quintam sortis partem quod vulgo dicimus viginti in centum Salmasius de Usura p. 188. Lugd. Bat. 1639. Vsurae communes Atticis majores nauticae minores quà m Romanis rationem dat Salmasius quia Navigationes At he 〈…〉 enses omnes fere Bosphorum petebant qui longissimae Pontum Salmas Ibidem Who may be allowed to praise their Ancestors The Government and State of the City of Sicyon Aratus's narrow escape His Education at Argos Aratus attempts to free Sicyon His marches towards Sicyon Delivers the City without bloodshed And aessociates it to the Achaeans The Charactar of Aratus He sails into Aegypt The Sicyonian Painting in much esteem Ptolomy's liberality to Aratus Antigonus indeavours to win Aratus to his party Aratus plunders Locris Resolves to attempt the taking of the Cittadel of Corinth * Here the old English Translator makes a pleasant mistake for whereas Amyoâ— calls Peloponnesus Presqu'Isle that is Peninsula the old Translator tells us news of a certain Island of Peloponnesus call'd Presche Sister to the Isle of Pines The Acro-corinth seis'd by Antigonus * A famous Muâ—itian of that time Erginus discovers a secret path leading to the weakest part of the Cittadel Technon Servant to Aratus his mistake Aratus marches to Corinth by night Surprises the City Stormes the Acro-Corinth and takes it Makes an Oration to the Citizens The good effects of this Exploit Aratus attempts to free Argos But fails in his design The surest Guard of a Prince The Tyrant Aristippus's manner of life Aristippus fights Aratus and beats him Aratus regains his credit and Aristippus is killâ—d The Tyrant Lysiades voluntarily frees Megalopolis Emulates and opposes Aratus And thereby loses the favour of the Achaeans The Aetolick War Pellene recover'd by a Panick fear Peace made with the Aetolians Aratus excuses the assaulting the Piraeum * The Territory between Athens and Eleusis He is defeated by the Macedonian General and reported to be Slain Invades the Athenians in a rage for their flattery is pacify'd and assists them to recover their Liberty Perswades Aristomachus to see free Argos Aristomachus oontrary to Aratus's advice invades Laconia Aratus is routed by Cleomenes But shortly after takes Mantinea Lysiades ingaging rashly in a Battle with Cleomenes is slain Aratus in disgrace Fights Megistonus and takes him Prisoner Refuses the Generalship of the Achaeans and why I seensur'd for calling in Antigonus and the Macedonians The Achaeans lose Mantinea and are beaten at Hecatombaeum by Cleomenes Their affairs in very ill posture Aratus being commission'd to punish the Traitors is forced to shift for his own life Aratus in great distress Antigonus called in to the assistance of the Achaeans Receives Aratus very Honourably A Prediction pleasantly fulfill'd Argos revolts from Cleomenes Aratus is blam'd for the death of Aristomachus and upon other accounts Philip the Son of Antigonus comes into Peloponnesus Aratus ill success against the Aetolians occasion'd the calling in of Philip into Greece Who suffers himself to be govern'd by the Counsel of Aratus Aratus affronted by Philips Courtiers Is ill us'd by Philip himself Aratus falls out with Philip Taurion poisons Aratus by the command of Philip. He dies at Aegium And is bury'd at Sicyon * The fifth of November The youngest Aratus poisoned also by Philip dyes Philip smarts sufficiently for these murders The Comparison of Dion and Brutus Dionysius the Tyrant of Sicily Marries two Wives Dion comes to Court Plato comes into Sicily Dion Plato's Scholar Dionysius hears Plato discourse Plato leaves Si 〈…〉 y. Dion sent Embassador to Carthage Dionysius his Children His Death Dionysius the Second succeeds his Father His Debauchery Dion's haughty Humour His Edution Dionysius the first very timorous Dion perswades Dionysius to send for Plato Plato sent for Philistus the Historian Why banish'd Recalled from Banishment Plato arrives in Sicily Dion railed at by the Courtiers Out of favour at Court Is forced away into Italy His Riches Plato sent away Dion sojourns at Athens Exhibits a Play for the Youth Travels in Greece Is made Citizen of Sparta His Revenues stopt Plato sent for Plato arrives in Sicily Sent away again Theste's Answer to Dionysius the First Dion resolves upon a War with Dionysius Is encourag'd by the Sicilians readiness to assist him Zante Dion Sacrifices to Apollo The Moon Eclipsed Prodigies before the War in Sicily Dion sets Sail with his Fleet. Passes the Cape Pachinus Iâ— driven 〈…〉 e Coast of Africk Arrives at Minoa in Sicily Takes