breadth of the River Assus which running betwixt and at the bottom of the same Hill falling into Cephisus with an impetuous Confluence made that a safe Height to lodge on wherefore beholding the Brass Targettiers to make up hastily Sylla was willing to take prepossession and took it by the vigorous Address of the Soldiers Archelaus put back from hence bent his Forces upon Chaeronea The Chaeroneans who bore Arms in the Roman Camp beseeching Sylla not to abandon the City he dispatcht Geminius the Tribune with one Legion and withal sent out the Chaeroneans endeavouring but not able to get in before Geminius so active was he and more swift to relief than they who prayed Relief Juba writes that Ericius was the man sent not Geminius Thus narrowly escaped our Native City From Lebadea and the Cave of Trophonius there were spread abroad favourable Rumours and Prophecies of Victory to the Romans which the Inhabitants report at large And as Sylla himself affirms in the tenth Book of his Memoirs Quintus Titus an obscure Man of those who traffick into Greece came to him after the Battel won at Chaeronea and declared that Trophinius had foretold another Fight and Victory on the same place within a short time After him a Soldier by name Salvenius brought an account from the God of the issue of Affairs in Italy As to the Vision they both agreed in this that for Stature and Majestick Grace they had seen somewhat in the likeness of Jupiter Olympius Sylla when he had passed over the Assus march'd up to Edylium and encamped close to Archelaus who had intrench'd himself strongly between the Mountains Acontium and Edylium towards those called Assia The Place of his Intrenchment is to this day named from him Archelaus Sylla after one days respite having left Muraena behind him with one Legion and two Cohorts to amuse the distracted Enemy with continual Alarms went and sacrificed on the Banks of Cephisus The holy Rights ended he held on towards Chaeronea to receive the Forces there and view Mount Thurion where the Enemy had posted themselves This is a craggy Heighth running up gradually to a Point which we call Orthopagon at the foot of it is the River Morius and the Temple of Apollo Thurius The God had his Surname from Thuro Mother of Cheron whom ancient Fame makes Founder of Chaeronea Others assert that the Cow which Apollo gave to Cadmus for a Guide appeared there and that the Place took its Name from the Beast for the Phaenicians call a Cow Thor. At Sylla's approach to Chaeronea the Tribune who had been commanded out to guard the City drew his Men into Arms and meet him with a Garland of Laurel in his hand which Sylla accepting of and withal caressing and animating the Soldiers to the Encounter two Men of Chaeronea Homoloichus and Anaxidamus present themselves before him and proffer with a small Party to dislodge those who were posted on Thurium for that there lay a Path unknown to the Barbarians from Petrochus along by the Musaeum leading over head upon Thurium by this way it was easie to fall on and either stone them from above or force them down into the Plain Sylla assured of their Faith and Courage by Geminius when he had exhorted them to go on with the Enterprise Embattelled the Army and disposing of the Cavalry on both Wings himself commanded the Right and the left he committed to the direction of Muraena in the Rear of all Gallus and Hortensius his Legates had planted themselves on the upper Grounds with the Cohorts of Reserve to watch the motion of the Enemy who with infinite numbers of Horse and expedite light-armed Foot having made the Wing pliant and ready to wind about at pleasure gave suspicion that he intended to over-reach and enclose the Romans In the mean time the Chaeroneans who had Ericus for Commander by appointment of Sylla covertly surrounding Thurium and discovering themselves there arose a great Confusion and Rout and mutual Slaughter amongst the Barbarians for they kept not their stand but making down in that hurry cast themselves on their own Spears and violently bore each other headlong the Enemy from above pressing on and wounding them on the open side insomuch as there fell three thousand about Thurium Some of them who escaped being met by Muraena as he stood in Array were cut off and destroy'd Others breaking through to their Friends and falling disorderly into the Ranks filled most part of the Army with fear and Tumult and put the Chief Officers to a stand which was no small disadvantage For immediately upon the Discomposure Sylla coming full speed to the Charge disappointed the Service of their Armed Chariots which require a good space of Ground to gather strength and impetuosity in the Career whereas a short drift proves weak and ineffectual like that of Engines without a full swing Thus it fared with the Barbarians at present whose first Chariots that set forth spurtingly and made but a faint impression when the Romans had repulsed with a clattering din and slaughter they called for more as is usual in the publick Cirque By this time the Gross of both Armies met The Barbarians on one side charged their long Pikes and with Shields lock'd close together like a Roof over head strove what in them lay to preserve their Battalion entire The Romans on the other side threw by their Piles and with drawn Swords put by their Pushes the sooner to mingle with them in the rage they were then in For in the Front of the Enemy they beheld fifteen thousand Slaves whom the Royal Commanders had set free by Proclamation and rang'd amongst the Men of Arms. Whereupon a Roman Centurion is reported to say That he never knew Servants allowed to play the Masters unless on the Holy-days of Saturn These Men by reason of their deep and thick Array as well as for their daring Courage yielded but slowly to the weighty Legions till at last by slinging Engines and Darts for which the Roman spar'd not from behind they were forc'd to give way and scatter And as Archelaus was extending the the Right Wing to encompass the Enemy Hortensius with his Cohorts came down amain with intention to charge him in the Flank but Achelaus wheeling about suddenly with two thousand Horse Hortensius overlaid with numbers withdrew himself to the upper Grounds not far from the main Body and was surrounded by the Enemy When Sylla heard this he came speeding from the right to his succour before the Engagement but Archelaus guessing the matter by the dust of his Troops turned to the right Wing from whence Sylla came in hopes to have surprised it without a Commander At the same instant likewise Taxilles with his Brass-Targetiers assailed Muraena so as a Cry coming from both places and the Hills repeating it around Sylla stood in suspence which way to move it seeming best to reassume his own Station he sent in aid
