the City had great need of a good Commander and fought about whom she might set at the Helm to repel the Inundation of so great a War and when not of the Noble or Potent Families appeared Candidate for the Consulship they created Marius though then absent 14. Now Jugurtha's Defeat was just noised about when the News of the Invasion of the Teutones and Cimbri began at first it exceeded all credit as to the number and strength of the approaching Army but at length that report proved much inferior to the Truth for they were 300000 effective fighting men besides a far greater number of Women and Children Their pretence was the seeking New Countries to sustain their so great Multitudes and Cities where they might settle and inhabit as they had heard the Celtae before them had expulsed the Tyrrheni and possessed themselves of the best part of Italy Now these having had no Commerce with the Southern Nations and coming from Countries far remote no man knew what People they were or whence they came that thus like a Cloud hovered over Gallia and Italy yet by their grey Eyes and the largeness of their Stature they conjectured them to be some of those Germans that dwell by the Northern Sea besides that the Germans call their Soldiers Cimbri 15. There are some that say that the Country of Celtae through the largeness and extent of the Place reacheth from the farthest Sea and Northern Climes to the Lake Maeotis Eastward and to that part of Scythia which is near Pontus and that there the two Nations mingled together that they did not swarm out of their Country all at once or on a sudden but at a certain Season every year still going forward at several times gave disturbance with their Wars to the whole Continent whereby though each Party had several appellations yet the whole Army was called by the common name of Celtick-Scythians Others say that they were a small parcel of the Cimmerii anciently well known to the Grecians who upon some Sedition raised among the Scythians passed all along from the Lake Maeotis to Asia under the Conduct of one Lygdamis but the greater and more warlike part of them still inhabit the remotest Regions lying upon the farther Ocean These they say live in a dark Woody Country hardly penetrable by the Sun-beams by reason of their many high and spreading Trees which also reach inward as far as the Hercinian Forest that they are under that part of Heaven where the Pole is so elevated that by the Declination of the Parallels the Zenith of the Inhabitants seems to be but little distant from it and that their Days and Nights being almost of an equal length they divide their Year into one of each This dismal Country gave Homer occasion for the Fiction that when Ulysses would call up the dead he retired into the Country of the Cimmerians as conceiving it either Hell it self or a place nearest to it and that from hence those People who were anciently called Cimmerii and then though not from their manner of Life Cimbri came into Italy but this is rather Conjecture then an Authentick History 16. However most Writers agree that the number of this Rascality was not less but rather greater than was reported They were of an invincible strength and fierceness in their Wars and came on with the same irresistable violence as a deavouring flame nor could any withstand their fury in their march but all as many as they assaulted were troden down and hurried along as their Prey Several of the greatest Roman Commanders with their whole Armies that were set for the Defence of Gallia Transalpina were ingloriously overthrown who indeed by their faint resistance chiefly gave them the boldness of marching towards Rome for having vanquished all they set upon and being well laden with Plunder they resolved to settle themselves no where till they should have raised the City and wasted all Italy The Romans being from all Parts alarmed with this News sent for Marius to manage the War and nominated him the second time Consul though the Law did not permit any one that was absent or that had not stayed a certain time from his first Consulship to be again created yet the People rejected all Opposers for they considered this was not the first time that the Law gave place to the Common Interest nor the present occasion less urgent than that when contrary to Law they made Scipio Consul then not fearing the destruction of their own City but desiring the ruine of that of the Carthaginians 17. This prevailed and Marius bringing over his Legions out of Africk on the very first day of January which the Romans reckon the beginning of their Year he received the Consulship and then also entred into Triumph shewing Jugurtha a Prisoner to the People a Sight beyond their expectation for none could hope to subdue that Province while he lived so cautelous was the man in complying with all the turns of Fortune and to his Valour had the addition of a great share of Craft 'T is said that when he was led in Triumph he fell distracted and was afterwards thrown into Prison where some forcibly tore off his Cloaths and others whilst they strove for his Golden Pendant with it pulled off the tip of his Ear and when he was cast naked into the Dungeon full of horrour yet forcing a smile he cryed out O Heavens How intolerably cold is this Bath of yours where for six days struggling with extream hunger and to the very last minute seeming desirous of Life he was over taken by the just reward of his Villainies In this Triumph was brought as was reported of Gold 3007 pound weight of Silver Bullion 5775 of Money in Gold and Silver Coin 17028 Drachms After the Solemnity Marius called together the Senate in the Capitol and entred the Court insolently whether through inadvertency or too much puffed up with his good Fortune in his Triumphal Habit yet presently observing the Senate offended at it he went out and putting on his ordinary Purple Robe immediately returned 18. In his Expeditions he appeared in the Head of his Army and trained them in their exercises while they marched using them to labour and weariness to long and tedious Journies and compelled each Soldier to carry his own Baggage and provide his own Victuals insomuch that thence forward such as were very laborious silently without grumbling doing their work were called Marius's Mules But some think there was another occasion of this Proverb that when Scipio besieged Numantia he being careful to inspect not only their Horses and Arms but their Mules and Carriages too and see how well equipped and in what readiness each one 's was Marius brought forth his Horse which had fed extreamly well and a Mule in better case stronger and gentler than those of others whereupon the General was very well pleased with and often mentioned Marius's Beasts
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
Expedition out of Gordyene They found the Soldiers resty and stubborn before but now plainly discovered their unruliness by no manner of Intreaty or Force to be reclaim'd for they protested and cried out That they would stay no longer there but go away and desert Pontus Which being reported to Lucullus did no small harm to the Soldiers about him who were corrupted with Wealth and Plenty and desirous of Ease and hearing the boldness of the others called them Men and such as they ought to imitate for the Actions which they had done did now well deserve rest and quiet Upon these and worse Words Lucullus left off the thoughts of invading Parthia and in the midst of Summer went against Tigranes where passing over Taurus he was astonish'd at the green Fields before him so much the Season by reason of the cold Air is deferred But however he went down and putting to flight the Armenians who dared to come out against him he plundered and burnt their Villages and seizing on the Provision designed for Tigranes who was afraid of the same reduced his Enemies to great necessity But when he provok'd the Enemy to fight by marching round their Camp and burning the Country before them he could by no means bring them out after their frequent Defeats before he rose up and marched to Artaxata the Royal City of Tigranes where his Wives and Children were kept judging that Tigranes would never suffer that to go without the hazard of a Battel It is reported that Annibal the famous Carthaginian after the Defeat of Antiochus under the Romans coming to Artaxas King of Armenia instructed him in several necessary and useful things who being taken with the pleasant and delightful Situation of that Place then uncultivated and neglected drew a Model of a City for the same and bringing Artaxas thither shewed him the same and encouraged him to build At which the King being pleased and desiring him to oversee the Work erected a large and stately City called after his own Name and made it Metropolis of Armenia Tigranes would by no means suffer Lucullus to come upon this City but came with his Army and on the fourth day sate down by the Romans the River Arsania lying between them which of necessity Lucullus must pass in his March to Artaxata Lucullus after Sacrifice to the Gods as if Victory were already obtained carried over his Army having Twelve Bands in Front the rest being disposed to prevent the Enemies enclosing them For there were many choice Horse drawn up against him In the Front stood the Mardians Horse-Archers and Iberians with long Spears who being the most Warlike Tigranes more confided in than any other Strangers but nothing of moment was done by them for though they skirmished with the Roman Horse at a distance they were not able to stand when the Foot came up to them but being broken and divided on both sides drew the Horse in pursuit after them Though these were routed yet Lucullus was afraid when he saw the Horse about Tigranes in good Order and great Numbers coming upon him Whereupon he recalled his Horse from pursuing he himself first of all withstood the Nobles and engaged with the best of them as they came upon him and before ever they came to close Fight with the very Terror overthrew them Of three Kings in Battel against him Mithridates of Pontus fled away the most shamefully being not so much as able to endure the Noise of the Romans The Pursuit reach'd a long way wherein the Romans not only slew them all night but took many alive seized and carried away great Riches with other Booty till they were weary and left off Livy says There were more taken and destroyed in the first Battel but in the second those of better note Lucullus being flush'd and animated hereby determined to march into the Vplands and there compleat his Conquests over the Barbarians but the Winter-season coming on contrary to his expectation brought severe Weather and frequent Snows and even in the most clear Days hard Frost and Ice which made the Waters scarce drinkable for the Horses by exceeding Cold and scarce passable for the breaking of the Ice and cutting the Horses Sinews The Country for the most part being Forest Inclosed and Woody made them continually wet being covered with Snow as they Marched in the day and sitting down in Moorish places at Night After the Battel they followed not Lucullus many days before they began to be unruly first of all intreating and sending the Tribunes to him but afterwards tumultuously gathered together and made a noise all night long which was a plain sign of a mutinous Army But Lucullus as earnestly entreated them desiring them to have patience but till they took the Armenian Carthage and overturn'd the Work of that cursed Man Annibal But when he could not prevail he led them back and by another Road over Taurus came into the fruitful and pleasant Country of Mygdonia where was a great and populous City by the Barbarians called Nisibis by the Greeks Antioch of Mygdonia Gaurus Brother of Tigranes was the Governour Callimachus Overseer of the Works and Fortifications the same who so much annoyed the Romans at Amisus He brought his Army to it and laying close Siege in a short time took it by Storm He kindly used Gaurus as he surrendred himself but by no means hearkened to Callimachus though he offered to make discovery of hidden Treasures commanding him to be kept in Chains to be punished for firing the City of Amisus which hindred him from shewing Favour and Kindness unto the Greeks as he intended Hitherto one would imagine Fortune attended and fought for Lucullus but afterward as if the Wind had fail'd of a sudden he did all things by force and as it were against the Grain wherein he shewed the Conduct and Patience of a wise Captain but his Actions met with no Honour or Reputation For by bad Success and Divisions in his Army he came within a Hairs-breadth of losing what what he had before Himself was not the least cause of all this being no ways indulgent to his Soldiers but one who thought all Favour shewn to them to be a beginning of Disobedience and Dissolution of Authority But what was worst of all he was naturally unsociable to his Great Officers in Commission with him despising others and thinking them worthy of nothing in comparison with himself These were the Evils attending Lucullus his other Vertues for he is said to have been a lusty goodly and eloquent Man Wise both in Court and Camp Salust says The Soldiers were ill-affected to him from the beginning of the War for being forced to keep the Field two Winters at Cyzicum and afterwards at Amisus There were other Winter-quarters that vexed besides these for they either were in an Enemies Country or else confined to their Tents in the open Fields among their Confederates for Lucullus not so much as once went into a
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
PLUTARCH's Lives the thierd Volum THE Third Volume OF PLUTARCH'S LIVES Translated from the Greek BY SEVERAL HANDS LONDON Printed by R. E. for Jacob Tonson at the Judges-Head in Chancery-Lane near Fleet-street 1693. LIVES contained in this Volume PYrrhus translated by Dr. Croune Page 1. Cajus Marius Mr. Stapleton Page 70 Lysander Mr. Boyle Page 154 Sylla Mr. Davis Page 204 Cimon Mr. Morgan Page 284 Lucullus Mr. Thornburgh Page 327 Nicias Mr. Rymer Page 411 Crassus Mr. Amhurst Page 472 Eumenes Page 548 Sertorius Dr. Brown Page 575 A Chronological Table to the Third Volume of Plutarch's Lives  The Olympiad The Year of the Olympiad After the building of Rome After the Worlds Creation Before the Com. of Christ The Julian Period Pyrrhus 123 1 465 3662 286 4426 Caius Marius first time Consul 168 2 646 3843 105 4607 Lysander took Athens 93 4 348 3545 403 4309 Sylla Consul 173 1 665 3862 86 4626 Cimon overthrew the Persians 78 1 285 3482 466 4246 Lucullus 177 2 682 3879 69 4643 Nicias 91 1 337 3534 414 4298 Marcus Crassus first time Consul 177 3 683 3880 68 4644 Eumenes 114 2 431 3628 320 4392 Sertorius the Battel of Sucro 175 4 676 3873 75 4637 PYRRHUS THE LIFE OF PYRRHUS From the Greek By William Croune M. D. Fell. of the Coll. of Physicians VOLUME III. OF the Thesprotes and Molossians after the great Inundation the first King some write was Phaeton one of them who in Pelasgus's Company came into Epirus Others tell us Deucalion and Pyrrha having built a Temple at Dodona settled there among the Molossians In after time Neoptolemus Achilles's Son transplanting a Colony possess'd these Parts himself and left a Succession of Kings after him nam'd Pyrrhidae for he in his Youth was call'd Pyrrhus and of his Legitimate Children one born of Lanassa Daughter of Cleodes Hyllus his Son he nam'd Pyrrhus also From him Achilles came to have Divine Honours in Epirus under the name of Aspetus in the Language of the Country After these first Kings those of the following middle times becoming barbarous and so rendred both in their Governments and Lives obscure Tharrytes is said to be the first who by adorning Cities with Greek Manners and Learning and Laws acceptable to Mankind left any Fame of himself Alcetes was the Son of Tharrytes Arybas of Aleetes and of Arybus and Troas his Queen Aeacides He married Pthia the Daughter of Menon the Thessalian a very brave man living at the time of the Lamiac War and of highest Command in the Confederate Army next Leosthenes To Aeacides were born of Pthia Deidamia and Trojas Daughters and Pyrrhus a Son The Molossians afterwards falling into Factions and throwing off Aeacides brought in the Sons of Neoptolemus and such Friends of Aeacides as they could take were all cut off Pyrrhus yet an Infant and search'd for by the Enemy Androclides and Angelus had stol'n away and fled but being obliged to take with them a few Servants and the Women that nurs'd the Child it made their Escape more difficult and slow so being overtaken they deliver'd the Infant to Androclion Hippias and Neander faithful and able young Fellows giving them in charge with all imaginable diligence to reach Megara a Town of the Macedons and themselves partly by entreaty and partly by force stopt the course of the Pursuers till very late in the Evening at last having hardly forc'd them back they joyn'd those who had the care of Pyrrhus But the Sun being already set and they near the utmost point now of their hopes were on the sudden defeated for coming to the River that runs by the City it look'd very dreadful and rough and endeavouring to pass over they found it was not fordable for some late Rains had swell'd the Water and made it run very foul The darkness of the Night added to the horrour of all so that they durst not adventure of themselves to carry over the Child and the Women that attended it but perceiving some of the Country People on t'other side desir'd they would assist their passage and show'd them Pyrrhus calling out aloud and importuning them but they could not hear for the noise and roarings of the Water Thus time was spent while those call'd out and the others did not understand what was said till one recollecting himself pill'd off a piece of Bark from an Oak and writ on it with the tongue of a Buckle expressing the Necessities and the Fortunes of the Child and then rowling it about a Stone which was made use of to give force to the Motion threw it over to the other side some report they fastned it to the end of a Javelin and darted it over when they on the other Shore read what was on the Bark and considered the shortness of the time instantly cutting down some Trees and lashing them together came over to them it fell out he who first got a-Shore and took Pyrrhus in his Arms was named Achilles the rest were help'd over by others as they came to hand Thus being safe and out of the reach of pursuit they addrest themselves to Glaucias then King of Illyria and finding him at Court sitting with the Queen they laid down the Child before them The King began to weigh this affair fearing Cassander a mortal Enemy of Aeacides and being in a deep consideration said nothing for a long time while Pyrrhus scrambling about got hold with his hand on his Robe and so helping himself upon his feet against the knees of Glaucias first mov'd Laughter and then Pity as a little humble crying Petitioner Some say he did not lie groveling before Glaucias but catching hold of an Altar of the Gods and spreading his hands about it rais'd himself up by that which Action to Glaucias seem'd to have in it something of divine and immediately gave Pyrrhus into the Queen's Arms commanding he should be brought up with his own Children a little after the Enemies sending to demand him and Cassander himself offering two hundred Talents he would not deliver him up but when he was twelve years old bringing him with an Army into Epirus made him King Pyrrhus in the Air of his Face had something more of Fierce than of the August of Majesty he had not many Teeth but all above was one continued Bone divided with small Lines resembling the spaces of a Row of Teeth it was a general belief he could cure the Spleen by sacrificing a white Cock and with his right foot gently pressing upon the Spleen of the Persons laid down on their backs a little to one side nor was any so poor or inconsiderable as not to receive the benefit of his Royal Touch if he desired it after the Sacrifice he accepted the Cock as a Reward and the Present was almost welcome to him the Toe of that foot was said to have a divine Virtue for after his death the rest of the body being consum'd this was
in his thoughts that he had defeated so great an Army of the Romans with the assistance of the Tarentines alone But the Romans did not remove Levinus from the Consulship it being reported Caius Fabritius should say That the Epirots had not overcome the Romans but Pyrrhus had only the better of Levinus insinuating their loss was not through want of Valour but Conduct but fill'd up their Legions and listed presently fresh men talking high and boldly of War which struck Pyrrhus with amazement He thought it advisable by sending first to make an experiment whether they had any inclination to treat thinking that to take the City and make an absolute Conquest was no work for such an Army as his was at that time but to settle a Friendship and bring them to terms would be highly honourable after his Victory Cineas was dispatch'd away and apply'd himself to several of the Great Ones with Presents for themselves and their Ladies from the King but not a Person would receive any and answer'd as well Men as Women That if any Agreement were publickly concluded they should be ready for their parts to express all Respect and Service to the King and Cineas discoursing with the Senate the most soft and obliging things in the World yet was not heard with kindness or inclination although Pyrrhus offer'd also to return all he had taken in the Fight without ransom and promising his assistance for the entire Conquest of all Italy asking for himself only their Friendship and Security for the Tarentines and nothing farther Many seem'd well inclin'd to a Peace having already receiv'd one great Defeat and fearing another from an additional Force of the Italick Greeks joyning with Pyrrhus Here Appius Claudius a man of great Honour but who in respect of his Age and want of Sight not intermedling with Affairs declin'd the fatigue of Publick Business after these Propositions had been made by the King hearing a report that the Senate was ready to vote the Conditions of Peace could not forbear but commanding his Servants to take him up was carried in his Chair through the Forum to the Senate House when he was set down at the door his Sons and Sons-in-law took him up in their Arms and going all close round about him brought him into the Senate Out of reverence of so worthy a man the whole Assembly was respectfully silent and he a little after rising up himself I bore says he until this time the misfortune of my Eyes with some impatience but now having heard of those unhandsome Debates and Resolves of yours and so dishonourable to the Glory of Rome it is my great affliction that being already blind I am not deaf too Where is now that Discourse of yours that has made such a noise in the World that if He had come into Italy the Great Alexander and dar'd to attack us when we were young men or our Fathers who were then flourishing he had not now been celebrated Invincible but either flying hence or falling here had left Rome more Glorious You demonstrate now all that was but foolish Arrogance and Vanity by your fears of the Molossians and Chaonians ever the Macedonian's Prey and trembling at Pyrrhus who was himself but an humble Servant to one of Alexander's Life-guard and here not so much to assist the Greeks that inhabit among us as flying from his Enemies at home he ranges about Italy and dares promise you the Conquest of it all by that Army which has not been able to preserve for him a little part of Macedon And do not perswade your selves that making him your Friend is the way to be rid of him but to bring more Forces over contemning you as easie to be reduc'd if Pyrrhus goes off without doing you reason for the Affront he has put upon you nay receiving also this reward of having render'd even the Tarentines and Samnites capable of laughing at the Romans When Appius had done every man was eager for War and Cineas dismiss'd with this Answer That when Pyrrhus had drawn his Forces out of Italy then if he pleas'd they would treat with him about Friendship and Alliance but while he staid there in Arms they were resolv'd to prosecute the War against him with all their Force though he should have defeated 1000 Levinus's 'T is said that Cineas while he was managing this Affair made it his Business with an exact Care to inspect the manners of the Romans and perfectly understand their Methods of Government Afterwards in discourse with the Grandees of the Court he told Pyrrhus among other things the Senate seem'd to him an Assembly of Kings and for the People he fear'd least they should 〈◊〉 thought to fight with the Hydra or Seâ—pent of Lerna fen for the Consul had already rais'd twice as great an Army as the former and there were a great many times over the same number of Romans able to bear Arms. Then Caius Fabritius came in Ambassy from the Romans to treat about the Prisoners that were taken one whom Cineas had reported to be a man of highest consideration among them for a right honest man and a great Soldier but extreamly poor Pyrrhus receiv'd him with much Kindness and privately would have perswaded him to accept of his Gold not for any evil purpose but calling it an Argument of Respect and hospitable Civility upon Fabritius's refusal he press'd him no farther but the next day having a mind to discompose him who had never seen an Elephant before commanded one of the largest compleatly arm'd to be placed behind the Hangings as they were talking together which being done upon a Sign given the Hanging was drawn aside and the Elephant raising his Trunk over the head of Fabritius made an horrid and ugly noise He gently turning about and smiling said to Pyrrhus Neither your Money yesterday nor this Beast to day make any Impression upon me At Supper amongst 〈◊〉 sorts of things that were discours'd but more particularly of Greece and of the Philosophy there Cineas by accident had occasion to speak of Epicurus and explain'd what they held about the Gods and the Commonwealth placing the chief Happiness of Man in Pleasure and declining Publick Affairs as an Injury and Disturbance of an happy Life removing the Gods afar off both from Kindness or Anger or any Concern for us at all to a life wholly without Business and flowing in Pleasures Before he had done speaking Fabritius cry'd out O Hercules said he to Pyrrhus may Pyrrhus and the Samnites entertain themselves with this sort of Opinions as long as they are in War with us Pyrrhus admiring the Wisdom and Gravity of the man was the more transported with desire of making Friendship instead of War with the City and apart intreated him after the Peace should be concluded to accept of living with him as his Chief Minister of State and Generalissimo of his Armies Fabritius told him softly Sir
unavoidable and a great Feud happ'ning at Argos between Aristeus and Aristippus two principal Citizens after Aristippus had resolved to make use of the Friendship of Antigonus Aristeus to prevent him invited Pyrrhus thither and he always revolving hopes upon hopes and taking advantage from good successes to embrace occasions of more and when things went unprosperously to make up those defects by doing better another time he neither made Losses nor Victories the bounds of his receiving or giving Trouble and so presently went for Argos Areus by frequent Ambushes and lining the Hedges where the ways were most unpracticable cut off many of the Gauls and Molossians that brought up the Rear It was told Pyrrhus by one of the Priests that found the Liver of the sacrificed Beast imperfect that some of his near Relations would be lost in this Tumult and Disorder of his Rear forgetting the Prediction he commanded out his Son Ptolomee with some of his Guards to their assistance who quickly getting out of the narrow ways march'd up to them and the Fight being very warm where he was for the most select men of the Lacedaemonians commanded by Evalcus were there engaged one Oraesus of Aptera in Creet a stout man and very swift running on the one side of the young Prince as he was fighting bravely gave him a mortal wound and slew him he falling those about him turned their backs the Lacedaemonian Horse pursuing and cutting off many were got into the open Field engaged with the Enemy before they were aware without the Infantry Pyrrhus who had received the ill news of his Son and was infinitely afflicted at it drew out his Molossian Horse against them and charging in the Head of his men satiated himself with the Blood and Slaughter of the Lacedaemonians always indeed appearing an invincible Hero and mighty in Arms but now exceeded all he had ever done before in Courage and Force Then riding up furiously to Evalcus he declining a little to one side had almost cut off Pyrrhus his Hand in which he held the Reins but lighting on the Reins only cut them at the same instant Pyrrhus running him through with his Spear fell from his Horse and on foot as he was cut in pieces all those choice men that fought about the Body of Evalcus and the obstinate fury of the Commanders on both sides brought this great loss to Sparta even when the War was now at an end Pyrrhus having thus offered so many as it were in Sacrifice to the Ghost of his Son and made his Fight a kind of Funeral Show converting much of his Grief into Rage against the Enemy marched away to Argos And having Intelligence that Antigonus kept the high Grounds he encamped about Nauplia the next day he dispatched an Herauld to Antigonus calling him persidious and challenging him to descend into the plain Field and fight with him for the Kingdom he answered his Conduct should be measured by Times as well as by Arms and that if Pyrrhus had no leisure to live there were ways enough open to death To both the Kings also came Ambassadours from Argos desiring each Party to retreat and not suffer the City to fall into the hands of any one of them that had a great honour for both Antigonus was perswaded and sent his Son an Hostage to the Argives but Pyrrhus although he promised a recess yet sending no Hostage he was much suspected At this time a great Prodigy happen'd to Pyrrhus for the Heads of the Sacrificed Oxen lying apart from the Bodies were seen to thrust out their Tongues and lick up their own gore And in the very City of Argos a Priestess of Apollo Lycius ran about the Streets crying She saw the City full of Carcasses and Slaughter and an Eagle coming out to fight and presently vanishing again In the dead of the Night Pyrrhus approaching the Walls and finding the Gate called Diamperes set open for them by Aristeas was undiscovered till such time as all his Gauls had entred and took possession of the Market place but the Gate being too low to let in the Elephants they were fain to take down their Towers and put them on again in the dark and in disorder so that time being lost the City took the Alarm and the People some run to Aspis the chief Citadel and others to other Places of Defence and sent away to Antigonus to assist them who coming pretty near made an halt but sent in some of his principal Commanders and his Son with a very considerable Force Areus came thither too with 1000 Cretans and some of the briskest of the Spartans and all falling on at once upon the Gauls put them in great disorder Pyrrhus entring in with a mighty Noise and Shout at a place called Cylabaris when the Gauls returned another Cry to them it did not express Courage and Assurance but the Voice of men distressed and that had their hands full Therefore Pyrrhus in haste pushed on the van of his Horse that marched but slowly and dangerously by reason of the Drains and Sinks of which the City was full In this Night-Engagement there was infinite confusion both in those that acted and those that commanded mistaking and stragling in the narrow Streets it was impossible to make use of Conduct or Order in that darkness and variety of Noises and strait Passages so both sides continued without doing any thing and expecting Day-light At the first dawn Pyrrhus seeing the great Citadel Aspis full of Men was disturbed and remarking among many Figures dedicated to the Market-place a Wolf and Bull of Brass as it were ready to attack one another he was struck with horrour reflecting upon the memory of an Oracle that formerly predicted Fate had determined his Death when he should see a Wolf fighting with a Bull. The Argives report these Figures were placed in memory of a thing that fell out anciently there For Danaus when he first invaded those Parts passing by the ways called Pyramia in Thyreatis as he marched towards Argos espied a Wolf fighting with a Bull and imagining the Wolf to represent him for this Stranger fell upon a Native as he designed to do stay'd to see the Issue of the Fight and the Wolf prevailing after he had offered his Devotions to Apollo Lycius he assaulted and carried the Town Gelanor who was then King being displac'd by a Faction And this was the Cause of dedicating those Figures Pyrrhus quite out of heart at this Sight and seeing none of his Designs succeed thought best to retreat but fearing the strait Passage at the Gates sent to his Son Helenus who was left without the Town with a great part of his Forces commanding him to break down part of the Wall and assist the retreat if the Enemy pressed hard upon them But what with the hast and confusion of the Person that was sent he delivered nothing clearly so that quite mistaking the Young Prince
Rutilius relates in all other respects a faithful and authentick Historian but indeed privately an Enemy to Marius he obtained his Sixth Consulship by distributing vast Sums of Money among their Tribes and so too bought their Votes to put by Metellus from the Office and to elect Valerius Flaccus his Instrument rather than his Collegue in the Consulship The People had never before bestowed so many Consulships on any one man except on Valerius Corvinus only and he too they say was forty five years between his first and last but Marius from his first ran through five more with one push of his good Fortune 48. In the last of which especially he contracted a great deal of hatred by committing several gross misdemeanours in compliance with the irregular desires of Saturninus among which was the murther of Nonius whom Saturninus because he stood in competion with him for the Tribuneship slew and afterwards being Tribune made a Law about the division of Lands and fields wherein it was provided that the Senate should come and swear to confirm whatever the People should vote and not to oppose them in any thing Marius in the Senate cunningly feigned to be against this Clause of the Law and said that he would not take any such Oath nor any else he thought that were wise for if there were no ill Design in the Law it would be an affront to the Senate to be compelled to give their approbation and not to do it rather willingly or by perswasion This he said not that it was agreeable to his own Sentiments but that he might thereby entangle Metellus in an unavoidable snare for making a great part of his Virtue and Gravity to consist in deceit he made very little account of what he had openly professed to the Senate he knowing too that Metellus was one of a fixed resolution and as Pindar has it that esteemed Truth the greatest Principle of Heroick Virtue designed by this his refusal of the Oath in the Senate to ensnare him by making him refuse the Law also and thereby to cast such an Odium upon him with the People as should never be wiped off Which accordingly succeeded to his wish for as soon as Metellus had declared that he would not swear to it the Senate adjourned 49. Within a sew days Saturninus citing the Senators to make their appearance and pressing them to take the Oath Marius stepped forth whereupon was a profound silence and every one very intent upon him and bidding farewel to those fine smooth Speeches he had before made in the Senate said That he was not grown so obstinate as to do any thing to the prejudice of so good a design but would willingly swear and submit to the Law if so be it were one which Caution he added as a Pretext for his Impudence The People extreamly pleased at his taking the Oath mightily extolled and applauded him the Nobility were very much ashamed and vexed at Marius's Inconstancy but they were forced for fear of the People to swear in order till it came to Metellus's turn But he though his Friends followed and entreated him to take the Oath and not to plunge himself irrecoverably into those Penalties which Saturninus had provided for them that would not take it would not flinch from his resolution nor swear but according to his usual custom being ready to suffer any thing rather than do a base unworthy Action left the Forum telling them that were with him That it was base to do any thing that is ill and common to do well where there is no danger but where there is even in despite of that to do well was the property of a good man 50. Hereupon Saturninus put it to the Vote that the Consuls should declare Metellus banished and that none should entertain him there was enough too of the basest of People ready to kill him and when many of the better sort were extreamly concerned for and gathered about Metellus he would not suffer them to raise a Sedition upon his account but more advisedly left the City saying Either when the posture of affairs is mended and the People repent I shall be recalled or if things remain in the present posture it will be best to be absent But how great Favour and Honour Metellus received in his Banishment and after what manner he spent his time at Rhodes in Philosophy we shall more opportunely shew you when we write his Life 51. Marius for this piece of Service done him forced to connive at Saturninus now arrived at the very height of Insolence and Force had unawares occasioned such a flame as could not now be easily quenched but by Outrages and Massacres directly tending to Tyranny and the Subversion of the Government for standing in some awe of the Nobility and withal flattering the Commonalty he did a very cowardly and dishonest Action When some of the great men came to him at night to stir him up against Saturninus he let him in unknown to them at the other door then making the same pretences of doing his necessary occasions to both he ran from one Party to the other and staying one while with them and another with him he instigated and exasperated them one against another At length when both the Senate and Equestrian Order agreed together and shewed their resentment at it he filled the Market-place with Soldiers and by cutting off the Aqueducts he forced those that retreated to the Capitol to surrender for want of Water they in this distress submitted themselves upon the Publick Faith whom he endeavoured all ways imaginable to preserve but without Success for when they came into the Forum they were all basely murthered Hereupon equally odious both to the Nobility and Commons when the time was come to create Censors though he were the most likely man yet he did not petition for it but fearing the disgrace of being repulsed permitted others his Inferiours to be elected yet he pleased himself in giving out that he was not willing to disoblige too many by a severe inspection into their Lives and Conversations 52. There was now an edict preferring to recal Metellus from Banishment this he vigorously but in vain opposed both in his Discourse and Actions yet at length desisted for the People unanimously voting for it and he not able to endure the sight of Metellus's Return made a Voyage to Cappadocia and Galatia giving out that he was to perform some Sacrifices which he had vowed to Cybele but had indeed another reason for his departure which was not to be discovered to the People He being one altogether ignorant of Civility and State-Affairs had received all his advancement from the War and then too supposing both his Power and Glory would by little and little decrease by his lying quiet and out of action sought by all means to lay the Foundation of some new Commotions and hoped too that by setting at variance some of the neighbour
