they were all inclined to the milder opinion when Cato standing up began to speak with great Passion and Eloquence blaming Silanus for his change of Opinion and reflecting on Caesar for his affectation of Popularity who he said would ruine the Common-wealth by mild words and plausible speeches yet endeavoured to frighten the Senate where he himself ought to fear for he might take it kindly if he escaped unpunished or unsuspected who did thus openly and boldly dare to protect the Enemies of the State seemed to have no compassion for so great and glorious an Empire brought so near its utter ruine yet was full of pity for those men who had better never been born and whose death must deliver the Commonwealth from danger and destruction This only of all Cato's Speeches 't is said was preserved for Cicero the Consul had dispersed about the Senate house several expert Writers whom he had taught to make certain figures which did in little and short strokes express a great many words till that time they had not used those we call Short-hand Writers who then first as 't is said laid the foundation of that Art Thus Cato carried it and so turned the House again that it was decreed The Conspirators should be put to death Not to omit any the least strokes that may shew Cato's Temper and contribute to draw the Image of his Mind it is reported that while Coesar and he were disputing very earnestly in this Business and the whole Senate regarding them two a little Note was brought in to Coesar which Cato presently declared to be suspicious and some of the Senators moved it might be read Whereupon Coesar delivered the Letter to Cato who discovering it to be a Love letter from his Sister Servilia to Coesar by whom she had been debauched he threw it to him again crying Take it you Sot and so went on with his Discourse In short it seems Cato had but ill Fortune in Women for this Lady was ill-spoken of for her Familiarity with Coesar and another Servilia Cato's Sister also was yet more infamous for being married to Lucullus one of the greatest Men in Rome and having brought him a Son she was afterward divorced for Incontinency But what was worst of all Cato's own Wife Atilia was not free from the same Fault and after she had born him two Children he was forc'd to put her away for her ill Conduct After that he married Martia the Daughter of Philip a Woman of good Reputation who yet has occasioned much Discourse for this Passage in the Life of Cato looks like a Fable in a Play and is very difficult to be cleared or made out with any certainty It is thus related by Thraseas who refers to the Authority of Munatius Cato's Friend and constant Companion Among many that loved and admired Cato some were more remarkable and conspicuous than others of these was Quintus Hortensius a Man of signal Worth and approved Virtue who desired not only to live in Friendship and Familiarity with Cato but also to be united to his Family by some Alliance in Marriage Therefore he set himself to perswade Cato that his Daughter Porcia who was already married to Bibulus and had born him two Children might nevertheless be given to him as a fruitful Field from which he might raise an Off-spring For said he tho' this in the opinion of men may seem strange yet in Nature 't would be honest and profitable for the Publick that a Woman in the prime of her youth should not lie useless and lose the Fruit of her Womb nor on the the other side would it be convenient she should burthen and impoverish one Man by bringing him too many Children Also by this Communication of Families among worthy Men Virtue would increase and be diffused through their Posterity and the Common-wealth would be united and cemented by their Alliances Yet if Bibulus would not part with his Wife altogether he would restore her as soon as she had brought him a Child whereby he might be united to both their Families Cato answered That he loved Hortensius very well and did much approve of uniting their Houses but he thought it very strange to speak of marrying his Daughter which was already given to another Then Hortensius turning the Discourse did not stick to acknowledge that 't was Cato's own Wife which he desired for she was young and fruitful and he had already Children enough Neither can it be thought that Hortensius did this as imagining Cato did not love Martia for 't is said she was then with Child Cato perceiving his earnest desire did not deny his Request but said that Philip the Father of Martia ought also to be consulted Philip therefore being sent for came and finding they were well agreed gave his Daughter Martia to Hortensius in the presence of Cato who himself also assisted at the Marriage These things were done afterward but since I was speaking of Women I thought fit to make mention thereof in this Place Lentulus and the rest of the Conspirators were put to death but Coesar by reason of what was said against him in the Senate betook himself to the People and stirred up the most corrupt and dissolute Members of the State to follow him Cato apprehensive of what might ensue thereupon perswaded the Senate to win over the poor and disorderly Rabble by a distribution of Corn the Charge of which amounted to twelve hundred and fifty Talents This Liberality did in appearance dissipate the present Danger But Metellus coming into his Office of Tribune began to hold tumultuous Assemblies and had prepared a Decree That Pompey the Great should presently be called into Italy with all his Forces to preserve the City from the danger of Catiline's Conspiracy This was the fair pretence but the true design was to deliver all into the hands of Pompey and give him an absolute Power Upon this the Senate was assembled and Cato did not fall sharply upon Metellus as he used to do but spoke many things full of great Reason and Moderation At last he descended even to Entreaty and extolled the House of Metellus as having always taken part with the Nobility At this Metellus grew the more insolent and despising Câ—to as if he yielded and were afraid let fall many audacious Speeches openly threatning to do whatever he pleased in spite of the Senate Hereupon Cato changed his Countenance his Voice and his Language and after many sharp Expressions boldly concluded That while he lived Pompey should never come armed into the City The Senate thought them both extravagant and not well in their Wits for the Design of Metellus seemed to be the effect of his Rage who out of excess of Malice would bring all to Ruine and Confusion and Cato's Virtue look'd like a kind of Ecstasie while he with so great heat and passion contended for what was good and just Afterward when the People were to give their Voices for the passing this
