being men much honoured both at home and abroad yea there were many more partakers of this counsell in secret whom ambitious hopes did rather inuite then want or any other necessity Moreouer the greatest part of the youth and those specially that were Noble did fauour Catilines designes I meane such who being accustomed to liue idly in pompe and pleasure preferred casualties before certainties and warre before peace There were some also liuing in those times who did beleeue that M. Licinus Crassus was not ignorant of this counsell because his aduersarie â—neius Pompeius did commaund a great Armie whose power he was willing that any growing opposite should ouer-top and withall he was confident that if the conspiracie did succeed that hee should easily inuest himselfe with the principall command But before this there were others who conspired in which list Catiline was one Of which subiect I meane to treate as punctually as I can CHAP. 6. Catiline is prohibited from suing for the Consull-ship Piso is sent Treasurer into Spaine he is slaine by his owne Souldiers LV. Tullus and Mar. Lepidus being Consuls Pu. Antronius and Pu. Sylla Consuls elect being indited vpon the Lawes of canuasing for Offices suffred punishment Not long after Catiline being attainted for extortion of moneies in his prouince was prohibited to sue for the Consullship because he could not cleere himselfe within a prefixed time There liued then at Rome one Cu. Piso a young man nobly descended of a most daring spirit poore and factious want and an euill disposition did incite him to disturbe the Common-wealth Catiline and Antronius hauing communicated their counsels with this Piso about the Nones of December they resolued to murther the two Consuls L. Torquatus and L. Cotta in the Capitoll on the Kalends of Ianuary And then hauing seazed on the Consular Ensignes they two were to dispatch Piso with an Armie to take possession of both the Spaines But this plot being discouered they deferred the execution of the murther vntill the Nones of Febrâ—ary Then they intended not onely to kill the Consuls but diuers others of the Senators So that if Catiline had not too soone giuen the signall at Court to his Confederates neuer since the building of Rome such an outrage had beene committed for because the conspiratours did not meete armed in full numbers that anticipation dissolued the plot After this Piso was sent Treasurer into the hither Spaine for the Praetour Crassus labouring in the suite because he knewe him to be a mortall enemy to C. Pompeius Neither did the Senate vnwillingly obtrude him to this place being desirous to remoue this dangerous person farre from the neere imployments of State The sooner because many good men made him their Protectour and euen then Pompeies greatnesse became fearefull But this Piso was slaine as he marched into the Prouince by the Spanish Horse-men ouer whom he commanded There were some which reported that these Barbarians could not indure his vnâ—ust proud and tyrannous gouernment Others againe did affirme that these Horse-men hauing beene Pompeies ancient and faithfull seruitours attempted this vpon Piso with his consent the Spaniards being otherwise vnaccustomed to commit offences of that nature yet they had beene formerly subiect to many as rigorous Commanders But we will leaue this matter doubtfull as wee found it CHAP. 7. Catilines Oration to his Confederates They demand the conditions of the warre in which point he giues them satisfaction CAtiline perceiuing his Complices to be assembled of whom wee haue made mention heretofore although he had treated with them seuerally about sundry matters yet supposing that it did much conduce to his ends to encourage them altogether he retires into the secretest roome of his house and there all those who were not of the complot being remoued he began this or the like Oration Vnlesse your valour and fidelitie were sufficiently knowne vnto me the opportunitie would be of no importance and this great hope of commanding all would euen rust in our hands Neither should I through want of imploiment or any other various conceite entertaine casuall aduentures for certainties But since I haue knowne you valiant and faithfull to me me in many and great occurrences I am thereby incouraged to vndertake this most high and honorable eâ—terprise the sooner also because I vnderstand your resolutions are conformable to mine in the election of good euill for to concurre ioyntly in willing or not willing that is the firmest friendship that can be what I haue formerly conceiued in my mind all of you haue heard before this in priuate conferences But now my courage is euery day more more inflamed when I consider the conditions that shall attend our liues except we our selues vindicate our liberties for sithence the Common-wealth is fallen into the power and preeminence of some few great men Kings and Tetrachs haue beene their tributaries Peoples Nations haue payd them pensions but as for the rest of vs how valiant or good how noble or ignoble wee haue beene ranked amongst the vulgar liuing without respect without authority obnoxious vnto those to whom if the Weale publicke tooke place we should be the subiects of terrour Hence it is