followed But when they were on the right hand of the Tower Hanno with a few of his people having already taken the way towards Utica a part of those who lay in Ambush appeared which gave opportunity to Masanissa to advise him whom Hanno had left to command the Carthaginian horse to charge as if the Enemy had been but an inconsiderable number and he himself followed under pretence of seconding him The Africans hereupon advancing the rest of the Ambush appeared and now were these unfortunate people enclosed on all sides and as well by the Romans as by Masanissa himself cut all in pieces save only four hundred which were taken Prisoners After this defeat he posts after Hanno and coming up him as if he had been his friend arrests him and carries him prisoner into Scipio's Camp and afterwards exchanged him for his Mother who was in Asdrubal's hands After that Scipio and Masanissa were joyned together they pillaged the whole Country and delivered from bondage those Romans which they found in Fetters destined to toyl and slavery and who had been sent thither by Hannibal from Spain Sicily and even from Italy it self Afterwards they laid Siege before a great City called Locha where they found great difficulties yet at length it hapned that as they were bringing the Ladders to the Walls resolved to take it by Storm the inhabitants by a Herauld demanded that they might have permission to march out of the Town with their Arms and Baggage whereupon Scipio caused the Retreat to be founded But the Souldiers angred at the miseries they had undergone in the siege would not obey but scaled the walls killing all they met with and sparing neither sex nor age The General sent away without ransom all that were saved and as a punishment of their disobedience he took away all the plunder from the Souldiers and caused those Officers were the cause of it to cast Lots for their lives in the sight of the whole Army of whom three only he condemned to death to whom fortune was not favorable Being returned again to wast the Country Asdrubal laid a plot to surprize him and to effect it gave Order to Mago who Commanded his horse to charge him in the Front whilst he another way fell in upon the Rear The Romans finding themselves thus engaged in the midst of their Enemies divided their Army likewise into two parts and Scipio and Masanissa commanding each their body cut in pieces five thousand Africans took eighteen hundred Prisoners and pursued the rest so close that many of them tumbled headlong down the steep Rocks Some days after Scipio besieged Utica by Sea and by Land and having joyned two Gallies together built Towers upon them from whence he cast into the City Darts and Stones Thus he did some damage to the inhabitants but he received likewise by the loss of some ships Mean while in the Siege by land they raised great platforms near the walls on which they planted batteries and with great hooks strove to pull down the rampire The inhabitants on the other side undermined the besiegers works by passages under ground tumbling them down as fast as they raised them they twined aside the hooks with Ropes so that they could take no effect they opposed to the Rams great Timbers or Booms which received the blow without endamaging the walls and when the wind blew towards the Engines they darted out fire-brands to burn them Insomuch that Scipio out of hopes to take the City by this way of fighting resolved to carry it by assault when Syphax having intelligence of his design advances his Army and encamps near Asdrubal He declares himself a friend to both parties But it was only to gain so much time till those other Ships then building for the Carthaginians were in a readiness and the Souldiers raised in Gaul and Liguria arrived He would likewise have become a Mediator between the two Estates and proposed a Treaty the Conditions of which were that the Carthaginian Army should return out of Italy and the Romans depart out of Lybia and for the rest that Sicily Sardinia and the other Isles that had belonged to the Carthaginians together with Spain should remain entire to the people of Rome making his protestation that if either of the parties refused to consent to these propositions he would joyn with the other In the mean time he used his utmost endeavours to gain Masanissa promising to secure to him the Kingdom of the Massesuliens and to give him in Marriage which of his three daughters he desired His agent that came to Masanissa with these offers brought store of money along with him to the end that if he could obtain nothing from him he might câ—rrupt some of his Domesticks to Murder him and accordingly not being able to gain him before his return he gave Mony to one of that Princes followers who promised him to execute the treason but when he had received the summ discovered it to his Master who punished the suborner Whereupon Syphax â—eeing all his Artifices fail declared himself openly for the Carthaginians and having by means of a Traytor taken a City in the plain Country called Tâ—olon where the Romans had great stores of Ammunition and Provision he put to the Sword all the Garrison who refused to yield to him A great recruit of Numidians being come and the Gaules and Ligurian Souldiers arrived with those ships the Carthaginians had fitted out they resolved to fight Syphax returned to the siege of Utica Asdrubal encamped near to Scipio and the Carthaginian fleet came to Anchor directly against the other to the end they might fall on all at a time and so that the Romans being much fewer in number and separate the one from the other might not be able to sustain the power of their enemies Masanissa having advice of this design from some Numidians went and communicated it to Scipio who without any delay judging that if his Army were thus divided they would not be strong enough to stand the shock the same night assembled the Council and when he saw they lost time without resolving any thing he thus spoke to his Captains Certainly Gentlemen there is a necessity in this occasion both of great Courage and Diligence and we must resolve to fight like desperate men We must strive how to prevent our enemies and behold now the advantage we shall gain by it This unexpected assault will strike a terror into them and since we are the fewer in number by charging them with all our forces joyned together we shall not have to deal with all our enemies but only with those we shall first attempt since their Camps are separate one from the otherâ— thus we shall be equal in number and surpass them in good fortune and bravery If God give us victory over the first we will scorn the other If therefore you approve my opinion I will tell you in a few words which of three Armies we
got to Hannibal who not a little tormented for this loss of his brother and so great an Army through too much hast and ignorance of the ways slighting all the rest that in full fourteen years he had with vast labours been getting in Italy retreated among the Brutians who were the only people that continued in association with him and there quietly expected new recruits from Carthage And the Carthaginians did send him an hundred Ships laden with Corn and supplies of Men and Mony which being conveyed by three hundred Triremes the Praetor of Sardinia set upon with his Gallies and sinking sixty the rest got back to Carthage From hence the penury of all things in Hannibals Camp much increased but especially the despair of getting any help from Carthage And to all these misfortunes this was annexed that Mago who was sent into Gaul and Liguria to hire Soldiers sent no aid but lay idle expecting the Event of things Wherefore Hannibal plainly foreseeing that he could not long continue in those parts began to contemn the Brutians themselves as men that would ere long be strangers to him and to oppress them with heavier taxes several towns fortified by nature as if they practised a revolt he forced to remove into the plain and many persons whose Estates he had a desire to siese upon he condemned upon false accusations In the mean time there entred into the Consulate Licinius Crassus and P. Scipio famous for his Conquests in Spain Crassus went into Apulia against Hannibal Scipio advised the people that Hannibal and the Carthaginians could not possibly be driven out of Italy till an Army were transported into Africa and they terrified with Domestick danger And assiduously insisting upon it and daily urging them all to it he at length got Africa decreed for his province Then without any delay trasporting his Army into Sicily when he had spent a little time in Rendevouzing and Exâ—rcising his Soldiers he was first carried to Locrisa a City of Italy where Hannibal had placed a Punick Garrison whom having overpowred leaving Pleminius as his Lieutenant in that City he passed over into Africa but Pleminius forbore not to treat the Locrians with all manner of villanous and contumelious usage and cruelty insomuch that he rob'd the very Temple of Proserpine Wherefore the Romans for these horrible dealings with their Friends and Kindred put him to death in Prison and confiscating his goods delivered them to the Locrians to be laid up in the Treasures of the Goddess and of the Mony taken away by Sacriledge they recovered as much as they could and what remained it pleased them to supply out of the publick Exchequer At the same time Crassus drew away from Hannibal's party Consentia a great City of the Brutians and many other Towns but when at Rome the dismal prodigies had filled the minds of men with superstition the Decemvirs commanded to bring the Sibyls Books relating that few days before in Pessinuntium a City of Phrygia where the Mother of the Gods is Worshipped something was fallen from heaven which should be brought to Rome and not long after the news of its falling came and the image of the Goddess was brought to Rome and on the same day that it happened to come thither was celebrated the Feast of the Mother of the Gods There is a report that the Ship which brought it struck upon a Shoal in the River Tiber and that when by no means possible it could be removed the Southsayers foretold that it would follow if drawn by a woman that was pure and chast from any strange bed Claudia Quintia suspected but not guilty of Adultery but her too loose and free way of living had got her that ill report first earnestly calling upon the Goddess to witness her innocency of that crime and then tying her Girdle to the Ship was followed by the Goddess So Claudia from an evil fame which she before lay under got a most glorious name But before this exploit of Claudia's the Romans admonished by the Sibyls books that by the best man of all the City they should send for the image out of Phrygia presently sent thither a man judged to be the best of those times Scipio Surnamed Nasica Son of Cn. Scipio who died General in Spain and Cousin Germain to that Scipio who abating the Carthaginian pride first bore the Surname of African Thus was the Goddess brought to Rome by the best of Men and Women But when the Brutians had intelligence that the Carthaginians in Africa had in several Battels been defeated by Scipio they seemed to be at strife who first should desert Hannibal and some of them slew the Punick Garrisons and others thrust them out of their Cities Those who could do neither privately sent Deputies to Rome to declare their good Will though they wanted Power Hannibal came with his Army to Petelia which City was given by him to the Brutians after having expelled the former inhabitants When therefore he expostulated with them that they had sent Deputies to Rome and they earnestly denied it he seemed to believe them but that he might prevent any occasion of suspicion he gave up their Great Men separately into the keeping of his Numidians and disarming the Citizens gave their Arms to the Slaves and to them committed the Charge of the City Nor did he deal less severely with other Cities to which he went in progress for the Thurini's goods he exhibited to his Soldiers Rapine and besides three thousand Citizens whom he knew great lovers of the Carthaginians and five hundred Country people he carried away and leaving the City under the guard of the Prefidionary Soldiers brought them all to Crotona which because of it's convenient Situation he chose both for his Granary and Seat of War But when by his Citizens who to hasten him sent for him Asdrubal their Admiral he was sent for to come home and bringrelief to his Country then in danger by Scipio's many victories he grievously complained of the Carthaginians who had always been ingrateful and perfidious to their Generals as he had sufficiently and for a long time experienced and because he had given the first beginning to this War in Spain he began to be apprehensive of himself Yet he resolved since 't was fit he obeyed to go and forthwith caused a great Number of Ships to be built Italy furnishing him abundantly with all Materials But before his departure he exposed all the Associate and subjected Cities whom now he looked upon as Enemies to the Spoil and Plunder of his Army that thereby enriching them he might by their kindness be secure from his Citizens Calumnies Yet ashamed himself against Faith and Equity to wrong in this manner the Associates he sent Asdrubal the Admiral under a feigned pretence of visiting the Garrisons to do it who going into every City and Commanding the Citizens and their Slaves to pack up what they could carry and march elsewhere he gave all that remained
hands joyned towards the Conqueror like people imploring mercy Scipio ordered them to meet him at the Camp where being seated in the Tribunal he caused them to be brought to his presence whither being come they cast themselves on their knees weeping till being raised up by the Ushers and having permission to speak Asdrubal began in this manner Most certain it is Sirs that neither Hanno whom you see here nor my self nor any person of wisdom in all Cartâ—age are guilty of those crimes wherewith you charge us for when our unhappy Citizens oppressed by famine injured those sent from you we opposed our selves and sent them back to you Nor ought the people of Carthage in general to be accused who sent their deputies and of whom the most part signed the Articles with joy but as the Populacy suffer themselves to be easily seduced to their own ruine whatever is pleasing to the multitude is usually preferred before that which is most profitable We our selves have had experience of it for what ever propositions we have made some private calumniators who never had the boldness to discover their thoughts in our presence have hindred us from being believed Wherefore Sirs Judge not of our affairs by what is practised in Rome for your discipline in your Counsels is extreamly different from ours and if by chance our crime seem to some greater then the calamity that constrained it let him consider that hunger is a pinching necessity and that that was the principal cause of our misfortunes for had we not been pressed by it it is not to be believed that the same people who had but newly demanded peace offered so much mony parted with the greatest patt of their Dominion sworn to observe the Articles of Peace and sent to that purpose deputies to your Senate should be violently hurried on to offend you without expecting the return of those they had sent But we must attribute this accident to the anger of some God and to the tempest which cast your provisions into our Port in a time when almost all Carthage was ready to perish with hunger hunger that pernicious counsellor against anothers goods especially in the brests of people wanting all things 't would be certainly a piece of injustice to punish with severity what this miserable multitude have done Yet if you will impute this fault rather to our malice then our misery we confess it we crave pardon for it Were we innocent we would endeavor to justifie our selves but being criminals we supplicate for grace hoping that you who are in the top of prosperity will the easier grant it if you consider that humane affairs are subject to strange reverses and that those who were yesterday in a condition to do injuries are to day under a necessity of imploring mercy You may behold Sirs a fresh example in the unhappy City of Carthage she that for seven hundred years togehas been the greatest and most powerful City of all Africa powerful in Ships in Silver in Elephants in Foot in Horse She whose Dominion extended over the Lybians and over many Cities and Isles by Sea and Land in short She that has so long been the Rival of your Empire Now no more places her hope in her Ports nor in her Ships nor in her Horse nor in her Elephants nor in her Provinces which she has quitted to you but she expects her safety from your mercy You that she has heretofore so ill treated You will do an Action worthy of your selves if considering the deplorable Estate to which we are reduced you will receive a moderation in the midst of your prosperity and having regard as well to your own accustomed generosity as to the ancient felicity of Carthage you will in our misery make such a use of the favors of fortune as may not displease the immortal Gods but that by your clemency you will acquire a glorious name that can never die whilst there is memory among men Nor need you hereafter more fear the perfidiousness of Carthage the chastisement they receive for their past faults will be an eternal warning to them and as the good Counsel they had given them but despised had kept them in bounds of duty so now they have been faulty repentance joyned with the punishment inflicted on them will prevent their falling again and whilst you inveigh against the cruelty and injustice of the Carthaginians you should be careful lest you fall into the same crimes for as poverty often occasions men to sin those who are in prosperity have opportunity to exercise their humanity and goodness thus it is of concern both to the honor and the advantage of your Commonwealth rather to preserve so great a City than to destroy it but you may act as you please for our parts we have but two things to oppose in our defence the Antient Dignity of the Carthaginian Empire and that Noble Moderation you have used to the rest of the World which joyned with your Valour hath raised you to so high a Soveraignty And for what concerns the conditions of the Treaty we only desire Peace for Terms we have none to propose leaving them wholly to your Discretion Asdrubal finish'd his Oration with tears upon which Scipio causing the Deputies to retire held a Council about this important Affair with the principal Officers of the Army and after a long deliberation caused the Carthaginians to return to whom he spake in this manner You are not worthy of pardon after having so often violated your Faith and having as a complement of all so evilly treated our Deputies A truth so manifest that by your own confession there is no punishment whatsoever which you deserve not for the expiation of your crimes but it is needless to reproach you with faults your selves confess And now you have recourse to prayers you that had you gain'd the Victory would have rooted out even the Roman Name We have not treated you at the like rate but sent back your Agents from our City at the same time you had injured ours and violated the Treaty and those very Agents being by the Sea cast into our Camp and War already declared I sent back to you without offering them the least wrong Therefore in the condition your affairs are reduced to you cannot believe we will order you any thing advantageous I will therefore tell you my thoughts if the Senate approve them if they think it convenient we will yet grant you peace on condition you surrender into the hands of the people of Rome all your Ships of War save only ten and all your Elephants That you restore all you have taken from us or the value of what cannot be found in the estimation of which if any difference arise I will be Judge That you likewise deliver up all the Captives and Fugitives and all those Italian Souldiers who followed Hannibal into Africa which must be performed within a month after the day of publication of the Peace
Piso came to succeed him sent Scipio before to Rome together with Phameas whom all the Army conducted to the very Ships beseeching the Gods to grant them the favor that they might see Scipio return into Africa in the quality of Consul as if it had been decreed by the destinies that Scipio only could take Carthage and in truth many of the Army wrote as much to Rome The Senate gave publick praises to Scipio honored Phameas with the Purple-robe and chain of Gold presented him with a Horse barded with Gold and a Suit of Arms of the same gave him besides six thousand Sesterces and one hundred and fifty Marks of wrought Silver together with a Tent furnished with all necessary moveables and gave him hopes of much more if he applyed himself heartily to the service of the Republick he promised it and afterwards returned into Africa to joyn with the Roman Camp In the beginning of the Spring Calphurnius Piso Consul and his Collegue L. Mancinus Admiral embarked for Africa whither being come they made no attempt at all neither against Carthage nor against Asdrubal but contented themselves to make War upon the little Cities round about they besieged Aspida by Sea and Land but were forced to raise their Siege 'T is true Piso took another Town which he sack't though the inhabitants complained they had surrendred upon composition From thence he passed to Hippone which is a great City considerable for it's Walls it 's Castle it's Gates and it's Haven and which had been thus fortified by Agathocles Tyrant of Sicily It being Situate near to Utica and Carthage the inhabitants plundered the Convoys of Victuals that were carrying to the Romans with which they were in some measure accommodated wherefore Calphurnius designed not only to chastise them but likewise to make them restore the Prizes they had taken He therefore laid siege to it which continued all the Summer but in vain for the inhabitants made two â—allies wherein being assisted by those of Carthage they burnt all the besiegers Engines Thus Summer being spent without doing any thing the Consul went to take up his Winter quarters at Utica But the Carthaginians who had yet all Asdrubal's Army entire proud of the success of Hippone where they had beaten Piso and strengthned besides with eight hundred Numidian Horse which had revolted from Gulussa to them under the conduct of Bythias enlarged their hopes besides they perceived that though Micypsa and Mavastabal the other sons of Masanissa promised Arms and Mony to the Romans yet they only temporized in expectation to see what course these affairs would take They began therefore to spread themselves throughout all Africa and without fear to fortifie places in the Country declaiming every where against the cowardise of the Romans and to perswade the people they loudly proclaimed the two expeditions of Nucera which had redounded to their shame the last occasion of Hippone where they had been so ill handled and at last having besieged Carthage it self though disarmed though unprovided of all things yet they had been forced to raise the siege They sent likewise to Micypsa to Mavastabal and to the free Moors to advise them to take care left if the Romans took Carthage they should afterwards invade and subdue them They deputed some likewise into Macedonia where one who called himself the Son of Perseus made War against the Romans to exhort him to continue it with promises that Carthage would not let him want either Mony or Shipping In short now they saw themselves armed they entertained no other but exalted thoughts and their courage and their resolution daily increased as they beheld themselves in a better condition of defence Asdrubal their General abroad was no less resolute after having twice successfully dealt with Manlius which had raised his thoughts to that degree that he grew ambitious of having likewise the command of the Forces within the City which to compass he caused Asdrubal the Nephew of Gulussa who at that time commanded to be falsely accused in full Senate of holding intelligence with his Uncle At which he being so surprised that he could answer nothing for himself was knockt on the head with stools But when the cowardise of Piso and the preparations made by the Carthaginians came to be known at Rome the people were extreamly moved out of an apprehension they had left this War undertaken against a neighboring Nation and from all time enemy to the Roman name should grow upon them For they having been first deficient in their word as to what they ordained the Carthaginians there was no more hopes left of an accommodation The memory of those Noble Actions done by Scipio in Africa whilst he was yet but Tribune was yet very fresh and the comparison of present affairs with what he had done raised so much the more the glory of his reputation and as in all meetings every one told what was writ from the Army all the world wish't his return in quality of Consul the day of the Assembly for the Election of Magistrates drew nigh but his not being of the age admitted by Law to possess that dignity forbid his pretending to it for he demanded only the charge of Edile when the people offered him the Consulate The Consuls stood against it and opposed the Law contrary to this Election but the multitude persisted the more alleaging that by the Laws of Tullus and Romulus the people were Judges of the Assembly and so it belonged to them to approve or cancel all Laws that concerned the Assembly At last one of the Tribunes threatned the Consuls to take away their power of presiding if they agreed not to the will of the people whereupon they permitted the Tribunes to abrogate that Law for a year provided it were then re-established The Lacedemonians it seems did the same when being forced to make the Laws yield to necessity to secure from infamy those taken Prisoners at Piles they cryed out Let us this day give the Laws leave to sleep Thus Scipio demanding the Edility obtained the Consulate and when Drusus that was likewise named Consul required that the Government of the Provinces should be drawn by Lot one of the Tribunes assembled the people and speaking of the War with Carthage demanded to which of the Consuls they would give their Commission So the people gave to Scipio the Government of that Province permitting him to raise recruits to compleat the old Troops and to form new ones to receive from the Allies all those volunteers would follow him and to write in the name of the people of Rome to what Kings and Cities he thought convenient and indeed some Kings and some Estates did assist him with forces Things thus disposed he passed into Sicily and from thence forthwith to Utica mean while Piso besieged some Inland Towns and Mancinus lay constantly before Carthage where having observed a certain place in the wall neglected because it was almost inaccessible by
Ancient King by a fatal presage of the death of that Prince which happened soon after Whereupon a Mariner casting himself into the Water and having taken up the Diadem put it on his Head and brought it drie to Alexander who for a reward gave him a Talent of Silver The Divines told him he should put this man to death some say he did it others deny it and others again say it was not at all a Mariner but Seleucus himself who cast himself into the Water and put the Diadem on his Head for fear of wetting it and that the presage was fulfilled in the persons of them both Alexander dying at Babylon and Seleucus succeeding in the greatest part of his Empire These are the signs I have met with presaging his greatness To proceed after the death of Alexander he was Captain of the Guards of the Kings Houshold a command which whilst the King lived had been possessed by Ephestion and after him by Perdiccas from thence rising by degrees he came to the Government of Babylon and at last mounted the Throne and because he had gained many Victories he was called Nicator for I think that more probable than to imagine that because he slew Nicator he bore away that name as a precious spoil He was tall of Stature and so strong that when Alexander once sacrified a Bull in fury breaking from its Cords and escaping he alone stop'd it laying fast hold on his Horns which is the reason why they place Horns with his Statues He beautified the Country under his Dominion with many fair Cities which he built from one end to the other of which sixteen he caused to be called by the name of his Father Antiochia's six after his Mothers name Laodicea's nine after his own name Seleucia's four after his Wives names three after the first Apamia's and one after the last Stratonicea the fairest remaining to this day are five two Seleucia's one on the Sea side the other on the Tigris Laodicea in Phaenicia Antiochia in Mount Libanus and Apamia in Syria He likewise gave names to others either Grecian or Macedonian names as Beraea Edessa Maronea Perinta Callipolis Achaia Polla Orope Amphipolis Arethusa Astachia Tegaea Chalcis Larissa Heraea Apolonia and in Parthia it self Sotera Calliope Charis Hecatonpolis Achaia in India Alexandropolis and in Scythia Alexandrescatta His Victories gave a name to Nicepborea in Mesopotamia and to Nicopolis in Armenia which confines on Cappadocia 'T is said likewise that when he was about to build Seleucia on the Sea side It was marked out by the Thunder wherefore the Thunder is there adored as a God and to this day they sing Hymns to it and use many particular Ceremonies And when he designed to lay the Foundations of that which is upon the River Tygris the Magi or Southsayers who had Orders to set out the day and hour when the Work was to begin to the end it might be built under a fortunate Constellation pitched upon an unhappy hour because they were not well pleased that a great City should be built there to awe themselves And that as the King in his Tent waited for the fatal hour and all the Army stood ready to lay their hands to the Work as soon as the Signal should be given them The hour of good Augury being come the Soldiers on a sudden thinking they heard the Command given fell to the Work with so much alacrity that no forbidding whatsoever could stay them at which Seleucus was much cast down but the Magicians seeing him disquieted about the fate of the City demanding only safety for their persons and having obtained it spoke to him in this manner The Oration of the Magicians SIr neither Men nor Cities can change their Fate be it good or bad for every City has its Destiny as well as every Man now it hath pleased the Gods that this here shall endure many ages being begun at this present hour True it is that because we feared that when once built it would become a Fortress against our selves we have endeaoured to divert the Destinies but they will still be Mistresses both of the cunning of Magicians and inanimadvertency of a King Wherefore Fate it self commanded your Army to do what was most advantagious 'T is a truth we assure you of and that you may believe we deceive you not again You were here in person you commanded they should stay for the signal and your Army which in other occasions where they were to throw themselves into dangers and to endure toil and labour has always been perfectly obedient to you could not now stand still though you commanded it but all on a sudden with its Officers ran to the work as if it had been commanded and so indeed it was and therefore could not be staid at your commands but who in humane affairs can have more power than a King but a God God which this day grants you the full of your desires God who a more faithful Counsellor than we is the Author of the Foundation of this City God enemy of our Nation and Allies since now we have no more strength left having neighbours more powerful than we so near us In short rest assured this City is founded under a fortunate Constellation and shall flourish a long time And now we hope as our fault proceeded only from the fear we had of the decay of our felicity you will not repent your self of the pardon you have granted us The King mightily pleased with the Magi's discourse forgave them And this is what I have found concerning Seleucia Now Seleucus willing that whilst he was yet living his Son might be King gave to him the greatest part of his Territory in the main Land but though this were an action worthy the magnanimity of a mighty Prince in my judgement what he did in favour of this Son's love and of that modesty he strugled with in his sickness declared more courage and prudence For this young Prince was passionately in love with Stratonice his Fathers Wife by whom Seleucus had already had a Child yet knowing his passion to be criminal he never discovered it nor gave the least symptom of it to any person but smothering his grief languished in his bed and desired death Erasistratus himself that famous Physician to whom the King gave such large allowance could not at all conjecture whence his distemper sprung till such time as observing that he had no corrupt humours in his body he concluded the seat of his malady must be in the mind the contagion of which had past into the Body He knew his Grief Anger and other disturbances of Man's Spirit could not well be concealed but that a Modest Person might well conceal his Love and founding himself upon this he privately discoursed it with Antiochus and conjured him to tell him the cause of his Distemper But not being able to draw any thing from him he kept near his Bed had diligently observed those
she at last was punished and for him he degenerated nothing from Cleopatra for he having advice of it declared War against his Brother drove him out of his Kingdom and made himself King of Syria he enjoyed it no long time being himself expelled by the Arms of Seleucus Son to Antiochus Grypus who respected not in him the Quality of Uncle but he became so violent and lived with so much Tyranny that being at Mopsa a City of Cilicia he was burnt alive in the place of publick Exercise His Successor was Antiochus the Son of the Cyzycenian whom the Syrians believed had escaped his Uncles traps only for his Piety wherefore they sirnamed him the Pious and yet he was only saved by a Curtezan fell in love with him because of his Beauty which makes me think the Syrians gave him that name only out of a jeer for this Pious man married Selene who had before been married to his Father the Cyzyoenian and to his Uncle Grypus Therefore Divine Justice suffered him in punishment of his Crime to be driven out of his Kingdom by Tigranes and the Son he had by Selene who being bred in Asia was called Asiatick to be deprived of his Kingdom by Pompey as we have before related having reigned only one year during which that General was elsewhere employ'd He was the seventeenth King after Seleucus without reckoning Alexander the Bastard or his Son who were not of the Race nor their Domestick Diodotus To conclude the Race of the Seleucides Reigned two hundred and seventy years and if we account from the time of Alexander the Great till this Kingdom was reduced into the form of a Province we must likewise add those fourteen years which Tigranes Reigned Thus much I thought good to say by the way concerning the Macedonians that were Kings of Syria though the Subject be somewhat separate from our History The End of the Syrian War APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Roman Wars IN PARTHIA PART I. BOOK III. The Argument of this Book I. THE Introduction to the History II. Crassus chosen Consul leaves Rome to go against the Parthians III. Crassus first Expedition wherein he do's nothing memorable IV. Crassus preparations for his second Expedition and the presages of his misfortune V. His march and the treachery of Agbarus VI. Upon Intelligence that the enemy is not far off he draws up his Army in Battel VII Description of the Battel VIII Success of the Battel and the death of Crassus Son IX The end of the Battel wherein the Romans are worsted X. Crassus decamps by by night XI The Parthians pursue their Victory and Crassus is slain XII The Parthians rejoyce at Crassus death XIII The beginning of Anthony's War against the Parthians in which Ventidius makes great progress XIV Anthony's Preparations XV. Some fights between Anthony and the Parthians XVI Anthony's retreat XVII The rashness of Flavius Gallus who had nigh lost the Army XVIII Famine in the Army XIX Continuation of Anthony's retreat and the end of the War AFter Pompey and those who as we have already said succeeded him in the Government of Syria Gabinius was sent to Command in that Province whither as he was disposing himself to make War against the Arabs Mithridates King of Parthia driven out of his Kingdom by his brother Orodes came to him to request him to suspend his Expedition against the Arabs and march against the Parthians But Ptolemy the Eleventh King of Egypt had more prevalency over the Spirit of the Proconâ—ul and by the power of Mony wrought so far with him that in stead of going against the Parthians he led his Army to Alexandria After having reestablished that King he was condemned to Banishment for having without the Senates Order undertook a War in Egypt forbid by the Oracles and particularly by the Sibyls verses Crassus succeeded him who going to make War upon the Parthians perished with his whole Army After his death when L. Bibulus was governor of Syria the same Parthians made an irruption into the Province and afterwards under the Government of Saxa who succeeded him over-run all as far as Ionia the Romans being imbroiled in Civil Wars yet did they nothing memorable besides spoiling the Country rather like thieves then Men of War and all that was but the consequence of Crassus overthrow which had given them a boldness that Anthony was at last to give check to but to write the History of this Expedition we must begin our discourse farther of The day of Assembly for Election of Consuls being come C. Caesar Pompey the Great and Marcus Crassus being found Competitors the two last notwithstanding all the endeavors of Cicero Cato and those of the Contrary Faction obtained the Consulate by force and prolonged to Caesar the Government of Gaul for five other years Having drawn by lot the Governments of Syria and Spain Syria fell to Crassus and Spain to Pompey with which all Men were well satisfied For the people were pleased that Pompey should not go far from the City and there was great likelyhood because he extreamly loved his Wife that he would not willingly absent himself for any long time On the other side Crassus as soon as he saw himself Governor of Syria dissembled not his satisfaction He thought no greater happiness could have arrived him and so far did his Excess of Joy transport him as to make him in his familiar conversation with his friends utter a thousand extravagancies which savored of the young Man and seemed contrary to his nature who had never been taken for a Proud Man or a Boaster but now exalting his thoughts above their due level his judgment was perverted insomuch that he not only promised himself to subdue the Syrians and the Parthians but as if the Victories gained by Lucullus against Tigranes and by Pompey against Mithridates had been but sports his depraved imaginations carried him as far as the Bactrians the Indians and the Oriental Ocean Though in his Commission there was not any mention made of a War against the Parthians yet no Man doubted but he was resolved to undertake it Caesar himself writing to him from Gaul commended his design and exhorted him to pursue it but many good and understanding Men thought it strange he should go to make War against innocent people who only demanded peace Wherefore Crassus having intelligence that Atteius Tribune of the people had a design to hinder his going out of the City was afraid and intreated Pompey who had a great power over the spirits of the people to be his Conductor they found in the Street a great number of Persons disposed to Arrest him but Pompey observing them went to meet them and with a smiling countenance appeased them so that they held their peace and gave him passage Atteius only made opposition first by forbidding Crassus to pass any farther and then by commanding the Usher to sieze his person but the other Tribunes not thinking it convenient
storm their City causing to that intent a Harpe to be built which is a great Engine raised upon two Ships And having understood by the Runaways that it was easie to take the Town on that side where stood the Temple of Iupiter Tabyriâ—s by Scaling the Wall which was in that part very low he caused some of his Soldiers to Embarque on the Ships and giving Scaling Ladders to others ordered them all to keep silence till they saw a signal of fire given them from the place and that then raising as great a shout as they could some should fall in at the Port others at the Wall As they were going to put this design in execution without making the least noise the Guards of the City who had notice of it shewed a fire which they taking for the signal to be given from the place called Tabyria broke silence and both Soldiers and Mariners began to make the Air ring with Shouts of Joy but being answered with the same Notes by those of the City that stood upon the Walls the Royalists attempted nothing all that Night and in the Morning were forced to retreat It is true that the Harpe which they drew nigh unto the Wall opposite to the Temple of Isis extreamly terrified the inhabitants for it cast at the same time mighty quantities of Darts and Arrows there were likewise upon it Rams which battered the Walls and besides multitudes of Soldiers ran out of the Ships with their Scaling Ladders to mount the Walls but the Rhodians made a resolute resistance till the Engine broke with its own weight and the Statue of the Goddess Isis was seen to dart flames of fire against it Whereupon the King after this last trial losing all hopes of taking the Town raised his Siege After this he went and besieged Patoria where as he was about to cut down a Forest consecrated to Latona for building of Machines he was frightned by a dream from touching those sacred trees Whereupon leaving Pelopidas in Lycia to continue the War he sent Archelaus into Greece to draw what Cities he could to his side either by good will or constraint And henceforward easing himself of the Labors and Toils of War which he committed to his Generals he did nothing but leavy Soldiers and make provision of Arms passing away his time with that Woman of Stratoniâ—ea and in giving judgment upon those who were accused of having plotted against his life done any thing against his Service or favored in any kind whatsoever the Roman party Whilst he busied himself in these matters affairs in Greece passed in this manner Archelaus going with a Fleet well appointed took by force the Island of Delos which had revolted from the Athenians together with some places which he gave to that Republick after the slaughter of twenty thousand Men the most part Italians and rendring by these Actions the Power of Mithridates formidable in those parts he gained him the Friendship and Alliance of that People he sent to them likewise the consecrated Treasure at Deloâ—s by Aristion one of their Câ—â—y to whom he gave two thousand Men for a Guard of that Mony but he imploy'd them to another purpose for seeing two thousand Men at his Command he lived like a Tyrant in his Country putting to death many of his Fellow Citizens and delivering up others to Mithridates under pretence they were of the Roman Faction Yet he made Profession of being a Philosopher of the Sect of Epicurus but he was not the only Philosopher that has tyrannized in Athens Critias and his Companions who professed the same Philosophy plaid the Tyrants before him The followers of Pythagaras did the same in Italy Nor were there any of those who were called the seven Wise-men of Greece and had any hand in the Government of the Commonwealth but exercised their Authority with more Tyranny then an unlearned Man would have done So that it is not without reason that some have doubted whether the other Philosophers followed the Study of Wisdom so much out of the pure Love of Virtue as to be a comfort to their Poverty and an excuse for their Sloath Since even to this Day we see many leading a close and necessitous Life who cloak their Poverty under a pretence of Wisdom furious by railing at all rich men and Magistrates which they do not so much out of contempt of Riches as out of envy to those which possess them wherefore I think those much wiser then who know how to slight and contemn their Invectives Thus much by the way against Aristion who gave occasion to this short digression To proceed Archelaus drew to his Party the Acheans Lacedemonians and Beotians all but the City of Thespia to which he laid Siege At the same time as Metrophanes whom Mithridates had likewise sent into Greece with another Army made havock in the Isle of Eubea Demetriada and Magnesia who had refused to declare for the King Brittius came out of Macedon and falling upon his Fleet with a very small force beat them sunk a great Ship and a Foist and slew all the Mariners and this in the very face of Metrophanes which put him in such a fear that he fled Brittius when he could not overtake him went and besieged Sciatha a nest of barbarous Pyrates and having taken it hanged the Slave and cut of the Masters hands from thence he went to Boeotia whither a recruit of a Thousand men as well Horse as Foot being come to him out of Macedon he gave Battel to Aristion and Archelaus which lasted three days without knowing which had the better till such time as the Lacedemonians and Acheans having sent relief to the Enemy finding himself then two weak he went and encamped neer Pyraeum which Archelaus coming afterwards with his Fleet to seise took him there Prisoner Sylla to whom the Senate had given the Commission for the War against Mithridates not able before to leave Italy now passed over into Greece with five Legions some Cohorts and a few Horse whither Money being sent him and Auxiliary Troops come together with Provisions of Victuals out of Etolia and Thessaly finding himself sufficiently prepared he advanced into Attica against Archelaus He took his march through Boeotia which almost all yielded to him not the great City of Thebes which out of giddiness of temper had before preferred Mithridates to the Romans durst now make Tryal of his Arms but in its turn deserting Archelaus and his Party declared for the Romans The Consul being arrived in Attica divided his Forces into two Bodies one he sent to Besiege Aristion in the City and with the other marched directly to the Port of Pyraeum where Archelaus had engarrisoned himself confident in the strength of the place the Walls of which were near forty Cubits high and all of hewn stone It was indeed a mighty work which had been raised by Pericles in the time of the War of Peloponnesus who when all the hopes
