of his Servants to flie and hide himself from that Death which was so near at hand and yet at last to be Murdered But Demosthenes tho he seem'd at first a little to supplicate yet his preparing and keeping the Poison by him was admirable but more admirable the using of it For when the God afforded him not a Sanctuary by flying to a greater Altar he got away from Arms and Guards and laughed at the Cruelty of Antipater ARATUS MBurg sculp THE LIFE OF ARATUS Translated from the Greek By JOHN BATEMAN M. D. THE Philosopher Chrysippus O Polycrates quotes an ancient Proverb not as really it should be apprehending I suppose that it sounded too harshly but so as he thought it would run best in these words Who Fathâ—rs praise except their generous Sons But Dionysodorus the Traezenian correcting him restores the true one which is thus Who Fathers praise except degenerate Sons Telling us that this Proverb stops the mouth of those who having no merit of their own deck themselves with the Vertues of their Ancestors and are puft up with their praises But as Pindor hath it He that by Nature doth inherit From Ancestors a Noble Spirit as thou thy self who in thy life copyest out the fairest Originals of thy Family Such I say may take great satisfaction in often hearing and speaking of the best of their Progenitors for they assume not the glory 〈◊〉 other mens Praises for want of worth of their own but uniting both in one celebrate them as the Authors both of their Descent and Manners wherefore I have sent unto thee the Life which I have written of thy Fellow Citizen and Progenitor Aratus whom thou comest no way short of either in Esteem or Power Not that thou hast not been most diligently careful to inform thy self from the beginning concerning his Actions but that thy Sons Polycrates and Pythocles may be bred up by domestick examples hearing and reading such things as are fit for their imitation For it is a peice of self-conceit not noble emulation to think ones self already arriv'd at the highest pitch of improvement The City of Sicyon from the time that it first fell off from a meer Dorick Aristocracy its harmony being thereby quite confounded into the Seditions and Contests of the Demogogues continued to be distemper'd and unsettled changing from one Tyrant to another till Cleon being slain Timoclidas and Clinias Men of the most repute and power amongst the Citizens were chosen Governours and the Common-wealth now seeming to be in a pretty settled condition Timoclidas died and Abantidas the Son of Paseas to possess himself of the Tyranny kill'd Clinias and of his Kindred and Friends slew some and banished others He sought also to kill his Son Aratus whom he left behind him being but seven years old This Boy in the hurly-burly getting out of the House with those that fled and wandring about the City helpless and in great fear by chance got undiscovered into the House of a Woman who was Abantidas his Sister but married to Prophantus the Brother of Clinias her name was Soso She being of a generous temper and believing the Boy had by some special Providence fled to her for shelter hid him in the House and at night sent him away to Argos Aratus being thus deliver'd and secured from this danger he immediately conceiv'd and ever after nourished a vehement and fervent hatred against Tyrants being therefore bred up amongst his fathers acquaintance and friends at Argos after an ingenuous manner and perceiving his body to bud forth in good constitution and stature he addicted himself to the Exerciâ—es of the Palaestra to that degree that he strove in the publick Games and came off Conquerour and indeed in his Statues one may observe a certain kind of Athletick cast and the gravity and Majesty of his countenance does not dissemble his full diet and the use of full exercise Whence it came to pass that he less studied Eloquence than perhaps became a man bred up to the Administration of Civil affairs and yet that he was more polite in speaking than many do believe some collect from those Commentaries which he hath left tho' penned carelesly and extempore and in such words as first came to his mind some time after Dinias and Aristotle the Logician kill'd Abantidas who using to be present in the Market-place at their disputes and to make one in them they insensibly accustomed him to this practice and so had opportunity to lay an Ambush for him After him Paseas the Father of Abantidas taking upon him the government was slain by the treachery of Nicocles who himself set up for Tyrant it is reported that he was extreamly like to Periander the Son of Cypselus as it is said that Orontes the Persean did much resemble Alcmaeon the Son of Amphiaraus and a Lacedemonian youth Hector whom Myrsilus relates to have been trode to pieces by the crowd of those that came to see him upon that report this Nicocles governed four Months in which after he had exceedingly plagued the City he was very near losing it by a stratagem of the Aetolians By this time Aratus being grown a youth was in much esteem both for his noble birth and parts which