the third in doubtful Fortune Now when we know not which to esteem best yet the commendation of that seems to crave precedency which takes its denomination from the Godhead it self 1. I will begin with the most humane and merciful Acts of the Senate Who when the Embassadors of the Carthaginians came to the City about the Redemption of Captives immediately without receiving their Money restor'd them above two thousand seven hundred and fourty young men I may well think that the Ambassadours themselves were amazed to see such an Army of Enemies set at Liberty so much Money despised and so many Carthaginian Injuries forgiven and that they thus said to themselves O Munificâ—nce â—qual to the favour of the Gods of the Romans and happy our Embassie beyond our wishes For we hâ—ve received a kindness which we never deserved Nor was this a smaller testimony of the Senate who when Syphax formerly a most opulent Kâ—ng of Numidia their Captive was dead in the Prison of Tibur oâ—der'd him to be inteâ—d at the Publick Expence that to whom they had given Life they might also adde the honour of Burial The same Clemency thâ—y us'd toward Persâ—us who dying at Alba where he was kept in safe custody sent down a Questor to bury him at the Publick Charge not permitting his Royal Reliques to lye dishonour'd These things they perform'd to Enemies and Captives after their Death The nâ—xt were their Favours shewn to their Friends in prosperity and living After the end of the Macedonian War Musicrates Massinissa's Son being sent back to Paulus with those Horsemen which which he had brought to the assistance of the Romans to his Father his Flâ—et being scatter'd by Tempest and himself putting in sick at Brundusium The Senate no sooner had news thereof but they sent a Queâ—â—or thither not only to defray the Expences of him and his Retinue but also to take care for the providing all things necessary for the restoration of his Health and that they might not want Ships to carry them safe and well into Africa they ordered to be given to each Horseman a Poâ—nd weight of Silver and to every Footman five Hundred Sesterâ—es Which so ready and compleat Humanity of the Conscript Fatheâ—s might perhaps have so far prevail'd upon Massinissa that had his Son died in the Expedition he had the less grieved for it The same Senate when they heard that Prusias King of Bitbynia was come to congratulate their Victory over Perseus sent Cornelius Scipio then Questor to meet him as far as Capua and ordered that the best House in Rome should be hired for him and that he and his Retinue should be entertain'd the Publick Charge And indeed in the reception of that great King the whole City seem'd to have the countenance but of one entire Friend So that he who came an entire friend to our City return'd with a double affection for us Neither was Egypt ignorant of the Roman Clemency For King Ptolomy being thrown out of his Kingdom by his younger Brother and coming to Rome with a small Attendance and in a mean Habit to crave aid of the Senate tooke a Lodging in the house of an Alexandrian Painter Which when the Senate understood sending for the Young man they made a very great excuse for not having sent the Questor to meet him after the antient Custome and for not providing entertainment for him as not happening through their negligence but through his suddain and private Entry After which they accompanied him to a publick House desiring him to lay by his mean Habit and fix them a day to wait on him They also took care to send him Gifts by the Questor every day and by these degrees of kindness advanced him from Expulsion to the Royal Throne So that he had more hope in the assistance of the Roman People than fear of his own Misfortune 2. To come now from the Conscript Fathers in general to particular Senators Lucius Cornelius the Consul in the first Punic War when he had taken the City Olbia for the relief of which Anno Captain of the Carthaginians valiantly fighting was slain buried his Body out of his own Tent bestowing a noble Funeral upon it Nor was he asham'd to appear at the Exequies of an Enemy believing that his Victory would be the less envied both by Gods and Men when there was so much of Humanity mix'd with it 3. What shall I say of Quinctius Crispinus whose Gentleness and mild Disposition the potent Affections of Anger and Glory could not disturb He had entertain'd with great civility Badius of Campania at his house and with great care recovered him from a dangerous Sickness Who after the revolt of the Campanians provoking Crispinus to fâ—ght with him at the head of the Army Crispinus who knew himself to be above him both in Strength and Courage chose rather to give him good councel than to overcome him What dost thou go about to do Madman said he Or whither do thy foolish desires carry thee Must thou needs rage with a publick Impiety that art fallen from private Charity Couldst thou finde none among all the Romans upon whom to exercise thy villanous arms but only Quinctius to whose Houshold-gods thou owest both a return of honour and safety The League of Friendship and our Hospitable Gods with us sacred Pledges though with you of no accompt will not suffer me to combat with thee Nay if in the shock of both Armies I should have known thee overturned by the force of my Buckler I would have recalled my Sword from thy Neck And therefore it is thy crime that thou didst intend to kill a Guest but the Death of a Guest shall not be mine And therefore seek out some body else for the courage of thy right hand for mine has learnt to save But Heaven gave to both a deserved Issue for Badius was slain in the fight Quinctius valiantly fighting came safe off with honour 4. And now the Clemency of M. Marcellus how famous and how memorable an Example ought we to accompt it Who after he had taken Syracuse from the Castle took a view of the City below once flourishing now almost ruin'd in Misery he beholding the miserable state thereof could not refrain from Tears So that if some person that knew him not had beheld him he might have been thought the Looser not the Victor This consolation hadst thou in thy calamity fair City that though it was not lawful for thee to stand safe yet thy fall was gentle under such a Conquerour 5. Quintus Metelluâ— warring in Spain against the Celtiberians lying at the Siege of Centohricum when the Engine was fix'd and he was just ready to beat down that part of the Wall which was fittest to be batter'd preferr'd Clemency before an approaching Victory For when the Gentobricenses had opposed the Sons of Rhetogenes who had fled to him against all the shot of the Engine lest the Children should be cruelly kill'd in
him and that unless the fault were expiated by an exact restoration of the Plays there would ensue not a little vexation and trouble to the City He tearing to involve the Common-wealth by Religion to his own disadvantage held his peace Immediately his Son taken with a sudden fit of sickness died Afterwards being asked by the same God in his sleep Whether be thought himself punished enough for the neglect of his Command yet remaining obstinate was strucken with a general weakness of body At length by the advice of his friends being carried in a Horse-litter to the Consuls Tribunal having fully declared the cause of his misfortunes to the admiration of all men recovering his former strength he walked afoot to his house 5. Nor must we pass over in silence that when M. Cicero was banished the City by the Conspiracy of his Enemies He diverting himself in a certain Village in the Country of Atinate and falling asleep in the field as he thought himself wandring through strange places and uncouth Regions he thought he met C. Marius in his Consuls Robes who asked him What he made there wandring with so sad a Countenance Whereupon Cicero making his condition known to him the Consul took him by the right hand and delivered him to the next Lictor to conduct him to his own Monument telling him That there there was a more joyful hope of his better condition laid up for him Nor did it otherwise fall out for the Senate made a Decree for his return in the Temple of Iupiter built by Marius 6. But C. Gracchus was most openly and apparently foretold in a Dream the mischief of an approaching mischance for being asleep he saw the shape of his Brother Titus who told him There was no way for him to avoid the same Fate which he