soldiers This added new Life and Spirits to them so that forgetting the Fatigues of the whole Day past and not at all regarding their Wounds as if they had just then come fresh into the Field they flew upon the Enemy who no longer able to endure the Impressions of the Horse behind and the Violence of the Foot before were a great part of them kill'd in the middle and the rest put to flight such as stood to it being cut off by the Foot and those that ran away slaughtered by the Horse Amongst the rest their General himself lost his Life This Defeat above all others did so weaken and daunt the Hearts of the Samnites That in all their Assemblies and Councils they muttered and grumbled one to another That 't was no wonder their Success was bad when their Quarrel it self was naught and the War impiosly undertaken contrary to a Covenant of Truce It was not likely they should prosper who had made the Gods no less their Enemies than Men That a War so unjust must needs cost some mighty Overthrow and was not to be Expiated without some notable Satisfaction But the Question was Whether Vengeance ought not to be taken of the Guilty Blood of some few rather than of the Guiltless Blood of all And now some durst nominate those that had been the Authors and chief Promoters of this War but especially they cryed out against one Brutulus Papius a Noble Man of great Interest in the State and who without question had a principal hand in breaking the last Truce Against him a Decree pass'd That he should be delivered up to the Romans and that with him whatever Booty or Prisoners had been taken from them should be sent to Rome and restitution made of all Goods which the Romans had demanded in pursuance of the former Treaty Accordingly Heralds were sent to Rome with the dead Body of Brutulus for he to avoid the shame and punishment had made away himself with his Corps they thought fit also to send all his Goods But the Romans would accept of none of these things save only the Prisoners and so much of the Spoils as any Man could justly own and lay claim to the offer of the rest was rejected A Triumph was awarded to the Dictator by an Act of the Senate for this signal Service Pet some Write that this War was manag'd by the Consuls and that they were the Men that Triumph'd over the Samnites As also that Fabius March'd into Apulia and brought from thence mighty Booties Not but that 't is beyond all Controversie that A. Cornelius was in that Year Dictator but the doubt lies here Whether he were made so for carrying on the War or only to manage the publick Roman Games to give the Signal when
or taken by them Upon this account Persons of very great quality were sent Ambassadours P. Cornelius Dolabella famous for overthrowing the Senones and C. Fabricius Luscinus and Q. Aemilius Papus Fellow-Consuls two years before Pyrrhus was naturally a Person of an obliging address this being the inseparable attendant of all generous Spirits but yet his ambition whilst by a common mistake he thought Vertues to be but the handmaids of Empire had rendred him too complaisant so that being extravagantly addicted to desire of Glory he had an Eye to it in all his undertakings and though he was as valiant and as experienced a Commander as any then living yet he us'd to try all means before he would put things to the hazard of Battel endeavouring to win his Enemy according as each was to be wrought on by arguments of fear or interest pleasure or pity and in fine by just and reasonable compositions Therefore hearing that Ambassadours were coming to him from Rome and imagining that so many Persons of Consular quality were not sent upon a slender Errand he was in hopes they came to treat of a Peace Therefore that they might have the safer and more honourable access he sent Lyco the Molossian as far as the borders of the Tarentines Country to meet them with a Convoy and he himself with a Troop of Horse bravely mounted met them out of Town and attending them with great civility gave them a noble Entertainment They having at first spoken something touching moderation of mind and of the inconstancy of Fortune how sudden the alterations of War and that futurities cannot be foreseen deliver'd their Message That they were come to ransom their Prisoners if he would let them be redeem'd at such a sum or else be exchang'd for the Tarentines and others Pyrrhus did not use to determine any great Affairs without the Counsel of his Friends who being then assembled One of them Milo by name advis'd that he should detain the Prisoners and make good use of his Successes not leaving the War till the Romans were subdu'd But Cyneas spoke quite contrary who first taking notice of the constancy of the Senate and People of Rome which they had shown to be invincible in their greatest extremities added We may hate the Customs and despise the Arms of another Enemy perhaps but O King I think we ought rather to be at Peace than in War with this People Nor will it be onely your Interest to restore but even to give them their Prisoners and I think you should not delay but send the Ambassadours immediately with Presents to Rome to conclude a Peace upon even terms For now I suppose the time is come wherein if I am not mistaken you may get to your self some advantage and that with honour for now in time of prosperity if you will treat of Peace you shall more easily obtain what you desire and withal seem for no other cause but onely of your wonted generosity to have offer'd Peace to those whom by your Arms you might have Conquer'd But supposing you do not miscarry in your designs but run on successfully as you have begun and God forbid it should be otherwise yet we are still but Men and if Fortune varies we shall not make Peace upon so easie nor so honourable terms The rest having spoke likewise to the same effect and the King himself assenting thereunto commanded the Ambassadours to be called in and as soon as they came the King spake to them in this manner That which you Romans propose is indeed very unhandsom when without offering any Conditions of Peace You demand the Prisoners I have taken in the War intending when I shall have restor'd them to employ them against me if you will take better measures and such as may be advantageous to both sides let us enter into an Alliance and then you shall have all your own Men and those of your Confederates whom I have taken without Ransom but if you are resolved to persevere in hostility with me I should be esteem'd a Fool if I should strengthen my Enemy with so many stout Men Nor am I so straitned for Money as to want any of the Romans who were we Friends might be more proper Subjects of my Liberality And hereupon he commanded that Presents of considerable value should be given to the Ambassadours with promises of larger These things were done and said before all the Ambassadours but he had a longer and a more particular Conference with Fabricius alone which I shall relate as I find it in authentick Authors When they discoursed privately 't is reported that the King among other things spake to this effect As I desire to have all the rest of the Romans for my Friends so especially you C. Fabricius whom I esteem as a Person that excels all others for your Conduct as well in Civil as Military Affairs Yet I am sorry to see you wanting in one point I mean of an Estate that may enable you to live in that Port which becomes a person of your Quality But I will not suffer this injury of Fortune any longer to be troublesom to you and I will bestow on you so much Gold and Silver coin'd and in the Bullion as shall make you richer than any of your fellow-Citizens For I hold it to besit my condition to relieve such great Men as are poor who have aim'd more at getting Honour than Money This I look upon as a very glorious Action by which a Prince rears the noblest Monument of his Magnificence and tenders the most sacred and well-pleasing Sacrifice to the Gods I shall therefore think that I have receiv'd a benefit rather than bestow'd one if you will let me supply your necessities Yet I would not have desir'd this of you if the honour of this benefit accru'd to me with dishonour to your self but now because you come not upon any perfidious design or that which is at all unworthy your Character why should you refuse a small Present offered you out of kindness by a Friend with an obstinate averseness For I ask nothing of you but what may yea and ought to be done by any honest Man that is a lover of his Country That you would bring the Senate off from their obstinacy to a more moderate temper telling them the truth of the matter that a War cannot be undertaken by them without great danger and detriment nor yet be foregone by me who promising the Tarentines my assistance have even won the first Battel without breach of Faith and dishonour Nor am I for having War with you whom I esteem worthier my friendship than my hatred and by reason of many businesses falling out which require my presence I had rather return into my own Kingdom and for this I will give all the Security you can desire that you may be sure of my intentions and also take away all doubts from other Men if there be any that will say perhaps that Kings
him near Centuripa in arranging his Forces at the River Cyamosus he play'd his game so cunningly that leaving a space between the Citizens and Mercenaries he commanded these to charge the Enemy in the front as if he design'd with the City Militia to attack them on some other side as soon as they were ingag'd Thus the Mercenaries surrounded by a greater number of the Mamertines were slain and whilst the Enemies were diverted by the slaughter of them he retreats with his Forces quietly and safely into Syracuse When he had in this manner clear'd the Soldiery of seditious Spirits and Male-contents he exercis'd the City Militia in their Arms with great diligence and rais'd new levies of Mercenaries and so having wrought himself into the favour and good liking of the people and remov'd all that could stand in his way the rest not daring to mutter against an armed and a watchful Man he manag'd the Government as he pleas'd himself Mean while the Mamertines incouraged by their late Victory negligently and in a contemptuous manner spoil'd the Country of the Syracusans Against these Hiero now secure of the fidelity of his Countrymen and Soldiers marches out with all speed and advances with his Army even to the Gates of the Enemies City then drain'd of men by reason of several Parties drawn out of it to piqueer up and down the Country and here he pitches his Camp The Mamertines alarm'd at this danger of their City posted with a Body of Light-Horse to its relief Whereupon Hiero decamping from their Borders takes a Town called Mylae and in it fifteen hundred men from thence having surpriz'd some Castles in his way he proceeds to Ameselum situated in the mid-way between Agyrium and Centuripa which place likewise though strengthned with fortifications and well garison'd he took and raz'd the Garison receiving quarter he forced to bear Arms under himself and divided the Lands belonging to Ameselum between the Centyripians and Agyrians And now being flush'd with these successes he makes an incursion into the Territories of the Mamertines takes the City Alesus upon surrender and brings over the Abaceninians and Tyndaritans voluntarily to espouse his Cause thus the next Towns to Messina towards both Seas becoming subject to Hiero for the Tindaritanes border on the Tuscan Sea and the Tauromenians on the Sicilians who were Confederates of the Syracusians at that time The Mamertines thus reduc'd to straits and difficulties under the conduct of Cios their Pretor march'd against the Enemy then incamped in the Plains of Mylea near the River Longanus When Battel was join'd and they fought a long while with doubtful fortune until a fresh Squadron charging the Mamertines in the Flank won a signal Victory and gave the glory of the day to Hiero. For Hiero before the sight began had ordered two hundred Messenian Exiles brave Fellows and mortal Enemies of the Mamertines together with a detachment of four hundred choice men of his own to go round about a neighbouring Hill called Thorax and by a sudden attack to disorder and break the Enemies ranks they having executed his Orders with vigour and resolution cut to pieces the whole Army of the Mamertines Cios in this desperate condition desiring nothing else but to die in the bed of Honour having been wounded in several places falls into his Enemies hands and being carried into their Camp confirm'd the predictions of the Entrails and Diviners by a contrary event than he had looked for For when he sacrific d before the Battel began the Soothsayers viewing the Entrails promised him that he should that Night lodg in the Camp of his Enemies which he interpreting as an Omen of Victory understoâ—d too late the Cheat and Delusion of an equivocal Prediction Being already cast down with thâ— disaster when he sees next day among the captive Horses that whereon his Son rode in the Battel imaâ—â—niâ—g that he had beâ—n kill'd he tore the Plaisters and bands from off his Wounds and expir'd his murmu◠〈◊〉 â—epâ—â—â—ing breath The Mamertines hearing of this slaughter of their men were quite cast down 〈◊〉 â—â—â—e ready to meet the Conquerour with the badges of submission and to yield themselves 〈…〉 had not a lucky hap unexpectedly interposed to their preservation It happened that Hannibal the General of the Carthaginians was at the sâ—me time in the Liparean Isles places adjacent to Sicily who being advertis'd of Hiero's Victory and fea â—ng lest â—pon the ruin and subversion of the Mamertines the Syracusian Power would become troublesom and intolerable to Carthage came straightway to Hiero under pretext of congratulating his success and 