and falling at his Feet he besought him to assist and preserve a man who if he escaped the present danger would make him returns beyond his expectation The poor man whether he had formerly known him or were then moved with his Venerable Aspect told him that if he wanted only rest his Cottage would be convenient but if he were flying from any body's search he would hide him in a more retired place Marius desiring him to do so he carried him into the Fens and bad him hide himself in an hollow Cave by the River side where he laid upon him a great many Reeds and other things that were light and would cover but not oppress him But within a very small time he was disturbed with a noise and tumult from the Cottage for Geminius had sent several from Tarracina in pursuit of him whereof some happ'ning to come that way frightned and threatned the poor Old-man for having entertained and hid an Enemy of the Romans Wherefore Marius arising and uncovering himself plunged into a puddle full of thick muddy water and even there he could not escape their search but was pulled out naked of Cloaths but covered with mire and in that pickle carried away to Minturnae and delivered into the Magistrate's Power for there had been a Proclamation through all those Towns to make publick search for Marius and if they found him to kill him however the Magistrates thought convenient to consider a little better of it first and sent him Prisoner to the House of one Fannia 64. This Woman was supposed not very well affected towards him upon an old account One Tinnius had formerly married this Fannia from whom she afterwards being divorced demanded her Portion which was considerable but her Husband accused her of Adultery so the Controversie was brought before Marius in his Sixth Consulship when the cause was examined thorowly it appeared both that Fannia had been incontinent and that her Husband though he knew her to be so had married and lived a considerable time with her So that Marius was severe enough with both commanding him to restore her Portion and laying a small Fine upon her by way of disgrace But Fannia did not then behave her self like one that had been injured but assoon as she saw Marius remembred nothing less than old Affronts took care of him according to her ability and very much comforted him He made her his returns and told her he did not despair for he had met with a very lucky Omen which was thus When he was brought to Fannia's House as soon as the door was open an Ass came running out to drink at a Spring hard by and looking very pertly and briskly upon Marius first stood still before him then brayed aloud and pranced by him Upon which Marius making his observation said That the Fates designed his safety to be procured rather by Sea than Land because the Ass neglected his dry Fodder and turned from it to the Water Having told Fannia this Story he commanded the Chamber-door to be shut and went to rest 65. Mean while the Governors and Senators of Minturnae consulted together and determined not to delay any longer but immediately to kill Marius and when none of their Citizens durst undertake the business a certain Soldier a Gaul or Cimber the story is told of both went in with his Sword drawn to him the Room it self was not very light that part of it especially where he then lay was dark from whence Marius's Eyes they say seemed to the Fellow to dart out flames at him and a loud voice to say Fellow darest thou kill C. Marius The Ruffian hereupon immediately fled and leaving his Sword in the place rushed out of doors crying only this I cannot kill C. Marius At which they were all at first astonished afterwards pitied him and reversed their Sentence and were even angry at themselves for making so unjust and ungrateful a Decree against one who had preserved Italy and whom it was base not to assist to their utmost Let him go say they where he please to banishment let him find his Fate somewhere else we beg pardon of the Gods for thrusting Marius distressed and deserted out of our City 66. Whilst they were taken up with such like thoughts there came a great company about him and conducted him towards the Sea-side where though every one was very officious to him and all made what haste they could yet a considerable time was spent for there was a Grove called Marice which the People thereabouts held sacred and suffered nothing that is brought into it to be carried out again this lay just in their way to the Sea and if they should go round about they must needs come very late thither At length one of the Old men cried out and said there was no place so sacred but they might pass though it for Marius's preservation and thereupon first of all taking up some of the Baggage that was carried for his accommodation to the Ship passed through the Grove all the rest immediately with the same readiness accompanying him He afterwards had the Picture of these things drawn and placed it in a Temple thereabouts One Belaeus having by this time provided him a Ship Marius there went on board and hoisting Sail was by chance thrown upon the Island Aenaria where meeting with Granius and his other Friends he sailed with them to Africk But their water failing them in the way they were forced to put in at Erycine in Sicily where was a Roman Quaestor presiding over those Places who had almost taken Marius going on Shore and killed sixteen of his retinue that went to fetch Water Marius with all expedition loosing thence passed over to the Isle Meniux where he first heard the News of his Son's escape with Cethegus and of his going to implore the assistance of Hiempsal King of Numidia 67. With this News being somewhat comforted he ventured to pass from that Isle towards Carthage Sextilius a Roman was then Pretor in Africk one that had never received either any Injury or kindness from Marius yet he hoped he would out of meer pity lend him some help He was now scarce got ashore with a small retinue when an Officer was sent to him and meeting him said Sextilius the Pretor forbids thee Marius to set foot in Africk if thou doest he says he will put the Decree of the Senate in execution and treat the as an Enemy to the Romans When Marius heard this he wanted Words to express his Grief and Resentment and for a good while held his peace looking sternly upon the Messenger who asked him what he should say or what answer he should return to the Pretor Marius answered him with a deep sigh Go tell him that you have seen C. Marius sitting upon the Rubbish of Carthage very appositely applying the example of the Fortune of that City to the Change of his own Condition 68. In the interim
with Fortune and thereupon taking leave of those that were with him he kept his bed seven days and then died 78. Some say he very much betrayed his Ambition even in his Sickness and fell into an extravagant frenzy fancying himself to be General in the War against Mithridates acting such postures and motions of his body as he used when he was in the Battel with frequent Shouts and loud Acclamations with so strong and invincible a desire of being employed in that business as he possessed through his Pride and Emulation He though he had now lived threescore and ten Years and was the first man that ever was chosen seven times Consul possessed of such a Palace and so great Riches as were sufficient for many Kings yet complained of his ill Fortune that he must now die before he had attained what he desired Plato when he saw his death approaching thanked his God and Fortune First that he was born a man and a Grecian not a Barbarian or a Brute and next that he happ'ned to live in Socrates's Age. And so indeed they say Antipater of Tarsus in like manner at his death recollecting what prosperity he had enjoyed did not so much as omit his happy Voyage to Athens thus returning to every favour of his indulgent Fortune with the greatest acknowledgments and retaining it to the very last in his memory than which Man hath not a more secure Treasure But on the contrary Persons foolish and ungrateful to God and Nature lose the enjoyment of their present prosperity by fansying something better to come whereas by Fortune we may be prevented of this but that can never be taken from us Yet they reject their present success as though it did not concern them and do nothing but dream of future uncertainties and in this they have but what they deserve for till they have by Learning and Education laid a good Foundation for external Superstructures in the seeking after and gathering them they can never satisfie the unlimited desires of their mind 80. Thus died Marius on the Seventeenth Day of his Seventh Consulship to the great Joy and content of Rome which thereby was in good hopes to be delivered from the Calamity of an Insolent bloody and fatal Tyranny but in a small time they found that they had only changed their old Master for another young and vigorous so much cruelty and salvageness did his Son Marius shew in murthering the Nobility At the first being esteemed resolute and daring towards his Enemies he was named the Son of Mars but afterwards his actions betraying his contrary disposition he was called the Son of Venus At last he was besieged by Sylla in Praeneste where he endeavoured by all means to save his life but in vain for when the City was taken there being no way of escape he slew himself THE LIFE OF LYSANDER By the Honourable Charles BOYLE of Christ-Church VOLUME III. LYSANDER 'T is generally agreed that Aristoclitus Lysander's Father though he was not immediately â—â—â—â—…ded from royal ancestors was howevâ—â— some way related to the Family of the Heraclidae Lysander himself was bred up under much hardship and behav'd himself all along witâ—â—â— due respect to the disciplinâ— and manners of his Country He was 〈◊〉 and above all sort of pleasure that alone 〈…〉 arose from a sense of honour 〈…〉 that attends just and generous Actions and to indulge this pleasure was very excusable at Sparta where their yough was fire'd with an early desire of Glory taught to be dejected under disgrace and rais'd by commendation And he that was insensible of these was look'd upon as one of a mean spirit and uncapable of aspiring to any thing that 's great or manly That emulation then and thirst after fame which appear'd in the whole course of Lysander's Life we have no reason to blame him for it came from his Country and education but another fault he had which was purely his own He paid too servile a deference and more than became a Spartan to great men and where his interest was concern'd bore the frowns of men in Authority something too patiently Which however by some is reckon'd no small part of Policy Aristotle where he observes that great wits are generally enclin'd to Melancholy instancing in Socrates Plato and Hercules says too that Lysander though not in his Youth was in his declining Age subject to it But that which peculiarly distinguish'd his Character was the way he had of making poverty sit well upon him and of keeping his mind steady and untainted under the greatest affluence For he reserv'd nothing for himself out of all those spoils of Gold and Silver that he brought from the Attick War but liberally dispers'd 'em among his Country-men who upon this increase of riches began to value 'em as much as they despis'd 'em before Another instance of his generous disposition was this when Dionysius the Tyrant wou'd have presented his Daughters with some Garments of a rich Embroidery he refus'd 'em with that handsome excuse That they were fit only to make unhappy faces more remarkable But this temper wore off by degrees for being sent Embassadour some time after to the same Tyrant who offer'd him the choice of two Vests I like this best says he and modestly took both After a long continuance of the Peloponnesian War when the Athenians had receiv'd a great blow in Sicily and were under fearful apprehensions of a total overthrow both by Sea and Land Alcibiades being recall'd from banishment manag'd the War with such success that he quickly chang'd the whole scene of Affairs and after some engagements made the Athenians equal in naval power to the Lacedaemonians who now began to be sensible of their dangerous condition and were resolv'd to exert themselves more vigorously They knew this design requir'd greater preparations and a bold Commander After the strictest enquiry they found none of more ability for this service than Lysander In discharge of this new Office he went to Ephesus and found that City particularly well inclin'd to him and withal wholly in the interest of the Lacedaemonians though at that time in very mean circumstances and almost over-run with the barbarous Persian customs by reason of their frequent commerce with 'em being situated opportunely enough to invite the great Officers of that kingdom often to reside there This kind reception he met with from the Ephesians engag'd him to pitch his Tents among ' em He commanded all Victuallers to be brought into their harbour and built a dock for his capital Ships and by this means their ports were frequented by Merchants their exchange was full of business and their Shops had a plentiful Trade so that this City is so far oblig'd to Lysander that it ought to date from that time the hope and rise of the greatness and splendor with which it now flourishes But hearing that Cyrus was now at Sardis he went thither chiefly to acquaint him with
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
Letters to Pausanias that he shou'd remove from Platea and make haste to join Forces with him at Haliartus where he himself wou'd certainly meet him by break of day These Letters fell into the hands of the Enemies Spies and were brought to the Thebans Upon the opening of 'em they entrusted their City with the Athenians and they sallying out at the first Watch arriv'd at Haliartus and put part of their Forces into the City a little before Lysander came Lysander had at first resolv'd to pitch his Tents upon the side of an Hill and wait for Pausanias but day drawing on he grew impatient and led his Soldiers out in a direct line along the Road to the Walls of the City There is a Fountain call'd Cisseusa in which they say Bacchus was wash'd immediately after his birth for the Water is like Wine of a bright Colour and a pleasant taste not far off grows the Cretian Storax by which the Haliartians guess Radamanthus dwelt there and the rather because his Sepulchre too which they call Alea is seen in this place The monument of Alcmena is hard by where they pretend she was buri'd when after Amphitryo's death she marri'd Radamanthus 'T was here about on the left side of Haliartus that those Thebans who had not entred the City were plac'd from whence with great fierceness they fell upon the Enemies Rear In the mean time those within the City putting themselves into one body with the Haliartians kept their order in quiet But assoon as Lysander appear'd with his Van-Guard before the Gates they rush'd out killed him and one of his Priests with some few more for the greater part made their escape to the main Army but the Thebans pursu'd 'em so closely that they all soon dispers'd and fled to the Hills A Thousand of them were kill'd in this pursuit and 300 of the Thebans fell by chasing 'em too rashly into craggy and dangerous places These 300 had been suspected of correspondence with the Lacedaemonians which made 'em so rash and desperate that they were resolv'd to wipe off this disgrace though with the loss of their Lives The news of this defeat came to Pausanias as he was going from Platea to Thespias He presently put his Army in order and made towards Haliartus where about the same time Thrasybulus was arriv'd with a party of the Athenians under his Command Pausanias wou'd have articled with 'em upon terms for the dead but the Spartan Magistrates wou'd not consent to it and were angry with him for offering such mean proposals They declar'd Lysander's body shou'd not be redeem'd by conditions but if they fought it out and Conquer'd they might carry it off honourably if they happen'd to be overcome themselves 't wou'd however be more glorious to die upon the spot with their Commander The Magistrates carrying it thus high with the usual haughtiness of Spartans Pausanias who was more calm saw 't was too difficult a matter to think of routing the Thebans who were just now flush'd with Victory besides if this cou'd have been done the body lay so near the Walls that it cou'd not easily be bore off without a truce so he immediately dispatch'd an Herauld obtain'd a Treaty drew back his Forces carri'd away Lysander and buri'd him in the Country of his Friends the Panopeans His Monument is still to be seen in the Road from Delphos to Chaeronea where the Lacedaemonians for some time took up their quarters and while they staid there one of Phocis giving an account of the Battel to one of his Companions said The Enemy fell upon 'em after Lysander had pass'd Ophlites A Spartan Lysander's Friend that stood by having not heard of that name ask'd what Ophlites he meant and yet says the Phocian that's the place where we lost our bravest men 't is the River that runs by the City The Spartan immediately wept and broke out into this expression O how unavoidable are the decrees of Fate For it seems the Oracle had pronounced this to Lysander Take care to shun Ophlites watery Field And him who bears a Dragon in his Shield Some indeed say Ophlites doth not run to Haliartus but is a River near Coronea which mix'd with the River Phliarus passes along to that City 'T was formerly call'd Oplias but now 't is known by the name of Isomantus Neocorus the Haliartian who kill'd Lysander bore a Dragon in his Shield and 't is probable that this was signifi'd by the Oracle 'T is reported there was an Oracle concerning the Thebans in the Peloponnesian War which foretold the Battel at Delium and this at Haliartus though this hapned thirty years after The Oracle runs thus Don't follow in your chase the eager Hound Vpon the Confines fly th ' Orchalian Ground That den of Foxes This place about Delium he calls the Confines where Baeotia borders upon Attica and the Hill Orchalides which now they call Alopecon lies in that part of Haliartus which is towards Helicon The Lacedaemonians look'd upon Pausanias his proceedings as so dishonourable to a Spartan General that they wou'd have tri'd him for his Life but he durst not venture to appear so fled into Tegaea where he devoted himself to a private Life in the Temple of Minerva Lysander's poverty which was discover'd at his death made his virtue more admir'd when it appear'd that from so much plenty and power such rich presents from so many Cities which were under his Government he had not at all encreas'd the wealth of his own private Family This is observ'd by Theopompus whom we may sooner believe when he commends than when he finds fault for men are more apt to discommend than praise Ephorus says that upon some dispute between the Confederates with Sparta when Lysander's writings were to be examin'd Agesilaus was order'd to make the search who finding a discourse of Lysander's concerning the Government where he endeavour'd to show how advantageous 't wou'd be to the Commonwealth if the right of succession which the Family of the Eureutiontidae and Agiadae pretended to was broke and the Kingdom made elective This discourse Agesilaus design'd to publish and discover by that means what sort of a Friend Lysander was to 'em in private But Lacratidas a wise man and at that time President of the Council wou'd not suffer him so basely to abuse a great General 's memory and told him that these papers which were so plausibly and ingeniously writ deserv'd to rest honourably with their Author and that 't was inhumane to dig Lysander out of his Grave The Spartans bestow'd many honours on him after his death amongst which this was none of the least There were some who had engag'd themselves to Lysander's Daughters while every thing about him appear'd Rich and Splendid but when they saw how poor and honest he died they broke off their contract These in respect to Lysander's memory the Spartans severely fin'd For there was it seems in Sparta a Law which punish'd as
Circumventing of Philocles the Atheninian Orator Sharp only at inglorious point of Tongue both whom Mithridates would have scorned to compare with the Master of his Horse or Marius with his Lictor But of all the Grandees Consuls Commanders and Daemagogues to pass by others who opposed themselves to Sylla who amongst the Romans so formidable as Marius What King more powerfull than Mithridates Who of the Italians sturdier than Lamponius and Telesinus Yet of these one he drove into Banishment one he quelled and the others he slew Now the greatest of all which has been as yet related in my judgment was That Lysander had the Assistance of the State in all his Archievements whereas Sylla besides that he was a Banish'd Person and sorely overcharged by a Faction at what time his Wife was driven from home his Houses demolished and Adherents slain himself then in Baeotia stood Embattelled against infinite Numbers of the Enemy and adventuring all for the sake of his Country erected a Trophie Nor when Mithridates came with Proposals of Alliance and Aid against his Enemies would he shew any the least Compliance or so much as Civil Respect either by greeting or vouchsafing him his Hand till such time that he had it from the Kings own Mouth that he was willing to quit Asia surrender the Navy and restore Bithynia and Cappadocia to the two Kings than which Action Sylla never performed a braver or with a Nobler Courage when preferring the Publick Good to the Private and like a generous Dog where he had once fix'd never letting go his hold till he had conquered the Enemy he then set himself to revenge his own private Quarrels We may perhaps make a better estimate of their Manners by weighing both their Athenian Actions in the Ballance Sylla when he had made himself Master of that City which had upheld the Dominion and Power of Mithridates in opposition to him restored her to Liberty and the free Exercise of her own Laws Lysander on the contrary when she had fell from such a vast height of Dignity and Rule unmercifully took away the Democracy imposing on her the most Cruel and Lawless Tyrants It 's now time to consider whether we should swerve from the Truth or no by declaring that Sylla performed the more Glorious Deeds but Lysander committed the fewer Faults as likewise by giving to one the Preheminence for Moderation and Abstinence to the other for Conduct and Valour THE LIFE OF CIMON Englished from the Greek By Mat. Morgan A. M. of St. John's College in Oxford VOLUME III. PEripoltas the Diviner having brought the King Opheltas and those under his Command from Thessaly into Baeotia left there a Family which flourish'd a long time after the greatest part of them inhabited Chaeronea the first City out of which they expelled the Barbarians The Descendants of this Race being men of bold Attempts exposed themselves to so many CIMON This was the valiant and obliging Greeke Who Conqver'd when he acted or did speake His Courage and his Courtesy were greate The haughty Persian bravely did defeate Gott in one day a double Victory And so 〈◊〉 Triumph'd over earth 〈…〉 Dangers in the Incursions the Medes made upon them and in Exploits against the Gauls that at last they were almost wholly consumed There was left one Orphan of this House called Damon surnamed Peripoltas for Beauty and greatness of Spirit surpassing all of his Age but of Temper fierce and untractable A Roman Captain of a Foot-Company that Wintered in Chaeronea fell in love with this Youth but since he could not obtain his infamous Desires either by Gifts or Entreaties 't was much feared that he would proceed to Violence The Suspicion was made more probable by the condition of Chaeronea which was then so weak that it had not power either to prevent the Attempt or punish the Commission of the Crime Of which Damon being sensible and looking upon his Sollicitations as Injuries resolved to be revenged of him Accordingly he and sixteen of his Companions conspired against the Captain but that the Design might be managed without any danger of being discovered they all daubed their Faces with Soot Thus disguised and inflamed with Wine they set upon him by break of day as he was sacrificing and having killed him and not a few of those that were with them they fled out of the City which was extreamly alarmed and troubled at the Murder The Council Assembled immediately and pronounced Sentence of Death against Damon and all his Accomplices This they did to justifie the City to the Romans But that evening as the Magistrates were at Supper together according to Custom Damon and his Confederates breaking into the Room killed them all and then again fled out of the Town About this time Lucius Lucullus passing that way with his Forces upon some Expedition and this disaster having but newly hapned he staid to examine the matter Upon enquiry he found the City was in no wise faulty but rather that they themselves had suffered therefore he drew out the Soldiers and carried them away with him Yet Damon continuing to ravage the Country all about the Citizens by Messages and Decrees in appearance favourable enticed him into the City and upon his return made him Gymnasiarque but afterward as he was suppling himself with Oyl in the Baigno they set upon him and kill'd him For a long while after Apparitions being seen and lamentable Groans heard in that place as our Fathers have told us they ordered the Gates of the Baigno to be made up and even to this day those who dwell about that place affirm that they sometimes see Spectres and hear terrible Voices The posterity of Damon of which some remain in the Country of Phocide near the City Stiris living after the manner of the Aeolians are called Asbolomenoi that is Men dawbed with Soot Because with that Damon was besmeared when he committed this Murther But there being a Quarrel betwixt those of Chaeronea and the Orchomeniens who bordered upon them they hired an Informer a Roman to excuse the Community of Chaeronea as if it had been a single Person of the Murther of the Romans of which only Damon and his Ruffians were guilty accordingly the process was formed and the cause pleaded before the Petor of Macedon for as yet the Romans had not sent Governours into Greece The Advocates who defended the Inhabitants appealed to the Testimony of Lucullus who in answer to a Letter the Pretor writ to him returned a true account of the matter of Fact By this means the Town gain'd their Cause which otherwise they were in great danger of losing The Citizens thus preserved erected a Statue to Lucullus in the Forum next to that of the God Bacchus We also have the same Impressions of Gratitude and tho removed from them by the distance of so many Ages yet we think our selves obliged by that Act. And as to draw the Genius and Noble Inclinations of a great
and minded his Business with the least application there had been no Grecian Commander either before or after him that could have surpassed him for Exploits of War He was indeed a Favourer of the Lacedaemonians even from his Youth and Stesimbrotus reports That of two Sons Twins that he had by a Woman of Clitorium he named one Lacedemonius and the other Eleus Whence Pericles often upbraided them with the Race of their Mother But Diodorus the Geographer doth assert That both these and another Son of Cimon's whose Name was Thessalus were born of Isodice the Daughter of Euryptolemus the Son of Megacles However this is certain that Cimon was countenanced by the Lacedaemonians in opposition to Themistocles whom they hated and while he was yet very young they endeavoured to raise and encrease his Credit in Athens This the Athenians perceived but dissembled their knowledge of it for the Favour of the Lacedaemonians shewed him was at that time advantageous to them and their Affairs who were then Practising with the Allies to win them over to their side So they seemed not at all offended with the Honour and kindness shewed to Cimon for he then bore the greatest sway in the Affairs of Greeee was kind to the Lacedaemonians and Courteous to the Allies But afterwards the Athenians grown more powerful when they saw Cimon so entirely devoted to the Lacedaemonians they began to be angry for he would always in his Speeches preferr them to the Athenians and upon every occasion when he would reprimand these for a Fault or incite them to Emulation he would Cry The Lacedaemonians would not do thus This raised the discontent and got him the hatred of the Gitizens But that which ministred chiefly to the accusation against him fell out upon this Occasion In the fourth year of the Reign of Archidamus the Son of Zeuxidamus King of Sparta there hapned in the City of Lacedaemon the most dreadful Earthquake that ever was known in the Memory of Man the Earth opened into most frightful Abysses and the top of the Mountain Taygetus was so shaken that the hanging Rocks and abrupt prominent Parts of it fell down and except five Houses all the Town was shattered to pieces They say That a little before any Motion was perceived as some young Men were exercising themselves in the middle Portico an Hare of a sudden started out just by them which some of them tho all naked and daubed with Oyl run after shouting no sooner were they gone from the place but the Gymnasium fell down upon them that were left and killed them all In memory of this fatal Accident the Monument where they were afterwards interred is to this day called Sismatias that is The Tomb of those who were killed by the Earthquake Archidamus by the present danger made apprehensive of what might follow and seeing the Citizens intent upon removing the richest of their Goods he commanded an Alarm to be sounded as if their Enemies were comming upon them that they should presently with Arms resort to him 'T was this alone that saved Sparta at that time For the Helotes were got together from the Country about with design to surprise the Spartans and spoil those whom the Earthquake had spared But finding them Armed and well prepared they stole away into their Towns and openly made War with them having drawn into Confederacy not a few of their Neighbours and together with them the Messenians fell upon the Spartans who therefore dispatch'd Periclidas to Athens to sollicite for Succours of whom Aristophanes mocking said Go to the Altars and there prostrate lie And clad in Purple Robes demand Supply This Ephialtes opposed protesting that they ought not to raise up or assist a City that was Rival to Athens but that being down it were best to keep her so and break the Pride and Arrogance of Sparta But Cimon as Critias relates preferring the Safety of Lacedaemon to the Grandeur of his own Country so perswaded the People that he soon marched out with a great Army to their Relief Ion reports the Speech he used to move the Athenians That they should not suffer Greece to be maimed by the loss of so considerable a Member nor their own City to be deprived of her Companion In his return from aiding the Lacedaemonians he passed with his Army through the Territory of Corinth Whereupon Lachartus reproached him for bringing his Army into the Country without first asking leave of the People For he that knocks at another Man's Door ought not to enter the House without the Master's leave But you Lachartus said Cimon did not knock at the Gates of the Cleonians and Megarians but broke them down and entred by force thinking that all should be open to the Powerful And having thus rallied the Corinthian he passed on with his Army Some time after this the Lacedaemonians sent a second time to desire Succours of the Athenians against the Messenians and Helotes who had seized upon Ithone But when they came the Spartans fearing their Courage and Resolution of all that came to their Assistance they sent them only back alledging they were turbulent and seditious The Athenians returned home enraged at this Usage and vented their Anger upon all those who were Favourers of the Lacedaemonians therefore upon some slight occasion they banished Cimon for ten years which is the time prescribed to those that are banished by the Ostracism In the mean time the Lacedaemonians intending to free Delphos from the Phoceans brought an Army to Tanagra whither the Athenians presently marched with design to fight them Cimon also came thither armed and ranged himself amongst those of his own Tribe which was that of Aeneide but the Council of five hundred being informed of this and frighted at it his Adversaries crying out he would disorder the Army and bring the Lacedaemonians to Athens Commanded the Officers not to receive him wherefore Cimon left the Army conjuring Euthippus the Anaphlystian and the rest of his Companions who were also suspected as favouring the Lacedaemonians to behave themselves bravely against their Enemies and by their Actions make their innocence evident to their Country-men These being in all an hundred took the Arms of Cimon and followed his advice and making a Body by themselves they charged so desperately upon the Enemy that they were all cut off leaving to the Athenians a deep regret for the loss of such brave Men and repentance for having so unjustly suspected them Whereupon they did not long retain their severity toward Cimon partly upon remembrance of his former services and partly constrained by the juncture of the times For being defeated at Tanagra in a great Battle and fearing the Peloponnesians would come upon them at the opening of the Spring they recalled Cimon by a decree of which Pericles himself was Author so reasonable were Mens resentments in those times and so moderate their Anger that it always gave way to the publick good even Ambition the