shewed themselves neither small nor unactive but beyond his age tempered with firmness of resolution for which reason the Exiles had their eyes most upon him nor did Nicocles less observe his motions but secretly spyed and watched him not out of apprehension of any considerable or dangerous attempt but suspecting he held correspondence with the Kings who were his Fathers friends and acquaintance And indeed Aratus first attempted this way but finding that Antigonus who had promised fair neglected him and delay'd the time and that his hopes from Egypt and Ptolomy were too remote he determined to cut off the Tyrant by himself and first he broke his mind to Aristomachus and Ecdelus the one an Exile of Sicyon the other namely Ecdelus an Arcadean of Megalopolis a Philosopher and a daring man having been the familiar friend of Arcesilaus the Academick at Athens These readily consenting he communicated himself to the other Exiles whereof some few being ashamed to seem to despair of success ingag'd in the design but most of them indeavour'd to divert him from his purpose as one that for want of experience was too rash and daring Now whilest he was consulting to seize upon some Post in Sicyonia from whence he might make war upon the Tyrant there came to Argos a certain Sicyonian newly escap'd out of Prison Brother to Xenocles one of the Exiles who being by him presented to Aratus he informed him that that part of the Wall over which he escap'd was within almost level to the ground adjoyning to a rocky and elevated place and that without it might be scaled with Ladders Aratus hearing this dispatches away Xenocles with two of his Servants Seuthas and Technon to view the wall
bright and glorious yet it was overshadowed by Caesar's and advised him to keep himself far distant from that young Man for your Genius said he dreads his When absent from him yours is proud and brave but in his presence unmanly and dejected and the event did shew that the Aegyptian spoke truth for whensoever they play'd by drawing lots or at dice Antony was still the loser and as they often fought game Cocks or Quails Caesar's always had the Victory This gave Antony a sensible displeasure and made him put great confidence in the skill of his Aegyptian Astrologer so that having quitted the management of the home affairs to Caesar he left Italy and took Octavia along with him into Greece who had been lately brought to bed of a Daughter Whilst he winter'd in Athens he receiv'd the joyful news of Ventidius his Victory over the Carthians of Labienus and Charnapates the General of King Herod's Army being both slain for the celebrating of which he order'd a publick feast through Greece and at the prizes which were fought at Athens he himself chose to be Moderator and leaving at home the Ensigns that are carried before the General he made his procession in a long Gown and Slippers with the wands marching before which are usual in those solemnities and he performed his duty in parting the combatants when they had fought enough When he was upon marching his Army he made him a garland of the Olive Tree consecrated to Minerva and in obedience to some Oracle he fill'd a Vessel with the water of the Clepsidra to carry along with him Pacorus the Parthian Kings Son at this time made an inrode into Syria and was met by Ventidius who gave him Battel in the Country of Cyrrestica slew most of his Men and Pacorus among the rest This Victory gave great reputation to the Romans and redeem'd their honour which had suffer'd much ever since the defeat of Crassus the Parthians being oblig'd after the loss of three Battels successively to keep themselves within the bounds of Media and Mesopotamia Ventidius not being willing to push his good Fortune any further for fear of raising some jealousie in Antony but turning his Arms against them that had quitted the Roman interest he reduc'd them to their former obedience Among the rest he besieged Antiochus King of Commogena who made an offer of a thousand talents for his pardon and a promise to continue in a strict compliance to all Antony's commands but Ventidius told him that Antony was upon his march and that he must send his proposals to him for that he had no power to treat with him to the end that this small affair might be transacted in Antony's name that People might not think that he did nothing but by his Lieutenants The Siege grew very tedious for when they perceived that they could not make any reasonable composition they resolved to hold it out to the utmost extremity so that Antony was in great confusion to see how little he had done and repented himself that he had not accepted the first offer in the conclusion he was easily induc'd to make an accommodation with Antiochus for three hundred Talents and having given some orders for the affairs of Syria he return'd to Athens And having done Ventidius the honours he well deserved he dismiss'd him to receive his Triumph he was the only Man that ever triumphed for Victories obtained o'er the Parthians A Man of obscure Birth but by the means of Antony's friendship