〈◊〉 having stop'd him from marching outright against Messina enter'd himself before him into the Town and not onely by words incouraged the Mamertines who had thoughts of surrendring themselves to maintain their liberty but likewise brought a Garison of his own men into the place Hiero finding himself out-witted by this trepanning and cunning Carthaginian return'd to Syracuse being too weak to undertake a Siege of so much difficulty as this was like to prove and being received with general satisfaction he was by the whole Army declared King which Title he afterwards retain'd by the consent both of his own people and of Foreiners Hiero being gone the Mamertines when they had taken heart again for a little while deliberating upon the present state of Affairs were divided into two factions One party was of Opinion that they must put themselves under the protection of the Carthaginians it being thought not onely convenient for several reasons but now their Garison was received almost necessary for them so to do The other reply'd That the Carthaginians were as much their Enemies as Hiero and doubtless design'd not out of kindness but desire of Empire to defend Messina as having for many years aspir'd to the Dominion of Sicily deterr'd from this their unreasonable resolution neither by the losses of Armies nor Navies nay not by the concern of their domestick Affairs and the African Wars If so be therefore that they should trust themselves to them who had so strong a Fleet and the best part of Sicily in their hands they must without all dispute become perfect Slaves and Vassals Therefore it would be absolutely against their Interest to call the Carthaginians to their assistance a tyrannical treacherous People who would impose a heavier Yoke upon their Necks than they had yet fear'd from the Syracusans As for the Punic Garison if it were purely sent on purpose to preserve their State from falling into Hiero's hand â—hey might dismiss it now the business was done in an amicable civil way but if any Sham was design'd they ought the more carefully to prevent the treachery of false Friends and for that reason address themselves rather to the Romans for protection a Nation victorious in Arms of approved fidelity and justice who would have neither power nor any pretensions to keep Messina in their own hands who had not one span of ground
Soldiers comparing this Discipline with the former became more confident of better success for the future and the whole State which had been chill'd with fear began now to be inspirited with fâ—esh vigour and warmth The Officers also of the Army seeing this general briskness of their People taking good heart themselves likewise resolv'd to march against the Enemy and having encouraged their men as the time requir'd went out against the Romans with about twelve thousand Foot four thousand Horse and no less than one hundred Elephants but what most concern'd the Romans was to see the Carthaginians contrary to their usual manner avoiding the hilly rugged Country and keeping to the Plains But by perpetual success the Romans were so elevated that they despis'd an Army so often beaten by them now under a pitiful Greek Commander Nay Regulus himself was not free from the same vanity being carried away with the flattering smiles of Fortune and therefore reflecting that he had defeated the Carthaginians both by Sea and Land taken almost two hundred of their Towns and two hundred thousand men and withal conceiting that he was able to force Carthage it self labouring under such distresses to surrender he refus'd to grant Peace upon any tolerable Conditions and wrote to Rome that he had block'd up Carthage Thus men of great Spirits oftner miscarry for want of moderation in Prosperity than constancy in Adversity Whilst the Carthaginians were incamp'd in a plain and level ground M. Regulus whose main strength consisted in Foot and therefore should have kept the Hills ventur'd down into the Plain thinking every place indifferent for valiant Men to fight in and for the greater show of his confidence passed a River which ran between him and the Enemy and advanced within a mile of them Xanthippus seeing Regulus his ill Conduct declar'd that now the time was come wherein he should make good his word to the Carthaginians for having got the Romans tir'd by their journey in such a place as he desir'd he assur'd himself of Victory The time of the day seemed likewise most opportune for Battel for now it drew towards Evening so that the Carthaginians acquainted with all the Passes of the Country might easily escape by Night if they should be beaten and nothing could hinder them to prosecute their Victory if they should prevail When the Carthaginians therefore consulted what they should do he conjur'd them by all that was good and great not to slip so brave an opportunity and persuaded them to joyn Battel which they easily agreed to the Souldiers calling him by Name and with extraordinary alacrity desiring Battel The Command of all therefore being left to this Spartan General he led out his Army and rang'd them in this manner The Carthaginian Phalanx consisting of the main strength of their Foot was placed upon the Reserve before which at a convenient distance the Elephants were rang'd in one Line equal to the breadth of the Phalanx On both the Wings the Light-armed men and the Horse were posted and behind them on the right Wing the Mercenary Men of Arms. His Army being drawn in this order he commanded the Light-Horse as soon as they had charg'd to fall back to their own Men who were to open their Ranks to receive them and the Enemy being engag'd with stronger forces to issue out again from both the Wings and suddenly flank the Romans fighting with the Phalanx Regulus on the contrary having ranged his men in order of Battel when he saw the Elephants standing in the Carthaginians Van immediately took this course the Light-arm'd he places in the front the Legions in close Ranks on the Reserve and the Wings consisted of the Horse whereby the Army was firm for depth but took up a much narrower compass than before so that when danger was fear'd both from the Elephants and the Horse this order serv'd well enough to hinder the Elephants from breaking in but in an open Field so much room was left to the Enemies Horse that they might surround an Army shrunk into such a small compass The Onset was made by the Elephants Xanthippus having caused them to advance upon the Romans and immediately the Romans clashing their Arms and shouting mingled with the Enemy The Horse also of both sides joyn'd Battel upon the Wing and the Romans here over-power'd by greater numbers of the Enemies when they were no longer able to sustein the shock fled out-right while the Foot towards the left Wing either to avoid the Elephants or in hopes of an easier Conquest over the Mercenaries charged routed and pursued these to their Camp but the rest had a harder task of it with the Elephants who with an intolerable force broke the Ranks trampled the Soldiers and destroyed whole Squadrons together However the depth of the Army sustein'd the shock for a while one Rank still supporting another till the Army in every part began to be distressed at once those in the Rear being encompass'd by the Enemies Horse and those in the Front of the Army as many as had broke through the Elephants were either kill'd by the Phalanx being fresh men and posted to â—eceive them or else by the Light-horse who assaulted them on every side Nor were there fewer kill'd in the flight for the Elephants and Numidian Horse being sent after them slew them here and there as they stragled through that open Champian Country M. Regulus with five hundred was taken alive by the Enemy Of all the Army not above two thousand men who had defeated the Mercenaries esaped alive making their retreat hastily to Clupea Of the Punic Army not many fell besides the eight hundred Mercenaries that had fought with the Enemies left Wing After so great an Atchievement when the Army return'd to Carthage carrying the spoils of the slain and triumphing for having taken Regulus Prisoner the Citizens in great numbers pour'd out to meet them others standing either in the Streets or Balconies with incredible pleasure enjoyed that sight which they durst not wish for some time before their minds being scarce able to bear the joy and transports or to believe the truth of this Victory for those who but just now being brought to the brink of despair fear'd to lose their Town Temples and Country could scarce believe so sudden a revolution of Affairs though they saw it but the eyes and minds of all were most intent upon the Generals themselves whilst looking upon Xanthippus one while and Regulus another by their estimate of this they valued and extolled the greatness of their own General For what a mighty Man must he be accounted who has outed such a great and fortunate Warriour so cruel an Enemy and the terrour of Carthage of such a flourishing Army a glorious Name and in fine of Liberty it self and that so easily and speedily too They also admir'd Xanthippus the more for his shape and features seeing so much Valour lay conceal'd under so mean a Stature and an
hopes but even the thoughts of Land-fighting during that War Twenty thousand Carthaginians are said to have been slain in that action twenty six Elephants were taken there and all the rest afterwards For the Proconsul considering that the Elephants being fierce and untractable could not easily be brought to hand unless it were by men acquainted with their nature promis'd by Proclamation to set such Prisoners at liberty as would help to catch them And these having first caught the tamest and gentlest of them by their means easily brought the rest to hand L. Metellus sent them all to Rome having used a new Invention in transporting them by Sea For having no Ships fit for that use of several Hogsheads joyn'd together a piece of Timber being laid betwixt every two Hogsheads to keep them tight he made a float which after it was boarded and cover'd with Earth and the sides made up look'd like a Stable so that the Elephants mistrusting nothing entred into it and not being sensible they went by Water a thing they cannot endure were landed at Rhegium Asdrubal after this defeat escap'd to Lilybeum but being condemn'd at Carthage he was taken and put to death as soon as he return'd The Carthaginians mean while seeing their Forces routed their Elephants taken all Sicily except Lilybeum and Drepanum lost and the Romans again puissant both by Sea and Land being provided with a new Fleet resolv'd to make Peace which now they would be glad with all their hearts to have concluded upon any reasonable terms And bethinking themselves of M. Regulus and the Conditions of Peace propos'd by him they looked upon him as the fittest Instrument to obtain a Peace for them or what next to that would prove their greatest comfort an exchange of Prisoners and they doubted not but that he would use his utmost endeavour and application in the business if it were onely to serve his own turn For what Man could be thought so hard-hearted as not to desire a release from the miseries of a Prison to see his Children and enjoy his Country liberty and honour M. Regulus had a Wife and Children at Rome his Kinsmen and Relations were either Senators or else in Offices and his Brother a Consul He himself was belov'd by the Senate and people of Rome for his prosperous Exploits and pitied for his Calamity For which reasons therefore they could pitch upon no man that would be more diligent in managing the business for them or more likely to prevail in it Regulus undertook the thing not out of any hopes or design of advantage to himself as it afterwards appear'd but onely to persuade the Senate more effectually by his presence to maintain their own Interests And now being joyn'd with the Carthaginian Ambassadours when he came to the City he would not enter into it though he was desir'd to do so alledging that the Senate according to Ancient Custom ought to give Audience out of the Town to Ambassadours sent from an Enemy When the Senate was assembled He said before the Carthaginian Ambassadors that being by the Law of Arms made a Captive of the Carthaginians he came to present them with a memorial from his Masters in order to have a Peace concluded upon such terms as both Nations should think fit or if that were not granted to have an Exchange of Prisoners When the Ambassadours withdrew he follow'd them and though the Senate mightily importun'd him yet he would not be present at their Debates before the Carthaginians had consented to it then he sate down silent till he was ask'd his Opinion which he deliver'd in words to this effect My Lords I am yet a Roman and though my body as Fate would have it is in the power of the Enemy my mind being none of Fortunes Slaves remains what it was before wherefore in compliance with this which I properly call my own rather than with that which is another mans I advise you neither to exchange Prisoners nor to make Peace Whilst the War is afoot 't is wholly against your Interest to restore the Prisoners for they require several Captains for me and many young men for an old one among whom there are some I know that you do not despise But to end the War unless upon very good Conditions is both unbecoming men of your Wisdom and also prejudicial to the Public I am very sensible of the many difficulties you meet with in waging this War for great Enterprises cannot be atchieved without much labour and expences But if you compare the Carthaginians condition and your own together you will find all the advantage on your side we lost once 't is true a great Battel but we have often routed them since and our Victory at Palermo has dejected their Spirits more