and a great deal of ill Language passed between them yet Eumenes still continued in favour But Hephaestion dying soon after the King took it very much to heart and presuming all those that differed with Hephaestion in his life-time did now rejoyce at his death used great strangeness and severity towards them especially towards Eumenes whom he often twitted with his Quarrels and ill-Language to Hephaestion But he being a wise and dextrous Courtier made advantage of what had done him prejudice and struck in with the King's humour of honouring his Friends memory suggesting divers inventions to do him honour and contributing very largely and readily towards erecting him a stately Monument After Alexander's Death a dispute hap'ning between his own Phalanx and his more intimate Friends Eumenes though in his Judgment he inclined to the latter yet in his Words and Action stood neuter as if he thought it unbecoming him who was a stranger to interpose in the private Quarrels of the Macedonians And when the rest of Alexander's Friends left Babylon he stayed behind and in great measure pacified the Foot and disposed them towards an accommodation When the Officers had agreed among themselves and quelled the Mutiny of the Soldiers they shared the several Commands and Signiories and made Eumenes Governour of Cappadocia and Paphlagonia and all the Coast upon the Pontic Sea as far as Trapezond which at that time was not subject to the Macedonians for Ariarathes kept it as King but Leonnatus and Antigonas with a great Army were to put him in possession of it Antigonus being now grown haughty and despising all Men took no notice of Perdiccas's Letters Leonnatus with his Army came down into Phrygia to the Service of Eumenes but being visited by Hecataeus the Tyrant of the Cardians and requested rather to relieve Antipater and the Macedonians that were besieged in Lamia he resolved upon that Expedition inviting Eumenes to a share in it and endeavouring to reconcile him to Hecataeus For there was an hereditary feud between them upon some Politick Account and Eumenes had often declared openly that Hecataeus was a Tyrant and had exhorted Alexander to restore the Cardians their Liberty Wherefore at this time also he declined the Expedition proposed pretending that he feared least Antipater who already hated him should for that reason and to gratifie Hecataeus kill him Leonnatus so far believed as to impart to Eumenes his whole Design which as he pretended and gave out was to aid Antipater but in truth was to seize the Kingdom of Macedon and he shewed him Letters from Cleopatra wherein she seemed to invite him to Pella with a design to Marry him But Eumenes whether fearing Antipater or looking upon Leonnatus as a fond rash unconstant and therefore lost Man stole away from him by Night taking with him all his Men which were Three hundred Horse and Two hundred of his own Servants armed and all his Gold which was to the value of Five thousand Talents of Silver and fled to Perdiccas discovered to him Leonnatus's Design and thereby gained great interest in him and was made of his Council Soon after Perdiccas with a great Army which he led himself conducted Eumenes into Cappadocia and having taken Ariarathes Prisoner and subdued the whole Countrey declared him Governour of it Who disposed of the Chief Cities to his own Friends and made Captains of Garrisons Judges Receivers and other Officers of such as he thought fit himself Perdiccas not at all interposing Notwithstanding Eumenes still waited on Perdiccas both out of respect to him and a desire not to be absent from Court But Perdiccas believing he was able enough alone to secure his March forwards but the Countrey he left behind him might stand in need of an active and faithful Governour when he came into Cilicia dismiss'd Eumenes under colour of sending him to his Command but in truth to secure Armenia which was Frontier to it and unsettled through the Practices of Neoptolemus Him though a proud and vain Man Eumenes endeavoured to gain by Civility but to balance the Macedonian Foot whom he found both insolent and very stout he contrived to raise an Army of Horse excusing from Tax and Contribution all those of the Countrey that were able to serve on Horseback and buying up great store of Horses which he gave among such of his own Men as he most confided in Inflaming the Courage of his Souldiers by many Gifts and Honours and inuring their Bodies to service by often Marching and Exercising so that the Macedonians some of them were astonisht others overjoyed to see that in so short a time he had got together no less than 6300 able Horse Now when Craterus and Antipater having subdued Greece were advanced into Asia with intention to quell the power of Perdiccas and were reported to design an impression upon Cappadocia Perdiccas being himself to march against Ptolomy made Eumenes Commander in chief of all the Forces of Armenia and Cappadocia and to that purpose wrote Letters requiring Alcetas and Neoptolemus to be obedient to Eumenes and giving full Commission to Eumenes to dispose and order all things as he thought fit Alcetas flatly refused to serve because his Macedonians he said were ashamed to fight against Antipater and loved Craterus so well they were ready to receive him for their Commander Neoptolemus designed Treachery against Eumenes but was discovered but being summoned refused to obey and put himself in a posture of defence Here Eumenes first found the benefit of his own foresight and contrivance for his Foot being beaten he routed Neoptolemus with his Horse and took all his Carriage and pursuing close upon the Phalanx which he had broken and disordered obliged the Men to lay down their Arms and take an Oath to serve under him Neoptolemus with some few straglers which he rallied fled to Craterus and Antipater From them came an Embassy to Eumenes inviting him over to their side whereby he should have the advantage of being secured in the Government he was possest of and being put into further Command by them of obliging his Enemy Antipater to become his Friend and keeping Craterus his Friend from turning to be his Enemy To which Eumenes replied That he could not so suddenly be reconciled to his old Enemy Antipater especially since he saw him use his Friends like Enemies but was ready to reconcile Craterus to Perdiccas upon any just and equitable terms but if his desires should prove unreasonable he was resolved to assist the injured to his last breath and would rather lose his Life than betray his word Antipater receiving this Answer took time to consider upon the whole matter when Neoptolemus after his defeat arrived and acquainted them with the ill success of his management and requested both of them to assist him but especially Craterus because the Macedonians loved him so excessively that if they saw but his hat or heard his voice they would all Arm and follow him And in truth
easie for Antigonus to take the Carriage unperceived After the Battel Teutamus sent a Message to Antigonus to demand the Baggage He made Answer He would not only restore it to the Argyraspides but serve them farther in other things if they would but deliver up Eumenes Whereupon the Argyraspides made a villainous Resolution to deliver up this great Man alive into the hands of his Enemies So they came to wait upon him being unsuspected by him but watching their opportunity against him some lamenting the loss of the Baggage some encouraging as if he had been Victor some accusing the rest of the Captains till at last they all fell upon him and seizing his Sword bound his hands behind him with his own Girdle When Antigonus had sent Nicanor to receive him he begged he might be led through the Body of the Macedonians and have liberty to speak to them neither to request nor deprecate any thing but only to advise them what would be for their Interest A silence being made as he stood upon a rising Ground he stretched out his hands bound and said What Trophy O ye basest of all the Macedonians could Antigonus have wished for so great as you your selves have erected him in delivering up your General Captive into his hands How vile is it when you were Conquerors to own your selves Conquered for the sake only of your Baggage as if it were Wealth not Arms wherein Victory consisted Nay you deliver up your General to redeem your Lumber As for me I am unvanquished though a Captive Conqueror of my Enemies and betrayed by my Fellow-Souldiers For you I adjure you by Jupiter the Protector of Arms and by all the Gods that are the avengers of Perjury to kill me here with your own hands for 't is all one and when I am murdered yonder it will be esteemed your Act nor will Antigonus complain for he desires not Eumenes alive but dead If ye would with-hold your own hands release but one of mine it shall suffice to do the Work but if you dare not trust me with a Sword throw me bound as I am to wild Beasts This if you do I shall freely acquit you from the guilt of my death as the most just and kind of Men to their General While Eumenes was thus speaking the rest of the Souldiers wept for grief but the Argyraspides bawled out to lead him on and gave not attention to his trifling For it was nothing so grievous the Lamentation of this Chersonesean Plague which in thousands of Battels had annoyed and wasted the Macedonians as it would be for the choicest of Philip and Alexander's Souldiers to be defrauded of the Fruits of so long Service and in their old Age to come to beg their Bread besides that their Wives had lain now three Nights with their Enemies So they pushed him on with all speed and violence But Antigonus fearing the Multitude for no body was left in the Camp sent ten of his strongest Elephants with divers of his Mede and Parthyaean Lances to keep off the Press Then he could not endure to have Eumenes brought into his presence by reason of their former Intimacy and Friendship but when they that had taken him had enquired of Antigonus how he would have him kept As I would said he an Elephant or a Lion A little after being moved with Compassion he commanded the heaviest of his Irons to be knock'd off one of his Menial Servants to be admitted to anoint him and that any of his Friends that were willing should have liberty to visit him and bring him what he wanted Long time he deliberated what to do with him sometimes inclining to the advice and Promises of Nearchuâ— of Crete and Demetrius his Son who were very earnest to preserve Eumenes whilst all the rest were unanimously instant and importunate to have him taken off 'T is reported that Eumenes should enquire of Onomarchus his Keeper why Antigonus now he had his Enemy in his hands would not either forthwith dispatch or generously release him And that Onomarchus contumeliously answered him That the Field was a more proper place than this to shew his Contempt of Death To whom Eumenes replied And by Jupiter I shewed it there ask the men else that engaged me but I could never meet a Man that was too hard for me Therefore rejoyned Onomarchus now you have found such a Man why don't you submit quietly to his pleasure When Antigonus resolved to kill Eumenes he commanded to keep his Meat from him and so with two or three days fasting he began to draw near his end But the Camp being on a sudden to remove an Executioner was sent to dispatch him Antigonus granted his Body to his Friends permitted them to burn it and having gathered his Ashes into a Silver Urn to send them to his Wife and Children Eumenes being thus taken off the Divinity appointed no other of the Captains or Commanders to revenge the Disloyalty of them that had betrayed him but Antigonus himself abominating the Argyraspides as wicked and inhumane Villains delivered them up to Ibyrtius Procurator of Arachosia commanding him by all ways and means to confound and destroy them so that not a man of them might ever come to Macedon or so much as within sight of the Greek Sea SERTORIUS THE LIFE OF QUINTUS SERTORIUS Translated from the Greek By Edward Browne M. D. VOLUME III. IT is no great wonder if in long process of time the Wheel of Fortune running variously hither and thither through the Universe shall happen to fall divers times into the same Trace and the like Occurrences be often produced and if the number of Subjects to be wrought upon be infinite Fortune being supplied with matter sufficiently copious may more easily produce this remarkable likeness in humane Affairs Or if otherwise all things be composed and framed out of a finite and limited number of Events when these have all appeared the same of necessity must again come to pass the Series and whole course of Accidents having already been performed Now some being delighted with such casualties as exactly resemble one another make Historical Collections of those fortuitous Occurrences they have heard or read of and observing some Fatality therein represent them as the works of a rational predeterminating Power and Providence Thus they observe that of two eminent Persons both whose Names were Attis both Nobly Born and of most Illustrious Families the one of Syria the other of Arcadia both of them were slain by a wild Boar that of two Noblemen Both whose Names were Actaeon the one was torn in pieces by his Dogs the other by his Lovers that of two famous Scipio's the one overthrew the Carthaginians in war the other totally ruin'd and destroy'd them the City of Troy was the first time taken by Hercules for the horses promis'd to be given him by Laomedon the second time by Agamemnon by means of the celebrated great wooden Horse and the third
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
Corps was effectually full threescore Cubits long he was infinitely astonished and immediately offered up Sacrifice to the Gods and closed up the Tomb again whereby he confirmed the report of the Inhabitants increased the Fame of the Sepulchre and added new honours to the Memory of Antaeus The Africans further alledge that after the Death of Antaeus his Wife Tinga lived with Hercules and had a Son by him called Sophax who was King of these Countries and gave his Mothers name to this City whose Son also was Diodorus a great Conqueror who subdued many other Regions and brought the greatest part of Africa under his Subjection with an Army of Greeks which he raised out of the Colonies of the Olbianians and Myceneans placed here by Hercules I mention these passages for the sake of King Juba the most excellent Historian of any Prince that ever yet hath honoured History with his own Pen and who numbers for his Progenitors a long Race of Mauritanian Kings Who derive their Genealogies from Diodorus and Sephax and are lineally descended from Hercules When Sertorius had made himself absolute Master of the whole Country he was very just to those who had confided in him and shew'd not the least unkindness to others who yielded to his Mercy but restored to them their Estates their Cities their Laws and Priviledges accepting only of such acknowledgments as they themselves freely offered And whilst he considered which way next to turn his Arms the Lusitanians sent Ambassadors to desire him to be their General for being terrified with the Roman Power and finding the necessity of having a Commander of great Authority and experience in war being also sufficiently informed of his Worth and Valour by those who had formerly served him they were extremely desirous to commit themselves and their Fortunes wholly to his care and humbly beseeched him to accept of the Command And to give a true Character of Sertorius he was of a temper not to be surprized with fear nor easie to be Captivated with pleasure in Adversity and Dangers undaunted and no ways puffed up with Prosperity but of an even Mind Courteous and Obliging Upon a sudden Assault or dangerous Attempt no Commander in his time was more bold and daring for whatever was to be performed in War by Deceit Circumvention or Surprize or if any strong place was to be taken in any pass to be gained speedily any sudden Invasion or Inroad to be made he was a most notable Contriver and politick Advancer of all such intricate and difficult Designs in bestowing Rewards and conferring Honours upon those who had performed good service in the Wars He was Bountifull and Magnificent even to Prodigality but very sparing and backward in punishing Crimes and Mild and Mercifull to Offenders yet that piece of Harshness and Cruelty which he executed in the latter part of his Days upon the Spanish Hostages seems to argue that his Clemency was not Natural but only acted and handsomely dissembled as his Occasions or Necessity required and as to my own Opinion I am perswaded that sincere Vertue established by Reason and Mature Judgment can never be totally Perverted or Extirpated by any Misfortune whatever Not that I think it impossible but that great Indignities offered without cause and frequent Abuses put upon those of the best Nature and most vertuous Inclinations may make some impression and alteration in their Temper and thus I suppose it happened to Sertorius who being exasperated by the repeated Injuries of ungratefull Persons he was at last severe to those who had unworthily injured him The Lusitanians having sent for Sertorius he left Africa and being made General with absolute Power and Authority he ordered all things for the best Advantage and brought the Neighbouring Parts of Spain under his Subjection many Countries also voluntarily submitted themselves won by the Fame of his Clemency and of his Martial Performances Upon some Occasions also he would not fail to invent strange Artifices to please the People and to make use of alluring Devices and even of deluding Impostures amongst which certainly that of the Hind was none of the least Spanus a Country-man who lived in those Parts meeting by chance a Hind that had newly Calved flying from the Hunters he let the Dam go and pursuing the Hind-calf took it being wonderfully pleased with the Rarity of it and the strangeness of the Colour which was all milk-white and at the same time Sertorius keeping his Court in those Parts and receiving courteously such Presents of Fruit Fowl or Venison as the Country afforded and rewarding liberally those who presented them the Country-man brought him his young Hind which he kindly accepted and was much taken with it at the first sight but when in time he had made it so tame and gentle that it would come when he called and follow him wheresoever he went and could endure the Noise and Tumult of the Camp knowing well that Barbarous People are naturally prone to Superstition by Degrees he gave out that it was inspired with a Deity that it was given him by the Goddess Diana that it discovered to him hidden Mysteries and revealed to him what was to come to pass hereafter To which also he added these further Contrivances if he had received at any time private Intelligence that the Enemies had made an Incursion into those Provinces which were under his Command or had sollicited any City to revolt he pretended that the Hind had informed him of it in his sleep and charged him to keep his Forces in readiness or if otherwise he had notice that any of the Commanders under him had got a Victory he would hide the Messengers and bring forth the Hind crowned with flowers for joy of the good News that was to come and would encourage them to Rejoyce and Sacrifice to the Gods for the good account they should soon receive of their Prosperous Success and by those Inventions filling their Heads with strange Imaginations and the thoughts of Miracles he brought them to be more Tractable and Obedient in all things for now they thought themselves no longer to be led by a Stranger but rather conducted by a Hero or one nearly related to a God Considering also that his Power dayly encreased contrary to all Humane Reason or Probability For with two thousand five hundred which for Honour's sake he called Romans joyned with seven hundred Africans who landed with him when he first entred Lusitania together with four thousand foot and seven hundred Horse he made War with four Roman Generals who commanded a hundred and twenty thousand Foot six thousand Horse two thousand Archers and Slingers and Cities innumerable whereas at the first he had not above twenty Cities in all and from this weak and slender beginning he became afterwards so considerable that he took many good Cities and overcame Great and Powerfull Countries Of the Roman Commanders which were sent against him he overthrew Cotta in a Sea-fight
in the Channel near the City of Mellaria he routed Phidius chief Commander of Hispania Baetica and slew two thousand Romans near the Banks of the River Baetis Domitius and Lucius Manlius Proconsul of another Province of Spain were overthrown in a set Battle by one of his Lieutenants he slew Toranius a Commander sent against him by Metellus with a great Force and destroyed his whole Army and Metellus the greatest General in those Times and a Person of the most approved Experience of any Roman then living was often supplanted and circumvented by him and reduced to such extremities that he was forced to call Lucius Lollius to his assistance out of Gallia Narbonensis and Rome it self being alarmed and terrified parted with her beloved Pompey the Great and sent him into Spain in all haste with the most considerable Forces of the Roman Empire Nor did Metellus know which way to turn himself having to do with a man of undaunted Boldness and Sagacity who was continually molesting him and yet could not be brought to a set battle but by the swiftness and dexterity of his Spanish Soldiery he was able to change his Station and to cast his Army into all Forms and Figures to lead them on and bring them off again and wind himself out of all Streights and Difficulties and although Metellus had great Experience in conducting entire well appointed Legions and was an excellent Commander of Soldiers armed with heavy Armour and drawn up in due order into a standing Phalanx able to encounter the Enemy hand to hand and overpower them by clear Force yet he was no way able to climb up steep Hills and be continually upon the pursuit of a swift Enemy or attend the speedy Marches of Men that were accustomed to range about the Mountains to endure Hunger and Thirst and to live expos'd to the Wind and Weather without Fire or Covering Besides that Metellus being now in years and having been formerly engaged in many Fights and dangerous Conflicts he was now inclinable to lead a more remiss easie and voluptuous Life and was the less able to contend with Sertorius who was in the Flower and Strength of his Youth full of Spirit and Life and had a Body wonderfully fitted for War being strong active and temperate continually accustomed to endure hard Labour to take long tedious Journeys to pass many Nights together without Sleep to eat little and to be satisfied with very coarse Fare and was never stained with the least Excess in Wine even when he was most at leisure but what time he had to spare he spent in hunting and riding into all Parts whereby he understood the Course of the Country the Situation of all places and where there were passages and where not with this advantage to himself that when he could not maintain the Fight he knew which way to fly and escape and where certainly to ensnare and encompass his Enemy when Victory accompanied his Arms insomuch that those with Metellus suffered all inconveniences like Men that were conquered although he earnestly desired to fight and Sertorius though he refused the Field reap'd all the advantages of a Conqueror for he hindered them from Foraging and cut off all Provision if they proceeded forward he stopped their March if they stayed in any place and encamped he continually molested and alarmed them if they besieged any Town he presently appeared and besieged them again and reduced them to great Extremities for want of necessaries whereby he wearied out the Roman Army and reduced them to so low and despairing a condition that when Sertorius challenged Metellus to fight singly with him they commended him and cryed out it was a Fair Offer for a Roman to fight against a Roman and a General against a General and when Metellus refused the Challenge they reproached him but Metellus derided and contemned them in doing which he did well for as Theophrastus observes a General should die like a General and not like a Gladiator Metellus perceiving that the City of the Lagobrites which gave great assistance to Sertorius might easily be taken for want of water there being but one Well within the Walls and that whosoever besieg'd the Place would make himself Master of the Springs and Fountains in the Suburbs he hoped to force the Town in two days time there being no more water and gave command to his Soldiers to take five days Provisions only but Sertorius resolving to send speedy relief ordered two thousand Vessels to be filled with water and a good Reward for the carriage of every Vessel and many Spaniards and Moors undertaking the work he chose out those who were the strongest and swiftest of Foot and sent them through the Mountains with order that when they had delivered the water they should remove and convey away privately all those who would be least serviceable in the Siege that there might be water sufficient for the Defendants As soon as Metellus understood this he was highly disturbed and when he had spent most part of the necessary Provisions for his Army he sent out Aquinus with six thousand Soldiers to fetch in fresh Supplies but Sertorius having notice of it laid an Ambush for him and having sent out beforehand three thousand men which he placed within a shady Vally in a Channel which had been made hollow by the rapid fall of Water from the Hills they set upon the Rear of Aquinus in his Return while Sertorius charging him in the Front destroyed part of his Army and took the rest Prisoners Aquinus only escaping after he had been thrown from his Horse and lost his Armour and Metellus being forced shamefully to raise the Siege became the Laughter and Contempt of the Spaniards and Sertorius the Object of their Esteem Love and Admiration He was also highly honoured for his instituting a right Discipline and good Order amongst them for he altered their furious savage manner of Fighting and brought them to make use of the Roman Armour taught them to keep their Ranks and follow their Ensigns and out of a confus'd Number of Thieves and Robbers he constituted a regular well disciplin'd Army he afterwards bestowed Silver and Gold upon them liberally to gild and adorn their Helmets he caused their Shields to be wrought and engraved with various Figures and Designs he brought them into the Mode of wearing flowered and richly embroidered Cloaths and by courting them by paying their Expences by conversing familiarly with them he won the Hearts of all and led them whither he pleased but that which delighted them most was the Care that he took of their Children when he sent for all the Noblemen's Sons in those Parts and placed them in the great City of Osca where he appointed Masters to instruct them in the Grecian and Roman Learning that when they came to be men they might be fitted to share with him in Authority and in the Government of the Commonwealth although under this pretence
Circumstances wherein either the Information of the Inhabitants or his own Experience had instructed him commanded his Soldiers to shovel up a great Quantity of this light dusty Earth to heap it up together and make a Mount of it over against the the Hill wherein these Barbarous People resided who imagining that all this Preparation was for the Raising of a Fort or for the making of a Bulwark against them they looked upon it as a Design most worthy to be laughed at however he continued the Work till the Evening and brought his Soldiers back into their Camp The next Morning when a gentle Breeze arose and moved the lightest Parts of the Earth and dispersed it about as the Chaff before the Wind and when the Sun coming to be higher the blustering Northerly Wind had covered the Hills with the dust the Soldiers turned this new Mount of Earth over and over and brake the Clots of Clay in Pieces whilst others on Horseback rode through it backward and forward and raised a Cloud of dust which being committed to the Wind was blown into the Dwellings of the Characitanians the entrances into which were all towards the North and there being no other Vent or Passage than that through which blustering Caecias rushed in upon them together with all the powdered Earth and Dust tossed and blown about it quickly blinded their Eyes and filled their Lungs and causing a Difficulty of Breathing choak'd them up whilst they strove to draw in the rough harsh Air mingled with streams of Dust nor were they able with great hardship to hold out above two Days but yielded up themselves on the third This Success added not so much to the Strength and Power of Sertorius as it encreased his Glory and Renown in letting the World see that he was able to conquer those Places by Art and by the Strength of his Brain which were impregnable and never to be taken by the Force of Arms. He was continualy Successful during the whole War against Metellus who by Reason of his Age and his slow Temper was not able to resist the active Boldness and Bravery of Sertorius who commanded a light army more like a Band of Robbers than a due established Militia When Pompey also had passed over the Pyreneans and placed his Camp near him where both of them gave their utmost Proofs of their Gallantry and Skill in War both in Receiving and Attacking one another Sertorius far surpassing him either in defending himself or countermining the Designs of his Enemies his fame was then highly celebrated even in Rome it self for the most terrible Warriour and the most expert Commander of his Time For considering that the Renown of Pompey was not small who had already won much Honour by his Prowess and Magnanimity in the Wars of Sylla from whom he received the Title of Magnus and was called Pompey the Great and who had ascended to the Honour of a Triumph before the Hairs were grown on his Face and many Cities which were under Sertorius had an earest Desire to Revolt when they were deterred from it by that great Action amongst others which he performed near the City of Lauron contrary to the Expection of all As soon as Sertorius had laid siege to Lauron Pompey came with his whole Army to relieve it and there being a Hill near this City very advantagiously seated they both made haste to take it But Sertorius prevented him and took possession of it first and Pompey having drawn down his Forces was not sorry that it had thus succeeded for he imagined that he had hereby enclosed his Enemy between his own Army and the City and sent in a Messenger to the Citizens of Lauron to bid them be of good Courage and to come upon their Walls where they might see their Besieger Besieged Sertorius perceiving their Intentions smiled and told them he would now teach Sylla's Scholar for so he called Pompey in derision that it was the Part of a General to look as well behind him as before him and at the same time shewed them six thousand Soldiers which he had left in his former Camp from whence he marched out to take the Hill where if Pompey should assault him they might fall upon his Rear Pompey discovered this too late and not daring to give Battle for fear of being encompassed in on every side and yet being ashamed to leave his Friends and Confederates in extream Danger was forced to sit still and see them ruined before his Face for the Besieged despaired of Relief and delivered up themselves to Sertorius who spared their Lives and granted them their Liberties but burnt their City not out of Anger or Cruelty for of all Commanders that ever were Sertorius seems least of all to have indulged these Passions but only for the greater Shame and Consusion of the Admirers of Pompey and that it might be reported amongst the Spaniards that the Fire which burnt down his Confederates tho' 〈◊〉 was so near as to be well warm'd at it was not able to raise heat enough in him to dare to relieve them Sertorius sustained some Losses in these Wars but he always defended those with him and maintain'd himself Invincible and it was by other Commanders under him that he suffer'd and he was more admir'd for being able to repair his Losses for shewing himself brave in danger for recovering the Victory when the Field seem'd already to be lost than the Roman Generals against him for gaining these Advantages As at the Battle of Sucro against Pompey and at the Battle near Turia against him and Metellus together It is reported that the Battle near the City of Sucro was fought through the Impatience of Pompey lest that Metellus should share with him in the Victory and thro' the willingness of Sertorius to fight with him before the Arrival of Metellus However Sertorius delay'd the time till the Evening considering that the darkness of the Night would be a great disadvantage to his Enemies either Flying or Pursuing who were meer Strangers and had no knowledge of the Country When the fight began it happened that Sertorius was not placed directly against Pompey but against Afranius who had Command of the Left Wing of the Roman Army as he commanded the Right Wing of his own but when he understood that his Left Wing began to give way and yield to the furious Assaults of Pompey he committed the care of his Right Wing to other Commanders and made haste to relieve those in distress and rallying some that were flying and encouraging others that still kept their Ranks he renewed the Fight and set upon them with that Force that he routed the Enemy and brought Pompey who was pursuing into great danger of his Life for after being wounded and thrown from his Horse he escaped unexpectedly for the Africans with Sertorius who took Pompey's Horse set out with Gold and covered with rich Trappings fell out with one another and upon
permit them so much as to mention any thing of Government but set Roman Officers and Commanders over them whereby he restored Liberty to the Romans without increasing the Spaniards Power against them for he was a sincere Lover of his Countrey and had a great desire to return home but in adverse Fortune he shew'd his undaunted Courage and behaved himself towards his Enemies free from all dejection and mean spiritedness but when he was in his Prosperity and in the heighth of his Victories he sent word to Metellus and Pompey that he was ready to lay down his Arms and live a private Lite if he were called home declaring that he had rather be the meanest Citizen in Rome than Supreme Commander of all other Cities together and it is thought that his great Love for his Countrey was in no small measure promoted by the respect which he had for his Mother under whom he was brought up in his tender Years after the Death of his Father and upon whom he had placed his intire Affection and after that his Friends had sent for him into Spain to be their General as soon as he heard of his Mother's Death he had almost cast away himself and died for Grief for he lay seven days together continually upon the Ground without giving the Word or being seen by the nearest of his Friends and when the Chief Commanders of the Army and Persons of the greatest Note came about his Tent with great difficulty they prevailed with him at last to come abroad and speak to his Soldiers and to take upon him the Management of Affairs which were in a prosperous Condition by all which he seems to have been of a mild and compassionate Temper and naturally given to Ease and Quietness and that he accepted of the Command of Military Forces contrary to his own Inclination but not being able to live in safety he was forced by his Enemies to have recourse to Arms and to espouse the Wars as a necessary Guard for the defence of his Person His Administration of Affairs with King Mithridates does further argue the greatness of his Mind for after that Mithridates was overthrown by Sylla and had recovered himself and as a strong Wrastler that is desirous to try another fall was again endeavoring to re-establish his Power in Asia at which time the great Fame of Sertorius was frequently celebrated in all Places and the Merchants which came out of Spain and the Western Parts of Europe to furnish the Asiaticks with Forreign Commodities had filled all the Kingdom of Pontus with their Discourses of his Exploits in War Mithridates was earnestly desirous to send an Embassy to him being also highly encouraged to it by the Boastings of his Parasites and flattering Courtiers who comparing Mithridates to Pyrrhus and Sertorius to Hannibal gave out that the Romans would never be able to make any considerable resistance against such great Forces and Commanders of that Temper and sublime Judgment when they should be set upon on both sides at once on one side by the most Warlike General that ever was and on the other side by the most Powerfull Prince on Earth Mithridates having sent Embassadours into Spain to Sertorius with Letters and Instructions and with full Power and Commission to promise Ships and good Sums of Money towards the Charge of the War if Sertorius would vouchsafe to confirm his Pretensions upon Asia and Authorize him to possess all that he had surrendred to the Romans in his Treaty with Sylla Sertorius called a full Council which he named the Senate where when all joyfully approved of the Conditions and were desirous immediately to accept of his Offer seeing that he desired nothing of them but a Name and an empty Title to Places not in their Power to dispose of in recompence of which they should be supplyed with what they then stood most in need of Sertorius would by no means agree to it declaring that as he was willing that King Mithridates should exercise all Royal Power and Authority over Bithinia and Cappadocia Countries accustomed to a Monarchical Government and not belonging to Rome so he could never consent that he should seize or detain a Province which by due Right and Title was possessed by the Romans which Mithridates had formerly lost in open War to Fimbria and had afterwards quitted upon a Treaty of Peace with Sylla for he looked upon it as his Duty to enlarge the Roman Possessions by his Conquering Arms and not to encrease his own Power by the Diminution of the Roman Territories telling them that a generous-minded man though he willingly accepts of Victory when it comes accompanied with Honour yet he will never so much as endeavour to defend himself or save his own Life upon any dishonourable terms When this was related to Mithridates he was struck with admiration and said to his intimate Friends What will Sertorius enjoyn us to do when he comes to be seated in the Senate-house in Rome who at present when he is driven out to the furthest parts of the Earth bordering upon the far remote Western Ocean sets bounds to our Kingdoms in the East and threatens us with War if we Attempt the recovery of Asia However they solemnly upon Oath concluded a League between them upon these Terms That Mithridates should enjoy the free possession of Cappadocia and Bythinia and that Sertorius should send him Soldiers and a General for his Army in recompence of which the King was to supply him with three thousand Talents and forty Ships Marcus Marius a Roman Senator who had quitted Rome to follow Sertorius was sent General into Asia by whose Conduct when Mithridates had reduced divers of the Asian Cities Marius made his entrance with Rods and Axes carried before him as before a Proconsul of Rome and Mithridates followed in the second place voluntarily waiting upon him some of these Cities he set at liberty and others he freed from Taxes signifying to them by Letters that these Priviledges were granted to them by the Grace and Favour of Sertorius and hereby Asia which had been miserably tormented by the unsatiableness of the Publicans and oppressed by the insolent Pride and Covetousness of the soldiers began to rise again and with new Wings added to their former hopes to soar alost in earnest Desires towards their long wished for change of Government But in Spain the Senators about Sertorius and others of the Nobility finding themselves strong enough for their Enemies and having no less hopes of returning to Rome they no sooner laid aside all fear but Envy immediately and unreasonable Jealousies inflamed their minds and chiefly Perpenna who being of a Noble Family and extremely envious of Sertorius's Greatness was at this time so arrogantly transported with a fond Ambition of Commanding the Army that he threw out villanous Discourses in private amongst his intimate Acquaintance and among those whose seditious Ingratitude had made more willing to hearken to
