had worn Arms contrary to the Law in that case provided So that every body according to their own inclination gave their particular account of this business But all disputes of that nature were quickly ended by the fate of Vettius who died in Prison and being one of but obscure condition there was no body who took very great pains to enquire how he came by his end The management of Cicero in all this business began to render him very much suspected to the Triumvirate and he had lost his reputation with them utterly by a discourse which he made against Caesar in pleading for Caius Antonius who had been his Collegue in the Consulship Caesar thought it not by any means worth his while to contend with Cicero in ill Language and Railing and therefore took another way to revenge himself and the very same day wrought the People to give their consent for the Adoption of Clodius This man who laboured by all means imaginable for the ruine of Cicero aspired as was said before to the charge of the Tribuneship and to take away the objection against that pretence of his being of the Family of the Patricians had procured himself to be Adopted by a man among the People called Flavius Now it was necessary that the People should confirm this Adoption by their Approbation and this was brought to pass wholly by the Authority of Caesar. Cicero was too-sharp sighted not to discern easily whither this matter tended but was sufficiently convinced when he saw Clodius made Tribune of the People He appealed for Protection to the Senate and laboured underhand among the order of Knights with whom he was in very great esteem in regard that he had once fallen out with Cato himself for the supporting of the Farmers in their Rights of the Common-wealth who were almost all of them belonging to that order But his strongest hope was in the Friendship of Pompey with whom he had always preserved a very strict Alliance But Pompey had already sacrificed every thing of that kind to the inclinations of Caesar and Crassus whom Cicero had mortally offended by that eternal itch which he had to be jeasting Pompey assured him nevertheless of his Protection and Caesar offered to make him his Lieutenant General 't is true he had a very good stomach to that employment But Pompey advised him not to leave Rome and Clodius found too a device now to delude him with false hopes of Reconcilement by the means of his Sister whom some of Cicero's Friends entirely governed to the end that he might be confounded and born down e'er he could think of any measures for his defence In short all the world conspired to deceive him the piercing judgment and delicacy of Apprehension upon which he was wont so much to value himself became absolutely unserviceable upon this occasion and he knew not what was contrived against him till it was too late and impossible to avoid it Clodius by the distributions of Corn which he made of his own free gift among the Poor began to get ground in the good Opinion of the People and afterwards forbad the Censors to set the mark of Infamy upon any man without the consent of the Senatours and Roman Knights At last which was the principal movement of all he proposed the Law for enquiring into all such as had caused any Roman Citizen to be put to death without having time given him to make his defence And now every one began to see the danger which threatned Cicero all his wonted constancy forsook him and he went up and down the City soliciting his Cause from House to House in a mourning Robe with his Beard grown long and his hair unregarded attended by Roman Knights to the number of twenty thousand all bearing him company and beseeching in his behalf Besides a great many young men of Noble Families who had learnt of him the rules of Eloquence and amongst the rest the very Sons of Crassus But Clodius followed by a number of armed Souldiers insulted over him and reproached him with the meanness of his behaviour till it almost came to the throwing of stones and dirt at each other But the respect which was always had to the Office of Tribunes their Persons being held as Sacred hindred any of Cicero's side from returning the injuries that were offered yet nevertheless the Senatours were of Opinion to order a general habit of mourning but Piso and Gabinius who were Consuls hindered the debate from coming to any conclusion and Clodius summoning them to appear before the People all that Piso said was That he took no delight in Cruelty but Gabinius condemned the Consulship of Cicero His onely retreat now was to the favour of Pompey who was indeed able to have done him good service as well by the Alliance he had with Clodius as also by his Authority with Gabinius who depended absolutely upon him But Pompey would have nothing to doe in the matter and when Cicero came to prefer his Cause to him made his escape by a back door to avoid seeing of him He found himself now reduced to the last necessity of taking up Arms for the defence of his life which he might easily have done and would have found a great many followers But War was not his Province or as he said himself Not being able to bear the bloudshed of his Countrey-men and Fellow-Citizens he resolved upon the advice of Cato and the rest of his Friends to withdraw himself so taking a little statue of Minerva which he had in his House he carried it to the Capitol and made a Dedication of it there with this Inscription To Minerva the Guardian of the City So immediately left Rome and went into Sicily After this retreat Clodius caused Cicero to be banished by the Votes of the People forbidding any one to receive or give him entertainment within five hundred miles of the City After this he caused his Palaces both in the City and the Countrey to be demolished and Dedicated the ground whereon that in the City stood to the Goddess Concordia which was a proceeding never till then used towards any man who had not been declared a Traitor to the Commonwealth In short he omitted nothing which might express all that it was possible for hatred and revenge to inspire CHAP. VII The departure of Caesar for the Gallick War and the return of Cicero AS we may justly call these Proceedings the Preludes of Civil War in regard they were effects of the Union of Pompey and Caesar which according to the Opinion of Cato ruined the Foundations of the Roman Liberty It will be necessary that we now come to particulars Caesar left Rome at this time and indeed with something more haste than was ordinary In regard he was threatned to be called to an account of his Conduct during his Consulship some Tribunes of the People whom he had gained to his Party opposed the business in regard he was then absent upon
in all Parties and that the opposite Interest which imbroiled them had raised amongst them mortal hatreds Atticus behaved himself evermore with such dexterity that he preserved his interest in them all This management preserved him from the miseries of the age he lived in and gave him at last the Honour of seeing his Family Allied to the Caesars which considering the fury of the Civil Wars between Caesar and Pompey that of the Triumvirate and that which followed and how many noble Persons perished in those Divisions I know not where we can find an Example like him Cicero was of no great Birth and had been often reproached for the Novelty of his Nobility but the Beauty of his Wit his Eloquence wherein he exceeded the best Oratours of those times when that qualification was in its highest lustre and a certain kind of Courage which rendred him fearless upon every occasion that required not the drawing of his Sword and where he managed the interest of the Commonwealth had raised him to the highest Honours he discharged the Consulship with a great deal of Glory in putting a stop to Catiline's Conspiracy so that in speaking of it he almost made himself ridiculous and insupportable to his Friends even Brutus could not forbear rallying of him for it very sharply in a Letter which he wrote to Atticus and which is still extant Atticus therefore who knew how little assurance was to be had from the inconstancy of the People could not forbear declaring to his Friends his fears lest the opening of Caesar's Will and the publick Honours that were to be done him should occasion new Troubles His apprehensions were but too well grounded for Piso brought the Will which was opened in Antonius's House and read in the presence of the People Octavius the Grand-son of Caesar's Sister was by it Adopted to take upon him his Name and constituted Heir of nine parts of hs Estate and Pinarius and Pedius of three other parts To the Roman People he left the Gardens which he had on the other side of the Tiber and to every Citizen in particular 24 Drachma's Amongst his second Heirs who were to inherit in case of Mortality according to Custome he substituted Decimus Brutus who was one of the Conspiratours Several others also who had dipped their hands in his bloud were named for Tutours to his Son in case he had left one At these Tokens of Caesar's Goodness and his Affection for the People none could forbear their Tears and Lamentations But Decimus his being substituted an Heir provoked the Indignation of the whole Assembly After this Piso caused the Body to be brought forth with a great deal of Pomp those who carried it were all Men in Office and of the most Illustrious in the Senate It was set down in the middle of the Forum upon a place called the Rostra with a guard of Armed Souldiers in this place there was erected a little Temple of guilded Wood according to the Model of that of Venus which they called the Mother because the Family of Iulus which was the name of the Caesars pretended to have their Original from that Goddess In this little Temple was a Bed of Ivory Magnificently Adorn'd with Curtains of Cloth of Gold and Purple at the head of the Bed was a Trophy with the Robe which he wore when he was assassinated For the Pile it was prepared in the Field of Mars All the People ran to see this sight weeping and lamenting a new even those who bore Arms made a great noise as if they demanded Vengeance Now that Custome among the Romans was that one of the Kinsmen of the dead Man one of his Friends or at least one of his Brethren in Office should speak in his Praise Antonius who was Consul with Caesar when he was slain was his Friend also and his Ally so he laid hold of that occasion for the improvement of what he designed Gentlemen said he though I alone present my self to praise the Memory of that great Man whose Body you see here before you methinks I reade in your faces that upon this occasion you are all of the same Opinion with me and that there is not one of those who hears me now but in his heart praises him also By this means when I shall recount to you his great Actions his Vertues and then those Honours wherewith the Senate and you afterwards have Rewarded them I shall not speak only what I think my self but moreover as your Interpreter Then he made a report of all those Titles of Honour which had been given to Caesar his Dictatourship his being several times Consul with the Name of the Father of his Countrey from thence he passed on to his Vertues praising his Courage his Eloquence his Humanity and his Mildness which was so great said he that he was never able to withhold his good inclinations even from those who had offended him After this he repeated the Oath which the People of Rome had made to Câ—sar by which they swore That his Person should be Sacred and Inviolable and took the Gods to Witness that they would defend it with the hazard of their lives But observing at this discourse some alteration in several of the Senatours he concluded with saying That what had been done ought to be forgotten that it was the Crime of some Demons that were Enemies to Rome rather than Men and that nothing now ought farther to be thought of than the Honouring of the Memory of the Illustrious Dead and placing him amongst the Gods CHAP. VII The Pomp of Caesar's Funeral The Rising of the People of Rome and their Fury against the Conspiratours WHILE this Discourse lasted one of those who were called Archimimi who assisted where great Men were to attend and often represented them as if some Fury had possessed him tore Caesar's Robe off from the Trophy and shewed it to the People crying out That it was the spoil of a Person beloved of the Gods and reverenced of all the People even to Adoration He added several things of the like nature in a terrible Tone and weeping between while with Outcries and strange postures of Sorrow which stirred up the compassion of the People At the same time was to be seen the Figure of Câ—sar in Wax which moved it self by Springs and shewed the Wounds which he had received upon his face and in his Body this sight transported the People even to Madness they cryed out They would inflict most cruel punishments on those that had murthered him Some proposed the burning the Body in the Capitol to doe him the more Honour others said That that duty ought to be paid him in the Hall of Pompey when two Armed Men carrying each of them two Javelins set fire with Flambeaus to the little Temple where the Bed was so every Body ran thither some with the first bits of Wood they could get together others with the Benches and Chairs of the Magistrates
Caesar's Souldiers and advised him to cause Pompey to retire to his Island and send away Domitius Iulia by her Authority seconded his Councils so that Anthony desired Pompey to carry back his Troops to Sicily and sent Domitius to command in Bithynia Upon this the Souldiers of both Armies named three Commissioners to mediate the Accommodation Pollio was appointed on Anthony's side Mecoenas by Caesar and Cocceius who had the greatest share in this negotiation had the honour to be the Arbitratour Mecoenas so well known by the praises of Virgil and Horace was a Gentleman of an exquisite well-turned wit of a very gentle taking humour his merit joined with expertness in business made him be much loved by Caesar whose favour he shared with Agrippa The latter rendred himself considerable by his great services the former by his wit the one had his esteem the other his affection Mecoenas was of an illustrious race which he derived from the ancient Kings of Hetruria however he contented himself with the degree of a Roman Knight making all the end of his Ambition to merit the Favour of his Master and protect and advance desert wherever he found it The testimonies of this generous and bountifull disposition are seen with admiration in the Works of the greatest Men of his Age he heaped his Liberalities upon them to that degree till they were obliged to say they had nothing more to wish for this Generosity of his has appeared so great an example to those that have pretended to be eminent for wit or learning that in all Ages since their Protectours have been honoured with the Name of this illustrious Roman to excite them to follow his Example The Mediatours had order to propose to the two Generals a perfect Oblivion of all matters of complaint to enter into a perpetual firm Bond of friendship and to establish it yet more by the tyes of bloud the Souldiers desired Anthony should marry Caesar's sister she was the Widow of Marcellus by whom she had a Son who afterward dyed very young when his merit and vertues were preparing for him the Government of the World by succeeding Augustus in the Empire It was of him that Virgil said the Destinies had onely shewn him to the Earth and taken him away fearing lest Rome should have had too much vanity for the possession of so much good Caesar had an extreme love and tenderness for his Sister though they were not by the same Mother and to doe her justice never any of her sex deserved so much esteem for her excellent qualities her beauty was the least thing that Octavia prized in her self which yet outshined all that was glorious both at Rome and elsewhere and even Anthony himself yielded that Cleopatra could not dispute even this with her she onely valued her self upon her vertue all her Sentiments were generous and noble and though all her actions were animated by an incomparable grace and carriage yet her greatest charm was sweetness and modesty this gallant Character she always maintained with a most admirable constancy notwithstanding all the debauches of her Husband All these Conditions of the Treaty were agreed to Caesar and Anthony had an enterview and embraced in the middle of the two Armies who by their Acclamations testified their Joy for it but these rejoycings lasted not long for Caesar's Souldiers addressed to Anthony for the recompences he had promised them after the Battel of Philippi and because he gave them a fierce denial and repulse they had used some violence to him if Caesar with large Promises had not appeased them These two Generals then made a new Division Anthony had all the Provinces of the East to Euphrates from a line drawn through the middle of the Ionian Sea from Cadropolis a City of Illyria to Cyrene in Africk all from that line to the Ocean fell to Caesar. Lepidus remained in possession of Africk It was concluded that Anthony should make War with the Parthians and Caesar with Pompey if he refused to submit to reasonable conditions that Caesar should give Domitius the same assurance that Anthony had and pardon all those that had born Arms against him at Perusia This plainly manifests that in a Civil War the Heads for the most part consider their own Interests by which alone they regulate their hatred or their friendship To these Conditions they added also that the Triumviri might in Italy levy as many Souldiers as they had occasion for Anthony sent Ventidius against the Parthians and Caesar's freed-man went into Sardinia where Menas made War with Caesar's Lieutenant Menas had already destroyed and spoiled the Coasts of Hetruria and taken Titius who was gathering Forces in Gallia Narbonensis Pompey pardoned Titius in favour of his Father who was with him in Sicilia and because his had the name of Pompey written on their shields but afterwards we shall see that Titius requited this favour with a piece of horrible ingratitude As for Menas after some skirmishes he beat Lucius and took Helenus whom with the other Prisoners he sent to Caesar but he provoked with the loss of Sardinia would not hear of any Accommodation with Pompey The two Triumviri went to Rome where Anthony married Octavia with a dispensation of the Senate because Widows were forbid to marry till the tenth month after their Husbands decease All Reconciliations between great Men are ever made at some body's cost whether it is they imagine their confidence to be more firmly established by these Sacrifices they make one another or that a Secret is burthensome to them or that they vent their common fury and discontent upon some unfortunate perfidious person who by taking his measures on both sides and Trimming thinks to make his fortune but so it was that Salvidienus was the Victim of this Reconciliation Anthony revealed to Caesar that this Man had offered him his Troops and his Service when he sent him into Gall and had repeated these Offers to him at Brundusium Caesar mortally offended at this perfidiousness accused him before the Senate he was by it declared Foe to Caesar and the People of Rome and dragged to punishment there were publick Prayers made and Thanks given to the Gods for the discovery of this Treason Anthony was blamed for discovering this and censured for being too fond of a new-made friendship he on his part would make his Justice remarkable in putting Manius to death who had been the principal Authour of the War of Perusia and Instigatour of the ungovern'd Passions of Fulvia CHAP. XV. Rome afflicted with Famine the People mutiny against Anthony and Caesar they agree with Pompey his Generosity THE People of Rome had but very little share in the rejoicing for this marriage they were reduced to a very great extremity by the dearth of Corn. Pompey who was Master of Sicilia hindred the traffick and importation from Greece and the East and his Lieutenants in Sardinia stopp'd that of Africk and Spain One cannot but wonder that
the most probable and having most resemblance to the modern Discipline The Romans therefore formed their first Battalions of their youngest raw Souldiers which they called Bo-Hastati the second were those who had served some years and were named Principes the old Souldiers were in the rere and there was the Post of the Eagles which were the Ensigns Colonel and the other Ensigns of the Legions These old Souldiers called Triarii waited the Success of the first Battalions with one Knee upon the ground and leaning upon their Bucklers and still as the first bodies were broke or gave way they retired into the intervals in the rere and then the third line rose up and closing the ranks the Battalions left no interval at all but marched up to the Enemies and charged in one continued front In all these occasions the Horse always acted separate detaches from the Legions and with the light-armed Foot was posted on the Wings or right and left of the Army they were armed almost like the legionary Foot onely their Javelins were longer and their Shields were lighter This is what hath been thought fit to be explained but here the Reader is desired to be so charitable as not to think it done to make any vain shew of reading or learning for every one knows these things are but trifles and very common amongst the learned what is done here is onely for the information of those whose business and emploiments will not permit them to make enquiry themselves among Books of this nature THE CONTENTS TO The First Volume CHap. I. The estate of the Roman Common-wealth after Cataline's Conspiracy Pag. 1. Caesar's design upon Cicero and Cicero's reply to Metellus Nepos p. 9. Chap. III. Concerning Clodius and the return of Pompey p. 14. Chap. IV. Pompey makes the Consuls He ruffles the Senate The Vnion of Caesar and Pompey p. 21. Caesar's Consulship and what follow'd p. 25. Chap. VI. The pursuit of Caesar's Consulship The Affair of Vettius Clodius admitted into the popular Order The Banishment of Cicero p. 29. Chap. VII The Departure of Caesar for the Gallick War and the return of Cicero p. 35. Chap. VIII Cicero unites himself with Pompey who is chosen Consul with Crassus Their union with Caesar after his first Triumvirate p. 40. Chap. IX Pompey and Crassus get themselves invested in Governments The Cause of Division between Caesar and Pompey p 46. Chap. X. The Death of Pompey's Wife Julia The Magnificent Shews he gave the People The Death of Clodius p. 49. Chap. XI Pompey sole Consul Caesar secures himself of the favour of the Roman People p. 54. Pompey's Laws Curio goes over to Caesar's Interest p. 59. Chap. XIII Curio declareth himself against Pompey Caesar returns the Legion that Pompey had lent him p. 63. Chap. XIV Caesar sends a Letter to the Senate They declare War against him Anthony and Curio the Tribunes of the People go to find out Caesar p. 66. Chap. XV. The Passage of the Rubicon and the taking of Rimini p. 70. Chap. XVI The amazement of the Senatours They leave Rome and retire to Capua p. 73. Chap. XVII Some Propositions of Peace between Caesar and Pompey but without any success p. 76. Chap. XVIII The Progress of Caesar. He seizes upon the March of Ancona The siege of Corfinium p. 79. Chap. XIX The taking of Corfinium Caesar gives Domitius and the other Senatours their liberty He writes to Cicero p. 83. Chap. XX. New Propositions for Peace Caesar besieges Pompey in Brundusium Pompey retires by Sea p. 87. Chap. XXI Caesar goes to Rome by the way sees Cicero He seizes upon the money of the publick Treasury and goes into Spain The Siege of Marseilles p. 92. Chap. XXII Pompey gathers together great Forces Fabius enters Spain with the Troops belonging to Caesar p. 96. Chap. XXIII Caesar joins his Army and marches against Petreius and Afranius p. 99. Chap. XXIV The Battel of Lerida p. 101. Caesar's Army reduced to great extremities by the overflowing of two Rivers Cicero and a great many other Senatours go to find out Pompey p. 104. Chap. XXVI Caesar passes the Segre and pursues Afranius and Petreius p. 108. Chap. XXVII Different motions of the two Armies Caesar besieges the Enemies two Generals p. 111. Chap. XXVIII Petreius causes several of Caesar's Souldiers to be slain He decampeth and Caesar follows him but without a design of defeating him utterly p. 116. Chap. XXIX Afranius and Petreius pressed for want of Provision surrender themselves to Caesar with all their Army p. 120. Chap. XXX The Continuation of the Siege of Marseilles and the taking of that City Caesar chosen Dictatour The Defeat and Death of Curio in Africa p. 123. Pompey's Forces The Defeat of Dolabella and Caesar's Lieutenants Brutus goes to find out Pompey p. 127. Chap. XXXII A Mutiny amongst Caesar's Troops He reduces them to their Duty by his Eloquence and Resolution He is chosen Consul with Servilius and makes new Laws p. 130. Chap. XXXIII Caesar with part of his Army goes into Greece some Discourse of Peace but to no purpose Two Armies draw towards one another near Durazzo p. 133. Chap. XXXIV Caesar exposes himself alone in a Skiff to go and find the rest of his Army p. 137. Chap. XXXV The happy arrival of Caesar's Troops in Greece Caelius and Milo raising disturbances in Italy are slain p. 140. Chap. XXXVI Marcus Antonius joins himself with Caesar in spight of Pompey who retreats to Aspargua near Durazzo p. 143. Chap. XXXVII Caesar offers Battel to Pompey who refuses it They both post themselves near Durazzo Caesar hemmed in by the lines of Pompey's Camp p. 146. Chap. XXXVIII A fight between Caesar and Pompey's Troops p. 150. Chap. XXXIX Pompey attacks Caesar's Fortifications The Valour of Sceva Pompey quits his Camp the Treason of Roscillus and Aegus p. 154. Chap. XL. Pompey attacks Caesar's Trenches great disorder amongst Caesar's Troops he confirms them by his Presence p. 158. Chap. XLI Caesar in a great Battel is overthrown Pompey loses the opportunity of totally routing him Caesar's opinion upon that occasion p. 161. Caesar's Discourse to his Troops to confirm them He decamps to march toward Thessaly Pompey follows him p. 165. Chap. XLIII Caesar goes into Apolonia Domitius joins himself with him The taking of Gomphes and Metropolis p. 169. Chap. XLIV Scipio joins his Troops with those of Pompey's They post themselves in the Plains of Pharsalia The approach of the two Armies Pompey's uneasiness p. 172. Chap. XLV Pompey forced to fight against his Opinion His Discourse with Labienus Some Presages p. 175. Chap. XLVI The order of the two Armies The two Generals speak to their Souldiers to encourage them to the Fight p. 178. Chap. XLVII The Battel of Pharsalia The Fierceness of Crastinus The Flight of Pompey and overthrow of his Troops p. 181. Chap. XLVIII Some other Presages reported to Caesar p. 187. Chap. XLIX Pompey puts to Sea and takes in King Dejotarus and goes
Cassius p. 407. Chap. XXXIX Cassius lays waste the City of Tharsus He joins himself with Brutus They take measures for carrying on the War p. 410. Chap. XL. Cassius attacks Rhodes The siege of that City The taking and desolation of Rhodes by Cassius p. 413. Chap. XLI Brutus enters into Lycia He besieges the City Xanthus p. 417. Chap. XLII The taking of Xanthus The fury and despair of the Xanthians p. 420. Chap. XLIII Caesar and Antonius caused their Troops to pass into Macedonia Cassius joins himself with Brutus Their interview p. 424. Chap. XLIV Brutus sees a Ghost Cassius satisfies him by his Reasons p. 426. Chap. XLV The Forces of Cassius and Brutus Those of Antonius and Caesar. Cassius speaks to his Souldiers p. 429. Chap. XLVI The two Armies draw near each other A description of the City of Philippi and its out-works p. 432. Chap. XLVII The two Armies retrench themselves Their different movements and some skirmishes The uneasiness of Cassius p. 434. Chap. XLVIII Antonius possesses himself of a Post behind the Enemies Camp Brutus resolves to fight contrary to the Opinion of Cassius p. 437. Chap. XLIX The Battel of Philippi Brutus overthrows Caesar's Troops Cassius being defeated by Antonius in despair kills himself p. 439. Brutus's Melancholy His Fleet defeats that of Caesar and Antonius and Brutus knows not of it He speaks to his Troops to confirm them p. 444. Chap. LI. Brutus utterly defeated by Antonius and Caesar p. 447. Brutus's last Words and Death Messala goes over to Caesar with all his Forces p. 452. THE CONTENTS TO THE CONTINUATION CHap. I. After the Battel of Philippi Anthony and Caesar bring their Enemies to punishment They part the Forces of Pompey Caesar goes into Italy p. 457. Chap. II. Anthony goes into Grecia he stays at Athens he goes into Asia where he is honourably received his Speech to the Deputies p. 463. Chap. III. Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt her Character she comes to Anthony their interview Anthony puts Arsinoe the Sister of Cleopatra to death p. 470. Caesar's Sickness He comes to Rome His difficulties in distributing Rewards The dangers he run upon this occasion p. 475. Chap. V. Misunderstandings between Caesar Fulvia and Lucius They come to open War The Negligence of Pompey p. 485. Chap. VI. Fagius Lieutenant of Caesar is overthrown in Africa by Anthony's Lieutenant Caesar and Lucius make preparations of war against each other p. 491. Chap. VII The Forces of the two Parties The Characters of the principal Officers as Agrippa Salvidienus Ventidius and Pollio Lucius is besieged in Perusia p. 496. Chap. VIII The Siege of Perusia Caesar in danger The extreme misery of the besieged p. 501. Chap. IX Lucius resolves to treat with Caesar He Harangues his Souldiers and sends Deputies to Caesar p. 507. Chap. X. Lucius Speech to Caesar his Answer p. 511. Chap. XI Lucius and Caesar part Lucius delivers up the Town Caesar speaks to the besieged Souldiers with indignation he punishes the Senatours of Perusia the Town is pillaged and by accident burnt Tiberius continues the War in the Kingdom of Naples from whence he is driven by Caesar p. 516. Chap. XII The diversions of Anthony and Cleopatra The Prodigality of their Entertainments The ingenuity of Cleopatra p. 521. Chap. XIII Anthony receives the news of his Brother's defeat He resolves for War and makes an alliance with Pompey Caesar marries Scribonia The death of Fulvia Anthony is Master of Domitius his Fleet which yields to him p. 526. Chap. XIV Anthony arrives at Brundusium He is refused entrance The Veterans force Caesar and him to agree They come to a Treaty by the mediation of Cocceius Anthony marries Octavia The punishment and Death of Salvidienus p. 531. Chap. XV. Rome afflicted with Famine the People mutiny against Anthony and Caesar they agree with Pompey his Generosity p. 541. Chap. XVI The People's Ioy upon the first News of the Peace Caesar goes into Gaul and Anthony stays at Athens p. 548. Chap. XVII New Causes of breach between Caesar and Pompey Caesar marries Livia Several Fights between the Lieutenants of Caesar and Pompey p. 552. Chap. XVIII The wreck of Caesar's Fleet. The arrival of Anthony at Brundusium He agreed with Caesar by means of Octavia p. 561. Chap. XIX Caesar puts a powerfull Fleet to Sea commanded by Agrippa He attacks Pompey in Sicilia Lepidus comes to Caesar's assistence Several Actions p. 568. Chap. XX. The Actions of Agrippa against Pompey who beats Caesar's Fleet p. 574. Chap. XXI Caesar gives new Orders for the fighting of Pompey who in a general battel is entirely defeated p. 580. Pompey's flight Lepidus endeavours to make himself Master of Sicily His Souldiers forsake him to serve Caesar who orders the Affairs of Rome with great prudence p. 585. Chap. XXIII Pompey goes into Asia where he makes War The Lieutenants of Anthony fight and take him The death of Pompey p. 593. Chap. XXIV The causes of the division between Anthony and Anthony's unfortunate expedition against the Parthians his return to Alexandria p. 599. Chap. XXV Caesar accuses Anthony in the Senate He declares War against Anthony His Forces p. 605. Chap. XXVI Anthony with Cleopatra goes to Athens Plancus and several others of his Friends forsake him p. 611. Chap. XXVII The Forces of Caesar and Anthony They write sharp Letters to each other Caesar approaches Anthony's Army which lay at Actium p. 617. Chap. XXVIII The battel of Actium The retreat of Cleopatra The flight of Anthony Caesar makes himself Master of Anthony's Navy and his Land-forces p. 623. Anthony's displeasure against Cleopatra He retires into Libya and returns into Aegypt p. 630. Chap. XXX Caesar goes into Italy He pacifies the Souldiers and besieges Alexandria p. 635. Chap. XXXI Anthony defeats Caesar s Cavalry He is forsaken by his men His Despair He wounds himself Is carried to Cleopatra His Death p. 639. Chap. XXXII Caesar enters into Alexandria He visits Cleopatra Her Death The Posterity of Anthony p. 663. THE HISTORY Of the first TRIVMVIRATE Volume I. CHAP. I. The estate of the Roman Commonwealth after Catiline's Conspiracy NEVER was the City of Rome in such danger since its being sack'd and burnt by the Gauls as it appeared to be in the Conspiracy of Catiline It is impossible in the account Salust gives of it without horrour to reade of the Rage the Madness the Debauchery and Ambition of that Man and yet at the same time his Address in managing a design that was to carry fire and sword ev'n into the very Bowels of his Countrey But the wisedom and vigilancy of Cicero hindred its taking effect and Catiline was slain at the Head of those Troops he was leading against the City But neither this man's defeat or death was sufficient to settle so firm a peace in that City but that still she lay exposed to the enterprises which some more Ambitious Senatours than the rest were always forming against her Liberty Nor could their
the Service of the Commonwealth yet could not carry it so but that his Questor or Treasurer was condemned Caesar was then beginning the War against the Gauls whom he afterwards Conquered Pompey remaining alone at Rome with an absolute Authority for Crassus appeared wholly taken up with increasing his own private Fortune and improving its Revenues Cicero was Banished and Lucullus who was the onely man capable of disputing the first Post by his merit and the great Actions he had done had setled himself in a private retreat where he enjoyed all those pleasures of Magnificence and perfect living upon which the Proverb was afterwards grounded of Lucullus his Meal Now this opportunity put it into Clodius's head who was as vain and extravagant as was necessary for such a Project to establish his Reputation upon the Ruine of Pompey's The happy success of his Designs hitherto and the favour of the People made nothing appear impossible to his hopes So he immediately took off Cato upon pretence of sending him against Ptolemy King of Cyprus Claudius thought himself injured by that Prince because when he was a Prisoner among the Corsaires he sent him onely two Talents to pay his Ransome This Ptolemy was very rich and having gotten intelligence that the Romans would declare War against him put himself to Sea with the best part of his Treasure Clodius apply'd himself next to the business of Pompey setting the Sons of Tygranes over whom Pompey had Triumphed out of Prison Gabinius would needs oppose this mad proceeding but Clodius guarded by armed Slaves whom he had drawn out of the Mountains of Tuscany attack'd him upon the place broke the Axes which were carry'd before him as Consul and wounded a great many of those that followed him Now Pompey saw by this that it was high time for him to take other measures and upon consideration could think of no man so fit for the purpose as Milo who was then too Tribune a man fond of any undertaking wherein there appeared a prospect of Preferment besides he was Cicero's Friend and stout to the last extremity Pompey resolved too to have Cicero recalled and to that end used his best interest with his Friends To this design Clodius opposed himself and was seconded in it by his Brother Appius and Metellus Nepos who was chosen Consul for a little while and had been an ancient Enemy of Cicero's The other Consul Lentulus whom Clodius hated for that he had been against him in the affair of Pompeia declared himself openly for Cicero as did all the Senate Upon this Quintus follows with all diligence the calling home of Cicero his Brother and Milo was to publish the Proclamation Therefore as each of these two Parties supported themselves under the Authority of one of the Consuls the Sedition grew to be very terrible Now the Romans were wont to be very expensive in the Pomp of their Funerals and amongst many other shews used to exhibite those which were called the Funeral Sports where after a barbarous manner the Gladiatours fought to the utmost earnest and slew one another in honour of the dead person whose Memory they Celebrated Appius had upon this occasion a great number of these to pay those last Offices of Duty to one of his dead Relations Clodius assisted by these Gladiatours threw himself among the People that were gathered together for the recalling of Cicero Upon which arose the most horrid disorders imaginable many of the People were killed the Tribunes were wounded and Quintus was almost overwhelmed with the bodies of the dead so that the People unprepared for such a surprisal separated themselves and fled But after a day or two Milo seised upon Clodius and carried him before the Pretors to answer for those violences Metellus forbad the Pretors to take any cognisance of the matter so that at last Milo gathering together the trustiest of his Friends and being guarded by the Gladiatours of Pompey fiercely Conducted Cicero's Brother into the publick place This Tribune indeed seemed as if made on purpose for the opposing of Clodius for he was every way as mutinous as he but at the bottom was stouter Clodius upon this returns where it wanted but a hairs breadth of coming to a downright Battel but that after a little bloud drawn as well on one side as the other Clodius was beaten off and Mark Anthony who was young and at that time in Cicero's Party follow'd him with his Sword in his hand and had certainly killed him had he not made his escape into the house of a certain Bookseller who concealed him under his Books So that Cicero's Friends remaining Masters of the Field caused a Decree to be passed for his return and there appeared at that time so good an understanding between the Senate and the People that of four hundred Senatours there was none but Clodius who was not for him we may see in his works the Glory and Pomp of his return with what an Air he spoke and after what manner he treated those that had injured him how he transported himself against Piso Gabinius and even poor Clodia too whose Reputation he Massacred after a most merciless manner in the defence of Caelius But this being little to our present purpose let it suffice to say that as he had too much wit not to take warning by Examples past he took care to reform his Conduct and his Manners he therefore applyed himself wholly to Pompey whom he finding leagued so absolutely with Caesar durst not attempt the breach of their Alliance judging very well as he himself has expressed it that it would have been but folly to have hoped it and insolence to have proposed it He therefore sent his Brother into Caesar's service and maintain'd that way an honest and fair Correspondency In short he took all the measures of an exact Courtier as well as he himself afterwards acknowledged in respect of their present Union as of the Division that might in time happen between them CHAP. VIII Cicero unites himself with Pompey who is chosen Consul with Crassus Their union with Caesar after the first Triumvirate UPon this return of Cicero there arose so great a want and scarcity in the City especially of Corn that the People were gathered together twice and almost ready to stone the Consul threatning to fire the Temple of Concord where the Senate was assembled Clodius besides exaggerated their madness by laying all to Cicero's charge so that that night they demanded the distribution of Corn from Cicero with great noise and clamour and the next day again at the very door of the Senate-house which obliged him to propose that Pompey might be Commissionated to manage the Provisions of Rome with an absolute Authority both by Land and Sea for the space of five years Nor could he better acquit himself of the obligations he had to Pompey than by putting into his hands the whole strength of the Common-wealth and in consideration of the present
at Rome during the five last years of Caesar's Government and which have no relation to the subject in hand besides that the repetition would be tedious and that it may be in some measure guessed at by what we have said of the Intrigues about Elections the struglings and hostilities before It seemeth enough at present in gross and without the order of time to take notice that Pompey acquitted himself in what he promised Clodius even to the hazard of his life Since in the Assembly for the Election of Ediles he had a Man killed so near him that his Mantle was cover'd with the bloud He revenged himself signally upon Cato who when he demanded the Pretorship Pompey caused his pretensions to be thrown out and named in prejudice of him one Vatinius who was one of the worst and most obnoxious Men of that time And in process of time too he brought it about that Ptolemy was established in his Kingdom by Gabinius with a powerfull Army and all this merely by his own Authority in spight of the Sybills Prophecy Gabinius was afterwards called to an account for it when he came back to Rome but by his Money and Pompey's favour he escaped a Condemnation which he could never have avoided had his miscarriages been severely prosecuted These things 〈◊〉 now may see plainly have no relation to the Civil War otherwise than as they discover the Power and Ambition of Pompey which will much more appear in what is to follow and belongs to the subject in hand Now Crassus and he seemed to affect a great deal of moderation in regard of those Governments which according to Custome were to be allotted them upon the expiration of their Consulship but yet nevertheless manag'd matters otherwise under-hand by the Tribunes of the People who were to propose for them Syria and Spain with Africk or Libya as it was then called To each of these Governments Armies were to be added with full power and authority to make Peace and War at discretion which gave opportunity too to Caesar's Friends to mention his five years The whole affair being privately agreed upon between the Triumviri passed against all objection Pompey got Libya and Spain and Crassus Syria with power to make War upon the Parthians so that their Union did still support it self in appearance though it were really already ruined in the foundation at least between Pompey and Caesar nor need we seek for other reasons for it than the Jealousie which the Emulation of those two great Men raised of each other Pompey had seen himself for many years at the head of the rank of Romans and to give him his due it was not without Justice for he had enlarged the Roman Empire farther than any other had done before him He had Triumphed over three parts of the World over Africk by the defeat of Domitius in Libya over Europe by that of Perpenna in Spain and over Asia after having vanquished King Mithridates one of the most formidable Enemies Rome ever had and all this too without the least disgrace From this high degree of Glory he lookt down upon all other Romans as his Inferiours And therefore as he knew the Merits of Caesar and the advantages which accrued to him from his Illustrious Birth and Education He could not without much regret see that his great actions in the Gallick War began to put him in a condition of disputing even with himself for Glory gotten in Arms. On the other side Caesar having received both by Nature and Education all those qualifications that go to the Composition of a Great Man had too much fire to hear with patience any Man's Pride that affected to appear above him and therefore whenever he had an occasion of shewing his abilities he made so good use of it that he quickly found himself in a condition to ease Pompey of that advantage by which he thought he deserved so very much above all other Romans And Fortune too was as indulgent to him now as she had been to Pompey before but she utterly abandoned Crassus who could never rise up to the least pretensions for he was defeated and lost his life in the Parthian War and the death of that Triumvir who while he lived was as a check upon the other two left them now an open field for their Ambition and Emulation to work in CHAP. X. The death of Pompey's Wife Julia. The Magnificent Shews he gave the People The death of Clodius POmpey had now for some time done all that was in his power to diminish the reputation of Caesar's Conquests obliging the Magistrates not to publish any Letters they received till he had fore-stalled the credit of them by spreading false and disadvantageous reports This gave great cause of trouble to all those who foresaw the miseries that must attend a Rupture between two so extraordinary Men and what augmented their fears more was the death of Pompey's Wife which happen'd at the same time Pompey loved her even with passion which one would have thought might have been of consideration enough to have healed differences between the Father and the Son-in-law For Iulia had Wit as well as Virtue and always a great ascendant over both their dispositions The People of Rome gave sufficient testimony of the respect they bore her by publick demonstrations of their sorrow and when Pompey would have carried her Body to one of his houses near Alba the People opposed it and bore it into the Field of Mars where they paid it the last Rites of Funeral with all Magnificence From this moment Pompey resolved to think of nothing but his own particular advancement and for the restoring of himself to the favour of the People caused a stately Theatre to be builded which he dedicated to them by Plays and other magnificent Shews which were not at all pleasing to Cicero as appears from one of his Epistles It was reported too afterwards at Rome That that Theatre was not built at the expences of Pompey but that Demetrius one of his Freed-men had defray'd the charge of it as a piece of gratitude and acknowledgment for the Immense fortune he had raised under his Master so that Pompey himself reap'd little advantage from that undertaking The spirits of the People too were sharpened against him by the extreme violence which he used in raising those Troops which were to follow Crassus at the time when that General departed upon his unfortunate Expedition against the Parthians For it was a thing disapproved of at Rome and approved by one of the Tribunes who when he could not hinder it uttered such horrible Cursts and Imprecations against Crassus as it was believed called down that misfortune upon his head which cost the Romans a Hundred thousand Men and Crassus himself his own life as well as his Son whom Cicero takes occasion to mention with an extraordinary Character In the mean time Pompey whose Government was now expired took other measures and pretended
for a design he had to demand a second Consulship when the employ he was at present in should be expired In the mean time to gain the good will of the People he caused a new Market to be set up at Rome the place whereof cost him a Hundred thousand Sesterces He gave also to the Romans certain Plays and a Publick Feast in acknowledgment of the Honours they had done to his Daughter Iulia. He desired the Knights and such of the Senatours as were his Friends that they themselves would Exercise and Instruct the Gladiatours and sent them Rules and Directions accordingly Giving order at the same time that those Gladiatours who pleased not the People in their Combats should be turned out and others more agreeable put in their places The Grandeur of his Mein his extraordinary Generosity and the greatness of his Actions had entirely engaged to him the affections of his Souldiers who all loved him even to adoration he caused their Pay to be doubled and the Corn which used to be distributed among the Troops by regulated proportions was now given to them without stint or measure Again on the other side a great many of the Senatours stood obliged to him for considerable Sums of Money which he had lent them without any Interest he entertained with Magnificence all such as served under him even to those slaves whom he loved and his Army was a perfect refuge to all manner of Criminals and such as were burthened with Debts a great many whereof he discharged at his own proper expence but to those who stood engaged for mighty sums indeed he used to say That one Civil War would make all even In a word all stranger Princes and the best Cities tasted of his Munificence by considerable Presents And all this done at the expence of the Gauls So that it was not improperly observed by one who said That Caesar conquer'd the Gauls with the Roman Steel and the Romans with the Gallick Gold Pompey's Friends to be sure were not now backward to make their reflexions upon the occasion of these Liberalities and to exaggerate the danger that might thence threaten the Commonwealth Nevertheless Caesar resolved once more to try if it were possible to preserve the Friendship of Pompey and before his last Marriage offered him his Neice Octavia and demanded Pompey's Daughter for himself but Pompey thought fitting to make choice of an Alliance with Scipio whom he caused afterwards to be joined with him in the Consular dignity for the last five Months and as he very well knew that Caesar was beloved by the People his business was to establish his Interest among the Senatours These two Factions have been always opposite under the Title of the Nobility and the Populace And their division had produced very terrible effects especially in the Sedition of the Gracchi and afterwards in the Wars between Marius and Sylla The People usually prevailed by their Numbers but the Senate by their Authority and it is without doubt that Union of Pompey with the Senate which has caused Caesar's Party to be so much decry'd and the advantages of Pompey in all Writings to be celebrated with so much Passion that under the Reign of one of the most terrible of Caesar's Successours there lived an Authour who durst publish a Work which we have now amongst us wherein he has most barbarously violated the memory of that Great Man CHAP. XII Pompey's Laws Curio goes over to Caesar's Interest THE first appearance of Division began from Pompey by the two Laws which he published during his Consulship the first whereof was for an enquiry into the miscarriages of Officers in the executing their Charges for the twenty years last past that is from his first Consulship down to that which he then held Hereupon Caesar's Friends remonstrated that a Law of that kind might be injurious to several illustrious Men and more particularly to Caesar who had within that time been Consul At that name he cryed out that it was shamefull for them to imagine that such an Ordinance could in any manner have regard to a man of Caesar's Merits and Vertue and that his Friends did him the greatest injury to suspect it so that no alteration of that Law could be admitted and many persons were condemned upon it amongst the rest Hypseus Memmius Sextus and Gabinius himself yet afterwards when Memmius in his turn accused Pompey's Brother-in-Law Pompey was not ashamed himself openly to appear against that very Law of his own making to bring off Scipio by his Authority The other Law of Pompey or rather an Article of the Precedent was That no man being absent should be admitted to demand any Employment these Laws being approved of were forthwith engraved upon Copper Tables and carried to the publick Treasury after which formality no change or alteration in them was to be admitted Pompey was for an exception in favour of Caesar but in regard that it was contrary to Form Marcus Marcellus who had succeeded Pompey in his Consulship no way respecting any such exception after giving notice that he had matters to communicate of the highest importance proposed that since the Conquest of Gaul was now completed some body might be sent to succeed Caesar and at the same time that he might be excluded from demanding the Consulship This Declaration allarum'd all Caesar's Friends Servius Sulpitius the other Consul declared himself of the contrary Opinion and the Tribunes Caius Caelius and Vibius Pansa opposed the Decree Pompey too was at a loss how to distinguish handsomely upon this Subject He said indeed it was great Injury to Caesar to propose a thing of that Nature at least before the Kalends of March since till that time came his Government of Gaul was not expired upon which when it was asked of him what was to be done if they met with opposition it signifies nothing says he whether or no Caesar obey the Decrees of the Senate since he will find those that shall oppose him but it was answered again if he will be Consul if he will keep his Army To which Pompey reply'd If my Son should provoke and rebell against me what would you advise me to This discourse sufficiently discovered how Pompey stood affected as to Caesar's Interest For all this matters were managed with all Artfull and fair Conduct and Intrigue till the Election of the new Consuls who were Emilius Paulus and Calidius Marcellus a Kinsman of Marcus This affair at that time wholly employed the Senate and stopt the course of any other business Every one expected with impatience how the two Consuls would declare themselves the first had been pretty well secured by a Present from Caesar of fifteen Talents with which he built himself a sumptuous Palace and called it after his own Name but Callidius was Caesar's Enemy and being carried on by the same Spirit with his Kinsman Marcus followed also his Methods and renewed the old Propositions We have
Magius caused Caninius one of his Lieutenants to demand an enterview with Scribonius Libo his Friend and an Officer under Pompey His orders were to exhort Libo to Peace and that the surest way to accomplish it would be an interview between Pompey and Caesar that Caesar was assured matters might by that means be ordered with equal satisfaction to both Parties and that the glory would redound to Libo if by his care and mediation they should come to the laying down of Arms Caninius proceeded according to his Commission Libo made a report of it to Pompey and returning back to his Friend told him That the Consuls being absent no Propositions of that kind could be received From this time Caesar lost all hopes of an Accommodation and set his thoughts wholly upon the War half his business being already done to his hands by reason the Vessels which transported the Consuls and their Troops were returned from Durazzo which opportunity Pompey thought fit to make use of for withdrawing himself and to secure his retreat he immediately caused all the Gates of the City to be walled up and several Houses to be demolished in the Piazza's and cross streets The Avenues of the Port were cut off by certain Pits which were filled with stakes and covered over with Hurdles and Earth besides two which were onely defended with Beams and Joysts made very sharp at the ends and planted after the manner of Fraize After these Precautions he caused his Souldiers to embark with all silence imaginable leaving onely some Archers and Slingers upon the Walls who had a signal given them to retreat so soon as his Souldiers should be gotten on Board for he caused some Challops or small Boats to attend them in a convenient place for their Embarkment also The Inhabitants of Brundusium dissatisfi'd with Pompey's Souldiers and provoked by the ruine of their Houses advised Caesar of their retreat who immediately put his Troops into order and gave command for the planting of Ladders at the same moment of time that Pompey should give the signal to his Archers who yet easily secured their retreat by certain private paths that they were well acquainted with So that Pompey got all this Troops on Board and at the beginning of the night weighed Anchor Caesar's Souldiers got over the Walls and had certainly fallen into the Pits which were prepared for them had not the People of the Town given them warning so that they were forced to take a large Circuit to come to the Port which nevertheless was not so great a hindrance to them but that they had time enough with Barks and some other small Vessels to seize upon two of Pompey's Ships who had run themselves a ground in going out of the Haven while the rest made all the Sail they could and saved themselves Caesar seeing himself in sixty days Master of all Italy was now extremely desirous to attack his Enemies e'er yet the supplies they expected from Asia could come to join them But wanting Shipping he resolved to go to Rome to settle there some sort of Government and then pass into Spain to drive thence those Troops of Pompey who had taken possession of it under the Command of Affranius and Petreius He sent orders to all his Officers Commanding upon that side to get together some Shipping and send them to Brundusium He gave Valerius one Legion to go into Sardignia and three to Curio for Sicily with orders to go forward into Africk so soon as they had brought that Island to Submission Cato Commanded there for the Senate and Aurelius Cotta in Sardignia They neither of them staid to attend the coming up of Caesar's Troops And Cato after having publickly complained of Pompey's Conduct totally abandoned Sicily CHAP. XXI Caesar goes to Rome by the way sees Cicero He seizes upon the money of the publick Treasury and goes into Spain The siege of Marseilles NOW Caesar having put his Troops into good Quarters began his Journey towards Rome after having written to all those of the Senate who had not already declared themselves to meet him there and assist him with their Councils But above all he desired to see Cicero and pressed him to come by Oppius and Coelius who were Friends to them both and near his Person Caesar the more to engage him to it took an opportunity to see him in his Journey The Conversation that passed between two so extraordinary men as they were and moved each by different Considerations must needs have something in it very remarkable Caesar complain'd to Cicero of his refusal to go to Rome and told him That by that repugnancy he would make it believed that he blamed his Conduct which might give ill impressions and be of bad Example to the other Senatours To which Cicero replyed That the reasons he proceeded upon were very different from those of the others But Caesar still pressed him saying That he desired his presence at Rome for no other end than the proposing of some Accommodation Might I replyed Cicero here speak my Opinion I have nothing to prescribe you upon that occasion Then says Caesar I will tell you You will tell me answered Cicero that the Spanish expedition does not please the Senate that the Army ought not to go into Greece In short I have much adoe to forbear discovering the Compassion I have for the present state of Pompey's Fortune Oh replies Caesar I cannot understand why things of this nature should be said to me whose duty it is to distrust my self And that is one reason too says Cicero why I would not go to Rome for it is my duty also to speak my mind or else I ought not to appear in the Senate Caesar left him to give him time for reflexion but Cicero could not resolve with himself to go to Rome But Caesar arriving there composed a body of such Senatours as he found there and called them the Senate and when they were Assembled made them a speech in justification of his Conduct The reasons he alledged may he easily imagined the most weighty of them having been already taken notice of He proposed to the Senate the sending of Ambassadours to Pompey without bogling at the point of Honour which Pompey had laid down for a Maxime which was That in paying that respect to any one they attributed to him a Supreme Authority and that it was a mark of fear on their part who did it But there was no body to be found who would undertake this Commission because Pompey by the advice of Domiâ—â—uâ— had declared all such Senatours Enemies as should remain Neutrals Caesar therefore would not insist upon this Proposition of an Embassy but began to think of providing himself with Money his recourse was to the publick Treasury which he would have had opened But Metellus one of the Tribunes of the People opposed him upon it alledging That the Laws forbad it that that money was sacred and that heretofore most horrible imprecations had