the Town And delivers it up again Marches to Syracuse By a strange Accident Dionysius hears not Dion's arrival The Citizens meet him at the Gates Dion marches into the City in triumph Proclaims the Sicilians free Is chosen General Besieges the Castle Dionysius arrives Sends to treat with Dion and the Citizens Their Answer Dionysius puts the Deputies in Prison Makes a Salley Is wounded And carried off Dionysins's men beat into the Castle Letters sent to Dion from Dionysius Read publickly Dion suspected Heraclides arrives Courts the Mobile Is chosen Admiral Sosis plots against Dion Is found guilty of false Accusation and condemn'd to die Philistus arrives with a Fleet to help Dionysius Taken Prisoner and slain Timaeus the Historian Ephorus the Historian Dionysius makes offer of Surrender Receives no Answer Makes his Escape by Sea Hippon a Leveller Heraclides joyns with him Sets the Citizens against Dion They choose five and twenty Commanders Dion's Soldiers guard him out of the City The Citizens set upon them Fly before them Dion marches to the Leontines The Syracusians march after him and are beaten The Leontines receive Dion Nypsius arrives with a Fleet. Storms the Works and 〈…〉 ters the 〈…〉 ty Dion sent for back by the Syracusians Calls an Assembly His Speech to his Soldiers Dionysius's Men retreat into the Castle Make another Sally Fire the City Dion and his Men come to their succour March in great danger thró the Ruins Beat Nypsiuâ—'s Men into the Castle The Demagogues leave the City Dion pardons Heraclides and Theodotes Carries on the Siege Repeals the Votes of the Levellers A Famine occasion'd by the Sedition in the Army Dion forc'd to engage Pharax is beaten Prevents Heraclides Design of Possessing himself of the City Gaesylus the Spartan Apollicrates delivers up the Castle upon Articles Dion enters the Castle Takes again his Wife He is murther'd by Dion's means Calippus the Athenian Dion sees ae strange Apparition His Son breaks his Neck Dion inform'd of the Plot. Calippus denies it upon Oath Calippus Chief at Syracuse Kill'd at Rhegium Dion's Sister Wife and Son drown'd * Labio †Flavius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quod ab urbe Semitertio miliari distat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
aviod admitting again the exploding Opinion of the Ancients That the Devils and evil Spirits out of an envious hatred to good men vigorously oppose whatever they do and by raising distractions and terrors in their minds endeavour to shake and undermine their Vertue lest by a steady and unbyass'd perseverance in Goodness they should after death obtain a happier condition of futurity than those wretched Beings can ever hope for But I shall refer these things to another place and in this Twelfth Book of the Lives of great Men compar'd one with another begin with his who was the elder Dionysius the First having seiz'd the Government of Sicily took to Wife the Daughter of Hermocrates a Syracusian She in an Insurrection which the Citizens made before the Government was well settled was abused in such a barbarous and outragious manner that for shame she put an end to her own life But Dionysius soon re-established and confirmed in the Throne married two Wives one named Doride of Locris the other Aristomache a Native of Sicily and Daughter of Hipparinus a Nobleman of the first Quality in Syracuse and Collegue with Dionysius when he was chosen General of the Army 'T is said he married them both in one day but which he enjoyed first is uncertain ever after he divided his kindness equally betwixt them both accompanying him together at his Table and in his Bed by turns Indeed the Syracusians were urgent that their own Country-woman might be preferred before the Stranger but Doride to recompence the aspersion of being a Foreigner had the good Fortune to be the Mother of Dionysius's eldest Son whilest Aristomache continued a long time without Issue tho' the King was very desirous to have Children by her and caused Doride's Mother to be put to death laying to her Charge that she had bewitch'd Aristomache to prevent her being with Child Dion Aristomache's Brother at first found a very Honourable Reception at Court for his Sisters sake but his own worth and parts soon procured him a nearer place in the Princes Affection who among other favours gave special Command to his Treasurers to furnish Dion with whatever Money he demanded enjoyning them withal the same day to give him a particular account of what they had delivered out Now tho' Dion was