found unhurt and untouch'd by the Fire but of these things afterwards Being now about Seventeen years old and the Government in appearance well setled he took a Journey out of the Kingdom to the marriage of one of Glaucias's Sons with whom he was brought up at which time the Molossions again rebelling turn'd out all of his Party riâ—â—ed his Exchequer and gave up themselves to Neoptolemus Pyrrhus having thus lost the Kingdom and in want of all things apply'd himself to Demetrius the Son of Antigonus that married his Sister Deidamia who while she was but a little Miss they us'd to call Alexander's Wife Son of Roxana but their Affairs after proving unfortunate when she came to Age Demetrius married her At the great Battle of Ipsus where so many Kings were engag'd Pyrrhus taking party with Demetrius tho' yet but a Youth routed those that encountred him and highly signaliz'd himself among all the Souldiery after when Demetrius's Fortunes were low he did not forsake him then but secur'd for him those Cities of Greece with which he was entrusted Upon Articles of Agreement made between Demetrius and Ptolomy he went over an Hostage into Aegypt and both in Hunting and other Exercises gave Ptolomy a lively demonstration of his Courage and Strength Here observing Berenice in greatest Power and of all Ptolomy's Wives highest in Esteem for Vertue and Understanding he made his Court and paid his respects principally to her for he had a particular Art of obliging the Great for his own Interest and easily overlook'd such as were below him In Dyet very elegant but temperate so that among all the young Princes then at Court he was thought most fit to have Antigone for his Wife one of the Daughters of Berenice by Philip before she marry'd Ptolomy After this Match advancing in Honour and Antigone being a very good Wife to him having setled a Fond of Money and rais'd an Army he so ordered matters to be sent into his Kingdom of Epirus and arriv'd there to the great satisfaction of many from their hate to Neoptolemas governing in a violent and arbitrary way But fearing lest Neoptolemus should enter into Alliance with some Neighbour Princes he came to Terms and Friendship with him in an equal share of the Government Sometime after there were those who secretly exasperated them and fomented Jealousies of one another The cause chiefly moving Pyrrhus is said to have had this beginning It was customary for the Kings in Parasso a Province of Molossia after Sacrifice to Mars to enter into a solemn Covenant with the Epirots they to Govern according to Law these to preserve the Government as by Law establish'd This was performed in the presence of both Kings who were there with their particular Favourites giving and receiving many Presents Here Gelon one faithful to Neoptolemus taking Pyrrhus familiarly by the hand presented him with two pair of draught Oxen these Myrtilus his Cup-bearer being then by begg'd of Pyrrhus who not giving them to him but another Myrtilus extremely resented it which Gelon took notice of and inviting him to a Treat where as some report he debauch'd him too after drinking being in the Flower of his Youth he entred into discourse perswading him to adhere to Neoptolemus and destroy Pyrrhus by Poyson Myrtilus receiv'd the Design as praising and consenting to it but indeed privately discovered it to Pyrrhus by whose Command he recommended Alexicrates his chief Cup-bearer to Gelon as a fit Instrument for their Design because Pyrrhus was very desirous to have proof of the Plot by several Evidences so Gelon being deceiv'd Neoptolemus who was as much deceiv'd by him and imagining the Design went prosperously on could not hold but for Joy vented it among his Friends and once at an Entertainment at his Sister Cadmia's spoke very frankly of it thinking none heard but themselves Nor was any there but Phenaretate the Wife of Samon who had the care of managing Neoptolemus's Flocks and Herds She being turn'd towards the Wall upon a Pallet seem'd fast asleep but having heard all that past unsuspected next day came to Antigone Pyrrhus's Wife and told her what she heard Neoptolemus say to his Sister which Pyrrhus understanding for the present said little but on a Sacrifice day making an Invitation for Neoptolemus kill'd him being satisfied before that the Great men of the Epirots were his Friends advising him to rid himself of Neoptolemus and not love one who shar'd the least point in the Government with him but follow his own inclination in undertaking his greater Designs and a just ground of suspicion already appearing prevent Neoptolemus by taking him off first In memory of Berenice and Ptolomee he nam'd his Son by Antigone Ptolomee and having built a City in the Peninsula of Epirus call'd it Berenicis From this time he began to revolve many and vast things in his thoughts but his first hope and design was particularly laid near home and he found means to engage himself in the Macedonian Affairs under this pretension Of Cassander's Sons Antipater the eldest both kill'd Thessalonica his Mother and expuls'd his Brother Alexander who sent to Demetrius entreating his assistance and also call'd in Pyrrhus but Demetrius being retarded by multitude of business Pyrrhus coming first demanded in reward of his Service the City of Nymphaea and the Sea-Coasts of Macedon and of their new Conquests Ambracia Acarnania and Amphilochia The young Prince giving way he took possession of these Countries and secur'd them with good Garrisons and kept for Alexander himself the other part of the Kingdom which he gain'd from Antipater Lysimachus designing to send aid to Antipater was involv'd in much other business but knowing Pyrrhus would not disoblige Ptolomee or deny him any thing sent pretended Letters to him as from Ptolomee desiring him to give over that Expedition upon the payment of 300 Talents to him by Antipater Pyrrhus opening the Letter quickly discover'd the fraud of Lysimachus for it had not the accustom'd Stile of Salutation The Father to the Son health but King Ptolomee to Pyrrhus the King health and reproaching Lysimachus he notwithstanding made a peace and they all met to confirm it by a Solemn Oath upon Sacrifice a Goat a Bull and a Ram being brought out the Ram on a sudden fell dead which although some only laugh'd at Theodotus the Priest forbid Pyrrhus to swear declaring Heaven by that portended the death of one of the three Kings upon which he refused to ratifie the peace The Affairs of Alexander being now in some kind of Settlement Demetrius arriv'd and 't was evident he came undesir'd and struck a Terrour into Alexander after they had been a few days together their mutual Jealousie made them design upon each other but Demetrius taking advantage of the first occasion was before hand with the young King and slew him and proclaim'd himself King of Macedon There had been formerly no very good understanding
bring the War home to his own door and fight for their Temples and Sepulchres in Molossia Especially having so lately by his means lost Cercyra and his Wife together For Lanassa had taken offence at Pyrrhus for too great an inclination to those Wives of his that were Barbarians and so withdrew to Cercyra and desiring to marry some King invited Demetrius knowing of all the Kings he was most ready to entertain an offer of Marriage from fair Ladies so he sail'd thither marry'd Lanassa and plac'd a Garrison in the City The Kings having writ thus to Pyrrhus did themselves likewise find Demetrius work while he was delaying and making his preparations Ptolomee setting out with a great Fleet drew off many of the Greek Cities Lysimachus out of Thrace wasted the upper Macedon Pyrrhus also taking Arms with these march'd to Beraea expecting as it fell out that Demetrius drawing his Forces against Lysimachus would leave the lower Country without Supplies That very Night he seem'd in his Sleep to be call'd by Alexander the Great and approaching saw him sick a-bed but was receiv'd with very kind Words and much Respect and promis'd a suddain assistance He making bold to reply How Sir can you being sick assist me With my Name says he and mounting a Nisaean Horse seem'd to lead the way At the sight of this Vision he was much assur'd and with swift Marches over-running all the Interjacent Places takes Beraea and making his Head Quarters there reduc'd the rest of the Country by his Commanders When Demetrius receiv'd Intelligence of this and perceiv'd likewise the Macedonians ready to mutiny in the Army he was afraid to advance farther lest coming near Lysimachus a Macedonian King and of great Fame they should revolt to him So returning he march'd directly against Pyrrhus as a Stranger and hated by the Macedonians while he lay encamp'd there by him many coming out of Beraea infinitely prais'd Pyrrhus as one invincible in Arms a very Illustrious Prince and treating those he had taken kindly and obligingly several of these Pyrrhus himself sent privately pretending themselves Lacedaemonians and saying now was the time to be deliver'd from the severe Government of Demetrius by coming over to Pyrrhus a gracious Prince and a lover of Soldiers By this Artifice a great part of the Army was mov'd and looking every way about sought for Pyrrhus It hapn'd he was without his Helmet till understanding they did not know him he put it on again and so was quickly remark'd by his lofty Crest and the Goat's horns he wore upon it Then the Macedonians running to him desir'd the Word others clap'd Oaken boughs upon their Heads because they saw them worn by the Soldiers about him Some took the confidence to say to Demetrins himself that he would be well advis'd to withdraw and lay down the Government And he indeed finding the Mutinous humour of the Army agreeable to that sort of Discourse privately got away disguis'd in an old Hat and a common red Coat So Pyrrhus became Master of the Army without fighting and was declar'd King of the Macedonians But Lysimachus now arriving and affirming the defeat of Demetrius was in common perform'd by both and that the Kingdom ought to be shar'd between them Pyrrhus not extremely assur'd of the Macedonians and in doubt of their Faith consented to the Proposition of Lysimachus and divided the Country and Cities between them accordingly This was for the present useful and prevented a War but shortly after they found the partition not so much an avoydance of dissatisfactions as an occasion of more Complaint and Difference For to such whose Ambition neither Seas nor Mountains nor the forsaken Deserts can limit nor the bounds dividing Europe from Asia confine their vast desires 't is hard to say how they should forbear injuring one another when they touch and are close together These are ever naturally in War envying and seeking advantages of one another They make use of those two Words Peace and War as of Money not so much guided by Justice as when it falls out to be for their Interest and are really better men when they openly enter on a War than when they give to the meer forbearance of doing wrong only for want of opportunity the sacred Names of Justice and Friendship Pyrrhus was an instance of this for setting himself against the rise of Demetrius again and endeavouring to hinder the recovery of his Power as it were from a kind of Sickness assisted the Greeks and came to Athens where having ascended the Acropolis and offer'd Sacrifice to the Goddess and the same day came down again told the Athenians he was much pleas'd with their kindness and the confidence they had of him but if they were wise advis'd them never to let any King come thither again or open their City Gates to him he concluded also a Peace with Demetrius but a little after he was gone into Asia at the perswasion of Lysimachus tampper'd with the Thessalians to revolt and besieg d his Cities in Greece finding he could make better use of the Macedonians in War than in Peace and being of his own Inclination not much given to rest at last having routed Demetrius in Lycia Lysimachus who had secur'd his Affairs and nothing to do immediately turn'd his Forces upon Pyrrhus who was in Quarters at Edessa and falling upon and seizing his Convoy of Provisions brought first a great Scarcity into the Army then partly by Letters partly by spreading Rumours abroad he corrupted the principal Officers of the Macedonians reproaching them they had made on their Master who was both a Stranger and descended from those who had ever been Servants to the Macedonians and thrust the old Friends and Families of Alexander out of the Country The Macedonian Soldiers being much prevail'd upon Pyrrhus withdrew himself with his Epirots and Auxiliary Forces relinquishing Macedon just after the same manner he took it Thus Kings have no reason to condemn the People changing for their Interest who in that do but imitate them as the great Instructors of Unfaithfulness and Treachery holding him the bravest that makes the least Account of being an honest man Pyrrhus having thus retir'd into Epirus and left Macedon Fortune gave him a fair occasion of enjoying himself in quiet and peaceably governing his own Subjects but he who thought it a nauseous Course of Life not to be doing mischief to others or receiving some from them as Achilles could not endure repose But languish'd there When left alone desiring Noise and War serv'd his inclination of this pretence of new business The Romans were in War with the Tarentines who not able to go on with the War nor yet give it over by reason of the bold and ill advis'd Harangues of Popular men desir'd to make Pyrrhus their General and ingage him in this War as of all the Neighbouring Kings the most at leisure and the greatest Souldier
this will not be for your advantage for they who now honour and admire you when they have had experience of me will rather chuse to be govern'd by me than by you so great a man was Fabritius Pyrrhus heard him say this unmov'd and without any Tyrannick Passion nay among his Friends highly commended the great mind of Fabritius and Entrusted the Prisoners to him alone on Condition that if the Senate should not vote a Peace after they had convers'd with their Friends and celebrated the Festivals of Saturn they should be remanded and accordingly they were sent back after the Holy-days It being Decreed pain of death for any that stay'd behind After this Fabritius taking the Consulate a Person came with a Letter to the Camp writ by the King 's principal Physician offering to take off Pyrrhus by Poyson and so end the War without farther hazard to the Romans if he might have a Reward proportionable to his Service Fabritius enrag'd at the Villainy of the man and disposing the other Consul to the same Opinion sent dispatches immediately to Pyrrhus to caution him against the Treason His Letter was to this effect Caius Fabritius and Quintus Aemilius Consuls of the Romans to Pyrrhus the King Health You seem to have made a very ill Judgment both of your Friends and Enemies You will understand by reading this Letter sent to us That you are in War with honest men and trust Villains and Knaves we have not discover'd this to you to insinuate into your Favour but lest your ruine might bring a reproach upon us as if we had ended the War by treachery not as able to do it by force When Pyrrhus had read the Letter and made strict Enquiry into the Treason he Executed the Physician and for acknowledgment of this Civility of the Romans sent to Rome the Prisoners without Ransom and again imploy'd Cineas to negotiate a Peace for him but whether they believ'd it too great a kindness from an Enemy or two great a Reward of not doing an ill thing to accept their Prisoners so released to them as many of the Tarentines and Samnites but would admit of no debate of Alliance or Peace till he had removed his Arms and Forces out of Italy and sail'd back to Epirus in the same Ships that brought him over After his Affairs bringing on a second Fight when he had refresh'd his men he decamp'd and meeting the Romans about the City Asculum being incommoded by a woody Country unfit for his Horse and a very swift Current of the River that the Elephants for want of sure treading could not get up with the Infantry After many wounded and many killed the Night put an end to the Engagement next day designing to make the Fight on even Ground and have the Elephants among the thickest of the Enemy he caus'd a Detachment to possess themselves of those incommodious Grounds and mixing Slingers and Archers among the Elephants with great Courage and Fury he advanc'd in a close and well order'd Body and the Romans not having those advantages of retreating and falling on as they pleas'd which they had before were oblig'd to fight man to man upon plain Ground and hastning to disorder the main Battel before the Elephants could get up they made bloudy work with their Swords among the Macedonian Spears not sparing themselves in the least to wound and kill was all their thought without regard of what they suffer'd after a long and obstinate Fight the first giving Ground is reported to have been where Pyrrhus himself engag'd with extraordinary Courage but they were most put to it by the mighty Force of the Elephants the Romans not being able to make use of their Valours but as it were overthrown by the irruption of a Sea or an Earthquake thinking it better to give way than die without doing any thing and not gain the least advantage by suffering the utmost Extremity the Retreat to their Camp not being far Hieronymus says there died Six Thousand of the Romans of Pyrrhus his men the King 's own Commentaries report 3550 lost in this Action Dionysius of Halicarnasse neither gives an account of two Engagements at Asculum nor allows the Romans were certainly beaten and that once only after they had fought till Sun-set both Armies were unwillingly separated by the Night Pyrrhus being wounded by a Javelin in the Arm and his Baggage plunder'd by the Samnites that in all there died of Pyrrhus his men and the Romans above 15000 and then both retreated 'T is said Pyrrhus reply'd to a Gentleman that gave him the Joy of his Victory That such another would utterly undo him for he had lost a great part of the Forces he brought with him and almost all his particular Friends and principal Commanders There were no others there to make Recruits and he saw the Confederates very slow in their motion On the other hand as from a Fountain continually flowing out of the City the Roman Camp was quickly and plentifully filled up with fresh men not at all abating in Courage for the losses they sustain'd but even from their very anger gain'd new Force and Resolution to go on with the War Among these difficulties he fell again into vain hopes and businesses that hugely distracted his Mind for at the same time some Persons arrived from Sicily offering into his hands the Cities of Agrigentum and Syracuse and that of the Leontines and begging his assistance to expulse the Carthaginians and rid the Island of Tyrants Others brought him News out of Greece that Ptolome call'd Ceraunus was slain in a Fight and his Army cut in pieces by the Gauls and that if he came now in time the Macedonians were at a great loss for a King Here he began extreamly to accuse Fortune for bringing him so many occasions of great things all together at a time and considering that by grasping at both he should lose one of them was a long time balancing in his thoughts But the Affairs of Sicily seeming to promise him matter of the greater business Africa lying so near he turn'd himself to them and presently dispatch'd away Cineas as he used to do to make Terms before-hand with the Cities Then he plac'd a Garrison in Tarentum infinitely against their Wills and requiring him either to perform what he came for and continue with them in a War against the Romans or leave the City as he found it he return'd no pleasing Answer but commanded them to be quiet and attend his time and so sail'd away Being arriv'd in Sicily what he had design'd in his hopes was confirm'd effectually and the Cities frankly surrendred to him Where-ever his Arms and Force were necessary nothing at first made any considerable resistance for arriving with 30000 Foot and 2500 Horse and 200 Ships he totally routed the Phaenicians and overturn'd their whole Government Eryx being the strongest Town they held and having a great Garrison in it he resolv'd to take
Servants had made great preparation at his House as expecting Pyrrhus there at Supper In the Night the Lacedaemonians held a Consult to Ship over all the Women into Crete but they unanimously refused and Archidamia came into the Senate with a Sword in her Hand in the Name of them all representing how unkindly they took it to think they would survive the ruins of Sparta It was next resolved to draw a Trench in a Line directly over against the Enemies Camp and at each end of it to sink Waggons-in the Ground as deep as the Naves of the Wheels that so being firmly fix'd they might obstruct the passage of the Elephants When they had just begun the Work both Maids and Women came to them those had their Clothes truss'd up about their Linen and others in their Shifts only to assist the Elder sort of men As for the Youth that were next day to engage they left them to their rest and undertaking their proportion they themselves finish'd a third part of the Trench which was in breadth six Cubits four in depth and 800 foot long as Phylarchus says Hieronymus makes it somewhat less The Enemy beginning to move by break of day they brought their Arms to the young men and giving them also in charge the Trench exhorted them to defend and keep it bravely as a most worthy thing to conquer in the view of their whole Country and glorious to die in the Arms of their Mothers and Wives falling as became Spartans As for Chelidonis she retired with a Halter about her Neck resolving to die so rather than fall into the Hands of Cleonymus if the City were taken Pyrrhus himself in Person laboured with his Foot to force through the Shields of the Spartans ranged against him and to get over the Trench which was scarce passable because the looseness of the fresh Earth afforded no firm footing for the Soldiers Ptolomee Pyrrhus's Son with 2000 Gauls and some choice men of the Chaonians went about the Trench and endeavoured to get over where the Waggons were but they being so deep in the Ground and plac'd close together did not only make his passage but also the defence of the Lacedaemonians very troublesom yet now the Gauls had got the Wheels out of the Ground and were drawing off the Waggons towards the River when Young Acrotatus seeing the danger they were in passing through the Town with 300 men surrounded Ptolomee undiscerned taking the advantage of some hollow ways till he fell upon his Rear and forced them to wheel about thrusting one another into the Ditch and falling among the Waggons and at last they with much ado were cut off with a very great slaughter the Elderly men and all the Ladies saw this brave action of Acrotatus and when he returned back into the Town to his first Post all covered with Blood and fierce and elate with Victory he seem'd to the Spartan Dames more gallant and beautiful than ever and they envied Chelidonis so worthy a Lover And some of the old men followed him crying aloud Go on Acrotatus enjoy Chelidonis and get brave Fellows for Sparta Where Pyrrhus himself fought was the hottest of the Action and many of the Spartans did gallantly but in particular one Phyllius signaliz'd himself and killed most of those that pressed upon him and when he found himself ready to sink with the many Wounds he had received retiring a little out of his place behind another fell down among their own men that the Enemy might not carry off his Body The Fight ended with the day and Pyrrhus in his Sleep dream'd he threw Lightning upon Lacedaemon and set it all on fire and seemed to rejoyce at the Sight and in this Transport of joy waking commanded his Officers to get all things ready for a second Assault and interpreting his Dream among his Friends that he should take the Town by Storm several assented to it with admiration but Lysimachus was not pleased with the Dream and told him he feared lest as Places struck with Lightning are held Sacred and not to be entred so the Gods might by this let him know the City should not be taken Pyrrhus replied All these things were but idle talk full of uncertainty and only fit to amuse the Vulgar but you my brave Men with your Swords in your hands should always think of that Verse of Homer 'T is the only good presage That for Pyrrhus you engage Changing the last Word of his Verse and surprising them in raillery with putting in the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he got up and drew out his Army to the Walls by break of Day the Lacedaemonians in resolution and courage made a defence even beyond their power the Women were all by helping them to Arms and bringing Bread and Drink to those that desired it and taking care of the wounded The Macedonians attempted to fill up the Trench bringing huge quantities of Materials and throwing them upon the Arms and dead Bodies that lay there all covered over while the Lacedaemonians opposed this with all their Force Pyrrhus in Person appeared on their side of the Trench and the Waggons pressing on Horseback towards the City at which the Soldiers who had that Post making a great Noise and the Women shreiking and running about while Pyrrhus violently pushed on and in Person beating down all that disputed his way his Horse receiv'd a shot in the Belly with a Cretan Arrow and flouncing as he died threw off Phyrrus on slippery and very steep Grounds at which all about him being in a Confusion the Spartans came boldly up and making good use of their Arrows forced them off again This caused Pyrrhus to retreat a second time thinking the Lacedaemonians would abate of their vigour when almost all of them were wounded and very great numbers killed outright But the good Fortune of the City either resolving to make the utmost Experiment of the bravery of her own Citizens upon her self or giving a demonstration how great a power she has in dubious Accidents the Lacedaemonians having now but very slender hopes left brought Ameinias the Phocian one of Antigonus's Commanders from Corinth to their assistance with an Army of Strangers and they were no sooner receiv'd into the Town but Areus their King arrived there himself too from Crete with 2000 men more The Women upon this went all home to their Houses finding it no longer necessary for them to meddle with the business of the War and they also were sent back who though under age were by necessity forced to take Arms the rest prepared to fight Pyrrhus upon the coming of these additional Forces who was possessed with a more eager desire and ambition than before to make himself Master of the Town but his Designs not succeeding and receiving fresh losses every day he gave over the Siege and fell to plunder the Country determining to winter thereabout But Fate is
with the best of his men and the remaining Elephants marched streight through the Gates into the Town to assist his Father Pyrrhus was now making good his Retreat and while the Market-place afforded them Ground enough both to Retreat and Fight frequently repulsed the Enemy that bore upon him when he was forced out of that broad place into a narrow street leading to the Gate and fell in with those who came the other way to his assistance they not hearing him call out to them to give back and coming on very briskly of themselves were also pushed forward by others behind who poured in at the Gate Besides the largest of the Elephants falling down on his side in the very Gate and terribly braying lay in the way of those that would have got out Another of these already in the Town called Nicon striving to take up his Rider who after many wounds received was fallen off his back bore forward upon them that Retreated and thrusting as well Friends as Enemies tumbled them all confusedly upon one another till having found the Body and taken it up with his Trunk he carried it on his Tushes and returning in a great Rage trode down all before him Being thus pressed and crowded together not a man could do any thing singly but wedged so close as it were one Mass the whole multitude rolled and swayed this way and that altogether they did very little Execution upon the Enemy either in their Front or Rear but very much harm to one another for he who had either drawn his Sword or directed his Lance could neither advance it again nor put his Sword up but wounded their own men as by chance they were thrust together and so fell dead one among another Pyrrhus seeing the mighty Storm and Confusion of things took off the Crown he wore upon his Helmet by which he was distinguished and gave it to one nearest his Person and trusting to the goodness of his Horse rid in among the thickest of the Enemy and being wounded with a Lance through his Brest-plate but not dangerously nor indeed very much he turned about to him that struck him who was an Argive not a man of any Illustrious Birth but the Son of a poor old Woman She was looking upon the Fight among other Women from the top of an House and perceiving her Son engaged with Pyrrhus and affrighted at the danger he was in took up a Tile with both Hands and threw it at Pyrrhus which falling on his Head below his Helmet and bruising the Vertebres of the lower part of the Neck his Eye-sight was taken away his Hands let go the Reins and sinking down from his Horse fell just by the Tomb of Lycimnius the common Soldiers knew not who it was but one Zopyrus that served under Antigonus and two or three others running thither and knowing it was Pyrrhus dragg'd him to a Threshold hard by just as he was recovering a little from the blow Zopyrus drawing out an Illyrian Sword and ready to cut off his Head Pyrrhus gave him so fierce a Look that confounded with Terror and sometimes his Hands trembling and then again endeavouring to do it full of Fear and Confusion he could not strike him right but cutting over his Mouth and Chin it was a long time before he got off the Head This was quickly known to a great many and Alcyoneus hast'ning to the place desired to look upon the Head and see whether he knew it and taking it in his hand rid away to his Father and threw it at his feet while he was sitting with some of his particular Favourites Antigonus looking upon it and knowing it thrust his Son from him and struck him with his Cane calling him wicked and barbarous and covering his Eyes with his Robe fell a weeping when he reflected upon the instances of the change of Fortune in his own Family both in his Grandfather and his Father and caused the Head and Body of Pyrrhus to be burned with all due Solemnity after this Alcyoneus discovering Helenus under a mean disguise in a poor thred bare Coat used him very respectfully and brought him to his Father When Antigonus saw him This Son said he was done much more Nobly than before but yet there is a defect that you have not taken off that old Coat which is a Scandal to us who have got the Victory and then treating Helenus with great kindness and as became a Prince restored him to his Kingdom of Epirus and gave the same obliging Reception to all Pyrrhus his principal Commanders after he had reduced the whole Army under his Obedience THE LIFE OF CAIUS MARIUS Englished from the Greek By Miles Stapleton Fellow of All-Souls Colledge in Oxon. VOLUME III. CAIUS MARIUS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. We have seen Marius's Effigies in Stone at Ravenna in Gallia very agreeable to that roughness and Sowreness of his behaviour remarked by all Authors for being naturally valiant and warlike more acquainted also with the Discipline of the Camp than of the City he could not moderate his Passion when in Authority He is said neither to have much studied Greek nor ever to have made use of that Language in any matter of consequence as thinking it ridiculous to bestow time in that Learning the Teachers whereof were little better than their Slaves So after his second Triumph when at the Dedication of a Temple he presented some Shews after the Greek Fashion coming into the Theatre he only sate down and immediately departed Wherefore as Plato often used to say to Xenocrates the Philosopher who was seemingly of a more than ordinary rigid disposition Prethee good Xenocrates sacrifice to the Graces so if any could have perswaded Marius to pay his Devotions to the Greek Muses and Graces he had never brought those his incomparable Designs both in War and Peace to so unhappy a Conclusion or plunged himself into a turbulent and unpleasant old Age through his Passion ill tim'd Ambition and insatiable Avarice but this will farther appear by and by from his Actions 3. He was born of Parents altogether obscure indigent and that supported themselves by their daily labour his Father of the same name with himself his Mother called Fulcinia He had passed a considerable part of his Age before he saw and tasted the pleasures of the City at first he lived in Cirraeaton a Village in the Territory of Arpinum a life compared with the City delicacies harsh and rustical yet temperate and much resembling the ancient Roman severity He first listed himself in the War against the Celtiberes when Scipio Africanus besieged Numantia where he soon signalized himself to his General by his Courage very far above his Comrades and particularly by his so chearfully complying with Scipio's Reformation of his Army before almost ruined by Pleasures and Luxury 'T is reported too that he challenged or at least encountred and vanquished an Enemy in his General