that all fauour power honour and riches are become theirs or at least theirs on whom they please to conferre them But to vs they haue left repulses dangers iudgements and pouerty which grieuances how long will ye suffer O you my most valiant friends Is it not more honorable to dye vertuously then to protracte a miserable and despised life with infamy after it hath beene made the scorn of other mens pride But assuredly by that faith which I owe to God and man the victorie is seated in our hands wee haue youth for our aduantage and hearts full of courage contrariwise through age and aboundance of wealth all abilities are decayed in them It remaines onely for vs to begin as for the rest time will accomplish Can any man liuing whose disposition is manly indure to see these men abounde with riches which they lauish out in damming vp the seas and leuelling of mountaines and that we should want meanes for our present necessities That they should possesse two or three houses and that we should want a roofe for our heads so that whereas they buy pictures skutcheous and imbossed furniture whereas they neglect the old demolish the new raise vp other edifices in their places and last of all by all meanes get and consume money yet cannot they by their lauishnesse bring their fortunes to an ebbe But we haue pouerty at home debts abroad our estates are lowe our hopes are more desperate Finally what haue wee left but the miseries of a perplexed mind Therefore rowze vp your selues behold that that liberty I say which you haue so long wished for together with riches renowne and glory are now represented vnto you fortune hath proposed all these rewards for the Conquerours The subiect time dangers wants and magnificent spoiles of
although it happened beyond hope as thy dignity is a griefe who hold it more acceptable to hazard their owne liberty out of thy calamitie then that by thee the Empire of the Romane people of great should be made greatest For which cause thou oughtest to be more and more prouident how thou mayst establish and strengthen the State As for me what my minde suggesteth I shall not be doubtfull to speake In two parts I take this Citty to be diuided as I haue heard from my Ancestours into the Fathers and Commonalty In former times the chiefest authority was in the Fathers the greatest power by far was in the Commonalty Thereupon disunion happened frequently in the Citty and alwaies the Nobilities strength was lessened and the right of the people amplified But by this meanes the Commonalty liued freely because no mans power was aboue the Lawes neither in riches nor pride but in a good fame and valiant exploites the Noble excelled the ignoble Euery man of the inferiour ranke in Armes or military imployment wanting no honest accomodation was inough for himselfe inough for his Country But when as being expelled by degrees out of their possessions slouth and pouerty inforced them to haue vncertaine habitations they began to couet other mens wealth and to account their liberty with the Republicke salable Thus the people by little and little which was the Lord and ruler of all Nations fell from his first greatnesse and for a common command euery man procured for himselfe a priuate seruitude Therefore this multitude being first infected with euill manners then dispersed into sundry Arts and courses of life no waies agreeing amongst themselues seeme not fit men vnto me to vndertake the Commonwealth But new Citizens being added a great hope doth possesse me that all of them will be rozud vp for the cause of liberty for that both a care will grow in them for retaining their freedome as well as in those for quitting their seruitude My censure is that these being commixed the new with the old thou shouldst place them in the Colonies thus both the military estate will be strengthned and the Commonalty being detained with good imployments will cease from committing publike euill But I am not ignorant nor imprudent when this thing shall be what insolencie what outrages of the Nobilitie will follow when as they shall be incensed that all things are confounded together that this seruitude is imposed on ancient Citizens finally that of a free State it will become a Kingdome when by one mans gift a mighty multitude shal haue the freedome of the Citty As for my selfe this verily is my opinion That hee commits an euill offence against himselfe that would procure fauour for himselfe with the disprofit of the Common-wealth whereas the publicke good serues also for priuat vse there to be doubtfull to vndertake I hold it a point of slacknesse and cowardice This was alwayes the counsell of M. Liuius Drusus in his Tribuneship to striue for the Nobility to the vtmost of his power neither did he intend to doe any thing else from the beginning if some factious persons had not suggested it vnto him vnto whom deceit and malice were dearer then faith When as they vnderstood that by one man the greatest benefit would be communicated to many men and withall euery one of them being conscious to himselfe that he was of an euill and faithlesse disposition they conceiued of Drusus alike as of themselues Therefore out of a feare lest he through so great a fauour should inioy the sole