than their success against me had elated them They have lost all Sicily except one or two places and in the other Islands they have had but ill success You have a Fleet now which the Carthaginians dare not encounter though they were always superiour by Sea Nor have the losses sustain'd by storms so much impair'd your strength as encreas'd your caution As for Money perhaps both sides want it equally but your Italians will be more obedient to you than the Affricans to the Carthaginians whom they never lov'd and of late have hated mortally For those who without any injury or provocation revolted to me after their Country is wasted by their former Masters their Cattel driven away Money exhorted from them and their Princes slain what do you think do they expect but that a new Army come into Affrica from hence Beside that 't is easie for you to levy Soldiers having such plenty of men fit for War of the same Language Manners Religion Kindred and Country to one another I look on this to be a matter of that grand importance that for this reason you are able to dispute the Victory with the Carthaginians though you come short of them in all other respects For what will a mercenary Army signifie against such Forces as these and though they should he of any use yet the Carthaginians by their cruelty have render'd it as hard a task for themselves to raise forein Soldiers as to maintain those they raise Xanthippus to whom Carthage perhaps owes all she had to lose since being ingratefully and perfidiously treated stands for an Example to others to deter them from rashly entring into the Service of a People that requites the greatest kindnesses with the greatest injuries Besides the common rout of Barbarians that stupid and mercenary Race will be affraid to serve a People eminent and notorious for their cruelty to their own Countrymen of whom so many have died either by the Hangman or their Fellow-Soldiers hands Others being expos'd in desert Islands instead of having their Arrears paid them met with strange and dismal deaths and punishments such as not to be us'd by men My Lords You see here the reasons by which I am
arm'd with fire-brands and Torches in their hands rush'd on maugre all dangers and opposition through the thickest of the Enemies to burn their Works and the Romans were well-nigh forc'd to retreat and to leave the Engines to the Enemies who pressed so rudely upon them But Himilco seeing several of his men fall whilst the Romans maintain'd their ground still without shrinking sounded a Retreat and first quitted the Battel Neither did the Romans pursue them being contented to have saved their Engines which once they had given for lost The next Night Hannibal unknown to the Enemies who after the toyls and fatigues of the Battel could not watch him going away went to Drepanum to Adherbal having carried away with him the Cavalry which in such a place could not be serviceable to the besieged but elsewhere might do good service and so they did For making excursions out of Drepanum they render'd it very dangerous to travel the Country and there was no fetching any provision to serve the Camp for them for they snapp'd several of the Foragers who stragled far into the Country and distressed the Roman Allies all manner of ways insomuch that the Consuls were at a loss what to do Adherbal also gave them continual alarms by Sea for all of a sudden he us'd to ravage sometimes the Coasts of Sicily and sometimes those of Italy doing all the mischief he could possibly to the Romans Hence it came to pass that a great scarcity of Provision arising in the Camp for they had no Victuals left but flesh a great many dy'd with Famine and several of the sickness then reigning in the Camp Some thousands having been lost after this manner it was resolv'd that one of the Consuls should depart to Rome to the Comitia and carry away all his Legions with him whereby those remaining behind at the Siege might be more easily furnished with provisions And now the Romans again attempted to block up the Port having with greater industry made a Mole of Earth and Stones and strengthening this Mole with beams laid across one another which were join'd with Cramping-Irons to keep the whole more firm together but the work was very difficult and unsuccessful because of the great depth of the Sea in that place whereby it came to pass that whatever was thrown into it was dashed in pieces in the descent and by the first violent Gust of Wind and raging billows that happned the Mole was quite ruined Nevertheless the very noise of the design for some time shut up the Port which vexed the Carthaginians mightily for now they had no way left them whereby they might come to understand the state of the besieged and there was none that durst undertake to go into the Town At last one Hannibal surnamed Rhodius a Gentleman of considerable Quality undertook to go and view the state of the Town and to bring a faithful account of all particulars concerning it at first the Carthaginians look'd on the thing as a Complement and so thank'd him but did not believe him For they knew that besides the Mole built to stop the mouth of the Port the Roman Fleet likewise rode there at Anchor to watch and guard it But Hannibal having equipped a Ship of his own touch'd at one of the Islands which lie opposite to Lilybaeum and afterwards from thence sailing with a fair Wind about the fourth hour of the day enter'd the Port whilst the Roman Soldiers looked on and stood amaz'd at the boldness of the Man The Consul however making account to intercept him in his return order'd ten Ships chosen out of the whole Fleet to be equipped in the Night and posted on both sides of the Port as near as might be to the mouth of it Hannibal trusting to the swiftness of his Galley set out in open day and the Romans who had watch'd narrowly for him when they saw him bore up in all haste towards him but his Galley was so good a Sailer that he was able not onely to escape from them but even to brave them sometimes sailing up to their Ships and sometimes moving round about them as if he defy'd an Enemy to Battel By often repeating this piece of bravery he did the Carthaginians great service for the besieged having an opportunity hereby to hear from their Friends the Carthaginians and to communicate their necessities to them were considerably encourag'd whilst the Romans were vexed to the heart to see the daring Spirit and boldness of the Man Now that which helped Hannibal very much in this undertaking was his knowledg of the place gather'd from particular observations he had taken of the safest way for Ships to steer their course through those Washes of Lilybeum For as soon as he could descry the Town from the Channel he turned his Ship so that the Stern looked towards Italy and from the Prow the Tower of Lilybaeum which stands over the Sea might be seen whilst those other Towers lying towards Affrica were hid from view and this they look upon as the securest Road for such as enter that Port under full Sail. And now several others incited by the Courage and good success of Hannibal Rhodius went into the Town till the Romans happen'd to take a four-Oar'd Galley of extraordinary swiftness For though in other places the Winds and storm had ruin'd the Mole yet it stood where the Water was shallow and the Galley happening to strike against that part of the Mole stuck fast there and was taken by the Romans with all the men and rigging being both incomparably good which prov'd Hannibal's ruin For having entred the Town by Night when he loosed from Port in open Day and saw this Galley meeting him at every turn and motion with a swiftness equal to his own he thought at first to escape but failing of that endeavour'd to resist when being soon overpower'd he was taken And the Romans having got this Ship also and narrowly watching the mouth of the Haven they easily hinder'd any more Ships from coming to Lilybaeum The Besiegers hereupon push'd on the Siege more vigorously and assaulting the fortifications next the Sea drew all the Garison from other quarters of the Town to defend the Posts attack'd and by this means the rest of the Army which on the other side waited for this opportunity were inabled to make themselves Masters of the outward Wall which was left unguarded though they could not hold it for Hannibal coming thither in time with a strong detachment beat out the Romans again killing several men upon the place The besieged afterwards had such good fortune that they were in hopes of an intire Victory There hapned at that time a violent Gust of Wind which as if it had been on purpose spent its fury against the Romans Engines insomuch that it shook their Batteries and ruin'd the Works they had rais'd against the Town The besieged soon perceiv'd the matter and now imagining with themselves that the Gods had put this
Hamilcar protested he would sooner see himself and his Country ruin'd than submit to so great a disgrace but yet he condescended to that Condition of paying eighteen denarii a man for liberty to march out of Eryx Then Ambassadors were sent to the Consul and the Carthaginians at Rome to inform the Senate and People of the conditions the Peace was concluded upon The People lik'd not the Peace but sent ten Deputies to examine and consider the business and when they return'd they rais'd their Demands higher That they should pay down presently a thousand Talents and twenty two hundred more within ten years next ensuing That they should not only depart from Sicily but also from all the other Islands lying betwixt that and Italy That the Carthaginians should not come in any Man of War into Italy or any of the Islands belonging to the Roman Jurisdiction nor raise any hier'd Soldiers from thence The Carthaginians to obtain Peace submitted to all these propositions Hamilcar presently resign'd up his Command before the Articles were solemnly ratified and sworn to pass'd over to Lilybaeum and from thence to Carthage a person who both by his conduct and Valour had out-done all the Commanders that had had any hand in that War Thus ended that first Carthaginian War which lasted twenty four years being drawn in length by reason of many turns and revolutions to the great damage of both the Parties but especially of the Conquerour For 't is reported by such as took an account of the particular losses that the Romans lost seven hundred five oar'd Galleys whereas the Carthaginians had not lost above five hundred An evident instance this of the Roman Fortitude which could not be shaken by any ill success in Battel nor by the most disastrous Casualties but under all the toils of War and with the disadvantage of a poor Treasury not only encountred the utmost power of its Enemies and the boistrous shocks of Fortune with an equal constancy but at last rendred it self Victor over both After this C. Lutatius Catulus whose year was A. U. 512 now expired was continued in his place some time longer that he might settle the Affairs of Sicily One of the new Consuls also was sent thither namely Q. Lutatius Cerco Catulus his Brother the Colleague of A. Manlius These two regulated the Province and order'd things so well as to take away all occasion of future Broils and Commotions which might any way disturb the peace and tranquillity of that Government and indeed they had but just cause to be jealous of those People in whom some relicks of restless and unquiet humours after so great and universal a fermentation still remaining might break out again and work up their turbulent Spirits to Rebellion and therefore they took away all Arms from the Siculi who had espous'd Hamilcars interest and from the Galls who had revolted from him The Galls were ship'd away and banish'd the Roman Territories as well for other Villanies they had committed as for their robbing and spoiling the Temple of Venus when they were quarter'd upon Mount Eryx The Town of Sicily had Taxes and Contributions assess'd upon them according to a proportion and the Island was made a Province whither a Praetor was sent yearly from Rome Mean time the Carthaginian Ambassadours came to Rome desiring that they might redeem their Men that were taken Prisoners and they were all restor'd gratis as many of them as were in publick custody but those who were in the hands of private men the Senate ordered to be ransomed at a certain price the greatest part of which money for their ransom was afterwards paid out of the publick Treasury by an Order of the Senate But sad calamities in the City very much lessened the joy of the Roman People at that time For now the River Tybur first overflowing its banks filled all the lower parts of the City with the inundation whole streets of Houses were over-thrown by the violence of the stream and those which were not born away by the rapid torrent fell down upon the waters returning into its channel for the inundation lasting several days had eaten through and decayed the Foundations This calamity of Water was succeeded by a dreadful Conflagration which begun casually in the night and having burnt down several parts of the City destroyed a multitude of Men and Houses Nor was its fury satisfied with consuming private habitations but it likewise burnt down all the publick buildings round the Forum Vesta's Temple at last was all on fire Then L. Caecilius the Chief Pontif behav'd himself sutably to his place for seeing the Holy things in danger by the fire he cast himself into the midst of the flames exposing his own Life for the preservation of the Holy things then deserted by the Vestal Nuns and rescu'd by him But this brave Person after his eyes had been quite burnt out and one of his Arms half burnt receiv'd besides the satisfaction of his mind for having done so nobly a sutable reward from his Country namely that whenever he went to the Senate-house he should ride thither in a Chariot an Honour never granted to any man in Rome before since its first foundation In the mean time Q. Lutatius the Consul with his Brother Catulus and Q. Valerius the Pro-Praetor having setled Affairs in Sicily and brought away the Army from thence was returned home C. Lutatius Catulus and Q. Valerius celebrated the Naval Triumphs assigned to them the first on the second of October and the latter on the fifth of the same Month. There hapned a very remarkable contrast betwixt the Generals touching Valerius his Triumph for when a Triumph had been unanimously voted to C. Lutatius Valerius pleading that he had signaliz'd himself as much as the other in that business desir'd that as he had bore his part of care and danger in the Action he might also equally share in that Honour which was the reward of it To which Catulus objected That he who was commissioned with an inferiour Authority was not in the conferring of Honours to have equal considerations with a Superiour At last the Controversie growing high betwixt them Q Valerius engag'd Catulus to lay in a Pledg for the trial of the business whether or no he had contributed by his Conduct to the defeat of the Punic Fleet whereupon Catulus engag'd him also to do the same Atilius Calatinus was chosen Arbitrator in the business who asking Valerius Whether if any difference or debate had happen'd in a Council of War whose Authority would have been decisive in the point the Praetors or Consuls As likewise if they had had several Auspices which should have been follow'd And Valerius answering That in both Cases the Consul had greater Power than the Praetor Atilius Calatinus without hearing what Catulus could say determined the Cause in favour of him because the Controversie seem'd to be concerning the Preeminence of Authority But though Valerius was worsted in this reference
