signified nothing for Stratocles who was always wickedly ingenious proposed as an Expedient that the Month of March then currant should by Edict be taken and reputed to be the Month of November which being as soon agreed as offered and Demetrius thereby admitted to the lesser Ceremonies by another Vote they turned the same Month of March into the Month of August by which contrivance Demetrius was also gratified with being an Actor in the Greater and admitted to the most secret Mysteries of that Solemnity which gave the Comoedian Philipides an occasion to exercise his Wit upon Stratocles in this Couplet Prodigious Skill how strangely Flatt'ring Fear Into one Month hath crowded all the Tear And upon his having proposed that Demetrius should lodge in the Temple of Minerva within the Castle these Stratocles thinks it is no sin To turn a Temple to an Inn Or with lewd wanton Company To bless Minerva's Chastity Most certain it is that the flagitious Crimes which were then committed deserved a severe Satyr And Demetrius himself did in some measure scourge their mad Impiety by his unbounded Insolencies but that which did above all other things regret the Athenians was That having given Command that they should with all expedition raise for his Service two hundred and fifty Talents and they to comply with his Demands being forced to levy it upon the People with the severity of taking Distresses when they presented him with the Money which they had with such difficulty raised as if it were a trifling Sum he commanded it to be given to Lamia and the rest of his Women to buy them perfumed Wash-Balls for their Baths by which kind of Treatment it is a question whether the Shame or the Loss the manner of his contemptuous Expression or the parting with their Money was the more galling Affliction to these foolish People tho' the Story is variously reported and some affirm it was the Thessalians and not the Athenians who were thus treated by him But however this is most certain that Lamia squeezed considerable Sums of Money from them upon pretence of making a great Entertainment for him and in truth the Supper was of that Magnificence and Plenty and managed with so much Skill and pleasing Variety that Lynceus of Samos who was present at it thought it worth his pains to write a Description of it Upon this occasion one of the Comical Wits of the Town gave Lamia the Name of Helepolis saying She alone was an Engine sufficient without the other to destroy a City And Demochares of Solis gave Demetrius the Appellation of Mythos which signifies a Tale or Fable because said he There is never a Tale but has its Witch or Lamia at the end on 't and Demetrius has his Lamia too In short he was bewitched with this Woman to that degree as for her sake not only to draw upon himself the Envy Jealousie of all his Wives but the Hatred even of the best of his Friends as appears by this instance Lysimachus shewing to the Ambassadors of Demetrius the Scars of those Wounds which he had received upon his Thighs and Arms by the Paws of the Lion with which Alexander in one of his furious Humours had obliged him to combat they smiling replied That the King their Master was not without his Scars but could shew upon his Neck the Marks of a Lamia a no less daugerous and furious Beast than that wiâ—h which he had encountered And if she was not a real Enchantress it is very odd and unaccountable that Demetrius should shew so great an aversion to marry Philla by reason of the disproportion of her Age when yet he was so passionate of Lamia who was so far past the Meridian of her Years as to stand in need of other Charms besides those of Youth and Beauty she had indeed a delicate Voice and most admirable Touch upon the Lute with which Demetrius extremely delighted and one Evening after she had entertained him with that soft Musick all the time he was at Supper he demanded of Dema whom for her blunt way of speaking any thing to him they usually called Mad Dema What say you Dema How seems she to you now Truly Sir replied Dema she seems to me to be an old Woman And Demetrius who was resolved to pursue the Humour looking very pleasantly But Dema said he Do you see these delicate Fruits and what an agreeable Repast she had provided for me this night At which Dema laughing heartily Very pleasant in troth said she I 'll undertake if you will lie with my Grandam she shall treat you far better than this comes to It is also reported of this Lamia how she opposed the famous Sentence of Bocchoris the Egyptian Judge on this manner A certain young Spark being wonderfully smitten with the Charms of a celebrated Curtesan whose Name was Thonis the insatiable Prostitute thinking to make advantage of his Lascivious Folly promised she would be at his Service but withal demanded so great a Sum as he either was not able or at least thought too great a price to purchase the Repentance of parting with it for one Night's Lodging But it seems his Imagination which was sharp set upon what he had treated of in the Day presented him with the possession of her in a Dream and the Shadow being much cheaper and possibly wholesomer than the Substance he was contented to have the Thonis of his own Fancy and his Money too But the confident Woman having heard the Story with the Effrontery of those unblushing Brutes commences a Suit against him and lays her Action for so much Money as she had demanded