Political part of Government he excelled them and every one else And this too when he was very young his years not yet confirmed by any experience For when Themistocles upon the Medes threatning them with an Invasion advised the Athenians to forsake their Town and the Country about it and to carry all their Arms on Ship board and in the Streights of Salamis dispute the Dominion of the Sea with their Enemies When all the World stood amazed at the Confidence and Rashness of this advice Cimon only was not at all surprised but chearfully passed through the Street of Ceramicon accompanied with other young Men toward the Castle carrying a Bridle in his hand to offer to the Goddess Minerva by this intimating that there was no more need of Horsemen now but Mariners Thus after he had paid his Devotions to the Goddess and offer'd up the Bridle he took down the Bucklers that hung upon the Walls of the Temple and so went down to the Port. By this Example he encouraged the Citizens to follow him in order to their Embarking Besides he was an handsome Person of a just Stature his Hair thick and curled After he had acquitted himself gallantly in this Battle of Salamis he obtained a great Reputation among the Athenians and they not only admired his Actions but loved his Person So that they were continually enflaming him with Emulation to perform Deeds as Famous as that of Marathon that entertaining great Conceptions of things he might act sutably thereunto The People were very glad when they saw him applying himself to matters of State for they were disgusted with Themistocles In opposition to whom and because of the Candor and Freeness of Cymon's Temper which was agreeable to every one they advanced him to the highest Employments in the Government The man that contributed most to his Promotions was Aristides who still cultivated that honest Genius he saw in him And purposely raised him that he might be a Counterpoise to the Craft and repress the insolence of Themistocles But when the Medes were driven out of Greece Cimon being Admiral though the Athenians had not yet attained the Chief Dominion but still followed Pausanias and the Lacedaemonians he kept his Citizens in Heart and by the Goodness of their Order and Equipage but chiefly by their Valour they were distinguished from the rest Besides he perceiving that Pausanias managed an intelligence with the King of Persia to betray Greece to the Barbarians and puft up with Arrogance and Success treated his Allies haughtily and committed Insolencies upon them Cimon taking this advantage robbed him of the Esteem and Command of the Greeks before he was aware This he did not by open Enmity but by affable Discourse and the Obligingness of his Conversation So that the Allies no longer able to endure the Sourness and Pride of Pausanias revolted all from him to Cimon and Aristides Who having gain'd such a Party from him writ to the Ephori of Sparta and sent particular Messengers to complain of him desiring them to recall a Man who was a dishonour to Sparta and a trouble to Greece They report of Pausanias that when he was in Bysantium he sollicited a young Lady of a noble Family in the City whose name was Cleonice to debauch her Her Parents dreading the cruel Humour of the Man were forced to consent and so abandon'd their Daughter to his Embraces Cleonice commanded the Servants to put out all the Lights So that approaching silently and in the dark towards his Bed she stumbled upon the Lamp which she overturned and spilled Pausanias who was fallen asleep awaked and startled with the noise thought an assassin had taken that dead time of the Night to murder him so that hastily snatching up his Poinard that lay by him he wounded his supposed Enemy to Death After this he never enjoyed himself but was disturbed in his Thoughts For his Dear Mistress haunted his Bed and would not let him Sleep but interrupted his repose with these Angry Words Villain be just at last and so repent Or see the hand that brings thy Punishment This Tragical Accident gave the last stroke to his Ruin For after this the Allies joyning their Resentments and Forces with Cimon's besieged him in Byzantium but he escaped out of their Hands and fled to Heraclea Here coming to a place which might be called the Oracle of the Dead where they raise up Spirits to know future Events he solemnly invoked Cleonice and intreated her Ghost to be reconciled Accordingly she appeared to him and answered him in these Words As soon as thou comest to Sparta thou shalt be freed from all the Misfortunes which now afflict thee Hereby obscurely foretelling in my opinion that imminent Death he was to suffer This is the Story that is told of him Cimon strengthned with this accession of the Allies went General into Thrace For he was told that some great Men among the Persians of the Kings Kindred having possessed themselves of Eione a City situated upon the River Strymon infested the Greeks which confin'd upon them First he defeated these Persians and shut them up within the Walls of their Town Then he fell upon the Thracians themselves who were Borderers because they supply'd those of Eione with Victuals he drove them entirely out of the Country and took possession of it as Conqueror By this means he reduced the Besieged to such straights that Butes who Commanded there for the King in a desperate resolution set fire to the Town and burned himself his Goods and all his Relations in one common Flame By this means Cimon got the Town but no great Booty for these Barbarians not only consumed themselves in the Fire but the richest of their Moveables However the Country about it he gave the Athenians which was a pleasant and fruitful Soil For this Action the People permitted him to erect Stone Mercuries upon the First of which was this Inscription Those were the valiant Heros who in Thrace Did Conquering the Persians them disgrace By Sword and Famine made them all to die And unto Death as to a refuge fly Upon the Second was this This Monument did grateful Athens raise To give to her Commanders lasting Praise That this might make her Emulous Sons contend Encountring Death their Country to defend This was the Inscription of the Third Since Mnestheus to Atrides Succours led From Athens by whose Hands his Foes lay dead And as old Homer doth report the same All Troy did tremble at this Warriour's Name Then no one justly ought for to admire That Athens to this Honour doth aspire None are so Wise and Valiant as They As Chiefs to Lead as Soldiers to Obey Tho' the Name of Cimon is not mention'd in these Inscriptions yet his Contemporaries do assert them wholly as erected to his Honour and being so it was a peculiar one to him For Miltiades and Themistocles could never obtain the like And when Miltiades desired a Crown of Olive one
thereabout but the rest perish'd with their Vessels or were taken by this you may guess at their number for though a great many escaped out of the Fight and a great many others were sunk yet two hundred Gallies were taken by the Athenians When their Land-Army drew toward the Sea-side Cimon was in suspence whether he should make a descent For thereby he should expose his Greeks wearied with Slaughter in the first Engagement to the Swords of the Barbarians who were all fresh Men and Superiour to them in number But seeing his men resolute and flush'd with Victory he made them land tho they had not yet wiped off the Sweat and Bloud of the first Battel As soon as they touched Ground they set up a shout and ran furiously upon the Enemy who stood firm and sustained the first shock with great obstinacy so that the fight began to be very doubtful the principal men of the Athenians for Quality and Courage were slain at length tho with much ado they routed the Barbarians some they took Prisoners and plundered all their Tents and Pavillions which were full of very rich Spoil Cimon being thus a perfect Conqueror having in one day gained two Victories wherein he surpassed that of Salamis by Sea and that of Platea by Land was encouraged to pursue his Success So that News being brought that the Phaenician Succours in number eighty Sail were at the Gulf of Hidram he bended his Course toward them and encompassed them about They had not received any certain account of the former defeat and now were in great doubt what to think so that thus surprized they lost their Vessels and all the men were either Slain or Drowned This success of Cimon so daunted the King of Persia that he presently made that memorable Peace whereby he engaged that his Armies should come no nearer the Grecian Sea than the length of a Horse-race And that none of his Gallies or Vessels of War should appear between the Cyanean and Chelidonian Isles Calisthenes says that he agreed not to any Articles but that upon the fear this Victory gave him he prudently kept off so far from Greece that when Pericles with fifty and Ephialtes with thirty Gallies cruised beyond the Chelidonian Isles they could not discover one Persian Sail. But in the Collection which Craterus made of the publick Acts of the People there is an Original draught of this Treaty as following upon that defeat And 't is reported that at Athens they erected the Altar of Peace upon this occasion and decreed particular Honours to Callias who was employed as Ambassador to manage the Treaty The People of Athens raised so much Money from the Spoils of this War which were sold by publick Out-cry that besides other Expences and raising the South Wall of the Cittadel they laid the Foundation of those Walls afterwards finished which they called Skele i e Long Shanks that join the City to the Port but the place where they built them being a Moorish Ground they were forced to sink great Weights of Stone to secure the Foundation and all this they did out of the Money Cimon supplied them with It was he likewise that adorned Athens with those Publick Places of Exercise which they afterward so much frequented and delighted in He set the Forum with Plain-trees The Academy which was before open and exposed to the Weather he fenced with Trees and beautified with Fountains he made covered Alleys to walk in and set out Ground for Foot and Horse-races Afterward being informed that some Persians who had made themselves Masters of the Chersonese were so peremptory in not quitting it that they called in the People 〈◊〉 the higher Thrace to help them against Cimon whom they despised for the smallness of his Forces he set upon them with only four Gallies and took thirteen of theirs Then having drove out the Persians and subdued the Thracians he made the whole Chersonese subject to the Commonwealth of Athens From hence he went against the People of Thasos who had revolted from the Athenians and having defeated them in a Fight at Sea where he took thirty three of their Vessels he stormed their Town seized for the Athenians all the Mines of Gold on the other side of it and all the Country dependant of it This opened him a fair Passage into Macedon so that he might have Conquered the greatest part of it But because he neglected that Opportunity he was suspected of Corruption and that he was bribed off by King Alexander So by the Combination of his Adversaries he was accused of being false to his Country Before the Judges he pleaded That he never made an Interest with the Rich Ionians nor Thessalians as others have from whence they drew both Honour and Profit but that he always embraced the Friendship of the Macedonians for as he admired so he wished to imitate the Sedateness of their Temper their Temperance and Simplicity of â—iving which he preferred to any sort of Riches tho he had always been and still was Ambitious to enrich his Country with the Spoils of her Enemies Stesimbrotus making mention of his Trial reports That Elpinice in behalf of her Brother addressed her self to Pericles one of the most vehement of his Accusers to whom Pericles answered with a Smile You are too Old Madam to manage Affairs of this Nature However after that he became the mildest of his Prosecutors and rose up but once all the while to plead against him which he did but very faintly And Cimon was acquitted As for his demeanour at home he always restrained the Common People who would have encroached upon the Nobility and affected the Supream Power over them But when he afterward was called out to War the Multitude broke loose as it were reversed all the ancient Laws and Customs they had hitherto observed this they did chiefly at the instigation of Ephialtes they withdrew likewise the Cognisance of almost all Causes from the Areopagus so that all Appeals being made to them the Government was reduced to a perfect Democracy and this by the help of Pericles who declared in favour of the Common People But Cimon when he returned seeing the Authority of this Great Council so eclipsed was exceedingly troubled and endeavoured to remedy these Disorders by bringing things to their former state and restoring the Nobility to those Degrees of Command they had in the time of Calisthenes This the others declaimed against with all the vehemence possible and began to revive those Stories concerning him and his Sister and cried out against him as addicted to the Lacedaemonians Consonant to these Calumnies are the famous Verses of Eupolis the Poet upon Cimon Ill Nature to him we cannot reproach But he is Lazy and he will Debauch He goes to Sparta and is so unkind He leaves poor Elpinice in Bed behind But if when Slothful and a Drunkard he could storm so many Towns and gain so many Victories certainly if he had been sober
Lybian Piper against the Pontick Trumpeter bid the Citizens therefore be of good Courage While the Cyzicenians were wondring at the Revelation by a sudden North wind there arose a great storm at Sea The Kings battering Engines the wonderful Contrivance of Nicomedes of Thessaly then under the Walls by their cracking and shivering soon demonstrated what would follow after which a mighty tempestuous South-wind succeeding broke down the rest of the works in a Moments space and by a violent concussion threw down a wooden Tower a hundred Cubits high 'T is said that in â—…ium Minerva appeared unto many in the Night with bloudy and torn Garments telling them that she then came from relieving the Cyzicenians and the Inhabitants to this day have a Monument with an Inscription by publick order of the same Mithridates through the knavery of his Officers not knowing the want of Provision in his Camp was troubled in mind that the Cyzicenians should hold out Siege against him But his Ambition and anger fell when he saw his Soldiers in want and feeding on Mans flesh Lucullus being no airy vain-glorious Enemy but one according to the Proverb who made the seat of War in their Bellies by seizing on the food which should sustain them Mithridates therefore took advantage of the time while he was storming a Fort and sent away almost all his Horse to Bithynia with the Sumpters and as many of the Foot as were unfit for service Which Lucullus understanding came to his Camp and in the Morning during the storm took ten bands of Foot and the Horse with him and pursued them through Tempest and Cold though the severity of the Weather forc'd some of his Soldiers back who were ready to perish under it and with the rest coming upon the Enemy near the River Ryndacus overthrew them with so great an Overthrow that the very Women of Apollonia came out to seize on the Booty and rob the Slain Great numbers as we may suppose were slain six Thousand Horses taken with an infinite number of labouring Cattel and no less than fifteen Thousand Men all which he led along by the Enemies Camp And here I cannot but wonder at Salust who says That this was the first time Camels were seen by the Romans as if he thought those who fought under Scipio against Antiochus before or those lately under the Command of Archelaus against the Orchomenians about Chaeronea had not known what a Camel was But however 't is well known that Mithridates soon fled and contrived Delays and Diversions for Lucullus while he sent his Admiral Aristonicus to the Greek Sea who was betray'd in the very instant of going off and Lucullus became Master of him and ten Thousand pieces of Gold which he was carrying with him to corrupt some of the Roman Army After which Mithridates himself made for the Sea leaving the Foot-Officers to conduct the Army upon whom Lucullus fell about the River Granicus where he took a vast number alive and slew 15000. 'T is reported that the number of fighting Men and others who followed the Camp destroy'd amounted to thirty Myriads Lucullus first went into Cyzicum and then fitting his Navy sail'd away into the Hellespont and arriving at Troas he lodg'd in the Temple of Venus where in the night he thought he saw the Goddess coming to him and saying Why sleepest thou great Lion when the Fawns are nigh Rising up hereupon he called his Friends to him and told them his Vision at which instant some Ilians being present acquainted him that thirteen of the King 's Quinqueremes were seen off of the Achean Haven sailing for Lemnos He took these and slew their Admiral Isidorus and then made after another Squadron who were in Harbour with their Vessels ashoar but fought from above-deck and sorely gall'd Lucullus's Men there being neither room to sail round them nor to bear upon them for any damage while they stood secure and fix'd on the Sand. After much ado at the only Landing-place of all the Island he Landed the Choicest of his Men who falling upon the Enemy behind kill'd some and forced others to cut their Cables who making from the Shoar fell foul upon one another or came within reach of Lucullus his Fleet. Many were kill'd in the Action Among the Captives was Marius the Commander sent by Sertorius a Man who had but one Eye And it was Lucullus's strict Command to his Men before the Engagement that they should kill no Man who had but one Eye that he might rather die under disgrace and reproach This being over he hastned his Pursuit after Mithridates whom he hoped to find at Bithynia block'd up by Voconius whom he sent out before to Nicomedia with part of the Fleet to stop his Flight But Voconius by his mirth and jollity in Samothracia slipt out his opportunity Mithridates being pass'd by with all his Fleet who hastning into Pontus before Lucullus came up to him was nevertheless catch'd in a Storm which dispersed his Fleet and sunk several Ships The Wreck floated on all the neighbouring Shoar for many days after The Ship wherein he himself was uncapable of being brought ashoar by the Masters for its bigness rolling up and down in the Flood being heavy with Water and ready to sink he left and went aboard a Pyratical Vessel delivering himself into the hands of Pyrats and unexpectedly and wonderfully came safe to Heraclea in Pontus There hapned a generous Emulation between Lucullus and the Senate For they having decreed him 3000 Talents to furnish out a Navy he himself was against it and sent them word that without so great Supplies by the Confederate Shipping alone he did not in the least doubt but to rout Mithridates from the Sea And so he did by Assistance from above for 't is reported that Diana Priapina sent the great Tempest upon the People of Pontus because they had robbed her Temple and removed her Image When many were perswading Lucullus to go directly on he rejected their Counsel and march'd through Bithynia and Galatia to the King's Country in so great scarcity of Provision at first that thirty Thousand Galatians followed every Man carrying a Bushel of Wheat at his Back But he subduing all in his Progress before him at last arrived at so great Plenty that an Ox was sold in the Camp for a single Groat and a Slave for four The other Booty they made no account of but took and destroyed as they pleased there being no Contest among them where all were satisfied But inasmuch as they had made frequent Incursions and Advances as far as Themiscyra and the inner Thermodon and had laid waste the Country before them they began to discourse with Lucullus in good earnest Why he took so many Towns by Surrender and never an one by Storm which might enrich them with the Plunder And now forsooth leaving Amisus behind a rich and wealthy City of easie Conquest if closely besieged to carry us into the Tibarenian