before reputed a person of extraordinary Parts a noble Mind and daring Courage yet all these excellent Qualifications received a considerable improvement by Plato's happy arrival in Sicily It was without doubt no humane Contrivance but the direction of Providence designing that this remote Cause should hereafter occasion the recovery of the Sicilians lost Liberty and the subversion of the Tyrannical Government which brought the Philosopher out of Italy and settled him at Syracuse Dion soon gain'd his acquaintance and became the most considerable among his Scholars by his wonderful disposition to Learning and inclination to Vertue far above what his years could promise as Plato himself reports of him and his own Actions sufficiently testifie For tho' he was bred up under the Tyrant in a condition much below himself inur'd to a dissolute and servile kind of life under a haughty and imperious Command glutted with extravagant Pleasures and a customary regard to nothing but Wealth and Luxury the mistaken happiness of life yet no sooner had he tasted the Sweets of more rational Notions and was made acquainted with the Precepts of Philosophy which direct the way to Vertue and true Satisfaction but his Appetite increas'd and his Soul was inflamed with a desire of more knowledge and greater Attainments Hereupon innocently tho' not judiciously concluding from his own ingenuous disposition that the same powerful Reasons would work the same Effects upon Dionysius he made it his business and at length obtain'd the favour of him at a leisure hour to admit and hear Plato At this their meeting the Subject-matter of their Discourse in general was Vertue but more particularly they disputed concerning Fortitude which Plato prov'd Tyrants of all men had the least pretence to and thence proceeding to treat of Justice he asserted the happy Estate of the Just and the miserable condition of the Unjust Here the King touch'd to the quick and not able to answer his Arguments would not endure to hear him out being highly displeas'd with the rest of the Auditors there present who with wonder and delight had listned to his Discourses At length exceedingly exasperated he asked the Philosopher in a great rage what business he had in Sicily To which Plato answered I came hither to seek an honest man It seems then replyed Dionysius you have lost your labour Dion supposing the Kings anger pretty well over at Plato's Request conveyed him suddenly aboard a Galley the Captains name Pollis a Lacedemonian bound for Greece but Dionysius privately dealt with Pollis by all means to kill Plato in the Voyage If not to be sure to sell him for a Slave alledging for an inducement that as a good man he could not be endammaged but would still enjoy his happiness tho' he lost his Liberty Pollis therefore as 't is reported carryed Plato to Aegina and there sold him to the Aeginetes then at War with Athens having made a decree That whatever Athenian was taken on their Coasts should forthwith be exposed to Sale Notwithstanding Dion was in no less Favour and Credit with Dionysius than formerly but was entrusted with the most considerable Employments and sent on an Honourable Embassage to Carthage in the management of which he gained very great Reputation Besides the King bore with the Liberty he took to speak his mind freely he being the only man who upon any occasion durst so boldly say what he thought witness his smart Repartee upon the account of Gelon Dionysius on a time ridiculing Gelon's Government and alluding to his Name said Gelon was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the laughing-stock of Sicily while others seem'd to admire and applaud the Quibble Dion very warmly reply'd Sir you got the Crown by being trusted for Gelon's sake but for your sake no man will ever hereafter be trusted again for indeed Gelon made it appear that Monarchy was the best of Governments and you have convinced us 't is the worst Dionysius had three Children by Doride and by Aristomache four two of which were Daughters Sophrosyne and Arete Sophrosyne was married to his Son Dionysius Arete to his Brother Thearides after whose death Dion took his Niece Arete to Wife Now when Dionysius was sick and like to die Dion endeavour'd to discourse with him in behalf of the Children he had by Aristomache but was still prevented by the Phisitians designing thereby to ingratiate themselves with the next Successor who also as Timaeus reports gave him as he desired a sleeping Potion which soon depriv'd him of his Senses and made him sleep his last Hereupon at the first Council Dionysius the Second held with his Confidents Dion