had undergone when he was driven out of the Capitol This many related from the mouth of Gracchus himself before he had undertaken the Tribuneship wherein he perish'd And one Caelius a Roman Historian said He had heard much talk thereof while Gracchus was living 7. But that which follows far exceeds the dire Aspect of the foregâ—ing Narration Antonius having lost the Battel of Actium Cassius Parmensis who had taken his part fled to Athens where he fell asleep in the night being tired with care and trouble He thought there came to him a person of a very great stature black Complexion his Beard deformed and long hanging Hair who being ask'd what he was answered Cacodaemon Being affrighted with so horrid a sight and terrible a name he called up his Servants and demanded of them if they saw any one in such a habit either come in or go out of the Chamber Who affirming that no such had come there he again betook himself to his rest when immediately the same shape appeared to him again wheâ—e â—waking altogether he called for a light commanding the Servants to depart But between this night and the loss of his head which Caesar took from him there followed a very short space of time 8. But the Dream of Aterius Rufus a Roman Knight was more plainly hinted to him for he dream'd one night at a time when there was a great Fencing-prize at Syracuse that he saw himself slain which he told the next day to those that sate by him in the Play-house It happened afterwards that neer to the Knights place the Net-player was introduced with the Challenger whose face when he saw he said that he was to be slain by the Net-player and immediately would have departed They endeavouring by discourse to put away his fear were the cause of the destruction of this miserable man For the Net-player being driven thither by his Antagonist and cast upon the ground as he lay along endeavouring to defend himself he ran Aterius thorough the body with his Sword FORRAIGN EXAMPLES 1. The Dream also of Annibal as it was detestable to the Roman bloud so the prediction thereof was certain whose waking not onely but his sleeping was fatal to our Empire He had a Dream apposite to his purpose and fitted to his wishes foâ— he fancied a young man of humane shape taller than ordinary was sent to him by Iupiter to be his Guide and Conductor in his Invasion of Italy by whose command at first he followed his Foot-steps without casting his eyes either one way or another afterwards out of the eager desire in mortals to do what is forbidden looking behind him he saw a Serpent of an immense magnitude destroying all before it After that he beheld prodigious showers of Hall with Thunder and dark Clouds Being astonish'd he asked What that Monster meant to which his Conductor Behold said he the waste and devastation of Italy therefore be silent and commit the rest to Fate 2. How gently was Alexander King of Macedon warn'd to take more care of his life had Fortune advised him so well to avoid the danger for he knew that the right hand of Cassander would be mortal to him long before he felt it by the event for he believed he should be slain by him although he had never seen him After some time upon sight of him â—eholding the resemblance of his nocturnal fear so soon as he found him to be the Son of Antipater repeating the Greek Verse so much in favour of the credit of dreams he banish'd from his thoughts all suspition of the Poyson prepared for him as was publickly believed by Cassander 3. More indulgent were the Gods to the Poet Simonides confirming their admonition by the strength of repeated advice For he coming ashore and finding a dead body of a man buried it whereupon he was by the same body admonished that he should not set sail the next day which he believing staid ashore but those that went to Sea were all cast away He was not a little glad that he had trusted his life to the security of a Dream rather than to the mercy of the Sea And being mindful of the benefit receiv'd eterniz'd the memory of the person in a living Poem raising him up a better Sepulchre in the memories of men than that which he had bestowed upon him on the shore 4. Of great Efficacy also was that apparition to Craesus in his sleep which first occasion'd in him great fear afterwards greater grief For it seemed to him that Atys one of his Sons the most excellent for strength of Body and endowmenâ—s of Mind and his design'd Successor was violently murder'd Thâ—reupon the Young-man though he were usually sent to the Wars was kept at home He had also an Armory stor'd with all sorts of Weapons and that was remov'd from him He had Companions that us'd to go armed They were also forbid to come near him Yet Necessity gave access to grief For there being a Wild-Boar of an incredible bigness that wasted the till'd fields of Mount Olympus and kill'd several of the Countrey-people and the Royal aid being implored the Son extorted from his Father
his Countenance he flung away his Sword and astonish'd and trembling ran away For the Slaughter of the Cimbrians presented it self before his eyes and the Calamity of his vanquish'd Nation quell'd his Courage The Immortal Gods deeming it an unworthy thing that Marius should be slain by one single â—erson of a Nation who had subdued the whole The Minturnians also taken with the Majesty of his Person though now under the burthen of Misery and unavoidable Destiny yet preserv'd him safe Nor could the most severe Victory daunt them for fear lest Sylla should revenge their preservation of Marius though Marius himself might have been sufficient to deter them from preserving Marius 7. The admiration also of the stout and vertuous Life of Porcius Cato render'd him so wonderful to the Senate who having prefix'd a day for the Publicanâ— to answer contrary to Caesar's will and being therefore by his command carried by the Lictor to Prison the whole Senate was not ashamed to follow him which thing did not a little soften the perseverance of his divine Soul 8. At another time the same person beholding the Floral Plays which Mâ—ssius the Aedil set forth the pâ—ople were ashamed to require that the Mimicks should appear naked which when he understood from Favonius his great friend that sate close by him he departed out of the Theatre lest his presence should intâ—rrupt the custome of the Show Whose departure the people loudly applauding renewed the ancient custome of Jesâ—ing in the Scenes confessing that they attributed more to the Majesty of one man than they claimed for the sake of the Generality To what Riches to what Power to what Triumphs was this priviledge granted before A small Patrimony Manners restrained within the bounds of Continence a small train of Followers â— house shut against Ambition One Image of his Paternal Genealogy not the most comely Aspect but a vertue hightned with all perfections Hence it was that whoever would Characterize a just and famous Citizen described him by the name of a Cato EXTERNAL 1. We must give some place also to Forraign Examples that being mix'd with those of our own Nation the variety may be the more delightful Xerxes having taking the City of Athens carried away the brazen Statues of Harmodius and Aristogiton who endeavoured to free that City from Tyranny which a long time after Seleucus taking care to return to their proper places when they came into the Haven of Rhodes the Rhodians inviting them that brought them into tâ—eir City laid the Statues upon the sacred Cushions of the Gods Nothing more happy than such a Memory that gave so large a Veneration to a little Brass 2. How great Honour was also given by the Athâ—nians to Xenocrates famous for his equal Piety and Wisdome who when he approached the Altar being necessiâ—ated to give his testimony in confirmation that all which he had spoken was truth all the Judges rose and forbid him openly to take his Oath believing it proper to grant that to his Sincerity which they were not to remit to themselves in the place of giving Sentence LIB III. CHAP. I. Of Towardliness Examples whereof among the Romans in 1. Emilius Lepidus a boy 2. Cato of Uâ—ica 3. Cassius Longinus EXTERNAL in 1. Alcibiades the Athenian I Will now touch upon some certain Infancies and Elements of Vertue and of a Soul that in process of time is to advance to the top of Glory Relating the tastâ—s thereof given from the certain Experiments of Towardliness 1. Emilius Lepidus yet a boy going