the Carthaginians with the siege of their Camp by that King who makes them pass under the Yoke XXXIII The Romans laying hold on the occasion it is decreed in the Senate to make War upon Carthage and that that City be rased XXXIV The Consuls advance into Sicily whither the Carthaginians bring them three hundred of their children for Hostages XXXV From Sicily they pass to Utica where the Carthaginians yield up their Arms. XXXVI The Consuls declare to the Deputies the Senates resolution touching the demolishing of Carthage XXXVII Hanno's Oration to the Consuls to move them to compassion XXXVIII Censorinus Answer XXXIX The Carthaginians hearing the News in desperation prepare for War XL. Description of the City of Carthage XLI The beginning of the siege XLII Anoble Act of Scipio's yet but Tribune XLIII Death of Masanissa whose Goods are divided among his Children by Scipio the Executor of his Will XLIV Scipio draws Phameas to the Roman Party they go both to Rome and are magnificently received XLV Calphurnius Piso and L. Mancinus come to command the Army who spend the Summer without doing any thing XLVI The Carthaginians take heart and contemn the Romans XLVII Scipio chosen Consul he comes to Utica where he finds Mancinus and the Army in great danger from which he dis-engages them XLVIII He re-establishes Discipline in the Army XLIX He takes the place of Megara L. He seizes on the Neck of the Peninsula where he fortifies himself and by that means brings a Famine into the City LI. He blocks up the Port of Carthage with a dam and the Carthaginians open another passage on the other side at which they issue out with a great number of ships LII A Sea-fight with almost equal loss LIII Scipio siezes on the great Plat-form or Bulwark before the Walls LIV. He takes and pillages the Camp before Nephere and makes himself Master of all the Plain-country of Lybia LV. He takes the City and those in the Citadel submit save only the Run-aways with Asdrubals Wife LVI He sends the News to Rome and after having given all necessary Orders in Africa returns to Rome which be enters in triumph THe Phenicians built Carthage in Africa fifty years before the sack of Troy It was Founded by Xorus and Carchedon or as the Romans and indeed the Carthaginians themselves will have it by a Tyrian Lady called Dido who her Husband being privily murdered by Pygmaleon Tyrant of Tyre which was revealed to her in a Dream conveyed aboard all the Treasure she could and shipping her self with some Tyrians that fled from the Tyranny came to Lybia to that place where now Carthage stands and upon the people of that Countries refusal to receive them they demanded for their Habitation only so much Land as they could compass with an Oxe-hide This proposition seemed ridiculous to the Africans and they thought it a shame to refuse Strangers a thing of so small consequence besides they could not imagine how any Habitation could be built in so small a patch of ground and therefore that they might have the pleasure to discover the Phenicians subtilty they granted their request Whereupon the Tyrians taking an Oxe-hide cut it round about and made so fine a Thong that they therewith encompassed the place where they afterwards built the Citadel of Carthage which from thence was called Byrsa Soon after by little and little extending their limits and becoming stronger then their Neighbours as they were much more cunning they caused Ships to be built to traffick on the Sea after the manner of the Phenicians by which means they built a City adjoyning to their Citadel Their power thus encreasing they became Masters of Lybia and the circumadjacent Sea and at last making War upon Sicily Sardinia and all the Islands of that Sea and even in Spain in self they sent thither Colonies till at length from so small a beginning they formed an Estate comparable in Power to that of the Greeks and in Riches to that of the Persians But about seven hundred years after the Foundation of Carthage the Romans won Sicily from the Carthaginians and after that Sardinia and at length in the second Punick War Spain it self After which these Nations being in continual War the Carthaginians under the command of Hannibal wasted Italy for sixteen years together till such time as the Romans commanded by Cornelius Scipio the Elder deprived them of their power taking from them their Ships and Elephants and forcing them to pay Tribute whereupon a second Peace was concluded between these two People This lasted fifty years after which began the third and last Punick War in which the young Scipio being General of the Romans Carthage was utterly ruined and strict prohibition made of Rebuilding it However the Romans founded another Town in a place near adjacent which they made choice of for the greater conveniency of keeping the Africans in subjection Now because in our History of Sicily we have already set down all the memorable acts of the Carthaginians there and in that of Spain what passed in that Country as likewise in that of Hannibal all the actions of that Captain in Italy we have resolved in this Book to write only what was done in Lybia â—fter the beginning of that War which succeeded that of Sicily When therefore the War of Sicily was ended the Romans armed three hundred and fifty Ships with which they made a descent into Lybia where after having reduced some Cities under their obedienâ—e they leâ—t Attilius Regulus to command the Army This General gained the Romans two hundred Cities more which surrendred to him being weary of the Government of Carthage and pressing forward his Conquests he spoiled their Territories even to their very Gates After all these losses which the Carthaginians believed happenâ—ed to them only for want of good Generals they demanded one from the Lacedemonians who sent to them Xantippus Attilius was now encamped near the Fens of Lybia from whence upon Intelligence of this Captain 's arrival he advanced towards the Enemy but having taken his march along the Edge of the Marshes and in the greatest heats of Summer his Souldiers were grievously incommoded by the weight of their Arms by thirst heat labour and the darts thrown on them from the Mountains yet though they marched in this condition all the day coming towards the Evening to a River which now only separated the two Armies he forthwith made his Men pass over believing it would strike a terrour into Xantippus his Army The Lacedemonian on the other side judging it would be no hard matter to overcome people harassed in that manner besides that he had the night to favour him presently drew up his Army in order and advanced to charge Attilius In which he was not deceived for of thirty thousand Men that composed the Roman Army a few only saved themselves in the City of Aspides all the rest were slain or taken Prisoners and the General himself
your Son Seleucus to enter his Country with an Army on the Thracian side that seeing himself embroiled in a Domestick War the Enemy may draw no assistance from him This was Hannibal's opinion which certainly was not ill nor indeed was there any better proposed in the Assembly But the envy born to this great Man joyned with a fear the King and Councellors had leâ—â— he should appear more understanding in the mystery of War than they or that if things succeeded all the Glory would be attributed to him hindred its being followed save only that Polexenidas was dispatch'd into Asia to cause the Army advance The Senate receiving advice of this irruption in Greece and of the defeat of the Romans in Delos declared Antiochus Enemy to the Roman people And thus after the distrust so long time had on one part and the other they came to an open War But because the King was Possessor of vast Territories in the Continent and of almost all the Sea-coasts that he was entred into Europe where he had begot a fear of him as well because of his mighty preparations as of the Glory of those brave Actions had gained him the title of Great the Romans believed that this War would be of a long continuance and besides they were distrustful of Philip of Macedon whom they had lately vanquished and doubtful lest the Carthaginians should violate the League because of Hannibal who was with Antiochus they had moreover in suspicion some Provinces newly conquered and fearful lest they should make some insurrection when they saw Antiochus in Arms wherefore they sent Forces to bridle them with Garrisons and with Propretors who had each of them carried before them six Axes and to whom they gave one half of the Authority attributed to the Consuls as they bore half their Ensigns And because in this great danger they were likewise doubtful lest Italy should not prove altogether faithful or stand stedfast with them against Antiochus they sent a powerful Army unto Tarentum to hinder the Enemies entrance whilst their Fleet coasted round the Country so much did Antiochus at first terrifie them After they thought they had sufficiently secured Affairs within they set themselves to levy Soldiers of whom they raised twenty thousand in the City and twice as many in the Cities of their Allies with design in the Spring to pass into Ionia Thus they spent the Winter in making their preparations In the mean time Antiochus took his march towards Thessaly and being come to the place called Cynocephalos or Dogshead he Magnificently buried the bodies of those that had been slain which had hitherto lain without Sepulchre gaining by this means the good will of the Macedonians and loading Philip with the hatred of his people incensed that he had not taken the care to bury the bodies of those had been slain in his service Philip was yet uncertain what party he should take but hearing this news he streightway preferred the Romans and sending for Bebius that commanded the Army that lay hard by took between his hands the Oath of Alliance against Antiochus Bebius praysed him and henceforward trusted in him so far that sending Appius Claudius with two thousand Men into Thessaly he made not any difficulty of causing him to march through the midst of Macedonia Claudius being come to Tempe nigh Antiochus his Camp that besieged Larissa kindled great fires that he might make the Enemy believe he was come with a powerful Army The King did believe it and perswading himself it was Bebius and Philip him Fear made him raise the Siege of Larnissa and making the season his pretence which began to grow cold he went to take up his Winter-quarters at Chalcis Here he fell in love with a beautiful Virgin though he were above fifty years old and Married her with Great Pomp and Magnificence without considering he had upon his hands a War wherein all his Glory lay at stake He spent the whole Winter in pleasure and divertisement and suffered his Army to do the like but having in the first of the Spring made an inroad into Acarnania he too well perceived that Soldiers accustomed to Idleness were difficultly retrived and began to repent of his Marriage and the delights to which he had abandoned himself Not but that he did somewhat in this Country Some places submitted to him and others he took by force but having intelligence that the Romans passed the Ionian Sea he returned to Chalcis Their Army was composed of two thousand Horse and twenty thousand Foot they had likewise some Elephants It was commanded by Manius Acilius Glabrio who being passed from Brundusium into Apolonia took his march towards Thessaly raising in his way the sieges from before such Cities as the Enemy had invested and driving out the Garrisons from those who had received them he reduced likewise that Philip of Megalopolis who had the forementioned pretensions on the Kingdom of Macedon and took Prisoners about three thousand of Antiochus Souldiers Mean while Philip of Macedon made an Irruption into Athamania and drove thence Amynander who fled and sheltred himself in Ambracia Antiochus having intelligence hereof and seeing so sudden a change of affairs began to be afraid of the diligence of his enemies and perceived at last that Hannibals advice was the best Wherefore he dispatched many Messengers one after another to Polexenidas to cause him to advance and in the mean while with all expedition possible he drew together all the force he could make which amounted to ten thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse with some Auxiliary Troops of his Allies and with these went to siese upon the pass of Thermopylae that he might stop the Enemies passage whilst he expected his Army out of Asia Now the strait of Thermopylae is a long and narrow passage bounded on one side with a troublesome and inaccessible Sea and on the other with a deep and broad Marish It hath on both sides two mighty steep Rocks of which one is called Tichiontes and the other Callidromos where are found hot Springs whence the place had the Name of Thermopylae Here Antiochus caused to be raised two walls and erected Engins upon them committing the guard of the tops of the mountains to the Etolians lest the Enemy should surprize him by the same windings Xerxes had found out to assault the Lacedemonians and Leonidas because they had left them unguarded Having therefore placed a thousand Men on each top he went and encamped with the rest of the Army near Heraclea Manius having intelligence of the Enemies Posture caused publication of the battel to be made for the morrow and at the same time sent away two of his Tribunes M. Cato and L. Valerius to whom he gave as many chosen Men as they desired with Orders in the night to make a turn about the mountains and if it were possible to drive the Aetolians from their Posts Valerius having assaulted those which had the Guard
Arrows as they fled and next the Scythians are certainly the most skilful Nation in the World in this Exercise invented doubtless to defend at once both from the Enemy and from the shame of flight However the Romans had patience so long as they hoped that the Enemy having once drained their Quivers would either retire or come to fight hand to hand but when they understood that they had in their Army great numbers of Camels laden with Arrows whither they went by turns to fill again their Quivers as fast as they had emptied they were utterly dismayed Crassus seeing no end of this kind of fight began to afflict himself and sent to tell his Son that he should advance to charge the Enemy before they were inclosed for they pressed hard upon him and wheeled about the Wing which he commanded to fall on in the Rear This young Man having therefore taken thirteen hundred Horse of which Caesar had given him a thousand and eight Cohorts of Foot armed with Bucklers which stood next him drew off and went furiously to charge the gross of the Enemy but they whether that place were miry as some say or that by this stratagem they had a mind to draw the Consuls Son as far as was possible from the rest of the Army turned tail and fled He presently with loud cryes declared the Enemies flight and addressed himself to pursue them accompanied by Censorinus and Megabachus this last famous for strength of Body and height of Courage the other a Senator and besides a great Orator both of the same age with young Crassus and his familiar Friends The Horse followed and the Foot after them all filled with joy and hope believing they gave chase to a Vanquished Enemy but they had not gone far e're they discovered the cheat beholding those return to the charge who had made a show of flight supported now and strengthned with great numbers Whereupon those who were at the Head of the Romans stood still believing because of their small number the Enemies would come and assault them at hand but they opposed them only with their Lanciers whilst the rest scouting up and down the Plain with their Horse-hoofs broke the surface of the Earth from whence arose such clouds of Sand and Dust that the Romans could neither see nor speak So that being thus lock'd up close together in a croud they were wounded and dyed not of a quick and easie death but with strange pains and convulsions caused by the Arrows sticking in their Bodies which not being able to endure they rolled themselves upon the ground to break them in their wounds or else striving to pull them out with the barbed heads which had pierced into the Veins and Nerves they grievously tore themselves and added fresh anguish to the former Thus most of all those Cohorts that followed the Horse being slain the rest remained useless because of their wounds and when their Captains commanded them to go charge the Parthian Men at Arms they showed their hands nailed to their Bucklers or their Feet struck through and fastned to the ground so that they could neither fight nor flee Hereupon young Crassus resolved to make one brisk attempt with his Horse but the strokes they gave with their weak and slender Javelins having but small effects on the others Currasses of boild Leather guarded with bands of Iron whilst on the contrary their steel-headed Lances piercing through and through the Gauls lightly armed and almost naked made the march very unequal He had great confidence in these Gauls and indeed they did act wonders they siesed on these Lances with their naked hands and in endeavouring to wrest them away tumbled the Men at Arms from off their Horses who being over-laden with Iron could very hardly mount again There were likewise some of them who quitting their own Horses went and thrust their Swords in the bellies of those of the Enemy who mounting at the smart of the wound tumbled back with their Riders so that many were by this means trampled to death under the Horse Feet as well of the Romans as the Parthians but nothing was more insufferable to the Gauls than the heat and drowth to which they were not accustomed and besides many had lost their Horses which had been slain by the Pikes or Lances Wherefore they resolved to recover the Legions having in the midst of them the young Crassus already tortured with many wounds but seeing nigh unto them a Hillock of Sand which formed a kind of Eminence they retired thither and tying in the midst those Horses they had left fortified themselves with their Bucklers which they ranked round about them thinking by this means to defend themselves from the Barbarians but it fell out quite contrary for though in a Level those before do in some measure cover those behind yet here by reason of the declining ground one standing above another no person could be in security They were all wounded alike and dyed with the more vexation that they could not revenge themselves but must all perish without Glory There were along with the young Crassus two Greeks Citizens of of Carres called Hierom and Nicomachus who would have perswaded him to have saved himself with them in the City of Ichnes which took part with the Romans but he made answer There were no death so cruel that for fear of it Publius would forsake his Companions who had not ingaged themselves in that danger but for his sake And at the same instant gave leave to them exhorting them to take care of themselves but for his own part not being able to make use of his hand because of a wound he had received by an Arrow he presented his brest to his Esquire commanding him to run him through Some say Censorinus dyed in the same manner and that Megabachus and most of the Nobility slew themselves The rest assailed by the Parthians dyed generously defending themselves and 't is reported five hundred only were taken alive The Enemy forthwith cut off the Heads of young Crassus and his Companions and returned to seek out his Father who in the mean time had acted as we shall now relate After the Command given to his Son to charge and that some came and told him that the Enemy fled and that he likewise found himself not so hardly pressed upon for indeed they had left him he took a little courage and caused his Army to March into the lower Ground hoping his Son would soon return from the pursuit of the Enemy Mean while young Crassus perceiving himself in danger dispatch'd away several Messengers to his Father to give him notice of it of whom the first were slain by the Enemies and the next who hardly escaped brought word that Publius was certainly lost if not suddenly relieved Upon this news the Consul found himself tossed with sundry passions which blinded his reason so that he knew not what to resolve on He was fearful of
without any alarm but on the third whilst Anthony thought of nothing less than the Parthians and that upon the assurance of the Peace the Army marched without standing on their Guard the Mardian espying the Bank of a River newly broken and the way by which they were to pass full of Water he judged the Parthians had done it to put a stop to the Romans by making difficult the passage and showing it to Anthony advised him to prepare to receive the Enemy The Roman General presently Martialled his Army leaving between the Ranks spaces for the Darters and Slingers to make their discharges At the same time the Parthians appeared perswading themselves they should now compass in the Army and defeat them but the light-armed Foot drawing off to receive them charged them so briskly that after many wounds given and taken they retreated yet for several times they renewed the skirmish till the Gaul Horse marched against them in a Body and treated them so severely that the remainder of that day they durst attempt them no more Anthony by this assault knowing what he had to do hereafter made the Army March in Battalia on four Fronts linining not only the Rear but likewise the Flanks with Darters and Slingers and giving Order to the Horse to repulse the Enemy if they came to attack them but not to pursue them too far after they had chased them back so that the Parthians after having thus followed them four days with equal loss began to give it over and making the ground of their departure to be the approaching Winter disposed themselves on the morrow to leave off the pursuit The day before they were to be gone one of Anthonies Captains called Flavius Gallus a Valiant and Worthy Man requested a greater number of the Light-armed Foot for defence of the Rearguard and some part of the Calvalry from the Wings as if he had some brave exploit to put in execution Having obtained his desire he set himself to chase back the Enemies that came to skirmish not as before retreating in his Body as soon as he had made them give ground but charging them home and obstinately maintaining the Fight which being observed by those who maintained the Rearguard they recalled him for fear lest being divided from the Army the Enemy should encompass him 'T is said farther that Titius the Questor staid the Ensigns to make him return reproving him for loosing so many brave Men but that Gallus quarrelling with him and bidding him meddle with his own Affairs he left him and joyned with the main Body Gallus charging forward on the Enemy with two much heat found himself beset in the Rear and on all sides oppressed with Showers of Arrows so that he was forced to send for aid in which the Colonels of the Legions and among the rest Canidius who had much power with Anthony seem to have committed a great fault for whereas they ought to have marched with all their Force thither they sent only some few Cohorts and as those were defeated others not observing that by this means the Army would by little and little be put to the rout and had been so if Anthony himself had not speedily made in with all the Vanguard but now the third Legion advancing athwart the Flyers and standing the shock of the Enemy stop'd them short and hindred their passing farther There were no less than three thousand men slain in this Engagement and five thousand brought off wounded among whom was Gallus thrust through and through with four Arrows of which he dyed not long after Anthony went among the Tents to visit the others comforting them and weeping himself out of grief and compassion but they rejoycing to see him took him by the hand and pray'd him to take care of his own health and not afflict himself any more They called him their Emperour and told him their wounds were all healed whilst they saw him well And indeed there appears not in all that Age to have been any General that had an Army so vigorous so brave and so patient and if we have regard to the respect and obedience they bore him as well great as small Officers as Soldiers and the high account they made of his favour preferring it before their own safety or their very lives certainly he yielded to none of the Ancient Romans and surely they were disposed to it by many Motives by his Nobleness his Eloquence his Uprightness his Liberality both frequent and great and by the sweetness of his familiar Conversation but above all his tenderness and compassion for the afflicted and the care he took to see them furnished with all things necessary made the sick and wounded almost as well satisfied as if they had been well Now this Victory had so raised the Enemies hearts before almost tired and despairing that they passed that night near the Camp in hopes e'er long to be plundring the Publick Treasure and find the Tents deserted On the morrow they assembled in far greater Numbers so that it is thought they could not be less then forty thousand Horse for the King sent those of his own train one after another as to an evident and assured victory for as for himself he never engaged in person In the mean time Anthony designing to make an Oration to his Soldiers would have put on a sad coloured habit to move the more Compassion but his Friends diswading him from it he came to the Assembly in the Habit of General he praised those had behaved themselves well and declaimed against those that fled of whom the first desired him to be of good Courage and the last having given reasons for their flight offered themselves to be decimated or what other punishment he pleased so that he would forbear to afflict himself and to look ill upon them Thereupon lifting up his eyes to heaven he besought the Gods that if any Divinity were jealous of his past happiness they they would let all the miseries wherewith he was threatned to fall upon his own head and give Victory to the rest of the Army The next day they again set forward in better Order so that the hopes of the Parthians who aâ—â—ailed them began to decay for they thought they were come to Pillage and Plunder and not to fight but finding themselves stiffly beat back by the Roman Piles which the Soldiers now discharged with a wonderful Alacrity they once again were forced to give ground Yet ceased they not from following the Roman Army and one day as they galled them with their Arrows whilst they were descending a little Hill the Targetiers faced about and after having received the light Armed Foot into the Ranks set their Knees to the ground and Ranging their Bucklers one above another formed a Testudo where the Bucklers rising by degrees Resembled in some measure the Seats of a Theater And indeed this was an Excellent Rampire against the Arrows for they slid away on both sides
an end of their labors after this Victory and hoped to gain so much the more praise the more they incountred with danger and difficulty wherefore they did all they could to gain these last Walls till such time as Archelaus astonished at their obstinacy deserting them retired into the strongest part of the Pyraeum which being on all sides begirt with the Sea the Consul who had no Ships could attempt nothing against him From thence he took his march by Boeotia to go into Thessaly and being got to Thermopylae he rallyed the remains as well of those Troops which himself had brought into Greece as of those which came under the Conduct of Dromicheses He sent likewise for all that Army which had followed Arcathias the Kings Son into Macedon which were all fresh Men that wanted nothing and besides all these Mithridates had sent him some new Recruits for he was continually sending Sylla in the mean time burnt the Pyraeum which had given him so much more trouble then the City sparing neither Arsenal nor Dock nor in short any thing that was considerable This done he took the Field to follow Archelaus taking as well as he the Road of Boeotia As he was upon his March those Troops lately assembled at Thermopylae came forward to meet him as far as Phocida Thracians Pontique Scythians Cappadocians Bithynians Galatians Phrygians and others came from the Provinces newly Conquered by Mithridates amounting in all to sixscore thousand Men under several Generals over whom Archelaus was Generalissimo Sylla's Forces were composed of Romans and Italian Allies together with such Greeks and Macedonians as had come over from Archelaus to him And possibly some Auxiliary Troops of the Neighboring Countries but all these amounted not to a third of his Enemies when they were encamped close by each other Archelaus every day drew out his Army to invite Sylla to a battel but he considering the Nature of the place and the great Number of his Enemies thought it best to temporize At length they retreated towards Chalcis whither he followed them waiting for a favorable opportunity and a convenient place And at last perceiving that near to Cheronea they were encamped in a place environed with Cragged Rocks which were very difficult to pass he posted himself hard by in a spacious plain and drawing up his Army resolved to force Archelaus to a Battel whether he would or no He found the place was advantagious for him either to charge or retreat in whereas Archelaus was shut up among the Rocks which would not permit him to fight with all his Forces together nor could he well form his Bodies or draw in Battel among those uneven Cragged Stones where if any misfortune happened those Rocks themselves would hinder his Escape In short having according to his desire met him in a place where Numbers would be useless he advanced to engage him He who thought of nothing less then Fighting had fortified his Camp with Negligence enough nor had he taken notice of the disadvantage of the place till the Romans furiously advanced to the Charge He then commanded a party of his Horse to make head against them but they being defeated and driven into the Precipices he sent next sixty Chariots to endeavor to break the Ranks of the Legions who opening to the Right and Left gave them way quite through till they had past the Rearguard where before they could turn the Horses and Drives were all slain by the Darts thrown at them from all sides Archelaus defended as he was by the Rocks might have staid in his Post but receiving Intelligence that Sylla was at hand he chose rather with all speed possible to draw up those vast Multitudes into Battel in those straits and then pressing forward with the Horse of his Vanguard he broke quite through the Battel of the Romans dividing it into two and then easily surrounding each part because of their small Number these two half-bodies seeing themselves inclosed cast themselves into an Orb and bravely defended themselves but that where Galba and Hortensius commanded was sorely put to it because Archelaus himself being at the head of his Men pressed on them extreamly and all the Barbarians Fighting in his presence strove to show their General some signal Marks of their Valor At last Sylla coming with a Gross of Horse Archelaus who guessed by the Cornets and by the dust arising from the Horse-feet that it was he gave over this manner of Fighting to regain his Order of Battel but the Roman Charging home with all the Flower of his Cavalry and two Regiments of Foot which he had laid in Ambush amongst the thickest of the Enemies yet astonished and not able to recover any Order over-pressed them broke them put them to the Rout and gave them Chase. The Victory thus begun on this part Murena did wonders to advance it on the Left for after having pricked forward those about him by reproaches he violently led them on upon the Enemy and put them likewise to the Rout Thus Archelaus two Wings being defeated his Main Body stood not long but all equally took their Flight nor was Sylla deceived in the Judgment made of the Success of this Enterprize for the Enemies intangled in those streits could not fly or if they did threw one another down the Precipices and if they turned head fell into the hands of the Romans wherefore the wisest of them returned to their Camp but Archelaus who could not believe the discomfiture so great stopt their entrance and sent them back upon the Enemy which they obeyed though they had no Captains to put them in order nor saw no Ensigns which every one in the Rout had thrown here and there and besides they had neither Room to Fight nor to Retreat Thus in this extremity they were slaughtred like Sheep either by their Enemies on whom they could not revenge themselves being too close crouded or by their own Comerades as it often happens in a too close and disordered Battle wherefore they returned in throngs to the Gates of the Camp complaining to those had shut them out and reviling them that adoring the same Gods and being tyed by so many bonds one to the other they contributed more to their destruction then the Enemies themselves At last Archelaus opened the Gates but too late They entred in confusion and disorder and the Romans encouraging one another threw themselves Pell Mell among the Flyers where they gave the last push to the Victory Archelaus and all those that escaped from the Slaughter met together at Chalcis where of one hundred and twenty thousand Men they found but ten thousand The Romans believed they had lost fifteen Men but two of them afterwards returned Thus ended this battel fought between Sylla and Archelaus General under Mithridates near to Cheronea the Success whereof was as well deserving of the Prudence of Sylla as of the foolish rashness of Archelaus Sylla seeing himself Master of a great Number of
Brundusium that Cinna was dead and the Common-wealth in trouble they returned to find Sylla without proceeding farther Upon this report brought to him he left Pyraeum with five Italian Legions six thousand Horse and the Auxiliary Forces of Macedon and Peloponnesus which amounted to about sixty thousand Men from Pyraeum he came to Patras from whence he passed over to Brundusium on a Fleet of six hundred Ships He was received into the Port without any contradiction and in acknowledgment of that seasonable kindness he granted to the City an exemption from all kind of Imposts for the future which they enjoy to this day That done he set forward with all his Forces and by the way met with Metellus Pius who some years before had commanded the Body of an Army in the War with the Allies but not being willing to return to the City for fear of Cinna and Marius was retired into Liguria expecting some change Now therefore he came to offer Sylla what Forces he had having still the Title of Proconsul for when once that Honour is attained it lasts till he enjoys it returns to his Country Some time after Cn. Pompey who afterwards gained the Title of Great Son of that Pompey who was killed with a Thunderbolt came to him likewise In former appearance he was no Friend to Sylla but now he made him lay aside all suspicion of him by bringing with him a Legion out of the Country of Picene where he was well beloved in memory of his Father's name he raised two other Voluntier Legions soon after and among all those that took Sylla's Party none did him more important Service and though yet very young Sylla had so high a value for him that whoever arrived he was the only person for whom he rose up from his Seat that he sent him into Africa to put an end to the Remains of the War quell Carbo's Party and reestablish Hyempsal in his Kingdom who had been driven out by the Numidians and that for the Actions he there did he granted him the Honour of Triumph though he had not yet arrived to the age prescribed by the Laws and was then but a plain Knight In so much that after so fair beginnings being advanced in age as well as reputation he was sent against Sertorius in Spain and afterwards to the Kingdom of Pontus against Mithridates Cethegus likewise came to meet Sylla though he had been the greatest Enemy he had and was therefore banished with Cinna and Marius but now he presented himself before Sylla in the condition of a Suppliant offering him to serve him in all he should be pleased to employ him Thus beholding himself fortified with a great number of Soldiers and store of illustrious Friends whom he made his Lieutenants he placed himself at the Head of his Army with Metellus both being Proconsuls for Sylla going to the War against Mithridates in Quality of Proconsul had not yet quitted that Dignity though Cinna had declared him Enemy to the State He mortally hated those that had offended him but he kept his hatred close for which reason those which remained in the City knowing his temper were sorely terrified They had not forgot what passed the first time he entred in Arms they knew he was incensed at the Sentences given against him they saw his House pulled down his Goods confiscate his Friends killed and his Family in flight who very hardly escaped and therefore thought they must resolve to overcome or utterly to perish so that in this common fear they threw themselves into the Consuls Party and began to fetch from all parts of Italy Soldiers Provisions and Money with all the diligence necessary in extreme danger The Consuls C. Norbanus and L. Scipio and with them Carbo Consul the year precediâ—g who hated Sylla as much as the others but feared him more out of a remorse for the injuries he had done him after having levyed Soldiers throughout all Italy took the Field with each his Body of an Army They had at first but two hundred and fifty Men in each Cohort but soon after they found many more for all people had a far greater inclination for the Consuls than for Sylla because Sylla seemed to come against the City like an Enemy whilst the Consuls fought for their Country but this was only in appearance for in truth they laboured only for themselves Besides the vulgar sensible they were sharers in the fault were carried on to defend it by the same fear and no person was ignorant that Sylla had not simply the thought of chastising reforming or striking terrour but that he meditated upon Sackings Burnings Massacres and in a word the general ruine of the City And surely they were not deceived all places they soon found sacked and filled with slaughter by the continual Fights in which there perished sometimes ten thousand sometimes twenty thousand in one only Engagement and at once in and about the City fifty thousand where yet the Conquerour forgot no cruelty he could exercise on the Remainder as well in general as particular till in the end he reduced the Roman Empire under his Dominion and disposed of it at pleasure They received from on High presages of these miseries by a great number of Prodigies Ghosts presented themselves to an infinite many people throughout all Italy as well alone as in company they set themselves to examine ancient Oracles where they still found matter of greater fear and distraction a Mule engendred a Woman was delivered of a Serpent a great Earthquake overthrew some Temples in the City And though the Senate and People of Rome keep constant watch against such Accidents the Capitol built by the Kings above four hundred years before was set on fire none could tell how And indeed these were all Signs which threatened Italy with Murders and Desolations and the Roman People with Servitude and that Change which was to happen in the Common-wealth The beginning of this War accounting from the time that Sylla landed at Brundusium happened in the hundred seventy fourth Olympiad The Actions of it were much greater than the time of its continuance long for each party running with fury to the ruine of the other the losses they sustained were so much the greater and more quick yet it lasted three years till such time as Sylla made himself Master of the State and even after Sylla's death it yet continued a long time in Spain There was through all Italy many Fights and Skirmishes Sieges and other Exploits of War in great number and very remarkable as well in Pitch'd Battels as in Rencounters We will only relate those Actions are most considerable and best worthy memory and that the most succinctly we can The first Battel fought was about Canusa between the Consul Norbanus and the Proconsuls wherein the Consul lost six thousand men and those of the other Party only seventy but they had many wounded and Norbanus retreated to Capua After which the
Proconsuls being encamped near Theana L. Scipio led against them another Army more disposed to Peace than War which being observed by the Chiefs of the contrary Party they sent Deputies to the Consul to treat of an Accommodation not that they hoped to succeed or that they stood in need of it but with design to sow Dissention among Troops not very fiercely set on as indeed it happened for Scipio after having received Hostages went into the adjacent Fields to confer with the others whom he found there likewise They were but three of a side so that it was not known what passed in the Conference save only that they remained of accord that Sertorius by the Consul's order should go and find his Colleague to communicate with him and that while they staid for an answer there should be a Cessation of Arms. But Sertorius having seised upon Suessa that held for Sylla and he making complaint to Scipio whether he had consented to it or knew not what to answer surprised as he was with the unexpected news he resigned up the Hostagesto Sylla whereupon the Army offended at the Action Sertorius had so unseasonably done and at the redelivery of the Hostages began to blame the Consuls and caused Sylla to be privately informed that if he would draw a little nearer they would all come over to him This composition made the Consul found himself so forsaken that he knew not what to resolve he was taken alone in his Tent by Sylla's Men having no body with him out Lucius his Son But certainly it seems to me a thing unworthy of a General not to have the foresight to perceive so great a Conspiracy of a whole Army Sylla not being able whatever he could plead to them to make the Consul or his Son take his part dismissed them both without any injury done and at the same time sent other Deputies to Capua to treat the peace with Norbanus whether he indeed feared seeing the most part of Italy took the Consuls part or whether he laid the same snares for him he had done for Scipio but seeing no one came to him nor that any answer was returned him for it 's probable the Consul took care not to give his Army occasion of like scandal he took the Field to march against Norbanus wasting all the Country as he went Norbanus on the other side did the like and Carbo went before to thâ— City to declare Metellus and all the other Senators who were joyned to Sylla Enemies to the Senate and People of Rome 'T was at this time that the Capitol took fire about which ran divers reports some accused Carbo others suspected the Consuls others said Sylla had caused it to be done But it being hard to discover the truth of so uncertain a thing we will leave it in its incertainty For Sertorius who sometime before had obtained the Government of Spain after having taken Suessa he went into his Province where refusal being made him of quitting the Command the Roman Armies had enough to suffer Mean while the Consuls Forces increased dayly by the great number of Soldiers that came from the farthest parts of Italy and Gaul about the Po and Sylla on his side did not sleep he continually sent Messengers to all the People of Italy to draw them to his Party either by inclination or fear or money or by the power of promises insomuch that the rest of the Summer was consumed in these Affairs In the beginning of the next year were named for Consuls Papirius Carbo for the second time and Marius Son to the Brother of the illustrious Marius of but seven and twenty years old and because in this Season the Colds were too great each Party drew into Garrisons but as soon as the Spring was come on there was â—ought by the River Esis between Metellus and Carmus Lieutenant to Carbo a very fierce Battel which lasted from Morning to Night wherein the Lieutenant being defeated with a great loss of Men the Neighbouring Places that held for the Romans yielded to Metellus but Carbo having reached Metellus besieged him till such time as understanding that his Colleague had been defeated in a great Battel near Praeneste he brought off his Forces to Rimini pursued by Pompey who sorely galled his Rear-Guard Now the defeat of Praeneste was thus Sylla having sâ—ised on Setia Marius drew thither with his Forces then falling off by little and little when he came to Sacriport he drew up in order of Battel Sylla having done the like they fought bravely till Marius's Left Wing beginning to stagger five Cohorts and two Squadrons who had turned their backs of set purpose threw down their Colours and went all and yielded to Sylla which was the sole occasion of the Rout for all the rest presently took their flight towards Praeneste Sylla still following them close at the Heels The Praenestines let the first that presented themselves enter but because the Enemy was so close in the Rear of them they shut their Gates and drew up Marius over the Wall with Ropes and now there was a great Slaughter before the Walls and many Prisoners taken among which all that were found to be Samnites were by Sylla's command cut in pieces as obstinate Enemies of the Roman Name About the same time Metellus defeated another Army of Carbo's five Cohorts having come over to his Party in the heat of the Fight which much advanced the Victory Pompey likewise beat Marius about Siena and took and sacked the City As for Sylla after having shut up Marius in Praeneste he caused the place to be encompassed with a very large Circumvallation which he gave in charge to Lucretius Offella that he might take the Consul by Famine there being no necessity of Fighting He seeing his Affairs desperate and unwilling his Enemies should survive him wrote to Brutus Praetor of the City that he should call the Senate upon any other pretence and then cause Antistius the other Carbo with Lucius Domitius and Mutius Scaevola the High Priests to be slain The two first according to Marius's order were killed in the Senate by Murderers sent thither Domitius flying was slain at the Door and Scaevola at some distance from the Palace Their Bodies were cast into the River for the custom was now grown ripe not to suffer Burial to be given to those were slain Mean time Sylla drew off his Forces towards Rome by several ways with order to seise on the Gates and if they were repulsed to retire to Ostia which way soever they marched the terrour of their Arms made the Cities receive them and Rome it self shut not her Gates for the Citizens were straitened with Famine and already accustomed no more with stubborness to resist Calamities at hand As soon as Sylla had this intelligence he immediately advanced and drawing up his Army in Battalia in the Field of Mars before the Gate entred the City where not finding one of the contrary Faction