Inhabitants having recourse to Sylla he promised to come and sent to Fimbria not to do any injury to those who had yielded to him praising them for being returned into the friendship and alliance of the Roman people Notwithstanding he required to be likewise received into their City being likewise of Rome and telling them I know not what of that ancient Kindred of which the Ilians boast At last he entred by force slew all he met with set on fire the City and particularly put to several sorts of death those who went to Sylla on the behalf of the City He had neither respect to the sacred places nor to those had fled thither for refuge but burnt the Temple of Minerva with a great multitude of people who had retired thither as to a Sanctuary He rased the very Walls which he went round about next day to see if any part were left standing Thus was that City worse treated by a Man who took thence his Original then it had formerly been by Agamemnon for he left not a house nor a Temple nor a Statue standing Some there are that believe that the Image of the Goddess which is called Palladium was now found whole after the removal of the Rubbish wherewith it was covered but there is more reason to believe it was taken away by Diomedes and Ulysses in the time of the Trojan War This Massacre of the Ilians happened about the end of the hundred and third Olympaid and it is thought to be about one thousand and fifty Years between this sack of Troy and that of Agamemnon Now Mithridates receiving advice of the defeat at Orchomene and considering that since his first sending an Army into Greece he had lost such vast Multitudes in so short a time wrote to Archelaus that he should conclude a Peace upon the fairest terms he could get He therefore demanded a conference with Sylla which being granted he told him Sylla the King Mithridates your Fathers friend and yours was forced by the avarice of those who had the Command before you to make the War But having now experienced your Valour he demands a Peace provided what you shall desire of him be just Whereupon Sylla who had neither Fleet nor Money receiving nothing from Rome since his Enemies had declared him Enemy of the State and having already spent all the Silver of the Temples of Pythia Olympia and Epidaurum for which he had engaged half the Lands confiscated from the Thebans beâ—ause of their continual Rebellions and who besides all this was impatient to transport that Army fresh and every way compleat to Rome against his Enemies consented to his Peace by telling him Archelaus Mithridates should have sent Ambassadors to Rome to complain of the injuries he had received but instead of that he himself injured others entring in hostile manner into their Territories plundring their Treasures as well Publick as Sacred seising on the Goods of those he had put to death and showing no more faith nor goodness to his own friends then to us destroying many of them and murdering the Tetrarchs his familiars who had all their throats cut in one night with their Wives and Children though they were not guilty so much as of a design As for what regards us he rather made appear his inveterate hatred then any necessity he had to make War when he let loose his rage against the Italians in Asia by a thousand sorts of Torments sparing neither Age Sex nor Quality So much hate does this man bear to the Latin Name who calls himself my Fathers Friend but never remembred that friendship till I had slain him a hundred and sixty thousand men Wherefore we have no reason to trust you any more However for your sake I promise he shall obtain favour from the Senate and People of Rome if it be in good earnest that he ask it but if he still feign I advise you Archelaus to consider the present estate of his affairs and your own how he treats his Friends and how we have dealt with Eumenes and Massanissa At these words Archelaus interrupted him angry that he should tempt him and telling him he was not a man to betray Forces intrusted to his charge but that he really hoped for peace if Sylla demanded only just things Whereupon Sylla after some moments Silence Provided said he Archelaus that Mithridates put into our hands all the Fleet he has restore the Generals Deputies and other Prisoners deliver up the Runaway's and fugitive Slaves send back to their Cities those of Chios and others transported to the Euxine Sea withdraw his Garrisons from all places where he has planted them save only those he had before the Peace was broke pay the Expence of this War which he has been the cause of and content himself with the Kingdom of his Ancestors I hope to prevail so far that the Roman people shall forget the Offences they have received Archelaus hearing these conditions began presently to withdraw his Garrisons and about the rest wrote to the King Sylla that he might not in the mean while loose any time went and spoiled the Countries of the Henetians Dardanians and other Neighbouring Nations who made delay incursions into Macedon by that means exercising his Soldiers Mithridates Deputies returning some time after agreed to all save only about Paphlagonia but added that they could have had better terms from the other General Fimbria Whereupon Sylla offended at that comparison made answer that that word should cost Fimbria dear and that as soon as he came into Asia he would see whether Mithridates stood in need of Peace or War Whereupon he caused his Army to take their March through Thrace that he might bring them to Cypsela having sent Lucullus before to Abydos for he was now returned having often very narrowly escaped falling into the hands of Pyrates However he had brought with him a kind of Fleet of Ships which he had been furnished with at Cyprus Phoenicia Rhodes and in Pamphilia with which he had pillaged all the Coast as he came along and skirmished with Mithridates his Fleet Sylla therefore parting from Cypsela and Mithridates from Pergamus met together and began a new conference being drawn out into the Field with few followers in the sight of both Armies Mithridates began his discourse with the alliance which he and his Father had with the people of Rome complained of the injuries he had received from the Roman Generals and Commissaries who had established Ariobarzanes in Cappadocia taken from him Phrigia and favored by their dissimulation the Violences of Nicomedes And all this said he for Money which they received sometimes from me and sometimes from my Enemies for there is nothing you Gentlemen of Rome may so justly be reproached with as love of Money In short your Generals being come to make War against me whatever I have done in my own defence ought rather to be attributed to necessity then to any deliberate purpose
multitude of other Persons with Governments and likewise with great Sums of Money He built also Cities Nicopolis in Armenia the less as a Monument of his Victory Eupatoria in the Kingdom of Pontus which Mithridates Eupator had called by his name when he founded it and afterwards had rased it for opening its Gates to the Romans which Pompey afterwards rebuilding from the ground called Magnopolis He reedifyed likewise Mazaca a Citie of Cappadocia which had been demolished during the War and repaired divers others which were ruined or decaying in divers places of Pontus Palestine the lower Syria and Cilicia in which last is scituated that City formerly called Soly and at present Pompeiopolis which he peopled for the most part with Pyrates He found in the City of Talauris where Mithridates Magazines were two thousand Vessels of Onichit is bound about with Gold quantity of Flagons Cups Tables and Seats all perfectly beautiful There were likewise such vast numbers of Bridles and Saddles enriched with Gold and precious Stons that the Questor was thirty daies in receiving and counting them One part of these precious moveables came to Mithridates by succession from Darius the Son of Histaspes having passed from hand to hand to the several Successors of the Kings of Persia unto him Cleopatra had taken another part out of the Treasures of the Ptolemies and given them in keeping to the Inhabitants of the Isle of Coos from whence Mithridates had brought them and the rest that King had bought and stored together himself being very curious of rich moveables Towards the end of Winter Pompey distributed rewards to his Victorious Soldiers fifteen hundred Attick Drams to every Soldier And to the Tribunes and Centurions proportionably so that it is said the whole Sum of this distribution amounted to sixteen thousand Talents After this he went from Ephesus to Italy by Sea and dismissing his Army at Brundusium returned to Rome And by this popular action astonished the Romans as if they had seen a Miracle The whole City went forth to meet him the youngest a great way and others according to their Age and after all came the Senate themselves admiring the prodigious greatness of the actions he had done For never before him had any person defeated so powerful an Enemy nor added so many Provinces to the Roman Empire or extended their Dominion to the Euphrates And in like manner he entred in Triumph in in a more Magnificent manner then ever any had done before in the five and thirtieth year of his age The Pomp lasted two days for it required a great deal of time for the passing by of so many different People Ponticks Armenians Cappadocians Cilicians the several Nations of all Syria Albanians Heniochians Acheans Scythians and Iberians He brought likewise into the Ports seven hundred Ships compleatly fitted and sent into the City Chariots laden with Gold and Rarities of inestimable price among which was the Table of Darius the Son of Histaspes the Chair and Scepter of Eupator with his Figure of Massie Gold eight foot high and yet was only the Breast and Head and seven hundred thousand five hundred and ten Talents of Silver Money There were likewise a great number of Waggons laden with Arms and some with Ship Beaks After followed a multitude of Captives and Pyrates chained and habited every one according to the fashion of his Country before the Triumphal Chariot marched the Satrapes Captains and Sons of Kings some Captives others Hostages to the number of four hundred twenty four Among whom was Tigranes the Son of Tigranes five Sons of Mithridates Artaphernes Cyrus Oxathres Darius and Xerxes and two Daughters Orsabaris and Eupatra and among the rest Olthalces and Aristobulus King of Colchis and the Jews the Tyrants of Cilicia and the Queens of Scythia Three Iberian Generals two of the Albanians with Menander of Laodicea who commanded Mithridates Horse Those absent were carried in Picture Tigranes and Mithridates fighting giving ground and flying Mithridates besieged his secret flight by night his death and with him his two Daughters companions of his misfortune there were shown likewise the Pictures of his Children of both Sexes that dyed before him and the Figures of the Gods adored by the Barbarians adorned after the manner of their Country and neer to them a fair Table with this Inscription Ships of War taken eight hundred Cities built in Cappadocia eight in Cilicia and Caelosyria twenty in Palestine Seleucia Kings overcome Tigranes of Armenia Artoces of Iberia Oreses of Abania Darius of the Medes Areta of the Nabathaeans and Antiochus Commagenes Then appeared Pompey on a Chariot all glittering with precious Stones clad as some say in the Coat of Alexander of Macedon but if that may be believed 't is likely it was found among Cleopatra's Movables which the Inhabitants of the Isle of Coos delivered to Mithridates At last after the Chariot marched the Officers of the Army who had served him in this expedition some on Horseback others on foot who all together conducted their General to the Capitol When he was arrived there he put not to death any of the Captives as all who triumphed before him had done but sent them back into their own Countries at the publique charge except only the Kings and Kings Children of whom he not long after put to death Aristobulus and after him Tigranes As for Pharnaces he in the mean time kept the Inhabitants of Phanagoria blockt up till such time as Famine made them resolve to give him Battel however the King granted their pardon and without injuring any of them was content to take Hostages Sometime after he took Sinope and desirous to make himself Master of Amisa he made War upon Calvisius who then Commanded the Roman Forces in the Country in the time that Caesar and Pompey were engaged against each other and at last the Romans being elsewhere busied he was driven out of Asia by Asander upon a particular Quarrel He had likewise to do with Iulius Caesar as he returned from Aegypt after the Rout of Pompey which happened about that Mount where his Father had beaten Triarius and being beaten escaped to Sinope with a thousand Horse whither Caesar wanting leasure to follow him sent Domitius to whom he yielded the City who after he was come out with his Cavalry according to the Articles of Peace agreed between them caused all the Horses to be killed which did not well please the Horsmen with whom Shipping himself he retired by Sea to the Kingdom of Pontus As soon as he came there he assembled a great number of Sâ—ythians and Sarmatians and made himself Master of Theodotia and Panticapea but Asander renewing the War with him his Horsemen being dismounted and not used to fight on foot were beaten and Pharnaces showing himself the only man of Valour was slain after having received many wounds the fiftieth year of his Age and fifteenth of his Reign in Bosphorus C. Caesar gave his Kingdom
he demanded of them Whereupon he ordered them to receive a Garrison and to deliver him one hundred Hostages for security of such Provision and Ammunition as he should store up in that City for his Service in the War against the Dacians and that they should bring him in so much Corn The Chief Men of the Town thought not these conditions unreasonable and had certainly granted them had not the People hindred them The Commons were not troubled about the delivering the Hostages for they were well assured none of their Children would be accepted but only those of the best Families of the City but when they saw the Garrison approach they could not endure to look on them but in a fury ran to the Gates shut them and mounted afresh upon the Walls to defend them Wherefore Caesar caused a Bridge to be built over the River and began his Lines of Circumvallation After which keeping the inhabitants inclosed he began to raise two terrasses to hinder which the besieged made several Sallies which not succeeding they threw down abundance of firebrands Exspecting relief to come from Peonia And indeed the Peonians came but Caesar having laid an Ambush in their way kill'd a great party of them and put the râ—st to flight so that they no more concerned themselves in the relief of Segesta However the Segestains bravely sustained the siege till the thirtieth day but at length after a long and obstinate resistance their hearts failed and they learnt to ask pardon Caesar admiring their Valour and moved to compassion at their Prayers would not put them to death nor make them suffer any thing in their Persons but contenting himself to make them pay a sum of Mony ordered them to retire into one quarter of the City and placed there five and twenty Cohorts in Garrison That done he went back to Rome with design to return into Illyria And accordingly upon a Rumor that the Segestains had already defeated the Garrison that was in their City made hast thither though it was the Winter season he found the report was false but that indeed something had passed which gave occasion to this discourse that the Garrison had been in danger having been assaulted at unawares by the Inhabitants and some of them slain but that the Roman Soldiers falling the next day upon the Citizens had made themselves secure of the City Wherefore he thence marched his Army against the Dalmatians another Nation Neighboring on the Taulantians For since that in the time of Gabinius they had defeated five Roman Cohorts whose Ensigns they had taken their hearts were so puft up that for ten years together they had not laid down Arms but were resolved to come with the Segestains to Encounter Caesar. They were in Number more then twelve thousand all men of courage Commanded by a chosen General called Versus who assaulting once more the City of Promona in Liburnia had Entrenched himself with a large ditch and a good Palisado and had siesed likewise on some places very strongly situate for it is a Mountainous Country full of sharp and pointed Rocks He therefore continued his siege of that City with the greater part of his Forces the rest he posted on the Mountain tops from whence they might with ease discover the Roman Camp Caesar made a show as if he would inclose them with a wall but indeed sent privately the most daring of his men to discover the paths that led up to the mountain tops They marched through the woods and having without any noise gained the top of the Rocks they fell upon those that guarded them by night while they yet slept and made a great slaughter At the same time they sent to tell Caesar that they had found the end of the way but wanted more forces to perfect the rest In the mean time they let go from those Rocks they had surprised by force some Prisoners one after another whose report so terrified those were posted on the other heights that they thought themselves inclosed on all sides and especially some who wanting water in some of the highest places fearing lest all the retreats should be siesed on that they forthwith descended to Promona Caesar caused the City and two hills which the Enemy yet held to be environed with a wall of forty furlongs about and in the mean time went to encounter Teutinius who was coming with another Army to relieve the besieged defeats him chases him among the Mountains and in the very teeth of him takes Promona for before the Circumvallation was finished the besieged making a Salley were so vigorously beaten back by the Romans that they entred Pell Mell with them into the City where having slain one part of the Inhabitants the rest saved themselves in the Cittadel he presently siezed on the Town Gates and gave the Guard of one to a Roman Cohort which was the fourth night assailed by the Barbarians and surprised with the sudden fright quitted their Post but Caesar coming in enclosed the besieged who the next morning yielded to discretion he pardoned them but for the Regiment that had quitted their Post he made them draw Lots and put to death every tenth Soldier with two Captains and for the rest of that Company gave them only Barly while the others had Wheat Thus was Promona taken As for Teutinius he had in his flight dispersed his Army into several parties wherefore the Romans pursued him not very far for not knowing the Country and seeing in the woods so many different paths which answered not one to the other they were fearful of dividing their Army into so many several bodies There was in this wood a deep valley of a long extent between two Mountains where formerly the Dalmatians had lain hid to surprise Gabinius Here likewise they laid an Ambush for Caesar but he set the wood on fire where the ways met and dividing his Army into three parts of which two took their march on both sides along the skirts of the Mountains that they might at any time come in to his relief and he with the third marched through the valley causing the wood to be cut down before him or setting all on fire and storming the Towns He besieged one called Setovia whither the Barbarians flocked in great Numbers to cast in some relief but he being ready to receive them routed them so that none could get into the City Yet he was wounded in the Knee with a blow of a Stone which made him for some time keep his Bed Being somewhat recovered he returned to Rome to make himself Consul with Barbatius Tullus whom he took for Colleague and in the mean time left Statilius Taurus to command the Army After he had taken possession of the Consulate in the beginning of the Month he quitted the same day the Government of the Commonwealth to Anthony and departed to Dalmatia assuming again the quality of Triumvir though the last five years time was expired since Augustus Anthony
themselves to flight wasting the lands of the Barbarians their Neighbors Now the Spaniards went doubly clad their upper garment being loose and fastned together with buttons which they called a Saga or Cloak Tiberius Sempronius Gracâ—hus succeeded Flaccus in Command at the same time when twenty thousand Celtiberians besieged Carabis a City in Alliance with the Romans Which because strong reports were raised of it's being taken Gracchus hastned the more to relieve But when he found it so encompassed with Enemies that he could not give the besieged any notice of his coming Cominius Captain of a Troop of Horse having first well weighed the matter and acquainted Gracchus with it puts himself in the Spanish dress and cunningly mixing with the Enemies Forragers passed through their Camp for a Spaniard and thence by running reached the City telling the Townsmen that Gracchus was at hand whereupon they with courage underwent all difficulties till the third day when the Enemies retreating at Gracchus approach they were delivered from the siege About the same time near twenty thousand Men coming out of Complega towards Gracchus Camp with boughs in their hands after the manner of suppliants when they drew near as if upon a sudden they had changed their minds they made an assault filling the whole Army with fear and terror but Gracchus by singular policy dessembling a flight deserted his Tents and presently after facing about and setting upon them intent on the Plunder slew a great number and taking the City subdued likewise the Confines After which dividing the Lands among those wanted and giving them seats to inhabit in he made a League with all the People that inhabited those quarters chiefly on condition that they should be friends to the people of Rome and to that end mutual Oaths being given and taken they in future Wars proved very serviceable to the Romans for these things Gracchus name grew famous both in Spain and at Rome which he Magnificently entred in Triumph Not many years after a new and general War was kindled in Spain upon this occasion Segada a large and powerful City of those Celtiberians called Belli received into the League by Sempronius Gracchus inviting the Citizens of lesser Towns to joyn with them began to build a Wall four hundred furlongs about and compelling the Titthi a neighbouring people to do the same The Senate having certain intelligence hereof first forbid the building of the Wall next demanded the Tribute imposed by Gracchus And lastly for this was an Article in Gracchus League commanded they should attend the Romans in War As to what concerned the Wall the Celtiberians answered That indeed they were forbid by Gracchus to build any new Cities but about restoring or fortifying old ones there was not a word spoken and for the Tribute and Service it was since Gracchus time remitted by the Romans themselves And indeed so it was but when the Senate dispenses with any such priviledges they always add this exception so long as it shall be to theirs and the people of Romes good liking Nobilior was therefore sent against them with an Army of near thirty thousand whose coming the Segedians foreseeing because their Wall was not yet perfect fled with their Wives and Children to the Arvacci beseeching them to receive them who not only entertained them but chose likewise Carus a Segedian a man qualified for War for General who the third day after entrance into his command with twenty thousand Foot and five thousand Horse takes his Post in a place fit for Ambushes being quite covered over with Trees There as the Romans passed by he charged them and fought a long time without advantage but at length with the death of six thousand Roman Citizens as that time no small loss to the City he bravely overcame them but after the Victory with too much eagerness and disorder pursuing those that fled the Roman Horse left in guard of the Carriage falling on first slew Carus bravely opposing them and with him no fewer than six thousand men Night coming on ended this dispute This slaughter happened on a day by the Romans consecrated to Vulcan wherefore unless forced to it they will not on this day engage an Enemy The very same night the Arvacci met together at Numantia a very strong City and created two new Generals Ambo and Leuco Three days after Nobilior following them encamps within four and twenty Furlongs of the City whither came to him three hundred Horse and ten Elephants sent from Massanissa with which he advances towards the Enemy placing the Elephnts behind the first Battel that they might not at first be discovered by the Enemy The Fight beginning his Front falling off the suddain sight of those Beasts so terrified both the Celtiberians and their Horses who never before had seen Elephants that turning their backs they fled to the Town The Roman General pursuing the Flyers turns the Elephants to the Wall there maintaining a sharp conflict one of the Elephants wounded in the head with a great Stone grew angry and setting up a horrible roaring turns upon his own Party and without distinguishing Friend from Enemy began to rage against all he met The rest set on by his roaring began to do the same and in all places to â—rample under foot overturn and disorder the Romans for it is usual for Elephants when they are once vexed to take all they meet for Enemies for which perfidiousness they are by some called the common Enemy A general flight hereupon began among the Romans which the Numantines from the Walls beholding made a sally and falling in upon them dispersed and trampled down slew four thousand of them and three Elephants and took many Arms and some Ensigns Of the Celtiberians there were about two thousand slain Nobilior a little recruited after the loss endeavouring in vain to force the City of Auxenium where the Enemy had stored up their Provisions with the loss of no few men retreated into his Camp Thence he sent Biasius who commanded his Horse to certain neighbouring people that joyning friendship with him they might assist him with some Horsemen He returning and bringing some Horse with him the Celtiberians lay in Ambush for him who being discovered his associates fled but Biasius and many of the Romans with him were slain So many losses and disasters began to turn their Allies hearts from them Ocylis a City in which were the Magazines of Provisions and Treasure revolted to the Celtiberians Nobilior distrusting all things in the present necessity wintred in his Tents covered and close stopped but his want of Corn for he had his store with him was very great besides the violent hail and bitter cold cruelly afflicted the Soldiers so that many of them going to fetch in Wood and others in their hard Winter Lodgings dyed with Distempers caused by the extremity of the weather The next year Claudius Marcellus succeded Nobilior in his command bringing with him eight thousand Foot
and five hundred Horse At his first coming the Enemy in vain laid ambushes for him for proceeding circumspectly and cautiously he brought the Army in safety and pitch'd Camp before Ocylis which City being a General fortunate in War he presently subdued and taking Hostages and thirty Talents of Silver pardoned them The Nergobriges hearing of this clemency asked what they should do to obtain Peace likewise with him he demanded a hundred Horse to go to the War with him Those they promised but in the mean time some of them falling in the skirts of the Roman Army plundered some of the Baggage soon after the Horse they had covenanted to send coming and being demanded concerning the Baggage they made answer that some ignorant of the agreement made had done it but Marcellus commanded them to be dismounted and their Horses sold and afterwards dividing among his Soldiers the prey he had gathered wasting their Fields he besieged the City The Nergobriges when they saw that the Engines brought close to the Trench had shaken their Walls sent a Herald who instead of a Caduceus was cloathed in a Wolves skin to ask pardon for their faults the General refused it unless with them all the Arvani Belli and Titthi would ask it likewise which when they signified to them they forthwith sent all of them Deputies to Marcellus to entreat him that content with a moderate punishment he would again receive them into the Conditions of Gracchus League This Petition some people a little before by them provoked to War opposed wherefore Marcellus commanded the Legates of both parties to dispute it before the Senate but by private Letters he advised the Fathers to decide all Controversies for he was very desirous in the time of his Government to put an end to this War supposing he should thereby get Renown and Honour Now Ambassadors sent from confederate and associate Cities were wont to be admitted into the City and treated as Guests but these as coming from Enemies were according to Custom commanded to lodge in the Suburbs the Senate taking it ill that they though Nobilior who was in Spain before Marcellus had given his opinion for them had not permitted it to the Romans so they disallowed the Peace and gave the Legates no other answer then that Marcellus should declare to them the Senates pleasure Then decreeing an Army for Spain they chose the Soldiers by Lot which formerly they used to enrol by Centuries but because many had complained to the Consuls that they had hard measure while others were employed and taken up for easier service they thought it best to chuse the Army by Lot Licinius Lucullus Consul was made General and Cornelins Scipio his Lieutenant Whilst he is going to this War Marcellus advises the Celtiberians of the approaching War and restores the Hostages to those redemanded them After which privately sending for the Chief of the Ambassadors sent to Rome in the name of the Celtiberians and keeping him a long time with him he gave occasion to a suspicion which he afterwards much more increased that he was indeavouring to perswade the Celtiberians to leave all things to his Arbitrement he endeavouring by all means possible to put an end to the War before Lucullus coming For presently after this Conference five thousand Arvacci got into the City of Nertobriga And Marcellus leading his Army against Numantia and their Camps lying within five furlongs of the City when he drove the Numantines into their Walls Litennus their Prince stopping their course cryed out he desired conference with Marcellus This Marcellus heard with joyful ears and receiving the Hostages and Money he demanded sent them all home in peace By this means before Lucullus came the War with the Belli Arvacci and Titthi was brought to an end But Lucullus as covetous of Glory as of adding to his private Fortune which was but very slender presently with his Army enters the Confines of the Vaccaei a Nation of the Celtiberians bordering upon the Arvacci though he neither had command from the Senate nor had they made any War upon the Romans or any other way offended him and crossing the River called Tagus comes to the City Cauca and sets down before it The Citizens inquiring wherefore he came and what occasion there was for War he answered He came to the assistance of the Carpitani whom they had wronged whereupon they retreated into their City from whence not long after making a sally upon Lucullus men gone to provide Wood and Corn they slew many and drove the rest to their Tents And whenever they came to an Engagement the Caucaei who were almost all Light Armed Men were at the first for a while superiours but when their Darts were spent then they turned their backs unskilful and unaccustomed to a standing Fight so that once flying to their City by reason of the croud at their Gates near three thousand of them perished The next day all the gravest of the Citizens came out to Lucullus with Crowns and Olive Branches to know of him upon what Conditions they might buy his friendship they were answered by Hostages an hundred Talents in Silver and their Horsemen going to the Wars with the Romans which being presently agreed to Lucullus desired he might place a Garrison in the City which the Caucaei likewise yielded to he brings in two thousand of his chosen men whom he commanded as soon as they were got in to possess themselves of the Wall This done he lets in all his Army and at the Signal given by sound of Trumpet commands them to fall on and kill all the Caucaei without any distinction who invoking the Gods presiding over Oaths and Covenants and bitterly cursing the Roman perfidiousness were cruelly murdered of twenty thousand very few escaped by breaking open the Gates Lucullus having sack'd the City cast thereby a great infamy on the Roman Name The rest of the Barbarians flying out of the plain Country fled among the Precipices and places inaccessible others carried all they could into fortified Towns and what they were forced to leave they burnt that nothing might be left for Lucullus to plunder He therefore having wandred long enough in that Desert Country came to the Town of Intercatia where were drawn together twenty thousand Foot and two thousand Horse whom when Lucullus with imprudence enough would have perswaded to enter into a treaty of Peace they reproached him with the slaughter of the Caucaei asking whether it were not with the same Right Hand and the same Faith he had already pawned to the Caucaei With which revilings as it is ordinary for those whose consciences accuse them of guilt being extreamly galled he laid waste their Country And then besieging the City and intrenching himself he often drew out his Army in Battel to try if by any means he could draw the Enemy to a Battel but as they by all means avoided a set Fight so by continual skirmishes of Light Armed Foot they
had there left Then the two Roman Generals joyning together whilst Hannibal staid in Lucania begirt Capua with a Trench and a Wall and drawing other Lines without pitch'd their Camp between both raising Bulwarks both towards the City and towards the Country to oppose the assaults of the Enemy so that the face of their Camp was like a great Town inclosing a little City and the space between their Lines and the Town being about two Furlongs like a Theater where daily Combats were to be seen the stoutest men on both sides continually challenging and provoking one another among which that of Claudius Atellus was very memorable he was challenged by one Taureas a Campanian whom having overcome the vanquished fled towards the City Claudius pursuing him to the very Walls not being able to turn his Horse the Gate standing to receive his Enemy he was carried in and running through the whole Town got out at the other Gate and came safe to his own party a strange success of undesigned boldness Hannibal without doing the business which he was sent for into Lucania returned to Capua to undertake the defence of that City which he knew for so many and so great things commodious for the Romans wherefore he assaulted their Works but when he could by no manner of means prevail to send in any supply of Men or Provisions into the Town for the Siege was so close that he could neither send in nor get any intelligence out of the City he with all his Army marched directly towards Rome moved thereunto because he heard that Famine was in the City and out of hopes either to draw the Romans from the Siege of Capua or act something greater than the relief of that place Wherefore continuing his March with a great confluence of Warlike People wherefore some perswaded themselves that for want of strength they would not so much as stop his passage others thought they should not so much as fight for it he came and encamped by the River Anien within thirty Furlongs of the City Never was Rome struck with such Fear and Tumult They wanted all manner of Forces those they had being in Campania and unexpectedly a mighty Army was coming towards them led by a General whose Valor and Fortune made him unconquerable yet with such Forces as they had who were able to bear Arms they set Guards at the Gates The Old Men leaped up on the Walls and the Women and Children brought Darts and Stones great multitudes flocked to them out of the Country the whole City rung with Howlings Lamentations Prayers and mutual Exhortations some going out of the City broke down the Bride that was over the Anien The Romans had built a very little Town among the Aequi and called it Alba after the name of their Metropolis or mother City but in Process of time whether by lengthning or corrupting the word or to distinguish them from the Albans they were called Albenies two thousand of these coming to participate in the danger of Rome were presently armed and placed at the guard of the Gates So much faith and kindness at that time one only Colony among so many showed towards the Romans imitating the Example of the Plateans who with a small Number joyned with the Athenians at the fight at Marathon that by united force they might repulse the present danger The Roman General Annius stay'd at Capua not doubting to reduce that City the other Claudius Flaccus by another way with incredible expedition came and pitcht his Camp opposite to Hannibal on the other side of the Anien Who when Hannibal saw the bridge broken down and found Claudius encamped on the other side he resolved to march round by the springs of the River and Claudius likewise thereupon removed his Camp Here Hannibal made use of his wonted stratagems he left some Horse who when the Armies were retired Fording the River wasted the Roman Territory and when they had terrified the City according to orders returned to Hannibal When he had got round the springs 't is reported that he came by night with three spies to the City not far distant and privately taking a view of the site of it observed the great fear and solitude within the walls yet after all this he returned to Capua whether some God or any other accident at that time averted him whether he dreaded the Valor and Fortune of the City or whether as he used often to say to his Friends exhorting him to the Conquest of it that he would not ruine it least when that was done the Carthaginians should take from him the Command and reduce him to the quality of a private Man for as for the Claudian Army it was no way to be compared with Hannibal's Yet Claudius at Hannibal's return followed him at the heels thinking he did enough if he hindred him from Forraging and took care that by Ambushes he did not damnifie him Yet Hannibal in a dark and moonless night having discovered the place whither Claudius Army tended built indeed no wall but throwing up a trench and leaving some intervals for Gates and lastly raising a Rampire which might serve instead of a Wall opposite to it there continued himself and sending his Horse to a certain eminence fortified by Nature charged them there to stand quiet and not move from the place till the Romans should possess themselves of that place he hoped they would believe to be void Then he gave Command to his Indians that getting upon their Elephants they should by any means between the intervals or over the Rampire get into Claudius Camp At a little distance from these he commanded some Trumpets and Cornets to follow with Orders as they entred to make the greatest noise they could possible that their Numbers might seem the greater sending along with them some that could speak the Latine Tongue who were to call out aloud to the Soldiers by Claudius Orders to desert their Tents and escape to the next hill This stratagem of Hannibal's succeeded at first to his mind and according as he had designed it for Elephants trod down the Rampire and the Trumpets followed them whose noise filling the ears of the Roman Soldiers starting out of their beds in a dark night and so unexpectedly struck a mighty terror into them Besides hearing in the Latine Tongue Command given about possessing the other Hill they already addressed themselves to flight But Claudius to whom all Hannibal's devices as full of deceit and treachery were suspected immediately out of his own prudence or by instinct from some God or else being by some Captive informed of the whole project dispatched away the Military Tribunes into the way leading to the hill to stop such as rushed out and tell them that those Orders were Proclaimed not by their Generals Command but by Hannibal's and therewithal himself drawing first strong guards to the Rampire to repulse the Enemy if perhaps any assault should be made ran through the tents