permit them so much as to mention any thing of Government but set Roman Officers and Commanders over them whereby he restored Liberty to the Romans without increasing the Spaniards Power against them for he was a sincere Lover of his Countrey and had a great desire to return home but in adverse Fortune he shew'd his undaunted Courage and behaved himself towards his Enemies free from all dejection and mean spiritedness but when he was in his Prosperity and in the heighth of his Victories he sent word to Metellus and Pompey that he was ready to lay down his Arms and live a private Lite if he were called home declaring that he had rather be the meanest Citizen in Rome than Supreme Commander of all other Cities together and it is thought that his great Love for his Countrey was in no small measure promoted by the respect which he had for his Mother under whom he was brought up in his tender Years after the Death of his Father and upon whom he had placed his intire Affection and after that his Friends had sent for him into Spain to be their General as soon as he heard of his Mother's Death he had almost cast away himself and died for Grief for he lay seven days together continually upon the Ground without giving the Word or being seen by the nearest of his Friends and when the Chief Commanders of the Army and Persons of the greatest Note came about his Tent with great difficulty they prevailed with him at last to come abroad and speak to his Soldiers and to take upon him the Management of Affairs which were in a prosperous Condition by all which he seems to have been of a mild and compassionate Temper and naturally given to Ease and Quietness and that he accepted of the Command of Military Forces contrary to his own Inclination but not being able to live in safety he was forced by his Enemies to have recourse to Arms and to espouse the Wars as a necessary Guard for the defence of his Person His Administration of Affairs with King Mithridates does further argue the greatness of his Mind for after that Mithridates was overthrown by Sylla and had recovered himself and as a strong Wrastler that is desirous to try another fall was again endeavoring to re-establish his Power in Asia at which time the great Fame of Sertorius was frequently celebrated in all Places and the Merchants which came out of Spain and the Western Parts of Europe to furnish the Asiaticks with Forreign Commodities had filled all the Kingdom of Pontus with their Discourses of his Exploits in War Mithridates was earnestly desirous to send an Embassy to him being also highly encouraged to it by the Boastings of his Parasites and flattering Courtiers who comparing Mithridates to Pyrrhus and Sertorius to Hannibal gave out that the Romans would never be able to make any considerable resistance against such great Forces and Commanders of that Temper and sublime Judgment when they should be set upon on both sides at once on one side by the most Warlike General that ever was and on the other side by the most Powerfull Prince on Earth Mithridates having sent Embassadours into Spain to Sertorius with Letters and Instructions and with full Power and Commission to promise Ships and good Sums of Money towards the Charge of the War if Sertorius would vouchsafe to confirm his Pretensions upon Asia and Authorize him to possess all that he had surrendred to the Romans in his Treaty with Sylla Sertorius called a full Council which he named the Senate where when all joyfully approved of the Conditions and were desirous immediately to accept of his Offer seeing that he desired nothing of them but a Name and an empty Title to Places not in their Power to dispose of in recompence of which they should be supplyed with what they then stood most in need of Sertorius would by no means agree to it declaring that as he was willing that King Mithridates should exercise all Royal Power and Authority over Bithinia and Cappadocia Countries accustomed to a Monarchical Government and not belonging to Rome so he could never consent that he should seize or detain a Province which by due Right and Title was possessed by the Romans which Mithridates had formerly lost in open War to Fimbria and had afterwards quitted upon a Treaty of Peace with Sylla for he looked upon it as his Duty to enlarge the Roman Possessions by his Conquering Arms and not to encrease his own Power by the Diminution of the Roman Territories telling them that a generous-minded man though he willingly accepts of Victory when it comes accompanied with Honour yet he will never so much as endeavour to defend himself or save his own Life upon any dishonourable terms When this was related to Mithridates he was struck with admiration and said to his intimate Friends What will Sertorius enjoyn us to do when he comes to be seated in the Senate-house in Rome who at present when he is driven out to the furthest parts of the Earth bordering upon the far remote Western Ocean sets bounds to our Kingdoms in the East and threatens us with War if we Attempt the recovery of Asia However they solemnly upon Oath concluded a League between them upon these Terms That Mithridates should enjoy the free possession of Cappadocia and Bythinia and that Sertorius should send him Soldiers and a General for his Army in recompence of which the King was to supply him with three thousand Talents and forty Ships Marcus Marius a Roman Senator who had quitted Rome to follow Sertorius was sent General into Asia by whose Conduct when Mithridates had reduced divers of the Asian Cities Marius made his entrance with Rods and Axes carried before him as before a Proconsul of Rome and Mithridates followed in the second place voluntarily waiting upon him some of these Cities he set at liberty and others he freed from Taxes signifying to them by Letters that these Priviledges were granted to them by the Grace and Favour of Sertorius and hereby Asia which had been miserably tormented by the unsatiableness of the Publicans and oppressed by the insolent Pride and Covetousness of the soldiers began to rise again and with new Wings added to their former hopes to soar alost in earnest Desires towards their long wished for change of Government But in Spain the Senators about Sertorius and others of the Nobility finding themselves strong enough for their Enemies and having no less hopes of returning to Rome they no sooner laid aside all fear but Envy immediately and unreasonable Jealousies inflamed their minds and chiefly Perpenna who being of a Noble Family and extremely envious of Sertorius's Greatness was at this time so arrogantly transported with a fond Ambition of Commanding the Army that he threw out villanous Discourses in private amongst his intimate Acquaintance and among those whose seditious Ingratitude had made more willing to hearken to
bring the War home to his own door and fight for their Temples and Sepulchres in Molossia Especially having so lately by his means lost Cercyra and his Wife together For Lanassa had taken offence at Pyrrhus for too great an inclination to those Wives of his that were Barbarians and so withdrew to Cercyra and desiring to marry some King invited Demetrius knowing of all the Kings he was most ready to entertain an offer of Marriage from fair Ladies so he sail'd thither marry'd Lanassa and plac'd a Garrison in the City The Kings having writ thus to Pyrrhus did themselves likewise find Demetrius work while he was delaying and making his preparations Ptolomee setting out with a great Fleet drew off many of the Greek Cities Lysimachus out of Thrace wasted the upper Macedon Pyrrhus also taking Arms with these march'd to Beraea expecting as it fell out that Demetrius drawing his Forces against Lysimachus would leave the lower Country without Supplies That very Night he seem'd in his Sleep to be call'd by Alexander the Great and approaching saw him sick a-bed but was receiv'd with very kind Words and much Respect and promis'd a suddain assistance He making bold to reply How Sir can you being sick assist me With my Name says he and mounting a Nisaean Horse seem'd to lead the way At the sight of this Vision he was much assur'd and with swift Marches over-running all the Interjacent Places takes Beraea and making his Head Quarters there reduc'd the rest of the Country by his Commanders When Demetrius receiv'd Intelligence of this and perceiv'd likewise the Macedonians ready to mutiny in the Army he was afraid to advance farther lest coming near Lysimachus a Macedonian King and of great Fame they should revolt to him So returning he march'd directly against Pyrrhus as a Stranger and hated by the Macedonians while he lay encamp'd there by him many coming out of Beraea infinitely prais'd Pyrrhus as one invincible in Arms a very Illustrious Prince and treating those he had taken kindly and obligingly several of these Pyrrhus himself sent privately pretending themselves Lacedaemonians and saying now was the time to be deliver'd from the severe Government of Demetrius by coming over to Pyrrhus a gracious Prince and a lover of Soldiers By this Artifice a great part of the Army was mov'd and looking every way about sought for Pyrrhus It hapn'd he was without his Helmet till understanding they did not know him he put it on again and so was quickly remark'd by his lofty Crest and the Goat's horns he wore upon it Then the Macedonians running to him desir'd the Word others clap'd Oaken boughs upon their Heads because they saw them worn by the Soldiers about him Some took the confidence to say to Demetrins himself that he would be well advis'd to withdraw and lay down the Government And he indeed finding the Mutinous humour of the Army agreeable to that sort of Discourse privately got away disguis'd in an old Hat and a common red Coat So Pyrrhus became Master of the Army without fighting and was declar'd King of the Macedonians But Lysimachus now arriving and affirming the defeat of Demetrius was in common perform'd by both and that the Kingdom ought to be shar'd between them Pyrrhus not extremely assur'd of the Macedonians and in doubt of their Faith consented to the Proposition of Lysimachus and divided the Country and Cities between them accordingly This was for the present useful and prevented a War but shortly after they found the partition not so much an avoydance of dissatisfactions as an occasion of more Complaint and Difference For to such whose Ambition neither Seas nor Mountains nor the forsaken Deserts can limit nor the bounds dividing Europe from Asia confine their vast desires 't is hard to say how they should forbear injuring one another when they touch and are close together These are ever naturally in War envying and seeking advantages of one another They make use of those two Words Peace and War as of Money not so much guided by Justice as when it falls out to be for their Interest and are really better men when they openly enter on a War than when they give to the meer forbearance of doing wrong only for want of opportunity the sacred Names of Justice and Friendship Pyrrhus was an instance of this for setting himself against the rise of Demetrius again and endeavouring to hinder the recovery of his Power as it were from a kind of Sickness assisted the Greeks and came to Athens where having ascended the Acropolis and offer'd Sacrifice to the Goddess and the same day came down again told the Athenians he was much pleas'd with their kindness and the confidence they had of him but if they were wise advis'd them never to let any King come thither again or open their City Gates to him he concluded also a Peace with Demetrius but a little after he was gone into Asia at the perswasion of Lysimachus tampper'd with the Thessalians to revolt and besieg d his Cities in Greece finding he could make better use of the Macedonians in War than in Peace and being of his own Inclination not much given to rest at last having routed Demetrius in Lycia Lysimachus who had secur'd his Affairs and nothing to do immediately turn'd his Forces upon Pyrrhus who was in Quarters at Edessa and falling upon and seizing his Convoy of Provisions brought first a great Scarcity into the Army then partly by Letters partly by spreading Rumours abroad he corrupted the principal Officers of the Macedonians reproaching them they had made on their Master who was both a Stranger and descended from those who had ever been Servants to the Macedonians and thrust the old Friends and Families of Alexander out of the Country The Macedonian Soldiers being much prevail'd upon Pyrrhus withdrew himself with his Epirots and Auxiliary Forces relinquishing Macedon just after the same manner he took it Thus Kings have no reason to condemn the People changing for their Interest who in that do but imitate them as the great Instructors of Unfaithfulness and Treachery holding him the bravest that makes the least Account of being an honest man Pyrrhus having thus retir'd into Epirus and left Macedon Fortune gave him a fair occasion of enjoying himself in quiet and peaceably governing his own Subjects but he who thought it a nauseous Course of Life not to be doing mischief to others or receiving some from them as Achilles could not endure repose But languish'd there When left alone desiring Noise and War serv'd his inclination of this pretence of new business The Romans were in War with the Tarentines who not able to go on with the War nor yet give it over by reason of the bold and ill advis'd Harangues of Popular men desir'd to make Pyrrhus their General and ingage him in this War as of all the Neighbouring Kings the most at leisure and the greatest Souldier
manner they could and met with some of the straggling Vessels that had escap'd the Storm in which were a very few Horse and not quite 2000 Foot and two Elephants with these Pyrrhus march'd streight to Tarentum and Cineas being inform'd of his Arrival drew out his Forces to meet him when he enter'd the Town he did nothing unpleasing to the Tarentines nor put any force upon them till his Ships were all in Harbour and the greatest part of the Army got together then considering the People as neither able to preserve themselves nor secure others unless they were necessiated to it and intending while he engaged for them in the Field to remain at home bathing and feasting themselves he first shut up the Places of Publick Exercise and their Walks where vainly solicitous they fought for their Country only in discourse of Wars he prohibited likewise all Solemn Festivals Revels and Jollities as unseasonable and call'd them to Arms being most severe and inflexible in Listing men fit for Action and Service Upon which many left the Town unaccustomed to such a Discipline calling it mere Slavery not to live in Pleasures He now received Intelligence that Levinus the Roman Consul was upon his March with a great Army and plundering Lucania as he went The Confederate Forces were not come up to him yet he thought it very indecent to suffer so near an approach of an Enemy and neglect it and drew out with his Army but first sent an Herald to the Romans to know if before the War they would decide the differences between them and the Italicks by a course of Justice and make use of his Mediation to determine them but Levinus returning Answer that the Romans neither accepted him as Arbitrator nor fear'd him as an Enemy Pyrrhus advanc'd and Encamp'd in the Plain between the Cities of Pandosia and Heracléa and having notice the Romans were near and lay on the other side of the River Lyris he rode up to take a view of them and seeing the Order the appointment of the Watches the Excellent Form and in a word the whole Scheme of their Encampment he was amaz'd and calling one of his Friends next to him This Order says he Megacles of a Barbarous Nation is not at all Barbarous we shall see afterward what they can do and growing a little more thoughtful of the Event resolv'd to expect the arriving of the Confederate Troops And to hinder the Romans if in the mean time they should endeavour to pass the River he planted men all along the Bank to oppose them but they hast'ning to prevent the coming up of those Forces he look'd for attempted the Passage with their Infantry where it was fordable the Horse getting over in several places so that the Greeks fearing to be surrounded were oblig'd to retreat which Pyrrhus understanding was hugely surpriz'd and commanded his Foot Officers to range their men in Battalia and continue in Arms himself with 3000 Horse advanc'd hoping to attack the Romans as they were coming over scatter'd and disorder'd but when he saw a vast number of Shields appearing above the water and the Horse following them in good order drawing up his men in a closer Body himself in the Head of them began the Charge he was very remarkable by the bravery and Glistering of his Arms which were exceeding rich but more by the things he did there which gave signal proof that his Fame had not out-gone what he was able effectually to perform but especially when exposing his hands and Body to the Fight he bravely repell'd all that engag'd him managing the Battel with a steady and undisturb'd Reason and such a presence of mind as if he had been quite out of any Action himself flying from place to place and assisting those whom he thought most oppress'd by the Enemy Here Leonatus a Macedonian observing one of the Italians very intent upon Pyrrhus riding up towards him and changing places as he did and moving as he mov'd Do you see Sir said he that Barbarian on the black Horse with white feet he seems to me one that designs some great and dangerous thing he looks constantly at you attends on you only full of Fury and Violence and takes no notice of others Good Sir have a care of that Fellow Leonatus said Pyrrhus it is impossible for any man to avoid his Fate but neither he nor any other Italian shall have much satisfaction in ingaging with me While they were in this discourse the Italian placing his Spear and quickning his Horse rid furiously at Pyrrhus and run his Horse through with his Launce at the same Instance Leonatus ran his through both Horses falling Pyrrhus his Friends surrounded him and brought him off safe and kill'd the Italian bravely defending himself He was by Birth a Tarentine Captain of a Troop and nam'd Oplacus This made Pyrrhus use greater caution and now seeing his Horse give Ground he brought up the Infantry and rang'd them in order and then changing his Robe and his Arms with Megacles one of his Friends and obscuring as it were himself in his charg'd upon the Romans who receiv'd and engag'd him and a great while the Success of the Battle remain'd undetermin'd and 't is said there were seven Turns of Fortune both of pursuing and being pursu'd This change of his Arms was very opportune for the safety of his Person but had like to have overthrown his Affairs and lost him the Victory for several falling upon Megacles the first that gave him his mortal wound was one Dexter who snatching away his Helmet and his Robe rid presently to Levinus holding them up and saying aloud he had kill'd Pyrrhus These Spoils being carried about and shown among the particular Ranks the Romans were transported with Joy and gave a huge Shout but mightily discouraged and terrified the Greeks Pyrrhus understanding what had hap'ned rid about the Army with his face bare stretching out his hand to his Souldiers and telling them aloud it was He. At last the Elephants principally distress'd the Romans their Horses before they came near not enduring them went back with their Riders upon which he commanded the Thessalian Cavalry to charge them in this disorder and gave them a total rout with great effusion of Bloud Dionysius affirms near 15000 fell of the Romans Hieronymus no more than 7000. On Pyrrhus's side the same Dionysius makes 13000 slain the other under 3000 but they were the flower of his men as well of his particular Friends as Officers in whom he always most confided and made use of in greatest occasions Beside he possess'd himself of the Romans Camp which they deserted and drew off several Confederate Cities and wasted the Country round about and advanc'd so far that he was within about 37 Miles of Rome it self After the Fight many of the Lucanes and Samnites came in and join'd him he chid them for their delay and appear'd extreamly satisfi'd and rais'd