he forthwith confiscated their Goods and publickly sold them and assembling the people complained that he had been forced by the malice of his Enemies to come to these Extremities exhorting the Citizens to take courage with promise they should in a few days behold the end of their miseries and the re-establishment of the Common-wealth After having applyed some remedies to the most pressing Distempers and left a Garrison in the City he marched towards Clusa where there was yet a Remain of War not to be neglected Whilst he was at Rome some Celtiberian Horse sent from the Praetors of Spain were joyned with the Consul's Army which occasioned a Fight betwixt the Horsemen near the River Glanis where Sylla's Horsemen had the better he killed about five hundred of the Enemy and two hundred and seventy Celtiberians came over to his side all the rest Carbo caused to be cut in pieces either to revenge the treachery of their Countrymen or for fear his Men should follow their example At the very instant of this Victory Sylla's Party fighting against their Enemies about Saturnia defeated them and Metellus going by Sea to the Borders of Ravenna reduced under his obedience the Country of the Uritanians which is a vast Champain very fruitful in Corn. Another Body of Sylla's Men entring by night into Naples by treason put all to the Sword save a few that escaped by flight and made themselves Masters of all those People's Galleys As for what passed at Clusa Sylla fought a whole day together against Carbo and the Field was so resolutely maintained that only night parted them Victory inclining neither to one side nor the other But in the Country of Spoletto Pompey and Crassus both Lieutenants to Sylla cut in pieces about three thousand of Carbo's Men and kept Carinas who commanded them blocked up till Carbo sent another Army to relieve him of whose March Sylla having intelligence crossed their way and charged so briskly that he left about two thousand in the place but yet Carinas taking the opportunity of a dark and rainy night escaped from the Besiegers hands who though they knew it well enough yet let him pass because of the cruel weather The same Carbo to rescue his Colleague Marius besieged in Praeneste and ready to perish with Famine sent Marcius with eight Legions whom Pompey that lay in ambush for him so vigorously assaulted that he slew the greatest part and forced the rest to retreat to a rising ground where he invested them but Marcius causing great Fires to be kindled to make the Enemy believe he still was there marched off closely in the dark but his Army imputing to him the fault committed in falling into the Ambuscade mutinyed and whether he would or no took their march towards Rimini where the greatest part disbanding themselves went home so that Marius had but seven Cohorts left with which after all these misfortunes he went to find out Carbo After this M. Lamponius Pontus Telesinus and Gutta of Capua being upon their March with seventy thousand Men as well Lucanians as Samnites to go and disengage Marius Sylla seised of a certain Strait by which only they could pass to go to Praeneste so that they were forced to return without doing any thing And now the Consul falling from all hopes of being relieved caused a Fort to be raised in a spacious place between the City and Trenches whither he brought Engines and drew together all his Forces with intention to make Lucretius retire and open himself a passage by Sally but after divers continued endeavours for many days he shut himself up again within the Walls of Praeneste About the same time Carbo and Norbanus after a long hard March perceived themselves towards Evening to be near Metellus his Camp and though there were but an hour more of daylight and that they saw all about the Vineyards lay very thick yet they drew up their Army in Battalia with more passion than prudence They thought to fright Metellus by this surprize but both time and place being disadvantageous to them they fell one upon another and were so cruelly defeated that they left six thousand upon the place six thousand yielded to Metellus and the rest fled every man his way so that a thousand only retreated in order to Arezzo Upon the news of this defeat a Legion of Lucanians commanded by Albinovanus joyned with Metellus's Party and that in despite as it were of their General who yet not losing courage went to find out Norbanus and yet after all this having underhand treated with Sylla upon condition to do some memorable service he invited Norbanus to a Treat with his Lieutenants C. Apustius and Flavius Fimbria Brother to that Fimbria who killed himself in Asia together with all the Officers of Carbo's Party who being all met save only Norbanus he caused them to be slain in the midst of the Feast and yielded himself to Sylla After this Treachery Norbanus hearing that Rimini because of this accident and of some Armies that lay nigh to it had likewise fallen off to Sylla's Party and believing as it generally happens to all men in declining fortune that he could no longer confide in the friendship of any man embarqued on a Vessel belonging to a private man and got safe to Rhodes whither Sylla having sent to demand him whilst the Rhodians were consulting about it he slew himself in the midst of the place Carbo yet sent two Legions under the command of Damasippus to Praeneste to raise that Siege with all speed possible but they could no more than the others force Sylla's Men posted in the Strait Beside all this all the Cisalpine Gauls yielded to Metellus and Lucullus encountring another Army of Carbo's near Placentia gained the Victory so that this General after so many losses though he had still thirty thousand Men about Clusa the two Legions with Damasippus and two others commanded by Carinas and Marcius besides a great number of Samnites continually engaging with Sylla's Men to drive them from the Strait where they were posted lost all hopes and fled to Africa with his Friends in which he certainly committed a great weakness to leave Italy being Consul as if after having lost it he could make himself Master of Africa The Army which he left at Clusa engaging with Pompey after the loss of twenty thousand Men dispersed and every man returned home As for Carinas Marcius and Damasippus having joyned Forces they marched towards the Strait of which we have so often spoke hoping with the assistance of the Samnites to come to a good issue but not succeeding better than others before them they advanced towards Rome which they thought might easily be taken wanting both Men and Provision and went and pitched their Camp upon the Alban Hill at the tenth Stone But now Sylla who was afraid for the City caused the Vanguard of his Horse to advance first to retard the Enemies March and himself following with
of Caesar that the other was so extremely surprized thinking he was come of purpose to meet him that of his own accord he yielded himself into his Hands demanded Pardon and delivered up to him the Fleet so powerful was the Opinion only of Caesar's continual Happiness for I can find out no other Cause and am of Opinion that in all the Dangers he ever encountred his good Fortune never served him to better purpose than now when Cassius a Warlike Man having seventy Gallies meeting him by chance so ill prepared durst not attempt to fight him and yet after he had setled himself in the Supreme Power in the City he who out of a Cowardly faint-heartedness yielded to him in his Passage killed him in the height of his Prosperities which proves the more that Cassius terrifyed in that manner yielded only to the Fortune that advanced Caesar. Thus escaping beyond his Hopes as soon as he was landed the Ionians Etolians and other Nations inhabiting that great Peninsula which is called Asia Minor sent Deputies to him to crave his Pardon which he granted And understanding that Pompey was gone towards Egypt he sailed towards Rhodes whence without staying for his Army whom he had ordered to rendezvouz in this Island he embarked on Cassius his Gallies and those of Rhodes with those Forces he had and towards the Evening went to Sea He told no body whither he designed but only gave Order to the Pylates to follow the Admiral 's Light by Night and the Flag by Day And when he was in the Main Sea he commanded the Master of his Galley to stear towards Alexandria where he arrived the third Day after The King's Tutors who were still about Mount Cassia came forthwith to receive him And having at his Arrival but few People about him he remained for some time without doing any thing In the mean time he civilly received all such as visited him walked often about the City under pretence of being pleased to view it went often to Philosophy Schools where standing he would hear the Professors and by this manner of living he gained the Favour and Esteem of all the People of Alexandria But when his Army was arrived he put to death Achillas and Photinus for their Villany committed on the Person of Pompey and Theodotus then escaping him Cassius after finding him in Asia caused to be hanged The Alexandrians hereupon taking Arms and the King's Army coming to oppose Caesar they fought in several Engagements with divers Success as well about the Palace as the adjoyning Shores so that once Caesar pressed hard upon by the Enemy threw himself into the Sea and escaped them by swimming and his Coat-Armour falling into the Egyptians hands they hung it up in the place appointed for Trophies But in the end in the last Battel fought near the Nile where the King was in Person Caesar remained Conqueror He spent nine Months in all these Affairs till such time as he setled Cleopatra in the Kingdom of Egypt instead of her Brother and made a Progress with her upon the Nile followed by four hundred Vessels to see the Country or perhaps being in love with that Woman but we will speak of those things in writing the Affairs of Egypt When they would have presented to him Pompey's Head he would not see it and commanded it should be interred in the Suburbs where he consecrated a Chappel to the Goddess Nemesis which in our time when the Emperor Trajan made cruel War upon them the Jews pulled down the demolishing it being of importance to them Caesar having done these things in Egypt caused his Army to march with little noise through Syria against Pharnaces who had already been successful in many Occasions he had seized upon some places depending on the Romans he had defeated Domitius Caesar's Lieutenant in a Set Battel and puffed up with this Success had sacked the City of Amisa in the Kingdom of Pontus and publickly sold one part of the Inhabitants and made Eunuchs of all who had not obtained the Age of Puberty But frightned at Caesar's coming and repenting of what he had done when he was come within two hundred Furlongs of him he sent to him Ambassadors to treat of Peace with Orders to present him with a Crown of Gold and very impertinently to offer him the Daughter of their King in Marriage When he had heard the Occasion of their coming he made his Army march and amusing the Ambassadors with words advances up to Pharnaces Camp where beginning to cry out Shall not Parricide now be immediately punished he leaped on Horse-back and with the first Shout put the Enemy to Flight and made a great Slaughter without any of his Army 's drawing their Swords save only a thousand Horse that first followed him when he began the Charge Some Historians report that he should now say O! how happy was Pompey to have gained such Reputation with the Title of GREAT for having to deal with such People in the Mithridatick War And concerning this Victory he wrote to the City I came I saw I overcame As for Pharnaces he was content to retire into the Kingdom of Bosphorus which Pompey left him and Caesar had not now leisure to pursue him or lose time in these letter Affairs being called elsewhere by so many more important Wars wherefore he directed his Course towards Italy taking up all along as he marched through Asia the Tribute-Money which much troubled the Commissioners who had raised it upon the People with a thousand Cruelties as we have said in writing the Affairs of Asia Understanding by Letters that he received from Rome that the City was extremely tormented with new Seditions and that Anthony General of his Horse had with the Army seized upon the Great Place he left the Affairs of Asia to make all speed thither His Presence forthwith appeased the Tumult of the City but there was another raised against himself The Soldiers required to be payed what was promised them at Pharsalia for having exposed their Lives and that they might be dismissed having served the time appointed by the Laws He caused them in Excuse to be told that the Victory of Pharsalia was not yet perfect because War still continued in Africa but as soon as that was ended he would perform his Promise and give them over and above a thousand Drams a Head They with arrogance replyed that they stood not in need of Promises but of ready Money so that Crispus Salustus who was sent to them was fain to save his Life by Flight Upon report hereof made to Caesar he drew Anthony's Legion which had been left for the Guard of the City about his House and to the Guard of the Gates left the Mutineers should in their fury begin to plunder Private Houses And himself contrary to the Advice of all his Friends who counselled him not to expose himself to the fury of an Incensed Multitude with a signal Audacity of Mind as they
fell into the Enemies hand Yet this advantage obstructed not the Carthaginians tyred with the War from sending Ambassadors to Rome to demand Peace and Attilius himself went upon Parol to return himself a Prisoner if he obtained it not And yet this Captain when he came to confer with the prime Men of Rome was so far from inclining them to Peace that he perswaded them to continue the War and without doing ought else returned to Carthage resolved to suffer the utmost of their torments and indeed the Carthaginians shut him up in a Cask driven full of sharp Nails where he ended his Life most miserably However this good success was the cause of Xantippus his death for the Carthaginians fearing lest all the honour of the Victory would be attributed to the Lacedemonians feigned a gratification of their General making him magnificent Presents and sending him back in Galleys of their own but with orders to the Commanders of them that as soon as they came into the open Sea they should throw Xantippus and the Lacedemonians over-board so unhappy a recompence did this valiant Man receive for so brave an Action And this is all that was done considerable in the first Punick Wars till such time as the Carthaginians quitted to the Romans all their Rights in Sicily Now we have in our Sicilian History set down in what manner this Treaty was made therefore shall say no more here It will be sufficient to understand that by this means Peace was concluded between the People of Rome and Carthage Afterwards the Africans who were subject to the Carthaginians and assisted them against Sicily and the Celtes who served under their pay in that War complaining that the promises made them had not been performed declared War against them which obliged those of Carthage to demand aid from the Romans as their friends from whom notwithstanding they could obtain no more save a permission to levy Souldiers in Italy at their own Charge for and indeed by the Articles of the Treaty they could not require so much as that favour how be it the Romans sent deputyes into Africa to determine the difference and make Peace between these people But the Africans would by no means hearken to it offering rather to submit themselves to their government if they desired it which however they would not accept this was the reason that made the Carthaginians fit out so powerful a Fleet to revenge themselves on these Revolters that the Sea being no longer left open to the Lybians by which they might fetch in Provisions and the land being left untill'd by reason of the Wars they were reduced to such great scarcity as inforced them to return under the Carthaginians obedience This mighty Fleet not only pillaged the Lybians but even all they met with and the Romans themselves whom they threw over-board after they had rifled them that it might not come to be known at Rome and indeed it was a long time ere these crimes were discovered and when they were the Carthaginians seemed very averse to the giving satisfaction till such time that War being by the Romans declared against them they quitted Sardinia in reparation of this injury And this Article was added to the first treaty of Peace Sometime after the Carthaginians sent an Army into Spain to reduce it under their obedience and because they assailed those People separately they had already well advanced their Conquests When the Saguntines had recourse to the Romans for aid Hereupon the Carthaginians made a second Treaty by which they were bound not to Act any Hostilities beyond the River Iberus but this Treaty was soon broken for Hannibal past that River and leaving the Forces in Spain under the Command of other Captains came thundring into Italy with a Mighty Army The Romans had at this time in Spain Publius Scipio and his brother Cneus Cornelius who after having gained sundry Victories were slain by the Enemy Those who succeeded them had no better success until Scipio the Son of that Publius who was kill'd in Spain being commanded thither with an Army all the world looked upon him as a man sent by the Order of Heaven and guided by a Divine Spirit so great and glorious were his Actions At last having gain'd much Honour and Renown he delivered up the Army into their hands whom the Senate had appointed to succeed him Being returned to Rome he demanded Commission to pass into Africa with an Army promising himself both to oblige Hannibal to quit Italy and to force reason from the Carthaginians in their own Country Many who had the highest charges in the Commonwealth disliked the project alleging there was little appearance of doing any good by sending an Army into Africa and quitting Italy already by the Wars reduced almost to extremity whilst Hannibal raged with Fire and Sword and Hanno was coming to fall on them with great multitudes of Ligurians and Celtes But the opposite party argued that it might well be believed that the Carthaginians who attempted not the Conquest of Italy but because they feared nothing at Home would soon recal Hannibal when they saw War at their own Doors this opinion prevailed but upon condition that Scipio should make no levies in Italy so long as Hannibal was in Arms but if any Volunteers presented themselves he might make use of them as likewise of the Army of Sicily they likewise permitted him to take for his passage ten of their Gallies ready fitted with all those that he could find in Sicily yet without furnishing him with any Mony but what himself could raise among his private friends so mean opinion had they of this enterprise which afterwards proved of such mighty importance But Scipio who seem'd carried to Carthage by some Divine Power transported himself into Sicily with only about seven thousand Horse and Foot out of all which he chose three hundred of the most strong and comely youth for a guard to his Person he would not arrive them in Italy but as soon as he arrived in Sicily he commanded a like number of the richest of the Island to appear at a certain place with the fairest Arms and best Horses they could procure And as soon as they were come gave them leave to put other Persons in their places which being accepted by the Sicilians he presented to them his three hundred young men commanding them to give them their Arms and their Horses which they willingly consented to thus instead of three hundred Sicilians Scipio mounted and armed his three hundred Italians who could not but give him thanks for such a favor and indeed did afterwards serve him Excellently well in many occasions As soon as the Carthaginians understood these things they gave Commission to Asdrubal the son of Gisco to assemble Elephants and sent to Mago who was then raising Forces in Liguria six thousand Foot eight hundred Horse and seven Elephants with Orders forthwith to enter Hetruria with all the force he
shall first assault in what manner we are to act and when to begin As soon as they had all given their approbation of this advice It is time said he to put in Execution our dâ—sign as soon as we have made an end of this conference Whilst it is night and dark the fight will seem more dreadful to our enemies and we shall find them less prepared bâ—sides the obscurity will hinder them from being able to succour one another and in this manner we shall prevent this design they have of assailing us to morrow Now as they are three Armies that at Sea is distant and it is not possible to assault ships by night Asdrubal and Syphax are not encamped far from each other Asdrubal is the Principal Chief and Syphax barbarous effeminate and fearful as he is will never undertake any thing in the dark Wherefore let us make an attempt upon Asdrubal with all our Forces and place Masanissa in Ambush against Syphax if by chance and contrary to our bâ—lief he should come to assist the other Let us march with our foot directly to Asdrubal's Camp and storm it couragiously on all sides till we have forced his trenches As for the Horse since they are not fit for this night service We will place thâ—m on the Avenues of the enemies Camp that if by misfortune we be repulsed they may suppâ—rt and favour our Retreat and if we gain the advantage they may pâ—rsue and destroy the flyers Having finished this discourse he gave order to his Captains forthwith to draw their Souldiers to Arms whilst he sacrificed to Courage and Fear that none might in the night be terrified but on the Contrary the whole Army bear themselves couragiously in the Enterprise About the third watch the Trumpets sounded a dead march and all the Army advanced towards Asdrubal's Camp without making the least noise till such time as the Horse had seized the Avenâ—es and the foot were upon the Ditch Then was there raised among them a terrible noise of confused voices mixed with Trumpets the more to affright the enemy and therewith falling on they beat back the guards fill'd up the trench pull'd down the Palisadoes and some of the boldest pressing forwards began to set fire on the Tents The Africans full of conâ—usion take their Arms between sleep and waking and endeavor to draw into a battel but the tumult was so great they could not hear the voices of them that Commanded and their General himself knew not the cause of the Alarm The Romans thronged in among these people whom they found in disorder and ill Armed setting all before them on fire and putting all they met with to the Sword Their shouts the sight of them and their fierceness stroke terror into these miserable people and the night and the incertainty of the danger increased it so that believing all their Camp was absolutely taken fearing to be involved in the general ruine they thronged in crouds towards the plain where they thought they might be in more security and every one taking his own way they fell into the hands of the horsemen who made a most dreadful slaughter Syphax heard this great noise in the night and saw the flames but stirred not out of his Camp only sent some Troops of Horse to assist Asdrubal who falling into Masanissa's Ambush were all cut of When at break of day Syphax understood that Asdrubal was fled that all his Army were either slain taken or ran away that his Camp with all his munition of war was in the Romans possession he deserted all retiring farther up into the Contitinent out of fear lest Scipio returning from the Chase of Asdrubal should turn his Arms against him leaving his Camp and all it's furniture as a prey to Masanissa Thus at one stroke in less then a night the Romans took two Camps and routed two Armies beyond comparison greater than theirs The vanquishers lost about one hundred Souldiers and the vanquished about thirty thousand besides two thousand four hundred that were taken Prisoners and six hundred Horse that came to submit themselves to Scipio upon his return from the Victory as for the Elephants they were all either wounded or killed Scipio having gained in this battel great quantity of Arms Gold Silver Ivory and Horses as well Numidian as others and beholding the Carthaginian forces ruined by this great victory distributed part of the booty among his Souldiers sent whatever was most precious to Rome and began to Exercise his Army in Labor and Travel expecting Hannibal who was ere long to return from Italy as was likewise Hanno from Liguria Asdrubal General of the Carthaginians having been wounded in this nights battel saved himself with five hundred Horse at Anda where he rallyed some Mercenaries and some fled Numidians and gave liberty to all slaves that would bears Arms and at length understanding that his Citizens had condemned him to death for his ill Conduct in this War and that they had made Hanno the Son of Bomilcar his Successor he took a resolution to keep himself with this Army which consisted of three thousand Horse and eight thousand Foot besides a great Number of Criminals that resorted to him with which he marched through all places where he had any hopes to get provisions inuring them to hardship having prepared himself to perish if he could not overcome which was a long time unknown as well to the Romans as Carthaginians Mean while Scipio marched at the head of his Army to the very Walls of Carthage where he presented battel to the Citizens but they would not accept it But Amilcar their Admiral went with one hundred Ships to the Port where Scipio's Fleet lay believing that before Scipio could return he should easily defeat twenty Roman Gallies with his hundred Ships But Scipio having intelligence of his Design sent his Orders before to block up the Ports mouth with Ships of burthen which they ranged before it at Anchor in such manner that there were passages left for the Roman Gallies to Sally out when they saw an advantage and yet these great Ships were fastned together by the Yard-arms and served as a wall against the enemies The work was not quite finished at his arrival but he soon brought it to perfection The Carthaginian Ships then coming to assault the Romans were beaten off by flights of Arrows and Stones as well from those in the ships as on shore and from the walls of the Port insomuch that most of them being battered and the Souldiers quite tyred they retired in the Evening without doing any thing As they made their retreat the Roman Gallies sallied by the passages which we spoke of before and when they found they could execute nothing they retreated into the Port by the same passages At length they brought to Scipio one of the enemies ships but not a man in her After these encounters it being now winter each party retired to their Garrisons The Romans caused
length victory having long hung in equal Ballance the Generals moved with compassion to see their Souldiers out of breath fiercely charged each other the sooner to put an end to the battel at the same instant both discharged their darts Scipio's stuck in Hannibal's buckler and Hannibal's hurt Scipio's horse who feeling himself wounded overthrew his Master to the ground But Scipio nimbly remounting on another discharges a second dart at Hannibal which took no better effect then the former save only it wounded a horseman that sat near his Captain Mean while Masanissa having notice comes in and the Roman Souldiers seeing their General perform not only the part of a Captain but of a Private Souldier fighting for them gave so home a Charge that they put the enemy to flight As they followed the pursuit Hannibal gained the front of his own men endeavouring all he could to stop them and lead them back to fight but in vain At last since from them he could obtain nothing he has recourse to those Italians he had brought with him who yet kept firm in their Post and makes them advance towards the enemy hoping whilst the Romans were eager in pursuit of the flyers he might the easier put them in disorder but they perceiving his design stopt as if a retreat had been sounded and drew up into order The horse had now left them and their darts were spent so they were forced to close with the enemy and come to Swords point And now was a terrible slaughter nothing to be heard but the groans of dying men and the shouts of those that slew them till such time as the enemy were totally routed the victory no longer doubted of and Hannibal had betaken himself to flight As he fled he perceived some Numidian horse still in a body to them he goes and begs them not to forsake him and as soon as they had given him their word turns upon his pursuers with great hopes of defeating them They were by chance Massesuliens so that Masanissa and Hannibal came to fight hand to hand In this Combat Hannibal received a blow on his buckler and at the same instant slew his enemies horse Masanissa getting up and seeking for Hannibal on foot slew with a dart a horseman that encountred him and received in his buckler which was of Elephants skin several darts one of which he snatches out and throws at Hannibal but by misfortune another horseman received the stroke and lost his life and as he strove to pull out another he was wounded in the arm and forced for a while to retire out of the fight Scipio hearing of this rancounter was in fear for Masanissa but as he was going to relieve him he found that having bound up his wound he was returning to the fight mounted on a fresh horse so the battel being renewed they fought couragiously on either side when Hannibal perceiving on a little hill a squadron of Spaniards and Gauls spurred towards them to bring them into his assistance which gave occasion to the others unacquainted with the reason of his departure and believing he fled to become quite heartless and betake themselves to a disorderly flight not after Hannibal but every one where fortune led him The Romans seeing the Enemy thus dispersed thought themselves assured of the victory and began without any order to follow the chase for they knew not Hannibal's design who presently returning to the Charge at the head of those Spaniards and Gauls Scipio was forced to recal his men again from the pursuit and speedily put them in order to receive the Enemy whom they had no great difficulty to overcome being a far greater number then those descended from the hill Hannibal seeing this last push had no better success then the former and that all was absolutely lost fled likewise pursued by many and among others by Masanissa who notwithstanding the pain inconveniency of his wound followed him close at the heels out of the passionate desire he had to take him prisoner and present him to Scipio but by the favor of the night which came on he escaped his hands and at last accompained only with twenty horse which were all could follow him gained as far as a City called Tunis where he met several horsemen as well Brutians as Spaniards who had there saved themselves after the defeat but knowing the Spaniards to be rash and Barbarous and the Brutians to be Italians of the same Country with Scipio he was fearful left to obtain pardon for the fault they had committed in bearing arms against their Country they should deliver him up to his enemy and so departed secretly by night accompanied only with one horseman in whom he had confidence so that having rode in two days and two nights almost three thousand furlongs he arrived at Adrumetum which is a Sea-town where finding some troops he had left as guards to his stores of Corn and drawing together forces from the circumadjacent places and rallying all those had escaped from the battel he began again to make preparation of Arms and Engines of War But Scipio having gained this noble victory burnt with his own hands according to the Custom of the Roman Generals those spoils of the enemy that were of small moment sending the choicest and most precious to Rome ten talents of Gold two thousand five hundred talents of Silver many moveables of Ivory whole Ships loading of Prisoners the most part Gentlemen with Lelius to carry the new's The remainder he sold distributing the mony among the Souldiers giving Military rewards to such as had served him well particularly a Crown to Masanissa and now being become absolute Master of the field he made himself Master of the Cities Such was the success of this battel fought in Africa between Hannibal and Scipio who never before had dealings with each other The Romans lost two thousand five hundred men Masanissa somewhat more there died of the enemies five and twenty thousand besides eight thousand eight hundred taken prisoners three hundred Spaniards that yielded to Scipio and eight hundred Numidians to Masanissa Now before the News of this Victory was brought either to Rome or Carthage the Carthaginians had writ to Mago who was then raising forces in Gaul with Orders to make an irruption into Italy if it were possible or else to come over into Africa with such power as he might have raised but these Letters being intercepted and brought to Rome were the occasion of the Senates sending recruits of foot and horse with Ships and Mony to Scipio who after this defeat made Octavius March with his Army towards Carthage whither he designed to follow with his Fleet. But when the Carthaginians understood that Hannibal was defeated they sent their Deputies to meet Scipio the chief of which were Hanno the great and Asdrubal furnamed the Goat they went in a passage Boat on the Prow of which they planted a Caduceus and at their arrival stretched forth their
Nucera with design to assault Asdrubal the enterprise displeased Scipio the more because he saw that in his March he was to pass through narrow ways among the Rocks the tops of which were possessed by the Enemy However he would go but being come within three furlongs of that General on the Banks of a River which he must pass to fall on Scipio did what he could to oblige the Consul to a retreat telling him another time and other means were requisite to reach Asdrubal Those who envyed him were not wanting to oppose his proposition and to say that it favoured more of cowardise than prudence to turn tail after having seen the Enemy and that it was to give them an opportunity to come and charge them in the Rear He then proposed another advice to wit that at least they should throw up Trenches on that side the River that if they were repulsed they might have a retreat but they laughed at this and one of them said he would lay down his Sword if he must obey the orders of Scipio and not those of Manlius Hereupon the Consul who was not very expert in War past the River and was no sooner on the other side but he engaged Asdrubal where there happened a great slaughter on both sides but because Asdrubal had his Camp near he retreated thither from whence as from a place of security he observed in what manner he might defeat the Romans who already repenting themselves of their enterprize regained the River in good order yet could they not very commodiously repass it because there were but few Fords and those very dangerous so that they were forced to file off Now Asdrubal taking his time charged them with great fury slaying an infinite of those who sought rather to fly than defend themselves of which number were three of the Tribunes the principal of those who had advised the General to give battel Scipio presently rallyed all the Cavalry he could with three hundred Horse which he had and dividing them into two Squadrons caused them to march against the Enemy each of his side with order not to charge at the same time but make their discharge of their Darts and then immediately retreat then charging again retreat in like manner He was of opinion that thus having always one half of them fronting the Enemy and stopping them with force of Darts he should constrain him to close his Battalia's which indeed happened for after often renewing this kind of fight and that the Africans saw they continually charged them with Darts which extremely vexed them they turned all their Power against Scipio giving by this means leisure to the rest of the Army to repass the River and Scipio seeing the Romans on the other side passed himself through all the showers of Darts thrown at him by the Africans Now at the beginning of this fight four Roman Cohorts which the unexpected assault of the Enemy had hindred from gaining the River were retired to an Eminence where Asdrubal besieged them The Romans perceived nothing of it till such time as they were about to encamp and now they did know it knew not what to resolve on some were of advice to continue their march and not to expose a great Army for a small Number Whereupon Scipio remonstrated to them that when the debate was about a matter of importance mature deliberation 't is true was requisite but that now seeing so many brave men in an extreme danger nothing was to be left unattempted to releive them In short having taken with him Provision for two days he set forward leaving the Army in a great fear lest he should not return himself As soon as he came to the place where the Enemy besieged the Romans he immediately seised of an Eminence nigh to that to which the Cohorts were retired to and which was only divided from it by a very narrow Valley His coming hindred not the Africans from continuing the siege for they could not think that his men tired with travel could give any assistance to the besieged but he seeing that the two Hills joyning themselves together at the foot made but a very small Valley advances that way and posts himself above the Enemy who startled at his courage and readiness betook themselves to a disorderly flight He would not pursue them because they were the greater number but contented himself with the saving of these four Cohorts which were given over for absolutely lost The Soldiers seeing him return contrary to their hopes and that not only he himself was safe but that he had likewise saved others gave assurance of their inward rejoycing by their outward acclamations and shouts of joy conceiving an opinion of him that he acted nothing but by the assistance of the same Divinity which was believed to foretel things to his Ancestor Scipio Manlius returned to his Camp near the City after having suffered sufficiently for not giving credit to Scipio who would have disarmed him from the Expedition and whereas many thought it strange that they had left their Dead unburyed especially three Tribunes Scipio gave liberty to a Prisoner and sent him to Asdrubal to entreat him to give Funerals to the Tribunes He caused them to be sought for among the Dead and knowing them by the Rings of Gold they wore for by them are the Chiefs among the Romans distinguished from the private Soldiers who wear only Iron ones he gave them honourable Funerals whether moved to it out of humanity or that in justice he ought it to the rule of War or else already reverencing the Glory of Scipio he was willing by this Office to oblige that great man To proceed as the Romans who had had this bickering with Asdrubal were on their return to Carthage still frighted with their defeat Phameas cruelly perplexed them and on the other side the Carthaginians came forth to meet them so that they could not recover the Camp without the loss of some servants which those from the City cut off Mean while the Senate sent Commissioners to the Army to enquire into the state of affairs to whom both Manlius and the Chief Officers and likewise even those Tribunes who had escaped from the Rout gave an account very advantagious in favor of Scipio For at last so many glorious successes had stopt the mouth of Envy All the Army did the like but above all his brave Actions spoke enough for themselves Wherefore the Commissioners upon their return to Rome published with one voice the admirable qualities of Scipio and the great love the Souldiers bore him which extreamly pleased the Senate But now the Army being weakned by a great many disgraces Ambassadors were sent to Masanissa to demand forces against the Carthaginians who found him no longer among the living That King finding himself oppressed with age and sickness and having many illegitimate Children on whom he had bestowed great gifts and three legitimate Sons all of different minds and manners he
in Spain and likewise in Italy for sixteen whole years together during which Hannibal had sackt four hundred Cities and destroyed in divers encounters three hundred thousand men and being several times come to the very Gates of their City had reduced them to the last extremities These things considered made them with difficulty believe what was tole of the victory and they often demanded of one another if it were certain that Carthage was destroyed Thus they past the night in recounting one to another how after having disarmed the Carthaginians they had presently made themselves new Arms beyond the judgment of all the World How having taken away their Ships they had built others of old stuff and how having stopt the entrance of their Port they had in a few days dug a new one on the other side They spoke likewise of the unmeasurable height of their Walls the vast stones they were built with the fire which they had several times put to the Engines In short they represented to the eyes of the Auditors the whole figure of this War insomuch that giving life to their discourse by their gesture they seemed to see Scipio on the Ladders on the Ships in the Gates and in the Streets running from one side to the other The people having thus spent the night on the morrow solemn sacrifices were made to the Gods and Publick Prayers wherein every Tribe assisted separately after which Plays and Spectacles were exhibited to publick view and then the Senate sent ten Commissioners of the Number of the Fathers to settle joyntly with Scipio such Orders as were most necessary for that Province and for the Romans best advantage As soon as they were arrived they Ordered Scipio to demolish what remained of Carthage henceforth forbidding any to inhabit there with horrible imprecations against those who in prejudice of this Interdict should attempt to Rebuild any thing especially the Fort called Byrsa and the place called Megara to the rest they defended no mans entrance They decreed likewise that all the Cities which in that War had held on the Enemies party should be razed and gave their Territories Conquered by the Roman Arms to the Roman Allies particularly gratifying those of Utica with all the Country extending from Carthage to Hippone they made all the rest of the Province Tributary from which neither Men nor Women were exempt resolving that every year there should a Praetor sent form the City and having given these Orders they returned to Rome Scipio having Executed them and beholding himself at the height of his wishes made sacrifices and set forth Plays in Honour of the Gods and after setling all things in a good condition returned to Rome whither he entred in Triumph Never was any thing beheld more glorious for there was nothing to be seen but Statues and Rarities and curious pieces of an inestimable price which the Carthaginians had for so long a time been bringing into Africa from all parts of the World where they had gained an infinite of Victories This hapned near the same time that Mummius Triumphed the third time over the Macedonians and the first time over the Greeks after having overcome Andriscus who gave himself out to be Philip about the hundred and sixteenth Olympiad Some time after there arising several seditions in the City because of the poverty of the people under the Tribuneship of Gracchus it was advised to send six thousand people to inhabit in Africa but when setting forth the foundations of this Colony in the place where formerly stood Carthage it was found the Wolves had removed the marks the Senate forbad their further proceeding Long time after when Caesar who was created Dictator after his Victory over Pompey pursued him into Egypt and from thence came into Africa to prosecute the War against the friends of his dead Enemy 't is said that he saw in a dream a great Army which shedding of tears called to him and that moved with this dream he set down in his Table Book the design he had to Rebuild Carthage and Corinth but being soon after kill'd by his Enemies in the Senate Caesar Augustus his Son finding by chance that Memorial caused Carthage to be Rebuilt which we may now behold near the place where the Ancient Carthage stood for he took care not to fall under the Execrations fulminated when it was demolished I find it on Record that they sent near three thousand inhabitants from Rome and that the neighboring Cities compleated the peopling of it Thus was Africa reduced into the form of a Province and Carthage ruined by the Romans was Rebuilt by themselves and Repeopled one hundred and one years after it was demolished The End of the Roman Wars in Lybia APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Roman Wars IN SYRIA Book II. The Argument of this Book I. ANtiochus undertakes to make War against the Romans without any just cause II. His preparations Hannibal comes to him adviseth him to carry the War into Italy and sends Ariston the Tyrian to Carthage to stir up the people III. A Conference between Scipio the African and Hannibal IV. Antiochus on the promises of the Etolians begins the War V. Hannibal's Speech to divert the King from prosecuting the War till his Forces were come out of Asia VI. The Romans prepare for War mean while Antiochus besieges Larissa but raises his Siege and goes to winter at Chalcedon where he Marries though above fifty years old VII Manius General of the Romans pursues Antiochus who stays for him at the straits of Thermopylae where they engage and Antiochus is defeated VIII Publick Prayers for Manius Victory which is followed by the surrendry of many places Antiochus causes his Forces to come from Asia IX L. Scipio Consul prepares to come and command the Army after Manius mean while Livius Admiral of the Romans and Polexenidas Commander of Antiochus's Fleet engage where Livius gets the better X. L. Scipio and his Brother the African pass into Etolia and thence into Thrace whilst Livius Successor of Attilius takes many Towns and Polexenidas deceives Pausimachus General of the Rhodian Fleet. XI Seleucus the Son of Antiochus invades Eumenes his Kingdom and besieges Pergamus whence he raises his Siege mean while the Roman Fleet defeats that of Antiochus XII He quits all he held in Europe which the Scipio's possess themselves of then follow that King and overtake him at Sardis where conditions of Peace are proposed which he will not accept XIII He is forced to come to a Battel wherein he is utterly defeated XIV The Scipio's grant him Peace on conditions which the Senate confirm for which the African is accused of corruption and defends himself in an extraordinary manner XV. Manius Successor of Scipio gives Order to the rest of the Affairs of Asia and brings back the Army into Italy where he dismisses them and the Senate rewards the Rhodians and Eumenes XVI An account of the Successors of Antiochus their actions
sudden an eruption he returned into the City with Men and Horses taken from the Enemy On the morrow he posted himself in the same station without being followed by those of Pergamus any more than the day before Seleucus faced him with some Bodies of Horse offering him Battel but he moved not thereat kept firm his ground near the Walls waiting an opportunity and when he perceived about noon Seleucus Horsemen were returning to the Camp quite tyred he furiously charged them in the Rear and after having put them to the rout and slain some of them he retreated into the City he made many such like attempts for they could neither go out to Forrage nor to cut Wood but he was still at the backs of them till at last he harrassed them in such manner that Seleucus was forced to withdraw his Camp out of the Territories of Pergamus and at last was quite driven out of Eumenes's Kingdom Sometimes after happened a Sea fight between Polexenidas and the Romans near Myonesa Polexenidas having fourscore and ten Ships of War and Regulus the Roman Admiral fourscore and three of which five and twenty were Rhodians commanded by Eudorus He was appointed to fight on the left hand but perceiving that Polexenidas was stronger on the right and ready to encompass the Romans he made head with all his Ships which were very nimble and forthwith opposed him with those which carried Firebals so that he durst advance no further for fear of burning but as he tack'd he exposed the broadsides of his Ships to the Rhodians who charging upon them sunk some of them till such time as one of the Rhodian Ships having run his Beakhead with such violence against a Sidonian that the Anchor fell into the Rhodian they were grappled fast together and now they began a Fight as on firm Land and a great number of Vessels thronging in both of one side and the other to the assistance of these grappled Ships the Fight was very bloody but one half of the Kings Ships being divided from the rest of their Companions were oppressed by the Romans before the others perceived it and as soon as they saw it they betook themselves to flight The King lost nine and twenty Ships of which thirteen were taken with all their crew The Romans lost only two besides one of Rhodes which Polexenidas carried with him to Ephesus Thus ended the Sea Fight which was fought near Myonesa Mean while the King strengthened the Chersonesus and fortified Lysimachia judging well as true it was that the Romans would find it difficult to pass into Thrace without having a firm alliance with Philip. But being of an inconstant Spirit and variable on matters of no moment as soon as he heard of this loss near Myonesa he began to fear and believed he had some God to his Enemy since all things succeded so ill that the Romans were become Masters of the Sea where he thought he had the greatest advantage that Hannibal was blocked up in Pamphilia and that Philip who he thought should have remembred the injuries he had received did himself conduct the Enemy through ways inaccessible Frighted with all these disorders and God blinding his judgement as it happens in weighty calamities he most imprudently abandons the Chersonesus without staying so much as for a sight of the Romans or without either transporting or burning all those Provisions and Munitions he had heaped together whether of Corn Arms Engines or Money but leaving them intire to the service of his Enemies Nay so senceless he was that when those of Lysimachia went to him weeping with their Wives and Children he took no notice of it He had now no other thoughts but how to hinder the Romans from entring into Abidos on which he hence forward placed all his hopes and yet as if the Gods had more and more blinded him he never took care to guard that passage nor so much as placed a Garrison in it but made a swift retreat into the Inland designing there to expect the Enemy The Scipio's having intelligence of his departure made haste to possess themselves of Lysimachia and having siesed on all the Treasure and Provisions the King had left in Chersonesus they forthwith passed the Hellespont which they found defenceless and overtook Antiochus at Sardis before he any thing doubted it This diligence of theirs so much astonished him that beginning to torment himself and making Fortune a party in the faults he had committed he presently dispatched away Hâ—raclides the Bizantine to the Scipio's to treat of Peace offering them Smyrna Alexandria upon the Granick Lampsacus which had been the cause of their difference with half the charge of the War He had likewise Orders to grant them all the Cities of Ionia and Aeolia which had held of their party and in short whatever they demanded These Conditions he was to propose publickly but in private he had Commission to offer to Publius Scipio a great sum of Money with promise to restore him his Son without Ransom for the King had taken him prisoner in Greece as he passed from Chalcis to Demetriade This is that Scipio who afterwards took and demolished Carthage and was the second that bore the sirname of African He was the Son of that Paulus who took Perseus of Macedon Grand-child to Scipio by the Mother side she being his Daughter and afterwards became his Son by Adoption The Scipio's made answer to Heraclides in full assembly That if Antiochus desired Peace he must not only quit all Ionique and Eolique Cities but likewise all Asia on that side Mount Taurus and besides that pay all the Expence of this War which had been begun through his fault And in particular Publius told the Byzantine That if the King had offered these Conditions whilst he held Lysimachia and the Chersonesus nay it 's possible before he had passed the Hellespont the Romans might have accepted them but seeing he had suffered them to pass and that now they beheld themselves Masters not only of the Bridle but of the Horseman they knew not what else to say to him However he was highly obliged to him for his kindness and should be more when he sent him his Son but as Affairs at present stood he advised him as his friend to receive these Conditions e'er something worse befel him After this he was carried sick to Aelea leaving Cn. Domitius Lieutenant to his Brother As for Antiochus he was of the same opinion Philip of Macedon had formerly in the like case been that though he were absolutely defeated they could not demand more and therefore applied himself to rally his Forces in the Country of Thyatira very near the Enemy However he sent Scipio his Son to Aelea in acknowledgement of which Scipio sent him word by those which brought him his Son that he advised him not to give Battel till he was returned to the Army The King perswaded by the Authority of that great Man went and incamped