him the Honour of Triumph As they were making in the Suburbs Magnificent Preparation for his Entry the day designed for the Election of Consuls drawing nigh of necessity those who demanded that Dignity must be present and it was not permitted after entring the City without Pomp to make another Entry in Triumph He had a long time passionately desired the Consulate and the things necessary for his Triumph were not yet ready Wherefore he presented a Request to the Senate that he might have permission to demand that Dignity by his Friends which he knew had been granted others though it were forbid by the Law The last day being come whereon those that pretend to the Consulate must give in their Names and Cato continually opposing Caesar's Request he renounced his Triumph entred into the City and made his Declaration expecting the day of the Assembly Mean time Pompey Illustrious and Powerful because of the great Actions he had done against Mithridates demanded of the Senate the Ratification of many things he had granted to Kings Tetrarchs and Cities which many opposed out of the Envy they bore this Great Man But especially Lucullus who being recalled out of Asia when he had quite weakned the Forces of that King having left the same Pompey that War easie to terminate vaunted that the Honour of that Victory belonged to him and had drawn Crassus to his side Pompey vexed that his Designs were opposed makes Alliance with Caesar promising him upon Oath that he would serve him to get the Consulship and soon after by Caesar's means Crassus was reconciled to Pompey Thus these three great Men served one another to obtain what they desired And the Historian Varro who writ a Book of their Union calls it the Three-headed Conspiracy Wherefore the Senate beginning to suspect their Power gave to Caesar L. Bibulus his Enemy for his Colleague between whom there soon happened such a difference as made them take up Arms one agaist the other But Caesar knowing the Art of Dissembling made in full Senate an Oration to Bibulus upon the Subject of Concord as if he would prevent their Dissentions from causing any Inconveniency to the Commonwealth Now whilst it seemed in all outward appearance that he endeavoured seriously for Peace and that the other who doubted nothing stood not upon his Guard all on a suddain he comes to the Senate accompanied with a great Multitude of People and proposes a Law in favour of the Poor He distributed Lands to them gave to them that were Fathers of three Children Campania the most fertile Territory belonging to Italy and by this means got the Love and favour of the People for there were twenty thousand found under that Qualification And when many of the Senate opposed the Publication of these Laws he withdrew from the Palace as if not able to endure their Injustice and all that Year there was no more Session of the Senate But he went to the place for Orations and mounting the Tribunal demanded of Pompey and Crassus who still assisted him if those Laws did not to them seem reasonable and after having received their approbation demanded the suffrages of the people who came to that Assembly with Arms under their Gowns As for the Fathers for the Senate could not Assemble but by the order of both Consuls they held some private meetings in Bibulus house but all that did nothing against the Power and Interest of Caesar yet they ceased not to provoke Bibulus to oppose the Laws of his Colleague whatever should happen by it That it might rather be said he was overcome by the Malice of another than by his own remissness He ventured therefore upon the place one day as Caesar was making an Oration to the people and a Tumult arising about some words they had together they came to blows Bibulus his Rods were broken and some Tribunes that took his part wounded but he without being daunted presented his naked Neck to Caesar's Faction with these words If I cannot perswade my Colleague what is just I will at least by my death make him Criminal and Execrable However his Friends pulled him thence and caused him to enter the Temple of Iupiter Stator which is nigh the place Then Cato being strong and vigorous overthrew all those stood in his way got up into an eminent place and began to speak but those of Caesar's Party drew him out of the place which yet made him not give over for he returned again by another way crying out continually against Caesar till being again carried away by force the Consul got the Laws past The People having sworn to observe them they would have the Senators take the same Oath which some by Cato's perswasion having refused to do he proposed to the People to declare Criminal whoever would not swear And this Declaration being passed they all took the Oath for fear even the Tribunes themselves who had opposed in vain since the Law was ratified Mean while a certain man of the People called Vetius ran into the middle of the place crying out he was sent by Bibulus Cicero and Cato to kill Caesar and Pompey and that Dagger was to that purpose put in his hand by Posthumius Lictor to Bibulus Though this matter were much suspected Caesar made use of it to embitter the Multitude and referred the Information till the next day but Vetius was the night following killed in Prison This Accident admitted of divers Interpretations but Caesar cast the fault on some who had a sense of their being guilty and managed things so that the People permitted him to take Guards to secure him from such Attempts as might be made upon his Person And now Bibulus quitted absolutely the Government of the Commonwealth and remained in his house as a private Person all the Remainder of his Consulate But his Colleague seeing himself Master of all without troubling himself to make any Information about Vetius business laboured to make more Laws in favour of the People and according to his promise made all that Pompey had done to be approved In these times the Knights who were the middle Order between the Senate and the People powerful both by reason of their proper Riches and the Profits which they made of the Imposts which they farmed from the People highly courted Caesar in so much that supported by his favour they presented their Request to the Senate for an Abatement of the Rent of their Farms And when the Fathers demurred upon and withstood it without taking notice of their Oppositions by the sole consent of the People he abated them a third part Whereupon the Knights having received a greater favour than they demanded or durst hope for cryed up to the Skies him from whom they had received it And now Caesar grew stronger than he was before in the favour of the People for by this only benefit he gained a great number of interessed Persons to sustain his Dignity Besides all this to gain so
with the liberality of their General Indeed he gave profusely to them to prepare them to the execution of his Designs of which they were not ignorant nor therefore became they less affectionate to him but Pompey giving credit to the reports brought him neither made any Levies of Men nor any other preparations capable to sustain so great a War To proceed when they next in Senate debated this Affair and that the Fathers spoke their opinion one after the other the Consul by a wile having demanded them apart if they were of the opinion to take away Pompey's Command many were of a contrary mind and after asking if they thought it convenient to send a Successor to Caesar they all agreed to it But Curio then asking anew if they would not that both should dismiss their Forces there was but two and twenty contradicted it and three hundred and seventy all affectionate to the publick good followed Curio's judgment whereupon the Consul dismissing the Assembly cryed out Well then take Caesar for your Master Soon after a false rumour coming that Caesar had passed the Alpes and was marching directly to the City all the World was allarm'd and the Consuls proposed to the Senate to send for the Legions were at Capua to employ against him as an Enemy of the State Whereupon Curio saying that the news was false the Consul grew angry and said Since in consulting of Affairs with all the Senate I am hindred from providing for the safety of the Common-welth I will provide alone according to the power which I have After which going out of the City with his Colleague and presenting a Sword to Pompey We order you said he my Colleague and I to march against Caesar and fight for your Country and to that purpose we give you that Army is at Capua or in any other place of Italy with power to raise Forces at your discretion He declared he would obey them because it was their command but adding withal these words If no better Expedient can be found Which he did craftily to perswade them of the sincerity of his intentions Though Curio had no farther power in the Administration of the Common-wealth a Tribune not being permitted to go out of the circuit of the Walls yet he deplored in all Assemblies of the People the present state of Affairs and was so bold as to demand is full Senate that all People should be forbid enrolling themselves in the Forces levyed by Pompey but seeing he laboured in vain and lost all hopes of being able to serve his Friend the time of his Tribuneship being almost past and likewise growing fearful for himself he departed on a sudden to go and find out Caesar who being lately returned from England had crossed that Gaul which is bounded by the Rhine and passed the Alpes with five thousand Foot and three hundred Horse He met him on the way to Revenna which is the Frontier of Italy and the last Town of his Government where he received Curio with all possible testimonies of good will and after having thanked him for the services he had done him desired his counsel in what he had to do Curio advised him to send as speedily as he could for his Forces and lead them to the City but Caesar chose rather first to try some way of Accommodation wherefore he writ to his Friends that they should endeavour to obtain of the Senate that he might only keep two Legions with the Government of the hither Gaul and Illyria till such time as he was named Consul and that he would deliver up to whoever they should send for Successor all the rest of the Province and all the remainder of his Forces Pompey was content with the proposition but because the Consuls opposed it Caesar writ to the Senate a Letter which Curio having rode three thousand and three hundred Furlongs in three days gave to the new Consuls as they entred the Palace the first day of the year In the beginning he spoke in advantageous terms of the great things that he had done then he protested that he was ready to quit his command so Pompey would do this same but if Pompey kept it he would keep it too and should suddenly be in the City to revenge the outrages done as well to him as to his Country When they heard these last words they all cryed out that he declared War by this Letter and immediately nominated for his Successor L. Domitius who departed soon after with four thousand Men new levied and because Anthony and Cassius Tribunes of the People were of Curio's mind the Senate grew so much the hotter against him and giving Pompey's Army the name of the Army of the Common-wealth declared that of Caesar Enemy to their Country And at last Marcellus and Lentulus Consuls ordered those Tribunes to go out of the Senate for fear lest without having regard to their Dignity though sacred they should be evilly treated Then Anthony leaping from his Seat in Choler invoked with great cries the faith of men and God and lamented that an authority which had hitherto been held sacred was no longer in security and that they shamefully drove from the Senate those who proposed saving advice as if they had been guilty of Murder or some other crime Afte having said these words he departed in a fury foretelling as if he had been a Divine the Wars Proscriptions Banishments and Confiscations wherewith the City was threatened and making horrible imprecations against those who were the cause of all their miseries Curio and Cassius withdrew likewise with him for Pompey's Soldiers were already come to environ the Palace and they departed all three together in the Habit of Slaves upon hired Horses and so got to Caesar. He shewed them in the condition they were to his Soldiers to enrage them the more telling them that after all their great services they were declared Enemies to their Country and that those great men had been shamefully driven out of the Senate because they had only said a word in their defence The War being thus declared on both sides the Senate who believed that the Army out of Gaul could not come in a long time to Caesar and that with so few Forces as he had he would not take the Field gave order to Pompey to send for out of Thessaly thirteen thousand Men that were of the old Soldiers and to enrol men in pay of the most warlike Nations circumadâ—acent with power to take money out of the Treasury to defray the expence of the War and in case the publick money should fail there were several private men would advance it till such time as it could be levyed upon the Cities of Italy which they laboured to do with much haste and rigour For Caesar's part he had sent people to bring his Army but being accustomed to succeed more by diligence striking a terrour and hardiness than any mighty preparations he resolved to begin this
great War with his five thousand Men and seise of some places of Italy were commodious for him first he sent before to Rimini some Centurions and Men who were to enter the City as Passengers and then all of a sudden to seise on that City the first that offers it self coming from Gaul and himself in the Evening going out as if he had found himself ill after a Feast leaves his Friends and mounting in a Chariot drove himself the same way followed at a distance by his Cavalry when he came to the Banks of Rubicon he stopped some time looking upon the water and thinking of the calamities he went about to be the cause of if he passed that River in Arms. At length turning to those of his Train My Friends said he if I pass not this River immediately it will be to me the beginning of all misfortunes and if I do pass it I go to make a world of people miserable and therewithal as if he had been pressed forward by some Divinity he drave into the stream and crossing it cries with a loud voice The Lot is cast From whence continuing on his way with speed he seised on Rimini by break of day and all in an instant places Garrisons in all the good places of that Country which he reduced either by force or favour Mean while as it happens in these unexpected Allarms the whole Country was filled with people flying the Countrymen forsaking their Habitations and nothing was to be heard but Cries and Lamentations and Groans yet no man knew from whence this disorder came but all imagined that Caesar was upon them with all his Forces The Consuls receiving the news gave not Pompey who perfectly understood War leisure to prepare himself and take his own time they began to press him to be gone out of the City and make Levies of Forces in Italy as if Rome had been in immediate danger of being taken and plundered And the Senate surprised with so unlooked for an irruption were terrified and began to repent they had not accepted those reasonable conditions offered by Caesar but this was not till fear had opened their eyes and led them back from Partiality to Reason for now men talked of a great many Prodigies and extraordinary Signs which had appeared in the Heavens that it had rained Blood in many places that in others the Statues of the Gods had sweat that many Temples had been struck with Thunderbolts that a Mule had engendred besides an infinite of other things which seemed to foretel the change of the present state and the ruine of the Common-wealth so as it should never be re-established wherefore they made Vows and Prayers as in a publick Consternation And the people remembring again the miseries they had suffered because of the Dissentions of Sylla and Marius cryed out that they ought to take away the Command as well from Caesar as from Pompey since that was the only means to prevent a War Cicero himself was of opinion that Deputies should be sent to Caesar to treat an Accommodation but the Consuls absolutely opposed it Favonius quipping at Pompey because of a word he had once said with too much arrogance Bid him stamp on the ground with his Foot and see if any armed Men would rise To which Pompey answered You will want none so you will follow me and are not troubled to leave the City and Italy it self if there be occasion for people of courage said he do not make liberty consist in the possession of Lands and Houses they cannot want in any place they come to and if they lose not their courage will soon recover their Houses and Lands After having said these words and protested he would hold him for an Enemy that out of fear to lose what he possessed deserted the Common-wealth in extreme danger he went out of the Palace and soon after out of the City to joyn the Army that was at Capua The Consuls followed him presently but the other Senators weighted it a little longer and spent all the night in the Palace without resolving any thing and at length as soon as it was break of day the greater part followed the same way after Pompey Mean time Caesar having reached at Corfinium L. Domitius whom they had sent for his Successor with four thousand Men of which he had already lost a part he besieged him in the City from whence endeavouring to escape the Inhabitants stopped him at the Gate and brought him to Caesar to whom the Remainder of his Forces yielded themselves he received them kindly that he might draw others by their example and without doing any wrong to Domitius he suffered him to go whither he pleased with all his Equipage hoping by this courtesie to oblige him to take his Party yet without hindring him from going to find out Pompey These things being done in such an instant Pompey on the other side marches from Capua to Nucera and from Nucera to Brundusium that he might from thence pass to Epire where he designed to establish the Seat of the War he writ to all Provinces and those that commanded them to Kings themselves to Sovereigns and particular Cities that with all convenient speed they should send him what Forces they could supply him with in which every one laboured with all his power He had his own particular Army in Spain ready to march at his first command and for those Legions he had with him he gave one part of them to the Consuls whom he sent before into Epire they embarquing at the same time at Brundusium happily crossed the Gulf and landed at Dyrrachium which some by mistake think to be Epidamnum for Epidamnus King of the Barbarians who inhabited those Countries built near the Sea the City to which he gave his own name and Dyrrachus his Grand-son by his Daughter whom they said was begot by Neptune added to this City a Port which they call Dyrrachium This Dyrrachus being in War with his Brother Hercules returning from Erythrea assisted him on condition to have a part of the Country for his reward Hence comes it that the Dyrrachians call him their Founder as having part in the Lands which they possessed not that they disavow Dyrrachus but they are well pleased out of vanity to derive their original from a God rather than a Man 'T is reported that in the Fight Hercules ignorantly slew Ionius the Son of Dyrrachus and after having payed him all Funeral Honours threw the Body into the Sea which from him was called Ionian Some Phrygians having deserted their Country seised afterwards on this and on the City it self where they remained a long time till after them the like was done by the Taulantieni who are a people of Illyria and again by the Liburnians another Nation of Illyria who used to rob their Neighbours in very swift Brigantines which the Romans afterwards making use of called Liburnicks The Dyrrachians chased away by the Liburnians having called
and so filthy that he was not to be known but when they called him in his order of the Roll the Son who was seated near Caesar hearing the name of Metellus leaped from his place and ran with rears in his eyes to embrace his Father whom he scarcely knew and then restraining his tears spoke thus to Caesar He bore Arms against you I have served you he deserves punishment I reward I beseech you then either pardon my Father in consideration of the services I have done you or let me die with him for the offences he has committed against you This Discourse moving all the Assembly to compassion Caesar promised to give life to Metellus though he had been his greatest Enemy and that he could never by any offers he made oblige him to serve against Anthony The Slaves of Maricius were so faithful and so fortunate as to keep him in the House all the time of the Proscription insomuch that when the danger was over he came out of his House as if he came out of Banishment Hirtius being escaped out of the City with his Slaves went throughout Italy releasing Prisoners gathering together Fugitives and at first plundering small Towns afterwards greater till such time as he beheld himself at the Head of considerable Forces and subdued the Brutians but the Triumvirate sending against him a potent Army he retreated with all his People to Pompey Restion thinking to flie alone was privately followed by one of his Slaves born in his House whom formerly he had used kindly but since branded in his Face with a hot Iron for his Roguery His Master as he was lying down in the Marches seeing him come was much affrighted which the Slave observing told him the Brand he had set in his Face touched him not so much as the memory of his former Benefits and at the same time hiding him in a Cave fed him by his labour in the best manner he could and afterward perceiving the Soldiers who were not far from the Cave and were coming thither upon suspicion some one might be there hid he fell upon an old Man that passed by slew him and cut off his Head whereupon the Soldiers wondring at the action and laying hold on him as a Murderer he told him It is Restion my Master whom I have thus slain to revenge these marks of Infamy whereupon they presently took from him the Head that they might have the reward which whilst they in vain went to seek at the City he removed his Master thence and got him a passage into Sicily Appius being in Bed in a small Country House whither the Soldiers came to seek him one of his Slaves pulled off his Cloaths which making him put on he lay down in the Bed as if he had been the Master and was willingly slain for him Appius standing by in the Habit of a Slave In the same manner Menemius being besieged by the Soldiers in his House one of the Slaves went into his Litter and caused himself to be carried out by some of his Comrades who contributed to his design and so was killed for his Master who by that means escaped for Sicily A Freed Man of Iunius called Philemon who dwelt in a magnificent House hid him in a publick Room in a strong Chest made to keep Writings or Plate and fed him by night till the time of peace Another Freed Man to whom was committed the keeping of his Master's Sepulchre whose Son was likewise proscribed kept there both Father and Son Lucretius having wandered some time up and down the Fields with two faithful Slaves was at last by hunger forced to return and see his Wife causing himself to that end to be carried by the Slaves in his Litter as a sick Man one of those that carried him having broke his Leg he pursued his way supporting himself upon the other But when he came near to that Gate where his Father proscribed by Sylla was taken and saw a company of Soldiers coming towards him his heart upon the omen of the place misgave him and he went and hid himself in a Sepulchre Certain Thieves used to rob Sepulchres coming thither he let himself be stripped The Slave while his Master lay close was gone towards the Gate where he waited for him and when he came covering him with some part of his Cloaths carried him in that manner to his Wife There was in his House a Room double floored where she hid him till by the intercession of his Friends he got pardon from the Triumvirs and after peace was made obtained the Consulate Sergius remained some time hid in Anthony's own House who at last managed Affairs so by the means of the Consul Plancus that his return was assented to wherefore when Caesar and Anthony after fell at odds when the Senate declared Anthony Enemy Sergius was the only man that openly opposed it As for Pomponius he took the Habit and Ensign of a Pretor and having cloathed his Slaves like Ushers went as a Pretor all the length of the City with his Litters his Officers crowding close about him for fear he should be known by others being got out of the Gates he mounted in one of the publick Coaches and marching in this Equipage through Italy was every where received as a Pretor deputed from the Triumvirs to make peace with Pompey till such time as he passed into Sicily upon one of the publick Galleys Apuleius and Aruntius acted the Centurions armed their Slaves like Soldiers and run about the City as if they had pursued some Proscripts At length separating they began to release Prisoners and to gather together Fugitives till having levyed some Troops each beheld himself with Ensigns Arms and a certain kind of Army both one and the other strove to get the Sea side and therefore came to encamp on certain eminencies in view of each other one mightily afraid of the other Morning coming on they took one the other for Enemies came down from the Hills and engaged each other till at length knowing their errour they threw down their Arms and with tears embraced casting this accident on fortune which had been cross to them in all things After that they embarqued and made their retreat Aruntius to Pompey with whom he returned to the City and Apuleiâ—s to Brutus whose Lieutenant he was in the Government of Bithynia which after Brutus's death falling to Anthony he permitted him to return to his House As soon as Ventidius was proscribed one of his Freed Men bound him as if it were to deliver him to the Executioners the Night following he armed all his Slaves like Soldiers and as if he had been Centurion brought forth his Patron and managed his business with so much cunning that crossing in this manner all Italy as far as Sicily they lodged often in the same Inn with other Centurions under pretence of searching for Ventidius Another whom his Freed Man had hid in a Sepulchre being struck with horrour
will be easie for you still to trade by Sea and to import and export your Commodities without very great trouble for we have not ordained your retreat from the Sea above fourscore Furlongs and we our selves are distant at least a hundred We permit you to chuse such a place as shall best like you and live with all freedom in your new Habitations and this is what we meant when we told you that the City of Carthage should remain free if they obeyed us in this occasion for speaking of the City we believed not to be understood to have spoken of its Foundations or its Walls but its Citizens Here Censorinus stopped but seeing the Carthaginians were likewise silent he added that What he had said was only to perswade and comfort them And now said he the Orders of the Senate must be put in execution and that out of hand wherefore withdraw your selves for as yet we consider you as Deputies Upon hearing these words the Ushers made them go forth but they foreseeing the disorder this news would bring to Carthage desired once more audience and being again admitted spake again in this manner We see well that we must obey since you will not permit us to send to Rome nor have we any hopes of ever returning again to you for our Citizens before we shall have done speaking will tear us in pieces wherefore we beg you not for our concern we have already set up our Rest but for the interest of Carthage to oblige them by terror to support the Calamity they groan under that to that end you would cause your Fleet to approach the City whilst we are on the way thither to the intent that they at once understanding your design and seeing the danger whereupon they are threatened falling upon them may suffer if possible the execution of your Command Iudge you to what the injustice of our fortune has reduced us when we are constrained to demand your Forces against our selves Having uttered these words they departed and Censorinus went to plant himself within view of Carthage with twenty Galleys whilst one part of the Deputies took a quite different way from the City and the rest went thitherward quite overwhelmed with sorrow and grief The Carthaginians stood upon their Walls to discover their return at a distance and some tore their hairs out of impatience to see them coming others ran out to meet them to hear the news but when they beheld them quite cast down with sadness they smote their Brests demanding how things had passed some in the general others when they met a Friend or any one they knew stopped them and enquired but when they received no answer they gave themselves over to tears judging all was lost those who from the Walls perceived it wept likewise for company without knowing wherefore but out of an inward presage of some great misfortune The Deputies being come to the Gate the people thronged so thick that they were ready to stifle one another and ready they were to have torn in pieces the Deputies had they not told them that before they could answer them they must have conference with the Senate Hereupon some gave place and others made way for them that they might the sooner know the truth After they were entred the Palace and the multitude were retired the Senate took their Seats and the people stood all about the Senate-House And now the Deputies having told them the command they had received from the Consuls there was raised a confused cry in the Assembly which the people that were without answered by a dreadful noise But when the Deputies continued their discourse and declared the reasons they had used to move the Romans they again kept a profound silence out of the desire every man had to know the event which made the people quiet too but when they understood that they were not suffered so much as to send to Rome they burst forth into hideous groans and outcries and the people forcing their Guards entred confusedly into the Palace where now there was nothing but rage and fury All the Rabble like so many Bacchantes possessed with different sorts of madness fell some upon the Senators who had advised the giving of Hostages tearing them in pieces as if they had been the first cause of their surprise others treated in the same manner those who had counselled the delivery of their Arms some threw Stones at the Deputies as the bringers of ill news others ran like Furies up and down the Streets and finding some Italians who by chance had staid in the City not dreaming of this unexpected misfortune treated them with a thousand sorts of Indignities telling them they would have revenge for the Hostages sent to Rome and for the Arms taken from them All the City was filled with tears and rage with fear and threatenings some running through the Streets called out to their Friends others ran to the Temples blaspheming the Gods that had not power to defend their own Altars some running to the Arsenals wept for grief to see them empty others running to the Havens with tears bemoaned their Ships delivered to faithless men others again called their Elephants by name as if they had still been with them accusing and blaming both themselves and their Predecessors and arguing that they ought never to have yielded up neither Elephants nor Ships nor Arms nor consented to pay Tribute for that it had been much more honourable to have died for their Country with their Arms in their hands But nothing more enflamed the anger of the people than the Mothers of the Hostages whom they might behold like Furies in a Tragedy flie upon all they met with reproaching them that they had robbed them of their Children and demanding satisfaction In conclusion some more reserved than the rest after having barricadoed up the Gates gathered Stones and carried them upon the Walls to serve against the Enemy instead of other Arms. The same day it was concluded in the Senate that they should stand upon their Defence and Proclamation was made for the general freedom of Slaves They likewise nominated Generals of which one was Asdrubal whom they had condemned to death and who had already twenty thousand Men in Arms and to him they presently dispatched a Deputy to entreat him that now in his Countries extremity he would not remember the offence he had received which was only occasioned by the fear they had of the Romans Him they appointed to keep the Field and for the City they chose another Asdrubal Grand-child to Masanissa by one of his Daughters This done they dispatched once more to the Consuls to demand only thirty days time during which their Deputies should go to Rome which being refused they took a resolution to suffer all extremities rather than abandon their City And now might be seen an universal change in mens minds the Temples likewise and the Palace and other spacious places were changed into publick
Shops wherein men and women laboured night and day without respit unless so much time as necessity and nature required for food and sleep so that every day they made one hundred Bucklers three hundred Swords a thousand Arrows for the Cross-bow five hundred Darts and Javelins and as many Cross-bows as they could and when they wanted strings to bend them with the Women cut off their Hair to make Cords of Whilst the Carthaginians prepared for War with so much care and diligence the Consuls were not so pressing whether it troubled them to resolve upon doing a thing so extraordinary or that they thought they could when ever they pleased with ease take by force a disarmed City Besides they imagined that necessity would soon take them off their courage it being ordinary that those who in the extremity of Affairs are at first furiously opposite after having more closely considered the matter grow fearful of displeasing those who have the power of destroying them which happened in effect in Carthage where a certain man perceiving his Fellow-Citizens already growing sensible of fear came into the Assembly under another pretence and told them that of many evils the least was to be chosen when they had not wherewithal to defend themselves Mean while Masanissa was not well satisfied that he having brought down the Power and Glory of the Carthaginians the Romans should come and snatch the Victory out of his hands and had crossed the Sea without first communicating their design to him which they had used to do in former Wars However when the Consuls to sound his intentions demanded his assistance he replyed he would not be wanting as soon as he knew they stood in need of it and indeed sometime after he sent one to the Confuls to know if they had any thing for him to do but they not enduring his Pride and mistrusting him as a person grown angry made answer that when they stood in need of him they would send him word and yet were they at present in some straits for Provisions which were only brought them from Adrumetum Leptis Saxa Utica and Chella for Asdrubal held all the rest of Lybia from whence he sent what he could to Carthage Some days being passed the two Consuls drew their Army near the City resolved to besiege it It was situate in the great Golf of Africa encompassed by the Sea in form of a Peninsula the Neck of which dividing it from the Continent was about five and twenty Furlongs broad Towards the West there stretched out a long Point of Land about half a Furlong wide which advancing into the Sea divided it from the Marish and was inclosed on all sides with Rocks and with a single Wall Towards the South and the Continent where stood the Cittadal called Byrsa it was inclosed with a triple Wall of thirty Cubits high not accounting the height of the Parapets and Towers which flanked it round in equal distances of about two Acres one from another Their Foundations were about thirty Foot deep and they were four Stories high the Walls reaching only to the second but they were vaulted and that so vastly that underground there were Stalls for three hundred Elephants with all things necessary for their sustenance and above Stables for four thousand Horse and Lofts for their Provender besides there were Lodgings for twenty thousand Footmen and four thousand Horsemen in short all their ordinary preparations for War were lodged in their Walls only There was but one place of the City where the Walls were low and weak This was a neglected Angle which began at the Point of Land we spoke of before and reached to the Ports for they had two Ports disposed in such manner that a Ship might easily go from one to the other and yet there was but one entrance through a passage of about sixty six Foot wide secured with Chains the first was for Merchants where were many and divers sorts of Quarters for the Mariners the other which was the inner Port was for the Men of War in the midst of which stood an Island encompassed about as well as the Port with vast Keys in which there were Places or Docks to put under covert two hundred and twenty Ships and above Store-houses where they wrought and made all things necessary for the Shipping the Fronts of each place were upheld by two Pillars of Marble of Ionick workmanship so that the whole round as well of the Port as the Island represented on both sides two magnificent Gallies Within this Island stood the Admirals Palace from whence the Trumpet gave the Signal of his Orders from whence he published his Ordinances and from whence he overlooked all things The Island stood directly opposite to the mouth of the Port extending it self a good way forward so that from thence the Admiral could discern what passed at Sea a great distance off but those at Sea could not perceive what passed within nay when the Merchants were entred into their Port they could not see the Men of War for their Port was separate from the inward Port by a double Wall and for them there was an entrance from their Port by a Gate into the City without passing into the other Such was at this time the face of Carthage The Consuls having each taken their quarter began their assaults Manlius to the Landside with design to fill up the Ditch and possess himself of the Rampire within it that so he might afterwards attempt the high Walls and Censorinus from the Sea causing Ladders to be planted both on the Shore and in his Ships against that ill fortified Angle which had been always neglected they both despised their Enemy believing him disarmed but when they found new made Arms and Men fully resolved to defend themselves they were surprised as at a Prodigy and retreated acknowledging that from the very first they committed an errour in believing they should carry the City without fighting They made a second assault which succeeding no better than the first increased the courage of the Carthaginians and now the Consuls fearing Asdrubal who lay encamped on the edge of the Marish lodged their Forces apart Censorinus with his Naval Army in the Marish against the Walls of the City and Manlius on the neck of the Peninsula towards the Continent Being thus posted Censorinus passed the Marish to go in search of Materials for the building of Engines where he lost five hundred Workmen and great quantity of Arms having been encountred by Amilcar sirnamed Phameas Colonel of the Carthaginian Horse yet forbore he not the bringing of Materials with which having caused to be made Ladders and other Engines he with them returned to the aâ—â—ault but in vain Manlius after some slight attempts and beating down part of the first Wall desparing of success gave over the Enterprise but Censorinus having filled up a part of the Marish near to the point of the Land to gain more room raised two Rams of
to Mithridates of Pergamus who had served him well in Aegypt but at this day all those people are free and there are yearly Praetors sent into the Kingdoms of Pontus and Bithynia Caesar confirmed all those who had received favours from Pompey in the Estates and Governments he had given them though he complained they had taken part with their Benefactor to his Prejudice save only the priest-hood of Commanes which he took from Archelaus to give to Nicomedes But some time after not only these Estates but also all that C. Caesar and M. Anthony had given to others were reunited to the Roman Empire after that Augustus became Master of Aegypt for the Romans let slip no opportunity to enlarge their Empire Wherefore having extended it by the Mithridatick War from the Euxine Sea to the sandy Desarts of Aegypt and from the Pillars of Hercules which are in Spain to the Euphrates It was not without reason they called this Victory great or gave to Pompey who made all these Conquests the Title of Greaâ— they possessed likewise all Africa as far as Cyrene it self which was given them by the Testament of Appion the last King of that Countrey who was a Bastard of the Race of the Lagides so that to have the whole Circuit of the Mediterranian Sea they wanted only Aegypt which was their last Conquest The end of the fourth Book of the Romans War with Mithridates APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Roman Wars IN ILLYRIA PART I. BOOK V. The Argument of this Book I. DEscription of Illyria and those who first inhabited it II. Apollo 's Chastisement of the Illyrians Sacriledge III. The Romans War with Agron King of Illyria IV. Their Wars against Demetrius and against Genthius V. Against the Ardians Palarians Iapodes Segestians and Dalmatians VI. The affairs of C. Caesar with the Dalmatians and other Nations of Illyria VII Beginning of Augustus Conquests in Illyria VIII His War against the Iapodes and the Siege of Metulia IX His Wars against the Segestians and Paeonians X. His Expedition against the Dalmatians and the siege of Promona XI The Conclusion of this History THE Illyrians according to the opinion of the Greeks are the People that inhabit above Macedon and Thrace from the Charnians and the Thesprotes as far as the Ister and this is the Length of Illyria its breadth extends from Macedon and the Mountains of Thrace as far as the Paeonians and the Ionian Sea and the end of the Alps. It contains five days Journey in breadth and its length is thrice as much as the Greeks report the Romans after measuring it found it six thousand Furlongs long and twelve hundred broad and assure us that it took its name from Illyrius Polyphemus and that Polyphemus the Cyclops had three Sons by Galatea Celtus Illyrius and Gallus who going out of Sicily gave their Names to the Celtes Illyrians and Galatians of which Nation they made themselves Kings and indeed this opinion seems to me the most probable of all They say likewise that Illyrius had sons Achilles Autarius Dardanus Medus Taulantius and Perhebius and Daughters Partha Daorta Dazera and others from whom are descended the Taulantians Perhebians Achilleians Autarians Dazeretians and Darsians That Autarius had two Sons Pannonius or rather Paeonius and Scordiscus from which Paeonius came Triballius who all three gave their names to three Nations as we learn in Ancient Records Illyria therefore as we find to this day by several Publick Testimonies in that great Countrey was formerly possessed by the Scordisks and Triballians who continually made War till such time as those that remained of the Triballians went away to the Getes above the Ister And this Nation which to the time of Philip and Alexander had a great reputation is at this day so utterly decayed that there scarce remains to us the memory of its name The Scordicks are likewise much weakned for being subdued by the Romans they retreated within the Isles of the River Ister However sometime after a party returned and inhabited a Corner of Paeonia Wherefore the Scordisks are to this day reckoned among the Paeonians The Autarians who likewise possessed a good tract on the Sea Coast were likewise driven out by the Ardians After that the Liburnians who were esteemed excellent Seamen came and setled themselves in a part of Illyria from whence they scoured all the Ionian Sea plundring all the Ships they met with and because they had Ships very swift and extreamly light the Romans call Vessels that excel in swiftness Liburnicks 'T is said that Apollo's anger was the cause of the utter destruction of the Autarians and that they going with those Celtes that are called Cimbrians to besiege the City of Delphos were forthwith defeated and took their flight in disorder some of them not staying till the battel began by reason of the Rain Tempest and Thunder which terrified them Those who returned found their whole Country covered with infinite multitudes of Frogs who stinking poisoned the Rivers with their putrefaction and that at last the Earth casting forth Malignant Vapors bred a cruel Plague in Illyria This Malady siesed chiefly on the Autarians who leaving their Country carried the Contagion along with them so that no person durst receive them after three and twenty days travel they stopt in a marshy and unhabited Country and built Cities on the Confines of the Basternes As for the Celtes Apollo sent into their Country such Earthquakes as swallowed up whole Cities at once and that this Calamity ceased not till they as well as the others had quitted their habitations and come into Illyria where finding the Associates of their crime extreamly weakned by the Plague which had swept away the greatest part of them they easily overcame them but the Contagion siesing likewise upon them by their touching of infected Cloths they departed thence and for change of air went as far as the Pyrenaeans Afterwards taking their way towards the East the Romans who were fearful lest the Celtes with whom they had several times been engaged should once more pass the Alps and fall into Italy sent against them their Consuls who were defeated with their whole Army This defeat of the Consuls and the dreadful name of the Celtes struck a terror throughout all Italy till such time as having chosen Marius General who had lately gained a great Victory against the Lybians Numidians and Marusians they overcame the Cimbrians and afterwards had the better of them in several Engagements as we have set down in the recital of the Roman Wars against the Gauls So that weakned by such vast effusion of blood and grown hopeless of settling themselves in any other place they again recovered their Ancient Seat after having done much mischief and suffered innumerable losses And here ended Apollo's punishment of the impiety of the Illyrians and Celtes Yet this deterred them not from afterwards committing other Sacriledges for at another