the City had great need of a good Commander and fought about whom she might set at the Helm to repel the Inundation of so great a War and when not of the Noble or Potent Families appeared Candidate for the Consulship they created Marius though then absent 14. Now Jugurtha's Defeat was just noised about when the News of the Invasion of the Teutones and Cimbri began at first it exceeded all credit as to the number and strength of the approaching Army but at length that report proved much inferior to the Truth for they were 300000 effective fighting men besides a far greater number of Women and Children Their pretence was the seeking New Countries to sustain their so great Multitudes and Cities where they might settle and inhabit as they had heard the Celtae before them had expulsed the Tyrrheni and possessed themselves of the best part of Italy Now these having had no Commerce with the Southern Nations and coming from Countries far remote no man knew what People they were or whence they came that thus like a Cloud hovered over Gallia and Italy yet by their grey Eyes and the largeness of their Stature they conjectured them to be some of those Germans that dwell by the Northern Sea besides that the Germans call their Soldiers Cimbri 15. There are some that say that the Country of Celtae through the largeness and extent of the Place reacheth from the farthest Sea and Northern Climes to the Lake Maeotis Eastward and to that part of Scythia which is near Pontus and that there the two Nations mingled together that they did not swarm out of their Country all at once or on a sudden but at a certain Season every year still going forward at several times gave disturbance with their Wars to the whole Continent whereby though each Party had several appellations yet the whole Army was called by the common name of Celtick-Scythians Others say that they were a small parcel of the Cimmerii anciently well known to the Grecians who upon some Sedition raised among the Scythians passed all along from the Lake Maeotis to Asia under the Conduct of one Lygdamis but the greater and more warlike part of them still inhabit the remotest Regions lying upon the farther Ocean These they say live in a dark Woody Country hardly penetrable by the Sun-beams by reason of their many high and spreading Trees which also reach inward as far as the Hercinian Forest that they are under that part of Heaven where the Pole is so elevated that by the Declination of the Parallels the Zenith of the Inhabitants seems to be but little distant from it and that their Days and Nights being almost of an equal length they divide their Year into one of each This dismal Country gave Homer occasion for the Fiction that when Ulysses would call up the dead he retired into the Country of the Cimmerians as conceiving it either Hell it self or a place nearest to it and that from hence those People who were anciently called Cimmerii and then though not from their manner of Life Cimbri came into Italy but this is rather Conjecture then an Authentick History 16. However most Writers agree that the number of this Rascality was not less but rather greater than was reported They were of an invincible strength and fierceness in their Wars and came on with the same irresistable violence as a deavouring flame nor could any withstand their fury in their march but all as many as they assaulted were troden down and hurried along as their Prey Several of the greatest Roman Commanders with their whole Armies that were set for the Defence of Gallia Transalpina were ingloriously overthrown who indeed by their faint resistance chiefly gave them the boldness of marching towards Rome for having vanquished all they set upon and being well laden with Plunder they resolved to settle themselves no where till they should have raised the City and wasted all Italy The Romans being from all Parts alarmed with this News sent for Marius to manage the War and nominated him the second time Consul though the Law did not permit any one that was absent or that had not stayed a certain time from his first Consulship to be again created yet the People rejected all Opposers for they considered this was not the first time that the Law gave place to the Common Interest nor the present occasion less urgent than that when contrary to Law they made Scipio Consul then not fearing the destruction of their own City but desiring the ruine of that of the Carthaginians 17. This prevailed and Marius bringing over his Legions out of Africk on the very first day of January which the Romans reckon the beginning of their Year he received the Consulship and then also entred into Triumph shewing Jugurtha a Prisoner to the People a Sight beyond their expectation for none could hope to subdue that Province while he lived so cautelous was the man in complying with all the turns of Fortune and to his Valour had the addition of a great share of Craft 'T is said that when he was led in Triumph he fell distracted and was afterwards thrown into Prison where some forcibly tore off his Cloaths and others whilst they strove for his Golden Pendant with it pulled off the tip of his Ear and when he was cast naked into the Dungeon full of horrour yet forcing a smile he cryed out O Heavens How intolerably cold is this Bath of yours where for six days struggling with extream hunger and to the very last minute seeming desirous of Life he was over taken by the just reward of his Villainies In this Triumph was brought as was reported of Gold 3007 pound weight of Silver Bullion 5775 of Money in Gold and Silver Coin 17028 Drachms After the Solemnity Marius called together the Senate in the Capitol and entred the Court insolently whether through inadvertency or too much puffed up with his good Fortune in his Triumphal Habit yet presently observing the Senate offended at it he went out and putting on his ordinary Purple Robe immediately returned 18. In his Expeditions he appeared in the Head of his Army and trained them in their exercises while they marched using them to labour and weariness to long and tedious Journies and compelled each Soldier to carry his own Baggage and provide his own Victuals insomuch that thence forward such as were very laborious silently without grumbling doing their work were called Marius's Mules But some think there was another occasion of this Proverb that when Scipio besieged Numantia he being careful to inspect not only their Horses and Arms but their Mules and Carriages too and see how well equipped and in what readiness each one 's was Marius brought forth his Horse which had fed extreamly well and a Mule in better case stronger and gentler than those of others whereupon the General was very well pleased with and often mentioned Marius's Beasts
insomuch that when they would droll in the praise of a continual drudging laborious Fellow they called him Marius's Mule 19. But to proceed Very great good Fortune seemed to attend Marius for the Enemy in a manner changing their course and falling first upon Spain he had time to exercise his Soldiers and confirm their Courage and which was most considerable to shew them what he himself was For that fierce humour of his in Authority and inexorableness in punishing proved both just and advantageous to those that did not use to do amiss and were not stubborn in their faults and his turbulent Spirit stern Voice and sowre Aspect which were in a little while grown familiar to them they esteemed terrible not to themselves but only to their Enemies But his Uprightness in judging did more especially please the Soldiers whereof this is a remarkable instance One C. Lucius his own Nephew had a command under him in the Army who was a man in other respects not notoriously debauched but much given to the unlawful Love of young men he particularly loved one that was under his Command called Trebonius with whom notwithstanding his many solicitations he could never prevail at length one Night he sent a Messenger for him and Trebonius came for it was not lawful for him to refuse when he was sent for and being brought into his Tent as Lucius endeavoured to force him he drew his Sword and ran him thorough This was done whilst Marius was absent who when he returned appointed Trebonius a time for his Tryal where whilst many accused him and not any one appeared in his Defence he himself with an undaunted assurancer elated the whole matter and brought witness that he had often resisted Lucius's importunity and that though he had given him considerable Presents he had never consented to him Marius admiring and very much pleased at it commanded a Garland the usual reward of Valour to be brought wherewith he himself Crowned Trebonius as having performed an excellent Action at a time that very much wanted such good Examples 20. This being told at Rome proved no small help to Marius towards his Third Consulship to which also conduced the expectation of the Barbarians at that time of the year the People being unwilling to trust their Fortunes with any other General but him however their arrival was not so sudden as was imagined but the time of Marius's third Consulship was again expired The Election coming on and his Collegue being dead he left the Command of the Army to Manius Aquilius and hastned to Rome where several eminent Persons being Candidates for the Consulship Lucius Saturninus who more than any of the other Tribunes swayed the Populace and of whom Marius himself was very observant made an Harangue to the People advising them to chuse Marius Consul but he seeming to decline the Office as one pretending never to be ambitious of it Saturninus called him Traytor to his Country that in such apparent danger would desert the War And though it was not difficult to discover that he was assistant to Marius in putting this Sham upon the People yet they considering that the present Juncture very much required his rough Discipline and his good Fortune too voted him the fourth time Consul and made Catulus Lutatius his Collegue a man very much esteemed by the Nobility and not unagreeable to the Commons 21. Marius having notice of the Enemy's approach with all expedition passed the Alps and pitching his Camp by the River Rhone he took care first for plentiful Supplies of Victuals lest at any time he should be forced to fight at a disadvantage for want of Necessaries The Carriage of Provision for the Army from the Sea which was formerly long and chargeable he made speedy and easie for the mouth of the Rhone by the Reflux of the Sea being barred and almost filled up with Sand and Dirt the Passage there became narrow difficult and dangerous for those Ships that brought their Provisions Hither therefore bringing his Army then at leisure he drew a great Trench and thereby turning the course of a great Trench and thereby turning the course of a great part of the River brought it to a convenient Haven deep and fit to receive Ships of considerable Burthen as also having a calm and easie opening to the Sea and this still returns the name it took from him 22. The Enemy dividing themselves into two parts the Cimbri chose to go against Catulus higher up through the Country of the Norici and to force that Passage The Teutones and Ambrones to march against Marius by the Sea-side through Liguria whereupon the Cimbri were longer before they arrived in Italy The Teutones and Ambrones with all expedition passing over the interjacent Country appeared to be an incredible number and of a terrible Aspect much different from all others in their ordinary Speech and Shoutings they taking up a great part of the Plain with their Camp challenged Marius to Battel he seemed to take no notice of them but kept his Soldiers within their Fortifications and sharply reprehended those that were of too forward and eager a Courage and who would needs be fighting calling them Traytors to their Country and telling them they were not now in pursuit of the Glory of Triumphs and Trophies but how they might repel such an impetuous Tempest of War and save Italy 23. Thus he discoursed privately with his Officers and Equals but placed the Soldiers by turns upon the Bulwarks to survey the Enemy and so made them acquainted with their shape and voice which were indeed altogether extravagant and barbarous and he caused them to observe their Arms and way of using them so that in a little time what at first appeared terrible to their appprehensions by often viewing became familiar for he very rationally supposed that the strangeness of Foreign things conduces very much to the rendring them formidable and that by our better acquaintance with them even those things which are naturally terrible lose very much of their frightfulnss Now this daily converse did not only diminish some of the Soldiers fear but their Indignation warmed and inflamed their Courage when they heard the threats and insupportable insolence of their Enemies who not only plundered and depopulated all the Country round but also with great Contempt and Resolution threatned to storm their Trenches 24. Hereupon such like Complaints of the Soldiers as these came to Marius's ears What Effeminacy does Marius see in us that he should thus like Women lock us up from encountering our Enemies Come on let us shew our selves men and ask him if he expect any others that must fight for our Liberty Shall he always employ us in servile Offices when he would draw Trenches cleanse places of mud and dirt and turn the course of Rivers In such Works as these it seems he will exercise us then return home and brag of these great
performances of his Consulships to the People Or does the defeat of Carbo and Caepio who were vanquished by the Enemy affright him Surely they were much inferiour to Marius both in Glory and Valour and commanded a much weaker Army at the worst it is better to be in Action though we suffer for it like them than to sit idle Spectators of the destruction of our Allies and Companions Marius not a little pleased to hear this gently appeased them pretending that he did not distrust their Valour but that he took his measures as to the time and place of Victory from some certain Oracles 25. He used solemnly to carry about in a Litter a Syrian Woman called Martha a supposed Prophetess and to Sacrifice by her directions She had formerly been driven away from the Senate to whom she addressed her self offering to inform them about these Affairs and to foretel future Events whereupon she betook her self to the Ladies and gave some experiments of her skill especially to Marius's Wife who sitting to see the Gladiators combat she foretold which of them should overcome and was for this and the like Predictings sent by her to Marius and the Army where she was very much admired and for the most part carried about in a Litter when she went to Sacrifice she wore a Purple Robe lined and buttoned up and had in her Hand a little Spear trimmed with Rubans and Garlands This Farce made many question whether Marius did really give any credit to her himself or only play'd the Counterfeit when he shewed her publickly to impose upon the Soldiers 26. But what Alexander Mindius relates about the Vultures does really deserve admiration that always before his Victories there appeared two of them and accompanied the Army which were known by their brazen Collars for the Soldiers when they took them put these about their Necks and so let them go whereupon they in a manner knew and saluted the Soldiers and whensoever these appeared in their Marches they very much rejoiced as at an Omen of good Success in that Expedition But of the many Prodigies that then were taken notice of the rest were but of the ordinary stamp as that it was reported at Ameria and Tudertum two Cities in Italy there were seen at Nights in the Sky flaming Darts and Shields now waved about and then again clashing against one another resembling those postures and motions Soldiers use in their fighting that at length one Party retreating and the other pursuing they all disappearing Westward Much about the same time came Batabaces one of Cybele's Priests from Pessinunce and reported how the Goddess had declared to him by her Oracle That the Romans should obtain the Victory and no small Glory in this War The Senate giving credit to him and voting the Goddess a Temple to be built in hopes of a Victory Aulus Pompeius a Tribune prevented Batabaces when he would have gone and told the People this same Story calling him Impostor and ignominiously pulling him out of the Rostra which Action chiefly got repute to the Fellow's report for Aulus had scarce dissolved the Assembly and returned home when so violent a Fever seized him that it was notoriously known and in every bodies Mouth that he died within a week after 27. Now the Teutones whilst Marius lay quiet ventured to attack his Camp from whence being encountered with showers of Darts and losing several of their men they determined to march forward hoping to recover the other side of the Alps without opposition and packing up their baggage they passed securely by the Roman Camp where the greatness of their number chiefly appeared by the long time they took in their March for they were said to be six days continually going on in passing Marius's Fortifications they marched pretty near and revilingly asked the Romans if they would send any recommendations by them to their Wives for they would shortly be with them As soon as the Enemy was gone by and continued their motion Marius began to move and follow them at his leisure always encamping at some small distance from them chusing also convenient places for his Camp and strongly fortifying it that he might quarter with the greater safety Thus they marched till they came to Aquae-Sextiliae whence the Alps were but little distant where Marius put himself in readiness for the Encounter 28. He chose a place for his Camp of considerable strength but where was scarcity of Water designing as was reported by this means to put an edge on his Soldiers Courage whereat when several were not a little grieved and complained of thirst he pointing to a River that ran near the Enemy's Camp There says he you may have drink but at the expence of your Bloud Why then replyed they do you not lead us to them that we may have something that is liquid though it be Bloud But says he in a softer tone Let 's first fortifie our Camp whereupon the Soldiers for all their repining durst not but obey Now as a great company of their Boys and Pedees having neither drink for themselves nor Horses went down to that River some taking Axes others Halberts and some two Swords and Darts with their Pitchers resolving to have water though they fought for it These were first encountred by a small party of the Enemies for most of them were after bathing at dinner and several were then too bathing themselves for the Country thereabouts abounds very much with hot Springs so that the Romans fell upon them whilst they were enjoying themselves and very much transported with the wonderful pleasantness of the place Upon hearing their shouts more still coming in it was not a little difficult for Marius to contain his Soldiers so much concerned for their Servants and the more warlike part of the Enemies who had overthrown Mallius and Coepio they were called Ambrones and were in number one with another above 30000 taking the Alarm stood to their Arms. 29. These though they had sufficiently filled their bellies yet retained their minds undisturbed and though they indulged themselves even to Intemperance yet did they not rush on like mad-men disorderly or sending forth confused noises but all of them dancing and clashing their Arms in a kind of Consort often repeated their name Ambrones either the better to encourage one another or to strike the greater terrour into their Enemies Of all the Italians in Marius's Army the Ligurians were the first that charg'd and when they understood that the Enemy's confused Shout was calling themselves Ambrones they also echoed the same word which was an Ancient Name of their Country This Acclamation bandied from one Army to the other before they joined the more incensed the Germans so that their Officers on either side encouraging them they strove with all possible vehemence the one to overshout the other taking it mutually for an Omen of Victory and a great Incentive of their Courage 30. The River