the Roman Cavalry near the River Ticinus 46. In which Conflict P. Cornelius Scipio being wounded was rescued and his Life saved by his own Son the same who afterwards was surnamed Africanus 56 c. Annibal having again routed the Roman Army upon the River Trebia advances over the Appenine Hills where his Soldiers were much distressed by the foul Weather and violent Tempests 60 c. Cn. Cornelius Scipio prospers in his Wars against the Carthaginians in Spain and takes their General Mago Prisoner JUstly may I Preface to this Part of my Work what most Historians are wont to profess U. C. 534 in the beginning of the whole of Theirs That I am about to write the Story of one of the most memorable Wars that ever happened in any Age of the World I mean That which the Carthaginians under the Conduct of their General Annibal waged with the People of Rome For never did more wealthy and potent Nations engage against each other in Arms nor were they themselves at any time so strong and formidable as at this Juncture And as they were not ignorant of each others Courage and Military skill but had sufficiently experienced the same in the former War between them so also they were so equally match'd and the fortune of the Field so variable that for a long time that side seemed nearest to Ruine who at last obtained the Victory Besides their spights and animosities against each other were in a manner greater than their Forces the Romans taking it in scorn and indignation that Those whom once already they had vanquish'd should of their own accords now begin a War with their Conquerors and the Carthaginians no less enraged because the Romans manag'd their Success with so much insolence and covetousness as rendred they thought their usage altogether insupportable 'T is also reported That when Amilcar after finishing his War in Africk was upon his Expedition into Spain as he was Sacrificing for good Success Annibal his Son not then above nine Years of Age came coaksing of him as Children use to do to take him along with him whereupon the Father brought him up to the Altar and with his hand laid thereupon caused him to swear That he would ever be a mortal Enemy to the People of Rome and fight with them as soon as he was able This Amilcar being a Person of great Spirit was no doubt exasperated as well at the loss of Sicily and Sardinia of which the former he thought was too hastily surrendred by those that without cause dispaired of Defending it and the latter during the Broils in Africk fraudulently seized by the Romans as also for the Tribute which beyond what was capitulated they had arbitrarily imposed upon his Country Disquieted with these thoughts he manag'd Affairs so both in the African Commotions which ensued for the next five Years after the Peace concluded with Rome and after that in his Spanish Wars where for nine Years together he diligently and with mighty success encreased the Punick Dominions and Grandeur that all the World might see he design'd still a greater War than what he had in hand and if he had lived there is no question but he had brought those Carthaginian Arms upon Italy wherewith it was afterwards Invaded under the Conduct of his Son but his seasonable Death and Annibals Non-age deferr'd the Storm a little longer In the mean time between the Father and the Son Asdrubal was Commander for almost the space of eight Years This Asdrubal had been Amilcars Favorite at the first they say for his Youth and handsome Face but afterwards for those signal marks of Gallantry and Prudence which he manifested upon all occasions preferr'd to be his Son-in-Law and in respect of that Alliance by the Interest of the Barchine * Some say this was the common Name of the Commons-Party at Carthage in opposition to the Nobility whereof Amilcar had made himself Head others that Amilcars Father was named Barcha and that this was only the Faction of that particular Family Faction which carryed a mighty sway both in the Army and with the Commons he was now advanc'd to the Soveraign Conduct of the War though much against the Will of the principal Noblemen He manag'd Affairs more by Policy and Intrigue than Force and Violence and by treating entertaining and caressing the Neighboring Princes and Grandees won the Affections and good Will of several Nations and by that means encreased the Carthaginians Dominions and Power rather than by force of Arms. But for all this Peace with Forein States he was never the more secure of his own Life at home for a certain barbarous Fellow whose Master he had put to death watching an opportunity lop'd off his Head and being apprehended by some that were by kept his Countenance and look'd as unconcern'd as if he had escaped nay when he was all mangled and torn with Tortures he seem'd to smile so far did the joy of his mind and sweetness of revenge over-ballance the pains of his Body and render them as it were insensible With this Asdrubal because he had such a singular dexterity at insinuating into Forein Nations and uniting them to his Interests the Romans had renewed the League upon these two Conditions That the River Iberus should limit the utmost extent of their Dominions on either side and that the Saguntines who were situate between the Territories of both Nations should enjoy their Antient Liberties There being now a new Commander to succeed in the room of Asdrubal there was no doubt to be made but the favor of the Mobile would join with the Prerogative choice of the Soldiery who presently carryed young Hannibal to the Head-Quarters and with a vast Shout and unanimous consent saluted him as their General For you must note whil'st he was yet very young Asdrubal had sent for him to the Army and the matter was debated in the Senate at Carthage where they of the Barchine Faction urg'd how fit it was That Annibal should be train'd up in the Camp and enur'd to Affairs of War that he might be qualified to succeed his Father in serving the Publick But Hanno the Head of the contrary Faction stood up and told them That both what Asdrubal desired was very just and reasonable and that yet he was of Opinion it ought not to be granted They all began to stare at him for this odd saying and knew not what to make on 't till thus he continued his Speech That flower and beauty of Youth which Asdrubal himself parted with and prostituted long since to Annibals Father to use or abuse at his pleasure the same he thinks he may with good right challenge and expect from the Son But it little becomes the Dignity of our State to have our Youth under pretence of following the Camp and Military Institution debauch'd and made Catamites to the Lusts of our Generals Are we afraid that Amilcars Son should not soon enough be Ambitious or too late
Banners displayed into Italy it becomes us therefore to fight so much the more resolutely and with greater Courage as those commonly who are Assailants come on with braver hopes and brisker spirits than the Defendants Besides you have the resentments of Grief and Injury and Indignation to spur you on against this insolent Enemy who had the impudence to Demand first me your General and afterwards all you that were at the Siege of Saguntum to be delivered up forsooth into their hands as Slaves and executed with the extreamest Tortures A Nation excessive Cruel and so intolerably Proud and Ambitious that they count all things their own and the Affairs of the whole Earth to be managed as they list They will prescribe with whom we shall have War and with whom we may make Peace and the Terms and Conditions of Both They will needs restrain us and limit our Empire to such and such Hills and Rivers beyond which we must not budge on pain of their high Displeasure but in the mean time they themselves know no Bounds nor will observe nor to hold any Capitulations Presume not say they to pass the Iberus meddle not with Saguntum at your peril Saguntum stands on the River Iberus stir not one step forward we charge you They are not content with the Injustice of taking away our Antient Provinces Sicily and Sardinia unless they may ravish Spain too out of our hands And should I abandon that Realm they would no doubt straight pass over and invade Africk they would do I say nay they have already constituted the two Consuls of this present Year one to be over Spain and the other over Africk so that nothing have they left us but what we can win and hold by the Swords point They may be faint-hearted and think of running away who have some place of refuge to retire to who can when they fly get safe by easie and peaceable Passages into their own Territories and be sheltered in their own Country But as for you there is a necessity you should play the Men having not the least prospect of security but in your own incomparable Valor and therefore making no account of any Mediums between Victory and Death on certain despair of all shifts besides must resolve either to overcome or if Fortune should deny you that Honor to fall bravely in the Battel rather than basely in the Rout and to dye Fighting rather than be kill'd Flying If this be but deeply imprinted and fix'd on all your Hearts if this be your general Resolution I will repeat it once again The day is yours Never did the Immortal Gods give any Mortals a more poinant incitement to Victory The spirits of the Soldiers on both sides being by these Orations enflam'd to fight the Romans made a Bridge over the River Ticinus and to secure the Bridge erected a Fort. Whil'st they were busie at that work the Enemy sent out Maharbal with a party of Five hundred Numidian Horse to forrage the Territories of the Romans Allies but with particular Orders to spare the Gauls as much as he could and withal to solicit their Chiefs to a Revolt The Bridge finish'd the Roman Army march'd over into the Insubrians Country and Encamped within five miles of Dimoli a Village where Annibal had his Head-Quarters who dispatch'd Orders instantly to recal Maharbal and his Horse perceiving there was a Battel towards and thinking he could never enough hearten on and encourage his Men assembled them again to an Audience where he publikely proposed to them the following Rewards if they would act gallantly and win the Day viz. That he would endow every Man of them with fair Lands either in Italy Africk or Spain as each of them should chuse to remain free to them and their Heirs or if any would rather have a present sum of mony than Land he would content him with Silver such of the Allies as desired it should be made Free Denizons of Carthage and for such as should rather chuse to return home he would be so kind to them as they should not wish to exchange Fortunes with the best of their Country-men Furthermore to all servants attending their Masters he promised to set them Free and give their Masters two slaves in lieu of each of them And for their assurance that all this should be accomplish'd and made good holding a Lamb in his Left hand and a great Flint-stone in his Right he solemnly wish'd and pray'd That if he fail'd in any point Jove and the rest of the Gods might so destroy him as he there kill'd that Lamb and presently with the Stone dash'd out its brains Then all fancying the Gods to be engaged on their side full of hopes and counting every moments delay to be but so much a deferring of their Victory with unanimous Shouts and Acclamations they cryed out for a Battel The Romans for their part were nothing so jolly for besides other Discouragements they were terrified with some late Prodigies as that a Wolf had come into their Camp and after it had worried those that stood in its way made its escape unhurt and a swarm of Bees settled on a Tree that was just over the Generals Pavilion Which ominous Tokens being expiated by Sacrifices Scipio with his Cavalry and light Darters advanc'd towards the Enemies Camp where whil'st they were near hand viewing their Forces how many and of what condition they might be Annibal being abroad on a like Design with his Horse happened to encounter them at first they saw not each other but the Clouds of Dust raised by the March of so many Horse and Men gave each Party notice of the Enemies approach whereupon both made an Halt and prepared for an Engagement Scipio planted his Archers and French Horse in the Fore-front the Romans and stoutest of the Allies for Reserves Annibals main Body consisted of great Barbed Horse and the fleet Numidians on either Wing But on the first Charge the Roman Archers retired back unto the second Battalions amongst the Rere-guard by means whereof the Horse alone fought a good while sharply and with equal success but by and by their Horses being disordered by the Footmen intermingled amongst them and many of the Troopers either thrown off or forced to alight from their Horses to assist such of their Fellows as they saw environed and over-match'd the Conflict in most places seem'd very doubtful until the Numidians that were on the Wings having wheel'd about at some distance appeared on the Rear That sight perfectly dismayed the Romans whose Consternation was encreased by their Generals being wounded who not without great difficulty was rescued and carryed off by his Son though then but a mere Lad and in his first Apprentiship of Arms but the very same for whom Fate had reserv'd the Glory of finishing this War and who was afterwards surnamed Africanus for his signal and absolute Victories over Annibal and the Carthaginians However the greatest Defeat was of the