into the field kill'd an Enemy and sav'd a Citizen in memory of which action there is in the Capitol a Statue garnish'd and girt with a Senator's virile Robe by order of the Senate placed there esteeming it unjust â—hat he should not be of age for Honour that was so ripe in Vertue Lepidus prâ—vented what was to Age ordained by his Celerity in doing bravely carrying away a double Honour out of the Battel of which his years scarce admitted him to be a spectator For the Arms of men preparing for Combat drawn Swords the flight of Darts the noise of Horse-men charging the furious violence of Armies joyning strikes terrour into young men Among all which the childhood of the Emiliaâ— Family was â—ble to deserve a Crown by carrying away the â—poils of his Enemy 2. This Courage was not wanting in the Childhood of M. Cato For he being bred up in the house of M. Drusus his Uncle the Latins came to him then Tribune of the people requesting a City At which time the boy being requested by Poppedius Prince of the Latins lying at Drusus house to speak on their behalf to his Uncle with an unmov'd countenance made answer He would not and being again and again importun'd continu'd in his resolve Then Poppedius taking him up into the highest part of the house threatned to throw him down headlong unless he would yield to his request but nothing could make him alter his mind Which made them cry out Happy is it for us Latins and Allies that this is but a Youth from whom were he a Senator it were impossible for us to obtain our Petition For in his tender minde Cato retain'd the Gravity of the whole Court and by his perseverance frustrated the Latins who had a desire to learn the Laws and Customs of our City The same pâ—rson coming in his Virile Robe to kiss the hand of Sylla and seeing the heads of the proscribed persons brought into the Porch of his house moved with the horridness of the Spectacle asked his School-master Sarpedon Why there was no body to be found that would kill so great a Tyrant Who making answer That men wanted not will but opportunity his person being so strongly guarded The Lad dâ—sired he might have a Sword given him affirming He could easily kill him as being wont to sit upon his bed-side His master perceived his courage but would not allow of his intention and afterwards always brought him to Sylla to be examined Nothing than this more admirable A Lad taken in the Work-house of Cruelty fear'd not a Victor who at that time murder'd Consuls whole Towns Legions and the greatest part of the Order of Knighthood Had Marius been in his place himself he would have sooner consulted his own safety than the Death of Sylla 3. Whose Son Faustus had a good Cuff on the Ear given him by C. Cassius his School fellow for saying in vindication of his Father's Proscriptions that had he been a Man he would have done the sâ—me A worthy hand that would not embâ—ue it self in the blood of his Countrey EXTERNAL 1. And to repeat something of the Grecians that Alcibiades whose Vertues or whose Vices were most pernicious to his Countrey we cannot say for with the one he deceiv'd his Citizens with the other he oppress'd um He being a Youth and coming to his Uncle Pericles and beholding him sitting melancholy in a pâ—ivate place askâ—d him
streets of Naples mantled in a Short Cloak and Embroidered Shoes upon his Feet 4. C. Duilius also that first triumphed by Sea over the Carthaginians when he had been feasting was wont to return home with Wax-Torches and Minstrels going before him causing his noble Success in War to be spread abroad by his Nocturnal Revelling 5. Papirius Maso also not being able to obtain a Triumph though he had signally deserved of the Common-wealth began a new way of Triumphing in the Alban Mountain and set a president for others afterwards to follow For when he was present at any Shew he used a Myrtle instead of a Laâ—rel Crown 6. Unusual also was the act of Caius Marius who having Triumphed over Iugurth the Cimbrians and Teutons was alwaies used to drink out of a Cantbarus or Kan Because that Bacchus returning in triumph out of Asia was said to use that sort of Cup that while he drank he might seem to compare his Victories with those of the God 7. Marcus Cato also being Praetor pleaded the Condemnations of Scaurus and the rest of the Criminals without his Tunic only in his Purple Gown CHAP. VII Of Self-Confidence Among the Romans in 1. Scipio the Greater 2. Scipio Aemilianus Coss. 3. Scipio Nasica Coss. 4. Livius Salinator Coss. 5. P. Furius Philus Coss. 6. Licinius Crassus Procos 7. Cato the Greater 8. Aemilius Scâ—urus 9. M. Antonius the Orator 10. The Roman Senate 11. Accius the Poet. FORREIGN 1. Euripides the Poet. 2. Antigenidas the Musician 3. Zeuxes the Painter 4. Phidias the Graver 5. Epaminondas of Thebes 6. Hannibal the Carthaginian 7. Cotys King of Thrace 8. Androclidas Leonidas Agis Spartans THese and other Examples like these are marks of a Vertue assuming something to it self by a new custome of Liberty But by those that follow it shall appear how confident Vertue is of her self 1. P. and Cn. Scipio being with the greatest part of the Army very much distrest by the Carthaginians all the people of that Province taking put with the Enemy no other of our Captains daring to adventure thither Publius Scipio being then but in the Twenty Fourth year of his Age proffeâ—'d himself Which confidence of his afforded both safety and victory to the Romans And the same confidence he had at home he us'd in Spain For when he was besieging the City of Badia he caus'd all those that came to his Tribunal in matters of Law to put in Sureties to appear at a certain House which was within the Walls of the Town the next day and immediately taking the City at the same time and place that he had appointed he caus'd his Chair to be plac'd and there sate in Judgment Nothing more Heroic than such a Confidence nothing more true than such a Prediction nothing more efficacious than such a Celerity nothing more worthy than such an Authority Not less courageous nor less prosperous was his Passage into Africa into which he transported his Army contrary to the command of the Senate In which thing had he not trusted more to his own opinion than the counsel of the Conscript Fathers there would have been no end of the Second Punic War Equal to this was that Confidence of his that when after he was landed in Africa he had taken several of the Scouts of Hannibal's Army he neither put them to death nor in prison nor enquir'd any thing into the state and condition of the Enemy but caus'd them to be led through all the Companies of his Army And then after he had ask'd them whether they had taken a sufficient view of what they were commanded to take noâ—â—ce of causing provision to be given to them and their horses he freely dismiss'd um in safety With which Confidence of mind he dampt the Courage of the Enemy before he had vanquish'd their Arms. But to come to the private acts of his sublime confidence When he was call'd to an accompt for Fourty Thousand Sesterces of the Money of Antiochia he took the Book wherein his Expences were wrote down and by which he might have clear'd himself from the Accusation of his enemies and tore it publickly disdaining that any doubt should be made of what he had acted as being the chief Commander Pleading for himself in this wise I am not to give an accompt to your Treasury most Noble Senators having commanded a forreign Kingdom which by my Government and Conduct I have made more plentiful than twice an Hundred Thousand Sesterces Neither do I think ye are come to that height of malice as to doubt of my Innocency For when I had subdued Africâ— wholly under your Iurisdiction I brought nothing thence that I could call mine own but a Sirname They have not therefore rendered me covetous of the Punic nor my Brother of the Asiatic Treasure seeing we are botâ— more wealthy in Envy than in Money Which stout defence of Scipio the whole Senate approved Like this was another act of his When finding that the urgâ—nt occasions of the Common-wealth required Money to be taken out of the Publique Treasury and that the Questors were shie of opening it because it seem'd to be something against the Law being a private person he demanded the Keys and compell'd the Law to yield to Necessity Which confidence grew from the assurance which he had that all the Laws were by that means secur'd I will not be