Italy and posted his Army by the River Athesis where blocking up the Passages on both sides the River with strong Fortifications he made a Bridge that so he might go to their assistance that were on the other side if so be the Enemy having forced the narrow Passages should storm the Fortresses The Barbarians came on with such Insolence and Contempt of their Enemies that to shew their Strength and Courage rather than out of any necessity they went naked in the showers of Snow and through the Ice and deep Snow climbed up to the tops of the Hills and from thence placing their broad Shields under their bodies let themselves slide from the Precipices along their vast slippery Descents 37. When they had pitched their Camp at a little distance from the River and surveyed the Passage they began to cast up their Banks Giant-like tearing up the neighbouring Hills and brought Trees pulled up by the roots and heaps of Earth to the River therewith damming up its course and with great heavy Materials rowlled down the Stream and dashed against the Bridge they forced away the Planks which supported it whereat the greatest part of the Roman Soldiers very much affrighted left their Camp and fled Here did Catulus shew himself a generous indulgent General in preferring the Glory of his People before his own for when he could not prevail with his Soldiers to stand to their Colours but saw how cowardly they all deserted them he commanded his own Standard to be taken up and running to the foremost of those that fled he led them forward chusing rather that the disgrace should fall upon himself than his Country and that they should not seem to fly but following their Captain to make a retreat The Barbarians assaulted and took the Fortress on the other side Athesis where admiring at the few Romans there left who had shewn themselves of an extream great Courage and had fought worthy their Country they dismissed them with an easie Composition swearing them upon their Brazen Bull which was afterwards taken in the Battel and they say carried to Catulus's House as the chief Trophy of the Victory 38. Thus falling in upon the Country destitute of defence they wasted it extreamly whereupon Marius was presently sent for to the City where when he arrived every one supposing he would Triumph the Senate too unanimously voting it he himself did not think it convenient whether that he were not willing to deprive his Soldiers and Officers of their share of the Glory or that to encourage the People in this juncture he would make the honour of his Victory give place to the present Fortune of the City deferring it now to receive it afterwards with the greater Splendour Having left such Orders as the occasion required he hast'ned to Catulus whose drooping Spirits he very much raised and sent for his Army from Gallia as soon as it came he passing the River Po endeavoured to drive the Barbarians out of that part of Italy which lies South of it 39. But they pretending they were in expectation of the Teutones and wondering they were so long in coming deferred the Battel either that they were really ignorant of their Defeat or at least were willing to seem so for they very much abused those that brought them such News and sending to Marius required some part of the Country for them and their Brethren and Cities fit for them to inhabit When Marius enquired of the Ambassadors who their Brethren were and they calling them Teutones all that were present fell out a laughing but Marius scoffingly answered them Do not trouble your selves for your Brethren for we have already provided Lands for them which they shall possess for ever The Ambassadors perceiving the jeer railed at him and threatned that the Cimbri would make him smart for it and the Teutones too when they came And they are not far off replied Marius it will be very unkindly done of you to go away before you have taken leave of your Brethren saying so he commanded the Kings of the Teutones to be brought out as they were in chains for they were taken by the Sequani before they could make their escape from the Alps. This was no sooner made known to the Cimbri but they with all expedition came against Marius who then lay still and guarded his Camp 40. 'T is said that against this Battel Marius first made their Javelins after a new fashion for before at the place where the Wood was joyned to the Iron it was made fast with two Iron-pins now Marius let one of them alone as it was and pulling out the other put a weak wooden peg in its place contriving it so that when it was stuck in the Enemy's Shield it should not stand right out but the wooden peg breaking the Iron should bend and so the Pile sticking fast by its crooked point should weigh down the Shield Now Baeorix King of the Cimbri came with a small Party of Horse to the Roman Camp and challenged Marius to appoint the time and place where they might meet and fight for the Country Marius answered That the Romans never consulted their Enemies when to fight however he would gratifie the Cimbri so far and so they pitched upon the third day after for the place the Plain near Vercellae which was convenient enough for the Roman Horse and afforded room for the Enemy to display their Numbers 41. They observed the time appointed and drew out their Forces against each other Catulus commanded 20300 and Marius 32000 who were placed in the two Wings leaving to Catulus the Main Battle Sylla who was present at the Fight gives this Relation saying withal that Marius drew up his Army in this Order out of malice to Catulus for he hoped with his Wings stretched out farther to fall in upon the Body of the Enemies Army it being customary in that manner of embattelling that the Army should represent a Crescent the two extream Points much advancing and the main Battel remaining behind and to rout them before Catulus and his Army should be able to charge them They observe likewise that Catulus himself alledgeth this in vindication of his Honour accusing this enviousness of Marius The Infantry of the Cimbri marched quietly out of their Trenches having their Flanks equal to their Front every side of the Army took up thirty furlongs their Horse that were in number 15000 made a very splendid appearance They wore Helmets whereon were the gapings of wild Beasts and other strange shapes which they heightning with Plumes of Feathers appeared greater than they were they had on Breast-plates of Iron and white glittering Shields and for their offensive Arms every one had two-edged Darts and when they came hand to hand they used great and heavy Swords 42. They did not fall directly upon the Front of the Romans but turning to the right they endeavoured to enclose them by little and little getting the Enemy between them and
Hiempsal King of Numidia often changing his Designs treated young Marius and those that were with him very honourably but when they had a mind to depart he still had some pretence or other to detain them and it was manifest he made these delays upon no good designs however there hap'ned a strange accident as it sometimes falls out that made well for their preservation The hard Fortune which still attended young Marius who was of a very comely Aspect nearly touched one of the King's Concubines and this pity of hers was the beginning and pretence for her Love At first he declined the Woman's sollicitations but when he perceived that there was no other way of escaping and that she caressed him with greater kindness than one that designed only the gratifying her sensuality he complied with her Love and being thereupon set at liberty by her he escaped with his Friends and fled to his Father Marius As soon as they had saluted each other and were going by the Sea-side they saw some Scorpions fighting which Marius took for an ill Omen whereupon they immediately went on board a little Fisher-boat and made toward Cercina an Island not far distant from the Continent They had scarce put off from Shore when they escaped some Horse sent after them by the King with all speed making toward that very place from which they were just retired so that Marius thought that in all his Life he had never escaped a greater danger 69. At Rome it was discovered that Sylla was engaged with Mithridates's Generals near Baeotia whilst the Consuls from a Tumult were fallen to down-right fighting wherein Octavius prevailing drove Cinna out of the City for affecting a Tyrannical Government and made Cornelius Merule Consul in his stead but Cinna raising Forces in all Parts of Italy carried on the War against them As soon as Marius heard of this he resolved with all expedition to put to Sea again and having leavied in Africk some Maurusian Horse and a few others that came to him out of Italy which all together were not above 1000 he with this handful began his Voyage Arriving at Telamone an Haven in Hetruria and coming ashore he made several of the Slaves free many of the Country-men also and Shepherds thereabouts that were already Freemen at the hearing his name came flocking to him to the Sea-side he perswaded the most warlike of them and in a small time got together a competent Army wherewith he filled forty Ships Now he knowing Octavius to be a very good man and willing to execute his Office with the greatest Justice imaginable and Cinna to be suspected by Sylla and then in actual War against the established Government determined to join himself and all his Forces with the latter he therefore sent a Message to him to let him know that he submitted himself to him as Consul in whatsoever he should command him 70. When Cinna had very joyfully received him calling him Proconsul and sending him the Fasces and other Ensigns of Authority he said that Grandeur did not become his present Fortune but wearing an ordinary Habit and letting his hair grow from that very day he first went to banishment and being now above threescore and ten years old he came slowly on foot as designing to move Peoples compassion thus his naturally rough Aspect became more so when joined with his nasty Garb which yet did not make him appear as though his mind were dejected but exasperated by the change of his condition Having performed his Ceremonies to Cinna and saluted the Soldiers he immediately prepared for War and soon made a considerable alteration in the posture of Affairs He first cut off all Provision from the Enemies Ships and plundering all the Traders possessed himself of their Stores then bringing his Navy to the Sea-port Towns took them and at last treacherously became Master of Ostia too pillaged the Town and slew a Multitude of the Inhabitants and making a Bridge over the River he took from the Enemy all hopes of Supply from the Sea then marched with his Army toward the City and posted himself upon the Hill called Janiculum 71. The Publick Interest did not receive so great damage from Octavius's unskilfulness in his management of Affairs as from his omitting what was necessary through his too strict observance of the Law for he when several advised him to make the Slaves free said That he would not commit the protection of his Country to Servants from which he then in defence of the Laws was driving away Marius When Metellus Son to that Metellus who was general in the War in Africk and afterwards banished through Marius's means came to Rome and was esteemed to be a much better Commander than Octavius the Soldiers deserting the Consul came to him and desired him to take the Command of them and preserve the City that they when they had got an experienced valiant Commander should fight courageously and come off Conquerors But Metellus offended at it commanded them angrily to return to the Consul whereupon for very spight they revolted to the Enemy Metellus too seeing the City in a desperate condition left it but a Company of Chaldeans Priests and Interpreters of the Sibyls Books perswaded Octavius that things were in a good condition and kept him at Rome Now he was a man of all the Romans the most upright and just one that kept up even the Formalities of the Law inviolable in his Consulship but fell I know not how into some weaknesses giving more observance to Impostors and Diviners than to men skilled in Civil and Military Affairs He therefore before Marius entred the City was pulled down from the Rostra and murthered by those that were sent before by Marius and it is reported there was a Chaldean Inscription found on his breast when he was slain Now it is a thing very unaccountable that of two such Famous Generals Marius should be often preserved by the observing Divinations and Octavius ruined by the same means 72. Whilst Affairs remained in this posture the Senate assembled and sent Ambassadors to Cinna and Marius desiring them to come into the City peaceably and spair the Citizens Cinna as Consul received the Embassy sitting in the Sella Curulis and returned a kind obliging answer to the Messengers Marius stood by him and said nothing but gave sufficient testimony by the sowreness of his Countenance and the sternness of his Looks that he would in a short time fill the City with Massacres As soon as the Council arose they went toward the City where Cinna with a strong Guard entred but Marius stay'd at the Gates and dissembling his Rage said That he was then an Exile and banished his Country by course of Law That if his Presence were necessary they must by a new Decree repeal the former Act by which he was banished as if he had been a religious observer of the Laws and as if he
with Fortune and thereupon taking leave of those that were with him he kept his bed seven days and then died 78. Some say he very much betrayed his Ambition even in his Sickness and fell into an extravagant frenzy fancying himself to be General in the War against Mithridates acting such postures and motions of his body as he used when he was in the Battel with frequent Shouts and loud Acclamations with so strong and invincible a desire of being employed in that business as he possessed through his Pride and Emulation He though he had now lived threescore and ten Years and was the first man that ever was chosen seven times Consul possessed of such a Palace and so great Riches as were sufficient for many Kings yet complained of his ill Fortune that he must now die before he had attained what he desired Plato when he saw his death approaching thanked his God and Fortune First that he was born a man and a Grecian not a Barbarian or a Brute and next that he happ'ned to live in Socrates's Age. And so indeed they say Antipater of Tarsus in like manner at his death recollecting what prosperity he had enjoyed did not so much as omit his happy Voyage to Athens thus returning to every favour of his indulgent Fortune with the greatest acknowledgments and retaining it to the very last in his memory than which Man hath not a more secure Treasure But on the contrary Persons foolish and ungrateful to God and Nature lose the enjoyment of their present prosperity by fansying something better to come whereas by Fortune we may be prevented of this but that can never be taken from us Yet they reject their present success as though it did not concern them and do nothing but dream of future uncertainties and in this they have but what they deserve for till they have by Learning and Education laid a good Foundation for external Superstructures in the seeking after and gathering them they can never satisfie the unlimited desires of their mind 80. Thus died Marius on the Seventeenth Day of his Seventh Consulship to the great Joy and content of Rome which thereby was in good hopes to be delivered from the Calamity of an Insolent bloody and fatal Tyranny but in a small time they found that they had only changed their old Master for another young and vigorous so much cruelty and salvageness did his Son Marius shew in murthering the Nobility At the first being esteemed resolute and daring towards his Enemies he was named the Son of Mars but afterwards his actions betraying his contrary disposition he was called the Son of Venus At last he was besieged by Sylla in Praeneste where he endeavoured by all means to save his life but in vain for when the City was taken there being no way of escape he slew himself THE LIFE OF LYSANDER By the Honourable Charles BOYLE of Christ-Church VOLUME III. LYSANDER 'T is generally agreed that Aristoclitus Lysander's Father though he was not immediately â—â—â—â—…ded from royal ancestors was howevâ—â— some way related to the Family of the Heraclidae Lysander himself was bred up under much hardship and behav'd himself all along witâ—â—â— due respect to the disciplinâ— and manners of his Country He was 〈◊〉 and above all sort of pleasure that alone 〈…〉 arose from a sense of honour 〈…〉 that attends just and generous Actions and to indulge this pleasure was very excusable at Sparta where their yough was fire'd with an early desire of Glory taught