them some suspition of Treason which was confirmed when Ambassadors from Artabasus came to acquaint the Consul that their King being engaged in a War against Orodes who had invaded his Country could not send him any assistance but that he advised him to turn his Arms that way and to joyn with the Armenians to give battel to the Parthians or if that were not his judgment at least so to order his march that he took care not to engage in the plains where the Horse should have too much advantage but that he should as much as he could draw towards the Mountains To all which Crassus who would not write a word in Answer to the king brutishly and like a Man in Choler made Answer That he was not now at leisure to think of the affairs of Armenin but that at his return he would Chastise Artabasus for his treachery Whereupon Cassius and those that were of his mind grew angry but without saying a word to Crassus who would not listen to any good counsel given him they fell to reviling Agbarus with a thousand reproachful words What niischievous Devil brought thee hither thou most villanous of all mankind said they to him by what Witchcraft or Inchantments hast thou been able to perswade Crassus to take his march through these vast Solitudes a road more proper for a Numidian Robber then a Roman General But he being cunning entertained them still with fair words exhorting them to have a little patience and encourageing the tired Soldiers to march and with flattering smiles telling them What do you think you are marching now through Campania or do you hope to find here Fountains Rivers Shades Baths and continual Inns Remember pray remember that you pass now by the confines of Arabia and Syria Thus Agbarus treated the Romans as if he had been their Paedagogue and before his Treason was discovered he left them not by stealth but by consent of the Consul whom he made believe he went to give Orders about things necessary and to create some disorder in the Enemies Camp 'T is said that that day Crassus came forth not in a Purple Robe according to the manner of the Roman Generals but cloathed in Black which yet he went and changed as soon as he perceived it and that some Ensigns pitcht in the ground stuck so fast that those who were to carry them could scarcely pull them out at all which Crassus did but laugh He Commanded presently to March and earnestly urged the Legions to follow the Horse when some of his Scouts coming in brought word that others of their fellows had been slain by the Enemy and they had hardly escaped and that there was a dreadful multitude following them at the heels with resolution to fight This news amazed the whole Army but especially Crassus who began to draw his Army into Battel but with a great deal of Irresolution First according to Cassius advice he drew up his Legions at length extending them as far as ever he could that the Enemy might not surround them and placing his Horse on the wings but afterwards changing his mind he formed his Legions into a Battel of four Fronts each of which he covered with twelve Cohorts each Cohorts strengthened by a squadron of Horse that all four might be equally defended by the Horse One of the wings he gave in charge to Cassius the other to his Son and kept himself in the main battel Marching in this Order they gained a River called Balissa which though neither deep nor large was very welcome to the Soldiers who had had so toilsome a March through heat and dust most of the Officers advised not only the refreshing the Soldiers but resting that night there to the intent that making the best discovery they possibly could of the number and posture of the Enemy they might be the better able to encounter the next Morning but young Crassus and his Horsemen calling out for the Battel the Consul again re-incouraged commanded that those who had a mind to take any repast should eat without stirring from their Ranks and scarcely had he allowed them to take what Food was necessary but he marched forward the Army not slowly and often halting as is usually done by those who would preserve their Men for the Fight but upon the gallop and all in a breath till such time as the Enemy appeared sooner than they looked for them but neither in any great numbers nor in a posture to give any terrour to the Romans for the main Body of the Army was hid by these Vant-curriers who by Surena's order had with loose Coats covered their Armour But when they drew nearer and that the Enemies had given Signal of Battel there was heard throughout the whole Plain a dreadful noise for the Parthians use in War neither Horns or Trumpets but knowing well that of all the Senses the Ear is most capable of affecting the Mind and stirring up the Passions they beat all at once through the whole Army certain Drums whose hollowness makes dreadful roaring which in some measure imitates Thunder This noise having begun to terrifie the Romans the Parthians threw off their loose Coats and shewed their Armour of polished Steel whose brightness dazled the eyes and they were discovered to be mounted on Horses barbed and covered with plates of Iron and Copper Surena made a show above all the rest the Magnificence of whose habit seemed somewhat effeminate and disagreeable to the high Reputation he had gained but in this he followed the Custom of the Medes who go to Battel painted and curled whereas the Parthians tuck up their Hair on their Foreheads to make them appear more formidable At first they charged on the Spur with Lances in their Rests against the Front of the Roman Battel to try to break it but having observed the Legionary Bucklers joyned so close and their Ranks fast locked together they retired and as if they had disbanded and quitting their Ranks wheeled about the Roman Army Crassus sent against them his light armed Men who went not far for the Soldiers soon finding themselves overwhelmed and beaten down with showrs of Arrows ran to save themselves among the Ranks of the Legions bringing amongst them great confusion and disorder especially when it was perceived that those were discharged with such a violence that they equally wounded those that were armed and those that were not And now the Parthians began to fight at a distance with Flights of Arrows from all sides which were never shot in vain for the Romans were so closed together that though the Parthians would they could not well have mist them and their Bows being great and strong and managed by vigorous Arms made no slight Wounds Insomuch that the Romans were already hard put to it If they stood firm without quitting Ranks they were wounded and if they pressed to assault the Enemy they could not reach them and yet were wounded still for the Parthians discharged their
conspirators ended their lives in torments Many were afterwards suspected of the same crime fourscore of the Inhabitants of Pergamus being thereupon arrested besides many others in other Cities the King sending Spies into all parts under his obedience to find out the Criminals every one of which making discovery of his Enemy there perished about sixteen hundred men but the Accusers soon received their Chastisement for of them some were punished by Sylla others slew themselves and others fled with Mithridates to the Kingdom of Pontus Whilst these things passed in Asia the King had raised an Army of fourscore thousand men which Dorilaus carried into Greece to Archelaus who had still ten thousand men the remainder of his former Forces When Sylla who now lay encamped within sight of him near to Orchomene beheld so vast a Multitude of Horse arrive he caused several Ditches to be dug through the Plain ten foot wide and when Archelaus advanced towards him put his Army in a posture to receive him but perceiving the Romans fought but coldly against such numbers of Horsemen he rid himself through the Ranks stirred them up threatned them and at length not being able to provoke them leaps from his Horse takes a Colours in his hands and advancing with his Guards in the midst between two Battels cryes out If any asked you fellow Soldiers where you left your General Sylla tell them it was fighting near Orchomene Hereupon the Officers moved by the danger in which they saw him advanced from their standing and ran to his assistance the Soldiers urged with shame followed and all together made the Enemy give ground who before put them hard to it Sylla perceiving this entrance towards Victory mounts again on Horse back shows himself every where prayses his Soldiers encourages them and at last remains Master of the Field After having slain fifteen thousand men the most part Horsemen among whom was Diogenes the Son of Archelaus and driven the Foot into the very Camp of the Barbarians At the same instant for fear left Archelaus should save himself at Chalcis as he had done the time before he disposed Guards throughout the whole Plain to keep Watch that night and in the morning caused to be drawn before the Camp a Trench not above a Furlong distant from it Archelaus in the mean time kept within his Trenches but Sylla after having exhorted his Soldiers to make an end of the remain of this War since the Enemies durst not appear undertook to force them and marched directly to the Assault Upon this great change and in this pressing necessity the Enemies began by Speeches to encourage their Troops Each Captain showed his Solders the danger they were in if they did not defend themselves representing to them how cowardly a thing it would be if they should not have Heart enough to drive from their Trenches an Enemy they far surpassed in number Whereupon there presently arose a great noise on both sides each Party was set on fire and did actions wonderful At last the Romans leaped into the Ditch and stormed an Angle of the Camp out of which they plucked the Palisado's The Barbarians who perceived it lined the Angle close with their Swords drawn ready to fight nearer at hand inso much that no person durst enter till Basilius the first Tribune of a Legion leaped up and overturning him he first encountred with the whole Army thereupon followed and made a mighty slaughter of the Barbarians Some they slew in the Chase others they drove into a Lake hard by and some who could not swim cryed out for Quarter but in vain for their Language not being understood they were cut in pieces Archelaus hid himself in a certain Marsh and having there found a little Boat escaped to Chalcis where he speedily drew together all the remains of Mithridates Forces Next Morning Sylla gave a Crown to the Tribune and distributed Military Recompences to the others After which he went and spoiled Boeotia because those people were perpetually changing Parties and from thence passed into Thessaly where he took up his Winter Quarters expecting Lucullus with the Shipping of whom receiving no certain intelligence he set to building of others Whilst he was doing all these things Cornelius Cinna and Cajus Marius his particular Enemies declared him at Rome Enemy of the Common-Wealth pulled down his Houses seised his Lands and put to death his Friends Yet ceased not he to do all he could having a most obedient Army composed all of valiant Soldiers Now Cinna having drawn to his Party his Collegue Flaccus sent him into Asia with two Legions to Command in the Province and make War on Mithridates in the place of Sylla who was declared Enemy and because he was not very expert in War Fimbria one of the Senate in good esteem with the Soldiers went along with him They embarked at Brundusium to cross the Sea a good part of their Ships were lost by Storm and those who gained the other side were taken and burnt by the new Army sent by Mithridates Flaccus was proud covetous cruel in punishing and therefore hated by the Soldiers which made some Troops that were sent before into Thessaly to go over into Sylla's Camp and it was only Fimbria whom they esteemed the better Captain and more merciful then Flaccus that prevented the others from doing the like There happened by chance some difference between the Questor and he about encamping wherein Flaccus who was Judge not having duly considered the Quality of Fimbria he threatned him to return to the City Flaccus presently named a successor in his charge and forthwith embarked for Chalcedon Whereupon Fimbria taking the opportunity of his absence took away the Rods from Therinus whom he had made Propretor saying the Army had given him that Dignity and Flaccus thereat offended returning to punish him he put him to flight and forced him to hide himself in a private House from whence escaping by night over the Walls he got to Chalcedon and from thence to Nicomedia where he caused the Gates to be shut But Fimbria was presently there and drawing him out of a Well where he had hid himself slew him though a Roman Consul and more then that his General whilst he was but a private man who had followed his friend of greater Quality then he at his coming into the Province He cut of his Head which he threw into the Sea leaving the rest of the Body unburied and having made himself General of the Army fought afterwards successfully in several Engagements with Mithridates Son At length having to deal with the King himself he drove him to the very Gates of Pergamus whence he flying to Pisane had been there besieged had he not taken shipping and escaped to Mitylene After this Fimbria going through the Province ill intreated those who favoured the Party of the Cappadocians and spoiled their Lands who refused to open their Gates to him The City of Ilium he besieged whose
be the subject of this Book the first Part of which contains the Carthaginian Affairs For their concerns in Spain it was necessary for me to transfer to the Spanish History for the same Reasons as I have in the Sicilian History treated of such things as were acted between the Romans and Carthaginians in Sicily from the time that the Romans first crossed over into that Island and began to usurp the Dominion of it for the Romans first waged a tedious War with the Carthaginians in Sicily for Sicily it self and another in Spain for Spain whilst at the same both led mighty Forces into other of their Enemies Territories and these wasted Italy and those Lybia Now this War began in the hundred and fortieth Olympiad principally after the breach of the League made in the Sicilian War upon this occasion Amilcar sirnamed Barcas at such time when he commanded as General the Carthaginian Army had made promise of great rewards to the Mercenary Gauls and Auxiliary Africans which when they at his return into Lybia laid claim to kindled the African War In which besides many damages suffered by the Carthaginians from the Africans themselves they yielded up Sardinia to the Romans as a reprizal of those losses the Roman Merchants had in this African War sustained Wherefore Barcas summoned by his Adversaries to Judgement as the Instrument of inflicting all these calamities upon his Country having drawn to his party the Heads of the Commonwealth by the means especially of Asdrubâ—l his Son-in-law who was very popular not only evaded a Trial but a War then happening with the Numidians prevailed to be chosen General with Hanno sirnamed the Great before he had given any account of former administration This War ended and Hanno for some Crimes recalled he remaining sole Commander of the Army with his Son-in-Law Asdrubal crossing the Strait comes to Cadiz and though he had received no injury from the Spaniards wasts their Confines seeking only an opportunity to continue abroad do some great Actions and be able to exercise his liberality to the people For whatever he took by War he so divided that the Soldier had one part to oblige them to be the trustier Associates of his Rapines one part he sent to Carthage and another distributed into Gifts to such of the Heads of the Commonwealth as favoured him and this course he held till several petty Spanish Kings and other powerful men conspiring against him by this means cut him off They yoked Oxen into Carts loaden with Wood and driving them towards the Enemy marched themselves armed behind which when the Africans perceived not dreaming of any such daring deceitful design they burst out into a laughter but when they came so near as to engage the Spaniards setting fire to the Wood drove their Carts amongst the Enemy and the flame growing violent the Oxen hurrying them hither and thither disordered the Africans and breaking their main Body the Spaniards slew Barcas himself and many others coming in to their relief But the Carthaginians having already tasted the sweetness of Spanish plunder would not so give over but sent again fresh Forces into Spain whom they gave Commission to Asdrubal Amilcars Son-in-Law to Command And he chose Hannibal soon after famous for warlike exploits though now but a young man yet very daring and well beloved by the Soldiery for his Lieutenant General By whose labour and diligence in Warlike Affairs together with his Curtesie and Eloquence in which he excelled he added to his Command a great part of Spain extending the power of his Arms from the Western Ocean to the River Ibâ—rus which divides Spain in the midst and about five days journey from the Pyrenean Mountains runs into the Septentrional Ocean But the Saguntines which were a Colony of the people of Zant and other Greeks who inhabited the Mart-towns and other places of Spain growing jealous of their own safety sent Ambassadors to Rome The Senate who were unwilling to have the power of the Carthaginians advanced or enlarged dispatched an Embassie to Carthage where it was agreed that the limits of the Carthaginian Empire should be the River Iberus beyond which neither should it be lawful for the Carthaginians by Arms to provoke their Allies nor for them to pass over to make War upon the Carthaginians but the Saguntines and other Greeks should enjoy their liberty And to this end a solemn Instrument was signed on both sides In the mean time while Asdrubal governed that part of Spain subject to the Carthaginians a Slave that he might offer an acceptable Sacrifice to the Ghost of his dead Master cruelly murdered by Asdrubal's command suddenly and privately assaulting him as he was carelesly hunting slew him and being soon after convicted of the Fact was with dreadful Torments put to death by Hannibal who forthwith though very young yet dearly beloved by the Soldiers was by the Army saluted General and their Military Grant confirmed by consent of the Senate When the death of Amilcar and Asdrubal was known among those who in several parts of the Commonwealth stood in fear of their Power they began to despise Hannibal's youth and to transport the crimes of the dead on their Clients and Friends the people consenting with the Accusers and mindful of past injuries making others guilty of the sorrows they had under Amilcar and Asdrubal patiently endured even to the compelling those that from them had received great presents to restore them to the Publick as part of the Prey gotten from the Enemy They therefore sent Letters to Hannibal desiring his assistance and support and warily advising him that if he neglected those who should be his assistants as home he would become contemptible to all his Fathers Enemies But he of himself fore-seeing all these things and not being ignorant but that by endangering his Friends they laid Snares for him as formerly they had done for his Father and Brother-in-Law though it behoved him to be very careful of his Conduct lest always fearfully delaying and dissembling his hate he should be tormented with continual debate and perpetually exposed to the lust and will of the Carthaginian people light and inconstant and ever ingrateful to those deserved best of them Besides Fame reported that when yet a Boy his Father had at the flaming Altars made him swear That when ever he should be called to Office in the Commonwealth he should be an eternal Enemy to the Romans For this reason he imagined that if he could involve his Country in lasting and difficult troubles and distract them with high and doubtful undertakings his Friends would be safe He now beheld not only Africa in Peace but likewise the Carthaginian Dominion in Spain but if he could stir up War with Rome which he vehemently desired he thougt his fellow Citizens would have their Heads filled with cares and fears whilst he if this War had happy success should gain immortal glory having added to his Country the Empire of
over into Africa he would give him all the assistance he could This was a man in all things constant to his Faith but he for this reason fell off from the Carthaginians Massanissa was betrothed to the Daughter of Asdrubal the General under whom he now made War and Syphax almost died for this Ladies Love wherefore the Carthaginians judging of what importance it would be to them in this present War if they could joyn to their party against the Romans so Potent a King without consulting the Father gave him the Daughter in Marriage and and this Asdrubal out of respect to him kept secret from Massanissa but he finding it out some other way sought thereupon Scipio's friendship Mago having still a fleet to command seeing the affairs of Spain grown desperate sailed among the Ligurians and Gauls there to raise Mercenary Soldiers After his departure those of Cadiz as if betrayed by Mago yielded themselves to the Romans from which time first began the Roman Custom to send Annual Magistrates into Spain as to a Conquered People to keep in Peace and Govern the Province which hapned in the hundred forty fourth Olympiad But Scipio leaving the whole Country in Peace with no very strong Garrisons placed all the Soldiers weakned with wounds together in one City which from Italy he called the Italian famous for the birth of Trajan and Adrian who after in succeeding times came to be Roman Emperors and himself building a Magnificent Fleet with a great Number of Captives and loaden with Mony Arms and other spoils returned to Rome where he was received with mighty Pomp to his great and incredible glory as well because of his youth as because of the Expedition wherewith he had done so many Noble exploits insomuch that those who envyed him confessed that his actions had far exceeded his Rich Promises wherefore to the admiration of all Men he received the Honor of Triumph Indibilis who as soon as Scipio was gone rebelled was by those who Commanded in Spain gathering together Forces out of the Garrisons and Auxiliaries from their Allies fought with and slain the stirrers up of the Rebellion were brought to tryal their goods confiscate and they condignly punished The People their confederates condemned to pay fines disarmed and forced to give Hostages and receive stronger Garrisons This Issue had the Romans first Attempts in Spain In succeeding times the Romans being employed in War against the Gauls the inhabitants about Po and Philip of Macedon the Spaniards laying hold of the opportunity began to form new designs To suppress which were sent Generals from Rome Sempronius Tudertinus and M. Hâ—lvidius and after them Minucius to whom because the troubles grew greater Cato with larger Forces was sent for Successor a young Man indeed but solid patient in labor and so fam'd for Prudence and Eloquence that he was among the Romans called Demosthenes by way of comparing him with that most Excellent of all the Graecian Orators He arriving in Spain when he came among the Mart Towns there gathered about him from all parts above forty thousand Enemies Having taken a little time to Exercise his Soldiers when the signals on both sides were hung out and the Armies ready to Engage he sent away his fleet to Marsilia telling the Soldiers the present danger was not so great in their Enemies being superior to them in Numbers for that nothing was difficult which stedfast courage could not overcome as in their want of shipping so that they had no way of refuge or safety left but in being victorious And having thus spoken led his Soldiers to the fight not filled with hopes according to the custom of other Generals but with the terror of their danger The Battels being joyned he went every where intreating pressing forward and incouraging his Men and when the fight had continued doubtful till evening not a few falling on both sides he with three Cohorts of the reserve went to the top of a high hill from whence he had a clear prospect of the whole Action where observing his Main Body much oppressed running down with great shouts and fury upon the Enemy and first exposing himself to danger he gave a beginning to the Victory All Night he gave the Enemy chase slaying Multitudes and possessing himself of their Camp at his return he congratulated his Soldiers embracing them as the Authors of the Victory then giving them that time to refresh their bodies by repose which their labors required he afterwards sold the prey But when Deputies came to him from all parts to crave Peace he first demanded Hostages and afterwards signing Letters sent them to all the People severally giving order to those that carried them to take care that they might be delivered in one day which he had appointed having before computed in how long time a Messenger might be going to the remotest City and accordingly to the rest By these Letters he Commanded the Magistrates of every particular City that the same day on which they received his Orders they should demolish the Walls of their City which if they delayed he denounced their slavery They newly overcome in battel and ignorant whether these Commands were sent to the rest or to them only were tormented with great fears for if this Command were to them alone they knew themselves not able to withstand the Romans and if the Command were general they were no less fearful lest they should be the only City delay'd it's execution Therefore and because they had not time to send mutual Messengers to each other and were likewise urged to dispatch by those who brought the Orders every one having their own safety only in prospect they all diligently set themselves about throwing down their Walls for when they had once decreed obedience they thought their Celerity would prove to their advantage and those whose Walls were first demolished should have the Honor of it Thus all the Cities about the River Iberus by the policy of the General in one day levelled their own Walls the consequence of which was that by reason of their weakness they continued longer in Peace Some years after about the hundred and fiftieth Olympiad the inhabitants about the River Iberus and the Lusones with many Spanish Exiles and Fugitives revolted from the Romans These being defeated by Fulvius Flaccus fled to their several Cities but the greatest part having no land and only laboring for their bread chose Complega for their habitation a City newly built and strangely and suddenly become powerful from hence sending to Flaccus they commanded that the Cloaks Horses and Swords of several Men by name slain in the late War might be given up to them and that he would suddenly before any thing worse befel him depart from Spain Answer being returned that he would bring them many of those Cloaks Flaccus with the Army following their Deputies pitcht his Camp before the City But they having Souls too mean to maintain so lofty a Command betook
long Swords wherewith they were girt had under their Coat Armors or Jacks short Daggers to stand in a readiness till he had occasion for them and quietly to wait for the signal to be given them Then having likewise drawn his Army into a Triple Battel and extended his Horse as far as he could upon the Wings to inclose the Enemy he gave the right Wing to Mago his brother the left to Hanno his Nephew and kept the main Battel himself to be opposite to Aemilius who had the greatest Fame and knowledge in War he had likewise two thousand Horse besides a thousand commanded by Maharbal whom he appointed to keep continually moving with orders upon occasion to assist any that were oppressed And doing these things delay'd the battel till the second hour at what time the wind began to rise when all things were put in good order the Generals began to incourage their respective Soldiers the Romans by putting them in mind of their Parents Wives and Children and withal by remembring them of former defeats let them know they fought this battel for the last stake and their own general and particular preservation Hannibal on the other side remembring his Men of their many famous Exploits and the several Victories they had already gained against this very Enemy told them dishonorable it would be should they now be vanquished by those they had so often overcome And now the Trumpets sounding a charge and the Foot giving a shout the light Armed Men first began and then forthwith the Legions advanced to the Battel then the slaughter was great and the labour mighty both sides couragiously maintaining the ground In the mean time Hannibal gave Orders to his Horse to inclose the Enemies Wings whom the Roman Horse though far inferiour in number yet being drawn out in length and extended as far as possible with noble and undaunted courage received especially those in the left Wing toward the Sea Wherefore Hannibal and Maharbal taking along those Horse they had with them with a violent shock and a savage and barbarous howling fell in upon the Romans as if by one fierce onset they would break through and overset them but the Romans received their charge without amazement or giving the least ground Hannibal seeing all these endeavours fruitless lifted up the Signal for those five hundred Celtiberians who soon after going out of the Body as if they had deserted their party delivered up to the Enemy their Shields Darts and Swords which were all the Arms that appeared about them Servilius praising them and soon disarming them having as he thought no other Armour but their Coats of Male commanded them to set down behind the Army not thinking it honourable in the Enemies sight to cast Revolters into Bonds and seeing them disarmed all to their Coats he feared no hurt from them besides the Army being in all parts ingaged it was a time very unseasonable to do any thing more to them About the same instant some Regiments of the Africans dissembling a flight began with great cryes to run towards the Mountains that warned by the Signal for so it was agreed on those who lay in the clefts of the Hill might fall upon such as pursued them So at one instant all the Horse and light armed Foot rising out of their Ambushes and at the same time a great and violent storm of wind blowing the dust into the Romans faces and blinding them besides the force of the wind driving back the Roman Darts and making them flee faintly and uncertain whilst the Carthaginians coming with it flew more sure and strong the Romans not able any way to avoid these things fell foul of one another and the whole Army began to stagger when those Celtiberians laying hold of this occasion to act their design unsheathing their Daggers first slew those at whose backs they stood and siesing on their Shields Darts and Swords fell more freely upon the whole Body and being behind them made a horrible slaughter The Romans having their Enemies before them and being inclosed by Ambushes and withal slain by these mixed amongst them upon whom they could not turn being so pressed by the Carthaginians in Front and being likewise deceived by the likeness of the Arms for the Celtiberians having got Roman Shields they were scarce to be distinguished from their own men were distracted with various and doubtful dangers but among these misfortunes the dust raised by the wind did most of all afflict the Romans for they could neither understand their own loss but as is usual in all frights and tumults believed every thing worse than it was and thought the Ambushes greater and those five hundred much more numerous wherefore at length believing their Camps already encompassed by the Horse and Fugitives they began to make a disorderly flight first on the right Wing Varro himself leading the way and afterwards on the left whose Commander Servilius running in to Aemilius and about ten thousaud stout Horse and Foot gathering about these two Commanders they first and by their Example the rest of the Horsemen soon after alighting though they were on all sides encompassed round yet on foot renewed the fight against Hannibal's Horse There might be beheld all that men skilful in War and reduced to utter despair could in that rage and fury act against an Enemy yet they were slain on all sides and now Hannibal himself inclosing them encouraged his men sometimes with exhortations to perfect the relicks of the Victory and sometimes reproaching their cowardise that when the whole Army was scattered and fled they could not overcome so small a number Yet the Romans as long as Servilius and Aemilius stood kept their Orders giving and receiving multitudes of wounds but when those two Generals fell stoutly forcing their way through the midst of their Enemies and then dispersing themselves they fled and many of them escaped to several Quarters There were about fifteen thousand who at the beginning of the rout had fled into the two Camps these Hannibal forthwith besieged two thousand that had fled into the Town of Cannae yeilded themselves to him a few got safe to to Canusium and the rest were dispersed through the Woods This was the event of the Battel at Cannae begun the second hour of the day and continuing till two hours within night till this very time famous for the great slaughter there being in few hours no less than fifty thousand killed great numbers taken alive many Senators slain with all the Centurions and Primipiles and the two bravest of three Generals for as to the third he most cowardly though the Author of this Calamity ran away at the beginning of the rout Thus the Romans in two years War with Hannibal had lost of their own and their Allies no less than two hundred thousand men Hannibal having gained this famous and signal Victory in which by four several Actions he demonstrated the Excellency of his Conduct when he gained
the rest of his Forces by great journies arrived about noon at the Colline Gate and went and encamped near the Temple of Venus The Enemies were likewise encamped on the Skirts of the City so that though the Sun were declining the two Armies came to a Pitched Battel Sylla's Right Wing had the better of it but his Left Wing being over-born fled towards the Gates where the old men that were upon the Walls seeing that the Conquerors and Conquered ran pell-mell together let fall the Portcullis which by it's fall crushed in pieces many Soldiers and likewise some Senators Then the greater Party forced through fear and necessity turned head upon the Enemies and having continued the Fight all night cut in pieces a great number among whom were found Telâ—sinus and Albanus Their Camp was taken and Lamponius Lucanius Marcius Carinas and all those Officers of Carbo's side that escaped took their flight several ways The number of the dead on both sides was adjudged to amount to fifty thousand and that of the Prisoners more than eight thousand of which the greatest part being Samnites Sylla caused them all to be slain by his Bowmen On the morrow Marcius and Carinas being taken in their flight Sylla pardoned them not though his Fellow Citizens but causing their Heads to be cut off sent them to Lucretius to be carried about the Walls of Praeneste When the Besieged saw them and understood that all Carbo's Forces were lost that Norbanus was fled from Italy and in a word that the City it self was in Sylla's power they yielded up the place Marius run into a Mine to hide but there soon after slew himself His Head was carried to Sylla who set it up before the Tribunal for Orations with some Railleries about the Consuls Age who ought to have exercised himself at the Oar before he took the Helm Lucretius become Master of Praeneste found there many Senators some of which he caused to be slain others he put in Prison till Sylla coming upon the place put them likewise to death For the Soldiers he caused them to march into the Field unarmed and after having picked out some that had served him he divided the others into three Bands the Romans were set in one place the Samnites in another and the Praenestines in a third Then he caused the Romans to be told by Cryers that they had deserved death but however he pardoned them the rest were all slain only the Women and Children were saved and the City which was one of the richest of those times was plundered Praeneste being treated in this manner yet the City of Norba held out stoutly till such time as Emilius Lepidus getting in one night by Treason the Inhabitants mad with rage and despight found a way to die some by their own Swords others mutually killed each other others died by strangling and some after having shut fast the Doors of their houses set fire to them which inflamed by a suddain Wind at once devoured them and all that should have been the Soldiers Prey The taking of Norba put an end to this War which had been the occasion of so many miseries to both sides and by Fire and Sword to all Italy And now the better to secure the Victorious Party Sylla's Lieutenants went through all the Towns and placed Garrisons in such as were suspected and Pompey had Commission to go and pursue the Remainder of the War in Africa against Carbo and in Sicily against those still held his Party Sylla now become Master of Rome called an Assembly of the People where having spoken haughtily of his Actions and said a great many things to strike terror into the People he concluded his Discourse with saying he would make the people's condition better than it was so they would obey him but he would pardon none of his Enemies on the contrary there should be no Punishment nor Calamity which he would not make them undergo And since Scipio had broke his Word with him would likewise do all he could to destroy those had favoured the contrary Party without sparing Pretors Quaestors or Tribunes The Assembly was scarce broke up but he proscribed forty Senators and sixteen hundred Knights for it is said that he was the first Inventor of the Proscription of Heads and the first that proposed Rewards to Murderers and Discoverers of those Unfortunate Wretches that hid themselves and decreed Penalties against those who discovered them not Some time after he added likewise other Senators to the number of the Proscribed some of which were slain before they heard any thing of it in whatsoever place they were found in the Streets in their Houses in the Temples They hanged several whom they came and threw dead at Sylla's feet they dragged along others set their feet upon their Throats whilst at all these horrible Spectacles no one durst say a word Some they drove from the City despoiled others of their Goods And those sent into the Country to search for them that fled ran up and down every where searched in every hole and murdered as many as they could find The Allies who had obeyed the Orders of Carbo Norbanus or Marius or their Lieutenants fared no better all places were filled with Massacres Plundring and Banishment Throughout all Italy they set themselves to inform of these things as of greate crimes to be severely punished who had born Arms commanded Troops furnished Money or done any Service against Sylla though it were but giving Counsel to his Enemies so that Men accused their Hosts their Friends their Creditors and their Debtors Some were made criminal for only having given some relief to those of the contrary Faction and some for but travelling upon the Road with them But above all the rich Men were in greatest danger After the Accusations against particular Persons were over Sylla undertook to punish whole Bodies of People which he did in divers manners he demolished the Forts and rased the Walls of some layed great Fines upon others tormented others with cruel Exactions transplanted others to another Country that he might give their Lands to his Soldiers who had served him in the War to the end that they being planted in the most commodious places of Italy might reduce all people under his Obedience which fixed the Soldiery to his Interest for the whole Course of their life For they knew they could not maintain themselves in those Inheritances unless all that Sylla had done stood good and therefore were always ready to maintain his Authority even after his death Whilst these things passed in Italy Carbo who had escaped out of Africa into Sicily with many Persons of Quality was taken flying from thence to Corcyra by people sent after him by Pompey with Orders to kill all the rest without permitting them to see him but for Carbo though he had been three times Consul he suffered him to lie bound at his feet where after he had said a thousand cruel things he caused him
this formidable War had lasted which only for having contemned it at first because of the meanness of the Authors of it was so prodigiously augmented and withal the ancient Roman Valour was so bastardifed that when the Assembly was held for naming of Praetors there was none found that demanded that Dignity till Licinius Crassus a man of Quality and mighty rich resolved to accept of the Pretorship offered and with six other Legions marched against Spartacus there were joyned to him the other two Legions which the Consuls had but he first decimated them as a punishment of those shameful losses they had suffered though some say that going to assault the Enemies with all the Legions together and being beaten by their fault he then decimated them without considering the great number of Men amounting to no less than four thousand by which he weakened his Army However it were after having managed so his Affairs that his own men were more afraid of him than of the Enemy ten thousand of Spartacus's Army being encamped severally he fell suddenly upon them and made so great a slaughter that scarce a third part escaped into the Gross commanded by their Captain Soon after he undertook Spartacus himself defeated him and drove him to the Sea side where as he laid a design to get over into Sicily to hinder him he shut him up with a Circumvallation he drew round his Camp with a Ditch and Palisade Spartacus seeing himself invested endeavoured to break his way out to get into the Country of the * Samnites but Crassus made him turn in again after having killed him six thousand Men in a Morning and as many in the Evening with the lose of only three of his own and seven wounded so much did the recent memory of their chastisement contribute to the Victory After which Spartacus who expected some Horse which were to come to him from elsewhere durst no more engage with all his Forces but contented himself to incommode the Besiegers with frequent sallies which he made sometimes on one side and sometimes on another and with throwing flaming Faggots into the Ditch to burn the Palisade and hinder the Work Mean while he caused one of the Roman Prisoners to be hanged up in the middle of the Place between his Camp and Crassus's Trenches to let his men know what they were to trust to if they did not gain the Victory The news of this cruelty coming to the City moved their spirits to indignation that a War should last so long against Gladiators So that judging the Remains of it were not despiseable they gave order to Pompey newly returned from Spain to go thither But Crassus fearing lest Pompey should carry away all the Glory of the end of this War did all that he could possible to draw Spartacus quickly to a Fight On the other side Spartacus who thought it not convenient to stay Pompey's coming sent to demand peace from Crassus which being refused him as a thing unworthy the Grandeur of Rome and some Horse being come to him he resolved to try the fortune of a Battel and having with all his Army froced the Circumvallation he took his way towards Brundusium pursued by Crassus but when he understood that Lucullus returning to Rome after his Victory against Mithridates was landed he lost all hopes of Retreat and drew his Forces which were yet numerous into Battalia The Fight was very fierce Crassus having to deal with so many thousand desperate people till such time as Spartacus wounded in the Thigh with a Javelin fell upon his Knees where still he defended himself for a while covered with his Buckler but at last was killed with all that were fighting about him all the rest were presently routed and there was so great a Butchery that the dead could hardly be counted nor could they find the body of Spartacus The Romans lost scarce a thousand men Those that remained of Spartacus's Men fled to the Mountains whither Crassus having followed them to give the last stroke to the Victory they formed of what were left forty Battalions and in that posture yet defended themselves valiantly till they were all killed save six thousand who were afterwards hanged along the way between Capua and Rome Crassus having done all this in six Mouths thought now he yielded nothing to Pompey in Glory and kept his Army as well as he They both demanded the Consulate Crassus having passed the charge of Pretor according to Sylla's Law whereas Pompey had neither been Pretor nor so much as Questor and not above four and thirty years old but he promised the Tribunes to re-establish their ancient power Thus these two Generals designed Consuls did not dismiss their Armies but kept them near the City and shewed their reasons for it Pompey that he waited for Metellus who ought to triumph at his return from Spain and Crassus that Pompey ought first to dismiss his Forces Now the people seeing this difference tended to new Dissentions and that the City was besieged by two Armies besought the Consuls who were eminently feated in the view of all in the great place to be reconciled at first both the one and the other rejected their Prayers but when the Divines told them that the City was threatened with great miseries if the Consuls did not agree the people weeping and casting themselves upon their Knees renewed the same entreaties for they had not yet lost the memory of those miseries caused by the Dissentions of Sylla and Marius Hereupon Crassus beginning first to be moved rises from his Seat and goes to present his hand to his Colleague as a sign of reconciliation the other rising likewise went to meet him and having joyned hands all the people made acclamations of joy wishing them all happiness so that before the Assembly broke up both Consuls dismissed their Armies Thus was the Common-wealth happily delivered from the fear of a Civil War And this happened sixty years after the death of Tiberius Gracchus the first mover of Seditions The End of the First Book of the Second Part. APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars OF ROME PART II. BOOK II. The Argument of this Book I. CAtiline's Conspiracy II. Caesar returned from Spain renounces the Triumph and obtains the Consulate by the means of Crassus and Pompey III. During his Consulate he endeavours to get the favour of the People and Knights and obtains the Government of Gaul IV. Cicero banished by Clodius and recalled by the favour of Pompey V. Pompey underhand foments the Disorders of the Commonwealth to oblige the Citizens to create him Dictator Milo kills Clodius and Pompey created Consul without a Colleague VI. Pompey Sole Consul issues out Warrants against those that had any way abused their Charges VII Caesar demands the Consulate which Pompey secretly opposes VIII Curio declares for Caesar against Pompey but at last in sâ—ight of Curio the Senate gives Power to Pompey to Arm against Caesar. IX Curio Anthony