of him alledging it was but just that she should have satisfaction since he confest he had had his Bargain Bocchoris who thought it the greatest Justice to put an Affront upon such Confidence advised the Youth to bring into the Court so much Money as she had demanded and to count it over so as Thonis might hear the Noise which being done accordingly Mistress said Bocchoris you may go about your Business if you please for you are paid in your own Coin one Fancy being as good as another But Lamia who it seems would turn Advocate for one of her own Profession moved in Arrest of Judgment That the Sentence was no way equal in regard that the desire which Thonis had to finger the Money was in no sort satisfied by hearing it chink but rather increased whereas on the contrary the Youth was abundantly satisfied with the enjoyment of Thanis in the Entertainment of his amorous Imaginations But this is sufficient to have related concerning Lamia we must how return to Demetrius whose Fortune beginning to bend her Brows will conduct us from the Comical to the more Tragical Occurrences and darker Scenes of his following Life For now all these Kings whom he had disobliged or who were jealous of his growing Ambition and formidable Power entred into a strong Confederacy against him and his
bright and glorious yet it was overshadowed by Caesar's and advised him to keep himself far distant from that young Man for your Genius said he dreads his When absent from him yours is proud and brave but in his presence unmanly and dejected and the event did shew that the Aegyptian spoke truth for whensoever they play'd by drawing lots or at dice Antony was still the loser and as they often fought game Cocks or Quails Caesar's always had the Victory This gave Antony a sensible displeasure and made him put great confidence in the skill of his Aegyptian Astrologer so that having quitted the management of the home affairs to Caesar he left Italy and took Octavia along with him into Greece who had been lately brought to bed of a Daughter Whilst he winter'd in Athens he receiv'd the joyful news of Ventidius his Victory over the Carthians of Labienus and Charnapates the General of King Herod's Army being both slain for the celebrating of which he order'd a publick feast through Greece and at the prizes which were fought at Athens he himself chose to be Moderator and leaving at home the Ensigns that are carried before the General he made his procession in a long Gown and Slippers with the wands marching before which are usual in those solemnities and he performed his duty in parting the combatants when they had fought enough When he was upon marching his Army he made him a garland of the Olive Tree consecrated to Minerva and in obedience to some Oracle he fill'd a Vessel with the water of the Clepsidra to carry along with him Pacorus the Parthian Kings Son at this time made an inrode into Syria and was met by Ventidius who gave him Battel in the Country of Cyrrestica slew most of his Men and Pacorus among the rest This Victory gave great reputation to the Romans and redeem'd their honour which had suffer'd much ever since the defeat of Crassus the Parthians being oblig'd after the loss of three Battels successively to keep themselves within the bounds of Media and Mesopotamia Ventidius not being willing to push his good Fortune any further for fear of raising some jealousie in Antony but turning his Arms against them that had quitted the Roman interest he reduc'd them to their former obedience Among the rest he besieged Antiochus King of Commogena who made an offer of a thousand talents for his pardon and a promise to continue in a strict compliance to all Antony's commands but Ventidius told him that Antony was upon his march and that he must send his proposals to him for that he had no power to treat with him to the end that this small affair might be transacted in Antony's name that People might not think that he did nothing but by his Lieutenants The Siege grew very tedious for when they perceived that they could not make any reasonable composition they resolved to hold it out to the utmost extremity so that Antony was in great confusion to see how little he had done and repented himself that he had not accepted the first offer in the conclusion he was easily induc'd to make an accommodation with Antiochus for three hundred Talents and having given some orders for the affairs of Syria he return'd to Athens And having done Ventidius the honours he well deserved he dismiss'd him to receive his Triumph he was the only Man that ever triumphed for Victories obtained o'er the Parthians A Man of obscure Birth but by the means of Antony's friendship obtain'd an opportunity of shewing himself and doing great things and his making so good use of it gave great credit to an observation made by Caesar that Antony was much more successful in his Arms by his Lieutenants than in his own Person for Sossius Antony's Lieutenant in Syria had done miracles And Ventidius whom he left in Armenia had quieted all that Country and defeating the Kings of Albania and Ibeâ—ia had march'd victorious to the Mountains of Caucasus by which means the same of Antony's arms was grown very terrible to the barbarous Nations Antony was much incens'd against Caesar by reason of several reports that were made him of his unkindness so that he set sail with three hundred Ships for