the king of Persia Demosthenes praiseth them that were slaine at the battell of Chaeronea The death of Philip king of Macedon Demosthenes preferreth the ioy of his contrie before the sorow of his owne daughter AEschinesse proued by Plutarch for his fonde beleefe that blubbering and sorowing are signes of loue and charitie Plutarch praiseth Demosthenes constancie for leauing of his mourning to reioyce for his common contrie benefit Demosthenes raiseth vp the Graecians against Alexander Alexander required certaine Orators of Athens Demosthenes â—ale of the sheepe and woulues The iudgement of the crowne vnto Ctesiphon Harpalus a great money man came to Athens flying from Alexander Demosthenes bribed by Harpalus with oxenty â—ateâ— * This concelâ— can hardly be expressed in any other language then in Greeke For he sayth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alloâ—ding to the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to delight by pleasaunt speeche or sound Demosthenes banishment Demosthenes tooke his banishment grieuously Three mischieuous beasts Antipater besieged of the Athenians Demosthenes called home from exile Demosthenes fine of fiftie talentes remitted Archias Phygadotheras a hunter of the banished men Demosthenes dream Demosthenes taketh poyson to kill him selfe in the temple of Neptune in the I le of Calauria The death of Demosthenes The time of Demosthenes death The Athenians honored Demosthenes after his death * He sayth Antigonus in the life of Phocius Demades death and reward for his treason Ciceroes parentage Cicero why so called Cicero Quaestor Ciceroes birth An image appeared to Ciceroes nursâ— Ciceroes towardnes and wit. Cicero a notable Poet. Cicero Philoes scholler the Academicke Philosopher Cicero a follower of Mutius Scauola Roscius pâ—â— in siâ—â— Cicero a weake man. Cicero Antiochus scholler The commoditie of exercise Cicero goeth into Asia and to Rhodes Cicero declamed in Graeke Apollonius testimonie of Cicero An Oracle giuen to Cicero Ciceroes first practising in the common wealih Roscius and AEsopus comon players Cicero a fine Tawnser Cicero chosen Quaestor Ciceroes diligence iustice and lenitie Cicero ambitious desirous of praise Cicero geuen to know mens names their landes and frendes Ciceroes doings against Verres He spake it bicause the Iewes doe ease no swines flesh Cicero chosen AEdilis Ciceroes riches Ciceroes great curtesie and resorte Cicero chosen Praetor Licinius Macer condemned Cicero with one word pacified the offended Tribunes Cicero made Consul The conspiracy of Cateline Catalines wickedness C. Antonius and M.T. Cicero created Consuls Great troubles at Rome in the time of Ciceroes Consulshippe A law preferred for the creacion and authority of the Decemuiri Cicero by his eloquence ouerthrow the law of the Decemuiri Ciceroes swâ—â—â— tongue * Others â—â—â— say Lucius Roscius Otho Tribune of the people Roscius lawe for deuiding of the Roman Knights from the common people Syllaes souldiers conspired with Catiline Cicero examined Catalin in the Senate Syllanus and Murana and Consulls Letters brought to Crassus of Catilines conspiracie Fuluia betrayeth Catilines intent to kill Cicero Catiline departed Rome C. Lentulus why called Sura Oracles of three Cornelij that should raigne at Rome Great treason practised in Rome by C. Lentulus and Cethegus The conspiratours apprehended Syllanus sentence of the conspirators Caesar priuie to Catilines conspiracie Caesars opinion for the punishment of the conspirators The execution of the conspirators They liuedâ— A word vsurped for the dead Ciceroes praise Catilin slaine in battell by Antonius Caesar chosen Praetor Metellus and Bestia Tribunes of the people Cicero resigneth his office Ciceroes Consulship praised by Cato Cicero the first man called Father of the contry Cicero too much giuen to praise him self Cicero friendâ—y to praise others Cicero sayeth Demosthenes sleepeth in his orations Ciceroes subtile end pleasant â—â—â—ge The Stoickes opinion A wise man is euer riche * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Actius is a proper name of a Romane and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke signifieth worthyt So the grace of the equiuocation can not be expressed in any other language * Bicause the Africanes haue commonly their eares bored through The malice betwixt Cicero Clodius Cicero gaue euidence against Clodius The wicked parts of Clodius * Some olde bookes doe read Teritâ— Clodius 〈…〉 and found not gilty Caesars wordes of the putting away his wife Pompeia Clodius chosen Tribune of the people Piso and Gabinius Consuls Crassus Pompey and Caesar three of the greatest men in Rome tooke part with Clodius against Cicero Cicero accused of Clodius The knights of Rome and Senate chauÌ„ged garments for Ciceroes sake Pompey would not see Cicero being accused Ciceroes exile Hipponium alias Vibone a city in Luke A wonder shewed vnto Cicero in his exile Ciceroes faint hart in his exile The wonderfull power of glory Pompey chauÌ„ging mind doth fauor Cicero Lentulus Consul Cicero called home from banishment Cicero taketh away the tables of Clodius actes out of the Capitoll Clodius the Tribune slaine by Milo. Cicero fearefull in warres and timerous in pleading Cicero pleadeth Miloes case Cicero chosen Augure Ciceroes integritie for the gouernment of his prouinces MoÌ„â— Amanus Cicero called Imperator Cicero seeketh to pacifie the quarrell betwext Pompey and Caesar Ciceroes words of Pompey and Caesar. Cicero goeth vnto Pompey Cato gaue place to Cicero and offered him the charge of the nauy at Dyrrachium The force of Ciceroes eloquence how it altered Caesar. Ciceroes life vnder Caesar. Cicero did put away his wife Terentia Cicero maried a young maiden Cicero not made priuy to the conspiracie against Caesar. Priuate grudge betwext Antonius and Cicero Cicero saileth into Greece Ill will betwext Cicero Antonius Cicero and Octauius Caesar ioyned in frendship Ciceroes dreame of Octauius the adopted sonne of Iulius Caesar Octauius and Accia the parents of Octauius Caesar. Octauius Caesar was borne in the yere of Ciceroes Consulship Ciceroes great power â—â— Rome Octauius Caesar sueth to be Consul Octauius Caesar forsaketh Cicero Note the fickelnes of youth The meeting of the Triumuiri Antonius Lepidus Octauius Caesar Cicero appointed to be slaine Quintus Cicero slaine * Some doe read Cajete A wonderous matter foreshewed by crowes vnto Cicero Herennius Popilius sent to kill M. T. Cicero M.T. Cicero slain by Herennius Ciceroes head and hands set vp ouer the pulpit for Orations A strange and cruell punishmeÌ„t taken by Pomponia Quintus Ciceroes wife of Philologus for betraying of his maister Augustus Caesars testimony of Cicero Ciceroes sonne Consul with Augustus Caesar. The decree of the Senate against Antonius being dead Demosthenes eloquence Ciceroes rare and diuers doctrines Demosthenes and Ciceroes maners Demosthenes modest in praising of him selfes Cicero too fall of ostentacion Demosthenes and Ciceroes cunning in their Orations in the coÌ„mon wealth Authoritie sheweth ment vertues and vices Ciceroes abstinense freâ—â— money Demosthenes a money taker Diuers causes of the banishment of Demosthenes and Cicero The differeÌ„ce betwext Demosthenes and Ciceroes death How sences and artes doe agree differ The master of the SpartaÌ„s to
his hand very neere vnto Pompey making this his colour but otherwise fearing Clodius insolency prowde words he would neuer after come into the market place as long as Clodius was Tribune but kept at home still consulting with his frendes what way he should take to appease the anger of the Senate against him Thereuppon one of his frendes called Culeo perswaded him to put away his wife Iulia and vtterly to refuse Caesars frendshippe and to sticke againe to the Senate but he would none of that Notwithstanding he was contented to hearken vnto them that gaue him counsell to call Cicero home againe who was Clodius mortall enemie and in great fauor with the Senate Thereuppon he brought Ciceroes brother into the market place to moue the matter to the people with a great number of men about him where they fell to blowes and diuers were slaine of either side notwithstanding he ouer came Clodius Thus Cicero being called home by decree of the people when he was come he brought Pompey againe in fauor with the Senate and standing with the lawe propounded to geue Pompey authoritie to cause corne to be brought to ROME he once againe made him haue power both by land and sea ouer all the territories of the ROMANES For all the hauens martes fayres all store houses for corne yea moreouer all the trade of marchandise and tillage came vnder Pompeys hands Then Clodius accusing him sayd that the Senate had not made this law for the dearth of vittells but that they made a dearth of vittells bicause the lawe should passe to reuiue Pompeys power and authority againe that was almost vnder foote Other say that this was a deuise of Leutulus Spinther the Consull who gaue Pompey the greater authoritie bicause he might be sent to put king Ptolomy againe into his kingdom This notwithstanding Canidius the Tribune preferred an other law to send Pompey without an army with two sergeaunts only to cary the axes before