with the liberality of their General Indeed he gave profusely to them to prepare them to the execution of his Designs of which they were not ignorant nor therefore became they less affectionate to him but Pompey giving credit to the reports brought him neither made any Levies of Men nor any other preparations capable to sustain so great a War To proceed when they next in Senate debated this Affair and that the Fathers spoke their opinion one after the other the Consul by a wile having demanded them apart if they were of the opinion to take away Pompey's Command many were of a contrary mind and after asking if they thought it convenient to send a Successor to Caesar they all agreed to it But Curio then asking anew if they would not that both should dismiss their Forces there was but two and twenty contradicted it and three hundred and seventy all affectionate to the publick good followed Curio's judgment whereupon the Consul dismissing the Assembly cryed out Well then take Caesar for your Master Soon after a false rumour coming that Caesar had passed the Alpes and was marching directly to the City all the World was allarm'd and the Consuls proposed to the Senate to send for the Legions were at Capua to employ against him as an Enemy of the State Whereupon Curio saying that the news was false the Consul grew angry and said Since in consulting of Affairs with all the Senate I am hindred from providing for the safety of the Common-welth I will provide alone according to the power which I have After which going out of the City with his Colleague and presenting a Sword to Pompey We order you said he my Colleague and I to march against Caesar and fight for your Country and to that purpose we give you that Army is at Capua or in any other place of Italy with power to raise Forces at your discretion He declared he would obey them because it was their command but adding withal these words If no better Expedient can be found Which he did craftily to perswade them of the sincerity of his intentions Though Curio had no farther power in the Administration of the Common-wealth a Tribune not being permitted to go out of the circuit of the Walls yet he deplored in all Assemblies of the People the present state of Affairs and was so bold as to demand is full Senate that all People should be forbid enrolling themselves in the Forces levyed by Pompey but seeing he laboured in vain and lost all hopes of being able to serve his Friend the time of his Tribuneship being almost past and likewise growing fearful for himself he departed on a sudden to go and find out Caesar who being lately returned from England had crossed that Gaul which is bounded by the Rhine and passed the Alpes with five thousand Foot and three hundred Horse He met him on the way to Revenna which is the Frontier of Italy and the last Town of his Government where he received Curio with all possible testimonies of good will and after having thanked him for the services he had done him desired his counsel in what he had to do Curio advised him to send as speedily as he could for his Forces and lead them to the City but Caesar chose rather first to try some way of Accommodation wherefore he writ to his Friends that they should endeavour to obtain of the Senate that he might only keep two Legions with the Government of the hither Gaul and Illyria till such time as he was named Consul and that he would deliver up to whoever they should send for Successor all the rest of the Province and all the remainder of his Forces Pompey was content with the proposition but because the Consuls opposed it Caesar writ to the Senate a Letter which Curio having rode three thousand and three hundred Furlongs in three days gave to the new Consuls as they entred the Palace the first day of the year In the beginning he spoke in advantageous terms of the great things that he had done then he protested that he was ready to quit his command so Pompey would do this same but if Pompey kept it he would keep it too and should suddenly be in the City to revenge the outrages done as well to him as to his Country When they heard these last words they all cryed out that he declared War by this Letter and immediately nominated for his Successor L. Domitius who departed soon after with four thousand Men new levied and because Anthony and Cassius Tribunes of the People were of Curio's mind the Senate grew so much the hotter against him and giving Pompey's Army the name of the Army of the Common-wealth declared that of Caesar Enemy to their Country And at last Marcellus and Lentulus Consuls ordered those Tribunes to go out of the Senate for fear lest without having regard to their Dignity though sacred they should be evilly treated Then Anthony leaping from his Seat in Choler invoked with great cries the faith of men and God and lamented that an authority which had hitherto been held sacred was no longer in security and that they shamefully drove from the Senate those who proposed saving advice as if they had been guilty of Murder or some other crime Afte having said these words he departed in a fury foretelling as if he had been a Divine the Wars Proscriptions Banishments and Confiscations wherewith the City was threatened and making horrible imprecations against those who were the cause of all their miseries Curio and Cassius withdrew likewise with him for Pompey's Soldiers were already come to environ the Palace and they departed all three together in the Habit of Slaves upon hired Horses and so got to Caesar. He shewed them in the condition they were to his Soldiers to enrage them the more telling them that after all their great services they were declared Enemies to their Country and that those great men had been shamefully driven out of the Senate because they had only said a word in their defence The War being thus declared on both sides the Senate who believed that the Army out of Gaul could not come in a long time to Caesar and that with so few Forces as he had he would not take the Field gave order to Pompey to send for out of Thessaly thirteen thousand Men that were of the old Soldiers and to enrol men in pay of the most warlike Nations circumadâ—acent with power to take money out of the Treasury to defray the expence of the War and in case the publick money should fail there were several private men would advance it till such time as it could be levyed upon the Cities of Italy which they laboured to do with much haste and rigour For Caesar's part he had sent people to bring his Army but being accustomed to succeed more by diligence striking a terrour and hardiness than any mighty preparations he resolved to begin this
to their assistance the Corcyrians powerful by Sea drove out again the Liburnians and received into their City part of the Inhabitants of Corcyra to whom in all likelyhood they gave habitation in the Port and because the name of Dyrrachium was thought a name of ill Augury they called it Epidammun after the name of the City which stands at a good distance from the Sea and so Thucydides calls it though to this day the old name carries it and it be called Dyrrachium The Consuls were already arrived when Pompey led the rest of his Forces to Brundusium expecting the return of the Fleet to transport them and Caesar coming thither to besiege him he hindred his forming a Siege till such time as the Fleet arriving in the Evening he embarqued leaving only to defend the Walls a party of his best Soldiers who mounting the same night on those Ships he had left for them and having the Wind favourable soon reachedâ— the other Thus all Pompey's Forces left Italy and passed over in to Epire with their General Caesar hereupon found himself at a stand he knew not on which side to turn himself or where he should to his most advantage begin the War He saw that from all parts Forces came to Pompey and he was fearful lest the Army of old Soldiers he left in Spain should fall into the reaâ— of him if he went to pursue those that seem'd to fly from him In the end he resolved to march first of all for Spain and having drawn off five Bodies of Armies left one at Brundasium another at Hydrunto another at Tarentum for the Guard of Italy he sent Q. Valerius with another to seise on Sardinia because it was fruitful in Corn and Asinius Pollia went by his orders with another into Sicily where Cata commanded At his first coming Cato asking him if it were by Decree of the Senate or Ordinance of the People that he thus entred armed into a Province of which another was Governour he made him only this short answer He that is now Master of Italy sent me hither To which Cato having replyed That for the good of the Province he forbore to revenge the affront till another time embarqued himself for Corcyra to go and seek out Pompey As for Caesar himself having drawn off some Forces towards the City he came thither and finding the people affrighted with the miseries they had undergone in Sylla's time he reassured them exhorting them to have better hopes making them fair promises and justifying his clemency to his Enemies by the example of Domitius who being fallen under his power he had sent away with all his Equipage not doing him the least displeasure After which he broke open the Treasury and notwithstanding the opposition made by Metellus Tribune of the People whom he threatened to kill if he gave not over carried away that Treasure which no man till then durst touch Some say it was put there during the invasion of the Gauls with publick execrations on whoever durst be so bold as to touch it unless it were to make War upon the same Gauls but Caesar said he delivered the Common-wealth from those imprecations when he conquered the Gauls and so there wâ—s no more danger on that side He gave to Emilius Lepidus the Government of the City and to Marc. Anthony the Command of all the Forces of Italy and of Italy it self As for the other Provinces he nominated Curiâ— Successor to Caâ—o in Sicily to Quintus Valerius he gave the Government of Sardinia to C. Antonius that of Illyria to Licinius Crassus the Cisalpine Gaul He likewise gave order for the speedy fitting out two Fleets for the Guards of the Ionian and Hetrurian Seas of one of which he made Hortensius Admiral and of the other Dolabella Having thus sufficiently fortified Italy against any attempts Pompey might make he advanced towards Spain where being arrived he set upon Petreius and Afranius Pompey's Lieutenants over whom he at first got no advantage being encamped near the Enemy about Ilerdâ— in a high place surrounded with Rocks whither he could not cause any Corn of Forage to be brought him but over the Bridges of the River Segre the River swelling on a sudden with the Winter Rains broke down the Bridges so that those who were gone to guard the Carriages that were to come to Caesar's Camp not being able to repass the River by reason of this accident were all cut in pieces by Petreius's Men and Caesar himself with the rest of the Army were hardly put to it to pass over the rest of their Winter being to fight against Famine ill Weather and the Enemy who in a manner held them besieged But Summer being come Afranius and Petreius retreating into the farther Spain to joyn another Army newly set on Foot Caesar got before and crossed them in their March continually intrenching himself in their way and gaining the Passages One Evening part of their Army being advanced with design to chuse a place proper to encamp in found themselves invested so that seeing no way to escape the Soldiers by lifting up their Bucklers made a sign that they yielded But Caesar to gain his Enemies by clemency sent them to Afranius without stopping one or suffering a Dart to be thrown at them which occasioned that there was continual entercourse between the two Camps and in common discourse theâ— began to talk of an accommodation for already were Afranius and many of the Officers of opinion that they should quit Spain to Caesar so he would grant them a safe retreat to Pompey when Petreius running through the Army began to cry out against this proposition and to kill with his own hand all such of the contrary Party as he found in his Camp and this in so great madness that he run his Sword into the Body of one of his own Tribunes who would have stopped him in this fury whereby the Soldiers enraged at this cruelty did but the more esteem the clemency of Caesar. It happened by chance that he cut off their way to go to water which put Petreius and Afranius into a necessity of demanding a Conference between the two Armies It was agreed that they should quit Spain on condition that he would conduct them to the River Var and from thence would permit them to retreat to Pompey When they were arrived at the Banks of that River he caused all the Romans and Italians they had in the Army to be drawn together and spoke to them in this manner The Oration of Caesar. YOu know my Enemies for you will understand me best by that name that I did no injury to those who were sent before to mark out a place to encamp in they yielding to discretion nor to your selves when I had reduced you to want of water though Petreius finding a Party of my Men on the other side the Segre cut them all in pieces if you think your selves obliged to any
Senate fear seised all the world and my self more than any one because I was his Friend and yet knew not exactly whether there were a Conspiracy or who were the Conspirators The People were in tumult the Murderers had gained the Capitol with the Gladiators and suffered no one to enter the Senate favoured them which to this day they do and were ready to decree them rewards as having slain a Tyrant which if it had come to pass we must have all resolved to perish as that Tyrants Friends in the midst of all this turmoil fear and trouble 't is no wonder if I lost my Judgment however if you weigh the extremity in which I was with what I have done you will find I neither wanted boldness in the midst of danger nor policy when there was a necessity to dissemble The main thing in this Affair and on which depended all the rest was the prevention of their decreeing rewards to the Murderers in which I so obstinately held out that at last I carried it in despite of the Senate and all the Conspirators yet not without running the hazard of losing my life for I judged that if I only obtained that Caesar were not declared Tyrant we were all in safety But whereas our Enemies and the Senate feared on their side that if Caesar were not declared Tyrant process might issue out against those that slew him and therefore would stand stifly to the having it done I consented that the Amnesty might be granted to them but not the Rewards nor had I done it but that I might obtain on my part what I desired and which was of no small importance That the name of Caesar dearer to me than all things in the world might not be abolished that his Goods might not be confiscate that that adoption which makes this young man so insolent might not be cancelled that his Will might be ratified that his Body might be honoured with Funerals worthy a King that the Honours decreed him might endure to perpetuity that all that he had done might be approved and that his Son and we his Friends his Captains and his Soldiers might be secured in our persons and honoured by all the World instead of that infamy wherewith we were threatened Do you believe after all this that in lieu of the Amnesty to which I gave my hand the Senate granted me a small matter or do you think they would have granted it if I had not consented to the Amnesty And though this exchange had been sincerely made what had I lost by really granting the Murderers a pardon of their crime thereby to render Caesar's Glory immortal and put our lives in security yet was not that my intention I did but only defer their punishment for as soon as I obtained of the Senate what I desired and that the Murderers were freed from their inquietude I took courage and abrogated the Amnesty not by sentence of the Senate nor by decree of the People for that could not be done but by a popular blaze which underhand I kindled by causing Caesar's Body to be brought into the place under pretence of celebrating his Funerals and there by opening his wounds and shewing his Robe pierced through and bloody to excite compassion in the multitude praising his Virtues and particularly the love he had for his Country and in short Mourning for him as dead yet invoking him as a God for what I said and what I did so incensed the multitude that not considering the Amnesty they took fire and carrying it to our Enemies Houses drove them out of Rome This was done in spite of the Senate and they testified their resentment of it by accusing me of courting the popular favour by sending the Murderers into the Provinces Brutus and Cassius into Syria and Macedon where they had great Armies nor did they let them stay out the time they ought to have done but advanced it by a feigned Commission they gave them of sending Corn to the City Hereupon I found my self surprised with a new fear and not having any Army whereof I could dispose I was afraid lest we unarmed should be assailed by so many armed Men besides I had some suspicion of my Colleague with whom I had no right understanding and whom I might very well believe an Accomplice in the Conspiracy being come to the City the day that it was executed In this troublesome Conjuncture I thought it a matter of importance to disarm our Enemies and to seise on their Arms to which end I caused Amatius to be put to death and recalled Pompey that by this means I might oblige the Senate to take my part yet not being thereby fully assured I perswaded Dolobella to demand Syria not from the Senate but from the people and I upheld him in this Enterprise that from a Friend to the Conspirators as he now was he might become their Enemy and that after my Colleague had obtained Syria the Senate might be ashamed to deny me Macedon which however they had not granted me by reason of the Army that was then in that Province if they had not before given that same Army to Dolobella who besides the Government of Syria had got the Commission to make War against the Parthians nor had they consented to the taking away Syria and Macedon from Cassius and Brutus if for their security other Governments had not been provided them instead of those whereof they were dispossessd It was therefore necessary and must be done but pray observe what comparison there is between those Provinces taken from them and those wherewith they were recompensed Cyrene and Crete were assigned them so unfurnished of Forces that they themselves have despised them and endeavoured to seise by force of those taken from them Thus the Command of the Army is passed from the Enemy to Dolobella by my policy and by fair exchange for no person having yet taken up Arms we must follow the Laws After this the Enemies having set on foot another Army I had occasion for the Legions of Macedon but to get them wanted opportunity whereupon a report was spread that the Getes had in a hostile manner invaded the Province which not being altogether believed some were sent to enquire the certainty During which time I caused an Ordinance to be published by which it was forbid to speak of a Dictator to make any proposition tending to it or so much as to accept of the Dictatorship whereby the Senate perswaded of my good intentions gave me the Command of the Army so that at present I find my self strong enough to defend my self against my Enemies not only against those already declared as Caesar imagines but against a multitude of others more powerful who will not yet discover themselves Having put my Affairs into this Kingdom I had yet left sticking as I may say in my very Ribs one of Caesar's Murderers to wit Decimus Brutus who commanded a great Army in a very commodious
House like a Cittadel and in summ behaved himself in many things with more Pride and Insolence than became a Magistrate whose Power was to continue but a Year But L. Piso one of the most considerable Citizens of Rome who had Charge of Anthony's Affairs in his absence with others Friends to him or Anthony or else seriously thinking what they spoke said That they ought first to Cite him to stand to a Tryal and not condemn a Roman Citizen without a Hearing Besides that it would be a shameful thing to declare that Man Enemy to his Country to day who had yesterday been Consul especially after such publick Applauses of so many several Persons and even of Cicero himself Thus the Senate spent that day in debate without concluding any thing The next Morning the Fathers assembled very early in the Palace where Ciecro's Party proved the stronger so that Anthony was upon the point of being declared Enemy by Decree if Salvius Tribune of the People had not hindred and put a stop to the Affair for among these Officers he whose Voice opposes carries it Cicero's Party fretted at these Proceedings bitterly reviled him and running to the place to stir up the Multitude against him assigned him to give in the Reasons of his Opposition before the People He went without any fear but the Senate hindred him out of a doubt left he should pervert the People by putting them in mind of Anthony For the Fathers knew well they condemned an Illustrious Person without bringing him to a Tryal and that the Province for the Usurpation of which they condemned him had been given him by the People Only their fear for the Conspirators made them bear ill Will to Anthony who had frustrated the Indempnity granted them by the Senate and for this reason they had joyned with the young Caesar against him To which Caesar who perceived their intentions had easily consented being willing first to get rid of Anthony But though the Senate were thus animated against him they delayed giving Judgment because of the Opposition of the Tribune Notwithstanding a Sentence passed by which they approved the Action of Decimus in not delivering up Gaul to Anthony To which they added that joyntly with Hirtius and Pansa Caesar should command the Forces he already had that a Statue of Gold should be erected for him that for the future he should have a Voice among Persons of Consular Degree and have Right to demand the Consulate ten Years before the time prescribed by the Laws and that the Donative Caesar had promised to the two Legions revolted from Anthony if they gained the Victory should be payed out of the publick Treasury These things thus agreed on the Senate broke up as if Anthony had in effect been declared Enemy and that the Tribune could find nothing more to say on the morrow But Anthony's Mother Wife and Son yet very young with their Friends and Domesticks run about all night to the Houses of the Senators to solicite them in his behalf And Day being come they plucked them by the Robe as they passed along to the Senate and all together in mourning Habit as the Fathers entred the Palace cast themselves at their Feet before the Gate weeping and lamenting like despairing Persons So that these sad Objects and this suddain Change had already stirred up a Sence of Pity in the Breasts of most of the Judges when Cicero fearing the Success of the Affair spoke to them in this manner The Oration of Cicero We passed yesterday what we had to decree in the Case of Anthony for by declaring his Enemies worthy of Honour and Recompence we have tacitely declared him Enemy to his Country As for Salvius who alone opposes it follows that either he is wiser than us all or that he does it out of Friendship or else understands not the present state of Affairs Now it were a shameful thing to have all of us together thought to have less Wisdom than one single Man and it would prove dishonourable to Salvius to prefer a private Friendship before publick Good we are then to believe that he knows not the state of Affairs but he ought not to give credit to his own Iudgment before that of so many Consuls Pretors Tribunes his Colleagues and all the rest of the Senators who being so numerous and so great Men both for Age and Experience known Anthony better than Salvius can do for in all Iudgments that Sentence that is carried by most Voices ought to be esteemed most just However if he still have a desire to hear now the Reasons of our Iudgment I will repeat the principal of them in few words Anthony has seized himself of our Treasure after the death of Caesar Having obtained from us the Government of Macedon he is marched into Gaul without the Senate's Order We gave him an Army to oppose the Thracians and he instead of employing it against them has brought it into Italy against our selves And has done things by his own Authority after having to put a Cheat upon us asked our consent and been denyed it by the Iudgment of all the World Being at Brundusium he took a Regiment of Guards like a King and has been publickly attended by his Soldiers through the City placed Guards about his House and given them the Word as in time of War He had likewise ordered the rest of his Forces hither and was putting himself in a posture of doing with more vehemence than the first Caesar the same things that he had done But being prevented by the young Caesar who had another Army he was afraid and went to possess himself of Gaul as on a Province convenient for his designs from whence Caesar fell into Italy and made himself Master of us and the Republick To these ends it is he terrifies the Soldiers with his Cruelty to make them obedient to whatever he has a mind to to this end he decimated not Mutineers nor Run-a-ways on whom only the Law admits that Punishment to be inflicted and which few Commanders have done but in dangerous Wars and in extreme necessity whilst he for a fit of laughter puts Citizens to death not the Guilty but the Unfortunate This Cruelty has occasioned those who could escape to leave him and yesterday you decreed them Recompence as for a good Action and those who are yet stayed with him do it for fear and now by his Orders plunder your Province and besiege your Army and your Pretor to whom you have written that he should stay in the Province and Anthony will have him thence Why do we not then with Alacrity declare Anthony our Enemy who already makes War upon us But this is what the Tribune will not know till such time as he has defeated Decimus and made himself Master together with that great Province which lies so near us of Decimus his Army with hopes thereby more easily to oppress us Then perhaps the Tribune will consent that he should
only declared him Enemy but his Army likewise if they immediately left him not And to Marcus Brutus they gave Macedonia and Illyria with the Forces yet remaining in those Provinces till such time as the Commonwealth were setled He had already a particular Army besides some Forces he had received from Apuleius He had likewise some Shipping as well Galleys as Vessels of Burthen about sixteen thousand Talents of Silver and a great quantity of Arms found at Demetriade where Caesar had long before layed up his Stores of which the Senate had by Decree given him the Disposition with power to employ what he judged necessary for the good of his Country They likewise conferred on Cassius the Government of Syria with Commission to make War upon Dolobella and Command to all the Provinces depending on the Roman Empire from the Ionian Sea to the East to obey the Orders of Brutus and Cassius Thus in a short time without much labour their Party grew prodigiously powerful This News coming to Caesar's ear strangely perplexed him He thought the Amnesty granted by the Fathers had some colour of humanity and compassion to their Relations and Peers in Dignity that those lesser Governments given them were only for their security And he observed that only to maintain Decimus in Gaul they accused Anthony of aspiring to the Tyranny and by the same invention engaged himself to take the contrary Party But when he saw they had declared Dolobella Enemy for destroying one of those who had slain his Father that they had given Brutus and Cassius absolute power in many great Provinces and several Armies with vast Summs of Money and power to raise more among all they commanded beyond the Ionian Sea he no longer doubted but it was their design to ruin Caesar's Party and re-â—stablish that of Pompey He likewise now plainly perceived that by their Cunning they had made the Young Man of him that they had given him a Statue with the Right of Precedency and Quality of a Pro-Pretor but that indeed they had stripped him of his Army for where the Consuls command together the Pretor is nothing In short that having only given Rewards to the Legions that deserted Anthony it was a scorn of the rest of his Army and in the conclusion the War must needs turn to his dishonour the Senate only serving their own ends upon him till they were rid of Anthony Upon these thoughts which he discovered to none he sacrificed as it is usual to do upon the Entrance into any Charge and that done spoke thus to his Army I believe Fellow Soldiers that it is from you I hold that Office which I this day receive and as the Effects of your former Offer for the Senate had not given it me but that you desired it Wherefore know that to you I owe the whole Obligation and will testifie it abundantly if the Gods favour my designs These obliging words he spoke to gain the Hearts of the Soldiery As for the Consuls Pansa went to raise Forces in some Corners of Italy and Hirtius came to Caesar to make Division of their Forces He had received private Orders from the Senate to demand for his Portion those two Legions that had deserted Anthony knowing them to be the most considerable part of the Army which Caesar yielding to after the Division made they went to take up their Winter Quarters together Towards the end of Winter Decimus being sorely oppressed with Famine Hirtius and Caesar marched suddainly to Modena to raise the Siege but finding Anthony too well intrenched they durst not attempt forcing the Lines till Pansa were come up to them There happened mean while some Horse-Skirmishes in which Anthony though much stronger in Cavalry got not much advantage by reason of the many Brooks that crossed the Country Affairs being in this posture at Modena Cicero because of the Consul's absence strove to gain the people of the City by frequent Assemblies making provision of Arms which the Artificers furnished gratis and raising Monies in the levying which he made Anthony's Friends pay excessive Contributions yet they payed them without grumbling for fear of exposing themselves to Calumny till such time as Pub. Ventidius who had been an Officer under Caesar and was now Anthony's Friend no longer able to endure the persecution went to Caesar's Colonies where he was known and raised two Legions for Anthony with which he marched towards the City designing to seise upon Cicero He put all into such a fright that many sent away their Wives and Children as if they had been in utter despair and Cicero himself retired which Ventidius having notice of advanced towards Modena to joyn with Anthony but his way being cut off by Hirtius and Caesar he turned into the Country of Picenum where he raised another Legion waiting to see which way Affairs would go Now Pansa drawing nigh to Modena Hirtius and Caesar sent Carsuleius to meet him with Caesar's Regiment of Guards and the Legions of Mars to secure his passage through the Straits Anthony had forbore to seise on them lest thereby he might put a stop to his great design which was to come to a Battel wherefore not expecting any great effects from his Horse in a Marshy Plain full of Ditches as soon as he had notice of Carsuleiu's March he placed two of his best Legions in ambush in the Marishes on each side of a narrow Causway over which the Enemies were to pass Carsuleius having crossed the Straits by night and in the Morning early the Legion of Mars with five Cohorts being entred upon the Causway on which there was not a Man stirring looking upon the Marishes on both sides of them they perceived the Bushes to wag which gave them some suspicion and soon after the brightness of the Shields and Helmets dazling their eyes they forthwith beheld Anthony's Regiment of Guards coming to charge them The Legionary Soldiers perceiving themselves surrounded so that they could not make their retreat obliged the new Soldiers to stand Spectators of the Fight without engaging lest their want of experience should breed disorder in the Bustle and to Anthony's Guards they opposed Caesar's for themselves they divided into two Bodies one commanded by Pansa the other by Carsuleius and thus parted went each into his side of the Marish so that in the two Marishes were fought two Battels so near that nothing but the Causway hindred the one from seeing what the other did besides the third which was fought by the Guards on the Causway it self Anthony's Soldiers burnt with a desire of revenging themselves on the Legions as Traytors and Runaways and the Martials were no less eager to have satisfaction for the injury they had done them in suffering their Companions to be put to death at Brundusium and knowing well that in them consisted the principal force of both Armies they hoped by this one Fight to put an end to the War The one Party were incited by the shame
sometimes in another yet not daring to adventure a Battel with Caesar's Lieutenants When all these things were known at Rome C. Caesar sent Carinas and greater Forces to defeat Pompey But he with his flying Army fell upon Carinas when least looked for and then made his Retreat to places of Security for he had already got some Towns both small and great Wherefore Caesar sent to succed Carinas Asinius Pollio who made no farther Advances than his Predecessor had done And Caesar being dead the Senate recalled Pompey who came thereupon to Marsilia to attend what course the Affairs of the City would take Afterwards the Superintendence of Sea-Affairs being given to him with the same Power that formerly his Father had instead of returning to the City he went and gathered together such Shipping as he found in several Ports and with a considerable Fleet set Sail from Spain At the beginning of the Triumvate he landed in Sicily where Bithynicus who was Governor refusing to surrender to him the Government he besieged him in the Isle till such time as Hirtius and Phanius Proscripts who escaped perswaded Bithynicus to yield to Pompey Thus he soon beheld himself extremely powerful in Sicily Master of a great number of Ships of an Island commodious for Italy and of a mighty Army composed as well of the People he had at first as those which the Proscripts brought him Free Men and Slaves or which came to him from those Cities of Italy decreed by the Triumvirs for a Reward of their Soldiers after the Victory for the Inhabitants of those Cities abhorred nothing more than the name of that Victory Wherefore they secretly opposed it all they could possible forsaking their Country which they now held no more for their Country and retreating to Pompey who was their Neighbour and now in the esteem of all the World Besides he had Sea-men Africans and Spaniards very expert Men so that he wanted neither Officers nor Soldiers nor Ships nor Mony Caesar having notice of these things sent away Salvidienus with his Fleet to go drive Pompey out of Sicily as if it had been an easie thing and himself followed with his Land-Army through Italy to Rhegium where he had ordered the Navy to meet him But Pompey met Salvidienus with a great Fleet and engaged him in the Entrance of the Streights near Scylla Pompey's Ships were the nimblest and his Sea-men the most skilful whereas the Roman Vessels were heavy and therefore not so yare in working Besides the Sea which was very boysterous in the place where they fought was less troublesome to Pompey's Sea-men who were used to it than to Salvidienus's who perhaps had never past that Strait and therefore were not able to keep any steddy course for they could neither row nor stere Towards Evening Salvidienus first retreated and Pompey drew off soon after The loss of Ships was equal Salvidienus refitted his Ships in a Port called Balara nigh unto the place where they fought and whither he at first retired and Caesar being arrived in those Quarters gave his promise to those of Rhegium and Vibone that he would except their Cities from the number of those which were to be given in reward to his Soldiers which they were forely afraid of because they lay so nigh the Strait of Sicily Thereupon Anthony having sent in haste for him he embarked for Brundusium leaving Sicily on the Right Hand and referring to another Season the reducing of that Island and the War against Pompey Murcus having intelligence of his coming that he might not be surrounded by Caesar's and Anthony's Powers at once quitted Brundusium to go and watch in their passage for those Ships of Burthen that carried the Enemy's Army to Macedon They were convoyed by Gallies but the fair Wind contributed more to their Security than their Convoy Murcus troubled to see his hopes frustrated watched once more to surprize them as they returned empty but both then and afterwards when they were loaden again with more Forces they escaped him with full Sails till the whole Army together with Caesar and Anthony were got over Though Murcus believed Fortune opposite to his designs yet he stayed still in his Post to hinder as much as in him lay the transportation of Ammunitions Provisions or the new raised Forces Thither as to a convenient place came to joyn Forces with him Domitius Aenobarbus sent by Cassius and Brutus with fifty other Ships one Legion and some Archers For because the Enemy could have but small store of Provisions elsewhere they thought it a matter of importance to hinder the transportation of any out of Italy And indeed Murcus and Aenobarbus with one hundred and thirty long Ships or Gallies a great number of smaller Vessels and a considerable Army did very much annoy Caesar and Anthony by guarding this Passage Mean while Ceditius and Norbanus whom the Triumvirs had sent before into Macedon with eight Legions having from Macedon advanced by way of the Mountains towards Thrace after fifteen hundred Furlongs March were got beyond the Philippi's and went and seized upon the Strait of Torpides and Salapaees in the Estates of Rascupolis which were then the only known Passages from Europe to Asia And this was the first stop that presented it self to Brutus and Cassius who were crossed over from Abidos to Sestos This Rascupolis and Rascus his Brother Princes of the Blood-Royal of Thrace and Sovereigns of a certain Country were of different Parties and with a thousand Horse each Rascus held for Anthony and Rascupolis for Brutus and Cassius When therefore Cassius and Brutus informed themselves of the Ways Rascupolis told them that the Ways of Aena and Maronia were the greatest Road and the shortest and most ordinary Way to go to the Straits of Salapees the possessed by the Enemies and that to fetch a turn about the March would be thrice as long and very difficult Upon this Advice they judging that the Enemy had not seized upon the Post so much to cut off their passage as that thereby they might have the greater conveniency of forraging and fetching Provisions out of Thrace than Macedon they set forward on the way of Aena and Maronia and from thence went to Lysimachia and Cardia which serve as Gates to the Neck of the Thracian Chersonesus from whence the next day they came to the Black Gulf. Here they mustered their Armies and found they had nineteen Legions nine for Cassius and eight for Brutus which were not quite full and two which they distributed into the others to make them complete so that the whole amounted to about fourscore thousand Foot as for Cavalry Brutus had four thousand Gaul and Lusitanian Horse and two thousand Thracians Illyrians Parthians and Thessalians and Cassius had two thousand Spaniards and Gauls and four thousand Archers on Horseback Arabians Medes and Parthians besides the Kings and Tetrarchs of the Galatians in Asia who brought with them good store of Foot and five
out of the way and therefore afflicted themselves as thinking they were betrayed and when Rascupolis came to encourage them they railed and threw stones at him At length Bibulus entreating them in the name of the Gods to wait with patience the close of that day towards the Evening those that were in the Front perceived the River whereupon with shouts of joy giving the word back it soon reached those in the rear Brutus and Cassius having advice that a part of their Army was happily passed caused the rest to file off the same way yet they could not conceal their march from the Enemy nor did they inclose them as Rascupolis had made them hope For Rascus his Brother having heard some shouts grew suspicious and going himself upon the scout made a perfect discovery with wonder that such mighty Forces had passed through a Country so dry and where the Wood was so thick that he scarce believed the very Beasts could have found a passage and immediately giving notice hereof to Norbanus he the same night deserted Salapeas and with what People he had fled towards Amphipolis insomuch that in all the Armies nothing was so much spoke of as these two Thracians of the one for having been Guide to the Army through such an unknown way and of the other for discovering it Thus Brutus and Cassius's Forces by a wonderful Adventure came to Philippi whither Cimber being likewise arrived they had a general Rendezvous This City was formerly called Data and before that Crenides because of the many Springs about the Hill on which it is seated Philip who found this place convenient to make War upon the Thracians fortified it and called it by his name On the North lie Woods through which Rascupolis brought the Army on the East are the Straits of Salapeas and Torpides and on the West vast places which reach as far as the Cities of Murcina Dorabisca and the Strymon which is about one hundred and fifty Furlongs distant The Soil is good and the Country pleasant and 't is said that heretofore a young Damsel as she was gathering Flowers was ravished by a God and that in passing a River hard by the Yoke of his Chariot broke whence the Greeks called that River Zygasbes from Philippi to Amphipolis is an easie descent so that Men go up hill from Amphipolis and down from Philippi At some distance from Philippi is another eminence said to be consecrated to Bacchus where are Mines of Gold called Asyles thence advancing ten Fulongs are found two other Eminencies distant from Philippi eighteen Furlongs and eight one from the other upon which Brutus and Cassius pitched their Camps Cassius on the Southern and Brutus on the Northern They pursued not Norbanus in this flight because word was brought that Anthony came on apace having left Caesar sick at Epidamnum The Plain was very proper for a set Battel and the Eminencies commodious to encamp on for on one side were Marishes and Pools of Water as far as the Strymon on the other inaccessible Straits The space between both of eight Furlongs was as it were the Passage or Gate out of Europe into Asia they caused Walls to be built from one Camp to another and left a Gate in the middle to joyn together when they pleased Hard by they had a River called Gangâ—a or Gangira and on their Backs they had the Sea by which they brought their Provisions from Thassa not above one hundred Furlongs distant where they kept their Stores and for their Gallies they left them at Nea not above seventy Furlongs distant insomuch that they were extremely satisfied with having found a place so commodious and where they could with so great advantage post themselves Mean while Anthony advanced by great Marches to possess himself of Amphipolis which he had designed to make the Seat of the War And because he found Norbanus had fortified it to receive him wherewith he was extremely well pleased He left there all his Stores with a Legion commanded by Pinnarius to keep the Guard of them and with an astonishing boldness advancing still forward went and encamped in the Plain eight furlongs distant from the Enemy Now was plainly to be seen the advantage that Brutus and Cassius had over Anthony in the Seat of their Camps For they were encamped upon Hills he on the even Plain they fetched Wood from the Mountains he from a Marish they watered at a River he at a Well which himself dug their Stores were at Thassa not far distant his at Amphipolis three hundred and fifty Furlongs from the Camp So that in all appearance Anthony seemed to have encamped there out of pure necessity all the high Ground being seized upon and the rest of the Plain so low that sometimes the River overflowed it And indeed in sinking Wells they found abundance of fresh Water However though this boldness were an effect of necessity yet it stroke some kind of terror in the Enemy who were amazed to see him after so long a March as soon as he arrived come and with so much scorn encamp so nigh them Wherefore they raised a great number of Forts with Ditches Palissadoes and Walls whilst he only wrought upon the Lines of his Camp Cassius for his part seeing this raving fury of Anthony's caused a little space of Ground that lay betwixt his Camp and the Marish which before he had neglected to be now fortified that he might omit nothing for the security of the Camps for the outmost side of Brutus's was defended by Rocks and that of Cassius's by the Marish and the space between both shut up with Ditches Pallissadoes Walls and Gates Whilst the one and the other were busie at their Intrenchments their Horse and Light armed Foot made tryal against each other in some Skirmishes But after that their Works were brought to perfection and Caesar was come though he had not yet recovered so much health as to be able to fight in Person and was fain to be carried about the Ranks in his Litter all their Forces drew out in order of Battel On the other side Brutus likewise drew out his Army upon the Hill but offered not to come down for he had no desire to fight being in hopes the Enemy would soon be in want of Provisions There were on each side nineteen Legions of which those on Brutus side were not compleat whereas in those of Caesar's there were Supernumeraries As for the Horse accounting the Thracian Auxiliaries on both sides Anthony and Caesar had thirteen thousand Horse and Brutus and Cassius had twenty thousand So that both for the number of Men the bravery and valour of the Commanders the Arms and Artillery it was a glorious sight to see these two Armies Yet they lay several days without doing any thing for Brutus and Cassius would not fight but rather starve their Enemies they having for themselves Asia and all the Countries adjacent to furnish them with all things
such time as the Enemy utterly defeated and put to the Rout not being able to gain entrance fled some towards the Sea others to the Mountains by the Valley of the River Sygastus The Generals parted betwixt the Remainder of the Work and Caesar staying to oppose those who made offer to fally out of Brutus's Camp and to guard their own Anthony took upon him the whole Function of General he pursued the Fugitives cut in pieces those who yet made any resistance and fearful lest the chief Commanders escaping from this Defeat should get on Foot another Army he sent his Horse to all the Avenues some to one side and some to another one Party under the Command of Rascus the Thracian who knew the Country fetched a turn about the Mountains so that the Trenches and Precipices of the Camp were surrounded on all sides by Guards placed by Anthony to hinder any person from retreating and if any did come out they hunted them like Beasts others followed Brutus upon full speed and were not far from him when Lucilius Lucinus seeing them come stopped and as if he had been Brutus prayed them to carry him to Anthony and not to Caesar which confirmed their opinion that it was Brutus indeed because he would not fall into the hands of his mortal Enemy Anthony having notice that they were bringing him went forthwith to meet them making reflection upon the Fortune Dignity and Virtue of the Man and consulting with himself how he should receive him When he was near Lucinus advancing fiercely told him Brutus is not taken nor shall basenâ—ss ever make a Prisoner of Virtue for my part I only deceived those that would have taken him and behold me now in your power Whereupon Anthony seeing the Horsemen that brought him ashamed at their mistake comforted them with these words The Prize you have taken is not of less value then that you thought to have made nay 't is rather of much greater as a Friend is worth more than an Enemy And at the same instant delivering Lucinus into the hands of some of his Friends to have a care of him he afterwards treated him like a person in whom he had confidence As for Brucus he escaped into the Mountains where rallying some considerable Forces resolved to return by night into his Camp or get down to the Sea side but because the Enemy had seised of all the Passes he stayed there all that night in Arms with the People he had and it is said that looking up to the Stars he pronounced this Verse Thou know'st O Jupiter who causes all these woes Meaning it by Anthony and indeed as 〈◊〉 relate Anthony himself when in his own misfortune he was touched â—ith repentance acknowledged that whereas he might have made an accommodation with Brutus and Cassius he made himself Serjeant to Octavius That same night Anthony encamped directly opposite to Brutus without other intrenchment than heaps of Arms and dead Bodies which served him instead of Ramparts and Caesar having watched till Midnight being sick withdrew and left the Guard of the Camp to Norbanus On the morrow Brutus seeing that the Enemy quitted not their Post and that he had with him but four Legions and those too not complete he believed it not secure for him to speak to them himself but sent the Tribunes ashamed of the fault they had committed to sound the minds of the Soldiers and know of them whether they would undertake to open themselves a way through their Enemies to regain their Camp where their Companions still guarded their Equipage but these People went so chearfully to the Fight and had so long and so generously sustained the Enemy as if God had now forsaken them returned answer to their General that the counsel he gave them was worthy of him but that for their parts they had so often tempted fortune that they would not now quite lose all hopes of making conditions for themselves Then said Brutus to his Friends I can do my Country no farther service if they have taken such resolutions And at the same time he called Strato the Epirot his Friend whom he intreated to kill him Strato advising him to think more seriously upon it he called to one of his Domesticks upon which Strato said Brutus since you are resolved you have a Friend more ready to execute your last command than all your Slaves And saying so thrust his Sword betwixt his Ribs which he received without moving Thus ended Brutus and Cassius the most generous and illustrious of the Romans whose Virtue had never been equalled had it not been sullied with Caesar's Blood who though they were of Pompey's Party from Enemies had made them Friends and afterwards loved them like his Children The Senate had always a great inclination for them and after their death did much compassionate their misfortune for their sakes only they had passed the general Amnesty and when they left the City gave them Government for fear they should pass for banished Men. Not that all that composed this noble Body hated Caesar or were satisfied with what was done for living they had been admirers of his Virtuee and Fortune and dead they had solemnized his Funeral at the publick Charge confirmed all that he had done and granted places and trusts in the City according to the Memorandums by him left not thinking it possible for themselves to dispose of it more prudently and yet the affection they bore these great Men and the care they took of their safety gave occasion to suspicions and scandals so mightily they were favoured by the Senate And the greater part of the Exiles preferred them before Pompey himself for Pompey being near the City might incline to an Accommodation whereas they were far off and implacable Moreover when they saw themselves forced to take up Arms they had in less then two years got together more than twenty Legions almost twenty thousand Horse more than two hundred long Ships and considerable Stores of all warlike Provisions They had raised likewise vast Sums in Asia either by good will or by force and in those Wars they waged with divers Cities who held on the adverse Party they almost continually came off victorious till they became Masters of all that Country extending from Macedon to the Euphrates and all those with whom they had mad War ranged themselves on their Party and continued faithful to them They likewise made use of many Kings and Prices nay of the Parthians themselves though Enemies to the Romans but this was only in matters of small consequence for in the great Affairs when all was disputed they stayed not their coming for fear of teaching a Barbarous Nation and always an Enemy how to fight with the Romans But what most of all ought to be admired at is that the greatest part of their Army was composed of Soldiers that had served under Caesar and that after his being slain the affection of the Soldiery was unhappily