granted and the mean while finding that his Subjects ran away to Anitius he only desired security to come to him himself When he came before him he fell upon his knees and with abasance insupportable in a man of courage besought the Roman to grant him his life Anitius seeing him tremble bid him take courage raised him up with his own hand and made him eat at his Table but when Dinner was done gave Order to his Officers to keep him Prisoner and afterwards led him and his Son in Triumph to Rome The War with Genthius was ended in twenty days after which Aemulius Paulus pillaged seventy Cities in this manner After having defeated King Perseus whom he sent to the Senate going himself privately to Rome and returning with all speed he caused it to be published in the name of the Senate throughout all the Cities that they promised pardon for all the faults yet committed on condition they brought in what Gold and Silver they had which being agreed to he sent his Army divided into so many parties into every City and gave Order to the Commanders to cause it to be proclaimed upon the break of the appointed day that every Burgess should within three hours bring his Mony into the Publick place which being performed he gave up the rest of the City to plunder Thus Paulus despoiled seventy Cities of all their goods Another time the Ardians and another of the Neighboring Nations called the Palarians being entred in hostile manner into the Lands possessed by the Romans in Illyria because they were busied elsewhere they sent Ambassadors to forbid them to pass any farther whom when they would not obey they took a resolution to send an Army of ten thousand Foot and six hundred Horse The Illyrians who were yet scarce sufficiently prepared for such a War dispatched to Rome and as if they had seriously repented of what they had done demanded Pardon Upon which the Senate condemned them to pay to them that they had oppressed the full value of the damage they had sustained but when yet they performed not this Decree Flaccus was sent with a powerful Army Yet all this exploits amounted to no more then some Inrodes and Skirmishes for he could not so suddenly end this War I find likewise in History that Sempronius surnamed Tuditamus and Tiberius Pandusius defeated the Japodes which inhabit the Alpes and that they submitted to both at a time in the same manner as the Sagistains yielded to L. Cotta and to Metellus As for the Dalmatians who are likewise a Nation of Illyria but on the other side it is certain that they made War upon the Illyrians subject to the Romans and that they would not receive the Deputies that came from Rome to confer about this Affair Wherefore there is some likelyâ—hood that the Romans sent Forces against them They dispatched say some an Army Commanded by Marcus Figulus then Consul but as soon as he was entred the Country they fell upon his Vanguard put the whole Army to a rout and pursued them as far as the River Naro from whence they returned home because of the approaching Winter Then Figulus judging he might surprize them as they retired in disorder followed them in the Rear defeated and pursued them as far as the City of Dalminium which gives Name to the Dalmatians and that not being able to take this City so strongly was it fortifyed by assault nor to make use of any Engines by reason of the vast height of the Wall and besides wanting many things and not being secure because of the frequent Sallies made by the Besieged he had recourse to another Artifice He took Stakes two foot long and wrapping them about with Tow dipt in Pitch and Brimstone and setting them on fire shot them from his Engines into the Town the violence wherewith they were darted making them burn more vehemently they flew through the Air like so many flaming Torches setting on fire all that they fell upon in somuch that the greatest part of the City being burnt Figulus returned to Rome Victorious Some time after Cecilius Metellus having obtained the Consulate went by Decree of the Senate to make War upon the Dalmatians who had given no occasion but he had only set this design on Foot out of a desire to Triumph But those people receiving him as a Friend he spent the Winter at Salone one of their Cities and at last returned to Rome in Triumph though he had done nothing to deserve it Afterwards Caesar marching against the Gauls who lay not far distant from Illyria found that the Dalmatians with other people of Illyria had some advantage over the Liburnians another Nation of the same Country and took from them the City of Promona wherefore the Liburnians submitting themselves to the Romans fled towards Caesar then not far off and Caesar sent to those who had taken Promona to exhort them to restore it but they having no respect to this advertisement he sent a great Army which being defeated by the Illyrians Caesar diverted by other Affairs for Pompey's Party was now forming and he who saw it of necessity to come to Arms with him would attempt nothing more at that time against them But though the Season was troublesome and inconvenient passed from Brundusium into Ionia with the greatest part of his Army to go thence into Macedonia to War with Pompey leaving Anthony to bring the remainder But afterwards Gabinius having likewise fifteen Cohorts and three thousand Horse to carry to him attempted to go through Illyria at which the Illyrians being allarm'd because of those things lately happened and judging that Caesar's Victory would be their Ruine slew them all except only Gabinius and some Horsemen of his Guard who escaped with him gaining by this defeat vast Spoils and Treasure The Importance of this War wherein Caesar was engaged with Pompey obliged him at present to dissemble this Affront But after that Pompey was defeated and that Caesar had pursued the remains of his Party into divers places and setled all things in good order and returned to Rome he made preparations for an expedition he had determined against the Getes and Parthians Whereupon the Illyrians fearing lest Caesar in his way should revenge himself of the injury he had received sent Deputies to Rome to ask pardon for what they had done offering Caesar their allyance and Friendship which might be of great concern to him in his expedition against the Parthians because of the valour of the Illyrians the reputation of which was spread through the whole Earth but he answered them very sharply that he would not entertain any correspondence or friendship with people had so highly offended him however he was content to pardon them if they submitted to pay Tribute and deliver up Hostages After they had promised both the one and the other he sent Atinius with three Legions to impose some small Tribute and receive the promised Hostages But Caesar being in the
causing the Wood to be cut down before him The Japodes all upon a suddain sallyed out of their Ambush and wounded many of his men but the most part of their Forces were cut in pieces by the Romans who came down from the Mountains and the rest chose rather to retreat in the Woods than into one of their Cities called Terpona which they had abandoned Caesar having taken it would not burn it for he thought as he had made trial in others that would engage them to submit which they did after which he marched towards another of their Cities called by the Inhabitants Metulia and is esteemed the Capital of the Country of the Japodes It is scituate on a high Mountain covered with Wood and built upon two Eminencies divided by a small Valley The best armed and bravest young men that any one can imagine ever to have seen defended it and with ease repulsed the Romans as often as they approached the Wall The Besiegers would have raised Terrasses but the Metulians day and night fallying out on all sides upon the Labourers hindred the Work and by the means of certain Engines which they had taken in the Battel fought not far from thence by Brutus against Anthony and the same Caesar and now planted upon the Walls forced the Besiegers to fall off yet the Romans made a breach in the Wall but whilst they fought the Besieged had raised other Fortifications within over which they though tyred with defending the breach leaped into the City The Besiegers thus become Masters of the Wall which the Inhabitants had quitted set fire on it and to gain the rest raised two Terrases from which they laid over four Planks to the Rampart newly raised Things thus disposed Caesar gave order to one party of his men to assault the other side of the City to draw the Inhabitants that way whilst the others forced their entrance over the Planks and he in the mean time took a view of the Action from a high Tower The Barbarians ran upon the Wall to oppose those that passed whilst another Party behind them strove to heave up the Planks with their Pikes which much heightned their courage for one Plank being overturned and then another and after it a third fear so seised on the Romans that not a man durst engage upon the fourth Caesar from the Tower sharply reproves them but seeing that all he could say would not move them he takes his Buckler and began himself to run upon the Plank Agrippa Hieron and Lucius three of his Captains and Iolas one of his Guards followed him with some Targetiers and got likewise on the Plank Caesar thus deeply engaged shame made the Soldiers run on in such Crouds that the Plank overcharged broke in the middle and a great Number of people that were upon it fell one upon another some were slain other brought of sorely bruised and the Emperour himself was wounded in the Thigh and both the Arms. He again ascended the Tower with some followers of Consular dignity that all might see he was well lest a rumour of his death might beget some Tumult or the Enemy should think he fled and at the same instant set on work the laying of another Plank This more daunted the Metulians then any thing before seeing they had undertaken War against a man whose courage was invincible whereupon on the morrow they sent Deputies to treat with him delivered him the fifty Hostages he demanded and promised to receive a Garrison to whom they left the higher Eminence retiring themselves into the other But when the Garrison being entred required them to yield up their Arms they entred into such a fury that shutting up their Wives and Children in the Town-house and having likewise caused the Officers of the Garrison to enter there they told them that if they were so hardy to attempt against them any thing extraordinary they would set fire on that building and by one act of dispair endeavor to wreak themselves on the Romans After this discourse they drew together at the foot of the higher eminence as if they had a design to mount up The Garrison set the Town-house on fire many of the women kill'd themselves with their Children and some threw themselves alive into the flames Thus almost all the youth of Metulia being slain in the conflict and most of the useless persons burnt all the buildings were likewise consumed in the flames so that there scarcely remained any mark of so great a City The Metulians thus totally ruined all the rest of that Nation submitted to Caesar for fear of a like misfortune and thus fell the Japodes under the Roman power Caesar being gone the Possenians shook off their yoak but Marcus Elbius being sent against them reduced them by force punished with death the authors of the Rebellion and sold the rest by Outcry The Romans having already made two Voyages into the Country of the Segestains without taking Hostages or doing ought else to subject them they grew insolent and presumptuous Wherefore Caesar resolved to make war upon them and to take his passage through the Territories of the Peonians not depending on the Roman Empire Peonia is a woody Country whose length extends from the Japodes to the Dardanians The people inhabiting it have no Cities but live in the Fields and have Villages separate according to their Families They have not among them either Judge or Prince that has Superiority over others They had at present a hundred thousand Men but because they knew no Command could never form a Body So when Caesar came amongst them they presently fled into the woods where if they found any Roman stragling from the rest they cut him in pieces As long as Caesar thought they would could come in he neither touched their Villages nor Towns but when he saw they kept themselves close in the woods he set all on fire making an inestimable spoil for eight days together as he cross'd the Country of the Segestains and Peonians as far as the Sava Caesar on the banks of this River found a City fortified on one side with the River which was very broad and on the rest with a large Ditch deep and dug downright so that it was as broad at bottom as top Wherefore he made an attempt upon it as a place very convenient for his stores in the War he designed against the Dacians and Basternes which inhabit beyond the Ister which in these places is called the Danube But when a little lower it is enlarged with great quantity of waters it takes the name of Ister instead of that of Danube Now the Sava discharges it self into the Ister and Caesar had Vessels upon that River which might bring provisions up the Danube for the subsistance of his Army He therefore invested this City but scarce had made his first approaches when the inhabitants of Segesta for that was the name of the place sent Messengers to him to know what
the Carthaginians who had sallied only with their short Swords speedily returning into the City shut the Gates and leap'd upon the Walls So that now new work and labour was cut out for the Romans Whilst these things were doing Scipio who was no where absent encouraging and chearing up his men observing about noon that the water was fallen away from that part where the Bay washed the ower Wall for at certain hours the Sea Eb'd and Flow'd and was now so shoal some places it was not above brest and in others scarce midleg high and knowing the Nature of the Bay that it would continue thus shallow all the remainder of the day until the accustomed return of the Tide he cryed out with a loud voice Now Soldiers now is the time now God our helper comes now storm that Wall where the Sea of its own accord withdrawing opens you a way Now with speed bring your Ladders I my self will show you the way This said snatching a Ladder he sets it to the Wall and would himself first have mounted if his Esquires and other Soldiers had not hindred him but they therewith clapping many Ladders at once to the Wall and both sides meeting with great noise and fury made a mighty slaughter of each other till the Romans having possessed themselves of some of the higher Towers Scipio filling them with Trumpets and Cornets commanded them to sound as loud as possibly they could according to the custom when a City is taken whilst in the mean time others running about fill'd all places with tumult and confusion and some in this disorder of their Enemies leaping over the Walls and let in Scipio's whole Army whereupon the Townsmen run to their Houses and Mago with his ten thousand drew up into the Market place where being most at the first charge slain and he only with a few fled to the Castle Scipio presently following and Mago perceiving no hopes of safety left his Soldiers being all utterly dismay'd and astonished yielded himself Thus by his Gallantry and good Fortune a rich and powerful City in one day the fourth of his setting down before it reduced under Scipio's power he began to conceive hopes of mighty things and now the common Fame spread concerning him that he acted nothing but by Divine Counsel was more and more confirmed and himself had the same opinion believing henceforward all his undertakings directed from above and whenever he went into the Capitol having caused the Gates to be shut he often staid there a long time as if he had been conferring with some God whence now in solemn Pomps a Statue of Scipio's is only brought out of the Capitol and all the rest out of the place of Assemblies This City thus taken furnished with all things necessary for Peace or War Scipio found there vast quantities of all sorts of spoil store of Arms Darts Engines Rigging and thirty three Gallies Corn and sundry sorts of Provisions Ivory Gold and Silver as well wrought into Vessels and coined as uncoined in abundance together with all the Spanish Hostages and Prisoners and such as had before been taken from the Romans The next day having sacrificed celebrated the Victory and applauded the Soldiers Valour he likewise assembled the Townsmen and in an Oration admonished them to keep in memory the Name of the Scipio's Then he sent the Captives every one to their homes hoping by this kindness to bring over their Cities to his party He likewise distributed rewards to the Soldiers to him who first mounted the Walls a very large one to the second half so much to the third a third part and to the rest according to their Deserts and Valour What Gold Silver or Ivory he found he sent upon the Enemies Ships to Rome where they decreed three days Supplication because after so many Miserie 's the Publick Happiness began to take breath but the greatness and celerity of this bold attempt sorely terrified both the Spaniards and the Carthaginians that were in Spain Scipio leaving a Garrison in Carthagena and giving orders for raising higher the Wall to the Sea side went himself about the rest of the Province or sent Friends into several parts to renew an alliance with them and those who would not comply he reduced by force of Arms. Asdrubal the Son of Amilcar one of the Carthaginian Generals had far distant in Celtiberia a chosen Army of Mercenary Soldiers and the other the Son of Gisco sending Agents to those Cities who had hitherto continued faithful to the Carthaginians to perswade them still to continue their fidelity in a short time hoped to see innumerable Forces in Spain and Mago he sent into all the adjacent parts to list men under pay whilst in the mean time himself in Lersa entring in hostile manner into their Territories who had fallen off prepared to lay Siege to some Towns but frightned with Scipio's sudden approach he retreated to Baetica and fortified both the City and his Camp where few days after he was overcome by Scipio who possessed himself both of Camp and City whereupon he issued out Orders for all the Carthaginian Forces throughout Spain to come to the City of Careo resolving with his whole united Power to fall upon Scipio And already there were come in to him no small number of Spaniards under Mago's Conduct and Numidians under the Command of Massanissa Asdrubal with his Foot lay entrenched Massanissa and Mago with his Horse in Quarters Scipio had so divided his Foot as to send Laelius with one part against Mago whilst himself with the other fell upon Massanissa This fight was somewhat doubtful and dangerous to the Romans for the Numidians at a distance threw their Darts and so wheeling off returned again to the charge at pleasure but when Scipio commanded his men that after throwing their Piles with all their force they should press in as hard as they could upon the Enemy then the Numidians not having room to wheel were worsted and fled away to their Camp Scipio in a strong and safe place as he could wish for pitched his Camp within ten furlongs of his Enemy In the Carthaginian Army were seventy thousand Foot fifteen hundred Horse and thirty six Elephants Scipio had not a part of that number wherefore he for some time forbore fighting save only for some light skirmishes but when through want of Provisions hunger began to afflict his Army thinking it dishonourable to retreat having first sacrificed suddenly though otherwise his Army were both willing and ready enough he affirmed God had according to custom appeared to him and exhorted him to engage the Enemy that they should rather relye upon the Divine Conduct then upon force and multitude for the greatest Victories were not gained by numbers of Men but by the grace and favour of the Gods And whilst they gave credit to his words he commanded the Diviners to bring forth the Entrails and as he was speaking seeing some Birds fly to and again
Issue of things But Scipio having sent Syllanus before to the City of Castace to receive them into Friendship they not hearkning to peace he prepared to besiege them and communicated his resolutions to Scipio who dispatching away some Engins for the assault himself followed but in his march resolved to force the City of Illyrgis This Town had been confederate with the Romans in the time of the former Scipio's who being slain the Romans that escaped the slaughter flying hither they received them but though at that time in alliance with them delivered them up to the Carthaginians Scipio enraged at this treachery in four hours time overcame them and though himself received a wound in the neck gave not over the fight till he saw the Victory certain the Soldiers at their own instance without any command neglecting the spoil and plunder so much did their Generals wound wound their very souls spared neither Sex nor age not suffering their rage to cool till they levelled the whole City with the ground Scipio being from thence come to Castace dividing his Forces into three parts laid siege to it but forbore the assault to give the inhabitants time to repent which he had intelligence they were already disposed to and not long after having slain those of the Garrison that opposed their intentions the Conquerors yielded themselves to Scipio who placing there a new Garrison and committing the care of the City to one of the inhabitants a man of good fame and reputation he returned himself to Carthagena sending Syllanus and Martius towards the Sea-coasts that as far as they could they might wast and spoil the whole Country There was a certain town called Astapa which had ever sided with the Carthaginians the inhabitants whereof being besieged by Martius and well forseeing if they were overcome by the Romans they should be subjected to perpetual slavery brought all things they had of value into the Market-place and piling up wood about them placed their Wives and Children on the top of all then fifty of their stoutest men compelled by oath promised that when they saw the City in such distress that it must needs be taken they would first kill the Women and Children and then setting fire to the pile slay themselves And so invoking the Gods against Martius with great Noise and Clamor they sallied out when nothing was less feared by the Enemy then that they durst appear without their Walls wherefore they easily repulsed the light Armed Foot and Horse which first engaged them and when an Armed Legion advanced the desperate Astapians still fought most couragiously but at length were forced to fall under their multitudes whom they did yield to in valor being all slain with their Arms in their hands those fifty left in the City slew the Women and Children and then setting fire to the Pile cast themselves into it leaving no fruits of the Victory to the Conquerors Martius admiring the Astapians spared the buildings After these things Scipio fell sick and while Martius commanded the Army some Soldiers who had spent their means in luxury and riot supposing because they had nothing they should have no rewards for all their labors but both the Advantage and Honor of all was done would redound to Scipio openly deserted Martius and encamped by themselves to whom many in like manner flocked from the Garrisons Mago hereupon sent some with Mony to encourage them to a revolt the Mony they received and created among themselves new Leaders and Centurions who managed all things as they pleased and had their own Councils when Scipio heard hereof he sent Letters apart to these deserters telling them that being prevented by sickness he could not yet reward them Others he sent to those not yet infected with this Contagion advising them to recal their mad fellow Souldiers to their duty and others again to all together as if they were reconciled wherein he wrote that he should be ready to pardon any that had slipt aside commanding them all to come to Carthagena and receive their pay while these letters were reading some thought they were not to be trusted others gave full credit to them At last they agreed among themselves to go all together to Carthagena In the mean time Scipio gives directions to those Senators that were with him that as soon as any of the heads of this conspiracy came they should accost them in a friendly manner pleasantly admonishing them and inviting them to be their guests privately secure them he likewise gave Order to his Tribunes that at dawn of day they should get together the most faithful of their Souldiers with their Swords by their sides and posting them in the most convenient places of the Assembly if any tumult should begin they should presently fall on and kill without expecting a signal Not long after day light the General getting up was brought to the Tribunal and the Cryers were commanded to call the Soldiers to the Assembly They not expecting the Cryers call thinking it would be very rude if they should make their General who had not yet fully recovered his strength wait longer for them imagining withal that they were called to come and receive rewards ran in hast from all parts some without Swords and others for hast only with a loose Coat about them not staying to put on other Cloaths Scipio the appointed guards keeping close first reproved them sharply for their Villanous Action but Yet said he punishment is only to be inflicted on those were Authors of the crime in doing which I will use your help Scarce had he spoke these words but the Croud dividing as if he had given them a sign to do it the heads of the mutiny were by the Senators set forth in the midst exclaming as they were led along and imploring their fellow Soldiers help but whoever at their Outcrys did but murmur were presently slain by the Tribunes The rest of the Croud perceiving the whole place of Assembly beset with Armed Men in a sad silence hung down their heads whilst those brought into the midst of them were by Scipio's command first scourged with Rods and then fastned to the stake had their heads struck off with Axes which done he made the Cryers to proclaim pardon to the rest In this Condition stood Scipio's Army There was one Indibilis a little King and one of those who had made a League and Confederacy with Scipio who at the same time that the mutiny was in Scipio's Army in hostile maner invaded the Territories of some of Scipio's Allies and when Scipio led the Army against him maintained so stout a fight that he slew twelve hundred of the Romans but having lost twenty thousand of his own he sent Ambassadors to Scipio to crave peace which for a considerable sum of Mony was granted him Massanissa likewise crossing the Sea unknown to Asdrubal came to a conference with Scipio and giving him his right hand promised that if he could come
over into Africa he would give him all the assistance he could This was a man in all things constant to his Faith but he for this reason fell off from the Carthaginians Massanissa was betrothed to the Daughter of Asdrubal the General under whom he now made War and Syphax almost died for this Ladies Love wherefore the Carthaginians judging of what importance it would be to them in this present War if they could joyn to their party against the Romans so Potent a King without consulting the Father gave him the Daughter in Marriage and and this Asdrubal out of respect to him kept secret from Massanissa but he finding it out some other way sought thereupon Scipio's friendship Mago having still a fleet to command seeing the affairs of Spain grown desperate sailed among the Ligurians and Gauls there to raise Mercenary Soldiers After his departure those of Cadiz as if betrayed by Mago yielded themselves to the Romans from which time first began the Roman Custom to send Annual Magistrates into Spain as to a Conquered People to keep in Peace and Govern the Province which hapned in the hundred forty fourth Olympiad But Scipio leaving the whole Country in Peace with no very strong Garrisons placed all the Soldiers weakned with wounds together in one City which from Italy he called the Italian famous for the birth of Trajan and Adrian who after in succeeding times came to be Roman Emperors and himself building a Magnificent Fleet with a great Number of Captives and loaden with Mony Arms and other spoils returned to Rome where he was received with mighty Pomp to his great and incredible glory as well because of his youth as because of the Expedition wherewith he had done so many Noble exploits insomuch that those who envyed him confessed that his actions had far exceeded his Rich Promises wherefore to the admiration of all Men he received the Honor of Triumph Indibilis who as soon as Scipio was gone rebelled was by those who Commanded in Spain gathering together Forces out of the Garrisons and Auxiliaries from their Allies fought with and slain the stirrers up of the Rebellion were brought to tryal their goods confiscate and they condignly punished The People their confederates condemned to pay fines disarmed and forced to give Hostages and receive stronger Garrisons This Issue had the Romans first Attempts in Spain In succeeding times the Romans being employed in War against the Gauls the inhabitants about Po and Philip of Macedon the Spaniards laying hold of the opportunity began to form new designs To suppress which were sent Generals from Rome Sempronius Tudertinus and M. Hâ—lvidius and after them Minucius to whom because the troubles grew greater Cato with larger Forces was sent for Successor a young Man indeed but solid patient in labor and so fam'd for Prudence and Eloquence that he was among the Romans called Demosthenes by way of comparing him with that most Excellent of all the Graecian Orators He arriving in Spain when he came among the Mart Towns there gathered about him from all parts above forty thousand Enemies Having taken a little time to Exercise his Soldiers when the signals on both sides were hung out and the Armies ready to Engage he sent away his fleet to Marsilia telling the Soldiers the present danger was not so great in their Enemies being superior to them in Numbers for that nothing was difficult which stedfast courage could not overcome as in their want of shipping so that they had no way of refuge or safety left but in being victorious And having thus spoken led his Soldiers to the fight not filled with hopes according to the custom of other Generals but with the terror of their danger The Battels being joyned he went every where intreating pressing forward and incouraging his Men and when the fight had continued doubtful till evening not a few falling on both sides he with three Cohorts of the reserve went to the top of a high hill from whence he had a clear prospect of the whole Action where observing his Main Body much oppressed running down with great shouts and fury upon the Enemy and first exposing himself to danger he gave a beginning to the Victory All Night he gave the Enemy chase slaying Multitudes and possessing himself of their Camp at his return he congratulated his Soldiers embracing them as the Authors of the Victory then giving them that time to refresh their bodies by repose which their labors required he afterwards sold the prey But when Deputies came to him from all parts to crave Peace he first demanded Hostages and afterwards signing Letters sent them to all the People severally giving order to those that carried them to take care that they might be delivered in one day which he had appointed having before computed in how long time a Messenger might be going to the remotest City and accordingly to the rest By these Letters he Commanded the Magistrates of every particular City that the same day on which they received his Orders they should demolish the Walls of their City which if they delayed he denounced their slavery They newly overcome in battel and ignorant whether these Commands were sent to the rest or to them only were tormented with great fears for if this Command were to them alone they knew themselves not able to withstand the Romans and if the Command were general they were no less fearful lest they should be the only City delay'd it's execution Therefore and because they had not time to send mutual Messengers to each other and were likewise urged to dispatch by those who brought the Orders every one having their own safety only in prospect they all diligently set themselves about throwing down their Walls for when they had once decreed obedience they thought their Celerity would prove to their advantage and those whose Walls were first demolished should have the Honor of it Thus all the Cities about the River Iberus by the policy of the General in one day levelled their own Walls the consequence of which was that by reason of their weakness they continued longer in Peace Some years after about the hundred and fiftieth Olympiad the inhabitants about the River Iberus and the Lusones with many Spanish Exiles and Fugitives revolted from the Romans These being defeated by Fulvius Flaccus fled to their several Cities but the greatest part having no land and only laboring for their bread chose Complega for their habitation a City newly built and strangely and suddenly become powerful from hence sending to Flaccus they commanded that the Cloaks Horses and Swords of several Men by name slain in the late War might be given up to them and that he would suddenly before any thing worse befel him depart from Spain Answer being returned that he would bring them many of those Cloaks Flaccus with the Army following their Deputies pitcht his Camp before the City But they having Souls too mean to maintain so lofty a Command betook
annoyed him But among the Barbarians there was often seen a man remarkable for the brightness of his Armour who often coming on horseback between the two parties dared any of the Romans to engage him in single Combat and when none offered themselves scoffing at the Romans with many postures of scorn and derision he returned among his own people When he had often done this Scipio though yet but young much afflicted at it himself advancing out and undertaking the Duel though but a middly siz'd man overcame this Barbarian of a Gigantick stature This Victory much raised the Spirits of the Romans but the next night sundry terrours seised them which sprung from this occasion The Barbarian Horse before Lucullus approach being gone to Forrage at their return finding the City besieged went about calling out and filling all the places with their clamours which being answered by those within the Town the Romans were possessed with doubtful fears knowing their posts not over strong and the Soldiers by continual watchings and unusual food extremely weakned and feeding only on Wheat and Barly with the Flesh of Stags and Hares boiled without Salt they fell into Fluxes which swept many of them away At length having filled the Ditch and by often playing their Engines shook the Wall so that part of it fell they broke into the City whence violently repulsed they upon their retreat not knowing the ground fell into the Common Sewer where many of them perished The next night the Barbarians repaired their Walls After which neither party able any longer to dissemble their miseries and losses the famine growing violent upon them Scipio freely promised the Barbarians that if they would enter into League they should be treated without any Fraud or Treachery The opinion of this mans Virtue was so great among the Barbarians that to his Faith they committed themselves and the War upon these conditions was removed that the Intercations should give Lucullus six thousand Sagas or Cloaks a certain number of Cattel and fifty Hostages for as for Gold and Silver the thirst after which believing Spain every where abounded with it had begot this War none was given for it not being of any esteem among these people they had it not From hence Lucullus went to Palantia a City much renowned for the Valour of its people and whither many others were fled Wherefore some advised the General to pass by without making any attempt upon it but a covetous man could not be drawn away from a City he had been told was rich till after being by many Excursions of the Palantine Horse cut off from going to Forrage through want of Provisions he was forced to divide his Army into four Bodies and so make his retreat pursued by the Palantines in the Rear till he came to the River Dorium where they gave over following him Lucullus wintred in Turdetania These were the Actions of the War with the Vaccaei which though Lucullus undertook and carried on without any command from the people of Rome yet he was never called to question for it Much about the same time the Lusitanians another people of Spain and living under the same Laws commanded by a Carthaginian wasted the Lands of the Romans associates and putting to flight the Roman Generals Manlius and Calphurnius slew six thousand men and among them Terentius Varro the Questor with which Victory the Carthaginians puft up marched as far as the Ocean and taking with them the Vetones besieged the Roman Subjects called the Blastophaenicae These as fame goes were brought out of Lybia by Hannibal the Carthaginian and from thence took that name Here the Punick General wounded in the head with a stone dyed In his place they substituted a man called Caesaras who engaged in fight with Mummius lately come from Rome with an Army was routed and fled but when Mummius's men scattered and dispersed pursued the Victory rallying he slew nine thousand of them recovered all the plunder of his Camp and got all that of the Romans with many Colours and Arms which the Barbarians in derision carried throughout all Celtiberia Mummius with the five thousand he had left intrenched himself not daring to take the Field till he had somewhat confirmed the minds of his Soldiers terrified with the last slaughter Whence observing the Barbarians carrying by part of their Booty setting upon them unawares they slew many and recovered the Spoil and the Ensigns The Lusitanians inhabiting the other Banks of the Tagus incensed against the Romans of their own accord declared War and under the Conduct of Caucaenus their General invaded the Cunaei a people subject to the Romans taking from them the large City of Conistergis and thence crossing over the Straits at the Pillars of Hercules some of them went to people Africa others went and besieged the City of Ocylis These Mummius following with nine thousand Foot and five hundred Horse slew fifteen thousand of them that were over-running the Country and as many more at raising the Siege of Ocylis meeting likewise those who were conveying away the Spoil he cut them off so clearly that there was not a Messenger to tell the news Now all the prey that he could carry along with him he divided among the Soldiers and the rest consecrated to the Deities presiding over the War he burnt and for these things at his return to Rome Triumphed M. Attilius Successor to Mummius making an inrode into Lusitania killed seven hundred men and taking from them a great City called Oxthracas so terrified all the neigbouring places that they surrendred on conditions among which were some of the Vetones the farthest people of Lusitania But Attilius being gone in Winter they all revolted and besieged some of the Roman Subjects whom whilst he was hasting to receive Seroclius Galba who came to succeed Attilius marching in a day and a night five hundred furlongs comes within sight of the Enemy and without any stay or giving the Soldiers any time to refresh themselves after such tedious travel falls on and after having fourtunately broken and put them to flight he very imprudently pursued them for his men through weariness following sloathfully and in disorder The Barbarians perceiving them thus dispersed to lye down by the way side to rest themselves gathering again into a Body fell upon them and slew seven thousand Galba with the Horse whom he had kept about his person got by flight to the City of Carmelis whither many others likewise fled for safety whom drawing into a Body and raising twenty thousand men among the Associates he went among the Cunaei and there wintred Lucullus who without any orders from the people of Rome had made War upon the Vaccaei wintring in Turdetania having intelligence that the Lustitanians had invaded the Neighbours sending out some of his best Captains slew about four thousand of them and they making a new irruption with other Forces he about Cadiz killed fifteen hundred more and pursuing the râ—â—t to
and Commanding them to inclose the City with a Trench and Pallisadoes The Circuit of Numantia was twenty four Furlongs but that of his Trench above twice as much Now every party had their distinct work set out to them with orders that if the Enemy made any onset they should give the signal by day a red cloth hanging on a long spear and by night fire that forthwith he or Maximus his brother might run in to their help The work being brought to that forwardness that if the Enemy attempted any thing they might repulse him he dug another ditch without that and fastning thereon Palisadoes built a Wall eight foot thick and ten foot high below the battlements round which he raised Towers at one hundred and twenty foot distance from each other and because he could not run the Wall over the marsh he threw up a bank in height and breadth equal to it which served instead of a Wall and Scipio is in my Judgment the first that ever begirt a City not refusing to fight him with a Wall But besides all this the River Durius running through his Fortifications was very convenient for the Townsmen as well to bring them what they wanted as for the transporting of Men whether by swimming or in little Boats in which they privately stole by the Romans either with Sails the wind blowing fresh or which Oars down the Stream When therefore by reason of the largness and violence of the Waters no way could be found to make a Bridge over instead thereof he built two Castles from which he drew over Beams of Timber fastned together with Cordage quite athwart the River there were likewise very thick upon the Timbers fastned very sharp Irons like Spear-heads which move about by the force of the Water suffered none to pass who either by Swimming or Diving or Boat had design to deceive the Enemy For it was Scipio's chief desire that none coming to them from abroad they might be ignorant of all was done and want both intelligence and supplies After all the works were perfected and the Catapults Crossbows and other Engins raised upon the Towers and the Bulwarks well stored with Stones Darts and Javelins and the Archers and Slingers placed in the Towers he disposed messengers quite round the Lines who taking the word from one another might give it about as any thing hapned he gave order likewise that the first Tower that was assaulted by the Enemy should first show their Colours and then others by the same Example do the like that by the moving of this sign and the word going about by the messengers he might know the certain cause of every thing Then Mustring his forces and finding he had sixty thousand men he so divided them that one half had charge of the guard of the wall and if need were might be ready for other service twenty thousand upon occasion to fight for the wall and ten thousand for their reserve who had likewise their post assigned them but none without the Generals Command was to change his Post so that upon any signal given every man was ready at his stand with so much diligence did Scipio order all things In the mean time the Numantines made several assaults upon the guards of the Wall but then immediately not without horror they beheld assistance come from all parts the signals made the messengers running those appointed for defence of the Walls leaping up the Trumpets from the Towers sounding a charge so that in an instant all that whole circuit of fifty furlongs was put into a formidable posture The whole round of which Scipio continually went both day and night believing his Enemies thus inclosed and wanting both Provisions Arms and Men could not very long make opposition In the mean time Retogenes a most valiant Numantine whose Surname was Cauraunius taking with him five friends whom he had wrought his parties in the enterprise as many servants and a like number of Horses in a cloudy and very dark night passing closely over the space between the Town and the Trenches with a little Bridge to be set together that he brought with him gets with his friends upon the Enemies Works and having slain the Sentinels drew over the Horses by the same Bridge and sending back the servants they forthwith dispersed themselves among the Towns of the Arvacci and in the manner of suppliants with Olive-branches in their hands besought them to assist their kinsfolks the Numantines but many out of fear of the Romans without hearing them commanded them to depart their Territories But the youth of Lutia a rich Town about three hundred furlongs distant from Numantia pittying the Numantines condition urged their City to send them aid whereof Scipio having certain intelligence from the Seniors of the City taking with him a nimble party in eight hours time flies to Lutia and by break of day begirting the City commanded the heads and ringleaders of the youth to be delivered up to him and when they made answer that they were broken out and fled threatned by a Herald to Sack the City unless they were delivered up wherewith terrified they brought out about forty to him whose hands having cut off he marched away with his Forces and by the next morning again recovered his Camp Hereupon the Numantines oppressed with hunger sent five men to Scipio to try whether if they yielded they might be received with favour and clemency the chief of this Deputation called Avarus began to discourse in a brave and lofty manner of the Institutions and Valour of the Numantines adding they had not been guilty of any delinquency since only for their Wives and Childrens sakes and the Liberty of their Country they were fallen into these miseries Wherefore it would be an action worthy thee O Scipio said he who art famed for a man of admirable generosity to spare a brave and worthy people like ours and not impose harder Conditions than humanity is able to bear on men who sadly experienced the change of Fortune for it is no more in our powers but thine by proposing moderate Conditions to save our City by accepting our surrender or else by fighting to suffer us utterly to perish Avarus having thus spoken Scipio before well assured of the Cities distress by the Captives made no other answer but that they must deliver up the City and their Arms which being told to the Numantines the Citizens already enough enraged as men that were resolute to enjoy their Liberty and submit to no others Empire now by these provoking miseries made more violent and fierce slew Avarus and his fellow Deputies as the Messengers of ill News and perhaps as suspecting them to have made some private bargain for their own safety Not long after all manner of food being spent and neither Corn nor Cattell nor Herbs left first as in close sieges has often happened they fed upon boiled Hides which being likewise consumed they minced small the flesh