grievous and dishonourable for Cleomenes who had scorn'd to come to Terms with Antigonus a brave Warriour and a Man of Action to wait an effeminate King's leisure till he should lay aside his Fiddle and end his Dance and then kill him These Courses being resolv'd on and Ptolomy hapning at the same time to make a Progress to Canopus they first spread abroad a Report that his Freedom was order'd by the King and it being the King's custom to send Presents and an Entertainment to those whom he would free Cleomenes's Friends made that provision and sent it into the Prison thereby deceiving the Keepers who thought it had been sent by the King for he sacrific'd and gave them large Portions and with a Crown upon his Head feasted and made merry with his Friends 't is said that he began the Action sooner than he design'd having understood that a Servant of one of the Accomplices lay abroad with a Mistress that he lov'd This made him afraid of a Discovery and therefore as soon as it was full Noon and all the Keepers drunk and fast asleep he put on his Coat and opening the Seam on his right Shoulder with his drawn Sword in his hand he issued forth together with his Friends provided in the same manner making 13 in all One of them by Name Hippotas was lame he follow'd the first Onset very well but when afterward he perceiv'd that they were more slow in their Advances for his sake he desir'd them to run him through and not ruine their Enterprize by staying for an useless unprofitable Man By chance an Alexandrian was then riding by the Door him they threw off and setting Hippotas on Horseback ran through the narrow Lanes and proclaim'd Liberty to the People but they it seems had Courage enough to praise and admire Cleomenes's Daring but not one had the heart to follow and assist him Three of them fell on Ptolomy the Son of Chrysermas as he was coming out of the Palace and kill'd him Another Ptolomy the Lieutenant of the City advancing against them in a Chariot they set upon dispers'd his Guards and Attendants and pulling him out of the Chariot kill'd him upon the Place Then they made toward the Castle designing to break open the Prison and take the Prisoners to their Assistance but the Keepers were too quick for them and secur'd the Passages Being baffled in this Attempt Cleomenes with his Company roam'd about the City none joyning with him but all retreating from and flying his Approach therefore despairing of Success and saying to his Friends That it was no wonder that Women rul'd o'er those Men that fled Liberty he excited them all to die as bravely as became his Followers and Men of their glorious Performances This said Hippotas was first as he desir'd run through by one of the young Men and then each of them readily and resolutely fell upon his own Sword except Panteus that Panteus that first surpriz'd Megalopolis This Man being a very handsom Person and a better Companion than any of the Youth the King lov'd and bad him when he had seen him and the rest fall'n die by their Example Panteus walk'd over them as they lay and prick'd every one with his Dagger to try whether any was alive when he prick'd Cleomenes in the Leg and saw him turn upon his Back he kiss'd him sate down by him and when he was quite dead cover'd his Carkase and then kill'd himself upon his Body Thus fell Cleomenes that great brave Man after he had been King of Sparta sixteen Years The News of their Fall being nois'd through the City Cratesiclaea though a Woman of a great Spirit could not bear up against the insupportable weight of this Affliction but embracing Cleomenes's Children made grievous Lamentations but the eldest Boy none suspecting such a Spirit in a Child threw himself headlong from the top of the House he was bruis'd very much but not kill'd by the Fall and was taken up crying and expressing his Resentments for not being permitted to destroy himself Ptolomy as soon as an Account of the Action was brought him gave order that Cleomenes's Body should be flea'd and hung up that his Children Mother and the Women that were with her should be kill'd Amongst those was Panteus's Wife a very fair Women and of a stately Carriage who had been but newly married and suffer'd these Disasters in the height of her Love Her Parents would not let her embark with Panteus presently after they were married though she eargerly desir'd it but shut her up and kept her by Violence at home yet a few days after she got an Horse and a little Money and escaping by Night made speed to Taenarus where she embark'd for Aegypt came to her Husband and with him chearfully endur'd to live in a foreign Country She led Cratesiclaea as she was going with the Souldiers to Execution held up her Train and begg'd her to be courageous who of her self was not in the least afraid of Death and desir'd nothing else but only to be kill'd before the Children When they were come to the Place of Execution the Children were first kill'd before Cratesiclaea's Eyes and afterwards she her self with only these words in her Mouth