to be dejected under disgrace and rais'd by commendation And he that was insensible of these was look'd upon as one of a mean spirit and uncapable of aspiring to any thing that 's great or manly That emulation then and thirst after fame which appear'd in the whole course of Lysander's Life we have no reason to blame him for it came from his Country and education but another fault he had which was purely his own He paid too servile a deference and more than became a Spartan to great men and where his interest was concern'd bore the frowns of men in Authority something too patiently Which however by some is reckon'd no small part of Policy Aristotle where he observes that great wits are generally enclin'd to Melancholy instancing in Socrates Plato and Hercules says too that Lysander though not in his Youth was in his declining Age subject to it But that which peculiarly distinguish'd his Character was the way he had of making poverty sit well upon him and of keeping his mind steady and untainted under the greatest affluence For he reserv'd nothing for himself out of all those spoils of Gold and Silver that he brought from the Attick War but liberally dispers'd 'em among his Country-men who upon this increase of riches began to value 'em as much as they despis'd 'em before Another instance of his generous disposition was this when Dionysius the Tyrant wou'd have presented his Daughters with some Garments of a rich Embroidery he refus'd 'em with that handsome excuse That they were fit only to make unhappy faces more remarkable But this temper wore off by degrees for being sent Embassadour some time after to the same Tyrant who offer'd him the choice of two Vests I like this best says he and modestly took both After a long continuance of the Peloponnesian War when the Athenians had receiv'd a great blow in Sicily and were under fearful apprehensions of a total overthrow both by Sea and Land Alcibiades being recall'd from banishment manag'd the War with such success that he quickly chang'd the whole scene of Affairs and after some engagements made the Athenians equal in naval power to the Lacedaemonians who now began to be sensible of their dangerous condition and were resolv'd to exert themselves more vigorously They knew this design requir'd greater preparations and a bold Commander After the strictest enquiry they found none of more ability for this service than Lysander In discharge of this new Office he went to Ephesus and found that City particularly well inclin'd to him and withal wholly in the interest of the Lacedaemonians though at that time in very mean circumstances and almost over-run with the barbarous Persian customs by reason of their frequent commerce with 'em being situated opportunely enough to invite the great Officers of that kingdom often to reside there This kind reception he met with from the Ephesians engag'd him to pitch his Tents among ' em He commanded all Victuallers to be brought into their harbour and built a dock for his capital Ships and by this means their ports were frequented by Merchants their exchange was full of business and their Shops had a plentiful Trade so that this City is so far oblig'd to Lysander that it ought to date from that time the hope and rise of the greatness and splendor with which it now flourishes But hearing that Cyrus was now at Sardis he went thither chiefly to acquaint him with
to Muraena four Cohorts and commanding the fifth to follow him returned on the spur to the right Wing which then of it self held Archelaus to equal play at his appearance they gave one lusty push for all and overcoming followed them disorderly flying to the River and Mount Acontium Neither was Sylla unmindful of the danger Muraena was in for hasting thither and finding them Victorious he help'd to pursue Many Barbarians were slain on the spot many more cut in pieces as they were making to the Camp Of such infinite Multitudes ten thousand only got safe into Chalcis Sylla writes that there were but fourteen of his Soldiers wanting and that two even of those returned towards evening wherefore he inscribed on Trophies Mars Victory and Venus as having won the Day no less by Good-fortune than by true management and force of Arms. That Trophie of the Field-Battel stands on the Place where Archelaus first gave back as far as the Streums of Molus The other is erected high on the top of Thurium where the Barbarians were environ'd signifying in Greek Letters That Homoloichus and Anaxidamus were the Chief Leaders The Hymns of Victory for this Action were celebrated at Thebes where Sylla built a Stage for Musick near Oedipus's Well As for the Judges of the Performance they were Grecians chosen out of other Cities because he bore an implacable hatred to the Thebans and having cut off from them half their Territories he consecrated the same to Apollo and Jupiter commanding them out of the Revenue to make satisfaction to the Gods for the Riches himself had taken from them After this hearing that Flaccus a Man of the contrary Faction being chosen Consul had crossed the Ionian Sea with an Army to act in shew against Mithridates but in reality against himself he took the way of Thessalia designing to meet him but in his March about Meleteia received Advises from all Parts That the Countries on his back were over spread and harrased by no less a Camp-Royal than was the former For Dorilaus arriving at Chalcis with a mighty Fleet on board of which he brought over with him Eighty Thousand of the best-appointed and best disciplin'd Soldiers of Mithridates his Army had made a sudden Incursion into Baeotia and secured that Coast in hopes to bring Sylla to a Battel making no account of the disswasions of Archelaus but giving it out as to the last Fight that without Treachery so many Thousand Men could never have perished However Sylla facing about expeditiously made it appear to Dorilaus that Archelaus was a wise Man and had good skill in the Roman Valour insomuch as Dorilaus himself after some small Skirmishes with Sylla at Tilphossion was the first of those who thought it not advisable to put things to the decision of the Sword but rather by expence of Time and Treasure to wear out the War nevertheless the Field of Orchomenos where they then lay encamped gave no small encouragement to Archelaus as being most advantageous to those who excel in Cavalry to engage in For of the Baeotian Campagnes that is the fairest and largest which confining on the Principal Seat of the Orchomenians alone opens a clear Prospect void of Cover as far as the Fens where the River Melas is swallowed up Of all the Grecians Rivers this only which ariseth from under the City Orchomenus draws with it a deep and navigable Water from the very Head encreasing about the Summer Solstice like Nile and bringing forth all things growing there yet small and without Fruit. It runs not far before the main Stream loseth it self among the blind and woody Marsh Grounds a small Branch whereof mingleth with Cephisus about that place especially where the Lake is thought to produce the best Flute-reeds Now that both Armies were posted near each other Archelaus lay still but Sylla fell to casting up Ditches athwart from either side that if possible by cutting the Enemies from the firm and open Champagne he might force them into the Fens They on the other hand not enduring this but at the Word of Command issuing out furiously in full Bodies not only the Men at work were dispersed but most part of those who stood in Arms to justifie the Work cast themselves disorderly into flight Upon this Sylla leaps from his Horse and snatching hold of an Ensign rusht through the midst of the Rout upon the Enemy crying out aloud To me O Romans it seems glorious to fall here And as for you when demanded where was it you betrayed your General remember you say at Orchomenus His men Rallying again at these words and two Cohorts coming to his succour from the Right-Wing he gave a fierce Onset and turn'd the Day Then retiring some few Paces back and refreshing his Men he came on again to block up the Enemies Camp but they again sallied out in better Order than before Here Diogenes Son in-law to Archelaus having fought on the Right-Wing with much Gallantry made an Honourable end And the Archers being pressed on hard by the Romans and wanting space for a retreat took their Arrows by handfuls and striking with those as with Swords beat them back In the end they were all shut up into the entrenchment and had a sorrowful Night of it by reason of their slain and wounded The next day again Sylla leading forth his men up to their Quarters went on finishing the Line and as they were drawing out to give him Battel fell on and putting a large Party of them to the rout in the fright they were in none daring to abide he took the Camp by force whence the Marishes were filled with Bloud and the Lake with dead Bodies insomuch as to this day there be found of the Barbarian make many Bows Helmets pieces of Breast-plates and Swords buried deep in Mud some two hundred years since the Fight Thus much of the Action of Chaeronea and Orchomenus Cinna and Narbo at Rome using injustice and violence towards Persons of the greatest Eminency many of them to avoid that Tyranny repaired to Sylla's Camp as to a safe Harbour where in a short space he had about him the Majestick face of a Senate Metella likewise having with difficulty conveyed her self and Children away by stealth brought him word that his City and Country houses were set on fire by the Adversary and prayed his help at home Whilst he was in doubt what to do being impatient to hear his Country abused and not knowing how to leave so great a work as the Mithridatick-War unfinished comes unto him Archelaus a Merchant of Delos with some hopes of an accommodation and private instructions from Archelaus the King's General Sylla lik'd the business so well as to desire a speedy conference with Archelaus in Person and had a meeting at Sea on that side of Delos where the Temple of Apollo stands When Archelaus began to propose and demand of Sylla that quitting his Pretensions to Asia and Pontus he should set
Sochares who was of the Tribe of Decelia stood up in the midst of the Assembly and spoke these words which being agreeable to the Populace were applauded by them tho unjust and very ungratefully spoken When thou shall conquer alone Miltiades thou shall triumph so too What then induced them so particularly to honor Cimon it was certainly this that under other Commanders they stood upon the defensive but by his Conduct they not only repulsed their Enemies but invaded them in their own Country Thus they became Masters of Eione and Amphipolis where they planted Colonies and afterwards took the Isle of Scyros which Cimon gained after this manner The Dolopians were the Inhabitants of this Isle a People of a slothful disposition and who neglected all Husbandry their only course of life was Piracy this they practised to that degree of mischief that they rifled those that brought Merchandise into their own Ports and so violated all the Laws of Commerce Some Merchants of Thessaly they not only spoil'd of their goods but confined their Persons Who afterwards breaking out of Prison went and demanded justice of the Amphictyons which is a general Assembly made up of the People of Greece These maturely weighing the fact condemned the Isle in a great Pecuniary Mulct but the People that were enriched with the Plunder began to apprehend that 't was they particularly that must refund therefore they writ to Cimon to succour them with his Fleet and they declared themselves ready to deliver the Town into his hands Cimon by these means got the Town expelled those Dolopian Pirates and so opened the Traffick of the Aegean Sea After this understanding that Theseus the Son of Aegeus when he fled from Athens and took refuge in this Isle was here slain by King Lycomedes upon certain suspitions Cimon endeavoured to find out where he was Buried For the Oracle had commanded the Athenians to bring home his Ashes and to honour him as an Hero Cimon could not for a long time learn where he was interred for those of Scyros dissembled the knowledge of it and were not willing he should search But at length after diligent enquiry he found out the Tomb and then carried the Reliques into his Admiral Galley and with great Pomp and Show brought them into Athens 400 years after Theseus first left that Country This Act got Cimon the Hearts of the People who received the Discovery with great Joy and abundance of Thanks To signalize and perpetuate the Memory of this Deed and their sense of it they appointed that memorable Decision of Victory betwixt the two Tragedians Aeschylus and Sophocles For the latter having writ his first Play being yet very young the Applause of the Theatre was divided and the Spectators sided into Parties To determine this Aphepsion who was at that time Archon would not cast Lots who should be Judges but when Cimon and the other Commanders with him came into the Theatre to see the issue of the Contention after they had performed the usual Rites to the God of the Festival the Archon came to them and made them swear being ten in all to speak their Judgments in this Contention according to Equity and Honour And so being sworn Judges he made them all sit down to give a decesive Sentence The Contention for Victory grew warm and both Sides ambitiously strove who should get the Suffrages of such honourable Judges but the Victory was at last adjudged to Sophocles which Aeschylus took so ill that he left Athens and went to Sicily where he died of discontent and was buried near the City of Gela. Ion reports that when he was a young Man and newly returned from Chios to Athens he chanced to sup with Cimon at Laomedon's House After Supper when they had according to Custom poured out Wine to the Honour of the Gods Cimon was desired by the Company to give them a Song which he did with so good grace that they were all charmed with his Voice and extreamly pleased with his Humour declaring that he was more complaisant than Themistocles who being entreated upon such an occasion to play upon the Lute answered That he could not touch an Instrument but give him a small Village and he would raise it into a strong and wealthy City After talking of many indifferent things incident to such Entertainments they entred into the Particulars of those several Actions for which Cimon had been Famous And when they had run over the most signal he told them they had omitted one upon which he valued himself most for Address and good contrivance He gave this Account of it When the Athenians and their Allies had taken a great number of the Barbarians Prisoners in Sestos and Byzantium giving him the preference to divide the Booty he put the naked Prisoners in one Lot and the Spoils of their rich Attire and Jewels in the other This the Allies complained of as an unequal Division therefore he gave them their choice to take which Lot they would and the Athenians should be content with that which they refused One Herophytus of Samos advised them to take the Ornaments for their Share and leave the Slaves to the Athenians Upon this Cimon was laugh'd at for his ridiculous Division For the Allies carried away the Gold Chains and Purple Robes and the Athenians had only the naked Bodies of the Captives which they could make no advantage of being unused to Labour But a little while after the Parents and Kinsmen of the Prisoners coming from Lydia and Phrygia every one redeemed his Relations at a very high Ransom By this means Cimon got so much Treasure that he maintained his whole Fleet of Gallies with the Money for four Months and yet there was some left to lay up in the Treasury at Athens Now Cimon growing rich what he gain'd from the Barbarians with Honour he spent hospitably upon the Citizens For he pull'd down all the Enclousures of his Gardens and Grounds that all Travellers but his Citizens especially might gather of his Fruits freely and without danger At home he kept a Table that was not furnished indeed with great Delicacies but where was a Noble Competency of Provisions and all very good hear the poor Townsmen had a constant and easie Access so that their Care was employed in discharging this Publick duties from which otherwise they would have been distracted by seeking after a Subsistence But Aristotle reports That he was partial in this Reception and that it did not extend to all the Athenians but only to those of the Tribe of Lacia Besides he always went attended with a Train of young Gentlemen who were his Domesticks and very well clad and if he met with an elderly Citizen in a poor Habit he would strip one of his Retinue and cloath the decayed Citizen and this was looked upon as very well done He did enjoyn them likewise to carry great Sums of Money about them and if they met in the Streets any