Meat with his Soldiers or lie upon an ordinary Bed or assist the Work in the drawing a Trench and raising a Bulwark for they do not so much admire those that conferr Honours and Riches upon them as those that partake of the same labour and danger with themselves but love them better that will vouchsafe to forward their work than those that encourage their idleness 9. Whilst Marius was thus employed and thereby won mightily upon the Soldiers he immediately filled both Africk and Rome with his Fame and some too wrote home from the Army that the War with Africa would never be brought to a Conclusion unless they chose C. Marius Consul whereas Metellus was apparently incensed but was more especially grieved at the Calamity of Turpilius This Turpilius had from his Ancestors been a Friend of and kept constant Hospitality with Metellus and now being made by him Overseer of the Workmen was concerned in this War where commanding a Garrison in Vacca a considerable City and trusting too much to the Inhabitants because he treated them civilly and kindly he unawares fell into the Enemies hands for they received Jugurtha into the City yet nevertheless at their request Turpilius was dismissed safe and without receiving any Injury whereupon he was accused of betraying it to the Enemy Marius being one of the Council of War was not only violent against him himself but also incensed most of the others so that Metellus was forced much against his Will to put him to death Not long after the Accusation proved false and when others were comforting Metellus who took heavily the loss of his Friend Marius rather insulting and arrogating it to himself boasted in all Companies that he had lodged a Fury in Metellus's Soul by forcing him to put to death his dearest Friend 10. Henceforward they were at open variance and 't is reported that Metellus should say drolling upon Marius then present Oh Sir you design to leave us to go home and stand for the Consulship would not you be well enough contented to be Consul with this Boy of mine Now Metellus's Son was very young yet for all this Marius being very importunate to be gone after several delays he was dismissed about twelve days before the Election of Consuls and performed that long Journey from the Camp to Vtica a Sea Town in two days and a night and there doing sacrifice before he went on Ship-board it is said the Augur told him that Heaven promised him some incredible good Fortune and such as was beyond all expectation Marius not a little proud of this Omen began his Voyage and in four days with a favourable wind passed the Sea he was extreamly welcome to the People and being brought into the Assembly by one of the Tribunes he sued for the Consulship mightily inveighing against Metellus and promising either to slay Jugurtha or take him alive 11. He was elected with great Applause but presently levied Soldiers contrary both to Law and Custom listing several Slaves and poor People whereas former Commanders never accepted of such but bestowed Arms like other Favours with Honour on deserving Persons every one esteeming his Wealth as a pledge for his good performance These were not the only prejudices against Marius but some haughty Speeches utter'd with great arrogance and contempt grieved the Nobility extreamly as that he should say he took the Consulship as a prey from the effeminacy of the wealthy and nobler Citizens and tell the People that he gloried in the wounds he received for them more than others in the Monuments of the Dead and Images of their Ancestors often speaking of those Commanders Bestia and Albinus that were unfortunate in Africk said that they were indeed men of very good Families but unfit for War and such as miscarried through want of experience and asked them that were about him if they did not think that their Ancestors had not much rather have left a Posterity like him since they themselves grew famous not by Nobility but by their Valour and great Actions This he did not say merely out of Vanity and arrogance or that he were willing without any advantage to reproach the Nobility but the People always delighting in Affronts and scurrilous Contumelies against the Senate whereby they measure greatness of Spirit continually encouraged him in it and instigated him not to spare the most worthy Persons so that he might thereby gratifie the Multitude 12. As soon as he arrived again in Africk Metellus now not able to bear up under the violence of the others Envy and Vehemence of his own Passion That having finished the War and nothing left but to secure the Person of Jugurtha Marius now grown great merely through his Ingratitude to him should bereave him both of his Victory and Triumph he could not stand the Interview but of himself retired whilst Rutilius his Lievtenant surrendred up the Army to Marius which the just wrath of the Gods returned upon his Head in the end of the War for Sylla deprived him of the glory of the Action as he had done Metellus the manner of it I shall lay down in a word or two having more particularly insisted upon it in Sylla's Life Bocchus was King of Mauritania and Father-in-law to Jugurtha yet sent him little or no assistance in his War pretending his unfaithfulness though really jealous of his growing Power but after Jugurtha fled and in his distress came to him as his last Sanctuary he received him indeed as a Suppliant rather because ashamed to do otherwise than out of real kindness and when he had him in his power he openly intreated Marius on his behalf and vigorously interceded for him giving out that he would by no means deliver him yet privately designing to betray him he sent for L. Sylla Quaestor to Marius and who had sometimes befriended Boccchus in the Army When Sylla relying on his word came to him the African began to repent of his purpose and often changed his mind being for several days unresolved with himself whether he should deliver Jugurtha or retain Sylla at length he fixed upon his former Treachery and put Jugurtha alive into Sylla's possession 13. This gave the first rise to that sad and deplorable Civil War which almost ruined the whole Roman Empire for many that envied Marius attributed the Success wholly to Sylla and Sylla himself made him a Seal wherein was engraven Bocchus betraying Jugurtha to him and this he constantly used whereby he highly provoked Marius a man extreamly ambitious and jealous of a Rival in his Glory his Enemies especially promoting the Dissention and ascribing the beginning and chief business of the War to Metellus and the conclusion to Sylla that so the People might give over admiring and esteeming Marius as the worthiest Person But these Envyings and Calumnies were soon dispersed and wiped off from Marius by the eminent danger that threatned Italy from the West for
Action was so surprizing that 't was thought a particular Providence was concern'd in it Some say Castor and Pollux plac'd themselves on each side Lysander's Ship and attended this affair with extraordinary influence Others fansi'd a stone that seem'd to fall from Heaven to be an Omen of this overthrow 'T was of a vast bigness and fell by the River Egus The Peloponnesians esteem it very much and show it among their Curiosities to this day Theophrastus tells us that Lysander when the three Thousand Athenians which he took prisoners were condemned by the Council call'd Philocles and asked him What punishment he thought that man deserv'd who advis'd the Citizens to proceed so severely against the Grecians Philocles not at all daunted in his Adversity reply'd You are no judge in this Case but do you use your Prisoners as I wou'd have us'd you if you had been mine After this bold answer with all gayety and cheerfulness he led on his Country-men as if he had been going rather to a Triumph than his Execution When this Tragedy was over Lysander visited all the neighbouring Cities and Commanded all the Athenians he found upon pain of death to repair to Athens His design was this That the City being thus throng'd might soon be reduc'd to Famine and glad to surrender upon discretion as soon as he open'd the Siege Where-ever he came he chang'd the present Government of the place and put in a Lacedaemonian as Chief with ten other Assistants Thus he dealt not only with his Enemies but his Allies and by this means had in a manner engross'd to himself the whole Empire of Greece He did not employ the Nobility or the wealthy Citizens in any part of