of dying men and devoured it but their stomach soon loathing the flesh of these sick men the stronger began to lay hands upon the weaker In short there was no misery to be imagined which they did not endure their minds made fierce and bloody by this food and their bodies oppressed with hunger and plague having long time neglected themselves they grew rough and shaggy and in all points resembled wild Beasts In this lamentable condition they delivered themselves up to Scipio by whose Command they one day brought all their Arms into one place and were appointed on the next day to assemble themselves in another but they thought that day long many yet out of desire of Liberty professing they wished for death and on that day only asking for some kind of death to be appointed them so much Love of Liberty was there in a small and a barbarous City for when before the War they were but eight thousand with how frequent slaughters did they afflict the Romans How often upon good terms did they enter into Leagues which the Romans would not afterwards ratifie or maintain How often did they provoke to Battel this last Roman General besieging them with threescore thousand men But he had so much knowledge in Military Affairs that he would not engage in fight with wild Beasts but chose rather to reduce them by Famine the only way to tame those creatures and by which they at last were tamed and broken Wherefore when I considered that the Numantines with so few Soldiers so constantly held out so lasting a Siege I thought it would have been a crime to have past by the particulars of it in silence Surrendry being therefore made many of them slew themselves in what manner they best thought fit the rest assembled on the third day in the place appointed with Bodies like Carcases a bruitish kind of Countenance their Bodies covered with filth and nastiness their Hair shaggy their Garments foul tattered and loathsomely stinking so that in that condition they appeared miserable to their very Enemies though the sick struck horror into all that looked upon them for with anger grief and labour and a mutual consciousness of having fed on Humane Flesh their very Eyes looked fiery and bloody Fifty of them only reserved for his Triumph Scipio sold the rest under the yoke The Town he levelled with the ground Thus this Roman General subverted two famous Cities Carthage by Decree of the Senate lest the power and strength of the City and Empire and conveniency of its Situation should invite them to War and Numantia a small one and not very populous without so much as the peoples knowledge whether he believed it the sense of the Commonwealth whether out of a sudden rage and anger against those people or rather as many think to gain himself two Illustrious Sirnames from the ruines of the two Cities for even to this day the Romans call him the African and the Numantine from the destruction and ruine of those two Cities Having divided the Lands of the Numantines among the Neighbours and gone a progress through the other Cities to administer Justice and threatned or fined those which had any way been their Associates he returned home The Romans according to Custom sent ten Senators to those people whom either Scipio now or Brutus before had subdued either by surrendry or force of Arms to establish Order and settle all Affairs in Peace In succeeding times new stirs arising Calphurnius Piso was sent thither General whom Servilius Galba succeeded But when Italy was oppressed with the Cimbrian War and Sicily again with that of the Slaves they sent no Forces into Spain but only Lieutenants who as far as they were able kept all things in quiet The Cimbrians being driven out of Italy T. Didius coming thither slew twenty thousand of the Vaccaei and transplanted the Town of Tremisum always unfaithful to the Romans from a strong situation unto the Plain commanding the Inhabitants to live without any Fortifications Then after seven Months Siege he took the City Colenda by surrendry and sold all the Citizens with their Wives and Children Not far from Colenda dwelt a mixture of several people of the Celtiberians whom Marius five years before when he had made use of them against the Lusitanians had by consent of the Senate there appointed Habitations These through want living on thievery Didius by consent of the ten Commissioners who were not yet gone approved the settlement and signified to their Leaders that he would to those wanted assign the Lands of the Inhabitants of Colenda which proposition they eagerly accepting he presently commanded them with their Wives and Children to come to the division of the Land when they were come he commanded his Soldiers to come out of his Camp and them to go in the men apart from the Women and Children for that he would take a Roll of their Names to compute how much Land was to be divided They being all gone within the Lines the Soldiers surrounding them put them all to the Sword for which things he likewise triumphed The Celtiberians again rebelling Flaccus was sent against them who with the slaughter of twenty thousand suppressed them But in the City of Belgeda the people inclining to a defection and the Senate demurring upon it and refusing the people burnt them all in their Seats of which Villany Flaccus at his coming finding out the Authors punished them These are the Actions of the Romans against the Spaniards which I have found most worthy of Memory In latter time when Sylla and Cinna being at variance raised Arms and conspired aginst their Country Q. Sertorius being of Cinna's party and chosen General of Spain stirred up that whole Province against the Romans and having got together a mighty Army and formed a kind of a Senate out of his Friends with great courage and confidence was about to march towards the City At which the Father 's terrified they sent two Excellent and famous Generals of their own order Caecilius Metellus with one strong Army and Cn. Pompey with another to divert him from Italy yet laboring for strength after the late Civil War But Perpenna one of Sertorius party slew him and made himself General of the Faction who being by Pompey overcome in battel and slain that War which had struck a great terror among the Romans was ended but of this we have written more accurately in Sylla's Civil Wars After Sylla's death C. Caesar was created General in Spain with power to make War as he should think fit against any that seemed to stagger or were never yet subdued to the Roman Power After him Octavius Caesar Son of Caius Surnamed Augustus reduced some people which had again rebelled from which time the Romans as I suppose divided Iberia which they now call Spain into three parts sending Praetors into each of them two of which are nominated by the Senate and the third appointed by the Emperor
of Hannibal's being gone into Italy leaving Spain and the Command of that Army to his Brother Cn. Scipio sailed into Hetruria from whence making haste and gathering together all the force he could he got to the Po before Hannibal passed it and sending Manlius and Attilius who commanded in the War against the Boians to Rome for the Consuls being present their Commission was at an end and joyning their Forces with his drew up his Army to give Battel to Hannibal The Fight being begun by the light armed Darters and Horsemen the Romans circumvented by the Africans fled to their Tents and next night having first broke down the Bridge over the Po retreated to Placentia a place well fortified but Hannibal making a new Bridge brought his Army likewise over These brave Exploits after his coming down from the Alpes into the Plain stood him not in little stead among the Transalpine Gauls who thought him an invincible Leader and a man to all whose attempts Fortune showed her self favourable and propitious which Renown to increase among these Barbarians already astonished with admiration of him and therefore easily to be deceived he often changed his Habit and Hair which daily was by some new Artifice prepared and coloured so that passing through their Country he sometimes appeared like an old sometimes like a young and sometimes like a middle aged man so that seeing him continually varying from himself they forthwith judged Divine Nature to be in him Sempronius the other Consul who was then in Sicily having certain intelligence of these things came to Scipio by Sea and sets down within forty Furlongs of his Colleague and now all things were prepared for the next days Battel Only the River Trebia ran between which the Romans before it was light on a cold and mizling Winters Morning passed over almost up to the breast in Water whilst Hannibal till the second hour refreshed his Solders in their Tents The two Consuls so drew up their Army that they might be on the Wings placing the stoutest of their Foot in the main Body Hannibal opposed his Elephants to the Horse and his Foot to the Phalanx and commanded his Horse to stand still behind the Elephants till he gave them the Signal The Battels being joyned the Romans Horse affrighted with the sight and smell of the Elephants to which they were unaccustomed dispersed all abroad and fled but the Foot though stiff with cold soaked in Water and tired and broken with continual watchings yet with couragious hearts flew upon those Monsters and cutting them cross the Nerves wounded them and had doubtless put to flight his Foot had not Hannibal giving his Signal to his Horsemen sent them to flank the Enemy For then the Roman Foot left naked by their Horse whom the terrour of the Elephants had scattered and oppressed by multitudes fearing to be inclosed by their Enemies took a speedy flight towards their Camp Then were many of the Foot intercepted by the Horse and others that reached the River which was not a little swell'd with the Snow melted by the heat of the Sun were swallowed in the Stream the depth of the Water not giving them foothold nor their heavy Armour suffering them to swim Scipio following them and still encouraging his Soldiers was very near slain and desperately wounded brought with much difficulty to Cremona Near Placentia was a little Castle which Hannibal going to storm with the loss of forty of his men went off himself wounded After which both Armies betook themselves to Winter Quarters Scipio in Cremona and Palantia and Hannibal about the Po. The Romans hearing of this defeat given near the Po for before Hannibals coming they had been worsted by the Boians enrolled a new Army in the City which accounting those at the Po compleated thirteen Legions and twice as many they commanded from their Allies Some of these they thought fit to send into Spain fome to Sardinia for there they were at War too and fome into Sicily the greater part which were left behind the Consuls Cn. Servilius and Flaminius who succeeded Scipio and Sempronius led against Hannibal and Scipio as Proconsul sailed into Spain Flaminius with thirty thousand Foot and three thousand Horse had the Guard of Italy within the Appennine which alone is properly called Italy for the Appennine from the middle of the Alpes stretches it self to the Sea on the right hand of which lyes that part which is truly called Italy that on the left hand towards the Ionian Sea now indeed is Italy for Hetruria is now likewise Italy but part of it towards the Ionian Sea Coasts is inhabited by Greeks and part by Gauls who once making War upon the Romans burnt the City and whom Camillus pursuing to the Appennine I am of the opinion that crossing those Hills they then seated themselves upon the Ionian Sea and made that their Country whence part of that Region is to this day called the Italian Gaul But to proceed the Romans having now at the same time many powerful Armies in several places Hannibal having thereof intelligence very secretly upon the first approach of the Spring entred Hetruria wasting that whole Country and drawing towards the City struck a mighty terrour in the Romans who had now no Army there to oppose him yet of those that remained they levyed eight thousand men whom for want of other Magistrates they gave Centenius the Command of a private man indeed but of the Patritian Race and sent him into Umbria to the Plestine Marsh to guard that passage which was the nearest way to the City In the mean time Flaminius who with thirty thousand men kept the interior Italy hearing of Hannibal's celcrity and being afraid of the City forthwith removes his Camp and giving his Army no rest being a man ignorant of Warlike Affairs and who by pride and popular boasting came to be chosen to this Command by great journies hastens towards Hannibal with resolution to fight him as soon as possible Hannibal who knew the mans furious temper and unskilfulness in War pitch'd his Tents behind a certain Mountain and Marsh and hid all his Horse and Light Armed Men in the Valley In the Morning at break of day Flaminius seeing the Enemies Tents stayed there a small while to refresh his Army and threw up a Trench which done he drew up his Army in Battel before they had yet recovered strength after so much labour and watching but when the Ambushes rose upon them on all sides then penn'd in between the Mountains and the Lake and on both sides charged by their Enemies the Consul himself and twenty thousand with him were slain The remaining ten thousand who had fled to a certain Village fortified by Nature Maharbal one of Hannibal's Commanders who had himself gained great Renown in War seeing he could not easily vanquish them by force and thinking it not prudence to engage with desperate men perswaded them to lay down their Arms engaging upon his
the cheat so the rest of Hannibal's Army and those that drove the Cattel got safe to the passage and he with his whole Army having thus beyond his own hopes got the Victory and brought all his men safe off he marched forward till he came to Gerione a City of Apulia stored with Corn which making himself Master of he spent the Winter in the midst of plenty and abundance Fabius with the same resolutions and constancy still following him pitch'd his Camp within ten Furlongs of Gerione the River Aufidus running between both Armies but the six Months being expired which is the time established for the Dictatorship at Rome the Consuls Servilius Attilius again entring into their Magistracy came to the Army and Fabius returned to Rome This Winter many skirmishes and engagements of Parties happened betwixt both Armies in which always the Romans came off with the greater Honour and Glory wherefore Hannibal who till that time writing to his friends used to adorn and set out his Letters with his own praises now began to distrust his Affairs and require Supplies of Men and Money But his Enemies who from the very first condemned his undertakings then especially feigned not to understand him for Conquerors said they did not use to ask but freely to send Mony to their own Country which Hannibal proud with so many victories yet demands At which words the Carthaginians moved sent him neither men nor money which Hannibal deploring sent Letters into Spain to Asdrubal his brother commanding him that with the first of the Summer with all the force he had and what quantity of gold he could raise he should make an irruption into Italy and wast the utter parts thereof that both sides burning the Romans might be afflicted with a doubtful War in this Posture stood Hannibals affairs The Fathers sorely grieved for the defeat of Flaminius and Centenius and so many other cruel mischiefs which they daily as they thought dishonorably suffered not being able to endure the War to continue so long at their own doors and as it were in their very Seats once more raised and sent an Army into Apulia consisting of four Legions enrolled not without great regret in the City and a mighty power of their Allies Withal they created two Consuls one famous for Warlike Prowess L. Aemilius who had made War in Illyria the other of the Popular Faction Terentius Varro a man who only with lofty promises soothed the minds of the Common people whom when they sent out armed to the War they besought as soon as they could to engage the Enemy and not by longer Protracting the War exhaust the City by so many recruits of Men Mony and Provisions and through Idleness suffer the Country to burn The Consuls receiving the Army that was in Apulia and being now in all seventy thousand Foot and six thousand Horse pitch their Camp in Cannae a Town of Apulia directly opposite to the Carthaginians Hannibal who had always been desirous to fight and impatient of lying idle at this time more especially did not decline an Engagement being pressed to it by his own necessities and a fear leâ—t the Mercenary Soldiers not having their wages paid should either run away from him or be scattered about the Country to get in Forrage Wherefore he daily provoked the Enemy whilst the Consuls were of quite different and disagreeing judgments Aemilius thought that Hannibal was to be defeated by Temporizing and patience for that having only such Provisions as he day by day fetcht in he could not long subsist whilst it was hazardous fighting an Army and a General so long versed in Battels and accustomed to Victory but Terentius raised by the people and therefore remembring the Peoples Commands was for present fight None save only Servilius Consul the year preceding were of Aemilius mind but all the Senators and those of the Order of Knights who had any Office in the Army were of Terentius opinion Whilst the Romans lay in this manner Hannibal who having a party sent out either to Wood or Forrage set upon by them first overcome about the last watch of the night discamped and feigned a flight as if he had fought to return to his own Country which Varro beholding he drew out the Army as if he had been to pursue a flying Enemy Aemilius in the mean time earnestly forbidding it and calling them back which when he saw did nothing avail he went himself according to the Roman Custome to take the usual signs and he seing the Chicken peckt not Commanded to let Varro know the ill Auspices He indeed yielded to Religion but being returned into the Camp before all the Army tore his Hair crying out that his Colleague had out of envy rob'd him of the victory the whole croud assenting to what he said and making the like complaints But when Hannibal saw his deceit had little profited him he forthwith returned into his Camp and discovered his dissembled flight yet all this would not prevail with Varro thence forward to suspect Hannibal but on the Contrary going into the Praetorium before all the Senators Centurions and Military Tribunes he grievously inveighed against Aemilius who either by falsely representing the Religious auspices had rob'd the City of a Certain Victory or through Fear and Cowardise not daring to fight himself had envyed him the glory of the day in Raving manner uttering these speeches the Soldiers who stood about the Tent greedily receiving and gladly hearing these words with bitter reproaches blasted Aemilius who yet forbore not though in vain to advise many useful things but when all save only Servilius were furiously carried away by Varro's perswasion the next day which was almost the last of his Command for he after yielded it to Varro he drew out his Army to fight Hannibal perceived it but because he was not that day sufficiently prepared drew not out his Army The next day both Generals drew into the field The Romans in a triple Battel so as that the main body consisted of Armed Foot and the two Wings of light Armed Foot and Horse Aemilius commanded the main body Servilius the left Wing and Varro the Right and each had with them a body of about a thousand chosen Horse to run up and down upon all occasions and give assistance where it was needful This was the Order of the Roman battel Hannibal not ignorant that a certain stormy wind which they call Vulturnus and is the North East blew usually about Noon in those parts made it his first care to take possession of the ground so that he might have the wind upon his back Then upon a certain hill covered over with trees and broken in sunder by several close Valleys he placed some Horse and nimble Soldiers in Ambush to whom he gave orders that in the heat of the battel and when the wind was risen they should charge the Enemy in the Rear to these he added five hundred Celtiberians who besides their
the wind of the Enemy when he made the Celtiberians feign a revolt when he dissembled a Flight and when he placed his Ambushes The next thing he did was to take a view of the dead among whom when he beheld many of the bravest of his Friends 't is said that sighting he cryed out He stood not in need of more such Victories Much like to which is reported to have in the former Age been said by Pyrrhus King of Epire That by such defeats he should hardly vanquish the Romans Those who were fled into the greater Camp under the leading of Publius Sempronius broke through Hannibal's Watches tired for want of sleep and fighting resolutely and got about ten thousand of them to Canusium but the five thousand that staid in the lesser Camp were the next day taken by Hannibal The Consul Terentius gathering together the relicks of the Army and comforting them sad and quite cast down as they were in the best manner he could and leaving the Command of them to Scipio Tribune of the Soldiers went his way towards Rome whither when this news was brought great multitudes promiscuously flocked to the Gates lamenting their Friends and calling them by name and deploring their own misfortunes as if the Enemy were already come to seise upon themselves Mothers with their Children ran up and down to the Temples imploring the Gods that at length they would by some means put a stop to all these Miseries The Magistrates likewise seeing the City thus oppressed by the Divine Anger endeavoured to appease the Gods with Prayers and Sacrifices beseeching them to rest satisfied with the past slaughter The Senate sent Q. Fabius who likewise wrote a History of these things to the Oracle at Delphos to enquire about the present state of things and manumitted eight thousand slaves strong young men freely given by their Masters gave Orders throughout the City for preparing Bows and Shields and Claudius Marcellus who was about to fail into Sicily changing their minds they decreed to go against Hannibal He dividing his Fleet with Furius his Colleague and sending part of his Forces into Sicily with the rest consisting of Citizens Associates and Slaves to the numbers of about ten thousand Foot and two thousand Horse went to Theanum that he might discover what Hannibal designed But Hannibal permitted some of the Captives to go as Deputies to Rome to see if the Citizens would at his price redeem any of them and three among all the rest being chosen to this office of whom Cn. Sempronius was chief taking no other pledge but their Oath to return he let them go Then the Neighbours of the Captives standing round about the place offered with their own private Money to redeem whoever they had a kindness for beseeching the Senate to give them leave so to do the people all weeping and approving their motion some of the Senators were of the opinion that after so many Battels the Common-wealth was not to suffer the loss of so many men and the Slaves were not to be preferred before Free-men but others argued that such indulgence would accustom men to flight who were rather to be taught how to overcome or die Nor was it just that those who fled should experience any of their Clemency or Mercy After many Examples produced for and against it the Senate at length forbid the Neighbours to redeem the Captives as judging whilst they were still beset with so many dangers their present Clemency would be converted into furute damage and that though this at present seemed a doleful severity and inhumanity yet it would turn to future advantage and indeed at that very time the strange boldness of this resolution appeared dreadful to Hannibal himself Wherefore Sempronius and the other two Captives returned to the Enemy Hannibal hereupon sold some of the Prisoners and commanded others to be slain of whose dead Bodies he made a Bridge whereon his Army marched over the River such of the Senate and Nobility as he had in his Camp he set Father against Child and Brother against Brother compelling them to fight against each other for a divertisement to his Africans in a word he omitted no insulting cruelty that the pride of man could invent Thence he turned his Arms to the wasting the Territories of the Roman Associates and brought the Engines against Petelia The Petelians though few in number yet stout of heart bravely resisted him and the Women assisting who in courage yielded little to the Men often sallying and stoutly fighting burnt his Engines but at length being wasted by often skirmishes and Famine creeping upon them as soon as Hannibal had advice of it he begirt the City with a circumvallation and left Hanno to prosecute the Siege The Townsmens miseries increasing upon them they thrust out all the croud useless for War between the Wall and Trench looking on with stedfast countenances whilst Hanno caused them to be slain as envying their better manners of dying yet almost all the rest fell not long after under the same fate for being oppressed with extreme want they made a sally upon the Enemy where after having performed many noble exploits not caring to return to the City there to starve or wanting strength through hunger they were almost all slain and Hanno possessed himself of the Town some of the strongest who were able to flee escaped whom the Romans when this War was ended for their singular fidelity and good will towards them and their incredible Valour caused to be diligently sought out being in all about eight hundred and restored them to their Country But when the Celtiberian Horse who were Auxiliaries in Hannibal's Army were observed to fight stoutly The Roman Generals commanding in Spain desired of their Subjects a like number of such Horsemen whom they sent into Italy to oppose the other These by reason of the neighbourhood of the Camps found opportunities of free converse and every one invited his fellow Citizen or Country man to come over to them whence it happened that part of them fled over to the Romans and other part slip'd away so that Hannibal now thinking nothing safe grew jealous of them whilst they on the other side grew no less jealous of the fall of the Carthaginian Affairs yet in Arpis a City of Apulia built as some say by Diomedes the Argive one Dasias reported to be descended from the same Diomede though but upon uncertain gounds however no way worthy of so noble a Stock after that signal slaughter at Cannae revolted from the Romans to Hannibal and drew his Country into the same defection but when after Hannibal began to grow less successful coming privately to Rome and being brought into the Senate he offered as an amends for his fault to bring the City again under the Roman Power he hardly escaped being slain by the Romans but most certainly they presently cast him out of their City so that now fearing both them and Hannibal he wandred like
accused the rich men that they disdained to employ them in their Tillage but rather made choice of Slaves their Enemies faithless people and useless in War During these reproaches and mutual laments the contagion of this Distemper spread it it self among the Colonies the Municipal Cities and in all places where Lands were possessed by what Title soever every one feared to lose and there as well as in the City the multitude was divided into two parties and each relying on the number of their Faction stirred them up against the other and all people being concerned in the execution of this Law one party disposing themselves to hinder it and the other being ready to attempt any thing to maintain it mens minds were strangely inclined to Sedition So neither one nor the other party resolving to yield they waited only the day appointed for the passing the Law in the Assembly Gracchus's Design was not so much to relieve the poverty of particular men as to repeople the Country because he believed it the interest of the Common-wealth and that hereupon depended the fortune of all Italy nor doubted he of the success of the Enterprise though it were as difficult as it was important When the Assembly was met after having a long time discoursed the business in Question he asked the Auditors if they believed it not just that what belonged to the Publick should be shared among the People if a Citizen were not to be preferred befor a Slave if a Soldier were no more serviceable to the State than a Ploughman and if a natural Inhabitant were not more affectionate to the Common-wealth than a Stranger and without insisting long upon these comparisons as absurd he began to discourse of the hopes and fears of the City That the Romans had conqueeed many Countries and been in hopes to extend their Conquests to the most distant Climates but that as things now stood there was cause enough to doubt whether they should be able to complete the Conquest of the rest with that small number of Soldiers wherewith Italy was peopled or should not rather lose their own Country by reason of the weakness of their Armies and the powerfulness of their Enemies and withal exaggerating the Glory and Riches on one side and the danger and fear on the other he exhorted the rich men to consider with themselves if it were not much more to the purpose willingly to quit to the unfortunate poor who had great charge of Children the possession of some Lands out of hopes of those great advantages might thereby accrue than to neglect things of most import by disputing Trifles That besides five hundred Acres of good Land well secured and for those had Children half as much for every Head was no contemptible recompence of their past Services After having largely discoursed on this subject and the minds of the poor people and of all such as suffered themselves to be rather led by reason than passion remaining suspended he gave command to the Serjeanâ— to read the Law when M. Octavius his Colleague who was suborned by the rich men to prevent the passing of the Law imposed silence upon the Serjeant Whereupon Gracchus publickly reproaching him adjourned the Assembly till the morrow when having caused some Armed Men to be there as if by force he would have constrained Octavius to yield to him whether he would or no he with threats commanded the Serjeant to read the Law and Octavius on the contrary forbad him Whereupon the Colleagues quarrelling and it being impossible to read the Law by reason of the Tumult the most Considerate of the Assembly besought the Tribunes to refer the Difference to the Senate's judgment Gracchus consented and out of hopes that this Law would displease no reasonable man went straight to the Palace but not being received there with so great applause as among the Vulgar nay on the contrary having reviling words cast at him by the Rich Men he returns to the Assembly and promises that on the morrow he would gather their Voices both concerning the Law and the dismission of his Colleague who opposed the good of the People He accordingly did it And as Octavius presented himself unconcerned he first put it to the Vote concerning him The first Tribe having given their Vote against Octavius Gracchus turned to him and desired him to desist from his Enterprize but seeing him obstinate he persisted to demand the advice of the rest for at this time there were five and thirty of which seventeen all in a fury having voted with the first if the eighteenth were joyned with them the Law became ratified Wherefore Gracchus once more publickly besought his Colleague now upon the very point of being deposed not so stubbornly to disturb a Work so holy and so beneficial to all Italians nor any more oppose a thing which the people so ardently desired the Execution whereof his Office of Tribune obliged him to and in fine not to suffer himself to be deposed After which Entreaties he called the Gods to witness that it was with regret he thus acted against the honour of his Colleague but then seeing nothing would perswade him he began again to gather the Votes Thus Octavius being deprived of his Office and Charge and retired out of the Assembly they substituted Mummius in his stead and at the same time the Law was ratifyed They created Triumvirs for dividing the Land Gracchus himself Caius his Brother and Appius Claudius his Father in Law for the people were fearful the Law might remain without Execution unless he that made it and his Alliance had the Support of it in their own hands As for Gracchus ravished with joy that this Law had passed he was carried back by the people to his House as if he had been the restorer not of one City or one people but of all the Nations of Italy After which the victorious Party went into the Countries from whence they were come to this contention and the other in despair for being overcome staid still in the City publickly declaring that Gracchus should repent as soon as he was out of employment the daring to violate an authority so holy and sacred and be the mover of such a Sedition in Italy Summer being already come the time of the Assembly for the Creation of Tribunes drew nigh and it was very likely the rich men would so contrive it that the dignity might fall upon Gracchus's enemies which somewhat terrified him and fearful lest any thing might pass in the Assembly to his prejudice he did his endeavours to recal the people out of the Country But all people being now employed in their Tillage as is usual in Harvest and the day of Assembly approaching he was forced to have recourse to the people of the City and with kindnesses and submissions solicite every one in particular to continue him in the Tribuneship in acknowledgment of the dangers to which he had exposed himself for their service When
same reason into Africa where by reason of the fertility of the Soyl a Colony was appointed to be established and Inhabitants expresly sent thither that the City being disburthened the Senate might in some measure be delivered from popular Seditions The Tribunes set out the place of their Habitation among the Ruins of Carthage without consideration that Scipio when he demolished it had decreed it to remain eternally desert with Imprecations against all those who should attempt to rebuild it They likewise made account to bring over six thousand Inhabitants more than were appointed by Ordinance of the Senate to gain so much the more the people's good grace From thence they returned to Rome with design to gather together from all parts of Italy those six thousand persons destined for Carthage But those who stayed in Africa to lay the first Foundations to that Colony having writ to the City that the Wolves had tore away the Mark set by the Tribunes the Augurs declared it Sacrilege to send Inhabitants thither and the Senate published an Assembly to consult of the Abrogation of the Law in what related to that Colony Whereupon Gracchus and Fulvius having likewise lost this hope ran like mad men through the Streets crying out that the Prodigy of the Wolves was a lye of the Senate's The most resolute of the people took their parts and armed they came to the Capitol where the Tribes were in Convocation to give their Votes touching the Colony After the people were assembled and Fulvius had begun to speak Gracchus who to that end had ordered his people to follow attempted to go up to the Temple of Iupiter but being hindred by those who knew he had some ill design he returned no more into the Assembly but retreated into the Porch waiting an opportunity to engage the adverse Party Mean while a certain man of the people called Attilius who sacrificed under the same Porch seeing him moved went to accost him and whether knowing any thing or having some suspition or else only by way of entertainment besought him to have compassion of his Country Whereupon seeming troubled as if he had been discovered and looking awry upon the man one of his followers without receiving any Command or staying for a Signal but judging by his Master's Countenance that it was time to strike and that by beginning first he would be the more obliged to him drew his Sword and run Attilius into the Belly Whereupon a great cry being raised when the dead body was seen upon the Pavement all the people were affrighted and every man fled from the Temple as fast as he could Gracchus went into the Assembly to give an account of this Action but when none would hear his Justification but all looked upon him as impious and irreligious Flaccus and he troubled to have lost the opportunity of executing their design went to their several Homes whither others of the same Faction retired to them The rest of the people as it happens in a publick Tumult being about midnight got together in Arms in the place Opimius one of the Consuls who was left in the City at break of day places Guards in the Capital gives order to call together the Senate and himself seizes on the Temple of Castor ano Pollux which stood in the heart of the City that he might be in readiness whatever should happen Things disposed in this order the Senate sent to summon Gracchus and Flaccus to come and give an account of their Actions but they having betaken themselves to Arms hastned to seize on the Mount Aventine hoping if they made themselves Masters of that place the Senate would not refuse some conditions of Peace They endeavoured likewise to raise the Slaves under promise of Liberty but in vain So they fortifyed themselves in Diana's Temple with those people they had from whence they sent Quintus the Son of Flaccus to the Senate to treat of an Accommodation Answer was given they should lay down their Arms and come themselves and then they should be heard but that upon any other terms they should send no more But Quintus again returning contrary to this Declaration made him by the Senate Opimius no more considering him as a Deputy commands him to be Arrested and at the same instant gave Order to march against Gracchus who fled over the wooden Bridge to the other side of Tiber into a certain Thicket followed only by one Slave to whom because he would not fall alive into his Enemies hands he presented his throat Flaccus escaped into a Shop of one of his Friends where his Pursuers lost him but because they knew not which House he was run into they threatned to burn the whole Street Whereupon he who had received him not having the heart to deliver him up himself gave notice to another who discovered him So he was taken and slain upon the place The two heads were brought to Opimius who paâ—ed for them their weight in Gold Their Houses were pillaged by the people and their Fellow-Confederates strangled in the Prison by the Consul's Order As for Quintus the Son of Flaccus they gave him leave to chuse his death After which the usual Ceremonies for purging the City polluted by these Massacres were performed and by Decree of the Senate the Temple of Concord was built in the place The second Sedition of the Gracchi ending in this manner soon after a Law was made by which it was permitted to any to sell their Lands contrary to the defence made by the elder Gracchus so that the Poor were soon thrust out by the Rich of all that they possessed in the Country either by Power or Money till such time as Spurius Borius absolutely abolished the Law of Lands leaving the Country in possession of the ancient Masters on condition of paying a Tribute to the People and the Money arising thereby to be divided by head which was a great comfort to the Poor and a Remedy against unpeopling the Country Thus Gracchus Laws very advantagious to the Commonwealth if they could have been executed being once shaken another Tribune of the People took off the Tribute so that there remained nothing to the poor People Hence proceeded it that the Country became depopulated Soldiers grew scarce the Revenue of the Roman People diminished Military Establishments were reduced the Laws lost their Authority ano Men ceased to do Justice And this was fifteen years after the Publication of the Law concerning Lands About the same time the Consul Scipio caused the Theatre begun by L. Cassius to be demolished though almost brought to perfection whether he thought it might breed new matter of Sedition or whether he thought it not for the Commonwealths good to accustom the People to the Grecians Voluptuousness And the Censor Q. Cecilius Metellus did all he could to expel Glaucia and Apuleius Saturninus who had been Tribune out of the Senate for their debauched life but his Colleague opposing it he could not
succeed in the Attempt For this reason Apuleius to revenge this Affront of Metellus once more demanded the Tribuneship and took the opportunity when Glaucia then Praetor presided in the Assembly Notwithstanding Nonius of Noble Race having with bloody Reproaches declaimed against Apuleius and Glaucia was designed Tribune But they fearing lest he having obtained that Dignity should handle them roughly broke up the Assembly and presently slipped after him a Troop of Murtherers who reached him as he was escaping into a certain House and slew him And because this Murther struck all the World both with horrour and compassion those of Glaucia's Faction being got very early in the morning about him in the place of the Assembly before the people were come gave the Tribuneship to Apuleius So no more Inquest was made after Nonius death none daring to accuse the Tribune of such a Riot Metellus was likewise sent into Banishment by a Cabal of his Enemies upheld by Marius now the sixth time Consul who bare him a private Grudge And this was the Trap they layd for him Apuleius made a Law touching the Division of Lands in the Province of the Gauls out of which Marius had lately driven the Cimbrians so that now it was under dependence of the Romans and not of the Gauls By this Law it was enacted that if the People passed it the Senate should approve it in ten days and by Oath oblige themselves to stand to it and whosoever would not swear to be expelled the Senate with twenty Talents Fine Thus an opportunity of Revenge presented of it self for there was not any likelihood that many of the Senators but especially Metellus Noble minded as he was would endure to be forced to swear Apuleius appointed a day of Assembly and mean time sent Messengers from himself to give notice to the Tribes in the Country in whom he had great confidence because the greater part of them had born Arms under Marius This Law which seemed made in favour of the Allies was not very pleasing to the Roman People So that no Order was kept in this Assembly and whosoever stood up against it was thrown headlong down by Apuleius Hereupon the People of the City began to cry out that they heard thunder as often as which happens it is Sacrilege to enact any thing But when Apuleius Party gave not yet over their Violences the Citizens trussing up their Gowns and seizing on the Arms of all they met dispersed the Country-men who notwithstanding being recalled by Apuleius Rallyed and returning to the Charge with Clubs likewise in their hands made such a bustle that at length the Law past That done Marius assembled the Senate to consult about the Oath demanded from the Senators and because he knew Metellus constant and steady in his Resolutions he spoke his opinion first and assured them he would never willingly swear Metellus did the like and the rest of the Senate praising both one and the other the Consul dismissed the Assembly but on the fifth day the time prescribed by the Law to swear on Marius having about ten of the Clock assembled the Senate in great haste told them he was afraid of the People eager for the Execution of the Law but that he had found a device to secure them That they ought to swear to that Law so far as it was legitimate with which the Country People whom they had most cause to apprehend being satisfied would be gone and then it would be very easie to make it appear to be no Law being published by force and whilst it thundred contrary to the Customs of their Ancestors And having thus said without staying to ask any one's opinion or so much as giving time to think of it whilst all kept silence through fear and surprize he rises up and goes to the Temple of Saturn where the Treasurers of the Exchequer were to swear them and first of all himself and Friends oblige themselves by Oath to the Observation of the Law All the rest of the Senators every one in fear for himself swore likewise save only Metellus who remained stedfast and fearless in his Resolution So Apuleius next morning caused in Usher to lay hold of him to make him go out of the Palace and when the other Tribunes of the People commanded the Usher to let him go he ran to the Country Men and told them they could have no Lands nor would the Law be of force unless Metellus were driven out of the City In so much that it was decreed in the Assembly of the people that he should be banished and that the Consuls should forbid him Fire and Water and they allowed one day to the Senate to consider of the matter The Citizens enraged at this Action assembled with Arms under their Gowns to conduct him through the City But he thanking them for their good will with all the Civilities imaginable told them he would never suffer his Country to run any hazard for his sake Then Apuleius published the Ordinance for his Banishment which Marius soon confirmed by Decree And thus this man esteemed by all the World went into Exile After this Apuleius was again nominated Tribune of the people for the third year and they chose for his Colleague one who most said was a Fugitive Slave and who boasted himself to be Son to the elder Gracchus for whom all the rabble gave their votes with much eagerness out of the respect they had to the said Gracchus After this was held an Assembly for the election of Consuls where Anthony by general consent of all the world was nominated to this Dignity 'T was not yet known who of Glaucia or Memmius that strove for it should be his Colleague but because Memmius was of much the better House Glaucia and Apuleius fearful he should carry it caused him to be set upon in the very assembly of the People by certain Murtherers who in the face of the whole world slew him with Clubs so that by reason of this disorder the Assembly broke up after having beheld the violation of all that respect due to the authority of the Laws to Justice to Men and to God On the morrow the people incensed with the horrour of the Action gathered together to punish it in the person of Apuleius but he assisted by great numbers of the Country people whom he had caused to come of purpose and taking along with him Glaucia and C. Sanfeius Quaestor went to seise the Capitol The Senate declares them Enemies and Marius with regret arms against them but so few people and so slowly that the people tired with his delays cut the Pipes which carried water to the Temple till Sanfeius no longer able to endure thirst gave advice to fire the Capitol but Glaucia and Apuleius out of the confidence they had in Marius yielded first and Sanfeius after them but when the people cryed out with one voice to put them presently to death the Consul shut them up in