Italy and being refused harbour in the Port of Brundusium he made for Tarentum there his Wife Octavia that came from Greece with him obtain'd leave to visit her Brother she was then big of her third Child as she was on her way to Rome she met Octavius by the way his two great Friends Mecaenas and Agrippa in his company she took them aside and with great impressment told them that of the most fortunate Woman upon Earth she was in evident danger of becoming the most miserable Creature breathing that every ones eyes were fix'd upon her as the Wife and Sister of the two Men that did divide the whole World between them but that if rash counsels should prevail and war ensue I shall be miserable said she without redress for on what side soever Victory falls I shall be sure to be a loser Caesar was softened by the entreaties of his Sister so that he march'd in a peaceful manner to Tarentum They that were present at this Enterview were strangely delighted to see so great an Army drawn up by the Shore and so great a Fleet in the Harbour without doing any act of hostility nothing but kind Salutations and other expressions of joy and friendship passing from one Army to th' other Antony invited Caesar first to supper which he accepted of in consideration of Octavia At length an agreement was made between them that Caesar should give Antony two of his Legions to serve him in the Parthian War and that Antony should in return leave with him an hundred arm'd Galleys And Octavia did obtain of her Husband besides this twenty light Ships for her Brother And of her Brother a thousand Foot for her Husband So having parted very good friends Caesar went immediately to make War with Pompey to conquer Sicily And Antony leaving with him his Wife and Children and his Children by his former Wife Fulvia set sail for Asia Then it was that the worst of infectious diseases Love and the Love of Cleopatra which had lain quiet in his breast so long and seem'd to have given place to the temperate duties of Life upon his approach to Syria gathered strength again and broke out into a flame and unbridled Lust which Plato calls the horse of the Soul that has flung his Rider broke loose in defiance of all wholesom and serious Counsel He sends Fonteius Capito to conduct Cleopatra into Syria to whom at her arrival he made no small present for besides what he had given her he added the Provinces of Phoenicia the Lower Syria Cyprus great part of Cilicia and that side of Judea which produces the true Balm that part of Arabia where the Nabathaeans are by the Sea-side these profuse gifts did much displease the Romans for
Eubaeans the Achaians the Corinthians the Magarians the Leucadians and Corcyraeans their People and their Cities were all joyn'd together in a League But the hardest task was yet behind left for Demosthenes to draw the Thebans into this Confederacy with the rest Their Country border'd next upon Attica they had great Forces for the War and at that time they were accounted the best Soldiers of all Greece but it was no easie matter to make them break with Philip who by many good Offices had so lately obliged them in the Phocian War especially considering the quarrels and disputes between these two Cities occasion'd from the nearness of their Frontiers and by frequent light skirmishes on both sides dayly renewed and exasperated But after Philip being now grown high and puffed up with his good success at Amphissa had on a sudden surprized Elataea and possessed himself of Phocis the Athenians were under a great consternation none durst venture up into the Pulpit or knew what to say all were at a loss and the whole Assembly in deep silence and great perplexity In this extremity of affairs Demosthenes was the only Man who appear'd advising to apply themselves to the Thebans and having otherways encouraged the People and as his manner was raised their spirits up with hopes he with some others was sent Embassador to Thebes To oppose him as Marsias says Philip also sent thither his Embassadors Amyntas and Clearchus two Macedonians besides Daochus Thesialus and Thrasydaeus Now upon consultation the Thebans were well enough aware what suited best with their own interest but every one had before his Eyes the dreadful Calamities of War and the wounds they lately received at Phocis were remaining yet green and fresh upon them But such was the force and power of our Orator as Theopompus tells us that enkindling their minds and inslaming them with a desire of Glory he took away their sight and cast a mist before all other considerations so that without farther deliberation or any regard had to the obligations which lay upon them they cast away all fear like Men possess'd and by his Eloquence inspired with worthy and honourable resolutions This so famous an enterprize accomplished by an Orator was thought to be of such great consequence that Philip immediately sent Heralds to treat and desire a Peace All Greece was unanimously up in Arms. The Commanders in chief not only of Attica but of Baeotia applied themselves to Demosthenes and observ'd his directions He managed all the Assemblies as well those of the Thebans as those of the Athenians He was beloved both by the one and by the other and had the same Authority with both Neither was all this respect shewed him without good cause for as Theopompus has declar'd it was no more than was decent and due to his