him to bring Ptolomy in fauor againe with the ALEXANDRIANS This law seemed not to mislike Pompey but the Senate with honest colour put by this lawe as being affrayed least Pompeys person should miscary in so doing Neuerthelesse litle papers were found throwen about the market place and the Senate house declaringe that Ptolomy desired Pompey might come to aide him in Spinthres stead Timagenes wryteth notwithstanding that Ptolomy went vnto ROME left AEGYPT without any occasion geuen him at the perswasion of Theophanes who perswaded him to doe so bicause he would geue Pompey occasion to make newe warres But Theophanes craft and suttilty made not this matter so credible as Pompeys wit and good nature made it altogether vntrue for his ambitiō was nothing so vile nor ill as that was So Pompey hauing now full authority to cause corne to be brought to ROME he sent then his Lieutenauntes and frendes abroade and him selfe in person went into SICILE Nowe being ready to returne againe there rose such a storme of winde in the sea that the mariners were in dout to way their anckers But him selfe first imbarked and commaunded them straight to hoyse sayle crying out alowde it is of necessitie I must goe but not to liue So through his boldnes and good spirite vsing the good fortune he had he filled all the places of marte and markets with come and all the sea besides with shippes insomuch the plenty he brought did not only furnishe the city of ROME but all their neighbours also about them and came like a liuely spring that dispersed it selfe through all ITALIE About that time the great conquestes that Caesar made in GAVLE did set him aloft For when they thought that he was occupied in warres farre from ROME with the BELGEANS SWISSES and Englishmen ◠he by secret practise was in the middest among the people at ROME most against Pompey in the waightiest affayres of the common wealth For he had the power of an armie about his person which he did harden with paines and continuall practise not with intent to fight onely against the barbarous people for the battells he had with them were in maner but as a hunting sporte by the which he made him selfe inuincible and dreadfull to the worlde But furthermore by the infinite gold siluer and the incredible spoiles and treasure which he wan apon the enemies whom he had ouercome and by sending great presentes also to ROME to the Ediles Praetors Consulls and their wiues he purchased him many frendes Therefore after he had passed ouer the Alpes againe and was come to winter in the city of LVCA ◠world of people both men and women and of the Senate them selues almost two hundred persons and amongest them Crassus and Pompey by name went out of ROME vnto him Furthermore there were seene at Caesars gate sixe score sergeauntes carying axes before Praetors or Proconsulls So Caesar sent euery one backe againe either full of money or good wordes but with Pompey and Crassus he made a matche that they two together should sue to be Consulls and that he him selfe would send them good aide to ROME at the daye of election to geue their voyces And if they were thosen that they should then practise by decree of the people to haue the gouernmentes of some newe prouinces and armies assigned them and withall that they should adiorne the gouernment of those prouinces he had for fiue yeares more This packe being bewrayed and spred abroad through ROME the honestest sorte misliked much thereof Wherupon Marcellinus at an open assembly of the people did aske them both if they would sue for the Consulship at the next election So they being vrged by the people to make aunswere Pompey spake first and said peraduenture he would peraduenture not Crassus aunswered more gently that he would doe that which should be best for the common wealth Then Marcellinus sharpely inueying against Pompey he angrily againe cast him in the teeth said that Marcellinus was the ranckest churle and the vnthankefullest beast in the world for that of a dumme man he had made him eloquent and being in maner starued and famished many a time he had filled his bellie This notwithstanding diuers that before were determined to sue for the Consulship went no further in it sauing Lucius Domitius whom Cato counselled and incoraged not to geue it ouer for said he thou doest not contend for the Consulship but to defend the common libertie of thy contry against two tyrannes Pompey therefore fearing Catoes faction least that hauing all the Senates good willes he should drawe also the best parte of the people after him thought it not good to suffer Domitius to come into the market place To this ende therefore he sent men armed against him who at the first onset slue the torche bearer that caryed the torche before him and made all the rest flie amongest whom also Cato was the last man that retired who was hurt in his
them howbeit they gaue no credit vnto him Yet Cicero in an oration of his doth plainly accuse Crassus Caesar as confederats with Catiline howbeit this oration came not forth till they were both dead And in the oration he made also when his office and authority of Consul ceased he sayd that Crassus came one night to him shewed him a letter touching Catiline certainly confirming the conspiracy then in examination For which cause Crassus euer after hated him and that he did not openly reuenge it the let was by meane of his sonne For Publius Crassus much fauoring eloquence and beinge geuen to his booke bare great good will vnto Cicero in such sorte that apon his banishment he put on chaunged garmentes as Cicero did and procured many other youthes to do the like also and in fine perswaded his father to become his frend Caesar now returning to ROME from the prouince he had in gouernment intended to sue for the Consulshippe and perceiuing that Pompey Crassus were againe at a iarre thought thus with him selfe that to make the one of them his frend to further his sute he should but procure thother his enemy and minding therfore to attaine his desire with the fauor of them both sought first the meanes to make thē frendes perswaded with them that by their controuersie th one seeking thothers vndoing they did thereby but make Cicero Catulus and Cato of the greater authority who of them selues were of no power if they two ioyned in frendshippe together for making both their frendes and factions one they might rule the state and common wealth euen as they would Caesar hauing by his perswasion reconciled Crassus and Pompey ioyning their three powers in one made them selues vnuincible which afterwardes turned to the destruction of the people and Senate of ROME For he made them not only greater than they were before the one by the others meanes but him selfe also of great power through them For when they beganne to fauor Caesar he was straight chosen Consull without any deniall and so behaued him selfe in the Consulship that at the length they gaue him charge of great armies and then sent him to gouerne the GAVLES which was as a man may say euen them selues to put him into the castell that should kepe all the citie in subiection imagining that they two should make spoyle and good booty of the rest sithence they had procured him such a gouernment Now for Pompey the cause that made him commit this error was nothing els but his extreame ambition But as for Crassus besides his old vice of couetousnes rooted in him he added to that a newe a uarice and desire of triumphes and victories which Caesars fame for prowes and noble actes in warres did throughly kindell in him that he being otherwise his better in all thinges might not yet in that be his inferior which furie tooke such holde as it neuer left him till it brought him vnto an infamous end and the common wealth to great misery Thus Caesar being come out of his prouince of GAVLE vnto LVCA diuers ROMANES went thither to see him and among other Pompey and Crassus They hauing talked with him in secret agreed among them to deuise to haue the whole power of ROME in their handes so that Caesar should kepe his armie together and Crassus and Pompey should take other prouinces and armies to them Now to attaine to this they had no way but one that Pompey and Crassus should againe sue the second time to be Consulls and that Caesars frendes at ROME should stand with them for it sending also a sufficient number of his souldiers to be there at the day of choosing the Consulls Thereupon Pompey and Crassus returned to ROME to that ende but not without suspicion of their practise for there ranne a rumor in the citie that their meeting of Caesar in LVCA was for no good intent Whereupon Marcellinus and Domitius asked Pompey in open Senate if he ment to make sute to be Consull Pompey aunswered them peraduenture he did peraduenture he did not They asking him againe the same question he aunswered he would sue for the good men not for the euill Pompeyes answers were thought very prowde hawty Howbeit Crassus aunswered more modestly that if he saw it necessary for the common wealth he would sue to be Consull if not that he would nor stand for it Vpon these words some were so bold to make sute for the Consulshippe as Domitius among other But afterwardes Pompey and Crassus standing openly for it all the rest left of their sute for feare of them