one that they either knew or who looked as if he were in distress they had order to relieve him and convey something privately into his Hand This Cratinus the Poet speaks of in one of his Commedies called Archilocha after this manner I am Metrobius who still believed Nay justly did expect to be relieved By such a Table Cimon once did hold For men as poor as I and men as Old Cimon of all the Grecians was the best Rich Valiant Honest Noble to his Guest Gorgias the Leontine gives him this Character That he got Riches that he might use them and so used them that he got himself Credit by them And Critias one of the thirty Tyrants of Athens Did wish to be his Fortune to Compleat As rich as Scopas Heirs like Cimon Great And if the Gods his Life would farther bless He 'd have in fight Agesilas's Success Lichas we know became Famous in Greece only because on the days of the Sports when the young Lads run naked he used to entertain the Strangers that came to see these Diversions But Cimon surpassed all the ancient Athenians for Hospitality and good Nature For tho those taught the rest of Greece to sow Corn and the use of Fire and Water Yet Cimon by keeping open House and giving Travellers Liberty to eat all his Fruits which the several Seasons afforded seemed to restore to the World that Community of Goods which the Poets fabulously tell us was in the Reign of Saturn Those who object to him that he did this to be popular and gain the applause of the Vulgar are confuted by the constant Tenour of the rest of his Actions which all tended to uphold the Interests of the Nobility against the Populace of which he gave instances when he together with Aristides opposed Themistocles who was for advancing the Authority of the People beyond its just Limits and down right quarrelled Ephialtes who to ingratiate himself with the Multitude was for abolishing the Jurisdiction of the Areopagites And when all of his time except Aristides and Ephialtes took Presents he still kept his hands clean and untainted and never acted nor Counsell'd any thing but what was just and innocent They report that Raesaces a Persian who had Traiterously revolted from the King his Master fled to Athens and there being harass'd by Sycophants who were still accusing him to the People he applyed himself to Cimon for redress to gain his Favour he brought him two Cups the one full of Dariusses of Gold and the other of Silver Cimon would not receive them but asked him smilingly whether he would have him to be his Mercenary or his Friend he replyed his Friend If so said he take away these pieces for being your Friend I presume they are at my Service when I shall have occasion for them and when I have I 'll send to you The Allies of the Athenians began now to be very weary of the War and were willing to have some intervals of repose that they might look after their Husbandry and Traffick For they saw their Enemies driven out of the Country and did not fear any new Incursions Yet they still paid the Taxes they were assess'd at but would not send men and Gallies as they had done before This the other Athenian Generals would constrain them to by rigour of process till at last by fining them so grievously they did render the Government uneasie to them and even odious But Cimon practised a contrary Method he forced no man to go that was not willing but of those that desired to be excused from Service he took Money and Vessels unman'd And permitted the men to stay at home and follow what gainful Vocations they liked best whether of Husbandry or Merchandise By this means they grew Luxurious and enervated all their Courage by living at ease But the Athenians he took into his Gallies and by employing them in all his Naval expeditions inured them to suffer Hardship So that being severely Disciplined and continually bearing Arms the Allies began to dread and then flatter them who were grown thus dreadful at their cost till they fell to that degree of Subjection as of Allies they almost became Tributaries and Slaves No man ever checked the growth of the Persians Ambition so much as Cimon for he not only beat them out of Greece but closely pursuing them would not let them take Breath nor put their Affairs in any posture but either took their Towns by open force or made them revolt by managing Intelligence within their Walls So that in all Asia even from Ionia to Pamphylia there was not one Soldier that appeared for the King of Persia When word was brought that some Persian Commanders were upon the Coasts of Pamphylia with a Land Army and a great Fleet of Gallies Cimon that he might intercept them before they should come into the Sea that lies betwixt the Chelidonian Isles set forth from Triopium and Gnidos with two hundred Gallies very fleet and that could easily tack about They were first contrived and built by Themistocles but Cimon enlarged them that when they came to grapple there might be a greater number of Combatants to oppose the Enemy The first place he shaped his Course to was Phaselis which tho 't was inhabited by Greeks yet they would not quit the Interests of Persia but denied his Gallies entrance into their Port Whereupon he wasted the Country and drew up his Army to their very Walls but some Soldiers of Chios which were then listed under Cimon being ancient Friends to the Phaselites endeavour'd to mitigate the General in their behalf and in the mean time shot Arrows into the Town to which were fastened Letters of Intelligence which gave them account of the state of Affairs At length Peace was concluded upon these Conditions That they should pay down ten Talents and join their Forces with Cimon against the Barbarians Ephorus saith the Admiral of the Persian Fleet was Tithraustes and the General of the Land Army Pherendates But Calisthenes is positive that Argomandes the Son of Gobrias had the supream Command of all the Forces The whole Fleet Anchored at the Mouth of the River Eurymedon but with no Design to fight because they expected a re-inforcement of Phaenician Sail which were to come from Cyprus but Cimon being resolved to prevent their joining ranged his Gallies in such a posture that if they declined fighting he might force them to it The Barbarians seeing this retired within the mouth of the River to prevent their being attacked but when they saw the Athenians come upon them notwithstanding their retreat they met them with six hundred Sail as Phaenodemus relates but according to Ephorus only with three hundred and fifty Yet notwithstanding this odds of number they did nothing worthy such mighty Forces for they presently turned the Prows of their Gallies toward the shore where those that came first threw themselves upon Land and fled to their Army drawn up
Expedition out of Gordyene They found the Soldiers resty and stubborn before but now plainly discovered their unruliness by no manner of Intreaty or Force to be reclaim'd for they protested and cried out That they would stay no longer there but go away and desert Pontus Which being reported to Lucullus did no small harm to the Soldiers about him who were corrupted with Wealth and Plenty and desirous of Ease and hearing the boldness of the others called them Men and such as they ought to imitate for the Actions which they had done did now well deserve rest and quiet Upon these and worse Words Lucullus left off the thoughts of invading Parthia and in the midst of Summer went against Tigranes where passing over Taurus he was astonish'd at the green Fields before him so much the Season by reason of the cold Air is deferred But however he went down and putting to flight the Armenians who dared to come out against him he plundered and burnt their Villages and seizing on the Provision designed for Tigranes who was afraid of the same reduced his Enemies to great necessity But when he provok'd the Enemy to fight by marching round their Camp and burning the Country before them he could by no means bring them out after their frequent Defeats before he rose up and marched to Artaxata the Royal City of Tigranes where his Wives and Children were kept judging that Tigranes would never suffer that to go without the hazard of a Battel It is reported that Annibal the famous Carthaginian after the Defeat of Antiochus under the Romans coming to Artaxas King of Armenia instructed him in several necessary and useful things who being taken with the pleasant and delightful Situation of that Place then uncultivated and neglected drew a Model of a City for the same and bringing Artaxas thither shewed him the same and encouraged him to build At which the King being pleased and desiring him to oversee the Work erected a large and stately City called after his own Name and made it Metropolis of Armenia Tigranes would by no means suffer Lucullus to come upon this City but came with his Army and on the fourth day sate down by the Romans the River Arsania lying between them which of necessity Lucullus must pass in his March to Artaxata Lucullus after Sacrifice to the Gods as if Victory were already obtained carried over his Army having Twelve Bands in Front the rest being disposed to prevent the Enemies enclosing them For there were many choice Horse drawn up against him In the Front stood the Mardians Horse-Archers and Iberians with long Spears who being the most Warlike Tigranes more confided in than any other Strangers but nothing of moment was done by them for though they skirmished with the Roman Horse at a distance they were not able to stand when the Foot came up to them but being broken and divided on both sides drew the Horse in pursuit after them Though these were routed yet Lucullus was afraid when he saw the Horse about Tigranes in good Order and great Numbers coming upon him Whereupon he recalled his Horse from pursuing he himself first of all withstood the Nobles and engaged with the best of them as they came upon him and before ever they came to close Fight with the very Terror overthrew them Of three Kings in Battel against him Mithridates of Pontus fled away the most shamefully being not so much as able to endure the Noise of the Romans The Pursuit reach'd a long way wherein the Romans not only slew them all night but took many alive seized and carried away great Riches with other Booty till they were weary and left off Livy says There were more taken and destroyed in the first Battel but in the second those of better note Lucullus being flush'd and animated hereby determined to march into the Vplands and there compleat his Conquests over the Barbarians but the Winter-season coming on contrary to his expectation brought severe Weather and frequent Snows and even in the most clear Days hard Frost and Ice which made the Waters scarce drinkable for the Horses by exceeding Cold and scarce passable for the breaking of the Ice and cutting the Horses Sinews The Country for the most part being Forest Inclosed and Woody made them continually wet being covered with Snow as they Marched in the day and sitting down in Moorish places at Night After the Battel they followed not Lucullus many days before they began to be unruly first of all intreating and sending the Tribunes to him but afterwards tumultuously gathered together and made a noise all night long which was a plain sign of a mutinous Army But Lucullus as earnestly entreated them desiring them to have patience but till they took the Armenian Carthage and overturn'd the Work of that cursed Man Annibal But when he could not prevail he led them back and by another Road over Taurus came into the fruitful and pleasant Country of Mygdonia where was a great and populous City by the Barbarians called Nisibis by the Greeks Antioch of Mygdonia Gaurus Brother of Tigranes was the Governour Callimachus Overseer of the Works and Fortifications the same who so much annoyed the Romans at Amisus He brought his Army to it and laying close Siege in a short time took it by Storm He kindly used Gaurus as he surrendred himself but by no means hearkened to Callimachus though he offered to make discovery of hidden Treasures commanding him to be kept in Chains to be punished for firing the City of Amisus which hindred him from shewing Favour and Kindness unto the Greeks as he intended Hitherto one would imagine Fortune attended and fought for Lucullus but afterward as if the Wind had fail'd of a sudden he did all things by force and as it were against the Grain wherein he shewed the Conduct and Patience of a wise Captain but his Actions met with no Honour or Reputation For by bad Success and Divisions in his Army he came within a Hairs-breadth of losing what what he had before Himself was not the least cause of all this being no ways indulgent to his Soldiers but one who thought all Favour shewn to them to be a beginning of Disobedience and Dissolution of Authority But what was worst of all he was naturally unsociable to his Great Officers in Commission with him despising others and thinking them worthy of nothing in comparison with himself These were the Evils attending Lucullus his other Vertues for he is said to have been a lusty goodly and eloquent Man Wise both in Court and Camp Salust says The Soldiers were ill-affected to him from the beginning of the War for being forced to keep the Field two Winters at Cyzicum and afterwards at Amisus There were other Winter-quarters that vexed besides these for they either were in an Enemies Country or else confined to their Tents in the open Fields among their Confederates for Lucullus not so much as once went into a
turn Besides the People were pleased with his courteous and frank Salutations and Greetings for he never met any Citizen how mean and low soever but he returned him his Salute by Name He was looked upon as a man well read in History and pretty well seen in Aristotle's Philosophy which one Alexander read to him whose Commerce with Crassus was a sufficient Argument of his good nature and meek disposition For 't is hard to say whether he was poorer when he entered into his Service or while he continued in it for being his only Friend that used to accompany him in his Progresses he would lend him a Cloak for a Journey and when he came home demand it again O the patience of the Wretch when even the Philosophy he professed did not look upon Poverty as a thing indifferent but of this hereafter when Cinna and Marius got the Power in their hands 't was soon perceived that they came not for any good they intended to their Country but designing the ruine and utter destruction of the Nobility and as many as they could lay their hands on they slew amongst which was Crassus his Father and Brother but himself being very young for the present escaped the danger but understanding that he was every way beset and hunted after by the Tyrants taking with him three Friends and ten Servants with all possible speed he fled into Spain having formerly been there and contracted a great acquaintance while his Father was Prator of that Country but finding all People in a Consternation and dreading the Cruelty of Marius as if he was already at their Doors he durst not discover himself to any Body but hid himself in a large Cave which was by the Sea-shore and belonged to Vibius Pacianus to whom he sent one of his Servants to sound him his Provisions also beginning to fail Vibius was well pleased at his Escape and enquiring the place of his abode and the number of his Companions he went not to him himself but Commanded his Bayliff to provide every day a good Meals-meat and carry it and leave it upon such a Stone and so return without taking any further notice or being inquisitive promising him his Liberty if he did as he commanded and that he would kill him if he did otherwise The Cave is not far from the Sea made by the closing together of some Cliffs through the Chinks of which enters a refreshing and delicate Gale When you are entred you find a wonderful high Roof and a great many very large Rooms one within another neither is it void of Water or Light for a very pleasant and wholsome Spring runs through the Cliffs and the natural Chinks let in the Light all day long and by reason of the thickness of the Rock the Air within is pure and clear that which is foggy and unhealthful being carried away with the Stream While Crassus remained here the Steward brought them what was necessary but never saw them nor knew any thing of the matter though they within saw and expected him at the customary times neither was their entertainment such as just to keep them alive but very plentiful and delicious for Pacianus resolved to treat him with all imaginable Civility and considering he was a young Gentleman he resolv'd to gratifie a little his youthful Inclinations for to give just what is needful seems rather to come from necessity than from a hearty Friend Taking with him therefore two handsom Damsels he shew'd them the place and bid them go in boldly whom when Crassus and his Friends saw they were afraid of being betray'd demanding therefore what they were and what they would have they according as they were instructed answered They came to wait upon their Master who was hid in that Cave Then Crassus perceiving 't was a kind Trick of Vibius took the Damsels to him and kept them there with him as long as he staid who gave an account to Vibius of what they wanted and how their Case stood One of which Ladies though she was very old Femestellus says he had seen and often heard her tell the Story When Crassus had lain concealed there eight Months as soon as he understood Cinna was dead he appeared abroad a great number of People flocking to him out of which he selected 2500. He visited many Cities and as some write sack'd Halaca though he ever obstinately denied it hence getting together some Ships he passes into Africa and joyns with Metellus Pius an eminent Person that had raised a very considerable Army but upon some difference between him and Metellus he stay'd not long there but went over to Sylla by whom he was very much esteemed when Sylla passed over into Italy he kept all the young Noble-men that were with him in Employment some he dispatched one way and some another it fell to Crassus his share to raise men among the Marsians he demanded a Guard being to pass through the Enemie's Countrey to whom Sylla replied sharply I give you for Guard your Father your Brother your Friends and Kindred whose unjust and cruel murther I am now going to revenge whereat Crassus being netled he went his way broke boldly through the Enemy and behaved himself briskly in all Sylla's Encounters from whence they say began the Emulation for Glory between him and Pompey for though Pompey was the younger man and had the disadvantage to be descended of a Father that was disesteemed by the Citizens and hated as much as ever Man was yet in these Affairs he appeared so glorious and great that Sylla always used when he came in to stand up and pull off his Hat an Honour which he seldom shewed to Older men and of as good Quality evermore he saluted him Imperator this fir'd and stung Crassus though indeed 't was but Pompey's due to be preferred for he both wanted experience and his two innate Vices Sordidness and Avarice Tarnish'd all the Lustre of his Actions for when he had taken Turdesia a Town of the Vmbrians he converted all the Spoil to his own use for which he was complained of to Sylla Nay in the last and greatest Battle before Rome it self where Sylla was worsted some of his Batalions giving ground and others quite broken though Crassus got the Victory in the right Wing which he Commanded and pursued the Enemy till night he then sent to Sylla to acquaint him with his Success and demand Provision for his Soldiers By Prescriptions and Sequestrations he lost his repute by making great purchases for little or nothing and expecting Presents too besides Nay they say he sequestred some one of the Brescians without Sylla's Order only for his own profit wherefore Sylla never after trusted him in any Publick Affairs As no man was more cunning than Crassus to ensnare others by flattery so no man lay more open to it or swallowed the Bait more greedily than himself and this particularly was observed of him that though he was the most covetous