O Children whither are you gone But Panteus's Wife girded her Garments close to her and being a strong Women without any Noise or Lamentation lookt after every one that was slain and wound them up as well as her present Circumstances would permit and after all were kill'd dressing her self bound her clothes close about her and suffering none to come near or be an Eye-witness of her Fall besides the Executioner she courageously submitted to the stroak and wanted no Body to look after her or wind her up after she was dead Thus in her Death the Modesty of her Mind appear'd and set that Guard upon her Body which she always kept when alive And she in the declining Age of the Spartans shew'd that Women were no unequal Rivals of the Men and was on Instance of such a Courage as would not sneak to the Affronts of Fortune A few days after those that watch'd the hanging Body of Cleomenes saw a very great Snake winding about his Head and covering his Face so that no Bird of Prey would fly at it This made the King superstitiously afraid and set the Women upon several Lustrations as if he had been an extraordinary Man and one belov'd by the Gods that had been slain And the Alexandrians made Processions to the Place and gave Cleomenes the Title of Hero and Son of the Gods till the Philosophers satisfied them by saying That as Oxen breed Bees putrifying Horses Breed Hornets and Beetles rise from the Carkasses of dead Asses so the Humours and Juices of the Marrow of a Man's Body coagulating produce Serpents And this the Ancients observing appropriated a Serpent rather than any other Creature to Hero's THE LIVES OF THE GRACCHI TIBERIUS and CAIUS English'd from
the Macedonians Lords of the habitable World This is almost word for word as he wrote it in a Letter to Antipater where he adds That when he had thus spoken to them they all cryed out they would go along with him whithersoever it was his pleasure to lead them When he had in this manner gain'd the Principal it was no hard matter for him to bring over the multitude which in such Cases easily follows the Example of their Betters Now also he more and more accomodated himself in his way of Living to that of the Persians and brought them as near as he could to the Macedonian Customs wisely considering that since he design'd an Expedition which would carry him far from thence it was better to settle affairs in his absence by a mixture of their Constitutions and mutual Society with Good will than by Compulsion In order to this he chose out 30000 Boys whom he allow'd Masters to teach them the Greek Tongue and to train them up to Arms in the Macedonian Discipline As for his Marriage of Roxana whose good Mein and Beauty had charm'd him at a Drinking entertainment where he first happen'd to see her it was perfectly the effect of Love nor did it appear to be at all prejudicial to his Interest as things stood with him at that time For it put the conquer'd People in heart and made them confide in him and love him more than ever when they saw how continent he was and that he forbore the only Woman he was ever in Love with till he could enjoy her in a lawful and honourable way When he perceiv'd that among his chief Friends and Favourites Hephestion most approv'd all that he did and comply'd with and imitated him in his Habit while Craterus continued strict in the observation of the Customs and Fashions of his own Countrey He made the best use of them both employing the first in all Transactions with the Persians and the latter when he had to do with the Greeks or Macedonians It is true he lov'd Hephestion best as a Favorite because he lov'd Alexander but then he esteem'd and honour'd Craterus most as a Friend because he lov'd the King Wherefore these two great Men bore one another secret Grudges and often clash'd and quarrell'd so far that once in India they drew upon one another and were going to it in good earnest with their Friends on each side to second them till Alexander came up to them and publickly reprov'd Hephestion calling him Fool and Mad-man not to be sensible that without his Favour he was but a Cypher He chid Craterus also in private very severely and then causing them both to come into his presence he reconcil'd them at the same time swearing by Jupiter Ammon and the rest of the Gods that he lov'd them two above all other Men but if ever he perceivd them fall out again he would be sure to put both of them to death at least the Aggressor After which they neither ever did or said any thing so much as in jest to offend one another None had more Authority among the Macedonians than Philotas the Son of Parmenio for besides that he was valiant and able to endure any Fatigue of War he was also next to Alexander himself the most munificent and the greatest lover of his Friends one of whom asking him for some Money he commanded his Steward to give it him and when he told him he had not wherewith Have you not Plate then said he and Cloaths of mine turn them into Money rather than let my Friend go without But he was so very proud and insolent by reason of his Wealth and so over-nice about his Person and Diet more than became a private Man that he awkwardly and unseemingly affected the Air and Character of Greatness without the Civility and obliging Temper which ought to accompany it and so gain'd nothing but Envy and ill will to that degree that Parmenio would somtimes tell him My Son the meaner the better For he had long before been complain'd of and accus'd to Alexander particularly when Darius was overthrown in Cilicia and an immense Booty was taken at Damascus amongst the rest of the prisoners who were brought into the Camp there was one Antigone of Pydna a very handsome Woman who fell to Philotas his share The young Man one day in his Cups like an arrogant bragging Souldier told his Mistress That all the great Actions were perform'd by him