Italy and posted his Army by the River Athesis where blocking up the Passages on both sides the River with strong Fortifications he made a Bridge that so he might go to their assistance that were on the other side if so be the Enemy having forced the narrow Passages should storm the Fortresses The Barbarians came on with such Insolence and Contempt of their Enemies that to shew their Strength and Courage rather than out of any necessity they went naked in the showers of Snow and through the Ice and deep Snow climbed up to the tops of the Hills and from thence placing their broad Shields under their bodies let themselves slide from the Precipices along their vast slippery Descents 37. When they had pitched their Camp at a little distance from the River and surveyed the Passage they began to cast up their Banks Giant-like tearing up the neighbouring Hills and brought Trees pulled up by the roots and heaps of Earth to the River therewith damming up its course and with great heavy Materials rowlled down the Stream and dashed against the Bridge they forced away the Planks which supported it whereat the greatest part of the Roman Soldiers very much affrighted left their Camp and fled Here did Catulus shew himself a generous indulgent General in preferring the Glory of his People before his own for when he could not prevail with his Soldiers to stand to their Colours but saw how cowardly they all deserted them he commanded his own Standard to be taken up and running to the foremost of those that fled he led them forward chusing rather that the disgrace should fall upon himself than his Country and that they should not seem to fly but following their Captain to make a retreat The Barbarians assaulted and took the Fortress on the other side Athesis where admiring at the few Romans there left who had shewn themselves of an extream great Courage and had fought worthy their Country they dismissed them with an easie Composition swearing them upon their Brazen Bull which was afterwards taken in the Battel and they say carried to Catulus's House as the chief Trophy of the Victory 38. Thus falling in upon the Country destitute of defence they wasted it extreamly whereupon Marius was presently sent for to the City where when he arrived every one supposing he would Triumph the Senate too unanimously voting it he himself did not think it convenient whether that he were not willing to deprive his Soldiers and Officers of their share of the Glory or that to encourage the People in this juncture he would make the honour of his Victory give place to the present Fortune of the City deferring it now to receive it afterwards with the greater Splendour Having left such Orders as the occasion required he hast'ned to Catulus whose drooping Spirits he very much raised and sent for his Army from Gallia as soon as it came he passing the River Po endeavoured to drive the Barbarians out of that part of Italy which lies South of it 39. But they pretending they were in expectation of the Teutones and wondering they were so long in coming deferred the Battel either that they were really ignorant of their Defeat or at least were willing to seem so for they very much abused those that brought them such News and sending to Marius required some part of the Country for them and their Brethren and Cities fit for them to inhabit When Marius enquired of the Ambassadors who their Brethren were and they calling them Teutones all that were present fell out a laughing but Marius scoffingly answered them Do not trouble your selves for your Brethren for we have already provided Lands for them which they shall possess for ever The Ambassadors perceiving the jeer railed at him and threatned that the Cimbri would make him smart for it and the Teutones too when they came And they are not far off replied Marius it will be very unkindly done of you to go away before you have taken leave of your Brethren saying so he commanded the Kings of the Teutones to be brought out as they were in chains for they were taken by the Sequani before they could make their escape from the Alps. This was no sooner made known to the Cimbri but they with all expedition came against Marius who then lay still and guarded his Camp 40. 'T is said that against this Battel Marius first made their Javelins after a new fashion for before at the place where the Wood was joyned to the Iron it was made fast with two Iron-pins now Marius let one of them alone as it was and pulling out the other put a weak wooden peg in its place contriving it so that when it was stuck in the Enemy's Shield it should not stand right out but the wooden peg breaking the Iron should bend and so the Pile sticking fast by its crooked point should weigh down the Shield Now Baeorix King of the Cimbri came with a small Party of Horse to the Roman Camp and challenged Marius to appoint the time and place where they might meet and fight for the Country Marius answered That the Romans never consulted their Enemies when to fight however he would gratifie the Cimbri so far and so they pitched upon the third day after for the place the Plain near Vercellae which was convenient enough for the Roman Horse and afforded room for the Enemy to display their Numbers 41. They observed the time appointed and drew out their Forces against each other Catulus commanded 20300 and Marius 32000 who were placed in the two Wings leaving to Catulus the Main Battle Sylla who was present at the Fight gives this Relation saying withal that Marius drew up his Army in this Order out of malice to Catulus for he hoped with his Wings stretched out farther to fall in upon the Body of the Enemies Army it being customary in that manner of embattelling that the Army should represent a Crescent the two extream Points much advancing and the main Battel remaining behind and to rout them before Catulus and his Army should be able to charge them They observe likewise that Catulus himself alledgeth this in vindication of his Honour accusing this enviousness of Marius The Infantry of the Cimbri marched quietly out of their Trenches having their Flanks equal to their Front every side of the Army took up thirty furlongs their Horse that were in number 15000 made a very splendid appearance They wore Helmets whereon were the gapings of wild Beasts and other strange shapes which they heightning with Plumes of Feathers appeared greater than they were they had on Breast-plates of Iron and white glittering Shields and for their offensive Arms every one had two-edged Darts and when they came hand to hand they used great and heavy Swords 42. They did not fall directly upon the Front of the Romans but turning to the right they endeavoured to enclose them by little and little getting the Enemy between them and
Kings and by stirring up and exasperating Mithridates especially who was then apparently making preparations for War he himself should be chosen General against him and so furnish the City with new matter of Triumph and his own House with the Plunder of Pontus and the Riches of its King Wherefore though Mithridates had entertained him with all imaginable obligingness and respect yet he was not at all wrought upon or softned by it but said O King either endeavour to be indeed more potent than the Romans or else quietly submit to their Commands With which he almost astonished him having indeed often heard the Fame of the bold speaking of the Romans but was now first acquainted with that Impudence 53. When Marius returned again to Rome he built an House close by the Market-place either as he himself gave out that he was not willing his Clients should be tired with going far or that he imagined it would cause the greater Concourse at his Gates yet this was not the true reason neither but because being inferiour to others in obliging Conversation and the Arts of Courtship like a meer Tool and Implement of War he was thrown aside in time of Peace Amongst all those whose brightness eclipsed his Glory he was most extreamly incensed against Sylla who had received his Rise from the hatred which the Nobility bore Marius and had made his disagreement with him the first step of his Preferment When Bocchus King of Numidia who was stiled the Associate of the Romans dedicated some Trophies of Victory in the Capitol and by them the Picture of himself in Gold delivering Jugurtha to Sylla Marius upon this was almost distracted with rage and Ambition as though Sylla had arrogated this Honour to himself and endeavoured forcibly to pull down these Presents Sylla on the other side as vigorously resisted him but the War of the Confederates then on a sudden threatning the City put a stop to this Sedition just ready to break out Now the most warlike and best peopled Countries of all Italy conspired together against Rome and were within a little of subverting the Empire their chief strength consisting not only in their Weapons and the Valour of their Soldiers but standing upon equal terms with the Romans as to the Courage and sufficiency of their Commanders 54. This War so various as to its Encounters and so uncertain as to its Success what Glory and Power it conferred upon Sylla of so much it deprived Marius who seeded not to be very brisk in his Charges but was for the most part guilty of Delays Retreats and almost Cowardice whether it were that his Age had quenched that heat and vigour he was formerly Master of for he was now above sixty five years old or that as he himself said having some distemper in his Nerves and his Body unfit for Action he had for meer shame ventured upon some Expeditions above his strength Yet for all this he came off Victor in a considerable Battel wherein he slew 6000 of the Enemies and never gave them any advantage over him Nay though he was once surrounded by the Works of the Enemy he contained himself and though insulted over braved and challenged yet he seemed not much concerned at it There goes a report that when one Publius Silo a man of the greatest Worth and Authority among the Enemies said to him If thou beest that great Captain Marius come to a Battel he answered If you be such an one force me to fight And another time when the Enemy gave them a good opportunity of a Battel and the Romans through fear durst not charge so that both Parties retreated he called an Assembly of his Soldiers and said It is no small question whether I should call the Enemies or you the greater Cowards for neither dare they face your backs nor you theirs 55. At length pretending to be worn out with the Infirmity of his Body he laid down his Command Afterwards when the Italians were worsted several at Rome by the Interest of those that led the People sued for Employment in the War with Mithridates Sulpitius Tribune of the People a bold resolute Fellow contrary to every body's expectation bringing in Marius declared him Proconsul and General in that War whereupon the People were divided some were on Marius's side others voted for Sylla and jeeringly bad Marius go to his Baths at Baiae to cure his Body worn out as himself confessed with Age and Catarrhs Now Marius had indeed there about Misenum a Villa more effeminately and luxuriously furnished than became a man employed in so many and great Wars and Expeditions This same House Cornelia bought for 75000 Denarii and not long after Lucius Lucullus for 250000 in so short a time did the Luxury and Effeminacy of the Romans increase After all this Marius very ambitiously and childishly affecting to shake off his Age and weakness went into the Field where exercising himself with the Youth he shewed himself still nimble in his Armour and expert in riding though indeed he were grown less active in his Age by reason of his great belly and his inclining to fatness and corpulency 56. These Actions of his pleased some that went to see his vain-glory in those Justs and Exercises but the better sort that saw him pitied his Avarice and Ambition that from a begger growing so extreamly rich and from nothing becoming so great would know no bounds of his good Fortune nor be content with being admired and quietly enjoy what he had already got but as if he still were in extream poverty should at so great an Age leave Glory and Triumphs to go into Cappadocia and the Euxine Sea to fight Archelaus and Neoptolemus Mithridates's Generals Marius's pretences for this Action of his seemed very ridiculous for he said he had a mind himself to educate his Son in that War This soon ruined the City which had been a long time sick of such practices when Marius had once found so opportune an Instrument for the publick destruction as Sulpitius's Insolence 57. This Fellow in all other respects admired and imitated Saturninus only found fault with his Cowardice and backwardness in his Designs he therefore made no such foolish delays but got 600 Horse about him as his Guard which he named Anti-Senators with these Assassines he set upon the Consuls whilst they were at the Assembly and took the Son of one of them who fled from the Market-place and slew him Sylla being hotly pursued took into Marius's House which none could suspect by that means escaping those that sought him who hastily passed by there and it is said was safely conveyed by Marius himself out at the other door and came to the Camp Yet Sylla in his Memoirs positively denies that he fled to Marius but that he was carried thither to consult of those matters to which Sulpitius would have forced him against his Will to consent that he surrounding him with drawn
Swords hurried him to Marius and restrained him thus till he should go thence to the Market place and put such a Conclusion to these Affairs as his Masters the People would approve 58. Whilst these things were acting Sulpitius having obtained the sole Power decreed the Command of the Army to Marius who making preparations for his March sent two Tribunes to receive the charge of the Army from Sylla Sylla hereupon exasperating his Soldiers which were six Legions or about 5000 Horse and 30000 Foot brought them to Rome who first falling upon the Tribunes Marius had sent slew them and Marius did as much for several of Sylla's Friends in Rome and made many of the Slaves free that he might have their assistance in the War whereof they say there were but three that answered his expectation He for some small time made head against Sylla's assault but was soon over-powred and fled those that were with him as soon as he had escaped out of the City were dispersed and Night coming on he hast'ned to a Country-house of his called Solonium Hence he sent his Son to some neighbouring Farms of his Father-in-law Mutius to provide Necessaries himself went to Ostia where his Friend Numerius had prepared him a Ship and not staying for his Son he took with him his Son-in-law Granius and weighed Anchor 59. Young Marius as soon as he came to Mutius's Farms and had ordered some small matters the day breaking he was almost discovered by the Enemy for there came thither a Party of Horse that suspected some such matter whom when the Steward perceived he hid Marius in a Cart full of Beans then putting to his Team and driving toward the City he met those that were in search of him Marius thus conveyed home to his Wife took with him some Necessaries and came at Night to the Sea-side where going on board a Ship that was bound for Africk he went away with it Marius the Father when he had put to Sea with a good gale passing along the Coast of Italy was in no small apprehension of one Geminius a great a man at Tarracina and his Enemy and therefore bad the Sea men hold off from that place they were indeed willing to gratifie him but the Wind rising at Sea and making the Waves swell to a great height they were afraid the Ship would not be able to weather out the Storm Marius too being indisposed and Sea-sick they with great difficulty reached the Haven at Circaeum 60. The Storm now increasing and their Victuals failing they put to Shore and wandered up and down they knew not whither as it usually happens in great Distresses they always shun the present as the greatest evil and relie upon the hopes of uncertainties for the Land and Sea were both equally unsafe for them it was dangerous to meet with People and it was no less so to meet with none by reason of their want of Necessaries At length though late first they light upon a few poor Shepherds that had not any thing to relieve them but knowing Marius advised him to depart as soon as might be for they had seen a little beyond that place a Party of Horse that were gone in search of him Whereupon finding himself in a great straight especially because those that attended him were not able to go farther being spent with their long fasting he turned aside out of the Road and hid himself in a thick Wood where he passed the Night in great distress The next day pinched with hunger and willing to make use of the little strength he had before it were all exhausted he travelled by the Sea-side encouraging his Companions not to desert him in the last of his hopes for which he reserved himself relying on the credit of some old Prophecies 61. That when he was yet but very young and lived in the Country he brought home in the skirt of his Garment an Eagle's Nest wherein were seven young ones which his Parents seeing and much admiring consulted the Augures about it who told them that he should become the greatest man in the World and that the Fates had decreed he should seven times be possessed of the Supream Power and Authority Some are of Opinion that this really happ'ned to Marius after the same manner we have related it others-say that those men who then and through the rest of his Exile heard him tell these Stories and believed him have recorded a Relation altogether fabulous for an Eagle never hatches more than two besides they give Musaeus the Lye who speaking of the Eagle say That she lays three Eggs hatches two and nourishes but one Whatever this be it is certain Marius in his Exile and greatest Extremities would often say that he had still a prospect of a Seventh Consulship 62. When Marius and his company were now about twenty furlongs distant from Minturnae a City in Italy they espied a Troop of Horse making up toward them with all speed and by chance also at the same time two Ships under sail whereupon they ran every one with what speed and strength they could to the Sea and plunging themselves into it swam to the Ships Those that were with Granius seized upon one of them and passed over to an opposite Island called Aenaria Marius himself whose Body was heavy and unwieldy was with great pains and difficulty born above the Water by two Servants and put into the other Ship The Soldiers were by this time come to the Sea-side and from thence commanded the Sea-men to put to Shoar or else to throw out Marius and then they might go whither they would Marius besought them with tears to the contrary and the Masters of the Ship after some consultation which inclined first to one then to the other side resolved at length to answer the Soldiers that they would not throw out Marius As soon as they were gone in a rage the Sea-men immediately changing their resolution came to Land and casting Anchor at the mouth of the River Liris where it overflowing makes a great Marish they advised him to Land refresh himself on Shore and take some care of his discomposed body till the Wind came fairer which say they will happen at such an hour when the Wind from the Sea will calm and that from the Marishes rise Marius following their advice did so and when the Sea-men had set him on Shore he laid him down in an adjacent Field suspecting nothing less than what was to befall him They as soon as they had got into the Ship weighed Anchor and departed as thinking it neither honourable to deliver Marius into the hands of those that sought him nor safe to protect him 63. He thus deserted by all lay a good while silently on the Shore at length recollecting himself he travelled very disconsolately through by-ways till wading through deep Bogs and Ditches full of Water and Mud he stumbled upon the Old man's Cottage that looked after the Fens
forward in maintaining the right of the people and when they found their designs discover'd he was afraid they might secure themselves by flight to prevent this he solemnly swore not a man of them should suffer Upon this they were all so credulous as to relie upon his word nay many who upon apprehension of punishment had before absconded appear'd abroad again so when he had got 'em all in his power he order'd 800 of 'em to be slain at one execution In every City he exercis'd cruelties of this nature and no man cou'd be safe who was suspected of any inclinations to popular Government He did not only sacrifice men to his own private caprices but with the same barbarity gratifi'd either the malice or Covetousness of his Friends From whence Eteocles his saying became famous that Greece cou'd never bear two Lysanders Theophrastus says that Archistratus appli'd the same thing to Alcibiades Pharnabazus after he had been plundred and very ill us'd by him sent informers against him to Sparta The Magistrates took this complaint into Consideration and put some of his Friends to death amongst which was his Fellow-Captain Thorax who against the late Law was found with Silver in his possession neither did they stop here in punishing his accomplices but commanded him home by their Scytale The nature and use of which was this When the Magistrates gave their Commission to any Admiral or General they took two round pieces of Wood both eactly equal in breadth and thickness one they kept themselves the other was deliver'd to their Officer so when they had any thing of moment which they wou'd secretly convey to him they cut a long narrow scrowl of Parchment and rowling it about their own staff one fold close upon another they wrote their business on it when they had wrote what they had to say they took off the Parchment and sent it to the General he appli'd it to his own staff which being just like that of the Magistrates the folds fell in with one another exactly as they did at the writing and the Characters which before 't was wrapt up were confusedly disjoin'd and altogether unintelligible appear'd now very plainly Lysander was startled at the Scytale and being conscious how ill he had us'd Pharnabazus thought this message was chiefly upon his Account so he took all the care imaginable to have a speedy conference with him and hop'd by a little discourse to compose all differences between ' em When they met he desir'd him to give another information to the Senate and to contradict what his Messengers had told 'em before Pharnabazus seem'd to comply with these proposals but as 't is in the Proverb Put the cheat upon the deceiver for he wrote a Letter in Lysander's Presence according to his directions but had contriv'd to have another by him which was to a quite contrary effect so when they came to Seal the Letter he put that upon him which he had writ under-hand Lysander return'd boldly to Lacedaemon and attending the Magistrates as 't is their Custom at the Palace he deliver'd Pharnabazus his Letter to 'em which he was pretty confidently assur'd wou'd take off his greatest Accusation for he knew Pharnabazus was much valu'd by the Lacedaemonians as being an expert Soldier and a favourite of Artaxerxes The Magistrates read the Letter and show'd it Lysander he was much surpriz'd to meet with what he had not in the least suspected and in great confusion left the Palace Some days after when he was amongst the Governors he told 'em he was oblig'd to go to Ammon's Temple and pay that Sacrifice which he had Vow'd to him before the Battel and 't is indeed reported that Ammon appear'd to him in a Dream when he besieg'd the Aphygaeans upon which as the God had directed he rais'd the Siege and bid the Aphygaeans Sacrifice to Ammon But 't is generally believ'd that this was only a pretence and that the true occasion of his retiring was a suspicion that the Magistrates wou'd call him to an Account for having Rul'd so long without controul his haughty Spirit cou'd not brook Submission to any Body like an Horse that after he had been free a great while and rang'd in open Pasture is very unwilling to be confin'd again to the Stable and submit to the manage of his Rider Ephorus gives another Account of his retiring which I shall mention by and by Whatever the occasion was he found it very difficult to get the Magistrates leave and when with much ado they had given their consent to his Voyage considering that most of their Cities were in the possession of his Friends that he consequently must needs have a great sway among 'em and be likely to be receiv'd by 'em with all the respect due to their great Commander and Patron they took particular care to dispossess 'em and put the Government into other hands This Revolution rais'd every where new disturbances and first of all the Athenians attempted to seize upon their thirty Governors but Lysander happen'd to come very opportunely to their relief and perswaded the Lacedaemonians to join with the Rulers against the People they did not only grant him this but presented the Governors too with an hundred Talents and chose him their Captain Some of the Chief of the the Athenians were jealous of Lysander and fearing least he shou'd take the City again resolv'd one of 'em shou'd be deputed to discourse with him Pausanias was the man When he came to Lysander he pretended he had been a great Friend to the Tyrants against the People but his design was to break off the War least Lysander shou'd again make himself Master of Athens This design he compass'd very easily for he reconcil'd the Athenians and compos'd the Tumults and so put a stop to Lysander's Ambition However the Athenians made another insurrection but Pausanias made a plausible excuse for it and said that 't was no strange thing to see People that were just free from their usual discipline and left more to their own liberty break out into insolent Affronts withal he gave Lysander the commendation of a generous man who never employ'd his Arms either for the gratification of Friends or his own fame but purely for the Glory of Sparta Thus he preserv'd the City a second time from Lysander's Tyranny Lysander's Courage and Spirit appear'd in his expressions no less than it did in his Actions Once when the Argives contended about their bounds and thought they cou'd make a better Plea than the Lacedaemonians he held out his Sword and said He that 's Master of this will best make out his Title A Megarean using more freedom than ordinary with him met with this reprimand By your discourse Sir a man may guess you are a stranger at Court When the Boeotians stood wavering whether they shou'd engage on his side or his Enemies he told 'em they must fix their resolutions he wou'd be with 'em speedily and
affirm'd he was the man for he had that about him which was extraordinary a golden head of hair nor was he asham'd openly to attest his Valour after so great and gallant performances And thus much of his opinion of the Gods As to the rest of his conditions he was an irregular sort of man inconsistent with himself much given to Rapine to Prodigality much more in promoting or disgracing whom he pleased alike unaccountable cringing to those he stood in need of and domineering over others who stood in need of him so that it was hard to tell whether his Nature had more in it of disdain or flattery As to his unequal distribution of punishments when upon slight grounds he would put to the torture and again bear gently with the greatest Crimes and receive into grace the most hainous Transgressors upon easie terms but small and inconsiderable offences chastise with Death and Confiscation of Goods one might from hence judge that in himself he was really of a bitter revengeful Nature which however he could qualifie upon reason of Interest In this very Confederate-War when the Soldiers with Stones and Clubs had killed a chief Commander his own Legate Albinus by name he passed by such horrid indignity without taking Cognizance giving it out moreover in a boast that hereafter he should have the Soldiers more intent upon the War to repair their breach of Discipline by some notable piece of service nor took he notice of the clamours of those that cried for Justice but casting in mind how to crush Marius now that he saw the Confederate-War to be at an end he made much of the Army in hopes to get himself declared General of the Forces against Mithridates At his return to Rome he was chosen Consul with Quintus Pompeius in the fiftieth year of his Age and then he took to Wife the Illustrious Lady Cecilia Daughter to Metellus the Chief Priest The common People made Sonnets on the Marriage and many of the Nobility were disgusted at it esteeming him as Livy writes unworthy of the Lady whom before they thought worthy of a Consulship This was not his only Wife for first in his younger days he was joined to Ilia by whom he had a Daughter after her to Aelia and then to Caelia whom he dismissed as Barren but with respect and a good report adding moreover Presents The Match between him and Metella falling out a few days after gave suspicion that he had wrongfully accused Caelia he was evermore indulgent to Metella insomuch as when he refused to recal the banisht Marians the People made their humble application to Metella And the Athenians it 's thought had harder measure at the Sacking of the Town because in a jeering way they had affronted Metella from off the Walls But of this hereafter At present esteeming the Consulship but small in Comparison of things to come he was impatiently carried on in thought to the Mithridatick War Here he was withstood by Marius who out of mad affectation of Glory and thirst of Empire those never dying Passions though he were broken in Body and insufficient for the last services by reason of his Age yet still coveted after Foreign and Transmarine Wars and whilst Sylla was departed for the Camp to order the rest of his Affairs there sate brooding at home and at last hatcht that execrable Sedition which wrought Rome more mischief than all her Enemies together could have done as was foretold by the Gods For a flame broke forth of its own accord from under the staves of their Ensigns and was hard to be extinguisht Three Ravens brought forth their young and eat them carrying the reliques into the Nest again Mice having gnawed the Consecrated Gold of the Temple the Aediles took one Female in a trap but she bringing forth five young ones in the very trap devoured three of them But what was greatest of all in a calm and clear sky there was heard the sound of a Trumpet but with such a strong and dismal blast as struck terror and amazement into the hearts of the People The Hetruscane Sages affirmed that this Prodigy betok'ned the mutation of the Age and revolution of the whole Universe For according to them there be in all eight Ages differing one from another in Lives and Conversation and to each of these God has allotted a certain measure of times determined by the Circuit of the great year when one Age is run out at the approach of another there appears some wonderful sign from Earth or Heaven as is plain to those who have made it their business to study such things that there has succeeded in the World a new race of Men disagreeing in Customs and Institutes of Life and more or less regarded by the Gods than the preceeding Amongst other mighty changes that happen as they say at the turn of Ages even the Art of Divination grows into esteem sometimes and predicts certainties from clear and evident tokens sent from God and then again in another Generation waxes as low to a decline as frivolous for the most part taking in future events through weak and darksome Organs This was the Mythology of the Tuscan Sages who were thought to be more knowing than other People Whilst the Senate sate in Consultation with the South-sayers concerning these Prodigies in the Temple of Bellona Goddess of War a Sparrow came flying in before them all with a Grashopper in the mouth and part she let fall and part she bore away The Diviners doubted a Commotion and Dissention to arise between the Country and City For with them the clamorous Grashopper signifies the Country and Sparrow the City Now Marius join'd to him Sulpitius a Fellow second to none for the most exquisite Villainies so as we need not enquire wherein he excelled others but wherein he excelled himself in Wickedness He was cruel bold rapacious openly dishonest and throughout a Rogue making sale by out-cry of the Roman Freedom to Libertines and Strangers and telling out the price on the publick Money-tables He maintained three thousand Sword-men and had always about him a company of young Gentlemen ready on all occasions whom he styled his Antisenatarian-band having caused a Law to be enacted that no Senator should contract a debt of above three thousand Drachma's he himself after Death was found indebted three Millions This was the man whom Marius let in upon the Commonwealth and who ordering all things by Force and the Sword made several Ordinances of dangerous consequence and amongst the rest that same which gave to Marius the Conduct of the Mithridatick War Upon this the Consuls proclaim a Publick Cessation of business but as they were holding a Senate in the Temple of Castor and Pollux he let loose the Rabble upon them and amongst many others slew Pompey the Consuls young Son in the Forum Pompey himself hardly escaping in the Crowd But Sylla being closely pursued into the House of Marius was forc'd to come
forth and dissolve the Cessation for this cause Sulpitius having deposed Pompey continu'd Sylla in his Consulship only the Mithridatick Expedition that he conferred on Marius There were immediately dispatcht to Nola Tribunes to receive the Army and bring it to Marius but seeing that Sylla was got before to the Camp and the Soldiers upon hearing of the News had stoned the Tribunes Marius in requital put the Friends of Sylla in the City to the Sword and rifled their Goods The People were all up in a hurry shifting and running to and fro some from the Camp to the City others from the City to the Camp The Senate then no more its own but wholly Governed by the Dictates of Marius and Sulpitius alarm'd at the report of Sylla's advancing his Troops towards the City sent forth two of the Pretors Brutus and Servilius to forbid his nearer approach The Soldiers would have slain these Pretors in a fury for their rough Language to Sylla however breaking their Rods asunder and tearing off their Purple Robes after much contumelious usage they sent them back to the sad and sudden dejection of those that beheld their Magistrates despoiled of Pretorian Ensigns and withal declaring that things were now manifestly come to a Rupture and past cure Marius put himself in a readiness and Sylla with his Collegue moved from Nola at the head of six compleat Legions all whom he found willing to march up directly against the City but he himself as yet was doubtful in thought and apprehensive of the danger As he was sacrificing Posthumius the South-sayer having inspected the Entrails stretching forth both hands to Sylla required to be bound and kept in Custody till the Battel was over as willing if they had not speedy Success to suffer the utmost Punishment It 's said that there appeared to Sylla in a Dream a certain Goddess whom the Romans learnt to worship from the Cappadoces whether she was the Moon or Pallas or Bellona This same Goddess to his thinking stood by him and put into his Hand Thunder and Lightning then naming his Enemies one by one bad him discharge on them who all of them dropt at the discharge and disappeared Encouraged by this Vision and relating the same to this Collegue next day he led on towards Rome About Picinae being met by an Embassy beseeching him not to fall on of a sudden in the heat of a March for the Senate had decreed to do him all the right imaginable he consented to lodge on the place and sent his Officers to measure out the Ground as is usual for a Camp so as the Ambassadors believing it returned They were no sooner gone but he sent a Party before under the Command of Lucius Basillus and C. Mommius to secure the City-Gate and Wall on the side of the Aesculine-hill then at the Heels of these he himself followed with all speed Basillus fell with success into the City but the unarmed Multitude pelting him with Stones and Tiles from off the Houses stopt his further Progress and beat him back to the Wall Sylla by this time was come up and seeing what was done called aloud on his Men to set fire to the Houses and taking a flaming Torch he himself led the way and commanded the Archers to make use of their Fire-darts letting fly at the tops of Houses This he did without the least consideration all enraged and yielding the Conduct of that days work to Passion as if all he saw were Enemies without respect or pity either to Friends Relations or Acquaintance he went on by Fire which knows no distinction betwixt Friend or foe In this dispute Marius being driven into the Temple of Mother Earth would from thence have drawn in the Bondmen by Proclamation of Freedom but the Enemy coming on he was overpowered and fled the City Sylla having called a Senate had Sentence of Death passed on Marius and some few others amongst whom was Sulpitius Tribune of the People Sulpitius was executed being betrayed by his Servant whom Sylla first made free and then threw him head-long down the Tarpeian Rock As for Marius he set a Price on his Life by Proclamation but neither gratefully nor politickly if we consider into whose House not long before he put himself at Mercy and was safely dismissed Albeit had Marius not let go Sylla but suffered him to be slain by the Hands of Sulpitius he might have been Lord of all but he spared his Life and a few days after upon like occasion received not like measure By these Proceedings Sylla gave secret distaste to the Senate but the displeasure and free indignation of the Commonalty shewed it self plainly by their Actions For they ignominiously rejected Nonius his Nephew and Servius who put in for Offices of State by his Interest and chose others for Magistrates by honoring whom they thought to have grieved him most He made semblance of extreme satisfaction hereat as if the People by his means had again enjoyed the Liberty of doing what seem'd best to them And to pacifie the publick Odium he created Lucius Cinna Consul one of the adverse Party having first bound him under Oaths and Imprecations to be true to his Interest For Cinna ascending the Capitol with a Stone in his Hand swore solemnly and with a direful Curse that he himself if he kept not the Accord might be cast out of the City as that Stone out of his Hand he thereupon cast the Stone to the Ground in the presence of many People Cinna had no sooner entred on his charge but fell to disturb the Establishment and having prepared an information against Sylla suborned Virginius one of the Tribunes of the People to be his accuser but Sylla leaving him and the Court of Judicature to themselves set forth against Mithridates About the time that Sylla was making ready to put off with his Forces from Italy besides many other Divine Omens which befell Mithridates at Pergamos there goes a Story that the Statue of Victory with a Crown in her hand which the Pergamenians by Engines from above let down on him when she had almost reach'd his head fell asunder and the Crown tumbling down into the midst of the Theatre broke to pieces against the ground so as this startled the Vulgar and hugely disquieted the Mind of Mithridates altho his Affairs hitherto had succeeded beyond expectation for at present having wrested from the Romans Asia from the Kings Bithynia and Cappadocia he made Pergamus his Royal Seat bestowing on his Friends Riches Principalities and Kingdoms Of his Sons the one Arcathias residing in Pontus and Bosphorus held his Ancient Realm as far as the Desarts above the Lake Maeotis without molestation Ariarathes the other was about reducing Thrace and Macedon with a great Army to Obedience His other Commanders with Forces under them invaded other Quarters especially Archilaus who by his Ships gave in a manner absolute Law at Sea had subjected the Isles Cyclades together with