as their Lord. For Fear and Force a great Navy and standing Army of ten thousand Mercenary Soldiers are not as his Father said the Adamantine Chains which secure the Regal Power but the love and affection of Subjects to their Prince endeared to him by his Clemency and Justice which tho' they seem more pliant than the stiff and hard bonds of Severity are nevertheless the strongest and most durable Tyes to fix and establish a settled and lasting Empire Moreover it is mean and dishonourable that a Prince glorious in his Equipage splendid in the Gallantry and Magnificence of his Court should not at all excell a Peasant in Discourse and Conversation nor have his princely Mind accomplished as well as Body adorned according to his Royal Dignity Dion frequently entertaining the King upon this Subject and as occasion offered repeating some of the Philosophers Learned Arguments Dionysius grew impatiently desirous to have Plato's Company and to hear him discourse Forthwith therefore he sent divers Letters to him to Athens to which Dion added his entreaties also several Philosophers of the Pythagorean Sect from Italy perswaded him to come and manage the plyable Youth of the King and by his grave and serious Advice restrain the unstable and desultory efforts of his new-acquired Power and Grandeur Plato as he says of himself being ashamed to seem busie only in words and sloathful in Action hoping withal that if he could work a Cure upon one Man the Head and Guide of the rest he might remedy the Distempers of the whole Kingdom of Sicily yielded to their Requests But Dion's Enemies fearing an alteration in Dionysius perswaded him to recall from Banishment one Philistus a Learned Man and very skilful in Tyrannical Policy whom they designed to set in opposition to Plato and his Philosophy For Philistus from the beginning was a great instrument to promote the Tyranny and being Governour of the Castle kept it a long time for that Faction There was a report that he had to do with the Mother of Dionysius the First and that he was not altogether ignorant of it But Leptimes having two Daughters by a married Woman whom he had Debauched gave one of them in marriage to Philistus without acquainting the King who being enraged put Leptimes's Mistress in Prison and Banished Philistus the Kingdom Whereupon he fled to some of his Friends at Adria in which retirement and leisure 't is probable he writ the greatest part of his History for he returned not into his Country during the Reign of that Dionysius But after his Death as is before related Dion's Enemies occasioned him to be recalled Home as fitter for their purpose and a firm Friend to the Arbitrary Government which he immediately upon his return endeavoured to abett and at the same time divers Calumnies and Accusations against Dion were by others brought to the King as that he held Correspondence with Theodotes and Heraclides to subvert the Monarchy for indeed 't is likely he had hopes by the coming of Plato to take off the unlimitted Power of Dionysius and make him more moderate and equitable in his Authority but if he continued averse to that and were not to be reclaimed he resolved to depose him and restore the Common-wealth to the Syracusians not that he approved a Democracy or Popular Government but thought it preferrable to a Tyranny when a good Aristocracy or Regency of the Grandees could not be procured This was the state of Affairs when Plato came into Sicily who at his first arrival was received with wonderful demonstration of Kindness and Respect for one of the Kings richest Chariots waited upon him when he came on shore Dionysius himself sacrificed to the Gods in thankful acknowledgment for the great happiness which had befel his Kingdom The Citizens also entertained marvellous hopes of a speedy and thorough Reformation For that at Court they observed a modest Decorum in their Feastings a grave composure in their Behaviour and the King himself returned kind and obliging Answers to all Petitions and Causes that came before him Men were generally grown very desirous of Learning and eagerly intent upon the study of Philosophy insomuch that the very Palace as 't is reported was covered with dust by the numerous Concourse of the Students in the Mathematicks that resorted thither Not long after at a Solemn Sacrifice in the Castle according to the Custom of the Country when the Priest as he was wont prayed for the long continuance of