tired with the relation of his Actions of this nature seeing that he himself was never wearied in the exercise thereof P. Nevius Tribune of the People or as some relate the two Petellii had prefix'd him a day to appear before the People who appearing in great multitudes in the Forum he ascended the Pulpit for Orations and putting a Triumphal Crown upon his Head This day said he most Noble Romans did I compel Carthage hoping great things to submit to your Laws And therefore I hold it just that you go with me to the Capitol to give thanks to the Gods Which most splendid Speech of his had as noble a success For immediately the whole Senate the whole Order of Knights and all the People follow'd him to the Temple of Iupiter The Tribune remained alone to plead to the people without the people being deserted in the Forum with great contempt of his Calumny At lengâ—h to avoid the shame he went also to the Capitol himself and of an Accuser became a great admirer of Scipio 2. Scipio Aemilianus the famous Hâ—ir of his Fathers Courage and Magnâ—nimity being at the Siege of a strong City and perswadâ—d by some that he should place round about the Walls thereof shaâ—p Iron Spikes and stop all the open Passages with Planks covered with Lead and stuck with Spikes to hinder the Sallies of the Enemy made answer that it was not for him to fear those that he sought to take 3. To what ever side of Memorable Examples I turn me I am forced nolens volens to remain in the Family of the Scipio's For
by one half and of his own accord took Lucretius to be his Colleague in Authority before whom because he was the Elder he caused the Fasces to be carried first He also enacted a Law in the Assemblies of the Hundreds That no Magistrate should strike or kill a Roman Citizen so that the freer the Condition of the City was the more he by little and little extenuated his own Authority He also pulled down his own house because that being seated in a higher part of the City it seemed to have the resemblance of a Castle Thus lower in his house did he not appear higher in his glory 2. I can no sooner forsake Poblicola but I am pleas'd in coming to Furius Camillus Whose Translation and change from great Ignominies to highest Command was so moderate that when his Fellow-Citizens after that Rome was taken by the Gauls required his assistance being then an Exile in Ardea he had no sooner began his Journey to Veii there to take charge of the Army but that he understood all things were confirmed in most solemn manner in relation to his being made Dictator Magnificent was the Veientine Triumph of Camillus famous was his Victory over the Gauls but much more admirable that his Pause for it was a harder labour for him to overcome himself than the Enemy neither avoiding adversity with too much haste nor meeting adversity with too much joy 3. Equal to Furius in Moderation was Marcius Rutilius Censorinus For being a second time created Censor he called the people together to an Assembly and in a Speech most sharply reprehended them that they had twice conferred that Office upon him seeing that their Ancestors thought rather fit to abridge and confine the time of holding the same as being too great for one man Both did well boâ—h Censorinus and the people for the one instructed them to bestow their high Honour with Moderation the other intrusted themselves in the hands of a moderate person 4. Go to L. Quinctius Cincinnaâ—us what a Consul was he whose honour when the Conscript Fathers would have continued not onely for his egregious acts but because the people intended to continue the same Tribunes again the next year neither of which could be legally done he hindered the endeavours of both not onely restraining the endeavours of the Senate but constraining the Tribunes to follow the Example of his own Modesty 5. But Fabius Maximus having observ'd that himself had been Consul five times and oftner by his Father Grandfather and Great-Grandfather at the Assembly of the People where his Son was created Consul pleaded very hard with the people That they would permit a vacation of Honour to the Family of the Fabii Not that he did mistrust the Vertues of his Son for he was a person of great Honour but that the supream Honour of the Commonwealth should not remain in one Family What more powerful than this Moderation that could so overcome his Fatherly affections which are generally so strong in Parents 6. There was no Gratitude wanting among our Ancestors to give the rewards due to the Elder African seeing that they have endeavoured to adorn his greatest Enterprizes with equal Honours Willing they were to place his Statue in the great Halls of Justice and Publick Assemblies over the Rostra in the Court and in the Temple of Iupiter himself they were willing to adorn his Statue with Triumphal Habits and lay it upon the Cushions or Beds of the Gods in the Capitol They would have given him the Consulship as long as he lived or a perpetual Dictatorship But he not enduring any Act of the People nor Edict of the Senate to pass in his behalf carried himself with more Honour in refusing those Honours than he had got in obtaining them With the same strength of mind he defended the Cause of Hannibal in the Senate when his own Citizens by their Ambassadors accused him of raising Sedition among um Adding that it did not become the Conscript Fathers to meddle in the affairs of the Carthaginians with a most high moderation consulting the safety of the one and the dignity of the other which amounted to a Victory while both seemed to act the parts of an Enemy 7. But Marcus Marcellus who was the first that taught that the Carthaginians could be vanquished and Syracuse taken when in the time of his Consulship the Syracusans came into the City to complain against him he would not permit the Senate to hear the Cause because his Colleague was by chance absent lest the Sicilians should grow fearful or remiss in their Accusation But assoon as his Partner returned he himself was the first that put the Senate in mind of calling in the Syracusans and patiently heard them while they made their Complaints And though they were commanded by Levinus to depart yet he caused them to stay that they might be present at his defence Afterwards when both parties had been heard he followed them going out of the Court that the Senate might be the more free in passing their Sentence And when their Accusations were rejected he courteously embraced â—hem suppliantly entreating him to receive them into his protection Moreover having drawn Sicily by Lot he yielded that Province to his Colleague And indeed so often may the Praises of Marcellus be varied as he made use of various degrees of Moderation toward his Associates 8. How admirable did Tiberius Gracchus render himself For being Tribune of the People though he bare a profess'd hatred to the Scipio's both African and Asiatic yet when the Asiatic Scipio not being able to pay the Money wherein he was condemn'd was therefore by the Consul commanded to be carried to Prison upon his appeal to the Colledge of Tribunes when no man would intercede for him he dissenting and departing from the Colledge made a Decree And when every one thought that in the writing thereof he would have us'd the words and expressions of an angry enemy In the first place he swore that he was not friends with Scipio and then recited this Decree of his own framing That whereas Cornelius Scipio had cast into Prison the Captains of the Enemy led before his Chariot on the day of his Triumph it was unworthy and unbecoming the Majesty of the Roman People that he should be led thither himself And therefore he would not suffer it to be done Then willingly the Roman People saw how Gracchus had deceived them in their opinion and extoll'd his Moderation with deserved Praise 9. Claudius Nero is also to be number'd among the choice Examples of principal Moderation He was partner in glory with Livius Salinator in the defeat of Asdrubal Yet he chose rather to follow him triumphing on Horseback than to accept of that honour of Triumph which the Senate had equally decreed to him because the action was perform'd in Salinator's Province Wherefore he triumph'd without a Chariot so much the more renownedly because only the Victory of the one but the