and his Father the Glory and Benefit of which he said together with the Title of King that Stripling Alexander reap'd and enjoy'd by their means She could not hold but discovered what he had said to one of her Acquaintance and he as is usual in such Cases â—o another till at last it came to the King When Alexander had heard what she had to say he commanded her to continue her Intrigue with Philotas and give him an account from time to time of all that should fall from him to this purpose Who being through Inadvertency caught in this Snare sometimes to gratifie his Passion and sometimes his Vain-glory blurted out many foolish indiscreet Speeches against the King in Antigones hearing of which though Alexander was inform'd and convinc'd by strong Evidence yet he would take no notice of it at present whether it was that he confided in Parmenio's Affection and Loyalty or that he apprehended their Authority and Interest in the Army About this time one Dimnus a Macedonian Native of Chalaestra conspir'd against Alexander's Life and communicated his Design to a Youth whom he lov'd nam'd Nicomachus inviting him to be of the Party But he not relishing the thing reveal'd it to his Brother Balinus who immediately address'd himself to Philotas requiring him to introduce them both to Alexander to whom they had something of great moment to impart which very nearly concern'd him But he for what Reason is uncertain went not with them pretending the King was taken up with Affairs of more importance And when they had urg'd him a second time and were still slighted by him they applied themselves to another by whose means being admitted into Alexander's presence they first laid open Dimnus his Conspiracy and then represented Philotas his Negligence who had taken so little notice of their repeated Solicitations which extremely exasperated Alexander especially when sending to apprehend Dimnus he understood that he defended himself and chose rather to be Slain than Taken for by his Death he thought he was depriv'd of the means of making a full discovery of the Plot. As soon as his Displeasure against Philotas began to appear presently all his old Enemies shew'd themselves and said openly The King was too easily impos'd on to imagine that one so inconsiderable as Dimnus the Calaestrian should of his own head undertake such an Enterprize that in all likelihood he was but subservient to the Design an Instrument that was mov'd by some greater
with which he design'd to go round by Arabia and Lybia and so by Hercules his Pillars into the Mediteranean in order to which he directed all sorts of Vessels to be built at Thapsacus and made great provision every where of Sea-men and Pilots But it fell out unluckily for this Enterprize that the Report of the Difficulties he went through in his Indian Expedition the danger of his Person among the Mallians the loss of a considerable part of his Forces and the general opinion that he would hardly return in safety occasion'd the Revolt of many conquer'd Nations and made the Commanders and Lieurenants in several Provinces presume to oppress the People with extream Injustice Avarice and Insolence So that there seem'd to be an universal fluctuation and disposition to Change Olympias and Cleopatra rais'd a Faction against Antipater and shar'd his Government between them Olympias seizing upon Epirus and Cleopatra upon Macedonia When Alexander was told of it he said His Mother had made the best choice for the Macedonians would never endure to be rul'd by a Woman Upon this he dispatch'd Nearchus again to the Fleet intending to carry the War into the maritime Provinces and as he march'd that way himself he punish'd those Commanders who had not behav'd themselves well particularly Oxyartes one of Abulites his Sons whom he kill'd with his own hand thrusting him through the Body with his Spear And when Abulites instead of the necessary Provisions which he ought to have furnish'd brought him 3000 Talents in Money ready coin'd he order'd it to be thrown to his Horses who not meddling with it What good does this Provision do me said he to him and sent him away to Prison When he came into Persia he distributed Money among the Women as their own Kings were wont to do who as often as they came thither gave every one of them a Crown for which Reason some of them came but seldom and Ochus was so sordidly Covetous that to avoid this Expence he never visited Persia all his Life though it was his Native Country Then finding Cyrus his Sepulcher open'd and rifled he put Polymachus who did it to death though he was a Man of Quality and born at Pella in Macedonia and after he had read the Inscription he caus'd it to be cut again below the old one in Greek Characters the words were these O Man whosoever thou art and from whencesoever thou comest for I know thou wilt come I am Cyrus the Founder of the Persian Empire do not envy me this little quantity of Earth which covers my Body The reading of this sensibly touch'd Alexander causing him to reflect seriously upon the incertainty and mutability of humane Affairs At the same time Calanus having been a little while troubled with a Loosness requested he might have a Funeral Pile erected to which he came on Horseback and after he had said some Prayers and sprinkled himself and cut off some of his Hair to throw into the Fire as was usual on such occasions before he ascended it he embrac'd and took leave of the Macedonians who stood by desiring them to pass that day in Mirth and good Fellowship with their King whom in a little time he said he doubted not but to see again at Babylon Having thus said he lay down and covering himself he stirr'd not when the Fire came near him but continued still in the same posture as at first and so sacrific'd himself as it was the ancient Custom of the Philosophers in those Countreys to do The same thing was done long