Guards be kept and above all that Lilybaeum be held in a good posture of defence He likewise issued a Proclamation That the Allies bordering on the Sea-coasts should bring abord ten days Provision ready dress'd and that all the Mariners and Soldiers be in readiness to go on bord at an hours warning and that the Inhabitants along the Coasts should keep watch and from their Watch-Towers and Beacons discover and give immediate notice if any Enemy appeared So that although the Carthaginians purposely slackned their Course that they might come up to Lilybaeum but a little before break of Day yet they were perceiv'd at a distance both because the Moon then shone all Night and they came with Sails hoised up Notice being given from the Watch-Towers the Town immediatly took the Alarm and all the Ships in the Port are mann'd the Soldiers being divided some to go abord and others to guard the Walls and Gates The Carthaginians perceiving their Design was smoak'd and that they were not like to catch them napping kept without the Haven until the Morning spending the time in taking down their Sails and preparing for an Engagement When it was now broad day-light they stood out further to Sea that they might have room to fight and the Enemy have free egress with their Ships out of Port nor did the Romans decline to follow them encouraged both with the remembrance of the success they had formerly in that very place and confiding in the number and courage of their Soldiers No sooner were they out at Sea but it plainly appeared that the Romans were desirous to grapple and come to a close Fight on the contrary the Carthaginians held off aloof willing to manage their business by Art and sleight rather then down-right Force and to make trial of the goodness and agility of Ships more than of the strength of their Armor or valor of their Men For as their Fleet was sufficiently supplyed and furnish'd by their Allies with Mariners so they were but thin of Soldiers and wheresoever the Romans could get to grapple with and bord any of them they had not Men at Arms enough to resist them which being once perceived both the Romans gathered heart by reason of their advantage in numbers and the others were no less discouraged by their paucity In short time seven Punic Ships were hemm'd in and taken and in them One thousand seven hundred Sea-men and Soldiers amongst whom were three Carthaginian Noblemen the rest of their Fleet made their escape The Roman Navy returned safe and intire into the Haven having only one Ship shattered which yet they made shift to get home with the rest About the time of this Engagement and before the same was known at Messina the Consul Sempronius arriv'd there and as he entred within the Sound King Hiero met him with a gallant Navy richly gilt and adorned and passing out of his Royal Ship went abord the Consuls and Complemented him upon his happy Voyage bidding him welcome to Sicily and wishing him good success then gave him an account of the present state of the Island and designs of the Carthaginians against it withal assuring him That as heretofore when but a Youth he assisted the People of Rome in the former War so with no less good will and resolution would he serve them now in his Age by accommodating the Consuls Legions and also the Mariners of the Allies imployed in the Fleet with sufficient Cloaths and Provisions of all sorts gratis telling him further That Lilybaeum and other Maritime Towns were in very great danger there being some seditious Spirits amongst them that were hankering after alterations and willing to change their Masters Therefore the Consul resolv'd to Sail to rights to Lilybaeum and the King with his Navy Royal accompanied him but in their Voyage received Intelligence of the afore-mentioned Engagement in those parts and how the Enemies Fleet was scattered and all their Ships either put to flight or taken At Lilybaeum the Consul dismissed King Hiero and his Fleet and leaving the Praetor to guard the Coast of Sicily he himself crossed the Sea to Malta then in the hands of the Carthaginians And upon his arrival the Governor Amilcar the Son of Gisco rendered up himself and near upon Two thousand Soldiers together with the Town and whole Island from whence within few days the Consul returned to Lilybaeum and sold all the Prisoners except those that were of eminent Quality for Bond-slaves Having thus sufficiently secured Sicily on that side he sail'd to the Isle Vulcano where part of the Enemies Fleet was reported to ride at Anchor but could meet with none there for it happened they were already gone over to wast the Coast of Italy and having forraged as far as the Territories of Vibo gave Rome it self no small Alarm whereof the Consul upon his return to Sicily having notice and withal Letters from the Senate of the descent of Annibal into Italy commanding him therefore with all expedition to repair to his Colleagues assistance In great perplexity having so many Irons at once in the fire he Embark'd his Army and sent them by the Adriatick Sea to Rimini ordered his Lieutenant Sex Pomponius with Five and twenty long Ships to secure the Lands of Vibo and the rest of the Sea-coasts of Italy With Aemilius the Praetor he left a Fleet of Fifty Sail to guard Sicily and after he had settled the Affairs of that Island he himself with ten Ships Coasting along Italy arrived at Rimini whence marching his Army to the River Trebia he joined his Colleague Now were both the Consuls and all the strength the Romans could make opposed against Annibal The Roman Empire must be defended with these Forces or else all their hopes were gone yet one of the Consuls discouraged with the late defeat of his Horse and his own wound was desirous to defer Engaging but the other coming fresh and so much the more fierce would endure no delay The Country between the Trebia and the Po was then inhabited by the Gauls who in the Contest between these two mighty Nations contain'd themselves in a kind of Neutral posture making full account of the good will of that Party which should have the better with this the Romans were well enough content as long as they attempted nothing against them but Annibal resented it very ill often saying That he was invited thither by the Gauls to restore them to their Liberties In this angry mood and to relieve his Men with Plunder he sent out a Detachment of Two thousand Foot and a thousand Horse most of them Numidians and some Gauls intermix'd to Forrage all those parts as far as the Banks of Po. The Gauls that before were wavering and indifferent found themselves obliged now wholly to turn from those that offered them these Injuries and join with those that might protect them Whereupon they sent Agents to the Consuls imploring the Romans to assist a Region which merely
a venture than any hopes he could have either to avoid them or to resist them if met with After he had held the Elections the only thing for which he was at present wanted he returned again to the Winter-Quarters The Consuls chosen were Cn. Servilius and C. Flaminius But the Romans could not be at quiet even in their Winter-Quarters being continually molested by stroleing Parties of Numidian Horse and in Mountainous places which were troublesom for them to pass by Troops of Celtiberians and Portugueze as better acquainted with Hilly and steep Passages Thus all Provisions were cut off except what was brought in Boats down the Po. The City Placentia standing a mile and an half off that River had a Mart or place of stowage for Vessels Provisions and Goods on the River side strongly Fortified and Garisoned In hopes to storm it Annibal comes with his Horse and Light-arm'd Foot and the better to effect his purpose march'd very privately in the Night to surprize them but the Centinels took the Alarm in time and set up such an Out-cry that it was heard to Placentia whereupon as soon as it was Day the Consul came up with his Horse to their Relief having ordered his Foot to follow in Battel Array In the mean time the Fight was managed by Horse and Annibal happening to be wounded the Enemy was therewith much daunted and the place happily preserv'd Having rested not many days and before his Wound was throughly well Annibal was abroad again designing to take Victumviae a Mart-Town which had been Fortified by the Romans during the War with the Gauls after which it became well Inhabited by a mix'd People out of several Nations and at this time the fear of being Plundered made all the Boors of the adjacent Country retire thither for shelter This multitude such as they were being buoy'd up with the report how bravely the Garison near Placentia defended themselves took Arms and advanced forth to encounter Annibal who met with them as they were upon their March disorderly and not in a posture for Fighting so that on one side there being only a raw undisciplin'd Rabble on the other a Captain that could rely on his Soldiers and the Soldiers on their Captain He with a handful of Men routed all this tumultuous Multitude consisting of no less than Five and thirty thousand The next day having treated for a surrender upon Articles they received a Garrison within their Walls and being required to deliver up all their Arms after they had so done a signal is given to fall on and plunder the Town as if it had been taken by Storm Nor was there omitted any kind of Out-rage that is wont to be Recorded by Historians on such occasions such lamentable Examples of all manner of Cruelty and Lust and inhumane Insolence they practised upon these poor wretched People These were Annibal's Winter-Expeditions after which the Frosts being intolerable he allow'd his Soldiers some short Repose but upon the first approach of the Spring quits his Winter-Quarters and marches for Tuscany to reduce that Nation too as he had done the Gauls and Ligurians either voluntarily or by force to his obedience But as he pass'd over the Appennine so dreadful a Tempest happened that it almost exceeded all the Calamities he met with on the Alps. The Rain with a fierce Wind drove full in their Teeth at first they stood stone-still seeing they must either lay away their Armor or strive in vain to march with it against the Weather whil'st the violent Gusts whirling them round were ready to fling them to the Ground but then the violence of the Weather taking away as it were their Breath they sat down with their backs Wind-ward When on a sudden the Heavens rattled with horrible peals of Thunder and flash'd with dreadful Lightenings so that affrighted in two Senses at once and terrified both with their Ears and their Eyes they became all astonish'd with fear At length it Rain'd so fast as if it had been poured down by Pail-fulls and withal the Wind blew higher than before wherefore they thought it necessary to Encamp in the very place where they were thus caught by the Tempest But this was to begin a new Labor and Difficulty for neither could they spread any thing for a Covering nor fix the posts for their Tents securely nor could what was pitch'd down abide the fury of the Wind which rent and tore and hurried away all before it After a while the falling Rain being congealed aloft over the tops of those bleak Mountains turn'd into a storm of Hail and came upon them with such a Force that every one was glad to leave his Work and clap themselves flat on the Ground groveling on their Faces rather smothered than covered with their Tilts and Hillings After which ensued that Night so bitter and excessive a Frost that there was not one of all that miserable heap of Men and Beasts that was able for a great while the next Morning to raise himself and get up alone for their Sinews were so benum'd with cold as they could scarce bend their Joints at length by bestirring and chafing their Limbs they got some warmth recovered their Spirits some few began to make Fires and the rest got thither to thaw and recruit themselves Thus for two days they remained there as if they had been Besieged unable to stir Abundance of Men and Cattel perish'd here and seven of those few Elephants that surviv'd the Battel at Trebia Hereupon Annibal quits the Apennine and returns towards Placentia within ten miles of which he Encamped and the next day advanc'd with Twelve thousand Foot and Five thousand Horse against the Enemy Nor did Sempronius the Consul for he was now come back from Rome decline the Combat The two Armies were that day within three miles distance of each other next morning they fought with mighty Resolutions and various Success At the first On-set the Romans had so much the better of it that they did not only worst the Enemy in the Field but pursue them home to their Entrenchments and afterwards assaulted and endeavored to break in after them into their Camp Annibal having Posted a few stout Men to defend the Ports and Rampart retired the rest thick and close together into the midst of the Camp ordering them to watch for the Signal when they should sally forth It was now near three a clock in the After-noon when the Romans having wearied themselves in vain seeing there was no hopes of making themselves Masters of the Camp sounded a Retreat Which Annibal perceiving and that they gave over the Assault and were marching back to their own Tents immediately sent out his Horse on the right and left hand after them and himself in Person with the whole strength of his Infantry sallies out through the middle of the Camp There has seldom been known a more bloody Fight or wherein greater slaughter was made on both sides than this