command contending against that they disturbed their owne counsels For which cause O Emperor friends mony and Aydes are to be procured by thee with greater care and constancie To suppresse an opposed enemie it is no difficulty for a valiant man neither to plot nor auoid couert dangers is a thing proper to good men Therefore when thou shalt haue brought them into the City and that by this meanes the Commonalty shall be renewed in this thou oughtest to exercise thy minde especially that good manners may be had in estimation that concord may be confirmed betwixt the old and new Cittizens But by farre shalt thou procure the greatest of all other benefits for thy Country Cittizens thy selfe thy children lastly for all mankind if thou shalt either take away the loue of money or lessen it as farre as occasion will serue Otherwise neither priuate nor publicke estate neither at home nor abroad will be well gouerned For whereas the desire of money is once entred neither discipline nor good Arts nor any ingenuitie is polished inough but the minde more or lesse maturely yet finally is ouercome Often haue I heard what Kings what Citties and Nations haue lost great Empires by opulencie which being poore they got by vertue This is not much to be maruelled at For whereas a good man sees one that is worse to become more renowned and acceptable by his riches he stormes at first and agitateth many things in his minde but whenas euery day more then other glory ouerballanceth honour opulency vertue the minde from truth reuolts to pleasure For with glory industry is cherished when as you shall take away that vertue in it selfe is rough and vnpleasant Last of all where riches are valued all good things are vilified faith honesty shamefastnesse and modesty For to vertue there is one and that a difficult way to get money euery man endeuoureth as he pleaseth it is created both out of euill and good meanes For this cause first of all take away the Authority of money neither in point of life nor honor will any man iudge more or lesse from a mans estate if neither Praetour nor Consull be made out of the regard of wealth but dignity Yet in the choice of Magistrates let the peoples iudgement bee free To haue Iudges allowed by some few is an argument of Royalty to haue them chosen for money is dishonest Wherefore it is my will that all those of the first Classicall order doe iudge but more in number then now iudge Neither did the Rhodians nor any other Citties euer repent of their iudgements whereas promiscuously the rich and the poore as euery mans turne comes consult alike about the greatest and least affaires But in the creation of Magistrates that Law pleaseth me and that not absurdly which C. Gracchus diuulged in his Tribuneship that out of the fiue Classicall Orders blended together at all peraduentures Centuries should be called forth Thus they being coequalled in dignity and money one will striue to excell another in vertue Neither doe I prescribe difficult remedies against riches For accordingly all things are praised and desired as the vse of those things is Wickednesse is exercised for rewards when you shall barre that no man amongst all will be wicked for thankes onely Besides auarice is a cruell fieree and vnprofitable beast where it intends it wasteth Townes Fieldes Temples and Houses it confounds diuine and humane Lawes
did approue Catilines vndertakings and this seemes to be done according to custome for alwayes in a Common-wealth those men whose fortunes are low enuy the good magnifie the bad mislike antiquities wish for nouelties and in disdaine of their proper estates they desire a generall alteration feeding themselues securely with troubles and tumults because their pouerty could hardly bee damnified But as for the Plebeians of the City they precipitated themselues into this action through sundry motiues First of all those who most exceeded in lewdnesse and petulancy then those who had shamefully wasted their Patrimonies and lastly all snch whom some notorious offence or outrage had expelled from their owue dwellings the confluence of these repaired to Rome as if it had beene a sinke of receite Besides many others being mindefull of Syllaes victorie because they had seene some common Souldiers made Senatours and others so inriched that in dyet and apparell they liued after a Royall manner hoped to reape such fruites by the victory if that were purchased by their Armes Moreouer the Peazant youth who by the hire of their hands had got their liuings in the fields being allured with the hope of priuate and publicke largesses had preferred the Citties ease before the thriftlesse Country labour These and all others of this kind did feed on the publike calamity It being a matter not much to be wondred at that penurious persons of euill conditions and aspiring mindes should equally neglect themselues and the Common-wealth Moreouer such as had their parents proscribed their goods confiscated and the priuiledge of their liberties intrenched vpon by the rigour of Syllaes victory did attend the euent of this warre with a resolution answerable to the former Againe whosoeuer were of any faction except of the Senatorian did rather desire the trouble then the tranquillity of