General sent to Cosconius that he should either pass the River and he would retire or that he should retire and himself would pass the River that they might come to a Battel Cosconius chose rather to retire and as soon as Trebatius was passed defeated him pursuing his routed Men to the River side where most of them were drowned So that the Enemy lost fifteen thousand men and the rest with Trebatius escaped into Canusa Cosconius after this Victory went to spoil the Countries of Larinate Venusa and Pouilla and assaulting the Pediculi in two days became Master of all the Nation who came and submitted themselves His Successor Cecilius Metellus to whom he delivered up the Army defeated those of Pouilla in a Battel where Popedius one of the Authors of the Rebellion being killed the Remainder of his Forces came by Bands to submit to the Conqueror Thus the War of the Allies continued with much heat until in the end all Italy obtained the Right of free Citizens of Rome save only the Lucanians and the Samnites who notwithstanding soon after were admitted as well as the rest and distributed by Tribes as we have said before for fear they should have more Votes than the ancient Citizens being indeed more numerous About the same time there arose another Tumult in the City about Debts for some exacted the Interest of money lent with more rigor than was permitted by the ancient Laws For it seems the Romans as well as the Greeks abhorred Usury as a Trade ruinous to the Poor and an occasion of Law-Suits and Enmities The Persians themselves had no better opinion of it and made the difference but very small between the practice of it and cheating and lying Notwithstanding because Usury was now permitted by a Custom introduced some years past the Creditors had some Right to demand it but the Debtors delayed Payment under pretence of Wars and Tumults Some there were likewise that seeing themselves oppressed by the Usurers threatned to have them condemned in a Fine Asellio the Pretor Judge of these matters did all he could to compose all Differences but not being able to compass it he left them to the Law after having explained to the other Judges as in a difficult matter what was Right and what was Custom Whereupon the Usurers who could not endure mention should be made of the old Laws got rid of the Pretor in this manner One day as he sacrificed in the Temple of Castor surrounded with a great Croud of people as is ordinary some one having thrown a Stone at him he set down the Cup and began to â—ly towards the Temple of Vesta but being prevented by others who stopt his passage he ran into a Tavern to hide himself where they cut his throat In this Confusion many who thought he had escaped into the Cloister of the Vestals pursuing him with too much heat of passion ran into those places where men cannot enter without Sacrilege Thus was Asellio the Praetor killed in exercising his Office clad in the holy Habit of Cloth of Gold worn only on solemn Festivals about two of the Clock in the middle of the place and offering a Sacrifice The Senate caused to be published by sound of Trumpet that they would give to whoever should discover the Authors of this Murder a Reward in Money if a Free Man his Liberty if a Slave and Pardon if one of the Accomplices Yet they could never gain any intelligence of it for the Usurers took a course to stifle even the Memory of this Riot which we may likewise reckon among the Tumults of the City It was followed by those Differences which happened between the Chiefs of the Factions who as in open War assailed each other with formed Armies each proposing no less price of his Victory than his Country of which he pretended to become Master It was immediately after the War of the Allies that these Dissentions took Birth and thus they began After that Mithridates King of Pontus and other Countries had seized on Bythinia Phrygia and the neighbouring Asia as we have said in one of our former Books Sylla then Consul obtained for his part of the Government the Province of Asia with Commission for the War against Mithridates Before his departure from the City Marius who thought there would be more profit than danger in this War and besides spurred forward with a desire to Command engaged by a World of Promises P. Sulpitius Tribune of the People to serve him in this Affair and at the same time put the new Citizens in hopes to raise them to an Equality with the old ones in their Votes and cause them to be distributed among the ancient Tribes By doing them this kindness he laboured for himself of which though he made no shew yet was it only for his own ends he sought their favour Sulpitius presently made a Law which if it had passed had given Marius the whole Authority in the Commonwealth so much would the New Citizens have out-voted the Old by reason of their numbers The old ones who perceived it opposed it with all their might and at last upon this difference they grew to so much heat as to come to handy Strokes and Stones The mischiefs increasing the Consuls fearing lest in the Assembly which was nigh at hand they should come to the last Extremities ordained Feasts for several days like to the solemn ones with intent to prolong the time of the Assembly and the danger wherewith the City was threatned But Sulpitius without having regard to the Feasts gave order to those of his Faction to meet forthwith upon the place with Arms under their Gowns to make use of upon occasion even against the Consuls themselves And prepared in this manner he began to declare against these Feasts as unlawful commanding Sylla and Q. Pompey to revoke them at that very moment that the People might pass their Suffrages concerning the Laws This discourse raised a great Tumult Swords were drawn as before was agreed on and the Points presented to the Consuls who would not yet give way to it till such time as Pompey luckily and nimbly getting away Sylla withdrew under pretence to go and consider of it Mean while Pompey Son to the Consul and Son in Law to Sylla for having spoken something I know not what too freely was slain by Sulpitius Faction and Sylla returning in a small time after revoked the Feasts and at the same instant went away for Capua where his Army lay with design to march from thence into Asia against Mithridates for as yet he knew not the Plot laid against him The Feasts being revoked and Sylla gone Sulpitius passed the Law about which so much stir had been made and withal instead of Sylla gave Commission to Marius to make War against Mithridates Sylla having advice hereof resolved to defend his Commission with Arms And to this end draws together his Soldiers who hoped as well as he every man to
Brundusium that Cinna was dead and the Common-wealth in trouble they returned to find Sylla without proceeding farther Upon this report brought to him he left Pyraeum with five Italian Legions six thousand Horse and the Auxiliary Forces of Macedon and Peloponnesus which amounted to about sixty thousand Men from Pyraeum he came to Patras from whence he passed over to Brundusium on a Fleet of six hundred Ships He was received into the Port without any contradiction and in acknowledgment of that seasonable kindness he granted to the City an exemption from all kind of Imposts for the future which they enjoy to this day That done he set forward with all his Forces and by the way met with Metellus Pius who some years before had commanded the Body of an Army in the War with the Allies but not being willing to return to the City for fear of Cinna and Marius was retired into Liguria expecting some change Now therefore he came to offer Sylla what Forces he had having still the Title of Proconsul for when once that Honour is attained it lasts till he enjoys it returns to his Country Some time after Cn. Pompey who afterwards gained the Title of Great Son of that Pompey who was killed with a Thunderbolt came to him likewise In former appearance he was no Friend to Sylla but now he made him lay aside all suspicion of him by bringing with him a Legion out of the Country of Picene where he was well beloved in memory of his Father's name he raised two other Voluntier Legions soon after and among all those that took Sylla's Party none did him more important Service and though yet very young Sylla had so high a value for him that whoever arrived he was the only person for whom he rose up from his Seat that he sent him into Africa to put an end to the Remains of the War quell Carbo's Party and reestablish Hyempsal in his Kingdom who had been driven out by the Numidians and that for the Actions he there did he granted him the Honour of Triumph though he had not yet arrived to the age prescribed by the Laws and was then but a plain Knight In so much that after so fair beginnings being advanced in age as well as reputation he was sent against Sertorius in Spain and afterwards to the Kingdom of Pontus against Mithridates Cethegus likewise came to meet Sylla though he had been the greatest Enemy he had and was therefore banished with Cinna and Marius but now he presented himself before Sylla in the condition of a Suppliant offering him to serve him in all he should be pleased to employ him Thus beholding himself fortified with a great number of Soldiers and store of illustrious Friends whom he made his Lieutenants he placed himself at the Head of his Army with Metellus both being Proconsuls for Sylla going to the War against Mithridates in Quality of Proconsul had not yet quitted that Dignity though Cinna had declared him Enemy to the State He mortally hated those that had offended him but he kept his hatred close for which reason those which remained in the City knowing his temper were sorely terrified They had not forgot what passed the first time he entred in Arms they knew he was incensed at the Sentences given against him they saw his House pulled down his Goods confiscate his Friends killed and his Family in flight who very hardly escaped and therefore thought they must resolve to overcome or utterly to perish so that in this common fear they threw themselves into the Consuls Party and began to fetch from all parts of Italy Soldiers Provisions and Money with all the diligence necessary in extreme danger The Consuls C. Norbanus and L. Scipio and with them Carbo Consul the year precediâ—g who hated Sylla as much as the others but feared him more out of a remorse for the injuries he had done him after having levyed Soldiers throughout all Italy took the Field with each his Body of an Army They had at first but two hundred and fifty Men in each Cohort but soon after they found many more for all people had a far greater inclination for the Consuls than for Sylla because Sylla seemed to come against the City like an Enemy whilst the Consuls fought for their Country but this was only in appearance for in truth they laboured only for themselves Besides the vulgar sensible they were sharers in the fault were carried on to defend it by the same fear and no person was ignorant that Sylla had not simply the thought of chastising reforming or striking terrour but that he meditated upon Sackings Burnings Massacres and in a word the general ruine of the City And surely they were not deceived all places they soon found sacked and filled with slaughter by the continual Fights in which there perished sometimes ten thousand sometimes twenty thousand in one only Engagement and at once in and about the City fifty thousand where yet the Conquerour forgot no cruelty he could exercise on the Remainder as well in general as particular till in the end he reduced the Roman Empire under his Dominion and disposed of it at pleasure They received from on High presages of these miseries by a great number of Prodigies Ghosts presented themselves to an infinite many people throughout all Italy as well alone as in company they set themselves to examine ancient Oracles where they still found matter of greater fear and distraction a Mule engendred a Woman was delivered of a Serpent a great Earthquake overthrew some Temples in the City And though the Senate and People of Rome keep constant watch against such Accidents the Capitol built by the Kings above four hundred years before was set on fire none could tell how And indeed these were all Signs which threatened Italy with Murders and Desolations and the Roman People with Servitude and that Change which was to happen in the Common-wealth The beginning of this War accounting from the time that Sylla landed at Brundusium happened in the hundred seventy fourth Olympiad The Actions of it were much greater than the time of its continuance long for each party running with fury to the ruine of the other the losses they sustained were so much the greater and more quick yet it lasted three years till such time as Sylla made himself Master of the State and even after Sylla's death it yet continued a long time in Spain There was through all Italy many Fights and Skirmishes Sieges and other Exploits of War in great number and very remarkable as well in Pitch'd Battels as in Rencounters We will only relate those Actions are most considerable and best worthy memory and that the most succinctly we can The first Battel fought was about Canusa between the Consul Norbanus and the Proconsuls wherein the Consul lost six thousand men and those of the other Party only seventy but they had many wounded and Norbanus retreated to Capua After which the
he forthwith confiscated their Goods and publickly sold them and assembling the people complained that he had been forced by the malice of his Enemies to come to these Extremities exhorting the Citizens to take courage with promise they should in a few days behold the end of their miseries and the re-establishment of the Common-wealth After having applyed some remedies to the most pressing Distempers and left a Garrison in the City he marched towards Clusa where there was yet a Remain of War not to be neglected Whilst he was at Rome some Celtiberian Horse sent from the Praetors of Spain were joyned with the Consul's Army which occasioned a Fight betwixt the Horsemen near the River Glanis where Sylla's Horsemen had the better he killed about five hundred of the Enemy and two hundred and seventy Celtiberians came over to his side all the rest Carbo caused to be cut in pieces either to revenge the treachery of their Countrymen or for fear his Men should follow their example At the very instant of this Victory Sylla's Party fighting against their Enemies about Saturnia defeated them and Metellus going by Sea to the Borders of Ravenna reduced under his obedience the Country of the Uritanians which is a vast Champain very fruitful in Corn. Another Body of Sylla's Men entring by night into Naples by treason put all to the Sword save a few that escaped by flight and made themselves Masters of all those People's Galleys As for what passed at Clusa Sylla fought a whole day together against Carbo and the Field was so resolutely maintained that only night parted them Victory inclining neither to one side nor the other But in the Country of Spoletto Pompey and Crassus both Lieutenants to Sylla cut in pieces about three thousand of Carbo's Men and kept Carinas who commanded them blocked up till Carbo sent another Army to relieve him of whose March Sylla having intelligence crossed their way and charged so briskly that he left about two thousand in the place but yet Carinas taking the opportunity of a dark and rainy night escaped from the Besiegers hands who though they knew it well enough yet let him pass because of the cruel weather The same Carbo to rescue his Colleague Marius besieged in Praeneste and ready to perish with Famine sent Marcius with eight Legions whom Pompey that lay in ambush for him so vigorously assaulted that he slew the greatest part and forced the rest to retreat to a rising ground where he invested them but Marcius causing great Fires to be kindled to make the Enemy believe he still was there marched off closely in the dark but his Army imputing to him the fault committed in falling into the Ambuscade mutinyed and whether he would or no took their march towards Rimini where the greatest part disbanding themselves went home so that Marius had but seven Cohorts left with which after all these misfortunes he went to find out Carbo After this M. Lamponius Pontus Telesinus and Gutta of Capua being upon their March with seventy thousand Men as well Lucanians as Samnites to go and disengage Marius Sylla seised of a certain Strait by which only they could pass to go to Praeneste so that they were forced to return without doing any thing And now the Consul falling from all hopes of being relieved caused a Fort to be raised in a spacious place between the City and Trenches whither he brought Engines and drew together all his Forces with intention to make Lucretius retire and open himself a passage by Sally but after divers continued endeavours for many days he shut himself up again within the Walls of Praeneste About the same time Carbo and Norbanus after a long hard March perceived themselves towards Evening to be near Metellus his Camp and though there were but an hour more of daylight and that they saw all about the Vineyards lay very thick yet they drew up their Army in Battalia with more passion than prudence They thought to fright Metellus by this surprize but both time and place being disadvantageous to them they fell one upon another and were so cruelly defeated that they left six thousand upon the place six thousand yielded to Metellus and the rest fled every man his way so that a thousand only retreated in order to Arezzo Upon the news of this defeat a Legion of Lucanians commanded by Albinovanus joyned with Metellus's Party and that in despite as it were of their General who yet not losing courage went to find out Norbanus and yet after all this having underhand treated with Sylla upon condition to do some memorable service he invited Norbanus to a Treat with his Lieutenants C. Apustius and Flavius Fimbria Brother to that Fimbria who killed himself in Asia together with all the Officers of Carbo's Party who being all met save only Norbanus he caused them to be slain in the midst of the Feast and yielded himself to Sylla After this Treachery Norbanus hearing that Rimini because of this accident and of some Armies that lay nigh to it had likewise fallen off to Sylla's Party and believing as it generally happens to all men in declining fortune that he could no longer confide in the friendship of any man embarqued on a Vessel belonging to a private man and got safe to Rhodes whither Sylla having sent to demand him whilst the Rhodians were consulting about it he slew himself in the midst of the place Carbo yet sent two Legions under the command of Damasippus to Praeneste to raise that Siege with all speed possible but they could no more than the others force Sylla's Men posted in the Strait Beside all this all the Cisalpine Gauls yielded to Metellus and Lucullus encountring another Army of Carbo's near Placentia gained the Victory so that this General after so many losses though he had still thirty thousand Men about Clusa the two Legions with Damasippus and two others commanded by Carinas and Marcius besides a great number of Samnites continually engaging with Sylla's Men to drive them from the Strait where they were posted lost all hopes and fled to Africa with his Friends in which he certainly committed a great weakness to leave Italy being Consul as if after having lost it he could make himself Master of Africa The Army which he left at Clusa engaging with Pompey after the loss of twenty thousand Men dispersed and every man returned home As for Carinas Marcius and Damasippus having joyned Forces they marched towards the Strait of which we have so often spoke hoping with the assistance of the Samnites to come to a good issue but not succeeding better than others before them they advanced towards Rome which they thought might easily be taken wanting both Men and Provision and went and pitched their Camp upon the Alban Hill at the tenth Stone But now Sylla who was afraid for the City caused the Vanguard of his Horse to advance first to retard the Enemies March and himself following with
and Macedon so little foresight had he of what might happen As for Caesar he departed as we have said in the Month of December for Brundusium that by this unlooked for diligence he might startle the Enemy and finding neither Provisions nor Military Preparations nor indeed those Men he hoped to find he assembled those were there and thus spoke to them The Oration of Caesar. THough we are now Fellow Soldiers in the depth of Winter and that other Troops that ought to have been here are not yet come nor such Preparations made as I expected yet I am so firmly perswaded that diligence has been the principal thing has given me success in all my Undertakings and so much assured of your Generosity that nothing can retard the resolution I have taken to pass over into Epire. Wherefore let us leave here our Baggage and Servants that the Ships not being over-pesterd may with more conveniency carry us and we cross the Sea without being perceived by our Enemies let us oppose our good Fortune to the bad Weather and if our numbers be but small let our courage supply that defect let us furnish out our wants at the Enemies Expence All those things they have in such abundance will be ours as soon as we are landed and we shall fall on the braver when we know we have no hopes but in Victory Let us go then and make our selves Masters of their Munitions of their Provisions of their Baggage of their Servants whilst the cold shuts them up in their Houses and Pompey thinks I am spending the Winter in the City in the pomps of the Consulate and in Sacrifices Your selves know how much sudden surprises are advantageous in War I will perform a brave exploit only by going before ordering things necessary and preparing a secure retreat for those are to follow us I could heartily wish you were already on board that the time I waste in talking might be spent in sailing so great an earnestness I have to let Pompey see me whilst he thinks I am amusing my self in exercising the Consulate in the City Though I am sure of your good will yet I expect your answer All the Soldiers cryed out he should lead them whither he pleased as soon as he descended from the place whence he had spoke to them he caused five Legions and six hundred chosen Horse to march towards the Sea who being embarqued rode at Anchor because of a Storm that happened as is usual in the Month of December The contrary Winds do what they could stayed them till the first day of the following year when two Legions more coming to Caesar he caused them to embark on the Ships of Burthen for he had left those few long Ships he had for the Guard of Sicily and Sardinia They they set sail all together and the whole Fleet being carried by the Storm to the Ceraunian Rocks there landed them and went immediately back to fetch the rest of the Army Caesar with those he had marched towards Orica but because the ways were rought and narrow he was often forced to file off so that had there been any suspicion of his March it might easily have been prevented because of the cragginess of the ways At length having about break of day with much labour got together all his Army he presented himself before the City where he that commanded by consent of the Inhabitants who thought it not convenient to shut the Gates against a Roman Consul brought him the Keys and afterwards continued on his Party in the same Quality of Governour of that place Lucretius and Minutius who were on the other side of Orica with eighteen long Ships to guard the Ships of Burthen which carried Corn to Pompey hearing of this Surrender sunk the Ships and Corn to the bottom and fled to Dyrrachium From Orica Caesar hastened to Apollonia where the Inhabitants having opened the Gates Tiberius the Governour left the City Caesar after these fortunate Beginnings drew together his Forces and let them know how by the means of his diligence and the favour of Fortune he had surmounted the Difficulties of the Season crossed a great Extent of Sea with Ships taken Orica and Apollonia without fighting and already as he had foretold gained from the Enemy what things they wanted even before Pompey had knowledge of it But if now we can said he make our selves Masters of Dyrrachium where Pompey's Magazines both of Munition and Provision are all that he with so much Cost and Pains has been storing up together will become your Recompence Having said these words he went right to the City continuing his March Night and Day by long and difficult ways Pompey receiving advice hereof advances from Macedonia to prevent him causing all along as he passed trees to be cut down Bridges broken and all Provisions to be burnt to retard Caesar's March if he should come that way for he thought as indeed it was true the preserving of his Stores was of no small importance The Soldiers of both Armies were so eager to gain Dyrrachium first that if in any place they saw at a distance either the dust raised by their Fellows or Fire or Smoak they presently imagined it was the Enemy and run as if they had been to run a race they gave themselves neither time to eat nor to sleep but with Shouts and Hollas encouraged one another pressing their companions forward to follow the Guides which in the night carried Torches before them and which sometimes caused great tumults and as often Allarms as if the Enemy had been upon them some quite tired threw away their Baggage and others privately withdrawing out of the Body stopped in the Valleys to take a little repose which they stood in need of and preferred before the fear or danger they might be in of their Enemies Yet in the end of this Contention between the two Parties Pompey got first to Dyrrachium and encamped near the Walls he sent presently his Fleet to Orica which returned under his obedience and after caused the Sea to be guarded with more diligence than before Caesar pitched his Camp directly against him on the other side of the River Alora which parted the two Armies where yet there happened some Horse Skirmishes now one Party and then another passing the River but neither would engage with all their Forces because Pompey thought good first to exercise his Forces that were newly levyed and Caesar expected those that were to come from Brundusium He thought if they stayed till Spring and then should come over with Ships of Burthen and he had no other they could no way be secured Pompey having such a number of Galleys to defend the passage but if they embarqued during Winter they might slip by their Enemies who now lay harboured in the Islands or if they were engaged might open themselves a passage by the violence of the Winds and the Bulk of their Vessels wherefore he did all
the Capital City of the Kingdom But this Advice though perfectly good was not followed they chose rather to believe those who maintained that Caesar's Army would soon by Famine be forced to yield to them or if that happened not yet after the Success of Dirrachium it was no great Task to give Perfection to that Victory that besides it would be a shame to let Caesar fly without pursuing him or to let it be said that the Vanquished and the Vanquisher fled each their several ways Pompey therefore moved by these Arguments but principally out of Consideration of the Eastern Nation and of Lucius Scipio lest any disgrace should happen to him in Macedon and besides this assuring himself upon the Alacrity of his Soldiers who ardently desired to fight followed Caesar And as well as he encamped near Pharsalia at about thirty Furlongs distance from him Provisions were brought to him from all Parts for he had before fortifyed the Passages the Havens and the Forts so that he had continual Supplies by Land and every Wind brought him some by Sea But Caesar had no more than what he daily with much difficulty sent out to forage for yet for all that none of his Men forsook him On the contrary as if they had been animated by some Divine Spirit they testifyed an incredible earnestness to fight They considered that being all Veterans trained to War for ten Years together and having to deal only with Raw Soldiers they should prove the stronger but if the War were spun out in length and they forced to labour in Trenches and other Works Age already growing upon them the consuming more time would be to their disadvantage Wherefore they desired no longer delay thinking it better to try the Fortune of Arms than to fight longer against Hunger and Famine On the other side Pompey who knew all these things judged there might be danger in coming to an Engagement and committing himself to the hazard of a Battel with experienced Men whom Despair had made capable of attempting any thing and who were besides commanded by Caesar the most fortunate General of the World But that he might more securely and with more facility defear them streitned as they were and already weakned with want of all things the Country where they lay not being over fertile and they having no Sea-Port nor so much as a Ship to escape in He therefore resolved and surely with a great deal of Prudence not to fight but vanquish his half-starved Enemies by starving them more But having with him a great number of Senators of the same Quality with himself the Choice of all the Roman Knights and many Kings and Potentates they all exhorted him to give Battel some out of Ignorance others having in their Heads the Victory at Dirrachium others relying upon the great number of their Forces in which they had the advantage and some who weary of the War chose rather to hazard Victory at one push than attend it from good Conduct They shewed him Caesar provoking him to fight and always drawn out in Battel But he turned that Example against themselves and told them Caesar did that being forced to it by Famine and that he ought the rather to lie quiet the more Caesar was streitned for want of Provisions And yet at last seeing all the Army puffed up with the last Victory desired to fight and that many Persons of Quality reproached him that he loved to command and that he spun out the War with design to maintain himself so much the longer above so many People his Equals that they called him King and Agamemnon because Agamemnon had likewise commanded Kings during the War he was constrained to forego the Resolution he had taken And now Fortune which had not been over-favourable to him in many other Accidents of this War forsook him quite He grew fainter and slower than ordinarily he used to be and prepared for this Fight much against his Will to his Ruin and the Loss of those who counselled him to it Caesar had that Night sent out two Legions to go fetch in Corn for praising Pompey for temporizing and believing he would continue to do so he endeavoured nothing more than the bringing Provisions to his Camp from all sides But when he had a little notice that his Enemy was disposed to give Battel he was very joyful conjecturing him forced to it by the head-strong humour of his Soldiers and causing those two Legions sent out for Forrage speedily to return he gave all his Men Order to be in a readiness About Midnight he sacrificed to Mars and Venus his Mother for it is said that the Family of the Iulii had their Original as well as Name from Iulus Son to Aeneas and withal made a Vow to build a Temple in the City in Honour of that Goddess After the Sacrifice there having appeared a stream of Lightning which extended it self from Caesar's Camp over that of Pompey's Those of this Party promised themselves a bright and glorious Victory but Caesar interpreted it to his advantage saying he was going with one blow to extinguish all the Glory and Power of Pompey As Pompey sacrificed the same Night the Victims escaping could not be retaken a Swarm of Bees came and set upon the Altars There was raised a little before Day in Pompey's Army a Panick Terror which yet himself going from Quarter to Quarter appeased and after slept soundly and when his Friends waked him told them he dreamed he was dedicating a Temple in the City to Venus the Victorious His Familiars and his Soldiers who had heard nothing of Caesar's Vow rejoyced mightily at it they believed the Advantage certainly theirs and began to despise the Enemy and do things more by impulse of Passion than Reason in so much that some crowned their Tents with Laurel which is the Token of Victory and made their Slaves prepare Magnificent Feasts Nay some there were who disputed among themselves for Caesar's High Priesthood Pompey who had great experience in what related to War had an aversion for all these things but he let not his Anger break forth for it would have been a trouble to him neither did he now think it secure to reprove People who loved rather to command than obey and who by their Importunity had forced him to actagainst his Judgment So stupifyed was now this Great Man who had ever before been so happy whether he were troubled that his Counsel was slighted being so perfectly good and that he was constrained to hazard the safety of so many Men together with his own Glory which never yet had any like it or whether his Genius presenting to him his approaching Misfortune appaled him being just at the point of losing in one moment so great and sublime an Authority However at length having said to his Friends that whoever gained the Victory that day would be the Commencement of infinite Calamities to the Roman People he began to draw up his Army
of Caesar that the other was so extremely surprized thinking he was come of purpose to meet him that of his own accord he yielded himself into his Hands demanded Pardon and delivered up to him the Fleet so powerful was the Opinion only of Caesar's continual Happiness for I can find out no other Cause and am of Opinion that in all the Dangers he ever encountred his good Fortune never served him to better purpose than now when Cassius a Warlike Man having seventy Gallies meeting him by chance so ill prepared durst not attempt to fight him and yet after he had setled himself in the Supreme Power in the City he who out of a Cowardly faint-heartedness yielded to him in his Passage killed him in the height of his Prosperities which proves the more that Cassius terrifyed in that manner yielded only to the Fortune that advanced Caesar. Thus escaping beyond his Hopes as soon as he was landed the Ionians Etolians and other Nations inhabiting that great Peninsula which is called Asia Minor sent Deputies to him to crave his Pardon which he granted And understanding that Pompey was gone towards Egypt he sailed towards Rhodes whence without staying for his Army whom he had ordered to rendezvouz in this Island he embarked on Cassius his Gallies and those of Rhodes with those Forces he had and towards the Evening went to Sea He told no body whither he designed but only gave Order to the Pylates to follow the Admiral 's Light by Night and the Flag by Day And when he was in the Main Sea he commanded the Master of his Galley to stear towards Alexandria where he arrived the third Day after The King's Tutors who were still about Mount Cassia came forthwith to receive him And having at his Arrival but few People about him he remained for some time without doing any thing In the mean time he civilly received all such as visited him walked often about the City under pretence of being pleased to view it went often to Philosophy Schools where standing he would hear the Professors and by this manner of living he gained the Favour and Esteem of all the People of Alexandria But when his Army was arrived he put to death Achillas and Photinus for their Villany committed on the Person of Pompey and Theodotus then escaping him Cassius after finding him in Asia caused to be hanged The Alexandrians hereupon taking Arms and the King's Army coming to oppose Caesar they fought in several Engagements with divers Success as well about the Palace as the adjoyning Shores so that once Caesar pressed hard upon by the Enemy threw himself into the Sea and escaped them by swimming and his Coat-Armour falling into the Egyptians hands they hung it up in the place appointed for Trophies But in the end in the last Battel fought near the Nile where the King was in Person Caesar remained Conqueror He spent nine Months in all these Affairs till such time as he setled Cleopatra in the Kingdom of Egypt instead of her Brother and made a Progress with her upon the Nile followed by four hundred Vessels to see the Country or perhaps being in love with that Woman but we will speak of those things in writing the Affairs of Egypt When they would have presented to him Pompey's Head he would not see it and commanded it should be interred in the Suburbs where he consecrated a Chappel to the Goddess Nemesis which in our time when the Emperor Trajan made cruel War upon them the Jews pulled down the demolishing it being of importance to them Caesar having done these things in Egypt caused his Army to march with little noise through Syria against Pharnaces who had already been successful in many Occasions he had seized upon some places depending on the Romans he had defeated Domitius Caesar's Lieutenant in a Set Battel and puffed up with this Success had sacked the City of Amisa in the Kingdom of Pontus and publickly sold one part of the Inhabitants and made Eunuchs of all who had not obtained the Age of Puberty But frightned at Caesar's coming and repenting of what he had done when he was come within two hundred Furlongs of him he sent to him Ambassadors to treat of Peace with Orders to present him with a Crown of Gold and very impertinently to offer him the Daughter of their King in Marriage When he had heard the Occasion of their coming he made his Army march and amusing the Ambassadors with words advances up to Pharnaces Camp where beginning to cry out Shall not Parricide now be immediately punished he leaped on Horse-back and with the first Shout put the Enemy to Flight and made a great Slaughter without any of his Army 's drawing their Swords save only a thousand Horse that first followed him when he began the Charge Some Historians report that he should now say O! how happy was Pompey to have gained such Reputation with the Title of GREAT for having to deal with such People in the Mithridatick War And concerning this Victory he wrote to the City I came I saw I overcame As for Pharnaces he was content to retire into the Kingdom of Bosphorus which Pompey left him and Caesar had not now leisure to pursue him or lose time in these letter Affairs being called elsewhere by so many more important Wars wherefore he directed his Course towards Italy taking up all along as he marched through Asia the Tribute-Money which much troubled the Commissioners who had raised it upon the People with a thousand Cruelties as we have said in writing the Affairs of Asia Understanding by Letters that he received from Rome that the City was extremely tormented with new Seditions and that Anthony General of his Horse had with the Army seized upon the Great Place he left the Affairs of Asia to make all speed thither His Presence forthwith appeased the Tumult of the City but there was another raised against himself The Soldiers required to be payed what was promised them at Pharsalia for having exposed their Lives and that they might be dismissed having served the time appointed by the Laws He caused them in Excuse to be told that the Victory of Pharsalia was not yet perfect because War still continued in Africa but as soon as that was ended he would perform his Promise and give them over and above a thousand Drams a Head They with arrogance replyed that they stood not in need of Promises but of ready Money so that Crispus Salustus who was sent to them was fain to save his Life by Flight Upon report hereof made to Caesar he drew Anthony's Legion which had been left for the Guard of the City about his House and to the Guard of the Gates left the Mutineers should in their fury begin to plunder Private Houses And himself contrary to the Advice of all his Friends who counselled him not to expose himself to the fury of an Incensed Multitude with a signal Audacity of Mind as they