Victories contenting himself only by lying always near to hinder them from attempting any great Exploit 14 26. M. Minucius General of the Horse a Man of a proud spirit and rash in his undertakings by reproaching the Dictator as negligent and a Coward prevails so far upon the People as by their Ordinance to be joyned in equal Commission with him 28. And having divided the Army Fights in a place very disadvantageous where his Legions being distress'd and like to be cut off 29. Are by the timely coming in of Fabius relieved and rescued from that imminent danger 29. Minucius overcome with this favour joyns again with Fabius in the same Camp stiles him Father and commands his Soldiers to do the like 16. Annibal having over-run Campania is between the Town Casilinum and the Mountain Callicula hemm'd in by Fabius but by a Stratagem of tying little Barms of dry sticks unto Bullocks horns and setting them on fire frighted away the Roman Guard that kept the pass at Callicula and so escaped 23. He also when he burn'd all the Neighboring Country forbore to do any damage to the Dictators Lands to render him suspected at Rome of holding a secret Correspondence with him 47. After this when Aemilius Paulus and Terentius Varro were Consuls and Generals of the Army Annibal near a Village called Cannae gives them a mighty Overthrow 49. There were slain in that Battel Five and forty thousand Romans with Paulus the Consul and Fourscore Senators and Thirty other Persons of Quality that had been either Consuls Praetors or Aediles 53. After which defeat several young Noble-men in despair consulting to leave Italy P. Cornelius Scipio a Colonel who afterwards was surnamed Africanus comes amoâ—gst them with his Sword drawn over their Heads swearing He would presently kill the first Man that should refuse the Oath that he should tender and so made them all oblige themselves in an Oath not to abandon their Country 7 19 20 c. This Book also describes the Consternation and general Mourning of the City by reason of the said defeat of their Army and withal some Actions in Spain atchieved with better success 57. Opimia and Floronia two Vestal Virgins condemned for Incest By reason of the scarcity of Soldiers and serviceable Men for the Wars Eight thousand Slaves are put in Arms. 60 61. The Senate refuses to redeem their Men that had suffered themselves to be taken Prisoners though Annibal offered it and go forth to meet the Consul Varro and welcome him home with thanks because after such an amazing Blow he had not given over the Cause of the Commonwealth as desperate U. C. 536 THe Spring was now come on when Annibal removed from his Winter-Quarters and as before when he attempted it he was not able to get over the Apennine for the intolerable Cold so he continued there thus long not without great fear and hazard for the Gauls whom he had drawn to his side by hopes of Prey and Plunder seeing that instead of Forraging and getting Booties from others their own Territories were made the Seat of War and oppressed by the Armies of both Parties lying upon them all Winter began to hate him more than they did formerly the Romans Several times had their Princes contrived to destroy and cut him off by Treachery and it was only by their own perfidiousness to each other whil'st with the same levity wherewith they conspired against them they betray'd their Fellows and detected their Conspiracies that he escaped their hands As also by frequent changing sometimes of his Clothes and sometimes of his Head-piece and by being almost continually in motion he endeavored to secure himself However the apprehensions of these Dangers cause him to quit his Winter-Quarters so much the sooner About the same time viz. on the fifteenth of March Cn. Servilius entred upon his Consulship at Rome and after he had proposed the Affairs of the Commonwealth to the Senates consideration their envy and spight against C. Flaminius his Colleague was afresh renewed saying That they Created two Consuls but had but one For what just and lawful Authority what fortunate Success can that other have that is gone Since such a Magistrate ought always to carry the same with him from the City from the publick and his own private Altars after he had Celebrated the Latine Festivals perform'd the Sacrifice on the Alban Hill and duly made his Vows in the Capitol But since without discharging all these necessary Rites he departed hence only in the Quality of a private Person as the Auspices of Government could not accompany or follow him so neither being gone without them can he in a foreign Soil receive them new and entire as they ought to be The business look'd the worse because at the same time People were terrified with stories of Prodigies related from several places That in Sicily certain Soldiers Darts were on a sudden on Fire and in Sardinia as a Trooper was going the Rounds under the Walls his Staff burn'd in his hand That strange Fires had been frequently seen on the Sea-shore That two Shields sweat Blood and some Soldiers were struck dead with Lightning That the Body of the Sun appear'd less to the sight than it was wont to do and that at Praeneste red-hot burning Coals fell from the Skie That at Arpi there were seen in the Air the shapes of Targets or Bucklers and the Sun fighting with the Moon That at Capena two Moons rose and shone together in the day-time That the Caeretan Waters ran mingled with Blood and the very Fountain of Hercules cast up Water with Bloody spots and as People were reaping in the Antian Fields certain Bloody ears of Corn fell into their Skeps At Falerii the Heavens seem'd to open with a mighty Chasm whence shone forth a wonderful Sight That the Sacred Lots of themselves grew less and less and one fell out of the Pitcher with this Inscription Mavors telum suum concutit Behold Mars brandishes his dreadful Spear About the same time the Statue of Mars at Rome in the Appian way near the Images of the Wolves was observ'd to Sweat and at Capua the Heavens seem'd all on fire and something like the Moon to fall down in a great shower Hence men came to take notice of and believe other Prodigies scarce worth mentioning as that some Goats instead of Hair bore Wool that an Hen was turn'd into a Cock and a Cock into an Hen. These things as they were reported being inquired into and the Authors brought before the Senate the Consul proposed and desired that House to take into their consideration the Affairs of Religion who Decreed That these threatning Tokens should be expiated some with the greater sort of Sacrifices others with young sucking ones That for three days space there should be Supplications at every Shrine And as for the rest after the Decemvirs had inspected their Books such Atonements should be made as the Gods in their Verses should fore-tell to
Rome and had Commission to repair to the Consuls as well as the Senate After so many defections of old Friends Valerius was not a little pleas'd at this overture from so great a Prince and courteously entertain'd the Enemy in the disguise of a Friend allowing them Guides and acquainting them what passes were held both by the Romans and the Carthaginians So Xenophanes having pass'd the Roman Guards into Campania went thence to rights to Annibal and concluded an Alliance with him on the Terms following That King Philip with the greatest Fleet he could Equip and he was thought able to set out two hundred Sail should pass over to Italy and spoil all the Sea-Coasts and to his power promote the War both by Sea and Land That upon the conclusion of the War all Italy and the City Rome should be enjoy'd by the Carthaginians together with all the Pillage and Booty But in lieu thereof after Italy was thus reduc'd they should transport their Forces into Greece and wage War with such Princes as it should be found convenient and that all those Cities on the main Continent or Islands bordering on Macedonia should be annext to the Dominions of King Philip. To this purport was the League between the Punick General and these Macedonians with whom to see the same Articles ratified by the King he sent back three Embassadours Gisgo Bostar and Mago and all together they came to the aforesaid Temple of Juno Lacinia where a Vessel lay privately at Anchor to receive them but no sooner were they put out to Sea but the Roman Navy that lay to guard the shore of Calabria discover'd them and Fulvius made out certain Corcyreans to fetch them in at first the Macedonians endeavour'd to fly but finding themselves over-reacht in sailing yielded and were brought up to the Admiral who demanding who they were whence they came and whither bound Xenophanes who had sped so well by making a Lye before made no great scruple of Conscience to frame another now and told him That being sent from King Philip to the Romans he came to M. Valerius because to him only he could pass in safety but could not get through Campania that Region being so much beset by the Enemy But afterwards upon sight of some in Carthaginian Habit they were suspected to be Annibals Agents which was more confirm'd by their Speech when they were Examined Then their Attendants being questioned apart and threatned discover'd the whole intrigue and Annibals Letters were taken containing the substance of the terms agreed upon between him and the King of Macedonia whereupon it was thought sit to send the Embassadors and their Train to Rome or to the Consuls where-ever they should happen to be To which purpose five of the nimblest Gallies were selected under the Conduct of L. Valerius Antias commanding him to put the Embassadours in several Vessels and not suffer them to have any Communication one with the other About the same time A. Cornelius Mammula departing from his Province of Sardinia gave an account at Rome of the condition of that Island That all the Inhabitants were inclinable to Sedition and that Q. Mucius his Successor on his first Arrival what with his passage by Sea and the ill Air of the Country was faln into a sickness not so dangerous as tedious and therefore for a long time would not be able to manage the War That the Army there though sufficient to keep the place whilst it remain'd in Peace would be too weak if once they broke out into an open Rebellion which seem'd to be threatned Upon which the Senate decreed That Q. Fulvius Flaccus should levy five thousand Foot and four hundred Horse and with all Expedition transport them into Sardinia under such Commander as he should think fit until such time as Mucius should recover his health The person pitcht upon was T. Manlius Torquatus who had twice been both Consul and Censor and in his Consulship had subdued these very Sardinians Near the same time a Fleet from Carthage Asdrubal the Bald Admiral bound for Sardinia happen'd to be cast by a Tempest on the Balearean Isles whereby their tackling was not only destroy'd but their Hulks so much damag'd that they were forc'd to hale their Ships on shore and spent a great deal of time in resitting them The War in Italy since the Battel at Cannae was slow and languishing the strength of the one party being broken and the spirits of the other effeminated therefore in this dead Vacation the Campanians of their own heads began to contrive how to reduce the State of Cumes to their Obedience first soliciting them to a revolt from the Romans and when they saw that would not take thought to catch them by a stratagem All the Campanians were wont every year to solemnize a certain set Feast and Sacrifice at a place call'd Hannae now they gave notice unto the Cumans that the whole Senate of Capua would resort thither requesting the Senate of Cumes to meet there also to take measures for their common safety and enter into a League Offensive and Defensive withal signifying That they intended to have a Guard of Armed men there to prevent any surprize or danger either from the Romans or Carthaginians The Cumans though they suspected some Treachery yet seem'd very well pleas'd at the Proposal thereby the better to colour their own design The Roman Consul T. Sempronius having took a view of his Forces at Sinuessa where he appointed their Rendezvous passing the River Vulturnus Encamp'd near Liternum where whilst they lay without Action with the Enemy he daily Exercis'd his Men that the raw Souldiers for such for the most part were the Voluntiers and Bondmen that had been listed might learn to know their Ranks and their Postures but the main thing the General aim'd at in these Trainings was to bring them to Love and agree with one another and therefore Order'd the Lieutenant Generals and Colonels That they should not by upbraiding any man with his past Condition occasion discord in the Army but that the old Souldiers should descend and be content to be equaliz'd with the young beginners and these that were Freeborn not think it any disgrace to be Comrades with the Volunteirs that had been Slaves but rather that all should count those to be well descended and noble enough whoever they be whom the people of Rome hath intrusted with their Arms and their Ensigns since the same necessity which had forced them so to do ought to oblige them to make the best on 't now 't was done Nor were these good Documents more diligently preach'd by the Commanders than practiz'd by the Souldiers so that in short time they were all so united in their Affections that they seem'd altogether to have forgot what each mans degree or condition was before he entred into the service and now lookt upon themselves all as Brothers Whilst Gracchus was thus busy in disciplining his Army Messengers from the