the State This mischiefe after many forepassed yeeres made his reuerse againe into the Citty For after the Tribunitiall power was restored Cn. Pompeius and M. Crassus being Consuls certaine young men hauing gotten the soueraigne authority whose yeeres and spirits were disposed to violence they began by traducing the Senate to exasperate the common people and then to ingage them further by their large gifts and promises by which popular courses they themselues became renowned and powerfull Against these Innouatours the greatest part of the Nobility opposed themselues with the strongest meanes that they could vnder the pretence of maintaining the Senate but indeed for the support of their owne greatnesse For that I may briefly deliuer the truth whosoeuer in these times disturbed the publicke peace counterfeiting the care of the Common-wealth vnder the fauour of honest names as to be protectours of the peoples priuiledges or aduancers of the Senates authority all of them stroue to inlarge their owne power Neither was there any meane nor modesty in their contentious courses and being victorious they were euer vnmercifull But after that Cn. Pompeius was sent vnto the maritime and Mithridaâ—icke warres the Plebeian faction declined all greatnesse being ingrossed by some few These intrested themselues with Magistracies Prouinces and all other dignities Then they spent their time in security flourishing without any mans disturbance As for the rest they terrified them with their seuerity the meanes by which they thought to rule the people best in this their vsurped Magistracy But as soone as the first hope of innouation presented it selfe the former quarrell inflamed their courages so that if Catiline had beene superiour in the first Battell or had fallen off vpon equall termes for certaine a miserable slaughter and calamity had oppressed the Romane State for those who had vanquished should not long haue inioyed the benefit of the victory but a stronger party would haue extorted from them being weary and wounded their acquired Empire and liberty There were many men besides not listed in the Conspiracy who with the first went forth to Catiline Amongst these there was one A. Fuluius the sonne of a Senator who being fetcht backe as hee was vpon his iourney was slaine by his fathers command CHAP. 12. Lentulus strengthneth his party at Rome Vmbrenus acquaints the Ambassadours of the Allobroges with the plot Sanga gets a draught of it DVring the time of these occurences Lentulus sollicited at Rome either by him-selfe or his Agents according as Catiline had giuen order all those whom for their conditions or fortune he thought fit instruments for his purpose Neither did he deale with the Cittizens alone but with all sorts of men that were seruiceable for the warres To this end hee giues instructions to P. Vmbrenus that he should found the Ambassadours of the Allobroges and draw them if he could into the society of this action thinking that they would easily be perswaded to ioyne as being in priuate and publicke much indebted and besides the nation of the Gaules is by nature in clined to Armes Vmbrenus by reason he had negotiated in Gaule did know and was knowne vnto most of their principall Citizens Therefore as soone as he saw the Ambassadours in the Common-hall hauing made some few demands concerning the State of their Citty and seeming to deplore her wrerched case he began to inquire what end they did expect of these their great greeuances When he perceiued that they complayned by way of reply of the couetousnesse of the Magistrates and blamed the Senate because they could haue no redresse from them and that they expected no remedy for their miseries but by death onely Why then saith he if you will shew your selues men I will put you into a course by which you may shunne all these inconueniences As soone as he had deliuered these words the Allobroges being possest with great hopes importune Vmbrenus to take compassion on them for there was nothing so dreadfull nor difficult but they would vndertake to doe it willingly so that the performance of it would free their Citty from her debts Thence he brings them into the house of D. Brutus as being neere to the Common-hall and by meanes of Sempronia no stranger vnto the plot And Brutus was as then absent from Rome Besides that his speech might carry the more authority he sends for Galinius Hee being present Vmbrenus discloseth the conspiracy at large Hee names the confederates and with them many men of sundry degrees being altogether innocent and this he did to giue further incouragement to the Ambassadours Then he dismisseth them home after they had promised their best assistance But as for the Allobroges they stucke long vpon doubtfull resolutions On the one side stood their debts their inclination to war and the large rewards expected from the victory On the other side they beheld a stronger party safe courses and certaine rewards for vncertaine hopes They pondering these things in their minds the fortune of the Republicke at length preuailed And so they deliuered vnto Q. Fabius Sanga a man whose patronage their Citty much vsed a full draught of the Conspiracy according