the Government but put it into the hands either of private Friends or strangers and entrusted 'em with full power of Life and Death Many were executed whilst he was present and whoever exprest any dislike of his Friends proceedings were sure to meet with very hard usage This management gave the Greeks an ill Opinion of the Lacedaemonian Government From hence Theopompus took occasion by way of drollery to compare the Lacedaemonians with Vint'ners who whilst they pretend to entertain us with sweet Wine give it a dash of Vinegar for though Lysander openly profess'd he allow'd 'em all their Freedom and privileges yet he oppress'd 'em so much by his Ambitious and Tyrannical Officers that no Slavery cou'd be more uneasie to 'em than what he call'd Liberty Having settled Affairs here according to his mind and dispatch'd Messengers to tell the Lacedaemonians that he shou'd return to them with two hundred Sail in a very short time he appear'd before Attica with such assurance as if he thought of nothing less than the immediate surrender of the City But when he found the Athenians made a vigorous defence beyond his expectation he retreated into Asia and made the same alteration in other Cities as he had done in those we mentioned before putting some to death who did not submit to his Tyranny and forcing others to quit their Country He utterly routed the Samians and gave Fugitives the possession of their Cities He us'd the same Barbarity to the Inhabitants of Sestos which was then in the hands of the Athenians and divided it among his Sea-men The Lacedaemonians themselves were displeas'd at these inhumane proceedings though against their Enemies and re-establish'd the Sestians The Greecians were well satisfi'd with Lysander's Conduct for by his means the Aeginites were restor'd to their own Cities of which the Athenians had injustly possess'd themselves By this time Lysander had intelligence that there was a Famine in Athens upon which he sail'd to the Piraeum and had no sooner began his siege but the City surrendred submitting to whatever Terms he demanded 'T is reported among the Lacedaemonians that Lysander wrote to the Magistrates thus Athens is taken To which they return'd this Answer in the same way You say 't is taken we are satisfi'd But this was recorded rather as Laconick than true for they commanded him to observe these orders They run thus Know this is the decree of the Lacedaemonians Pull down the Piraeum and the long Wall Divide their Lands among the neighbouring Cities Allow 'em what 's necessary and set the Captives at liberty When you have perform'd this enjoy that peace which you have so well deserv'd As for the number of Ships use your own discretion in that matter When these orders came to the Athenians they took Theramenes his advice thereupon whom Cleomenes one of the young Councellors ask'd why he acted contrary to the intention of Themistocles and gave those Walls into the hands of the Lacedaemonians which he built in defiance of ' em Youth says he I have my eye upon Themistocles his design He rais'd these Walls for the preservation of the City and I for the very same reason wou'd have 'em destroy'd and if Walls only secure a City Sparta which has none is in a very ill condition Lysander as soon as the Ships and Fortifications of the Athenians were deliver'd into his hands attempted the same alteration among them as he had made in the other parts of Greece but finding 'em more stubborn than he expected he complain'd to the Lacedaemonians that their orders were not observ'd by the Athenians that the Walls were yet standing after the time fix'd for their pulling down was expir'd and now since they had broke their first Articles he declar'd he wou'd not enter into new conditions with ' em Some say he mov'd in Council that they might be reduc'd to Slavery when at the same time Erianthus the Theban propos'd wholly to destroy the City and leave the Country desolate but a little afterwards at an entertainment of the Captains one of 'em repeated some verses out of Eurypides's Electra They begun thus Electra O unhappy Queen Whither wou'd you fly return Your absence the forsaken Groves And desert Palace seem to mourn This struck 'em and gave 'em occasion to reflect how barbarous 't wou'd appear to lay that City in ruine which had been renown'd for the birth and education of so many famous men However Lysander the Athenians entirely submitting to him call'd a great consort of Musick both out of the City and Camp and whilst he pull'd down the Walls and burn'd the Ships his associates dancing and Crown'd with Garlands express'd as much joy as if the end of other men's happiness had been the beginning of their own After this according to his usual way of dealing with Conquer'd People he alter'd their Government appointed thirty Rulers over the City and ten over the Piraeum plac'd a strong Garrison in the Tower and made Callibius a Spartan the Governour who upon some slight occasion offer'd to strike Autolycus a famous wrestler the same whom Xenophon mentions in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the young Gentleman avoided the blow and gave Callibius a fall Lysander though this reflected upon one of his Officers
Confusion and a horrible Consternation upon his Army 'T was resolv'd therefore no longer to stay But when the King's Servants sent away their own Goods in quiet and hindred others from doing so too in great fury they thronged and crowded to the Gates seized on the Guards and kill'd them where Dorylaus the Captain having nothing else besides his Purple Garment lost his Life for the same and Hermoeus the Priest was trod under foot in the Gate Mithridates having none of his Guards or Attendance with him got out of the Camp in the Throng but had none of his Horses with him but Ptolomy the Eunuch looking back and seeing him flying among the others dismounted and gave his Horse to the King The Romans as they pressed on were just ready to take him the close Pursuit which they made reaching up just to him But Greediness and Avarice hindred the Romans from acquiring that Booty which in so many Fights and Hazards they had sought after and hindred Lucullus from the Glory of Conquest For the Horse which carried the King was just ready to be seized but one of the Mules that carried the Sumpter either by accident steping in or by order of the King so appointed to go between him and the Pursuers they seized and pilfered the Gold and falling out among themselves about the prey let slip the great Prize Neither was their Greediness prejudicial to Lucullus in this only but also they slew Callistratus the King's Secretary under suspicion of having five hundred pieces of Gold quilred up in his Clothes whom he had ordered to be conveyed safe into the Camp notwithstanding all which he gave them leave to plunder the Camp After this in Cabira and other strong Holds which he took he found great Treasures and private Prisons wherein many Greeks and many of the Kings Relations had of old been confin'd who counting themselves no other than dead Men by the Favour of Lucullus met not only with Relief but a new Life and Resurrection Nyssa Sister of Mithridates was made Captive by a blessed Captivity but those who seemed to be most out of danger Wives and Sisters at Pharnacia placed in safety as they thought all miserably perished by the comming back of Bacchides the Eunuch from Mithridates to them Among others there were two Sisters of the King Roxana and Statira Virgins of forty years old and two Ionian Wives Bernice of Chios and Monime of Milesium This latter was the most celebrated among the