merit But there was it should seem some fatal destiny in the revolution of these Affairs which having determin'd to put a period at this time to the Liberty of Greece oppos'd and thwarted all their actions and by many signs foretold what should happen Such were the dreadful Predictions uttered by the Pythian Priestess and this Old Oracle cited out of the Sibylls The Battel fought at Thermodon let me An Eagle in the Air at distance see Where they that vanquish'd are shall mourn and he Who Conquers scarce survive his Victory This Thermodon they say was a little River with us in Cheronea which emptied it self into Cephisus But we know none of that name at this time only we conjecture that which is now call'd Haemon and runs by the Temple of Hercules where the Grecians were incamped might perhaps in those days be called Thermodon and aster the fight being filled with Blood and dead Bodies upon this occasion as we guess might change its old name for that which it now bears Yet Duris says that this Thermodon was no River but that some of the Soldiers as they were pitching their Tents and digging Trenches about them found a small Marble Statue which by the Inscription appear'd to be the Figure of Thermodon carrying a wounded Amazon in his arms Concerning this Battel there was also another Oracle alledged Stay Ravens and expect the Fight at Thermodon There will be Carkasses good store to feed upon In fine it is not easie to determine what there is of Truth in these reports But of Demosthenes 't is said that he had so great confidence in the Grecian Forces and seeing the courage and resolution of so many brave Men ready to engage the Enemy grew so high and lofty that he would by no means endure they should give any heed to Oracles or hearken to Prophesies but gave out that he suspected even the Prophetess her self as if she had been tamper'd with to speak in favour of Philip. The Thebans he put in mind of Epaminondas the Athenians of Pericles who always took their own measures and govern'd their Actions by reason looking upon such Fopperies as a pretence only for cowardise Thus far therefore Demosthenes acquitted himself like a Man of Honour But in the Fight when it came to blows he did nothing honourable nor were his performances any way answerable to his speeches For deserting his Post and throwing down his Arms he run away most shamefully not at all concern'd as 't is well said by Pytheas for the Inscription which was written on his Shield in Letters of Gold With good Fortune In the mean time Philip soon after the Victory was so transported with joy that having drank to excess he grew extravagant and insulted over the dead so that stamping and dancing and raising his Voice to the measures of his feet he sung the first words of Demosthenes his Decree Thus spoke Demosthenes the Son of Demosthenes of the Paeanean Tribe But when he came to himself and had well considered the dangerous circumstances he was lately under he was struck with horror reflecting upon the strength and mighty power of such an Orator who had enforced him within the compass of a few hours to run the hazard both of his Life and Empire His Fame also reached even to the Court of Persia and the King sent Letters to his Lieutenants commanding them to feed Demosthenes with Money and to make their chief application to him as the only Man of all the Grecians who was best able to give Philip a diversion and to imploy his Forces nearer home in the troubles of Greece This afterwards came to the knowledge of Alexander by certain Letters of Demosthenes which he found at Sardis and by other Papers of the Persian Officers expressing the vast Summs which had been given him At this time upon the ill success which now happen'd to the Grecians those of the contrary Faction in the Commonwealth fall foul upon Demosthenes who took this opportunity to frame several Informations and Indictments against him But the People not only acquitted him of these Accusations but continued towards him their former
Body Clodius putting the stress of his defence upon this point that he was not then at Rome but a far off in the Country Cicero testify'd that he came to his house that day and discoursed with him of several matters which thing was indeed true although Cicero was thought to testifie it not so much for the truths sake as to preserve his quiet with Terentia his Wife for she had a spite at Clodius upon the account of his Sister Clodia who had a mind to marry Cicero and manag'd the design by one Tullus a Friend and intimate of Cicero's in his greatest affairs And Cicero himself by frequently visiting and paying his Court to Clodia as a Neighbour had given Terentia ground to suspect him And she being a Woman of a sowre humour and having the ascendant of Cicero had provoked him to conspire and testifie against Clodius Afterwards many good and honest Citizens did give evidence against him for perjuries forgeries bribing the People and deflowering of Women Lucullus proved by his Maid-servants that he had lain with his youngest Sister when she was his Wife and there was a publick Fame that he did also converse with his two other Sisters in the same way Terentia whom Martius Rex and Clodia whom Metellus Celer had married the latter of them was called Quadrantula because one of her Lovers had deceived her with a purse of small brass money instead of Silver the smallest brass coyn being