for Aâ—des from the Confederates and Latine Nation briefely hee forwards his affaires by all meanes possible The Senate decreed thus as it was fit they should that without their and the peoples order no League could be established The Conâ—ull being hindred by the Tribunes of the people from transporting the forces which hee had raised within some few dayes passeth into Africke For all the Army as it was agreed vpon being drawne out of Numidia wintred in the Prouince CHAP. 12. The Consull is disinabled to prosecute the warre Mamilius one of the Tribunes preferres a Request against them whom Iugurth had corrupted The factions of the Câ—ttie described AFter he arriued there although he was resoluted in mind to persecute Iugurth and to salue the hatred conceiued against his brother yet taking a suruey of his Souldiers whom besides their flight for want of discipline liberty and loosenesse had corrupted hee conceiued from the necessity of his affaires that hee could enterprize nothing In the meane while at Rome C. Mamilius Limetanus Tribune of the people makes this Request to the Commons that a complaint should be preferred against those by whose counsell Iugurth had slighted the Decrees of the Senate as also against them who in their Ambassages or military charges had receiued money from him who had redeliuered the Elephants and fugitiues withall that in warre or peace had made any Contracts with the enemies To crosse this Request some conscious to themselues others out of the enmity of the factions fearing danger because openly they could not deny but must confesse that these such like proceedings did please them prepared impedimeÌ„ts couertly by their friends but specially by their ministers of the Latine Nation and Italian Allyes Yet how earnest the CoÌ„mous were incredible it is to bee related as also with what violence they coÌ„manded decreed desired the preferring of this Request more for the hatred of the Nobility against whom these mischiefes were contriued then for the care of the Republicke such eagernesse was amongst the factions WhereupoÌ„ others being strucken with feare M. Scaurus whom wee haue formerly reported to haue beene Bestiaes Deputy amidst this insultation of the Commons and the flight of his owne party the Citty euen as then trembling had brought to passe that whereas by the Mamdian Request three Commissioners for inquiry were demanded he himselfe might be chosen for one of that number But the examination being prosecuted with rigour and violence by meanes of the clamour and earnestnesse of the people as formely the Nobility had done so now the CoÌ„monalty grew insolent from their prosperous affaires Moreouer the custome of popular fidings and factions of the Senate as well as of all euill Arts besides sprung vp at Rome some few yeeres since out of idlenesse the abâ—undance of those things which mortall men esteeme chiefest For before Carthage was razed the people and Senate of Rome peaceably and modesty swayed the Common-wealth Neither was there any controuersie of glory and Soueraignety amongst the Citizens hostile feare retained the Citty in good courses But as soone as that terrour was remoued from their minds those pleasures which prosperity â—ayes together with wantonnesse and pride forthwith entred Thus after they had attained that ease which they wished for in aduersity it became more grieuous and hurtfull For the Noble-men began to conuert their dignity the Common people their liberty vnto licenciousnesse They sway they force they take by violeÌ„ce Thus all were diuided into two parties the Common-wealth which was the meane was rent in sunder But the Nobility was most strong in faction the power of the Commons being loose and dispersed amongst the multitude was of vnequall force By the arbitration of some few all affaires were mannaged both Ciuill and Military in their power were the Treasury Prouinces Magistracies honours and Triumphes the people were oppressed with warfare and pouerty the Generalls with a few others shared the spoiles violently In the meane time the parents or little children of the Souldiers as any of them were neighbours to one more mighty were thrust out of their habitations Thus auarice ioyned with power inuaded polluted and wasted all things without meane or modesty holding nothing in regard nor reurence vntill it had throwne it selfe head-long into ruine For as soone as there were some found out amongst the Nobility who preferred true glory before â—ust authority the Citty was in tumult and Ciuill dissention as if the world had beene in vproare began to arise For after that Tiberius and C. Graccus whose Ancestours in the Punick and other warres had added much to the Republicke vindicated the Plebeian liberty and the abuses of some few began to be manifest the Nobility being guilty therefore fearefull sometimes by the Confederates and Latine Nation sometimes by the Roman Gentry whom the hope of the faction had remoued from the Commons sought to crosse the actioÌ„s of the Gracâ—hi and first of all they put to the sword Tiberius then after some few yeeres Caâ—â—s taking the same courses the one a Tribune of the people the other a Triumuir for drawing out of Colonies together with 〈…〉 Flaccus And verily the minds of the Gracchi through the