Greeks because she so long withstood the King in his Courtship to her when he presented her with fifteen thousand Pieces of Gold until such time as the Marriage was consummate the Crown was sent her and she was saluted Queen She had been a sorrowful Woman before and often bewailed her Beauty that had procured her a Keeper in stead of a Husband and Watch of Barbarians in stead of a Nuptial House and Attendance Being removed from Greece she enjoyed the Pleasure which she proposed to her self only in a Dream being in the mean time robb'd of that which is real Bacchides came and bid them prepare for Death as every one thought most agreeable and easie She took the Diadem from her Head and fastning the String to her Neck suspended her self therewith Which being soon broke O cursed Head-band said she not at all able to help me in this small thing And throwing it away she spat on it and gave her Neck to Bacchides Bernice had prepared a Potion for her self but at her Mother's intreaty who stood by she gave her part of it Both drank of the Potion which prevailed over the weaker Body but Bernice having drank too little was nothing changed but being something indisposed was strangled by Bacchides for haste 'T is said that one of the unmarried Sisters with bitter Execrations and Curses drank the Poison but Statira uttered nothing ungentile or reproachful but on the contrary commended her Brother who in his own Danger neglected not theirs but carefully provided that without shame or disgrace they might go out of the World Lucullus being a tender and good-natur'd Man was concerned at these things but however going on he came to Talauri from whence four days before his arrival Mithridates fled and was got to Tigranes in Armenia Whereupon he took in the Chaldeans and Tibarenians with the lesser Asia and having placed Garrisons in their Cities he sent Appius to Tigranes to demand Mithridates He himself went to Amisus which still held out Siege under the Command of Callimachus who by his great Skill and no less Experiencein Tacticks as much as could be shown in a Siege incommoded the Romans for which after he paid dear enough For Lucullus unexpectedly coming upon him at the same time of the Day when the Soldiers used to lie quiet and still gained part of the Wall and forced him to leave the City which he fired either envying the Romans the Booty or at least contriving his own Escape the better thereby No Man look'd after those who went off but as soon as the Fire had seized on most part of the Wall the Soldiers prepared themselves for Plunder where Lucullus pitying the Ruins of the City brought Assistance from without and encourag'd his Men to extinguish the Flames But all Men being intent upon the Prey and giving no heed to him with great shoutings brandished their Weapons in the Air whereupon he was compelled to let them plunder that by that means at least he might save the City from Fire But they did quite contrary for in searching the Houses with Lights and Torches every where with them they increas'd the flames insomuch that Lucullus the next day went in and weeping said to his Friends that he had often before blessed the Fortune of Sylla but never so much admir'd it as then because when he was willing he was also able to save Athens but my infelicity is such that while I endeavour to imitate him I become like Mommius Nevertheless he endeavoured to save as much of the City as he could and at the same time also by a lucky Providence the Rain concurred to extinguish the Fire He himself while present repaired the Ruins as much as he could receiving the Inhabitants who fled and setling as many Greeks as were willing to live there adding a hundred and twenty Furlongs of Ground to the Place This City was a Colony of Athens built at that time when she flourished and was powerfull at Sea upon which account those who fled from Aristo's Tyranny setled here and were made free but had the ill luck to fly from Evils at home intogreater abroad As many of these as survived Lucullus furnished every one with Clothes and two hundred Groats and sent them away into their own Country at which time Tyrannio the Grammarian was taken Murena begg'd him of Lucullus and took him and set him free but he abused Lucullus's Favour therein for he by no means liked that a Man of Learning
should fall upon him while his Men were at a distance and not come up into a Body Which made him stay for setling the Camp himself and send out Sextilius the Legate with Sixteen hundred Horse and almost as many heavy and light Arms with Orders to advance upon the Enemy and keep their ground until Intelligence came to him that the Camp was finished Sextilius designed to have kept this Order But Mithrobarzanes himself coming furiously upon him he was forced to fight In the Engagement Mithrobarzanes himself fighting was slain and all his Men except a few who run away were destroyed After which Tigranes left Tigranocerta a great City built by himself and retired to Taurus and called all his Forces about him But Lucullus giving him no time to Rendezvous sent out Murena to hinder and cut off those who Marched to Tigranes and Sextilius also to disperse a great Company of Arabians then going to the King both Sextilius fell upon the Arabians in their Camp and destroyed most of them and also Murena in his pursuit after Tigranes through a Craggy and Narrow way opportunely fell upon him Upon which Tigranes throwing away all cumbrances fled many of the Armenians were killed and more taken After this Success Lucullus went to Tigranocerta and sitting down before the City besieged it In it were many Greeks carried away out of Cilicia and many Barbarians in like circumstances with the Greeks Arraberrians Assyrians Gordyenians and Cappadocians whose Countries he had destroyed and forced away the Inhabitants to settle here It was a rich and beautiful City every Nobleman and Commoner in imitation of the King studied to enlarge and adorn it Which made Lucullus more vigorously assault it being perswaded that Tigranes would by no means suffer him but even against his own Judgment come down in anger to force him away Wherein he rightly Judged Mithridates earnestly disswaded him from it sending Messengers to him not to engage but rather with his Horse to hinder him from forraging Taxiles also the Messenger then in his Army very much intreated the King to forbear and avoid the Roman Forces as a Business not to be medled with at that time To this he hearkened at first but when the Armenians and Gordyenians in a full Body and the joint-Forces of Medes and Adiabenians under their respective Kings came up to him When many Arabians came up the River from Babylon others from the Caspian Sea Albanians Iberians and their Neighbours and not a few of the ungovernable People near Araxe by intreaty and hire came together up to him all the Kings Tables and Councils rung of nothing but Expectations Boastings and Barbarick Threatnings Taxiles went in danger of his Life for giving Counsel against fighting and it was imputed to Envy in Mithridates to divert him from so Glorious an Enterprize Whereupon Tigranes would by no means tarry for him for fear he should share in the Glory but march'd on with all his Army lamenting to his Friend as is said that he should fight with Lucullus alone and not with all the Roman Generals together Neither was his Boldness to be accounted frantick or rash when he had so many Nations and Kings attending him with so many Thousand of well-armed Foot and Horse about him He had Twenty thousand Archers and Slingers Fifty five thousand Horse whereof Fifteen thousand