Domitius only excepted whom Cato so prayed and intreated as his kinseman and frend that he made him to seeke it For he perswaded him that it was to fight for the defense of their libertie and how that it was not the Consulshippe Crassus and Pompey looked after but that they went about to bring in a tyranny that they sued not for the office but to get such prouinces and armies into their handes as they desired vnder colour and countenaunce of the Consulship Cato ringing these words into their eares beleuing it certainly to be true as he sayd brought Domitius as it were by force into the market place where many honest men ioyned with thē bicause they wondred what the matter ment that these two noble men should sue the second time to be Consulls and why they made sute to be ioyned together and not to haue any other with them considering there were so many other worthy men meete to be companion with either of them both in that office Pompey fearing he should be preuented of his purpose fell to commit great outrage and violence As amongest other when the day came to choose the Consulls Domitius going earely in the morning before day accōpanied with his frends to the place where the electiō should be his man that caried the torch before him was slaine by some whom Pompey had layed in waite many of his companie hurt and among others Cato And hauing thus dispersed them he beset a house rounde about whether they fled for succour and inclosed them there vntill they were both chosen Consulls together Shortly after they came with force to the pulpit for orations and draue Cato out of the market place slue some of them that resisted would not flye They also then prolonged Caesars gouernment of the GAVLES for fiue yeres more and procured for them selues by decree of the people the contries of SYRIA and SPAYNE Againe when they drew lottes together SYRIA fell to Crassus and SPAYNE to Pompey Euery man was glad of their fortune For the people on the one side were loth Pompey should goe farre from ROME him selfe also louing his wife well was glad he had occasion to be so neere her that he might remaine the most of his time at ROME But Crassus of all other reioyced
referred to him for the prosecuting of it against him Cicero skorning his sute sayd vnto him what hath a IEWE to doe with a swine This Verres had a sonne somewhat aboue twentie yeares of age who as the reporte went had a verie ill name for his beawtie And therefore when Verres one day thought to mocke Cicero saying that he was too womanly his children sayd he are to be reproued of that secretly at home In this accusacion Hortensius the Orator durst not directly defende Verres but touching the condemnacion of his fine he was then contented to aunswere for him for he had a Sphinx of Yuory geuen him by Verres for his reward Thereuppon Cicero gaue him a pretie nippe by the way but Hortensius not vnderstanding him sayd he coulde no skill of darke speaches Well sayd Cicero yet hast thou a sphinx in thy house In the ende Verres being condemned and a fine fette on his heade to the value of seuentie fiue Myriades Cicero notwithstandinge was suspected to be bribed with money for agreeing to cast him in so small a summe But yet when he came to be AEdilis the SICILIANS to shew them selues thankefull to him both brought and sent him many presentes out of SICILE Of all that he tooke nothing to his owne vse but onely bestowed their liberalitie in bringing downe the prises of vittells at ROME He had a goodly house within the confines of the citie of ARPOS a farme also by NAPLES and an other about the citie of POMPEII but all these were no great thinges Afterwardes also he had the ioynter of his wife Terentia which amounted to the summe of twelue Myriades and besides all this there came to him by inheritaunce eleuen Myriades of their Denarij Thereuppon he liued verie honestly and soberly without excesse with his familiar frendes that loued him both GRAECIANS and ROMANES and woulde neuer goe to supper till after sunne set not so muche for any great businesse he had as for the weakenesse of his stomake But otherwise he was verie curious and carefull of his person and woulde be rubbed and noynted and he would vse also to walke a certaine number of turnes by proporcion and so exercising his bodie in that sorte he was neuer sicke and besides was alwayes verie strong and lustie of bodie able to abide great paines and sorowes which he fell into afterwardes He gaue his fathers chiefe mansion house to his brother and went to dwell him selfe in the mount Palatine bicause suche as came to waite vpon him to doe him honor shoulde not take the paines to goe so farre to see him For he had as many men dayly at his gate euerie morning as either Crassus had for his wealth or Pompey for his estimacion among the souldiers both of them being at that time the chiefest men of ROME Yea furthermore Pompeys selfe came vnto Cicero bicause his Orations stoode him to great purpose for thincrease of him honor and authoritie Nowe when Cicero came to make sute to be Praetor which is to be as an ordinarie iudge though he had many competitors and fellowe suters with him yet was he first chosen affore them all and he did so honestly behaue him selfe in that office that they did not so muche as once suspect him of briberie or extorcion And for proofe hereof it is reported that Licinius Macer a man that of him selfe was of great power and yet fauored and supported besides by Crassus was accused before Cicero of theft and extorcion in his office but he trustinge muche to his supposed credit and to the greate foâ— and labour his frendes made for him went home to his house before sentence proceeded against him the Iudges being yet to geue their opinions and there speedely trimmed his beard and put a newe gowne vppon his backe as though he had bene sure to haue bene quite of his accusacion and then returned againe into the market place But Crossus wene to meete him and tolde him all the Iudges had condemned him Licinius Macer tooke suche a griefe and conceite vpon it that he went home to his house againe layed him downe on his bedde and neuer rose after This iudgement wanne Cicero greate fame for they praised him exceedingly for the great paines he tooks to see iustice duely executed An other called also Vatinius a bedlem fellowe and one that behaued him selfe verie vnreuerently to the Magistrates in his pleadinge and besides had a swollen necke came verie arrogantly one day vnto Cicero being in his Praetoriall seate and asked him a thing which Cicero woulde not graunte him there but woulde thinke of it at better leasure Thereuppon Vatinius tolde him that he would not be scrupulous to graunt that if he were Praetor Cicero turning to him aunswered him againe no more haue I sayd he suche a swollen necke as thou hast Towardes the ende of his office two or three dayes before his time expired there was one accused Manilius before him that he also had robbed the common wealth This Manilius was verie well beloued of the common people who were perswaded that he was put in sute not for any fault he had committed but onely to despight Pompey with whose familiar frende he was So he required certaine dayes to aunswere the matter he was accused of but Cicero woulde geue him no further respit but to aunswere at the next day The people therewith were maruelously offended bicause the other Praetors in suche like cases were wont to geue tenne dayes respit to others The next morninge when the Tribunes had brought him before the Iudges and also accused him vnto them he besought Cicero to heare him pacientlie Cicero made him aunswere that hauinge alwayes vsed as muche fauour and curtesie as he possiblie might by lawe vnto those that were accused he thought he shoulde offer Manilius too great wrong if he shoulde not doe the like to him wherefore bicause he had but one day more to continewe Praetor in office he had purposely geuen him that day to make his aunswere before him For he thought that to leaue his accusacion to the hearing of an other Praetor he coulde not haue bene thought a man that had borne him good will and ment to pleasure him These wordes did maruelouslie chaunge the peoples opinion and affection towardes him and euerie man speaking well of him they prayed him to defend Manilius cause He willingly graunted them and comming from the benche standing at the barre like an Orator to pleade for him he made a notable Oration and spake both boldly and sharpely against the chiefe men of the citie and those speciallie that did enuie Pompey This notwithstanding when he came to sue to be Consul he founde as great fauour amongest the Nobilitie as he did with the communaltie For they did further his sute for the common wealthes sake vpon this occasion The chaunge and alteracion of gouernment the which Sylla brought in was thought straunge at the first