obtain'd an opportunity of shewing himself and doing great things and his making so good use of it gave great credit to an observation made by Caesar that Antony was much more successful in his Arms by his Lieutenants than in his own Person for Sossius Antony's Lieutenant in Syria had done miracles And Ventidius whom he left in Armenia had quieted all that Country and defeating the Kings of Albania and Ibeâ—ia had march'd victorious to the Mountains of Caucasus by which means the same of Antony's arms was grown very terrible to the barbarous Nations Antony was much incens'd against Caesar by reason of several reports that were made him of his unkindness so that he set sail with three hundred Ships for Italy and being refused harbour in the Port of Brundusium he made for Tarentum there his Wife Octavia that came from Greece with him obtain'd leave to visit her Brother she was then big of her third Child as she was on her way to Rome she met Octavius by the way his two great Friends Mecaenas and Agrippa in his company she took them aside and with great impressment told them that of the most fortunate Woman upon Earth she was in evident danger of becoming the most miserable Creature breathing that every ones eyes were fix'd upon her as the Wife and Sister of the two Men that did divide the whole World between them but that if rash counsels should prevail and war ensue I shall be miserable said she without redress for on what side soever Victory falls I shall be sure to be a loser Caesar was softened by the entreaties of his Sister so that he march'd in a peaceful manner to Tarentum They that were present at this Enterview were strangely delighted to see so great an Army drawn up by the Shore and so great a Fleet in the Harbour without doing any act of hostility nothing but kind Salutations and other expressions of joy and friendship passing from one Army to th' other Antony invited Caesar first to supper which he accepted of in consideration of Octavia At length an agreement was made between them that Caesar should give Antony two of his Legions to serve him in the Parthian War and that Antony should in return leave with him an hundred arm'd Galleys And Octavia did obtain of her Husband besides this twenty light Ships for her Brother And of her Brother a thousand Foot for her Husband So having parted very good friends Caesar went immediately to make War with Pompey to conquer Sicily And Antony leaving with him his Wife and Children and his Children by his former Wife Fulvia set sail for Asia Then it was that the worst of infectious diseases Love and the Love of Cleopatra which had lain quiet in his breast so long and seem'd to have given place to the temperate duties of Life upon his approach to Syria gathered strength again and broke out into a flame and unbridled Lust which Plato calls the horse of the Soul that has flung his Rider broke loose in defiance of all wholesom and serious Counsel He sends Fonteius Capito to conduct Cleopatra into Syria to whom at her arrival he made no small present for besides what he had given her he added the Provinces of Phoenicia the Lower Syria Cyprus great part of Cilicia and that side of Judea which produces the true Balm that part of Arabia where the Nabathaeans are by the Sea-side these profuse gifts did much displease the Romans for
Body Clodius putting the stress of his defence upon this point that he was not then at Rome but a far off in the Country Cicero testify'd that he came to his house that day and discoursed with him of several matters which thing was indeed true although Cicero was thought to testifie it not so much for the truths sake as to preserve his quiet with Terentia his Wife for she had a spite at Clodius upon the account of his Sister Clodia who had a mind to marry Cicero and manag'd the design by one Tullus a Friend and intimate of Cicero's in his greatest affairs And Cicero himself by frequently visiting and paying his Court to Clodia as a Neighbour had given Terentia ground to suspect him And she being a Woman of a sowre humour and having the ascendant of Cicero had provoked him to conspire and testifie against Clodius Afterwards many good and honest Citizens did give evidence against him for perjuries forgeries bribing the People and deflowering of Women Lucullus proved by his Maid-servants that he had lain with his youngest Sister when she was his Wife and there was a publick Fame that he did also converse with his two other Sisters in the same way Terentia whom Martius Rex and Clodia whom Metellus Celer had married the latter of them was called Quadrantula because one of her Lovers had deceived her with a purse of small brass money instead of Silver the smallest brass coyn being called a Quadrant Upon this Sisters account Clodius was principally defamed Notwithstanding all this when the common People appear'd in Tumults against the accusers and prosecutors of Clodius the Judges were so affrighted that a guard was placed about them for their defence tho the names were confusedly written upon the Tables yet it was evident that