were all in Armour as Lucullus wrote to the Senate a Hundred and fifty thousand heavy Arms drawn up partly into Companies partly into Phalanges besides others appointed to open the ways and lay Bridges to drein the Waters and prepare Fuel with other necessary attendance to the number of Thirty five thousand Who being quartered behind the Army made it the more formidable to behold As soon as he had passed Taurus and appeared with his Forces and saw the Romans beleaguering Tigranocerta the barbarous People within with shoutings and acclamations received the sight and threatning the Romans from the Wall pointed to the Armenians In a Council of War some advised Lucullus to leave the Siege and march up to Tigranes others that it would not be safe to leave the Siege and so many Enemies behind He himself answered that neither side rightly but both together gave sound advice whereupon he divided his Army and left Murena with Six thousand Foot the Charge of the siege he himself went out with Twenty four Bands in which were no less than Ten thousand men at Arms all the Horse and about a Thousand Slingers and Archers and sitting down by a River in a large Plain appeared very inconsiderable to Tigranes and a fit Subject for the flattering Wits about him Some whereof jeared others cast Lots for the spoil every one of the Kings and Commanders came and desir'd the Engagement alone and that he would be pleased to sit still and behold Tigranes himself something Witty and Pleasant upon the occasion made use of the old saying That they were too many for Ambassadors and too few for Soldiers Thus they continu'd laughing and scoffing As soon as day came Lucullus brought out his Forces in their Arms. The Barbarian Army stood at the Eastern part of the River but Lucullus at the West and at a turn of the River where it was best passable while he led his Army in haste seemed to Tigranes to fly Who thereupon called Taxiles and in derision said Do you not see this invincible Army of the Romans flying But Taxiles reply'd I would to God O King some such Fortune may attend your Soul But surely Travellers never put on their best Cloths nor use bright Shields and naked Head-pieces and unsheathed Weapons as now you see but this is a preparation for War and of Men just ready to engage with their Enemies While Taxiles was thus speaking as Lucullus wheeled about the first Eagle appeared and the Bands according to their Divisions and Companies were just ready to pass over when with much ado and like a Man in a Debauch Tigranes cryed out twice or thrice What are you coming upon us Sirs In great hast therefore he put his Army in Array keeping the main Body to himself the Left Wing was given in Charge to the Adiabenian and the Right to the Mede in the Front whereof were most of the Armed Men placed Some Officers advised Lucullus to lie still that day being one of those unfortunate ones whom they call Black-days for therein the Army under Scipio engaging with the Cimbrians was destroyed But he by a very memorable Saying replyed I will make this a happy day to the Romans It was the day before the Nones of October Having so said he bad them Courage passed over the River and himself first of all led them against the Enemy A Coat of Mail with shining Scales he had on and a fringed Mantle and drew out his naked Sword as if they had been to engage with Men that used to fight at a distance and by a sudden falling in he straitned the open places
which were necessary for the Archers But when he saw the armed Horse the Flower of the Army drawn up under a Hill on the top whereof was a broad and open Plain about four Furlongs high and of no difficult or troublesome access he commanded his Thracian and Gallogrecian Horse to fall upon their Flanck and beat down their Lances with their Swords The only Defence of the Men in Arms are their Lances they have nothing else to defend themselves or annoy their Enemy by reason of the weight and hardness of their Armour in which they are enclosed He himself with two Bands made to the Mountain the Souldiers briskly following on when they saw him in Arms afoot first toiling and climbing up Being on the top and standing in an open place with a loud Voice he cried out We have overcome we have overcome O my Fellow-Soldiers And having so said he marched against the armed Horsemen commanding his Men not to throw their Piles but coming up hand to hand with the Enemy to hack their Shins and Thighs which Parts alone are unguarded in armed men But there was no need of this way of fighting for they stood not to receive the Romans but with great clamour and worse Fiight they and their heavy Horses broke the Ranks of the Foot before ever the Fight began insomuch that without a Wound or Blood-shed so many thousands were overthrown The greatest Slaughter was made in the Flight or rather in endeavouring to fly away which they could not well do by reason of the depth and closeness of the Ranks which hindred them Tigranes at first fled with a few but seeing his Son in the same misfortune he took the Crown from his Head and with Tears gave it him bidding him save himself in some other way if he could But the Prince daring not to put it on gave it to one of his trustiest Servants to keep for him This Man as it hapned being taken was brought to Lucullus so among the Captives the Crown also of Tigranes was taken 'T is reported that above a hundred thousand Foot were lost and few of the Horse escaped Of the Romans a hundred were wounded and five kill'd Antiochus the Philosopher making mention of this Fight in his Book about the Gods says That the Sun never saw the like Strabo another Philosopher in his Historical Collection says That the Romans could not but blush and deride themselves for putting on Armour against such pitiful Slaves Livy also says That the Romans never fell upon an Enemy with so unequal Force for by more than a twentieth part the Conquerors were less than the Conquered The most understanding Roman Captains and expert in War have chiefly commended Lucullus for conquering two great and potent Kings by two different ways Haste and Delay For he broke the flourishing Power of Mithridates by Delay and Time and that of Tigranes by Haste being one of those rare Generals who made use of Delay for advantage and Speed for security Whereupon it was that Mithridates made no haste to come up to fight imagining Lucullus would as he had done before use Caution and Delay which made him march the slower to Tigranes And as he met some stragling Armenians in the way running in great fear and consternation he suspected the worst and when greater numbers of naked and wounded Men assured him of the Defeat he sought for Tigranes and finding him naked and destitute he by no means requited him with Insolence but lighting off his Horse and condoling the Publick Loss gave him a Princely Guard to attend him and animated him for the future and they together gathered fresh Forces about them In the City Tigranocerta the Greeks divided from the Barbarians and delivered it up to Lucullus which he came and took He seized on the Treasury himself but gave the City to be plunder'd by the Soldiers wherein were found eight thousand Tallents of coined Money Besides which also he distributed eight hundred Groats per Man out of the Spoils When he understood that many Players were taken in the City which Tigranes invited from all Parts for opening the Theatre which he had built he made use of them for celebrating his Triumphal Games and Spectacles The Greeks he sent home allowing them Money for their Journey the Barbarians also as many as had been