the present Government Dionysius standing by was heard to say What will you never leave off cursing me This sensibly vext Philistus and his Party who conjectured that if Plato by so little acquaintance had thus transformed and altered the young King's mind consequently by longer converse and greater intimacy he would get such Power and Authority that it would be impossible to withstand him They did therefore no longer privately and apart but joyntly and in publick all of them rail at Dion noising it about that he manifestly charmed and bewitched Dionysius by Plato's Sophistry to the end that when he was persuaded voluntarily to part with the Regency and throw off his Authority Dion might take it up and settle it upon his Sister Aristomache's Children Others seemed to take it in great scorn that the Athenians who formerly arrived in Sicily with a great Fleet and numerous Land-Army but were routed and beaten off with great loss without being able so much as to take the City of Syracuse should now by means of one Sophister overturn the whole Empire of Dionysius inveagling him to cashier his Guard of ten thousand Lances dismiss a Navy of four hundred Galleys disband an Army of ten thousand Horse and treble the number of Foot and go seek in the Schools an unknown and imaginary Bliss and learn by the Mathematicks how to be happy while in the mean time he resigned the substantial enjoyments of absolute Power Riches and Pleasure of Dion and his Sisters Children By these means at first Dion incurred the Kings suspicion and by degrees his apparent displeasure and aversion A Letter also was intercepted which Dion had writ to the Carthaginian's agents advising them that when they treated with Dionysius concerning a Peace they should not come to their Audience unless he were there and then he would effectually dispatch their business according to their minds When Dionysius had shewed this to Philistus and as Timaeus relates consulted with him about it he over-reached Dion by a feigned reconciliation fairly pretending to receive him again to his favour but leading him alone one day to the Sea-side under the Castle Wall he shewed him the Letter and taxed him with Conspiring with the Carthaginians against him when Dion assayed to offer something in his own defence Dionysius suffered him not but immediately forced him aboard a Vessel which lay there for that purpose and commanded the Sailors to set him ashore on the
of the Day for that he knew he must at any other time as impiously offend her whensoever he who introduc'd him into her Religion should be the Murderer of her Devoto There were a great many in the Conspiracy and as Dion was at home with several of his Friends in his Entertaining-Room some of the Conspirators beset the House round others secur'd the Doors and Windows The Assassines were Zacinthians who went in to him in their ordinary Habit unarm'd The Guard without shut the Doors upon them and kept them fast The Murderers fell upon him endeavouring to stifle and dispatch him but not being able they call'd for a Sword but none durst open the Door There were a great many within with Dion but every one was for securing himself supposing that by letting him lose his Life he should save his own and therefore no man ventur'd to assist him When they had waited a good while at length Lycon the Syracusian reach'd a short Sword in at the Window to one of the Zacinthians and stunn'd and almost senseless as he was like a Sacrifice at the Altar they cut Dion's Throat his Sister and Wife big with Child they hurried to Prison who poor Lady in her unfortunate condition was there brought to Bed of a Son which by the consent of the Keepers they intended to bring up the rather because Calippus began already to be embroyl'd in Troubles After the Murther of Dion he was the only man that was look'd upon had the sole Government of Syracuse in his Hands and to that effect writ to Athens a place which next the Immortal Gods being guilty of such an abominable Crime he ought to have reverenc'd and fear'd But true it is what is said of that City That the good Men she breeds are the most Excellent and the bad the most notorious as their Country Attica produces the most delicious Honey and the most deadly Poyson Calippus did not long continue to scandalize Fortune and upbraid the Gods with his Prosperity who seem'd to wink at and bear with that wretched man while he purchas'd Riches and Power by the most heinous and enormous Impieties but he quickly receiv'd the Punishment he deserv'd for going