Temple built a publick Hall for the Roman People not to use Traffick in but for the pleading of Causes and to render justice and learn how to render it in like manner as there are many in Persia and by the Goddess side he caused to be set up the Statue of Cleopatra which is to be seen to this day And lastly having taken the number of the people he found them one half less than they were at the beginning of the War so much had the Differences which had happened between these two Men weakened the Common-wealth For himself being made the fourth time Consul he undertook the Expedition of Spain against the young Pompey which was a Remain of the Civil War he had not reason to slight for all those people of Quality that had escaped out of Africa got thither and the Wracks of the Pharsalian and African Defeats were here assembled besides the assistance of the most warlike Nations of Spain and Celtiberia and a great number of Slaves that followed Pompey's Army who having been four years exercised to the War offered to serve him if he would try the fortune of a Battel This was the cause of Pompey's overthrow for that without delay he would go meet Caesar though the old Captains whom the Battels of Pharsalia and Africa had made wiser counselled him to prolong the War being the only means to ruine his Enemy who could not subsist in a Country where he had no conveniencies for Caesar was come in seven and twenty days counting from the day he left the City and with store of Baggage had performed a wonderful Journey Besides his Army never shewed less resolution out of the thoughts possessed them that they were to deal with a multitude of War-like Enemies and whom despair would make attempt any thing which was the reason Caesar made no haste to engage till Pompey provoking him to Battel reproached him with faintheartedness which not able to endure he drew up his Army in Battel before Cordona and that day he likewise gave Venus for his Word as Piety was that of Pompey's When the Armies were going to close Caesar seeing his Men go on but coldly and seem to be afraid invoked all the Gods beseeching them with hands lifted up to Heaven not to let the lustre of so many glorious Actions be darkened in one day and running through the Ranks encouraged his Soldiers taking off his Head-piece that he might be the better known But do what he could he could not raise their Spirits till snatching a Buckler out of a Soldiers hand he said to the Tribunes were about him This shall be the last day of my life and of your engagement to the War And at the same time made furiously towards the Enemy he had scarce advanced ten foot but he had above two hundred Darts thrown at him some of which he avoided by bending his Body and others received on his Buckler when the Tribunes run with emulation to get about him and the whole Army thereupon charging with all their fury they fought all day with divers advantage and at length towards the Evening the Victory fell to Caesar and 't is reported that hereupon he was heard say these words That he had often fought for Victory but that now he had fought for life After the Defeat Pompey's Men flying into Cordona Caesar to prevent their escape thither lest they should rally and renew the Fight caused the place to be invested by the Army where his Soldiers being so tired they could not work in the Circumvallation heaped up together the Bodies and Armour of the slain which they kept piled up with their javelins stuck into the ground and lay all night under that kind of Rampire Next Morning the City was taken Of Pompey's Captains Scapula getting up on a Pile of Wood burnt himself the Heads of Varus Labienus and other persons of Quality were brought to Caesar. As for Pompey he fled from the Battel with a hundred and fifty Horse bending his course towards Cartea where his Fleet lay he entred the Port in a Litter and in the habit of a private Man But seeing the Seamen had likewise lost all hopes he threw himself into a little Boat in which as he was going out to Sea his Foot tangling in the Cordage one of his people going to cut the Rope by mischance cut his Heel so that to cure his wound he was forced to go ashore at a small Village where hearing that Caesar's Horsemen were coming he took his flight through a Country covered with Thorns and Briars which added to his wound so that being tired and sitting down at last under a Tree he was found by those gave him chase and slain generously defending himself his Head was carried to Caesar who caused it to be buried Thus was this War ended by one only Fight contrary to the opinion of all the world Those who escaped from this Defeat went to Pompey's younger Brother sirnamed Sextus but he only made War like a Rover hiding himself and flying from place to place As for Caesar having now put an end to all the Civil Wars he returned to Rome more powerful and glorious than ever any had been before him wherefore all imaginable Honours were done him to gain his favour All the Tribes all the Nations and all the Kingdoms allyed and Friends to the Roman People made Sacrifices Shews and Offerings in every Temple and in every publick place his Statues were every where to be seen set up in divers fashions some adorned with Oaken Crowns as having saved his Country like those wherewith the Citizens formerly honoured those who saved their lives likewise by publick Decree they gave him the Titles of Father of his Country perpetual Dictator Consul for ten years and of Holy and Sacred and it was enacted that he should administer Justice seated on a Throne of Ivory or of Gold that he should wear the Triumphal Robe at Sacrifices that on those days whereon he had gained his principal Victories publick Feasts and Prayers should be made and that every five years the Priests and Vestals should offer up Vows for his safety that those who entred into office should swear not to oppose any of his Orders and in Honour of his Birth-day they changed the name of the Month which they called Quintilis and named it Iuly It was decreed likewise by an Act of the Senate that Temples should be built to him as to a God and among others one in common to him and Clemency where their Statues stood hand in hand Thus by publick Vows they requested his Clemency whose Dominion they stood in aw of some likewise there were who would have called him King but he forbid it with threats signifying his aversion for a name which could not but be unhappy after the execrations fulminated by the Ancients against that Dignity he likewise dismissed from about his person the Pretorian Cohorts of which he had made use during the War
contradictory that the same People should love Liberty and 〈◊〉 â—â—â—mselves be corrupted with Gifts the last of which was much easier to be hoped for in a Commonwealth long since depraved for the Multitude of the City was mixed with all sorts of Strangers the Freed Men lived equal to the other Citizens the Slave was habited like his Master and except the Habit of the Senators one Fashion was used indifferently among all the rest Moreover because of the Corn distributed to the Poor in the City only all Loyterers Beggars and People unskilful in their Professions throughout all Italy flocked the Rome Besides there were great numbers of disbanded Soldiers who returned not as formerly every one to his Country but expecting to be sent to possess the Houses and Lands of others quartered together by Bands in Temples and Galleries under only one Colours and one Captain who was to be their Conductor to their Colony These People after having sold all that they had to be the lighter to march were ready to do any thing for Money So that the Conspirators had no great difficulty to gather together a multitude in the place But though they were payed for it they durst not praise the Action out of the respect they bore to the Glory of Caesar and the fear they stood in of the Contrary Party but as if they had in view the Publick Good they cryed out for Peace and demanded it of the Magistrates and by this means they laboured for the security of the Conspirators Peace not being to be had without an Act of Oblivion Thereupon Cinna allyed to Caesar and then Pretor joyns with them And advancing into the midst of them contrary to the expectation of all the World threw off his Praetor's Robe despising it as being given him by a Tyrant After which he began to declaim against Caesar calling him Tyrant and those who had slain him Tyrannicides highly praising their Action as parallel to what their Predecessors had done and at the same time commanding they should bring from the Capitol those brave People who had so well served the Commonwealth to the end to give them those Rewards they had merited But whatever Command Cinna gave this Troop seeing the People who had not been corrupted were not there would not let them be brought but contented themselves to continue their Cries in demanding Peace But when Dolobella a Young Man of great Reputation whom Caesar ready to depart had designed Consul for the rest of the Year being come with his Purple and the Badges of the Consulate and had spoke after Cinna violently and with indignation against the Author of his Dignity pleading hard for the Pardon of a Crime of which he said he would himself have been Partaker of and proposing as some say to consecrate that Day as the Day of the Foundation of their City Then this Assembly of Mercenary People took Courage seeing a Pretor and a Consul seemed to Authorize them and they sent to tell the Conspirators they should come down from the Temple They were glad to hear what Dolobella had done believing they had now at need found a Consul young vigorous and of a good Family to oppose against Anthony Yet only Cassius and Brutus came down the Hand of the last all bloody with a Wound he had received from the former when they stabbed Caesar. Being come to the Assembly neither one nor the other said any thing mean or low they praised each other for what they had done as if it had been an Action of Honour by consent of all the World They declared that upon it depended the Prosperity of the City which was this day made happy gave a glorious Testimony of the Prudence of Decimus Brutus who had very opportunely called to them the Gladiators exhorted the People to imitate their Predecessors who drove out their Kings that had not made themselves Kings by force as Caesar had but were lawfully elected and advised them to send for Pompey the Son of the great Pompey Defender of the Commonwealth against whom Caesar's Party yet made War in Spain and that they should order the Return of Caesetius and Marullus Tribunes of the People whom Caesar had interdicted their Offices and sent into Banishment where they still remained Having spoken to this purpose they again went up to the Capitol for they durst not confide in this Multitude But their Servants and Relations being already permitted to go and come to and from the Temple they chose some whom they deputed to Lepidus and Anthony to entreat them to make Peace to maintain Liberty and secure their Country from the Miseries attend on Discord To obtain this the Deputies praised not the Action for they durst not speaking to Caesar's Friends but they said that in their judgments it ought to be born with that those had done it were worthy of Pardon having undertaken it not out of any hate they bore him but love to their Country That the Condition of the City was deplorable if being almost depopulated by the Seditions wherewith it had a long time been afflicted they would not spare those few good Citizens left That it was extremely unjust to run the Commonwealth in hazard of utter Ruin for particular Enmities and that instead of laying hold of this Occasion to gratifie their Hatred they ought to sacrifice to the good of the Estate all the Offences they might possibly have received Anthony and Lepidus wanted not Will to revenge Caesar's death but they were fearful of the Kindred and Friends of the Conspirators and the Affection the Senate bore them and above all of Decimus Brutus who with an Army held the Neighbouring Gaul of which Caesar had given him the Government Wherefore they thought it more expedient to wait for a more favourable Opportunity and in the mean time try all ways they could to draw Decimus Army already well wearied to their Party So Anthony answered them in these Terms The Oration of Anthony IT is no particular Hate makes us act but only the blackness af the Action Besides having promised to Caesar upon Oath we would guard him or revenge all Attempts should be made against his Person Religion requires that those who are sullied with the Crime of his Death should be driven from among us and that we should rather live few and innocent than draw upon our selves a Curse by leaving this Attempt unpunished Notwithstanding since you desire it let us assemble in the Palace and what shall be resolved by a common Deliberation for the good of the City let it be executed Having made them this Answer they thanked them and returned with great hopes all things would succeed to their satisfaction for they promised themselves the Senate would heartily espouse their Interest But Anthony commanded to Magistrates to keep Watch by Night in the City and to take by turns their Seat in the Tribunal as in Broad Day having to that purpose given Orders to kindle Fires in
all the Streets The Friends of the Conspirators ran all Night from House to House to solicite the Senators to be favourable to them and to watch for the Good of their Country On the other side the Chiefs of the Soldiers destined for the Colonies ran up and down also making strange threats if they did not send them to the Lands already given them and those that were farther promised them Moreover the Citizens who would not be corrupted hearing of the small number of the Conspirators took heart and calling to mind the excellent Qualities of Caesar could not agree with the others The same Night Caesar's Treasure and Writings were brought to Anthony's either at Calphurnia's desire for their greater security or that Anthony commanded it As soon as it was Day the Senate was called by Order of the Consul in the Temple of The Earth which was near to his House for the durst not go to the Palace because it was under the Capitol whither the Conspirator were retired with the Gladiators nor would trouble the City by making the Army enter which yet Lepidus brought in At Break of Day came with the other Senators to the Temple of The Earth Cinna having resumed the same Habit which the Day before he had cast away as given him by a Tyrant Some of the Citizens who had born Arms under Caesar perceiving him enraged that he who was his Kins-man had been the first who had blemished his Reputation by a malicious Speech began to throw Stones at him and having forced him to shelter himself in a certain House brought Wood round about it to burn him in it if Lepidus coming in with the Army had noâ— hindred it which raised the Spirits of Caesar's Party and appalled the Mercenaries and Conspirators In the Senate all dis-interessed Persons condemned the Action but the greater part took divers ways to oblige the Conspirators and were of Opinion that before any thing else were done they should come and take their places in the Assembly having acted fairly to the end that from Accused they might become Judges Which Anthony did not oppose knowing well there was no likelihood of their coming as indeed they did not To try then the inclination of the Senate some with vehemence praised the Action giving to those had done it the Title of Tyrannicides and voting them rewards others without speaking of reward which indeed they themselves demanded not were of advice only thanks should be given them as having done by it good service to the Common-wealth and others quite cutting off the Complements said that what they had done was pardonable Thus they argued to see on which side the Senate leaned that they might better propose the rest Thereupon the honestest and best men having detested the Assassinate as an execrable crime yet said that they would not hinder but in consideration of the Families of the Guilty which were of the best of the City they should be granted impunity but they could never suffer them to be honoured as having well served the State others on the contrary said they ought to be granted all other things with the security of their persons Some one having thereupon said that the Honour done to them would defame Caesar another replyed that they should rather consider the living than the dead whereupon another resolutely affirming that they must declare Caesar Tyrant or give them their lives out of pure Grace all the rest holding to this point required the question to be put what judgment they were to make of Caesar. After having first every man swore they would sincerely speak their thoughts without respect to former Oaths which necessity had forced from them for since he became Master of the Common-wealth they had lost their liberty and only spoke in fear lest they should perish like Pompey and a thousand others Anthony who observed them conceived presently their imaginations and judging that in this matter many true things might be said that would cumber and perplex him thought it best to divert them from this design by making them believe they acted against themselves wherefore knowing that the greatest part of those who talked in this manner had received their Patents and Commissions for Magistracies and Government of Armies from Caesar himself for being designed upon very long Expedition he had disposed of all dignities for five years he commanded silence as Consul and then spoke to this effect The Oration of Anthony IT 's necessary those who purpose to advise any thing concerning Caesar should know that if he have governed the Common-wealth as a lawful Magistrate all he has done ought to be approved but if he have reigned as a Tyrant his Body is to be thrown into the common Sewer and all he has done revoked Now to say all in a word the whole Universe is concerned in what he has enacted nay some things he has done which though we would it were not possible for us to disannul which I will let you fully understand in the sequel of this discourse At present I will only in the first place put the question to you concerning things that are in our power and which concern our selves alone from whence you may give an easie conjecture what order is to be observed in Affairs of more difficulty Almost all of us here present have exercised or do exercise Offices to which we have been nominated by Caesar and some there are designed by himself to possess them for the future for you know that he has for five years disposed of all the annual Dignities of the City the Governments of Provinces and Command of Armies if you will all voluntarily lay them down that is in your power therefore let us first of all consult of that and then I will speak what remains Having by these words let them know that they ought rather to think of themselves than of Caesar he was silent and at the same time they all began to cry out with one voice rising up from their Seats That there was no necessity of giving the people the trouble of calling new Assemblies for the nomination of Magistrates and that it was much better every one should hold the Dignities they had already accepted Many were the more vehement in this because they could promise themselves nothing from the Assembly being under age among whom the Consul Dolobella himself was the principal for being yet but five and twenty years of age he could not obtain the Consulate without violating the Laws So the precedent inclinations of the day were changed in a moment many crying out aloud that it would be a shameful thing if to favour Murderers and render their impunity more glorious Magistrates should be deprived of their Dignities others on the contrary endeavoured to perswade Dolobella and the rest that they might hope for all things from the people who would name them to the same Dignities and that there would be no change of the persons designed but only
should have all the Gauls except only that confining upon the Pyrenean Mountains called Antient Gaul which together with Spain should remain to Lepidus and that Caesar should take Africa with Sicily Sardinia and all the other adjacent Isles In this Division of the Roman Empire among themselves they forbore sharing the other Provinces because Brutus and Cassius yet held them They agreed therefore together that Anthony and Caesar should make War upon them That Lepidus designed Consul for the Year following should remain in the City that he might provide them of all things necessary and should govern Spain by his Lieutenants That of the ten Legions that composed his Army he should keep three for the Defence of the City and give three to Caesar and four to Anthony by which means each of them would have twenty Legions And that they might encourage the Soldiers besides the Recompence usually referred till after the Victory and other Donatives they assigned them for Colonies eighteen of the best Cities of Italy as well for the beauty of the Buildings as Fertility and Riches of the adjacent Soil whose Houses and Fields they set out amongst them as it is usual to divide a conquered Country The chief of these were Capua Rhegium Venosa Beneventum Luceria Rimini Thus was the best part of Italy destined a Recompence to the Soldiers They resolved likewise that before all things else they would rid themselves of their particular Enemies lest they should be a hindrance to their Designs when they were gone out of the City These things being all agreed to and put in writing Caesar as Consul read them publickly before all the Forces except only that concerning the Proscriptions which he kept secret who received them all with a general Acclamation and forthwith both Armies saluted each other in token of Reconciliation Mean while many dreadful Prodigies appeared at Rome All the Dogs of the City howled like Wolves which is accounted an unhappy Presage The Wolves which do not usually come into Cities came now into the Great Place An Ox spoke with a Man's voice A Child spoke as soon as it was born The Statues of the Gods sweated some Water and some Blood The cries of Men clattering of Arms and running of Horses were heard yet not seen Many frightful Signs appeared about the Sun It rained Stones Thunder fell upon several Temples and some of the very images of the Gods were stricken Hereupon the Senate sent for Divines out of Tuscany the eldest of which told them that the Royalty should be re-established and they all Slaves but only He and therewith stopping his Mouth held his Breath so long till he fell down dead in the place This Triumvirate then after their Agreement made began to contrive among themselves the Roll of the Proscribed wherein they inserted all those whose too great power they were jealous of and all their particular Enemies abandoning their own Friends and Relations to one another so they might by that means be revenged on those they hated And this they did not only at present but even afterwards for they proscribed an infinite number one after another either out of some old Grudge or some lightâ— Offence or for being Friends to their Enemies or Enemies to their Friends or because they were rich And indeed they stood in need of store of Money for the War Brutus and Cassius having received abundance from the Tâ—ibutes of Asia besides what those Kings and Potentates furnished them with whereas these had none to receive but only out of Europe and Italy already drained dry by Exactions and Wars In so much that to raise Money there was no Person to the most miserable of the People without excepting the very Women who suffered not a thousand Violences from the Tax-Gatherers if they were but informed they had any thing There were some likewise proscribed for the beauty of their Houses or Gardens In short the Roll of the Proscribed with Confiscation of Goods amounted to three hundred Senators and two thousand Roman Knights among whom some were Brethren and Uncles to the Triumvirs and Officers that had served in their Armies for having displeased the Generals or their Lieutenants They deferred the rest of the Proscription till such time as they came to the City and in the mean time resolved to begin the Execution by twelve or as some say by seventeen of the Principal among whom was Cicero To this purpose they sent some of their People who forthwith slew four whom they found either at their Tables or in the Streets The others were sought for in Temples and Houses in so much that all that Night there was a great Tumult People running up and down the City with such cryings and howlings as if the Enemy had been in the midst of them for hearing of some being taken and not knowing of any Person yet proscribed every Man thought the next he met sought for him So that in a general Despair some disposed themselves to set fire either to their own Houses or the Publick Buildings that before they died they might do something worthy of Memory And they had done it if the Consul Pedius running about to all parts had not exhorted them to be in good hopes and to expect till Day gave better knowledge of the Cause of the Disorder Morning being come without staying for the Triumvirs Orders he proscribed those seventeen Men as the only Authors of Intestine Mischiefs and the only Men condemned promising Security to all others because he knew not what had been agreed upon and after dyed of a Distemper caused by the too much labour undergone that Night Three days following arrived one after another Caesar Anthony and Lepidus each with his Regiment of Guards and one Legion and immediately the City was filled with armed Men and Courts of Guards placed in the most convenient Stations Then were the People assembled and Publius Titius the Tribune proposed the Law for Creation of the Triumvirate to which he nominated Lepidus Anthony and Caesar to govern the Commonwealth for five Years with the same Power the Consuls had this is what the Greeks call Harmostates and the Lacedemonians Reformers and without giving the People time to deliberate or to appoint a Day for holding another Assembly the Law was at that instant ratified The Night following besides the seventeen before there were found one hundred and thirty more whose Names were fixed up in divers places of the City soon after one hundred and fifty others were added and at last the Roll was dayly augmented with names of newly condemned People or of those who had been slain by mistake that they might not be thought to be killed without Cause Those likewise who killed any proscribed Persons were commanded to bring their Heads to the Triumvirs and to this purpose Rewards were decreed them to the Free Men Money and to Slaves Freedom and Money Nothing was barred against those that sought for them because it was forbid under
of their Wives or Children or Freed Men or Slaves or Debtors or Neighbours that coveted some of their Goods than of the Murderers themselves All private Grudges were now discovered and it was a strange change to see the prime Men of the Senate Consulars Pretors Tribunes or Pretenders to these Dignities cast themselves at the feet of their Slaves with tears in their eyes begging and caressing them calling them their Saviors and Patrons and which is most deplorable not be able with all these submissions to obtain the least favour The most pernicious Seditions and cruellest of Wars never had any thing in them so terrible as the Calamities wherewith the City was now affrighted for in War and Tumult none but Enemies were feared and Domesticks were confided in whereas now Domesticks were more dreadful than Enemies because having no cause to fear for themselves as in War or Tumult from Familiars they became of a suddain Persecutors either out of a dissembled hate or out of hope of Recompence publickly proposed or because of some Silver or Gold hid in the House So that no person found himself secure in his House Servants being ordinarily more sensible of Profit than of the Affection they owe to their Masters and though some might be found faithful and kind yet they durst not assist a Proscript nor conceal him nor so much as stay with him for fear of falling into the same misfortune There was now much more danger than when the seventeen first proscribed were fallen upon for then no person being publickly proscribed when on a suddain they saw some killed one Man defended another for fear lest the same should happen to him But after the Proscription was published those comprized in it were presently forsaken by all the World some that thought themselves secure having their minds bent on Profit sought them to deliver them to the Murderers that they might have the Reward others pillaged the Houses of those that had been killed and with the present gain comforted themselves against the Publick Misery The most Prudent and Moderate surprized at a thing so extraordinary stood like Men astonished considering that other Cities turmoiled with Divisions were re-established by the Concord of their Citizens Whereas the Romans already afflicted with Civil Dissentions compleated their Ruin by this Reconciliation Some were killed defending themselves others who thought themselves not condemned without any defence Some let themselves die with hunger or hanged or drowned themselves or threw themselves headlong from the tops of Houses or cast themselves into the Fire or run to meet their Murderers Others again sought to protract the time and either hid themselves or begged shamefully or fled or offered Money to save their Lives Many likewise were slain contrary to the intention of the Triumvirs either by mistake or out of some particular grudge but the Bodies of the Proscripts might be known from the others because they wanted the Head which was cut off and carried before the Tribunal for Orations where they payed the Reward On the other side wonderful Examples were to be seen of the Affection of Wives Children Brethren and Slaves who found out a thousand inventions to save their Husbands Fathers Brethren or Masters dyed with them when they were discovered or killed themselves upon those Bodies they were not able to defend Of those that escaped the Proscription some pursued by their ill fortune perished by Shipwrack others saved beyond all probability came afterwards to exercise Dignities in the City to have Command of Armies and arrive at the Honour of Triumph Such wonderful things were to be seen in those days which do not happen in an ordinary City or in a small Kingdom but in the Mistress of the world as well by Sea as Land Providence disposing it so to reduce things to that excellent order wherein you now see them Not but that Rome felt the same miseries under Sylla and before him under Marius and we have in writing of them reported many Actions of Cruelty even to the depriving their Enemies of Burial But what passed under the Triumvirs made much more noise because of the height of their Reputation and particularly the Valour and Good Fortune of him who having fixed the Foundations of this Empire has left it to those of his Race and Name even to this present I will therefore relate what was now done most remarkable and most cruel which I can the easier do because the length of time has not yet quite effaced the memory of these Actions Yet I will not write all for a common death or the flight of some private Men who after obtaining Pardon of the Triumvirs returned and spent the rest of their Lives without appearing seems not to me worthy being recorded But I will relate some extraordinary Examples that the Reader may be perswaded of the truth of what I have before said Many Roman Authors have hereof wrote particular Books out of which I have extracted what appeared most credible to compose a Summary which may well make the happiness of our Times be admired The Massacre unhappily began with the Magistracy of whom the first slain was Salvius Tribune of the People though by the Laws the Tribunes were holy and inviolable and so powerful that sometimes they have imprisoned Consuls This Man when they were about to declare Anthony Enemy opposed it but afterwards he took part with Cicero Therefore when he knew the Triumvirs were agreed and marched towards the City he made a Feast for his Domesticks as having now but a short time to live with them The Soldiers entring the place where they were eating all the people affrighted began to rise up but the Centurion commanding them to keep their places took Salvius by the Hair drew him over The Table cut off his Head and forbid the others from stirring for if they made the least noise he would serve them in the same manner At which they were so affrighted that after the Centurion was gone they spent most part of the Night by the Body without speaking a word After Salvius was slain the Pretor Minutius Upon notice brought him as he gave Audience in the place that the Soldiers were coming towards him he rose suddainly to seek out some place to shelter himself in and having changed Cloaths went to hide himself in a Shop but his People and those that carried the Marks of his Dignity whom he commanded to leave him staying there some time out of a fear and affection they had for him were the occasion without designing it that the Murderers did the more easily find him Annalis the other Pretor as he solicited the People for his Son who demanded the Questors Office his Friends and Lictors understanding that he was in the Roll of the Proscripts all of a suddain left him Whereupon he fled and retired into a wretched House that one of his Creatures had in the Subburbs where because the place was utterly contemptible he was for a
by another Slave and because the Soldiers vouchsafed not to go down they slew him with Javelins drew him out and in the condition he was cut off his Head without washing it Another seeing his Brother stopped ran in and without knowing that he likewise was proscribed cryed out Kill me first Whereupon the Centurion who knew the order of the Roll made answer You ask but reason for your Name does indeed stand in the Roll before his And therewith slew one after the other These are Examples of Brothers As for Wives Ligarius his Wife had hid him and went from time to time to see him attended only by one Maid who betraying him she followed those who carried away her Husband's Head crying out It is I that hid him the Concealers are condemned to the same Punishment And because no one would either kill or accuse her she went and discovered her self to the Magistrates who not judging her guilty for loving her Husband she starved her self to death I have spoke of her in this place because having in vain endeavoured to save her Husbands Life she would not survive him for as for those whose Conjugal Affection had better success we will reserve them to another place when we are to speak of those escaped Here therefore we shall now only relate Examples of such as made wretched Attempts upon the Lives of their Husbands among whom Septimius Wife shall have the first place It was a long time before that one of Anthony's Friends had abused her Husband's Bed But she desiring rather to be his Wife than his Mistress he prevailed so far by the Credit he had with Anthony that Septimius was found among the number of the Proscripts He was advertized of it by her own self And knowing nothing of the â—â—â—â—onour of his House disposed himself to Flight But she like a kind Wife shut the Doors and kept him very diligently till the Executioners came to rid her of him and the same day of her Husband's death espoused the other Salassius had escaped but out of a belief the danger diminished was so imprudent as to return by Night into the City In the mean time his House was sold and there remained in it of all his People none but the Porter who was comprized in the Sale So that he alone knowing him made him come into his Lodge promised to keep him close and to feed him the best he could He was no sooner entred but he sent for his Wife who was lodged elsewhere who professed a great passion to see her Husband but excusing her self upon the fear of the Night and the suspicion she had of the fidelity of her Servants she said she would not come till the Morrow As soon as it was Day she went to seek for Executioners and the Porter went to find her to desire her to come which was the occasion that Salassius missing the Porter began to fear some treachery and got up to the top of the House to expect the event whence beholding not the Porter but Soldiers coming under his Wife's Conduct he precipitated himself from top to bottom In like manner Fulvius having sought for refuge in the House of a certain Woman who having been his Slave and Concubine he made free and married for so many good turns she betrayed him jealous that he had espoused another woman But I have said enough of wicked Women Statius the Samnite who had performed many great Services for his Country in the War with the Allies After which by his worthy Actions Riches and Birth he was arrived to the Dignity of Roman Senator being proscribed at the age of fourscore Years only for his Riches caused his House to be ransacked by the People and his Slaves who carried away what they could the rest he himself threw into the Street and barring his Doors set fire to his House wherein he was burnt with a good part of the City Capito having half opened the Door of his House so that but one at a time could enter slew with his own hands many of the Soldiers till at last over-powred by numbers he was himself slain Vitulinus assembled about the Country of Regium great Forces composed of proscribed Persons and others who came to take Sanctuary under him together with the Inhabitants of those eighteen Cities destined for the Soldiers Reward after the Victory which made them desperate And with these took the Field where he cut in pieces all the Centurions he could meet with that were searching for Proscripts But the Triumvirs having sent greater Forces against them he without losing heart crossed over into Sicily where Pompey then commanded the Refuge of all such Proscripts as could escape out of Italy After which generously returning to renew this sort of War being defeated in several Engagements he embarked his Son with other Proscripts to send them before him to Messina but his own Boat scarce reaching the middle of the Straits till he was surrounded by Enemies he there honourably dyed Naso having been betrayed by a Freed-man by whom he had been abused snatched the Sword out of one of the Soldiers hand and after having slain the Traitor offered them his own Throat A certain faithful Slave had left his Master hid in a Sepulchre while he went to the Sea to hire a Boat His Return happened to be just at the instant that the Soldiers were murdering his Master to whom â—â—â—ing him ready to die he cryed out Stay a little my dear Master and at the same minute falling upon a Centurion slew him first and then himself saying Now Master you have some cause of Comfort Lucius having two Freed-men upon whose fidelity he relyed gave them his Money to carry to the Sea where he designed to embark but they running away with what they were intrusted with he returns and condemning himself to death delivers himself up to the Murderers Labienus who in the Proscription of Sylla had taken and destroyed many had been a Coward if he had not bravely born what he had made others suffer Wherefore coming out before the Gates of his House he sat him down in a Chair expecting some who would come and cut off his Head Cestius who lay concealed in a Country-house with faithful Slaves seeing armed Centurions daily pass by carrying of Heads could not longer endure to live in that continual fear but having commanded his Slaves to raise a Pile of Wood and set fire to it that they might tell those that passed they burnt the Body of Cestius threw himself into it in good earnest Apomius was in a place of Security But not able to accustom himself to such course Provisions as were brought him went out to seek his death Another publickly waiting for the Executioners because they came not soon enough strangled himself before all the People Lucius Father in Law of Asinius now Consul having escaped by Sea not able to endure the tossing of the Waves threw himself over-board Sisinius being
pursued by Soldiers and crying out he was not proscribed but they had a mind to destroy him for his Riches was led to a place where the Names of the Proscripts were affixed thrt he might see his own which having read they cut off his Head Aemilius not knowing himself was of the number of the Proscribed and seeing another that fled asked the Centurion who that Proscript was Upon which the Centurion knowing him replyed Thou art one as well as he and so slew them both Cilon and Decius being informed as they came out of the Palace that their Names were in the Roll of the Proscripts before any one set upon them took their way towards the Gate so affrighted that their Flight alone made them known to the Centurions had the Guard of the Avenues Icilius the same that in the Judgment of Brutus and Cassius when Caesar sate President when all the other Judges gave privately their Votes to condemn them alone durst publickly argue for their Discharge remembred not himself in this occasions of that great Generosity for seeing a dead Body carrying out of the City he set to his Shoulder with the rest that so he might gain a passage in favour of the Bier But the Guards at the Gate perceiving there more people than were usually employed in that Office yet without doubting of them would only know if they did not carry a live Body instead of a dead Which occasioned that Icilius being disowned by the rest was known and at the same time slain Varus being betrayed by one of his Freed-men fled and taking the way of the Mountains got to the Marshes of Minturnum where he hid himself to take a little repose Mean time those of Minturnum coming by chance to seek for Thieves who often run thither for Shelter seeing the Leaves of the Bushes shake discovered him So that being taken and confessing himself to be a Thief they condemned him to death But seeing that they went to put him upon the Rack to make him confess his Companions he told them I give you notice my Masters that I have been Consul and am proscribed in which Quality I am more considerable to those that now govern that you ought not have the boldness either to torment or put me to death for since my death is inevitable I had rather die by my Equals The Judges had much ado to believe him and thought it only a Fiction when a Centurion arriving knew him cut off his Head and left the rest of his Body to the People of Minturnum Largus found in the Country by Soldiers that sought for another they had pity of a Man fallen into their Hands unlooked for and let him escape into the Woods where being met and pursued by others he run again to the first crying out Kill me you that would have saved me for I had rather you than others should have the Rewards Thus dying he made his acknowledgments of their good will Rufus who was Neighbour to Fulvia Anthony's Wife having a very fine House which formerly he had refused to sell her though now he would gladly have given it her was found among the number of the Proscripts His Head being brought to Anthony he said it belonged not to him and sent it to his Wife who caused it not to be nailed up in the Publick Place but before the same House Another having a House of Pleasure in the Country with a magnificent Garden wherein was a deep and beautiful Grotto which had been the cause of his Proscription One day as he was refreshing himself in his Grotto one of his Slaves espying the Soldiers afar off hid him in the obscurest part of the Cave and taking his Cloaths presented himself to the Soldiers in such a frightful posture as if he indeed had been his Master And certainly he might have passed for him had not another of his Slaves discovered the Deceit Thus the Master being slain the people incensed against the Traytor never left importuning the Magistrates till he was hanged and that the other had obtained his Liberty Aterius being likewise hid one of his Slaves discovered him and for it had his Liberty But not content therewith when the Goods of the Proscript were publickly sold and that the Children would have bought them he not only out-bid them but reviled them with words which they seemed not at all to resent but still followed him every where with tears in their eyes till such time as the people were so much incensed that the Triumvirs condemning his Avarice revoked his Liberty and remitted him under the power of the Children of the Proscript One would have thought this Cruelty should have been exercised only upon persons grown at least to full years it extended it self even to Orphan Children with intent to spoil them of their Riches And one was killed as he went to School with his Master who held the Child so strongly embraced they could not pull him out of his arms Another called Attilius had the same day taken the Robe Virile and his Friends conducted him to the Temple to offer Sacrifices ordinary upon those occasions when he was inserted in the Roll of the Proscripts his Slaves and Friends all presently fled every one his way and he remaining alone forsaken of all his great Train retired to his Mother who was so frighted that she refused him her House So that not daring to apply himself to any other person after being so treated by a Mother he fled to the top of a Mountain whence Hunger forcing him to descend he fell into the hands of one of those Thieves who steal Free Persons to make them Slaves This Young Man tenderly bred and not able to undergo Labour and Hardship escaped chained as he was and recovered the publick Road where presenting himself to the first Centurion passed by he ended his life Mean while Lepidus triumphed over the Spaniards and to that purpose published an Ordinance drawn up to this effect All Persons of what Degree soever are enjoyned to employ this day in Feasts Sacrificing and Rejoycing under pain of Proscription After that he mounted in Triumph to the Capitol accompanied by all the most remarkable Persons of the City chearful in appearance but with Souls oppressed with Hate and Anger As for the Goods of the Proscribed they plundered their Houses but they found few Purchasers of their Lands for most Men were ashamed to add to their Misfortunes and believed ill luck would attend themselves should they deal in such Goods Besides there was no security for such as were known to have Money and it was so dangerous to make new Acquisitions that no Man was secure of what he held from his Ancestors There were therefore none but very bold men that bought and because they were but few they had them for a small matter So that the Triumvirs who thought that the Moneys hereby raised would serve for the Expence of the War found it to fall short two