been denounced upon those who should ever touch it for any other occasions than the Gallick War Caesar told him He had removed the reasons of those maledictions by bringing Gaul under subjection to the Romans And when the Tribune insisted still upon the Laws Caesar being something moved told him That Arms and Laws seldom agreâ—â— very well together Therefore adds he If you do not like my proceeding you may please to withdraw the War will not admit of this liberty of Contradiction but when Peace has once obliged us to lay down our Arms you may take your time to enlarge your self upon the power and virtue of the Laws I relinquish much of my right in vouchsafing to tell you this for you ought to know that you are now in my power with all those who have provoked the people against me After this Discourse he went to the Doors of the Treasury the Keys whereof not being to be found Caesar sent for People to break open the Locks and when Metellus had still the boldness to dispute it with him in a rage laid his hand upon his Sword and threatned to kill him saying Know young man that it is harder for me to say this than to doe it These words and behaviour of Caesar so terrifi'd Metellus that he retired Caesar took out of the Treasury 3000 pound weight of gold And the example of Metellus was the reason that during the rest of the War never any thing was refused him After this he departed from Rome upon his Spanish expedition having first sent orders to all his Troops to come and join him he received news in Provence that Pompey had sent Rufus into Spain and that by Pompey's intriguing with their Ambassadours when they were at Rome in the beginning of the War the People of Marseilles had resolved to refuse him entrance into their City that Domitius was gone thither with seven Gallies filled with the Slaves Libertines and Peasants that belonged to his Lands and that the Marseillians had called down to their Succour all the Inhabitants of the Neighbouring Mountains Caesar sent for fifteen of the chief Men of the City to desire of them That they would not begin a War with him but rather follow the example of all Italy and submit They returned back to the City to advise upon the matter from whence they sent him this answer That having understood that the People of Rome were divided and that Pompey and Caesar were the heads of the two Parties they had resolved to take neither part where two men were concerned to whom they had equal obligations In the mean time Domitius arriving was received into the City so declaring him General they put their Navy to Sea Caesar incensed at their proceeding besieged the Town with three Legions and ordered twelve Ships of War to be built at Arles which were completed in thirty days Decimus Brutus was appointed to command them and Caius Trebonius his Lieutenant General was left to continue the Siege CHAP. XXII Pompey gathers together great Forces Fabius enters Spain with the Troops belonging to Caesar. THough Pompey's design had at the first been ill interpreted He had too much courage and was too great a Captain to have proceeded in that manner without being obliged by very powerfull reasons He knew well the valour of Caesar's Souldiers inured by ten years service against Warlike Nations and by the merit of their General Besides he was willing to preserve his Reputation and not put himself to the hazard of being beaten without hopes of recovery with Troops but newly raised and unexperienced Besides he could not assure himself of the fidelity of those two Legions which Caesar had surrendered him and who for several years had served under a Man who understood all the arts of making himself beloved It was this which caused him to go into Greece there of such Succours as he could draw out of Asia which was wholly in his Interest to form a body that might be fit to make head against Caesar. In effect in a short time he found that he had a very considerable Army He applyed himself therefore to exercise his Souldiers with an able Fleet to make himself Master at Sea and to furnish himself with Darts Engines and all such Equipage as was necessary for him He reckoned much too upon his Army that was in Spain composed all of very good Legions hoping that if Caesar lost not his Reputation he might at least lose there the best of his Souldiers which must indeed have succeeded as Pompey imagined had he himself been at the head of that Army or had he sent any of his best Officers to command it But Caesar who knew the condition it was in said with his usual confidence that he went to find an Army without a General but that he should come back and find a General without an Army Afranius Petreius and Varro commanded in Spain for Pompey and understanding by Vibullius Rufus that Caesar was upon his march to attack them upon this advice they resolved that Petreius should join with Afranius and that Varro with his Troops should guard the inner part of the Countrey They making choice of Lerida for the Post where they would attend the coming of Caesar. Afranius had three Legions and Petreius two others with four and twenty Cohorts of the Natives of the Countrey and five thousand Horse Caesar had caused the passages of the Pyreneans to be possessed by three Legions Commanded by Fabius who after having put to flight some of Afranius his Troops that guarded those Defiles was advanced into Catalonia Caesar followed him with three other Legions three thousand Horse which had accompanied him all his Conquests and as many Gallick Cavalry composed all of the noblest and bravest Men of that Nation besides the Gascons and the Basques There ran at this time a report that Pompey would come by Mauritania to put himself at the head of his Army which caused Caesar to use extrâ—me diligence and to assure himself of his Troops by an extraordinary way of proceeding For he borrow'd certain sums of Money of all his Officers which he distributed amongst his Souldiers by that means engaging his Officers by their own proper interests and his Souldiers by his liberality CHAP. XXIII Caesar joyns his Army and marches against Petreius and Afranius LErida is a City of Catalonia within twenty miles of the Ebre situated upon an advanced ground between the Rivers Segre and Cinga Fabius had advanced himself between these two Rivers and had caused two Bridges to be laid over the Segre four thousand paces distance from each other for the convenience of Forrage The Enemies Generals had done the same thing for the same reason So that the Cavalry of both Parties were every day engaged There happened at the same time a fierce fight between two of Fabius's Legions and Afranius with four of his The two Legions were commanded by Plancus and had certainly been put
for Peace in sending to them to demand it was a sufficient Testimony that every body did entertain sentiments of Iustice and Amity except Afranius and his Collegue who without having any regard to the rules of truce and intervews had barbarously butchered his men after having surprized them by a false shew of Friendliness and good intention that they being therefore justly fallen into a condition which such arrogance and obstinacy deserved were reduced to implore that with submission which they had before refused with contempt but that nevertheless he would not pretend to take any advantage either of their submission or the favours of Fortune but onely oblige them to dismiss those Troops that for so long time had born Arms against him That and something more he added against the Conduct of his Enemies and in fine said That as he had no design though he might easily do it to make use of those Troops for his assistence so he would take care they should not be employed to his prejudice that therefore they should quit the Province and discharge their Souldiers which was the onely condition of Peace he had to propose Afranius's Souldiers approved of this discourse and testified their joy by their acclamations so every thing was ordered accordingly and those who were setled in Spain were discharged upon the place the others were to be dismissed so soon as they arrived at the River Avarus Caesar promised to furnish them with Provisions till they came to that place and not to compell any of them to take Party in his Troops which was all faithfully performed Caesar's Lieutenant General guarded them with two Legions as far as Avarus where they had liberty to depart It is true that the greatest part of them ingaged themselves voluntarily in Caesar's Service and the two Generals went to find out Pompey Caesar that he might leave himself no Enemy in Spain caused two Legions to advance under the Command of Cassius Longinus and went himself to Cordova with six hundred Horse Varro who commanded for Pompey had made some preparations there towards War after having a long time disputed with himself which side he should take but at the arrival of Caesar all the Towns and one intire Legion abandon'd Varro this obliged him to retire to Cadiz where he had some Shipping In the mean while Caesar becoming Master of the whole Province Varro himself came to seek him out and surrendred the remainder of his Forces into his hands Caesar at that time leaving Longinus with four Legions in Spain after having drawn great sums of Money out of all the Towns he Embarked himself on board Varro's Ships to go to Tarragona from whence he went by land to Narbone and so to the siege of Marseilles CHAP. XXX The continuation of the Siege of Marseilles and the taking of that City Caesar chosen Dictatour The defeat and death of Curio in Africa THAT City still held out against Trebonius who besieged it by Land and Decimus Brutus who attacked it by Sea and its obstinacy had like to have cost it its intire ruine The Inhabitants under the conduct of Domitius and assisted by the Mountaneirs near the City a fierce People and very good Souldiers having twice given Battel by Sea to Brutus though with some difficulty had been beaten in again They were also attacked by Land and blocked up by Lines and other Works Necessity had driven them also to make use of Artifices and under the pretence of a Treaty which made Caesar's Souldiers negligent they made a strong Sally in which they burnt a great many Towers and Warlike Engines and this was the reason that the Siege lasted so long besides Trebonius had orders from Caesar not to force the place for fear it should be utterly laid in Ruines by the unruliness of the Souldiers Caesar arrived just as they were reduced to their last extremity and when the Plague was already got amongst the People who had been for so long time shut up They sent Deputies to him for a fair Capitulation during which time Dumitius made his escape by Sea Caesar pardoned them in favour as he said of their Name and Antiquity rather than for any other merit upon condition that they should surrender to him all their Arms and Engines of War and give him all the Money that was in the City so after having left two Legions there in Garrison and sending the other into Italy he departed for Rome where the news of his Conquests had caused him to be chosen Dictatour by Marcus Lepidus who was then Pretor but that good fortune which seemed hitherto to be inseparable from his Party forsook him in Africa whither Curio was gone from Sicily with two Legions and 500 Horse This young Man full of fire and courage but without much experience in War had to doe with Attius Varus a Lieutenant of Pompey's assisted by that Quintillius Varus whom Caesar had set at liberty when he had taken him Prisoner in Corfinium and Iuba King of Mauritania This Prince was a particular Enemy to Curio by reason that when he was Tribune he had proposed the reducing of his Kingdom into a Province Quintillius being acquainted with Curio's Souldiers when they had served in Corfinium tried at first to debauch some of them but Curio preserved their Faith by his Eloquence and the consideration of the Name and Victories of Caesar and to keep them in employment led them on to attack the Camp of Attius Varus near Vtica the Battel was very bloudy and at last Caesar's Men became Masters of the Camp Varus was wounded and Curio laid Siege to Vtica when Iuba arrived with great Forces within Twenty five Miles of the place Curio was much too weak for Iuba and expecting the coming up of new Troops his design was not to expose himself to a Battel when the African caused a report to be spread that some Important Affairs called him back into his Countrey and that he would leave Saburra one of his Lieutenants with part of his Forces to raise the Siege of Curio's Youth saith Caesar animated with courage and the good success of his first exploits made him too easily to believe that report so he resolved for fighting and went to find Saburra upon the River Bagadra where he was encamped At his first coming he surprised the Enemies Numidian Horse whereof he made a great slaughter and as he understood that Saburra Commanded those Troops his present joy and future hopes hindred him from seeking any farther Information So with his Troops wearied as they were he marched directly upon the Enemy Iuba hearing of this sent Two thousand Gallick and Spanish Horse which were of his Guards to his Lieutenant with orders to retreat in fighting towards him He was but six Miles from Saburra and Marched that hour with his whole Army and Forty Elephants Saburra following the King's Command drew up his Men in Battalia and made a kind of retreat which
caused Curio to attack him very fiercely and though for mere weariness a great many of his Horse had abandoned him Saburra would make no opposition but with his own Cavalry against Curio's which consisted onely of Two hundred Horse and with this Squadron where-ever he attacked them he made the Enemy give way The Cohorts of the Legions had the same success but the Enemy always Rallied in expectation of Iuba's Succour At last the Romans finding themselves hemmed in by the numbers which all of a sudden increased upon them Curio began to see his fault He would have made an attempt to have gained a Mountain with his Foot but Saburra opposed him with all his Horse Then Domitius who commanded Curio's would have persuaded him to have saved himself with what Cavalry he had left promising not to forsake him Can I sayes Curio look Caesar in the Face after having lost an Army which he hath trusted to my Conduct At these words he threw himself amongst the midst of his Enemies where he was slain the rest of his Troops were cut in pieces and Iuba used the Victory with so much Insolence that he caused all the other Cohorts who were in the Camp and to whom Varus had given his word for their safety to be killed in cold bloud So Caesar lost two Legions and all Africk entire which afterwards remained for Pompey's Party whose hopes by this defeat of Curio overcame his despair for the loss of Spain CHAP. XXXI Pompey's Forces The Defeat of Dylabella and Caesar's Lieutenants Brutus goes to find out Pompey BY this means almost all the World becoming ingaged in the Quarrel of these two Men was sensible of the Calamities of War which that division had produced Pompey had brought over all the East to his Interest and during the time of Caesar's being at Rome and in Spain had drawn together very powerfull Armies both by Sea and Land his Land Army consisted of three Roman Legions effective without reckoning the other two which Scipio his Brother-in-law brought him Three thousand Archers of Crete of Lacedemonia and of Pontus Eight Cohorts of Slingers and 7000 Horse composed besides the Roman Knights of Succours sent from Deijotarus King of Galitia Ariobarzakes King of Cappadocia Cotis and Rhascupolis Kings of Thrace and Antiochus King of Comagena these Troops were distributed into Curazzo and Apollonia and over all that Coast to oppose the coming down of Caesar the Naval Army consisted of Five hundred great Ships without reckoning Vessels that were rowed with Oars as Gallies Brigantines and others the Principal Commanders were Pompey's eldest Son called after his own Name Decius Lâ—lius Cajus Triarius Cajus Cassius Cajus Marcellus Scribonius Libo and Marcus Octavius all these Commanders had their particular Squadrons and received Orders from Bibulus who executed the Office of Admiral Besides these Forces Pompey had drawn great Sums of Money out of Asia and Greece And to recompence himself in some manner for the loss of Spain had caused Dolabella and Cajus Antonius who commanded for Caesar on the Coast of Illyria to be attached Dolabella was easily routed and Cajus who came to his succour not being strong enough to keep the Sea was driven into the Island of Corcyra where Octavius and Libo besieged him He defended himself very well but at last his Souldiers prest by Famine and corrupted by Puleio one of their Centurions surrendred themselves to Octavius and betrayed also their Commandant into his hands Some Officers who thought to save themselves over Land being pursued by the Enemy flew themselves and not one Man of all those Troops escaped These advantages which daily kept up the reputation of his Party still engaged more persons of consideration to come and join themselves with Pompey so that he found he had in his Camp above 200 Senatours whereof he composed a body and they assembled themselves in the form of a Senate In one of these Assemblies by the advice of Cato it was determined that no Roman Citizen should be put to death out of Battel and that no Town subject to the Roman Empire should be sacked In effect this Laudable and Honourable Decree drew the good wishes of the People upon the Authours of it and gave the reputation of great Justice and Humanity to their designs and was the occasion that the fortune of Caesar hung for a long time doubtfull and it was upon this pretence also that Brutus afterwards Conspired against him Brutus had a great deal of reason to hate Pompey who had caused his Father to be put to death Nevertheless that Severe Vertue whereof he made profession and the example of Cato who was his Uncle and Father-in-law ingaged him in that party which he thought had the most Justice on its side And though he would never speak to Pompey nor indeed so much as salute him he nevertheless disdained not then to serve under him to shew that he could sacrifice his particular resentments to the Interest of the Republick Pompey received him with a great deal of Joy and did him signal honours But Brutus in consideration of his youth would take no employment but rather chose to leave the Commands to those who were above him in age as well as dignity CHAP. XXXII A Mutiny amongst Caesar's Troops he reduces them to their duty by his Eloquence and Resolution He is chosen Consul with Servilius and makes new Laws IN the meanwhile Caesar being still at Marseilles received news that the Souldiers of the ninth Legion were in Mutiny at Plaisance against their Commanders demanding their discharges and the Money which had been promised to each of them at the beginning of the War But that which stuck in their stomachs was that they were prohibited the liberty of Plundering which they hoped to have obtained from the need which he had of their service It was Caesar's Maxime never to condescend upon these occasions but to support himself by a resolute Conduct and the Authority which he had gotten So he posted to Plaisance with some Troops and calling the Mutineers together I know not says he what ill fortune opposes the end of my good Intentions But I desire to have no others to bear witness than your selves of the diligence which I have used in War which if it be prolonged it has not been my fault but the fault of my enemies who fly before us After the Conquest of Gaul where every one of you under my Conduct got both Riches and Honour we began this War by Common Consent nor was it the effect of any private deliberations We have begun and carried it on unanimously but now when it is arrived to its greatest height you seek for a pretenâ—e to abandon me and instead of obeying your Officers you would command them This is that which obliges me to throw off that mildness and humanity which I have hitherto used to put in practice the Maximes of Petreius and I command instantly a Decimation of the Ninth
having taken one of his Gallies with those Shallops that belong'd to their Vessels fortified with Hurdles in the manner of a Parrapet and Manned with good Souldiers Then they Embarked their Troops and departed from Brundusium the weather being very fair and the wind South Caesar had written very earnestly to them upon this occasion and commanded them to come and land at Apollonia they made their passage in a days time and when they were arrived within sight of Apollonia and Durazzo Coponius went out with the Rhodian Squadron which he commanded to hinder their coming in The wind was favourable to Caesar's People and began to encrease in the moment that the Enemy appeared Coponius was nevertheless resolved to follow them and Ceasar's Generals who were for avoiding a fight at Sea put themselves into the Haven of Nimphis three miles above Lisso This Haven was sheltred from the South-East wind but was exposed to the South and by extraordinary good Fortune the wind which had been at South for two days together changed to the South-East in the very moment that they cast Anchor so those of Caesar got safe into a good Haven and Coponius's Squadron was driven upon the Coast with so much violence that all his Vessels perished the Souldiers and Seamen were most of them drowned and the rest fell into Caesar's hands who afterwards gave them their liberty Two of Antonius's Ships who could not follow the rest came to an Anchor near Lisso whom Ottacilius Crassus who Commanded for Pompey caused to be attacked with Shallops and other little Boats One of the Ships had in her 220 new raised Levies and the other 200 old Souldiers the new raised men being terrified with the number of the Enemy surrendred themselves to Ottacilius upon his Parole who nevertheless with horrid perfidy put them all to the Sword but the Veterans amusing the Enemy by a feigned Capitulation made the Seamen run their Vessel a shore where they saved themselves and after having repulsed and beaten six hundred Horse whom Ottacilius sent against them they went and joined themselves with Antonius The City of Lisso also revolted against Ottacilius who retreated towards Pompey leaving the place to Antonius who immediately took it into his possession CHAP. XXXVI Marcus Antonius joins himself with Caesar in spight of Pompey who retreats to Aspargua near Durazzo ANtonius had with him three old Legions two Legions of new raised Souldiers and eight hundred Horse He sent his Ships into Italy to transport the rest of the Troops and kept onely his flat bottomed Boats at Lisso which were a sort of Vessels the Gâ—ulâ— were wont to make use of to the end that if Pompey should have a design of putting to Sea Caesar might be in a condition to follow him Then Antonius gave him an account of his arrival and where he was Pompey at the same time learned the news by those who had seen the Ships under Sail before Durâ—â—zo These two Generals were encamped upon the River of Apse and as their Camps were onely separated by that River the Souldiers had frequent Parley 's which 〈◊〉 the â—â—st Propoâ—â—oâ—â— that ever 〈◊〉 made for an Accommodation Vibullius Rufus when Caesar sent him had made the first overture but Pompey by the advice of Libo of Luceius and a certain Greek named Theophanes who was his chief Confident stâ—â—d out upon a point of Honour at that time something unseasonable at least if we may believe Caesar in his Commentaries saying That he could not bear the thinking that his life and his return to Rome should appear to the world as a favour bestowed upon him by Caesar. Nevertheless Caesar's Lieutenant endeavoured to renew the Conference upon the River of Apse and on Pompey's behalf Varro had promised there should be a Meeting to that purpose All the Lieutenant Generals of both Parties agreed upon a day for Conference when they came to the place appointed Labienus advanced and after having spoke something upon the Subject they were to treat of he was interrupted by a great number of Arrows and other Darts which were shot at Caesar's Lieutenants Vatinius was sheltered by the Bucklers of the Souldiers who were with him but Cornelius Balbus Plotius and Tiburtius were wounded and Labienus cryed out with great insolence That it was to no purpose to speak farther of peace if they brought not with them the head of Caesar This is what he himself hath reported and that from this moment he thought of nothing but War this happened some time before the coming of Antonius so the two Generals decamped in the same day Caesar to join himself with Antonius and Pompey to hinder him He had no River to pass as Caesar had but went and posted himself in a place which he thought most proper for an Ambuscade which he laid for Antonius but he being advised of it by the Greeks of the Countrey entrenched himself in a Post where he stayed and expected Caesar who soon after arrived and Pompey fearing to be hemmed in between the two Armies retreated to Aspargua near Durazzo leaving Antonius the liberty of joining Caesar which he did the same day So Caesar and Pompey at the head of all their Troops were in a readiness to dispute the Empire of the world and all the glory which they both had gotten in War and as they have obscured the lustre and reputation of all those who went before them and as their names to this day are made use of when ever we would describe the qualifications of an able General The account of all their proceedings cannot but afford us great use as well as pleasure We have here taken it out of the Commentaries of Caesar who as far as we are able to judge has reported it with all sincerity CHAP. XXXVII Caesar offers Battel to Pompey who refuses it They both post themselves near Durazzo Caesar hemmed in by the lines of Pompey's Camp CAesar after having drawn together all his Army and knowing that Pompey was at Aspargua marched directly towards him and in his passage forced a Burrough Town where Pompey had left a Garrison After three days march he came in sight of the Enemies Camp and fortified his own from whence the next day he drew out all his Troops to offer Battel to Pompey who refused it and came not forth Caesar knew from that moment that he must take other measures So he decamped the next day to go towards Durazzo and though he was forced to march by certain Defiles which were very incommodious he had two designs either to reduce Pompey to shut himself up in Durazzo or to cut off his passage thither forasmuch as all his Provisions and Equipage of War was there which last design in part succeeded Pompey believed at the first by the motion of Caesar's Troops that they were forced to draw off for want to Provisions but when he understood his design by his Spies and those whom he sent to make incursions into the Countrey
The next day he began to march hoping that he might prevent the Enemy by a shorter way than that which they had been forced to make use of But Caesar having foreseen what might happen and incouraging his Souldiers by his words and his own Example left them onely a small part of the night to rest themselves in and arrived the next morning under the Walls of Durazzo when they began to discover the Van of Pompey's Army who immediately calling a Council of War went and possessed himself of a Hill called Petra which commanded the Sea and under which there was a small shelter for Ships where very few winds could come to annoy them They both immediately intrenched themselves in the Posts they had taken Pompey caused a party of his Ships to come under his Camp and immediately sent into Asia and the other Countries which held for him to fetch Provisions and Ammunition Caesar perceiving then that the War might in all likelyhood last long that he had very little Corn and that his places of Retreat on the Coasts of Italy and Spain were very uncertain sent Canuleius one of his Lieutenants into Epirus He caused Magazines to be lodged from place to place in regard that Province was a great way off and ordered all the Neighbouring Towns to come out and work at the Carriages Moreover he caused what Corn could be found in the Island in the Burrough Towns of the Parthians and all the other Castles to be brought in to him But as that Soil could furnish him with very little Pompey having already ruined all those places and taken away the Corn the succours proved to be but very inconsiderable This put Caesar upon a design which he conceived might be feasible from the nature and disposition of the ground All round Pompey's Camp there were certain little Hills that were high and hard to climb these Caesar possessed himself of and built Towers upon them in the nature of Redoubts then causing lines of Communication to be drawn from Mountain to Mountain or other works according to the disposition of the place endeavoured by that circumvallation to block up Pompey Pompey on his part endeavoured to extend himself and take in as much of the Countrey as was possible with the length of his Works which he carried on very far fortifying from Hill to Hill so that with four and twenty Redoubts he possessed a space of 15000 paces where his Cavalry found Forrage and where also there were abundance of Fields sown with Corn We shall not undertake to judge of the Conduct of these great Men to rashly as other Authours have done who have declared that all those Works were of no use nor advantage for they had both of them their particular reasons for what they did and Caesar has reported some of his saying That his design was to cut off from Pompey 's Cavalry the liberty of going out in Parties for that they were more in number than his and might very much incommode his Convoy's take from him the conveniency of Forrage and by that means render them unfit for service Besides his business was to beat down that high esteem which kept up Pompey 's Party amongst the Nations that were Strangers when all the world should know that he was invested by Caesar and that he durst not venture the hazard of a Battel For it was that which Pompey could by no means be brought to nor to go far from the Sea from whence he had all his Provisions nor from Durazzo where were all his Engines his Darts and other Ammunitions of War and in fine it appears with great likelyhood that these Leaders both of them accomplished in the Art of War and instructed by long experience of the many advantages which a sudden occasion well managed might offer especially between two Armies so near to one another were both of them watchfull for the first opportunity In effect as Caesar's Men dayly carried on their Works to prevent their being attacked in their Rere those of Pompey did the same to enlarge themselves and hinder the Enemy from assaulting them upon the Flancks They had the advantage in number besides their 's being the innermost circumvallation was not extended so far as Caesar's And though Pompey avoided a general Battel nevertheless he dayly sent out his Archers and Slingers against the Enemy which obliged Caesar's Souldiers to make certain Blinds with Clothes and Skins for their defence against the Arrows CHAP. XXXVIII A fght between Caesar and Pompey's Troops CAesar applied himself principally to shut up the Enemy with his lines who on their part endeavoured the gaining more ground which was the reason that no day passed without some encounter or other Caesar's ninth Legion had taken possession of an advanced ground where they began to fortify themselves when from a Neighbouring eminence almost level with it Pompey sent his Lancers against that Legion and then caused his light armed Souldiers to advance with Engines wherewith he played upon those that wrought Therefore as it was a very hard task for Caesar's Souldiers to fight and work both at the same time and considering how they were battered on every side he resolved to draw them off but as he was to make his retreat by the steep part of the Mountain it proved a business very nice and dangerous The Enemy who believed that their fear was the occasion of their retreat became more fierce and prest them so much the closer and it has been observed that Pompey was so far transported as to say That he would be contended to be thought no Souldier if Caesar 's Legions got off from that place where they had so rashly engaged themselves without loss Nevertheless this was Caesar's design he caused a great many Hurdles to be brought and planted towards the front of the Enemy upon the bending of the hill behind these he ordered the throwing up of a little Ditch and all the Avenues to be intangled and filled up with cumbersome matter after this he drew up his Slingers to favour the retreat and marched his Legions through their intervals This proceeding augmented the fury of Pompey's Souldiers who had already thrown down the Hurdles to pass the Ditch when Caesar gave the word of Command to face about and after that Antonius who Commanded that Legion had exhorted them to behave themselves well he Commanded to sound a charge and attack those that were come over the Souldiers at their close order discharged their Javelins and running up with their Swords in their hands drove back those of Pompey and put them to flight The Ditch the Hurdles and the other incumbrances incommoded them very much and was the occasion that a great many of them perished but Caesar's Men being contented to have secured their Retreat returned back after having killed a great number of the Enemy and onely lost five Men of their own This manner of making War from Mountain to Mountain was doubtless very extraordinary
it almost over all the parts of the World Cato was at Durazzo during the Battle at Pharsalia where he Commanded a Powerfull Fleet From thence he went into the Island of Corsira meeting there with Cicero who had not been at the Battel and many other Senatours who had escaped thither from it amongst whom was the Eldest Son of Pompey Cato who always was for governing himself according to the prescription of the Law offered the Command of the Army to Cicero who had been Consul who not thinking himself fit for such a Charge refused it which provoked this Pompey's Son and all the young Men of his Party against him They called him Traitour and drew their Swords upon him So that had not Cato's Authority interposed and appeased him they had certainly slain him he escaped in a terrible fright to Brundusium from whence he Wrote to Oppius and Balbus who were with Caesar to excuse the choice he had made of an unfortunate Party and though his Brother Quintus by some provocation whereof he complains in many of his Letters without mentioning the Cause had accused him to Caesar and though Quintus his Son had done him very ill offices nevertheless Caesar pardoned him and treated him very kindly in his return to Italy The others took different Parties and Cato retreated into Africa where he expected to meet with Pompey whose eldest Son he sent into Spain Cassius Longinus whom Caesar had left there was very much embroiled with those People and with his Souldiers themselves whom he had used so ill that he was wounded as he sate in his Tribunal This affair had very great consequences and Marcellus though Caesar's Friend had declared himself against Longinus and made War upon him when Lepidus arrived on Caesar's part to inquire into the cause of their Division Longinus refused to obey But as he retreated by Sea with what Booty he had got together in his Government he perished in the Mouth of the Ebre These Divisions gave time to young Pompey to practise upon those People and many of the Roman Souldiers who still retained a great veneration for the Name of his Father and to gather together some time afterwards a considerable Army When Scipio had joined himself in Africa with King Iuba and Attius Varus and by that means enabled himself to renew a dangerous War in that Province being assisted by Ten thousand Men which Cato brought him The youngest of Pompey's Children had met him upon the Coasts of Africa where he understood from Cato the death of his Father which obliged him to go and cast Anchor at Cyrena where he passed the Winter from thence he went forward to the Desarts of Lybia after having furnished himself with Provisions and Water and especially of those sort of Men who by sucking cure the Wounds made by the bites of Serpents who very much abound in these Desarts and who have also the art of Charming them It was in this seven days journey that the Constancy of Cato ought much to be admired for he Marched always on foot the foremost at the head of his Troops always drinking the last nor that neither till all the rest of his Army had undergon the extremest Thirst and were running to quench it at the Wells which they found in those Desarts At last he arrived at Scipio and Iuba's Camp But the Insolence of that King of the Barbarians grew soon disgustfull to him and caused him to retire into the City of Vtica after having left his Troops with Scipio who with those of Iuba formed them into a Body very formidable to Caesar who besides had received advice that his Affairs were extremely intangled at Rome whither he had sent Anthony in quality of the General of the Cavalry This was the second Dignity next to that of Dictatour and in Caesar's absence gave Antonius absolute Command of the Republick Dolabella was then Tribune of the People and Antonius's Friend and in Caesar's Interest he had conceived a Project in his head to cause all the ancient Contracts to be broken that so he might be called upon at Rome to make new Tables and Antonius at the first assisted his design but entertaining some suspicion that Dolabella had gotten too familiar an acquaintance with his Wife he turned her away and joined himself with some of the Senatours who were for opposing the Tribune As they were both fierce young Men and of great Quality this Division of theirs had very ill consequences they came in Arms to the Publick Place where after a great Combat Dolabella was put to flight CHAP. LVII Caesar goes into Asia THIS news extremely troubled Caesar who was afraid lest these Divisions might at last ruine his Party and that the Insolence of his Officers might render him yet more Odious to the Romans He knew besides that the Souldiers which he had sent into Italy had thrown off all manner of Military Discipline and that his presence onely could be of force to bring them back to their duty So he resolved to take a Journey into Asia for the establishing of Peace in those Provinces and then go to Rome Syria being in Peace he left there Sextus Caesar his Kinsman with one Legion and afterwards embarked himself to go into Cilicia where landing he advanced by great Marches as far as Galatia There Dejotarus the Tetrarch of that Province called King of Armenia by the Senate came to find him out and excuse himself for having followed Pompey's Party Caesar received him with a great deal of Humanity and after having something reproached him with the good Offices which he had heretofore done him at Rome he caused Dejotarus to take again those marks of Royalty which he had quitted and join the Troops of that King with his own From thence he marched against Pharnaces who had possessed himself of Cappadocia and the lesser Armenia under Dejotarus and who had defeated Domitius Calvinus one of his Lieutenants This Prince who knew what necessity of Affairs called Caesar to Rome sought onely to gain time and to that purpose sent Ambassadours to Caesar They besought him not to treat their King as an Enemy for the sake of Dejotarus who had sent Troops to Pompey since Pharnaces had never assisted him neither with Men nor Money that at least he would be as favourable to him as he had been to that Prince whom he had pardoned but that nevertheless in what manner soever it should be his fortune to be treated he should always observe his Orders Caesar answered That that would be the best way of shewing himself a Friend That what he said of Dejotarus had no relation to the affairs in hand since all the world knew that he received not less joy in pardoning those many particular injuries which were done to himself than in revenging such as had been offered to the Republick This was because Pharnaces pufft up with his Victory had treated the Roman Citizens which were in his Provinces with
himself ventring to come down was received by them with Applause this again assured the Conspiratours so they returned to the publick place where Brutus was accompanied with the most considerable Men of the Senate even to the Tribunal wherein he designed to speak to the People Several Authours have reported that he came onely with Cassius and that their Hands were yet besmeared with Caesar's bloud However it were all they said shewed a great deal of Resolution They maintained that what they had done was not onely just but that it deserved to be rewarded attributing the glory to one another with large and reciprocal Praises After this they proceeded to the Commendation of Decimus who had so seasonably assisted them with his Gladiatours and exhorted the People To maintain that Liberty and good Fortune which they had procured them that they should remember how their Ancestours had heretofore expelled Kings whose Government was no less unjust and violent than Caesar 's had been In fine they proposed the return of Sextus the Son of Pompey and to make Celerius and Marullus Tribunes of the People who had first dared as they said To attack the Tyranny in taking the Diadem from Caesar 's Statue The People gave great attention to their Discourse But when Cinna advanced to speak it soon appeared that their silence proceeded onely from that respect which they bore to the Vertue of Brutus This Cinna had received many benefits from Caesar and even the Charge of Pretor which was the second Dignity in the Republick the Pretors were to distribute particular Justice and Commanded also Armies in several Provinces that were assigned them Cinna stripped himself of the Robe which was the mark of his Dignity and threw it from him with Contempt saying That he would not be honoured with the favours of a Tyrant He extolled the action of the Conspiratours and proposed that they might be rewarded with extraordinary Honours but his discourse and behaviour appeared so odious to the People that they were provoked against him and interrupted him with Affronts and Curses Nevertheless Dollabella forbore not to present himself to speak after him he was a young Man in great Esteem and Cicero's Son-in-Law Caesar had designed to have left him Consul in Rome when he went to the Parthian War nevertheless he condemned the Memory of that great Man and those who during his life time had so much honoured him He applauded the Murther and transported himself so far as to express his sorrow for not having had a part in so glorious an Action The commotion of the People against Câ—â—â—s taught Brutus and Cassius what they were to expect The returned to the Capitol where Brutus fearing to be besieged caused several Senatours who merely in point of Honour had followed him to return to their Houses not thinking it just that those who had no share in the Action should be ingaged in the danger CHAP. III. Antonius and Lepidus rally Caesar's Friends Some propositions of Accommodation THIS News extremely rejoyced Caesar's Friends the chief whereof were Marcus Antonius and Lepidus Antonius was very Illustrious both by his Birth and his Valour being descended from one of the noblest Families in Rome which derived it's Original from Anton the Son of Hercules He was of a very comely Personage upon all occasions Magnificent and passionately beloved by the Souldiery His bounty and that familiarity wherewith he was wont sometimes to debauch with them had engaged them to him The Criticks of his Age have reproached him for being too much addicted to his Pleasures but that inclination never hindred him from behaving himself with great resolution upon all weighty occasions and necessity evermore awakened his Vertue But Pleasure at last got the better of him and cost him his life besides when ill Fortune had imbittered his Spirit he could not forbear discovering some inclinations towards Avarice and Cruelty He was ingaged in the Fortunes of Caesar and Caesar had made him General of the Cavalry which was the second Dignity of Rome when it was under a Dictatour and at the time of Caesar's death he was Consul Now the Consulship was the highest Dignity amongst the Romans in the time of the Commonwealth and lasted but for one year it was executed by two Persons who had equal Authority who were chosen by the Voices of the People and who Commanded within and without the City It is true that the Dictatour was yet above the Consul but he was never made but upon extraordinary occasions of the greatest importance and he it was who named the General of the Cavalry Sylla first and Caesar after him added to the time and duration of that Dignity even at last to make it perpetual but that was without Example and they have been both reproached with it as a Tyrannical Actionâ— Lepidus also was of Illustrious Extraction very rich and no less considerable in Româ— for his Civility and the great Charges that he had executed he at this time Commanded the Cavalry by Commission in the room of Caesar's Nephew whose charge it was He was much esteemed for his honesty but he wanted that resolution which is necessary upon all difficulties especially amongst such People as he had to deal withall Both these Men were at the Senate when Caesar was slain It is true that the Conspiratours who stood in fear of the vigour and courage of Antonius had given charge to Trebonius to make use of some pretence to stop him at the Hall door but they both got off in the throng Antonius into the House of one of his Friends and Lepidus into the Island made by the Tyber in the middle of Rome where he had a Legion of Souldiers that loved Caesar. He marched them into a place called the field of Mars there to expect Antonius's Orders who ought to Command by reason of his Dignity When they understood the astonishment of the Senate and how the minds of the People were disposed they resolved to revenge the death of their Friend while Brutus and those of his Party were consulting what course to take at last the conclusion was to send Deputies to Antonius and Lepidus To desire them to consider the misfortune that their division might bring upon their common Countrey The Deputies had orders to handle the Articles of Caesar's Murther with all niceness That no hatred to his Person had put them upon that design but onely the love they bore their Countrey who had already been so drained by Civil Wars that any new disunion must certainly carry away the miserable remainder that they â—elieved them also too generous to let any particular hatred transport them to the prejudice of the Publick Yet these reasons alone were not of force enough to convince Antonius and Lepidus but as they feared that Sextus might declare against them and lest Decimus who had obtained from Caesar the Government of the Cisalpine Gall should fall upon them with a powerfull Army which he
in that action and at his death Several have reported circumstances otherwise but all agree in this that Messala a long time afterwards presenting Strato to Augustus said See here Caesar the Man who paid the last offices to my Brutus and that Augustus extremely cherished Strato who afterwards served him very faithfully Antonius hearing the next day of Brutus's death went to the place where the Body still lay and covered it himself with a rich Coat of Armour which he wore and when news was brought him afterwards that some body had stripped him he caused the Thief to be taken and put to death The Body was burnt by his orders and the ashes sent to Servilia Brutus's Wife whose name was Porcia and was Cato of Vtica's Daughter so that having such a Father and such a Husband we may easily imagine what were the maxims of that Vertue which she so openly made profession of and she was resolved to give proofs of it by a death by which she out-did the fury of those two Men whom she most tenderly loved And though since the death of her Husband she was so strictly observed that it was impossible for her either to make use of Poison or Dagger she swallowed so many hot Coals and Ashes that she choaked her self Though to speak the truth of the matter there is a great deal of reason to believe that this kind of death was rather invented by the Wits who were desirous to report that tragical adventure in all its circumstances and make as they have done a Subject for a good Epigram since Plutarch assures us that he had seen some of Brutus's Letters wherein he complains of his friends at Rome for suffering Porcia to die of Melancholy Brutus's Friends and his Officers took different parties all those who knew themselves guilty of Caesar's death slew themselves with their own hands the others rallying with Messala Bibulus and Cornificius sent Deputies to Caesar and Antonius for an honourable composition which the two Generals frankly allowed of so they went into their Army with 14000 Men who yet might have made a great deal of disturbance in a fortified Camp and that was the reason which facilitated the Capitulation And the Camp was afterwards given up to be plundered By this famous overthrow the Triumviri at last established themselves in an authority which none were found powerfull enough to dispute with them and which gave the last blow to the Roman liberty The death of Caesar was revenged and by this Victory did his Son begin to lay the foundations of an Empire which at last for its grandeur and extent has never yet been equalled THE CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE Second Triumvirate CHAP. I. After the Battel of Philippi Anthony and Caesar bring their Enemies to punishment They part the Forces of Pompey Caesar goes into Italy AS the love of Liberty was the most predominant passion the Romans had so never any people defended with more vigour that good which they valued more than their Lives It was this that bred so many divisions among them and was the cause of such bloudy Wars in which one of the parties always had the specious pretence of upholding the publick Liberty But as the last sighs and groans are usually most violent so the Battel of Philippi which was the last effort of the dying Commonwealth was the greatest struggle that ever she had for the maintaining her authority The Sedition of the Gracchi was the first where the Bloud of Roman Citizens was shed however that seemed to be but onely a Popular Commotion seeing it was decided in the Forum in an hours time The Wars that were kindled afterwards between Marius and Sylla had longer and more fatal consequences But then Italy or rather Rome onely was the Theatre of them and what animosity soever appeared between the two Parties the rest of the World felt nothing of it The division of Caesar and Pompey went much farther the whole Roman Empire was shaken by it But although all its Forces had fought at Pharsalia they were not comparable to those that appeared afterwards at the Battel of Philippi where above 200000 effective Men were in Arms commanded by the greatest Generals of that time Besides too in the forementioned Commotions several Senatours thought they might very well stand neuters out of their respect to the Commonwealth whose name at least in appearance was still reverenced whereas in this last occasion the mask being laid aside by the proceeding and declarations of the Triumvirs all management and conduct was useless and there was an absolute necessity of taking one side or t'other for Liberty or against it But that was utterly ruined by the defeat of Brutus and from that moment Caesar and Anthony began to act as Sovereigns and divide the Roman Empire as theirs by Conquest for though Lepidus had his share of the Government yet as he had had none in the danger of the Wars he was but very little considered all the love of the Souldiers which was the firmest prop of their Empire being turned in favour of those that had headed them upon all occasions The following days after the Victory were employ'd by the Triumvirs in punishing their foes Anthony sacrificed Hortensius to the memory of his Brother Caius and put Varro to death who reproach'd him with his debauches and in some sort did then foretell the miserable end he himself should come to Livius Drusus the Father of that Livia who was afterwards married to Augustus killed himself in his Tent and Quintilius Varus adorned with all the marks of the honours and dignities he had passed through made himself be slain by his freedman Caesar upon this occasion appeared much more cruel than Anthony whether it were that the pain and uneasiness of his sickness had sowred his humour or that he really had a bent to cruelty or what is more likely had his temper so much at command that he put on gentleness or severity as in policy was necessary He sent the Head of Brutus to Rome to be thrown at the Feet of his Father's statue and forced a Senatour and his Son to draw Lots for their lives but they both refused it the Father voluntarily gave up himself to execution and the Son stab'd himself before Caesar's face To another that beg'd of him that he might have the Rites of Burial he said that that would soon be at the disposal of the Ravens these and such like bitter words joined to the rigour of his punishments rendred him so odious to the rest of the Prisoners that were brought fettered before them that they saluted Anthony with respect but loaded Caesar with injuries and bloudy reproaches which none did with more violence than Favonius who at his death took all the liberty of speech and railing freedom of a Cynick Philosopher After having thus satisfied their revenge the Triumvirs thought upon establishing their authority Anthony undertook to go into Asia to gather Money in
He sent to Pompey to advance with his Forces and enter Anthony's Troops besides took Sigionte in Ausonia and Pompey besieged the Cities of Thuria and Cosance Caesar marched with his Army in all haste after he had detached Agrippa against Pompey Agrippa re-took Sigionte and beat Pompey from Thuria The Veterans were vexed at this War and while they were drawn together by order of Caesar to goe against Pompey as soon as they knew Anthony and he were joined they refused to march Caesar though he found they were so distasted made them follow him which they did but onely out of a design to come to an agreement In the mean time Anthony had sent for his Army from Macedonia and hardly pressed the besieged He had besides manned several Vessels with Peasants and useless People and brought them into the Port of Brundusium which did much intimidate the besieged thinking he had been re-inforced with considerable Succours He had here a misfortune which yet he fully repaired by his Valour Servilius one of his Officers with 1200 Horse which he commanded went over to Caesar. Anthony received this News as he was at Table he with all his friends that were with him immediately rose and march'd with onely 400 Horse to Iria where Caesar had placed a body of Cavalry of 1500. These men astonished with the presence of Anthony whom by reason of the Victory of Philippi they believed invincible yielded to him and he brought them to his Camp The advanced Parties on both sides came up to the very Works and reproached each other at length Caesar's Souldiers declared to Anthony's that they were come thither to no other end than to oblige their two Generals to a Peace and that if Anthony would not yield to it though they had always a great veneration for his Valour yet they were too much obliged to Caesar not to serve him till death As Anthony very well knew their Valour and Experience these Discourses made him seriously reflect upon the Consequences of these Jarrs It hapned the year before Caesar had sent to him Cocceius and Cecinna the former of these was a very wise well-meaning man and equally obliged to Anthony and Caesar he easily foresaw there might arise some difference between them he therefore sent back Cecinna and staid himself with Anthony When they came to Brundusium he asked permission to return to Caesar offering to carry any Letter from him Anthony refused to write telling him That Caesar was his Enemy That he had nothing to send to him but Reproaches for his foul dealing which he had already told him by Cecinna however added laughing If you please I 'll send twice as many Letters by you to the same purpose Cocceius answered That he ought not to account Caesar his Enemy who had had so much consideration for his brother Lucius and his other friends 'T is then replied Anthony out of pure friendship that he shuts the Gates of Brundusium against me debauches my Souldiers and seizeth upon the Provinces that are fallen to my share for as to his Civilities we understand the motives of them well enough he uses my friends well that by his self-interested Liberalities he may make them my Enemies Cocceius finding him too much moved would insist upon it no longer but went to Caesar who appeared amazed at his return and reproached him with his long stay among his Enemies After some Excuses which Caesar took in good part Cocceius laid before him the Reasons Anthony pretended he had to complain of him upon which Caesar to clear himself said He had not taken the Command of the Army from the Son of Calenus a young man and unexperienced but onely to hinder the design of Lucius who intended to re-establish the Authority of the Common-wealth and that it was contrary to his Orders that the Gates of Brundusium were shut against him but that those who commanded there thought they were obliged to it seeing Anthony allied with Pompey their common Enemy and accompanied with Domitius one of the Assassines of his Father Julius and who had declared himself his Enemy by several acts of hostility Cocceius answered It was true that by their Treaty they engaged themselves not to enter into any Alliance with the Murtherers of Julius Caesar and that Anthony had not neither would he ever forget the respect he owed to his memory that Domitius was none of the Conspiracy not being named in the Decree made against them It was true indeed he had followed Brutus but if he intended to call in question all those that had done the like he would have enough to doe As for Pompey Anthony had not called him to the War but for his assistence in case he were attacked or to bring them to accommodation if he found Caesar disposed to it That besides He thought himself obliged to tell him that he himself was partly the cause of their joining by his making War with the friends of Anthony in Italy without which none durst ever have entertained any correspondence with Pompey Says Caesar then Since you speak of Italy you should not forget the War that Fulvia and Manius kindled against me though all this while Pompey had never the courage to enterprise any thing upon this Countrey onely now he ravages the Coasts backed with the assistence of Anthony There is replies Cocceius something more than this which I will not offer to conceal from you 'T is not the Encouragement of Anthony that gives Pompey this boldness 'T is his positive and particular Command He ' has order to make a descent and land his whole Army which is very considerable and not barely to amuse himself to spoil the Sea coasts but bring the War into the very heart of Italy if you do not quickly make Peace ' Caesar saw well enough whither these Discourses tended and did not in the least take it amiss from Cocceius he onely told him that Pompey had not yet any reason to value himself for his brave Exploits Cocceius then told him of the Death of Fulvia caused by her vexation and the neglect and scorn of her Husband and added that this Obstacle being removed there wanted nothing but to come to a clear understanding of each other to make a perfect Reconciliation Caesar kept Cocceius at Supper and made him lodge with him but he could not be prevailed upon to write to Anthony he onely complained of Iulia because she chose rather to retire into Sicily than give him an opportunity of shewing her the respect he always had for her as being his Kinswoman and that he would honour her no less than his own Mother he prayed Cocceius to assure Iulia of his Sentiments to her and so sent him back to Anthony as he went he saw Caesar's chief Officers and many old Souldiers who all testified the earnest desire they had of an Accommodation because they were not willing to bear Arms against Anthony he therefore informed him of the Intentions of