after by another Indian who came with Caesar to Athens where they still shew you the Indians Monument At his return from the Funeral Pile Alexander invited a great many of his Friends and principal Officers to Supper and propos'd a Drinking-match in which the Victor should be crown'd Promachus drank 18 Quarts of Wine and won the Prize which weigh'd a talent from them all but he surviv'd his Victory but three days and was followed as Chares says by 41 more who died of the same Debauch by reason of the severe Frost which happen'd at that time At Susa he married Darius his Daughter Statira and celebrated the Nuptials of his Friends bestowing the noblest of the Persian Ladies upon the worthiest of them withal making a very splendid Entertainment for all the Macedonians who were married before at which it is reported there were no less than 9000 Guests to each of whom he gave a golden Cup for them to use in their Libations of Wine to the Honour of the Gods Not to mention other Instances of his wonderful Magnificence he paid the Debts of his whole Army which amounted to 9870 Talents But there was one Antigenes who had lost one of his Eyes though he ow'd nothing got his Name set down in the List of those who were in Debt and bringing one who pretended to be his Creditor to the Banquiers Table receiv'd the Money But when the Cheat was found out the King was so incens'd at it that he banish'd him from Court and took away his Command though he was an excellent Souldier and a Man of great Courage For when he was but a Youth and serv'd under Philip at the Siege of Perinthus where he was wounded in the Eye by an Arrow shot out of an Engine he would neither let the Arrow be taken out or be perswaded to quit the Field till he had bravely repuls'd the Enemy and forc'd them to retire into the Town A Man of his Spirit was not able to support such a Disgrace with any Patience and certainly Grief and Despair would have made him kill himself but that the King fearing it not only pardon'd him but let him also enjoy the Benefit of his Deceit The 30000 Boys which he left behind him to be taught the use of their Arms and military Discipline were so improv'd at his return both in Strength and Beauty and perform'd their Exercises with such Dexterity and wonderful Agility that he was extreamly pleas'd with them which griev'd the Macedonians and made them fear he would have the less Esteem for them And when he was sending away the infirm and maim'd Soldiers to Sea they said they were unjustly and infamously dealt with after they were worn out in his service upon all occasions now to be turn'd away with Disgrace and sent home into their Country among their Friends and Relations in a worse condition than when they came out therefore they desir'd him one and all to dismiss them and to account his Macedonians useless now he was so well furnished with dancing Boys with whom if he pleased he might go on and conquer the World These Speeches so enraged Alexander that after he had given them a great deal of reproachful Language in his Passion he drave them away and committed the Watch to Persians out of whom he chose his Life-guard and Serjeants
in so many Battels fought betwixt the Lacedoemonians and the other Grecians none but Cleombrotus was kill'd being wounded with a Javelin at the Battel of Leuctres a little before the days of King Philip of Macedon I am not ignorant that the Messenians affirm Theopompus was also slain by their Aristomenes but the Lacedoemonians deny it and say He was only wounded Be it as it will 't is certain at least that Agis was the first King put to death by the Epori with a form and pretence of Justice and only for having endeavour'd to reduce them to their original Institution a Design well becoming the Courage of a noble Spartan Thus Agis had the Fortune to be ill treated by his Enemies and worse by his Friends for if he had reason to complain of Leonidas whose Life he had sav'd much more of Amphares in whose Friendship he repos'd the highest Confidence so unmercifully was he dealt with by others who being himself of a most mild and generous Disposition did deserve to be belov'd by all Mankind THE LIFE OF CLEOMENES Translated from the Greek by Mr. Creech Fellow of All-Souls Colledge in Oxford THus fell Agis His Brother Archidamus was too quick for Leonidas and sav'd himself by a timely Retreat But his Wife then newly brought to Bed the Tyrant forc'd her from her own House and compell'd her to marry his Son Cleomenes though at that time too young for a Wife for he was unwilling that any one else should have her she being Heiress to her Father Gylippus's great Estate for Person the finest Woman in all Greece very good-natur'd of an exemplary Life and therefore they say she did all she could that she might not be compell'd to this Match Being thus married to Cleomenes she hated Leonidas but to the Youth she show'd her self a kind and obliging Wife He as soon as they came together began to love her very much and the constant Kindness that she still retain'd for the memory of Agis wrought somewhat of Concern in the young Man for him so that he would often enquire of her concerning what had pass'd and attentively listen to the Story of Agis's Designs Now Cleomenes had a generous and great Soul he was as temperate and moderate in his Pleasures as Agis but not so very cautious circumspect and gentle a spur of Passion always gall'd him and his eargerness to pursue that which he thought good and just was violent and heady to make Men willing to obey he conceiv'd to be the best Discipline but likewise to break the stubborn and force them to be better was in his opinion commendable and brave This Disposition made him dislike the management of the City the Citizens lay dissolv'd in supine Idleness and Pleasures the King minded nothing designing if no body gave him any disturbance to wast his