to Dominion and I made use of my Brother's Forces with hopes to suppress the power of you all and if now my Brother comes to subvert Monarchy openly or privately I will go to him once more to make War for my Country against you though so highly obliged to you but if he seeks Associates to maintain his tyranny I will serve you against him so long as I shall believe you affect not the Monarchy for I shall always prefer my affection to my Country before either Friend or Relation Caesar now again admiring Lucius told him that whatever offers he made he should not accept of his service against his Brother but that he thought such a Man as he fit to be entrusted with the whole Province and Army of Spain in which he should have Peduceius and Luceius for his Lieutenants Thus he sent Lucius out of the way with Honour having given private orders to his Lieutenants to watch him narrowly Anthony having left Fulvia sick at Sycione set fail from Corcyra to pass the Ionian Sea with two hundred Ships he had built in Asia wherein he had but very slender Forces Upon advice that Aenobarbus came to meet him with a great Fleet and a mighty Army some were jealous that he would not prove faithful to the new made peace because he had been condemned as an Abettor of Caesar's death and therefore put in the number of the Proscribed and had taken part against Caesar and Anthony in the Battel of Philippi But Anthony that he might not seem to distrust any thing held on his course with five of his best Ships commanding the rest to follow at a distance when Aenobarbus with all his Fleet and Army were come in sight Plancus who was on board of Anthony began to be afraid and advised him to stop and send some before to make tryal of the Faith of this doubted Man But Anthony made answer That he had rather perish by the violation of a peace than save himself by betraying the least fear They were now come so nigh that they knew easily each other and the Admiral 's Ships stood Stem to Stem with their Flags aloft when Anthony's chief Lictor standing on the Prow according to custom whether he had forgot that they were making towards a Man whose Faith was in some question and who had under his Command an Army of his own or moved by the customary duty of Subjects and inferiours to their Superiours he commanded them aloud to strike their Flag which they obeyed and brought up their Ship along Anthony's side then the Commanders having saluted each other Aenobarbus's Soldiers called Anthony Emperour and Plancus with much ado recovered out of his fright Anthony having received Aenobarbus into his Ship they sailed to Paleonta where Aenobarbus's Land Forces lay where he resigned up his Tent to Anthony as his General From thence embarquing they sailed to Brundusium kept with five Cohorts for Caesar where the Inhabitants shut their Gates against them against Aenobarbus as their ancient Enemy and against Anthony for being in their Enemies company Anthony enraged at this refusal and thinking it only a pretence and that indeed Caesar's Men by his orders hindred his entrance went and seised upon the Neck of the Peninsula drew a line cross and fortified it for the City stands in a Peninsula in form of a Crescent so that now there was no coming to the City by Land the Line being drawn from one Sea to the other he likewise raised Forts round the Port which is very spacious and in the Islands wherewith it is encompassed and sent along the Coasts of Italy to seise of all commodious places and dispatched withal at the same time to Pompey to oblige him as much as possibly he could with his Fleet to infest Italy He very gladly sent Menodorus with a strong Fleet and four Legions into Sardinia which then held for Caesar where he drew two Legions to his Party scared with the agreement between Anthony and Pompey In the mean time Anthony's Men took Saguntum in Ausonia and Pompey besieged Thuria and Consentia and sent his Horsemen into their their Territories Caesar assailed in so many places at once sent Agrippa to relieve those in Ausonia who passing by the Colonies commanded the Veterans to follow him as if he were to lead them against Pompey but when they were told he acted by Anthony's orders they stole away every Man to their Houses which most of all terrified Caesar. However he went in person to Brundusium with another Army and by seasonable Caresses drew the Veterans to their duty they now following him out of a real respect and reverence to his person and yet holding among themselves secret conferences of reconciling him with Anthony whom if they found obstinate to make War they would then defend their General 's honour who was now some days detained at Canusium in Men he much outnumbred Anthony but when he saw Brundusium so beleaguered that he could no way force the Lines he contented himself to encamp near it to view the Enemy and wait a favourable occasion Though Anthony was so well fortified in his Trenches that he could well have defended himself against much greater Forces than Caesar's yet he sent with all speed for his Army out of Macedon and in the mean time by this stratagem amused Caesar he sent by night on board the long Ships and Vessels of Burthen great numbers of Countrymen and Servants and in the day time landed them again one after another all armed in the sight of Caesar as if they had been armed out of Macedon And now his Machines being in a readiness he began his Batteries upon Brundusium to Caesar's great grief who could no way relieve the place when towards the Evening news was brought to both Parties that Agrippa had retaken Tiguntum and that Pompey repulsed from Thurâ—n continued the Siege of Consentia which much troubled Anthony but when he heard that Servilius with twelve hundred Horse was gone over to Caesar he could not contain himself but rising from Supper he mounted with such of his Friends as were in a readiness and accompanied only by four hundred Horse with a singular boldness beat up the Quarters of fifteen hundred near Uria and so surprised them that they yielding he brought them the same day before Brundusium such an opinion of his being invincible had the Battel of Philippi got him The Pretorian Soldiers heightened by this success went afterwards one after another up to Caesar's Trenches upbraiding their ancient Comrades for bearing Arms against Anthony who had saved their lives at Philippi Whereupon the others answering that on the contrary they made War upon them they came at length to Conferences wherein they began their reciprocal complaints on one side that they had refused them entrance into Brundusium and corrupted Calenus's Army and the other that they had besieged Brundusium made inroads into Ausonia treated with Aenobarbus one of Caesar's Murderers and
out from among the Tents However Anthony wrote to Caesar he ought not to break the peace and threatned to clap Menodorus in Irons as his Fugitive Slave for he had been Slave to Pompey the Great whose Goods Anthony bought under the Spear by right of War Yet Caesar sent Men into the Islands of Sardinia and Corsica to take possession of them from Menodorus and caused Forts to be built upon all the Coasts of Italy to hinder Pompey from making any spoil giving orders for building other Ships at Ravenna and sending for a powerful Army that was in Illyria and when Menodorus came to him from one enfranchised made him absolutely free by giving him the Command of the Fleet he brought with him yet but in quality of Lieutenant to Calvisius his Admiral Though things were thus well disposed yet he would make greater preparations before he began the War complaining of Anthony that he had not staid for him however he gave order to Cornisicius to bring what Ships he had in readiness from Ravenna to Tarentum in his passage there arose a furious Tempest in which there yet perished only the Admiral built on purpose for Caesar himself which was made an Omen of what was to happen for most men thought this War renewed by the violation of the Treaty to remove which suspicion Caesar wrote to the Roman People and spoke in person to the Army telling them Pompey had broke the League by infesting the Sea with Pyrates which was evident both by confession of the Pyrates themselves and of Menodorus of which Antonius was not yet ignorant and thefore delivered not up to him the Peloponnesus When all his preparations were in a readiness he embarqued at Tarentum to go and invade Sicily on one side whilst Calvisius Sabinus and Menodorus who set sail from Etruria invested it on the other and the Land Army marched towards Rhegium with wonderful diligence Pompey perceived not that Menodorus had revolted from him to Caesar till he came before Sicily However seeing himself assailed on both sides he resolved to expect Caesar at Messina and opposed against Calvisius and Menodorus a great Fleet under the Command of Menecrates his Freed Man who out of mutual emulation was a mortal Enemy to Menodorus Menecrates comes out to Sea presenting himself about Evening to the Enemy who retired into a Gulf above Cuma where they anchored that night and he steered his course towards the Island of Aenaria As soon as it was day the Enemy coasting about the Bay drawn up in form of a Crescent for fear of being broken Menecrates appeared in sight and made towards them but seeing they would not be drawn off from the Shore-side and that he could not do what he designed with a fierce charge he drove them a ground so with their sterns ashore and their Prows to Seaward they lay upon their defence in such manner that it was easie for the Enemy to come and give them a shock and then tacking about to stand off to Sea and so return again upon them with fresh and fresh Ships they had likewise the Rocks to struggle with on which many stuck so fast that neither moving Head nor Stern it seemed like a kind of Sea-fight against a Land Force one of which could neither flie nor the other pursue Mean while Menodorus and Menecrates having discovered each other leaving the rest of the Fight with mutual shouts and fury begin an assault and in all appearance which of these two got the better would carry the Victory for his Party In the charge they met so fiercely that both Ships were disabled Menodorus lost his Beak-head and Menecrates Oars were broken At length having cast their Graplings on Board they lashed their Ships fast together and began a Fight as if on dry ground and nothing was wanting either of alacrity or dexterity to gain the Victory they made use of all sorts of Arms Arrows Stones Darts and cast Planks from Ship to Ship to board each other but because Menodorus's Ship was the tallest it was much easier for his Men to board the other and the Darts they threw fell with more violence and execution At last many being slain and almost all the rest wounded Menodorus had his Arm pierced through with a Dart which was soon drawn out but Menecrates being struck into the Thigh with a Barbed Iron Javelin made after the Spanish Fashion which could not easily be drawn out he became unable to do more yet still with his voice he encouraged his Men till his Ship being taken he threw himself over-board Menodorus fastening his Prize to his Poop towed it into the Road and was all he could do that day This was done on the Left Wing On the Right Wing which fought against the Enemies Left Calvisius cut off some of Menecrates's Ships from the rest of the Squadron and pursued them out to Sea but Democrates another of Pompey's Freed Men charging the rest of Calvisius's Ships put some of them to flight and drove the rest upon the Rocks where they were beat to pieces and the Men forced to cast themselves into the Sea and those which remained whole he had burnt had not Calvisius returning from the Chase of the Enemy and bringing along with him some of his Ships that had fled saved one of them Night coming on each party retreated to the same places where they rode the Night before and so ended this Sea-Fight wherein Pompey had much the better Yet Demochares was so much concern'd for Menecrates's death which he esteemed a mighty loss for Menedorus and Menecrates were two of Pompey's principal Officers at Sea that he left all and steered his course directly towards Sicily as if he had not only lost Menecrates and one Vessel but the whole Fleet. As for Calvisius as long as he thought Demochares would return to him he kept his station being in no condition to fight for his best Ships were sunk and the rest disabled but when he heard his Enemy was gone for Sicily he refitted his Ships and held on his course keeping the Shore close aboard and not so much as crossing over any Bay On the other side Caesar being come from Tarentum to Rhegium with a great Fleet and a mighty Army met Pompey near Messina who had but forty Ships wherefore his Friends advised him not to let slip this opportunity but to assault these few with his whole Navy now in such good order before more Ships came to Pompey but he would not hearken to their counsel expecting Calvisius and not thinking it prudence to expose himself to danger whilst he expected greater Forces Mean while Demochares coming to Messina Pompey gave him and Apollophanes another of his Freed Men the Command of the Fleet instead of Menecrates and Menedorus and Caesar understanding the loss he had suffered near Cuma set forward through the Strait to go meet Calvisius having got through the better part as he was passing by the place called
all this well enough was not wanting to assail them next morning harrassed as they were with marching thirst and want of sleep It grieved Hannibal to the heart to see himself forced to fight thus unseasonably yet he saw plainly that if he staid there he should be intollerably straitned for want of water and if he drew off his retreat would increase the enemies courage who would certainly fall on in his rear for these reasons therefore he resolved to fight and presently drew into Battalia fifty thousand men and fourscore Elephants Those mighty creatures he disposed in Equal distances in the Front of the battel to strike fear into the Romans Then he composed his vanguard of Gauls and Ligurians and among them intermixed his bowmen and slingers who were Moors and people of the Isles Baleares In his main body he placed the Carthaginians and Africans and in his rear those Italians that had followed his fortune in whom he had great confidence because they dreaded to be overcome His Cavalry made his two Wings As for Scipio he had three and twenty thousand foot and fifteen hundred horse as well Italians as Romans beâ—ides Masanissa had a stout body of Numidian horse and another Prince of that Country called Dachamas had six hundred auxiliary horse He divided his Army into three battalia's Vanguard Main-body and Rear-guard as Hannibal had done his save only he kept his battalia's at a more open Order that the horse upon occasion might have passage between In the front of every battalia he placed men with stakes the most part Armed with Iron at the ends and about two Cubits long that they might better repulse the Elephants by striking them at hand with these sort of Truncheons giving Order to the foot to avoid the shock of those great beasts by opening to the right and left when they made at them and to pursue them incessantly when they were past with darts and arrows or hamstring them with their Swords if they could get so near them Having thus ordered his foot he disposed the Numidian Cavalry on his two wings because the Numidian horses are accustomed to the smell and sight of Elephants wherefore fearful lest the Italian horses should be frightned he placed them in the Rear-guard that they might charge between the bodies and support the infantry whilst they fought against the Elephants and to every horseman he gave a light Armed Souldier and great quantity of darts wherewith to chase away those Monsters if they came upon them His Cavalry being thus disposed â—e gave the Command of the right wing to Lelius of the left to Octavius and himself took Charge of the main battel Hannibal did the same and as if these two great Captains had acted by the same Spirit they each kept near their persons a strong body of horse ready to move on all sides to the relief of those stood in need Hannibal's party consisted of four thousand horse Scipio's only of two thousand besides those three hundred Italians to whom he had given Arms in Sicily Both Armies thus drawn up for battel each General went through the Ranks to incourage his people Scipio publickly invoked the Gods who having been witnesses of their Treaties had been affronted by the Carthaginians as often as they had violated them exhorting his Souldiers not so much to consider the Number of their enemies as their own proper Vertue which had already made them Victorious over the same enemies in the same province remonstrating to them that though their having always overcome should not clear all their doubts of the success of this battel Yet the Africans having been always beaten would make them despair Thus did Scipio hearten up his men encouraging them not to think of the smalness of their Number Hannibal on the other side desired his to remember those brave acts they had done and the noble victories they had gained not only against the Numidians but throughout all Italy setting forth at the same time the inconsiderable number of their enemies and exhorting them so to act that the greater number might not be beaten by the less nor the natural inhabitants of the Country shamefully forced to yield to strangers In short both Generals set forth with the most pressing arguments they could invent the consequences of that battel Hannibal told his men that they now disputed whether Carthage and with it all Africa should command or be for ever hereafter inslaved And Scipio let the Roman Souldiers know that if they suffered themselves to be vanquished they had no place of retreat but if they gained the victory the advantages reaped by it would be increase of the Roman Empire the end of their labors the so much desired leave of returning into their Country and with all immortal glory These Orations ended the Carthaginian Trumpets sounded a charge and the Roman soon did the like The battel was begun by the Elephants which came furiously on being sharply pricked forward by those mounted on them Those which assailed the wings were stopt by the Numidian horse with showers of Darts and being wounded turned against their own party so that their governors no longer able to rule them were forced to draw them out of the battel both wings had alike advantage but those which charged on the main body put the Romans hard to it who were not accustomed to this manner of fight and could not easily by reason of the weight of their arms move either to shun or assail them till such time as Scipio caused the Rear guard of Italian horse and the Souldiers lightly armed to advance to the relief of his foot And because the horse were fearful of those beasts he commanded his horsemen to alight and with their darts charge the Elephants who had caused a great disorder and to oblige them by his own Example himself alighted first and wounded an Elephant that came towards him which so heartned the Romans that discharging their darts on all sides they so wounded those creatures that they forced them to retreat like the others These beasts thus driven out of the battel they had nothing now to encounter but men and horses The right wing Commanded by Lelius had put to flight the Numidians that opposed them after that Masanissa had wounded their Prince Macinta but Hannibal coming speedily to their assistance renewed the fight In the left wing where Octavius had to do with Gauls and Ligurians they fought with equal fortune Scipio sent thither the Tribune Therinus with some chosen troops but Hannibal having reinforced his left wing speeds away to the relief of the Gauls and Ligurians taking with him all his Carthaginians and Africans which Scipio perceiving was forced to do the like and made his main battel advance And now these two mighty Captains fighting in person the Souldiers encouraged by the sight of them did acts incredible All feared to yield all fought with a wonderful alacrity exhorting exciting and encouraging one another At
the City of Horoscopa with the taking of which he had a mighty desire to begin the rupture To it 's relief went the Carthaginians with twenty five thousand Foot and four thousand Horse of the City under the command of Asdrubal then General of their forces to whom joyned Assasis and Suba two of Masanissa's Major Generals who deserting the two young Princes went over to the Carthaginian party with six thousand horse Asdrubal with this additional force goes and encamps near the King and had often and successful skirmishes But Masanissa acting with the cunning of a Great Captain retired by little and little as if he had given ground till such time as he had drawn him into a great barren plain encompassed on all sides with Mountains and deficient in all necessaries to subsist on Here facing the enemy he encamped in the midst of the Plain while Asdrubal siesed on the Eminencies whereby he thought he had the greater advantage On the morrow the battel was designed when young Scipio who afterwards took Carthage and who at present was only Lieutenant to Lucullus who made War in Celtiberia came to seek out Masanissa to demand some Elephants The King who was desirous that day to take some repose that he might go the fresher to the battel sent some horse to meet him and gave orders to some of his sons to receive him Day being come he drew up his Army in battel being now fourscore and eight years old yet a strong and vigorous Souldier who according to the custom of the Country mounted on horse back without saddle or other covering equally acting in the duty of General and Soldier for the Numidians are lustiest of all the people of Africa and live longer then any others which is perhaps occasioned because the Winter is not so sharp in this Country nor the heats so violent as in India and Ethiopia and for the same reasons are their Cattel stronger and greater The men lie all abroad and harden themselves by continual labor they drink little Wine feed very sparingly and with much sobriety Masanissa having drawn up his Army in Order Asdrubal did the like for to him there were joyned many people of the Country Scipio being on the top of a Hill as on a Theatre saw all this Battel and was after heard to say that though he had been in an infinite number of fights there was never any in which he took so much delight for he had never seen any other wherein either his person was in security or that there were a hundred and ten thousand Combatants Or to express it more gloriously he said that before him were never found but two Spectators in a like occasion which were in the time of the Trojan Wars Iupiter on the top of Mount Ida and Neptune on Samothracia They fought from Morning till Night with great slaughter of men on both sides however the advantage seem'd Masanissa's Whom Scipio came to meet as he returned to his Camp congratulating the happy success of his Arms and for his part he received Scipio as the Son of his Friend with all possible demonstrations of kindness The Carthaginians having notice of his coming requested him to make peace between Masanissa and them which he having yielded to brought them to a Conference the Articles of the Treaty were that the Carthaginians should release to the King all the Country that lies about the Empories and should promise him two hundred Talents ready money and eight hundred more payable at a certain term But when Masanissa besides all this demanded the Fugitives they would not hear him speak of it so they parted without doing any thing and Scipio returned into Spain with the Elephants Masanissa seeing his Enemies Camp seated on an Eminence or round Hill besieged them in such a manner that no Provisions could be brought to them nor was the bringing all there was none to be had and he himself procured them with much difficulty and what he had was fetch'd from afar off and in very small quantities Asdrubal at first thought that with the Forces he had he could disingage himself when he pleased and open himself a passage through the midst of his Enemies But because his Stores were better furnish'd than theirs he hoped Masanissa might be reduced to a necessity of demanding Peace and besides he was the less concerned because he had heard that Deputies were coming from Rome to end their differences This was true but these Deputies had Orders to determine the Affairs if Masanissa was overcharged but to highten his courage if they foundâ— him the stronger which Orders they punctually executed Mean while the Famine entred Asdrubal's Camp in such manner that the Soldiers weaken'd with Hunger were not able to repulse the Enemy first they kill'd the Beasts of carriage after that their Horses for service and at last were reduced to such extreme necessity that they boiled the very Reins of the Bridles for a sustenance There supprised them likewise an infinite number of Diseases increased by their bad Food by the idleness of the Soldiers and the season of the year for there was a great number of men inclosed within a small compass of ground during the greatest heats of Summer which were excessive in Africa And because through the want of Wood even to dress their Food they had been forced to burn their very Bucklers Now not having the means to carry their dead Bodies out of the Camp because of the strict Guard Masanissa kept and destitute of Fuel to burn them the Plague daily increased with the stink of the dead Carcases in the midst of which they were forced to abide Hunger had already consumed the greatest part when the rest hopeless of safety were forced to deliver up the Fugitives to Masanissa to oblige themselves to pay him yearly five thousand Talents of Silver for fifty years and to cause those they had banished to return notwithstanding their Oath to the contrary It was likewise agreed that the Soldiers which remained should march out only with one Coat and pass under the Yoke Which being executed Gulussa remembring how a little before he had been affronted sent the Numidian Horse after the Carthaginians who not able to make resistance disarmed as they were and not having strength enough to fly of fifty eight thousand men very few recovered Carthage of which number was Asdrubal with some of the Nobility This is what passed in the War between Masanissa and the Carthagians which was soon after followed by the third and last Punick War The people of Carthage weakned by the losses they had sustained in this War stood yet in fear of Masanissa who was nigh with a great Army and besides doubted not but the Romans who had testified their disaffection to them upon all occasions would lay hold of this under pretence that the Carthaginians had made War upon Masanissa the Friend and Ally of the Roman people And indeed their conjecture was not
an extraordinary size of which one was driven forward by six thousand Foot encouraged by the Orders and Presence of their Captains and the other by the Gally-slaves whose labour was over-seen by those who had the command of the Gallies This begat subject of Emulation so that the Commanders as well as the others striving who should out-do each other a great part of the Wall was soon overthrown and the City might plainly be seen into The Carthaginians on their side did not sleep but apply'd themselves to repair by night what breaches the Rams had made by day but because the night was not sufficient for so great a labour fearful lest the Romans should easily beat down again what they had repaired whilst it was yet moist and unsettled they resolved upon a Sally and some with Swords and others with Torches in their Hands so vigorously assaulted the Engines that though they burnt them not quite yet they rendred them useless and retreated into the City in order Day appearing the Romans entertained a conceit of entring Carthage by the breach which the Inhabitants could not quite repair and they saw within a spacious place very proper to fight in The Carthaginians expected them having placed in the Front all their Armed men others with Stones and Clubs in the Rear and all about in the neighbouring Houses those who were any way capable of defending them The Romans enraged that disarmed men thus despised them entred in throngs into Carthage but Scipio to whom the taking of this City gave afterwards the sirname of Africanus being yet but Tribune took special care not to enter contenting himself with drawing up his Regiment by Companies in Battel near the Walls of the City from whence as much as in him lay he hindred others from passing in and sustained those whom the Carthaginians beat back by favouring their retreat and this was it gave him his first reputation and made him gain the Character in all Letters that were wrote to Rome of being wiser than the Consuls At length Censorinus his Army becoming sorely afflicted with sickness by reason of being posted among dead and stinking waters and that the height of the Buildings hindred them from breathing the Sea Air he resolved to put to Sea but the Carthaginians having observed that the wind blew directly to the Roman Fleet filled with Tow and dried Vine-twigs a quantity of small Barques within their Port that the Enemy might know nothing of it and having plaistred them over with Pitch and Brimstone brought them out in sight of the Romans and there hoisting sail set fire to them so that the wind and the violence of the flames drove them into the midst of the Fleet which were almost all burn'd After this Censorinus being gone to Rome to be present at the Assembly then to meet for Election of Magistrates his departure gave such boldness to the Carthaginians as to make an attempt upon Manlius his Camp To this end they sallyed by night some armed and others who had no Arms carrying Bridges and stormed the Ditch in that place next the Town and were already pulling out the Palisades when the Alarm being run through the whole Camp by reason of the obscurity of the night Scipio with his Horse marched out of the farther Gate and going the round of the Camp without the Line terrified the Carthaginians and made them retreat again into their City all the World gave Scipio the glory of having saved the Army in this nocturnal terrour by his Conduct and Manlius determined to keep better Guards and to fortifie himself to which effect he caused a Wall to be built in the place where there was but a Palisade and built a Fort on the Sea to receive those Ships that brought him Provisions That done he took the Field with ten thousand Foot and two thousand Horse besides Hewers of Wood and Forragers to gather in Harvest throughout all the level Country Those who were employed in this Service were commanded by Tribunes who relieved one another according to their turns which gave occasion to Phameas who commanded the African Horse to signalize himself this young man diligent and handy and who had with him small but swift Horses which lived on Herbs when they had nothing else and could endure hunger and thirst if there were occasion concealed himself among the Woods or in the Valleys and when he perceived the Enemy stood not upon their Guard sallyed from his Covert and came thundring upon them like an Eagle and after having charged the Romans retreated into a place of security But when Scipio commanded he never appeared for Scipio continually kept his Foot in order and his Horse in a fighting posture and when any Corn was to be cut he never suffered the Reapers to go to work till he had first gone the round of the Field they were to cut down both with Horse and Foot in their Arms himself guarding the out-skirts with some Squadrons and if any of the labourers stragled from the others or went out of the Circle he punished them severely wherefore Phameas never durst attempt him and Scipio still continuing his vigilance his glory increased from day to day insomuch that the other Tribunes who envyed him raised a report that there was an old Alliance between Scipio and the Family of Phameas It happened also that some Africans retiring themselves to some Towers or Castles of which there are great number in that Country the other Tribunes after having granted them Pass-ports forbore not to lay Ambushes for them in the way and rob them But Scipio on the contrary convey'd them to the very House insomuch that hereupon none afterwards would enter into a Treaty but in his presence so much the good opinion of his Virtue and Honesty was increased not only in the thoughts of the Romans but of the Enemies themselves Manlius being returned to the Camp after having gathered in Harvest the Carthaginians by night assaulted the Fort on the Sea with great violence and besides to strike terrour into the Romans the whole Multitude coming out of the City made a horrible noise The Consul ignorant of the cause of this Tumult kept within his Trenches but Scipio having caused two Squadrons of Horse to mount each with his Torch in his hand posted in forbidding his people to engage because of the night and only giving them order to run to and fro so that they might make the Enemy believe they were a greater force than they were and likewise strike an apprehension into them that they were advancing to charge them this succeeded for the Carthaginians afraid of being charged on both sides retreated into their City and this was a farther addition to the brave exploits already performed by Scipio it being now in every Mouth he alone was worthy to have Paulus for his Father and to be enrolled in the Family of the Scipio's into which he had been adopted Some time after Manlius going to
reason of the rocks that surrounded it he thought he might secretly gain it and having made provision of ladders prepared for the storm some Soldiers mounted bravely but the Carthaginians despising their slender Number opened a gate by the side of the rocks and made a Sally upon the Romans who so briskly repulsed them that many Soldiers entred Pelmel with them into the City and shouted amain as if they had already been Masters of it Mancinus ravished with joy rash and heady as he was with all those that remained in the Ships came forth half Armed and ran to the walls to second their companions but night coming on forced the Admiral to lodge in a certain Post near the the Walls where he kept without doing any thing and because he had neither Arms nor Victuals he sent messengers to Piso to give him notice to come to his relief and to the Magistrates of Utica that they should forthwith dispatch away Provisions for he ran the hazard of being assaulted as soon as it was day by the Carthaginians and thrown headlong from the top of the Rocks Scipio who landed the same Evening at Utica having seen Mancinus his Letter presently caused the Trumpets to sound to give warning to those were already landed to get forthwith aboard giving orders to all the Youth of Utica to be in a readiness to follow him and to the old men to bring Provisions on board the Galleys and releasing some Carthaginian Prisoners he sent them unto the City to let them understand that Scipio was arrived with a mighty Fleet. He dispatched likewise several Messengers one after another to Piso to command him to come to him with all speed About the last Watch he went to Sea giving order to the Soldiers that as soon as they approached the Town they should all stand upright on the Hatches that the Enemy might believe them the greater number Towards the Break of Day Mancinus being charged on all sides by the Carthaginians had formed a round Battalia encompassed by all the armed men he had in the midst of which were inclosed above three thousand without Armour but at last the Showers of Darts and multitudes of Wounds had reduced them to the point of seeking their safety down the Precipices when they saw Scipio's Ships appear full of Soldiers which surprized not the Carthaginians who had already received advice of it by their Prisoners but saved the lives of the Romans who were almost hopeless for at the approach of this Fleet the Carthaginians gave ground and the Romans withdrawn from the danger wherein they were got aboard their Ships Scipio sent back Mancinus to Rome for Serranus his Successor was already come to command the Fleet and went himself and encamped near Carthage The Carthaginians on their part went and encamped directly opposite unto him whither came to them Asdrubal that commanded the Field-Army and Bythias Colonel of the Horse with six thousand old Foot and a thousand chosen Horse But Scipio finding the Military Discipline much corrupted that under Piso the Soldiers had been accustomed to Idleness Rapine and Avarice that in the Camp there was an infinite number of those Sutlers and Pedlars whom only the hopes of prey made follow the Army who debauched the best Soldiers to straggle with them only to pillage and plunder though by the Rules of War he that went so far from the Camp that he could not hear the Sound of the Trumpet was to be proceeded against as a Run-away and that all the mischief these people did was imputed to the Army and all the plunder taken begot only matter of quarrel and dissention for it often happened that for a trifle Comrades fell together by the ears and killed one another Scipio I say having observed this and knowing well he should never compass his ends on the Enemy unless he first made himself Master of his own Troops assembled his Army and taking his Seat on the Tribunal spoke in this manner The Oration of Scipio YOu are Witnesses Fellow Soldiers that whilst I bore Arms here under Manlius I gave you an example of that Obedience which I desire you should pay me now that I have a right to command I could as well at this instant have punished your disobedience but I thought it convenient first to advise you of your duty You know what actions you do I am ashamed to tell you of them in full aâ—â—embly You live rather like Robbers than Soldiers and are more used to Traffick than to Assaults you leave the Camp to scour the Country and in the midst of War you are greedy after Delights without labouring at all for Victory This is the reason why in that little time I have been absent the Carthaginian Affairs are so well recovered so that being now come to command you I find that the reforming your evil orders will be the greatest part of trouble If I certainly knew it were your own fault I would not fail to punish you but because I attribute it to another I forget what 's past For my part I came not hither to plunder but to conquer I ask no Money from the Enemy before the Victory and will patiently wait till they be fully defeated 'T is therefore my pleasure that all those people in the Camp who hear not Arms depart from this very day except only some few whom I shall give leave to stay and I forbid any whoever he be to return unless it be to bring Provisions and such Provisions too as are proper for Soldiers I will give the Victuallers a limited time to expose their Commodities in on which my Quaestor and I will take care to set a reasonable price So much for what concerns those who are not inlisted For you my Fellow Soldiers whatever we attempt I have but one order to give you that is that you take example by me whether it be for manners or diligence and if you do it indeed be assured that your Endeavours will never want Success nor your Actions Recompence we must act now that the occasion requires it let us adjourn profit and pleasure to their Season This is what I demand from you what I desire Discipline and then be assured that as obedience shall be amply rewarded so disobedience shall be severely punished After having spoken thus he forthwith caused all useless persons to be driven out of the Camp and with them sent away all that was rather delicious than necessary Having thus purged his Army and disposed his Soldiers to obedience he designed one night secretly to make an Assault by two several ways upon a certain great place against the Walls of the City called Megara and having sent those about who were to make the Attaque on the one side he took his march towards the other causing to be brought along Axes Croes and Ladders he had already advanced a pretty way in the dark without making any noise when those that were upon the Wall perceived him
at the Undertaking as if in a long time or perhaps never Scipio could have brought it to perfection but the whole Army laboured in it with an emulation of each other without resting day or night insomuch that at last the Besieged affrighted resolved to make another entrance on the farther side of the Port where the Peninsula extends it self more into the Sea where a Dam could not be made both by reason of the depth of the Water and violence of the Winds All the people therefore set themselves to digging so much as the very Women and Children and beginning from within and continuing their work without telling their design and at the same time mustering up all the old Materials they had they fell to make Galleys of divers sorts following their business with much courage and diligence but so secretly that the Prisoners themselves could give no other account to Scipio save that they continually heard a great noise in the Port but knew not what it meant Having at last completed every thing they suddenly opened the Mouth of the Port and about break of day came forth with fifty Galleys and great quantity of Barques Brigantines and other smaller Vessels in so good order that they were very capable to strike This new Mouth so unexpectedly opened and the unthought of coming out of such a Fleet so startled the Romans that had the Carthaginians immediately fell upon their Fleet unfurnished both of Mariners and Slaves all hands being employed in the Works to advance the Siege they might easily have made themselves Masters of it But because it was decreed by the Destinies that Carthage should be razed they contented themselves with this vain Shew and proud Bravado retreating into their Port without doing any thing else Three days afterwards they came forth again to Sea with design to engage the Romans in good earnest whose Fleet being now in a readiness set forward to meet them they began the fight with great shouts on both sides the Seamen Souldiers and Commanders equally shewing their Courage the one party fighting for their safety the other to compleat their Victory so that there was a furious fight on both parts nothing being to be seen but wounds and death In the fight the Carthaginian Brigantines gliding along under the banks of the great Roman Galleys broke them sometimes in the Poop sometime struck of their Rudders and sometime burst a sunder their Oars so that they damaged them extreamly and when they found themselves overcharged they rowed off with a wonderful Nimbleness and as nimbly returned to the Charge At last the two Fleets having fought till Sun setting with equal advantage the Carthaginians thought it convenient to retire not that they confessed themselves overcome but that they might next morning return to the fight in better order In this retreat their smaller Vessels being lighter and swifter got the Van and entring in a huddle into the Port so stopt the entrance of the great Vessels that they were forced to retire to a very spacious key built against the City-wall for the unlading of which they had during this War raised a little rampart for fear left the enemies should possess it There they stood firm with their Prows twined towards their enemies all the Soldiers standing in a fighting posture some upon the Ships others on the Key and others on the Rampart The Romans who followed them had no great difficulty to assail them for t is not hard to fight with Ships that lie still but when they were again to draw of because of their length not being able to turn nimbly they received as much damage in the retreat as they had given in the Charge for as they turned about they were forced to receive all the blows of the shot from the Carthaginian Engines on their broad sides At last five Ships which the City of Sidon allies of the people of Rome had sent to Scipio went and dropt their Anchors out at Sea at a good distance from the Carthaginian and giving scope of Cable enough advanced by force of Oars and after having given their charge warped back again by their Cables which they had brought in at their poop and then again returned to the Charge and in like manner retreated All the Fleet followed the Example of those of Sidon whereby the Carthaginians were much damaged till such time as the fight having continued a good part of the night the remainder of their Ships â—heltred themselves in the Haven Morning being come Scipio attempted the Key because he thought the gaining of it would make the mouth of the Port useless he therefore caused Rams and other batteries to be planted against the Rampart with which he beat down a part of it But the Carthaginians though oppressed with hunger and many other inconveniences forbore not by night to assault the Roman Engines not by Land for there was no passage nor upon Ships for the Sea was too shallow but naked and without light for fear they should be discovered far of they entred the Sea where none kept guard and passing some wading with the water up to their brests and others swimning till they came very near the batteries where when they could no longer couceal themselves because they had lighted their fires naked as they were they received an infinite of wounds yet not without revenge for their fury carried them to strange resolutions and all gored as they were with Arrows and Darts in their Brests in their Faces yet they abated nothing of their violence but like fierce beasts pressed forward to meet the strokes till having set fire to the Engines they so dismayed those that defended them that they took their flight towards the Camp where never before was seen such an alarm as this caused by naked enraged people Scipio astonished at the disorder came forth of the Camp with some Horsemen whom he commanded to kill those that would not stand and with his own hands he killed some and by that means obliged the rest who else had been all lost to keep their post where they stood all the night in Arms. As soon as it was day the Carthaginians delivered from the trouble of the Engines labored to repair that part of the Rampier that was broken down adding towers at certain intervals On the other side the Romans made other Engines and planted them on platforms which raised them as high as the towers of the enemies and from thence cast burning torches brimstone and pots full of flaming pitch with which they burnt some of them which put the Carthaginians to flight and opened the Romans a way to the Key to pursue them but because the ground on which they ran was slippery by reason of the blood shed there they could not overtake them Scipio being become Master of the Key lodged on it fortified it and caused a wall of brick to be built to the Cityward very near the City walls and of equal height When it