when they will finely conuey the hardnes of the speeche to say he is dead When night was comen and that he was going homeward as he came through the market place the people did wayte vpon him no more with silence as before but with great cryes of his praise and clapping of handes in euery place he went and called him Sauior and second fownder of ROME Besides all this at euery mans dore there were lynckes and torches lighted that it was as light in the streetes as at noone dayes The very women also did put lights out of the toppes of their houses to doe him honor and also to see him so nobly brought home with such a long trayne of the chiefest men of the citie of the which many of them had ended great warres for the which they had triumphed and had obteyned many famous conquests to the Empire of ROME both by sea and land confessing betwene them selues one to another that the ROMANES were greatly bound to many Captaines and generalls of armies in their time for the wonderfull riches spoyles and increase of their power which they had wonne howbeit that they were to thanke Cicero onely for their health and preseruation hauing saued them from so great and extreme a daunger Not for that they thought it so wonderfull an acte to haue striken dead the enterprise of the conspirators and also to haue punished the offenders by death but bicause the conspiracie of Catilin being so great and daungerous an insurrection as euer was any he had quenched it and pluck it vp by the rootes with so small hurt and without vprore trouble or actuall sedition For the most part of them that were gathered together about Catiline when they heard that Lentulus and all the rest were put to death they presently forsooke him and Catiline him selfe also fighting a battell with them he had about him against Antonius the other Consul with Cicero he was slayne in the fielde and all his armie defeated This notwithstanding there were many that spake ill of Cicero for this facte and ment to make him repent it hauing for their heades Caesar who was already chosen Praetor for the yeare to come Metellus and Bestia who should also be chosen Tribunes They so soone as they were chosen Tribunes would not once suffer Cicero to speake to the people notwithstanding that he was yet in his office of Consul for certaine dayes And furthermore to let him that he should not speake vnto the people they did set their benches vpon the pulpit for orations which they call at ROME Rostra and would neuer suffer him to set foote in it but onely to resigne his office and that done to come downe againe immediatly He graunted thereunto and went vp to the pulpit vpon that condition So silence being made him he made an othe not like vnto other Consuls othes when they resigne their office in like manner but straunge and neuer heard of before swearing that he had saued the citie of ROME and preserued all his contry and the Empire of ROME from vtter ruine and destruction All the people that were present confirmed it and sware the like othe Wherewithall Caesar and the other Tribunes his enemies were so offended with him that they deuised to breede him some new sturre trouble amongest others they made a decree that Pompey should be sent for with his army to bridle the tyranny of Cicero Cato who at that time was also Tribune did him great pleasure in the furtherance of the common wealth opposing him selfe against all their practises with the like authoritie and power that they had being a Tribune and brother with them and of better estimation then they So that he did not onely easily breake all their deuises but also in a goodly oration he made in a full assembly of the people he so highly praised and extolled Ciceroes Consulship vnto them and the thinges he did in his office that they gaue him the greatest honors that euer were decreed or graunted vnto any man liuing For by decree of the people he was called father of the contry as Cato him selfe had called him in his oration the which name was neuer giuen to any man but onely vnto him also he bare greater swaye in ROME at the time then any man beside him This notwithstanding he made him selfe enuyed and misliked of many men not for any ill acte he did or ment to doe but onely bicause he did too much boast of him selfe For he neuer was in any assembly of people Senate or iudgement but euery mans head was full still to heare the sound of Catulus and Lentulus brought in for sporte and filling the bookes and workes he compiled besides full of his owne prayses the which made his sweete and pleasant stile tedious and troublesom to those that heard them as though this misfortune euer followed him to take away his excellent grace But nowe though he had this worme of ambition and extreme couetous desire of honor in his head yet did he not malice or enuy any others glory but would very franckly praise excellent men as well those that had bene before him as those that were in his time And this appeareth plainly in his writings They haue written also certaine notable wordes he spake of some auncient men in olde time as of Aristotle that he was like a golden flowing riuer and of Plato that if Iupiter him selfe would speake he would speake like him and of Theophrastus he was wont to call him his delight of Demosthenes orations when one asked him on a time which of them he liked best the longest saide he There be diuers writers also who to shewe that they were great followers of Demosthenes doe followe Ciceroes saying in a certaine epistle he wrote vnto one of his friends wherein he said that Demosthenes slept in some of his orations but yet they forget to tel how highly he praised him in that place and that he calleth the orations which he wrote against Antonius in the which he tooke great paines and studied more then all the rest PHILIPPIANS to followe those which Demosthenes wrote against Philip king of MACEDON Furthermore there was not a famous man in all his tyme either in eloquence or in learning whose fame he hath not commended in writing or otherwise in honorable speech of him For he obteyned of Caesar when he had the Empire of ROME in his handes that Cratippus the PERIPATETICKE Philosopher was made Citizen of ROME Further he procured that by decree of the court of the Areopagites he was intreated to remaine at ATHENS to teach and instruct the youth there for that he was a great honor ornament vnto their city There are extant also of Ciceroes epistles vnto Herodes others vnto his sonne willing him to follow Crattipus in his studie and knowledge He wrote an other letter also vnto Gorgias the Rethoritian and
preferre a gentleman to haue charge of men to recommende him he sayd he was an honest wise and sober man Whereto Cicero presently answered Why doest thou not kepe him then to bring vp thy children An other time when they commended Theophanes LESBIAN that was maister of all the artificers of the campe bicause he had notablie comforted the RHODIANS when they had receiued a greate losse of their nauy see sayd Cicero what a goodly thing it is to haue a GRAECIAN master of artificers in the campe When both battells came to ioyne together and that Caesar had in manner all the aduauntage kept them as good as besieged Lentulus told him on a time that he heard say all Caesars frendes were madde and melancholy men Why q Cicero to him againe doest thou say that they doe enuie Caesar An other called Martius comming lately out of ITALIE sayd that there ranne a rumor in ROME that Pompey was besieged What q Cicero to him againe and diddest thou take shippe to come and see him thy selfe bicause thou mightest beleue it when thou haddest seene it Pompey being ouerthrowen one Nonius sayed there was yet good hope left bicause they had taken seuen Eagles within Pompeys campe Thy perswasion were not ill q Cicero so we were to fight but with pyes or dawes Labienus reposed all his trust in certaine Oracles that Pompey of necessitie must haue the vpper hand Yea sayd Cicero but for all this goodly stratageame of warre we haue not longe since lost our whole campe After the battell of Pharsalia where Cicero was not by reason of his sickenesse Pompey being fled and Cato at that time at DYRRACHIVM where he had gathered a great number of men of warre had also prepared a great nauie he prayed Cicero to take charge of all this army as it perteyned vnto him hauing bene Consul Cicero did not only refuse it but also tolde them he would meddle no more with this warre But this was enough to haue made him bene slaine for the younger Pompey and his frendes called him traitor and drewe their swordes vpon him to kill him which they had done had not Cato stepped betwene them and him and yet had he muche a doe to saue him and to conuey him safely out of the campe When Cicero came to BRVNDVSIVM he stayed there a certaine time for Caesars comming who came but slowly by reason of his troubles he had in ASIA as also in AEGYPT Howbeit newes being brought at length that Caesar was arriued at TARENTVM and that he came by lande vnto BRVNDVSIVM Cicero departed thence to goe meete him not mistrusting that Caesar woulde not pardon him but rather being ashamed to come to his enemie being a conqueror before such a number of men as he had about him Yet he was not forced to doe or speake any thing vnseemely to his calling For Caesar seeing him comming towardes him farre before the rest that came with him he lighted from his horse and imbraced him and walked a great way a foote with him stil talking with him only and euer after he did him great honor and made much of him Insomuche as Cicero hauing written a booke in praise of Cato Caesar on the other side wrote an other and praised the eloquence