fiercely That they would Sacrifice the Blood of the Conspirators to the Ghost of the King But hearing often the sweet sound of their Liberties restored being in hopes a Largess would be bestow'd on them out of the Royal Treasury and that they should have better Commanders and withal amused with prodigious stories of the Tyrants lewd actions and lewder Lusts their minds were so far chang'd that they let the Corpse of their King whom but now they seem'd so fond of to lye unburied Whilst others of the Conspirators staid behind to secure the Army Theodotus and Sosis ride Post to Syracuse on the Kings Horses to surprize the Royalists before they should know any thing of the matter but not only Fame the swiftest thing in the World in such Cases but a Currier one of the Kings Servants was got before them whereupon Andronodorus had set Guards both in the Isle and the Castle and all other advantagious Posts Theodotus and Sosis in the Dusk of the Evening came riding into that Qâ—arter of the City call'd Hexapylum and exposing the Kings bloody Vest and his Crown pass'd through the street Tycha calling out to the people to take Arms and for recovery of their Liberties to Assemble in the Acradine The Rabble some ran out into the streets others stood at their Doors others looking out from the tops of their Houses and Windows inquir'd what the matter was The Town was full of Lights Flambeaus and Clamour Those that had Arms got together in open places and those that wanted pull'd down the Weapons that were hung up in the Temple of Jupiter Olympius taken from the Gauls and Illyrians and bestow'd as a Present on King Hiero by the Romans beseeching Jupiter that he would willingly and propitiously afford his sacred Arms to those that were to use them only for their Country for the Temples of the Gods and their own Liberties This multitude join'd themselves with the Guards placed in the principal places of the City and whereas in the Isles Andronodorus had amongst other things secured the publick Granaries a place enclosed round with four-square stone like a Fortress those that were appointed to keep guard there sent Messengers into the Acradine that themselves and all the Corn there should be at the disposal of the Senate By break of day all the people arm'd and unarm'd were Conven'd in the Acradine before the Altar of Concord there situate where one of the chief men of the City named Polyaenus made a Speech to them free enough and yet temper'd with a discreet moderation as follows Those that have endur'd servitude and suffer'd indignities 't is no wonder if they rise up in fury against the Authors thereof as known Evils but what the mischiefs are which attend civil discords you can only know by hearsay from your Ancestors having not hitherto been so unhappy as to have smarted under them your selves I applaud your Courage in taking up Arms so valiantly but shall more commend you if you will not make use of them till inforc'd thereunto by the last necessity At present my Advice is that we send to Andronodorus requiring him to submit himself to the Senate and People to open the Gates of the Isle and dismiss his Guards and to let him know that if under pretence of securing the Kingdom for another he shall go about to usurp it for himself we are resolv'd much more sharply to vindicate our Liberties against him than against Hieronymus Accordingly Messengers were sent and then the Senate met which as in Hiero's time it was the publick Council of the Kingdom so from the time of his Death till that very day it had scarce ever been convened or consulted with Andronodorus was not a little startled both with the unanimous Consent of the People against him and several parts of the City already seized and especially because the most fortified part of the Isle and of greatest importance was revolted but when the Messengers called him forth his Wife Demarata the Daughter of Hiero retaining still the Spirit of a Princess and the Ambition of a Woman disswaded him putting him often in mind of that common Saying of Dionysius the Tyrant That a man ought to be led leisurely on foot and not gallop on Horse-back when he is to quit his Dignity and be deposed from Power That it was an easie matter for a man when he list to relinquish the possession of a mighty Fortune but to gain such a point was rare and difficult therefore he would do well to require time to consider in a matter of such importance and in the mean time might send for the Souldiers from Leontinum to whom if he would but promise the late Kings Treasure he might rule and order all things at his pleasure These feminine Counsels Andronodorus did neither wholly slight nor for the present follow thinking it more easie to attain his Ends if he gave place a while to the humours of the people therefore he order'd the Messengers to carry back word That he would entirely submit to the Senate and People Accordingly next morning by break of day he caused the Gates of the Isle to be flung open and came into the Market-place of the Acradine and getting up on the Altar of Concord whence Polyneus the day before made his Speech he began an Oration wherein first he excused his not coming sooner telling them That he had hitherto kept the Gates shut not that he meant ever to set up any Interest of his own different from that of the whole City but when once Swords were drawn he was apprehensive where they would hold their hands or when put a stop to Execution and Slaughters Whether they would be satisfied with the Death of the Tyrant which was sufficient for regaining their Liberties or might not in a wild fury knock all those o' th head that were any way related to him by Blood or Affinity or enjoy'd any Office in the Court whereby the innocent might lose their lives for anothers Crimes But since I now perceive that those who have deliver'd their Country are willing also to preserve its Liberty and manage things by publick Council and Advice I no longer doubted to yield up my person and restore to my Country all that I had in Charge since he that committed the same to me is by his own folly and madness brought to destruction Then turning to those that kill'd the late King and calling unto Theodotus and Sosis by name You have done says he a gallant Action and worthy to be recorded but believe me your Glory is yet but begun not perfected and there is yet mighty danger behind unless by consulting the common Peace and Concord you prevent the Commonwealth now it has obtain'd its liberty from falling into licentiousness and unruly insolence With which words he laid the Keys both of the Gates and of the Kings Treasure at their feet and so the multitude was for that day dismiss'd very joyful and
made a scruple of Conscience to do any serious business The Cheat was not yet suspected the meeting is deferr'd by consent and immediately Asdrubal with his Horse and Elephants quitted their Camp and without any noise or opposition escaped and recovered a place of better security About ten a Clock it clear'd up and the Sun breaking out both chac'd away the mist and discovered to the Romans that the Enemy had plaid them a Carthaginian Trick for they saw their Camp empty and forsaken whereupon Claudius vext to be thus bubbled hasten'd after and offer'd them Battel but they were too wise to Engage only some Skirmishes happen'd between their Rear and the Romans Forlorn-Hope and Van-Courriers Amidst these affairs neither those States of Spain who fell off from the Romans upon their late Overthrows made any application to be reconcil'd nor were there any new ones that revolted after the recovery of Capua the Senate and people of Rome were no less careful of Spain than of Italy it self and resolv'd both to re-inforce the Army there and to send over a Governour to command that Province in Chief but who should be the Man was the difficulty for it seem'd to require an extraordinary caution into whose hands they intrusted a place where two most excellent Generals had been both cut off within thirty days space Or to find out one fit to succeed in the room of two such grand Masters in the Art of War Whilst one nominated one and another another the matter at last was referred to the people that they should meet in Common-Hall for creating a Pro-Consul to be sent into Spain The day being appointed it was at first expected That several would have put in for so great a Command but finding their expectations therein frustrated it renew'd the lamentation for the loss received and they began more sensibly than ever to find the want of two such gallant Commanders However the sad Citizens almost at their Wits end and not knowing whom to propose assembled at the time prefixt in Mars's Field where every mans Eye was upon the Magistrates and great men to see how they look'd one upon another and much grumbling and repining there was That the State should be lookt upon as at so low an ebb and in such a forlorn desperate Case that no man durst accept the Government of Spain When on a sudden P. Cornelius the Son of the General of that name that was lately slain in Spain a young Gentleman not full four and twenty years of Age rose up and stepping into an higher place where he might be seen declared That he was ready to take that Charge upon him The whole Assembly presently had their Eyes fixt upon him and with a general Shout wisht him an happy Government being required to give their Suffrages not only all the Centuries voted for him but there was not so much as one man found that did not give his Voice to have him go General into Spain Yet after the Choice was pass'd and the first heat of their minds somewhat cool'd they began silently to reflect what an odd unpresidented thing they had done guided by Affection rather than Reason or a due Consideration of his unripe years which most of all made them repent their Election though some also dreaded the ill fortune of his Family and lookt upon it as ominous for him to be sent into the same Province which was already died with the Blood of two of the same Name and where he must fight over the Tombs of his Father and his Uncle Scipio perceived this trouble of their minds by the change of their Countenances soon after the Choice and therefore causing them to be again assembled made an Oration wherein he discours'd both of his own Youth and of the Government committed unto him and the future War he was to mannage with such a grandeur of Spirit and solidity of Judgment that he re-kindled in every Breast the former zeal they had for him and sill'd them with more assured hopes than the credit of other mens promises or the confidence of former atchievements are wont usually to create For the truth is This Scipio was not only a man rare and wonderful for those many noble Vertues and accomplishments which were really inherent in him but from his youth he had by artificial means endeavour'd to set off those good Qualities making shew before the multitude as if most things he did were either represented to him in nocturnal Visions or immediately suggested to his mind by divine inspiration whether it were that he himself was tainted with Superstition and fansied those Enthusiasms or that he politickly pretended it to accomplish the more easily his designs and have all his Orders as readily obey'd as if they were Oracles 'T is certain he had from the very beginning prepared mens minds to have extraordinary conceits of him for from the time that he put on his Toga Virilis a Garment assum'd by young-men when they came to the Age of discretion there was not a day pass'd over his head but before he undertook any private or publick affair he retired into the Capitol and when he was entred into the Temple sat him down in a close Isle or Corner and spent some time in Contemplation alone by himself This Custom which he observ'd all his Life long whether by chance or out of design made many people believe that to be a real truth which was vulgarly reported of him That he was a person of a Divine Descent and renew'd a like report of him as formerly had been spread of Alexander the Great and one altogether as true as t'other That he was begot by a mighty Serpent such a prodigious shape having frequently been seen in his Mothers Bed Chamber but upon any Bodies coming in it would scuttle away and disappear Nor would he ever disavow these Miracles but seem'd rather to incourage the belief of them by neither denying nor openly affirming them Many other devices of like sort some true some counterfeit had conciliated him a wonderful esteem amongst the Mobile and upon those strong presumptions the City was easily induced to commit so great a Government and the Conduct of the most important affairs to his management though his years and experience seem'd altogether disproportionate To the old Army in Spain and those Forces which Cl. Nero had lately transported thither from Puteoli there were added ten thousand Foot and a thousand Horse and M. Junius Silanus the Pro Praetor was order'd to go along with him as his Adjutant General So with a Fleet of thirty Sail all of five Banks of Oars a-piece he set Sail from the mouth of Tiber and coasting along the Tuscan Sea under the Alps and through the Gulph of Lyons doubled the point of Pyrene and landed at Emporiae a City of Greeks for the Inhabitants were descended from Phocaea Thence ordering his Ships to Coast about after him he march'd by land to Tarracon appointing there