was finished he caused four thousand Men to get upon it with Orders to ply the enemy continually with Darts and Arrows which extreamly afflicted them for the two walls being of an equal height there was scarce a Dart thrown in vain thus ended the Summer In the beginning of the Winter Scipio determined to clear the Country of those Forces the Carthaginians had yet abroad and to possess himself of all those places from whence they might convey provisions He therefore sent his Captains some one way and some another and himself embarking went towards Nephera along the Marish after having given Order to C. Lelius to march by Land to the intent that he might force Diogenes one of Asdrubals party from an advantagious post As soon as he arrived he encamped within two hundred and fifty paces of Diogenes and having left Gulussa in the Camp to prosecute the War with him returned to Carthage He continued often to go and return from one place to the other to see how things passed till such time as two towers of the Fort in which Diogenes was posted being thrown down Scipiâ— sends behind the Fort a thousand chosen Soldiers while himself assaulted the forepart with three thousand others choice men likewise who marched upon the ruines not in confusion but in a body the Soldiers having orders to fight so close lockt together that they could not be repulsed those in the first rank being susteined by the others that followed At the noise made by the Assailants the Africans ran to defend themselves but whilst they were all imployed there the thousand Soldiers behind according to the Order given them forced the Camp and having pulled out or cut the Palisadoes violently rushed in with a wonderful boldness whilst none were aware of it or so much as doubted of such an Assault The enemies perceiving them betook themselves to flight for they believed them a far greater Number then what they saw and Gulussa who pursued them with his Numidians and Elephants made a strange and bloody slaughter for there perished threescore and ten thousand men accounting the Country people ten thousand were taken Prisoners and not above four thousand in all saved themselves Afterwards Scipio took the City of Nephera with great labor the siege lasting two and twenty days in a cold season and incommodious place This victory contributed much to the taking of Carthage for the Army at Nephera furnished the besieged with provisions and that Fort hardned the Africans in their obstinacy but after it was taken all the other garrisons in the Country voluntarily surrendred to Scipio's Captains Thus all the Country about Carthage being under the Roman obedience and it being impossible to have any thing by Sea by reason of the War and Winter Victuals grew very scarce in the City As soon as Spring came on Scipio assaulted the Citadel called Byrsa and and the gate called Coton at the same time which caused Asdrubal to set on fire that part of the gate which was square but whilst he expected Scipio should make a new attempt on that side and stood firm with the inhabitants Lelius mounted privately by the other side of the gate which was of a round figure and making himself Master of it the shouts of those that were already got up so dismayd the enemies that the other Soldiers now contemning the besieged and having filled all the places difficult to pass with Beams Engines and Planks they leapt in on all sides in spite of all the resistance of the guards oppressed with hunger and lost to all courage Scipio thus possest of the wall that encompassed the gate called Coton got thence into the great place of the City which was nigh unto it where night coming on and not suffering him to go farther he kept there in Arms with those Soldiers he had with him and as soon as day broke caused four thousand fresh men to come thither who being got into Apollo's Temple plundered his Statue which was all of Gold and all the inside of the Temple which was covered with Plates of Gold of a thousand Talents weight They cut in pieces the Plates with their Swords do what their Captains could to hinder them till such time as having got what they could they pursued their enterprize Mean while Scipio's chief design was against the place called Byrsa for that was the strongest of all the City and a world of people were retreated thither The way from the great place thither was up hill through three Streets on each side of which there was a continuance of very high houses whose upper stories jetting somewhat over into the Street whole showers of Darts flew from thence upon the Romans who were constrained before they passed farther to force the first houses and there post themselves that from thence they might drive out those that fought in the neighboring houses and after they had driven them out they laid Beams and Planks from one side of the Street to the other on which as on Bridges they passed cross the Streets thus they maintained War in the Chambers whilst as fast as they met they fought more cruelly below in the Streets All places were filled with crys and groans people dying a thousand different sorts of Deaths some at Swords-point some thrown headlong down from the tops of the houses upon the pavement others falling upon Javelins Pikes and Swords presented against them however none durst yet set fire because of those who maintained the fight in the losts but when Scipio had gained the foot of the Fortress all the three Streets were immediately on a flame and the Soldiers had charge to hinder the ruines of the houses caused by the fire from falling into the Street that the whole Army might have the more convenient passage And now were new spectacles of calamity to be seen the fire devouring and overturning the houses and the Roman Soldiers all about so far from hindring it that they endeavored to involve the rest in the same ruine The miserable Carthaginians in despair falling confusedly with the Stones and Bricks on the Pavement dead bodies nay people yet living and especially old Men Women and Children who had hid themselves in the most secret places of the houses some laden with wounds others half burnt and all crying out in a deplorable manner others tumbling headlong from the upper stories of the houses among the Mass of Stones and Wood were in their falls torn in pieces Nor was this the end of their miseries for the Pioneers who to make way for the Soldiers removed the Rubbish out of the middle of the Streets tossed with their Hooks and Forks the bodies as well of the dead as living into the vaults turning them with their Iron Instruments as if they had been pieces of Wood or Stones so that there might be seen holes full of heaps of men of which some having been headlong thrown in yet breathed a long time and lay with their legs above
and how the Romans reduced Syria to the form of a Province XVII The State of the Affairs of Syria from Alexander the Great till Seleucus Nicanor came to be King XVIII His Life and Actions XIX The History of the Marriage of Antiochus with Stratonice and the death of Seleucus XX. Continuation of the Descendants of Seleucus to Antiochus the Great and a short recapitulation of his Successors ANtiochus King of Syria Babylon and of many other Countries was the Son of Seleucus Grand-child of Antiochus and the sixteenth Successor from that Seleucus who after the Death of Alexander reigned in that part of Asia confining on the Euphrates This Prince made the first proof of his Arms against the Medes the Parthians and other people revolted from his Predecessors where he signaliz'd himself by so many Heroick Actions that he gained the sirname of Great Afterwards the success of his first Enterprizes and that glorious Title raising his courage he despoiled Ptolemy Philopator King of Egypt yet but an Infant of the lower Syria and part of Cilicia and after that setting no bound to his designs he transported the War towards the Hellespont into Etolia and Ionia where he claimed a right by virtue of his being King of Asia because formerly those Countries had been under the Dominion of the Kings of Asia From thence passing into Europe he became Master of Thrace constraining those who offered to resist to pay him obedience He likewise fortified the Chersonesus and rebuilt Lysimachia which Lysimachus King of Thrace after Alexander had built as a Cittadel to keep the people in subjection and which after his death the Thracians had demolished Antiochus undertook to repeople it making those Inhabitants which went out of it return redeeming those that were in slavery and drawing thither many new ones giving them Sheep and Oxen and Iron to Till the Ground He was very desirous with all possible expedition to put this City in a condition and to make it the seat of that War he had resolved on because he believed that in all Thrace there was no place more proper to be made a Magazine of Corn and other Provisions A great number of people had already surrendred unto him aud received the Garrisons for fear of his Arms when those of Smyrna Lampsacus and many others who would not submit to his Yoke sent their Deputies to Flaminius the Roman General who a little before had in a great Battel defeated Philip of Macedon in Thessaly for in those times and before the Affairs of Greece and Macedon were exremely embroiled as we have related in the Greek Histories There were many deputations on one part and the other between Antiochus and Flaminius but without any effect for the Romans and Antiochus had for a long time been distrustful of one another The Romans were of opinion that this King grown now so powerful would not after so many happy successes consent to Peace and Repose and that Prince saw that the Romans only could oppose his designs there being small likelyhood they would ever suffer him to establish a Dominion in Europe Yet hitherto there was no occasion given of a breach when the Ambassadors of Ptolemy Philopater came to Rome to complain that Antiochus had dispoiled him of Syria and Cilicia The Senate and people of Rome were very glad that this occasion presented and presently sent their Ambassadors to Antiochus under pretence of reconciling the two Kings but indeed to observe the designs of Antiochus and oppose them as much as they could possible Cneus chief of this Embassie required of the King That he would not hinder Ptolemy who was a friend of the people of Rome from enjoying what had been left by his Fathers and that he should leave in liberty those Cities which formerly belonged to Philip of Macedon saying it was not reasonable that he should take to himself what the people of Rome had conquered To this he added That they were astonished he should come from Medea to the Sea-costs of Asia with so great a Fleet and so powerful an Army and already begin to trouble Europe by building of Cities and making himself Master of Thrace and that there was great appearance all these were but preparations to another War The King made answer That his Predecessors had formerly possessed Thrace but being busied elsewhere it had been usurped from them and that now that he had leisure he would recover the Possession and had rebuilt Lysimachia for the Residence of his Son Seleucus For the rest he would leave the Cities of Asia in liberty provided they would own the Obligation from him and not from the people of Rome But for what respects Ptolemy said he I am his Kinsman and shall suddenly be his Father-in-law and then shall take care to act in such a manner as he shall give you thanks for the good office you have done him but let me in my turn be astonished too not being able to comprehend by what right the people of Rome meddle with the Affairs of Asia since I meddle not with those of Italy Thus they parted without doing any thing save threatning one another Some time after a report was spread that Ptolemy Philopater was dead which made Antiochus to take his way towards Egypt with design to seize that Kingdom which the death of that King might make an easie Conquest Being at Ephesus Hannibal driven from Carthage by the calumnies of his Enemies who had accused him to the Romans as factious and likely to trouble the Peace now between them came to salute him and offer him his service and as he had the Reputation of a great Captain the King received him with muchâ— kindness and kept him near his person Being gone as far as Lycia he understood that Ptolemy was yet living whereupon he quitted the design of Egypt out of hopes that he might easily seize Cyprus and to that intent he embarqued for that Island but was surprized with so furious a Tempest near the River Sara that he lost a great number of his Ships and many of his Friends Mariners and Soldiers and the rest of his Fleet being carried by the Storm to Seleucia in Syria he there caused his Ships to be repaired which were much out of order and celebrated the Nuptials of his Children Antiochus and Laodice whom he had before made enter into contract of Marriage At length having absolutely resolved on a War with the Romans he endeavoured to ally himself to the Kings his Neighbours by Marriage He sent Cleopatra sirnamed Syra to Ptolemy in Egypt and gave her in Dower the lower Syria which he had formerly usurped from him hoping thus to appease that young man that he might attempt nothing on that side during the War He sent likewise Antiochida to Ariarathes King of Cappadocia and the last to Eumenes King of Pergamus But that King knowing the design he had of making War upon the Romans and that it was only for that end
that he sought his Alliance excused himself and when his Brother Attalus and Phileter wondred that he despised the Alliance of so great a King his Neigbour who offered it of himself he laid before them the importance of this War in which possibly in the beginning they might fight with equal Forces but that in the end the Romans would prove victorious by reason of that courage and generosity which rendred them undefatigable In which case said he I shall remain free and secure in my Kingdom but if Antiochus overcome 't is possible so powerful a Neighboâ—r may deprive me of my Estates or if he lâ—t me keep them 't will be only on conditions of submission to his Empire These were the Reasons why he would not accept the Match Now Antiochus being returned to the Hellespont and passed over into Chersonesus took many places in Thrace either by force or surrender set at liberty all the Greeks that were under the Dominion of the Thracians and was extremely liberal to those of Bizantium because their City being seated at the mouth of the Sea was very commodious for War he likewise by his bounty and the terror of his Arms drew the Galatians to his party judging those great Bodies were very proper to oppose the Romans in a Battel After this he came to Ephesus whence he Deputed Lysias Eginetes and Menippus to Rome in effect to pry into the intentions of the Senate but in appearance to tell the Fathers That always hitherto he had been affectionate to the Romaâ— Name and likewise that he had been desired to have been received into their Alliance if they had thought him worthy However he could not but wonder that they should order him to quit the Cities of Ionia to release to some of them the Tribute they ought him not to meddle with the Affairs of Asia and to abandon the Possession of Thrace which he held of his Ancestors for that such kind of commands were usually given to the Conquered and not to Friends The Senate knowing well that these Ambassadors were only come to sound them answered in few words If Antiochus leave the Asiatique Greeks at liberty and touches nothing in Europe he may be if he pleases friend of the people of Rome This was all they said without giving any farther reason to the Ambassadors Antiochus thereupon designing as soon as he could to seize upon Greece that from thence he might begin the War against the Romans thought good to communicate his intentions to Hannibal who told him That Greece having for a long time been afflicted with War he thought there would be no great difficulty in seizing upon it But that it was hard for a Prince to make War in his own Country because of the scarcity of Provisions that might happen but much more easie to maintain it in his Enemies Country That Antiochus would never attain his desires upon the Romans in Greece considering the conveniencies they had of supplying themselves with Provisions and the faculty of raising Men He therefore counselled him to siâ—se on some part of Italy and make that the seat of the War whereby the Roman Affairs would as well at home as abroad be weakned I know said he Italy perfectly well and if you will give me but ten thoâ—sand men dare promise my self to land and post my self in some place convenient for your designs from thence I will write to my Friends in Carthage to engage them to stir up the people to revolt who already of themselves weary of the present Government preserve no great fidelity for the Romans and who out of hopes of a better Fortune will attempt any thing as soon as they hear of my return to Italy The King with pleasure listned to this advice and considering as true it was that the Engagement of the Carthaginians in this War was of no small importance gave him charge to write forthwith to his Friends However he writ not for he could not do it with safety the Romans having their Spies every where and the War not being yet declared Besides there were many envious persons in Carthage and that Republick was troubled with those Divisions which not long after were the cause of its ruine Howbeit he sent to his Friends a certain Tyrian Merchant called Ariston who came to Carthage under pretence of Trade and by him he desired them that as soon as they heard he was entred Italy they should move the people to revenge the outrages they had received he acquitted himself very well of his Commission for Hannibal's Enemies knowing of the coming of this Ariston began to make a great noise as if he had the management of some contrivance to the prejudice of the Publick so that search was made for the Tyrian and he that he might not only engage the Friends of Hannibal fixed up by Night in the Place a certain Writing by which that Captain exhorted all the Senate to joyn with Antiochus for the defence of the Country and that done gets him to Sea Morning being come and the Writing read the Friends of Hannibal found themselves by this invention discharged of any suspicion could be had of them because it was believed the whole Senate had part in this advertisement However the people knew not what to resolve on they affected not the Roman Rule but they had neither the power nor the boldness to attempt any thing Mean while the Romans to cry quits with Antiochus sent him likewise Embassadors to sound him and spy into his Forces of the number of which was Scipio the African They came to Ephesus where understanding that he was gone into Pisidia they staid for him and during his absence had several conferences with Hannibal They expostulated with him that whilst Carthage was in Peace and Antiochus upon the point of being declared Enemy of the people of Rome he had left his Country though since the League neither he nor any other Carthaginian had any cause of complaint This was a policy in the Ambassadors who believed by these familiarities with Hannibal they might bring him under suspicion with the King of which as great a Polititian as he was he was not at all aware But the King being advertised of it grew jealous of him and confided not in him as he had done before but besides his jealousie Antiochus grew envious of this great Commander fearing left if his Affairs had success all the Glory would be attributed to Hannibal One day as 't is said these two excellent men holding a conference before a numerous Auditory fell upon a discourse of great Captains and Scipio having asked Hannibal who of them all he esteemed to be the greatest He replied Alexander of Macedon To which Scipio agreed because he yielded to Alexander And thereupon asking again to whom he gave the second place he named Pyrrhus King of Epire because in his Judgement Boldness and Courage were the principal Virtues of a General of an Army and of
of Tichiontes was repulsed for they defended themselves couragiously But Cato having posted himself near the Callidromos about the last watch advanced and surprized the Enemies yet asleep however he had a sharp scuffle by reason of the incommodiousness of the place where the Soldiers were forced to Scramble up the Rocks and Precipices to come at the Etolians Mean while Manius marched directly towards Antiochus having drawn off his Army into several bodies for he could not fight otherwise in these straits where the King expected him having placed his Targets and light Armed Foot in the Front of his Phalanx which he had embatteled before his Camp on the right hand stood the Slingers and Archers who guarded the Foot of the Mountain On the left the Elephants and on the Sea-side those Companies appointed for the Guard of his Person When they were engaged Manius found himself rudely intreated on all sides by the light Armed Soldiers But bravely sustaining the Shock and sometimes giving ground sometimes returning fiercely to the charge he harassed them in such manner that he put them to the Rout. The Phalanx opened to give them passage and closing again presented the Romans with an infinite of sharp long Pikes By this Invention it was that Alexander of Macedon and Philip did principally make themselves terrible for no Man was so hardy as to press upon this thick and affrightful forrest of Pikes Hereupon on a sudden might be perceived the Etolians with great crys flying from the Callidromos and sheltring themselves in Antiochus Camp which at the instant struck fear into both parties who knew not what it meant but when they knew Cato who with loud shouts pursued the Flyers and saw him already nigh the Camp the Kings Soldiers who had heard the Roman Courage and Valor largely spoken of and were sensible of their own defects and faintness occasioned by their having spent the Winter in Pleasures and Idleness began to be afraid and their fear blinded them so that they could not observe the numbers commanded by Cato but imagining them far greater then they were and apprehensive lest they should Plunder their Camp they ran thither in disorder followed so close by the Romans that they entred Pelmel with them and forced them to a second flight Manius pursued them as far as Scarphiâ— and made a horrible slaughter took a great number of Prisoners and at his return from the chase of the Enemy gave their camp in spoil to his Soldiers Mean while the Etolians had siesed the Roman camp which they found abandoned but as soon as they saw Manius return they quitted it It is said that of the Roman Army there were about two hundred Men slain either in the fight or the pursuit Antiochus lost ten thousand reckâ—â—â—â—â— the Prisoners and he as soon as he saw his Army give way saved himself with five hundred Horse and at one carriere reached Elatia From thence he got to Chalcis where his Fleet lay on which he Embarqued with his new Spouse Eubia for so she was called and fled to Ephesus Yet he took not with him all his Ships for some that were laden with Provision fell into the hands of the Roman Admiral who sunk them News of this Victory being brought to Rome publick Prayers were made all the City rejoycing at the happy beginnings of this War and in acknowledgment of Philips fidelity they sent back to him his Son Demetrius who was yet a Hostage in the City Whilst at Rome they were giving Demostrations of their joy for this happy success the Phocians Chalcidians and many other people who had been of the Kings party came to ask pardon of Manius who forgave them After which he went with Philip to spoil Etolia took all their Cities together with Damocrites General of that Nation the same Damocritus who had threatned Flaminius he would encamp on the banks of Tiber. After this he took his March towards Callipolis over Mount Corax which is of a great height and very difficult to pass by reason of the Rocks especially for an Army laden with baggage and the spoils of the Enemy as this was for in passing this cragged way many Soldiers with their Arms and Equipage were lost among the Precipices besides they stood in fear of the Etolians who might have troubled them but they appeared not being busied in sending 〈◊〉 to Rome to desire peace Antiochus in the mean while drew towards the Sea side with all Expedition possible all the forces that had been levied in the Lands under his obedience He caused likewise a Fleet to be fitted out the command of which he gave to Polexenidas who had been banished from Rhodes and not long after passed into Chersonesus which he fortified a second time he placed Garrisons in Sestos and Abidos by which the Romans might pass into Asia And having designed Lysimachia for his Principal Magazine he caused to be brought thither great store of Ammunition and Provision believing the Romans would soon draw towards him with great forces both by Sea and Land The Senate and People of Rome sent as Successor to Manius L. Sâ—ipio now Consul and because he was not over expert in the Art of War they gave him for Lieutenant Publius his brother who having overcome the Carthaginians had brought away the surname of African as a spoil Whilst these two brothers were laboring in their preparations Livius who before had Commission to hinder the Enemy from making any descent in Italy having been sent Successor to Attilius who commanded the Romans Naval Forces Embarqued on those Ships he had for the Defence of the Coasts together with some sent by the Carthaginians and other Allies and came to the Port of Pyraeâ—m where Attilius having delivered up to him the command of the Fleet he took the Sea with fourscore and one Ships all Armed for War followed by Eumenes with fifty more the better half of which were likewise Armed They first made a descent in Phocida which yet held for the King but now for fear receiving them they the day following went forth to fight For Polexenidas who commanded Antiochus his Fleet was coming to meet them with two hundred Ships much lighter then theirs which was a great advantage for the Romans were not yet perfectly skilled in Sea Affairs This Captain seeing that two Carthaginian Ships advanced in the head of the Fleet sent out three of his against them which took them both but empty for the Africans had cast themselves into the Sea Livius angry at this affront makes a head and goes to charge the Admiral they stay for him and grapple with him so that the Ships being now fast to one another they fought as if on firm Land but the Romans being most daring leaped into the Enemies Ships and making themselves Masters of them brought them into the body of their Fleet together with the two Carthaginian Ships had been taken at first After this Prologue to a Battel when the two Fleets came
to rout the Legions gave them chase Mean while the Macedonian Phalanx which stood lock'd up together upon four Fronts in the midst of the Cavalry finding themselves opened on all sides by the flight of the Wings opened to receive in the midst of them some Companies of light armed Men who fought at the head of them and presently closed again And now Domitius easily encompassed the Macedonians thus clustred together with his Horse and light armed Foot and shrewdly annoyed them for they could neither come to the charge nor enlarge themselves and their experience stood them in no stead at this close order but rather exposed them to the Darts of their Enemies All they could do was to present their Pike heads to the Romans provoking them to come to the push otherwise threatning they would come to them but being on foot and heavily armed they durst not go to assault Horsemen for fear of breaking the Order of their Phalanx which they could very hardly recover The Romans pressed not too close upon these old Soldiers thus lock'd together and exasperated by despair but wheeling about them they charged them at distance with Arrows and Darts of which not any fell without execution because they being so hudled together could not shun them seeing themselves harassed in this manner and not knowing what course to take they gave ground but still retreating and not breaking their Order insomuch that the Romans durst not yet draw near but were satisfied to charge them at distance till such time as the Elephants which they had placed between the Battalia's began to break their Ranks and refusing any more to obey their Rulers caused the whole multitude to betake themselves to flight in disorder Domitius having routed the Phalanx attempted to force Antiochus his Camp whilst he continued driving the Legions that were opposed to him unto their very Camp they not being supported by any Horse nor any Darters nor Slings for Domitius had placed none in this Wing believing it sufficiently defended by the River But the King being repulsed by the Tribune that had the charge of the Guard of the Camp who sallied out with some fresh Forces and caused those that fled to return to the charge turned head puffed up with an opinion of the Victory because he knew not what had passed elsewhere Attalus Brother to Eumenes advanced to encounter him with a Body of Horse of which the King made so light off that he charged through and through without receiving any great damage But when he came to have knowledge of the defeat by the slaughter of his people with whom all the Field of Battel was covered seeing the vast heaps of Bodies Men Horses and Elephants confusedly mixed together and that even his Camp was in the Enemies power he likewise betook himself to flight and all upon the spur made for Sardis whither he reached about midnight From Sardis he presently took the way towards Celenes which men call Apamia whither he had understood his Son was escaped On the morrow he departed from Celenes towards Syria leaving his Captains to rally the ruines of his Army and in the mean time sent Ambassadors into the Field of Battel to demand peace of the Consul who was then burying the Bodies of his dead spoiling those of the Enemy and gathering together the Prisoners Among the Dead there were found about four and twenty Roman Knights and about three hundred Footmen who had been slain by Antiochus and of Eumenes Soldiers only fifteen Horsemen As for the Enemy they lost fifty thousand men comprizing the Prisoners for the number of the dead was so great it could scarcely be counted All the Elephants fell upon the place save only fifteen which were taken alive After this Victory so great that many could scarce believe it for they could not imagine that a handful of men fighting in an Enemies Country could possibly defeat such a prodigious Army of the Kings and especiall of the Macedonian Phalanx composed all of old Soldiers now stronger in men than ever and believed invincible after this Victory I say Antiochus his Friends blamed his rashness for having undertaken this War against the Romans and said that from the beginning he had made it appear that he was no great Captain having so inconsiderately abandoned Lysimachia and the Chersonesus and besides that withdrawn the Garrisons from the Hellespont by means of which he might have hindred the Scipio's from passing into Asia And at last they condemned his imprudence for imprisoning as it were the choice Forces of his Army thereby rendring them useless and placing his hopes in a heap and multitude of new leavied Soldiers rather then in men accustomed by long exercise to the toils of War and whose bodies and courages were both invincible Whilst all the world talked in this manner of Antiochus the Romans grown more resolute then before now began to think nothing impossible founding their thoughts as well upon their native valor as upon the assistance of the Gods and not being able sufficiently to admire their own good fortune when they considered how being so infinitely unequal in number and in a strange Country they had in one only battel and in one day subdued so many Nations made prize of so great Riches overcome so many Mercenary Troops quell'd the glory of the Macedonians and in short ruined Antiochus King of so many Kingdoms and reduced him that had gained the Surname of Great to a by-word and a Proverb of Antiochus the Great has been Whilst the Romans entertained themselves with these pleasant thoughts Publius brother to the Consul finding himself in a condition to undertake a journey came to the Camp where the Kings Deputies had Audience They now only desired to know what Antiochus must do that he might be received into the friendship of the Senate and People of Rome to which Publius answered That this War was not begun but through the fault and covetousness of Antiochus who possessing a great Empire of which the Romans were not at all jealous not therewith content had despoiled Ptolemy his kinsman and friend to the people of Rome of the lower Syria had invaded Europe without any right subdued Thrace fortified the Chersonesus and built Lysimachia In conclusion having brought an Army into Greece had endeavored to reduce under servitude the Greeks whom the Roman People had lately set at liberty and continued his enterprizes till such time as he was defeated at Thermopylae That though he had been forced to save himself by flight he had abated nothing of his Ambition but had renewed the War by Sea where he had been beaten in several Engagements and had never made any Overture of Peace till the Roman Army was come over into Asia That even then he had proudly refused their conditions and setting on Foot a mightier Army to make yet greater attempts was fallen into an Extremity of Disgrace But said he though with reason we may impose on him a
let him pass Then Atteius ran to the Gate and filling a chafing dish with fire as Crassus past by made efusions thereon pronouncing Execrations against the Consul and invoking Gods whose names were new and dreadful This manner of cursing is very Ancient and the Romans are of Opinion that these Imprecations are so powerful that whoever they are pronounced against cannot escape nor can any good happen to him that pronounces them wherefore they never use them rashly and now many persons blamed Alteius in that by declaring himself Enemy to Crassus though in favor of the Commonwealth he had filled the minds of the whole City with fear and Superstition Yet all this hindered not the Consul from setting forward to Brundusium and though the Winter which was not yet near past might have diverted him from adventuring to Sea yet he would stay no longer so that he lost many of his Ships by Storm and having rallied the remainder of his forces took his way by Land through Galatia where he found King Deiotarus who was of a great age building a New City to whom he said in raillery You begin to build at twelve a clock to which the other replyed smiling and you I perceive go not against the Parthians very early For Crassus had already past sixty years of age and look'd much Elder then he was Being arrived in the Province the first success of his affairs answered very well to his hopes for having caused a Bridge to be built he with ease and security passed his Army over the Euphrates and received under his obedience many Cities of Mesopotamia which surrendred to him One he besieged called by the Greeks Zenodocia which was defended by a Tyrant named Apollonius and because he had lost before it one hundred of his Soldiers he stormed it with his whole Army took it razed it and sold all the Inhabitants he could find by Outcry After this he permitted his Army to call him Emperor by which he lost much of his Reputation as if having gained this Victory his hopes had reached no higher In conclusion he placed Garrisons in all the Cities had surrendred whose numbers amounted to seven thousand Foot and a thousand Horse and with the rest of his Army came to take up his Winter-quarters in Syria whither his Son who had born Arms in Gaul under Caesar from whom he had received many Military rewards came to him with a thousand chosen Horse This was in my opinion the second fault Crassus committed after having rashly undertaken this Enterprise for whilst he ought to have advanced as far as Babylon and Seleucia Cities in all times Enemy to the Parthians by keeping at this distance he gave the Enemy time to make preparations The stay he made in Syria gained him not more glory for he lived rather like a Tax-gatherer then a General The time which should have been employed in making provision of Arms and exercising the Soldiers was spent in reckoning up the Revenue of the Cities and in weighing and measuring the Gold and Silver consecrated to the Goddess of Hierapolis And when he had Ordered the Lords and Commonalty of the Country to set out a certain Number of Soldiers he presently dispensed with them for Mony whereby he drew upon himself the scorn of all the World It was at the Temple of the forementioned Goddess whom some will have to be Venus others Iuno others Nature which contains in her the seed of all things there it was I say that he received the first presage of his ill fortune For as the Father and Son came out thence the young Man stumbled and fell before the Gate of the Temple and the old Man fell upon his Son Whilst he was drawing his Forces out of the Garrisons there came to him Ambassadors from Arsaces who said but little to him the sense of which was this That if the People of Rome had sent that Army the War would not end but by the absolute ruine of one of the parties but if it were true as was reported that Crassus without his Countries consent and for his own particular interests had undertaken it Arsaces would not then do his utmost but having compassion on the Consuls age would let the Romans go whom he considered rather as men besieged then Conquerors To which Crassus having arrogantly replyed that he would give them an answer at Seleucia Vagises chief of the deputation in a fit of laughter showing the Palm of his hand Crassus said he there shall hair grow here before thou see Seleucia and therewith the Ambassadors departed to give advice to Orodes their King that he must resolve for War Immediately after some of those who had been placed in Garrison in the Cities of Mesopotamia having escaped through all the difficulties in the World came to the Camp where they bred no small disturbance They gave account of the vast number of Enemies they had seen the labors they had undergone in defence of the Cities from whence they were driven and aggravating every thing as is usual in such cases they assured their fellows that it was impossible to escape from the Parthians when they pursued nor to overtake them when they fled that their Arrows wounded before they could be perceived and that nothing was proof against them whilst they were Armed with such strong Curasses that nothing could offend them The Roman Soldiers hearing these discourses were appalled for being perswaded that the Enemies differed nothing from the Armenians and Cappadocians whom Lucullus had beaten till he was weary and believing that the most of their labor would be the length of the way and the trouble to pursue Enemies that durst not stay for them they saw that quite contrary to the opinion they had entertained this War would be both doubtful and dangerous Insomuch that the Chief Officers of the Army were of opinion to hinder Crassus from proceeding farther till he had considered more maturely of an affair which concerned the safety or loss of so many Men. Moreover the Augures gave private notice that the Entrails of the Beasts promised no good and that Crassus his Sacrifices were not pleasing to the Gods But he would hearken to nothing from them or any other but those who encouraged him generously to pursue his design among which the counsel of Artabasus King of Armenia made great impression on his Spirit for he came to the Roman Camp with six thousand Horse which they call the Kings guards with promise to furnish ten thousand Horse more and thirty thousand Foot at his own expence perswading to assault the Parthians by the way of Armenia and he would take care to guide the Army a commodious way and to furnish them with all necessaries and that thus Crassus would have continual Mountains to March through and places difficult for Horse Service in which the Parthian strength chiefly consisted The Consul highly applauded the Kings good will and praised the Magnificence of his Troops but
told him he would take the way of Mesopotamia where he had left a great quantity of Valiant Men of the Roman name After this conference the Armenian returned into his Kingdom As for Crassus as he caused his Army to pass over a Bridge great Claps of Thunder began to make a dreadful noise and continual flashes of lightning darted in the Soldiers eyes besides all on the sudden an impetuous storm raged against the Bridge and carried away a part of it It happened likewise that the lightning fell twice in the place whereon they were to encamp and one of the Consuls Horses in his most stately Trappings carried the Esquire that rode him into the River notwithstanding all endeavors to stop him nor were either Horse or Man ever seen afterwards They say likewise that the Eagle that was first taken up by the Standard-bearer of it self sell backward and that when the Army having past the River sat down to eat they by chance gave the Soldiers nothing but Lentils and Broath which is counted doleful meat because only served at Funerals Afterwards as Crassus made an Oration to his Army there escaped from him a word which struck a strange terror into the minds of the Soldiers For he told them he had caused the Bridge over the River to be broke down that not one of them might return and though that absurdity might have been repaired by explaining the words and that the Consul ought to have interpreted it that he might not leave upon their Spirits an Impression of ill Presage yet he would not do it out of Stubbornness After this having mustered his Army he offered a Sacrifice and as the Priest put the Entrails of the beast into his hands he let them fall at which the assistants being scandalized he laughing said These are the inconveniences of old age but our Armswill never fall out of our hands He then found that the Army which passed the River consisted of seven Legions about four thousand Horse and as many light Armed Foot Sometime after the Scouts brought in word that the whole Region was desert and that they had only discovered the track of a great Number of Horses which seemed to fly before them upon which intelligence Crassus conceived some good hopes and the Soldiers began to despise the Parthians believing they would never stand to fight them However Crassus and some of the Consuls Friends advised him to retire into some one of those places he held in that Country till such time as he had received more certain advice of the Enemy or at least that he would march them towards Seleucia along the Banks of the River for so greater plenty of provisions might be brought him by water and in case the Enemy came to assail him the River might serve as a Rampire so that they could not encompass him about and by that means he might fight them with equal Forces As Crassus was consulting about the importance of this Counsel there arrived in the Camp an Arabian Gentleman called Agbarus cunning but treacherous whom Fortune made use of as the Principal Instrument for destruction of the Army some who had born Arms under Pompey knew him and remembring that Great General had obliged him thought he might have an affection for the Romans But indeed he was sent to Crassus by those who Commanded the Kings Army to draw him if possible from the River and Foot of the Mountains and make him take into the Plain where the Horse had more advantage For they were resolved on nothing less then to come to a pitcht battel with the Romans in that place Agbarus therefore coming to salute Crassus and being well spoken began his discourse with the praises of Pompey and the kindnesses he had received from him then he sell to discourse of the mighty power of Crassus setting forth that he wrong'd himself in spending time in consultation when he was but more than too strong for there was not any need of Arms but only of nimble Feet and Hands to deal with a People who had a long time been prepared to pack up their Mony and Choicest Riches and fly into Scythia or Hyrcania But if you will fight said he you must make hast lest the King resuming Courage Rally up likewise his Forces for at present you have only to deal with Surena who is the Rear-guard of those Forces that make their Retreat for as for the King they know not where he is Now all this was false for Orodes had upon the first of the War divided his Forces into two Armies with one of which he had invaded Armenia where he made strange Havock to Revenge himself of Artabasus and had given the other in charge to Surena to oppose the Romans Not out of scorn as some say for there is no likelyhood that he should disdain to deal with Crassus a Roman Consul or that he could think it more Honorable to wage War with Artabasus or Plunder the Villages of Armenia but for my part I am of the opinion he retired thither for fear of the danger or as into an Ambuscado to expect the success of the War For Surena was no Common Man being both for Riches Birth and Quality the second to the King and for Valor and Vigor of Body the Chief among all the Parthians besides he was large of Stature and of as Noble an Aspect as any Man living could be He had continually in his train a thousand Camels for burthen two hundred Coaches for his Women and for his Guard a thousand Men at Arms besides a greater Number of Light Horse so that the Ordinary Train of his Houshold was ten thousand Horse reckoning his Vassals and Slaves and by an Ancient Hereditary Right of his Family he had the Honor first to set the Crown on the head of the new King of the Parthians He had brought back this same Orodes from Exile and restored him to the Throne he had by Storm taken the Great Seleucia being the first that mounted on the walls from whence himself drove the Guards that defended them and though he were not now above thirty years of age he was esteemed one of the most Politick Men of the time he lived in which he shewed by entrapping Crassus who yet in truth was easie to be deceived first by reason of his pride and daring and at last because of his fear and the distress to which he saw himself reduced Agbarus therefore having by fair words perswaded him to leave the River caused him to take his march through the midst of vast plains naked of trees untill'd and of which they saw no end so that the Soldiers grew faint-hearted not only for thirst and the tediousness of the way but because they found no refreshment in their travel they saw neither River nor Mountain nor any green thing but as if they had been in the wide Sea they beheld nothing on all sides but an affrightful solitude All this already gave