and a great deal of ill Language passed between them yet Eumenes still continued in favour But Hephaestion dying soon after the King took it very much to heart and presuming all those that differed with Hephaestion in his life-time did now rejoyce at his death used great strangeness and severity towards them especially towards Eumenes whom he often twitted with his Quarrels and ill-Language to Hephaestion But he being a wise and dextrous Courtier made advantage of what had done him prejudice and struck in with the King's humour of honouring his Friends memory suggesting divers inventions to do him honour and contributing very largely and readily towards erecting him a stately Monument After Alexander's Death a dispute hap'ning between his own Phalanx and his more intimate Friends Eumenes though in his Judgment he inclined to the latter yet in his Words and Action stood neuter as if he thought it unbecoming him who was a stranger to interpose in the private Quarrels of the Macedonians And when the rest of Alexander's Friends left Babylon he stayed behind and in great measure pacified the Foot and disposed them towards an accommodation When the Officers had agreed among themselves and quelled the Mutiny of the Soldiers they shared the several Commands and Signiories and made Eumenes Governour of Cappadocia and Paphlagonia and all the Coast upon the Pontic Sea as far as Trapezond which at that time was not subject to the Macedonians for Ariarathes kept it as King but Leonnatus and Antigonas with a great Army were to put him in possession of it Antigonus being now grown haughty and despising all Men took no notice of Perdiccas's Letters Leonnatus with his Army came down into Phrygia to the Service of Eumenes but being visited by Hecataeus the Tyrant of the Cardians and requested rather to relieve Antipater and the Macedonians that were besieged in Lamia he resolved upon that Expedition inviting Eumenes to a share in it and endeavouring to reconcile him to Hecataeus For there was an hereditary feud between them upon some Politick Account and Eumenes had often declared openly that Hecataeus was a Tyrant and had exhorted Alexander to restore the Cardians their Liberty Wherefore at this time also he declined the Expedition proposed pretending that he feared least Antipater who already hated him should for that reason and to gratifie Hecataeus kill him Leonnatus so far believed as to impart to Eumenes his whole Design which as he pretended and gave out was to aid Antipater but in truth was to seize the Kingdom of Macedon and he shewed him Letters from Cleopatra wherein she seemed to invite him to Pella with a design to Marry him But Eumenes whether fearing Antipater or looking upon Leonnatus as a fond rash unconstant and therefore lost Man stole away from him by Night taking with him all his Men which were Three hundred Horse and Two hundred of his own Servants armed and all his Gold which was to the value of Five thousand Talents of Silver and fled to Perdiccas discovered to him Leonnatus's Design and thereby gained great interest in him and was made of his Council Soon after Perdiccas with a great Army which he led himself conducted Eumenes into Cappadocia and having taken Ariarathes Prisoner and subdued the whole Countrey declared him Governour of it Who disposed of the Chief Cities to his own Friends and made Captains of Garrisons Judges Receivers and other Officers of such as he thought fit himself Perdiccas not at all interposing Notwithstanding Eumenes still waited on Perdiccas both out of respect to him and a desire not to be absent from Court But Perdiccas believing he was able enough alone to secure his March forwards but the Countrey he left behind him might stand in need of an active and faithful Governour when he came into Cilicia dismiss'd Eumenes under colour of sending him to his Command but in truth to secure Armenia which was Frontier to it and unsettled through the Practices of Neoptolemus Him though a proud and vain Man Eumenes endeavoured to gain by Civility but to balance the Macedonian Foot whom he found both insolent and very stout he contrived to raise an Army of Horse excusing from Tax and Contribution all those of the Countrey that were able to serve on Horseback and buying up great store of Horses which he gave among such of his own Men as he most confided in Inflaming the Courage of his Souldiers by many Gifts and Honours and inuring their Bodies to service by often Marching and Exercising so that the Macedonians some of them were astonisht others overjoyed to see that in so short a time he had got together no less than 6300 able Horse Now when Craterus and Antipater having subdued Greece were advanced into Asia with intention to quell the power of Perdiccas and were reported to design an impression upon Cappadocia Perdiccas being himself to march against Ptolomy made Eumenes Commander in chief of all the Forces of Armenia and Cappadocia and to that purpose wrote Letters requiring Alcetas and Neoptolemus to be obedient to Eumenes and giving full Commission to Eumenes to dispose and order all things as he thought fit Alcetas flatly refused to serve because his Macedonians he said were ashamed to fight against Antipater and loved Craterus so well they were ready to receive him for their Commander Neoptolemus designed Treachery against Eumenes but was discovered but being summoned refused to obey and put himself in a posture of defence Here Eumenes first found the benefit of his own foresight and contrivance for his Foot being beaten he routed Neoptolemus with his Horse and took all his Carriage and pursuing close upon the Phalanx which he had broken and disordered obliged the Men to lay down their Arms and take an Oath to serve under him Neoptolemus with some few straglers which he rallied fled to Craterus and Antipater From them came an Embassy to Eumenes inviting him over to their side whereby he should have the advantage of being secured in the Government he was possest of and being put into further Command by them of obliging his Enemy Antipater to become his Friend and keeping Craterus his Friend from turning to be his Enemy To which Eumenes replied That he could not so suddenly be reconciled to his old Enemy Antipater especially since he saw him use his Friends like Enemies but was ready to reconcile Craterus to Perdiccas upon any just and equitable terms but if his desires should prove unreasonable he was resolved to assist the injured to his last breath and would rather lose his Life than betray his word Antipater receiving this Answer took time to consider upon the whole matter when Neoptolemus after his defeat arrived and acquainted them with the ill success of his management and requested both of them to assist him but especially Craterus because the Macedonians loved him so excessively that if they saw but his hat or heard his voice they would all Arm and follow him And in truth
time by Charidemus by occasion of a Horse falling down at the Gate which hindred the Trojans so as they could not shut them soon enough and of two Cities which take their Names from most delightful odoriferous Plants Jos and Smyrna the one from a Violet the other from Myrrh the Poet Homer is reported to have been born in the one and to have died in the other To these Remarks if it may be permitted we may further observe that the most warlike Commanders who have perform'd the greatest exploits and carried on the most notable Stratagems by their Courage and Skill in Martial Affairs have had but one Eye as Philip Antigonus and Hannibal and Sertorius also whose Life and Actions we describe at present and who far surpassed the other in all noble Vertues for we may give this true report of him That he was more Temperate Sober and Continent than Philip more Faithful to his Friend than Antigonus and more Merciful and Courteous to his Enemies than Hannibal for Prudence Wisdom and Judgment he gave place to none of them but in Fortune was inferiour to them all who though she was every where more severe and cruel to him than to all his Illustrious Enemies yet for Skill and Experience in War he made himself equal to Metellus for bold Attempts Valour and Bravery he might compare with Pompey and in Success he no ways yielded to Sylla and for Power and Force he made himself a March for the whole Roman Empire and fought gloriously against the united Arms of Rome when he was a Banished Man and a Stranger amongst Barbarous People Of all the Grecian Commanders Eumenes of Cardia may be best compared with him for they were both of them great Generals both Valiant and Politick Commanders making use of Deceit intricate designs and cunning Stratagems in War they were both Aliens and Strangers Banished from their Countries and had the Command of Foreign Forces both had Fortune for their Adversary and so extravagantly injurious to them in the end that they were both betrayed and villainously murdered by those who served them and by whom they had formerly overcome their Enemies Quintus Sertorius was of a noble Family he was born in the City of Nursia in the Country of the Sabines his Father died when he was young he was carefully and decently educated by his Mother whose Name was Rhea and whom he extreamly loved and honoured he exercised himself in Oratory and pleading in his Youth which he performed so judiciously that he acquired no small Reputation and Power in Rome by the force of his Eloquence but the splendor of his glorious Actions in Arms and his successful Atchievments in the Wars induced him to alter his Ambition and to seek for Honour wholly in martial Affairs At his first entring the Field he served under Scipio when the Cimbri and Teutones invaded Gaul where the Romans fighting unfortunately and being put to flight he was wounded in many parts of his Body and thrown from his Horse yet nevertheless he swam cross the River Rhosne in his Armour with his Breast-plate and Shield bearing himself up against one of the swiftest Rivers in the World and breaking through its furious Waves by clear strength so strong a Body he had inur'd to hardship and by long exercise brought to endure all Labour The second time that the Cimbri and Teutones came down with some hundreds of thousands threatning death and destruction to all when it was no small piece of Service for a Roman Souldier to keep his Rank and obey his Commander Sertorius undertook to view the enemies camp and to discover their utmost Forces and Designs and to this intent having learned the manner of their Salutations and the ordinary expressions of their Language he threw himself in amongst the Barbarians dressed in the Habit of a Celtick Gaul where having carefully seen with his own Eyes or having been fully informed by Persons upon the place of all their most important Concerns and Affairs of greatest Moment he returned to Marius General of the Roman Army from whose hands he received the honourable Rewards of his Valour And afterwards giving frequent Demonstrations both of his Conduct and Courage in all the following War he was advanced to Places of Honour and Trust under his General who highly esteemed and consided in him After the Wars with the Cimbri and Teutones he was sent into Spain having the Command of a thousand Men under Didius the Roman General and wintered in the Country of the Celtiberians in the City of Castulo where the Souldiers enjoying great plenty of all things grew insolent and continually drinking the Inhabitants despised them and sent for aid by Night to the Gyrisenaeans their near Neighbours who sell upon the Romans in their Lodgings and slew a great Number of them but Sertorius being alarm'd withdrew out of the City with a few of his Souldiers and rallying together the rest who had slipp'd out he marched round about the Walls and finding the Gate open by which the Gyrisaenians privately entring had set upon the Romans he gave not them the same opportunity but placing a Guard at the Gate and seizing upon all Quarters of the City he slew those who were of age to bear arms and then ordering his Souldiers to lay aside their weapons and put off their own Cloaths and put on the accoutrements of the Barbarians he commanded them to follow him to the City from whence those were sent who fell upon the Romans by Night and deceiving the Gyrisaenians with the sight of their own Armour and Equipage he found the gates of their City open and took great Numbers of them Prisoners who came out thinking to meet their Friends and Fellow-Citizens coming from performing a worthy piece of Service Many also were slain by the Romans at their own Gates and the rest within yielded up themselves and were sold for Slaves This action made Sertorius to be highly renowned throughout all Spain and as soon as he returned to Rome he was constituted Treasurer General of Gallia Cisalpina on both sides of the River Po very advantageously for the Roman Affairs at that time for the War with the Marsi being unanimously resolved upon Sertorius was ordered to raise Souldiers and provide Arms which he performed with such Diligence Speed and Alacrity contrary to the languishing feebleness and slothfulness of his Companions that he got the repute of a man of Life and Spirit in Business nor did he any ways desist from his Milirary Boldness and Bravery when he arrived at the Dignity of a great Commander but performed Wonders with his own hands and never sparing himself but exposing his Body freely in all Conflicts he lost one of his Eyes which was cut out of his head and yet continued to have a chearful Look and always esteemed it an honour to him For others do not continually carry about with them the marks
and testimonies of their Valour but often lay aside their Chains of Gold their Spears and Crowns whereas his Ensigns of Honour and the Manifestations of his noble Courage always remained with him and those who beheld his Scars and Misfortunes admired at the same time his undaunted Prowess and Magnanimity the People also paid him due Respect and honoured him suitably to his Merit and when he came into the Theatre they applauded him and received him with clapping their hands beating their feet against the Seats and with joyful Acclamations which sort of Applause was not easily obtained even by Persons who were more venerable in respect of their Age and of greater Dignity in the Common-Wealth Notwithstanding this Popularity when he stood to be Tribune of the People he was disappointed and lost the place being oppos'd by a Party stirred up by Sylla which seems to be the principal cause of their inveterate irreconcileable hatred After that Marius was overcome by Sylla and fled into Africa and that Sylla had left Italy to go to the Wars against Mithridates that of the two Consuls Octavius and Cinna Octavius remained stedfast to the Designs of Sylla but Cinna affecting Innovations attempted to recall the lost Interest of Marius and to set up a Party again that was declined and trodden under foot Sertorius adhered to Cinna perceiving that Octavius was somewhat heavy could not distinguish of the worth of a Man and was also suspicious of any one that was a Friend to Marius When the Battel was fought between the two Consuls in the Market-Place Octavius overcame and Cinna and Sertorius having lost not less than ten thousand Men left the City and persuading the Soldiers who were dispersed about and gaining those who remained still in many parts of Italy they united their Forces and in a short time mustered up a Party against Octavius sufficient to give him Battel again and Marius coming by Sea out of Africa proffered himself to serve under Cinna as a private Soldier under his Consul and Commander Most were for the speedy Reception of Marius but Sertorius openly declared against it and whether he thought that Cinna did not herein consult his own Interest and that his Greatness would be diminished by the presence of a Person of greater Splendour and Authority or whether he feared that the violence of Marius would bring all things to Consusion and that by his boundless Wrath and Vengeance after Victory he would go beyond all the Rules and Limits of Justice he insisted upon it with Cinna alledging that they were already Victorious that there remained little to be done and that if they admitted Marius he would not only deprive them of the Glory and Aduantage of the War but would also prove a very uneasie and unfaithful sharer in the Government To which Cinna answered That he had rightly computed these affairs but that he himself was at a loss and ashamed and knew not how to reject him whom he sent for to be Partner in all his Concerns To which Sertorius replied That he thought Marius came into Italy of his own accord and therefore he deliberated what might be most expedient but that it was not fair for Cinna to consult whether he should accept of him whom he had already vouchsafed to invite but should honourably receive and employ him for his word once past left no room for debate and his promise being sacred ought never to be disputed Marius being sent for by Cinna and their Forces being divided into three parts under Cinna Marius and Sertorius the War was carried on successfully but those about Cinna and Marius committing all manner of Insolence Severity and Rapine made it evident to the Romans that the Original and chief inducement to these Wars was Booty and Plunder but on the contrary it is reported of Sertorius that he never slew Man in his Anger to satisfie his own private Revenge nor never insulted over any one whom he had overcome but was much offended with the inhumane Rigour of Marius and would often converse privately with Cinna and entreat him to mitigate his Fury and to use his Power more moderately in the end when the Slaves whom Marius had freed at his landing to increase his Army being made not only his fellow-Soldiers in the War but also his Guard and the Executioners of his Tyrannical Cruelty became strong and numerous and either by the Command or Permission of Marius had contrary to all Law forcibly oppressed their Masters slain their Lords ravished their Ladies and forced and abused their Children their Crimes appeared so intolerable to Sertorius that he slew no less than four thousand of them upon the place commanding his Soldiers to strike their Darts through the Bodies of them all as they lay encamped together Afterwards when Marius was dead and Cinna was slain when the younger Marius had usurped the supreme Authority and made himself Consul against the mind of Sertorius and the known Laws of Rome When Carbo Norbanus and Scipio had fought unsuccessfully and made but small resistance against the fortunate Arms of Sylla returning victoriously from the Wars with Mithridates and Fimbria when much was lost by the softness and effeminate remissness of the Commanders but more destroyed by the treachery of their own Party when their Affairs were so miserably shattered and born down that they were not able to be supported even by the presence of Sertorius and that he was able to do little by reason that those who had the greatest Command and Authority were persons of no great Prudence or Conduct in the end when Sylla had placed his Camp near to Scipio and by pretending friendship and putting him in hopes of a good Peace had corrupted his Army and Scipio could not be made sensible thereof although often foretold and forewarned of it by Sertorius he utterly despaired of the prosperity of Rome and made haste into Spain that by taking possession thereof before-hand he might establish his Power in a Country which would be a resuge to his Friends and a support to his declining party But having bad weather in his journey and travelling through Mountainous Countries and the Inhabitants stopping the way and demanding a Toll and Money for passage those who were with him were out of all patience and highly aggravating in their discourses the indignity and shame it would be for a Proconsul of Rome to pay Tribute to a Crew of wretched Barbarians he little regarded their censure but slighting that which had only the appearance of an undecency told them he must buy time the most precious of all things to those who go upon great Enterprizes and pacifying the barbarous People with Money he hastned his journey and took possession of Spain a Country flourishing and populous abounding with lusty young Men fit to bear Arms but by reason of the Insolency and covetousness of the Commanders sent thither yearly from Rome they had generally an aversion