other situated within Malea and had taken Aeubaea it self From Athens his Seat of War he made his Excursions as far as Thessaly and drew after him most of the States of Greece without the least impeachment save only at Chaeronea For here Brutius Sura Deputy of Sentius Governour of Macedon a man excelling in Valour and Prudence met with Archelaus and though like a Torrent he came pouring along Baeotia made stout resistance and giving him thrice Battel repulsed and forc'd him off again to Sea however being Commanded by Lucius Lucullus to give place to his Successor Sylla and resign the War to whom it was decreed he presently left Baeotia and returned back to Sintius although his Success had out-gone all hopes and Greece was well disposed to a Revolt upon account of his gallant behaviour These be the glorious Actions of Brutius Sylla at his arrival received by their Ambassadors the Complements of all the Cities of Greece except Athens which being forc'd by the Tyrant Aristion within to hold for the King he came against it with all his might and investing the Haven Pyreus laid formal Siege to it erecting all manner of Batteries and trying all manner of Assaults whereas had he forborn never so little he might without hazard have taken the Upper City by Famine being already reduc'd to extreamity through want of Necessaries but hasting to Rome and fearing some Innovation there by many Adventures many Fights and vast Expence he pusht on the War for besides other Equipage the very Work about the Engines of Battery was supplied with no less than ten thousand Yoak of Mules employ'd daily in that Service and when Timber grew scarce for many of the Works fail'd some quash'd to pieces by their own weight others taking fire by the continual play of the Enemy he made bold with the sacred Groves and cut down the stately Walks of the Academy which stands in the Suburbs and the Lyceum and being there wanted a vast Summ of Money to carry on the War he broke up the unvoidable Treasures of Greece that of Epidaurus and that of Olympia sending for the fairest and richest Offertories he wrote likewise to the Amphyctiones at Delphos That it were better to remit the Wealth of the God to him for that he would keep it more securely or in case he made use of it restore as much And of his Friends he sent Caphis the Phocean on this Message commanding him to receive each Particular by weight Caphis came to Delphos but was loth to touch holy things and with many Tears in the presence of the Amphyctiones bewailed the Necessity But some of them making as if they heard the sound of a Harp from the innermost Shrine he whether himself believ'd it or else was willing to strike a Religious awe into Sylla sent back an Express To which Sylla replied in a scoffing way That it was matter of wonder to him that Caphis understood Musick to be a sign of Joy not Anger and therefore wish'd him to go on boldly and receive it from the hands of a Gracious and bountiful God The rest of the things that were delivered out escaped the memory of most Grecians save the Silver Tun that only Relick of Regal Donation which for its weight and bulk the Carriages not being able to receive when the Amphyctiones were forced to cut in pieces they presently call'd to mind now Titus Quinctius Flaminius and Manius Acelius now Paulus Aemilius One of whom when he had thrown Antiochus out of Greece the others when they had brought under Macedonian Kings not only abstained from the Grecian Temples but added to them Gifts and Honour and much Veneration Those indeed according to Law being only elected Chief Leaders of Men well-disciplined and taught to yield ready obedience to Command themselves Great in Soul and Mean in Expences lived within the Bounds of the ordinary establish'd Charges accounting it a greater disgrace to stoop basely to their own Soldiers than to stand in awe of an Enemy whereas the Commanders of these times attaining to Superiority by force not worth and having need of Arms one against another rather than an Enemy were constrained to temporize in Authority and hiring the Soldiers labour at the price of Luxury have rendred their whole Country at unawares Mercenary and themselves Slaves to the vilest of Wretches to the intent they might Lord it over their Betters These Practices cast out Marius and again brought him in against Sylla The same caused Cinna to be the Assassin of Octavius and Fimbria of Flaccus To which beginnings Sylla contributed not the least For he to corrupt and call over those who were under the Command of others would be munificent and profuse towards those who were under his own so as by drawing some of the adverse Party to a revolt and his own men to a dissolute course he came to be in want of a large Treasury especially for that Siege Sylla had a vehement and an implacable desire to Conquer Athens whether out of emulation fighting as it were against the shadow of that once Famous City or out of anger stomaching those Flouts and Scurrillous jests wherewith the Tyrant Aristion fooling and skipping about daily had provoked him and Metella from off the Walls The Tyrant Aristion had his very Being compounded of Wantonness and Cruelty receiving into himself as common Sewer the worst of Mithridates his ill humours and vicious qualities who like some satal disease after its deliverance from innumerable Wars many Tyrannies and Seditions brought the City to the last extreamity At the time when a Medimnus of Wheat was to be sold in the City for one Thousand Drachma's and men were forc'd to live on Feverfew growing round the Cittadel and eat shooes and Oyl-bags sodden he daily carrousing and feasting it in the open face of Noon then dancing in Armour and sporting at the Enemy suffered the holy Lamp of the Goddess to expire for want of Oyl and to the Chief-Priestess who demanded of him an Hemina of Wheat he sent the like quantity of Pepper The Senators and Priests who came in humble guise to beg of him to take Compassion of the City and treat a Peace with Sylla he drove at and dispersed with a flight of Arrows At last with much ado he sent forth two or three of his revelling Companions to parley whom Sylla perceiving that they made no overtures towards an accommodation but went on haranguing in praise of Theseus Eumolpus and their Median Trophies replyed to them thus Happy men ye may put up your Speeches and be gone for I was sent by the Romans to Athens not to learn but to reduce Rebels to obedience In the mean time News came to Sylla that some old men discoursing in the Ceramicum were over-heard to blame the Tyrant for not securing the Passages and Avenues on the side of the Gate Heptachalcos where only the Enemy might easily get over Sylla neglected not
the report but going in the Night and discovering the place to be assaultable set streight to work Sylla himself makes mention in his Memoirs that Marcus Teius the first man who scal'd the Wall meeting with an Adversary and striking him on the head-piece a home stroke broke his Sword however shrunk not from his ground but withstood and held him fast The City was taken on that part as 't is recorded by the most ancient of the Athenians When they had thrown down the Wall and made all level betwixt the Pyrean and Sacred-Gate about the dead of night Sylla entred the breach in dreadful manner with many Trumpets and Cornets with the rowsing shout and cry of an Army falling to the spoil and slaughter and scouring through the streets with Swords drawn so as there was no numbring of the slain only from the space of ground overflowed with Blood we may even now take a survey of their Multitude for to pass by the execution done on other Quarters of the City the bloodshed about the Market place took up the whole Ceramicum within the Double gate and according to most Writers passing through both doors overwhelmed the Suburbs Nor did the People which fell thus in such vast heaps excel the number of those who out of pity and love of their Country then at point of destruction slew themselves the best of them despairing and dreading to survive as not expecting either Humanity or Moderation in Sylla At length partly by the instance of Midias and Calliphon two exil'd men beseeching and casting themselves at his feet partly by the intercession of those Senators who followed the Camp having had his fill of Revenge and making some honourable mention of the Ancient Athenians I forgive said he the Many for the sake of a Few the Living for the Dead He took Athens according to his own Memoirs on the Calends of March which fall out exactly on the first of Authesterion on which day the Athenians keep a Solemn Commemoration of the many Ruins and Devastations occasioned by excessive rains particularly of the Deluge which hap'ned about that time At the taking of the Town the Tyrant fled into the Cittadel and was there besieged by Curio who had that charge under Command He held out a considerable time but for want of Water yielding up himself clearly evidenced the Divine Providence For on the same day and minute that Curio conducted him down the Clouds gathering in a calm Heaven there showred down a great quantity of rain and filled the Cittadel with Water Not long after Sylla won the Haven Pyreus and burnt most of it amongst the rest Philo's Arsenal a stupendious Work In the mean time Taxilles Mithridates his General coming down from Thrace and Macedon with an Army of one hundred thousand Foot ten thousand Horse and ninety Chariots fang'd at Axles with Iron Sythes would have joyn'd Archelaus who lay hovering with a Navy on the Coast of Munichia with intention neither to quit the Sea or engage the Romans in Fight but to draw out the War in length and cut off the Enemies Provision which Sylla perceiving much better than himself passed with his Forces into Baeotia from out a region barren and unable to maintain a Camp in time of Peace He was thought by some to have taken false measures when leaving Attica a rugged Country and uneasie for the Cavalry to move in he put himself into the plain and open Fields of Baeotia knowing the Barbarians strength to consist most in Horse and Chariots But as was said before to avoid Famine and Scarcity he was forc'd to run the risque of a Battel Moreover he was troubled for Hortensius a man expert in War and of a rough Soldiery Constitution whom on his way to Sylla with Forces from Thessaly the Barbarians awaited in the Streights For these reasons Sylla drew off into Baeotia Caphis our Country-man led Hortensius another way unknown to the Barbarians by Parnassus just under Tithora being then no such great City as 't is now but a Garrison built a round on a steep Precipice which the Phocenses to escape the Invasion of Xerxes put themselves and goods into and were saved Hortensius encamping here kept off the Enemy by day and at night descending by difficult passages into Patronis join'd the Forces of Sylla who came to meet him Thus united they posted themselves on a fertile Hill on the Plains of Elateia set round with Trees and watered at the foot It 's called Philobeotus the Situation and Richness of which Soil Sylla praiseth wonderfully As they lay thus encamped they seemed to the Enemy a contemptible number for they were not above fifteen hundred Horse and less than fifteen thousand Foot wherefore the rest of the Commanders over-perswading Archelaus and drawing up the Army covered the Field with Horses Chariots Bucklers Targets The clamour and hideous roar of so many Nations standing thick together in Battalia tore the Sky nor was the Pomp and Gallantry of their costly array altogether idle and unserviceable for terrour For the brightness of their Armour embellished with Gold and Silver magnificently and the lustre of their Median and Scythian Coats intermixt with Brass and shining Steel cast forth a flaming and a dreadful sight by the waving and moving to and fro of the Army insomuch that the Romans shrunk them into their Trenches and Sylla being unable by any means to remove the fear and unwilling to force them to fight against their wills was fain to sit down in quiet ill-brooking though to become the Subject of Barbarian Insolence and Laughter this however above all advantaged him for the Enemy from contemning of him fell into disorder amongst themselves and being less subject to Command by reason of many Commanders some few of them remained within the Line but others the Major part lur'd out with hopes of prey and rapine flew about the Countries many days Journey from the Camp and by report demolished the City of Panope rifled Lebadea and rob'd the Oracle without any Discipline Sylla all this while chasing and fretting to see the Cities all around destroyed suffered not the Soldiery to indulge but going forth compelled them to divert Cephisus from its ancient Channel by casting up ditches and giving respite to none shew'd himself rigorous in punishing the remiss that growing weary of labour they might be drawn by hardship to embrace danger which fell out accordingly for on the third day being hard at work as Sylla passed by they beg'd and clamour'd to be led against the Enemy Sylla replied That this demand of War proceeded rather from a backwardness to labour than any forwardness to fight but if they were in good earnest Martially given he bad them with their Arms get up thither pointing at the ancient Tower of the Parapotamians whereof at present the City being laid wast there remained only the Mountainous head steep and craggy on all sides and severed from Mount Edulium the
the Noble Youths made bold in the Senate to ask him what ends was there of those Evils and where he intended to stop We pray thee not said he to pardon such as thou hast resolved to destroy but to free from doubt such as it hath pleased thee to save Sylla answering That he knew not as yet whom to spare Why then said he tell us whom thou wilt punish This Sylla said he would do Those last Words as some Authors would have it were spoken not by Metellus but by Offidius one of Sylla's fawning Companions Immediately upon this without imparting the matter to the Magistracy Sylla proscrib'd eighty Persons and notwithstanding the generality of Men stomach'd it after one days respite he posted two hundred and twenty more and on the third again as many In an Harangue to the People on this occasion he told them he had put up as many Names as he could think of and those who had escaped his memory he should hereafter proclaim He publish'd an Edict likewise making Death the Punishment of Humanity to any one who should dare to receive and cherish an Outlaw without exception to Brother Son or Parents And to him who should slay any one proscribed Person he ordained two Talents as a Reward of Parricide whether it were a Slave who had beat out the Brains of his Master or a Son his Fathers But what was most unjust of all he cause'd the Attainder to pass upon their Sons and Sons Sons and made open sale of the Goods of them all nor reign'd the Proscription only at Rome but throughout all the Cities of Italy where the Effusion of Blood was such as neither the Temples of the Gods nor Sanctuaries nor private Houses escaped clear Men were butchered in the Embraces of their Wives Children in the Arms of their Mothers They who fell thus through publick hatred or private spleen were nothing in comparison of the numbers of those who suffer'd for their Riches The Assassin might safely say A fair House killed this Man a Garden that a third his Hot Baths Quintus Aurelius a quiet peaceable Man and one who thought it his Duty to bear a part in the common Calamity so far as to condole the Misfortunes of others coming into the Forum and finding himself among those who were set up cried out Woe 's me my Alban Mannor has informed against me He had not gone far before he was dispatched by a Ruffian sent on that Errand In the mean time Marius on the point of being taken killed himself Sylla at his first coming to Praeneste proceeded judicially against each particular Person till at last finding it a Work of too much time he cooped them up close together in one place to the number of two and twenty thousand Men and gave order for the Execution of them all his Hoast only excepted but he brave Man scorning the Obligation of Life it self from the Hands of one who had been the Ruine of his Country plung'd into the Herd and submitted willingly to the Stroke That of Lucius Catilina was a rare Contrivance For before Matters came to an issue having made away his Brother he beseeched Sylla to clap him into the List of Outlawry as living and was so wherefore Catiline to return the kind Office assassinated Marius one of the adverse Party and brought the Head to Sylla as he was sitting in the Court of Judicature then going to the Holy Water of Apollo which was nigh wash'd his Hands There were other things beside matter of Tragedy which gave offence for Sylla had declared himself Dictator whereas that Form of Government had then been laid aside for the space of one hundred and twenty years There was likewise an Act of Grace passed on his behalf granting Impunity for what was past and for the future entrusting him with the Power of the Sword Confiscations Trasplanting of Colonies erecting and demolishing of Cities taking away of Kingdoms and bestowing them at pleasure He managed the Sale of Conficsated Goods after such an arbitrary imperious way seated on a Chair of State amidst beautiful Women Mimicks Fidlers and such like rascally People on whom he squandred away the Revenues of whole Countries and Cities bestowing on some of them Ladies in Marriage against their will so as his Gratuities were much more intolerable than his Usurpations Having a mind to assure Pompey the Great by a nearer Tie of Bloud he commanded him to make void the Nuptial Bed and forcing Aemilia the Daughter of Scaurus and Metella his own Wife from Marcus Glabrio he bestowed her great with Child on him but she died in Labour at Pompey's House When Lucretius Offella the same who reduced Marius by Siege put in and push'd his Fortune hard for the Consulship he first forbad him then seeing he could not restrain him from coming down into the Forum with a numerous Train of followers he commanded a Centurion of the Guards out and slew him himself sitting on the Bench in the Temple of Castor and beholding the Murder from above The Citizens apprehending the Centurion and dragging him to the Tribunal he bad them cease tumultuous clamouring and let go the Centurion for he had commanded it His Triumph tho' of it self exceeding stately and set off with the unusual Pomp and Magnificence of Royal Spoils was yet further illustrated and drew after it a goodly Spectacle the Exiles For in the Reer followed the most eminent and most potent of the Citizens Crowned with Garlands and calling Sylla Saviour and Father by whose means they were restored to their own Country and again enjoyed their Wives and Children When the Solemnity was over and the time come to render an Account of his Actions in a Publick Assembly he was as punctual in innumerating the lucky hits of War as any of his own Military Vertues And from his Faelicity it was that he made choice to be Surnamed Felix In his Addresses and Answers to the Graecians he styled himself Epaphroditus or Beloved of Venus His Trophies which are still extant with us bear this Inscription Lucius Cornelius Sylla Epaphroditus Moreover when his Wife had brought him forth twins he named the Male Faustus and the Female Fausta by which words the Romans understand Success and Good Omen The Confidence which he reposed in his good Genius rather than in any Abilities of his own emboldned him though deeply engaged in Blood after such great Changes and Revolutions of State to lay down his Authority and settle the Right of Consular Elections once more on the People So that he not only came abroad but on the Forum exposed his Person publickly to the People walking up and down as a private Man And whereas contrary to his will a certain bold Man and his Enemy Marcus Lepidus was in Election to be Consul not by his own Interest but by the Power and Sollicitation of Pompey who was extream gracious with the People when the business was over seeing Pompey going home
most ungovernable of all humane Passions could then yield to the necessities of the State Cimon as soon as he returned put an end to the War and reconciled the two Cities Peace thus establish'd seeing the Athenians impatient of being Idle and eager after the Honour and Spoils of War lest they should set upon the Grecians themselves or with so many Ships cruising about the Isles and Peloponnesus they should give Occasions to intestine Wars or Complaints of their Allies against them He equipped two hundred Galleys with design to make an attempt upon Aegypt and Cyprus by this means to use the Athenians to fight against the Barbarians and enrich themselves by spoiling those who are by nature Enemies to Greece But when all things were prepared and the Army ready to imbark Cimon had this Dream It seemed to him an angry Bitch bark'd at him and a kind of humane voice mixt with barking uttered these Words Go on for shortly thou shalt be A Friend to my young Whelps and me This Dream was hard to interpret yet Astyphylus of Posidonium a man skilled in Divinations and intimate with Cimon told him that his Death was presaged by this Vision which he thus explained A Dog is Enemy to him he barks at and one is always most a friend to ones Enemies when one is dead that mixture of humane Voice with barking signifies the Modes for the Army of the Medes is mixt of Greeks and Barbarians But after this Dream as he was sacrificing to Bacchus and the Priest cutting up the Victim a great number of Emmets taking up the little congealed particles of the blood laid them about Cimon's great Toe This was not observed a good while but as soon as Cimon spied it the Priest came and shewed him the Liver of the Sacrifice imperfect wanting that part of it which they called the head of the Entrail But he could not then recede from the Enterprize so he set sail sixty of his Ships he sent toward Aegypt with the rest he went and fought the King of Persia's Fleet composed of Phaenician and Cilician Sail subdued all the Cities thereabout and threatned Aegypt designing no less than the entire Ruin of the Persian Empire And the rather for that he was informed Themistocles was in great repute among the Barbarians and had promised the King to lead his Army whenever he should make War upon Greece but they say Themistocles losing all hopes of compassing his designs and despairing to equal the Vertue and good fortune of Cimon dyed a voluntary Death Cimon still framing great designs and keeping his Navy about the Isle of Cyprus sent Messengers to Consult the Oracle of Jupiter Hammon upon some secret matter for 't is not known about what they were sent the God would give them no Answer but commanded them to return again for that Cimon was already with him Hearing this they returned to Sea and as soon as they came to the Grecian Army which was then about Aegypt they understood that Cimon was dead and computing the time of the Oracle they found that his Death was meant by it as being then with the Gods Some say he died of Sickness at Citium in Cyprus and others of a wound he received in a Skirmish with the Barbarians when he perceived he should dye he commanded those under his charge to return to their Country and by no means to spread the news of his Death by the way this they did with such secrecy that they all came home safe and neither their Enemies nor Allies knew what had hapned Thus as Phaenodemus relates the Grecian Army was as it were conducted by Cimon thirty days after he was dead But with him perished all the good fortune of Greece for after his Death there was not a Commander that did any thing considerable or which might deserve the name of a great action and instead of uniting against their common Enemies they who bore sway in the Principal Cities animated them against one another to that degree that none durst or would interpose their good Offices to reconcile them Thus by mutual discord ruining themselves the Persians had time to recover Breath and repair all their losses 'T is true indeed Agesilaus made some shew of the Grecian Forces in Asia but 't was a long time after he seemed to revive some little appearances of a War against the Kings Lieutenants in the Provinces but they all quickly vanisht for before he could perform any thing of moment he was recalled by civil Dissentions at home So that he was forced to leave the Persian Kings Officers to impose what Tribute they pleased on the Grecian Cities in Asia tho under the Dominion of the Lacedaemonians Whereas in the time of Cimon no Officer of What Quality or Character soever could Command there nor durst any Souldier in Arms come within four hundred furlongs of the Sea The Monuments called Cimonian to this day in Athens shew that to be the place of his Burial yet the Inhabitants of the City Citium pay particular honour to a certain Tomb which they call the Tomb of Cimon according to Nausicrates the Rhetorician who also reports that in a Famine when there necessities were very great they sent to the Oracle which commanded them to honour Cimon as a God Thus have I drawn the Life of this Famous Captain and by these Proportions judge of him LUCULLUS See siere Lucullus sues He humbly bends Of PRISCA bvys his Honors and his friends The way is base but thus hard state commands For ffortune still is in a Womans hands THE LIFE OF LUCULLUS Translated by Giles Thornburgh A. M. VOLUME III. LVCVLLVS his Grandfather had been Consul his Uncle by the Mothers Sister was Metelius surnamed Numidicus As for his Parents his Father was convict of Extortion and his Mother Caecilia's Reputation was blasted by her loose Life The first thing that Lucullus did before ever he came to any Office or medled with the Affairs of State being then but a Youth was to accuse the Accuser of his Father Servilius the Augur having caught him in a Publick Trespass This thing was much taken notice of among the Romans who commended his Justice therein as an Act of singular Vertue Even without the Provocation the Accusation was esteem'd no unbecoming Action for they delighted to see young Men as eagerly pursuing injustice as good Dogs do wild Beasts But when great Animosities arose thereupon insomuch that some were wouned and killed in the Fray Servilius fled Lucullus followed his Study and became Master of the Greek and Latin Tongues which made Sylla dedicate to him the commentaries of his Life which he wrote himself that the History thereof might be more methodically ordered and digested His Speech was not Elegant and ready for Gain only like one That disturbs the Hall as a mad Thynnus doth the Waters Out of it altogether as dry illiterate and mute For in his younger days he chiefly addicted himself to the
commendable Study of the Liberal Arts and growing old in the Camp he refreshed his Mind with the more comfortable Profession of Philosophy chiefly favouring the Theoretick Part and thereby wisely preventing that dangerous Contest that was breeding between Pompey and himself Besides what hath been said of his great Learning already one Instance more was That in his Youth upon a Proposal of writing the Marsican War in Greek and Latin Verse and Prose after some witty Rallery upon the Occasion he seriously protested to Hortensius the Lawyer and Sisenna the Historian that hewould take his Lot for it and very probable it is that the Lot directed him to the Greek Tongue for the Greek History of that War is still extant among us Many are the Signs of the great Love which he bore to his Brother Mark the earliest whereof the Romans at this day commemorate Tho he was elder Brother he would not step into Authority without him but deferred his own Advance until his Brother was fitly qualified to bear a share with him who thereby so won upon the People as when absent to be chosen Aedyle with him Many and early were the Proofs of his Valour and Conduct in the Marsican War being admir'd by Sylla for his Constancy and Mildness and always employ'd in dispatching affairs where Industry and Fidelity were required especially in the Mint most of the Money for carrying on the Mithridatick War being Coyned by him Which being soon exchanged for necessaries in the Camp was for a long time Current in the Army and from thence called Luculleian Coyn. After this when Sylla conquered Athens and necessaries for his Army were cut off by reason the Enemy was Master at Sea Lucullus was the man whom he sent into Libya and Aegypt to procure him shipping It was then the depth of Winter when he ventured but with three small Greek Vessels and as many Rhodian Galleys not only into the main Sea but also among multitudes of the Enemies shipping even there where they were absolute Masters Arriving at Crete he gained it and finding the Cyrenians harassed by long Tyranny and War he took Care of their publick Affairs and settled them Putting their City in mind of that saying which Plato had Divinely uttered of them who being requested to prescribe Laws to them and mould them into some sound form of Government made answer That it was a hard thing to give Laws to the Cyrenians abounding with so much Wealth and Plenty For nothing renders a man more intractable than Felicity nor more gentle than the shock of Fortune This made the Cyrenians so willingly submit to the Laws which Lucullus imposed upon them From thence sailing into Aegypt and pressed by Pyrates he lost the best part of his Navy but he himself narrowly escaping was brought in State to Alexandria The whole Fleet a Complement due only to his Majesty met him and young Ptolomy shewed wonderful kindness to him allowing him Lodging and Diet in the Palace in such a manner as no Stranger before him had been received in Besides he gave him Gratuities and Presents not only such as were usually given to men of his Condition but four times as much but he received nothing more than served his necessity and accepted of no Gift tho one worth Eighty Talents was offered him 'T is reported he neither went to see Memphis nor any of the celebrated Wonders of Aegypt It was for a man of no Business and much Curiosity to see such things not for him who had left his Commander in the Trenches storming the Walls of his Enemies Ptolomy fearing the Effect of that War deserted the Confederacy but nevertheless sent a Convoy with him as far as Cyprus and at parting with much Ceremony wishing him a good Voyage gave him a very precious Emerauld set in Gold Lucullus at first refused it but when the King shewed him his own Image graven thereon 't was too late for a Denial for had he shewed any discontent at parting it might have endanger'd his Passage Drawing his Squadron together which he had summoned out of all the maritime Towns except of those suspected of Pyracy he sailed for Cyprus and there understanding that the Enemy lay in wait under the Promontories for him he laid up his Fleet and sent to the Cities to send in Provisions for his wintering among them But when Tide and Time served he Rigg'd them out and went off and Hoising up his Sails in the Night which he let down in the Day came safe to Rhodes Being furnished with Ships at Rhodes he soon prevailed upon the Inhabitants of Chios and Knidia to leave the King's side and joyn with him against the Samians Out of Chios he drove the King's Party and set the Colophonians at Liberty having seized Epigonus the Tyrant who oppressed them About this time Mithridates left Pergamus and retired to Pitane where being closely besieged by Fimbria and not daring to engage with so bold and Victorious a man as Fimbria he contrived his Escape by Sea and sent for all his Fleet to attend him Which when Fimbria perceived having no Ships of his own he sent to Lucullus entreating him to assist him with his in subduing the most Odious and Warlike of Kings lest the opportunity of humbling Mithridates an enterprize which cost the Romans so much Blood and Trouble should now at last be lost when he was within reach and so easily to be taken who being caught no one would be more highly commended than he who stopt his passage and seized him in his flight He being drove from the Land by the one and stopt in the Sea by the other would be matter of Renown and Glory to them both As for the great Actions of Sylla against the Orchomenians about Choeronea they were little valued by the Romans The proposal was no unlikely thing it being obvious to all Men that if Lucullus had hearkned to Fimbria and with his Navy which was then near at hand had block'd up the Haven the War soon had been brought to an end and infinite Numbers of mischiefs prevented thereby But he whether from the Sacredness of Friendship between himself and Sylla reckoning all other Motives far inferiour to it or out of Detestation to wicked Fimbria whom he abhorred for advancing himself by the late Death of his Friend and the General of the Army or at least by divine Providence sparing Mithridates then that he might have him an Adversary for the time to come would by no means comply but suffered Mithridates to escape and laugh at the attempts of Fimbria he himself alone first near Lectos of Troas in a Sea-fight overcame the King's Forces and afterwards when Neoptolemus came upon him with a greater Fleet he went aboard a Rhodian Quinquereme Galley commanded by Demagoras a Man very expert in Sea Affairs and altogether as Friendly to the Romans and sailed before the rest Neoptolemus made up furiously at him and Commanded the Master with
from gilt and rich Armour a greater Temptation to the Victors than security to the Bearers gave them broad Swords like the Romans and Massy Shields chose Horses better for Service than Shape drew up an hundred and twenty Thousand Foot in the figure of the Roman Phalanx had sixteen Thousand Horse besides Chariots Arm'd with Scyths no less than an hundred Besides which he set out a Fleet not at all cumbred with Golden Cabins lascivious Baths and Womens furniture but stored with Weapons and Darts and other necessaries and made a descent upon Bithynia Not only these parts willingly received him again but almost all Asia grievously oppressed before by the Roman Extortioners and Publicans seemed to be recovered of their former Distemper These afterwards who like Harpies stole away their very Nourishment Lucullus drove away and by reproving them did what he could to make them more moderate and thereby prevented a general Sedition then breaking out in all parts While Lucullus was detained in rectifying this Cotta finding Affairs ripe for Action prepared himself for the War with Mithridates and News coming from all hands that Lucullus was then Marching into Phrygia and he thinking Victory just almost in his hands lest his Collegue should share in the Glory of it hasted to Battel without him But being routed both by Sea and Land he lost sixty Ships with their Men and four Thousand Foot he himself was forced into and besieged in Chalcedon there waiting for relief from Lucullus There were those about Lucullus who would have had him leave Cotta and go forward being then in a ready way to surprise the defenceless Kingdom of Mithridates And it was highly resented by the Soldiers that Cotta should not only lose his own Army but hinder them also from Conquest which at that time without the hazard of a Battel they might so easily have obtained But Lucullus in a Solemn Speech declared unto them That he would rather save one Citizen from the Enemy than be Master of all that they had Archelaus Governor of Baeotia under Mithridates revolting from him and siding with the Romans demonstrated to Lucullus that upon his bare coming he might easily surprise all the Country of Pontus but he answered that it did not become him to be more fearful than Huntsmen to leave the chase of the wild Beasts abroad and seek after sport in their deserted Lodges Having so said he made towards Mithridates with thirty Thousand foot and two Thousand five hundred Horse But being come in sight of his Enemies he was astonished at their Numbers and resolved to forbear fighting and wear out time But Marius whom Sertorius had sent out of Spain to Mithridates with Forces under him stepping out and challenging him he prepared for Battel In the very instant of joining no manifest alteration preceeding of a sudden the Sky opened and a great Body of light fell down in the midst between the Armies in shape like a Hogshead but in Colour like melted Silver insomuch that both Armies being surprised stood off This wonderful Prodigy hap'ned in Phrygia near Otryae Lucullus after this began to think with himself that no Man could have Power and Wealth enough to sustain so great Numbers as Mithridates had for any long time in the face of an Enemy Commanded one of the Captives to be brought before him and first of all asked him how many Companions were quartered with him and how much provision he had left behind him and when he had answer'd him Commanded him to stand aside then asked a second and a third the same question after which comparing the quantity of provision with the Men he found that in three or four days time his Enemies would be brought to want As for himself he was able to subsist longer having stor'd his Camp with all sorts of provision and living in plenty was better able to beset his hungry Enemy Which made Mithridates set forward against the Cyzicenians miserably shattered in the fight at Chalcedon where they lost no less than three thousand Citizens and ten Ships And that he might the safer steal away from Lucullus immediately after Supper by the help of a dark and gloomy Night he went off and by the Morning gained the City opposite to it and sat down with his Forces upon the Adrastian Mount Lucullus saw his Motion and pursued him but daring not to fall upon him with disorderly Forces sate down also near the Village called Thracia a convenient pass and plentiful place from whence and through which all the provisions for Mithridates's Camp must of necessity come Whereupon judging of the event he kept not his mind from his Soldiers but when the Camp was fortified and the Works finished called them together and with great assurance told them that in few days without the expence of Bloud he would bring Victory to them Mithridates besieged the Cyzicenians with ten Camps by Land and with his Ships blockt up the Strait that was betwixt their City and the Continent and stormed them on all sides who were fully prepared stoutly to receive him and resolved to endure the utmost extreamity rather than forsake the Romans That which troubled them most was that they knew not where Lucullus was and heard nothing of him though at that time his Army was visible before them But they were imposed upon by the Mithridatians who shewing them the Romans Encamped on the Hills Do ye see those said they those are the Auxiliary Armenians and Medes which Tigranes sent to Mithridates These were astonish'd at the vast numbers round them and could not believe any place of relief was left them no not if Lucullus had come up to their assistance Demonax sent by Archelaus was the first who told them of Lucullas's arrival but they disbeliev'd his report and thought he came with forged News to comfort them At which time a Fugitive Boy was taken and brought before them who being asked where Lucullus was smiled at their jesting as he thought but finding them in earnest with his finger shewed them the Roman Camp upon which they took Courage In the Lake Dascylitis they used Vessels of a midling size the biggest whereof Lucullus drew ashoar and carrying her in a Waggon to the Sea filled her with Soldiers who Sailing along unseen in the dead of the Night came safe to the City The Gods themselves wondring at the constancy of the Cyzicenians seem to have animated them with signs from above but more especially now in the Festival of Proserpina where a black Heifer being wanting for Sacrifice they supplied it by a Meat-offering which they set before the Altar The holy Heifer set apart for the Goddess and at that time grazing with the Herd of the Cyzicenians on the other side of the Strait left the Herd and came home to the City alone and offered her self for Sacrifice By Night the Goddess appearing to Aristagoras the Town Clerk I am come said she and have brought the