of his Epirotes began to fail designing to purchase the good will of the Roman People whose Vertue he could not overcome had transported almost all the wealth of his Treasures into our City But when his Embassadours went from House to House with great Gifts fit for the use of Men and Women they could not finde a door open to them Thus the more stout than prosperous defender of the Tarentine petulancie was repulsed and defeated as well by the Customes as Arms of the City nor can I determine which was the greatest Victory In that storm also with which Marius and Cinna infested the Common-wealth wonderful was the abstinence of the People For when they lest the people at liberty to ransack the houses of them that were by themselves proscribed there was no man to be found that would lay hands upon the Prey of civil Discord For every one abstained from using violence toward them as from things consecrated to the Gods Which compassionate abstinence of the common people was a tacit reproach to the Cruelty of the Victors FORRAIGN 1. And lest we should be thought to envy the same applause to strangers Pericles Prince of the Athenians having for his Companion in the Pretorship Sophocles the Tragoedian whom he observ'd at the same time to utter certain Expressions over-lavish in the praise of a beautiful Boy that pass'd by reprehended him in these words That a Magistrate ought to keep his eyes from lustful desires as well as his hands frâ—m unlawful gain 2. Socrates himself being now stricken in years and being demandâ—d by one whether he yet mindâ—d his Youthful dalliances The Gods have taught me better said he for I flâ—d from it of my own accord as from a furius Contagion 3. Of equal Continency was Xenocrates in his old Age of whose opinion the following Relation is no small testimony Phryne a noble Curtesan of Athens while he was in drink laid herself upon the bed by him having receiv'd a sum of money to try if she could tempt him But though he neither refused to hear her flattering allurements nor to let her stroak and handle him but let her lie daliying in his bosome yet he at length put her off without prevailing in her designe An abstemious act of a mind endu'd with wisdom But the saying of the Curtesan was very facetious For the young men deriding her that she being so handsome and witty could not win the affâ—ction of an old man and refusing to give her what they had engaged she made answer The Bargain was to deal with a Man and not a Statue Could this Continence of Xenocrates be more truly demonstrated more truly or properly by any one than by the expression of the Curtesan her self For Phryne with all her Beauty could not weaken nor move the most constant Abstinence of the Philosopher 4. What think ye of King Alexander could he tempt him with his Riches You would have thought him a Statue though equally assail'd as well by the King as by the Curtesan The King sent Embassadours to him with a Present of some Talents whom being brought into the Academy was entertain'd according to his custom after his mean and poor fashion The next day the Embassadours asking him if he would have his Money told out I had thought said he by your yesterdays entertainment that you had understood that my condition does not require Money Thus while the King was desirous to buy the Frienâ—ship of the Philosopher the Philosopher dâ—nies to sell it him 5. The same Alexander having obtained the name of Invincible could not conquer the Continence of Diogenes the Cyniâ—â— to whom as he was sitting in the Sun when he came and bid him tell him wherein he might do him a kindness as he lay in the shade of a sordid conversation but of a stout minde quoth he As to the rest of thy prâ—ffers by and by but in the mean time do not stand between me and the Sun Which words carried a deep sense with them so that Alexander might sooner overcome Darius with his Arms than remove Diogenes from his low estate to love wealth The same person being told by Aristippus at Syracuse seâ—ing him washing Pot-herbs that if he could but flatter Dionysius he need not eat such trash made this retort quoth he If thou couldst eat this mean fare thou needst not flatter Dionysius CHAP. IV. Poverty praised 1. P. Valerius Poplicola 2. Agrippa Menenius 3. C. Fabricius Luscâ—nus and Q. Aemilius Papus 4. Of Captains called from the Plough to command Armies 5. C. Attilius Regulus Cos. 6. M. Attilius Regulus 7. L. Quinctius Cincinnatus Dictat 8. The Elian Family 9. Elius Tubero and L. Paulus Emilius 10. Cn. Cornelius Scipio 11. M. Emilius Scaurus THat Children are the greatest Ornaments to Women we finde written by Pomponius Rufus in his Book of Collections in these words When a Campanian Lady lying at the House of Cornelia Mother of the Gracchi shewed her her Jewels and other Ornaments which were the fairest of any in that time Cornelia held her in discourse till her Children return'd from School And these quoth she when they appeared are my Ornaments For he hath all things that covets nothing and much more certainly than he that possesses all things For great Estates many times fail but a good Habit of Minde is above the violence of Fortune And therefore what matters it whether we put Riches in the highest part of Felicity or Poverty in the lowest degree of Misery Especially when the chearful countenance of Wealth is full of many conceal'd Bitternesses and the more rugged and deformed aspect of Poverty many times abounds with many sure and solid Contents 1. The pride of Tarquin having put an end to Kingly Government Valerius Publicola with Iunius Brutus his Colleague auspiciously began the Office of Consulsâ—ip The same person having afterwards born three Consulships to the great content of the People and by many and most renowned Actions having enlarged the Grandeur of his Nobility And yet this great Pillar of History died not leaving a Patrimony sufficient for the expences of his Funeral which were therefore defray'd at the Publick charge It imports not to make any farther search into the Poverty of so great a Person for it is apparent what he possessed when he lived though being dead he wanted both a Bier and Funeral-Pile 2. We may well guess how high in Dignity Agrippa Menenius was whom the Senate and People chose Arbitrator of their differences and to make peace between um For how great ought he to be who was Umpire of the publick Safety This man unless the People had gathered among themselves the sixth part of a Penny to make up the Sum could not have defrayed his meer Funeral-Expences dying so poor that he wanted for the decency of Burial and therefore the City divided by pernicious Sedition were content to be reconcil'd by the Ghosts of Agrippa who though they were poor yet they had
in the Capitol or in the Castle because he had a House where now stands the Chappel dedicated to Iuno Moneta The same Indignation of the City brake forth against Sp. Cassius to whom the suspicion of desiring Soveraignty did more harm than three magnificent Conâ—ulships and two pompous Triumphs did him good For the Senate and People of Rome not contented with putting him to Death pull'd his House down over him when he was dead that he might be punish'd also with the destruction of his Houshold-Gods Upon the Ground they built a Temple to Tellus Thus the Habitation of a powerful man is now the Monument of Religious Severâ—ty The same end had Sp. Maelius by the Sentence of his Countrey for the same crime So that we finde how great an antipathy the Antients had against the Enemies of their Liberty by the very Ruines and Walls of their Houses And therefore the Houses of M. Flaccus and L. Saturnius most seditious Citizens were pull'd to the ground after they were slain At length Flaccus's ground after it had long remain'd unbuilt was adorn'd by Q. Catulus with the Cimbrian spoils Titus and Caius Gracchus were eminent in our City sor their Nobility and the hope which was conceived of them But because they endeavour'd the subversion of the Commonwealth their Bodies lay unburied and the last Offices due to Mortality were wanting to the Sons of Gracchus and â—he Nâ—phews of Africanus Their familiar acquaintance also lest there should be any Friends of the Commonwealths Enemies left were shut up in a hollow Oak and tumbled headlong to the bottom of that place in the Prison which was therefore call'd Robur 2. The same thing did P. Mucius a Tribune of the People think lawful for him to do as the People and the Senate had done before who burnt all his Colleagues alive because being set on by Sp. Cassius