this People who treated all other Nations as Slaves at this time were dying of hunger without their assistence such a dependence they were reduced to which was without doubt by reason of the incredible number of the Inhabitants and the Desolation the Wars had made in Italy and this is no ordinary Example of the revolution of humane things that at this time Africa was the refuge and as one may say the Nurse of Rome Anthony pressed Caesar either to an Accommodation with Pompey or to a vigorous open War with him to open the Trade but they wanted Money which obliged them to lay on two Impositions the one of four drachma's and a half for every Slave the other upon Successions and Legacies left by Testaments The People irritated by want rose up in opposition to these Edicts and assaulted Caesar in the Forum and Anthony going to his aid was at first spared by the Rabble who cryed out and bid him retire while he advised them to be peaceable but when he endeavoured to scatter the Mutineers they threw Stones at him too and he had like to have been slain if he had not drawn some Troops which were encamped just without into the Town who charged the Mobile and killed several of them and the Souldiers threw their bodies into the Tyber This chastising of them quelled the Mutiny but not the Famine and therefore Anthony was forced to write to Libo to desire him to come to Rome Pompey as was said before was Libo's Son-in-law and Caesar had married his Sister Libo came as far as the Island of Aenaria where he expected his Pass-ports no sooner was his Voyage known at Rome but the People tumultuously assembled to demand Peace of the Triumviri and threatned Pompey's Mother to burn her in her own house if she did not incline her Son to it It was no less desired on his side Murcus whose credit with him was very great advised it with all earnestness Menas alone opposed it for his own particular interest because he was onely valued by Pompey for his experience in War he wrote to him that Murcus aspired to the Sovereign Authority which Pompey too easily believed upon the instigation of this enfranchized Slave Murcus by his usage soon perceived it which made him retire to Syracusa where he was murthered by some Slaves whom afterwards Pompey executed to clear himself from the Murther It was believed however that he was the Authour of it or that Menas had done it by his order This Action very much displeased the Senatours that were retired to Pompey who by this saw themselves exposed to the capricious humour of a Man governed by Creatures whose base originals and condition made them capable of all sorts of Villany In the mean time Libo came to Rome and persuaded Caesar and Anthony to an enterview with Pompey that they in person face to face might put an end to their differences Pompey at the earnest solicitation of all his Officers not being able to refuse this with his Fleet advanced to Puteoli there was a kind of a Mole made where the Mount Misenus runs into the Sea for the convenience of the Conference Pompey and Libo in a Gally and the two others upon the Peere Pompey immediately demanded to be an Associate in the Empire instead of Lepidus which was absolutely refused as a piece of injustice they scorned to use to their Companion that was absent there was much contest about this Article and they parted without doing any thing The following days they treated by Deputies Pompey then let fall this Pretension so that all the difficulty of the Negotiation was reduced to these three Articles 1. That those who were Accomplices in the Assassination of Iulius Caesar should be onely banished into some Place they would make choice of themselves 2. That those who for other causes were proscribed should have liberty of returning to Rome And 3. That these last should be restored to their Estates Anthony and Caesar rejected the two first Articles and onely granted the Proscripts who were none of the Conspiratours leave to buy their Estates Those who were about Pompey terrified by the Example of Murcus consented to return to Rome upon this condition But he was very much displeased with them for it and tearing his Clothes for very rage and spight called them Deserters and Fugitives and said that of all his friends Menas alone had given him faithfull and â—ninterested counsell In the end the People of Rome pressing on one side and Mutia and Iulia on the other they had a second enterview and the Treaty was concluded upon these Conditions That from this moment the War should cease both by Sea and Land That Commerce and Navigation should be free That Pompey should withdraw his Troops from Italy That he should not retain the Slaves that fled to him That he should suffer to Inroads or Descents to be made upon the Coasts or in the Ports of Italy That he should build no more Vessels than those he had already and that he should immediately send all the Corn he had stored up to Rome upon this Condition they granted him for five years Sicilia Sardinia Corsica and all the Isles which he was in possession of and Peloponnesus All the rest of the Roman Empire to remain to the Triumviri They agreed besides That Pompey might in his absence by any of his friends demand the Consulship and that he should have the dignity of Pontifex or High-priest As for those who were proscribed all those who had not had a hand in the Conspiracy might return to Rome those who had not committed any Crime but were fled to Pompey onely for fear should enjoy all their Estates and the culpable the fourth part onely The Slaves which had served under Pompey should be declared free and the free Souldiers after their time of Service was expired should have their share of the division of Lands as those of Caesar and Anthony This Treaty was signed by the three Chiefs and after it was sealed they sent it to Rome to be deposited in the hands of the Vestals They then agreed to treat each other as a mark and token of their sincere reconciliation Pompey chose to begin and when Caesar and Anthony asked him where he would receive them shewing them his Galley answered pleasantly In my Vessels The word Carinas in Latine signifies Vessels or Ships and was likewise the name of a Place in Rome where Pompey the Great had a noble Palace which Anthony had seized on by right of Confiscation He understood the Raillery well enough but here we must allow that Caesar and he extremely forgot their prudence upon this occasion and this entertainment had like to have cost them dear if Pompey had not had a generous great Soul as he was at Table with Caesar and Anthony and they began to railly Anthony upon his fondness for Cleopatra Menas approached Pompey and whispering him in the Ear told
preparing all things necessary for the War he was going to undertake CHAP. XVII New Causes of breach between Caesar and Pompey Caesar marries Livia Several Fights between the Lieutenants of Caesar and Pompey THE Treaty of Peace between Caesar and Pompey had regulated their pretension but not their Ambition it had not extinguished in them that Enmity which was in a manner natural to them considering what fatal effects it had produced between their Fathers whose animosity yet subsisted in the minds of their adherents the apparent subject of their difference was Peloponnesus Caesar pretended that the sums due upon account by that Province were by the Treaty due to the Triumviri that Pompey ought to be responsible for them and either recover it or permit them to doe it Pompey maintained that in giving him that Countrey they gave it him exempt from all Charges he had still a very formidable Fleet which by the Council of Menas he daily augmented this was another subject of Complaint for Caesar who at taking some Pirates they owned that Pompey had given them Commissions to pillage the Coasts of Italy It hapned that the Senatours that were about Pompey offended at the insolence of his freed-men killed some of them and Menas not thinking Pompey concern'd enough for it was disgusted with him Philadelphus the Freed-man of Caesar had an opportunity of seeing Menas in the heat of his resentment and dealt with him to draw him to the service of Caesar promising him the Government of Sardinia and Corsica with three Legions Caesar immediately disowned his freed-man not being willing as he said to begin the War he wrote to Anthony to return to Italy to regulate all these differences by his Authority but though Caesar seemed intirely taken up by such important affairs he found some in another place which were much more agreeable and Livia was the subject of them The beauty of this woman joined with a refined and dextrous wit made the greater impression upon his heart which was disgusted at the bitter insupportable humour of Scribonia since it is a known truth that there is nothing makes a Mistress appear more advantageous to the eyes of a discontented husband than the reflexion he makes upon the opposite disagreeable manners of an ill Wife Caesar could not long hold out against so many charms on one side nor against the daily vexations Scribonia gave him on the other he divorced her and his love for the other was so violent that either by his entreaties or his authority he obliged Tiberius to yield him Livia although then big with child but as this great belly was an obstacle to his passion he consulted the Priests to know if it was lawfull to marry her in this condition The Answer was that if there was any doubt who was the Father of the child it was unlawfull to marry the Mother but that the Vertue of Livia leaving no room for doubt Caesar might lawfully receive her from the hands of her Husband according to the custome of the Roman Laws which permitted divorce Perhaps says Dion this Answer was founded upon the ancient Law but if it had not they would have been cautious to have decided it otherwise In the Ceremony of marriage Tiberius performed the office of Father and there then fell out an accident which was very pleasant Livia had with her a little child who usually diverted her by a hundred pretty prattling stories and seeing she was at Table near Caesar and that Tiberius was in another place farther off said to Livia What do you doe there Madam Look There 's your Husband shewing her Tiberius this was not the onely Jest upon this Subject for Livia being delivered at his house at the end of three months they said at Rome that every thing favoured the fortunate since their very children came in three months time In the mean while the Lieutenants of Caesar had got together a great number of Vessels at Ravenna and the Forces were recalled from Gallia when Anthony arrived at Brundusium but Caesar not being there at the time appointed he returned into Greece whether it was because he was ill attended or that he had some mistrust from Caesar's Fleet which was very strong or terrified by prodigies is uncertain One of his Sentinels was devoured by Wolves who left nothing of him whole but his Face and the main Guard which was near perceived nothing of it and the Inhabitants of the City told Anthony that at break of day they had seen a Wolf come out of his Tent. Whatever his reasons were he went back and left Letters for Caesar whereby he exhorted him to keep to the Conditions of the last Treaty and claimed Menas as belonging to him from the succession of Pompey the Great which was allotted to him This freed-man without any more deliberation went over to Caesar to have his protection and delivered him up Sardinia and Corsica he was very well received by Caesar and they granted him all the rights and privileges of one free-born this his deserting broke all the measures that were possible to be taken for an accommodation Caesar wrote to the Senate to justifie his conduct he harangued his Army and made his Lieutenant Calvisius advance and he soon after followed accompanied with Menas Pompey was then at Messana from whence he sent out his Fleet commanded by Menecrates a mortal foe to Menas the two Fleets came up to each other about Sun set near the Island of Caesar's Fleet passed the night in the Bay of Cumes and Menecrates rode at Anchor without in the morning he made up to the enemies who lay near the shoar either to force them to fight or to run foul upon the Rock Menecrates was the more advantageously posted by reason he might receive assistence from the Sea-ward and the others were shut up between the Fleet and Shoar and had nothing but their valour to trust to as for Menas he was courageous even to rashness who as he had distinguished Menecrates he made down upon him with extraordinary fury The use of Cannon was not known in those days so that Sea-fights were decided by handy-stroaks grappling the Vessels and coming board and board after they had born the first shock which was usually very violent because the beak or spur of their Gallies was armed with Iron or Brass the weakest went often to the bottom by this first on-set and almost all their Ships of war had Oars in the nature of our Gallies to goe with greater force The first brunt of these freed-men was very terrible Menas lost the beak head of his Gally and Menecrates had his rudder broke Then they grappled and as if this Fight between them were to decide the fortune of the Battel they fought with desperation the hatred of these men animating them as much as glory did others Menecrates his Vessel was hâ—gher than the other which was a considerable advantage to him for the lancing of darts which were thrown
Waves or else half dead striving to swim to land Night came on and increased the horrour and disorder there was nothing heard but lamentable Cryes mingled with the noise of the Waves and Wind. One cryed out for help another called to his Comrade almost all of them bewailed their miserable state and invoked the assistence of the Gods the most courageous silently waited their destiny but there were some that moved by a fantastical kind of despair killed themselves as if in Death they expected something worse than Death it self At the return of the Sun the fury of the Wind slackned and some time after the Storm ceased The Inhabitants of those Coasts affirmed that in the memory of Man there had not been felt any so terrible as this In this Caesar lost two thirds of his Fleet with what he lost in the Fight to shun the sight of this dismal spectacle he went to Vibonium From this Place he sent Orders to his Lieutenants to double their care and their guard that Pompey upon this advantage might not attempt some considerable Enterprize which he thought not on in the least for which oversight he was very much blamed nay he was so negligent as to let the rest of Caesar's shattered Fleet pass by him to Vibonium but this carelesness of his was the utter ruine of all his Designs and of his Reputation Caesar went into Campania very much afflicted at his loss he now found himself without Ships or Money and the People of Rome famished and in general crying out against this War he dispatched Mecoenas to Anthony to demand his assistence and to explain himself upon some small occasion of complaints between them and at all hazard resolved to transport his Army into Sicilia upon Ships of burthen and Hulks and attack Pompey in his Isle In the mean time the City of Rome was much terrified with the Prodigies which hapned at that time from Africk there came News that at Clypea a shoal of Dolphins had fought with so much fury that they were all killed that it had rained bloud it was besides observed at Rome that on a very great Festival none of the Senatours had eaten in the Capitol that day which was taken for a very ill omen One of these Prodigies onely was welcome to Caesar because it was very pleasing to Livia as she was in the Countrey an Eagle let fall into her lap a milk white Hen who held a branch of Laurel in her Bill She was no less glad than surprized at so extraordinary an adventure She bred up the Hen and planted the Laurel which thrived so well in a short time that it afforded crowns to all those that triumph'd afterward from that time till Nero under whom this Laurel and all the young shoots of it withered all on a sudden and at the same time ended the race of the white Hens which presaged the Death of that Emperour who was the last of the Caesar Family But in spight of all these dire Portents Caesar had intelligence of two things which very much re-assured him the one was that Anthony was coming to his aid and that in Agrippa he had quite routed the Gaules in a very great Battel This turn of good fortune as it 's very usual confirmed several of his Party to his Interest who by this time began to waver Every one strove to offer him Money and Vessels by which means he set forth a gallant Fleet which at this time very much raised his hopes Anthony arrived at Brundusium with three hundred Sail giving out he came to assist Caesar in this War Caesar could very well have dispensed with it He thought he was already too powerfull and therefore sought all manner of Pretences to excuse his going to meet Anthony who was not over-well satisfied with his Proceedings He had need of Souldiers to make War with the Parthians and willing to spare the charge of a Fleet he designed Caesar should take his Fleet and give him Land-forces Octavia offered to goe to her Brother to clear all their doubts and suspicions and induce him to give her Husband this satisfaction As soon as Caesar saw her he gave her a large account of the Dangers he had run in his War with Pompey very much amplifying them and Anthony's negligence in assisting him Octavia presently stopp'd his Accusations telling him Mecoenas had already received full satisfaction as to this point and that he had assured that there should be no more said of it Caesar twitted her that Anthony had sent Callias to Lepidus to engage him to make War against him She replied Callias had no Commission but onely to propose a Match between his son and Anthony 's daughter and offered to deliver him up the man that he might draw the truth from him by torture And finding Caesar began to hearken to her she endeavoured to gain his Ministers the chief of whom were Agrippa and Mecoenas they had both of them a profound respect for Octavia being very sensible of the influence she had over her Brother's humour You see said she Octavia a woman of the greatest quality in the world just upon the point of being made the most miserable of her sex if by your care and good counsels you keep her not from these misfortunes All the Roman Empire has their eyes upon me as being the sister of Caesar and wife of Anthony if my evil destiny should carry them to make war you have a chance of fortune in favour of you but what side soever falls I shall be unfortunate and shall be reduced to the cruel necessity of bewailing the loss of a husband or a brother This moving Argument joined with the affection Caesar had for his Sister obliged him to come to an interview with Anthony For this end they chose a place between Metapontum and Tarentum upon a River that bears the name of the latter Anthony came thither the first and as soon as he saw Caesar coming he leaped into a Boat to goe and receive him on the other side the River Caesar not to be behind-hand with him in Civility hastily advanced in another Boat they met in the midst of the River where after they embraced they had a very obliging contest on which side they should land Anthony was earnest to land on Caesar's and he on Anthony's Caesar at last prevailed under Pretence of waiting on his Sister who was returned to Tarentum they walked together to this Town where Caesar spent the night without any other Guards about his person than those of Anthony who next day went likewise without Guards and lay in Caesar's Camp upon which Appion says very well that this excess of confidence was as great a sign of their Levity as the differences they had upon every slight occasion They concluded that Caesar should put off his Enterprize against Pompey till Spring because Anthony could no longer defer his expedition against the Parthians that he should give Caesar 120 Sail who should
with four hundred Vessels Agrippa contriving all ways to get the Victory invented a kind of Engine which succeeded very well This was a Grappling hook made of a piece of Timber five cubits long covered over with Plates of Iron at each end whereof was a Ring of Iron to one end was fastned a Scyth or rather a great Hook to the other several Cables to draw it home when any Vessel was grappled The impatience of the Generals made them come very betime to the place of Battel between Myles and Naulocus Their Souldiers carried on by an equal ardor soon came to handy-blows and as they had sufficient leisure to prepare for it Darts Piles Stones Arrows and Fire-pots were all employed That which more particularly appears in Civil wars you may be sure happened here where the animosity of particular persons made the Combate more bloudy than if between neighbouring Nations onely for the motive of Glory and Conquest All the Gallies were grappled by this Invention of Agrippa nor could those of Pompey avoid this disadvantageous way of fighting The land Forces of both Parties stood as Spectators on the shoar waiting for the event of it with a great deal of apprehension The Victory was long dubious but at last by the bravery of Agrippa it turned in favour of Caesar. None could behave themselves better than he did upon this occasion He was every where He over-set the Enemies Gallies with the shock of his which was the best and strongest of the Fleet and put several of them out of condition of fighting and performed such gallant actions that Anthony afterwards reproached Caesar that he had not the courage so much as to see the Navies in Battel order but lay down in his Gally with his eyes to Heaven as one besides himself and frighted out of his senses and did not rise to shew himself to the Souldiers till after Agrippa had put his Enemies to flight The truth of the story is that at the time of the Engagement Caesar was overcome with so profound a Sleep that his familiars were forced to wake him to give the word and the signal for the Charge and this is the ground of Anthony's reproach Caesar upon this occasion behaved himself like a man of prudence and courage Nevertheless he gave all the honour of it to Agrippa whom he honoured with a blew Standard and a rostral Crown This was so total a Defeat that Pompey had onely seventeen Gallies left of all that great Fleet with which he fled to Messina Caesar onely lost three that were sunk but there were sunk of Pompey's twenty eight the others were either burnt or taken This great Victory had this remarkable in it that the same day it was published at Rome by a Souldier who no doubt inspired proclaimed it aloud and ran to the Capitol and laid his Sword at the Feet of Iupiter's Image as if he had no more need of it Pompey who had so often neglected his advantages in prosperity and had no more good conduct in adversity left his land Forces at the discretion of the Conquerour instead of going to them and reassuring them by his presence so that Tistenus who commanded them went with all his Troops into Caesar's service Upon this Pompey forsook the marks and habit of a General and sent to those of Messina that if they intended to retire and save themselves they should speedily embark Pliny had eight Legions at Lilybaeum and was marching to assist him according to the Orders he had received Pompey was in Messina a very strong place and able to maintain a long Siege but he not staying for his Lieutenant bore through the strait to throw himself into the Power of Anthony whose protection he hoped for in requital of that he had formerly given his Mother Iulia. CHAP. XXII Pompey's flight Lepidus endeavours to make himself Master of Sicily His Souldiers forsake him to serve Caesar who orders the Affairs of Rome with great prudence LEpidus as we have already mentioned quietly watched the success of this War at the head of fourteen Legions in very good quarters As soon as he heard of Pompey's defeat he came near to Messina which had been already assaulted by Agrippa Pliny had put himself and Forces into it after Pompey's departure but seeing there was no way but surrendring he sent to the two Generals to capitulate Agrippa intreated Lepidus to stay till Caesar's arrival which at farthest would be next morning which Lepidus refused and as he was the strongest upon the place he received Pliny upon Composition and added his Troops to his Army after which he abandoned the Town to the pillage of the Souldiers Caesar arriving at break of day sent to Lepidus to complain of these proceedings as also for his seizing upon several places in Sicilia Lepidus fiercely answered that Caesar had taken upon him all the authority of the Triumvirate whereto he had as much right as himself but the event shewed that if he ever had he knew not how to maintain it Caesar was one of those extraordinary Persons whose wit and gallantry in so high Advancement keep firm and still raise them higher whereas in men of vulgar Spirits it often happeneth that either their wit prejudices their courage or their valour their understanding He went alone to Lepidus his Camp without any other assistence than that of his own merit and the Authority he had gained by his Victories The Souldiers of Pompey looked upon him with respect and drew round about him Lepidus being told of it makes haste thither and scatters the Souldiers and made them charge Caesar who was hurt by a Dart thrown at him which yet did not hinder him from going to the place where the Eagles of the Legions were planted taking one of them which he advanced in the Air whereupon all the Legionary Souldiers ran in crowds and saluted him as their General Lepidus being the second time abandoned by his Souldiers quitted all the marks of his Authority which he could no longer keep took a mourning Gown and after he had remained a good while unregarded in the throng of those who flocked to salute Caesar he came and threw himself at his feet This was a terrible mortifying spectacle worthy of reflexion to see a Triâ—â—viâ— who had disposed of the Lives of many noble Persons to be reduced to beg his own of one whom he had so lately insulted over Caesar desâ—ised him too much to take it from him he pardoned him but took from him the Rank and Authority and onely left him his Estate and the Dignity of sovereign Priest The Greek Historians to give more honour to Caesar's prudence take from his Courage they report that he was already assured of the greatest part of Lepidus his Officers before he went into his Camp and that he had with him a Troop of Horse and that being charged by Lepidus he was hurt and his Esquire killed close by him and that in his retreat
made All these were explained very justly but 't was after Anthony's Defeat The Forces of the two Triumviri were answerable to the Empire they shared between them nor were there ever seen two so great Powers oppose each other Anthony commanded over all the Provinces from Armenia and the Red-sea to the Adriatick Gulph and the Euxine Sea and Caesar had all those from Sicily to the Ocean All the Kings of Asia that were Allies to the Romans followed the fortune of Anthony namely Tarcondemus King of Cilicia Archelaus of Cappadocia Philadelphus of Paphlagonia Mithridates of Comagena of Thrace these Princes were in person in his Army But Polemon King of Pontus Malchus King of Arabia Herod King of the Iews and Amintas King of Galatia onely sent their Troops besides these Bacchus King of Mauritania who brought his along with him all these together made an hundred thousand Foot and twelve thousand Horse The Navy was composed of five hundred Ships of War whereof some had eight or ten Banks of Oars Caesar in his Party had no foreign Princes and his Army amounted to bâ—t eighty thousand but he was as strong in Cavalry as his Enemy He had but two hundred and fifty Vessels all light and very well manned with Sailers Rowers and Souldiers whereas those of Anthony were vast high and heavy and wanted Rowers so that he was forced to take up all the Artisans and Labourers of Greece to employ them at the Oar. Then their Hatred shewed it self by very bitter Letters and when Caesar reproached Anthony with his Love for Cleopatra and the Prodigality of his Feasts he on the other side put him in mind of the famous Feasts of the twelve Gods where Caesar and the other Guests were clad as they represented the Deities they adored To this he added his hasty marriage with Livia and the shamefull divorcing of Scribonia because she would not bear with the Insolence of that new Mistress and all the Roman Ladies with whom Caesar had ever had any Gallantry or Intrigue were brought upon the Stage He even proceeded to tax him with Cowardise at the Battels of Modena and Sicily with all those scandalous Circumstances that were mentioned before whereupon Caesar wrote to him That it was needless to fight any longer with the Pen. That if he would advance with his Army he should have Ports in Italy where he should land without any molestation and that Caesar would draw his Troops far enough from the Sea-side to give Anthony the liberty of encamping and putting his Army into Battalia To make a return to this Bravade Anthony though he were much older challenged Caesar to fight a single combat or if he liked not this he offer'd to give him Battel in the Plain of Pharsalia where I. Caesar and Pompey had formerly decided their Differences So each of the Generals endeavoured to manage it to his own advantage in striving to make his own Dominions the field of Combat But Fortune ordered it should be otherwise At that time Anthony was at Actium where while he spent his time to no purpose Caesar went from Tarentum where his Fleet lay and surprized Toryne a City near Actium This Exploit astonished Anthony's Souldiers because his Legions were not yet arrived But Cleopatra to re-assure them made flight of it and said What matter is it if Caesar has taken the Scummer alluding to the word Toryne which signifies so The Town of Actium which this action has made so famous was seated upon a point at the entrance of the Gulf of Ambracia on the Coast of Epirus between the Islands of Corcyra and Cephalonia Anthony had retired all his Ships into the Gulf whither Caesar the next day after the taking of Toryne came and offered him Battel Anthony was at a grievous plunge because his Vessels wanted Souldiers to man them But that drew them into their fighting posture with the Oars a-peek as if he intended to bear down upon the Enemy This strategeme had its effect Caesar who durst not engage him in that narrow passage retreated off to Sea but the other came not off the Gulf and as he perfectly knew the Countrey thereabouts on every side he cut off the Water from Caesar's Camp which threw his Army into great distress Agrippa omitted not to take the Cities of Leucadia and Petras and seize upon Corinth These happy Successes occasioned Amintas and Dejotarus to declare for Caesar. Domitius carried on by their Example saved himself in a Cock-boat and came to Caesar whose side he did not much favour by his revolt because Anthony according to his natural generosity sent him his People and all his Equipage though it were against the opinion of Cleopatra her self which so sensibly touch'd Domitius who was sick already that he was not able to out-live the grief of abandoning a man who by kindness revenged himself for his perfidiousness In the mean time Canidius arrived with the Legions who as he saw the danger nearer he changed his mind concerning Cleopatra He would have had Anthony send back the Queen and himself goe into Macedonia and fight by Land with so much more advantage because Dicomes King of the Getes promised him a powerfull assistence Then said Canidius One ought not to regard a false kind of shame in having Caesar Master of the Sea where his Souldiers had gained a great deal of experience during the War with Pompey That it would be a renouncing both sense and reason to put to the hazard of the Sea and Winds a Victory which by Land they were certain of by the Valour and Experience of their General who to this day had kept up the title of Invincible and by the Courage of their Souldiers whom he had tried in so many dangers Anthony was very much inclined to follow this Advice but Cleopatra byassed him the other way and obliged him against his will to hazard both his Empire and his Life in a Sea-fight Here also it was that Anthony had like to have fallen into a very great danger And this may serve for an Instruction to persons of his rank not too freely to expose themselves when they are near the Enemies They had made a kind of Causey which ran out very far into the Sea to go from Anthony's Camp to his Fleet as he passed often in this place without any distrust and slenderly accompanied some of Caesar's Souldiers having notice of it by a Slave made out a Party to carry him off and came so near that they took the Officer that marched before him they had likewise taken Anthony if their Impatience had not discovered them too soon he had much a-doe to save himself and Caesar's men retreated with their Prisoner extremely troubled at their too much haste CHAP. XXVIII The battel of Actium The retreat of Cleopatra The flight of Anthony Caesar makes himself Master of Anthony's Navy and his Land-forces ANthony having taken a resolution to fight by Sea burnt all his ships of burthen
to Amphipolis p. 189. Chap. L. Pompey goes to meet his Wife at Lesbos he resolves to retire into Aegypt Achillas Photinus and Theodotus advised the King to put him to Death Pompey slain by a Roman called Septinius p. 192. Pompey's Freed man pays him his last Rites of Funeral The Misfortune of Lentulus p. 197. Chap. LII Caesar pursues his Victory Cassius surrenders himself to him with all his Fleet. Caesar lands in Aegypt The Insolence of Photinus and Achillas p. 199. Chap. LIII Caesar fortifies himself in Alexandria He is attacked by Achillas He seizes upon Pharos Falls in love with Cleopatra He is besieged by the Aegyptians p. 204. Chap. LIV. Caesar receives succours A Sea Fight A disorder amongst Caesar's Troops upon the Peer He saves himself by swimming He restores the Aegyptians their King who declares War against him p. 209. Chap. LV. Mithridates defeats the Aegyptians He joins himself with Caesar who attacks Ptolemy's Camp The Aegyptians routed Their King is drowned Caesar establishes Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt with her Brother p. 213. Chap. LVI Cato retires into Africa and Cicero into Italy where Caesar Pardons him Pompeyâ—s â—s Sons go into Spain Cato joins himself with Scipio and Juba Some broils at Rome p. 216. Chap. LVII Caesar goes into Asia p. 220. Chap. LVIII Caesar returns into Italy His Troops mutiny he appeases them and returns into Africa More Battels p. 224. Chap. LIX Caesar chastiseth some Mutineers and after several movements defeats Scipio and Juba p. 234. Chap. LX. The Death of Scipio and Juba Caesar marches towards Utica The Death of Cato p. 240. Chap. LXI Caesar returns to Rome The Pomp and Magnificence of his Triumphs p. 247. Chap. LXII Caesar goes into Spain where he defeats the two Sons of Pompey the oldest whereof is slain p. 251. Caesar's return to Rome He makes several Laws The extreme Honours which were done him draw upon him the Envy of the Senate p. 257. Chap. LXIV A Conspiracy against Caesar. Presages of his Death He is murthered in the Senate p. 264. THE CONTENTS TO The Second Volume CHap. I. The Troubles and Fears of the Senate and the People of Rome after the Death of Caesar Pag. 271. Chap. II. Brutus and Cassius indeavour to justifie what they have done before the People who rise upon them They retire to the Capitol p. 275. Chap. III. Antonius and Lepidus rally Caesar's Friends Some Propositions of Accommodation p. 279. Chap. IV. The Senate assembles Diversity of Opinions amongst the Senatours Caesar's Ordinances ratified p. 283. Chap. V. New Divisions occasioned by Caesar's Will Brutus and Cassius speak to the People in their own justification They come to an agreement with Anthony and Lepidus p. 287. Caesar's Will read publickly Antonius makes his Funeral Oration p. 291. Chap. VII The Pomp of Caesar's Funeral The Rising of the People of Rome and their Fury against the Conspirators p. 296. Chap. VIII The Artifices of Antonius He procures himself Guards Brutus and Cassius withdraw from Rome Antonius gets the Government of Macedonia for his Brother Cyrene is given to Cassius and Bithynia to Brutus p. 299. Chap. IX Octavius the grand Nephew of Caesar comes to Rome against the Opinion of his Kindred he declares himself Caesar's Heir and takes upon him his Name p. 305. Chap. X. Octavius visits Antonius who receives him very ill His Demands and Antonius his Answer p. 308. Chap. XI Octavius falls out with Antonius He gains the affections of the People Antonius sends for the Macedonian Army into Italy p. 311. Chap. XII Antonius demands the Government of the Cis-alpine Gaul He offends young Caesar. The Souldiers oblige him to an agreement with him Antonius gets the Government p. 315. Chap. XIII New Quarrels between Antonius and Caesar. Cicero declares himself for Caesar. He offends Antonius in his Orations p. 319. Chap. XIV Antonius and Caesar meet at the Capitol They fall out again Caesar raises Troopâ— p. 323. Chap. XV. Antonius joins his Army but is not well received He returns to Rome Two of his Legions desâ—rt him and go to Caesar's Army Antonius's force p. 327. Caesar's force He assures himself of the affections of his Troops p. 331. Chap. XVII Antonius besieges Decimus Brutus in Modena p. 333. Chap. XVIII Hirtius and Pansa chosen Consuls The Decreee of the Senate against Antonius The death of Trebonius Dolabella declared an Enemy to the Republick Honours and Offices allotted to Cassius and Brutus p. 335. Antonius's Letter to Hirtius and young Caesar p. 340. Chap. XX. The Consuls raise Troops for the relief of Decimus which was but one Legion The manner of laying sieges in those times Ventidius raises Troops for Antonius p. 344. Chap. XXI A Battel between Antonius's Troops and Caesar's joined with the Consuls Pansa mortally wounded Caesar's Troops are beaten Hirtius comes to their relief and defeats Antonius p. 348. Chap. XXII Antonius defeated by Hirtius and Caesar. The death of Hirtius The raising of the siege of Modena Brutus writes to Cicero p. 353. Chap. XXIII Decimus speaks to Caesar who treats him ill The death of Pansa His dying words to Caesar p. 355. Chap. XXIV Cassius in Syria He raises great Forces The Conduct of Cleopatra Brutus defeats Antonius's Brother and takes him Prisoner p. 358. Chap. XXV Caesar demands the Honour of Triumph which is refused him He attempts the Consulship by Cicero's interference p. 361. Chap. XXVI Antonius makes his retreat into Gall. He makes himself Master of Lepidus's Army He returns into Italy with seventeen Legions p. 363. Chap. XXVII Caesar pursues the Consulship He speaks to his Souldiers He marches towards Rome The fright the Senate were in p. 365. Chap. XXVIII The Senates want of resolution Caesar enters into the City He treats Cicero ill and is declared Consul with Pedius p. 368. Chap. XXIX Caesar causes Brutus and Cassius to be Condemned with all those who had murthered his Vncle. Antonius persues Decimus who is at last slain p. 373. Chap. XXX Presages which were before the Triumvirate The Alliance of Caesar Antonius and Lepidus called the Triumvirate They meet in a certain Island Their Ordinances p. 377. Chap. XXXI The Decree of the Triumvirate The Proscription Murthers up and down the City p. 382. Chap. XXXII The entry of the Triumvirate into Rome Murthers committed and the sad condition which that City was in p. 385. Chap. XXXIII Some stirs amongst the People The death of Cicero p. 388. Chap. XXXIV The Triumph of Lepidus The Goods of the Proscripts set to Sale Attacks upon the Roman Ladies Their speech to the Triumvirate p. 392. Chap. XXXV Several of the Proscripts escape into Sicily to Sextus the Son of Pompey Some extraordinary Adventures during the Proscription p. 397. Chap. XXXVI The Examples of Several remarkable changes of Fortune p. 402. Chap. XXXVII The end of the Proscription War in Caesar's Lieutenant overthrows Cornificius the Lieutenant of Brutus p. 405. Chap. XXXVIII Dolabella is defeated and slain by
exigency his advice was approved of But it was believed and Clodius took upon him to declare it publickly that the want of Corn was no better than a design contrived betwixt them both for the bringing about that purpose since immediately upon putting the business into Pompey's hands there appeared all the Plenty imaginable and the Authority remained in him five years In the mean time as Caesar's Conquests established him great reputation at Rome so his Humanity and other excellent qualities absolutely gain'd to him the hearts and affections of the Souldiery under his Command neither did the business of his Wars abroad employ him so much but that he had an eye too towards his affairs at home He took care to send Magnificent Presents to the Ladies and all those that were in any Authority the Voluntiers who went with him into Gaul were entertained by him with a thousand obligations and returned home full of the Praises of his Generosity He returned afterwards to Winter in Italy a great part whereof by the name of the Cisalpine Gaul was under his command which is at present all Lombardy entire comprehending Piedmont Milain the State of Venice in Italy in short all as far as the River Rubicon Pompey Crassus and almost all the Magistracy of Rome went to visit him at Lucca where he then resided They went attended with Lictors to the number of Six and twenty Twelve whereof carried the Axes before the Consuls and the rest waited upon the other Magistrates according to their quality and rank It was in this place that the Triumvirate took new measures for their more strict union and the strengthning their Authority They resolved that Pompey and Crassus should demand the Consulship for the following year and that Caesar should hold his Government five years longer So that this Union which they disguised under the name of Friendship was in effect no other thing than each Man 's private Ambition and therefore we ought the less to wonder if the same reasons that united them now were now the causes of their division afterwards when each of them began to think he was strong enough to set up for himself Now this resolution of theirs alarm'd all those of the Senate who wished well to the Publick and Marcellinus one of the new Consuls talked very highly upon the occasion demanding of Pompey and Crassus in presence of the People if they pretended to the Consulship to which Pompey reply'd fiercely that he would doe as he himself thought best but Crassus answer'd in more modest terms saying That he should proceed according to what he judged most for the advantage of the Republick This Dispute as was usual on the like occasions was improved almost to blows And the Senate gave orders for a common habit of Mourning to be worn as in cases of a Publick calamity and the reason they gave for it was that the Proceedings of the Triumvirate were dangerous to the Government Established and contrary to Law Indeed as for Pompey he found out a way to give sufficient marks of the Nature of his Ambition He had been affronted to the last degree by Clodius in the business of Ptolemy King of Aegypt This Prince having been driven out of his Kingdom by the Rebellion of his Subjects was come to Rome to demand assistence and great Intrigues were set on foot for the Command of such an Expedition for Ptolemy offer'd very large Capitulations Lentulus the then Consul and Pompey were those who pursued it most warmly and seemed to have the strongest Interest But Clodius who loved neither the one nor the other opposed them both So that when the People were assembled upon that occasion he appeared follow'd by those sort of Men who Cicero call'd Clodius's Working-tools it may be because they had helped him to demolish his Palace and there interrupted the discourse of Pompey with shoutings and clamours and on the other side when ever Clodius offer'd to speak Pompey's party were as noisie as their neighbours and sung out lewd Lampoons against Clodius and his Sister This Clodius took occasion to revenge not unpleasantly for turning about to those who were of his side he begun to ask of them Who was the most effeminate Commander in Rome they answered Pompey Who was the Ladies Captain Pompey Who starved the People Pompey And yet Who had a mind to go into Aegypt Pompey And then when he demanded of them Who they would send they answer'd Crassus who indeed for all the friendship between him and Pompey had privately managed his own Interest that way having Clodius for him among the People and Cato in the Senate Clodius indeed took care to be well paid for his pains but Cato proceeded out of down-right honesty and opposed Pompey for no other reason than that a Sybill had Prophesied That there should come a King of Aegypt to ask assistence of the Romans That they ought to receive him as a Friend but not to send him back with any Troops Cato had a high dispute with Pompey upon this subject and Pompey after having hinted at Crassus without naming him declared That there were those who designed against his life but that he should take care to guard himself better than young Scipio had done who was put to death by Carbo In fine Pompey through all this business managed himself but very indifferently and was outragious against Clodius These things happened before the Interview at Lucca But Pompey seeing he had need of the People and Clodius having a design upon the Office of Edilis their particular Interests brought them soon to a better understanding Pompey promised Clodius to assist him in his pretensions and Clodius in favour of Pompey hinder'd the holding of the Comitia for the Election of Magistrates for so the Assemblies of the People were called The design was to reduce the State of Rome to that which we call an Interregnum which is that when the choice of Consuls failed the most Illustrious of the Senatours should take the charge of the Government by turns each whereof had the power of naming Consuls when it was his day and as the manner was extraordinary the usual course of the Law was herein often dispensed withall The business succeeded according to their wishes Domitius onely assisted by Cato his Brother-in-law presented himself to the People in competition with the two Triumviri but they having filled the place with those Souldiers which the young Caesar's Lieutenant had brought on purpose out of Gaul a slave of Domitius that carried a Flambeaux before him was killed upon the spot the Master himself hardly escaping and Cato received a wound in his Arm so Pompey and Crassus were chosen but Pompey onely stood charged with the hatred which so unjust and violent a proceeding did really deserve CHAP. IX Pompey and Crassus get themselves Invested in Governments The Cause of Division between Caesar and Pompey TO pass over the variety of matters which happen'd
already taken frequent occasion to mention the privileges of the Tribunes of the People who were ten Curio and Marcus Anthonius were of the number for this year Curio was in great esteem both for his Quality and his Abilities being one of the ablest men which Rome could at that time boast of for Eloquence and Pleadings at the Bar he had great Parts and equal resolution but stood charged with abundance of Debts both in his own Name and for many of his Friends among the rest for Anthony for whom he had entered into Securities He had been one of the most violent against Caesar's Interest But Caesar who knew well enough where his shoe wrung him quickly found the way to give him ease and bring him over by furnishing him with means to quit himself of those encumbrances Curio afterwards made use of a management that was very refined forbearing to declare himself of Caesar's Party that he might the better enter into the Counsels and Designs of his Enemies and after that he sought an opportunity to break with Pompey For this Design he demanded that the charge of overseeing the reparation of the High-ways might be conferred upon him which he at the same time knew well enough would be deny'd so that upon the refusal of it he made known his resentment and afterwards when the Consul made his report to the Senate touching the Governments he praised his Zeal and his Opinion adding that it was but Justice that Pompey and Caesar should be called from their Governments both together CHAP. XIII Curio declareth himself against Pompey Caesar returns the Legion that Pompey had lent him THE Spirits of this Age were two refined not to apprehend at first sight the meaning of this Proposition All that were Pompey's Friends began to grow very uneasie to Curio Appius one of the Censors and who had been raised to his Authority by Pompey threatned to expell him the Senate and proposed it in one of the Assemblies Curio submitted to every thing that might be Decreed particularly against himself but would abate nothing where Caesar's Interest seem'd to be struck at and the Consul Paulus withstood the Affront that was like to have been offered him Curio imparted upon this his Proposition to the People who received it so well and with such Joy that they covered him with flowers and in that manner accompanied him home to his House He himself afterwards in an Assembly of the People when they ordered that Caesar though absent should have power to demand the Consulship This obliged Pompey to leave Rome under pretence of going to his Government but he went no farther than to one of his Countrey houses where falling sick he wrote to the Senate that he was ready to give up all all his Employments when Caesar would ever consent to part with his and that he would confirm this upon his return to Rome Curio took him at his word and told him it was his duty to begin what he proposed and that he would engage on Caesar's part that the Example should be followed The business was then put into debate but came to no conclusion onely it was ordained that two Legions should be drawn out of the Troops of Caesar and Pompey to go into Syria against the Parthians this was onely done to weaken Caesar's Army for Pompey at the beginning of the War had lent him a Legion of his Appius was sent into Gaul to draw out this Legion and to oblige Caesar to give another of his own who though he easily discerned the reason of this order by no means in the least opposed it but surrendred both the Legions to Appius and at the same time ordered two hundred and fifty Drachma's to be given to every Souldier Cicero at this time came back to Rome from his Government of Cilicia where he pretended for his great Exploits to have merited the Honour of Triumph His absence had hindered him from taking either Party in these differences and his present Pretensions obliged him to be a Mediatour between both so he made some Propositions for an Accommodation but they would not be hearkned to for that Appius was returned and had published abroad that Caesar stood very ill in the Opinion of his Army that he knew little or nothing of their Inclinations and that they would certainly come over to the Senates Party whenever they recovered this side of the Alpes This relation gave Pompey great confidence so that he rejected all Projects of the least Accommodation Cicero could not be heard and when he afterwards asked him what Powers he had wherewith to oppose Pompey's answer was that he need onely to stamp with his foot and that the Earth would bring him forth an Army Many of the Senatours began already to talk very meanly of Caesar and Cato himself haughtily declared that he would bring him to an account of his Actions and that he should be treated as Milo had been used before him CHAP. XIV Caesar sends a letter to the Senate They declare War against him Anthony and Curio the Tribunes of the People go to find out Caesar. CAesar had written several times to the Senate to beg them that they would have some regard to the services he had done the Republick He proposed alternately that he might either be continued in his Government as Pompey had been or that he might be permitted in his absence to demand the Dignity of Consul and when this Proposition was rejected he requested again that Curio's expedient might be admitted of but in these his last Letters he proposed the surrendring up the Government of Illyria with two Legions which Cicero urged afterwards in Argument for a Peace but as we observed before his endeavours became altogether unprofitable and Caesar upon the news he received of the ill success of his pretensions repassed the Alpes with the third Legion and marched to Ravenna from thence he sent Fabius one of his Lieutenants with Letters to the Consuls who were Cornelius Lentulus and Clodius Marcellus newly chosen Lentulus refused to reade his Letters but Anthony and Quintus Cassius Longinus the Tribunes obliged them to be read before the Senate they contained a Catalogue of Caesar's Services and an assurance that he would send back his Troops when ever Pompey should disarm Lentulus would by no means admit of any deliberation upon these Letters onely told the Senate that upon condition they themselves would be vigorous upon this occasion he was ready to serve the Republick with the utmost hazard of his life but if they suffered themselves to be remiss and negligent he knew very well there was another would take party with Caesar. Scipio declared at the same time that Pompey was ready to Sacrifice himself for the interests of the Senate if they would stand by him but if they once appeared to be slow or irresolute in their deliberations it would after that be vain to expect any assistence from him And though Pompey were at
this time not in Rome in regard those who had Military Commands were not admitted to stay in the Town Caesar said That considering Scipio was his Brother-in-Law and altogether in his interests This advice seemed to come out of Pompey's own mouth Some other of the Senatours made a more favourable Construction among the rest Marcus Marcellus Sulpitius Rufus and Calidius himself who was of Opinion that Pompey ought to go to his Government for the taking away all pretence from Caesar to believe that those two Legions retained at Rome were designed to prejudice him Lentulus refused to make a report of this Opinion and exclaimed against Calidius and the rest In fine a Decree was formed upon the advice of Scipio in these Terms That Caesar should dismiss his Troops within a certain time and that if he refused Obedience he should be declared an Enemy to the Common-wealth Anthony and Cassius opposed this Decree by that means raising fresh debates which were managed with a great deal of sharpness so that the Assembly did not separate untill it was very late The night was employed in Pompey's private management amongst his Friends and Curio's among the other Tribunes The next day Piso the Censor and Roscius the Pretor demanded five days time to go to find out Caesar and give him an account of the state of these matters which was refused them Lentulus commanding the Tribunes to depart the Senate so that a Decree was published which never was usual but in cases of the utmost extremity that the Consuls and other Magistrates should take care that the Republick came to no damage in pursuance whereof Marcellus the other Consul took a Sword which he carry'd publickly to Pompey who was then out of Town accosting him in these Terms I command you in the name of the Senate that you assist the Republick with the Troops now under your command and speedily levy more From this moment there was a Successour ordered to Caesar which was Domitius designed Consul for the year following All his Governments were disposed of whereof Scipio had Syria and every body took arms in Rome and appeared in a habit of War Caesar failed not of a speedy account of this from Curio Anthony and Longinus who retreated to him disguised in the habits of their Slaves in which condition he shewed them to his Army and took that occasion which the indiscretion of his Enemies presented him withal to make appear the Injustice and Violence of their Proceedings Ye see said he these Sacred Persons forced to conceal themselves in the habit of Slavery to shun the fury of my Enemies and all for maintaining those Privileges which the Laws allowed them and which Sylla himself who spared nothing else never durst Violate But now Pompey who boasts himself to have re-established these Privileges has deprived these Men of them and so much the more unjustly and ungratefully since it was for their supporting of my Interest who have always been true to his though he does not this of his own inclination but it may be easily seen is driven to it by malice of my Enemies Adding moreover That their violence appeared sufficiently by that Decree which was never heard of but when the Commonwealth was in open danger from the fury of the Tribunes or the Seditions of the multitude which did not any ways appear at this time In fine tearing his Robe and falling even into tears he conjured all his Souldiers that they would defend his Honour and his Reputation after having served nine years under his Command with so much glory and success The Souldiers with loud cries answered him That they were ready to revenge the Injuries done to their General and to the Tribunes CHAP. XV. The passage of the Rubicon and the taking of Rimini AMongst the many Warlike Qualities of Caesar his diligence to prevent an Enemy and pursue a Victory was the most admirable he had often surprised others but was never known to have been surprised himself He never carried a Victory but he made himself Master of the Enemies Camp he knew well how necessary and of what importance such a diligence at this time was And what impressions first Exploits make towards the Reputation of any Party And to add moreover a secret upon this occasion he sent some Centurions and chosen Men armed with Swords onely to to put themselves as secretly as possible into Rimini which was the chief Town on that side of his Government For himself he spent the days in seeing publick Plays and the Combat of the Gladiatours at Ravenna and when night came sate himself at Table amongst his Friends but soon rose up again and desiring his Friends to make themselves welcome told them he would return in a moment but that was the least of his Designs for he had ordered some Mules to be taken out of a Neighbouring Mill and put into his Chariot in which Equipage he set forwards towards Rimini with some few of his particular Friends whom he had made privy to his Intention and one Troop of Souldiers it was a troublesome Journey but they resolv'd to undergoe it so that sometimes on foot and sometimes in his Chariot Caesar arrived upon the Banks of Rubicon which is a little River separating the Cisalpine Gaul from the rest of Italy In this place all the misfortunes of that War which he was going to undertake presented themselves to his mind Sometimes he had thoughts of going back again and turning himself to Asinius Pollio We have now says he in our Power to return but if we pass the River our onely retreat must be to our Arms. Some Authours and amongst the rest Suetonius himself gives an account of a Miracle which happened to him upon this Occasion perhaps they have done it onely more particularly to signalize that famous passage of the Rubicon by something extraordinary but however it might be it will not be here improper to recount it Not far from the place where he stood there appeared all of a sudden a man of an extraordinary stature who made very good Musick with a certain Flute or Reed which he plaid upon The Novelty of the sight drew together a great many of the Souldiers and among the rest a Trumpet that belonged to Caesar so soon as they came near to the man he snatched away the Trumpet and sounding a Charge threw himself into the water and went over to the other side no mention is made what became of him onely that Caesar without farther consideration passed the River crying out aloud Let us go where the Gods so remarkably call and where the fury of our Enemies drives us the Lot is cast From thence without making the least stay he marched directly up to Rimini and possessed himself of it without any resistence so with six thousand men onely he began that famous War And after having secured himself of that place of Importance sent orders to his Troops to follow with all diligence CHAP.