Lybian Piper against the Pontick Trumpeter bid the Citizens therefore be of good Courage While the Cyzicenians were wondring at the Revelation by a sudden North wind there arose a great storm at Sea The Kings battering Engines the wonderful Contrivance of Nicomedes of Thessaly then under the Walls by their cracking and shivering soon demonstrated what would follow after which a mighty tempestuous South-wind succeeding broke down the rest of the works in a Moments space and by a violent concussion threw down a wooden Tower a hundred Cubits high 'T is said that in â—…ium Minerva appeared unto many in the Night with bloudy and torn Garments telling them that she then came from relieving the Cyzicenians and the Inhabitants to this day have a Monument with an Inscription by publick order of the same Mithridates through the knavery of his Officers not knowing the want of Provision in his Camp was troubled in mind that the Cyzicenians should hold out Siege against him But his Ambition and anger fell when he saw his Soldiers in want and feeding on Mans flesh Lucullus being no airy vain-glorious Enemy but one according to the Proverb who made the seat of War in their Bellies by seizing on the food which should sustain them Mithridates therefore took advantage of the time while he was storming a Fort and sent away almost all his Horse to Bithynia with the Sumpters and as many of the Foot as were unfit for service Which Lucullus understanding came to his Camp and in the Morning during the storm took ten bands of Foot and the Horse with him and pursued them through Tempest and Cold though the severity of the Weather forc'd some of his Soldiers back who were ready to perish under it and with the rest coming upon the Enemy near the River Ryndacus overthrew them with so great an Overthrow that the very Women of Apollonia came out to seize on the Booty and rob the Slain Great numbers as we may suppose were slain six Thousand Horses taken with an infinite number of labouring Cattel and no less than fifteen Thousand Men all which he led along by the Enemies Camp And here I cannot but wonder at Salust who says That this was the first time Camels were seen by the Romans as if he thought those who fought under Scipio against Antiochus before or those lately under the Command of Archelaus against the Orchomenians about Chaeronea had not known what a Camel was But however 't is well known that Mithridates soon fled and contrived Delays and Diversions for Lucullus while he sent his Admiral Aristonicus to the Greek Sea who was betray'd in the very instant of going off and Lucullus became Master of him and ten Thousand pieces of Gold which he was carrying with him to corrupt some of the Roman Army After which Mithridates himself made for the Sea leaving the Foot-Officers to conduct the Army upon whom Lucullus fell about the River Granicus where he took a vast number alive and slew 15000. 'T is reported that the number of fighting Men and others who followed the Camp destroy'd amounted to thirty Myriads Lucullus first went into Cyzicum and then fitting his Navy sail'd away into the Hellespont and arriving at Troas he lodg'd in the Temple of Venus where in the night he thought he saw the Goddess coming to him and saying Why sleepest thou great Lion when the Fawns are nigh Rising up hereupon he called his Friends to him and told them his Vision at which instant some Ilians being present acquainted him that thirteen of the King 's Quinqueremes were seen off of the Achean Haven sailing for Lemnos He took these and slew their Admiral Isidorus and then made after another Squadron who were in Harbour with their Vessels ashoar but fought from above-deck and sorely gall'd Lucullus's Men there being neither room to sail round them nor to bear upon them for any damage while they stood secure and fix'd on the Sand. After much ado at the only Landing-place of all the Island he Landed the Choicest of his Men who falling upon the Enemy behind kill'd some and forced others to cut their Cables who making from the Shoar fell foul upon one another or came within reach of Lucullus his Fleet. Many were kill'd in the Action Among the Captives was Marius the Commander sent by Sertorius a Man who had but one Eye And it was Lucullus's strict Command to his Men before the Engagement that they should kill no Man who had but one Eye that he might rather die under disgrace and reproach This being over he hastned his Pursuit after Mithridates whom he hoped to find at Bithynia block'd up by Voconius whom he sent out before to Nicomedia with part of the Fleet to stop his Flight But Voconius by his mirth and jollity in Samothracia slipt out his opportunity Mithridates being pass'd by with all his Fleet who hastning into Pontus before Lucullus came up to him was nevertheless catch'd in a Storm which dispersed his Fleet and sunk several Ships The Wreck floated on all the neighbouring Shoar for many days after The Ship wherein he himself was uncapable of being brought ashoar by the Masters for its bigness rolling up and down in the Flood being heavy with Water and ready to sink he left and went aboard a Pyratical Vessel delivering himself into the hands of Pyrats and unexpectedly and wonderfully came safe to Heraclea in Pontus There hapned a generous Emulation between Lucullus and the Senate For they having decreed him 3000 Talents to furnish out a Navy he himself was against it and sent them word that without so great Supplies by the Confederate Shipping alone he did not in the least doubt but to rout Mithridates from the Sea And so he did by Assistance from above for 't is reported that Diana Priapina sent the great Tempest upon the People of Pontus because they had robbed her Temple and removed her Image When many were perswading Lucullus to go directly on he rejected their Counsel and march'd through Bithynia and Galatia to the King's Country in so great scarcity of Provision at first that thirty Thousand Galatians followed every Man carrying a Bushel of Wheat at his Back But he subduing all in his Progress before him at last arrived at so great Plenty that an Ox was sold in the Camp for a single Groat and a Slave for four The other Booty they made no account of but took and destroyed as they pleased there being no Contest among them where all were satisfied But inasmuch as they had made frequent Incursions and Advances as far as Themiscyra and the inner Thermodon and had laid waste the Country before them they began to discourse with Lucullus in good earnest Why he took so many Towns by Surrender and never an one by Storm which might enrich them with the Plunder And now forsooth leaving Amisus behind a rich and wealthy City of easie Conquest if closely besieged to carry us into the Tibarenian
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
to Tigranes but being accused of high Misdemeanors and prohibited all Commerce with his Country-men soon ended his Days Lucullus when he had established wholesome Laws and a lasting Peace in Asia did not altogether banish Pleasure and Mirth but during his residence at Ephesus gratified the Country with Sports Festival Triumphs Wrestling Games and Prizes And they in requital instituted others called Lucullian Games in honour to him thereby manifesting their real love to him which was of more value to him than all the Honour in the World But when Appius came to him and told him he must prepare for War he went again into Pontus and gathering together his Army besieged Synope or rather those of the Kings side who held it who thereupon killed most of the Synopeans and set the City on fire and by night endeavoured to escape Which when Lucullus perceived he came upon the City and killed Eight thousand of those who were left behind but to the others he restored what was their own and took special care for the Welfare of the City To which he was chiefly prompted by this Vision One seemed to come to him in his sleep and say Go on a little further Lucullus for Autolicus is coming to see Thee When he arose he could not imagine what the Vision meant The same day he took the City and as he was pursuing the Cilicians who were fled he saw a Statue lying on the Shoar which the Cilicians carried so far but had not time to carry it aboard It was one of the Master-pieces of Sthenis And one told him that it was the Statue of Autolicus the Founder of the City Which same Autolicus is reported to be Son to Dimachus and one of those who under Hercules went in the Expedition out of Thessaly against the Amazons from whence in his return with Demoleon and Phlogius he lost his Vessel on a point of the Chersonesus called Pedalion He himself with his Companions and their Weapons being saved came to Synope and dispossest the Syrians there The Syrians held it descended from Syrus as is reported the Son of Apollo and Synope the Daughter of Asopis Which as soon as Lucullus heard he remembred the saying of Sylla who positively affirms in his Memoirs That nothing is so credible and beyond dispute as what is revealed in Dreams But as soon as it was told him that Mithridates and Tigranes were just ready to transport their Forces into Lycaonia and Cilicia he much wondred why the Armenian if he had any real intention to fight with the Romans did not assist Mithridates in his flourishing condition and joyn Forces when he was fit for service but suffering him to be vanquisht and broken in pieces should now at last upon slender hopes begin the War and throw himself down headlong with them who were irrecoverably fal'n already But when Macares the Son of Mithridates and Governour of the Bosphorus sent him a Crown valued at a thousand pieces of Gold and desired to be listed a Friend and Confederate of the Romans he justly reputed that War at an end and left Sornatius his Deputy with Six thousand Souldiers to take care of the Province He himself with Twelve thousand Foot and little less than Three thousand Horse advanced to the second War But it was very plain that with two great and ill-advised speed he Marched against Warlike Nations many Thousands of Horse into a vast Champaign every way enclosed with deep Rivers and Snowy Mountains Which made the Souldiers besides the disorder of their ranks with great unwillingness and reluctancy follow him When as at the same time also the Tribunes at home publickly inveighed and declared against him as one that raised up War after War not so much for the Interest of the Republick as that he himself being still in Commission might not lay down Arms but go on enriching himself by the Publick loss These Men at last were even with him But Lucullus by long journeys came to Euphrates where finding the Waters out and rough by reason of the late Winter was much troubled for fear of a delay where danger might come on him while he procured Boats and made a Bridge of them But in the evening the flood giving and decreasing more in the night the next day they saw the River within his Banks Insomuch that the Inhabitants discovering the little Islands in the River and the Water stagnating round them a thing which had rarely hapned before worshipped Lucullus before whom the very River was humble and submissive and yielded an easie and swift passage Making use of the opportunity he carried over his Army and met with a lucky sign at landing Holy Heifers are preserved on purpose for Diana Persica whom of all the Gods the Barbarians beyond Euphrates chiefly adore They use only Heifers for her Sacrifices Which at other times wander up and down undisturbed with the Mark of the Goddess upon them shining brightness and it is no small nor easie thing when occasion requires to seize one of them But one of these when the Army had passed Euphrates coming to a Rock Consecrated to the Goddess stood upon it and then laying down her Neck like others that are forc'd down with a Rope offered her self to Lucullus for Sacrifice Besides which he offered also a Congratulatory Bull to Euphrates for his safe passage All that day he tarried there but on the next and those that followed he travelled through Sophene using no manner of Violence to those who came to him and willingly received his Army But when the Soldiers were desirous to plunder a Castle that seemed to be well stored within That is the Castle said he that we must storm shewing them Taurus at a distance there are the rewards of Triumph Wherefore hastning his March and passing the Tigris he came over into Armenia The first Messenger that gave notice of Lucullus his coming was so far from pleasing Tigranes that he had his Head cut off for his pains and no Man daring to bring farther Information without any Intelligence at all Tigranes sate fuming with Hostility and Wrath giving ear only to those who flattered him by saying That Lucullus would shew himself a greater Commander by standing before Tigranes at Ephesus than by his running away out of Asia frighted with the many Thousands that come against him He is a Man of a strong Body that can carry off a load of Wine and of a singular Constitution that can digest Felicity Mithrobarzanes one of his chief Favorites first dar'd to tell him the truth But had no more thanks for his pains than to be immediately sent out against Lucullus with Three thousand Horse and a great number of Foot with peremptory Commands to bring him alive and trample down his Army Some of Lucullus's Men were then pitching their Camp and the rest were coming up to them when the Scouts gave notice that the Enemy was approaching whereupon he was in fear lest they
The Articles being that the Garrisons and Towns taken on either side and the Prisoners should be restored and they to restore the first to whom it should fall by Lot now as Theophrastus tells us Nicias secretly purchas'd with Money the Lot for the Lacedaemonians to deliver the first Afterwards when the Corinthians and the Boeotians shewed their dislike of what was done and by their Complaints and Accusations well nigh brought back again the War upon them Nicias perswaded the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians besides the Peace to make a League offensive and defensive which would be such a tye and strength to them as should make them more Terrible to those that held out and be the firmer to each other Whilst these matters were on Foot Alcibiades who was not of an Humour to be quiet and who hated the Lacedaemonians because of their Applications to Nicias and that they attended him but overlookt and despised Alcibiades Yet from first to last he heartily opposed the Peace tho' all in vain Till some time afterwards finding that the Lacedaemonians did not altogether come up to please the Athenians but seemed to do them Injustice in having made a League offensive and defensive with the Boeotians and had not observed the Agreement so fully in the delivery of Penactus nor yet of Anthipolis he laid hold on these Occasions for his purpose and from every trifle instigated the People At the length taking aside the Ambassadours of the Argives he endeavoured to bring them over into a Confederacy with the Athenians But afterwards when the Lacedaemonian Ambassadours were come with full Powers and at their first Audience by the Council they seemed to come in all Points with just Proposals He fearing that the People would be drawn to be of their Mind Circumvented the Ambassadours topping upon them and swearing that he was ready to assist them in all things provided that they would not confess that they came with full Powers that being the only way for them to attain their Desires They being over-perswaded and decoyed from Nicias to follow him he Presented them to the Assembly and asked them presently whether or no they came in all Points with full Powers which when they denyed he contrary to their Expectation changing his Countenance called the Council to witness their Words and now bids the People Beware how they trust or transact any thing with such manifest Lyars Who now affirm this now the quite contrary of the very same thing These Plenipotentiaries as well-they might being astonisht at this and Nicias at a loss what to say being struck with Amazement and Wonder the Assembly resolved to send away immediately for the Argives to strike up a League with them But an Earth-quake which interrupted and brake the Assembly made for Nicias's advantage For the next day the People being again assembled after many Speeches and great Canvassing and Solliciting with much ado he brought it about that the Treaty with the Argives should be deferred and he be sent to the Lacedaemonians he promising that so all would go well When he arrived at Sparta they received him there as a good Man and one well-inclined towards them yet he effected nothing but overcome by them that favoured the Boeotians he returned home not only Dishonoured and hardly spoken of but likewise in fear of the Athenians who were vext and enraged that through his Perswasions they had let go so many and so considerable Persons for they who had been brought from Pylos were of the chiefest Families of Sparta and had the highest there in Place and Power for their Friends and Kindred Yet did they not in their heat proceed against him otherwise than that they chose Alcibiades their General and took the Mantineans and Eleans who had revolted from the Lacedaemonians into the League together with the Argives And sent to Pylos Free-Booters to infest Laconia whereby the War began to break out afresh But the Enmity betwixt Nicias and Alcibiades running higher and higher and the time at hand for decreeing the Ostracism or Banishment for ten Years which the People putting the Name in a Shell were wont to inflict at certain times on some Person suspected or otherwise envied for his Popularity or Wealth on which occasion very much Trouble and Danger attended them both one of them in all likelihood being to undergo this Ostracism for the People did abominate the Life of Alcibiades but stood in fear of his Boldness and Resolution as is shewn particularly in the History of him Then for Nicias his Riches made him envied and besides more especially his course of Life seemed neither Popular nor Civil but reserved unsociable and austere And now because he strongly against the Grain opposed their Inclinations forcing them against their Interest they hated him To speak plainly it was a Contest of the young Men and Soldiers of Fortune against the men of Years and Lovers of Peace they turning the Ostracism upon the one these upon the other Into Divisions when the People fall The choice oft lights on the worst Man of all As now it happened that the City distracted into two Factions preferred the most impudent and profligate Persons Amongst whom was Hyperbolus of Perithus A fellow not presuming from any Power but from his Presumption rising into Power and by the Honour he found in the City becoming the Scandal of it He at this time thought himself far enough from the Ostracism as more properly deserving the Gallows and made account that one of these men being dispatched out of the way he might be able to Bandy against the other that should be left he openly shew'd himself to rejoyce at the Dissention and stirred the People against both of them Nicias and Alcibiades perceiving his Malice did secretly combine together and setting both Interests jointly at work did prevail that neither of them both but even Hyperbolus should undergo the Ostracism This indeed at the first made sport and raised Laughter amongst the People but afterwards they took it in great Indignation as having injured the thing by so unworthy a Fellow there being a kind of Honour in this Punishment looking upon the Ostracism as a Punishment rather for Themistocles Aristides and such like Persons But for Hyperbolus 't was a Glory and a fair Pretence for him to boast when for his Villainy he suffered the same with the best Men As Plato the Comick Poet said of him He suffers what was for ill manners fit Vnfit for him unfit for branded Villains Ostracism was not meant for such as he And in Fact none ever afterwards suffered this sort of Banishment but Hyperbolus was the last Hipparchus the Cholargian who was of kin to the Tyrant was the first There is no judgment to be made of Fortune 't is not to be comprehended by reason For if Nicias had run the risk with Alcibiades whether of the two should undergo the Ostracism he had either prevailed and his Rival expelled
the City he had remained secure or being overcome he had avoided the utmost Disasters and preserved the Reputation of a most excellent Commander I am not ignorant that Theophrastus says Hyperbolus was banish'd Phaeax not Nicias contesting it with Alcibiades but most Authors differ from him When the Egestan and Leontin Ambassadors arrived and perswaded the Athenians to make War upon Sicily Nicias opposed them but was run down by the Perswasions and Ambition of Alcibiades who even before the People could be assembled entertained and corrupted them with Hopes and with Speeches insomuch that the young Men at their Sports and the old Men in their Porches and sitting together on the Benches would be drawing Maps of Sicily and making Charts describing the Seas the Harbors and Places that this Isle shews opposite to the African Shore For they made not Sicily the end of the War but the Magazine from whence they might carry it to the Carthaginians and be Masters of Africk and of all the Seas even to Hercules's Pillars Now therefore the Bulk of the People pressing this way Nicias's Party who opposed them was neither many nor of much Interest for the Men of Substance fearing lest they should seem to decline the Publick Charges and Ship money were quiet against their Inclination yet was not he tired nor gave off but when the Athenians decreed a War and chose him in the first place General together with Alcibiades and Lamachus when they were again assembled he stood up disswaded them and protested against the War and impeach'd Alcibiades charging him with going about to involve the City in Foreign Dangers and Difficulties merely out of respect to his private Lucre and Ambition Yet it came to nothing For Nicias because of his Experience was look'd upon as the fitter for the Employment his Wariness with the Bravery of Alcibiades and the mildness of Lamachus all mix'd together promis'd great Security and very much promoted the Suffrages So that Demostratus who of the leading Men chiefly press'd the Athenians to the Expedition stood up and said He would stop the Mouth of Nicias from urging any more Excuses and thereupon mov'd that the Generals might have absolute Power both at home and abroad to Order and to Act what they list And this he got pass'd into a Law However the Priests are said to have very earnestly opposed this Enterprize But Alcibiades had his Divines of another Cut who from some old Prophecies foretold the Athenians to get great renown from Sicily And certain Pilgrims came back to him from Jupiter Ammon with Oracles importing that the Athenians should take all the Syracusians They who knew any thing that boded ill concealed it lest they might seem to forespeak ill Luck for even Prodigies that were obvious and plain would not deterr them nor the defacing of the Hermae all in one Night maimed save only that one called the Herma of Andocides erected by the Aegean Tribe placed then directly before the House of Andocides nor what was perpetrated on the Altar of the twelve Gods where a certain man leapt suddenly upon the Altar and then turning round with a stone cut off his Privities Likewise at Delphos there stood a Golden Image of Minerva in a Palm-tree of Brass erected by the City of Athens for the Spoils they won from the Medes this was peckt at several days together by Crows flying upon it and they pluckt off the Fruit of the Palm-tree which was Gold and threw it down But the Athenians said these were all but Tricks of the Delphians corrupted by the Men of Syracuse And a certain Oracle requiring them to bring from Clazomene a She-priest of Minerva whom they now sent for named Hesychia that is to say Quietness hereby 't is likely the Divine Powers advised the City at this time to be quiet Whether therefore the Astrologer Meton feared these Presages or that from Humane reason he doubted the Success for he was appointed a Commander he feigning himself mad set his house on fire Others say he did not counterfeit himself mad but set his house on fire in the Night and the next Morning went into the Court in woful plight and beseeched the People in Consideration of the sad Disaster to release his Son from the Service who was about to go Captain of a Gally for Sicily Moreover the Genius of the Wise Socrates by the usual Tokens revealed all this to him and that this Expedition would prove the Ruin of the Common-wealth the which he imparted again to his Friends and Familiars and afterwards it spread about amongst the People And not a few were troubled because of the days on which the Fleet set Sail it hapning to be at that time when the Women celebrated the Funeral of Adonis there being every where then exposed to view Images of dead Men carried about with Mourning and Lamentation and Women beating their Breasts So that such as lay any stress on these Matters were extreamly troubled and feared lest that all these Warlike Preparations so Splendid and so Glorious should suddenly in a little time be blasted and come to nothing Now for Nicias in that he opposed the Voting of this Expedition and neither was puft up with Hopes nor transported with the Honour of his high Command he show'd himself Wise and a man of Constancy But when his endeavours could not divert the People from the War nor get leave himself to be discharged of the Command but the People as it were violently forced him against his Will to be their General this was no longer now a time for his mighty Caution and his Delays or for him even like a Child to look back from the Ship often repeating and reflecting over and over again how that he had not been over-ruled by Reasons thereby blunting the Courage of his Fellow-Commanders and losing the nick of time for Action VVhereas he ought presently to have rusht upon the Enemy brought the matter to an issue and thrown all upon Fortune immediately But when Lamachus had counsell'd to Sail directly to Syracuse and give the Enemy Battel under their City-Walls And Alcibiades advised to cut off their Communication with the other Towns and then to march against them Nicias dissented from them both and stiffly insisted that they should Cruise around the Island and alarm the Coasts and having Landed a small supply of men for the Egesteans return to Athens Thus he distracted their Counsels and cast down the Spirits of the men And a little while after the Athenians having called home Alcibiades in Order to his Tryal he being though joyned with another in Commission in effect the only General made now no end of Loytering of Cruising and Considering till their hopes were grown stale and all the Disorder and Consternation which the first approach and view of their Forces had cast amongst the Enemy was worn off and had left them VVhilst yet Alcibiades was with the Fleet they went before
teaching what they could remember of his Poems and others when stragling after the fight been relieved with Meat and Drink for repeating some of his Lines Nor need this be any wonder for 't is reported That a Ship of Caunus fleeing into their Harbour for Protection pursued by Pyrats was not received but forced back till one asked if they had any of Euripides's Verses who saying they had they were admitted and their Ship brought into Harbour 'T is said that the Athenians chiefly because of the Reporter cou'd not believe their loss for a certain Stranger it seems coming to Peiraeum and there sitting in a Barbers Shop and talking of what had hapned let fall some words as if the Athenians already knew all that had past which the Barber hearing before he acquainted any body else he ran in all hast up into the City applyed himself to the Archons and presently spread it all about Whereupon there being every where as may be imagin'd great Fear and Consternation the Archons summoned a general Assembly and there brought in the Man and questioned him how he came to know those things and he giving no satisfactory account was taken for a spreader of False News and one that trouble the City and was therefore fastned to the Wheel and rack't a long time till other Messengers arrived that related the whole Disaster particularly Thus at the length was Nicias believed suffering what he so often had foretold THE LIFE OF MARCUS CRASSUS Translated from the Greek by Mr. Amhurst Esq Volume III. MArcus Crassus whose Father had born the Office of a Censor and received the Honour of a Triumph was Educated in a little House together with his two Brothers who both Married in their Parents Life-time and they kept but one Table amongst them all which perhaps was not the least reason of this Man's Temperance and Moderation in Diet but one of his Brothers MARCUS CRASSUS This is y e. certain Hate of Avarice Like Dropsy Patients Crassus drinks and dys dying he Married his Widow by whom he had his Children neither was he as to this less continent than any of the Romans though when he was grown up he was suspected to have been familiar with one of the Vestal Virgins named Licinia who was nevertheless acquitted one Plotinus managing the Evidence against her Now this Licinia stood possessed of a fair Country Seat which Crassus desiring to purchase at under-rate he was always lying at her and attending of her and this gave occasion to the Scandal but he likewise was acquitted his Avarice in some measure clearing him of Incest but however he never left the Lady till he had got her Estate People were wont to say That all the many Vertues of Crassus were darkned by this one Vice of Avarice and indeed he seemed to have no other but that for it being the most predominant obscured the other Vices to which he was inclined and the Arguments they alledged were the vastness of his Estate and the manner of raising it for whereas at first he was not worth above 300 Talents yet being entered upon Administration of Affairs though he had Sacrific'd the Tenths of all he had to Hercules and feasted the People and gave to every Citizen Corn enough to serve him Three Months yet upon casting up his Accounts before he went upon his Parthian Expedition he found them amount to Seventy thousand Talents most of which if we may scandal him with a Truth he got by Fire and Rapine making his advantages of the Publick Calamities for when Sylla seized the City and exposed to sale the Goods of those that he had caused to be slain accounting them Booty and Spoyls and calling them so too and being willing to make as many of the most substantial Citizens as he could partakers in the Crime Crassus never was the man that refused to accept or give money for them Moreover observing how extreamly subject the City was to fire and falling down of Houses by reason of their height and standing so near together he bought Slaves that were Builders and Architects and when he had got to the number of 500 he bought the Houses that were on fire and those in the Neighbourhood which by reason of the present danger and uncertainty the old Proprietors were willing to part with for little or nothing so that the greatest part of Rome at one time or other came into his hands Yet for all he had so many Workmen he never built any thing but his own House because said he those that are addicted to Building will undo themselves soon enough without the help of other Enemies but hired his Servants out to Citizens that had a mind to build and sold 'em as much Ground as they had need of But although he had so much ready Cash and rich Land and Labourers to work in it yet all this was nothing in Comparison of his Servants So many and so excellent Lecturers Amanuenses Silver-Smiths Stewards and Table-waiters and he always stood over them to inspect and teach them himself accounting it the Duty of a Master to look over the Servants that are indeed the living tools of House-keeping and herein he was in the right if he spoke as he meant that the Servants ought to look after all other things and the Master after them For Oeconomy which in things Inanimate is but good Huswifery in men becomes Policy but surely he was mistaken when he said No man was to be accounted Rich that could not maintain an Army at his own Cost and Charges for War as Archidamas well observed has no certain Allowance the charge of which is indefinite and he was clear of another opinion than C. Marcus for he when he had distributed fourteen Acres of Land a Man and understanding that some desired more God forbid says he that any Roman should think that too little which is enough to keep him alive and lusty but however Crassus was very hospitable to Strangers for he kept open House and to his Friends he would lend Money Interest-free but he called it in precisely at the time so that his Kindness was worse than the paying the Interest would have been As for his Entertainments they were very frank and courteous his Company generally of the middle sort the neatness and contrivance of them looking better than if they had been more Magnificent As for Learning he chiefly minded Rhetorick and such Studies as might accomplish most for Publick Employments for although he was naturally as good a Spokesman as almost any of them yet in his Pains and Industry he surpassed them all for there was no Trial how mean and contemptible soever that he came to unprepared nay several times he has gone through with a Cause when Pompey and Caesar and Tully himself have refused to stand up upon which account particularly he got the Love of the People who looked upon him as a necessary Man and one ready to do a good