Corps was effectually full threescore Cubits long he was infinitely astonished and immediately offered up Sacrifice to the Gods and closed up the Tomb again whereby he confirmed the report of the Inhabitants increased the Fame of the Sepulchre and added new honours to the Memory of Antaeus The Africans further alledge that after the Death of Antaeus his Wife Tinga lived with Hercules and had a Son by him called Sophax who was King of these Countries and gave his Mothers name to this City whose Son also was Diodorus a great Conqueror who subdued many other Regions and brought the greatest part of Africa under his Subjection with an Army of Greeks which he raised out of the Colonies of the Olbianians and Myceneans placed here by Hercules I mention these passages for the sake of King Juba the most excellent Historian of any Prince that ever yet hath honoured History with his own Pen and who numbers for his Progenitors a long Race of Mauritanian Kings Who derive their Genealogies from Diodorus and Sephax and are lineally descended from Hercules When Sertorius had made himself absolute Master of the whole Country he was very just to those who had confided in him and shew'd not the least unkindness to others who yielded to his Mercy but restored to them their Estates their Cities their Laws and Priviledges accepting only of such acknowledgments as they themselves freely offered And whilst he considered which way next to turn his Arms the Lusitanians sent Ambassadors to desire him to be their General for being terrified with the Roman Power and finding the necessity of having a Commander of great Authority and experience in war being also sufficiently informed of his Worth and Valour by those who had formerly served him they were extremely desirous to commit themselves and their Fortunes wholly to his care and humbly beseeched him to accept of the Command And to give a true Character of Sertorius he was of a temper not to be surprized with fear nor easie to be Captivated with pleasure in Adversity and Dangers undaunted and no ways puffed up with Prosperity but of an even Mind Courteous and Obliging Upon a sudden Assault or dangerous Attempt no Commander in his time was more bold and daring for whatever was to be performed in War by Deceit Circumvention or Surprize or if any strong place was to be taken in any pass to be gained speedily any sudden Invasion or Inroad to be made he was a most notable Contriver and politick Advancer of all such intricate and difficult Designs in bestowing Rewards and conferring Honours upon those who had performed good service in the Wars He was Bountifull and Magnificent even to Prodigality but very sparing and backward in punishing Crimes and Mild and Mercifull to Offenders yet that piece of Harshness and Cruelty which he executed in the latter part of his Days upon the Spanish Hostages seems to argue that his Clemency was not Natural but only acted and handsomely dissembled as his Occasions or Necessity required and as to my own Opinion I am perswaded that sincere Vertue established by Reason and Mature Judgment can never be totally Perverted or Extirpated by any Misfortune whatever Not that I think it impossible but that great Indignities offered without cause and frequent Abuses put upon those of the best Nature and most vertuous Inclinations may make some impression and alteration in their Temper and thus I suppose it happened to Sertorius who being exasperated by the repeated Injuries of ungratefull Persons he was at last severe to those who had unworthily injured him The Lusitanians having sent for Sertorius he left Africa and being made General with absolute Power and Authority he ordered all things for the best Advantage and brought the Neighbouring Parts of Spain under his Subjection many Countries also voluntarily submitted themselves won by the Fame of his Clemency and of his Martial Performances Upon some Occasions also he would not fail to invent strange Artifices to please the People and to make use of alluring Devices and even of deluding Impostures amongst which certainly that of the Hind was none of the least Spanus a Country-man who lived in those Parts meeting by chance a Hind that had newly Calved flying from the Hunters he let the Dam go and pursuing the Hind-calf took it being wonderfully pleased with the Rarity of it and the strangeness of the Colour which was all milk-white and at the same time Sertorius keeping his Court in those Parts and receiving courteously such Presents of Fruit Fowl or Venison as the Country afforded and rewarding liberally those who presented them the Country-man brought him his young Hind which he kindly accepted and was much taken with it at the first sight but when in time he had made it so tame and gentle that it would come when he called and follow him wheresoever he went and could endure the Noise and Tumult of the Camp knowing well that Barbarous People are naturally prone to Superstition by Degrees he gave out that it was inspired with a Deity that it was given him by the Goddess Diana that it discovered to him hidden Mysteries and revealed to him what was to come to pass hereafter To which also he added these further Contrivances if he had received at any time private Intelligence that the Enemies had made an Incursion into those Provinces which were under his Command or had sollicited any City to revolt he pretended that the Hind had informed him of it in his sleep and charged him to keep his Forces in readiness or if otherwise he had notice that any of the Commanders under him had got a Victory he would hide the Messengers and bring forth the Hind crowned with flowers for joy of the good News that was to come and would encourage them to Rejoyce and Sacrifice to the Gods for the good account they should soon receive of their Prosperous Success and by those Inventions filling their Heads with strange Imaginations and the thoughts of Miracles he brought them to be more Tractable and Obedient in all things for now they thought themselves no longer to be led by a Stranger but rather conducted by a Hero or one nearly related to a God Considering also that his Power dayly encreased contrary to all Humane Reason or Probability For with two thousand five hundred which for Honour's sake he called Romans joyned with seven hundred Africans who landed with him when he first entred Lusitania together with four thousand foot and seven hundred Horse he made War with four Roman Generals who commanded a hundred and twenty thousand Foot six thousand Horse two thousand Archers and Slingers and Cities innumerable whereas at the first he had not above twenty Cities in all and from this weak and slender beginning he became afterwards so considerable that he took many good Cities and overcame Great and Powerfull Countries Of the Roman Commanders which were sent against him he overthrew Cotta in a Sea-fight
of their better Education he really made them Hostages and Sureties for their Country however their Fathers were wonderfully pleased to see their Children going daily to the Schools in good order handsomely dressed in fine long Garments edged with Purple and that Sertorius paid a Sallary for their Learning examin'd them often distributed Rewards to the most deserving and gave them Jewels to hang about their Necks and Golden Bosses which the Romans called Bullae There being a Custom in Spain that when a great Commander was slain in Battle those who attended his Person fought it out till they all died with him which the Inhabitants of those Countries called an Offering or a pouring out of Blood in Sacrifice There were few Commanders that had any considerable Guard or Number of Attendants but Sertorius had many thousands who offered up themselves and vowed to sacrifice their Lives and spend their Bloods with his and it is reported that when his Army was defeated near to a City in Spain and the Enemy pressed hard upon them the Spaniards took no care for themselves but being totally sollicitous to save Sertorius they took him up on their Shoulders and passed him from one to another till they carried him into the City and when they had thus placed their General in safety every one provided afterwards for his own security Nor were the Spaniards alone ambitious to serve him but the Roman Soldiers also that came out of Italy were impatient to be under his Command and when Perpenna who was of the same Faction with Sertorius came into Spain with great Riches and a good Army and designed to make War against Metellus in a distinct Body by himself his own Soldiers opposed it and discoursed continually of the great Fame and Merit of Sertorius which was no small Mortification to Perpenna who was puffed up with the Grandeur of his Family and his Riches When they afterwards understood also that Pompey the Great had passed the Pyrenaens they took up their Arms laid hold on their Ensigns called upon Perpenna to lead them to Sertorius and threatned him that if he refused it they would go and place themselves under a Commander who was sufficiently able to defend himself and those that serv'd him which forced Perpenna to yield to their desires who immediately joining with Sertorius added to his Army three and fifty Cohorts and when all the Cities on this side of the River Iberus also united their Forces together under his Command his Army grew great for they flocked together and flowed in upon him from all Quarters but when they continually cried out to charge the Enemy and were impatient of Delay their unexperienced Rashness was troublesome to Sertorius who at first strove to restrain them with Reason and good Counsel but when he perceived them refractory and unseasonably violent he gave way to their impetuous Desires and permitted them to engage with the Enemy in such sort that being repulsed yet not totally routed he hoped they would become more obedient to his Commands for the futue which happ'ning as he conjectured he soon rescued them and brought them safe into his Camp and after a few days being willing to encourage them again when he had called all his Army together he caused two Horses to be brought into the Field one an old feeble lean Jade the other a lusty strong Horse with a very fair thick long Tail near to to the lean Jade he placed a tall strong man and near to the strong young Horse a weak little despicable Fellow to look upon and at a Sign given the strong Man took hold of the weak Horses Tayl with both his hands and drew it to him with his whole force as if he would presently pull it off the other little weak Fellow in the mean time fell to plucking off hair by hair from the great Horses Tail and when the strong man had given trouble enough to himself in vain and sufficient divertisement to the Company and had given over his intent whilst the weak pitiful Wretch in a short time and with little pains had left never a hair on the great Horses Tail Sertorius rose up and spake to his Army after this manner You see Fellow Soldiers that Ingenuity is greater than Force and Perseverance more prevailing than Violence Many things which cannot be overcome when they are together do yield themselves up by degrees when they are separated Assiduity and continued Diligence is resistless and in time overthrows and destroys the greatest Powers whatever Time being the favourable Friend and Assistant of those who through mature Judgment understand aright how to take their best Advantages and the destructive Enemy of those who are unseasonably urging and pressing forward with such like Inventions and Discourses wherewith he frequently entertained them he brideled the rash fierceness of the Barbarous People and taught them to attend and to watch for their best Opportunities of Fighting But of all his Remarkable Exploits and wonderful Stratagems in War none raised greater Admiration in all than that which he put in practice against the Characitanians these are a People beyond the River Tagus who inhabited neither Cites nor Towns but liv'd in a vast high Hill within the deep Dens and Caves of the Rocks the Mouths of which open all towards the North the Country below it is a clayish chalky Soyl and being also light full of Pores and spungy it is apt to be crummed and broken into Powder and is not firm enough to bear any one that treads upon it and if you touch it in the least it flies about like Ashes or unslaked Lime In any danger of War these People descend into their Caves and carrying in their Booty and Prey along with them are free from all fear and think themselves invincible And when Sertorius being at some distance from Metellus had placed his Camp near this Hill they slighted and despised him imagining that he retired into these Parts being overthrown by the Romans and whether out of Anger and just Resentment or out of his unwillingness to be thought to fly from his Enemies he caused himself to be carried thither early in the Morning to view the situation of the Place but finding there was no way to come at it as he rode about threatning them in vain and troubled in his Mind he took notice that the Wind raised the dust and carried it up towards the Caves of the Characitanians the Mouths of which as we said before opened towards the North and the Northerly Winds which some call Coecias prevailing most in those Parts engendred out of the moist Morish Plains or the Mountains covered with Snow and in the Heat of Summer being supplied and encreased by the Relaxation and Melting of the Ice on the Peaks of the Northern Hills it blows a delightful fresh Gale which recreates the Characitanians and refreshes their Cattle all the Day long Sertorius confidering well all
Circumstances wherein either the Information of the Inhabitants or his own Experience had instructed him commanded his Soldiers to shovel up a great Quantity of this light dusty Earth to heap it up together and make a Mount of it over against the the Hill wherein these Barbarous People resided who imagining that all this Preparation was for the Raising of a Fort or for the making of a Bulwark against them they looked upon it as a Design most worthy to be laughed at however he continued the Work till the Evening and brought his Soldiers back into their Camp The next Morning when a gentle Breeze arose and moved the lightest Parts of the Earth and dispersed it about as the Chaff before the Wind and when the Sun coming to be higher the blustering Northerly Wind had covered the Hills with the dust the Soldiers turned this new Mount of Earth over and over and brake the Clots of Clay in Pieces whilst others on Horseback rode through it backward and forward and raised a Cloud of dust which being committed to the Wind was blown into the Dwellings of the Characitanians the entrances into which were all towards the North and there being no other Vent or Passage than that through which blustering Caecias rushed in upon them together with all the powdered Earth and Dust tossed and blown about it quickly blinded their Eyes and filled their Lungs and causing a Difficulty of Breathing choak'd them up whilst they strove to draw in the rough harsh Air mingled with streams of Dust nor were they able with great hardship to hold out above two Days but yielded up themselves on the third This Success added not so much to the Strength and Power of Sertorius as it encreased his Glory and Renown in letting the World see that he was able to conquer those Places by Art and by the Strength of his Brain which were impregnable and never to be taken by the Force of Arms. He was continualy Successful during the whole War against Metellus who by Reason of his Age and his slow Temper was not able to resist the active Boldness and Bravery of Sertorius who commanded a light army more like a Band of Robbers than a due established Militia When Pompey also had passed over the Pyreneans and placed his Camp near him where both of them gave their utmost Proofs of their Gallantry and Skill in War both in Receiving and Attacking one another Sertorius far surpassing him either in defending himself or countermining the Designs of his Enemies his fame was then highly celebrated even in Rome it self for the most terrible Warriour and the most expert Commander of his Time For considering that the Renown of Pompey was not small who had already won much Honour by his Prowess and Magnanimity in the Wars of Sylla from whom he received the Title of Magnus and was called Pompey the Great and who had ascended to the Honour of a Triumph before the Hairs were grown on his Face and many Cities which were under Sertorius had an earest Desire to Revolt when they were deterred from it by that great Action amongst others which he performed near the City of Lauron contrary to the Expection of all As soon as Sertorius had laid siege to Lauron Pompey came with his whole Army to relieve it and there being a Hill near this City very advantagiously seated they both made haste to take it But Sertorius prevented him and took possession of it first and Pompey having drawn down his Forces was not sorry that it had thus succeeded for he imagined that he had hereby enclosed his Enemy between his own Army and the City and sent in a Messenger to the Citizens of Lauron to bid them be of good Courage and to come upon their Walls where they might see their Besieger Besieged Sertorius perceiving their Intentions smiled and told them he would now teach Sylla's Scholar for so he called Pompey in derision that it was the Part of a General to look as well behind him as before him and at the same time shewed them six thousand Soldiers which he had left in his former Camp from whence he marched out to take the Hill where if Pompey should assault him they might fall upon his Rear Pompey discovered this too late and not daring to give Battle for fear of being encompassed in on every side and yet being ashamed to leave his Friends and Confederates in extream Danger was forced to sit still and see them ruined before his Face for the Besieged despaired of Relief and delivered up themselves to Sertorius who spared their Lives and granted them their Liberties but burnt their City not out of Anger or Cruelty for of all Commanders that ever were Sertorius seems least of all to have indulged these Passions but only for the greater Shame and Consusion of the Admirers of Pompey and that it might be reported amongst the Spaniards that the Fire which burnt down his Confederates tho' 〈◊〉 was so near as to be well warm'd at it was not able to raise heat enough in him to dare to relieve them Sertorius sustained some Losses in these Wars but he always defended those with him and maintain'd himself Invincible and it was by other Commanders under him that he suffer'd and he was more admir'd for being able to repair his Losses for shewing himself brave in danger for recovering the Victory when the Field seem'd already to be lost than the Roman Generals against him for gaining these Advantages As at the Battle of Sucro against Pompey and at the Battle near Turia against him and Metellus together It is reported that the Battle near the City of Sucro was fought through the Impatience of Pompey lest that Metellus should share with him in the Victory and thro' the willingness of Sertorius to fight with him before the Arrival of Metellus However Sertorius delay'd the time till the Evening considering that the darkness of the Night would be a great disadvantage to his Enemies either Flying or Pursuing who were meer Strangers and had no knowledge of the Country When the fight began it happened that Sertorius was not placed directly against Pompey but against Afranius who had Command of the Left Wing of the Roman Army as he commanded the Right Wing of his own but when he understood that his Left Wing began to give way and yield to the furious Assaults of Pompey he committed the care of his Right Wing to other Commanders and made haste to relieve those in distress and rallying some that were flying and encouraging others that still kept their Ranks he renewed the Fight and set upon them with that Force that he routed the Enemy and brought Pompey who was pursuing into great danger of his Life for after being wounded and thrown from his Horse he escaped unexpectedly for the Africans with Sertorius who took Pompey's Horse set out with Gold and covered with rich Trappings fell out with one another and upon