and life of Cicero matching it with the life of Pericles and Theramenes Ciceroes booke was intituled Cato Caesars booke called Anticato as much to say as against Cato They say further that Quintus Ligarius being accused to haue bene in the field against Caesar Cicero tooke vpon him to defend his cause and that Caesar sayd vnto his frendes about him what hurte is it for vs to heare Cicero speake whome we haue not heard of long time For otherwise Ligarius in my opinion standeth already a condemned man for I know him to be a vile man and mine enemie But when Cicero had begonne his Oration he moued Caesar maruelously he had so sweete a grace and suche in force in his words that it is reported Caesar chaunged diuers colours and shewed plainly by his countenance that there was a maruelous alteracion in all the partes of him For in th end when the Orator came to touche the battell of Pharsalia then was Caesar so troubled that his bodie shooke withall and besides certaine bookes he had fell out of his handes and he was driuen against his will to set Ligarius at libertie Afterwardes when the common wealth of ROME came to be a kingdom Cicero leauing to practise any more in the state he gaue him selfe to reade Philosophie to the young men that came to heare him by whose accesse vnto him bicause they were the chiefest of the nobilitie in ROME he came againe to beare as great sway and authoritie in ROME as euer he had done before His studie and endeuour was to wryte matters of Philosophie dialogue wise and to translate out of Graeke into Latin taking paynes to bring all the Graeke wordes which are proper vnto logicke and naturall causes vnto Latin. For he was the first man by report that gaue Latin names vnto these Graeke words which are proper vnto Philosophers as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he termed Visio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Assensus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Assensus cohibitio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comprehensio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Corpus indiuiduum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Corpus simplex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vacuum and many other suche like wordes But though he were not the first yet was it he that most did deuise and vse them and turned some of them by translation others into proper termes so that at length they came to be well taken knowen and vnderstanded of euerie man And for his readinesse in wryting of verses he would vse them many times for his recreation for it is reported that whensoeuer he tooke in hand to make any he would dispatch fiue hundred of them in a night Nowe all that time of his recreacion and pleasure he woulde commonly be at some of his houses in the contrie which he had neere vnto THVOCVLVM from whence he would wryte vnto his frends that he led Laertes life either spoken merily as his maner was or else pricked forward with ambition desiring to returne againe to be a practiser in the common wealth being wearie with the present time and state thereof Howsoeuer it was he came oftentimes to ROME onely to see Caesar to keepe him his frend and would euer be the first man to confirme any honors decreed vnto him and was alwayes studious to vtter some newe matter to praise him and his doinges As that was he sayd touching the statues of Pompeys the which being ouerthrowen Caesar commaunded them to be set vp againe and so they were For Cicero sayd that by that curtesie in setting vp of Pompeys statues againe he did establishe his owne So Cicero being determined to wryte all the ROMANE historie and to mingle with them many of the
GRAECIANS doings adding thereunto all the fables and deuises which they doe write and reporte he was hindered of his purpose against his will by many open and priuate troubles that came vpon him at once whereof notwithstanding he him selfe was cause of the most of them For first of all he did put away his wife Terentia bicause she had made but small accompt of him in all the warres so that he departed from ROME hauing no necessarie thing with him to enterteine him out of his contrie and yet when he came backe againe into ITALIE she neuer shewed any sparke of loue or good will towardes him For she neuer came to BRVNDVSIVM to him where he remeyned a long time and worse then that his daughter hauing the hart to take so long a iorney in hand to goe to him she neither gaue her company to conduct her nor money or other furniture conuenient for her but so handled the matter that Cicero at his returne to ROME founde bare walles in his house and nothing in it and yet greatly brought in det besides And these were the honestest causes alleaged for their diuorse But besides that Terentia denyed all these Cicero him selfe gaue her a good occasion to cleere her selfe bicause he shortly after maried a young maiden being fallen in fancie with her as Terentia sayd for her beawtie or as Tyro his seruaunt wrote for her riches to th ende that with her goods he might pay his dets For she was very rich Cicero also was appointed her gardian she being left sole heire Now bicause he ought a maruelous summe of money his parents and frends did counsell him to mary this young maiden notwithstanding he was too olde for her bicause that with her goodes he might satisfie his creditors But Antonius speaking of this mariage of Cicero in his aunswers Orations he made against the PHILIPPIANS he doth reproue him for that he put away his wife with whome he was growen olde being merie with him by the way for that he had bene an idle man and neuer went from the smoke of his chimney nor had bene abroade in the warres in any seruice of his contrie or common wealth Shortly after that he had maried his second wife his daughter dyed in labor of child in Lentulus house whose seconde wife she was being before maried vnto Piso who was her first husband So the Philosophers and learned men came of all sides to comfort him but he tooke her death so sorowfully that he put away his second wife bicause he thought she did reioyce at the death of his daughter And thus muche touching the state and troubles of his house Nowe touching the conspiracie against Caesar he was not made priuie to it although he was one of Brutus greatest frendes and that it grieued him to see thinges in that state they were brought vnto and albeit also he wished for the time past as much as any other man did But in deede the conspirators were affrayed of his nature that lacked hardinesse and of his age the which oftentimes maketh the stowtest and most hardiest natures faint harted cowardly Notwithstanding the conspiracie being executed by Brutus and Cassius Caesars frendes beinge gathered together euerie man was affrayed that the citie woulde againe fall into ciuill warres And Antonius also who was Consul at that time did assemble the Senate and made some speache and mocion then to draw things againe vnto quietnes But Cicero hauing vsed diuers perswasions fit for the time in the end he moued the Senate to decree following the example of the ATHENIANS a generall obliuion of thinges done against Caesar and to assigne vnto Brutus and Cassius some gouernmentes of prouinces Howbeit nothing was concluded for the people of them selues were sorie when they sawe Caesars bodie brought through the market place And when Antonius also did shew them his gowne all be bloodied cut throst through with swordes then they were like madde men for anger and sought vp and downe the market place if they coulde meete with any of them that had slaine him and taking fire brandes in their handes they ranne to their houses to set them a fire But the conspirators hauing preuented this daunger saued them selues and fearing that if they taried at ROME they should haue many such alaroms they forsooke the citie Then Antonius began to looke aloft and became fearefull to all men as though he ment to make him selfe king but yet most of all vnto Cicero aboue all others For Antonius perceiuing that Cicero began againe to increase in credit and authoritie and knowing that he was Brutus very frend he did mislike to see him come neere him and besides there was at that time some gealousie betwext them for the diuersitie and difference of their manners and disposicions Cicero being affrayed of this was first of all in minde to go with Dolabella to his prouince of SYRIA as one of his Lieutenaunts But they that were appointed to be Consuls the next yeare following after Antonius two noble citizens Ciceroes great frends Hircius Pansa they intreated him not to forsake them vndertaking that they would plucke downe this ouergreat power of Antonius so he would remaine with them But Cicero neither beleuing not altogether mistrusting them forsooke Dolabella and promised Hircius and Pansa that he would spend the sommer at ATHENS and that he would returne againe to ROME so soone as they were entred into their Consulship With this determination Cicero tooke sea alone to goe into GRAECE But as it chaunceth oftentimes there was some let that kept him he could not saile and newes came to him daily from ROME as the manner is that Antonius was wonderfully chaunged and that nowe he did nothing any more without the authoritie consent of the Senate that there lacked no thing but his person to make all things well Then Cicero condemning his dastardly feare returned foorthwith to ROME not being deceiued in his first hope For there came suche a number of people out to meete him that he coulde doe nothing all day long but take them by the handes and imbrace them who to honor him came to meete him at the gate of the citie as also by the way to bring him to his house The next morning Antonius assembled the Senate and called for Cicero by name Cicero refused to goe and kept his bedde fayning that he was werie with his iorney and paines he had taken the day before but in deede the cause why he went not was for feare and suspicion of an ambushe that was layed for him by the way if he had gone as he was informed by one of his verie good frends Antonius was maruelously offended that they did wrongfully accuse him for laying of any ambush for him and therefore sent souldiers to his house and commaunded them to bring him by force or else to sette his house a fire After that time Cicero and he were