they strove to hinder the Election of Magistrates to the publick hazard of the common Liberty Never was any thing more confidently acted than this Sâ—verity For he a single Tribune durst inflict that punishment upon nine of his Colleagues which nine Tribunes durst not exact from one Tribune 3. Severity hitherto a most rigid Guardian and Asserâ—or of Liberty was equally as truculent also in the preservation of Discipline and Dignity For the Senate sent M. Clodius to the Corsi because he had concluded an ignominious Peace with them And because they would not receive him caus'd him to be put to Death in Prison When once the Majesty of the Empire was broken how many ways did obstinate Anger vindicate it They nullified the Accord they deprived him of his Liberty and Life and dishonour'd his Carcass with the ignominious contumely of the Prison and the Gemonian Precipice And indeed he had deserv'd this extraordinary chastisement of the Senate But Cn. Cornelius Scipio the son of Hispallus had the experience of it before he deserved it For the Province of Spain falling to him by lot they made a Decree that he should not go thither with a reason added Because he could not behave himself as he ought to do And therefore the Questor Cornelius had very like to have suffer'd upon the Law of Bribery for living in dishonour without any Provincial imployment Neither was the Severity of the Senate less to C. Vettienus who cut off the Fingers of his left hand because he would not be forced to the Italian War For they confiscated his estate and imprisoned him as long as he lived causing â—im to spend his days and waste that life ignominiously in a Jail which he refused nobly to venture in the Field 4. This Exemple Curius the Consul imitating who â—eing forced to proclaim a suddain listing of Souldiâ—rs â—hen none of the Youngmen appeared having caused â—ots to be made for all the Tribes he commanded the first Name that was drawn to be cited And because he did not answer to his Name he made a publick Sale of the Youngmans goods Which assoon as the Young-man had notice of he ran to the Consul's Tribunal and appeal'd to the Colledge of Tribunes But there Curius making a Speech and declaring that the Common-wealth had no need of a Citizen that knew not how to obey and so sold both his Goods and the Young-man too 5. In the same manner did L. Domitius stand to his panpudding For when he was Propraetor in Sicily there being a Boat of an extraordinary size presented to him he commanded the Shepherd that had killed him to be brought before him and enquiring of him with what Weapon he had killed the beast when he found he had kill'd him with a Pike-sâ—aff he caâ—sed him to be crucified having publish'd a Proclamation before for suppressing the Robberies that were committed in the Island that no person should carry a Dart. Some would take this to be the height of all Severity for it may be disputed on both sides But the reason and necessities of publick Government will not suffer the Pretor to be counted over-rigorous 6. Thus Severity exercis'd it self in the punishment of Men Nor was it less sedulous in the chastisement of Women Horatius one of that those that fought the three Curiatii by the conditions of the Combat Victor over all the rest of the Albans when returning home from that renowned field he found his Sister a Virgin bewailing the death of one of the Curiatii to whom she was betroth'd more tenderly than became her age ran her through with the Sword with which he had so well merited of his Countrey not thinking them chast Tears which were shed for a fond and immature Affection For which fact being endited before the People his Father defended him Thus the inclâ—nation of the Virgin toward the memory of her promis'd Husband was chastiz'd by a fierce Brothâ—r while the Father asserted and defended the Chastisement 7. The Senate afterwards following the same Example of Severity commanded Sp. Posthumius Albiâ—uâ— and Q. Marcius Philippus the Consuls to enquire after those Women who practis'd Incest at the Feast of Bacchanals By whom when many were condemn'd their Kindred punish'd them all at home and the ignominy of publick shame was corrected by the severity of the chastisement Wheâ—eby the more the Women had sham'd our City by their lewd carriage so much the more same they brought to it by the Severity of their Punishment 8. But Publicia who poyson'd Posthumius Albinuâ— the Consul and Licinia who poyson'd Claudius Asellus their Husbands were strangled by order of their next Relations For those severe men did not think it necessary where the crime was so evident and notorious to spend time in a publick Tryal And therefore as they would have defended the Innocent they were the early punishers of the Guilty 9. The Crime of these was great that excited Severity to so sharp a Revenge but Egnatius Metellus exercised his Severity for a far more inconsiderable matter who beat his Wife to death for drinking Wine For
was the Justice of the four Tribunes of the People at the same time For when L. Hortensius their Colleague had cited C. Atratinus under whose comand they had rallyed the Roman Army and restor'd the Battle against the Volsci at the Lake Verrugo to appear before the People they swore that it would be a shame to them if their General should be guilty For those noble Gentlemen would not endure to behold him as a Gown-man under the last extremity whose Life when in Arms they had defended with their own Wounds and Blood Which Justice of theirs so moved the Assâ—mbly that they caus'd Hortensius to desist 3. Nor did they shew themselves less noble in that which follows When Titus Graccbus and C. Claudius had exasperated the greatest part of the City by carrying themselves so severely in the Censorship Rutilius the Tribune accus'd them before the People of High-Treason moved not only by the publick consternation but his own private interest because they had order'd a part of his wall to be pulled down for the benefit of some Publick-place In which Judicature while many Centuries of the first Classis openly condemn'd Claudius but all consented to quit Graccbus Graccbus cried out aloud That if his Colleague suffered he would undergo the same punishment as he did Which Justice of his diverted the storm from both their heads and fortunes For the People absolved Claudius and Rutilius releas'd his Action against Graccâ—us 4. The Colledge of Tribunes also got great applause for when one of them L. Cotta by name under the protection of his sacred Authority denyed to pay his Creditors they decreed that if he would neither pay his Debts nor give Security they would assist the Creditors in their Appeal thinking it unjust that the publick Majesty should be a protection to private Knavery Thus the Tribunitial Justice drew out Cotta lurking in the Sanctuary of his employment 5. Of which to come to another Example Cn. Domitius Tribune of the People cited Marc. Scaurus before the People being then Prince of the City to ruine him if fortune had favour'd him or at least to eclipse his renown by a Criminal Accusation While he was thus eagerly thirsting after the blood of Scaurus a Servant of Scaurus came to him by night and promis'd him to discover many great and hainous Crimes to advance his Accusation As a Master and an Enemy he consider'd and weigh'd in his mind the Impeachment with different thoughts Justice overcame his Hatred For immediately shutting his own ears and the Impeachers mouth he caus'd him to be carried to Scaurus An Accuser I will not say to be belov'd but rather to be applauded by the person accus'd whom the People as well for his other Vertues as also for this reason created Consul Censor and High-Priest 6. Nor did L. Crassus behave himself otherwise as to the same Example of Justice He had alwaies born a most perfect hatred against the Name of Carbo as his profest Enemy and yet when a Servant of Carbo's brought him a Cabinet of his Masters conteining several Writings which he might have made use of to his ruine he sent the Cabinet lockt as it was and his Servant bound to his Master What Justice may we conjecture then flourished among Friends when Enemies and Impeachers one of another so nobly behav'd themselves 7. Sylla desired not so much his own safety as the ruine of Sulpitius Rufus whose Tribunitial rage continually vex'd him But when he was banish'd and that he understood that he was betray'd by