to take Catana he lost Syracuse whereupon they report he said He had lost a City and got a Bauble Then attempting Messene he had most of his Men cut off and among the rest Dion's Murtherers When no City in Sicily would admit him but all hated and abhorred him he went into Italy and took Regium there being necessitous and not able to maintain his Soldiers he was kill'd by Leptimns and Polyperchon and as Fortune would have it with the same Sword that Dion was Murther'd which was known by the size being but short as the Spartan Swords and the Workman-ship of it very curious and Artificial Thus Calippus receiv'd the Reward of his Villanies When Aristomache and Arete were releas'd out of Prison Icetes one of Dion's Friends took them to his House and for a while entertain'd them well and like a faithful Friend afterwards being perswaded by Dion's Enemies he provided a Ship and pretended to send them into Peloponnesus but commanded the Sailors when they came out to Sea to kill them and throw them over board Others say that they and the little Boy were thrown alive into the Sea This Man also escaped not the due recompence of his wickedness for he was taken by Timoleon and put to Death and the Syracusians to revenge Dion slew his two Daughters of which I have Discours'd more particularly in the Life of Timoleon THE LIFE OF MARCUS BRUTUS Translated by Mr. Duke BRUTUS M Burghers sculp Cato the Philosopher was Brother to Servilia the Mother of Brutus and he it was whom of all the Romans his Nephew most admir'd and study'd to imitate and afterwards marry'd his Daughter Porcia But of all the Sects of the Greek Philosophers tho' there was none of which he had not been a Hearer and in which he had not made some proficiency yet he chiefly esteem'd the Platonists and not at all approving of the modern and the middle Academy as it was call'd apply'd himself wholly to the study of the Ancient He was all his Life-time a great Admirer of Antiochus of the City of Ascalon and took his Brother Ariston into his own House for his Friend and Companion a Man for his Learniug inferior indeed to many of the Philosophers but for the evenness of his Temper and sweetness of Conversation equal to the best As for Empylus of whom he himself and his Friends made often mention in their Epistles as of one that constantly liv'd with Brutus he was an Orator and has left behind him a short but well penn'd History of the Death of Caesar entitled Brutus In Latin he was a good Speaker and had by constant exercise attain'd a sufficient Excellency in making publick Orations and pleading Causes But in Greek he was remarkable for affecting the sententious and short Laconick way of Speaking In his Epistles especially as when in the beginning of the War he writ thus to the Pergamenians I hear ye have given Dolabella Money if you gave it willingly ye must own ye have injur'd me if unwillingly shew it by giving willingly to me And another time to the Samians Your Councils are careless your Actions slow what think ye will be the end And of the Patareans thus The Xanthians suspecting my Kindness have made their Countrey a Grave of Despair The Patareans trusting themselves to me have lost nothing of their former Liberty It is in your Power to choose the Judgment of the Patareans or the Fortune of the Xanthians And this is the Style wherein his most remarkable Letters were usually writ When he was but a very young Man he accompanied his Uncle Cato to Cyprus who was sent with an Army against Ptolomy King of Aegypt But as soon as Ptolomy had kill'd himself Cato being by some necessary Business detain'd in the Isle of Rhodes sent one of his Friends nam'd Caninius to take into his care and keeping the Treasure of the King but afterwards suspecting his Fidelity he writ to Brutus to sail immediately to Cyprus out of Pamphylia where he then stay'd to refresh himself being but newly recover'd of a Fit of Sickness He obey'd his Orders but with a great deal of unwillingness as well out of Respect to Caninius that was thrown out of this Employment by Cato with so much Disgrace as also because he esteem'd such a Commission too mean for a Gentleman and not at all becoming him that was in the prime of his Youth and given to Books and Learning Nevertheless applying himself to this Business he behav'd himself so well in it that he was highly commended by Cato and having turn'd all the Goods of Ptolomy into ready Money brought the greatest part of it in his own Ship to Rome Upon the Division of the Empire into two Factions when Pompey