alwayes at iarre but yet coldly enough one of them taking heede of an other vntill that the young Caesar returning from the citie of APOLLONIA came as lawfull heire vnto Iulius Caesar Dictator and had contencion with Antonius for the summe of two thowsande fiue hundred Myriades the which Antonius kept in his handes of his fathers goodes Thereuppon Philip who had maried the mother of this young Caesar and Marcellus who had also maried his sister went with young Caesar vnto Cicero and there agreed together that Cicero should helpe young Caesar with the fauour of his authoritie and eloquence as well towardes the Senate as also to the people and that Caesar in recompence of his good will should stande by Cicero with his money and souldiers For this young Caesar had many of his fathers old souldiers about him that had serued vnder him Now there was an other cause that made Cicero glad to imbrace the frendshippe of this young Caesar and that was this Whilest Pompey and Iulius Caesar were aliue and in good case Cicero dreamed one night that the Senators sonnes were called into the Capitoll bicause Iupiter had appointed to shew them him that one day should come to be Lord and king of ROME and that the ROMANES being desirous to see who it should be ranne all vnto the temple and that all the children likewise were waiting there in their goodly garded gownes of purple vntill that sodainly the dores of the temple were open then that al the children rose one after an other went and passed by the image of Iupiter who looked vpon them all and sent them discontented sauing this young Caesar vnto whom he put foorth his hand as he passed by and sayd My Lordes of ROME this childe is he that shall end all your ciuill warres when he commeth to be Lord of ROME Some say that Cicero had this vision in his dreame and that he caried in good memory the looke of this child howbeit that he knew him not and that the next morning he went of purpose into the fielde of Mars where these young boyes did exercise them selues who when he came thither had broken vp from playing and were going home and that amongest them he first saw him whom he had dreamed of and knew him verie well and musing at him the more asked him whose sonne he was The boy aunswered that he was the sonne of one Octauius a man otherwise of no great calling of Accia the sister of Iulius Caesar who hauing no childe made him his heire by his last will and testament and left him all his landes and goodes After that time it is reported that Cicero was verie glad to speake to him when he met with him and that the boy also liked Ciceroes frendshippe and making of him for by good happe the boy was borne the same yeare that Cicero was Consul And these be the reasons alleaged why Cicero did fauor this young Caesar. But in truth first of all the great malice he bare vnto Antonius and secondly his nature that was ambitious of honor were in my opinion the chiefest causes why he became young Caesars frend knowing that the force and power of his souldiers would greatly strengthen his authority and countenance in manedging the affaires of the state besides that the young man coulde flatter him so well that he called him father But Brutus being offended with him for it in his Epistells he wrote vnto Atticus he sharply reproueth Cicero saying that for feare of Antonius he flattered this young Caesar whereby it appeared he did not so much seeke for the libertie of ROME as he did procure him selfe a louing and gentle maister This notwithstanding Brutus brought with him Ciceroes sonne that studied Philosophie at ATHENS and gaue him charge of men vnder him and imployed him in great affaires wherein he shewed him selfe verie forward and valliant Now Ciceroes authoritie and power grew againe to be so great in ROME as euer it was before For he did what he thought good and so vexed Antonius that he draue him out of the citie and sent the two Consuls Hircius and Pansa against him to fight with him and caused the Senate also to decree that young Caesar should haue sergeaunts to carie roddes and axes before him and all other furniture for a Praetor as a man that fighteth for his contry After that Antonius had lost the battell and that both the Consuls were slaine both the armies came vnto Caesar. The Senate then being affraied of this young man that had so great good fortune they practised by honors and gifts to call the armies from him which he had about him and so to minish the greatnes of his power saying that their contrie now stoode in no neede of force nor feare of defence sith her enemie Antonius was fled and gone Caesar fearing this sent men secretly vnto Cicero to pray him to procure that they two together might be chosen Consuls and that when they should be in office he should doe and appoint what he thought good hauing the young man at his commaundement who desired no more but the honor only of the name Caesar him selfe confessed afterwardes that being affrayed he should haue bene vtterly cast away to haue bene left alone he finely serued his turne by Ciceroes ambition hauing perswaded him to require the Consulship through the helpe and assistance that he would geue him But there was Cicero finely colted as old as he was by a young man when he was contented to sue for the Consulship in his behalfe and to make the Senate agreable to it wherefore his frendes presently reproued him for it and shortly after he perceiued he had vndone him selfe and together also lost the libertie of his contrie For this young man Octauius Caesar being growen to be verie great by his meanes and procurement when he saw that he had the Consulshippe vpon him he forsooke Cicero and agreed with Antonius and Lepidus Then ioyning his armie with theirs he deuided the Empire of ROME with them as if it had bene lands left in common betwene them and besides that there was a bill made of two hundred men and vpwards whom they had appointed to be slaine But the greatest difficultie and difference that fell out betwene them was about the outlawing of Cicero For Antonius woulde hearken to no peace betwene them vnlesse Cicero were slaine first of all Lepidus was also in the same mind with Antonius but Caesar was against them both Their meeting was by the citie of BOLONIA where they continued three dayes together they three only secretly consulting in a place enuironned about with a litle riuer Some say that Caesar stuck hard with Cicero the two first dayes but at the third that he yeelded and forsooke him The exchaunge they agreed vpon betwene them was this Caesar forsooke Cicero Lepidus his owne brother Paulus and Antonius Lucius Caesar
him besides other cruell tormentes she made him abide she compelled him to cut his owne flesh of by litle morsells and to broyle them and then to eate them Some historiographers doe thus reporte it But Tyro who was a slaue infranchised by Cicero made no mencion of the treason of this Philologus Howbeit I vnderstoode that Caesar Augustus long time after that went one day to see one of his Nephewes who had a booke in his hande of Ciceroes and he fearing least his Vncle woulde be angrie to finde that booke in his handes thought to hide it vnder his gowne Caesar saw it and tooke it from him and red the most parte of it standing and then deliuered it to the young boy and sayd vnto him he was a wise man in deede my childe and loued his contrie well After he had slaine Antonius being Consul he made Ciceroes sonne his colleague and fellow Consul with him in whose time the Senate ordeyned that the images of Antonius should be throwen downe and depriued his memory of all other honors adding further vnto his decree that from thence foorth none of the house familie of the Antonij should euer after beare the christen name of Marcus. So Gods iustice made the extreame reuenge and punishment of Antonius to fal into the house of Cicero THE COMPARISON OF Cicero with Demosthenes THis is as muche as we coulde gather by our knowledge touching the notable actes and deedes worthie of memorie wrytten of Cicero and Demosthenes Furthermore leauing the comparison a side of the difference of their eloquence in their Orations me thinkes I may say thus muche of them