XVI The amazement of the Senatours They leave Rome and retire to Capua THIS sudden and unexpected enterprise gave most terrible apprehensions to the City of Rome They believed already that Caesar was at their Gates with all his Army and it was an odd confusion to see the Countrey People come for safeguard into the City and at the same time the Citizens flying into the Countrey no body knew which side to take and Cicero himself began to believe that Pompey had not made the least preparations that he was not in any condition to make head against Caesar and that he had neither Troops nor place of retreat For Cicero found himself under as difficult circumstances as any body and his uneasiness appeared in all the Epistles which he wrote upon this Occasion If I should stay says he in one of them I know not here whom I ought to be most ashamed to accompany Lepidus Volcatius or Sulpitius neither of these but is as silly as Domitius and as inconstant as Appius but Pompey engages me by the obligations which I owe him and not by his Authority for what Authority can a man deserve who could honour Caesar in the highest degree after we were all afraid of him and who believes now when he begins to fear him that all the world ought to declare against him Thus in few words Cicero gave a description of Pompey and his Party in the mean while making his interest with Caesar by the means of Dolabella and Caelius and other of his Friends to which purpose Caelius in one of his letters to him wherein he shews himself a man of very pleasant observation advises him this for a Maxime That in the Divisions of a Government while the matter is disputed by words onely every man ought to espouse that Party which he thinks is the Iustest but when once it comes to Arms te join evermore with the strongest and to believe that he who has the best Sword has the best Cause Pompey underwent no small regret and discontentment during this Perplexity His whole Party reproached him that he had deceived them demanding of him where his Troops were and Favonius who was grown crack-brained with Philosophical Projects and pretending to imitate Cato told him That it was now high time for him to stamp upon the Earth with his foot and bring forth the Souldiers which he had promised them At the last Pompey was forced to tell them that they should not want Souldiers if they would but follow him and quit Rome or indeed Italy which they were not able to defend that it was neither their Houses nor their Provinces that could inspire them with the love of Vertue and of Liberty But that Men of Honour would find it in all Retreats and that to unite themselves was the way to put them into a condition of returning back again to their Houses with Glory This discourse and the affection which they bore to Pompey made them resolve at last to quit the City for though they blamed his Conduct they knew not how to hate him so the Consuls and almost all the Senate followed him to Capua where were the two Legions which Caesar had sent from Gaul The behaviour of Labienus contributed at this time much to their assurance This Man was one of Caesar's Lieutenants had served in Gaul with a great deal of Reputation and was therefore well esteemed by Caesar but afterwards when his Services and the Riches he had gotten in them began to make him vain Caesar thought fit to let him see he would be his General and not yet his Companion this caused Labienus to change his Party and his deserting made indeed a great shew but produced very little advantage No brave Man thought the better of him for it and from that time he performed nothing that was considerable and though the Example might have been of dangerous Consequence in the beginning of a War of that Nature yet Caesar either through his Wisdom or the greatness of his Mind seemed little to value or take notice of it for he sent Labienus all his Money after him and all his Equipage From this time Pompey apply'd himself to take care of his business and put his affairs in some order and resolved to retire into Pouille He left Lucius Domitius in Corfinium and Cicero to command in Capua who received the Commission with some reluctancy but as he had left him neither Men nor Money he apprehended that that employment would not much injure his good Correspondence with Caesar. CHAP. XVII Some Propositions of Peace between Caesar and Pompey but without any success CAesar was still at Rimini where Lucius Caesar his Kinsman and whose Father served at that time in his Army came with Roscius to find him out After some discourses about other Affairs Lucius told Caesar that Pompey had Commanded him to wait upon him and to beg of him that he would doe him Justice in regard of what had passed between them that he should think himself very unhappy if it were possible for Caesar to think himself injured by him in what he had done onely in consideration of the Commonwealth that it had always been his Maxime to prefer the Publick Good before his own particular Interests and that it would equally redound to Caesar's Glory also to sacrifice his resentments to the repose of his Countrey and not to drive things so far as by endeavouring to revenge himself upon his Enemies to give a wound to the Commonwealth Roscius too entertained him with discourse much to this purpose but these Civilities which were indeed but merely such and from the Teeth outward were of no great weight with Caesar nevertheless he resolved upon the dismissing of these Gentlemen to give them some taste of his sentiments so he told them That since they came in that manner Commissionated from Pompey it was his desire that they would charge themselves back again with some Propositions on his part especially if they desired to appease the present Troubles and quiet the fears of Italy That he had evermore less considered his life than the honour and welfare of the Commonwealth but that he could not without extreme grief of mind see that his Enemies would take from him those favours which the People of Rome thought fit to have allowed him that they would cut off six months from the time of his Government to force him to Rome in spight of the will of the People who had ordained That although he were absent he should be considered as if he were actually present in the Assemblies for the Election of Consuls that he had nevertheless been content to put up that injury for the sake of the publick Peace That he had desired by his Letters that all the Generals might quit their Armies at once but by no means possible could obtain it But that on the contrary Troops were levied throughout all Italy That they had retained the two Legions which were
to the rout had not Fabius come up to their relief with all his Troops Caesar in the mean while marched to joyn him with eight hundred Horse and in two days made that Road which reaches from the Pyreneans down to the Segre After that he had understood the disposition of the places and of the Countrey and that the rest of his Troops were arrived he gave orders for the repairing of one of those Bridges which the River had broken down and left six Cohorts with all his Baggage to guard the Bridge and his Camp Marching embaâ—â—elled in three Lines till he came within view of the Enemy Afranius appeared with his Troops in Battalia upon an eminence where he was encamped and where Caesar could not attack him which oblig'd him to post himself four hundred paces onely from the foot of the Mountain The Romans never used to encamp without retrenching themselves within a Ditch and a Palisade which the Legionary Souldiers could throw up in an instant every one of them besides his Arms carrying a stake upon his Shoulders for the making of the Palisade This was their first work and this they supported with Earth and Turf for the forming of a Rampart Caesar that he might not be disturbed in intrenching left his two foremost lines to remain in Battalia while the third wrought under the shelter of the two others and threw up a Ditch of fifteen foot breadth so that face of the Camp which looked towards the Enemy was fortifi'd e'er Afranius could perceive it Then Caesar caused his Troops to retreat by the two ends of the Trench His whole Army were all that night at their Arms and the next day he drew up three Legions in Battalia behind the Ditch As it was a hard matter to get Turf he contented himself to cause a Trench to be thrown up upon the other sides of his Camp by the three Legions who were not at their Arms. The work was completed in a few days though Afranius and Petreius made some attempts to hinder it but unsuccessfully so that being in so good a condition as it was Caesar caused all his Equipage to come up with the Cohorts that were at the guard of the Bridge CHAP. XXIV The Battel of Lerida BEtween the Eminence where the Enemy was Encamped and the Town of Lerida there was a Plain of about three hundred paces and in the middle of that Plain a small advanced ground Caesar endeavoured to get possession of this Post and fortifie himself there by that means to take away from the Enemy the conveniency of their Bridge and their communication with the City from whence they furnished themselves with all their subsistence He caused three of his Legions to advance which he posted in three different places giving orders to the first Battalion of that Legion which was nearest to the advanced ground to run all together and possess themselves of it But the Cohorts of Afranius his advanced Guard who had less way to go got thither first and repulsed Caesar's Men. They were seconded with other Troops so that the Battel grew hot in that place The manner of fighting on both sides was very different Afranius his Souldiers accustomed to Wars against the Barbarians who never keep their ground charged fiercely at the first and advanced with a great deal of Courage but they took no care of their ranks but opened themselves in fighting and when ever they were pressed hard thought it no dishonour to give ground and abandon their Posts and this Caesar says happened in regard that Souldiers easily learn the Discipline of those places where they have longest served Caesar's Men on the contrary thought it was for their Honour to fight Embodied and to keep their ranks and never to quit their Colours nor their Posts In the mean time the manner of the Enemies fighting surprised them by its Novelty they believed that they should be hemm'd in and the whole Battalion moved with a great deal of disorder and the astonishment had certainly reached the rest of the Troops who were not accustomed to see themselves push't by their Enemies had not Caesar assured them by his presence He caused a Legion to go on entire and it was the ninth which put a stop to the Attempts of the Enemy and charged them so hotly that they retreated under the walls of Lerida But that Legion enraged with the affront they had received engaged themselves too inconsiderately in so dangerous a place upon the steep part of the rising ground upon which the City was built Afranius his Souldiers returned to the charge and as they had gotten the advantage of the place and Caesar also had recruited his Men the Battel lasted five hours upon that spot with great disadvantage to Caesar's Party who were forced to fight up hill and where every Dart from the Enemy did execution which last obliged them to run up with their Swords in their hands and with so much vigour that they pushed the Enemies Party which were in the Trenches and the others also in the same place By this time Caesar's Horse were with difficulty advanced to favour their retreat which they made without any disorder Both Parties attributed to themselves the Honour of the Victory Caesar because his Troops had maintained the fight for five hours in so disadvantageous a Post and that they had with their Swords in their hands put the Enemy to flight And Afranius for that his being less in number had had at first the advantage and that he still remained Master of the Post for which they fought and which he caused to be fortified CHAP. XXV Caesar's Army reduced to great extremities by the overflowing of two Rivers Cicero and a great many other Senatours go to find out Pompey AN Accident which happened two days after this Battel gave him still greater hopes The Rains which fell in abundance and melted the Snow upon the Mountains so swelled up the two Rivers that the Rapidity of the Waters carried away both Caesar's Bridges so that he saw himself shut up between two over-flown Rivers and could receive neither Convoys of Provisions nor those powerfull succours which he expected out of Gaul and Italy This was at the beginning of Summer when the Corn was not yet ripe enough for the making of Bread Besides Afranius his Spaniards being well acquainted with the Countrey and accustomed to pass the Rivers in Goat-skins which they always carried with them to the Wars continually met and fell upon Caesar's Men when ever any of them were stragling or out from the rest Afranius on the other side had great store of Corn and other Provisions which he still supply'd himself withall out of that part of the Countrey which lay behind his Camp and which had not yet been ravaged Caesar attempted to repair his Bridges but the largeness and violence of the Rivers rendered all his endeavours fruitless besides that the Enemy disturbed the Work with flights of Darts from the
other side of the Segre by this time the succours from Gaul were arrived consisting of Archers and Cavalry composed of the best and chosen youth of Gaul all Sons of Senatours or Knights whom Caesar had honoured with those dignities According to the custome of that Nation they brought with them great Equipages abundance of Chariots and Slaves but all in no order and without command They arrived in this condition upon the Bank of the Segre which they could not pass And Afranius being advised of the difficulties they were in passed over with three Legions and all his Cavalry to surprize them The sight of the Enemy made the Gauls to rally and form themselves into a Body which stood and received the Enemies Horse with a great deal of Bravery but seeing the Colours of the Legions appearing they retreated towards the Mountains without any more loss than 200 Archers a few Horsemen and some Servants that were with their Equipages In the mean time the want of Provisions grew to a great height in Caesar's Camp and his Souldiers were very much discouraged as well with the fears of future miseries as with the sense of the present A Bushel of Corn was sold for Fifty pence and Fortune seemed absolutely to declare her self for Afranius whose Troops enjoyed all manner of plenty Both he and Petreius gave an account by Letters to Rome of the advantage they had gotten And those of Pompey's Party went in shoales to pay visits to Afranius his Wife and congratulate with her upon the news A great many Senatours who had till then stood neuters went to find out Pompey some in hopes to make their Court to him by carrying him the first account of so good Tidings others to get what shares they could in the fruit of a Victory which they already assured themselves of by the ruine of Caesar. Cicero was one of these last in spight of the wholsome advice of Atticus the endeavours of his best friends who were then with Caesar and Caesar's own Letters to him wherein he conjures him for the sake of their Friendship to remain Neuter It will not be believed says he in one of them that the Iustice of my Enemies Cause has prevailed with you to declare against me but that you have been distaâ—ed at some action of mine which would most sensibly grieve me A Man of Honour who loves his Countrey and its Peace ought to avoid the taking of any side in the disorders of a Civil War The mere consideration of danger hath hindered many men from following those opinions though they might have perhaps approved of them For you who know by my conduct the extent of my Soul and my Friendship you cannot doe better nor more for your Honour than to avoid the engaging your self by any means in these Broils But these reasons were not of such prevalency with Cicero as the News he received from Spain Therefore he went to find Pompey who was very glad to see him but gave him no Employment being not very well satisfied with him for that he had observed in him some regret to be engaged so unseasonably and which he could not forbear giving instances of by his Raileries For when Pompey reproached him that he came in a little late How late answered he I do not find your affairs in such forwardness And another time when it was told him that seven Eagles had been taken in Pompey's Camp and that it was a happy Omen It would be very lucky indeed said he if we were going to make War upon the Magpies so that Pompey could not refrain telling of him That he should get him gone into Caesar 's Camp where he would have less reason to Iest and more to be Afraid At last Cato having remonstrated to him That he ought to have preserved the Neutrality which he at first made profession of and that the Inconstancy of his proceeding was unworthy of a Man as he was well acquainted with the Maximes of True Philosophy Cicero took the first opportunity of retiring and never came up to the Battel of Pharsalia CHAP. XXVI Caesar passes the Segre and pursues Afranius and Petreius THE Joy of Pompey's Party was not very long-liv'd but quickly changed with the Fortune of Caesar who after having vainly endeavoured to repair his Bridges gave orders amongst his Souldiers for the Building some of those sort of Vessels the use whereof they had learned in the British Expedition The Keel and bottom of these Boats was of Light Wood and the rest with Ozier covered over with Leather he caused them to be transported in the night upon Chariots 22 miles from his Camp and so passed over his Souldiers to the other side of the River who possessed themselves of an advanced ground where they retrenched before the Enemy could get any notice of their design These Troops were followed by one Legion and in two days a Bridge was built in that place The Succours and Provisions which came from Gaul passed easily over and their Souldiers were refreshed Caesar then caused his Horse to go over who surprised the Forragers a great number whereof they slew routing their Guard which consisted of Spaniards and carried away a considerable booty At this time the face of Affairs seemed utterly changed The valour of Caesar's Horse had so amazed the Enemy that they never after durst venture out to fetch in Forrage and the Towns of Heusia Callahora Taragona Tacca and Vich coming over intirely to his party sent him Provisions Illurgavia another City near Ebre followed their example and one Cohort of that City which was in the Enemies service revolted to Caesar's Camp He then caused an Intrenchment to be thrown up thirty foot in depth by that means to make the Segre fordable and spare his Horse the pains of fetching a long circuit to find the Bridge Pompey's Generals began now in their turn to be afraid of the want of provisions because that Caesar was much too strong for them in Cavalry So they resolve to go into Portugal where the People held the Name of Pompey in great Veneration For this design they furnished themselves with what Boats they could get in and about the River Ebre and carried them to Octogesa This was a place about Twenty Mile from their Camp then they commanded a Bridge to be made of these Boats and passed the Segre with two Legions Caesar's Work and Afranius's Bridge came to be finished much about the same time with extreme diligence on both sides and unspeakable labour on Caesar's part In fine Pompey's two Generals left two Cohorts in Garrison at Lerida and went with all their Troops to join the two Legions which were passed over At the third Watch all that Army decamped to gain the Ebre after which Caesar sounding the depth of the Ford and finding it in good condition commanded all his Cavalry to pass and fall upon the Enemy At break of day from the Eminency of Caesar's Camp he could
discover that his Horse had joined the Enemy that they extremely pressed their Rere-guard and had put them into disorder which was easily to be guessed from the confusion of their motion The Souldiers ran about the Camp crying that the Enemy would escape and yet protract the War longer than there was necessity for it They desired their Officers to assure Caesar that they would refuse no Fatigue to come to a Battel and that they could easily foard over where the Horse had gone before them This eagerness of theirs was the reason that he left the weakest of his Men with one Legion to guard his Camp And after having disposed a great many Horse both above and below the Ford he caused his other Legions to pass over without their Baggage some of the Souldiers were carried away by the swiftness of the Stream but were saved by the horsemen So that all the Army got over without the loss of one Man Assoon as they came on the other side of the Ford they drew up in Battalia and Marched so fast that though they were forced to go six Miles about and had lost a great deal of time in passing the River they joined the Enemy before three a Clock in the Afternoon who had come away at midnight Afranius and Petreius drew up their Troops upon the hill Caesar kept his on the Plain being unwilling weary as they were to expose them to a Battel But in the moment that the two Generals moved towards a retreat he followed them without resting and forced them to Encamp much sooner than they had at first resolved CHAP. XXVII Different motions of the two Armies Caesar besieges the Enemies tow Generals FRom the place where they were Encamped there was a Plain of five Miles reaching to the Mountains and Defiles which they had a mind to possess themselves of to put a stop to Caesar's Cavalry and go without danger as far as the Ebre Caesar understood this design and that they intended silently to quit their Camp so he immediately ordered a cry in his Camp of Load the Baggage which was an usual Cry amongst the Roman Souldiers This noise kept the Enemy in their Trenches fearing lest they should be surprised in disorder upon their march but at break of day Petreius went to take an account of the Defiles with a small party of Horse Decidius Saxa had received the same orders from Caesar they both brought back word to their Camp that he who first got possession of those Defiles might cut off from the Enemy the passage to the Ebre Afranius and Petreius called a Council of War whether they should depart that night or stay till morning those that were of the opinion to stay till morning carried it by reason of the hazard they must run should they be ingaged to a Battel in the dark where the Souldiers especially in a Civil War as this was would not be retained by the example of their Officers nor any sense of their own shame At break of day Caesar left his Trenches and marched with all his Troops towards the Hills taking a great Circuit without keeping any certain Road. The Vallies were very difficult of passage being full of sharp Rocks and rough ways But the Souldiers persuaded that the price of the Victory and the end of all their Toils depended upon their diligence to ease themselves gave their Arms to those who were first got over and so supported one another in the passage Immediately Afranius's men having left their Trenches and observing the motion of Caesar's Army which was not toward the way which led to the Mountains by reason of their going about believed that prest for want of Forrage he was upon his retreat upon which they set up great hootings and their Commanders were very glad that they had stayed for the day without running any hazard in the night But when they perceived by their facing to the right that the first of the Troops were already got on the other side of their Camp they thought it high time for them to depart and prevent the Enemy so they cryed to Arms and marched after having left some Cohorts to guard the Camp and the Baggage It was their business to try who could first get possession of the Mountains The difficulty of the ways was a great hindrance to Caesar's Troops but his Cavalry as much incommoded those of Afranius So they already saw themselves necessitated to lose their Baggage to save themselves for Caesar's Horse had got between them and their Camp The matter of importance was who should make themselves Masters of the Defiles Caesar by the diligence of his Men carried it where after having passed the Rocks which were almost inaccessible found the Plain where he might draw up his Legions in Battalia The two Generals seeing the Infantry before them and the Horse behind them made a hault upon a hill from whence they detached four Cohorts of Spaniards who were disigned to get possession of a Mountain which seemed to be the highest and by that means to open themselves a way to the Ebre But they were hemmed in by Caesar's Horse who cut them all to pieces in sight of both Armies His Souldiers pressed him that he would take that occasions to complete the defeat of his Enemies whose fear appeared by the disorder their Colours were in but he would not doe it for he saw the Victory assured without fighting and was resolved to spare the bloud of his Souldiers so he caused his Cavalry to retreat and gave the Enemy liberty to return to their Camp which they had quitted in the morning Caesar leaving some Troops at the Defiles and having blockt up the passage to the Ebre came the next day and posted himself in sight of their Trenches They had but two things to chuse either to return to Lerida or go to Tarracona As they were consulting upon this news was brought them that Caesar's Cavalry had fallen upon theirs which were gone to get water which obliged them to send more Legionary Cohorts seconded with Cavalry to maintain a work they designed to make by throwing up a Trench as far as the Segre The two Generals divided themselves for this Design and as they were busying themselves about it their Souldiers left their Trenches and came to a Parley with Caesar's they almost all of them knew one another being of the same City and most of them either Friends or Relations They gave them thanks that the day before they had not fallen upon them in that disorder they were then in they bemoaned themselves that they should be forc't to carry Arms against Men who for so many reasons ought to be dear to them In short they demanded surety for their Generals promising in that case to surrender themselves to Caesar to whom also they deputed their Principal Centurions for a Treaty In the mean while inviting Caesar's Souldiers into their Camp and carrying them into their Tents where they
Legion who hath rebelled against my Orders The Mutineers as much confounded at these words as if they had been Thunder-strucken threw themselves at his Feet and with Tears in their Eyes begged for Pardon all their Officers did the same thing Caesar for some time was Inexorable but at last ordered they should cast Lots and the Lots â—ell on the Chief Mutineers to the number of Six and twenty but Caesar's Anger being over he was contented that onely Twelve of the most notorious of them should suffer who were Executed upon the place afterwards it was found that one of these was Innocent and for that he could not be restor'd to life Caesar caused him who had accused him falsly to be put to death also Then after a great many Indeavours to persuade him to it he gave leave that the rest of that Legion which he had broken should still serve under him After this he went to Rome where he held the Comitia or Assemblies of the People in quality of Dictatour he kept that Dignity onely Eleven days and caused himself to be chosen Consul with Servilius Isauricus and as his Design was to make himself as many Friends as was possible in pursuance of that purpose he proposed several favourable Laws the first was concerning the borrowing of Money for the War as it usually happens having ruined all Credit and rendred a great many Men insolvable Caesar ordained that an estimate should be made of Inheritances at the same value they bore before the War and that Creditours should take them according to this estimation so he took away their fear of a general Bankruptry and supported the Credit of the Debtours Besides he drew to his party all such as expected to be favoured in this estimate which was the end of that Law The other Law was for the calling home those who had been Condemned during the time that Pompey presided in the passing Sentences of Justice Caesar made also several other Ordinances and after having quitted the Name and Dignity of Dictatour departed for Brundusium CHAP. XXXIII Caesar with part of his Army goes into Greece some discourse of Peace but to no purpose Two Armies draw towards one another near Durazzo HE had already sent Orders to Twelve of his Legions and all his Cavalry for their Rendezvous at Brundusium the Legions were grown very thin by the Wars and the Marches they had made as well as by the Diseases of the Autumn which this year proved very epidemical In the mean while for want of Shipping onely five of them could embark who amounted to no more than Twenty thousand Foot and Six hundred Horse He told his Souldiers That as they were within a day of bringing all their toile to an end by a glorious Victory It was necessary to leave their Servants and Equipage in Italy to the end that a greater number of those Men who were fit for service might have room to Embark that they might assure themselves of the fruit of their victory and of his acknowledgments They all cried out that he should lead them where he pleased so they went on board with great Joy and in spight of the rigour of the season upon the Fourth of Ianuary Caesar weighed Anchor This much surprized the Officers of Pompey's Navy who could not persuade themselves that Caesar would venture his Troops at that time of the year when the Seas were so dangerous But Caesar timed it so well that he made his passage in one day and came into a Road at the foot of those Mountains which are called the Cearaunium Mountains he made choice of that place because it was far from the Ports which were possessed by his Enemies when after having landed his Souldiers he sent back the Ships to transport the rest of his Army under the Command of Caleâ—â—â— Bibulus was at Caâ—â—yra with a Hundred and ten Ships and at the first news of Caesar's passage put himself to Sea and meeting Caesar's Vessels upon the return took Thirty of them upon whom he discharged in Malice for he burnt them all with the very Seamen that were in them and with his Fleet took possession of all the Ports and Roads between Salonium and Orica He placed every where up and down very strong Guards and lay himself on board notwithstanding the danger of the season In the mean time Caesar took possession of Orica and Apollonia who at sight of his Troops surrendred themselves by that means to cut off from Bibulus all conveniency from Land so long as he should stay to deprive him of the advantage of the Sea Caesar who always took great care to justifie his Arms and make known the sincerity of his Intentions had still in his hands Vibullius Rufus whom he had twice taken Prisoner first at Corfinium and a second time in Spain Him he sent to Pompey with whom Rufus had some Credit and desired him to represent to him That Fortune seemed hitherto to have distributed equal loss and equal advantages to both parties by that means if possible to bring them to some accommodation But as each of them was obstinate in his opinion let Arbitratours be chosen between them who should be the Senate and the People of Rome that if Pompey would renounce his Interest and in three days dismiss his Troops he himself would doe so also Rufus charged with these Orders departed with all diligence and rid Post to advise Pompey of Caesar's arrival that being the main thing which obliged Rufus to make indeed such haste for he knew very well Pompey would not commit such an Errour as to take the Senate and the People of Arbitratours who at that time were absolutely for Caesar. Bibulus at the same time made another Proposition which he knew very well how to evade which was to make a Truce and permit Pompey's Ships to fetch from the Land Wood Water and other Refreshments that they wanted to which Caesar answered That as they guarded the Sea against him he would guard the Land against them that if by the means of a Truce they would have the conveniency of the Land they ought to leave him the liberty of the Sea and draw off their Squadrons which guarded the Coasts His design was to gain time for the Transporting the rest of his Troops but Bibulus who knew it very well would accept of no Truce upon such Conditions Pompey was in Macedonia where Rufus joined with him and fearing lest Caesar should take from him Durazzo Marched with his whole Army to save that place where all his Ammunitions were lodged It was in this March that he understood the difference between new Levies and old Souldiers For as he made very great Journeys abundance of the Men either through laziness or not being able to support the Fatigue abandoned him and at the least noise that Caesar was coming were in continual disorder and appeared as if they were defeated already Pompey nevertheless came first to Durazzo where he Intrenched
himself upon the River of Apse and where Labyenus found out an expedient for the confirming of his Troops He caused the whole Army to be drawn together and in the presence of all the Souldiers Sware that he would never forsake his General but follow him through all his Fortunes all the other Officers took the same Oath and then the Souldiers one after another Caesar being prevented by the Enemy came also and Incamped himself on the other side of the River to cover the City of Apollonia and both of them in this manner remained for some time expecting the Succours that were to come up to them CHAP. XXXIV Caesar exposes himself alone in a Skiff to go and find the rest of his Army CAesar's Legions who remained in Italy were most of them old Souldiers who had served a long time under him At the first orders which they received for their Rendezvous at Brundusium the proposing of still new toils made them begin to murmure saying That they had worn out their bodies and drained their veins in Caesar 's Service that the weakness to which they were reduced and the wounds which covered them ought to make him sensible that they were neither immortal nor invulnerable but in the mean while they were dragged from War to War till the very Iron of their Armour was wasted with wearing and abundance of other discourse which old Souldiers that have done good Service will venture upon In effect they took no care to go to Brundusium but when they understood that Caesar had passed the Sea and was near the Enemy the love which they had for him could not conceal it self all their murmurings were turned into reproaches and complaints against their Officers that they had not marched them soon enough they cursed their sloath and spent whole days upon the rocks of the Coast in looking if they could see the Vessels returning for their Embarkment Caesar for his part was as much uneasie he had written at first to Calenus the danger he had in passing all the Coast being possessed with the Enemies Vessels and that advice saved his Troops for Calenus having caused them to Embark on board those Vessels which he had left Caesar's Letter obliged him to stay and one onely Vessel that mistook his orders fell into the hands of Bibulus who again caused all that were on board to be slain to terrify others by that example At last Bibulus dying of an illness which he got at Sea leaving no Commander in chief to succeed him the Guards began not to be kept so exactly as before Caesar saw that opportunity favourable for the passing of his Troops and was almost despairing that they were not arrived so soon as he would have had them for he had written several times At last his impatience drove him upon an action which nothing could excuse but the confidence which he always had in his good Fortune neither has he made any mention of it in his Commentaries nor of another Action of his which Suâ—tonius takes notice of where he underwent no less danger but had more necessity for it It was thus the Gauls having in his absence besieged his Legions he took a Gallick habit and in that disguise went through the Corps du Guard and the whole Enemies Army to come to his Camp and it is very remarkable that this General who could so freely hazard his own Person never marched his Army but with the greatest caution imaginable and after having first exactly informed himself of all the Defiles and other passages that were upon his way Caesar therefore now disguised in the habit of a Slave without making any of his people acquainted with his design put himself on board a Fisher-mans Bark that was in the mouth of the River Apse they were to go out that night and his design being when they were out at Sea to make them row directly to Brundusium they went away at the beginning of the night but a stiff gale of wind blowing in upon the mouth of the River made the Sea very rough in that place the Master of the Bark made several attempts with his Mariners to row out to Sea but as the storm and the wind encreased he ordered to forbear Caesar onely opposed this design and because the man was afraid of the danger of a sudden discovering himself and seeing that the Fisherman knew him Fear nothing says he for thou carriest Caesar and his Fortune The Mariners encouraged by Caesar's presence behaved themselves so well that they overcame the violence of the waves but the Sea was so rough and so high without the mouth of the River that they imagined they must be all lost and were at last forced to return to land Caesar went back to his Camp where his Souldiers running in whole shoals to his Tent with a great deal of tenderness reproached him saying That he disgrac'd them by going to seek out new Forces to fight the Enemy which they had before them whom they were sure they had strength and courage enough to overcome whenever he would vouchsafe to put himself at the bead of them CHAP. XXXV The happy arrival of Caesar's Troops in Greece Caelius and Milo raising disturbances in Italy are slain IT was not without reason that Caesar was so disquieted for his Troops in Italy Scribonius Libo was gone from Orica with 50 Ships under his Command and posted himself in an Island near Brundusium where he seized upon several Merchant Ships which were in the Road he made also several descents into the main land and with success upon this advantage he sent word to Pompey that with his Fleet onely he could hinder Câ—sar's Troops from passing into Epirus and that in the mean while the other Vessels might be refitted Caesar had also received other news from Rome which made him very uneasie Caelius of whom I have spoken before being discontented with that Party in which his hatred to Attius and Curio's Friendship had embarked him sought all occasions to act against the Ordinances of Caesar. He was Pretor with Trebonius whom Caesar had put into Commission for taking the estimate of the inheritances Caelius proclaimed that he was ready to receive the complaints of all such as had received any injury and that he was ready to doe them justice very few came to make their Complaints and all Senatours opposed the undertaking which obliged him to leave Rome under pretence of going to find out Caesar but it was to join himself with Milo who was returned into Italy and had gathered together a great number of Gladiatours and Peasants they reported what they did was by order from Pompey but Caesar's good Fortune delivered him at one blow from this inconvenience Milo and Caelius being killed at the same time Milo besieging a little Town in Calabria and Caelius by some Gallick and Spanish Cavalry whom he would have persuaded to desert Antonius and Calenus put Libo also to flight from before Brundusium after
and the design of that sort of siege was no otherways for Caesar undertook to besiege an Enemy who was much stronger than himself and who had Provisions and Ammunitions in abundance when his own Men at the same time were reduced to the greatest extremity imaginable at least for want of Corn though Epirus had furnished them with flesh nevertheless they bore all with most admirable constancy contenting themselves with Beans and Barley moreover they found the way of making Bread with a Root called Chara which they mingled with Milk and some of this they often threw amongst Pompey's Souldiers saying That they would rather eat the Barks of Trees than let Pompey escape whom they had now in their power He was extremely surprised at it and said That he did not think he had had wild Beasts to deal withall Neither was he without his inconveniences his Cavalry began to suffer for want of Forrage both the Beasts and the Men dying in his Camp had corrupted the air and ingendred Diseases besides they wanted water for Caesar had either stopt or turned the course of the Rivers which used to supply them his own Men having it in all abundance and enjoying a very good air so that the advantages and disadvantages being equally distributed between the two Armies they passed no day without enterprising something or other Pompey had observed by the lights which were every night set up in Caesar's Fortifications where his Souldiers kept their Guard then causing some Archers to advance in the dark shot flights of Arrows into the Fortifications that wounded a great many Men but for this inconveniency they soon found a remedy they made their Fires in one place and posted their Corps du Guard in another But as these little Skirmishes signified nothing to the main matter Pompey resolved not to defer it to the last extremity and knowing that Casar was one night gone from his Camp for the management of some Intelligence which he had in Durazzo went that very night with the best part of his Troops to attack a Castle which was near Caesar's Camp and defended by one Cohort while he caused six other attacks to be made at the same time in different places CHAP. XXXIX Pompey attacks Caesar's Fortifications the Valour of Sceva Pompey quits his Camp the Treason of Roscillus and Aegus CAesar's Men notwithstanding their being surprised defended themselves beyond imagination and though they were overwhelmed with Darts and Arrows though four Centurions had lost each of them an eye and that all the Souldiers without exception were wounded nevertheless unequal as it was they maintained the Fight for above fifteen hours Sceva one of the Centurions who defended the Castle-gate being wounded in the eye in the shoulder and the thigh stretched out his hand to the Enemy as if he made sign of surrendring himself and as two of their Officers advanced towards him he attacked them both with his Sword one after another All the Souldiers behaved themselves with the same Courage so that Sylla who commanded the Camp in Caesar's absence had time enough with two Legions to come up to their succour Pompey's Troops were not able to bear the first charge And it is believed that had Sylla followed his advantage he might have totally routed them in their Retreat but as the duty of a Lieutenant is very different from that of a Captain-General in consideration that one never acts but by Limited Orders when the other is at liberty to proceed according to the best of his Judgment Caesar himself excused him for being contented to have repulsed the Enemy and cleared the Fortifications There was found within the place Thirty thousand Arrows which they presented to Caesar when he came back with the Buckler of Sceva which had been pierced with Two hundred and thirty shots Caesar according to his usual manner Caressed extremely all the Souldiers of that Cohort he caused their proportions of Bread and their Pay to be doubled and gave almost to all of them Bracelets Piles and other marks of honour as for Sceva he had given him for reward Two thousand Crowns and was advanced from the Eighth Company to the Command of the First Pompey drew not his Troops far off from the Castle onely encamping himself where the Darts could not reach him in all his different Attacks he had lost Two thousand Men and Six Ensigns so he made in a short time good Works round his Camp as Redoubts and Ditches of Fifteen foot broad fortified with Pallisadoes towards the Enemy and at last after having caused the Entrances into his Camp to be filled up he chose a very dark night and retreated with all his Troops into his old Trenches Caesar incouraged by this good success went every day and presented him Battel within view of his Lines and though Pompey drew out also in Battalia nevertheless he always kept his Troops under defence of his Ramparts where Caesar did not think fit to attack him Pompey had sent all his Cavalry by Shipping to Durazzo for their subsistence and to try to incommode the Enemy by making Incursions But Caesar possessed himself of the two Avenues by which onely he could send out parties so Pompey was forced to order their return to the Camp by the same way that they went and here indeed they suffered much the Horses being forced to eat Reeds and Leaves shaken together which made them very lean and the Horsemen themselves had much ado to subsist by reason that every thing being consumed within they were forced to fetch their Provisions from very far So their General resolved to make one attempt for all to force the Trenches Roscillus and Aegus the Sons of Albuscillus a Man of the first quality in Savoy had served under Caesar ever since the Gallick War where they had behaved themselves very well nor were they ill rewarded for it For besides the Senatorian Dignity which he had bestowed upon them they had received great marks of his acknowledgment and were grown very rich These two Men relying upon the Friendship of their General and puffed up with a foolish and barbarous arrogance treated all their under Officers with contempt cheated their Souldiers of their Pay and whatsoever Booty their Troops met with still kept it to themselves This obliged the Men to make their Complaints to Caesar acquainting him also that though they might have received full Pay their Troops were never Completed Caesar believing this no fit time to make examples in and that something ought to be allowed in consideration of the merit of these two Brothers neglected the taking any notice of the matter but did not forget privately to tell them his opinion and assure them it would be more for their advantage to serve him well These two men provoked by this Remonstrance and believing that though he slipt it now he might take another opportunity to resent their ill conduct resolved to quit his Service and go over to the Enemies
easily to be judged that nothing but a general Battel could be fit to determine that famous quarrel Pompey's Party incouraged by the advantages they had gotten at Durazzo doubted not of success Every proceeding which did not seem to tend towards a Battel was looked upon by them as an Obstacle to their returning into Italy they say Pompey let himself be flattered too much in his Command Domitius called him Agamemnon insinuating that he Commanded over Kings and Favonius after his unthinking manner told the other Senatours that they must not expect that year again to eat the Figs of Tusculum Besides Domitius Scipio and Lentulus were ready to fall out who should have the charge of Pontifex which Caesar was then possessed of all other Dignities were disposed of a great many having sent already to Rome to take Houses near the Place where the Magistrates were to be chosen so to be lodged with more conveniency for pursuing the charges they pretended to and Arrius Rufus would have accused Afranius for having as he said sold Spain to Caesar which made Afranius say upon all occasions Why do not we go and find out that Merchant of Provinces In short every one set his thoughts upon sharing the fruits of the Victory without considering how to gain it But Caesar took another course he endeavoured to incourage his Souldiers by little Combates every day sending out Parties and exercised the young Men of his Legions to mingle themselves amongst their Cavalry and contend for swiftness even with the Horses so though Pompey surpassed in the number of Cavalry yet his being assisted by those light armed Foot were not afraid of them and in one Re-incounter they defeated a great number of them and slew one of the Savoyards that had deserted When Caesar understood that his Troops had recovered their wonted Courage and were desirous to go upon the Enemy he drew out of his Camp and offered Pompey Battel That General had no design to come to blows and thought to have wasted Caesar's Troops by Fatigue and want of Provision He drew indeed out of his Camp but kept himself always under his Trenches at the Foot of the advanced ground where he was posted Caesar could not attack him in that place without great disadvantage so that he resolved the next day to decamp to the end that by frequent motions he might weary out Pompey's Troops who were not so hardened to toil as his He caused all the Baggage to be loaded that night the Tents were already pulled down and a March was founded through the Camp by break of day when he received advice that Pompey's Army was in Battalia far enough from his Trenches Then Caesar caused all his Troops to hault and with extreme joy told them Let us defer our departure my Fellow Sould 〈…〉 nd think of fighting it is that which we have long most earnestly wished for therefore let us not lose the opportunity our Enemies present us withall perhaps they will not be always of this Opinion and it may be hard for us to find them in so good humour another time After this short discourse he drew up his Troops in order and marched them towards the place of Battel CHAP. XLV Pompey forced to fight against his Opinion His Discourse with Labienus Some Presages POmpey was not able longer to hold out against the insolencies and murmurings of his Officers and in fine they had so fully persuaded him to fight that he promised them that he would defeat the Troops of Caesar this was in the Council of War where he was assisted by all the Senatours of his Party I am very sensible said he that the execution of my promise may appear something difficult but ye will not longer doubt of it when I shall have told you in what manner I intend to proceed All my Horse have promised me that they will attack the Enemy upon the flanks before they shall be able to discharge one Dart so we shall carry the Victory without hazarding our Legions with the price of one wound and as you know the advantage which the number and courage of our Cavalry has over those of the Enemy I believe there is no man here present can doubt of the success but will boldly prepare himself to the Battel which is desired with so much earnestness and I hope that ye will maintain the reputation of your Valour so famous over all the world After this Labienus said a great many things in contempt of Caesar's Troops And to the Honour of Pompey think not said he that these are the same Souldiers who conquered the Gauls and vanquished the Germans for I was present there and speak nothing here whereof I am not well informed there is hardly any of those old Souldiers remaining many of them have perished in Battel The Diseases of the last Autumn have destroyed a great many more and the rest are gone to their homes Those Troops which ye see at present are but Recruits of some miserable Peasants raised in the Cisalpine Gaul the bravest whereof were slain at the last Battel of Durazzo Afterwards Labienus took an Oath that he would never return into his Camp if he were not Victour and exhorted the others to doe so too Every one swore in his turn this new kind of Oath re-doubled their hopes and no less their joy Because says Caesar they were persuaded that so great a General as Labienus was would not swear to a thing which he had not been resolved to execute In the mean time there hapned Presages that were not at all favourable to Pompey The night before the Battel he dreamed that he was at Rome in a Theatre he had built and that the people received him with great Acclamations and went to adorn with Trophies the Temple of Venus the Victorious This dream seemed to respect the glory of Caesar who attributed the Original of his Family to Venus at least Plutarch and some other Authours have so explained it There was also seen a light like that of a Flambeau which kindling it self over Caesar's Camp came and fell upon Pompey's And there happened at break of day one of those false Alarums which they call Panick fears Caesar on the contrary had happy Omens and the Diviner who looked into the Entrails of the Sacrifices told him two days before the Battel that he foresaw a change in the present state of his Fortune and that that change depended upon his Courage and the Valour of his Troops CHAP. XLVI The order of the two Armies The two Generals speak to their Souldiers to encourage them to the fight POmpey's Army consisted of five and forty thousand Foot and seven thousand Horse being in all five Legions with the Spanish Cohorts which Afranius had raised after his defeat These Cohorts and those of the Legions were in number 112 seven whereof he left to guard his Camp and all these Troops were upon three lines every Legion making three Battalions viz.