and C. Laelius being come in the night-time to Hippo Regius a great City led his Seamen and Allies at break of day in Battalia to spoil the Country By which means there was a great devastation brought upon all places the people as those that live in peace being negligent of theirs affairs Thereupon immediately certain Messengers themselves in a consternation filled Carthage with a mighty dread That the Roman Navy and General Scipio for there was a report that he was long come over into Sicily was arrived Wherefore not knowing well how many Ships they had seen nor how great the number of Soldiers was that pillaged the Country they heard every thing with such concern that their fear much increased the real calamity Hence terror and amazement first and after that sorrow possessed their minds That Fortune should so far change upon them that they who so lately had a victorious Army before the Walls of Rome conquer'd so many Armies of the Enemy and receiv'd all the Nations of Italy either through force of free-will by way of Surrender should now quite contrary be in danger to see all Africa ravaged and Carthage besieged That they had not such strength to bear those things as the Romans had for the Roman common people and all Latium afford them youth enough still greater and more numerous that grew up in the room of those many Armies which were slain whilst that people were not only weak in the City but in the Country too so that they were fain to hire Auxiliaries from among the Africans a Nation very fickle and treacherous whenever there was any hopes of greater gain That now also the Kings since Scipio and Syphax had had an interview were fallen off Syphax by Scipio 's perswasions and Masinissa grown a mortal Enemy by the same means in an open Revolt Wherefore there was no hope left nor any assistance to be got Besides that Mago out of Gaul made no great stirs nor joyn'd Annibal who himself was now grown old both in his fame and strength But though this News at first so much dejected their spirits the urgent dread again reviv'd them and put them upon a consultation how they should obviate the present dangers Thereupon they presently order'd a Levy to be made both in the City and Country sent to hire African Auxiliaries fortified their City got a stock of Corn together provided Weapons and Arms fitted out Ships to send to Hippo against the Roman Navy As they were in the midst of this hurry at last a Messenger came That Laelius not Scipio was come over with no more Forces than were sufficient to plunder the Country but that the stress of the War was still in Sicily Then they took breath a while and sent Ambassadors to Syphax and other petty Kings to strengthen their Alliance They likewise sent Men to Philip with a promise of two hundred Talents of Silver if he would come over into Sicily or Italy and also to their own Generals in Italy to keep Scipio off with all the terror they could To Mago likewise they dispatch'd not only Ambassadors but 25 long Ships 6000 Foot 800 Horse seven Elephants and a great deal of Money to hire Auxiliaries in the strength whereof he might approach more near to Rome and joyn Annibal This they contrived and did at Carthage whilst Masinissa rouzed by the fame of a Roman Navy came with a few Horsmen to Laelius who was driving great store of Booty out of the Country it being unarm'd and void of all defence To whom he complain'd that Scipio was too dilatory in his business in that he had not brought over his Army into Africa at that very time when the Carthaginians were under such a consternation and Syphax embarass'd with Wars against his neighbouring Countries who he knew very certainly if he had leisure to compose his affairs according to his mind would do nothing with any sincerity for the Romans He therefore desired Laelius that he would advise and excite Scipio not to tarry any longer and told him that he would be ready though he were beaten out of his Kingdom with no contemptible Force both of Horse and Foot Nor would he have Laelius to stay in Africa for he believ'd there was a Navy already set out from Carthage with whom in Scipio 's absence it would not be safe for him to engage Masinissa having made this Speech was dismissed and Laelius the next day set sail from Hippo with his Ships all full of Plunder and going back into Sicily told Scipio what Masinissa said At the same time the Ships that were sent from Carthage to Mago arrived on the Coast of Liguria where the People called Albingauni dwell and came to Genua On which Coasts it happen'd that Mago at that time had a Navy who hearing what the Ambassadors said to wit That he must raise as big an Army as he possibly could immediately called a Council of the Gauls and Ligurians for there was a mighty multitude of both those Nations in that part of the Country and told them That he was sent to redeem them from slavery which that they might be sure of there were Auxiliaries sent him from home but it was in their power to say with what force and how great an Army that War should be carried on That there were two Roman Armies the one in Gallia and the other in Etruria and he knew well enough that Sp. Lucretius would joyn with M. Livius Wherefore that they also ought to arm a great many thousands that under the Command of two Generals proportionable resistance might be made against those two Roman Armies To which the Gauls made answer That they were very willing so to do but said that since the Romans had one Camp within their Confines and another in the adjacent Country of Etruria if it were discover'd that the Carthaginian were assisted by them the plundering Armies would presently make incursions on both sides into their Territories Wherefore they desired him that he would ask such supplies of the Gauls as he might be privately furnish'd with But the Ligurians being that the Roman Camp was a great way distant from their Country and Cities were free to do any thing so that they ought in justice to arm their Youth and bear a share in the War The Ligurians did not refuse the Proposal only they desir'd two months time to make their Levies In the mean time Mago having dismissed the Gauls sent privately and hired Soldiers all over their Dominions having Provisions of all sorts secretly convey'd to him from the Gallick Nations Then M. Livius brought over the Army of Volunteers out of Etruria into Gallia and having joyn'd Lucretius put himself in a readiness to meet Mago if he should offer to move out of Liguria any nearer to the City But if the Carthaginian lay still under that corner of the Alpes he himself likewise resolv'd to keep the same Post about Ariminum and be a Guard to
full of Soldiers and therefore hasted by great marches to Zama Zama is five days journey from Carthage from whence the Spies that he sent before being taken by the Roman Guards and brought to Scipio he committed them to the Tribunes of the Soldiers and bade them without any fear to visit all parts of the Camp ordering them to be carried which way they would And then having asked them Whether they had seen as much as they thought necessary he order'd some Men of his to be their Convoy and sent them back to Annibal Annibal was not well pleased to hear any thing that they told him for they said among other things that Masinissa also chanced to come that very day with 6000 Foot and 4000 Horse but was most dismay'd at the confidence of his Enemy which he thought was not built upon an ill foundation Wherefore though he himself were the cause of that War and that by his coming he had broken the Truce and frustrated the hopes of their mutual Leagues yet supposing that he might obtain an easier Peace if he desired it whilst his Army was still entire than when it was conquered he sent a Messenger to Scipio to desire the favour of a Parley Whether he did so of his own accord or by publick advice I cannot positively say But Valerius Antias says That he was overcome in the first Battle by Scipio in which there were 12000 Soldiers slain upon the place 1700 taken and that the former Ambassadors with ten more came into the Camp to Scipio Who not refusing to come to a Parley both the Generals by consent advanced their Camps that they might meet at a nearer distance Scipio sate down not far from the City of Nadagara that being a place convenient as upon other accounts so also for that they could have water within a Darts cast of it Annibal posted himself upon an Hill 4000 paces from thence which was safe and otherwise very convenient save only that their watering place was a great way off And in the midst between them both there was a Plain that they might look all over and see that there were no Ambuscades laid They therefore leaving their Arms at an equal distance behind them came together with each of them an Interpreter being not only the two greatest Generals of their time but equal to any King or Commander that ever was heard of in any Country For some small time they gazed upon each other and silently stood almost astonished with mutual admiration till Annibal first began Since the Fates have so decreed That I who first made War upon the Roman People and who so often had Victory even in my hands should come of my own accord to desire a Peace I am glad that I have happen'd to meet with you above all men living to beg it of Nor will it be amidst all their glories the least of their commendations that Annibal to whom the Gods had given the Victory over so many Roman Generals should yield to you and that you should put an end to this War which was more remarkable for yours than for our misadventures My Case presents you also with this strange turn of Fortune that I who took up Arms when your Father was Consul and fought a set Battle with him as Roman General should now come to his Son unarmed to sue for Peace It had indeed been best for our Forefathers if the Gods had given them such minds as that you might have been content with Italy and we with Africa for Sicily and Sardinia do not make even you amends for so many Navies so many Armies and so many brave Generals as you have lost But what is past may more easily be reprehended than amended We have so far desired other peoples possessions that we have fought for our own nor was there only a War upon you in Italy and upon us in Africa but you also have seen almost at your very Gates and upon your Walls the Ensigns and Arms of your Enemies and we from Carthage it self have heard the noise of a Roman Camp What therefore we should most abominate and you above all things wish we come to treat of Peace whilst you are in prosperity and we who are concerned in the Treaty are such sort of persons not only whose greatest interest it is to have a Peace but also to whom whatsoever we do our Cities will ratifie and confirm We only want a mind that does not abhor the thoughts of quiet For my part my age has now instructed me who am going an old Fellow into the Country whence I came a meer Boy nor only age but prosperity and adversity both have so far taught me that I had rather follow Reason than Fortune But I fear thy youth and perpetual felicity are too unruly both to endure the advice of quiet thoughts For he does not easily consider the dubious events of Fortune whom she hath never deceived What I was at Thrasymenum and at Cannae that you are now Fortune has never failed you though you were hardly old enough to bear Arms when you were first put into Commission for you attempted all things with the greatest audacity imaginable You revenged your Fathers and your Vncles death and from the misfortune of your Family receivedst signal renown for thy Courage and Piety you have recovered the two Spains that were lost and driven out four Punick Armies thence Then being created Consul when others had not courage enough to defend Italy you went over into Africa and having here slain two Armies and at the same time taken and burnt two Camps taken Syphax a most puissant King Prisoner with so many Cities belonging both to him and us hast drawn me also who have staid there now full sixteen years out of Italy Your mind may well desire Victory rather than Peace I know you have a great rather than an useful Spirit and Fortune favour'd me too once as she now does you But if in our prosperity the Gods would infuse into us good thoughts we should consider not only what had but what might happen But that you may forget all others I am a sufficient example for you in all cases For I who lately having pitch'd my Camp between the River Anien and the City you saw just ready to scale the Walls of Rome am now before you bereft of two stout Men that were my Brothers and famous Generals near the Walls of my almost besieged Country to deprecate those things for the sake of mine own wherewith I terrified your City A man should always give least credit to the greatest Fortune Now you are prosperous and we in doubtful circumstances you look upon Peace to be great and specious in you who grant it but in us who desire it it seems rather necessary than honourable Yet let me tell you a certain Peace is better and more safe than a Victory we only hope for The former is in their disposal but the latter in the power