forced away from their own dwelling insomuch that this one City being dissolved many were repaired by the restitution of their former Inhabitants By all which Lucullus was belov'd as a Benefactor and Founder Other things also prospered under him as deserved being more desirous of praise for Justice and Clemency than for Feats in War for these are due partly to the Soldiers most of all to Fortune but those are a demonstration of a gentle and liberal Soul whereby Lucullus at that time even without the help of Arms conquered the Barbarians For the Kings of Arabia came to him tendring what they had and with them the Sophenians also submitted But he dealt so with the Gordyenians that they were willing to leave their own Habitations and were ready to follow him with their Wives and Children which was for this Cause Zarbienus King of the Gordyenians as is said being grieved under the Tyranny of Tigranes by Appius had secretly made Overtures of Confederating with Lucullus but being discover'd was executed and his Wife and Children perished with him before ever the Romans had invaded Armenia Lucullus forgot not this but coming to the Gordyenians made a solemn Enterment for Zarbienus and adorning the Funeral Pile with a Royal Canopy and Gold and Spoils of Tigranes he himself being present kindled the Fire and poured in perfumes with the Friends and Domesticks of the Deceased calling him his Companion and Friend of the Romans and ordered a stately Monument for him There was a large Treasury of Gold and Silver found in Zarbienus his Palace and no less than three hundred Myriads of Measures of Corn insomuch that the Soldiers were provided for and Lucullus was highly commended for maintaining the War at his own Charge without receiving one Groat from the Publick Treasury After this came an Embassage from the King of Parthia to him desiring Amity and Confederacy which being readily embraced by Lucullus he dispatch'd another to the Parthian which discovered him to be a double minded Man and dealing privately with Tigranes to take part with him upon Condition Mesopotamia were delivered up to him Which as soon as Lucullus understood he resolved to pass by Tigranes and Mithridates as Enemies well nigh subdued and try the Power of Parthia by leading his Army against them He esteemed it a renowned act like a Wrestler to throw down three Kings one after another and like an invincible Conquerour successively to deal with three of the greatest Commanders under the Cope of Heaven He sent therefore into Pontus to the Officers with Sornatius writing to them to bring the Army thence and joyn with him in this
extreamly fond of his Wife was very glad to continue there but Crassus was so transported with his Fortune that 't was manifest he never thought he had so good luck befel him as now so that he had much ado to contain himself before Company and Strangers but amongst his Confidents he blurted out many vain and childish things which were unworthy of his Age and contrary to his Nature for he was not much given to boasting in all his life besides but then being strangely puft up and his head heated he would not limit his fortune with Parthia and Syria but looking on the Actions of Lucullus against Tygranes and the Exploits of Pompey against Mithridates but Childs-play he proposed to himself in his hopes to pass beyond Bactria and India and the utmost Ocean not that he was obliged by his Office to undertake a Foreign Expedition but 't was well known that Crassus affected it and Caesar wrote to him out of Gaul commending his resolution and inciting him to the War and when Atteius the Tribune of the People design'd to stop his Journey for most men murmured that one man should undertake a War against a People that had done them no injury and were at Amity with them he desired Pompey to stand by him and accompany him for he had a great Authority amongst the Mobile and when several were ready to rise and exclaim against it Pompey appeared with a pleasing Countenance and so mollified the People that they let Crassus pass quietly but Atteius met him and first by word of mouth conjured him not to proceed and then commanded his Sergeant to seize him and detain him but the other Tribunes not permitting it they released Crassus Atteius therefore running to the gate whither when Crassus was come he kindled a fire in a Caldron he offered Fumigations and Sacrifices calling upon and naming several strange and horrible Deities and cursed him with most dreadfull imprecations now the Romans conceit there is so much Virtue in these sacred and ancient Rites that no Man can escape the effects of them and that the Conjurer himself seldom prospers so that they are not often made use of and that but upon a great occasion so that Atteius was to be blamed to devote that City to such Calamities upon whose account only he was so highly offended with Crassus Crassus arrives at Brundusium and though the Sea was very rough he had not patience to wait but went on Board and lost many of his Ships and with the remnant of his Army marched a foot through Galatia where meeting with King Deiotarus who though he was very old was about building a New City whereupon Crassus scoffingly told him Your Majesty begins to build at the 12th Hour Neither do you says he O General undertake your Parthian Expedition very early for Crassus was then Threescore years old and he seemed older than he was At his first coming things went as he would have them for he made a Bridge over Euphrates without much difficulty and passed over his Army in safety and took in many Cities of Mesopotamia which yielded themselves up voluntarily but he lost a hundred of his Men before one where Apollonius had usurped wherefore drawing all his forces down he took it by Storm plundered the Goods and sold the Inhabitants the Greeks call this City Zenodotia upon the taking of which he permitted the Army to salute him Imperator but it looked mean and poor as if he despaired a Nobler Atchievement that was so exalted with this little Success putting Garrisons of seven thousand Foot and one thousand Horse in the new Conquests he return'd to take up his Winter Quarters in Syria where his Son a most accomplished Gentleman met him coming from Caesar out of Gaul and brought with him 1000 select Horse here Crassus seemed to commit his first Error unless you will allow the whole Expedition to be one for whereas he ought to have gone forward and seiz'd Babylon and Seleucia Cities that were ever at enmity with the Parthians he gave the Enemy time to provide against him besides he spent his time there more like an Usurer than a General for he took no account of the Arms nor Discipline of his Soldiers but in computing the Revenue of the Cities and weighing the Treasure that was in the Temple of Hierapolis giving Commissions for levying of Soldiers and dismissing them for Money whereupon he lost his credit and became despicable here he met with the first ill Omen from this Goddess which some call Venus others Juno others Nature or the Cause that produces all things out of Moisture and instructs us in all good for as they were going out of the Temple young Crassus stumbled and his Father fell upon him when he drew his Army out of Winter quarters Embassadors came to him from Arsaces with this short Speech If the Army was sent by the People of Rome he denounced a mortal War and would give no quarter but if as he understood it was that against the Consent of his Country Crassus for his own ends had invaded his Country then their King would be more merciful and taking pity upon Crassus his dotage would send back those