without some ground for Ganymede the other Eunuch had taken away Arsinoe the youngest of Ptolemy's Sisters causing her to be acknowledged for Queen and it was in her name that Achillas made War against Caesar. But that enterprise which at first perplext him turned in the consequence to his advantage Ganymede could not longer bear the reputation which Achillas had gotten amongst the Troops so he caused him to be slain and made himself be declared General of the Army In the mean time Cleopatra came to Caesar with a great deal of danger out of which her own Wisedom and good management happily delivered her she embarked her self in a Shallop onely with Apollodorus one of her Domesticks and arriving that night under the Castle of Alexandria that man binding her up in a Packet of those necessaries which he brought along with him took her upon his back and by that means deceiving the Aegyptian Guard carried her to Caesar. It is said that that mark which she then gave of her Wit contributed much to the growth of a passion which he afterwards entertained for that Princess or at least it is Plutarch's Opinion But to say the truth the Slave may be reasonably supposed to have had the best part in that Contrivance On the other side Caesar was too sensible of the Charms of Beauty not to be touched with those of Cleopatra She was then in the Prime of her Youth and one of those sprightly Grecian Beauties where every feature has its particular Charm All which was seconded by an admirable Wit and a Voice so soft and bewitching that that perfection onely without the help of her Eyes for she had the finest in the World inslaved the hearts of every one that heard her nor could Caesar refuse her his since he had not been able to defend it before against a certain Moorish Queen so he became passionately in love and declared himself at first sight for the interests of that Princess Ptolemy quickly found that Caesar who was to be Judge between him and his Sister was become of her Party and that that change was the work of love the uneasiness which he shewed for it to the People made them again revolt but Caesar soon quelled it and as the Roman Consul and Tutour to the young Princess in a General Assembly read the Will of Ptolemy their Father and promised to put it in execution At this time Ganymede to signalise himself in his new Employment undertook a great and difficult work but from the success of it we ought to determine the War on his side The City of Alexandria to express it properly was built upon a void of empty space for such were the many Caves or Cisterns made on purpose to receive the Waters of the Nile which were excellent to drink when they were once setled and purged from the slime which that River carried in its Chanel and which occasioned many Diseases amongst the People when ever they were forced by necessity to drink it as they drew it out of the River Ganymede was wholly Master of the Nile which ran through that part of the City which the Aegyptians were possessed of so he caused all the Cannals to be stopt up which carried the Water to that side where he was Master and then by Wheels and other Engines he caused a great quantity of Sea Water to be taken up which he put into the Cannals from whence Caesar's Quarters used to be supplied with fresh Waters immediately the chief Cisterns were corrupted with that salt Water which caused a great astonishment amongst Caesar's advanced Guards when they compared the taste of the Water which they drank with that in the Cisterns which were not so near the Enemy but at last these also became salt like the others and that accident had almost made them desperate They murmured amongst themselves and accused Caesar's obstinacy for thinking that he was able to fight at once both with Men and Elements But he assured them by his Discourse and his Authority and caused Wells to be digged all along the Sea side whereof he was Master and where he found sufficient stores of fresh Water CHAP. LIV. Caesar receives succours A Sea fight A disorder amongst Caesar's Troops upon the Peer He saves himself by swimming He restores the Aegyptians their King who declares War against him IN the mean time the four and twentieth Legion was arrived for his relief and came to have landed near Alexandria Caesar went out with all his Ships to meet them and in his return was set upon by the Aegyptian Fleet but seconded by the Ships of Rhodes easily put them to the rout taking one of the Enemies Vessels sinking another and killing a great many of their Men so that had not the night come on too fast he must have been Master of their whole Fleet. Ganymede did all that he was able to take away the Terrour which this ill success had raised amongst them and put to Sea again another stronger Fleet with which he came to attack Caesar. The fight was very fierce but the Valour and Experience of Euphranor who Commanded the Ships of Rhodes turned all to the advantage of the Romans who took two Aegyptian Gallies and sunk three the rest saved themselves under the Peer of Pharos Caesar being onely Master of the Tower which was the reason that at one and the same time he made an Attack upon the Island and the Peer with ten Cohorts of light armed Foot and the Gallick Cavalry which he had chosen out of all his Troops The Attack succeeding the Island and the Peer were taken and the Aegyptians driven beyond the Bridge Caesar immediately caused it to be fortified and with stones stopped up the passage under the Bridge that none of the Enemies Barks might go through As they were busie at this work the Enemy came from the City-ward with Barks and Shallops to attack the head of the Bridge and the sides of the Peer Caesar was upon the Peer in Person to encourage his Souldiers when a great number of the Mariners and Seamen belonging to his Vessels came thither without any order partly out of Curiosity and partly out of the desire they had to come to a Battel At first they behaved themselves well enough with throwing stones and with their slings But the Aegyptians taking notice of the disorder they were in resolved to come down and attack them upon this these Men ran again on Board their Vessels as unseasonably as they had left them Their flight raised the Courage of the Aegyptians who pursued them with great Cries and which so terrified the Romans that defended the Bridge and who believing they were surrounded by their Enemies thought of nothing but of saving themselves in their Vessels The confusion was great and in this Rout the Enemy killed at least four hundred Legionaries Caesar after having tried all his endeavours to prevent the running away of his Men was at last forced to
go on board his Ship but as he perceived the number of those that followed him and the danger that might thence arise he put himself to swimming but with so great presence of mind that he lost not one of those Papers which he all the while held out of the Water with one hand to preserve them from wetting nor his Coat Armour which he carried in his Teeth So swimming about two hundred paces to his Ships he sent out Shallops and Barks to the relief of his People some of them were saved but his own Vessel as he had foreseen was sunk by the number of those who were in her and who all perished This Disgrace instead of abating their Courage served onely to provoke Caesar's Souldiers which appeared whenever they came upon Duty for the raising of the Works and forced the Aegyptians to have recourse to Artifices They sent Deputies to Caesar to demand of him their King saying That they were weary of being Commanded by a Girl and the Tyranny of Ganymede and that they were willing to make Peace with the Romans under the Authority of their lawfull Prince Ptolâ—my on the other side perfectly instructed in the arts of Dissimulation no less by his own Genius than the Lessons which were given him by his Governours with tears in his Eyes begged of him to keep him with him saying That the presâ—â—ce of Caesar did more Charm him than his Kingdom Caesar was not ignorant of the perfidiousness of these People but he believed he ought in generosity to give them their Prince to the end he might either gain upon them by that favour or at least fight with more Honour against a King so he restored him to his Army where he was no sooner arrived but he renewed the War with so much earnestness that it seems says Hirtius the tears which he shed when he left Caesar were tears of joy In the mean time Caesar's Friends were upon their march through Syria to his relief and the Aegyptians who were advised of it before him sought all occasions to hinder the Convoys from coming to him by Sea which was the occasion of another Sea Battel where the brave Euphranor perished with his Vessel they being too far advanced nor well followed But the Aegyptians enjoyed not this advantage long for Mithridates of Pergama who was very considerable for the greatness of his Birth and his Authority and of great Reputation in War in Cilicia and Syria had raised an Army for Caesar's Service who came with these Troops to attack Pelusium which he took by storm That City was the Key of Aegypt by Land as the Pharos was towards the Sea From thence Mithridates advanced towards Alexandria for the relief of Caesar which forced Ptolemy to divide his Troops to defend the passage of the Nile That River as it comes near the Sea separates it self into many Branches whereof the two most considerable leave a large space of Land between them forming as it were an Island which the Aegyptians call Delta for the resemblance of its Figure to that Greek Letter Δ. CHAP. LV. Mithridates defeats the Aegyptians He joins himself with Caesar who attacks Ptolemy's Camp The Aegyptians routed Their King is drowned Caesar establishes Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt with her Brother MIthridates who very well understood the Roman Discipline received the first on-set of the Aegyptians in his Trenches and when he saw them in disorder sallied and killed a great number of them before they could get to their Vessels which were upon the Nile Caesar and Ptolemy were both advised of what had happened much about the same time and immediately began their march one to join himself with Mithridates and the other to hinder him The King went in his Ships along the Nile and Caesar to avoid a Sea fight in the Chanel of the River went and made his descent above the mouth of the River towards the Coast of Asia and with his usual diligence came to join Mithridates without being the least incommoded by the King By this means matters were reduced to the hazard of a Battel Ptolemy was advantageously incamped in a Post which had the River Nile on one side behind him a Precipice and on the other side a Moor or Marshy ground There was a River or Canal between the Aegyptian Camp and Caesar's Army The King commanded all his Cavalry and a detachment of chosen foot to defend that passage the Banks whereof were very high The Romans were several times repulsed at last the shame to see the Aegyptians so long maintain the fight against them obliged Caesar's Gallick Horse to enter the Channel in several places they opening themselves a passage while the Legionaries got over upon great Trees which they had cut for that purpose which bold undertaking confounded the Aegyptians who with some loss made their retreat to the Kings Camp The next day Caesar causing all his Troops to pass over made an attack upon their Camp along the Banks of Nilus which being the easiest place for that purpose was the reason that the Aegyptians had drawn thither their best Troops and neglected the other part which they thought inaccessible This Caesar quickly understood by the stout resistence which he here met withal he therefore drew out some Cohorts under the Command of Carsulenus one of his ancientest and best Officers to attack their Camp where the Fortification was steepest They there found little resistence by reason that on-set was so contrary to expectation By this means they entred and put the whole Aegyptian Camp into disorder Immediately every one thought of nothing but his own safety and in this confusion the King himself getting on Board a Vessel was drowned with all those that followed him and who by their numbers sunk the Ship After this Victory there was nothing found in Aegypt able to resist Caesar. The City of Alexandria was the first that submitted so he made his entry as Conquerour and pardoned the Citizens in favour of Cleopatra whom he established Queen with her younger Brother Ptolemy according to the intent of their Father's Will driving out Arsinoâ— and Ganymede The following days he dedicated to the love which he had for that Princess and the rejoycings for his Victory Some Authours report that he went up the Nile with her a Magnificent Galley and that he had gone as far as Aethiopia if his Army had not refused to follow him At last he left her with Child of a Son who was afterwards called Caesario and departed from Aegypt to go into Syria with his sixth Legion against Pharnaces the Son of Mithridates the others being left in Aegypt by his order to hinder the revolt of that new Conquest CHAP. LVI Cato retires into Africa and Cicero into Italy where Caesar Pardons him Pompey's Sons go into Spain Cato joins himself with Scipio and Juba Some broils at Rome THE Death of Pompey was so far from bringing this War to an end that it served onely to diffuse
signify the impatience he had to go into Africa encamped himself so near the Sea-side that the waves flowed up to the very foot of his Tent and though the Winds were contrary he nevertheless Embarked what Souldiers he had with him who consisted of one Legion of new Levies and 600 Horse In the mean while four other new Legions and one more being a Veteran Legion came up with about 2000 Horse which obliged him to send away all his Fleet whom he soon after joyned leaving orders with Alienus the Pretor of Sicily to send him the other Legions as fast as they should arrive Now as the Troops of his Enemies consisted of great numbers for Iuba had four Legions abundance of light armed Foot and Cavalry almost innumerable Scipio ten Legions six and twenty Elephants and a great many Ships which were in possession of all the Ports of Africa Caesar had appointed his Fleet no certain place of Rendezvous he came in four days time in sight of the African Coast and passing with part of his Navy before the Cities of Clupea and Neapolis he presented himself before Adrumetum Considius Commanded in that place and Piso guarded the Coast with 2000 Mooâ—ish Horse Caesar made shew as if he would attack the Port and afterwards ran ashore a little way off where he landed onely with 3000 Foot and 150 Horse In the first place he Commanded that none of his Souldiers should straggle from the Body and advanced his Troops towards the City where after having intrenched himself he sent one of his Prisoners to Considius who after having understood that he came from Caesar caused him to be slain in his presence and sent his Letters to Scipio Caesar who had no design to attack that place marched all along the Coast to Ruspina being all the way annoyed by Parties from the Enemy And it was in one of these occasions that 30 Gallick Horse beat 2000 Moors and drove them almost to the Gates of Adrumetum he durst not quit the Sea being uncertain what might become of the rest of his Fleet and though he had sent ten Vessels to inquire intelligence and had taken the City of Lepta from whence having furnished himself with good store of Provisions he returned towards Ruspina and went on Board with six old Cohorts without making any discovery of what he designed When his absence was known in the Camp the Souldiers were extremely astonished and were for a whole night almost desperate In the mean while he was Coasting and by good fortune met the rest of his Fleet which came upon the same design so he returned to his Camp with great diligence and drew up his Army in Battalia to receive those who landed His presence put an end to their apprehensions so he decamped the same hour to advance farther into the Countrey he had hardly marched three miles when his Scouts brought him word that the Enemy appeared A moment after he himself discovered a very thick dust which was from Scipio's Lieutenant who came with a great Army either to hinder his descent or to fall upon him as he was in disorder and in effect whatever Hirtius says in his Commentaries almost all other Authours believe that Caesar found himself at this time in great danger the number of his Enemies was much greater than that of his own Troops and his Souldiers being almost all of them new raised Men had not been acquainted with the manner of fighting against the Numidians These People as they doe to this day observe no manner of Order but being very well Mounted used to fight by running out from their main Body throwing a great many Lances and retreating at the same time that their Enemy comes forth against them Caesar had need now of all his Experience as well as Courage to hinder his being totally put to a rout he fought with his own hands and taking by the Collar an Officer who carried the Eagle of that Legion which fled brought him up into the foremost ranks At last a Souldier of the tenth Legion whom Labienus affronted after having known him lancing his Horse with a Javelin Câ—â—sar while Labienus was carrying off endeavoured with his Legionaries to open a passage through the Enemy who had hemmed him in and made his retreat good into his Camp in despight of the coming up of Petreius who it is said spared him upon this occasion under pretence that he ought not to take away from Scipio their General the Glory of completing the Victory A little time after Scipio came to join his Lieutenant with eight Legions and 4000 Horse proclaiming every where that Iuba was following him with yet greater reinforcement This report extremely terrified Caesar's new Souldiers their fear appeared in their very faces and in all their motions and as it had made them very apprehensive Caesar to take away that inconveniency caused them to be drawn together where he spake to them I am said he very glad to let you understand that in a few days Juba is to arrive with 10 Legions 30000 Horse 100000 light armed Foot and 300 Elephants so that those who are now so curious and dispute so much upon the matter may be at rest and believe me since I ought to know it else I shall send them on board the worst and oldest of my Ships where it shall please the winds and fortune to carry them This discourse so full of assurance inspired them with fresh Courage and put a stop to those sort of reports It is true indeed that Iuba was coming up but Boguo a King of one part of Mauritania and Sittius a Roman who was setled in Africa with a great many of Marius's Souldiers had entred his Kingdom and made such Progress there as obliged him to return so the War was carried on between the two Roman Generals and Caesar who would forget nothing that might be for the advantage of his Affairs knowing that many were of opinion that the Scipio's seemed as if born to triumph in Africa chose from amongst his Troops a man of very small merit but one who bore that name with the Sirname Salutio and caused all orders to be issued out in his name as if he had been General In the mean while he wearied the Enemy by different movements dayly retrenching himself and besides his Ramparts which were furnished with all sorts of Darts made moreover Ditches filled with stakes and in this condition suffered the affronts of Scipio who came often to offer him Battel Caesar contenting himself to let his Cavalry onely draw out and distributing his Orders with so much security that he hardly so much as went out of his Tent. Moreover as his Souldiers were not yet much inured to War he took pains himself for their instruction shewing them how they ought to receive the on-sets of the Enemy in what manner they ought to make their Retreat when they ought to Charge and when to recover their Ranks In short all
furnish 600000 Bushels of Corn and 2000 pounds of Oil yearly After this he ordered the preparation for his Triumph upon four successive days the first designed for the Triumph over Gaul shewed to the Romans in a great many Tables the names of 300 Nations and 800 Cities Conquered by the death of a Milion of Foes whom he had defeated in several Battels Amongst the Prisoners appeared that Vercingentorix who had raised up all the Gauls against the Romans and who had attacked Caesar at the siege of Alecia followed by 300000 fighting Men besides threescore and ten thousand that were in the place besieged all the Roman Souldiers followed their General Crowned with Laurels and in that Equipage he went to the Capitol the steps whereof he mounted upon his knees forty Elephants being ranged on each side carrying great Candlesticks filled with Flambeaus This shew lasted till night by reason that the Axeltree of his Triumphant Chariot broke which had like to have thrown down the Conqueror at the time when he thought himself at the highest Pinacle of his Glory The second Triumph was over Aegypt where appeared the Pictures of Ptolemy Photinus and Achillas which very much rejoyced the People of Rome The third shewed the defeat of Pharnaces and the flight of that King which caused great shouts of Joy amongst the Romans and many Ralleries upon the Conquered and here it was that he made use of that Inscription whereof we have spoken But when in the fourth Triumph they saw the descriptions of Scipio Petreius and Cato himself who was painted tearing his Bowels they sighed as much for sorrow The Son of Iuba who yet was very young was carried amongst the Prisoners and that Prince coming to be afterwards a very gallant Man and of great understanding Augustus gave him back again part of his Father's Kingdom and Married him to young Cleopatra the Daughter of Marcus Antonius The Silver the Vessels and Statues of Goldsmiths work which were used in these Triumphs amounted to threescore and sixty five thousand Talents besides a thousand eight hundred and twenty two Crowns of Gold which weighed 15033 l. sterl and were Presents which the Princes and Cities had made him after Victories according to the Customs of those times It was out of this sum that he paid his Souldiers besides what he had promised them in the beginning of the Civil Wars To every one 5000 Drachma's as much more to the Centurions and twice as much to the Tribunes and Commanders of the Cavalry and for their retreat after the Wars he gave them Inheritances in several places separated from Italy The People also were sensible of his Bounty he distributed to each particular person ten bushels of Corn and ten pounds of Oil and besides the 300 Denarii which he had promised a 100 more as for their Arrears he ordered also in favour of the poorer sort that the rent of Houses which was grown to an excessive rate should be reduced in Rome to 2000 Sestertii and in Italy to 500 and after this he entertained the whole People at 22000 Tables and to the end that nothing might be wanting to the Pomp of these Feasts caused 2000 Gladiatours to fight before the People amongst whom appeared Leptenus and Calpenus who had been Senatours and all this under the pretence of Celebrating the Funerals of his Daughter Iulia. Upon the following days also were seen Comedies in all sort of Languages represented in several places of the City where the Children of the Asian Princes danced Armed The Cirque was inlarged by his order and surrounded with a Ditch filled with Water and in this place the Children of the Roman Nobles exercised on Horseback and upon Chariots with 2 and 4 in front at last being divided into two Troops they represented that sort of Game which was called Troy to these divertisements succeeded those of hunting of wild Beasts which lasted five days Afterwards two Armies were shewn incamped in the Cirque each consisting of 500 Foot Souldiers 20 Elephants and 300 Horse who represented a Battel The Wrestlers also took up two days And after all upon a Lake made a purpose in the field of Mars two Fleets of Gallies furnished with a 1000 Souldiers and 4000 Rowers or Mariners diverted the People with the representations of a Naval fight These entertainments having drawn so many People to Rome that the greatest part of them were forced to incamp in the publick places a great many being stifled in the press and amongst the rest two that were Senatours CHAP. LXII Caesar goes into Spain where he defeats the two Sons of Pompey the oldest whereof is slain DUring the time of these rejoycings the two Sons of Pompey fortified themselves in Spain and as that People still passionately affected the memory of their Father they soon got together a powerfull Army they had also very good Officers and amongst the rest Labienus which obliged Caesar to go in person to oppose their proceedings He was then the third time Dictatour but e'er he would depart resolving to take a general review of the Inhabitants of Rome as the Censors had formerly done he found onely 150000 heads of Families remaining of 320000 which had been numbred before the Civil War which now had wasted the greater half of them Caesar nevertheless arrived in Spain sooner than he was expected Cneius the eldest of the two Pompey's had besieged the City of Vlloa and Sextus the younger Brother was in Cordova with a strong Garrison Caesar to raise the siege and give some jealousie to Cneius advanced towards Cordova with what Troops he had with him and those others that were in the Province under the Commands of Pedius and Fabius his Lieutenant Generals This proceeding had its effect accordingly for Cneius solicited by Letters from his Brother raised the siege from before Vlloa and came to oppose Caesar who after having vainly endeavoured to draw him to Battel went to invest Atecua that being the place of most importance which held out for the Pompey's Cneius being deceived by those fires which Caesar had kindled in his Camp discovered not that he was marched till it was too late to follow him so he retreated to Cordova to refresh his Troops and came afterwards to take possession of some hills near Caesar's Camp but the Camp was so well fortified that he could attempt nothing upon him The siege lasted a long time and the besieged defended themselves very well which obliged Cneius several times to endeavour the putting of Succours into the place to which purpose he made divers skirmishes and indeed not much to his disadvantage At last those of the Garrison seeing themselves pressed undertook by a most horrible Treachery to cut the Throats of the Inhabitants and then make a general Sally for the forcing the circumvallation of Caesar's Camp The Massacre was put in execution but their Villany succeeded not for they were beaten in their Sally and driven back into the
Town with great slaughter At last Minutius who Commanded there in chief desired that he might Capitulate and surrendred the place almost in the sight of Cneius After this Caesar drew nearer with his Camp and they disputed for the ground by several Works which they caused to be thrown up and which at last occasioned a great Battel wherein Caesar's Cavalry were forced to give ground to those of the Enemy which advantage seeming a kind of reparation for the loss of Atecua very much raised the courage of Cneius some of his Letters being intercepted wherein he gave account That Caesar had onely with him raw and unexperienced Souldiers that he durst not put himself upon the hazard of Battel but that nevertheless means should be found to force him to it With this imagination he went to incamp himself near Hispalis In the mean while Caesar possessed himself of two Castles and knowing that Cneius was incamped in the Plain of Munda he marched his Army thither The two Generals were equally impatient to come to an ingagement so that Cneius drew up his Troops in Battalia by break of day he had posted himself very well upon a Hill both sides whereof were defended one by the City of Munda and the other by a little River and a Marsh the exactness of their order shewed his Troops to great advantage especially his Horse who were very well armed the River also being upon his right hand and separating the Hill where he was incamped from the Plain which was five Miles in length and reached as far as Caesar's Camp He also had drawn up his Troops in Battalia and expected when the Enemy should come down into the Plain to fight him But as they never stirred above a thousand paces from the City Caesar advanced as far as the Rivolet now according to the Rules of War Cneius ought to have ingaged him in his passage but his general Officers were obstinately of Opinion to defend the Hill Caesar well perceiving that he could not come at them without great disadvantage and that they prepared themselves to charge him as he came up caused his Army to hault as if he intended to fortify himself in that Post. His Army consisted of 24 Cohorts and 8000 Horse the tenth Legion were upon the Right the third and fifth upon the Left and the Cavalry upon the Wings Cneius had fourteen Leâ—gions the Cavalry and his light armed Foot amounted to 6000 Men with an equal number of Auxiliary Troops Caesar's Souldiers murmured that he would not let them make use of the occasion to ingage and the delay so incouraged those of Cneius that they advanced upon the declining part of the Hill so both sides gave a shout and the Battel began The first shock was managed on both parts with so much courage that Casar's Men who had been used to Conquer found themselves something abated of their fierceness The tenth Legion though extremely weakned in number nevertheless pressed hard upon that which it was ingaged withall But Cneius Commanded a Legion to march up upon the Right to its assistence During this proceeding Câ—sar's Cavalry charged Pompey's left Wing who received it in very good Order so that all the Troops on both sides being now ingaged every one was to expect his safety from his own proper Valour All Authours agree that Caesar was never in so great danger as now and he himself has since declared That ever before he fought for glory but at Munda for his life He threw himself several times amongst the midst of his Enemies crying out to his People That they ought to take him and deliver him to those Children to save themselves the shame of being beaten so well did he encourage them by his speeches but much better by a thousand actions of bravery which he performed that at last with much adoe he overthrew Cneius's Troops and killed thirty thousand upon the place but he lost a thousand of his own Men and had five hundred wounded All the Ensigns were taken and Varus and Labienus slain in the Battel Cneius with 150 Horse escaped to Carteia from whence thinking to get away by Sea he was forced by the arrival of Caesar's Lieutenant to return to Land He was immediately besieged within a Tower and attacked so vigorously that being wounded in the Shoulder and the Thigh having his Heel put out of joint he was forsaken by his People and slain in a Cave where he had hid himself The young Sextus had better fortune for escaping from Cordova where he had been during the time of the Battel he concealed himself so well that Caesar could not find him or at least because he was so young mistook him After this Victory which put an end to that famous War there nothing appeared to make resistence so Caesar having given out several Orders and exacted great Contributions from the Enemies Cities under pretence of punishing their Rebellion he returned to Rome not a little glad that he had at last brought under submission that Commonwealth which gave Laws to the greatest part of the World CHAP. LXIII Caesar's return to Rome He makes several Laws The extreme Honours which were done him draw upon him the Envy of the Senate HE would needs Triumph at his return but that Triumph was by no means attended with any joyfull Acclamations of the People who were grieved to see the Memory of their beloved Pompey insulted over After this Caesar applyed himself to regulate the state of the Commonwealth and pardoned all those who had born Arms against him He caused also Pompey's Statues to be set up again and Cicero observed very properly upon that occasion saying That Caesar by restoring Pompey 's Statues secured his own He published several Laws as that which limited the expences of Feasts which he caused to be observed with all severity Another touching the use of Litters embroidered Robes and Pearls which he confined onely to certain Persons That which allowed the right of a free Citizen to all People of Quality of whatsoever profession besides a great many other very good Ordinances He sate in Judgment with wonderfull diligence and application and without suffering himself to be balanced in favour of any of the Criminals Moreover to shew that nothing should escape his care he undertook to regulate the Roman Year which was at that time very much confounded and as it consisted but of ten months according to the establishment of Romulus and Numa had taken care to add two others consisting of sixty five days nevertheless the year wanted eleven days and a quarter and though several remedies had been sought for the reforming of that Errour it happened out in succession of time that the Festivals came in seasons quite contrary to their Institution as for example those for the Vintages in Spring and those of the Harvest in Winter Caesar after having consulted upon this occasion the most able Astronomers and being himself very well instructed in that
their Retreat look like a â—light Of this Antonius failed not to make good advantage his two Brothers sirnamed Cajus and Lucius were the one Pretor and the other Tribune so that he being Consul the Authority of these three great Offices made him almost absolute in the Government of the Commonwealth He had an inclination to the Government of Syria but he saw very well that the asking of it would onely increase the distrust of the Senate where already many designs were on Foot against his Interest and which also he was very well informed of Dolabella his Collegue in the Consulship had been drawn into that business but Antonius who knew his Unconstancy and his Ambition cunningly persuaded him to demand the Government of Syria and the Army which Caesar had prepared against the Parthians The young Man ran presently into the snare and when it was Remonstrated to him That that Proposition was contrary to the Ordinances of Caesar He answered That Caesar 's design was to make War upon the Parthians that as to his Decrees Cassius had first mistaken them in permitting the old Souldiers to sell the Inheritances which had been given them and which Caesar had expresly forbidden that for what remained it would be an affront to him to believe that Cassius had any advantage over him either in Courage or in Conduct The Senate thus intangled went another way to work they resolved to persuade one of the Tribunes called Asprinas to find out some Religious reason for the opposing of this Proposition when it should come before the People under the pretence of Thunder or some other unlucky Omen All the Roman Histories are full of this kind of Superstition and after this manner the People fansied to themselves either fortunate or unlucky Presages upon unlucky Omens their Assemblies always separated and the squeeking of a Mouse would frequently fright them from their debates of the highest importance The Cunning Men made the right use of this weakness when any thing was proposed which did not please them and this was the design of the Senate which they thought ought to have been promoted by Antonius he being one of the College of Augures who were a certain sort of Dignitaries that judged of these kind of Omens and who they imagined wished the Government of Syria for himself But these were false measures for Antonius seized upon the Tribune as an Impostour and was the occasion that Dolabella got the Province and the Army afterwards He demanded Macedonia for his Brother Cajus which none durst refuse him All that the Senate could doe was to put the Friends of Brutus and Cassius also upon demanding other Provinces instead of those that had been taken from them which they obtained to Cassius was given Cyrene upon the Coast of Africa with that of Crete at present called Candia and Bithynia to Brutus CHAP. IX Octavius the grand Nephew of Caesar comes to Rome against the Opinion of his Kindred he declares himself Caesar's Heir and takes upon him his Name IN the mean time news arrived at Rome that Octavius the grand Nephew of Caesar whom he had Adopted and declared his chief Heir was coming to enter upon his Succession Octavius so famous since by the Name of Augustus Caesar was of a very Ancient and Illustrious Family in Italy but he came out of a branch of that Family which had not been much advanced He was handsome and so very beautifull that it acquired him Veneration he had a great deal of Wit which was subtile and cunning a lofty Mind of extreme Wisedom and very insinuating Conversation Caesar who had not any nearer Kinsman took a great deal of care of his Education and he improved so well under so good a Master that his Merit advanced him to the Empire of the World He governed with so great Wisedom and Moderation that the Prudence and Mildness of Augustus have been ever since wished to his Successours though he was now but very young his Unkle caused him to exercise the charge of General of the Cavalry for one complete year and afterwards sent him to Appollonia a City upon the Coast of Epirus to complete his Studies and his Exercises thither came to him dayly the principal Commanders of the Troops of that Province and even the Souldiers also to make their Court to him and entertain him with Combates and Games after having staid about six months in that City he understood the death of Caesar and all his Friends advised to seek Protection from the Troops of that Province who had served under Caesar and still honoured his Memory His Mother was Married again to a Man of Quality called Martius Philippus so they both wrote to him by way of advice To undertake nothing that might bring trouble upon him but that he would take warning by his Vnkle and come to Rome to them where he might lead a quiet and peaceable life and that they would take care of his preservation These different Counsels were enough to intangle a Man who was now but eighteen years of Age. But of all the Counsels that were proposed to him he resolved upon the most honest and the most generous which was To revenge the death of his Vnkle so he put himself on Ship-board and came and landed at a certain little Town near Brundusiâ—m where he was informed of what had been done at Rome since the death of Caesar and though he had received fresh Letters from his Mother nevertheless fully resolved to declare himself Heir to the Fortune and Name of Caesar. With this design he went to Brâ—ndusiâ—m after being first well assured that none of the Murtherers of his Unkle were in the place such of Caesar's old Souldiers as were Quartered in that City came out to meet him and did him Honours as the Son of their General He made a Sacrifice to the Gods and after having according to the Roman Custome taken upon him the Name of his Adoptive Father all his Friends his Slaves his Freed-men and many other Souldiers came to him upon the News The very Arms Money and Provision which were sent to the Troops of Macedonia were brought to him and this happy beginning put him upon his march towards Rome in his Journey thither he saw Cicero who avoided the calling of him Caesar though every body else at that time did it because says he in a Letter Philip himself did not doe it and that no good Citizen ought so long as he is attended with such as threaten our Friends Nevertheless he remained not long in this Opinion and Octavius arriving at last at Rome declared to his Friends That notwithstanding their fears he could not but think himself unworthy of life should he not use his utmost indeavours to revenge the death of Caesar. It is said that his Mother imbraced him at these words and approved of his Design Now Antonius had sent no body out to meet him which coldness of proceeding much augmented the fears
whom he had heretofore Commanded under Iulius Caesar and one of new raised Men Antonius immediately besieged him in the place blocking him closely up with lines and other Works CHAP. XVIII Hirtius and Pansa chosen Consuls The Decree of the Senate against Antonius The death of Trebonius Dollabella declared an Enemy to the Republick Honours and Offices allotted to Cassius and Brutus THE siege of Modena was lookt upon by Caesar and the Senate as a Declaration of War where at last new Consuls were Created upon the first of Ianuary in the year 711 since the foundation of Rome which shall serve as a Date for the rest of the History These Consuls were Hirtius and Pansa both intimate Friends and Disciples of Cicero who boasts that he taught them the Rules of Eloquence they were both also the Creatures of Iulius Caesar. Hirtius had always served under him and it is he who has given the Relation of the Wars of Aegypt and Africa which is annexed to his Commentaries and Pansa made profession of a particular Friendship with him They assembled the Senate where Cicero who had then all the Authority persuaded War against Antonius by a discourse which is still extant We may there reade his Reasons which are drawn from the Insolence and Conduct of Antonius as well as Ambition the matter as it usually happens did not pass without a reply for Piso maintained the interest of Antonius and indeavoured to justify him but Cicero's underhand management proved too strong and an Arrest had gone out against Antonius if Salvius one of the Tribunes had not opposed it in the name of the People This was the greatest Privilege of those kind of Offices for though there were many of them one alone had right to oppose the general consent and that opposition hindred the effect of all debates It was the Peoples business to decide this difference and though nothing was then ordered as to the business of Antonius because of the Tribunes opposition It was resolved that Decimus should be thanked for maintaining the Authority of the Senate that Caesar should be joined with the Consuls and Command equally with them that his Statue should be set up in Gold that he should be entred in the Senate and have power to demand the Consulship ten years before he came to such Age as the Law in that case required to the end that the Legions might be rewarded after Victory according as he had promised them The courage of Salvius made way for the Mother and Wife of Antonius to solicite his Cause with her Son who was yet young and all their other Friends and Relations Antonius his Mother was called Iulia of Caesar's Family and in great Esteem both for her Birth and for her Vertue his Wife Fulvia when she Married him was the Widow of Claudius This Widow was very beautifull and of a popular but Ancient Family Ambitious above the capacity of her Sex and who absolutely governed her Husband she had also some light inclinations to Gallantry which was perhaps the effect of her Ambition for she always loved to deal amongst the best Quality at least we may reade at this time an Epigramm of Augustus where he complains that Fulvia declares War against him because he could not have a passion for her and assist her in revenging the infidelities of her Husband These Ladies and all their Family appeared in mourning Robes before the People and moved their Compassion Piso took this occasion to try once more what could be done in favour of Antonius but the Eloquence of Cicero dazled their minds and the Decree of the Senate was confirmed the charge of drawing it up was given to Cicero which he performed in much severer terms than had been resolved upon the terms of the Arrest were That Antonius should immediately raise his siege from before Modena and that he should quit the whole Province of Gall which reaches from the Alps as far as the Rubicon with a citation before the Senate in case of Disobedience to give an account of his Actions About this time news was come to Rome of the death of Trebonius whose Body was brought thither by his Friends and who was the first of Caesar's Murtherers that was punished for his Crime To understand the manner of it we must recollect that Dolabella departing with great diligence for his Government of Syria found that Countrey in commotion by the intrigues of Trebonius whom Brutus had sent thither as his Lieutenant and when he would have entred into Pergama and Smyrna the Gates were shut against him Nevertheless Trebonius neglected not to send Provisions to him as to a Consul and sent word to those of Ephesus that they should receive him Dolabella who had raised Troops by virtue of his Office and was still highly respected took his way towards Ephesus Trebonius sending out some Companies after him to observe his march the Consul went so directly towards Ephesus that it took off all manner of suspicion so that a great many of the Men returned again to Smyrna leaving onely a small number merely for form sake Then Dolabella turning upon those who remained cut them all in pieces and coming back briskly to Smyrna took it by assault The Souldiers found Trebonius aâ—ed who desired them To carry him to Dolabella We will carry you said the Commander but your Head must stay here so he cut it off immediately and the body was dragged up and down by the Souldiers with all manner of Indignity for though he had not himself assaulted Iulius Caesar he was one of the Conspiratours and was the Man that while the Deed was doing amused Antonius at the door of the Senate House so they shewed their hatred to him by a thousand Affronts which they did him Dolabella caused the Head to be fixt upon the Tribunal where he gave Audience and whence the Souldiers took it away again trundling of it up and down a long time upon the pavement The Body was taken up by his Friends and carried as I said before to Rome where the Senate according to that folly which they now shewed in every thing they undertook declared Dolabella a Rebel and an Enemy of his Countrey With the same madness they made an Order That Brutus should have the Government of Macedonia and Illyria and Command the Armies of those Provinces till such time as the Commonwealth recovered its ancient Majesty That he might make use of the Fleet which Apuleius had got together and the sum of seven thousand Talents which Julius Caesar had sent into the City of Demetriades with abundance of Ammunitions of War for the attacking of the Parthians To Cassius was given Syria and the charge of making War against Dolabella and an Ordinance passed That all such as had Command of any Provinces or Armies belonging to the Roman People should receive Orders from those two Generals CHAP. XIX Antonius's Letter to Hirtius and young Caesar. ANTONIVS resolved to take this occasion
to shake the minds of Hirtius and young Caesar who could not be very well pleased with these demonstrations of good will towards the Murtherers of his Father therefore though the Letter be something long in regard it will be for our Instruction in the affairs of that Age and that in the consequence it had its design'd effect it will not be improper here to recite the Original which was in these terms Antonius to Hirtius and Caesar. I Have not been more pleased at the news of Trebonius's death than grieved to understand how it has been received at Rome We ought to rejoyce to see a Villain justly sacrificed to the ashes of the most Illustrious of Men and that e'er a year came to an end the justice of the Gods having declared it self by the punishment of one of the Paricides seems to threaten the rest But on the other side it is matter of affliction to see Dolabella declared a Rebel for having punished and Assassinate and that the Son of one of her meanest Men should be more dear to Rome than the Father of his Countrey and which is yet more terrible is that you Hirtius who have been honoured with benefits from Caesar he having left you in a state of Fortune which you your self wonder at and that you young Man who owe all you enjoy to his name could ever agree with those who thought it Iustice to Condemn Dolabella and that one who is a Prisoner ought to escape from those who now besiege him and that an absolute power should be given to Cassius and Brutus Doubtless you look upon these things with the same Spirit that you saw what passed before you have given the name of Senate to the rest of Pompey's Camp and have put Cicero at the head of you though he be reduced to nothing You have fortified Macedonia with a powerfull Army and given Africa to Varus who has been twice a Prisoner Cassius hath been sent into Syria and you have suffered that Casca should take upon him the Dignity of Tribune That the Revenues which Caesar gave the Luperci should be taken from them and that the Veterans should be drawn out of their Colonies where the Law and the Order of the Senate has established them A promise has passed and by your consent too that the People of Marseilles should be restored to those Privileges which the Laws of War had taken from them The intent of the Hirtian Law is utterly forgotten which prohibits Pompey's Party from pretending to any Honours Brutus is suborned by the Money of Apuleius and the punishment inflicted on Poetus and Menedemus who had been honoured with City Freedoms and were Caesar's Hosts has been approved of yet Theopompus is neglected who was driven out naked by Trebonius and forced to fly to Alexandria while you have entertained Sergius Galba in your Camp armed with the same Dagger wherewith be committed a most execrable Paracide In short you force my Souldiers and the Veterans to the destruction of their Generals and their Comerades after having drawn them together under a pretence of pursuing the murtherers of Caesar. By this means you have approved of nothing you have done nothing but what Pompey himself were he alive again would doe or his Son if he had any power in Rome It is reported that no Peace can be concluded if I let not Brutus go or if I furnish him not with Provisions but is this the Opinion of those old Souldiers whose minds and judgments have not been debauched corrupted with Flatteries and poisoned with Bribes like yours You will say that you marched to the relief of their Companions whom I hold besieged I shall give them pardon and liberty with all my heart provided that they leave him to Iustice who so well deserves it As to the rest you sent me word that a Peace has been mentioned in the Senate and that five Consulary Deputies have been sent to me upon that design But it is hard to expect any Iustice and Moderation from those Men who so fiercely rejected the fair Conditions which I offered and even some whereof I was willing to have abated Nor is it reasonable to believe that those Men who have Condemned Dolabella for doing well will ever pardon me for being of the same Opinion with him I therefore leave it to your Wisedom to examine whether it will be more Honour and advantage to our Party to revenge the death of Trebonius or the death of Caesar And whether it will be more just that we go together by the Ears to set Pompey's interest on foot again which has been so often defeated or to rally our selves to prevent our ill treatment from those Enemies who onely wait their advantage when some misfortune shall arrive to any one of us Our good Chance hitherto has provided otherwise that two Parties of the same interest should not cruelly tear each other to pieces by Cicero's Orders who thinks himself very happy in deceiving you by those false demonstrations of Honour wherewith he boasts that he has imposed upon Caesar. For my part I will never suffer any outrage either against my self or my Friends this is my resolution I will never abandon the Party that Pompey hates nor shall the Veterans ever by my consent be rooted out of their possessions and then betrayed one after another to their execution Nor will i ever break the word which I have given to Dolabella nor the Alliance which I have made with so honourable a man as Lepidus as well as what I owe to Plancus to whom communicate all my designs if as I hope they will the immortal Gods prove favourable to my just intentions I shall live with joy But if they have appointed me another Destiny I shall but taste before hand the pleasure of your punishments for if Pompey's Party be thus insolent under their defeat I shall leave you to make the sad experiment of what they will come too when they are Victorious As for you I could willingly bear with the injuries of my Friends if they themselves would but forget them and agree with me to revenge the murther of Caesar. It will never prevail upon my belief that Deputies should come with Peace from the same place whence War is thundring if they do come I am ready to hear what they have to propose CHAP. XX. The Consuls raise Troops for the relief of Decimus which was but one Legion The manner of laying sieges in those times Ventidius raises Troops for Antonius IF this Letter had not much effect upon Hirtius it caused great reflexions in the mind of young Caesar. For what the Senate had hitherto done might reasonably be excused the Ambition of Antonius and the safety of the Conspiratours were some sort of pretence for them but when he found that they promoted their Commanders to the highest Power and that they prosecuted all such as were for revenging the death of his Father he saw clearly what their designs were