That Demosthenes did whollie imploy all his wit and learning naturall or artificiall vnto the arte of Rethoricke and that in force and vertue of eloquence he did excell all the Orators in his time and for grauetie and magnificent style all those also that only wryte for shewe or ostentacion and for sharpnesse and arte all the Sophisters and Maisters of Rhetoricke And that Cicero was a man generallie learned in all sciences and that had studied diuers bookes as appeareth plainely by the sundrie bookes of Philosophie if his owne making written after the manner of the Academicke Philosophers Furthermore they may see in his Orations he wrote in certeine causes to serue him when he pleaded that he sought occasions in his bytalke to shewe men that he was excellently well learned Furthermore by their phrases a man may discerne some sparke of their manners and condicions For Demosthenes phrase hath no maner of finenesse geastes nor grace in it but is altogether graue and harshe and smelleth not of the lampe as Pytheas sayd when he mocked him but sheweth a great drinker of water extreame paines and therewith also a sharpe and sower nature But Cicero oftentimes fell from pleasaunt tawntes vnto plaine scurrilitie and turning all his pleadinges of matters of importaunce to sporte and laughter hauing a grace in it many times he did forget the comlynesse that became a man of his calling As in his Oration for Caelius where he sayeth it is no maruell if in so greate aboundance of wealth and finenesse he giue him selfe a litle to take his pleasure and that it was a folly not to vse pleasures lawefull and tollerable sith the famousest Philosophers that euer were did place the chiefe felicitie of man to be in pleasure And it is reported also that Marcus Cato hauing accused Muraena Cicero being Consul defended his cause and in his Oration pleasauntly girded all the sect of the Stoicke Philosophers for Catoes sake for the straunge opinions they holde which they call Paradoxes insomuch as he made all the people and Iudges also fall a laughing a good And Cato him selfe also smiling a litle sayd vnto them that sate by him what a laughing and mocking Consul haue we my Lordes but letting that passe it seemeth that Cicero was of a pleasaunt and merie nature for his face shewed euer greate life and mirth in it Whereas in Demosthenes countenaunce on tother side they might discerne a maruelous diligence care and a pensiue man neuer weary with paine insomuch that his enemies as he reporteth him selfe called him a peruerse froward man Furthermore in their writings is discerned that the one speaketh modesty in his owne praise so as no man can iustly be offended with him and yet not alwayes but when necessitie enforceth him for some matter of great importaunce but otherwise verie discreete and modest to speake of him selfe Cicero in contrarie maner vsing too often repeticion of one selfe thing in all his Orations shewed an extreame ambition of glorie when incessantly he cried out Let speare and shield geue place to govvne And geue the tung the laurell Crovvne Yea furthermore he did not onely praise his owne actes and deedes but the Orations also which he had wrytten or pleaded as if he shoulde haue contended against Isocrates or Anaximenes a maister that taught Rethoricke and not to goe about to reforme the people of ROME VVhich vvere both fierce and stovvt in armes And sit to vvorke their enemies harmes For as it is requisite for a Gouernour of a common wealth to seeke authoritie by his eloquence so to couet the praise of his owne glorious tongue or as it were to begge it that sheweth a base minde And therefore in this poynt we must confesse that Demosthenes is farre grauer and of a nobler minde who declared him selfe that all his eloquence came onely but by practise the which also required the fauor of his auditorie and further he thought them fooles and madde men as in deede they be no lesse that therefore woulde make any boast of them selues In this they were both alike that both of them had great credit and authoritie in their Orations to the people and for obtayning that they would propound Insomuche as Captaines and they that had armies in their handes stoode in neede of their eloquence As Chares Diopithes and Leosthenes they all were holpen of Demosthenes and Pompey and Octauius Caesar the young man of Cicero as Caesar him selfe confesseth in his Commentaries he wrote vnto Agrippa and Moecenas But nothing sheweth a mans nature and condicion more as it is reported and so is it true then when one is in authoritie for that bewrayeth his humor and the affections of his minde and layeth open also all his secret vices in him Demosthenes coulde neuer deliuer any suche proofe of him selfe bicause he neuer bare any office nor was called forward For he was not Generall of the armie which he him selfe had prepared against king Philippe Cicero on thother side being sent Treasorer into SICILE and Proconsul into CILICIA and CAPPADOCIA in such a time as couetousnes raigned most insomuch that the Captaines Gouernors whom they sent to gouerne their prouinces thinking it villanie and dastardlinesse to robbe did violently take thinges by force at what time also to
take bribes was reckoned no shame but to handle it discreetly he was the better thought of and beloued for it he shewed plainely that he regarded not money and gaue foorth many proofes of his curtesie and goodnes Furthermore Cicero being created Consul by name but Dictator in deede hauing absolute power and authoritie ouer all thinges to suppresse the rebellion and conspirators of Catiline he proued Platoes prophecie true which was That the cities are safe from daunger when the chiefe Magistrates and Gouernors by some good diuine fortune doe gouerne with wisedome and iustice Demosthenes was reproued for his corruption and selling of his eloquence bicause secretly he wrote one Oration for Phormio and an other in the selfe same matter for Apollodorus they being both aduersaries Further he was defamed also for receiuing money of the king of PERSIA and therewithall condemned for the money which he had taken of Harpalus And though some peraduenture woulde obiect that the reporters thereof which are many doe lye yet they can not possibly deny this that Demosthenes had no power to refraine from looking of the presentes which diuers kinges did offer him praying him to accept them in good parte for their sakes neither was that the part of a man that did take vsurie by trafficke on the sea the extreamest yet of all other In contrarie maner as we haue sayd before it is certeine that Cicero being Treasorer refused the gifts which the SICILIANS offered him there and the presentes also which the king of the CAPPADOCIANS offred him whilest he was Proconsul in CILICIA and those especially which his frendes pressed vpon him to take of them being a great summe of money when he went as a banished man out of ROME Furthermore the banishment of the one was infamous to him bicause by iudgement he was banished as a theefe The banishment of the other was for as honorable an acte as euer he did being banished for ridding his contrie of wicked men And therefore of Demosthenes there was no speeche after he was gone but for Cicero all the Senate chaunged their apparell into blacke and determined that they would passe no decree by their authoritie before Ciceroes banishment was reuoked by the people In deede Cicero idlely passed his time of banishment and did nothing all the while he was in MACEDON and one of the chiefest acts that Demosthenes did in all the time that he delt in the affaires of the common wealth was in his banishment For he went vnto euery city and did assist the Ambassadors of the GRAECIANS and refused the Ambassadors of the MACEDONIANS In the which he shewed him selfe a better citizen then either Themistocles or Alcibiades in their like fortune and exile So when he was called home and returned he fell againe to his old trade which he practised before and was euer against Antipater and the MACEDONIANS Where Laelius in open Senate sharply tooke vp Cicero for that he sate still and sayd nothing when that Octauius Caesar the young man made peticion against the law that he might sue for the Consulshippe and being so young that he had neuer a heare on his face And Brutus selfe also doth greatly reproue Cicero in his letters for that he had maintained and nourished a more grieuous and greater tyrannie then that which they had put downe And last of all me thinketh the death of Cicero most pitiefull to see an olde man caried vp and downe with tender loue of his seruauntes seeking all the waies that might be to flie death which did not long preuent his naturall course and in the ende olde as he was to see his head so pitiefully cut of Whereas Demosthenes though he yeelded a litle intreating him that came to take him yet for that he had prepared the poyson long before that he had kept it long and also vsed it as he did he can not but be maruelously commended for it For sith the god Neptune denyed him the benefit of his sanctuarie he betooke him to a greater and that was death whereby he saued him selfe out of the souldiers handes of the tyran and also scorned the bloody crueltie of Antipater THE LIFE OF Demetrius WHo