and that without fear they could not stay in the City The Senate sent them out honourably under pretence of giving them the Superintendence of Provision lest otherwise they should seem to have fled After they were gone the Governments of Syria and Macedon were given by Decree to the Consuls Anthony and Dolobella against the mind of most of the Senate and yet in some manner to recompence Brutus and Cassius they granted them Crete and Cyrene But they despising these Governments because they were too small began by Money to assure themselves of Forces with intent to sieze upon Syria and Macedon To this end they were labouring when Trebonius being slain by Dolobella and Decimus besieged in Gaul by Anthony the Senate offended declared Anthony and Dolobella Enemies confirmed Brutus and Cassius in their first Governments added Illyria to that of Brutus and gave Command to all Governors and all Soldiers of the Oriental provinces to receive the Orders of Cassius and Brutus After which Cassius without considering Dolobella advances to possess himself of Syria with the Ensigns of Command together with twelve compleat Legions of Old Soldiers who had served their Apprenticeship under Caesar. For Caesar having already in his thoughts the War against the Parthians had left one in Syria under the Charge of Cecilius Bassus as Lieutenant to Sextus Iulius his Kinsman yet very young who roving about the Country to take his pleasure used to carry his Legion along with him contrary to all Decency which when Bassus represented unto him he reviled him And another time when he sent for Bassus because he came not immediately he commanded to bring him by force This Command raised a Tumult and the Tumult a Scuffle wherein the Soldiers no longer able to bear with Iulius insolence slew him with their Javelins But at the same instant they repented themselves for they feared Caesar wherefore they swore mutually to one another that if he granted them not a Pardon for this Action they would defend themselves to the death They likewise forced Bassus to be of the Conspiracy and raised another Legion whom they exercised after the Roman way of Discipline Sextus Marcus sent by Caesar against them with three Legions was repulsed till such time as having called to his Assistance Minutius Crispus with three other Legions out of Bithynia Bassus found himself besieged by six Legions when Cassius coming that way Bassus Army voluntarily submitted to him and soon after the six Legions commanded by Marcus and Minutius whether they had an inclination for him or else were willing to obey him in compliance with the Senate's Decree Allienus sent some time before by Dolobella into Egypt now brought thence four Legions of the Remains of Pompey's and Crassus Defeats or of those which Caesar at his departure from Egypt had left in Cleopatra's Service Cassius surprized him in Palestine and forced to take part with him for he durst not resist eight Legions having but four Thus beyond all expectation he found himself Master of twelve Legions besides a great number of Parthian Archers on Horse-back who were come to offer themselves to him out of the great Esteem he had gained among them when being Questor to Crassus they judged him more prudent than his General Dolobella since Trebonius death had stayed in Ionia where he exacted great store of Money from the Cities and prepared a Fleet of Ships which Livius Figulus hired from the Rhodians Lycians Pamphilians and Cilicians So that having made these Preparations he attempted to seize upon Syria and to that purpose took his March by Land with two Legions and gave order to Figulus to follow him by Sea But when he understood the State of Cassius his Power he turned into Laodicea a City affectionate to his Interests and scituate on a Peninsula fortified to the Land and whereof the Port was very commodious to enter with Provisions or to go out again when ever they had a mind to set Sail. As soon as Cassius had notice hereof that Dolobella might not escape him he caused to be raised at the Neck of the Peninsula which was two Furlongs over a Bulwark of the same length raised with Stones and other sorts of Materials which he took from the Houses and Sepulchres that were in the Suburbs He sent likewise to require Shipping from the Phenicians Lycians and Rhodians who all refused him But though only the Sidonians sent theirs to him he forbore not with them to assault Dolobella's Navy There was in this Fight a great many Ships sunk of one side and the other nevertheless at last Dolobella got five with all the Sea-men and Soldiers in them Cassius sent afresh to demand Aid of those had refused him at first and besides them to Cleopatra Queen of Egypt and to Serapion who commanded for her in Cyprus The Tyrians the Aradians and Sâ—rapion without the Queen's Order sent him all they had But the Queen pretended that Egypt was afficted with Famine and Plague to excuse her self though indeed for the first Caesar's sake she was concerned for Dolobella had already sent him four Legions by Allienus and had likewise at that present a Fleet in readiness to relieve him which only stayed till the foul Weather Season was past As for the Rhodians and Lycians they made Answer that they would serve neither Brutus nor Cassius in a Civil War and that they had lent their Ships to Dolobella for passage only not believing he would make use of them in War After this Answer Cassius with those Forces he had returned to give an Assault to Dolobella's Fleet where the advantage was very doubtful at first but at last Dolobella suffered some loss At the same time the Bulwark being finished they planted Batteries and whilst they played at the Wall Cassius laboured to corrupt the Guards And not being able to gain Marsus who commanded the Guard by Night he prevailed with the Centurions that did it by Day who when Marsus was gone to his Repose let in Cassius at many little Posterns The City being taken Dolobella commanded one of his People to cut off his Head and carry it to Cassius to save his own He obeyed in the first point but after killed himself upon his Master's Body Marsus likewise slew himself Cassius took an Oath from Dolobella's Army plundered the Temples and Treasuries of Laodicea put to death the principal Inhabitants and taxed the rest in vast Summs so that he reduced the City to extreme necessity From Laodicea he took his March towards Egypt upon the News that Cleopatra was going with a great Fleet to meet Caesar and Anthony He hoped to hinder that Queen's Voyage and to revenge himself of her and indeed he was very desirous to have siezed upon Egypt then oppressed with Famine and disfurnished of Men of War Alienus having lately drawn thence the four Legions And it is probable something might have been done but Brutus sent for Cassius in haste because Caesar and Anthony had
our Enemies we are equal in number of Legions though we have left Men in many places where we judged it necessary we have far the greater number of Horse Ships and Auxiliary Forces sent us from Kings and Nations extending as far as the Medes and Parthians Our Enemies can only assault us before whereas we can likewise fall upon them behind for we have Pompey in Sicily and Murcus in the Ionian Sea besides Aenobarbus has his Fleet well flesh'd with Seamen with two Legions and good store of Archers who do sorely annoy them whereas behind us all is peaceable both on Sea and Shore As for Money which some call Nerves of War they have none at all not being able to pay what they promised their Army that brought in by Proscriptions not answering their expectations for no honest Man would buy those Lands the purchase of which would render him odious to all the world and they can have none elsewhere Italy being drained dry by Seditions Exactions and Proscriptions whereas we have taken such effectual care that we have it in such abundance that we are able to give you another Donative and the Provinces we have left behind us will sufficiently supply us As for Provision which occasions all the difficulty for the subsistance of great Armies they can be supplyed only from Macedon a Mountainous Country or Thessaly a Province of small extent and that by Land with incredible labour and if they pretend to have it brought from Africa Lucania or Povilia Pompey Murcus or Aenobarbus will cut off their passage For our parts we have already plenty and more will dayly be brought by Sea from all the Islands and all the Provinces between Thrace and the Euphrates easily without the opposition of any person we having no Enemy behind us These are Fellow Soldiers the works of humane fore-sight we expect the rest from you and the Gods For our parts besides what you have already received we will pay you what we have promised and as we have already rewarded your fidelity with a Donative so by God's assistance after having gained the Victory we will recompence you with something worthy your services And in the mean time the more to encourage you and because I see the whole Assembly disposed to do well as soon as I descend from this Tribunal we will give every Soldier fifteen hundred Italian Drams to every Centurion five times as much and to every Tribune proportionable After having thus spake and gained the hearts of the Army by Actions by Words and by Gifts he dismissed the Assembly which yet would not break up till after many Acclamations to Brutus and Cassius with promises of good service immediately they distâ—ibuted in ready Money what they had promised gratifying with somewhat more such as had signalized themselves upon any other occasions and as they received their Money they sent them forward on their march towards Dorisca whither in few days the General followed them At the same time two living Eagles came and pearched upon the Siver Eagles of the Standard-bearers and pecking at them as some say and covering them with their Wings there stayed The Generals caused Food to be given them till the day before the Battel when they fled away After two days March on the Banks of the Black Gulf the Army came to Aena and from thence to Dorisca and other Maritime Cities as far as Mount Serria which advances it self into the Sea from thence the Army turned into the Land and Tullius Cimber was commanded with the Fleet one Legion and some Archers to proceed on the way along the Coast. Now this Coast was formerly uninhabited though the Land were excellent good because the Thracians made no advantage of the conveniency of the Sea nor so much as came near the Shore for fear of Ships that passed by Afterward the Chalcidians and other Greeks using the Sea inhabited tilled it and settled a Trade besides that many Thracians were well satisfied to change the Mountains for such a Residence till such time as Philip the Son of Amyntas chasing away the Chalcidians and others there remained no other marks of its ever being inhabited save the pavements of some Temples Tullius then coasting along this desert Shore according to his Orders when he came near the Straits of Salapeas he began to set out the Lines of a Camp and to chuse out certain Caves in the Shore might serve to harbor his Ships that Norbanus thinking it needless to guard both Passes might quit them And indeed part of what he had projected happened for as soon as Norbanus saw the Ships fearful left he alone should not be able to defend the passage of Salapeas he sent presently to Ceditius to quit that of Torpides and come to his assistance which he did and thus Brutus and Cassius finding the strait of Torpides deserted passed it But the deceit being discovered Norbanus and Ceditius so well defended that of Salapeas that Brutus's People not being able to force it were disheartened growing fearful lest at last they should be foâ—ced to go that great way about which at first they had declined and withal return back all the ground they had gone besides that Summer was far spent Whilst they were in this trouble Rascupolis to them that he would find out a way be which in three days they should cros all the Mountains of Salapeas which never any before had passed by reason of the cragginess of the Rocks want of Water and the thickness of the Woods but if they would resolve to carry Water with them and cut a way through the Wood large enough for them to pass they should march under covert without being seen by any Man nay not so much as by the very Birds and on the fourth day should arrive at the River Arpessa which falls into the Heber from whence in one day they might reach Philippi and so inclose their Enemies that it would be impossible for them to escape Though no advice could be proposed in the execution whereof there could be more difficulty yet this was followed the Soldiers being chiefly encouraged to it by the hopes they had in so short a time to behold so great a number of Enemies in their power Lucius Bibulus having then together with Rascupolis taken upon him the charge of preparing the way they caused one half of the Army to move who though it were with much labour and difficulty marched on briskly and cheerfully especially after those who were sent before to discover brought word that from the tops of the Hill they might see the River but the fourth day the Soldiers spent with travel and tormented with thirst because the water brought with them failed began to make reflection upon what had been told them that it was but three days march ere they should find water and to suspect some treason not but they believed those who assured them they had seen the River but they imagined they were led
am forced to what I do by the insolence of Lucius Caesar having said these words they sent forthwith to Lucius to Preneste who made them no answer but that blows had already been struck on both sides and that Caesar deceived them having already sent a Legion to Brundusium to hinder Anthony's landing besides Manius showed them a Letter from Anthony whether true or forged is uncertain commanding them to defend his Authority by Arms whereupon the Deputies of the Senate demanding if any had invaded Anthony's for if so they would make them do reason by ways of Justice Manius thereupon proposed many other things so they went away without doing any thing yet they went not together to return Caesar any answer of their Legation whether they had given him an account of it privately or that they were ashamed or for some other reason Thus War being declared Caesar took the Field leaving Lepidus with two Legions for guard of the City at which time many persons of quality declared their dislike of the Triumvirs by going over to Lucius Now what passed most considerable in this War was thus Two of Lucius his Legions quartered at Alba mutined and having turned away their Officers were upon the very point of revolting when both Lucius and Caesar were upon their way thither Lucius got there first and by the force of Money and Promises kept them in their Duty After which as Firmius brought him another Army Caesar fell upon his Rear-guard and forced Firmius to an Eminence from whence escaping the next night into a City of his faction called Sentia Caesar would not pursue him for fear of an Ambush but on the morrow besieged the place and the Army On the other side Lucius having a design upon Rome sent before three Regiments who with wonderful diligence entred the City privately by night himself followed with the flower of his Horse and the Gladiators and was received by Nonius who having that day the guard of the Gate with all his Soldiers submitted to him and Lepidus went out to meet with Caesar Lucius thus entred the City assembled the people and told them that Anthony and Lepidus should in few days give an account of the violences committed in their Magistracy and that Anthony was disposed to quit that unlawful power to accept of the Consulate that is to say a Dignity established by their Ancestors instead of a tyrannical Dominion These words were received with the universal joy of the people who already imaginging the Triumvirate abolished made acclamations to Lucius giving him the Title of Emperour Soon after he left the City to march against Caesar passing by his Brother's Colonies where he raised another Body of an Army and fortified all the Cities he found affectionate to his Party but Barbarius Questor to Anthony being returned upon some difference he had with his General told all Men that he was mightily incensed against those made War upon Caesar to the ruine of their common power which made many that discovered not Barbarius's deceit desert Lucius and joyn with Caesar. Lucius then marched to meet with Salvidienus who was coming with an Army of Gauls to Caesar followed in the rear by Asinius and Ventidius two of Anthony's Lieutenants so that he could not well pass farther when Agrippa one of Caesar's best Friends fearing lest Salvidienus should be inclosed went and seised upon Insubria from whence Lucius drew great Succors thinking thereby to oblige Lucius to turn his Arms upon him and quit his design upon Salvidienus who would not fail to follow him in the rear nor was he deceived in his imagination Lucius therefore frustrated in his hopes would willingly have joyned with Asinius and Ventidius but Agrippa and Salvidienus lying on each side him sorely annoyed him and had given good order for guarding the Straits when he saw himself engaged in this manner not daring to venture a Battel he retired night to Perugia a strong City where he encamped staying for Ventidius Agrippa Salvidienus and Caesar himself coming in at the same time with the three Armies there besieged him Caesar having speedily drawn together all his Forces that Lucius who was the Head of the War might not escape him He sent likewise some Forces towards Asinius and Ventidius to retard their march though they made no great haste for they approved not of this War and did not well know Anthony's mind besides there was jealousie between them and being of equal Dignity each was ambitious of the sole Command of the Army Mean while Lucius thus besieged durst not hazard a Battel being the weaker both in number and quality of Soldiers his Army consisting for the most part of new raised Forces nor durst he take the Field or adventure a Retreat being on all sides so belayd wherefore he sent Manius to Ventidius and Asinius to hasten them to come to his relief and gave order to Titinnius to go with four thousand Horse to waste the Country under Caesar's protection that he might oblige him to raise his Siege whilst he shut himself up in Perugia resolved if he were forced to it to spend the Winter there or at least so much time till Ventidius came up to him with the other Army but Caesar presently set his Men to work on the Circumvallation which he was forced to make six and fifty Furlongs in circuit because of the Hills among which the City is seated from whence he drew two Lines down to the Tiber to hinder any thing from being brought to the City Lucius on his part caused the foot of the Hills to be fortified with Trench and Palisado like to the Circumvallation whilst Fulvia sent fresh dispatches to Ventidius Asinius Ateius and Calenus to hasten them with all speed to his relief and withal raised a new Army which she sent to him under the Command of Plancus who meeting with one of Caesar's Legions on their March to the City cut them in pieces As for Ventidius and Asinius doubtful of Anthony's mind they temporized and yet pressed to it by Fulvia they began to march on and to come to disengage Lucius Caesar together with Agrippa presently set forward to meet them after having placed a very good Guard before Perugia but they not being able to joyn Plancus or put themselves into a condition to â—ight retired one to Ravenna the other to Rimini and Plancus to Spoleto and Caesar having left a part of his Forces to hinder their conjunction returned to the Siege at Perugia There he with all possible diligence caused to be made a double Ditch of thirty Foot wide and as many deep on which he raised a Rampire with fifteen hundred Towers of Wood sixty Feet distant one from the other with store of Redoubts and all things necessary for defence as well against the Besieged as those that would force his Lines this was not done without frequent Sallies and many Engagements wherein Caesar's Light-armed Foot did wonders in lancing their Javelings but
when Lucius's Gladiators could come to a close Fight with them they made a great slaughter The work being brought to perfection the Besieged began to be afflicted with Famine which augmented from day to day for neither Lucius nor the Inhabitants had made any Provision of Victuals which coming to Caesar's knowledge he caused the Lines to be guarded with double care and diligence Now on the Eve of new-years-New-years-day being a solemn Festival Lucius imagining they would not have so much care of the Watch as ordinarily went and stormed the Gate of their Trenches believing that by opening this passage he might gain an entrance into the City for those other Forces he had in divers Quarters But the Legion then upon the Guard presently running in and Caesar himself with the Pretorian Cohorts Lucius after a long Fight resolutely maintained was forced to a Retreat and this happened at the same time that at Rome where they had layed in stores of Corn for Provision for the Soldiers the People detesting both the Wars and the Victories ran to all the Magazines and pillaged them of all the Corn. After this Ventidius and those with him judging it shameful for them not to relieve Lucius perishing with Famine set forward to their assistance and at first over-run those Forces which Caesar had left to oppose their Designs but Agrippa and Salvidienus coming in with a greater power they were fearful of being surrounded and so turned off to Fulcinia a little City about one hundred and sixty Furlongs from Perugia where Agrippa having besieged them they gave Lucius notice of there being there by great Fires which they kindled in the Night time Ventidius and Asinius were of the mind to sally out and fight Plancus on the contrary said they had better stay a while for fear of engaging themselves between Agrippa and Caesar so the Besieged in Perugia who had rejoyced at the first sight of the Fires seeing their Companions came not imagined they had met with some obstacle but when the Fires were quite extinct then they believed them absolutely defeated whereupon Lucius oppressed with Famine would once more attempt an Assault by night and from the first Watch till it was light did all he could to force the Lines but being every where repulsed he retreated into Perugia where having taken an exact account of the Provision remaining he forbade giving any to the Slaves whom yet he set Guards over lest flying to the Enemy they should betray the extremities of the Garrison so that whole Troops of those poor wretches might be seen walk staggering through the City and as far as the Rampire eating Grass or green Leaves or whatsoever they could find and when they were dead Lucius caused them to be interred very deep lest if he should have burnt them the Enemy should have knowledge of it or letting them lie they should putresie and by their corrupt stench engender the Plague But when there appeared no end either of Famine of Funerals the Soldiers quite wearied out desired Lucius they might once more attempt the Enemies Trenches promising themselves this time to carry them he approved their resolution and told them In our last Assault we fought not so stoutly as the present occasion and our nâ—â—ssity did require now we have no other way but either to yield or if that seem worse then dying to sight it out to the death All of them courageously accepting of these conditions they besought him to lead them on in open day that if there were any Cowards among them the night might not keep them from being known Lucius made his Sally about break of day with a great quantity of Iron Instruments many kind of Ladders Tools of all sorts to fill up the Trenches with portable Towers to lay Bridges over to the Walls all kind of missile Arms with Stones and Bundles of Osiers or Wattles to throw upon the Stakes They then began the Assault with such fury that they presently filled up the Ditch passed the Palisade and gained the Foot of the Wall which some laboured to undermine and others brought Ladders to scale others drew close up their Towers with a wonderful contempt of their lives though there fell upon them Showers of Stones of Darts and of Leaden Bullets They assaulted the Lines in several places at once so that the Enemy distracted could not so vigorously apply themselves to the defence of all whereby it happened in one Place Lucius's Men having brought up a Tower had cast their Planks upon the Wall where though fighting in extreme danger as being galled both in Front and Flank by the Enemies missile Arms they at length forced their way and some of them gained the Wall followed pell mell by others and possibly their despair had met with a happy success if the Enemy knowing there were not many of these Machines had not opposed the most valiant of Caesar's Soldiers to these weak and tired Men who soon tumbled them down the Walls and having broken in pieces their Machine with contempt wounded them from above yet with broken Arms and wounded Bodies their very voices almost failing them they still resolutely stood to it but when they saw the Bodies of those who had been slain upon the Wall stripped and thrown after them the contumely seemed unsufferable and they stood like Men struck dumb or like Wrestlers at the Gymnick Games that would breath themselves a while so that Lucius seeing them in this condition took compassion on them and sounded a Retreat However when Caesar's Soldiers joyful for their success made a great noise with their Arms as a mark of Victory they reentred with fury and bringing out Ladders for they had no more Towers in a desperate mood attempted to scale the Wall but all in vain and indeed it was impossible wherefore Lucius running about to all places besought them not to cast themselves away and brought them off weeping and much against their wills After this fierce Assault Caesar to prevent the Enemies from making the like upon his Trenches lined his Walls with Courts of Guard giving order that at the first signal they should mount the Rampire some in one place and some in others and this they did continually though none assailed them with design to exercise the Soldiers and strike terrour into the Enemy Mean while Lucius's Soldiers began to be quite out of heart and to neglect their Guards as it often happens after such unfortunate repulses and many not only of the Soldiers but Officers went and submitted themselves to Caesar. Lucius himself touched with pity to see so many Men so miserably ending their lives would willingly have consented to an Accommodation if he had not had with him some particular Enemies of Caesar's who were fearful to fall into his hands but when it was known that he kindly received the very Runaways all Mens minds grew more inclinable to peace so that Lucius fearing left if he alone resisted they would deliver him
fastened in Pulleys to draw it back with a Catapulta or Sling to dart it forcibly into the Enemies Ships But the day of Battel being come the whole Gang of Rowers began to shew their skill not without great Shouts and Acclamations then followed the flying of missile Arms some thrown out of Engines some out of Hand as Stones Javelins Arrows Fire-brands and flaming Darts the Ships run Board and Board some in the Waste some on the Bows and some ran with their Prows so fiercely at others that they over-set those stood on their Fore-Castles and made their own Ships unserviceable Other lighter Vessels contented themselves only to skirmish lancing as they passed by unto each other Darts Javelins and other missile Arms other smaller were appointed to take up such as fell into the Sea The Soldiers Rowers and Seamen did wonders assisted by the skill of the Pilots heartned by the encouragements of the Commanders and the continual playing of the Engines but the Harpagon was most of all approved being light enough to fly at a distance into the Enemies Ships it stuck fast especially when they drew it back with the Cords they could not cut it being bound about with Iron Hoops and the Cords they could not reach to because of its length besides this Machine being yet unknown they were not provided of any long Bills to cut the Ropes There was but one way in this unprepared condition they could think of and that was by force of Oars to strive to get loose from it but then the Enemy pulled up too both striving one way the Harpagon still did its office wherefore coming to a close Fight they leaped into one anothers Ships and were often so mixed together that it was hard to know which party any were of for they wore all one kind of Habit and most spoke the Latine Tongue and the Word for that day was known by both Parties And in this confusion when no person trusting to anothers giving him the Word if he did not know him there was a horrible Slaughter and the Sea was presently covered with Bodies Arms and Wracks of Vessels for they left nothing unattempted besides Fire which after the first shock and that they came to fight Board and Board they made no more use of Both Armies from the Shore beheld this dreadful Fight not without fear and passion as thinking them engaged for every one of their particular safeties but how intentive soever they were they could discern nothing for it was impossible in a long Train of six hundred Ships from whom they heard shouts and acclamations sometimes from one side and sometimes from the other to discover any thing distinctly At length Agrippa judging by the Colours upon their Towers which was the only mark of difference between them that there were more of Pompey's Ships perished than theirs encouraged those about him as if already victorious to renew the Charge and not give over pressiâ—g upon the Enemy which they did till those opposite to him were first forced to give way and beating down their Towers shewed him their Poops and fled towards the Strait to the number only of seventeen Ships most of the rest cut off by Agrippa who got between them and the Flyers from going the same way run violently on Shore where sticking fast they were either got off by the Enemy or there burnt which those that were yet fighting in open Sea seeing yielded The Caesarian Sea Forces soon proclaimed their Victory by their Shouts and Acclammations which were answered by the Land Army on Shore whilst Pompey's Men groaned out of grief and despair As for Pompey himself he departed in haste from Naulochus to go to Messina so astonished that he had no thoughts at all of his Land Army which made them led by Tisienus surrender to Caesar upon good conditions which example was likewise followed by the Horse perswaded by their Officers There were in this Battel three of Caesar's Ships sunk and twenty eight of Pompey's and all the rest burnt taken or split upon the Rocks save only those seventeen that fled Pompey as upon the way he heard of the defection of his Army laid down his Imperial Robe and took a private habit sending some before to Messina to load what they could upon his Ships for he was prepared for this a long time before and sending to Plenius who was at Lilybaeum with eight Legions to come presently to him Plenius forthwith set forward but all his Friends and all his Garrisons having yielded to the Conquerour and his Enemies being already in the Strait to come to Messina he did not think it convenient to stay for Plenius in the City though it were a very strong place but embarquing upon those seventeen Ships he had made Sail towards Anthony whose Mother he had favourably received in a like misfortune and Plenius arriving at Messina after Pompey's departure he there shut himself up resolving to stand upon his defence Now after the Victory Caesar staying in his Camp near Naulochus had given order to Agrippa to go and besiege Messina which together with Lepidus he did Plenius having sent out to them Deputies to capitulate Agrippa was of the mind to defer the business till next day that Caesar came thither but Lepidus himself received them upon composition and to get the Army of Plenius into his own possession gave them share in the plunder of the City equal with his own so that besides pardon which they only asked for they had found a Booty they did not expect they that very night plundered the City with Lepidus's Men and delivered themselves up to be his So that Lepidus by this recruit beholding himself Master of two and twenty Legions and a brave Body of Horse raised his hopes and laid a design upon seising upon Sicily This project he founded upon his first having landed in the Island and having taken more Cities than Caesar wherefore he gave Command to his Garrisons not to receive any Forces but his own and seised upon all the Passages On the morrow Caesar being arrived at Messina sends some of his Friends to Lepidus to make his complaint of these proceedings and to represent to him that he was come into Sicily only to serve Caesar and not to conquer for himself To which he answered by a reciprocal complaint That they had taken from him his part of the Empire which Caesar had usurped all to himself and if he would restore that he would willingly part with Africa and Sicily Caesar angry at this answer goes to him himself reproaches him with ingratitude and after some mutual threats they part and from that instant begin to keep Guard apart and the Ships went and anchored at some distance from the Port because as was reported Lepidus had a design to burn them and the Soldiers detesting these Dissentions believed they were again falling into another Civil War Not that they made any comparison of Lepidus with
to appease them by caressing their Officers At length he dismissed those had served him at Modena and Philippi who amounted to twenty thousand for indeed they had served longer than the time appointed by the Laws of War but for fear lest those should corrupt others he sent them presently out of the Island after having told apart to those had served him at Modena that though he had discharged them he would not fail to satisfie what he had promised As soon as they were shipped he drew the rest together to speak to them where he took them for witnesses of the perjury of the others whom he called Runaways because they had forced a Discharge from him praised those present for their sidelity made them hope that ere long they should be discharged and that so rich no one person should repent his having continued in the service and with all this he gave them five hundred Drams a Man After this Broil was over he laid a Tribute of Sixteen hundred Talents upon Sicily and settled there Pretors as well as in Africa left an Army divided betwixt those two Provinces sent Anthony's Ships to Tarentum and sending part of the rest of his Forces before him into Italy followed himself with the other When his return was known in the City the Senate gave him by Decree all the Honours imaginable referring to his discretion the accepting all or as many of them as he pleased All the Senators and likewise the People crowned with Flowers went a great way to meet him brought him first to the Temple and then to his House The next day he recited in full Senate and before the People two Orations which he had composed and which he afterwards made publick wherein he orderly declared what things he had done and his Conduct in the Government of the Common-wealth from his first undertaking the Charge till now caused the Peace to be published the Civil Wars being now quite extinct remitted what was remaining due upon Impositions discharged the Receivers of what they ought and released the Farmers of what they had not yet payed in of their publick Farms Of all the Honours the Senate offered him he accepted the noblest that on all those days whereon he had been victorious there should be Anniversary Festivals That there should be placed before the Tribunal for Orations his Statue in Gold representing the life with this Inscription For Peace after tedious War restored both by Sea and Land Besides all this the People would have taken away Lepidus's High Priesthood and obliged him to accept it but he refused it because the Laws forbid the depriving a man of that Dignity as long he lived whereupon the People would have Lepidus put to death as his Enemy but he would not permit it Afterwards he sent to all his Armies sealed Letters with Directions they should be all broken up in one day and the Orders they found in them observed which were concerning the Slaves who during the Tumult and Disorders had run away from their Masters and lifted themselves in the Army The Senate had granted them all Freedom by the Peace made with Pompey but they being now taken all in one day and sent to the Cities Caesar return'd them into the hands of their Masters or their Masters Heirs and if none came to claim them they were put to death in the same Cities from whence they had fled the like he did in Sicily All Men now thought the Civil Wars quite at an end and that they owed the obligation of it to Caesar then twenty eight years of age wherefore the Cities consecrated him and placed him in the number of their Gods Mean time not only Rome but likewise Sicily was infested with numbers of Vagabond Rascals who robbed with so much insolence that Caesar was forced to give a Commission to Sabinus to suppress them many he took and hanged but it required a whole years time to purge all the Countrys clear of them At this time as it is said were established those Cohorts of Watch and Ward which continue to this day This timely and speedy remedy got Caesar much reputation who now began likewise to appoint many annual Magistrates in things that concerned the Administration of the Common-wealth according to the custom of their Ancestors he likewise caused to be burnt all Letters writ in the time of the War lest they might kindle new Troubles and promised to restore the Government to the People as soon as Anthony returned because he knew well that he had designed to lay down his Authority as soon as the Civil Wars were ended Upon these promises the Citizens perswaded of Caesar's good intentions made him perpetual Tribune of the People as if by this new Dignity they would invite him to lay down the former about which he privately wrote to Anthony giving his Letters in charge to Bibulus who was upon his return to him to deliver he sent likewise Governours into the Provinces and made Preparations for the Illyrian War whither he designed to go in person As for Pompey having left Sicily to seek a refuge from Anthony he landed on the Promontory of Lacinia where he took out of Iuno's Temple all the Offerings of an inestimable value Thence getting to Mitylene he sojourned some time in that City where his Father in the War with Caesar and left him then a Child with his Mother and whither after his Defeat he retreated Anthony being at this time in Media fighting against the Medes and Parthians Pompey resolved to throw himself into his Arms at his return but hearing he was defeated and that news passing for a truth in the opinion of all the world he began to fancy new hopes that either he might succeed Anthony if he were dead or share power with him if he return'd besides he was encouraged by Labienus's example who but a little before had made strange Incursions and Spoils throughout all Asia Whilst these things run in his Head news was brought him that Anthony was returned to Alexandria wherefore pursuing the resolution he had taken he sent Deputies to offer him his Friendship and Alliance but this was but a Trick for indeed they went only to pry into his Affairs In the mean time he privately dispatched others towards the Princes of Thrace and Pontus resolved to retire towards the Kingdom of Pontus into Armenia if he obtained not what he pretended to from Anthony for he had likewise sent to the Parthians out of hopes that in the War which was not yet terminated they would be glad to accept him for his General against Anthony being a Roman and more the Son of the great Pompey Besides he fitted up great store of Shipping and kept in Exercise his Sea-Forces under pretence of being afraid of Caesar or of making these preparations for Anthonies service But Anthony who soon perceived his designs and sent Titius with all the Fleet and Army of Syria to oppose him with open Force if he
That within two months you cause Mago to return out of â—iguria That you withdraw all Garrisons out of such Cities as are beyond the Punick Ditch and send them back their Hostages That besides all this you pay us yearly for fifty years two hundred and fifty Euboick Talents That for the future you entertain no Soldiers into your pay either out of Gaul or Liguria That you make not any war upon Masanissa or any of our Allies nor permit any Carthaginian to bear Arms against them then shall your City and Territory remain free to you within the Punick Ditch limited by the same bounds you possessed when I entred Africa provided you put a just value on the friendship of the people of Rome and if occasion requires assist them with your Forces by Sea and Land If the Senate of Rome approve these propositions the Roman Army shall depart out of Lybia within fifty days after the ratification to perfect which if you will send Deputies to Rome I will in the mean time grant you Truce and you shall deliver me in Hostage one hundred and fifty of such of your Children as I shall chuse and pay me a thousand Talents for the Armies entertainment besides such Provisions as you shall furnish As for the Hostages I will return them so soon as the Peace is ratified The Deputies carried back this answer to Carthage where after many deliberations the principal Men of the City advised the accepting of these Conditions left whilst they made a difficulty of quitting part of what they possessed they should run in danger of loosing all But the multitude who ordinarily consider more what is taken from them than what is left them opposing it thinking it mighty strange that the Elders of Carthage should in a publick famine chuse rather to send Provisions to the Roman Soldiers than to their own Citizens and in effect they went to seek out every particular Senator threatning them all to plunder and fire their Houses At last it was agreed on to send for Hannibal into the Council who having gathered together six thousand Foot and five hundred Horse was retired into the City of Marthame He comes and though the most moderate men were fearful lest that warlike Men should absolutely pervert the people yet by a grave Discourse he made he perswaded to Peace but the Populacy incensed and insolent railed no less at him than they had done at others and continued their threatnings till such time as all the Nobility despairing of the affairs of the City left it one part returning to Masanissa and the other to the Roman Army Now the remainder of the people having intelligence that Hannibal had stored up great quantities of Corn in a certain place That is unjust and looks like a malicious emulation and it seems in effect Scipio himself doubted of it when opening his thoughts to us he adds That he would grant peace to the Carthaginians even though we should refuse it And indeed there is reason to believe that being upon the place he should see clearer and have a more exact knowledge of affairs than we possibly can In short if we slight his advice we affront that great Captain who out of his passionate love to his Country always counselled the carrying of the War into Africa and when he could not obtain an Army from us raised one at his own expence and has succeeded more happily than we could hope So that it strangely amazes me to see you now so obstinate and with such violence to press forward this War to extremity which in the beginning you undertook with so much coldness and negligence If any of the opposers of Peace grant all this and shall only found their advice upon a fear left the Carthaginians should now again as they have done formerly violate the Treaty in question I answer that there is more reason to believe that having had experience of the miseries their infidelity has involved them in and being perswaded as they are that all these misfortunes have fallen upon them only for having violated the Religion of their Oaths they will for the future keep sacred that Faith they shall swear to And to me it appears an evident contradiction to say that the Carthaginians are contemptible because they have no more power and at the same time to fear that they are in a capacity of revolting Besides it is much easier for us to hinder the growth of power than totally to ruine them for if we press them to extremities we shall have to deal with people whom despair will make capable of any thing but if you grant them Peace the fear of falling into the like danger will preserve them within the bounds of Duty but besides all this they will have persecutors enough though we concern not our selves for not any of their Neighbours but remembring the Pride and Tyranny of their Empire will maintain against them an irreconcileable War after all this we have Masanissa who has been our most faithful friend in all adventures still upon the place who will continually cast an eye on their actions and be always ready to oppose whatever they dare attempt But if any one not considering all these reasons has regard only to the glorious success of Scipio's Arms and promises himself the like in the continuance of this War let him remember the inconstancy of Fortune and that no man living can assure himself to have it at all times favourable But granting we take the City of Carthage what shall we do with it shall we utterly ruine and raze it because they took some of our Corn and Shipping which they are ready to pay for with interest Certainly we shall not lest we incurr the indignation of Gods and Men. Shall we give it to Masanissa No for though he be our friend we must not raise him above measure Much better may we make use of those contracts he shall have with the Carthaginians to the advantage of the Commonwealth Perhaps we might draw some Treasure thence but the Armies that must be maintained will waste it for who can doubt but there must be great Forces kept up for the guard of a Country encompassed with so many barbarous Nations We may likewise send thither a Colony of Italians but upon terms to hold eternal War with the people of Numidia or if those we send shall in process of time make themselves Masters of all these Nations it may happen that having conquered so great a Country without comparison more excellent than ours their power may render them not only suspected but even terrible to our selves And this in my opinion was Scipio's judgement when he advised us to grant the Carthaginians the effect of their demands Let us not therefore Gentlemen refuse them as well because we now behold them our humble supplyants as because our General desires it To this Cornelius Lentulus kinsman to Cneus now Consul who hoped to suceed Scipio in this War