side by which means Cassius was in a short time at the head of 12 Legions He imparted this good news to all his Friends and went afterwards to besiege Dolabella in Laodicea which is a City of Syria On the other side Brutus in Macedonia the Government whereof Hortentius had put into his hands by the means of Apuloius's Money had drawn to him all such of Pompey's Souldiers as were in Thessaly and all the Neighbouring Princes who still had a respect for the Memory of Pompey assisted him with their Troops so that the whole World was again divided between two Men for they were no more since it was in effect the Credit of Caesar and Pompey which kept up the War between those of their several Parties Cajus the Brother of Antonius was gone with one Legion into Macedonia where Brutus who was much stronger than he might easily have destroyed him but resolving to Husband well the lives of his Fellow Citizens and the Repute which he had already gotten for great Moderation he contented himself to weary him out with moving from one place to another and it was Cicero's Son who Commanded the Party against him He was as yet but a young Man though of great expectation and Brutus praised him extremely in the Letters which he wrote to Cicero He got the better of Cajus in two or three little encounters the ill success whereof at last was the reason that all Cajus his Souldiers surrendred themselves to Brutus and he himself was at last forc't to follow their example Brutus used him very well without depriving him of any marks of his Dignity till the death of Cicero CHAP. XXV Caesar demands the Honour of Triumph which is refused him He attempts the Consulship by Cicero's interference THE news of these proceedings was received in Italy with very different sentiments the Senate were extremely rejoiced at it but young Caesar seemed to have a very little share in their pleasure the last advice of Pansa wholly employed his thoughts and to sound the inclinations of the Senate he sent to demand a Triumph but that Honour was denied to Caesar who from the very moment resolved to use his best indeavours to re-unite himself with Antonius He sent him back all the Prisoners which he had taken at the Battel of Modena and amongst the rest Decius a particular friend of Antonius having first discovered to him his intentions he let Ventidius's Army pass which he might have destroyed and also saw him particularly himself to complain to him of the Divisions that ruined the interest of their Party At last he sent to Lepidus and Pollio to give them to understand the same thing and all this with the greatest secrecy in the world In the mean time Decimus wrote word to the Senate that Antonius was ruined that he was not able to stand before him and that he would undertake in a short time to chase him to the other side of the Alps the joy for this news was every where apparent so without any farther consideration a Committee was appointed of ten Senatours for the drawing up of a Process against Antonius and abolishing all that he had done during his Consulship This was an oblique blow with which they intended to wound the Ordinances of Iulius Caesar. Those of Pompey's Party solicited Decimus that he would demand the Consulship in the room of Hirtius and Pansa Caesar also had the same design but discovered it at first onely to Cicero to whom he sent word That he much desired to see himself once Consul with him that so he might be instructed in those rules and methods which are requisite for the government of the Commonwealth That for his part he onely desired the name of Consul to recompence himself in some measure for the loss of his Triumph but that he would leave the Authority intirely to Cicero He could not have thought of any thing better to prevail upon the weakness of that Man all his great knowledge and experience gave way to that bait of Vain-glory so he proposed it to the Senate with a great many circumlocutions which nevertheless could not disguise it so well but that his vanity was perceived and made light of by the Senate who laughed at him for his pains and the Kinsmen of the Conspiratours hindred any farther proceeding towards the Election of Consuls CHAP. XXVI Antonius makes his retreat into Gall. He makes himself Master of Lepidus's Army He returns into Italy with seventeen Legions ANTONIVS began now to understand his true interest those Friends which Caesar had sent to him had opened his Eyes but he had a mind in the first place throughly to discover the intentions of Lepidus who was advanced out of Spain as far as the place where the Rivers of Rhone and Saone meet the Senate had given orders to him and Plancus to fortify themselves in that place and it was at this time that Plancus laid the foundation of the City of Lyons Antonius passed over the Alps having first gained Culeâ— who guarded the narrow passages in all that march his Army suffered most extremely and Antonius even out-did himself in instructing his Souldiers by his own example to indure their weariness and their wants at last he came and incamped hard by Lepidus but fortified himself not in the least because he would make it known that he thought himself near his Friends Nevertheless Lepidus sent him word that the Senate had given him orders to prosecute him as an Enemy but Antonius who had let his beard and hair grow came and shewed himself in that condition to Lepidus's Souldiers they had all served with him under Iulius Caesar esteemed him for his Courage and the Civility of his Manners so that the condition they now saw him in moved them to compassion he spoke to them several times between the two Camps where they would meet him though Lepidus did all that lay in his power to prevent it Antonius Souldiers were dayly telling them stories of the goodness of their General that he marched the first on foot into the middle of the Snow himself comforting those whom he saw were wearied which gained the very hearts of them at last Lepidus perceiving that he was no longer Master of his Troops that they had sent Claudius and Laelius to Antonius to invite him to come into their Camp where they would receive him for their General and at the same time cut off Lepidus if he would give them Orders Antonius forbad them the doing of him any violence and the next day passed over a shallow part of the River which separated them and came into Lepidus's Camp The Souldiers received him with great Acclamations and Lepidus being very much terrified offered him his Command Antonius refused it but was willing to divide with him though the Authority should still remain intirely his Plancus who was loath to expose himself to the like disgrace past Iserum with four Legions and retreated into Savoy as if
he had a design of joining himself with Decimus but it was indeed to make choice of his Party according as Fortune should declare her self By this means Antonius was at the head of 23 Legions and above ten thousand Horse he left six Legions on the other side of the Alps under the Command of one of his drinking Companions called Varius but in railery sirnamed Cotyllo that word signifying a Flagon and returned over the Mountains with 17 Legions and all his Cavalry CHAP. XXVII Caesar pursues the Consulship He speaks to his Souldiers He marches towards Rome The fright the Senate were in NOW to make the best use of that amazement which this success of Antonius had brought into Rome Caesar resolved once more to set his design on foot of pursuing the Consulship The Senate had changed their method they had declared Caesar General with Decimus to make War against Antonius but at the same time had offended him by a foolish way of proceeding in sending ten Commissaries to carry the Money which had been promised to the two Legions without naming himself for that employment These Commissaries had private orders to endeavour to corrupt the Souldiers of the two Legions and to persuade them to go and join Decimus where it was told them their Money should be ready but Caesar took care they should be so well lookt after that they could get no opportunity of speaking to the Souldiers and when he let them understand how well he was informed of their design they were so afraid that they returned to Rome without ever so much as distributing the money Caesar took this occasion to convince his Souldiers That what the Senate aimed at was onely the destruction of his Father's Party by the divisions they indeavoured to sow amongst them so he unravelled all the secret of that Policy which had caused so many waverings between him and Antonius He made them take notice how they indeavoured to raise jealousie amongst his Troops by that distinction of Recompences and after all the last attempt which they had made towards the weakning of Caesar's Ordinances What security said he can ye pretend to have now for those Houses those Inheritances and those Goods which my Father allotted you Do ye not believe also that my life must be in danger amongst the Relations and Friends of those who cruelâ—y murthered him But it is not the care of that which most nearly touches me I would give it up with chearfulness if that Sacrifice would secure the safety of so many Men of consideration as have followed my interests ye know that I am not Ambitious and ye have seen me too refuse those marâ—s of Honour which ye have offered me but I desire some of you at present in consideration of your selves the onely way to preserve your Lives and Fortunes must be the making of me Consul by your Votes after that we will make it our business to secure you in the possession of those Goods which my Father left you We will revenge his death and shall be in a better condition for the distribution of Rewards The Souldiers received this Proposition with a great deal of Joy and immediately named Deputies to go and make their demand to the Senate who returned no favourable answer excusing themselves in regard of Caesar's Youth But the Deputies being well instructed alledged Corvinus the two Scipio's Pompey and Dolabella who had all obtained that Magistracy before they came to Age and that Caesar himself had a dispensation from the Senate They spoke these things with a certain Souldier-like Liberty which was not very agreeable to the Senatours who interrupted them with crying out against it when a certain Captain called Cornelius who was the first of the Deputies laying his Hand upon his Sword said If ye will not give it him here 's that shall After these words he left the Senate and returned to give Caesar an account of the ill success of his Deputation The Souldiers provoked by their refusal cryed out That they desired to be lead to Rome and that Caesar as Heir to his Father had sufficient Authority to make whom he pleased Consuls He took care this heat of theirs should not grow cold again so he marched towards Rome with eight Legions and passed the Rubicon as his Father had done before he divided his Army into two Bodies the briskest whereof he took with him that he might surprize his Enemies by his diligence leaving orders with the rest to come and join him by small marches and understanding that the Senate had deputed new Commissaries with the Money he sent out a party of Souldiers before to meet them which so terrified them that they immediately returned to Rome CHAP. XXVIII The Senates want of resolution Caesar enters into the City He treats Cicero ill and is declared Consul with Pedius NOW there was nothing but disorder to be found in the City and as it usually happened upon the like occasions every Senatour was for laying the blame of their ill Conduct upon his Neighbour but that was now to little purpose for some resolution must be taken so it was concluded That one half of the Money which the Senate had promised to the two Legions should be sent them together with a farther promise of as much more to the others That Caesar onely should have the care of the distribution of this Money and be permitted to demand the Consulship though he were not himself there present So Deputies were sent to acquaint him with these Resolutions but the very moment after they appeared again too mean as well as too rash Some foolish remainders of that fierceness which was natural to those ancient Romans made them ashamed to yield thus to the proceedings of a young Man and the insolence of the Souldiery By chance too at the same time two Legions who came from Libya arrived at the Gates of the City they were received as a Succour sent thither from the Gods and it was resolved with these Troops and the Legion that Pansa had sent back to the Senate joined with such as were fit to bear Arms within the Walls to defend the City So Pretors were appointed to Command them and great hopes there seemed to be that these marks of their Courage and Resolution might astonish Caesar. His Mother and his Sisters were in the City but when the Senate caused them to be sought for to secure them as Hostages they were not to be found which was an instance that Caesar had still some faithfull Friends there the danger that those Persons who were so dear to him were in had made him to redouble his diligence so he sent his Cavalry with all the haste they could make to seize upon the Gates and assure the People of his good Intentions himself following close at their Heels with his Legions the sight whereof soon moderated the Zeal of those Men who appeared so hot for the defence of their Countrey so without any
resistence they seized upon the Quirinal Mountain where Caesar's Friends and the most Illustrious of the Senatours came to salute him The People mingled themselves amongst the Souldiers bringing them refreshments and the next day Caesar attended by some of the best of his Men for the guard of his Person made his entrance into the City where he was every where received with the joyfull Acclamations of the People and met by his Mother and Sisters who had been retreated amongst the Vestals His Mother was called Actia the Daughter of Actius Balbus and Iulia the Sister of Iulius Caesar and his Sisters all bore the name of Octavia the youngest whereof afterwards Married Antonius though she proved unfortunate in the Match by reason of the madness wherewith Cleopatra had bewitched that Man though Octavia had much the advantage of her both in Beauty and Wisedom which made her esteemed for one of the most Vertuous Ladies of her time The three Legions that were in the City sent also to offer their service to Caesar who received them with the Pretors that Commanded them all except Cornutus who slew himself with his own hands Cicero was one of the last in paying him his Devoirs and Caesar after some sharp railery told him That he was the last of his Enemies who had visited him It had been reported to Caesar how Cicero should say in the Senate That the young man ought to be praised honoured and advanced The last word bearing in the Latine a double Interpretation for Tollere signifies as well to take away ones life so that the equivocation seemed something remarkable The next night several Persons spread about a report that the Martial and third Legions would take Party with the Senate who had no more Wit but to believe it and sent a Pretor whose Name was Acilius Crassus into the March of Ancona to raise Forces The Senatours Assembled themselves and Cicero offended at Caesar's railery was one of the first who came to the place receiving the others as they entred with a great deal of Joy But day appearing soon convinced them of their Errour and Cicero fled out of the City It would be hard to believe that such prudent and discerning Men as were then in the Senate should be so fickle were we not convinced by a thousand experiences that great Interests as well as violent Passions will disorder the most solid Judgments Caesar made himself very merry with this accident but caused his Troops to approach as far as the Field of Mars and to persuade a good Opinion of his moderation he forgave Crassus who came to seek him and ask his Pardon After which he caused the publick Money which was kept at Ianiculum to be brought whereof he paid 2500 Drachma's to every Souldier and promised satisfaction for what was behind so they proceeded to the Election of Consuls and Caesar to leave the People in appearance the liberty of their Votes went out of the City and was declared Consul with Pedius who had granted him his part of what his Uncle had left them he immediately came back again so soon as he understood he was chosen and it is said That as he was sacrificing according to Custome there were seen twelve Vultures being the same number which appeared to Romulus the Founder of Rome His first publick act was the Declaration which he made to the People of Caesar's having adopted him according to the intention of the Law in that Case so the Adoption was confirmed and his Fathers â—â—eed-men many whereof were in possession of great Estates according to Custome acknowledged him for their Patron and afterwards did him very considerable service both in their Persons and their Fortunes CHAP. XXIX Caesar causes Brutus and Cassius to be Condemned with all those who had murthered his Vncle. Antonius pursues Decimus who is at last slain AS all the thoughts of young Caesar were intent upon revenging the death of his Father he no sooner saw the Sovereign Authority in his hands but he set himself seriously to work about the business so causing the Arrest which the Senate had sent out against Dolabella to be cancelled Brutus and Cassius were accused of Treason and Murther by Cornificius and Agrippa and the other Accomplices by others of Caesar's Friends the Accused were all Condemned for Contumacy and it is said that when as the Custome was Brutus was cited to appear many could not forbear from weeping and a Senatour named Sicilius had the boldness to declare That Brutus was innocent and valued himself upon the matter Caesar took that opportunity to make yet his moderation more remarkable in pardoning of him for the present but found a way afterwards to be revenged of him in the Proscription of the Triumvirate Quintus Gallius the Brother of a Pretor was afterwards accused for that at the solicitations of Antonius he had Conspired against Caesar the People plundered the House of the Pretor who was not then at Rome and the Senate Condemned Quintus to death Caesar onely ordered him to go and find out his Brother but he disappeared in his Journey and was no more heard of In the mean time news was brought that Brutus who was in Macedonia had published That he would come and appear to Iustice at the head of twenty Legions Caesar who did not desire he should be so well accompanied was resolved to spare him one half of the Journey The Senate had given him the charge of making War against Antonius and Lepidus he went from Rome upon this expedition with great preparation and very good Troops leaving Pedius his Collegue in the City who as of his own proper motion proposed to the Senate That all seeds of Division might be rooted out by Cancelling whatsoever had been ordered against Antonius and Lepidus This Proposition was by no means very agreeable but the Authority of those who made it rendred it necessary so the Senate wrote to Caesar for his Opinion of the matter who as if with some violence upon himself and being forced by his Souldiers at last consented to it In acknowledgment of this good turn Antonius sent him word that he would go and find out Decimus whose Person was very odious to all Caesar's Friends and Plancus and Pollio in consideration of Caesar joined Antonius's Army with six Legions Decimus had ten under his Command but the four best of them who consisted of old Souldiers were in a very ill condition by reason of the sickness and other Fatigues which they had suffered in Modena the six others were new Men without any experience so that he durst not stay for Antonius with those Forces but laid a design of retreating into Macedonia by the way of Ravenna and the Adriatick Gulph but Caesar opposed him there with his Troops so that Decimus was reduced to a necessity of thinking how he might pass the Rhine and make his retreat good through Germany The fatigues and dangers of this Voyage so ill
Lena got before with part of the Souldiers and Herennius followed the Litter through thâ— narrow paths Cicero understanding they were coming Commanded those who carried him to stop and when the Souldiers were come up he put his Head out of the Litter and lookt upon them with a great deal of assurance This constancy which they expected not from him and his face disfigured as it was with the troubles he had lain under was the reason that several of them stopt and turned away their Eyes while Herennius slew him he cut off his Head and both his hands which were carried to Antonius As he was extremely inraged against Cicero for the Orations which he had made against him he could not forbear insulting over those poor Members with the most injurious reproaches declaring aloud That his revenge was now completed and that he would have no farther to doe with the Proscription But Fulvia's hatred could not be confined to words for she pierced his Tongue several times with a golden Bodkin which she wore in her hair and afterwards Antonius gave Orders that the Head and Hands should be set up upon a place called the Rostrum where the Roman People could not without Horrour see those sad remains of a Man who had so often Triumphed there by the force and Charms of his Eloquence Thus died Cicero at the Age of sixty four years he was a Man of most extraordinary qualifications especially those that relate to Civil Matters and Rules of Government which had justly advanced him amongst the most Illustrious Men of the Age he lived in Antonius himself as Plutarch reports made some sort of reparation to his memory for he put Philologus into the hands of Cicero's Sister-in-Law who tormented him to death CHAP. XXXIV The Triumph of Lepidus The Goods of the Proscripts set to Sale Attacks upon the Roman Ladies Their speech to the Triumvirate WHILE these things were performing Lepidus resolved to Triumph over some Nations that he had conquered in Spain the Edict of the Triumph was very particular and deserves therefore to be mentioned it being in these terms To all those who shall honour our Triumph with Sacrifices publick Feastings and other demonstrations of Ioy Health and good Fortune but to those who refuse it misery and Proscription We may easily imagine how universal the joy was upon this occasion for every one stood in awe of the Proscription and Lepidus entred Triumphant into the City where the Ceremony was honoured with more Sacrifices and Feastings than had ever appeared in the like case before Then was set to sale the Goods of the Proscripts that is to say the immoveables for the moveables had been plundered but there were found very few Chapmen for it was lookt upon as a piece of Inhumanity to ruine Families that were otherwise enough afflicted already besides there appeared no security for Title to any such Goods nor was any man willing to seem Rich by purchasing in such dangerous times Some few who were not of the wisest sort were willing to run the hazard for the sake of a good Market but that did not satisfie the Triumvirate they had need of 200000 Talents for the War which was a sum not to be found any where but in the City they could there reckon up 1400 of the richest Ladies of Rome Mothers Daughters Kinswomen or Allies to their Enemies these Alliances were very exactly enquired into and very far fetched for to be rich was enough to belong to one of the Proscripts These Ladies assembled themselves and went to find out the Mother and Sisters of Caesar who gave them a very civil hearing Antonius his Mother did the same thing and Fulvia onely refused to see them this forc't them to go to the Palace of the Triumviri where at first they were repulsed by the Guards of Souldier but made so much noise that at last one of them was permitted to speak upon condition that the rest would be silent this was Hortentia the Daughter of a certain Nobleman called Hortentius who alone of all the Oratours had been able to dispute with Cicero for Eloquence My Lords said she the Ladies which you see here imploring your Iustice and your Bounty had never appeared in this place till after having made use of all means that their Natural Modesty and best understanding could inform them of We have sought the protection of your Mothers and your Wifes but the Respects we paid could not find favour with Fulvia which has forced us here to make a publick Complaint though it be contrary to those rules of Decency prescribed our Sex and which we have hitherto most exactly observed Ye have deprived us of our Fathers our Children our Brethren and our Husbands Ye pretend that ye have been affronted but what Injury have the Women done you that they must be impoverished if they are as blameable as the rest why do ye not proscribe them too In the mean time none of our Sex have ever declared you your Countrey 's Enemies We have neither plundered your Goods nor suborned your Souldiers We have raised no Troops against you nor opposed those Honours and Offices which ye pretend to Since therefore the Women have no part in those Actions that offend you surely they ought not in Iustice to suffer the punishment which ye impose upon them Empire Dignities and Honours are not made for us We pretend not to govern the Re-publick nor is it our Ambition which has drawn the present misfortune on our Heads What reason have we to contribute to a War wherein we have no manner of Interest War has already raised this City to that height of glory which we now see her in In the mean while there is no Example to be found that the Women ever were concerned in it the natural Privilege of our Sex has exempted us from that profession It is true indeed that in the Carthaginian War our Mothers assisted the Re-publick it being at that time in a desperate condition but for all that neither their Houses their Lands nor their Moveables were sold for that service some Rings and some Iewels furnished out the supply but it was neither constraint punishment nor violence that forc't them to it but they did it of their own good will and generous disposition What fear at present are ye in for the City which is our common Countrey What imminent danger threatens it If the Galls or Parthians come and attack it ye shall not find us less Zealous in its defence than our Mothers were before us but we have nothing to doe nor ought to be concerned in Civil Wars neither Caesar nor Pompey did ever oblige us to it Marius and Cinna did never so much as propose it no not Sylla himself who was the first that ever set up Tyranny in Rome In the mean time ye come to reform the State and ye adorn your selves with that glorious Title This discourse appeared so bold a thing to the
to search for Proscripts and another Senatour wearied out with the dayly cares of concealing himself caused himself to be shaved took openly a little School and kept it publickly so long as the Proscription lasted no body imagining that a miserable Pedant could ever have been considerable enough to have been Proscribed CHAP. XXXVI The Examples of several remarkable changes of Fortune THough the story of these accidents may seem perhaps a little too long as they relate properly to the Triumvirate We ought not to pass over two Examples which are very natural instances of the inconstancy and revolution of Humane Fortune Balbinus being Proscribed by Antonius had with much adoe made his retreat to Pompey who after several years of War came to an agreement with Caesar. Balbinus returned to Rome where he afterwards obtained the Dignity of Consul Lepidus was at that time fallen from that high estate where he had once appeared Caesar having given him his life merely out of Compassion It happened that his Wife and his Son were accused by Mecoenas the Governour of Rome for a Conspiracy against the life of Caesar the Son was sent Prisoner to Actium and the Wife forced to give security before the Consul Lepidus who solicited for her had several times been repulsed at Balbinus his Gate at last he got an opportunity of speaking with him and said thus You know very well that I have no share in my Son's Offence and that it was not I who Proscribed you though it were at that time in my power to have done it therefore I beg of you to reflect upon the sad alteration of our Fortune and to grant me the favour I beg of you either take my security for my Wife or send me with her a Prisoner to Caesar. Balbinus touched with Compassion to see a Man at his feet whose power heretofore had been so formidable made those reflexions he desired and discharged his Wife The other Example is of Cicero's Son he was with Brutus at the time of his Father's death and served under him as a Lieutenant General and after his defeat made his retreat with Pompey who gave him the same employment Pompey made his own Peace and Cicero returned to Rome where Caesar to shew the esteem he had for his Father gave him the Dignity of chief Pontifex and chose him for his Collegue in the Consulship after the defeat of Antonius Cicero had by this means the satisfaction of seeing in his power the memory of Antonius who was Condemned by the Senate all his Images broken down and a Decree past That none of that Family should ever after take upon them the sirname of Marcus During which time Caesar testified so great a Veneration for the Memory of Cicero that having one day found one of his Books in the hands of his Grandson who indeavoured to hide it for fear lest Augustus should be angry with him for reading in it he took the Book and having read a good while returned it to him again saying My Son he was a very knowing Man and Zealous for his Countrey By this means the death of Cicero was revenged upon the memory of his greatest Enemy as was his Eloquence also upon the back of an impertinent Critick called Coelius who had undertaken to expose the Works of that great Oratour Cicero the Son caused his Slaves to whip him so the Critick burnt his Remarks which had brought upon his Bones so scurvy an answer Even Brutus had his share too in revenging Cicero and notwithstanding his moderation and the disturbance which the Letter written to Octavius had given him he sacrificed to him Cajus the Brother of Antonius whom Hortentius put to death by his Orders CHAP. XXXVII The end of the Proscription War in Africa Sextius Caesar's Lieutenant overthrows Cornificius the Lieutenant of Brutus AT last the Triumviri came into the Senate to declare that the Proscription was at an end Lepidus excused himself for what had passed and assured the Senatours of a more moderate Conduct Caesar who was more Politick said That he would yet reserve to himself the liberty of punishing such as were guilty In the mean time he had long disputed with the other two concerning the Proscription but it was his judgment now that the Spirits of the People ought to be kept in awe in the present conjuncture when Brutus and Cassius became dayly more formidable and when their Lieutenants still disputed for Africa with those of Caesar. Cornificius was there with Troops in behalf of Brutus and when Sextius arrived there on Caesar's part and published the Ordinance of the People the Decree of the Senate was produced in answer to them so that Arms was the last recourse for the maintenance of their Rights Sextius being the weakest retreated into a strong place where he was besieged by Ventidius Cornificius his Lieutenant He defended himself very well and in the mean time held intelligence with Arabio a King of that Countrey and a certain People called Sittians who were the residue of some Roman Souldiers established in Libya under the Conduct of Sittius who had been banished from Rome The Sons of this Sittius had been obliged to Iulius Caesar which caused them with Arabio to assist Sextius Sextius strengthened with these succours got the better of Ventidius and that done marched against Cornificius who expected him near Vtica The strength of both Armies consisted in their Cavalry Cornificius's Lieutenant came with all his to discover the strength of Sextius Arabio was detached to oppose him in the mean time Sextius charged Laelius upon the flank and forc'd him to retreat up to a Hill where Arabio had orders to attack him Cornificius having left his Retrenchments to succour his Lieutenant Sextius marched against him while a Party of Arabio's Troops who knew the Countrey found a way through the Rocks and came to rifle Cornificius his Camp Roseius who Commanded there was slain at the first on-set and the Camp plundered Cornificius being pressed by Sextius would have retreated towards his Lieutenant but was cut off by Arabio's Cavalry who flew him When Laelius beholding the action from the hill where he was posted died by his own hand the Troops thus deprived of their Commanders were easily put to the rout and that great Victory which got Caesar all Africa cost Sextius but a very few Men. CHAP. XXXVIII Dolabella is defeated and slain by Cassius DOlabella had not the same success in Syria where Cassius made War upon him with 12 Legions and a body of Parthian Cavalry whom his reputation had drawn into his service Dolabella had got together a great Fleet of Ships out of Lycia Rhodes and Cilicia which Figulus Commanded under him for himself he was got into Laodicea with two Legions where Cassius besieged him and sent orders into Phoenicia Libya and Rhodes for the procuring of Ships also The names of these Provinces being often mentioned in this History it will be but reasonable
was received according to the different inclinations of the Senatours Those that loved him were afflicted at his Sickess and wished his return which others as much apprehended out of fear that the report that had run of his death was a trick to discover their intentions and the terrour of these last was so great that some of them began to think of making away themselves therefore to prevent the consequences of these different agitations Caesar came to Rome as soon as his strength would permit him In persuance of the agreement they had made when they parted the Lieutenants of Anthony delivered him up two Legions and the Government of Africa which Caesar left to Lepidus having been convinced of the sincerity of his intentions for some secret enemies of his had accused him to his Collegues of intelligence with Pompey But the most pressing and difficult affair was to content the Souldiers without provoking the People it was absolutely necessary either to abandon the several Towns destined for their recompence or else to satisfie them with Money to establish themselves elsewhere The publick Treasury was exhausted and Caesar saw no help from thence almost all the Inhabitants of the Towns concerned in this matter were come to Rome Women with Children in their Armes whose young years and innocence drew every ones compassion daily filled the Temples and publick places with their lamentations The People said openly that this War had not been undertaken for the publick good but onely in persuance of the Triumvirs private interest and that since they had reaped the advantage of it it was but reasonable that they should bear the charges and not reward their Souldiers with the oppression of the poor People Those that thought themselves more politick discoursing concerning this management of the Triumvirs said that by establishing Troops in the Cities their intent was wholly to bring them under and reduce them to a kind of slavery Caesar all this while was not ignorant of these complaints and patiently bore these murmurings but then he borrowed Money on all hands for his Men and when that was not sufficient he was forced to give them Places for their inheritance The Town of Cremona was one of those that suffered most in this distribution for being so well affected to Brutus's side and Mantua onely by reason of her neighbourhood had more than her share in these misfortunes in which the Muses choicest Darling and the greatest Wit and best Poet that ever Rome brought forth had like to have perished This was the Poet Virgil who was a party concerned in this publick calamity for defending the possession of his small Estate from Arrius the Centurion encouraged to it I suppose by the knowledge of his own merit and the friendship of some great Man at Rome but the Souldier as little knew the one as he valued the other and therefore the Poet was forced to fly and save himself from the Centurion who persued him with his drawn Sword by swimming cross a River The happy Fate that attends on Learning saved him and it 's probable that this adventure contributed to his reputation since it is the Subject of that excellent Eclogue which is the first of his Bucolicks Caesar himself was not exempted from danger for both Souldiers and People were equally mutinous and exasperated against him for it hapned that a private Souldier being seated among the Knights in the Amphitheatre to see the publick Shews he made him be pulled from thence by an Officer Caesar's ill-willers immediately gave it out that he was drawn to punishment the other Souldiers in great fury immediately mutined against him and he had had difficulty enough to save his life from them if their Fellow had not presently appeared untouch'd He was forced to endure all these insolencies by the necessity he had of the Souldiers to preserve his dignity which he could not maintain without their assistence and they too having all their hopes depending on their Generals were for their own sakes absolutely obliged to protect them and for this reason they kept in Arms and very well united among themselves However Anthony's Wife made her advantage of these disorders to bring her designs about the report of her Husband's unfaithfulness to her bed inclined her to be revenged on him in like manner She would willingly had Caesar partake in this piece of revenge but he was not inclined to it which drew upon him all the rage of this Woman agitated at the same time with such a furious passion as jealously and more exasperated by the frustrating her desires Lucius Brother to Anthony was then Consul he had all the defects of his Brother and not one of his vertues at least if one would believe the Authours of that age who living under the Empire of the Successours of the Caesars took care to make their Enemies odious in the characters they gave of them But to say truth if we consider the resolution he shewed at Perusia there is reason to imagine that this account of theirs is extremely to his disadvantage He was very much obliged to Fulvia for having got him the honour of Triumph for his conquering some Nations in the Alps he was besides assisted by the counsel of Anthony's Friend who was indeed a Man of sense but very dangerous to deal with To them did Fulvia represent that Caesar doing all in his own name attributed to himself all the applause as well as the conferring all manner of recompences and exemptions She made Lucius sensible that it was convenient they should go together to the Quarters of Anthony's two Legions that were delivered to Caesar and with her she carried her Children There they publickly declared that there was no need of depriving innocent persons of their Estates since the possessions of the Triumvirs open and declared Enemies were sufficient to recompense the Souldiers This discourse gained them the good Wills of all those who thought themselves unjustly driven out of their inheritances by reason they were not at all concerned in the Civil War Caesar saw well enough to what end these transactions tended but as yet was not able to oppose them Lucius proposed to him the staying for Anthony e'er he distributed the rewards but the impatience of the Souldiers not allowing them time enough for that he then agreed to appoint Commissioners in his name for that purpose that so by that means he himself might gain the esteem of the Souldiers They then therefore began to put Anthony's two Legions in possession of the Lands assigned them but not till Lucius and Fulvia had exhorted them not to forget their General who had always been a father to them and to whom the honour of the Victory at Philippi was due besides the Commissaries that were deputed privily advised the Souldiers to use their own discretion and doe what they pleased which carried them to commit strange insolencies and enlarge their bounds much beyond what was set them even to the
laying waste whole Towns Caesar in the mean time was the object of their complaints and loaded with their curses and on the other hand he found himself hemmed in by powerfull Enemies for on one side Pompey hindered the importation of Provisions into the Ports of Italy on the other side Domitius and Murcus were Masters of the Sea with their Fleets 'T was in these circumstances doubtless that he found he had need to use all the prudence and address he was master of He therefore exempted from the distribution the Lands of the Senatours and the Dowries of Widows as likewise those Lands that could not maintain such a certain number of Souldiers but then to content the Souldiery to whom these exemptions were not at all pleasing he granted that the next kindred of those that were slain in the last Battels should have their share in the distribution Thus he was forced to manage them by all the ways of gentleness he could for the vigorous and bold actions of his Father Iulius were now impracticable The Troops were now sensible of the absolute necessity there was of them and for that reason were obedient neither to their Superiours nor their Discipline but as they themselves pleased so that Caesar was cautious how he dealt with them in so dangerous a conjuncture especially after what had hapned to him upon this occasion He had appointed a day of Rendezvouz to his Souldiers in the field of Mars that there he might proceed to the distribution of the Lands They there met before day and finding he came not soon enough among them they began to grow mutinous and talk very scurrilously against him upon this Nonius one of the Tribunes ventured to remonstrate to them their impatience and the indecency of their carriage but his speeches were streight laught at and from jeers they soon came to injuries and blows The Tribune was forced to fly for it and seeing no other means to escape he threw himself into the Tiber and was there drowned The Mutineers drew out his Body and exposed it in the way by which Caesar was to pass to the Field of Mars to instruct him what he was to trust to by this fatal example His Friends gave him notice of this disorder and counselled him to avoid it he would not however follow their advice telling them his absence would encourage and carry them on to greater insolencies He therefore went to them and seeing the Body of Nonius laid out he onely turned a little on one side Being come into the midst of the assembly he seemed to believe that this piece of Cruelty proceeded onely from some of Nonius's particular Enemies exhorting the Souldiers not to carry on their hatred and revenge so far another time then without mentioning it any more he passed to the distributing the Lands and the marks of honour that were due to those that had signalized themselves in any action Some that had not deserved any presented themselves he though he knew them well enough did not refuse them but accepted them without the least sign of displeasure The Souldiers by these testimonies of prudence and bounty in their General were touched with so much shame and repentance that they required the authours of Nonius's murther might be punished he answered that they would be punished enough by the reproaches of their Conscience and by the remorse that would follow so ill an action This Answer of his quite gained their hearts so that all their fury was turned into praises and acclamations of joy In this place we must not forget two important reflexions of Appian upon the causes of the insolence of the Souldiery because they sufficiently mark the wisedom and penetration of that Historian He says that as in those times the Praetors and other Officers that commanded the Troops were not created by the suffrages of the People according as the Laws required so their authority had no longer that awfull respect which the Laws usually stamped upon it and that besides the Souldiers were not present at assemblies to offer their service to their Countrey but to him that promised them most for their assistence not against Enemies and Strangers but their own Fellow-Citizens so that they did not look upon themselves as Souldiers bound to the Republick by Oaths and Laws but as Friends who out of a mutual affection assisted their Friends upon occasion seeing even their Generals who employed them for their own particular interest considered them onely as such The other reflexion is that Deserters being heretofore by the Roman Laws punished with death without any hope of pardon they now instead of that were well paid and rewarded with honours for their deserting and seeing on all sides the same Ensigns the same Language and the same Discipline and every one of the Generals pretending to be authorised by the Laws and to fight in behalf of the Commonwealth they did not imagine they betrayed their Party what side soever they took and under this pretext passed from one Camp to another without any scruple at all that this ill princip and disorder was the cause why whole Armies sometimes forsook their Commander in chief this baseness being countenanced by the example of most remarkable Men of either party so that it was no longer the Laws that kept Men in the service but the hopes of interest and profit which falling short of their expectation was the cause that carried them on to such insolencies and was the original of so many Mutinies and Seditions CHAP. V. Misunderstandings between Caesar Fulvia and Lucius They come to open War The Negligence of Pompey ROME was not at all exempted from those ills that afflicted the rest of Italy Provisions were extreme dear by reason Pompey stopped all the passages by Sea from abroad and at home the Troops consumed all the increase of the Land Besides this they dayly committed a thousand insolences in the City so that all Trading ceased and the Artizans durst no longer open their Shops Lucius seemed to be very much grieved at these disorders and detested the Triumvirate as the source of all these miseries Caesar on his part used all the means he could to assist or at least to pacifie the poor Countrey People that were driven from their Possessions He heard their complaints and promised to doe them justice which incensed the Souldiers that were Anthony's being yet more stirred up to it by the artifices of Fulvia Caesar openly complained of this Woman declaring that she wholly acted against the interest and true sentiments of her Husband but she hearkned to no Body but Manius who persuaded her that nothing but a War could force Anthony from Cleopatra 's Armes and bring him into Italy As for Lucius he had no other sentiments but what were influenced by these two Caesar having left Rome Lucius would have gone with him and carried Anthony's Children but understanding Caesar had sent some Horse into Abruzzo to hinder the landing of Pompey's Troops
he made as if they were sent against him and so retired himself unto the Lands of Anthony where he assembled the Souldiers publishing that Caesar hated his Brother and designed to ruine him He on the contrary declared that he was bound to Anthony both by the obligations of interest and friendship and that Lucius onely practised this means to dissolve the authority of the Triumvirate which was the onely engagement for the Souldiers recompences Their Officers then assembled and agreed upon certain Articles which were never executed onely Salvidienus Lieutenant of Caesar passed the Alps for Spain without any hindrance from Asinius Pollio who commanded for Anthony in Gallia Narbonensis In the mean time Fulvia and Lucius were retired to Preneste for fear said they of Caesar and his ambition which they made out by the example of Lepidus who had not the least authority in Rome The Officers of the Veterans went to Rome where they inspected the Treaty and Articles that were made between Anthony and Caesar and after they had perused them they engaged themselves by oath to judge impartially the differences of their Generals according to reason and equity and to that end sent Deputies to Lucius He then was moved by their remonstrances but Manius represented the face of things otherwise that whilst Anthony was labouring to get Money for the Souldiers Caesar dealt under-hand with them for his own private interest That he had set Gaul at liberty which was part of Anthony's Government that he had overrun all Italy with his Souldiers although there were but eighteen Towns destined for them that instead of twenty eight Legions who were to be rewarded there were thirty four that appeared with their pretensions that he had sacked and ravaged even the very Temples of the Gods to give them the riches of them and all under pretence of marching against Pompey which as affairs stood now was impossible for what of Provision and Ammunition but that his real purpose was by this profusion to engage them to his side against Anthony It was to this intent too that he sold every thing that belonged to the Triumvirs in common so cheap that indeed he rather gave than sold and therefore if he was desirous of Peace he ought to give an account of what had passed through his hands and for the future to act jointly with them since they had regard onely to the publick good These accusations and complaints of theirs were absolutely against one article of the Edict of the Triumviraâ—e which in express terms mentioned that what one of the Triumvirs ordained should be consumed by the other two Caesar was too wise to let this pass without insisting upon it taking his measures accordingly for the War which he plainly foresaw As all the actions of great Men are exposed to the reasonings and censures of the Politicians several of them have imagined that this War was onely an effect of his cunning that he might force his secret Enemies to declare themselves and so by the confiscation of their Estates make a fond for the payment of his Souldiers Part of Anthony's two Legions who were at Ancona troubled at these Divisions deputed to him some of their Officers to propose an agreement between them and put an end to these Factions Caesar gave them a gratious hearing and assured them that he both honoured and loved Anthony and that he would never part interests nor alliance but that Lucius had not the same sentiments for him These Deputies then manifested to Lucius this Declaration of Caesar's and plainly told him that if he were not contented to acquiesce in the judgment of those equitable and uninterested Persons who should be chosen by the two Armies they then knew well which side they ought to take Lucius was very sensible of these last expressions and agreed to a Conference with Caesar and to this end made choice of the Town of Gabii between Rome and Preneste There then were placed two Tribunals for the Generals who were in Person to lay down their Reasons and seats for the Judges Caesar came thither first and sent out a Party of Horse on that side that Lucius was to come who also had done the same these two Detachments met and charged each other so that on Lucius's side some Cavaliers were killed who upon this was so frighted that he could never after be persuaded to go any farther Perhaps Caesar knowing his weakness had given such an express command to engage that so he might break off the Conference Whatever the matter was Lucius came not whereupon the Judges gave it against him and engaged themselves to serve Caesar against him This first act of hostility was taken as a Declaration of War which began by very sharp Letters Caesar and Lucius sent each other Lucius had under his command six Legions during his Consulship and eleven others of Anthony's commanded by Calenus Caesar had four at Capua with some others about his Persâ—n and six that Salvidienus brought him so that their Forces were near upon equal Lucius drew Money from those Nations to whom Anthony had granted freedom and Caesar from the Provinces that fell to his share excepting Sardignia besides what he took by way of Loan out of the Temples where the publick Treasuries were kept as at Rome in the Capitol and in the Towns of Aneona Livininm Nismes and Tibur The other Provinces were not able to give him any assistence for Pompey assisted by all the banished Persons who hated the Triumvirate had laid them waste and if he had rightly understood his interest and known how to manage to his own advantage the affection the People had for his Father's memory he by these Divisions might very easily have made himself Master of all Italy for Murcus was come up to him with two Legions twenty four Ships and abundance of Treasure he had besides receiv'd a considerable re-inforcement from Cephalonia and his Forces did dayly encrease by addition of Fugitives that fled to him for refuge but withall he had this misfortune that he had never a faithfull Friend to animate and push on his irresolute and changeable Temper by vigorous daring Counsels He was contented to be upon the defensive onely and calmly see his Enemies dispute an Empire to which he had onely pretensions sufficient to make both Parties when united fall upon him with their joint Forces CHAP. VI. Fagius Lieutenant of Caesar is overthrown in Africa by Anthony's Lieutenant Caesar and Lucius make preparations of War against each other SExtius General of the Horse to Anthony governed in Africa and in persuance of the Triumvirate agreement had very frankly given up his Forces and Province to Fagius Lieutenant General to Caesar Assoon as he understood by Letters from Lucius that Fulvia and all Anthony's Friends were fallen out with Caesar and that this difference was likely to end in an open War he believed that Fagius would deliver him his Troops again with the same justice