the greatest number did absolve him and it was said there was bribery in the Case and therefore Catulus meeting the Judges told them You did well in requiring a guard for your safety for fear your money should have been taken from you and when Clodius upbraided Cicero that the Judges did not believe his Testimony Yes said he five and twenty of them believ'd me for so many of them have condemned you but the other thirty did not believe you for they did not absolve you till they had receiv'd your Money But Caesar tho cited did not give his Testimony against Clodius nor pretended to be convinced of his Wife's Adultery but that he had put her away because it was fit that Caesar's Bed should not be only free of the evil fact but of the Fame too Clodius having escaped this danger and got to be chosen one of the Tribunes of the People immediately attack'd Cicero heaping up all matters and inciting all Persons against him the common People he wheedled with popular laws to each of the Consuls he decreed large Provinces to Piso Macedonia and to Galinius Syria He muster'd together a rabble of indigent Persons to serve his design and had always armed Slaves about him of the three Men then in greatest power Crassus was Cicero's open Enemy Pompey indifferently caressed both Caesar was going with an Army into Gallia Cicero applies himself to him th none of his firm Friends having had a suspicion of him ever since the conspiracy of Catiline of him he desires the Honour of being his Lieutenant General in that Province Caesar accepting him Clodius perceived that Cicero fled his tribunitian Authority and therefore pretends to be inclinable to a reconcilement lays the greatest fault upon Terentia makes always a favourable mention of him and treats him with kind expressions as one who had neither hatred nor ill will towards him and thus expostulating the matter moderately and friendly he so freed Cicero of all his fears that he resigned his Lieutenancy to Caesar and betook himself again to political affairs At which Caesar being exasperated he confirmed Clodius against him and wholly alienated Pompey from him he also himself declared in a publick assembly of the People that he did not think Lentulus and Cethegus with their accomplices were well and legally put to death without being brought to Tryal And this indeed was the crime charged upon him of which Cicero standing accused and prosecuted he changed his habit and in a sordid and untrimmed dress went about and supplicated the People but Clodius always met him in every corner having a pack of abusive and daring fellows about him who with insolence publickly derided his dress and change of habit and would often by throwing dirt and stones at him interrupt his supplications to the People Altho at first almost the whole Equestrian order changed their habits with him and no less than twenty thousand young Gentlemen followed him untrimm'd and supplicating with him to the People on his behalf Afterwards the Senate met to pass a decree that the People should change their habit as in time of publick sorrow But the Consuls opposing it and Clodius with armed Men besetting the Senate-house many of the Senators ran out shrieking and tearing their Cloaths but this sight moved neither shame nor pity in them for Cicero must either fly or determine it by the Sword with Clodius He intreated Pompey to aid him who was on purpose gone out of the way and resided at his Country-house near Albania and first he sent his Son-in-Law Piso to intercede with him but afterwards went himself of which Pompey being informed he durst not stay to see him for he had a great reverence for that Man who had contended in so many quarrels for him and had directed so much of his policy for his advantage but being Caesar's Son-in-Law at his instance he set aside all former kindness received from Cicero and slipping out at another door avoided his intercession Thus being forsaken by Pompey and left alone to himself he fled to the Consuls Gabinius was always surly to him but Piso treated him more civilly desiring him to yield and give place for a while to the fury of Clodius and to expect the change of times and to be once more a Saviour to his Country from those commotions and dangers which were raised upon his account Cicero receiving this answer consulted with his Friends Lacullus advised him to stay as being sure to prevail at last others to fly because the People would soon desire him again when they should have enough of the rage and madness of Clodius This last Cicero approv'd But first he took the Statue of Minerva which had been long set up in his house and worship'd with singular devotion and carrying it to the Capitol there dedicated it with this inscription MINERVAE VRBIS ROMAE PRAESIDI To Minerva the Patroness of Rome And receiving a safe convoy from his Friends about the middle of the night he left the City and went on foot through Lucania intending to reach Sicily But as soon as it was publickly known that he was fled Clodius procured of the People a decree of