his own Servant where he lay skulking that the Fidelity and Justice of his Decree might be permanent he caus'd the Freed-man for his perfidiousness to be thrown down the Tarpeian Rock together with his freed-mans Cap which he had purchased by his Treachery A most insolent Victor at other timeâ— now most just in his Authority FORRAIGNERS 1. But that we may not seem to forget the Justice of Forreigners Pittacus of Mitylene was one to whose merits his Citizens were either so much engaged or else had so much confidence in his Vertues that they offer'd him the Soveraign Authority of their City which he so long kept as the War continued with the Athenians about the Sygaeum or possession of a piece of ground so called But after he had by a Victory setled Peace he presently resign'd his Authority against the will of the Mitylenians that he might not be the Lord of his City any longer than the necessity of affairs requir'd And when by the consent of all the People the half of the Land was offered him he utterly refus'd the Gift esteeming it below himself to lessen the glory of his Vertue by the greatness of his Prey 2. I must now relate the Prudence of another that I may also relate the Justice of another When Themistocles had given the Athenians wholesom advice to betake themselves to their Vessels and after that Xerxes and his Army were driven out of Greece went about to restore the antient dignity of the City and laid up Treasure secretly to raise his City to the Dominion over all Greece he told the People in publick that he had found out something which if fortunâ— would suffer it to be brought to pass there could nothing happen greater or more for the honour of the Athenian People but that it was not a thing to be divulged and therefore desired them to appoint some person to whom he might privately reveal it Aristides was deputed Who when he understood thâ—â— Themistocles intended to have burnt all the Lacedaemonian Navy that lay in the Road of Gytheum that it being destroyed the Dominion of the Sea might belong to them return'd to his fellow Citizens and told them That Themistocles was hammering that which was very profitable but very unjust Presently the whole Assembly when they heard it was unjust bid him say no more of it and commanded Themistocles to desist from his Enterprize 3. Nothing more prevalent than the following Examples of Justice Zaleucus the Locrian having strengthend his City with most profitable and wholesome Laws when his Son condemn'd for Adultery according to the Law made by himself was to have lost both his Eyes and all the City interceded for the Son for some time he obstinately refus'd it but at length constrain'd by the intreaty of the People first putting out one of his own Eyes and then one of his Sons he left the use of fight to both Thus he rendered to the Law the punishment which it claimed with a most admirable mixture of Justice dividing himself into a merciful Father and a just Legislator 4. But something more severe was the Justice of Charundas the Thurian He had pacified the Harangues of his Citizens that were seditious even to blood and violence making a Law that if any person entred the Common-hall with his Sword on he should be presently put to death Some time after having been in the Countrey and coming home he presently call'd
that opulent City so frequently venerating his House after his death made it a Chappel to Ceres And while that City flourished a Goddess was worshipped in the remembrance of Man and a Man in the remembrance of a Goddess 2. Gorgias of Leontium so far excelled all persons of that Age in Learning that at all Assemblies he was wont to ask what subject they would hear him dispute upon and for that reason all Greece set him up a Statue of massie Gold in the Temple of Apollo when the rest of his time had only gilded Images 3. The same Nation by consent strove to honour Amphiaraus by reducing the place where he was buried into the form and state of a Temple and ordering Oracles to be there taken Whose Ashes possess the same Honour as the Pythian Den Dodona's Brazen Dove or the Fountain of Hammon 4. Nor was that a vulgar Honour done to Phereâ—iâ—e to whom alone of all women it was permitted to be present at the sight of Wrastling when she brought to the Olympic Games her Son Euclea begot by Olympionices while his Brothers having obtained the same Lawrels sare by her sides LIB IX CHAP. I. Of Luxury and Lust. Roman Examples 1. C. Sergius Orata 2. Clodius the Son of Aesopus the Tragedian 3. Women opposers of the Oppian Law 4. Cn. Domitius and L. Crassus Consuls 5. Q. Metellus Pius 6. C. Scribonius Son of Curius 7. P. Clodius his judgment 8. Gemellus a Tribunician Traveller 9. L. Catiline STRANGERS 1. Hannibal Son of Amilcar 2. Vulsinians 3. Xerxes the Persian King 4. Antiochus the Syrian King 5. Ptolomey King of Egypt 6. The Egyptians 7. The Cyprians LEt Luxury a flattering Crime more easie to accuse than shun be inserted into this Work of ours Not to receive any Honour but that coming to know her self she may be compelled so Penitence Let Lust be joyn'd with her because it arises from the same Principles of Vice Nor let them be separated from reprehension or amendment that are â—yed together by a double errour of the Minde 1. C. Sergius Orata was the first that made hanging 〈◊〉 which cost having but a slight beginning extended it self almost to Seas of Hot-water The same person because he would not have his Palace subject to the power of Neptune invented peculiar Seas to himself and separated sholes of divers sorts of Fish within the large circuits of vast Moles to the end no Tempest whatever should deprive his Table of his desired Dainties He also burden'd the till then desert Banks of the Lake Lucrinus with stately and high Buildings that he might keep his Shell-fish fresh Where while he plunges himself too deep into the publick Water he was hurried to the Judgment Seat by Considius the Publican Where L. Crassus pleading against him said That his friend Considius err'd if he thought that Orata being removed from the Lake would want Oysters for if he could not have them there he would finde them upon the Tiles 2. To this man Aesopus the Tragedian ought rather to have given his Son in Adoption than to have lest him the Heir of his Goods a young man not only for a desperate but a most furious Luxury Of whom it is reported that he gave vast prices for Birds that could sing or talk to have them served up at his Table instead of Fig-peckers and that he used to put Pearls of high value dissolv'd in Vinegar into his drinks as if he had strain'd to throw away a most famous Patrimony like some burthen too heavy for his shoulders Since some in imitation of the Father others of the Son have extended their hands farther For no Vice ends where it begins This it is that fâ—tches out Fish from the various shoares of the Sea and spreads our Kitchins with Oysters For the pleasure of eating and drinking was found out by Art and Cost 3. But the end of the second Puâ—iâ— War and the overcoming of Philip King of Macedon made us with more confidence addict our selves so Luxury At what time the Matrons were so bold as to beset the House of the Bruâ—ii who by the abrogation of the Oppian Law were prepar'd to intercede for that which the women desir'd should be taken away because it did not permit them to wear a coloured Garment nor to have about them above half an Ounce of Gold nor to ride in a Chariot to any place within a Mile from the City unless it were to the Sacrifices and they obtain'd that the Law kept for above twenty years should be abolished For the men of that Age did not foresee whither the obstinate Plots of Women would tend nor how far a boldness that had vanquish'd the Law would tend For could they have look'd into the contrivances of female cunning that brings in something of sumptuous Novelty every day they had stopped the progress of Luxuy at its first entrance 4. But what do I talk any more of Women whom weakness of Minde and the affectation of greater employments denied them incites them to bestow all their time in trimming up themselves wheâ— I finde Men fallen into this dâ—vertisement unknown to the antient Continence And let it appear to their reproach Cneus Domitius upon a quarrel with L. Crassus his Colleague objected to him that he had Hymettian Pillars in his House Whom Crassus immediately ask'd what he valued his own House