loosing all if he went to the succour of his Son yet he loved him and therefore was in doubt whether he should go to his relief or endeavour to save the rest At last he caused the Army to March towards the Enemy who presently appeared to meet them witnessing by their loud and terrible shouts that they had gained the Victory and letting the Romans know by the confused noise of their Drums that they must again prepare to fight Thus they made their approach bearing the Head of Publius upon the end of a Lance and asking by way of derision who were the Parents of that young Man and of what Family he was for they could not believe that Crassus the basest of all men could beget a Son so Brave and Valiant This sight cast down the spirits of the Romans more than all the Calamities they had suffered and instead of stirring up in them that indignation and desire of revenge which it ought overwhelmed them with horror and fear However Crassus Valour appeared upon this occasion extraordinarily he cryed out as he marched on Horse back through the Ranks The Oration of Crassus THis Misfortune concerns me only fellow Soldiers the glory and felicity of our Country remains yet intire whilst you are in a condition to defend it And if you have any compassion upon me for having lost a Son of that Value discharge your anger on your Enemies and deprive them of their joy by punishing their cruelty Loose not your Courage for the misfortune happened to me whoever pretends to great recompences is subject to like disgraces Lucullus did not Vanquish Tigranes nor Scipio Antiochus without the expence of blood Our Fathers lost a thousand Ships in the Conquest of Sicily and in Italy it self many Generals and Captains have perished whose loss hath not hindred their party from gaining the Victory for the Roman Empire is not mounted to this Greatness and Power by the good Fortune of the Romans but by their Patience and height of Courage in Adversity After these words Crassus perceiving that most of the Soldiers received them but coldly commanded to give a great shout all together which made but their inward grief the more known for they shouted with weak and discordant Voices whilst the Barbarians answered them in a Tone high and Harmonious The Fight presently began wherein the Enemies light Horse wheeling about the Romans galled them in Flank with showrs of Arrows whilst the Lanciers who assailed them in Front made them recoyl and croud close together However some out of fear of the Arrows drew off from the gross to charge nearer at hand but they did their Enemies littleâ—hurt and were presently killed by their Lances whose Iron head entring the Body was followed by a thick Staff thrust forward with so great violence that often times it went through and through both Horse and Man After the Battel had thus lasted till night the Parthians retreated saying That they gave that night to Crassus to bewail his Son unless he made choice of the better way and had rather go and present himself to Arsaces than be carried And having said these words they went and lodged in a place hard by with full hopes the next Morning to put an absolute end the Victory The Romans on the contrary had but an ill night of it they had no thoughts either of burying their dead or dressing their wounded of which some lay dying every one bewailed his own self for there was no hopes of safety whether they staid in that place till day or whether whilst it was dark they set forward cross those vast Plains for the wounded if they carried them would hinder their flight and if they forsook them the cryes of those miserable Creatures would give notice to the Enemy of their departure And though they imputed all their misfortune to Crassus they wished notwithstanding they might either see or hear him but he had withdrawn himself and with his head bound up had cast himself on the ground in the dark Whereby he became a great Example of the inconstancy of Fortune to the Vulgar and of rashness and ambition to the Learned having suffered himself to be so far transported by those two failings that he could not content himself to be one of the Prime among so many thousands of Citizens but believed himself miserable because he was accounted but the third Man in Rome Octavius his Lieutenant and Cassius his Quaestor having found him in this posture roused him up and entreated him to take courage but seeing he was in utter despair by advice of the Tribunes and Centurions they themselves published the Deaf March and began to discamp without noise but when the sick and wounded perceived that they were about to forsake them with their cryes and roarings they spread a general trouble throughout the Army even those who were already got into the Plain took the Alarm as if the Enemy had been ready to fall on wherefore they made many halts putting themselves in order to fight and perplexed with the great numbers of the wounded that followed them of which they took up some and left others they made but little way save only three hundred Horse that fled away by themselves with whom Ignatius arrived about Midnight at Carres where having called in Latin to those were upon the Guards of the Walls he bid them go and tell Coponius the Governour of the place that there had been a great Fight between Crassus and the Parthians and without explaining himself farther or so much as telling his name advanced towards the Bridge the truth is he saved those Horse but he was blamed by all the World for forsaking his General not but that Crassus had some benefit by Coponius having this advice for the Governour conjecturing by the ambiguity of his words and by the suddenness of his departure that the Messenger brought no good news immediately drew to Arms what Force he had and when he had advice that the General was upon the way went out to meet him and gathering up as many of the Soldiers as he could conducted them to the City As for the Parthians though they knew well that the Romans were dislodged yet they would not pursue them by night but as soon as it was day they run to their Camp and cut the throats of all those they had left which amounted to no less than four thousand and then pursued the rest of whom they took great numbers whom they found dispersed in the plain besides four Cohorts under the conduct of the Lieutenant Vargonteius who having stragled in the March by night fell into their hands enclosed in a strait where having valiantly defended themselves they were all cut in pieces except only twenty Soldiers who with their Swords in their hands opened themselves a passage through the midst of their Enemies and whose courage the Enemies themselves admiring suffered them to pass at an easie rate to Carres without pursuing
certain Village of Cappadocia many others came in to him and whilst the Macedonians were engaged in other Affairs made himself Master of Cappadocia and all the Nations neighbouring on Pontus At length having mightily extended his Dominion he left to his Children a great scope of Country over which they Reigned one after another till this Mithridates who had War with the Romans But both the Kingdoms of Pontus and Cappadocia having been joyntly possessed by the Successors of the first Mithridates it is of importance to know how they came divided and who were Kings of Pontus and who of Cappadocia The first under whom the change began was Mithridates Euergetes who only stiled himself King of Pontus hating the Cappadocians and treating them like a conquered Country He had made an Alliance with the people of Rome and did effectually send them Auxiliary Shipping against the Carthaginians There succeeded him his Son of the same name with two sirnames Eupator and Dionysius whom the Romans commanded to quit Cappadocia to Ariobarzanes who had put himself under the protection of the people of Rome and seemed to have more right to that Kingdom than the other It 's possible too that being jealous of the greatness of Mithridates Monarchy they were glad of this pretence to divide it However it were the King obey'd But Socrates sirnamed Chrestus Brother of Nicomedes the Son of the first Nicomedes and Grandchild to Prusias the same that had been confirmed in his Kingdom of Bithynia by the Decree of the Senate having some controversie with his Brother was assisted by Mithridates who sent him with an Army into Bithynia where he seised on the Kingdom and at the same time Mithraas and Bagoas having driven Ariobarzanes out of the Kingdom of Cappadocia wherein the Romans had established him placed Ariarathes in his stead So that the Romans found themselves obliged to restore Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes each to his Kingdom To this purpose they sent their Commissaries of whom Manius Aquilius was the Chief and gave Orders to L. Cassius who commanded in that part of Asia with a little Army to assist them and likewise gave the same commands to Eupator himself but he who had still a pretence to Cappadocia and remembred that not long since the Romans had despoiled him of Phrygia as we have said in our History of the Affairs of Greece would not concern himself However Cassius and Manius with those Forces Cassius had and what they could raise in Phrygia re-established Nicomedes in Bithynia and Ariobarzanes in Cappadocia and afterwards counselled them both to make incursions into Mithridates his Country and to pick with him any occasion of War assuring them that the Romans assistance should not be wanting yet neither of them durst attempt so powerful an Enemy but when the Commissaries again pressed them to it Nicomedes who owed a great sum of Money to the Commissaries and the Captains by the agreement made for his re-establishment and had likewise formerly taken up great sums at interest from the Romans setled in Asia who now called them in invaded as it were whether he would or no the Territories of Mithridates pillaging all as far as the Gates of the City of Amestris without any opposition For though the King of Pontus had very good Forces ready yet he still gave ground that he might make his tale the better But Nicomedes being returned with a booty of inestimable value Mithridates sent Pelopidas to the Roman Captains and Commissaries and though he knew they wished for the War and had been the cause of this invasion he took no notice of it expecting greater and more worthy causes of the War that was preparing He gave him in charge only to speak of that Friendship and Alliance he and his Father had with the People of Rome But said Pelopidas instead of Protecting him you have taken from him Phrygia and Cappadocia of which this last was the inheritance of his predecessors and left to him by succession from his Father and the other the recompense of his Victory over Aristonicus a recompense he received from your General or rather which he bought with his mony and now you suffer Nicomedes to stop up his passage from Pontus and spoil all his Country as far as the Gates of Amestris Not but that the King was as you know sufficiently powerful and too well prepared to resist him but he would have you eye witnesses of what has passed And now you have seen it Mithridates your Friend and Allie begs you in quality of his Friends and Allies for those are the Terms of the Treaty to succour those Nicomedes thus wrongs or at least impeach his farther violence To this the Deputies from Nicomedes made Answer That it was not at this instant only that Mithridates had laid Ambushes for him that he had made Socrates his Brother to enter in Hostile manner into his Kingdom who but for him had been quiet and yielded to the right of Primogeniture in his Elder Brother 'T is most true Gentlemen said the Chief of this deputation Mithridates alone stirr'd up that young Man to make War against him whom the Senate and People of Rome had made King of Bithynia To whom do you think this injury was meant more than to you and though by your Edict the Kings of Asia are forbid to meddle with Europe he with the same injustice has seised several places in the Chersonesus all these Actions are but Signals of the violence he intends to you You may if you please wait for the effects for what mean his great preparations as if the War were already Declared Why so many Auxiliary Troops of Thracians Scythians and so many other Neighboring Nations He allies himself with the King of Armenia sends Agents into Egypt and Syria to solicite the Alliance of those Kings has already three hundred Ships of War fitted and is still building more having fetcht from Phoenicia and Egypt Mariners and Pilots such mighty preparations are never made against Nicomede but against you He is exceeding angry too that having bought Phrygia of one of your Generals that suffered himself to be over-reacht you have commanded him to restore it as goods unjustly got And as much vexed he is that you have given Cappadocia to Ariobarzanes and fearing lest your power should encrease from day to day the complaints he makes to you serve him only for a pretence to Arm and assault you as soon as he shall find an occasion but it will be your wisdom not to stay till he openly declares himself your Enemy Consider more his actions than his words and for pretences of feigned friendship do not forsake your true friends nor suffer those ordinances you have made concerning our Kingdoms to be scorned and made invalid by one that is a common Enemy to us both After the Deputy had thus spoken Pelopidas again desired the Romans to be judges of the complaints made by Nicomedes And for what remains said he you
and put their Enemies to the Rout but as they pressed home upon them Archelaus wheeling about from the left Wing came and charged those in the Rear who thought they had been Victorious and as soon as he had made them face about gave ground that Neoptolemus might have time to Rally as soon as he knew he was again in a Posture he renewed the charge and the Chariots Armed with Scythes being violently driven into the Enemies squadrons caused a strange disorder some they cut through the middle of the body and tore others in quarters which extreamly terrified the Bithynians for they saw the one half of Men still breathing the trunks of bodies and other members hooked fast and drawn along by the Chariots so that the horrour of these spectacles daunting them more then the fight it self fear siesed them and begot a wonderful hurly-burly in the Ranks However though Archelaus pressed upon them on one side and Neoptolemus and Arcathias were rallied on the other they took heart and facing both ways defended themselves generously for a good space till such time as Nicomedes after a dreadful slaughter of his Men fled with the rest to Paphlagonia After this Victory in which Mithridates Phalaâ—â—x was not concern'd Nicomedes Camp fell into the Victors power who found therein good store of Silver and took a great Number of Prisoners whom the King treated kindly sending them home to their houses and giving them Money to bear their charges that he might make his Clemency known to his Enemies themselves But if Mithridates rejoyced at this first success the Roman Generals were no less startled at it They began to perceive they had kindled this important War without the Senates Orders with more Rashness then Prudence They observed how great Numbers of their had been defeated by a handful of Men who had neither assistance from any advantage of ground or any miscarriage in the Bithynians but only by the vertue of the Leaders and Valour of the Soldiers After this Nicomedes retired into Manius Camp and Mithridates encamped on Mount Scoroba which separates Pontus and Bithynia One day his Scouts which were a hundred Sarmatian Horse met with eight hundred of Nicomedes Men of whom they took many Prisoners whom Mithridates sent likewise into their Country after furnishing them with wherewithal to live by the way Another time as Manius retreated Nicomedes being gone to find out Cassius Neoptolemus and Nemanes the Armenian pursued him and about the seventh hour overtook him at a Village called Pachia and forced him to fight he had four thousand Horse and ten times as many Foot of whom they killed ten thousand and took three hundred prisoners whom Mithridates caused to be brought before him and then dismissed as he had done the others that he might gain the hearts of his Enemies Manius lost all his Baggage and flying along the side of the River Sangara passed over it by night and escaped to Pergamus Cassius Nicomedes and all the Roman Commissaries seeing themselves every where thus ill-handled went and posted themselves at Leontecephalus the strongest place in Phrygia where they began to make new Levies of Souldiers they Enrolled the Artificers Laborers and Plough-men and all Men of what sort soever that could be found in Phrygïa capable to bear Arms whom for a while they began to exercise but finding them so unhandy and improper for War that they could never be made serviceable they forbore any longer tormenting those poor People and after having dismissed them retired Cassius to Apamea Nicomedes to Pergamus and Manius towards Rhodes Those who had the Guard of the mouth of Pontus hearing this News not only quitted their Station but likewise Nicomedes his Ships as a prey to Mithridates Thus the King of Pontus being by one only blow become Master of all Bithynia went through all the Cities setling necessary Orders from thence he passed into Phrygia where lodging his Army in the same place where Alexander had lodged he took it for a happy presage to have spent one night in the place where that Great Conqueror had once encamped Proceeding forward he overrun the rest of Phrygia Mysia and all the Provinces which the Romans had newly Conquered in Asia and sending abroad his Captains several ways he subdued Lycia Pamphilia and all that stood in his way as far as Ionia There was only Laodicea near the River Licus that opposed him because that Q. Oppius was retired thither with his Horse and the Mercenary Soldiers But when a Herald sent from the King told the inhabitants that the King promised Indempnity to all those of Laodicea provided they would deliver Oppius into his hands they sent away the Mercenary Soldiers and carried Oppius to Mithridates with Lictors marching before him in derision The King did him no injury but causing him to be unbound carried him every where along with him well pleased to see a Roman General his Prisoner Sometime after Manius Aquilius Chief of the Commission and Principal Author of the War was taken but he was not treated so kindly they carried him about mounted on an Ass from City to City and forced him to proclaim aloud as he went that he was Manius and at last at Pergamus poured melted Gold into his mouth to reproach the Romans of Corruption and Covetousness Mithridates having placed Governors in all places as he went passed along to Magnesia Ephesus and Mitylene where he was received with so great applause that the Ephesians threw down the Roman Statues that were in their City for which they were not long after chastized Then returning into Ionia he took Stratonicea where he made the inhabitants pay a great Sum of Money and placed a Garrison Here he fell in love with a very beauteous Virgin whom he took into the Number of his Wives if any desire to know her name she was called Monima the Daughter of Philopoemen he likewise by his Lieutenants made War against the Magnesians Paphlagonians and Lycians who would not yet wholly submit Whilst Mithridates was doing these things the Senate and People of Rome having intelligence of the first Irruption into Asia decreed that an Army should be sent against him though they were embroiled with intestine seditions and had then a War with their Allies which lay heavy upon them by reason that almost all the People of Italy revolted against them one after another The Consuls drawing the Provinces by lot Asia fell to Cornelius Sylla together with the Commission of the War against Mithridates and because there was no Mony in the Treasury it was Decreed by the Senate that all which Numa Pompilius had consecrated to the Gods to make Publick Sacrifices should be sold. So much was the publick honour considered in this necessity However they sold but a part from which they raised nine thousand pound weight of Gold which sufficed for the expence of this War for as great as it was they made use of no more Sylla was detained a
long time by the seditious as we have related in the History of the Civil War Mean while Mithridates slept not He made ready a great Number of Ships to send against those of Rhodes He wrote private Letters to all the Governours of his Provinces and the Magistrates of all his Cities by which he ordained that on the thirtieth day from the date the whole multitude should fall upon all the Italians they could find with their Wives Children and Houshold-servants that were Italians and after having cut their throats throw them out upon the Dunghils without Burial Confiscating their goods one half for the King and the other for those that slew them He likewise commanded at the same time to publish by sound of Trumpet strict prohibitions to all persons under the penalty of a great fine either to bury the dead or conceal the living with a recompence to such as should discover any that were hid that the slave who slew his Master should be free and the Debtor that slew his Creditor released of one half of his Debt This Private Order being dispatched to all parts and the day appointed come all Asia was filled with infinite Examples of horrible Cruelty some of which we will relate The Ephesians after having pulled by force from the Statues on which they hung those that had fled for Sanctuary into the Temple of Diana slew them upon the very Altars Those of Pergamus when they could not make those wretches fled into the Temple of Esculapius quit the place shot them with Arrows as they hung upon the Statues The Adrumetans pursued into the Sea those who thought to save themselves by Swimming and sent those miserable people with their Children to the Bottom The Caunians whom the Romans after having vanquished Antiochus had put under the Dominion of Rhodes and whom the Senate soon after had released and made free pluckt from the Altars those Italians which had fled for refuge into the Sacred Palace of their City first cut the Childrens throats before their Mothers Faces then Massacred the Mothers in the sight of their Husbands and threw the Mens dead bodies upon those of their Wives and Children Those of Tralles that they might not defile themselves with the blood of their Guests employed a certain cruel fellow a Paphlagonian called Theophilus whom they hired to that purpose who having shut up the Italians in the Temple of Concord made so cruel and horrible a Butchery that he cut of the hands of those that hung upon the Images In short all the Romans and Italians that could be found in Asia Men Women and Children even to the very Freedmen and Slaves were all involved in this General Massacre which was sufficient evidence that the People of Asia were transported to these Cruelties not out of fear of Mithridates but out of hate to the Romans But however they were doubly chastised first by Mithridates who treated them with all sorts of indignities and afterwards by Cornelius Sylla who put them to exemplary punishment After this the King went into the Isle of Coos where being willingly received he found there the Son of that Alexander who had reigned in Egypt him he took and caused to be Royally brought up sending to the Kingdom of Pontus vast Riches taken out of the Treasures of Cleopatra's precious moveables Jewels and magnificent Habits together with great store of Silver Money Mean while the Rhodians repaired their Walls and Gates fortifying them with Engines by the Assistance of some Telmissians Lycians and all the Italians who escaping out of Asia had fled for refuge to Rhodes among whom was L. Cassius Proconsul of Asia Mithridates being come to besiege them they destroyed their Suburbs for fear the Enemy should possess them they likewise drew up their Ships in Order of Battel one part to Fight in Front and the other to defend the Flanks Whereupon Mithridates Rowing round his Fleet in a Galley of five Banks gave Orders to his Fleet to extend themselves as much as they could in form of a Crescent that so by force of Oars they might encompass in their Enemies Ships who were much fewer in Number The Rhodians who were fearful of it began by little and little to give way and at length turning their Prows fled and got into their Port whose Booms having shut so that the King could not enter he was forced to retreat because of the Shot made at him from the Walls He came to an Anchor hard by and after having several times in vain attempted the Port resolved to stay till his Army came out of Asia Mean while they were perpetually skirmishing in which the Rhodians always had the better which much heightned their Courage On a time as all their Ships were in a readiness and they wanted but an opportunity to go and charge the Enemy a loaden Ship of the Kings passing by the Port was Boarded by a Rhodian Gally of two Banks which being on each side assisted by those of their party who Rowed in in great Numbers there happened a considerable Engagement Mithridates transported with anger and pestered with too great a Number of Ships could not give Orders Necessary But the Rhodians more experienced in Sea affairs made nimble turns about the Kings Ships whom charging on the broad-side they bilg'd many of them and took and brought into the Port a Galley of three banks boarded on the quarter by one of theirs with all the Gang and great quantity of Arms and Plunder However they mist one of their Gallies of five Banks and not knowing any thing of it's being taken by the Enemies they sent their Admiral Demagoras with six of their nimblest Vessels out to Sea in search of it Mithridates sent five and twenty after him Demagoras got into the open Sea without their being able to reach him but when night drew on seeing the Kings Galley's were about to make their retreat he fell on and sinking two pursued two others into Lycia and after having spent that night at Sea came and joyned the rest of the Fleet. This was the success to that Sea-fight as much unhoped for by the Rhodians by reason of their few Ships as unlooked for by Mithridates because of his great Numbers and indeed it was all but a confusion In the heat of the Engagement an Auxiliary Ship of the Isle of Chios run so full on Board the Ship the King Commanded that it broke her to pieces at which he was so offended that he put the Pilot and the Mate to death and ever after bore a secret Malice to the Inhabitants of that Island Sometime after as Mithridates Land Army came upon Loaden Ships and Gallies a sudden Storm arose which brought all the Fleet towards Rhodes The Rhodians presently came out with their whole Force and finding the Enemies Ships still in disorder sunk some burnt others and brought in four hundred Prisoners Wherefore the King prepared once again to Fight them by Sea and withal to
of Victory consisted only in this Port had fortifyed all he could Yet the height of the Walls amused not Sylla who presently clapt to his scaling Ladders but the Cappadocians bravely defending themselves after giving and receiving many Wounds he gave over and retreated to Eleusina and Megara where he fell to building Engines resolved to take the Pyraeum by raising Platforms or Terrases higher then the Walls Thebes furnished him with Workmen and Materials as Iron Instruments for Battery and such like things he cut down Timber in the Academy to frame his great Engines and beat down all those long Walls which joyned the Port with the City that their Ruins might serve to raise his Platforms There were in Pyraeum two Athenian Slaves who whether they were affectionate to the Romans or to provide for their own security in case they succeeded writ on Bullets of Lead what passed within and threw then with Slings into the Roman Camp Sylla observing that they continually slung them and examining the matter more narrowly found writ one of the Bullets Tomorrow the foot will sally out on the Labourers in Front while the Horse charge the Roman Army in Flank Whereupon he laid an Ambush for them and when they thought to surprize the Romans they were themselves surprized by the Romans who after a great Slaughter drove the rest into the very Sea Archelaus seeing the Platforms advanced in height caused towers to be erected directly opposite to them from whence with Darts he sorely vexed the Workmen and having caused Forces to come from Chalcis and other Isles he arrived not only the Marriners but the Galley-Slaves seeing himself in such an extremity of danger Thus he who before much exceeded the Besiegers in Numbers seeing his Forces encreased by these new Recruits made the Night following about the second Watch a vigorous Sally wherein carrying lighted Torches he burnt one of the Testudo's with all its Engines The Consul soon repaired the loss and in ten day's rebuilt and planted others in their stead against which Archelaus opposed a Tower he erected on the Wall After this Dromichetes whom Mithridates had sent with new Recruits being arrived Archelaus drew out the Kings Army in Battel intermixing the Slingers and Archers and drawing them all up so close under the Wall that those who had Guard might from thence annoy the Enemies at distance with their Bows and Slings whilst a Party he had placed near the Gates sallyed out upon a signal given with Torches in their hands to set fire on the Machins The Fight was fierce and continued a long time doubtful sometimes one giving Ground and sometimes the other the Barbarians were the first that turned their Backs but Archelaus soon forced them to stay and return to the Charge which so startled the Romans that they themselves fled till Murena coming to the head of them forced them to turn again upon the Enemy At length some Companies of Souldiers returning from the Wood to whom those who had been branded with Infamy for their flight joyned themselves and arriving in the heat of the Fight they charged so furiously upon Mithridates Battel that after having slain two thousand they forced the rest to save themselves in the Port in spite of all the resistance of Archelaus who did all he could to stop them and was so obstinate in it that the Gates being shut before he could get in they were forced to draw him up the Walls with Ropes Thus Sylla had the honour of keeping the Field who discharged of the Infamy those had been noted for it because of their good service upon this occasion and honoured the other with military Recompences And because Winter was coming on he went and encamped near Eleusina and that he might not be annoyed by the Excursions of the Enemys Horse he caused a deep Trench to be dug from the Mountains to the Sea Whilst they wrought at it there happened daily Skirmishes some or other continually either going from the Trench or coming from the Wall and throwing Darts or shooting Arrows Stones or Bullets of Led This Work finished Sylla who stood in need of Shipping sent to Rhodes to furnish himself but the Rhodians who could not pass the Seas which were covered with Mithridates his Fleets advised Lucullus a man very considerable among the Romans and one of Sylla's Lieutenants to embarque privately for Syria and Alexandria to demand of the Kings and the Maritime Cities Ships to joyn with the Rhodian Fleet. He took their advice and fearless of any thing embarqued himself on a pittiful passage Boat and often changing Boats that he might not be known came to Alexandria About this time the two Slaves cast from the Walls Bullets of Lead on which they had written that the next Night Arcâ—elaus sent to Athens where the people were very much oppressed with Famine some Souldiers laden with Corn upon which advice Sylla laying an Ambush for them took both the men and the Corn. The same day Munatius engaging with Neoptolemus the other of Mithridates his Generals wounded him killed him fifteen hundred of his men and took a far greater number Prisoners Some time after whilst the Guards of the Port yet slept some Romans cast Ladders from their Engines upon the Walls and being got up slew the first they met with which so surprised the Barbarians that some believing all was taken by the Enemy leaped from the Top of the Walls but others more resolute put themselves upon their defence slew the Captain of those were got up and threw the rest headlong down And some of them were so bold as to sally out of the Gate with Torches in their hands with intent to set fire to one of the Romans Towers And they had done it had they not been prevented by Sylla who after a Fight which lasted all Night and next Day forced them to retreat within their Walls After this Archelaus caused to be raised on the Wall a great Tower opposite to the greatest of the Romans where they fought without intermission with shot from their Arbalists or Cross-bow's till such time as Sylla discharging from his greatest Cross-bow's twenty large leaden Blluets at a time against the Enemies slew a great Number of them and shook the Tower in such manner that it cleaving almost asunder they were forced to draw it under their Walls that they might not have the discouragement to see it tumble down in pieces Mean while Famine from day to day increasing in Athens Archelaus was designing to send them Provisions by night of which the leaden Bullets soon gave notice But that General doubting that some one advertised the Romans of his designs gave order that at the time when the Corn was to be sent there should be a Party ready at the Gates to Sally out with Torches in their hands upon the Romans at the same instant that Sylla assaulted those which carried it and indeed it happened that Sylla took the Souldiers that carried
Mithridates having only said thus much Sylla answered in this manner Though this be not the business we are met for but only to conclude a Peace on the conditions by me already proposed yet I will likewise in few words satisfy you in what you reproach us with When I commanded in Cilicia I reestablished Ariobarzanes in Cappadocia by the Senates order and I did it because you yielded to the Authority of the People for you ought either to have opposed it and shewed your reasons in Iudgments or after having suffered it acquiesce in the Decree of the Senate As for Phrygia Manius gave it you corrupted by your gifts which made it a common crime betwixt you and by saying you got it by corruption you own the possession unlawful and indeed Manius being convicted of having done many things of like nature for Money the Senate declared them all null Wherefore Phrygia being granted to you unjustly they would not make it tributary to Rome but set it at liberty And when we dispense with our dominion over a Country which by right of War belonged to us as Conquerours of it what reason have you to siese on it As for Nicomedes he complains that by your perswasion Alexander who designed to kill him wounded him and Socrates Chrestus invaded his Kingdom He confesses that thus injured he entered armed into your Territories but if you thought your self injured without cause you should have sent your Deputies to Rome and expected the answer of the Senate Yet granting that in the assault of Nicomede you only repelled force by force what had Ariobarzanes done that you should drive him out of his Estates Therefore the Roman Generals that were upon the place were obliged to reestablish him and by resisting them you kindled a War long time premeditated and to begin which you sought only an opportunity out of the hopes to become Masters of all the World if you could overcome the Romans We have manifest Proofs of this since before any War was begun you entred into alliance with the Thracians Scythians and Sarmatians solicited the Kings your Neighbours by your Embassadors caused Shipping to be built provided your self with Pilots and men of War but above all the Time you chose for the Execution of your Designs is your conviction for as soon as you knew that our Allies in Italy were resolved against us you made use of that opportunity while we thus were embroyled to assail Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes and one after another Galatia Paphlagonia and our own province of Asia What cruelties have you not acted Whether to the Cities which you have submitted to Slaves and Debtors the first of which you freed from Servitude and the last from the Power of their Creditors Whether to the Greeks of whom you put to death sixteen hundred for one sole crime Whether to the Tetrarchs of Gallogrecia whom you murdered eating at your table Or whether to the Italians whom in the same day you put all to the Sword or drowned them in Water with their Wives and Children without respect to the sacred places or the Temples whither they had fled for Sanctuary What Inhumanity did you not manifest in this occasion What Impiety what furious hate against us In conclusion after having seised the Treasures of all these people you sent over great Armies into Europe contrary to our Edict by which it is expresly forbid all Kings of Asia to enter there That done you forraged Macedonia one of our Provinces deprived the Greeks of their liberty and never repented of all this nor made any use of the Intercession of Archelaus till after I had recovered Macedonia and delivered the Greeks from your violence by slaying one hundred and sixty thousand of your men and taking two of your Camps with all their Munition And now I cannot but wonder that you should excuse your self of the same matters for which you asked pardon by Archelaus unless it be that when I was far off you were afraid of me and now seeing me near you think I am come to plead but pleadings are in vain when Arms are once taken in hand We do make War upon you and have defended our selves bravely hitherto and will defend our selves to the end Sylla pronouncing these words in Anger the King was afraid accepted the conditions proposed to Archelaus and after having surrendred up his Shipping and executed all that was contained in the Articles of Peace he returned into Pontus reduced to the Kingdoms of his Father only Thus was the first War against Mithridates appeased Sylla after this went and encamped within two Furlongs of Fimbria and sent to summon him to deliver into his hands the Army which he commanded contrary to the Laws to which he in raillery returned answer that Sylla himself had no very legitimate command Sylla thereupon besieged him in his Trenches and many publickly forsaking him he assembled the rest to beseech them to stay but they told him they would not fight against Roman Citizens He thereupon rent his Robe addresses himself to every one in particular begging with Tears in his eyes but they having an aversion for such a meanness of Spirit the greatest part went over into Sylla's Army Then he ran from Tent to Tent to solicite the Tribunes part of whom having gained by Money he once again assembles the Soldiers to renew the Oath Upon which the Henetians crying out all with one voice that the Soldiers should be called out and sworn man by man he gave Orders first to call out those who had received kindnesses from him and particularly Nonius the Companion of all his Crimes who refused to swear he drew his Sword and had thrust it into his belly had not a great shout suddenly raised throughout the whole Army stopt his proceeding farther After this he suborned a Slave with Money and promises to go into Sylla's Camp as a Runaway and to kill him but he not having been able to bear up with constancy enough his trembling made him suspected so that being taken he confessed the whole matter This attempt inflamed all Sylla's Army with just anger and made Fimbria so despisable that the Soldiers going to the Ditch of his Camp reviled him calling him Aristion after the name of one of those fugitive Slaves in Sicily who for a few daies was King Wherefore Fimbria â—ost to all hopes advanced to his Rampart and demanded to speak with Sylla who sending Rutilius in his stead put Fimbria quite in despair seeing a conference would not be granted to him which had not usually been denied even to Enemies Yet he spoke to Rutilius and told him he desired pardon for the faults he might have committed through the imprudence of his Age. To which Rutilius answered that if he would depart out of Asia where Sylla was Proconsul he would give him pass-port as far as the Sea he replied he knew a way more convenient and at the same time returning to Pergamus and entring the Temple
obedience But the King having a suspicion that what they had done was by his Sons solicitation sent for him fettered him in chains of Gold and soon after made him away though he had served him well in Asia against Fimbria As for those of Bosphorus Mithridates set forth a Fleet and raised so powerful an Army that such great preparations gave occasion to believe they were not made against the Bosphorans but against the Romans For the King had not yet so absolutely quitted the possession of Cappadocia to Ariobarzanes but that it was with the reserve of some places He had moreover entertained a suspicion that Archelaus when he was in Greece had granted to Sylla conditions beyond what was reasonable which that Captain perceiving was afraid and fled to Murena for protection He animated him so far against Mithridates that he presently took the field to be beforehand with him and entring his Country by the way of Cappadocia forraged as far as the Gates of Comanes the greatest City of the Kingdom Celebrated for a famous and rich Temple where having defeated some Horse of the Kings the Deputies on his behalf came to him remonstrating that by this Action he broke the Articles of Peace to which he answered that he saw no Articles and indeed Sylla had drawn no writings but only contenting himself with the Execution of the conditions was departed out of the Province Murena giving only this short Answer pursued his Enterprise and after having pillaged even the Consecrated Monies returned to take his Winter quarters in Cappadocia The King sent Ambassadors to the Senate and to Sylla to make his complaint of Murena who in the mean time forbore not crossing the River Halis though very broad and at that time extreamly swoln by reason of the Rains and sacking four hundred Villages of Mithridates Kingdom without receiving any opposition from the King who expected the return of his Ambassadors So that the Roman General returned into Phrygia and Galatia with a great booty where Callidius sent from Rome because of Mithridates complaints came to meet him He showed him no Ordinance of the Senate but only told him before a great company there present that the Senate forbad him to do any injury to a King with whom they had contracted a Peace and after having said those words in publick he entertained him a good while in private Murena forbore nothing of his former Violence but on the contrary presently caused his Army to March towards the Frontiers of Mithridates Kingdom who seeing now it must of force come to an open War commanded Gordius to possess himself of the Neighboring Villages That General forthwith made provisions of beasts for burthen and munitions and gathering together all the Country and as many Soldiers as he could went and encamped on the River directly opposite to Murena but neither one nor the other put themselves in a posture to fight till such time as the King being come with a more powerful Army there hapned a great Engagement For the King having passed the River notwithstanding all the Resistance of the Enemy forced Murena to give ground and to secure himself on an eminence naturally fortified from whence taking the byways of the Mountains he recovered Phrygia after having lost many of his people either in the flight or in the Battel The Fame of this great Victory gained so suddenly and as it were in passing being soon spread abroad in all places drew Multitudes of people to Mithridates And he to return his thanks to Iupiter Militaris after having driven out all the Garrisons Murena had left in Cappadocia sacrificed to him according to the custom of the Country The place where this Sacrifice is made is on a high mountain on the top of which they raise a mighty pile for the Victims to which the Kings bring the first Wood then they raise another smaller Pile on the top of that whereon they pour Milk Hony Oyl and Wine and all sorts of Odoriferous Drugs At the foot of the Pile is a Feast made for the Assistants like to those the Kings of Persia were accustomed to make at Pasargada and after all they set fire to the Pile the flame of which rises so high that it is ordinarily seen a thousand Furlongs and the fire so heats the Air thereabout that the place is not to be approached for some days after Thus Sacrificed Mithridates But Sylla judging that it was a blemish to his Honor to have the War still continued against a King with whom he himself had concluded a peace prevailed to have Gabinius sent to Murena to order him positively to give over this War and to reconcile Mithridates with Ariobarzanes They met therefore together in a place where Mithridates delivered to Ariobarzanes in Hostage one of his Sons of four years old to the end that part of Cappadocia where he had placed Garrisons might remain to him with some augmentation and that being agreed he made a feast for all the company where he proposed a reward for those who excelled either in Drinking Eating Jesting or Singing and in short all sorts of Divertisements from which only Gabinius excused himself Thus ended the second War between Mithridates and the Romans after having lasted three years Sometime after the King finding himself at peace subdued the Bosphorans And made King of that Nation one of his Sons called Machares After that he invaded the Acheans which are on the Frontiers of the Colches and who as some say are the remainder of those who returning from the Wars of Troy were brought by chance to that Coast. But having lost one half of his Army partly by Ambushes partly in set battel or by the Extremity of the Cold he returned into his Kingdom from whence he sent Ambassadors to Rome to ratifie by writing the Articles of the Peace Ariobarzanes for his part whether of his own motion or set on by some other sent likewise to complain against him that he had not restored to him Cappadocia for Mithridates still withheld a good part Whereupon Sylla ordained that Mithridates should absolutely quit Cappadocia which he did and then again sent Ambassadors to Rome to demand a Ratification of the Treaties But because Sylla being dead no person would move it in the Senate he underhand engaged his Son in Law Tigranes to make an irruption into Cappadocia as done of himself which yet was not so closely carried but the Romans had knowledge of it The Armenian however entred violently into Cappadocia and carried away into Armenia three hundred thousand men whom he imployed with other Country People in Tilling the Land He had not yet taken the title of Armenia but now he assumed it and caused Tigranocerta to be called by his own Name that is to say the City of Tigranes these things passed in Asia But Sertorius having siesed upon Spain not only made an insurrection in that Province but among all the Neighboring People against the Romans
he went and pitched his Camp behind a certain Channel full of Water being there encamped he would soon have been in want of Provision but he sent for Corn as far as Cappadocia and was continually skirmishing with the Enemy till Mithridates one day as those of his party fled issuing out of his Camp ran to meet them and after having reviled them with reproachful words forced them to turn head again which struck such a terror into the Romans that they fled and all in a breath run up to the Mountain continuing their flight a long time after the Kings party had given over the chase of them for every one took the companion of his flight for an Enemy so much had fear distracted them Mithridates puft up with this success sent through all the Territories under his Dominion news of that Victory and drew off the greatest and best part of his Horse giving them Order to Ransack Lucullus his Forragers as they brought Corn from Cappadocia hoping to reduce him to as great necessity of Victuals as himself had been at Cysica And indeed it was a plausible Design to cut of Lucullus Provisions which could be brought to him from no other part but Cappadocia but the Kings Horsemen meeting with the Vanguard of the Forragers in certain straits where their Horses could hardly do any service had not the patience to stay till they were come into the open plain The Romans presently put themselves into order and favored as they were by the advantage of the place killed a great many of their Enemies drove others down the Precipices and put all the rest to the Rout. Some saved themselves by night in the Camp and believing they only were escaped made the noise of this defeat though truly it were great much greater then indeed it was And because this news came sooner to Mithridates then to Lucullus the King judging that after the loss of his Cavalry the Enemy would not fail to fall upon him grew fearful and disposed himself to remove thence of which at the same instant he gave notice to his friends that were in his Tent But they without staying till he published the march sent every one out of the Camp before day his Equipage with such hast that at the Gate the Baggage-horses overthrew one another This being observed by the Soldiers who knew those that led the Horses their fear increased their suspicion and the whole Army thinking themselves wronged that they had not all notice of it in a fury flew to the Palisade broke it down and spread themselves in disorder through the Plain every one flying what way he thought best notwithstanding all their Generals and Officers could do to prevent it The King himself could not appease this Tumult and Rage for when he perceived it he went out of his Tent to say something but not being listned to by any one he threw himself on the ground in the midst of the croud from whence being taken up and set on Horseback he fled by the way of the Mountains with very few in his Train Lucullus having intelligence of the Victory of the Forragers and seeing the flight of his Enemies sent the greatest part of his Horse to give them chase and incompassed with his Foot those who remained in the Camp prepared to receive the assault He had before strictly forbid the Soldiers to plunder till the Enemy were utterly defeated but when they beheld so many Vessels of Gold and Silver and so much costly Rayment they quite forgot his Orders Mithridates himself had been taken had they not cut open and straw'd abroad some Males full of Gold wherewith a Mule was loaden which while those that followed him busied themselves to gather up he escaped to Comanes from whence he went with two thousand Horse towards Tigranes who would not see him but gave him some Castles for his abode and caused him to be treated and served like a King Insomuch that despairing of ever entring again into his Kingdom he sent an Eunuch called Bacchus to his Seraglio to put to death in any manner whatever his Sisters his Wives and his Concubines They became their own Executioners and either by Steel Poyson or a Halter ended their Lives of which the Governours of the Garrisons left by Mithridates having advice surrendred all but a very few to Lucullus Lucullus after this seeing himself Master of the Province went about to all the Cities setling his orders And causing his Fleet to come before the maritime places he soon took Amastris Heraclea and all the rest except Sinope which for some time generously defended it self and got the better of him in a Sea fâ—ight But when the Inhabitants saw they must be taken they set on fire their largest Ships and going on board their lighter Vessels fled Sometime after he restored them their liberty being thereto advertised by his Dream 'T is said that Autolycus the Companion of Hercules in his expedition against the Amazones being driven by tempest into Sinope reigned there and that after his death his Statue was reverenced as a God and uttered Oracles Those of Sinope willing to have their God along with them when they fled wrapt it up in Linnen and tyed it round with Cords to carry it away the more secretly but though Lucullus knew nothing of it nor no one living had given him notice he thought he saw that God calling to him and on the morrow as some passed by him carrying that Statua so bound up he commanded them to unfold the Linnen that covered it and beheld the same Image that had appeared to him So this Dream proved advantagious to the Cittizens of Sinope Lucullus likewise restored to liberty the Citizens of Amisa who like the others had escaped away by Sea He had heard tell that in the same time when the Athenians were Masters of the Sea they had sent thither a Colony and established a Government of which the people had the Administration that afterwards that City falling under the Dominion of the Kings of Persia Alexander first restored them to that liberty which afterwards the Kings of Pontus had deprived them of Whereupon he took pity on them and imitating the goodness of Alexander and in favour of the Attick people he made it free and gave order that the Inhabitants as well of Amisa as Sinope should forthwith return to their dwellings After these two places were thus taken by Lucullus and restored to liberty one of the Sons of Mithridates called Machares King of the Bosphorus having sent him a Crown of Gold he received him into the friendship of the people of Rome Afterward he dispatched Messengers to Tigranes to demand Mithridates and then marching towards Asia which still owed one fourth part of their fruits of the fine adjudged by Sylla he imposed a Tribute upon them according to the Value of their houses and the number of their Slaves withal sacraficing to the Gods of Victory as if his Enemies had