the contrary So that as Plato says of himself the third time he set Sail for Sicily Venturing again to shoot Charibdis dangerous Gulph This arrival brought great joy to Dionysius and no less hopes to the Sicilians who were as earnest in their wishes as studious in their endeavours that Plato might get the better of Philistus and Philosophy triumph over Tyranny Neither was he unbefriended by the Ladies who upon all occasions studied to oblige him but he had from Dionysius that peculiar Credit which no man else ever obtained to that degree of confiding that he might come into his Presence without being examined or searched When the King offered him a very considerable sum of Money and repeated the tender of his Bounty but Plato still refused to accept it Aristippus the Cyrenian then present said That Dionysius was liberal without danger of hurting his Treasury for to those that wanted much he gave very little and a great deal to Plato who received nothing After the first Complements of kindness were over when Plato began to discourse of Dion he was at first diverted by dilatory Excuses which soon after begat feuds and disgusts tho' as yet not publickly taken notice of Dionysius endeavouring all he could to conceal them and by other Civilities and Honourable usage to draw him off from his Kindness to Dion Plato for some time did not divulge this his perfidious dealing and breach of promise but bore with it and dissembled his rescent While matters stood thus betwixt them and as they thought they were unobserved and undiscovered Helicon the Cyzicinian one of Plato's followers foretold an Eclipse of the Sun which happened according to his Prediction for which he was much admired by the King and rewarded with a Talent of Silver Aristippus drolling with some others of the Philosophers told them he also had something extraordinary to Prognosticate which they entreating him to declare I fore-tell said he that Dionysius and Plato will in a very little time fall out At length Dionysius made Sale of Dion's Estate converted the Money to his own use and removed Plato from an Apartment he had in the Gardens of the Palace to Lodgings near those of the Guards he kept in Pay who bore Plato an old grudge and sought Opportunity to make him away suppposing he advised Dionysius to lay down the Government and disband his Soldiers When Archytas understood the danger Plato was in he immediately sent a Galley with Messengers to demand him of Dionysius alledging that he stood engaged for his safety upon the confidence of which Plato came for Sicily Dionysius to palliate his secret hatred before Plato came away treated him with great Entertainments and all seeming demonstrations of kindness but could not forbear breaking out one day into such an expression as this No doubt Plato but when you are at home among the Philosophers your Companions you will complain of me and reckon up a great many of my faults To which Plato smiling return'd Answer I hope Sir we shall never be so put to it in the Academy for want of Subjects to discourse of as to talk of you Thus they say Plato was dismissed but his own Writings do not altogether agree with this Relation Dion was very angry at this and not long after he declared himself an open Enemy to Dionysius having received some intelligence concerning his Wife about which Plato by Letters had held a Correspondence with Dionysius now thus it was After Dion's Banishment Dionysius sending back Plato desired him to ask Dion privately if he would be against his Wife's marrying another Man for there went a report whether true or raised by Dion's Enemies was uncertain that his Marriage was not pleasing to him and that he lived with his Wife uneasie and dissatisfied When Plato therefore came to Athens and had discoursed the matter with Dion he writ a Letter to Dionysius in which he expressed every thing else plainly and intelligibly but this affair in covert and abstruse terms that none else but he might understand it signifying therein to him that he had talked with Dion about the business and that it was evident he would highly resent the Affront if Dionysius should attempt any such thing At that time therefore while there were yet great hopes of an accommodation he altered nothing in his Sisters concerns suffering her to live with Dion's Son but when things were come to that pass that no Reconciliation could be expected and that Plato after his second return was again sent away in displeasure he then forced Arete against her will to Marry Timocrates one of his Favourites in this Action coming short even of his Fathers Justice and Lenity For when Philoxenus who had married his Sister Theste being in disgrace and is declared Enemy for fear had fled and left Sicily he sent for his Sister and taxed her that being privy to her Husbands flight she had not declared it to him But the Lady confident and fearless made him this reply Do you believe me Brother so bad a Wife or so timorous a Woman that having known my Husbands flight I would not have born him company and shared the worst of his Fortunes Alas I was ignorant of it for