Time in Ease and Riot the Publick was neglected and each Man intent upon his private Gain 'T was dangerous now Agis was kill'd to mention the exercising and training of their Youth and to set up for the ancient Bravery and Equality was Treason against the State 'T is said also that Cleomenes whilst a Boy studied Philosophy under Sphoerus the Borysthenite who coming to Sparta was very diligent in instructing the Youth Spoerus was one of the chief of Zeno the Citiean's Scholars and 't is likely that he admir'd the manly Temper of Cleomenes and inflam'd his generous Ambition The ancient Leonidas as Story saith being ask'd What manner of Poet he thought Tyrtoeus reply'd An excellent one to whet the Courages of Youth for being fill'd with Fury by his Poems they daringly ventur'd on any Danger now the Stoicks Philosophy is a dangerous Incentive to hot and fiery Dispositions but being mixt with a grave and cautious Temper is very good to fix and settle the Resolutions Upon the Death of his Father Leonidas he succeeded and observing the Citizens of all sorts to be debauch'd the Rich neglecting the Publick and intent on their own Gain and Pleasure and the Poor being crampt in their private Fortunes grown unactive Cowards and not inclinable to the Spartan Institution and way of Breeding that he had only the Name of King and the Ephori all the Power was resolv'd to change the present posture of Affairs He had a Friend whose Name was Xenares his Lover such an Affection the Spartans express by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him he sounded and of him he would commonly enquire What manner of King Agis was by what means and by what Assistance he began and pursu'd his Designs Xenares at first willingly comply'd with his Request and told him the whole Story with all the particular Circumstances of the Actions But when he observ'd Cleomenes to be extreamly affected at the Relation and more than ordinarily mov'd at Agis's new model of the Government and begging a repetition of the Story he at first severely chid him told him He was frantick and at last left off all sort of Familiarity and Conversation with him yet he never told any Man the cause of their Disagreement but would only say Cleomenes knew very well Cleomenes finding Xenares averse to his Designs and thinking all others to be of the same opinion consulted with none but contriv'd the whole Business by himself And considering that it would be easier to bring about an Alteration when the City was at War than when in Peace he engag'd the Commonwealth in a Quarrel with the Achoeans who had given them fair occasions to complain for Aratus a Man of the greatest Power amongst all the Achoeans design'd from the very beginning to bring all the Peloponnesians into one common Body And to effect this he undertook many Expeditions and ran through a long course of Policy for he thought this the only means to make them an equal Match for their foreign Enemies All the rest agreed to his Proposals only the Lacedoemonians the Eleans and as many of the Arcadians as inclin'd to the Spartan Interest refus'd Therefore as soon as Leonidas was dead he fell upon the Arcadians and wasted those especially that border'd on Achaia by this means designing to try the Inclinations of the Spartans and despising Cleomenes as a Youth and of no Experience in Affairs of State or War Upon this the Ephori sent Cleomenes to surprise the Athenoeum dedicated to Minerva near Belbina which is a Pass of Laconia and was then under the Jurisdiction of the Megalopolitans Cleomenes possest himself of the place and fortified it at which Action Aratus shew'd no publick Resentment but marcht by night to surprise Tegea and Orchomenium The Design fail'd for those that were to betray the Cities into his Hands doubted the Success so Aratus retreated imagining that his Design had been undiscovered But Cleomenes wrot a jeering Letter to him and desired to know as from a Friend whither he intended to march at night And Aratus answering That having understood his Design to fortifie Belbina he resolv'd
to him in his Designs on Greece for Men when they waited upon other Kings did not so much admire their Wealth costly Furniture and numerous Attendance as they hated their Pride and State their difficulty of Access and scornful commanding Answers to their Petitions But when they came to Cleomenes who was both really a King and bore that Title and saw no Purple no Robes of State upon him no Chairs and Couches about him for his ease and that he did not receive Petitions and return Answers after a long delay by a number of Messengers Waiters or by Bills but that he rose and came forward to meet those that came to wait upon him staid talk'd freely and graciously with all that had Business they were extreamly taken won to his Service and profess'd that he alone was the true Son of Hercules His common every days Meal was in a mean Room very sparing and after the Laconick manner and when he entertain'd Ambassadors or Strangers two more Beds were added and a little better Dinner provided by his Servants but no Fricacies no Dainties only the dishes were larger and the Wine more plentiful for he reprov'd one of his Friends for entertaining some Strangers with nothing but Pulse and black Broth such Diet as they usually had in their Phiditia saying That upon such occasions and when they treat Strangers 't was not requisite to be too exact Laconians After Supper a Stand was brought in with a brass Vessel full of Wine two silver Pots which held almost a Quart apiece a few silver Cups of which he that pleas'd might drink but no Liquor was forc'd on any of the Guests There was no Musick nor was any requir'd for he entertain'd the Company sometimes asking Questions sometimes telling Stories And his Discourse was neither too grave and unpleasantly serious nor vain and abusive but merrily facetious