Soldiers whom he looked upon rather besieged than in a Garrison Crassus vainly told them he would return his Answer at Seleucia whereat Vagises the Chief of them smiling shew'd the Palm of his Hand saying Hair will grow here before you will see Seleucia so they returned to their King Hyrodes telling him 't was War Several of the Romans that were in Garrison in Mesopotamia with great hazard made their escape and told them the danger was worth their Concern for that they by experience knew the number of the Enemy and the manner of their fighting when they assaulted their Towns and as the manner is they made it seem greater than really it was that by flight it was impossible to escape them and as impossible to overtake them when they fled that they had new strange sort of Weapons as swift as sight that they pierced whatever they met with before you could see who threw their Kataphracti or Arm'd Men at all points were so provided as that they would beat down any thing and give way to nothing which when the Soldiers heard their hearts failed them for before they thought there was no difference between the Parthians and Armenians or Cappadocians who tyred Lucullus in following and pursuing of them and were perswaded that the difficulty of the War consisted only in the tediousness of the March and the trouble of chasing those that durst not come to handy blows so that the danger of a Battel was beyond their expectation wherefore the Officers advised Crassus to proceed no further at present but take new Measures upon the whole especially Cassius the Questor and the Southsayers told him privately the Omens were unlucky and that the Sacrifices portended dismal Consequences but he gave no heed to them or any
time by Charidemus by occasion of a Horse falling down at the Gate which hindred the Trojans so as they could not shut them soon enough and of two Cities which take their Names from most delightful odoriferous Plants Jos and Smyrna the one from a Violet the other from Myrrh the Poet Homer is reported to have been born in the one and to have died in the other To these Remarks if it may be permitted we may further observe that the most warlike Commanders who have perform'd the greatest exploits and carried on the most notable Stratagems by their Courage and Skill in Martial Affairs have had but one Eye as Philip Antigonus and Hannibal and Sertorius also whose Life and Actions we describe at present and who far surpassed the other in all noble Vertues for we may give this true report of him That he was more Temperate Sober and Continent than Philip more Faithful to his Friend than Antigonus and more Merciful and Courteous to his Enemies than Hannibal for Prudence Wisdom and Judgment he gave place to none of them but in Fortune was inferiour to them all who though she was every where more severe and cruel to him than to all his Illustrious Enemies yet for Skill and Experience in War he made himself equal to Metellus for bold Attempts Valour and Bravery he might compare with Pompey and in Success he no ways yielded to Sylla and for Power and Force he made himself a March for the whole Roman Empire and fought gloriously against the united Arms of Rome when he was a Banished Man and a Stranger amongst Barbarous People Of all the Grecian Commanders Eumenes of Cardia may be best compared with him for they were both of them great Generals both Valiant and Politick Commanders making use of Deceit intricate designs and cunning Stratagems in War they were both Aliens and Strangers Banished from their Countries and had the Command of Foreign Forces both had Fortune for their Adversary and so extravagantly injurious to them in the end that they were both betrayed and villainously murdered by those who served them and by whom they had formerly overcome their Enemies Quintus Sertorius was of a noble Family he was born in the City of Nursia in the Country of the Sabines his Father died when he was young he was carefully and decently educated by his Mother whose Name was Rhea and whom he extreamly loved and honoured he exercised himself in Oratory and pleading in his Youth which he performed so judiciously that he acquired no small Reputation and Power in Rome by the force of his Eloquence but the splendor of his glorious Actions in Arms and his successful Atchievments in the Wars induced him to alter his Ambition and to seek for Honour wholly in martial Affairs At his first entring the Field he served under Scipio when the Cimbri and Teutones invaded Gaul where the Romans fighting unfortunately and being put to flight he was wounded in many parts of his Body and thrown from his Horse yet nevertheless he swam cross the River Rhosne in his Armour with his Breast-plate and Shield bearing himself up against one of the swiftest Rivers in the World and breaking through its furious Waves by clear strength so strong a Body he had inur'd to hardship and by long exercise brought to endure all Labour The second time that the Cimbri and Teutones came down with some hundreds of thousands threatning death and destruction to all when it was no small piece of Service for a Roman Souldier to keep his Rank and obey his Commander Sertorius undertook to view the enemies camp and to discover their utmost Forces and Designs and to this intent having learned the manner of their Salutations and the ordinary expressions of their Language he threw himself in amongst the Barbarians dressed in the Habit of a Celtick Gaul where having carefully seen with his own Eyes or having been fully informed by Persons upon the place of all their most important Concerns and Affairs of greatest Moment he returned to Marius General of the Roman Army from whose hands he received the honourable Rewards of his Valour And afterwards giving frequent Demonstrations both of his Conduct and Courage in all the following War he was advanced to Places of Honour and Trust under his General who highly esteemed and consided in him After the Wars with the Cimbri and Teutones he was sent into Spain having the Command of a thousand Men under Didius the Roman General and wintered in the Country of the Celtiberians in the City of Castulo where the Souldiers enjoying great plenty of all things grew insolent and continually drinking the Inhabitants despised them and sent for aid by Night to the Gyrisenaeans their near Neighbours who sell upon the Romans in their Lodgings and slew a great Number of them but Sertorius being alarm'd withdrew out of the City with a few of his Souldiers and rallying together the rest who had slipp'd out he marched round about the Walls and finding the Gate open by which the Gyrisaenians privately entring had set upon the Romans he gave not them the same opportunity but placing a Guard at the Gate and seizing upon all Quarters of the City he slew those who were of age to bear arms and then ordering his Souldiers to lay aside their weapons and put off their own Cloaths and put on the accoutrements of the Barbarians he commanded them to follow him to the City from whence those were sent who fell upon the Romans by Night and deceiving the Gyrisaenians with the sight of their own Armour and Equipage he found the gates of their City open and took great Numbers of them Prisoners who came out thinking to meet their Friends and Fellow-Citizens coming from performing a worthy piece of Service Many also were slain by the Romans at their own Gates and the rest within yielded up themselves and were sold for Slaves This action made Sertorius to be highly renowned throughout all Spain and as soon as he returned to Rome he was constituted Treasurer General of Gallia Cisalpina on both sides of the River Po very advantageously for the Roman Affairs at that time for the War with the Marsi being unanimously resolved upon Sertorius was ordered to raise Souldiers and provide Arms which he performed with such Diligence Speed and Alacrity contrary to the languishing feebleness and slothfulness of his Companions that he got the repute of a man of Life and Spirit in Business nor did he any ways desist from his Milirary Boldness and Bravery when he arrived at the Dignity of a great Commander but performed Wonders with his own hands and never sparing himself but exposing his Body freely in all Conflicts he lost one of his Eyes which was cut out of his head and yet continued to have a chearful Look and always esteemed it an honour to him For others do not continually carry about with them the marks