and gallantry that he had received them but he found he had to deal with a brutal Man that had neither Upon his refusal he prepared to fight him and by the reputation he had among them drew to his party several Africans which joined to the Romans that had still remained with him made up a considerable Force and with it marched against Fagius he waited for him and they came to a fierce engagement in which Fagius seeing the two Wings of his Army beaten and that his Men forsook him he killed himself with his own hand so victorious Sextius retook the Government of the two Lybias Bocchus King of Manritania Lucius 's Friend encouraged by this success drove Carina one of Caesar's Party out of Africk On the other side Domitius with eighty Ships manned with two Legions and a great number of Slingers Archers and armed Gladiators cruised in the Ionian Seas and pillaged all the Coasts that obeyed the Triumvirs He came up even to Brundusium and there took several of Caesar's Ships who therefore was forced to send a Legion thither and sent for Salvidienus to him in the mean time he drew together all the old Troops dispersed throughout Italy and demanded assistence of those Princes that were of his Party Lucius on his side used the same diligence and besides he found he had the Peoples favour who considered him as the Protectour of their Liberty Therefore for this reason Caesar assembled the Senatours and Roman Knights he told them that his Enemies despised him because they thought that it was out of fear that he delayed to attack them but that now he intended to let them know the true reasons of this his conduct As for his Army that dayly was increased and strengthned with old tried Souldiers who breathed nothing but War but that he had an extreme regret to come to that extremity as unwilling to act over again the horrours of a Civil War of which not Thrace or Macedon was to be the Seat but Italy which must alone endure all the calumities that would follow this Division That he could not blame Anthony who in like manner had no reason to complain of him thâ—â— with all earnestness and passion he destred to live in amity with Lucius and that he desired them to use their endeavours to encline him to reason but that if by this he could not be influenced he would soon make him know that his Patience was the effect of his Goodness and Vertue not of his Fear that in the mean time he conjured them they would bear witness to Anthony of his sincerity and assist him against Lucius who so unjustly attacked him Upon this the Senate and People deputed some of their Body to Lucius who answered them that Caesar had not done fairly but concealed several things from them Manius shewed them some Letters of Caesar's which were supposed to be fictitious in which he requested them to assist him to maintain his dignity and authority by violence and force of Arms thereupon the Deputies demanding who they thought those were that would oppose him received nothing but vain equivocating Answers upon which they retired Then both Parties betook themselves to their Arms. Caesar went out of Rome and left Lepidus to command there he sent home Clodia the Daughter of Fulvia by her former Husband whom he had betrothed when he first made alliance with Anthony Fulvia outraged at this affront to manifest her greater resentment of it went to the Camp where she appeared at the head of the Troops with a Helmet on her Head and a Sword by her Side And at the same time two Legions of Anthony's who were in Garrison in Alba mutined which obliged Caesar and Lucius to march thitherwards to reap some advantage from that disorder Lucius got thither first and quelled the Sedition Caesar in his march meeting with Lucius's Lieutenant who was carring him a great reinforcement charged him as he recreated to a Mountain the Night hindred his defeat and gave Furnius an opportunity to get into the Town of Sentia where he was immediately besieged by Caesar. Lucius seeing him engaged in this Siege took the occasion to return to Rome and sent thither his Cavalry which was there received by Nonius and a little after he arrived there himself with the rest of his Legions Lepidus durst not stay his coming since he had openly declared himself against the Triumvirate but fled and saved himself in Caesar's Camp And in effect Lucius before the People declaimed against the Triumvirate which he plainly called Tyranny He told them that Caesar and Lepidus should soon be punished for their violences and that his Brother would renounce this unjust power to take the more lawfull one of Consul This Discourse pleased the Romans so that they saluted him with the Title of Emperour Caesar having notice of this inconstancy of the People left his Lieutenant to carry on the Siege and marched to Rome where Lucius durst not expect him In this while Caesar's Lieutenant took the Town of Sentia which Furnius quitted to follow Caesar. Lucius when he was got out of Rome increased his Army with Anthony's Souldiers who daily joined him But as a great misfortune to his designs Anthony's Questor arrived in Italy having left his General by reason of some distast Several Persons demanded of him what were Anthony's sentiments of these transactions in Italy when he was informed of them by Fulvia's Letters The Questor told them that Anthony did not at all approve of the measures they took to quarrel with Caesar for what he did to maintain the authority of the Triumvirate This report immediately spread it self and quite changed the affections of many so that believing they should not disoblige Anthony by making their Court to Caesar without any hesitation adhered to Caesar's Party where they were convinced all the authority of the Triumvirate was united CHAP. VII The Forces of the two Parties The Characters of the principal Officers as Agrippa Salvidienuâ— Ventidius and Pollio Lucius is besieged in Perusia THE Forces of each side consisted in three distinct Bodies which besides the two Heads of the Parties were commanded by very able Generals and who afterwards performed very extraordinary actions These were Agrippa and Salvidienus on Caesar's side and Pollio and Ventidius on that of Lucius But Pollio had this advantage over the other three that he was a Man of Letters and an excellent Oratour yet though he had a great passion for Learning and Arts he was no less a good Souldier and skilled in the art of War He professed himself besides an exact Man of honour and a steadfast Friend It was this last Vertue that made him a Partizan of Anthony's being bound to him by all the bands of Friendship which they had contracted when they served together under Iulius Caesar Both he and the others were but meanly born and particularly Ventidius was reproached for being a Slave for in the War of the Allies
was in one of these actions that Caesar ran an extreme hazard by a very extraordinary accident Lucius seeing his Provisions daily diminished resolved to make one great attempt on a famous festival night believing that the besiegers would be busied in the celebration of it and by that means be less upon their guard Caesar was then offering Sacrifice very near the Walls of Perusia the Diviners inspecting the entrails of the Victim found nothing but fatal presages in them at which Caesar was much concerned while at that instant Lucius's Gladiators made a Sally the Sacrifice was left the Sacrificers fled and Caesar had certainly been either slain or taken Prisoner if the Legion that was upon the guard in the nearest Trenches had not speedily advanced to his relief in the mean while the Gladiators carried away the Victim Entrails and all the preparation of the Sacrifice these were reinforced and backed by more Troops so that they charged to the Trenches where the same Legion made head against them and Caesar rallying some Cohorts of his Guards charged them in the Flank and beat them into the Town Whilst this general distraction was in the Army for Caesar's safety the Diviners alone came to him very joyfull and told him that the Gods were propitious to him and that all the misfortune threatned by the ill-boding Entrails of the Victim concerned onely the Enemies that had them in their possession Perhaps Caesar himself did not believe it so however the thing was well imagined and adroilty turned to re-assure the dismayed Souldiers and indeed afterwards the event confirmed this prediction The City of Rome had her share in the calamities of this War Corn was excessive dear and the rabble that upon these occasions observe no measures nor duty understanding that Caesar's Officers had laid up great stores rose and plundred the Magazines and several of the wealthiest houses in the City Now Ventidius Pollio and Plancus believed they were obliged in honour not to let Lucius be any longer besieged and resolved by agreement to march and force Caesar to a battel or else to raise his siege against them he detached Agrippa and Salvidienus with a Body who could not however hinder their joyning and advancing to Fulsina distant from Perusia 160 Stadiums Lucius having notice of their approach by the Signals they made him in the night by fire was extremely rejoyced at it not doubting in the least but they would make some great push for his relief This was indeed the intention of Ventidius and Pollio but Plancus who always abounded in reasons and cool counsels when they were to avoid fighting remonstrated to them that Agrippa who was as strong as they upon their least motion would charge them in the rere and having Caesar before them there was no avoiding the defeat of their Troops for which they alone were responsible to Anthony this Counsel which was not without ground added to the dislike they had of Lucius his conduct made them think of a retreat which put the besieged into utter despair they attempted another Sally though with as little success as the former for all the fight lasted from nine at night till next morning Then Lucius made a review and an inventory of all the provisions that were in the place that he might the better distribute by measure amongst the Souldiers without any consideration of the Slaves and to hinder them that they should not desert he set Guards upon them lest they should inform the enemy of the extreme necessity they were in These poor wretches reduced to this horrible misery wandered about the works to seek out herbs grass and roots and some fed upon the vilest Ordurci which onely served to make an end of them the sooner for almost all of them died and Lucius made them be buried in ditches on heaps not being willing to burn them as well for that the besiegers should not have any notice of it by the fires as not to corrupt the Air by the stench of the burning Bodies At length the Souldiers pressed by the want and famine which daily encreased begged him to give them leave to make a general Sally as desiring rather to dye with their Arms in their hands than to perish by so terrible a death as starving Yet they hoped to behave themselves so gallantly as to put an end to all their sufferings by a glorious Victory over their enemies Immediately Lucius approved of this resolution of theirs telling them that they had nothing else to trust to now but either to dye or Conquer they resolved therefore to sally at break of day to avoid the disorder that might happen in the dark and provided good store of iron Crows Mattocks Spades and other tools to break Caesar's wall and they had Ladders and long Hooks to scale the Walls and pass the Trenches and so oppose the enemies Towers which had beams and timbers in them to fling upon the Walls in the nature of Bridges with such like preparation these brave Souldiers with an amazing resolution fiercely attacked Caesar's lines The ditch was immediately filled up and the Palisade pulled down so that they came to the Wall which they undermined on all sides while others strove by the help of scaling Ladders to get upon it the rowling Towers advanced raining a dreadfull storm of Darts and Arrows upon the besiegers who were astonished at this furious assault for the Souldiers of Lucius fought as men reduced to despair death appearing nothing so terrible to them as famine and though they fought with all the disadvantage imaginable and though they were struck through with Darts and Arrows with which the enemies flanked them from the Ramparts they still vigorously employed both Crows and Beams to make a breach in the Wall openly exposing themselves to the enemies shot by though great numbers fell yet the rest were not in the least dismayed By this time the nimblest that had mounted the Wall came to handy strokes with the foe and the battel grew warmer no body could retreat without falling headlong down and the besieged fought with that unexpressible fury that when they wanted arms like wild Beasts they used their hands and teeth and doubtless this obstinate bravery had gained them an absolute Victory had the forces been any-ways equal but Caesar having more men than Lucius he from time to time reinforced them with fresh reserves which at last beat the tired besieged with their Engines from off the Wall these gallant men though stunned at their fall still clung to the Wall with their hands and either strove to pull out the stones or else by their words encouraged their fellows who still fought Lucius moved at so extraordinary a valour and fidelity and knowing he had very great reason to preserve them whose courage now onely served to destroy them commanded a Retreat to be sounded Caesars men immediately gave loud shouts of Joy and according to the Romans custome when they gained a Victory struck
their Swords against their Bucklers the others raging at this with all haste and fury got together those Ladders that remained and returned to the attack resolved either to carry the Rampart or be buried in the Ditch if Lucius had not withheld them and by his Prayers and even moving them with his tears made them retreat At last they obeyed him though with that regret as cannot be expressed Caesar at night doubled his Guards and Watches fearing another attack and gave his orders for the speedy marching of relief in case of necessity As for the besieged their weariness and vexation scarce gave them leasure to think of placing advanced Guards so that it gave opportunity to many Souldiers and several considerable Officers to go over to Caesar. CHAP. IX Lucius resolves to treat with Caesar. He Harangues his Souldiers and sends Deputies to Caesar. LVcius finding himself reduced to the utmost extremity and finding no probability of relief concluded at last to give way to this cruel necessity and think of capitulating He therefore communicated his intentions to his chief Officers and though among them some particular enemies of Caesar opposed it yet he persisted in his resolution but fearing that the Souldiers might deliver him up to Caesar he drew them together and told them That in all this War he had no other design but by abolishing the Tyranny of the Triumvirate to set his Countrey at liberty which he undertook with more Justice by reason all pretences to this pernicious League were ceased by the defeat of Brutus and Cassius that Lepidus had in a manner quitted his part of the Empire and Anthony in Asia minded nothing but his delights and heaping up money but that Caesar alone bouyed up the remains of that unjust power which had moved him to lay hold on the Troubles occasioned by the distribution of Lands to restore that rightfull Authority to the Commonwealth which had been so usurped from it and that he had the greater obligation upon him to doe it by reason he was Consul But that Caesar to overthrow so just a design had loaded him with the ill Will and hatred of all the Souldiery maliciously taxing him of endeavouring to oppose and hinder them of the rewards they had deserved in favour of the Peasants that at first he knew nothing of these reports and that when he did he despised them that he had besides deputed Commissioners to divide the Lands and so he might have hindred the Veteran Souldiers joyning Caesar and fighting against their own Interests as they would plainly see by the event knowing therefore we were ruined by Famine not by the Valour of our foes and since our Officers abandon us I could have made use of several expedients for my own security besides the satisfaction I felt for doing my duty and behaving my self like a man of honour But however this is none of my intention I consult your safety before my own Glory and am now sending to the Conquerour to offer him my Life and Person provided in making me the object of all his hatred and revenge he spares you ye that are Roman Citizens ye that have formerly served under him and who in maintaining a just and noble Cause are not vanquished by the force of his Arms but by extreme Famine After this discourse he chose out three of his chief Commanders to go to Caesar which the Souldiers saw with a great deal of regret and withall were full of Praises of the Vertue and Goodness of their General These Deputies represented to Caesar that as the Souldiers and Officers on both sides had one and the same Countrey that they were all of them allied to one another either by kindred or friendship having served together under his Father and under him the besieged hoped he would not treat them as objects of his revenge since it was not any aversion against him that made them take up Arms but out of a motive of pure affection to their Countrey taking example of those noble Romans that were their Ancestours To this they added many other reasons to moderate Caesar's resentments Caesar who was well informed of the several Interests and Inclinations of his Enemies and knowing that there were several among them that had never born Arms but against him and others that entred into this party onely to have their share of the Lands answered very discreetly That he pardoned those who had served under Anthony but as to the others they should yield upon Discretion this he said in publick but he privately told Furnius one of the Deputies That he intended not the least injury to Lucius and his Souldiers for what was past but onely to some Enemies of his who out of Malice to him had been the occasion of all these disorders When the Deputies returned to Perusia all those that judged Caesar's hate by what they bore him were extremely enraged with Furnius for his private conference with Caesar. They represented to Lucius that they were intended as Victims to Caesar's cruelty because he knew their affection to their Countrey and that they should capitulate for their safety or else resolve all to dye with their Arms in their hands Lucius moved with Compassion for so many People saw there was a necessity of sending other Deputies but he knew none more proper than himself and therefore immediately went without taking any hostage or caution for his security Caesar advertised of this went to receive him and to shew his earnest desire he had to put an end to this War was the first that came out of his Camp As soon as ever Lucius espied him he commanded those that were with him to make a halt and he alone advanced to the brink of the Ditch They were both of them clad in their Ornaments of War and adorned with all the marks of their Dignity after the first complements and actions of Civility Lucius spoke after this manner CHAP. X. Lucius Speech to Caesar his Answer IF I had not the honour to be a Roman I should now appear full of Confusion for being Conquered and yielding upon discretion having that in my hands that would keep me from that shame but after I had fought against a Roman for the common good of our Countrey I do not in the least think my self dishoured by being vanquished by a General that is a Roman I do not speak this to avoid whatever you decree against my Person for you see I am come alone into the midst of the Troops to surrender my self to your disposal without any conditions for my self or demanding any security or making any other request than for the pardon of those that have served me in this War even the reasonableness of the thing may be a motive to it and your own interest requires it and therefore to convince you throughly of this I will first speak as to my self and after of those that followed me I do not pretend to conceal from you that I alone
am the Authour of all that has been acted against you and therefore think it just that all the resentments should light on me and if I seem to make some excuses 't is not that I vainly hope for any assistance from my Brother or his Friends for that is now too late but that it is necessary you should know the truth which I will not now disguise or palliate When I undertook this War my design was not to usurp your Authority but to re-establish that of the Common-wealth oppressed by the power of the Triumvirate and you your self must needs yield this truth since by the very Edict of the Triumvirate you owned your Authority was not lawfull but that you had this Pretext that you were forced to take up Arms against Brutus and Cassius Now they are destroyed and none of their party are in a condition to oppose you what pretence have you to be in Arms unless it be to make your selves feared and obeyed I saw the five years of your League expired and hoped to restore the Consular dignity and the rightfull and lawfull power of the other Magistrates I own that in persuance of this I had less consideration for my Brother than the Republick my intent being to force him if need were at his arrival to concur with me in this design and as I passionately desired this Glorious action should be done in my Consulship and you might have had the honour of it in renouncing your Authority but seeing all your motions tended otherwise I came to Rome to force you to it knowing my self a Roman and considerable both by birth and for the Office I bore these therefore are the true reasons that carried me to take up Arms and not the Counsels of a Manius and Fulvia much less the division of the Lands you allotted the Souldiers that fought at Philippi nor was it any Compassion for those that were driven from their Houses and Inheritances quite contrary I had named Commissioners for the distribution who had order to strain a point in favour of the Souldiers against the Peasants this however is the pretence you have used to animate the Veteran Souldiers against me by making them believe I opposed it it was this that moved them against me and that has taken away all the Confidence that I had in them and all the Will they had to serve me by which I confess you have your own interest in the intention you had of making War with me and I have mine in declaring War to compass my intent And since I have put my self into your hands I do not in the least fear to tell you plainly the true Sense I had and still have of your Conduct whatever you please to decree against me It is this as I have already told you that moved me to come to you my self and as to what concerns my Kindred my Friends and my Troops if you will but take it in good part I will now give you advice that shall turn both to your Glory and advantage and this is not to shew any resentment for what has passed in this difference but to consider the unconstancy of fortune that depends on the chance of War not to fright the Souldiers by punishing them but by Gentleness draw them to serve you upon occasion as they have already against the Conspiratours and shew them by your usage of them that their greatest security will be to follow the Conquerour But if this Counsel is suspected as given by an Enemy I conjure you not to impute as a fault the fidelity they have shewed me nor the misfortune that has followed it but to turn all your Vengeance against me as the onely cause of these ills it was this that obliged me to speak to you in private to take away all the suspicion they might have had that in seeming to affect speaking for their interest and safety I might onely consult my own This discourse that shewed a resolution and greatness of Soul worthy of an ancient Roman was not very pleasing to Caesar but he took care not to testifie all his resentment against him that was the brother of Anthony whom for several reasons he was obliged to have a consideration for As he had a great presence of mind and a ready Wit he thus answered him As soon as I understood you came to me I advanced out of my Camp to meet you to give you full liberty of explaining your Thoughts the Submission you have shewn in yielding your self to me as those ought to doe that are touched with remorse keeps me from remarking the Crimes you unjustly charge me with and the disguising so many known truths though this discourse of yours injures me more than your former Actions but since you frankly give me up both your self your Friends and your Troops this generous proceeding hinders me from acting what I ought both as Conquerour and injured You have by this quite disarmed my Choler and my Power I therefore return you yours in letting you enjoy the conditions of our former agreement though the Law of Arms might oblige you to obey without resistence the Will of the Vanquisher I will however doe what is worthy of me and for the respect I owe the Gods my Dignity and your own Person which so nobly you abandon to me I will not at all betray the trust you have placed in my Goodness and Clemency As these discourses are not Fictitious or merely Ornamental and that Appian who reports them assures he took them out of very faithfull Memoirs which remained concerning this War it is hoped the length of them will not be displeasing what intention soever there were of not being engaged in the recital of Speeches CHAP. XI Lucius and Caesar part Lucius delivers up the Town Caesar speaks to the besieged Souldiers with indignation he punishes the Senatours of Perusia the Town is pillaged and by accident burnt Tiberius continues the War in the Kingdom of Naples from whence he is driven by Caesar. THE two Generals parted well enough satisfied with each other in appearance Caesar could not forbear praising Lucius his great courage which all his misfortunes had not been able to abate Lucius above all things esteemed Caesar's great moderation and his manner of expressing things of such moment in so few words he commanded all his Officers to go and receive their Orders from Caesar and carry him their muster Rolls as was usual with the Romans who when they took Orders from the General always shewed the muster Rolls of the Legions Caesar in giving it out commanded them on their side to keep a Guard and he did the like on his The next morning by break of day he offered Sacrifice and Lucius marched out his Troops in good order who saluted Caesar as far as they could discern him He commanded them to halt upon the ground he shewed them the old Legions who demanded their share of the Inheritances on one side and the new
replies and sometimes blows 'T was on these occasions that Cleopatra shewed all her Gayety and Wit whether it were in maintaining or retorting Raillery or in telling the story of such Adventures with an unparallel'd grace these ways however were very odious and disgustfull to the graver and soberer sort of People But the Egyptians who in general have a great deal of Wit were not at all displeased with this familiar Carriage of theirs and said pleasantly that Anthony shewed them his Comical Countenance and kept a Tragical one for the Romans The Queen had besides invented a Society they called the Inimitable life and those who made the most sumptuous Entertainments carried away the Prize The expence of these Treats were excessive as appears by these two examples A Greek Physician Friend to Anthony's Clerk of the Kitchin came one day where the Meat was dressing and among abundance of other provisions he saw eight whole wild Boars a-roasting he imagined that these were making ready for a great number of Guests and asking his Friend he told him smiling that there were to be but twelve at this Feast but that the exact hour being uncertain and the Meat to be served at a punctual nick of time when it was exquisitely drest and that being past others of the same kind were prepared to be ready when called for This Physician being afterwards in the service of Anthony's eldest Son was one day at his Dinner whither there came a canting kind of Mountebank who as it's usual with such sort of Fellows tired every body with the impertinence of his talk the Physician put him this Argument there is some kind of Ague wherein cold Water is good All those that have Agues have some kind of Ague therefore cold water is good for all those that have Agues The Quack remained silent and non-plust and Anthony's Son was so pleased with it that he said to the Physician I give thee Philotas for this Iest all that thou seest there pointing to a Cupboard of golden Plates of a great value Philotas thanked him for this favour believing he was onely obliged to him for his Good will But he was very much surprized the next day when he saw the rich Vessels brought home to his house by Slaves followed by an Officer of the young Prince who bid him put his mark upon them and as he excused himself out of a belief some inconvenience might happen to him what says the Officer to him do not you know that he who makes you this Present is the Son of Anthony But however If you will take my Counsel accept rather of the value in Money for it may happen that his Father may be concerned for the loss of some of them because they are antick and of the hands of excellent Masters The other example did not happen at this time but yet it sitteth our subject too well to be omitted Anthony by that time he returned from the Parthian War was grown a great proficient in the Aegyptian sumptuousness and Luxury and daily carried it on with greater delicacy and expence yet Cleopatra affected being nauseated and looked upon his Entertainments with a despising Air onely to oblige him to ask her as he did What she could add to the Magnificence of his Treats I will said she give you one that shall cost 10000 Sesterces he judged the thing impossible and out of pure curiosity would lay a Wager with her of a considerable Sum. Next day she made a noble Feast but it had nothing in it extraordinary Anthony then believed it was his turn to Rally her and already demanded his Wager when the Queen desired him not to be so hasty that this was but the first Course and that she would sup alone on that Sum bring in said she the second Course they brought in onely a golden Cup filled with a very strong dissolving Vinegar Anthony was waiting all this while for the end of this Mystery Cleopatra had two Pearls for her Pendants of an inestimable price never was there any thing seen more beautifull either for the water the largeness or the shape of them She then took off one and put it into the Cup which when it was immediately dissolved she drank it up Plancus that was judge of the Wager presently laid hold on the other which she was taking off and condemned Anthony to loose the Wager who was extremely troubled for the loss of such a Jewel The remaining Pearl after the death of Cleopatra came into the hands of Caesar who caused it to be cut asunder and made of it two Pendants for the image of Venus which he thought gloriously adorned with half of this prodigal Queen's supper In this manner did this witty Aegyptian Charm this great man delightfully carrying him from one Pleasure to another and as she had an admirable turn of Wit she sometimes changed her pleasantness into an agreeable serious Moral Anthony loved Fishing but had never any good luck and he seemed to be troubled at it which indeed was a very pleasant subject for a man of his Character but in this he was of the Humour of all Lovers who are out of all patience when they doe any thing ill before those they love and Cleopatra as has been said was at all his Diversions he made some Divers go under water and fasten Fish they had ready to his hooks in this manner he pulled up his line two or three times well loaden with an extreme satisfaction The Queen though she soon understood that trick seemed to admire his good fortune She laught heartily at it at night among her Favorites and invited them to the same sport the next day every one came and they took Boat to begin to Fish Anthony threw out his line and presently felt it loaded over-joyed he plucked it up but was ready to fall down for shame when he saw a piece of old Salt-fish at his hook which the Divers had fastned to it by Cleopatra's order every body laughed at this pleasant adventure and the Queen ingeniously told him Leave my Lord the Line and Nets to us Aegyptians fishing is our business who are Sovereigns of Pharos and Canopus yours is to take Cities Provinces and Kings CHAP. XIII Anthony receives the news of his Brother's defeat He resolves for War and makes an alliance with Pompey Caesar marries Scribonia The death of Fulvia Anthony is Master of Domitius his Fleet which yields to him THere was more than need of such important News as he then received to draw Anthony from the Charms that held him so sure he understood that his Brother had been overthrown by Caesar that his Wife and all his Friends had quitted Italy that Caesar had made himself Master of Gaul which belonged to him and that he had constrained the Son of Calenus after the death of his Father to deliver him up eleven Legions which he commanded in that Province From another part they sent him word that the Parthians
him My Lord You may now revenge the death of your father and brother and make your self master of the world 't is but cutting the Cables let me alone for the rest The blow was sure and the temptation violent Pompey had there all his Fleet in Battalia and the Troops of the other two were ashoar He after a little pause answered him Menas may violate his faith that may be fit for him but not for Pompey We have already mentioned that it was a very unfortunate thing to have the Character of great men onely from Historians who either through fear or flattery decryed the Enemies of the Prince they followed Velleius who wrote in the time of Augustus gives us a very ill Portraicture of Pompey 'T is easily perceived he had not all the prudence and dexterity of wit that Caesar had that was rather a defect in his education but that nobleness of mind which he drew from his birth and disposition and which he shewed here against his own Interest is enough to cover all his defects and ought to oblige them to treat his memory more favourably which even this action alone is sufficient to render illustrious Plutarch relates this adventure somewhat differently he makes Pompey give this answer to the Proposal of Menas You should have done it without telling me but now I 'm of opinion we ought to keep our word and keep inviolable that faith we have engaged We may perceive by this Answer that so considerable an advantage joined to the pleasure of Revenge at first surprized his Generosity but it was onely to make it break out with greater force and triumph the more in rejecting a perfidious action what profit soever might accrue and for this reason this act of his deserves no less praise CHAP. XVI The People's Ioy upon the first News of the Peace Caesar goes into Gaul and Anthony stays at Athens THese Diversions did not hinder them from thinking of more firmly establishing their Authority by Alliances Pompey promised his daughter to Marcus Marcellus the Son of Octavia and they named the Consuls for the four following years Anthony and Libo were declared the first on condition that Anthony might exercise his Office by the deputation of one of his friends Caesar and Pompey were designed the second Domitius and Sosius the third and Anthony and Caesar were appointed to succeed them for the fourth Upon this they parted Pompey returned to Sicilia and the two Triumviri to Rome This Peace which put an end to all the civil-Civil-wars was received and welcomed through all Italy with an incredible Joy the People whereever they past offered publick Sacrifices they ran in Crowds before them giving them a thousand Thanks and Praises The Romans above all witnessed their satisfaction by Bonefires Games and publick Feasts they had prepared them a magnificent entry but Anthony and Caesar refused that honour and went into Rome by night those onely were troubled at the Peace who had made their profit and advantage by the Confiscations of the banished persons which they had usurped and which got them powerfull Enemies for all the proscribed persons returned to Rome after they had assured Pompey of their eternal acknowledgments and obligations to him Thus had he the glory of preserving many illustrious members of the Republick as Tiberius Silanus Sentius Arontius the Son of Cicero and other Senatours their return redoubled the Romans Joy who for this gave publick thanks to the Gods Caesar to keep his Souldiers exercised and in military discipline of which Idleness is the greatest plague and destruction sent one part of his Forces into Dalmatia and led the rest himself into Gaul where some Rebels had begun to make some stirs Anthony who remained at Rome left it some time after to go to the Parthian War Before he went he caused to be ratified by the Senate all he had done in Asia and besides approve all he had designed to doe for the future The Kings he had established were confirmed by Ordinance of the Senate in their several Kingdoms as Darius in Pontus Pharnaces in Idumaea Herod in Iudaea Amintas in Pisidia and Polemon in Cilicia One part of his Troops was sent into Illyâ—ria another against the Dardanians and the rest into Epirus The City of Athens he chose to pass the Winter away in with Octavia in this place he pleased himself so much that he intirely gave himself over to his pleasures and diversions quitting all the tokens and marks of his Authority to live like a private person At the publick Games and Exercises he assisted clad in Grecian habit and took the pains himself to part the Combatants In his Court there was no business talked of but onely Learning and Philosophy He often visited the Academia the Lyceum and those places destined to the study of Philosophy which have given so much reputation to that famous City He spent whole days to hear their Disputations and their Conferences their Feasts and Entertainments always ended these pleasing Diversions and these Treats were not made with the Profusion of the Aegyptians but according to the Sobriety and Modesty of the Greeks Octavia went with him every where In this charming Wife he enjoyed all the delights of Cleopatra and those excellent Vertues besides which the Aegyptian had not Octavia had certainly been Mistress of his Heart if she had not had the misfortune of being his Wife but Anthony was one of those who think all innocent pleasures insipid But Octavia had not onely this Rival the extravagance of the Athenians went as far as heaven to find her out another however â—ordid Flatterers were never better served Anthony they always called Bacchus and in this quality all mortals were much below him they proposed he should marry Minerva the Patroness of their City Anthony accepted of the match but for the more honour of such an Alliance he asked a thousand talents for her portion but says one of the Match-makers pleasantly to him My Lord Jupiter asked nothing with your Mother Semele Anthony however he laugh'd at this Jest would bate nothing of the Sum. It was levyed upon all the Inhabitants who revenged themselves according to their custome that is by raillery of which the Love of Cleopatra was the principal subject Under the Statue of Anthony they wrote these words Octavia and Minerva to Anthony take the baggage again and let 's part He laugh'd at their Jests but took their money though Dellius to mortifie them the more made as if he seriously told him he acted against the Roman Laws which allowed three years for the payment of a Portion As soon as the Winter was passed Anthony re-assumed with the marks of his dignity all the Majesty of an Emperour he was no more seen but in the company of his Commanders Athens was filled with Souldiers who soon scared away the Muses He received the Ambassadours of all the Princes and thought of nothing but putting his Fleet to Sea building of Gallies and
furnish him with two Legions of Italian Souldiers and Octavia upon her own account gave her Brother twenty great Vessels the best that were in her Husband's Fleet and Caesar complemented her with 4000 old Souldiers to increase the number of her Guards and the five years of the Triumvirate being almost finished they prolonged it five more purely by their own Authority without valuing the consent of the People or the ratification of the Senate But that which is most surprizing in this Argument is that Anthony who found Octavia so amiable who so much admired her vertue and who owed to her care all the advantages he reaped by this Treaty would leave her and a daughter he had by her in Italy and for all this Caesar did not blame the injustice of his Proceeding The reasons they both had for their proceeding thus are not come to our knowledge and therefore the Historians have left us the liberty to guess at them 'T is not very hard to divine that Anthony returning into the East with his Soul filled with the imagination of those pleasures with which Cleopatra had so long charmed him he lookâ—d upon his Wife but onely as an obstacle to his pleasures upon the false principle of men of his character that all the honour and reputation is the Wife 's right but the heart and affection the Mistresse's And as he knew Octavia's vertue would remain unshaken in spight of all his ill-usage and infidelity he knew he could leave no body near Caesar who would inspire him with better Sentiments for him and his interest As for Caesar whose reach was so extraordinary although he were very sensible of this injury he knew well enough the noise Anthony's usage of his wife would make in the World and how it would load him with all the hatred of the Romans who had a great veneration for his Sister and therefore it may be was very glad of the occasion of so just a pretence of a breach with Anthony when he saw it was most for his advantage At this time Menas incited by his natural levity and inconstancy or outraged he was not considered as he deserved abandoned the party of Caesar and returned to Pompey with his Gallies without Calvisius perceiving his revolt which made Caesar take from him the Command of the Navy to give it to Agrippa CHAP. XIX Caesar puts a powerfull Fleet to Sea commanded by Agrippa He attacks Pompey in Sicilia Lepidus comes to Caesar's assistence Several Actions AGrippa the better to acquit himself with honour in this Command resolved to have a potent Navy at Sea and to fit it out with more ease and convenience he made use of two Lakes the Lucrinus and the Avernus The Lakes were Reservoirs of a prodigious extent made by incredible labour and expence in places where the Sea working over the banks in foul weather had naturally formed a kind of Basin or Pool in these Places Art assisting Nature had hollowed these vast Receptacles and made them capable of holding a great Fleet here too were used and fattened those Oisters Lampreys and other Sea-fish which were made so famous by being made the chief ingredients of the Roman Luxury these Places had communication with the Sea by Sluices Caesar had given freedom to Twenty thousand Slaves upon condition they were to serve at the Oar. After Agrippa had employed the remainder of this year and all the next to build several Vessels and fit out the other he daily exercised his Souldiers and his Chiorme sometimes by Prizes which he gave the best Rowers otherwhiles by Mock-fights wherein he put in practice all the necessary motions that belonged to Sea-fights by this means he trained up expert Mariners and good Souldiers and Caesar who knew his zeal and active diligence entirely relied on him But as the Loss he had formerly sustained was believed to be an effect of the anger of the Gods he resolved to appease them with great Sacrifices He assembled all his Navy at Puteoli where the Ministers designed for this function were also met they raised Altars on the Sea-shoar which were sprinkled with the Sea-water in sight of all the Souldiers who were in the Vessels in a profound Silence after which the Sacrificers in Pinnaces offered up Victims and accompanied by the principal Commanders rowed round the Fleet carrying the limbs of the Sacrifices they beseeched the Gods that all the misfortunes the Fleet was threatned with might fall upon those Victims then offered and at the same time threw some into the Sea the rest were burned and then they returned to the Altars which they perfumed with Incense and sweet odours while all the Assistents offered up their Vows Prayers and Supplications In this manner the Romans used to bless and purifie their Ships before they undertook any great expedition Caesar had taken order to assault Pompey on all sides in his Fort that is in Sicilia Lepidus whom he had sent for was to land on the South of the Isle at Lilybaeum Taurus who was at Tarentum attacked him on the East side and Caesar himself on the West he made choice of the day of the New moon dedicated to the honour of I. Caesar in the month of Iuly which yet retains his name to weigh his Anchors and set sail Pompey on his part prepared to make a very vigorous defence he sent Pliny to Lilybaum with eight Legions and a great number of light armed Foot he guarded all the Coasts of Sicilia and the Isles of Lipari and Carcyra to hinder Caesar from seizing on them he himself kept in the Port of Messina with his best Ships to carry Succours where it was necessary Lepidus was come from Africa with twelve Legions and Five thousand Numidian Horse upon eighty Ships of War and a thousand Barks Taurus had a hundred and two Vessels that were Anthony's and Caesar followed by Appius who was his Lieutenant-general was come from Puzzolo with a favourable gale But it seems that neither the Sea nor Winds were appeased by the Sacrifices Lepidus by a Southerly wind which sank several of his Barks was thrown upon the Coast of Sicily where he landed with much pain and hazzard However he put his Troops in good order and after he had taken several small Places he besieged Pliny in Lilybaeum Taurus foreseeing the Storm retired to Tarentum but Caesar suffered most of all his Lieutenant cast upon the Rocks near Catanea had the best part of his Vessels split and bulged he himself with the loss of one Galley made in to a Gulf near Eleata but this Bay lying open to the Southerly wind which more and more increased Caesar's Fleet was so beaten by stress of weather that he was forced to save himself a-shoar with so violent a displeasure that they say he cryed out that however in spight of even Neptune himself he would get the Victory He lost six of the great Ships that Octavia had given him twenty six others and many
he cut to pieces a Cohort of Pompey's who insulted at his misfortune That the next day Lepidus seeing his Army march in order with their Ensigns advanced to yield themselves to Caesar he offered to seize upon an Eagle that a Souldier carried who insolently told him he must endure it or it would cost him his Life however it was they all agree that Lepidus came to Caesar to beg his Life which was granted him with his Office of Priesthood and Estate Suâ—tonius alone says that Caesar banished him to Cyrceum In this manner the Authority of the Triumvirate without any Competitor came wholly into the hands of Caesar and Anthony and though between them they shared the greatest part of the world even that would not suffice their Ambition Caesar would not suffer Pompey to be persued whether it were that he feared that carried on by theâ—r heat in the Chase of him they would â—o beyond the bounds of his Dominions and that Anthony would be offended at it or that he was willing to spare the Life of one who was not an Accomplice in the murther of his Father These are the reasons he gave out but those who look into the bottom of his Politicks believe that he was willing to leave an unfortunate Wretch upon Anthony's hands who might be a considerable mischief to him but of no use at all for if he received him kindly he took a Companion who might become very uneasie to him and whenever Caesar thought fit would be always an occasion of a quarrel On the other side in putting him to death he would draw upon himself the aversion of the Romans and the particular hatred of all the party of Pompey the Great Never any Roman General was ever at the head of so great an Army as was at this time in Sicilia he had there forty five Legions twenty five thousand Horse one hundred and sixty thousand light armed Foot with six hundred ships of War without counting the Barks and smaller Vessels which were without number and which Caesar restored to their particular owners from whom they had been taken With so much power as this he saw himself in a state of being able to undertake any thing if he had not now been checked by the insolence of his Souldiers who out of season always gave him some occasion of disgust to interrupt the satisfaction of his Victories Though he had distributed among them great sums of Money and promised them much more though he had given great store of military Crowns and other marks of honour tâ—e Souldiers were not content when they begin to reflect on their great number they no longer are obedient to Discipline and think it a disparagement to obtain that by Prayers which they carry by force it was in this manner that Caesar's Souldiers asked their dismission and the same rewards that were granted to those who fought at Philippi Caesar brought himself out of this plunge partly by prayers and partly by threats he deferred the distributing their recompences till the return of Anthony and told them the Illyrians had declared War and that they were to be vanquished before any thing else were done the Legions refused to march before they had satisfaction Caesar commanded to bring out more Crowns Spears and Bracelets and even purple Robes for the Officers giving them the Dignity and rank of Senatours but a Tribune named Hostitius insolently told him He might keep those Bawbles for Children that the Souldiers had need of nothing but Money and Land all the Army shouted at this saying Caesar thereupon in great anger came down from his Tribunal and retired Hostitius with other mutineers went even up to his Tent but the next morning the Tribune was not to be found which terrâ—fied the Souldiers and made every one câ—nsult his own safety At length Caesar dismist those who had been at the Wars of Modena and Macedonia the others he pacified by large promises and gave every one five hundred Drachmas which he got out of Sicilia that was condemned to pay him six hundred Talents he established Preton for his Lieutenant in Africa and Sicilia where he left the one half of his Troops He sent all the ships he had of Anthony to Tarentum and kept the others with him to carry him into Italy his return to Rome was celebrated with all the honours the Senate and people could invent The Senatours in a Body received him at the Gates of the City and conducted him to the Capitol followed by all the people Crowned with Garlands of Flowers where after he had given thanks to the Gods they waited on him to his Palace Seeing himself rid of so formidable a Rival as Pompey he thought of establishing and confirming his power and to give it stronger Foundation he would begin with the hearts and inclinations of the Romans themselves putting in practice those wise and great Maximes which rendred his Reign so happy as justly to acquire it the name of August He went to the Senate-house where he gave an account of his actions in a very Elegant studied Speech which he caused afterwards to be published the conclusion of it was That after he had undergone so many toils and â—â—â—t through so many dangers to put an end to the Civil Wars be thought himself very happy to see his countrey in profound Peace and perfect Union and that to make it sensible of some advantage by it he remitted all the Arrears that were due to the publick Treasury of what nature soever the Debt were as for the publick Honours they offered him be onely desired the Permission to sacrifice in publick on those days on which he had won his Victories and a golden Statue in the Forum with an Inscription which should declare that the Senate and people of Rome had decreed him that Honour for having given them Peace and quiet both by Sea and Land He refused the Office of Pontifex Maximus which Laepidus yet enjoyed and rejected with anger and scorn the Proposition that was made to put him to death as an Enemy to his Countrey He sent Letters to his Lieutenants with orders to open them exactly all at the same hour which he specified and at the same time execute the Contents of them this concerned the Slaves who were lifted under Pompey and who were declared free by the last Agreement made with him they were all seized at the same time Caesar restored them to their owners or their heirs those whose Masters were not to be found were hanged upon Crosses near the Cities from which they had escaped last of all to secure the publick Peace he ordered Sabinus with his Troops to persue and bring to punishment all the Thieves that werâ— to be found in Italy and Sicily and established at Rome some Companies for the Guard of the City All this was executed with so much order and diligence that the Romans began to have an extraordinary Veneration for a Man who had so great