for he thought those ways of catching Men by Gifts and Presents which other Kings use to be mean and inartificial and it seem'd to him to be the most glorious method and most suitable to a King to win the Affections of those that came near him by pleasant Discourse and unaffected Conversation for a Friend and Mercenary differ only in this that the one is made by Conversation and agreeableness of Humour and the other by Reward The Mantinoeans were the first that oblig'd him for getting by night into the City and driving out the Achoean Garrison they put themselves under his Protection he restor'd them their Polity and Laws and the same day march'd to Tegea and a little while after fetching a Compass through Arcadia he made a Descent upon Pheroe in Achaia intending to force Aratus to a Battle or bring him into Disrepute for refusing to engage and suffering him to waste the Countrey Hyperbatus at that time commanded the Army but Aratus had all the Power amongst the Achoeans The Achoeans marching forth with their whole Strength and incamping in Dumoeoe about Hecatomboeum Cleomenes came up and thinking it not advisable to pitch between Dumoeoe a City of the Enemies and the Camp of the Achoeans he boldly dar'd the Achoeans and forc'd them to a Battle and routing the Phalanx slew a great many in the Fight and took many Prisoners thence marching to Lagon and driving out the Achoean Garrison he restor'd the City to the Eloeans The Affairs of the Achoeans being in this desperate condition Aratus who was wont to continue in his Government above a year refus'd the Command though they entreated and urg'd him to accept it and this was ill done when the Storm was high to put the Power out of his own hands and set another to the Helm Cleomenes at first propos'd fair and easie Conditions by his Ambassadors to the Achoeans but afterward he sent others and requir'd the chief Command to be settled upon him and in other Matters he promis'd to agree to reasonable terms and to restore their Captives and their Countrey The Achoeans were willing to come to an Agreement upon those terms and invited Cleomenes to Lerna where an Assembly was to be held but it hapned that Cleomenes hastily marching on and unreasonably drinking Water brought up abundance of Blood and lost his Voice therefore being unable to continue his March he sent the chiefest of the Captives to the Achoeans and putting off the Meeting for some time retir'd to Lacedoemon This ruin'd the Affairs of Greece which was just then ready to recover it self out of its Disasters and avoid the insulting and Covetousness of the Macedonians for Aratus whether fearing or distrusting Cleomenes or envying his unlook'd-for Success or thinking it a disgrace for him who had commanded 33 years to have a young Man succeed to all his Glory and his Power and be Head of that Government which he had been raising and settling so many years he first endeavour'd to keep the Achoeans from closing with Cleomenes but when they would not hearken to him fearing Cleomenes s daring Spirit and thinking the Lacedoemonian's Proposals to be very reasonable who design'd only to reduce Peloponnesus to its old Model he took his last Refuge in an Action which was unbecoming any of the Greeks most dishonourable to him and most unworthy his former Bravery and Exploits for he call'd Antigonus into Greece and fill'd Peloponnesus with Macedonians whom he himself when a Youth having beaten their Garrison out of the Castle of Corinth had driven from the same Countrey beside he declar'd himself an Enemy to all Kings and hath left many dishonourable Stories of this same Antigonus in those Commentaries which he wrote Aud though he declares that he suffer'd considerable Losses and underwent great Dangers that he might free Athens from the Power of the Macedonians yet afterward he brought the very same Men arm'd into his own Countrey and his own House even to the Womens Apartment He would not endure that one of the Family of Hercules and King of Sparta and one that had reform'd the Polity of his Countrey as it were a disorder'd Harmony and tun'd it to the plain Dorick measure of Lycurgus to be styl'd Head of the Triccoeans and Sicyonians and whilst he fled the Pulse and short Coat and which were his chief Accusations against Cleomenes the extirpation of Wealth and reformation of Poverty he basely subjected himself together with Achoea to the Diadem and Purple to the imperious Commands of the Macedonians and their Satrapoe That he might not seem to be under Cleomenes he sacrific'd the Antigoneia Sacrifices in Honour of Antigonus and sung Poeans himself with a Garland on his Head to the Honour of a rotten consumptive Macedonian I write this not out of any Design to disgrace Aratus for in many things he shew'd himself vigorous for the Grecian Interest and a great Man but out of pity to the weakness of Humane Nature which in such a Person so excellent and so many ways dispos'd to Vertue cannot attain to a State irreprehensible The Achoeans