better had it been for me and more honourable to be called the Wife of the Exile Philoxenus than the Sister of the Tyrant Dionysius 'T is said the King admired her ready and confident answer the Syracusians also honoured her for her Bravery insomuch that she retained her Dignity and Princely Retinue after the dissolution of the Tyranny and when she died the Citizens by Publick Decree attended the Solemnity of her Funeral Tho' this be a digression from the present purpose it is not altogether an useless Remarque From this time Dion set his mind wholly upon a War tho' Plato was against it with a modest regret reflecting upon the Entertainment he had received from Dionysius and also considering Dion's Age But Speucippus and the rest of his friends assisted and encouraged him to undertake the deliverance of Sicily from Slavery which in humble manner with lift up hands seemed to implore his help and with open Arms ready to receive him For when Plato sojourned at Syracuse Speucippus being oftner than he in company with the Citizens throughly understood how they were inclined and tho' at first he was shy of and suspected their bold talk fearing they were set on by the King to trapan him yet at length he gave ear and credit to what they said They generally agreed in their wishes and prayers that Dion would undertake the Design and come tho' without either Navy Men Horse or Arms that he would put himself aboard a Ship and lend the Sicilians only his Person and Name against Dionysius This Information from Speucippus encouraged Dion who that he might the better conceal his Design he employed his Friends privately to raise what men they could many great States-men and
rewarded the Artificer himself wore one of them in all his Encounters and bestowed the other upon Alcimus the Epirot one of the most robust and gallant Captains in his Army This Alcimus was one of the strongest men in the World for his compleat Armor weighed sixscore pound whereas the Arms of the ablest of the other Souldiers rarely exceeded half that weight but notwithstanding all his strength and courage no Armor was proof against his ill Destiny for in a furious Attack whilst he was gallantly fighting and encouraging his Souldiers by his example he was flain near the Theatre during this Siege The Rhodians all the time made a brave Defence in so much that Demetrius evidently saw he was not to master them without great difficulty and hazzard nevertheless he persisted in his Resolution to try the last extremities and the rather because that the Rhodians having taken a Vessel in which there was inbarked certain rich Hangings for his Pavilion Apparel and other Necessaries as also the Letters from the Princess Philla who had sent them to him they had undecently sent them together with the Ship to Ptolomy being herein far from imitating the honourable example of the Athenians who having surprized an Express sent from King Philip their Enemy they opened all the Letters he was charged with excepting only those directed to Queen Olympia which with great Civility they sent unbroken open to her Notwithstanding this Provocation Demetrius into whose power it shortly after came to have re-paid the Affront would not suffer himself to be transported with revenge so as to do a dishonourable Action which he condemned in them for it happened that the Design of the City of Jalysus which the celebrated Protogenes had been seven years painting and wanted only the finishing strokes being surprized by his Souldiers in the Suburbs of the City the Rhodians sent a Herald at Arms to request of him that he would be pleased to spare that rare Piece of Art and Curiosity Demetrius sent them in answer that he would as soon permit the burning of the Picture of his dear Father and King Antigonus as suffer the least injury to be done to such a curious Piece of laborious Skill and Beauty And so admirable was this Painting that 't is said when Apelles that fam'd Master first saw it he was so surprized that unable to stifle his admiration he stood mute struck at once with wonder and a little emulation at the beauty of the Work but recovering his transport and his tongue A most admirable and marvellous Piece said he but yet here want some of those Sweetnesses and softning Touches which my Paintings have of which he was wont to boast That he painted for Eternity This curious Piece among many others was afterwards carried to Rome where it was consumed by an accidental Fire in that City Whilst Demetrius thus fruitlesly maintained the Siege and the Rhodians no less obstinately defended their City the Athenian Ambassadors came luckily to rescue his Reputation by proposing an accommodation between them that so Demetrius might be at liberty to assist them against Cassander who had taken this opportunity to besiege the City of Athens In short a Peace was concluded by which the Rhodians were obliged to assist Antigonus and Demetrius against all their Enemies excepting Ptolomy the King of Egypt and so soon as the Ratifications were exchanged Demetrius with a Fleet of 330 Gallies and a great