at When he answer'd Threescore Sesterces And how much think you said the other if I should cut teâ— little shrâ—bs out of it Thirty Sesterces said the other Which thou is the most Luxurious of the two replied Crassus I thâ—t bought ten Pillars for an hundred thousand pieces of Money or thou that valuest the shadow of ten small Trees at thirty Sesterces An expression forgetful of Pyrrhus unmindful of Hannibal and yawning with the abundance of Forreign Luxury because thâ—y had rather bequeath the Daintiness and curiosity which they themselves had bâ—gun to their Posterity than retain the Continence which their Fore-fathers had left them 5. For what meant that Prince of his time Metellus Pius when he suffer'd himself to be received at his first coming with Altars and Frankincense When he behâ—ld the walls of the Rooms spread with Attalican Tapestry as a sight that pleased him When he permitted long Plays at tedious Festivals When he wore his Triumphal Garment at the celebration of great Banquets and contentedly received Crowns let down from open places as it were from Heaven upon his celestial Head And where were these things Not in Greece or Asia where Severity itself might be corrupted with Luxury but in a wild and warlike Province when a formidable Enemy Sertoriâ—s would not let the Roman Armies lie quiet but goar'd them continually with the Lusitanian Darts So much had he forgot the Numidian Camp of his father Whence it appears how swiftly Luxury insinuates it self For he that in his Youth beheld the antient Customes in his old Age introduced new 6. The same
change was in the House of the Curii while our City and Judgment-Seat beheld the rigid Brow of the Father and the high Debt of six hundred Sesterces of the Son contracted by the ignominious Injury done to the Noble Youth of Româ— Therefore at the same Time and under the same Roof two several Ages lived the one of Frugality the other of vitious Prodigality 7. By the Sentence against P. Clodius what strange Luxury appeared in him what a savage Lust Who though guilty of Incest that he might be acquitted bought whole nights of the Matrons and noble Youth at vast rates to pleasure his Judges withal In which horrid and abominable Crime I know not which first to detest whether him that first invented that way of Corruption or they that suffer'd their Chastity â—o mediate to Perjury or they that valued Adultery beyond Justice 8. Equally abominable was that Banquet which Gemellus a Tribunitian Traveller of good Parents but one that had betaken himself to a Servile employment prepar'd for Metellus Scipio Consul and the Tribuneâ— of the People to the great scandal of the City For having set up a Stew in his own House he prostituted therein Mucia and Fulvia both taken away from Father and Mother and Saturninus a Youth of a Noble Family Bodies of infamous suffering brought to be the scorn of drunken Lust Banquets not to be celebrated by Consuls and Tribunes but to have been punish'd 9. But enormous was the Lust of Catiline For being mad in love with Aurelia Orestilla when he saw one Impediment to hinder him from being married to her poyson'd his own and only Son almost of age and presently kindled the Nuptial Torch at his Funeral-Pile bequeathing his want of Children as a gift to his new Bride But behaving himself at length with the same minde as a Citizen as he had shewed himself a Father he fell a just Sacrifice to the Ghost of his Son and his impiously-invaded Country STRANGERS 1. But the Campanian Luxury how profitable was it to our Country For embracing invincible Hannibal in the arms of her Allurements she fitted him to be vanquished by the Roman Souldiers She called forth a vigilant Captain she invited a couragious Army to long Banquets and with plenty of Wine the fragrancy of Oyntments and the lascivious soâ—â—ness of Venery inveagl'd them to Sleep and Pleasure And then was the Punic fierceness broken when it lay encamped among the Persumâ—rs of Capuâ— What then more ignominious than these Vices what more hurtful by which Vertue is worn out Victories languish Honour stupified is turn'd to Inâ—amy and the vigour of Body and Minde quite weakned and brokâ—n So that it is hard to say which is worst to be subdued by them or by the Enemy 2. Which inâ—ested the City of the Volsinians with sad and direful slaughters It was rich it was adoâ—n'd with Customes and Laws it was the Head and Metropolis of Hâ—truriâ— But when once Luxury crept in it fell into an Abyss of Injuries and Infaâ—â—y â—ill she became subjected to the insolent power of her Servants Who at first in a small number daâ—ing to enter the Senate House in a short time overturn'd and master'd the whole Commonwealth They order'd Wills to be made at their own pleasure They forbad the Meetings and Feastings of the Free-men and married their Masters Daughters Lastly they made a Law that their Adulteries committed with Widows and Married-women should go unpunished and that no Virgin should marry a Freeman unless some of them before had had her Virginity 3. Xerxes out of the proud imitation of his vasâ— wealth grew to that height of Luxury that he propounded Rewards to them that should invent any new Pleasure What a ruine befel a most wide Empire too deeply plunged in Pleasure and Voluptuousness 4. Antiochâ—â— the King not a whit the morâ— conâ—inent whose blinde and mad Luxury the Army imitating had most of them Golden Nails under the soles of their Shoes and bought Silver Dishes for their Kitchins and had their Tents of Tapestry-work adorn'd with Gold and Silver A booty more desireable by a needy Enemy than any delay to a stout Souldier from Victory 5. Ptolomey the King liv'd by the accession of his Vices and was therefore call'd Physâ—on Than whose Wickedness there could be nothing more wicked He married his eldeâ—t Sister married before to theiâ— common Brother then having viâ—iated her Daughter he divorced the Sister that he might marry the Daughter 6. Like to their Kings were the People of Egypt who under the command of Archelaus sallying out of their City against A. Gabinius when they were commanded to entrench themselves cry'd out That that was a work to be done at the publick Châ—rge And therefore their Courages weakned with the softnesâ— of Pleasures could not stand the sury of our Army 7. But more effeminate were the Cyprians who suffer'd their Women to lye upon the grouâ—d for their Queens to tread upon when they ascended into their Chariots For for men if men they were it had been better not have lived at all than to live obedient to such a soft Command CHAP. II. Of Cruelty In ROMANS 1. Cor. Sylla Dicâ—ator 2. C. Marius seven times Consul 3. L. Junius Damasippus 4. Munatius Fla us STRANGERS 1. Carthaginians 2. Hannibal 3. Mithridates 4. Numulizinthes King of Thrace 5. Ptolomey Physcon 6. Darius Ochus 7. Artaxerxes Ochus 8. The Aâ—henians 9. Perilluâ— of Sicily 10. Hetrurians 11. Certain Barbarians THis last Society of men carried a lascivious Countenance Eyes greedly after Novelty of delight and a Minde transported through all the allurements of Pleasure But the horrid habit of Cruelty is of another nature savage Countenance violent Minds terrible Utterance Mouths full of Threats and bloody Commands to which being silent is but to increase its fury For how shall she set bounds to her self unless she were recall'd by the bridle of reprehension In short since it is her business to make herself dreaded let it be ours to have her in abomination 1. L. Sylla whom no man can either sufficiently praise or dispraise who while he seeks after Victory represents himself a Scipio to the Roman People while he exercises Cruelty a meer Hannibal For having egregiously defended the cause of the Nobility â—ruelly he overflow'd the whole City and every part of Italy with rivers of Civil Blood Four Legions of the adverse party â—rusting to his Faith and following his Banners in a publick Village in vain imploring the compassion of his faithless arm he caused to be cut in pieces Whose lamentable cries pierc'd the ears of the trembling City and Tibur was compelled to waâ—t away their memberless Bodies impatient of so heavy a burthen Five thousand Praenestines hope of safety being granted them by Cethegus being call'd sorth without the Walls of the Free-town after they had thrown away their Armes and lay prostrate upon the ground he caus'd to be slain and their Bodies to be thrown about the