to the Roman discipline and were very ill prepared to receive any sort of Government But he soon gained the affection of the Nobility by his Civilities and free Conversation amongst them and got the good Opinion of the People by remitting their Taxes But that which made him generally beloved and wan the hearts of all was his exempting them from finding Lodgings for the Soldiers when he Commanded his Army to take up their Winter Quarters without the Cities and to pitch their Tents in the fields and when he himself first of all caused his own Pavilion to be raised without the Walls yet not being willing to rely totally upon the good inclination of the Inhabitants he armed all the Romans who lived in those Countries that were of Age and undertook the building of Ships and the making of all sorts of Warlike Engins by which means he kept the Cities in due Obedience being affable and courteous in time of Peace and appearing formidable to his Enemies by reason of his great Preparations for War As soon as he was informed that Sylla had made himself Master of Rome and that the Party which sided with Marius and Carbo was utterly destroyed he expected that some Great Commander with a considerable Army would speedily come against him and therefore sent away Julius Salinator immediately with six thousand Men well Armed to Guard the Mountains and to fortifie and defend the narrow passages of the Pyrenaeans snd Caius Annius not long after being sent out by Sylla finding that Julius Salinator could not be approached unto and that his Camp was impregnable by reason of its Situation nor to be forced by any assault he sat down short at the foot of the Mountains in great perplexity but Calpurnius Lanarius having treacherously slain Julius Salinator and his Forces astonished at this accident forsaking the tops of the Pyrenaeans Caius Annius came forward with a great Army and passed over the Mountains and forced those from their Stations who endeavoured to hinder his March Sertorius also not being strong enough to give him Battel retreated with three thousand men into new Carthage where he took Shipping and crossed the Seasinto Africa and coming near to the coast of Mauritania his men went on shoar to water and stragling about negligently the Africans fell upon them and slew a great number This new misfortune forced him to sail back again into Spain from whence he was also repulsed but the Cilician Pyrats joyning with him they made for the Island of Pityusa where they landed and overpowred the Garrison placed therein by Caius Annius who also came thither not long after with a great Fleet of Ships and five thousand Souldiers and Sertorius made ready to fight him by Sea although his Ships were not built for strength but for lightness and swift Sayling but a violent West-wind raised such a storm at Sea that many of Sertorius's Ships were run on ground and shipwrack'd all along the rocky Shoars and he himself with a few Vessels being kept from putting further out to Sea by the storms and fury of the Weather and hindred from Landing by the power of his enemies was tossed about for ten days together and the Seas running high and the waves being boisterous and violent he escaped with great difficulty and after the Wind ceased ran into certain desolate Islands scattered about in those Seas affording no Water from whence making out to Sea again he passed the Streights of Gadiz between the Pillars of Hercules and sailing outward keeping the Spanish Shoar on his right hand he landed a little above the mouth of the River Baetis where it falls into the Atlantick Sea and gives the Name to all that part of Spain Here he met with Sea-men newly arrived from two Islands in the Atlantick which are divided from one another only by a narrow Channel and are distant from the Coast of Africa ten thousand Furlongs These are called the Fortunate Islands where the Rain falls seldom and then in moderate showers but for the most part they have gentle Breezes bringing along with them soft dews which renders the Soil not only fat and fit to be ploughed and planted but so abundantly fruitful that it produces of its own accord Plants and fruits for plenty and delicacy sufficient to feed and delight the Inhabitants who may here enjoy all things without Trouble or Labour The Seasons of the year are temperate and the alteration from Quarter to Quarter so moderate that the Air for the most part is serene and refreshing and the Weather generally fair and pleasant The rough Northerly and Eastern Winds which blow towards these Islands from the Coasts of Europe and Africa are divided and dissipated by reason of the vast distance and utterly lose their force long before they reach these Parts The soft Western and Southerly Winds which breath upon them do sometimes produce gentle sprinkling Showers but for the most part they calmly impregnate the Earth only with the fruitful Dews and the nourishing Moisture of the Air which they bring along with them from the Sea so that it is firmly believed even by the barbarous People themselves that this is the seat of the Blessed and that these are the Elysian Fields highly celebrated by Homer As soon as Sertorius heard this Account he was seized with a wonderful affection for these Islands and had an extreme desire to live there in peace and quietness far from the noise of Wars and free from the Troubles of Government but his inclinations being perceived by the Cilician Pirates who desire neither Peace nor Quiet but rove after Riches and Spoils they immediately forsook him and sailed away into Africa to assist Ascalis the Son of Iptha and to help to re-establish him in the Throne of his Father and to restore him to his Kingdom of Mauritania The sudden departure of the Cilicians did no ways discourage Sertorius or cause him to desist from further Attempts for he presently resolved to assist the Enemies of Ascalis and by this new Adventure kept his Soldiers together who from hence conceived new Hopes of their future Prosperity and began to have better prospect of their Affairs His arrival in Mauritania being very acceptable to the Moors he lost no time but immediately giving Battle to Ascalis beat him out of the Field and besieged him and Pacciacus being sent by Sylla with a Powerfull supply to raise the Siege Sertorius slew him in the field and overthrew all his Forces with this great advantage that he not only took the whole Roman Army Prisoners but also forced the City of Tingis where Ascalis and his Brothers were fled for refuge The Africans report that Antaeus was buried in this City a Gyant of a wonderfull stature but Sertorius being unwilling to trust common Fame which gave out that his Body was of a most Prodigious length he caused his Sepulchre to be opened and finding that his