desire of victory were not moderate enough But for a good men better it is to bee ouercome then by indirect meanes to ouercome an iniury Thereupon the Nobility making vse of the victory according to their pleasure ruined many men by the sword or banishment from thence forward they inlarged more their owne feare then their authority which cause hath subuerted mighty Common-wealths whilst some couet by what meanes soeuer to vanquish others ouer rigorously to exercise reuenge vpon the vanquished Bâ—t I should vndertake to discourse particularly and according to their greatnesse of the indeauours of the factions and of all the customes of the Citty time would faile mee sooner then matter wherefore I returne to my first purpose CHAP. 13. Metellus the new Consull is sent into Africke He reformes the discipline of the Army AFter the League made by Aulus and the shamefull flight of our Army Metellus and Silanus Consuls elect parted Prouinces amongst themselues to Metellus Numidia befell who being an austere man and withall opposite to the faction of the people yet was he of a leuell and vnblemished credit He as soone as he had tooke the inuestiture of his Office establishing all other affaires ioyntly with his Colleague bended his mind wholly vpon the warre which he was to mannage Therewithall being diffident of the old Army he inrolleth Souldiers and sendeth for Aydes from all places he prepareth armes weapons horses and other military instrumeÌ„ts withall abundance of victuals and all prouisions besides which in a doubtfull and penurious warre are wont to be vsefull Finally for the accomplishment of this the Senate with authority the Confederates the Latine Nation and Kings with sending succours vndemanded the City with its vttermost furtherance endeuoured Therefore all
their horses meeting brest to brest they entred and broke the frount of our Army so making vse of their ready footmen they held the enemies for almost vanquished In the intercourse of this they fought at Zama with great violence where any Lieutenant of a Legion or Tribune had charge there they stroue with most courage neither had any man more hope in anothers helpe then in him selfe The like the Townes-men did they fought or were ready for it in all places more eagerly they wounded one another then guarded themselues The noise was confounded with incouraging gladnesse and groaning besides the clashing of Armes pierceth the heauens Missiue weapons fly from both sides But those who defended the walls when the enemies slackned the fight intentiuely beheld the horse-battell Then as any of Iugurths actions proceed you might obserue them to be somtimes merry sometimes fearefull and as they could be heard or seene of their fellowes some of them admonish others incourage or signifie with their hands or bend with their bodies Hither and thither they moue as they were flying or discharging weapons Which as soone as Marius knew for hee commanded in that part hee proceedeth more slackely then it was decreed counterfeiteth a distrust of the businesse hee suffreth the Numidians without tumult to view the Kings battell thus they being fixt vpon the care of their owne side on the sudden he assaulteth the wall most forcibly and now the Souldiers quitting their scaling ladders had almost surprized the battlements when as the Townesmen troope together they powre downe stones fire and other missiue weapons besides Our men at first make resistance after when one and then others of their ladders were broken and those who stood vpon them were thrown down the rest in the best manner they could fewe being vnhurt the greatest part wounded make their escape At length night parted the fight on both sides Metellus when hee saw that the enterprise wts frustrated that neither the Towne was taken nor that Iugurth ingaged fight except it were out of ambush or places by him chosen and that now the Summer was spent he departeth from Zama and in those Citties which had reuolted from him and were sufficiently fortified with walls or situation hee placeth Garrisons The remainder of his Army he disposeth in the Prouince next to Numidia in regard of wintring there Neither doth hee afford that time as others were wont to rest and riot but because the warre had but meane proceeding by Armes he layeth snares for the King by his friends and resolueth to vse their perfidiousnesse for Armes Therefore with many promises he assaieth Bomilcar who had beene at Rome and secretly baile being giuen had escaped Iudgement for killing Massiua because that hee by meanes of his neerest friendshippe had the best meanes of deceiuing and first he wrought that hee should come to him in secret vnder the colour of conference then by giuing his faith that if hee deliuered Iugurth aliue or slaine he should be assured the Senate would grant him impunity and whatsoeuer was his owne he easily perswadeth the Numidian being as well of a faithlesse disposition as also fearefull that if peace were made with the Romanes he vpon the conditions should be deliuered ouer to punishment He as soone as the first opportunity serued visiteth Iugurth being perplexed and bewailing his fortunes he doth admonish and with teares coniure him that at length he would prouide