a prudence at the age of twenty eight years Some Cities in Italy went even to the erecting Altars to him especially after one gallant thing he did he found among the Papers of Pompey a great number of Letters and Memoirs of the chief Senatours which were sufficient to occasion among them very troublesome Affairs He brought them all into the Forum and before all the people threw them all into a fire protesting that he there Sacrificed all his private Resentments to the Commonwealth with a design to give up his Authority as soon as Anthony should return from the Parthian expedition if this action appeared pleasing unto the people the Protestation which followed it absolutely gained the hearts of the Romans they praised him to the Skies and to shew that they desired always to obey him they chose him Tribune of the people for all his Life-time Besides by this they thought to oblige him to quit the more odious Dignity of Triumviâ— though Caesar understood their meaning well enough he did not decline accepting the Office of perpetual Tribune which rendred his Person sacred and inviolable as for the supprâ—ssion of the Triumvirate he deferred that till Anthony's return and sent Bibulus to communicate to him this resolution and after he had disposed of the Government of the provinces he went against the Illyrians CHAP. XXIII Pompey goes into Asia where he makes War The Lieutenants of Anthony fight and take him The death of Pompey POmpey was at this time at Mitilene where he understood Anthony was engaged in a War against the Parthians who in some encounters had the better of him and as Pompey was a man of no great reach he presently imagined that he might take Anthony's post in the East or at least come in for a share of his Empire In persuance of this design he sent to the Kings of Pontus and Thracia and to draw them to his party proposed great advantages to them he sent also some of his Friends to the Parthian King to offer him his Service and his Person which he supposed they made great account of by reason of the Reputation of his Father's name The return of Anthony to Alexandria did not make him change his intentions he resolved onely to send to salute him and desire his Protection But all this while he still got Ships together and levied Souldiers under pretence of defending himself against Caesar. Anthony advertised of these doings ordered Titius to take the Army and Fleet that lay in Syria and go to Pompey and make him explain himself what he intended to doe and either to fight him or to treat him with all honour and respect if he yielded himself In the mean time those whom Pompey had sent to Anthony had executed their Commission very well they omitted nothing that might encline him to favour their Master they layed before him the unmeasurable Ambition of Caesar and the Protection that Pompey had afforded Anthony's Mother to this they added that reason of state absolutely required that Anthony should put a stop to the progress of Caesar and withall the deposing of Lepidus and the Consequences of that example were not forgot and the forces of Pompey which they magnified besides the Glory of protecting the Son of the greatest Man among the Romans Anthony throughly informed of the truth to all these discourses onely answered That if what they told him of Pompey's intentions were true he would soon confirm it himself by coming along with Titius whom he had sent to him But by misfortune to Pompey it chanced that his Envoys he sent to the Parthian King were taken with their instructions Anthony shewed them to these Deputies who were terribly surprized They begged Anthony he would not impute this perfidiousness to them and that he would suspend his Resentment against Pompey till he had seen what would pass between Titius and him Anthony's Lieutenant in Asia had been obliged to Pompey and not being yet instructed how Anthony was inclined had received him with respect but seeing he dâ—â—ly gave new occasions of suspicion he sent word of it to Anthony and caused Domitius with his Troops to approach Upon this Pompey complained that they looked â—pon him as an Enemy and yet â—o all this while carried on a private Intrigue to gain Pomilius by the means of Curius who was in his Army but Curius being taken and executed as a Traitour Pompey immediately made away with Theodorus one of his freâ—â— Men who onely was privy to the whole secret and when he believed that it was quite smothered and hush'd up he seized upon Lampsacus a strong City and well peopled with Italians with whom he augmented his Forces he had already on Foot three Legions and two hundred Horse which gave him the boldness to besiege Cyâ—icum being beaten from thence Furnius who was much stronger than he in Horse charged him in his retreat Pompey laid an Ambuscade for him where Furnius lost some men and this advantage which passed for a great Victory drew into his Service several vagabond Souldiers out of Mysia and the Propontis These succours made him think on vast designs He assaulted and took Nice and Nicomedia where he got good store of money but no provisions which he stood most in need of because Furnius with his Cavalry cut them off from him every way And as soon as Titius arrived at Proconâ—â—sus with a strong Army and a great many Ships Cassius of Parma Nasâ—diâ—s Saturninuâ— Thermus and Antistius all noble Romans treated with Titius and yielded themselves to Anthony but that which quite made an end of ruining him was the defection of Fannius and Libo his Father-in-Law who were a great stay to his party by their credit and their merit he would have retreated through the plains of Bithynia but Titius Furnius and Amintas opposed his retreat and as they were much stronger than he it gave them so much Confidence that they would not take the pains to fortifie their Camp Pompey undertook with three thousand Legionary Souldiers to force it and charging them in the night he put them into so great disorder that there could be no reason given why he did not utterly defeat them unless it were his unlucky fate They after had time to rally and hemmed him on every side which forced him to demand a conference with Furnius Pompey offered to yield himself to him or to Amintas who was a foreign Prince Furnius told him That neither he nor Amintas would receive him in prejudice of Titius who had orders concerning him from Anthony and that in the condition he was then he had more need to think of saving himself than of sowing Division among them Pompey then reproached Furnius with the favour he had done him in saving him when he was in his hands and very much insisted he should not yield himself to Titius who treated him very ungratefully Furnius though he had an extreme regret could not consent to it and Pompey retired
quite besides himself with grief He forbid any fire should be made in his Camp and fiercely marched away with the most resolute of his Souldiers with a design to burn Titius his Ships and it may be this enterprize might have succeeded if by a total excess of misfortune he had not been betrayed by Scaurus This persidious man left him to yield himself to the Enemies whom he advertised of Pompey's design which he onely conjectured at Amintas was detached with fifteen hundred Horse to persue him and soon overtook Pompey who had onely foot with him all his Souldiers abandoned him so that he was forced to yield upon discretion to Amintas who carried him to Titius all the rest of his Forces surrendred themselves to this General who sent Pompey to Miletus where he sacrificed him to his Resentment For which the Romans conceived such a hatred to Titius that some time afterwards they drove him out of the Circus where he gave them publick Games and in effect it was always doubted whether Titius received orders from Anthony or whether Plancus who commanded in Syria did not abuse the Name and Signet of his General to put Pompey to death out of fear left Cleopatra should save him for his Father's sake or to make use of him for an occasion of division between Caesar and Anthony Thus fell the youngest Son of Pompey the Great at the age of forty years after he had for some time maintained and kept up his Father's faction as much by his own valour as the assistence of that great Name Beside that Wisedom did not go along with his courage he had to doe with two whereof one was the wisest and the other the bravest Captain of their time He had too the misfortune of having none about him but people whose Souls as mean as their extraction were not capable by their Counsels to raise his vulgar Genius This is was that made him loose so many fair opportunities and at last precipitated him into his destruction at last CHAP. XXIV The causes of the division between Anthony and Anthony's unfortunate expedition against the Parthians his return to Alexandria IT was believed that the death of Pompey would have established a Peace through all the World especially since Anthony and Caesar might in the extent and riches of the Roman Empire find all that was capable of satisfying their Ambition It was very probable too that their distance might take away all occasions of jealousie that daily grow between Persons whose Authority is equal and who are often together But yet by their management of Affairs it was quickly seen which has been confirmed by so many examples that the desire of reigning observes no measures and the most sacred things The Passion of Anthony for Cleopatra and the gifts he daily gave her of the Provinces that belonged to the Roman Empire served Caesar for a pretext to renew the War and free himself from a Competitor who was so formidable both by his valour and his Reputation in the opinion of he Souldiery Anthony had added to Aegypt Phoenicia the lower Syria the Isle of Cyprus and a great part of Cilicia besides Arabia the happy and that part of Iudaâ— where the true Balsame grows and all this before he went to the Parthian War These Presents that he made to a foreign Princess at the Romans cost very much displeased them and as they had nothing of â—â—â—ir ancient Liberty left them but the privilege of censuring the actions of their Governours there were daily published at Rome very scurrilous discourses of Anthony's prodigality Caesar abetted these murmurings and privately encouraged them who were discontented whenas they farther heard at Rome that Anthony had given foreign Names to the Children he had by Cleopatra calling the Son Alexander and the daughter Cleopatra and adding to them the Sirnames of the Sun and Moon Anthony had yet remaining in Rome several Friends who gave him notice of the discourses that went in his prejudice whereupon he published an Apology for himself wherein he affirmed that the Grandeur of the Empire of the Romans was not more conspicuous for the Conquests they made than for the liberality they practised in bestowing the conquered Provinces and that true Nobility was multiplyed by the posterity that sovereign Princes left in several places and that was the reason that obliged Hercules from whom he derived himself not to subject himself to the single tye of a Lawfull wife but to leave the foundation of several illustrious Races in all parts of the Earth where he extended his Conquests These false reasons with which he endeavoured to justifie his Passion seemed abominable to the Romans who made profession of a stricter Morality At this time too it was that Anthony marched against the Parthians with thirteen Legions ten thousand Gallick or Spanish Horse and above thirty thousand other light armed Foot and Horse but this great preparation that made all the East tremble served onely to render his retreat more shamefull and to make him loose that great Reputation which he had gained in all other occasions at the very first the Parthians slew one of his Lieutenants and entirely defeated two Legions and even Anthony himself was reduced to such extremities that he often despaired of his own safety At last after he had lost the fourth part of his Troops and all his baggage and Engines of Artillary or Engines he saved himself in Armenia by the advice of a Roman who had been a Prisoner among the Parthians ever since the death of Crassus This man counselled him to leave the Plains and gain the Mountains where though the ways were difficult yet he was free from the insults and attacks of the Enemy all whose force consisted in their Cavalry But though Anthony in this War behaved himself with his usual bravery nevertheless the loss he sustained of his best Souldiers and the shamefull retreat of such a General as he who in all likelyhood was once able to have conquered his Enemies made an end of ruining his Reputation It is said that all these misfortunes were the consequences of his Passion for the Queen of Aegypt for that he had begun the War in a wrong season and that he finished it too soon and lastly that he had taken no measures rightly but those that might hasten his return to Cleopatra even to the neglecting all that advantage that was offered him by the division of the Parthians and the Medes But that which principally outraged the Romans was the taking Artâ—bazus King of Armeniae whom Anthony led in Triumph into Alexandria the Pride of Rome could not bear that a Roman General should impart that honour to a foreign Nation and that she should be deprived of the advantage of insulting over vanquished Kings which for so many years she had enjoyed Caesar made all these faults of Anthony be taken notice of and above all exaggerated the little value he had for his Countrey when he found their
spirits sufficiently exasperated against him he resolved to send Octavia to her Husband to the end he might have a plausible occasion to declare War if he should offer her the affront of sending her back without seeing her Anthony was then at Leucopolis between Tyre and Sidon where he stayed for Cleopatra with an impatience he was not able to conceal what means soever he used to amuse himself and forget her in the pleasures of his Debauches he daily left the Table to run to the Sea-side to see if the Queen were not coming at last she came bringing with her great quantity of Clothing for the Souldiers and a vast Sum of money at least Anthony gave her the honour of it when he distributed it though it is believed it all came out of his own Pocket Almost at the same time Niger arrived sent by Octavia who stayed at Athens from whence she sent him word that she had brought him Clothes and Arms Horses and Presents for his Officers and that she had brought him 2000 chosen Souldiers all well armed This was very heavy news for the Queen she feared with a great deal of reason that the vertue of Octavia joined with the consideration of her brother would deprive her of the Heart of Anthony and that she could not prevail against so powerfull a Rival the moment she appeared She bethought her self to feign a deep Melancholy she abstained from almost all kind of food on purpose to make herself lean and when she was near Anthony she beheld him with languishing eyes after a very passionate manner as one quite besides her self with Love she let fall Tears in his presence and turned away her Face as if she desired to hide from him those marks of her grief And besides all this their Flatterers told Anthony that he was very cruel and hard hearted to let a beautifull Princess who loved him with so much Passion languish so for him that her sorrow was ready to take away her life which she onely kept for his sake that Octavia ought to be contented with being considered as his Wife though he married her but by constraint and upon a politick account whereas such a great Queen as Cleopatra had no more but the title of his Mistress and yet thought he did her a great deal of honour if he would be so gratious to her as not to send her from his presence which she could not bear without the loss of her life These Flatteries prevailed so much upon Anthony's weakness that they quite turned his thoughts in favour of Cleopatra He broke off his enterprize against the Parthians notwithstanding all the instances of the King of the Medes who offered to join with him and oppose the Enemies with his Cavalry accustomed to their way of Fighting who when they were backed by the Roman Legions would have totally defeated them He onely contented himself to make a match between one of the Sons he had by Cleopatra and a Daughter of that King And after he had sent word to Octavia she should return to Rome he waited on Cleopatra back to Alexandria where he passed the Winter in all kind of Pleasures CHAP. XXV Caesar accuses Anthony in the Senate He declares War against Anthony His Forces CAesar was not at all surprized at the Contempt Anthony shewed for Octavia but yet he testified an extreme Resentment for it As soon as ever his Sister came to Rome he ordered her to leave Anthony's house where she had always lived and it was upon this occasion that Octavia made her vertue be admired She said Though she had a great respect for her brother yet she could not dispense with her self to obey him and therefore conjured him not to force her to quit the house of a person she would always honour as her husband in spight of his inconstancy and begged him to forget all the resentment he might have for an injury which onely reguarded her alone adding moreover that her interest ought not to oblige him to declare himself Anthony 's enemy since it would be a very shamefull thing if it should one day be said that the love of one woman and the jealousie of another had carried two persons that governed such a great Empire to plunge the Romans into the mischiefs of a Civil-war Caesar left his Sister at her liberty to doe as she pleased and indeed the carriage of Octavia did not belye her words She always kept at Anthony's house and took an extraordinary care of the education of his Children without making any distinction between her own Children and those he had by Fulvia She took into her protection all those whom her Husband sent to Rome to sue for Offices She assisted their Pretensions with the Authority she had with the People and never left importuning her Brother till she had obtained for them what they desired But nothing did more prejudice Anthony's interest than this behaviour of Octavia though it were quite against her intention this great generosity of hers made her Husband 's ill usage of a person of her worth seem the more odious was that which purchased the general hatred of the Romans which was yet more confirmed by what he did at Alexandria Anthony intending as it were to spight the Romans to dispose of the Provinces of his Dominions in favour of Cleopatra and her Children erected a Throne of Silver in the Gymnasium the place where the young men performed their bodily Exercises Upon this Throne were two Seats of Gold one for him and another for Cleopatra and there in presence of all the People he declared her Queen of Aegypt Cyprus Lydia and lower Syria associating with her Caesarion the Son she had by I. Caesar. To the Children which he had by her he gave the Title of King of Kings and for their Dominions to Alexander the eldest he allotted Armenia Media and Parthia which he pretended to conquer in a little time Ptolemy the younger had Phoenicia upper Syria and Cilicia then they appeared Alexander in a long Median Vest with a high Cidaris and Tiara which was the mark of Sovereignty among those Nations Ptolemy had Grecian Buskins a royal Mantle and a large Hat adorned with a Diadem after the manner of the Macedonian Kings the Successors of Alexander Thus habited they came to thank Anthony and Cleopatra who embraced them and immediately two Companies of Guards all chosen handsome persons the one Armenians the other Macedonians were drawn up near these young Princes But that which appeared most remarkable in this Solemnity was that Cleopatra appeared drest like the Goddess Isis and ever after when she appeared in publick she always wore that habit and all her Edicts and Decrees were ever after received as Oracles of the New Isis. Caesar then thought it was a convenient time openly to declare himself he accused Anthony of all these Attempts against the Majesty of the Roman Empire before the Senate and the People of Rome Anthony sent
to Rome to make his defence and to complain of Caesar. He said He had seized upon all Sicily without giving him any share that he had dispossessed Lepidus and kept all his Governments for himself and that he had divided all Italy among his Souldiers and reserved nothing for those that served in Asia To these Accusations Caesar answered That as for Lepidus he was obliged to depose him for his conduct for which he was justly punished for the Conquests he had made he was willing to share them with Anthony when he would divide Armenia which he had conquered and for the Souldiers that served with Anthony there was no likelyhood that they would desire some pitifull lands in Italy after they had conquered Media and the Empire of the Parthians by the great Exploits they had done in following their General Anthony was so nettled with this Jear that he ordered Canidius who commanded his Army to march without intermission towards the Sea-coasts with sixteen Legions to pass over into Europe and he himself with Cleopatra came to Ephesus where his Lieutenants had got together eight hundred Vessels whereof Cleopatra furnished two hundred with twenty thousand Talents and Provisions for all his Forces Anthony by the Advice of Domitius resolved to send back the Queen into Aegypt till the War was ended but she fearing lest Octavia should make an advantage of this opportunity to come to her Husband and make a Peace she by great Presents gained Canidius to represent to Anthony That it was not just to drive away a Princess with disgrace who alone maintained almost all the expence of the War That besides her departure would deprive him of the assistence of the Aegyptians who were the best part of his Navy And that he knew there was no King among the Allies to whom Cleopatra yielded in prudence or understanding as it appeared by the manner of her governing so mighty a Kingdom besides the experience she had gained in her long acquaintance with Anthony whereby she had perfectly instructed hir self in the management of the most important affairs The good fortune of Caesar and Anthony's evil destiny caused this Counsel to take place Cleopatra stayed and they went to Samos where for preparation for so great an enterprise they began with all the pleasures that could be devised their care was very pleasantly divided on one side all the Kings Princes and Nations from Aegypt to the Euxine Sea and from Armenia to Dalmatia had order to send Arms Provisions and Souldiers to Samos on the other all the Comedians Dancers Musicians and Bouffons were obliged to come to his Isle so that sometimes a Ship that was thought to be laden with Souldiers who conveyed a considerable succour of Arms and Amunition proved to be laden with Players Scenes and Machines for the Stage and whilst all the rest of the World was in extreme desolation Joy and all kinds of pleasure ruled here as if they had all made choice of this place to retire to But how magnificent soever their entertainments were they wanted their chiefest relish which was confidence for Anthony's displeasures had sowred his temper to that degree that he as to make him suspect Cleopatra her self ate of no thing with her without a Taster but as this Precaution seemed to be very injurious to Cleopatra she undertook to let him see that it was in vain to stand upon his guard against her adress She always added life to the entertainment by her pleasant company so that once at a meal she proposed a new kind of diversion of drinking one anothers Garlands which according to the mode of those times all the Guests were crowned with dipping the Flowers of them in the Wine Anthony applauded the Frolick and would begin it with Cleopatra's Garland as she very well foresaw all the outside Flowers of it were poisoned the Garland was pulled to pieces and put into a golden Cup full of Wine which Anthony was just carrying to his Lips when Cleopatra told him My Lord said she now know Cleopatra better and learn by this example that all the Precautions signifie nothing against her if her heart were not interested in your preservation whereupon by her order a Criminal was immediately brought who drank the poisoned Wine and expired upon the place This Action cured Anthony of his suspicion or at least made him leave off troublesome Precaution which it seems was but useless against the art of this Princess who could so skilfully mingle inevitable Snares of death among her pleasures Every City of Anthony's Empire had a share in these Sacrifices and sent an Ox thither to be offered and the Kings who accompanied him contented who should make the noblest entertainments so that it was asked by one What rejoicing they would make for a Victory who made such magnificent Treats just before a bloudy War CHAP. XXVI Anthony with Cleopatra goes to Athens Plancus and several others of his Friends forsake him THE stay Anthony made at Samos was very favourable for Caesar had made no provision for the War by reason all Italy mutinied against him because of the imposition he laid upon the People The news of Anthony's approach with such formidable Forces had augmented this disorder and quite astonished the Romans but when they saw that all these Preparations served onely to fill the publick Places and the Theatres of the Isle of Samos Caesar reassured them and after he had appeased the People who grumbled according to custome when money was demanded though when they have payed they never think of it afterwards He put himself into a posture of disputing the Empire with Forces equal to his Enemy And now Cleopatra envying the honours she had received at Athens had likewise a desire to see that City and was carried thither by Anthony she distributed great Gifts to the Athenians who in recompence were not behind-hand with their usual Flatteries they accorded honours beyond the condition of mortals and the most noble Citizens were deputed to carry her the Decree Anthony in the capacity of a Citizen of Athens would be the chief of the Embassy he was Spokesman and harangued the Queen in the name of the People At length to give her the utmost of his Passion he sent order to Octavia to goe out of his house she obeyed without murmuring at this horrible piece of injustice and retired to her own house and all Anthony's Children with her except Antyllus who was with his Father She onely lamented her hard fate because she was forced to serve for a pretence to a War whose consequences must needs be fatal to her Several of Anthony's friends not being able any longer to bear with his disorders abandoned him but it was not this nor the choice of a better side that made Plancus leave him onely Inconstancy the natural disease of his mind he had been the basest and most sordid of Cleopatra's Flatterers and had abased himself to the lowest employments about Anthony
even to the writing his bawdy Letters and being his Pimp And though he had been Consul General of an Army and Governour of a Province he was not ashamed to appear at a Feast among the Actors in a Play and represent Glaucus a Sea God It was doubtless a very pleasant spectacle to see a man of his quality naked and painted green and crowned with Reeds with a long Beard down to his middle and a huge Tail of a Fish dancing upon his Knees and making a hundred ridiculous postures nor did this Action fail of making him be scorned Anthony abused him and reproached him for some Extortions whereof he was accused which soon made him resolve to goe to Caesar with Titius who was his Nephew When he came to Rome he accused Anthony before the Senate of several Crimes with so much heat that Coponius could not forbear saying to him Sure you never observed these Crimes of Anthony but the evening before your departure by which he reproached either his baseness in enduring those Crimes so long or his sottishness not to find them out sooner But Pollio's proceeding was as generous as Plancus's was infamous Pollio had retired into Italy after the Peace was made at Tarentum nor had he ever seen Cleopatra or served under Anthony since his Intrigue with that Princess yet when Caesar pressed him to follow him in this War he frankly said I have served Anthony Anthony's Will and Testament was at Rome in the hands of the Vestals and Plancus it was who gave Caesar notice of it who as he would omit nothing that might serve his designs demanded the sight of it the Vestals refused to deliver it into his hands but by an equivocating turn they told him If he would come and fetch it they would not hinder him Caesar went and took it and when he had it he chose out the Places that were most odious in it and read them in full Senate But this action was not approved of at all They said It was against the course of nature to punish a man whilst living for what he ordered to be done when he was dead Caesar chiefly insisted upon Anthony's disposing of his Sepulture he ordained That if he dyed in Rome his body should be carried in funeral pomp through the principal places of the City and then sent into Aegypt to Cleopatra But all the bustle that Caesar made upon this occasion did not succeed according to his wish so that he was forced to goe to work another way Calvisius accused Anthony publickly That he had given Cleopatra the famous Library of the Kings of Pergamus composed of two hundred thousand Volumes That he had trod on her Toe at a publick entertainment and permitted the Ephesians to give her the quality of their Sovereign in his presence But more particularly he insisted on two Articles One was That Anthony having received Love-letters from Cleopatra he had read them in his Tribunal where he sate judging the differences of several Kings of Asia The other That one day when Furnius the most eloquent Oratour among the Romans was pleading before him he left the Oratour and the Audience to follow Cleopatra 's litter that by chance pass'd by Nothing gives us a truer Image of the Roman gravity than this Passage in the History The heads of this Accusation that at present appear frivolous and ridiculous were all nevertheless seriously proposed by Calvisius Nay Plutarch affirms they were such shrewd ones that the Accuser invented one part of them Certain it is that they appeared of that moment and weight to Anthony's Friends that they began to bestir themselves and solicit in his favour to hinder the Decree of the Senate by which he was to be declared an Enemy to the Senate and People of Rome Therefore they sent Geminius to Athens to make the last attempt upon his Temper The arrival of this man so much alarmed Cleopatra that she offered him a hundred signal Affronts and several very abusive Jears But he not being mortified at it she caused Anthony one day to ask him the cause of his coming Geminius answered That things of that nature were not to be talked of over a bottle and that it was necessary to be sober and fasting when they were to be examined but this he was sure of that both before and after a Debauch he saw matters would goe well enough if Cleopatra were sent into Aegypt Anthony was troubled at this discourse and Cleopatra said to Geminius You doe very wisely to own the truth without staying till it is extorted from you by torments Geminius did not think it convenient to stay for the effect of this Threat but fled to Rome followed by several other Romans who were disgusted at the audaciousness of Cleopatra and the insolence of her Parasites The most considerable persons of those who forsook them were Syllanus and the famous Dellius who at a meal where the Wine was not to his mind said That they made them drink Vinegar there whilst at Rome Sarmentus drank Falernian Wine This Sarmentus was a kind of a Bouffon to Caesar. As there is in all Courts some certain moments when every thing that is spoke is interpreted to have a secret meaning in it This raillery of Dellius was so ill taken by Cleopatra that she gave order to have him murthered Dellius who had notice of it and not being willing to hazard himself to gain the reputation of a resolute man upon this occasion was it may be glad of the opportunity to follow his inclination and justly deserve the name of Vaulter which afterwards Messala gave him at Rome CHAP. XXVII The Forces of Caesar and Anthony They write sharp Letters to each other Caesar approaches Anthony's Army which lay at Actium NO sooner did Caesar find himself strong enough to carry on the War but he publickly proclaimed it against Cleopatra and abrogated the Authority of Anthony who had already in a manner parted with it in favour of that Princess The Decree implied besides That Anthony was no longer Master of his own will by reason Cleopatra with her Philtres had taken away the very use of his reason so that he was not to be accounted as any body in this War which was onely managed by Mardion her Eunuch and Iras and Charmia her Women who absolutely governed Anthony 's Empire The Prodigies too were not forgot The Town of Pisaurum that Anthony had rebuilt on the shoar of the Adriatick Sea was swallowed up by an Earthquake At Alva a Statue of this Triumvir sweat for many days together The Temple of Hercules at Patras was burnt by Lightning And at Athens the Image of Bacchus that stood among several other Images of the Gods was alone â—verthrown by the Wind. The same thing happened to two Colossus's called the Antonii Last of all The Swallows that had built their nests in the Poop of Cleopatra's Admiral Galley were driven away by other Swallows who destroyed what the former had
or marks of Poison but onely two small pricks on her Arme scarce to be perceived and no Asp was to be found in the Sepulchre but they imagined they found some kind of track in the Sand on that side next the Sea Caesar was extremely troubled at her death as being by it deprived of the noblest ornament of his Triumph however he could not but admire the greatness of her Courage who notwithstanding the weakness of her sex preferred death before the loss of Liberty He ordered her a very magnificent funeral and her body as she had desired was laid by that of Anthony and her two women were interred with Pomp in memory of their Fidelity Thus this Princess whose Wit and Beauty had made so great a noise in the World died in the flower of her Age at thirty eight years old She reigned in Aegypt twenty two years fourteen whereof she past with Anthony and all that while had a total ascendent over the Soul of that Emperour Caesar preserved her Statues entire but beat down all those of Anthony but the consideration for Cleopatra's memory did not contribute so much to the preservation of her Images as the thousand Talents which Archibius one of her Friends gave Caesar for that end Those therefore erected to Anthony's memory were entirely demolished both in Aegypt and Rome where the Senate pronounced his memory infamous and decreed that none of his Family should bear the name of Marcus He died at the Age of fifty three or as some say fifty six years and by his three Wives left seven Children The fortune of Alexander and Ptolemy his Sons by Cleopatra is unknown but for his Daughter young Cleopatra Octavia took care and bred her up with her Children and married her to Iuba King of Mauritania one of the most learned and most vertuous Princes of his Age. Antyllus his eldest Son by Fulvia was slain as before mentioned and Iulius Antonius the youngest was very much esteemed by Caesar to that degree that Octavia whose Generosity for that unfortunate Family was without bounds married him to Marcella one of her Daughters by her first Husband He afterwards indiscreetly engaged himself in the intrigues and debauches of Caesar's Daughter which Crime was the cause of his death Octavia had by Anthony onely two Daughters who were both called Antonia The eldest married Nero's Grandfather and the youngest who inherited both her Mothers beauty and vertue was married to Drusus the Son of Tiberius and Livia and Son-in-Law to Caesar. From this Marriage came Germanicus who was esteemed the greatest General of his time and the most accomplished Person among the Romans and Claudius who was Emperour before Nero Caius Sirnamed Caligula the Son of Germanicus did also govern the Roman Empire three years after Tiberius So that Anthony's Family in spight of their unfortunate destiny possest the Throne and gave three Emperours to the Romans FINIS * Caius Julius Caesar Aeneus Pompeius Magnus the second Name was that of their Families * 1500000 Crowns * Plutarch * Luctatius †Calphurnius ‖ Claudius * Tullius * Cornelius * Caeciâ—ius †Calphurnius * Marcus Porcius Cato * Minutius * Lucius Murena * Caecilius Marcus Lucullus * The People of that Countrey called now Georgia †The People inhabiting near the Caspian Sea ‖ A Neighbouring Province to Syria * The year after the foundation of Rome 693. * The year of Rome 699. * Tiberius and Caius who strongly asserting that Law were slain by the Senatours The name of their Family was Sempronius * Servilius who kill'd Metius when he aspired to the Tyranny †He who drove the Tarquins out of Rome * These were a sort of Officers like our City Serjeants * Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus The year of Rome 699. * A Little Town not far from Rome * Vibullius †Munatius * The Romans since the time of Sylla burned the Bodies of their Dead instead of Burying them * In the year of Rome 701 there were two Families which bore the Name of Domitius one sirnamed Enotarbus and the other Calvinus †Cornellus * Cajus †Cornelius * Nero. †Lucan * Pollentia * Aretium * Picenum †Ascasum * Pollentia * Dyrachium * Ilerdâ— * Junius * Aemilius * Cornelius The year of the world 4006 since the foundation of Rome 76 before the birth of our Saviour 47. Aunoe the wife of Bagud one of the Kings of Mauritania * A Province of the lesser Asia †This was a Title which was given to those Princes who were not really Kings though they exercised Sovereign Authority * This is that Countrey which lies on the other side of the Channel over against Constantinople * Tripoli * This distinction is made because the Numidians carried their Horses to the Wars without any Bridles causing them to turn to the right or left with a certain switch or rod. * Veni vidi vici * That is because these Games were instituted by the Trojans * Sevill †Tariffa * Junius Brutus In the 〈…〉 of Rome 710 before the birth of our Saviour 43. * They had both one Mother but two Fathers * Cornelius * Lucius Pinarius and Quintus Pedius were also Caesar's Grand Nephews * By reason of Charon's Bark that Caesar had passed in * Julius * This man was of no great Family but was afterwards the chief Favourite of Augustus by reason of his Valour and Merit he married Julia the Daughter of Augustus the Name of his Family was Vipsallius * He was called Decimus Junius Brutus * He was called Cornelius and governed Tyrannically in Rome during the Wars between Marius and Sylla * Valerius * This was not he that Triumphed over the Parthians * Cajus Cilnius Mecoenas he was the Favourite of Augustus and the man whose name is so Celebrated amongst the learned * One of the Sons of Agrippa and Julia called Cajus * This was another and not Caesar 's Friend who had accused Brutus * A King of Pontus who made War upon the Romans 40 years †A King of Macedonia and the Son of Antigonus one of Alexander 's Commanders * A City of Thrace * A Sow a Sheep and a Bull. * Lustrare exercitum * An Island near Thrace †A City of Thrace * This was a Physician The year of the World 4012. since the building of Rome 712. before the birth of our Saviour 41. * Mart. l. 1. * Nemausus * Treasurer 52000 l. * Corcyra * Tuscany * Ischia * Puzzolo Three Millions * Anno ab U. c. 721. Thirty one years before Iesus Christ.
his Mother was led in Triumph by Pompey's Father carrying her little Son in her Armes afterwards mere necessity reduced him to hire out Mules to the Magistrates that were employed in the Provinces this gave him an opportunity of doing a service for Iulius Caesar which gained him the favour of that great Man He then received him under his Command where Ventidius by his valour making himself remarkable he came afterwards to be Tribune of the People and then Pretor In this dignity he by his interest with the Souldiery was a great help to Anthony's affairs whom he assisted very powerfully Anthony out of gratitude used all his interest and authority to get him the charge of Chief-Priest and Consul whereupon the People were very much choqued at his preferment and published Lebels against him Some of the Verses were to this purpose Assemble your selves and consult O ye Augurs and Southsayers upon this extraordinary Prodigy he that curried the Mules is become Consul But for all this this very Man so despised by the Romans was the onely Man that ever revenged that signal shame and affront given them by the Parthians in the overthrow of Crassus He defeated them in three Battels killed their King's Son and was the onely General of all the Romans that ever had the honour and happiness of triumphing over that Nation And indeed the Romans though late were sensible of the justice they owed to his valour in ordaining magnificent Funeral Rites for him at the charge of the publick Agrippa had no less merit and his vertue was less envied he particularly signalized himself whereever he had any command but above all in the defeat of Pompey and the Victory over Anthony at Actium He had besides ever the chiefest place in Augustus his favour and had the honour to be his Son-in-law and to leave Emperours of his posterity He justly passed for the greatest Captain of his time and never did Man shew more obedience to his Prince nor more ambition to command others He was a great enemy to all delays and had no sooner formed any enterprise but he immediately put it in execution withall he was generous sincere and above all affected a frank liberty of speaking his mind so that he even spared not taxing his Prince of some actions that were displeasing to him as savoured too much of cruelty Salvidienus his character was very different from this he was no better born than the others or to say better much worse for he was but a poor Peasant forced for want to look after Cattel whilst he was such there happened to him something that appeared a prodigy his Head seemed as if all in a slame this moved him to list himself in the Army where by his valour he rose to the most considerable commands but then he was carried on by an unmeasurable ambition to undertake any thing to satisfie his unreasonable desires he was of a depraved mind and of an ill turned mischievous temper those wicked inclinations made him most ungratefully conspire against Caesar who had made him Consul against the received rule without being a Senatour but Salvidienus was punished for this Treason as he deserved and so his Death was as infamous as his Birth He had now repassed the Alps and was marching to join Caesar in spight of Ventidius and Pollio who were at the heels of him with their Armies As this joining was a matter of very great importance Lucius chiefly strove to hinder it and Salvidienus had been utterly lost if Agrippa had not advanced between Lucius and him and attacked the Town of Sutrium which he carried by storm This Town had shewed it self very affectionate to Lucius and the danger it was in moved him to turn head and relieve it which gave Salvidienus opportunity to join Agrippa and so they made themselves Masters of the Passes and Defiles through which the Armies of Ventidius and Pollio were to march and Lucius not being strong enough to oppose them retreated into Perusia and there expected his Generals Caesar having news of this strait made thither and rallied Agrippa and Salvidienus to besiege Lucius in that place It is seated in that Countrey which was formerly called Hetruria and now belongs to the Ecclesiastical Dominion it was strongly situated as being built upon a Hill which made Lucius hope Caesar would ruine his Army by this Siege he then dispatched Manius to Pollio and Ventidius to oblige them to come to his relief and at the same time sent out Trissinius with 4000 Horse to ravage those Towns that were for Caesar. Pollio and Ventidius were none of the best Friends for each of them would have commanded in chief neither being willing to submit to his equal Besides too they were not certain what sentiments Anthony would have upon this occasion of this War by reason Lucius had openly declared himself an enemy of the Triumvirate As for Fulvia she was always governed by her own passion she had raised Forces under the command of Plancus and by her Letters never ceased pressing Pollio Ventidius Ateius and Calenus to succour their General 's Brother But there hapned a disgrace to her that mortified her extremely for as she was going to Rome to manage some new Broil she met with a Legion of Caesar's who charged her Convoy that guarded her defeated it and took all her equipage At length Pollio and Ventidius took a resolution to advance towards Perusia in two distinct Bodies Caesar having intelligence of their motion with Agrippa marched against them hindred their joining with Plancus and forced Ventidius into Ariminum now Rimini and Pollio into Ravenna or according to Velleius into that Isle where Venice now is and Plancus into Pollentia and leaving sufficient Forces to maintain the several Blocades he returned to his Siege CHAP. VIII The Siege of Perusia Caesar in danger The extreme misery of the besieged AS Caesar could not pretend to force so great an Army in a place of that importance so neither would he make a formal Siege of it but resolved to reduce it by Famine to this end he drew about it a Line of contravallation of fifty six stadiums in compass and withall carried two Trenches to the River Tibur to hinder any attempt or relief of the Enemies on that side this Line he strengthened with a Rampart flanked with Towers at equal distances and at his return he sunk the Trenches thirty Foot deep and covered it with a Wall upon which he placed wooden Towers 1500 in number distant one from the other sixty Foot and these were all fortified with great Beams and filled with Archers and Slingers and all sorts of offensive Engines The besieged strove to hinder these Works by frequent and fierce Sallies and Lucius having abundance of Gladiators with him had always the better of it when they came to ' handy-blows but then Caesar's Men had the advantage of them by their Artillery and missive Weapons at which they were very expert It
except sixty that belonged to Cleopatra and of his Men of War kept only those that had from three to ten Rows or Oars which he manned with twenty two thousand Foot and ten thousand Archers As he was putting his Fleet into order of battel and going about to give his necessary orders an old Officer a very brave man and all covered with Scars thus spoke to him aloud My noble General Do you despise this Sword and this Arm which my very wounds have not been able to weaken That you will place your hopes in brittle Boats Leave the Aegyptians and Phoenicians to fight at Sea but put us ashore where we are used to meet or give death with a firm foot and an assured look Anthony answered nothing he onely made a sign with his head as if it were to encourage him though he himself did not seem as if he were very well assured for when the Commanders of his ships propoâ—ed taking away the Sails he opposed it saying He would not have one of the Enemies escape for four days together the Sea ran so high that it was impossible to fight the fifth the Wind was down and then the two Fleets advanced towards each other with their Oars in very good order It was a terrible but a very noble sight and worthy the reward they contended for to see on one side the Shore where there were two hundred thousand Men all at their Arms and on the other side the Sea covered with an incredible number of Vessels filled with Men who were just ready to employ both Fire and Steel for each others destruction Anthony was at the right Division of his Navy where Publicola commanded Calius was upon the left or according to other Authours Sosius Marcus Octavius with Insteius was in the Centre Caesar's General kept in the middle of the Fleet having Carius upon the right and Aruntu upon the lefâ— Caesar himself onely kept the Command of a reserve to carry relief where it was needfull they tell us nothing more of the order of the two Fleets but we may believe that the Vessels that Caesar commanded made a second Line or Division and that Cleopatra with her Gallies did the same in Anthony's This General in a Brigantine went about encouraging his Men with the remembrance of so many Victories they had gained under his Conduct He told them That this day he expected the Empire of the World from their valour and that they might promise themselves answerable rewards that the largeness of his Vessels gave them opportunity of fighting as firmly and with as much assurance as if they were on Land and for this reason he ordered the Pilots not to quit their Posts but expect the Enemies at the entrance of the Gulf. Caesar on his side gave no less hopes to his Souldiers but with more confidence in regard he was animated by a happy Augury At break of day coming out of his Tent to go on board he met a Countreyman driving an Ass before him moved by I know not what Curiosity or instinct he asked him his Name My Lord says he my name is Eutyches and I call my Ass Nicon the first of these Names in Greek signifies Happy and the other Conquerour This rencounter made Caesar so glad that he no longer doubted of the Victory and published the adventure through the whole Army and when afterwards he erected a Trophy for the Victory with the Spurs and Breakheads of Anthony's Gallies the Statues of the Man and the Ass were made in Brass When Caesar's Fleet was drawn up he went to the right Wing and staid to see how the Enemies would work to give the Onset their Gallies lay as if they were at an Anchor in the entrance of the Gulf and lay so till Noon when a fresh gale carried Anthony's left Division out of the Gulf. Caesar made his right where it was fall a Stern to draw them farther out to Sea that he might encompass them with his Vessels which were lighter and much better fitted his design succeeded and the battel began here but in a different manner than usaul For there was no shock because Anthony's Gallies were too heavy and those of Caesar avoided it fearing splitting against those huge Vessels fortified with thick Timber and iron Spikes so that this fight resembled rather an assault Caesar's Souldiers attacked the Enemies with Pikes Javelins Piles and Fire pots and they defended themselves with Arrows and Darts thrown from their Engines planted on wooden Towers Agrippa whose experience out-went all the Commanders of his time stood out with the point of his left Division to flank Anthony's which made Publicola advance to hinder it Aruntius laying hold on this occasion bore into the midst of the Enemies Fleet which he put into some disorder but the valour of the Souldiers made the Victory yet doubtfull as they were all of them chosen Troops they defended themselves with invincible Courage and made a great slaughter of the Enemies that attempted to approach them When streight they saw Cleopatra's sixty Gaâ—lies advance between the two Fleets with all their Sails abroad this movement equally surprized both Navies Anthony's was already in some disorder and when he expected some great action from these Gallies which were thâ— best of his Fleet he was amazed to see them all of a sudden tack about and run towards Peloponnesus withall the Sail they could bear thus the Historians relate it after Plutarch without giving any other reason of this baseness of the Aegyptians than the timorousness of their Queen that which they add is yet more surprizing Anthony had given too many proofs of his Courage ever to be suspected of Cowardize and in this occasion not onely the Empire of the World but his own Life was at stake and there was nothing to make him despair of Success for quite contrary the resolution of his Men and their firmness in maintaining the Combate seem to assure him of the Victory if they had been but well led on But when he saw Cleopatra fly he forgot the care both of his honour and safety to make himself an Accomplice of her Cowardly flight and as if he had nothing more to apprehend than her absence he thought of nothing then but to run after her He threw himself into a Gally with onely Scellus and Alexander the Syrian abandoning his Souldiers that so generously exposed their lives for his interest and followed the Course that Cleopatra stood She soon knew him and put a flag abroad at the Prow of her Gally he came near and when he was aboard he retired to the Prow without so much as seeing the Queen and was a good while alone leaning his head upon his hand The Gallantry and Fidelity of his Souldiers cannot be enough admired upon this occasion although the General had left them and the report of his flight was spread all about the Fleet they acted like people that would not believe it and still fought