Land-Army sailed directly to Athens where he not only presently dislodged Cassander but falling upon his Rear very much incommoded his Retreat and pursuing him to the Straits of Thermopylae obliged him there to a Battel which ended in the total overthrow of Cassander's Army After this Victory he took in the City of Heraclea the Citizens voluntarily opening their Gates to receive the Conqueror and the Garrison consisting of 6000 Macedonians revolted to him and took Service under his victorious Ensigns In his Return having given Liberty to all the Grecians on this side the Straits of Thermopylae made an Alliance with the Baeotians and taken in the Cities of Cenchrees Phylen and Panacton in which Cassander had placed strong Garrisons to awe the Country into obedience he bestowed them upon the Athenians and they in requital though they had before been so profuse in bestowing Honours upon him that one would have thought they had exhausted all the store of Invention yet strained and put their Wits upon the Rack to extort from them new devised Honours and Flatteries They ordered him a Lodging behind Minerva's Temple in the Apartment of the Virgins the vowed Votaries of that Goddess upon which occasion some of the Wits exercised their Talent and took the Liberty to say That Minerva had got a dangerous Inmate and that it was not much to the Reputation of her Virgins Chastity to keep company with Demetrius who was not so over strait-laced in that sort of Vertue though it seems Antigonus had not given him the Example for of him it is reported That one time observing that his other Son Philip had Lodgings appointed in a House where there were three pretty young Ladies the King without taking any notice to his Son sent for the Officer who had taken up the Lodgings to whom he said Pray good Sir oblige me with removing my Son out of those little pent Lodgings for I do not care to have these young People crouded one upon another As for Demetrius he was so far from shewing any reverence to the Goddess with whom he had taken up his Quarters and whose younger Brother he had the vanity to have himself stiled and upon that score might have paid her some little decent respect that he gave himself up to the most infamous Liberties he debauched the young Women and ancient Matrons of the City of Athens to that degree as is as little to the Reputation of a modest Pen to relate as it was dishonourable to the City which may for ever blush at those lascivious Liberties in which this dissolute Prince by their servile compliances was not only permitted but even tempted to debase both theirs and his own Honour and Glory in so much that his Court seemed innocent when he had only Chryseis Lamia Dema Anticyra and some other Ladies of common ill Fame for the Companions of his Revels But among such a heap of Vice there was found one Jewel of severe Vertue and Chastity whose Name deserves to be transmitted to Posterity in the Records of Honour the young Damoclea whose surpassing Beauty gave her the particular Title of the Fair Damoclea Demetrius had essayed all the ways of passionate Courtship Gifts Threatnings and Flatteries to make himself a passage into her Heart but all in vain Nay she grew so weary of his importunate Addresses and repeated Solicitations that she declined all manner of publick Conversation perfectly out of design to avoid his disdained Passion but going to a private Bath and the lascivious Prince being informed of
ease Nevertheless he returned not without the loss of many and valiant Subjects and of almost all his Horses Wherefore having imagined that he should grow little in the eyes of his people through the misfortune and ill success of this expedition he suspected that he was despis'd by some of his Nobles many of whom he slew in his rage and yet still was jealous of more For fear is the bloodiest passion in Princes whereas the bold and couragious amongst them are merciful gentle and confiding And thus the timerous and sluggish brutes are ever untractable and the most unruly whilst the Nobler being made confident by their spirit refufe not the acquaintance of their owners In process of time after Artaxerxes being very old perceiv'd that his Sons were in controversie about his Kingdom and that they made parties among his Favourites and Peers Those that were equitable among them thought it fit that as he had receiv'd it so he should bequeath it to Darius whose just inheritance it was The younger Brother Ochus who was hot and violent had indeed a considerable number of the Courtiers that espoused his interest but his chief hope was that by Atossa's means he should prepare his Father For he had smooth'd her up with the thoughts of being his Wife and Queen after the death of Artaxerxes And truly it was buzz'd abroad that before it Ochus maintain'd too great correspondence with her but secret and unknown to the King Who being willing timely to dash his Son Ochus's hopes lest he attempting the very same things his Uncle Cyrus did Wars and Contentions might again afflict his Kingdom proclaimed Darius then fifty