for himselfe his children and the Numidian people which had best deserued in all conflicts they had beene foiled the Country was wasted many men were taken and slaine the strength of the Kingdome was exhausted enough oftentimes had they tried already fortune and the Souldiers valour he should beware lest himselfe protracting time the Numidians secured themselues With these and other such like speeches he moued the King to resolue vpon yeelding CHAP. 17. Iugurth sendeth Ambassadours to Metellus Hee yeeldeth himselfe and his Kingdome to the Romane people Afterwards he reretracteth A description of Marius AMbassadours are sent to the Generall who should declare that Iugurth would performe his commands and without any composition would surrender himselfe and his Kingdome vnto his trust Metellus speedily commandeth all those of the Senatorian degree to be sent for out of their wintring places of them and others whom hee thought fit hee assembleth a Councell Thus according to the custome of their Ancestours by the Decree of the Councell he demandeth from Iugurth by his Ambassadours two hundred thousand pounds of siluer all his Elephants and a proportion of Horses and Armes Which being accomplished without delay he appointed them to bring all their fugitiues bound a great part of them were brought according to appointment some few as soone as the surrender was made escaped vnto King Bocchus into Mauritania Therevpon Iugurth being dispoiled of Armes men and money when as he himselfe was summoned to lay his command vpon Tisidium he againe began to change his resolution and from a guilty conscience to feare deserued punishment finally many dayes being spent in doubts when as now thorugh the irkesomnesse of his aduersity all things seemed better then warre then againe when he pondered with himselfe how grieuous a downefall it would be from a Kingdom into seruitude many and great aides being lost to no purpose he reneweth the warre againe and at Rome the Senate sitting in councell about the Prouinces decreed Numidia to Metellus At the same time C. Marius casually at Vtica sacrificing to the gods with slaine beasts the Diuiner told him that great and wonderfull things were portended wherefore trusting on the gods hee should execute his designes that hee should haue a frequent triall of fortune that all things would fall out prosperously But him formerly a mighty desire of getting the Coâ—sâ—lâ—hip had possessed for the procuring whereof setting aside the antiquity of his house all other helpes serued aboundantly as industry honesty much knowledge in Souldery a mind greedy of warre frugall at home victorious ouer lust and wealth onely couetous of glory But he being borne and fostred during his child-hood at Arpinum as soone as he was of military age he exercised himselfe in imployment for a Souldiers pay not in Grecian eloquence nor neatnesse of the Citty Thus amidst these good Artes his mind being vncorrupted grew to maturity in a short time Therefore when first he requested a Tribuneship of the people he being to most men vnknown by face otherwise well knowne was proclaimed throughout all the Tribes Then from that Magistracy he acquired others by degrees and alwayes in authority hee carried himselfe after that maÌ„ner that he shewed himselfe worthy of a more ample one then that which he exercised Yet hee being such a man in that eminency of place for afterwards he was precipitated by ambition durst not sue for the Consulship Euen then the Commonalty gaue other Magistracies the Nobility disposed the Consulship successiuely amongst themselues No new man was so
liued in your eye both a priuate person Magistrate those that would vsed my tongue counsell and money neither did I exercise my eloquence craftily nor my wit mischieuously being most couetous of priuate fauour I vndertooke great quarrells for the Commonwealth who being vanquished together with her when destitute of other helpe I expected farther miseries you O ye Romanes restored againe to me my Country and houshold gods with an exceeding great dignity For which benefits I should not seeme sufficiently thankfull if for them seuerally which I cannot doe I should expend my very soule For life and death are the rights of nature that thou mayest liue without disgrace with thy fellow Citizens thy fame and fortunes being intire that is neither giuen nor taken as a donatiue You haue made vs Consuls O ye Romanes the Common-wealth being much intangled both at home and abroade for the Generalls of Spaine require pay Souldiers Armes and corne and the occasion inforceth it for after the reuolt of our Confederates and the flight of Sertorius ouer the mountaines they can neither come to fight nor prouide necessaries Our Armies in regard of Mithridates great forces are maintained in Asia and Cilicia full of enemies is Macedonia no lesse the maritime regions of Italy and the Prouinces when in the meane time our tributes being small and vncertainely ballanced for the warres scarce sustaine a part of the charges thus we saile with a lesse Fleet then formerly we did for the Conuoy of victuals If these things are contracted by our negligence and fraudulent dealing proceed and take punishment as you will but if the common