be pitied for if he had forborn fighting two days longer there had been no need of hazarding a Battel since upon the departure of the Macedonians he might have had what Conditions he pleas'd from the Achoeans But now as I hinted before for want of Money being necessitated to rely wholly on his Arms he was forc'd with 20000 this is Polybius's Account to engage thirty thousand and approving himself an excellent Commander in this Difficulty his Citizens showing an extraordinary Courage and his Mercenaries Bravery enough he was overborn by the different way of fighting and the weight of the Arm'd Phalanx Besides Phylarchus affirms that the Treachery of some about him was the chief Cause of Cleomenes's Ruine For Antigonus gave Orders that the Illyrians and Acharnanians should march round by a secret way and encompass the other Wing which Eucleidas Cleomenes's Brother commanded and then drew out the rest of his Forces to the Battel And Cleomenes from a convenient rising viewing his Order and not seeing any of the Illyrians and Acharnanians began to suspect that Antigonus had sent them upon some such Design and calling for Damoteles who was to inspect and to provide against Ambushes commanded him carefully to look after and discover the Enemies Designs upon his Rear But Damoteles for some say Antigonus had brib'd him telling him that he should not be sollicitous about that matter for all was well enough but mind and fight those that met him in the front He was satisfied and advanc'd against Antigonus and by the Vigorous Charge of his Spartans made the Macedonian Phalanx give ground and press'd upon them with great Advantage about half a mile but then making a stand and seeing the danger which the surrounded Wing commanded by his Brother Eucleidas was in he cry'd out Thou art lost dear Brother thou art lost thou brave Example to our Spartan Youth and Theme of our Matron's Songs Eucleidas's Wing being thus cut in Peices and the Conquerors from that part falling upon his Battel he perceiv'd his Souldiers to be disorder'd and unable to maintain the Fight and therefore provided for his own safety When he came into the City he advised those Citizens that he met to receive Antigonus and as for himself he said which should appear most advantageous to Sparta whether his Life or Death that he would chuse Seeing the Women running out to those that fled with him taking their Arms and bringing Drink to them he entred into his own House and his Servant which was a free-born Woman taken from Megalopolis after his Wife's Death offering as she us'd to do to make necessary Provision for him returning from the Battel though he was very thirsty he refus'd to drink and though very weary to sit down but arm'd as he was he clapt his Arm side-way to a Pillar and leaning his Forehead upon his Elbow he rested his Body a little while and ran over in his Thoughts what course he should take and then with his Friends went presently to Gythium where finding Ships fitted for the Purpose they embark'd Antigonus taking the City treated the Lacedoemonians courteously and neither affronting nor ruining the Dignity of Sparta but permitting them to enjoy their own Laws and Polity and sacrificing to the Gods dislodg'd the third day for he heard that there was a great War kindled in Macedonia and that the Country was spoyl'd by the Barbarians besides he grew sick of a Consumption and continual Defluxion on the Lungs yet he still kept up that he might return and free his own Country and fall more gloriously upon an heap of slaughter'd Barbarians As Phylarchus says and 't is probable he broke a Vein by shouting in the Battel In the Plays 't was said that after the Victory he cry'd out for Joy O fine Day and presently bringing up abundance of Blood fell into a Fever and dy'd in a short time And thus much concerning Antigonus Cleomenes sailing from Cytheroe touch'd at another Island call'd Aegyalia whence as he was about to depart for Cyrene one of his Friends Therycion by Name a Man of an haughty Spirit in all Enterprises and high and boasting in his talk came privately to him and said thus Sir Death in Battel which is the most glorious we have let go though all heard us say that Antigonus should never tread over the King of Sparta unless dead and now that which is next in Bravery and Glory is presented to us Whither do we madly sail flying that which is near and seeking that which is far removed For if it is not dishonourable for the Race of Hercules to serve the Successors of Philip and Alexander we shall save a long Voyage by delivering our selves up to Antigonus who probably surpasseth Ptolomy as much as the Macedonians do the Aegyptians but if we think it mean to submit to those whose Arms have conquer'd us why should we chuse him for our Lord by whom we have not yet been beaten Is it that instead of one we might appear meaner than two whilst we fly Antigonus and flatter Ptolomy Or is it for your Mother's sake that you retreat to Aegypt It will indeed be a very fine and very desirable sight for her to be shown her Son by Ptolomy's Women now chang'd from a Prince into an exile and a Slave Are we not still Masters of our own Swords And whilst we have Laconia in view shall we not here free our selves from this disgracefull Misery and clear our selves to those who at Sellasia dy'd for the Honour and Defence of Sparta Or shall we sit lazily in Aegypt enquiring what News from Sparta and whom Antigonus hath been pleas'd to make Governour of Lacedaemon Thus spoke Therycion and this was Cleomenes's Reply By seeking Death you Coward the most easie and most ready Refuge you fansie that you shall appear courageous and brave though this Flight is baser than thy former Better Men than we have given way to their Enemies having been betray'd by Fortune or oppress'd by Multitude but he that sinks under Labour or Afflictions the Opinions or Reproaches of Men is overcome by his own Effeminacy and Softness For a voluntary Death ought not to be chosen as a Relief from Action but as an Exemplary Action it self and 't is base either to live or to die only to our selves That death to which you now invite us is propos'd only as a release from our present Miseries but carries nothing of Bravery or Profit in it And I think it becomes both me and you not to despair of our Country but when there are no hopes of that left those that have an Inclination may quickly die To this Therycion return'd no Answer but as soon as he could get out of Cleomenes's Company went toward the Shore and ran himself through But Cleomenes sailed from Aegialia landed in Libya and being honourably conducted through the King's Country came to Alexandria When he was first brought to Ptolomy no more than common Civilities and