years old his Successor and gave him leave to wear the Imperial Hat cockt up It is a Rule and usage of Persia that the Heir apparent to the Crown should beg a boon and that he that declared him so should give whatever he askt provided it were within the Sphere of his power Darius therefore requested Aspasia the most tenderly beloved Miss of Cyrus but then the Kings Concubine she was originally a Phocian born in the Country of Ionia of gentile Parents and well educated Once when Cyrus was at Supper she was led into him with other Women who when they were sat down by him though he sported and dallied and talked wantonly with them did without shyness admit that his fulsome Courtship but she stood by the Table with a graceful silence refusing to come to him when Cyrus call'd her And when his Chamberlains were going to force her towards him she said whosoever lays hands on me shall rue it so she seem'd to the company a sullen rude country thing However Cyrus being well pleas'd with her reserv'd humour laugh'd it off and said to the Man that brought the Woman dost not thou plainly see that this Woman alone of all that came with thee is truly Noble and of an impregnable Chastity After which time he began to regard her and lov'd her above all of her Sex and call'd her Aspasia the Wise But Cyrus being slain in the fight she was taken among the spoils of his Camp whom when Darius did demand no doubt he much offended his Father For the Barbarous people keep a very jealous and watchful Eye over their Carnal pleasures so that 't is death for a Man not only to come near and caress any Concubine of his Prince but likewise in his journey to make an excursion or pass over to the Coaches in which they are carried And though to gratify his Lust he had against all Law marry'd his Daughter Atossa and had beside her a Seraglio of three hundred and sixty the most exquisite beauties in his Dominions yet being importun'd for that one by Darius he urg'd that she was a free-woman and allow'd him to take her if she had an inclination to go with him but by no means to force her away against it Aspasia therefore being sent for and contrary to the King's expectation making choice of Darius he gave him her indeed being constrain'd by Law but when he had done so a little after he took her from him For he consecrated her Priestess to Diana of Ecbatane whom there they name Anitis that she might spend the remainder of her days in a strict Chastity thinking thus to punish his Son not with rigour but moderation by a revenge checquer'd with jest and earnest But he took it heinously either he was a passionate admirer of Aspasia or because he lookt upon himself as highly affronted and scorn'd by his Father Tiribazus perceiving him thus divided betwixt Lust and rage did exasperate him yet farther after he had obsâ—rv'd in his injuries a representation of his own Of which take the following account Artaxerxes having many Daughters promis'd to give Apama to Pharnabazus to Wife Rodogeune to Orantes and Amestris to Tiribazus whom alone he disappointed by marrying Amestris himself and yet was just to the other two However to make him amends he betroth'd his youngest Daughter Atossa to him But after he had being enamour'd of marry'd her too as has been said Tiribazus had an irreconciliable grudge against him who was seldom at any other time steady in his temper but uneven and inconsiderate Wherefore whether he were in the number of the choicest Favourites of his Prince or whether he were offensive and odious to him he demean'd himself in neither condition with moderation But being advanc'd he was intollerably insolent and in his degradation his deportment was not submissive and peaceable but fierce and haughty And therefore Tiribazus was to the young Prince as Oyl thrown upon a flame ever urging him and saying that in vain those wear their Hats upright who consult not the Success of their affairs and that he was ill befriended of reason if he imagin'd whilst he had a Brother who that he might have his choice of Women endeavour'd to undermine him and a Father of so rash and fickle a humour that he should by sucession insallibly step up into the Throne For he that out of fondness to a lewd Ionian female hath eluded a Law Sacred and inviolable among the Persians is not likely to be faithful in the performance of the most important promises He added too that it was not all one for Ochus not to attain to and for him to be put by his Crown since Ochus as a Subject might live happily and no body could hinder him but he being proclaim'd King must either take up the Scepter or lay down his Life These words presently inflam'd Darius That of Sophocles perhaps being generally true Ill Councel soon is at its Journeys End For the path is smooth or upon an easie descent that leads us to what we are inclin'd and for the most part of us are propense to Vice through our strangeness too and ignorance of the loveliness of Vertue And no doubt the greatness of the Empire and the jealousie Darius had of Ochus furnisht Tiribazus with materials for his remonstrance