fortune be in fault wherefore doe you vndertake things vnworthy of your selues of vs and the Commonwealth And I ouer whose age death is impendent doe pray for it if by that you can quit any inconuenience neither can any thing more honest this ingenious body then if it cease to liue for your safety Behold I C. Cotta the Consull am here I doe that which our ancestours haue often done in dangerous warres I vow and abandon my selfe for the Common-wealth the which to whom you may commit bee circumspectiue from hence forwards for no good man will desire that honour when as of the fortune of peace and warre transacted an account is to be giuen or an ignominious death to be suffred Onely reserue this in your mindes that I was not slain for lewdnesse or auarice but for the requitall of your greatest benefits I gaue vp my soule as a free-wil offring Coniured therefore by your selues and the glory of your ancestours O ye Romanes be patient in aduersities and prouide for the Common-wealth much care attends the châ—efest command and many vast labours which you refuse in vaine and seeke the plenty of peace when all Prouinces Kingdomes Seas and Lands are indangered and harraged with the warres SALVSTS ORATIONS The first Oration of the institution of a Common-wealth directed to C. Caesar THe Romane people got formerly Kingdomes and Empires it gaue fortune for a donatiue and other things which are greedily desired by mortals because as if it had beene out of meere lust they were often conferred vpon vnworthy persons neither remained they vncorrupted with any But experience hath taught that to be true which Appius in his verses saith That euery man is a forger of his owne fortune and this is verified especially in thee who hast so farre outgone others that men are first wearied with praising thy deeds then thou art of doing things praise-worthy But vertuous acquisitions like edifices ought to be preserued with very much industry lest they be deformed with negligence or ruined through weakenesse For no man willingly resignes rule to another and although hee bee good and milde who can doe most yet because it is lawfull for him to bee wicked he is feared This happeneth for that many men who are powerfull in authority counsell peruersly and thinke themselues by so much the more fortified by how much those ouer whom they command haue beene the more wicked But this ought to be indeuoured against that thou being vertuous and valiant mayst command ouer the best For euery man that is most lewde with most difficulty suffreth a gouernour But this is more laborious for thee then for all men before thee to settle an estate gotten by Armes Thou hast managed a warre more gentle then the peace of others besides the conquered are Cittizens Amongst these difficulties thou must make an euasion and for euer hereafter the Commonwealth is to be confirmed not by armes onely nor against enemies but which is greater and harder by farre with the profitable Arts of peace Therefore the occasion summons hither all who are much and meanely wise that euery man should aduise the best he can And this seemes so to me that in that manner as thou shalt settle the victory all things will succeed But now that thou mayest dispose this more readily and easily receiue in few words what my minde tells me Thou hast had a warre O Emperour with a famous man of great wealth greedy of rule of greater fortune then wisedome whom some few haue followed being made thy enemies by their owne iniury withall whom affinity or any other aliance hath incited For neither was any man partaker of his domination nor if he could haue suffred it had the whole world beene shaken with warre The rest of the multitude rather out of the vulgar custome then Iudgement followed him one after another as if he had beene the prudenter person About that time some men being possessed with hope by the suggestions of the wicked of vsurping vpon the Common-wealth made thy Campe their place of Concourse hauing first polluted all things with lewdnesse and luxury and openly menaced vnto the peaceable death rapines and finally all outrages which their depraued nature vrged A great part of whom after they saw neither debt to be remitted nor thy selfe to vse Cittizens as thou wouldst enemies shrunke away from thee a few stayd who were likely to haue more security in the Campe then at Rome So egerly did the Creditours pursue them But for the same causes it is incredible to be spoken what great persons and how many departed afterwards vnto Pompey and vsed him all the time of the warre as a sacred and vnuiolated Sanctuary Therefore because peace and warre must be agitated by thee the Conquerour this that thou mayst leaue it ciuilly that that it may be most iust and diâ—â—urnall first of all thinke with thy selfe because thou art to compose them what is best to bee done Verily my opinion is that all tyrannicall gouernments are more grieuous then lasting neither can any man be feared by many but feare from many must reflect on him that kinde of life wageth a continuall and doubtfull warre because thou canst neither be assured from before behind or either side thou must liue alwaies in danger and feare Contrariwise they who with bounty and clemencie haue