first likened arts to our sences semeth to haue respected especially that one property of them both in receiuing obiects of contrary quality for in the vse end of their operacion there is great difference The senses receiue indifferently without discretion and iudgement white and blacke sweete and sower soft and hard for their office is only to admit their seuerall obiects and to carie and referre the iudgement thereof to the common sence But artes being the perfection of reason receiue and allow those things onely which make for their operacion regarding eschuing the contraries Thone chiefly and for vse thother by the way and with intent to auoyde them So Phisicke dealeth with diseases Musicke with discordes to thend to remoue them and worke their contraries and the great Ladies of all other artes Temperaunce iustice and wisdom doe not only consider honestie vprightnes and profit but examine withall the nature and effectes of lewdnes corruption and damage And innocencie which vaunteth her want of experience in vndue practises men call simplicitie and ignoraunce of thinges that be necessarie and good to be knowen And therefore the auncient LACEDAEMONIANS in their solemne feastes forced their ILOTES to boundmen to ouercharge them selues with wine and suche they shewed them vnto their youth by the apparant beastlines of dronken men to worke in them an abhorring of so lothesome vice Wherein although I can not much praise them for humanity or wisedom that corrupt and spoile one man by example of him to correct and reclaime an other yet as I hope it shall not be reprehended in me if amongest the rest I put in one or two paier of suche as liuing in great place accompt haue increased their fame with infamy Which in truth I doe not to please draw on the reader with variety of report but as Ismenias the THEBAN Musitian shewed his schollers both those that strake a cleane stroke with do so such as bungled it with do not so Antigenidas thought men should like better with greater desire cōtend for skill if they heard and discerned vntunable notes so thinke I we shall be the forwarder in reading following the good if we know the liues and see the deformity of the wicked This treaty conteineth the liues of Demetrius surnamed the Fortgainer M. Antony the Triumuir great examples to confirme the saying of Plato That from great minds both great vertues great vices do procede They were both giuen ouer to women wine both valliāt liberal both sumptuous high minded fortune serued them both alike not only in the course of their liues in attēpting great matters somtimes with good somtimes with ill successe in getting losing things of great consequence ouerthrowing
this state at ROME Octauius Caesar the younger came to ROME who was the sonne of Iulius Caesars Nece as you haue heard before and was left his lawefull heire by will remayning at the tyme of the death of his great Vncle that was slayne in the citie of APOLLONIA This young man at his first arriuall went to salute Antonius as one of his late dead father Caesars friendes who by his last will and testament had made him his heire and withall he was presently in hande with him for money and other thinges which were left of trust in his handes bicause Caesar had by will bequeathed vnto the people of ROME three score and fifteene siluer Drachmas to be giuen to euery man the which he as heire stoode charged withall Antonius at the first made no reckoning of him bicause he was very younge and sayde he lacked witte and good friendes to aduise him if he looked to take such a charge in hande as to vndertake to be Caesars heire But when Antonius saw that he could not shake him of with those wordes and that he was still in hande with him for his fathers goods but specially for the ready money then he spake and did what he could against him And first of all it was he that did keepe him from being Tribune of the people and also when Octauius Caesar beganne to meddle with the dedicating of the chayer of gold which was prepared by the Senate to honor Caesar with he threatned to send him to prison and moreouer desisted not to put the people in an vnprore This young Caesar seeing his doings went vnto Cicero and others which were Antonius enemies and by them crept into fauor with the Senate and he him self sought the peoples good will euery manner of way gathering together the olde souldiers of the late deceased Caesar which were dispersed in diuers cities and colonyes Antonius being affrayd of it talked with Octauius in the capitoll and became his friend But the very same night Antonius had a straunge dreame who thought that lightning fell vpon him burnt his right hand Shortly after word was brought him that Caesar lay in waite to kil him Caesar cleered him selfe vnto him and told him there was no such matter but he could not make Antonius beleue the contrary Whereuppon they became further enemies then euer they were insomuch that both of them made friends of either side to gather together all the old souldiers through ITALY that were dispersed in diuers townes made them large promises sought also to winne the legions of their side which were already in armes Cicero on the other side being at that time the chiefest man of authoritie estimation in the citie he stirred vp al meÌ„ against Antonius so that in the end he made the Senate pronouÌ„ce him an enemy to his contry appointed young Caesar Sergeaunts to cary axes before him such other signes as were incident to the dignitie of a Consul or Praetor moreouer sent Hircius and Pausa then Consuls to driue Antonius out of ITALY These two Consuls together with Caesar who also had an armye went against Antonius that beseeged the citie of MODENA and there ouerthrew him in battell but both the Consuls were slaine there Antonius flying vpon this ouerthrowe fell into great miserie all at once but the chiefest want of all other that pinched him most was famine Howbeit he was of such a strong nature that by pacience he would ouercome any aduersitie and the heauier fortune lay vpon him the more constant shewed he him selfe Euery man that feleth want or aduersitie knoweth by vertue and discretion what he should doe but when in deede they are ouerlayed with extremitie and be sore oppressed few haue the harts to follow that which they praise and commend and much lesse to auoid that they reproue and mislike But rather to the contrary they yeld to their accustomed easie life and through faynt hart lacke of corage doe chaunge their first mind and purpose And therefore it was a wonderfull example to the souldiers to see Antonius that was brought vp in all finenes and superfluitie â—â— easily to drinke puddle water and to eate wild frutes and rootes and moreouer it is reported that euen as they passed the Alpes they did eate the barcks of trees and such beasts as neuer man tasted of their flesh before Now their intent was to ioyne with the legions that were on the other side of the Mountaines vnder Lepidus charge whoÌ„ Antonius tooke to be his friend bicause he had holpen him to many things at Caesars hand through his meanes When he was come to the place where Lepidus was he camped hard by him and when he saw that no man came to him to put him in any hope he determined to venter him selfe and to goe vnto Lepidus Since the ouerthrow he had at MODENA he suffred his beard to grow at length and neuer clypt it that it was maruelous long and the heare of his heade also without koming and besides all this he went in a mourning gowne and after this sort came hard to the trenches of Lepidus campe Then he beganne to speake vnto the souldiers and many of them their hartes yerned for pitie to see him so poorely arrayed and some also through his wordes beganne to pitie him insomuch that Lepidus beganne to be affrayd and therefore commaunded all the trompetts to sownd together to stoppe the souldiers eares that they should not harken to Antonius This notwithstanding the souldiers tooke the more pitie of him spake secretly with him by Clodius Laelius meanes whom they sent vnto him disguised in womens apparel gaue him counsel that he should not be affraid to enter into their campe for there were a great number of souldiers that would receiue him and kill Lepidus if he would say the word Antonius would not suffer them to hurt him but the next morning he went with his army to wade a ford at a litle riuer that ranne betweene them and him selfe was the foremost man that tooke the riuer to get ouer seeing a number of Lepidus campe that gaue him their handes plucked vp the stakes and layed flat the bancke of their trenche to let him in to their campe When he was come into their campe and that he had all the army at his commaundement he vsed Lepidus very curteously imbraced him and called him father and though in deede Antonius did all and ruled the whole army yet he alway gaue Lepidus the name and honor of the Captaine Munatius Plancus lying also in campe hard by with an armye vnderstanding the report of Antonius curtesie he also came and ioined with him Thus Antonius being a foote againe and growen of great power repassed ouer the Alpes leading into ITALY with him seuenteene legions and tenne thowsand horsemen besides six legions he left in garrison amonge the GAVLES vnder the charge of