and scraping man in the World yet he ever hated and railed at such People It troubled him to see Pompey so successfull in all his Undertakings that he had rode in Triumph before he was capable to sit in the Senate and that the People had sirnamed him the Great and when some body was saying Pompey the Great was coming he smiled and asked him Why how big is he despairing therefore to equal him by Feats of Arms he betook himself to the long Robe when by doing kindnesses pleading lending money by standing by and voting for those that stood for Offices he arrived at as great Honour and Power as Pompey had from his many famous Expeditions and this was peculiar to them Pompey's name and interest in the City was greatest when he was absent for his Renown in War but when present he was often less esteemed than Crassus by reason of his superciliousness and haughty way of living shunning mean Company and appearing rarely at the Forum assisting only some few and that not readily that his Interest might be the stronger when he came to use it for himself whereas Crassus being a Friend always at hand ready and easie of access and very well experienced in these Affairs with his Freedom and Courtesie got the better of Pompey's Formality As for the Gracefulness of Body Eloquence of their Discourse and Dignity of their Persons they were equally excellent But however this Emulation never transported him so far as to quarrel him or bear him any ill will for though he was grieved to see Pompey and Caesar preferred to him yet he never added Baseness to his Jealousie though Caesar when he was taken Captive by the Corsairs in Asia cried out O Crassus how wilt thou rejoice at the News of my Captivity Though afterwards they lived friendly together For when Caesar was going Praetor into Spain and wanting Money his Creditors fell upon him and seized upon his Equipage Crassus then stood by him and relieved him and was his Bail for 830 Talents now the City of Rome being divided into three Factions of Pompey Caesar and Crassus for as for Cato his Fame was greater than his Power being rather admired than followed the sober and substantial part were for Pompey the brisk and hot headed followed Caesar's Ambition but Crassus trimmed between them making advantages of both and caused a great alteration in the Government of the City being neither a trusty Friend nor implacable Enemy and was easily angred or appeased according as he found it for his advantage so that in a small time he would assert and decry the same Laws and the same men but though he was so much favoured he was more feared so that Sicinius who was the greatest Teizer of the Magistrates and Ministers of his time being ask'd how chanc'd he let Crassus alone Oh says he he carries Hay on his horns alluded to the custom of tying Hay to the Horns of a Bull that used to Butt that People might avoid him Now the Insurrection of the Gladiators and the Desolation of Italy which many call the Sparteceian War began upon this occasion One Lentulus Batiatus trained up a great many Gladiators in Capua many of which were Gauls and Thracians who not for any fault by them committed but by the injustice of their Master were compell'd often to fight one with another Two hundred of these consulted how to escape but their Plot being discovered they who first perceived it for preventions sake being seventy eight got out of a Cooks shop chopping-knives Spits c. and made their way through the City and lighting by the way on several Waggons that were carrying Gladiators Arms to another City they seized upon them and Armed themselves and seizing upon a defensible place they chose three Captains of which Spartacus was chief a Thracian Shepherd a Man not only of an high Spirit and valiant but more understanding and courteous than could be expected from one of his condition and more Civiliz'd than the People of that Country usually are When he first came to be sold at Rome they say a Snake twined about his Face as he lay asleep and his Wife who also accompanied him his Country-Women a kind of Prophetess and inspired by Bacchus declared that it was a great and terrible sign portending great Power to him with an happy event First then routing those that came out of Capua against them and seizing upon their Arms they gladly threw away their own as barbarous and dishonourable afterwards Clodius the Praetor was Commanded against them with a Party of three thousand who besieged them within a Mountain which had but one narrow and Difficult passage which Clodius kept guarded encompassed with broken and slippery precipices but upon the top grew a great many wild Vines they cut down as many of their boughs as they had need of and twisted them into Ladders that would reach from thence to the Bottom by which without any danger they got down all but one who stayed there only to throw them down their Arms and after all he saved himself Now the Romans were ignorant of all this wherefore coming upon their backs they assaulted them at unwares took their Camp and several of the Shepherds and Herdsmen that were there stout nimble fellows revolted over to them these they Armed and made use of them for Scouts and light Armed Soldiers Again Publius Varinus is sent General against them whose Lieutenant General Phrurius with two thousand Men they fought and routed Then Cossinius Collegue to Varinus was sent with considerable Forces him Spartacus missed but very little of taking as he was Bathing at Salenae for he with great difficulty made his escape but Spartacus possessed himself of his Baggage and following the chase with a great slaughter stormed his Camp and took it where Cossinius himself was slain nay after many Skirmishes with the Praetor himself and in one taking Prisoners his Lictors and his own Horse he began to be great and terrible wisely therefore considering that he was not to expect to match the Force of the Empire he marched his Army towards the Alps intending when he had passed them that every Man should go to his own home some to Thrace some to Gaul c. but they being grown confident in their numbers and puffed up with their Success would give no Obedience to him but with Excursions ravaged Italy so that now the Senate was not only moved at the Indignity and Baseness both of the Enemy and of the Insurrection but looking upon it as of dangerous Consequence both the Consuls are sent to it as to a great and difficult Enterprize and Consul Gellius falling suddenly upon a Party of Germans who through Contempt and Confidence were stragled from Spartacus fell upon them on a sudden and cut them all to pieces But Lentulus with a mighty Army besieging Spartacus he sallied upon him and joyning Battel took his chief Officers Prisoners and made himself Master of
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
body else but those that exhorted him to proceed nor did Artabaces King of Armenia confirm him a little who came to his aid with 6000 Horse these were said to be only the King's Life-guard for he promised 10000 Curiassiers more and 30000 Foot at his own Charges he perswaded Crassus to invade Parthia by the way of Armenia for he would not only supply his Army with Forage but his Passage would be more secure by reason of the roughness of the Country and a continued Chain of Mountains which were almost impassable to Horse in which the main strength of the Parthians consisted Crassus returned him but cold thanks for his readiness to serve him and the Splendour of his Assistance and told him he was resolved to pass through Mesopotamia where he had left a great many brave Roman Soldiers whereupon the Armenian went his way As Crassus was passing his Army by Zeugma many strange and supernatural Thunders were heard and the Lightning flashed upon the Army and during the Storm a Hurricane broke down the Bridge and carried part of it away and two Thunderbolts fell upon the very place where the Army was going to Encamp and one of the General 's Horses famously caparison'd broke from the Groom leap'd into the River and was seen no more and when they went to take up the great Standard the Eagle turned its head backward and after he had passed over his Army as they were distributing Provisions they first gave Lentils and Salt which the Romans account ominous being what is set before the dead And as Crassus was haranging his Soldiers he let fall a Word which struck a great terror in the Army for said he I will break down the Bridge that none of you may return and whereas he ought when he had perceived his blunder to have corrected himself and explained his meaning to those that were so concerned at it he wou'd not do it out of meer stubbornness and when at the last general Sacrifice the Priest gave him the Entrails they slipt out of his hand and when he saw the standers by concerned at it he laught and said See what 't is to be an old Man but I 'll hold my Sword fast enough so marching his Army along the River with seven Legions little less than 4000 Horse and as many light armed Soldiers the Scouts returning declaring that not one Man appeared but that they saw the footing of a great many Horses which seemed to retire and fly whereupon Crassus conceived great hopes and the Romans began to despise the Parthians as men that would not come to handy-strokes but Cassius and the rest advised him to refresh his Army in some of the Garrison Towns and remain there till they could get some certain Intelligence of the Enemy at least to make toward Seleucia and keep by the River that so they might have the convenience of Ships to bring him Provisions which might always accompany the Army and the River would secure them from being environed and if they should fight it might be upon equal terms As Crassus was considering hereupon there came to the Camp an Arabian Tribune named Ariamnes a cunning subtle Fellow and one which was the chief cause of all the misfortune that befell them some of Pompey's old Soldiers knew him for he had serv'd with them under him and had received some Kindnesses of him and was looked upon as a Friend to the Romans but was now suborned by the King's Officers and sent to Crassus to entice him if possible from the River and Hills into the Plain where he might be surrounded for the Parthians desired any thing rather than to be obliged to meet the Romans face to face he therefore coming to Crassus and he had his Tongue well hung highly commended Pompey as his Benefactor and admired the Forces that Crassus had with him but seemed to wonder why he delayed and made Preparations as if he should not use his Feet more than his Arms against those Men that taking with them their best Goods and Chattels had designed long ago to fly for refuge to the Scythians or Hyrcanians but supposing they were to fight at least he ought to make what hast he could before the King could recover Courage and get his Forces together for you see Surena and Syllaces are opposed to you to hinder your further progress but the King himself does not appear but this was all a Lye for Hyrodes had divided his Army into two parts with one he in Person wasted Armenia revenging himself upon Artuasdes and sent Surena against the Romans not out of Contempt as some pretend for there is no likelihood that he should despise Crassus one of the Chiefest men of Rome to go and fight with Artuasdes and invade Armenia but for my part I believe he apprehended the danger and therefore he expected the Event and that Surena should first run the hazard of a Battel and circumvent the Enemy Nor was this Surena an ordinary Person but for Wealth Family and Authority the second man in the Kingdom but for Courage and Prowess he was the first neither was any one so large sized or so well shaped whenever he travelled alone he had 1000 Camels to carry his Baggage 200 Chariots full of Concubines 1000 compleatly Arm'd men for his Life-Guards and a great many more light Arm'd and at least 10000 of his Servants and Retinue and the Honour had long belonged to his Family that at the King's Coronation he put the Crown upon his Head and when this very King Hyrodes had been exiled he brought him in 't was he that took the great City of Seleucia was the first Man that scaled the Walls and with his own hand beat off the Defendants and though at that time he was not above 30 years old he was counted as wise and discreet wherein he had much the advantage of Crassus who was easy to be imposed upon first through his overweening confidence and afterwards because he was dastarded and cow'd by his Calamities When Ariamnes had thus work'd upon him he drew him from the Rivers into vast Plains by a way that at first was pleasant and easie but afterwards very troublesome by reason of the depth of the Sand not a Tree not any Water and no end of this to be seen so that they were not only spent with thirst and the difficulty of the passage but the uncomfortable Prospect of not a bough not a stream not a hillock not a green herb dismayed them quite but an odd kind of a Sea of Sand which encompassed the Army with its Waves Here they began to suspect some Treachery and at the same time came Messengers from Artuasdes that he was engaged in a bloody War with Hyrodes that had invaded his Country so that now 't was impossible for him to send him any succours Wherefore he advised Crassus to turn back and with joynt Forces to give Hyrodes Battle or at least that he should so March
and testimonies of their Valour but often lay aside their Chains of Gold their Spears and Crowns whereas his Ensigns of Honour and the Manifestations of his noble Courage always remained with him and those who beheld his Scars and Misfortunes admired at the same time his undaunted Prowess and Magnanimity the People also paid him due Respect and honoured him suitably to his Merit and when he came into the Theatre they applauded him and received him with clapping their hands beating their feet against the Seats and with joyful Acclamations which sort of Applause was not easily obtained even by Persons who were more venerable in respect of their Age and of greater Dignity in the Common-Wealth Notwithstanding this Popularity when he stood to be Tribune of the People he was disappointed and lost the place being oppos'd by a Party stirred up by Sylla which seems to be the principal cause of their inveterate irreconcileable hatred After that Marius was overcome by Sylla and fled into Africa and that Sylla had left Italy to go to the Wars against Mithridates that of the two Consuls Octavius and Cinna Octavius remained stedfast to the Designs of Sylla but Cinna affecting Innovations attempted to recall the lost Interest of Marius and to set up a Party again that was declined and trodden under foot Sertorius adhered to Cinna perceiving that Octavius was somewhat heavy could not distinguish of the worth of a Man and was also suspicious of any one that was a Friend to Marius When the Battel was fought between the two Consuls in the Market-Place Octavius overcame and Cinna and Sertorius having lost not less than ten thousand Men left the City and persuading the Soldiers who were dispersed about and gaining those who remained still in many parts of Italy they united their Forces and in a short time mustered up a Party against Octavius sufficient to give him Battel again and Marius coming by Sea out of Africa proffered himself to serve under Cinna as a private Soldier under his Consul and Commander Most were for the speedy Reception of Marius but Sertorius openly declared against it and whether he thought that Cinna did not herein consult his own Interest and that his Greatness would be diminished by the presence of a Person of greater Splendour and Authority or whether he feared that the violence of Marius would bring all things to Consusion and that by his boundless Wrath and Vengeance after Victory he would go beyond all the Rules and Limits of Justice he insisted upon it with Cinna alledging that they were already Victorious that there remained little to be done and that if they admitted Marius he would not only deprive them of the Glory and Aduantage of the War but would also prove a very uneasie and unfaithful sharer in the Government To which Cinna answered That he had rightly computed these affairs but that he himself was at a loss and ashamed and knew not how to reject him whom he sent for to be Partner in all his Concerns To which Sertorius replied That he thought Marius came into Italy of his own accord and therefore he deliberated what might be most expedient but that it was not fair for Cinna to consult whether he should accept of him whom he had already vouchsafed to invite but should honourably receive and employ him for his word once past left no room for debate and his promise being sacred ought never to be disputed Marius being sent for by Cinna and their Forces being divided into three parts under Cinna Marius and Sertorius the War was carried on successfully but those about Cinna and Marius committing all manner of Insolence Severity and Rapine made it evident to the Romans that the Original and chief inducement to these Wars was Booty and Plunder but on the contrary it is reported of Sertorius that he never slew Man in his Anger to satisfie his own private Revenge nor never insulted over any one whom he had overcome but was much offended with the inhumane Rigour of Marius and would often converse privately with Cinna and entreat him to mitigate his Fury and to use his Power more moderately in the end when the Slaves whom Marius had freed at his landing to increase his Army being made not only his fellow-Soldiers in the War but also his Guard and the Executioners of his Tyrannical Cruelty became strong and numerous and either by the Command or Permission of Marius had contrary to all Law forcibly oppressed their Masters slain their Lords ravished their Ladies and forced and abused their Children their Crimes appeared so intolerable to Sertorius that he slew no less than four thousand of them upon the place commanding his Soldiers to strike their Darts through the Bodies of them all as they lay encamped together Afterwards when Marius was dead and Cinna was slain when the younger Marius had usurped the supreme Authority and made himself Consul against the mind of Sertorius and the known Laws of Rome When Carbo Norbanus and Scipio had fought unsuccessfully and made but small resistance against the fortunate Arms of Sylla returning victoriously from the Wars with Mithridates and Fimbria when much was lost by the softness and effeminate remissness of the Commanders but more destroyed by the treachery of their own Party when their Affairs were so miserably shattered and born down that they were not able to be supported even by the presence of Sertorius and that he was able to do little by reason that those who had the greatest Command and Authority were persons of no great Prudence or Conduct in the end when Sylla had placed his Camp near to Scipio and by pretending friendship and putting him in hopes of a good Peace had corrupted his Army and Scipio could not be made sensible thereof although often foretold and forewarned of it by Sertorius he utterly despaired of the prosperity of Rome and made haste into Spain that by taking possession thereof before-hand he might establish his Power in a Country which would be a resuge to his Friends and a support to his declining party But having bad weather in his journey and travelling through Mountainous Countries and the Inhabitants stopping the way and demanding a Toll and Money for passage those who were with him were out of all patience and highly aggravating in their discourses the indignity and shame it would be for a Proconsul of Rome to pay Tribute to a Crew of wretched Barbarians he little regarded their censure but slighting that which had only the appearance of an undecency told them he must buy time the most precious of all things to those who go upon great Enterprizes and pacifying the barbarous People with Money he hastned his journey and took possession of Spain a Country flourishing and populous abounding with lusty young Men fit to bear Arms but by reason of the Insolency and covetousness of the Commanders sent thither yearly from Rome they had generally an aversion
him What evil Genius would he often say hurries us perpetually from worse to worse and we who disdained to obey the Dictates of Sylla the great Ruler of Sea and Land and might have lived at home in Peace and Quiet are come hither to our destruction hoping to enjoy Liberty where most wretchedly we have made our selves Slaves of our own accord and are become the contemptible Guards and Attendants of the banished Sertorias who that he may expose us the further gives us a name that renders us ridiculous to all that hear it and calls us the Senate when at the same time he makes us undergo more hard Labour and forces us to be more subject to his haughty Commands and Insolencies than the poor Spaniards and Lusitanians With these mutinous Discourses he continually seduced them and many who could not be brought to fall into Rebellion openly against Sertorius fearing his great Power and Authority were prevailed with to endeavour to destroy his Interest secretly and by many ways to ruin his Affairs For by abusing the Lusitanians and Spaniards by inflicting severe Punishments upon them by raising exorbitant Taxes and by pretending that all this was done by the strict Command of Sertorius they caused great Troubles and made many Cities to revolt and those who were sent to mitigate and heal these Differences did rather exasperate them and encrease the Number of his Enemies and left them at their return more obstinate and rebellious than they found them Which so highly incensed Sertorius and caused so great an alteration in his former Clemency and Goodness towards the Spaniards Sons educated in the great City of Osca that coontrary to all Civil Justicie he cruelly put some of them to Death and sold others In the mean time Perpenna having encreased the Number of his Conspirators drew in Manlius a Commander in the Army who at that time loved a Youth and to endear him the more discovered the Confederacy to him perswading him to neglect his other Lovers and to be constant to him alone who in a few days was to be a person of great Power and Authority but the Youth having a greater Inclination for Aufidius disclosed all to him which much surprized and amazed him for he was also one of the Confederacy but knew not that Manlius was any ways engaged therein but when the Youth began to name Perpenna Gracinus and others which he knew very well were sworn Conspirators he was very much terrified and astonished but made slight of it to the youth and bid him not regard what Manlius said a vain boasting fellow but however went presently to Perpenna and giving him notice of the danger they were in and of the shortness of their time desired him immediately to put their designs in Execution and when all the Confederates had consented to it they provided a Messenger who brought feigned Letters to Sertorius in which he had notice of a Victory obtained by one of his Lieutenants and of the great slaughter of his Enemies and as Sertorius being extreamly well pleased was Sacrificing and giving thanks to the Gods for his prosperous Success Perpenna invited him and those with him who were also of the Conspiracy to an Entertainment and being very importunate prevailed with him to come At all Suppers and Entertainments where Sertorius was present great Order and Decency was wont to be observed for he would not endure to hear or see any thing that was rude or unhandsome and their Freedom and Mirth was Modest and Inoffensive but in the middle of this Entertainment those who sought occasion to quarrel fell into dissolute Discourses openly and making as if they were very Drunk committed many Insolencies on purpose to provoke him and Sertorius being Offended with their ill behaviour or perceiving the unquietness of their Minds by their muttering and sudden disrespect changed the posture of his lying and leaned backward as one that neither heard nor regarded them When Perpenna took a Cup full of Wine and as he was drinking let it fall out of his hand and made a noise which was the sign agreed on between them and Antonius who was next to Sertorius immediately wounded him with his Sword and whilst Sertorius upon receiving the Wound turned himself and strove to get up Antonius threw himself upon his Breast and held both his hands whereby not being able to free himself he was exposed to the fury of the rest of the Confederates who killed him upon the place with many Wounds Upon the first News of his Death most of the Spaniards left the Conspirators and sent Embassadors to Pompey and Metellus and yielded themselves up to them Perpenna attempted to do something with those that remained but he made so ill use of Sertorius's Arms and Preparations for War that he soon made it evident to all that he understood no more how to Command than he knew how to Obey and when he came against Pompey he was soon overthrown and taken Prisoner neither did he bear this last affliction with any bravery of Mind but having torius's Papers and Writings in his hands he offered to shew Pompey Letters from Persons of Consular Dignity and of the highest Quality in Rome written with their own hands expresly to call Sertorius into Italy and to let him know what great Numbers there were that did earnestly desire to alter the present State of Affairs and to introduce another manner of Government Upon this occasion Pompey behaved himself not like a young Man or one of a light inconsiderate Mind but as a Generous Commander of a confirmed mature solid Judgment whereby he freed Rome from great Fears and Innovations for he put all Sertorius's Writings together and read not one of them nor suffered any one else to read them but burnt them all and caused Perpenna immediately to be put to Death lest by discovering their Names further Troubles and Revolutions might ensue Of the rest of the Conspirators with Perpenna some of them were taken and slain by the Command of Pompey others fled into Africa and were set upon by the Moors and run through with their Darts and in a short time not one of them was left alive except only Aufidius the Rival of Manlius who hiding himself or not being much enquired after dyed an Old Man in an obscure Village in Spain in extreme Poverty and hated by all The Comparison of Sertorius with Eumenes THese are the most Remarkable Passages that are come to our knowledge concerning Eumenes and Sertorius In comparing their Lives we may observe that this was common to them both that being Aliens Strangers and banished Men they came to be Commanders of Powerful Forces and had the leading of Numerous and Warlike Armies made up of divers Nations This was peculiar to Sertorius that the Chief Command was by his whole Party freely yielded to him as to the Person undoubtedly of the greatest merit and of the highest Worth and Renown whereas many
Hiempsal King of Numidia often changing his Designs treated young Marius and those that were with him very honourably but when they had a mind to depart he still had some pretence or other to detain them and it was manifest he made these delays upon no good designs however there hap'ned a strange accident as it sometimes falls out that made well for their preservation The hard Fortune which still attended young Marius who was of a very comely Aspect nearly touched one of the King's Concubines and this pity of hers was the beginning and pretence for her Love At first he declined the Woman's sollicitations but when he perceived that there was no other way of escaping and that she caressed him with greater kindness than one that designed only the gratifying her sensuality he complied with her Love and being thereupon set at liberty by her he escaped with his Friends and fled to his Father Marius As soon as they had saluted each other and were going by the Sea-side they saw some Scorpions fighting which Marius took for an ill Omen whereupon they immediately went on board a little Fisher-boat and made toward Cercina an Island not far distant from the Continent They had scarce put off from Shore when they escaped some Horse sent after them by the King with all speed making toward that very place from which they were just retired so that Marius thought that in all his Life he had never escaped a greater danger 69. At Rome it was discovered that Sylla was engaged with Mithridates's Generals near Baeotia whilst the Consuls from a Tumult were fallen to down-right fighting wherein Octavius prevailing drove Cinna out of the City for affecting a Tyrannical Government and made Cornelius Merule Consul in his stead but Cinna raising Forces in all Parts of Italy carried on the War against them As soon as Marius heard of this he resolved with all expedition to put to Sea again and having leavied in Africk some Maurusian Horse and a few others that came to him out of Italy which all together were not above 1000 he with this handful began his Voyage Arriving at Telamone an Haven in Hetruria and coming ashore he made several of the Slaves free many of the Country-men also and Shepherds thereabouts that were already Freemen at the hearing his name came flocking to him to the Sea-side he perswaded the most warlike of them and in a small time got together a competent Army wherewith he filled forty Ships Now he knowing Octavius to be a very good man and willing to execute his Office with the greatest Justice imaginable and Cinna to be suspected by Sylla and then in actual War against the established Government determined to join himself and all his Forces with the latter he therefore sent a Message to him to let him know that he submitted himself to him as Consul in whatsoever he should command him 70. When Cinna had very joyfully received him calling him Proconsul and sending him the Fasces and other Ensigns of Authority he said that Grandeur did not become his present Fortune but wearing an ordinary Habit and letting his hair grow from that very day he first went to banishment and being now above threescore and ten years old he came slowly on foot as designing to move Peoples compassion thus his naturally rough Aspect became more so when joined with his nasty Garb which yet did not make him appear as though his mind were dejected but exasperated by the change of his condition Having performed his Ceremonies to Cinna and saluted the Soldiers he immediately prepared for War and soon made a considerable alteration in the posture of Affairs He first cut off all Provision from the Enemies Ships and plundering all the Traders possessed himself of their Stores then bringing his Navy to the Sea-port Towns took them and at last treacherously became Master of Ostia too pillaged the Town and slew a Multitude of the Inhabitants and making a Bridge over the River he took from the Enemy all hopes of Supply from the Sea then marched with his Army toward the City and posted himself upon the Hill called Janiculum 71. The Publick Interest did not receive so great damage from Octavius's unskilfulness in his management of Affairs as from his omitting what was necessary through his too strict observance of the Law for he when several advised him to make the Slaves free said That he would not commit the protection of his Country to Servants from which he then in defence of the Laws was driving away Marius When Metellus Son to that Metellus who was general in the War in Africk and afterwards banished through Marius's means came to Rome and was esteemed to be a much better Commander than Octavius the Soldiers deserting the Consul came to him and desired him to take the Command of them and preserve the City that they when they had got an experienced valiant Commander should fight courageously and come off Conquerors But Metellus offended at it commanded them angrily to return to the Consul whereupon for very spight they revolted to the Enemy Metellus too seeing the City in a desperate condition left it but a Company of Chaldeans Priests and Interpreters of the Sibyls Books perswaded Octavius that things were in a good condition and kept him at Rome Now he was a man of all the Romans the most upright and just one that kept up even the Formalities of the Law inviolable in his Consulship but fell I know not how into some weaknesses giving more observance to Impostors and Diviners than to men skilled in Civil and Military Affairs He therefore before Marius entred the City was pulled down from the Rostra and murthered by those that were sent before by Marius and it is reported there was a Chaldean Inscription found on his breast when he was slain Now it is a thing very unaccountable that of two such Famous Generals Marius should be often preserved by the observing Divinations and Octavius ruined by the same means 72. Whilst Affairs remained in this posture the Senate assembled and sent Ambassadors to Cinna and Marius desiring them to come into the City peaceably and spair the Citizens Cinna as Consul received the Embassy sitting in the Sella Curulis and returned a kind obliging answer to the Messengers Marius stood by him and said nothing but gave sufficient testimony by the sowreness of his Countenance and the sternness of his Looks that he would in a short time fill the City with Massacres As soon as the Council arose they went toward the City where Cinna with a strong Guard entred but Marius stay'd at the Gates and dissembling his Rage said That he was then an Exile and banished his Country by course of Law That if his Presence were necessary they must by a new Decree repeal the former Act by which he was banished as if he had been a religious observer of the Laws and as if he
entred into a City free from fear or oppression Hereupon the People were assembled but before three or four Tribes had given their Votes he throwing off his Mask and Pretences of the Justice of his Banishment came into the City with a select Guard of Slaves which came in to him whom he called Bardiaei Those Fellows by his Orders murthered a great company at his express Command and as many at his private beck At length Aucharius a Senator and one that had been Pretor coming to Marius but not being resaluted by him they with their drawn Swords slew him before Marius's Face and henceforth this was their token immediately to kill all those who met Marius and saluted him were taken no notice of or not answered with the like Courtesie so that his very Friends were not without dreadful apprehensions and horrour whensoever they came to attend him 73. When they had now butchered a great number Cinna grew more remiss and cloy'd with Murders but Marius's rage was still fresh and unsatisfied and he daily fought for all that were any way suspected by him Now was every street and every corner of the City filled with those that pursued and haunted them that fled and hid themselves and it was remarkable that there was no more confidence to be placed as things stood either in Hospitality or Friendship for there were found but a very few that did not betray those that fled to them for shelter Wherefore the Servants of Cornutus deserve the greater praise and admiration who having concealed their Master in the House took a body of one of the slain cut off the head put a Gold ring on the Finger and shewed it to Marius's Guards and buried it with the same Solemnity as if it had been their own Master This trick was perceived by no body but so Cornutus escaped and was conveyed by his Domesticks into Gallia 74. Marcus Antonius the Orator though he too found a true Friend had ill Fortune The man was but poor and a Plebeian who entertaining a man of the greatest rank in Rome and kindly furnishing him with what he had sent his Servant to get some Wine of a neighbouring Vintner the Servant carefully tasting it and bidding him draw better the Fellow asked him what was the matter that he did not buy new and ordinary Wine as he used to do but richer and of a greater price he without any design told him as his Croney and Acquaintance that his Master entertained Marcus Antonius whom he concealed The villainous Vintner as soon as the Servant was gone went himself to Marius then at Supper and being brought into his Presence told him he would deliver Antonius into his hands as soon as he heard it it is said he gave a great shout and clapped his hands for joy and had very nigh rose up and gone to the place himself but being detained by his Friends he sent Annius and some Soldiers with him and commanded him to bring Antonius's head to him with all speed Now when they came to the House Annius stay'd at the door and the Soldiers went up stairs into the Chamber where seeing Antonius they endeavoured to shuffle off the Murther from one to another for so great it seems were the Graces and Charms of his Oratory that as soon as he began to speak and beg his Life none of them durst touch or so much as look upon him but hanging down their heads every one fell a weeping When their stay seemed something tedious Annius followed after saw Antonius discoursing and the Soldiers astonished and quite softned by it for which he checked them severely and went himself and cut off his head 75. Catulus Lutatius who was Collegue with Marius and his Partner in the Triumph over the Cimbri when Marius had told those that interceded for him and begged his life that he must die shut himself up in a room and making a great fire smothered himself When maimed and headless Carcasses were now frequently thrown about and trampled upon in the streets People were not so much moved with compassion at the sight as struck into a kind of Horrour and consternation The outrages of those that were called Bardiaei was the greatest grievance imaginable for they murthered those that had been their Masters in their own Houses abused their Children and ravished their Wives and were uncontrolable in their Rapine and Murthers till those of Cinna's and Sertorius's Party taking Counsel together fell upon them in the Camp and killed them every man 76. In the interim as by a certain turn of Fortune there came News from all Parts that Sylla having put an end to the War with Mithridates and taken possession of the Provinces was returning into Italy with a great Army This gave some small respit and intermission to these unspeakable Calamities when they thought that a War threatned them whereupon Marius was chosen Consul the Seventh time and appearing on the very Calends of January the beginning of the Year he threw one Sextus Lucinus from the Tarpejan Precipice which was no small Omen of approaching miseries both to their Party and the City Marius himself now worn out with Labour and sinking under the burthen of his Cares could not bear up his Spirits flagging with the apprehension of a New War and fresh Encounters and Dangers which he had by his own experience found formerly very troublesome He considered too that he was not now to hazard the War with Octavius or Merula commanding the unexperienced Multitude or seditious Rabble but that Sylla himself was approaching the same who had formerly banished him and since that driven Mithridates as far as the Euxine Sea 77. Perplexed with such thoughts as these and calling to mind his Banishment the tedious wanderings and dangers he underwent both by Sea and Land he fell into great Troubles nocturnal Frights and unquiet Sleep still fancying that he heard some telling him That the Den though of an absent Lion is dreadful above all things fearing to lie awake he gave himself over to drinking and sotting at Nights very unagreeable to his Age by all means provoking Sleep as a diversion to his Thoughts At length there came an express Messenger from the Sea giving him such an account of Affairs as overcharged him with fresh Cares and Frights so that what with his fear for the future and what with the weight and tediousness of the present having some small disposition to it he fell into a Plurisie as Possidonius the Philosopher relates who says he went to and discoursed with him when he was sick about some business relating to his Embassy One Cajus Piso an Historian tells us that Marius walking after Supper with his Friends when they fell into a discourse about his concerns and reckoned up the several changes of his Condition that from the beginning had happ'ned to him he said that it did not become a prudent man to trust himself any longer