called a Quadrant Upon this Sisters account Clodius was principally defamed Notwithstanding all this when the common People appear'd in Tumults against the accusers and prosecutors of Clodius the Judges were so affrighted that a guard was placed about them for their defence tho the names were confusedly written upon the Tables yet it was evident that the greatest number did absolve him and it was said there was bribery in the Case and therefore Catulus meeting the Judges told them You did well in requiring a guard for your safety for fear your money should have been taken from you and when Clodius upbraided Cicero that the Judges did not believe his Testimony Yes said he five and twenty of them believ'd me for so many of them have condemned you but the other thirty did not believe you for they did not absolve you till they had receiv'd your Money But Caesar tho cited did not give his Testimony against Clodius nor pretended to be convinced of his Wife's Adultery but that he had put her away because it was fit that Caesar's Bed should not be only free of the evil fact but of the Fame too Clodius having escaped this danger and got to be chosen one of the Tribunes of the People immediately attack'd Cicero heaping up all matters and inciting all Persons against him the common People he wheedled with popular laws to each of the Consuls he decreed large Provinces to Piso Macedonia and to Galinius Syria He muster'd together a rabble of indigent Persons to serve his design and had always armed Slaves about him of the three Men then in greatest power Crassus was Cicero's open Enemy Pompey indifferently caressed both Caesar was going with an Army into Gallia Cicero applies himself to him th none of his firm Friends having had a suspicion of him ever since the conspiracy of Catiline of him he desires the Honour of being his Lieutenant General in that Province Caesar accepting him Clodius perceived that Cicero fled his tribunitian Authority and therefore pretends to be inclinable to a reconcilement lays the greatest fault upon Terentia makes always a favourable mention of him and treats him with kind expressions as one who had neither hatred nor ill will towards him and thus expostulating the matter moderately and friendly he so freed Cicero of all his fears that he resigned his Lieutenancy to Caesar and betook himself again to political affairs At which Caesar being exasperated he confirmed Clodius against him and wholly alienated Pompey from him he also himself declared in a publick assembly of the People that he did not think Lentulus and Cethegus with their accomplices were well and legally put to death without being brought to Tryal And this indeed was the crime charged upon him of which Cicero standing accused and prosecuted he changed his habit and in a sordid and untrimmed dress went about and supplicated the People but Clodius always met him in every corner having a pack of abusive and daring fellows about him who with insolence publickly derided his dress and change of habit and would often by throwing dirt and stones at him interrupt his supplications to the People Altho at first almost the whole Equestrian order changed their habits with him and no less than twenty thousand young Gentlemen followed him untrimm'd and supplicating with him to the People on his behalf Afterwards the Senate met to pass a decree that the People should change their habit as in time of publick sorrow But the Consuls opposing it and Clodius with armed Men besetting the Senate-house many of the Senators ran out shrieking and tearing their Cloaths but this sight moved neither shame nor pity in them for Cicero must either fly or determine it by the Sword with Clodius He intreated Pompey to aid him who was on purpose gone out of the way and resided at his Country-house near Albania and first he sent his Son-in-Law Piso to intercede with him but afterwards went himself of which Pompey being informed he durst not stay to see him for he had a great reverence for that Man who had contended in so many quarrels for him and had directed so much of his policy for his advantage but being Caesar's Son-in-Law at his instance he set aside all former kindness received from Cicero and slipping out at another door avoided his intercession Thus being forsaken by Pompey and left alone to himself he fled to the Consuls Gabinius was always surly to him but Piso treated him more civilly desiring him to yield and give place for a while to the fury of Clodius and to expect the change of times and to be once more a Saviour to his Country from those commotions and dangers which were raised upon his account Cicero receiving this answer consulted with his Friends Lacullus advised him to stay as being sure to prevail at last others to fly because the People would soon desire him again when they should have enough of the rage and madness of Clodius This last Cicero approv'd But first he took the Statue of Minerva which had been long set up in his house and worship'd with singular devotion and carrying it to the Capitol there dedicated it with this inscription MINERVAE VRBIS ROMAE PRAESIDI To Minerva the Patroness of Rome And receiving a safe convoy from his Friends about the middle of the night he left the City and went on foot through Lucania intending to reach Sicily But as soon as it was publickly known that he was fled Clodius procured of the People a decree of