been already totally overcome The Sacrifices performed he marched forward with two chosen Legions and five hundred Horse to make War upon Tigranes because he would not deliver up Mithridates to him As soon as his Army had passed the Euphrates he went on without doing any injury to the Barbarians save only making them pay contribution for the people of these Countries were Enemies to War and would not engage themselves in the differences between Tigranes and Lucullus No one durst give advice to Tigranes of Lucullus design for one unhappy man that adventured but to speak of it was hanged up as a disturber of the publick Peace but at last when he saw he came on he sent Mithrobarzanes before with two thousand Horse to oppose his march and gave orders to Manceus to make hast to Tigranocerta to defend that place This King as we have said before had caused this City to be built for the Glory of his Name and to the intent that he might people it with Persons of Quality and Condition had by Edict declared that all moveables were not brought thither should be confiscated The Walls were fifty Cubits high at the foot of which there were Stables quite round He had likewise in the Suburbs built a most stately Palace with magnificent Gardens and a great number of Channels full of Fish with Parks for Beasts and some distance from thence a strong and beautiful Citadel All these things he committed to Manceus Guards whilst he on all sides levyed Forces to compose an Army Mean while Lucullus meeting with Mithrobarzanes soon defeated him and gave him chase and Sextilius having shut up Manceus in Tigranocerta pillaged the Royal Palace without the Walls besieged the City planted his Batteries and set the Miners to work Whilst Sextilius was busied at this siege Tigranes had gathered together two hundred and fifty thousand Foot and fifty thousand Horse about six thousand of which he sent to Tigranocerta who opening a passage through the midst of the Roman Army rescued from thence the Kings Concubines and carried them away with them For his part he marched against Lucullus with the rest of his Forces where Mithridates came to him and advised him not to come to a set battel with the Romans but to keep the Field with his Horse and wast all the Country round about their Army so that if possible he might serve him in the same manner as Lucullus had done his Army before Cysica and destroy them without fighting But the Barbarian laughing at this advice continued his March always in order of Battel and seeing the small number of the Romans said in a Jeer If they be Ambassadors they are a great many but if they be Enemies they are very few Lucullus having taken notice of a Hill behind Tigranes Army gave order to his Cavalry to go charge the Enemy in Front and to betake themselves to flight as soon as they had drawn them on to a Battel to the end the Barbarians might break their Ranks to pursue them whilst he with the Infantry taking a compass went and gained the Hill without being perceived by the Enemy When he saw them scattered and in disorder in chase of his Horse as if they had already been victorious and their Baggage remaining at the foot of the Hill he crying out the Victory is ours fellow Soldiers went down and first of all charged upon the Train and Baggage Horses who forthwith betaking themselves to flight pressed upon the Foot and the Foot did the like upon the Horse so that the whole Army was immediately in a rout for on one side the Roman Horse turning head against those who had separated themselves from the main Body to pursue them cut them in pieces and on the other side the Baggage Horses as if they had been thrust forward overthrew all they met with and the whole multitude pressing one upon another by reason of their great number without knowing the reason of the disorder the Romans made a wonderful slaughter Not a man stopt now to plunder for Lucullus had expresly forbid it with severe threats on the transgressors Wherefore trampling under foot Collars and Chains of Gold they followed the Massacre for the space of sixscore Furlongs till night coming on they returned back and spoiled the dead by permission then given them by Lucullus After this defeat Manceus Governour of Tigranocerta disarmed all the Mercenary Greek Soldiers in the City having entertained some suspicion of them Wherefore they fearing to be likewise made Prisoners got them Clubs and trooped together so that they parted not one from another either marching or standing still And when Manceus came to charge them with some armed Barbarians they wrapt their left Arm in their Coats instead of Bucklers and running desperately into the midst of their Enemies slew a great number whose Arms they divided amongst them when they thought they had Arms enough to serve their turn they went and seised upon some Towers that flanked the Walls from whence they called to the besiegers and helping them to mount upon the Wall made them Masters of the City Thus Tigranocerta newly built whither out of meer vanity Inhabitants were forced to come form all parts became a prize and enriched the Army with a most prodigious booty Tigranes and Mithridates in the mean time gave orders to set on foot another Army of which Mithridates had the command because the other thought him more capable being instructed by the experience of so many losses they sent likewise to demand assistance from the Parthians but Lucullus having likewise dispatched to that King to request him to assist him with his Forces rather than the others or at least to be but a looker on he in particular promised both parties but kept his word neither with one nor the other There was no City but Mithridates set on work to forge Arms nor scarce a person in Armenia capable to bear them but came and enrolled himself in these new Levies But he thought it not best to employ such a multitude he chose only seventy thousand Foot and half as many Horse of the ablest Men and dismissed the rest And after having distributed them into Companies and Regiments almost according to the Italian Discipline he gave it in charge to the old Pontick Soldiers to exercise them They were no sooner in the Field but Lucullus appeared resolved to fight but Mithridates kept firm upon an Eminence where he had posted himself with all his Foot and the greatest part of his Horse and Tigranes being gone with the rest to charge the Romans who were forraging abroad was defeated which gave liberty to the Romans for the future to fetch Corn without any fear to forrage in the very face of Mithridates and to draw nearer to his Camp At last the Kings were resolved to block up Lucullus in the midst between them to this end Tigranes took the Field but the dust discovering his March the General who
another Asdrubal the Son of Gilco War lay heavier upon the Scipio's who yet oftentimes retired victorious with the slaughter of many Africans and Elephants Till Winter coming on the Africans retired among the Turditani and for the Scipio's Cneus went and wintred among the Orsonenses and Publius among the Castulovenses which last having advice of Asdrubal's advancing that way going out of the City with a small Party only to discover the Enemies Camp imprudently fell in with Asdrubal and his Horse by whom both he and all that were with him were overpowred and cut in pieces In the mean time Gneus Ignorant of this Calamity had sent some Soldiers to his Brother to receive Corn who joyning Battel with another Party of Africans they unexpectedly met upon the way news of it being brought to Cneus he made hast to their relief with such Soldiers as he had in readiness but the Carthaginians having before cut in pieces the other Party fell upon Cneus likewise and forced him to fly for shelter to a certain Tower which setting on fire they burnt him and all his people This misfortunate end had those two brave men the Scipio's leaving the Spaniards especially those gained by their Conduct to the Roman alliance in no small regret for their loss The Fathers at Rome grievously afflicted at this distaster sent Marcellus newly come from Sicily and with him Claudius into Spain with a thousand Horse ten thousand Foot and store of Provision who whilst they sloathfully manage Affairs the Carthaginian Power mightily increased in Spain almost all the Province being possessed by them and the Romans shut in the Pyrenean Mountains which reported at Rome more sadly disquieted the Fathers fearful lest whilst Hannibal wasted those parts of Italy next the Alpes the Africans should make a descent at the other end wherefore though they willingly would have given over this Spanish War yet they thought it not safe apprehensive lest it likewise might be transferred to Italy and therefore appointed a day of assembly for the nominating a Proconsul for Spain but when no man then stood for it their fears revived and a sad silence seized all the assembly Till Cornelius Scipio the Son of Publius slain in Spain a very young man being not yet twenty four years of Age but prudent and valiant and of a strong constitution stept forth in the midst of the people and with a brave and noble boldness discoursing first of his Father and then of his Uncle deploring both their misfortune added that he alone was left of that Family to be the revenger of his Father his Uncle and his Country and copiously and magnificently subjoyning many other things as if inspired by some Divine Spirit promising not only the recovery of Spain but the Conquest of Africa and Carthage it self so that his discourse seemed to some to proceed only from youthful Levity but because he cheared the peoples fainting minds with hope for promises are Cordials to any that are in fear thinking he had a heart fit for these great things they chose him General for Spain but the Old men interpreted this rather a confident rashness in him then a setled bravery of mind which when Scipio perceived he recalled the people to the Assembly and with the same Gravity as before speaking of his Age said that it ought to be no objection to his undertakings yet if any one of riper Years would accept the command he was ready to yield it to him But none taking up the offer he went with greater admiration and applause to this War with 〈◊〉 thousand Foot and five hundred Horse for he was not permitted to carry greater Forces whilst Hannibal wasted Italy with Mony and other warlike Provision and twenty eight Ships which carried him into Spain where â—oyning the Remain of the old Spanish Army to those he brought and calling a Counsel he confirmed the Soldiers minds with a noble and eloquent Oration And already the Fame was spread throughout all Spain weary of the Carthaginian Government and desirous of Scipio's Vertue that Scipio the Son of Scipio was come a General sent to them by the Counsel of the Gods And Scipio himself knowing the opinion conceived of him much improved it by pretending to do nothing but by advice from above But when he had certain knowledge that the Enemy had four standing Camps at good distance from each other and that their numbers were five and twenty thousand Foot and two thousand five hundred Horse and that all their Stores Money Corn Arms Darts Ships Captives and Hostages for all Spain were laid up in the City called formerly Saguntum but now Carthagena where Mago commanded with ten thousand Carthaginians he resolved as thinking the Garrison of no great strength first to invest this place both because he was desirous to possess himself of such Stores and because he understood if he took this City abounding in Silver Gold and all Riches and whence it was but a short passage into Africa it would be a secure retreat for him both from Sea and Land Encouraged by these hopes all men knowing whither he designed about Sun-set he Discamped and all night long marched towards Carthagena and about break of day began to open his Trenches to the great terrour of the Enemy who dream'd not of his coming the next day he prepared for the assault and disposed his Engines and Scaling Ladders about all parts of the Town save only in that place where the Walls are low by reason of the Seas washing them for which reason likewise they are the less vigilantly defended Then at night when all were armed with Darts and Stones the Fleet likewise lying before the Haven lest the Enemies Ships should slip out for this brave spirited man had conceived a certain hope of taking the Town before day he advanced with his Machines commanding those on the Machines to charge Mago at the Gates instructs his ten thousand that when they saw it convenient they should rush forth only with their Swords for that Spears would be of little use in those narrow places the rest of his Soldiers he posted upon Towers disposing many Engines Stones Darts and Catapults upon the Walls and with great diligence attending the Affair At length the shot being given the charge was stoutly made and received Stones Darts and other sorts of missile Arms flew about with great violence some from hands some from Machines and some from Slings and if there were any other device it was made use off But Scipio's men were hard put to it for those ten thousand men that were at the Gates rushing out with their Swords in their hands upon those that thrust forward the Engines and giving and taking many wounds the dispute was a long time equal till at length by unwearied courage and fixed resolution the Romans got the the better and then Fortune changing those who stood upon the Walls began to be afflicted but when the Scaling Ladders were applied
the Carthaginians who had sallied only with their short Swords speedily returning into the City shut the Gates and leap'd upon the Walls So that now new work and labour was cut out for the Romans Whilst these things were doing Scipio who was no where absent encouraging and chearing up his men observing about noon that the water was fallen away from that part where the Bay washed the ower Wall for at certain hours the Sea Eb'd and Flow'd and was now so shoal some places it was not above brest and in others scarce midleg high and knowing the Nature of the Bay that it would continue thus shallow all the remainder of the day until the accustomed return of the Tide he cryed out with a loud voice Now Soldiers now is the time now God our helper comes now storm that Wall where the Sea of its own accord withdrawing opens you a way Now with speed bring your Ladders I my self will show you the way This said snatching a Ladder he sets it to the Wall and would himself first have mounted if his Esquires and other Soldiers had not hindred him but they therewith clapping many Ladders at once to the Wall and both sides meeting with great noise and fury made a mighty slaughter of each other till the Romans having possessed themselves of some of the higher Towers Scipio filling them with Trumpets and Cornets commanded them to sound as loud as possibly they could according to the custom when a City is taken whilst in the mean time others running about fill'd all places with tumult and confusion and some in this disorder of their Enemies leaping over the Walls and let in Scipio's whole Army whereupon the Townsmen run to their Houses and Mago with his ten thousand drew up into the Market place where being most at the first charge slain and he only with a few fled to the Castle Scipio presently following and Mago perceiving no hopes of safety left his Soldiers being all utterly dismay'd and astonished yielded himself Thus by his Gallantry and good Fortune a rich and powerful City in one day the fourth of his setting down before it reduced under Scipio's power he began to conceive hopes of mighty things and now the common Fame spread concerning him that he acted nothing but by Divine Counsel was more and more confirmed and himself had the same opinion believing henceforward all his undertakings directed from above and whenever he went into the Capitol having caused the Gates to be shut he often staid there a long time as if he had been conferring with some God whence now in solemn Pomps a Statue of Scipio's is only brought out of the Capitol and all the rest out of the place of Assemblies This City thus taken furnished with all things necessary for Peace or War Scipio found there vast quantities of all sorts of spoil store of Arms Darts Engines Rigging and thirty three Gallies Corn and sundry sorts of Provisions Ivory Gold and Silver as well wrought into Vessels and coined as uncoined in abundance together with all the Spanish Hostages and Prisoners and such as had before been taken from the Romans The next day having sacrificed celebrated the Victory and applauded the Soldiers Valour he likewise assembled the Townsmen and in an Oration admonished them to keep in memory the Name of the Scipio's Then he sent the Captives every one to their homes hoping by this kindness to bring over their Cities to his party He likewise distributed rewards to the Soldiers to him who first mounted the Walls a very large one to the second half so much to the third a third part and to the rest according to their Deserts and Valour What Gold Silver or Ivory he found he sent upon the Enemies Ships to Rome where they decreed three days Supplication because after so many Miserie 's the Publick Happiness began to take breath but the greatness and celerity of this bold attempt sorely terrified both the Spaniards and the Carthaginians that were in Spain Scipio leaving a Garrison in Carthagena and giving orders for raising higher the Wall to the Sea side went himself about the rest of the Province or sent Friends into several parts to renew an alliance with them and those who would not comply he reduced by force of Arms. Asdrubal the Son of Amilcar one of the Carthaginian Generals had far distant in Celtiberia a chosen Army of Mercenary Soldiers and the other the Son of Gisco sending Agents to those Cities who had hitherto continued faithful to the Carthaginians to perswade them still to continue their fidelity in a short time hoped to see innumerable Forces in Spain and Mago he sent into all the adjacent parts to list men under pay whilst in the mean time himself in Lersa entring in hostile manner into their Territories who had fallen off prepared to lay Siege to some Towns but frightned with Scipio's sudden approach he retreated to Baetica and fortified both the City and his Camp where few days after he was overcome by Scipio who possessed himself both of Camp and City whereupon he issued out Orders for all the Carthaginian Forces throughout Spain to come to the City of Careo resolving with his whole united Power to fall upon Scipio And already there were come in to him no small number of Spaniards under Mago's Conduct and Numidians under the Command of Massanissa Asdrubal with his Foot lay entrenched Massanissa and Mago with his Horse in Quarters Scipio had so divided his Foot as to send Laelius with one part against Mago whilst himself with the other fell upon Massanissa This fight was somewhat doubtful and dangerous to the Romans for the Numidians at a distance threw their Darts and so wheeling off returned again to the charge at pleasure but when Scipio commanded his men that after throwing their Piles with all their force they should press in as hard as they could upon the Enemy then the Numidians not having room to wheel were worsted and fled away to their Camp Scipio in a strong and safe place as he could wish for pitched his Camp within ten furlongs of his Enemy In the Carthaginian Army were seventy thousand Foot fifteen hundred Horse and thirty six Elephants Scipio had not a part of that number wherefore he for some time forbore fighting save only for some light skirmishes but when through want of Provisions hunger began to afflict his Army thinking it dishonourable to retreat having first sacrificed suddenly though otherwise his Army were both willing and ready enough he affirmed God had according to custom appeared to him and exhorted him to engage the Enemy that they should rather relye upon the Divine Conduct then upon force and multitude for the greatest Victories were not gained by numbers of Men but by the grace and favour of the Gods And whilst they gave credit to his words he commanded the Diviners to bring forth the Entrails and as he was speaking seeing some Birds fly to and again
with great rejoycing and earnestness he showed them as a certain sign of Victory given him from above and as if at the sight of them he had been possessed by some spirit now viewing them and now crying out turned about after them the whole Army imitating their General in his several postures and he turning this and that way towards the Soldiers stirred them up as to a Victory already prepared for them till now having wrought them up to his wishes he thought not convenient to let their Courage cool by any delay but whilst they were perswaded all he yet spoke was by Divine Instinct not in the heat of that perswasion after such lucky signs protract the fight Wherefore as soon as they had eaten he commanded his Soldiers to Arms and giving the charge of the Horse to Syllanus and of the Foot to Laelius and Martius rushed unexspectedly upon the Enemy for the Camps being but ten furlongs distant from each other Scipio was upon them before Asdrubal's Mago's or Massanissa's men could take any food to refresh them forcing them hastily to snatch up their Arms not without great Consternation and Tumult Both Horse and Foot being then engaged the Roman Horse got the better for as they had done in the former fight charging home and with great fury upon the Numidians so that they could not make a retreat and then again wheel about upon the Enemy they soon made their Darts ineffectual But the Foot much inferiour in number were oppressed by the Africans and were now yielding up the honour of the day nor would by any of Scipio's encouragements or exhortations be perswaded to stand till the General himself giving his Horse to his Boy and snatching a Shield runs alone between both Battels and with a loud voice crying out Now or never Romans rescue your Scipio from danger At that voice both those those who stood next and saw and those farther off who heard what danger he was in altogether moved as well with respect as fear for their General with great outcrys ran violently upon the Enemy whose charge the Africans not able to sustain for towards evening their strength failed them for want of Food began to give ground Then in a short time was made a most horrible slaughter such success had Scipio at the Battel of Careo which long time seemed doubtful and dangerous there were slain about eight hundred of the Romans and about fifteen thousand of the Enemy Scipio pursued the Africans who made a hasty retreat infesting and charging them in Flank or Rear where-ever he could reach them till they having gained a certain Post fortified by Nature commodious for Water and Provisions and inexpugnable by any means but a tedious Siege called upon by other Affairs he left Syllanus to block them up and went himself through the rest of Spain reducing the Cities to obedience The Africans besieged by Syllanus by little and little made their retreat towards the Sea side that they might get over into Cadiz followed in their March by Syllanus who incommoded them to the utmost of his power and returned to Scipio to Carthagena Now Asdrubal the Son of Amilcar having towards the Northern Ocean leavied new Forces being called by his Brother Hannibal into Italy taking his March along the Coasts of the North Sea that he might secure himself from Scipio and crossing over the Pyrenean Mountains he got down in Gaul with a numerous Army of Celtiberian Mercenaries and thus unknown to the Romans made haste into Italy Mean while Lucius returning from Rome told Scipio that the Romans had some thoughts of sending him to command in Africa which being what he himself had often before hoped and wished for he dispatched away Laelius in five Ships to Africa with presents to King Syphax to put him in mind of Scipio's Friendship and to entreat him to enter into a League offensive and defensive with him if the Romans should send any Forces into Africa Syphax having accepted the presents and returned others promised to do as he desired which when the Carthaginians heard they likewise sent Ambassadors to Syphax to treat an Alliance with him whereof Scipio having certain intelligence and judging wisely that if the Carthaginians should rob him of Syphax friendship it would be a thing of no small importance he resolved to go in person to him and accompanied with Lelius embarked on two Gallies and steered his course towards Africa when he came nigh the shore and was upon the point of entring the Harbour the Carthaginian Ambassadors unknown to the King armed out those long Ships they had and in hostile manner went to meet him but Scipio setting his Sails was too swift for them and got safely into Port. Syphax invited both parties to be his guests but privately made a league with Scipio and having engaged himself by faithful promise dismissed him and lest the Carthaginians should have any design to intercept him detained them somewhat longer with him till he had reached so far off to Sea that he was out of danger this hazard Scipio run both in the Voyage and in Port. 'T is reported that at a Banquet made by that King Scipio and Asdrubal being placed upon the same bed Asdrubal discoursed with him about many things and admiring his gravity said afterwards among his Friends That he was a man not only formidable in Waâ— but even in the midst of jollity and feasting At the same time it hapned that not a few of the Celtiberians and Spaniards whose Cities had revolted to the Romans took pay under Mago the Carthaginian whom Martius falling upon slew about fifteen hundred of and putting the â—est to flight dispersed them among the Cities besides having driven another body of an Army commanded by Hanno consisting of seven hundred Horse and six thousand Foot to a certain eminence he reduced them to such scarcity that they sent Agents to him for peace he commanded them to deliver up Hanno and the Fugitives and then he would treat with them Whereupon presently laying hold upon Hanno who stood by and heard all this they delivered him up with all the Fugitives Martius then demands the Prisoners whom having also received he orders them to bring down the sum of mony promised and agreed upon into the Plain and Champian Fields for high places said he not well suit with punishment when they were come into the plain You are the Ring-leaders said he of those who when their Countries have submitted to us yet continue to bear Arms under the Enemy against them however laying down your weapons I permit you to depart unpunished Hereat the Celtiberians grievously incensed cryed all out with one voice they would not lay down their Arms whereupon followed a sharp engagement wherein some of them not unrevenged being slain the rest got safe to Mago who sometime before was advancing towards Hanno's Camp but hearing of his loss crossed over into Cadiz where he lay idle in great want expecting the
themselves to flight wasting the lands of the Barbarians their Neighbors Now the Spaniards went doubly clad their upper garment being loose and fastned together with buttons which they called a Saga or Cloak Tiberius Sempronius Gracâ—hus succeeded Flaccus in Command at the same time when twenty thousand Celtiberians besieged Carabis a City in Alliance with the Romans Which because strong reports were raised of it's being taken Gracchus hastned the more to relieve But when he found it so encompassed with Enemies that he could not give the besieged any notice of his coming Cominius Captain of a Troop of Horse having first well weighed the matter and acquainted Gracchus with it puts himself in the Spanish dress and cunningly mixing with the Enemies Forragers passed through their Camp for a Spaniard and thence by running reached the City telling the Townsmen that Gracchus was at hand whereupon they with courage underwent all difficulties till the third day when the Enemies retreating at Gracchus approach they were delivered from the siege About the same time near twenty thousand Men coming out of Complega towards Gracchus Camp with boughs in their hands after the manner of suppliants when they drew near as if upon a sudden they had changed their minds they made an assault filling the whole Army with fear and terror but Gracchus by singular policy dessembling a flight deserted his Tents and presently after facing about and setting upon them intent on the Plunder slew a great number and taking the City subdued likewise the Confines After which dividing the Lands among those wanted and giving them seats to inhabit in he made a League with all the People that inhabited those quarters chiefly on condition that they should be friends to the people of Rome and to that end mutual Oaths being given and taken they in future Wars proved very serviceable to the Romans for these things Gracchus name grew famous both in Spain and at Rome which he Magnificently entred in Triumph Not many years after a new and general War was kindled in Spain upon this occasion Segada a large and powerful City of those Celtiberians called Belli received into the League by Sempronius Gracchus inviting the Citizens of lesser Towns to joyn with them began to build a Wall four hundred furlongs about and compelling the Titthi a neighbouring people to do the same The Senate having certain intelligence hereof first forbid the building of the Wall next demanded the Tribute imposed by Gracchus And lastly for this was an Article in Gracchus League commanded they should attend the Romans in War As to what concerned the Wall the Celtiberians answered That indeed they were forbid by Gracchus to build any new Cities but about restoring or fortifying old ones there was not a word spoken and for the Tribute and Service it was since Gracchus time remitted by the Romans themselves And indeed so it was but when the Senate dispenses with any such priviledges they always add this exception so long as it shall be to theirs and the people of Romes good liking Nobilior was therefore sent against them with an Army of near thirty thousand whose coming the Segedians foreseeing because their Wall was not yet perfect fled with their Wives and Children to the Arvacci beseeching them to receive them who not only entertained them but chose likewise Carus a Segedian a man qualified for War for General who the third day after entrance into his command with twenty thousand Foot and five thousand Horse takes his Post in a place fit for Ambushes being quite covered over with Trees There as the Romans passed by he charged them and fought a long time without advantage but at length with the death of six thousand Roman Citizens as that time no small loss to the City he bravely overcame them but after the Victory with too much eagerness and disorder pursuing those that fled the Roman Horse left in guard of the Carriage falling on first slew Carus bravely opposing them and with him no fewer than six thousand men Night coming on ended this dispute This slaughter happened on a day by the Romans consecrated to Vulcan wherefore unless forced to it they will not on this day engage an Enemy The very same night the Arvacci met together at Numantia a very strong City and created two new Generals Ambo and Leuco Three days after Nobilior following them encamps within four and twenty Furlongs of the City whither came to him three hundred Horse and ten Elephants sent from Massanissa with which he advances towards the Enemy placing the Elephnts behind the first Battel that they might not at first be discovered by the Enemy The Fight beginning his Front falling off the suddain sight of those Beasts so terrified both the Celtiberians and their Horses who never before had seen Elephants that turning their backs they fled to the Town The Roman General pursuing the Flyers turns the Elephants to the Wall there maintaining a sharp conflict one of the Elephants wounded in the head with a great Stone grew angry and setting up a horrible roaring turns upon his own Party and without distinguishing Friend from Enemy began to rage against all he met The rest set on by his roaring began to do the same and in all places to â—rample under foot overturn and disorder the Romans for it is usual for Elephants when they are once vexed to take all they meet for Enemies for which perfidiousness they are by some called the common Enemy A general flight hereupon began among the Romans which the Numantines from the Walls beholding made a sally and falling in upon them dispersed and trampled down slew four thousand of them and three Elephants and took many Arms and some Ensigns Of the Celtiberians there were about two thousand slain Nobilior a little recruited after the loss endeavouring in vain to force the City of Auxenium where the Enemy had stored up their Provisions with the loss of no few men retreated into his Camp Thence he sent Biasius who commanded his Horse to certain neighbouring people that joyning friendship with him they might assist him with some Horsemen He returning and bringing some Horse with him the Celtiberians lay in Ambush for him who being discovered his associates fled but Biasius and many of the Romans with him were slain So many losses and disasters began to turn their Allies hearts from them Ocylis a City in which were the Magazines of Provisions and Treasure revolted to the Celtiberians Nobilior distrusting all things in the present necessity wintred in his Tents covered and close stopped but his want of Corn for he had his store with him was very great besides the violent hail and bitter cold cruelly afflicted the Soldiers so that many of them going to fetch in Wood and others in their hard Winter Lodgings dyed with Distempers caused by the extremity of the weather The next year Claudius Marcellus succeded Nobilior in his command bringing with him eight thousand Foot
then almost ready for their Sickle or else he destroyed or burnt it These things being understood at Rome the Fathers sent Fabius Aemilianus Maximus Son to Aemilius Paulus who subdued Perseus King of Macedon with Power to raise an Army who because the strength of the City was in a manner exhausted first by the subversion of Carthage then by subduing the Greeks and lastly by bringing to a happy issue the Macedonian War that he might spare those had out-lived so many Engagements enrolled two Legions of raw young Men and having procured some further assistance from the Associates with an Army of about fifteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse came to Orso a City of Spain from thence that he might not throw himself upon the Enemy with an undisciplined and unexperienced Force that had never yet seen any fighting he crossed over into Cadiz to sacrifice to Hercules Viriatus met with a party of his men going to wood slew a great many and put the rest to flight and his Lieutenant again bringing them out to engage Viriatus again defeated them and took a great booty but when Maximus himself came bringing armed Soldiers to try if he could entice him to a Battel and daily provoking him seeing Viriatus avoided a general Engagement sending out parties by frequent skirmishes he made trial of the Enemies strength and increased his own mens courage and confidence aed whenever he sent out to Forrage he gave a Convoy of Legionary Soldiers and Horse to the light armed Foot for this Discipline he had learn'd from his Father in the Macedonian War Winter being past and his Army well exercised and confirmed he made a sharp War upon Viriatus and putting himself to flight took two of his Cities and burnt another Viriatus himself flying to a place called Baecor he followed and slew many of his men and then went and wintred at Corduba Viriatus being now no longer secure as formerly drew off from the Roman Alliance the Arvacci Titthi and Belli warlike people who waged another long and laborious War by themselves which from Numantia one of their Cities was called the Numantine which immediately after the Viriatick we shall proceed to treat of Viriatus therefore in another part of Spain coming to a set Battel with Quintius another Roman General and being overcome retreated to the Mountains of Venus from whence turning again upon the Enemy he slew some of Quintius men took some Colours and forced the rest into their Camp He likewise by force drove out the Garrison at Ituca and wasted the Country of the Basitani whilst Quintius out of weakness and want of Military knowledge lay shut up in Corduba where in the midst of Autumn he took up his Winter Quarters and only now and then sent out C. Martius a Spaniard of the Italian City against the Enemy That year being expired so Quintius Aemilianus succeeded his Brother Fabius Maximus Aemilianus bringing with him two Roman Legions and some Allies so that all his Forces might be about sixteen thousand Foot and sixteen hundred Horse He wrote likewise to Micipsa King of Numidia to send him with all speed some Elephants but hastning to Ituca and leading with him only part of his Army Viriatus met with six thousand men coming on with great noise and clamour and with long hair which the Barbarians used to wear and shake in time of fight to terrifie their Enemies yet he bore his charge with so much courage that the Enemy was repulsed without effecting any thing But when the other part of the Army with ten thousand Elephants and three hundred Horse from Lybia were come to him enlarging his Camp he first drew out his Army against Viriatus and over-powring him routed and put him to flight but when breaking their Ranks in the pursuit Viriatus observed the confusion rallying he slew about three thousand men and drove the rest to the Camp He likewise assaulted their Camp while scarce any would shut the Gates again the invading Enemy but most struck with pannick fear hid themselves in their Huts and neither by the General nor Military Tribunes could be got out to fight yet above all Fannius the Brother-in-Law of Laelius did in this Battel in a singular manner make his courage manifest Night coming on favoured and saved the Romans But Viriatus night and day omitted no opportunity sometimes with light armed Foot and sometimes with nimble Horse to weary out the Romans till at last he forced Servilianus to raise his Siege from Ituca And himself beginning to be pinched with hunger and having but slender Forces setting on fire his Tents by night marched towards Lusitania Servilianus in his going off not being followed translated the seat of War into Baeturia where he seised upon five Cities that bore good will to Viriatus Thence led his Forces among the Cunei from whence he again marched into Lusitania against Viriatus himself In this way meeting with two Captains of Thieves Curius and Apuleius with ten thousand men they very much vexed the Romans acd joyning Battel wherein Curius was killed they yet got some booty all which Servilianus not long after recovered and likewise took by force the Cities Escadia Gemella and Obolcola in all which Viriatus had placed Garrisons some of which he made Captains and others he let go Of ten thousand Prisoners he had five hundred he made pass under the Ax and sold the rest After this he went to Winter Quarters leaving the War to him that was to Command next year and these things done returned to Rome Quintius Pompeius Aulus succeeded him in Command Mean while his Brother Maximus Aemilianus having received upon submission one Connoba a Captain of Thieves did indeed pardon him but cut of all his Companions hands but when pursuing Viriatus he was about to inclose Erisane one of his Cities with a Trench and Palisado Viriatus entring the City by night and making a Sally by break of day not only drove those that were working upon the Lines from their labour making them throw away their Spades and Mattocks but likewise forced all the rest of Aemilianus Forces ready drawn up and in a posture to engage him to flee among the Rocks and Precipices from whence there was no way to escape yet here succes made not Viriatus insolent but supposing he now might upon fair Conditions lay down Arms and enter into friendship with the Romans he contracted a League which the people of Rome afterwards confirmed and called Viriatus friend giving Orders his Associates should enjoy the Lands they possessed Thus a War heavy to the Romans seemed on easie Conditions quite extinct but this Peace proved not lasting for Cepio brother to Aemilianus Author of this League and his Successor in Command finding fault with the Conditions as dishonourable to the Roman people prevailed with the Senate to have leave privately to incommode Viriatus as he thought fit and continually urging them and plying them with Letters at length procured a
at all engage the Enemy till he had first excerised his Soldiers in a thousand sundry labors daily removing about the Country he caused to be fortified new Camps and then demolished them deep ditches to be dug and then filled up mighty Walls to be Built and then pulled down again himself from Morning till Evening going about and overseeing what was done And that none upon a march as had formerly been used might straggle from the Army he alway drew up in a square body and when it moved kept himself in continual motion from Front to Rear nor was it lawful for any to shift the place assigned him by the General In the midst as in the most proper place he posted the sick and weak commanding the Horsemen to dismount and set them upon their Horses the beasts of burthen that were heaviest laden he divided among the Foot And where he intended to lodge those designed for the guard of the Lines that night he commanded to stay without at their Arms and kept a party of Horse scouting abroad for discovery but to the rest of the Soldiers he appointed every one their task these to dig in the Treâ—ch those to raise the Rampire and others to pitch the Tents and set a certain and definitive space of time in which every thing was to be done And when he had brought his Army into a due posture of obedience and made them patient of labor then he removed his Camp nearer to Numantia Where according as some had used to do he posted them not in Castles for he would not presently divide his Army nor run the hazard of a loss at first thereby to make them run more into Contempt with the Enemy who contemned them enough already Nor did he think it convenient to engage them in Battel till he saw both good reason and opportunity for the doing it and had throughly searched into the Numantines Counsels and Designs In the mean time he wasted all the fields behind his Camp and from thence fetcht in all his Forrage and cut down the standing Corn which done and that he was in a readiness to proceed farther his Friends advising him that by a nearer way through the Field he might go forward to Numantia but I said he fear my return the Enemy naked and nimble Sallying out of the City have again into the City a retreat but ours returning from forrage are laden with prey and tyred besides they bring with them Loaden Cattle Carriages and Baggage and that would be a hard and unequal fight where being overcome they must run much danger and being Victorious yet but little praise or profit it being the height of madness to run into danger for things of no moment Nor was he worth the Name of a General who unless compelled would throw the Dice of War but he on the contrary who when necessity required and opportunity offered would undantedly throw himself upon all dangers Adding hereunto this similitude that Chirurgions used not to incise or cauterize before they applyed Medicaments These things said he Commanded his Colonels to lead the Army the farther way about then making some Excursions beyond the Camp he came among the Vaccaei from whom the Numantines bought their Provisions there preying upon all whatever was useful for the subsistence of the Camp they gathered and brought away the rest heaped together and burnt In the Country of the Palantines was a place called Caplanium there the Palatini upon a certain hill laid Ambush and with another party openly provoked Scipio's Forragers Scipio Commands Rutilius Rufus who was then Military Tribune and hath likewise writ a History of these things that taking four Troops of Horse he should break the Enemies charge Rufus they giving ground pressed on too immoderately so that mixing with the flyers they were got together to the hill where when he discovered the Ambush he gave advice to his Horsemen not to think of following or pressing forward but keeping their ground and order with their Lances at full length to keep off the Enemy But Scipio who yet a great way off had perceived that Rufus had already run beyond his Orders â—ollicitous of the event immediately followed and found himself likewise taken in the snare wherefore he commanded they should both ways charge the Enemy and having thrown their Javelins make their retreat not all in a huddle but by degrees and keeping their Ranks and by this means he brought his Horse off safely into the plain Afterwards knowing for certain that near the passage of a River whose Ford was troublesome and Muddy they had laid another trap for him he drew off by a way farther indeed about but not so fit for Ambushes And because of the heat of the weather marching by night sinking several Wells he found the waters of many of them bitter so that thence though very hardly the Men got safely off but some of the Horses and Cattel died with thirst As he passed through the Country of the Caucaei whom Lucullus had with so much treachery abused he caused Proclamation to be made that the Caucaei might with al safety return to their habitations thence he went and wintred on the Confines of the Numantines whither Iugurtha Nephew to Massanissa came to him out of Africa with twelve Elephants fitted with Archers and Slingers to gaul the Enemy in Front In these places by frequent incursions wasting and forraging the Country the Enemy laid close Ambush for him The conveniency of the place prompted them to the design There was a Town almost quite encompassed round with a slimy Marsh but only on one side where there was a Valley and in that Valley the Ambush lay hid Scipio's Soldiers were so divided that part entred the Town began to Plunder others kept about on horse back whom those from the Ambush rising upon easily routed Scipio who by chance stood without the Village near the Colours commanded back by sound of Trumpet those got into the houses and first with about a thousand running in to the relief of the baggage horses and many out of the Town coming to joyn with him he forced the Enemy to turn their backs but not following at all the chase retreated himself into his Trenches with the loss but of few on both sides Not long after having pitched two Camps near Numantia one of which he committed to the care of his brother Maximus and the other commanded himself when the Numantines drawing out often provoked the Romans to fight he scorned and laughed at them saying it would redound much to his dishonor if he should chuse rather to fight then reduce by famine men made furious by utter despair therefore to besiege them the closer he drew seven Ditches round the City and sent Letters to his Friends signifying how many and what forces they should send to him which when they came he divided into several parts and soon after divided his whole Forces into several bodies appointing each their Leaders
of Hannibal's being gone into Italy leaving Spain and the Command of that Army to his Brother Cn. Scipio sailed into Hetruria from whence making haste and gathering together all the force he could he got to the Po before Hannibal passed it and sending Manlius and Attilius who commanded in the War against the Boians to Rome for the Consuls being present their Commission was at an end and joyning their Forces with his drew up his Army to give Battel to Hannibal The Fight being begun by the light armed Darters and Horsemen the Romans circumvented by the Africans fled to their Tents and next night having first broke down the Bridge over the Po retreated to Placentia a place well fortified but Hannibal making a new Bridge brought his Army likewise over These brave Exploits after his coming down from the Alpes into the Plain stood him not in little stead among the Transalpine Gauls who thought him an invincible Leader and a man to all whose attempts Fortune showed her self favourable and propitious which Renown to increase among these Barbarians already astonished with admiration of him and therefore easily to be deceived he often changed his Habit and Hair which daily was by some new Artifice prepared and coloured so that passing through their Country he sometimes appeared like an old sometimes like a young and sometimes like a middle aged man so that seeing him continually varying from himself they forthwith judged Divine Nature to be in him Sempronius the other Consul who was then in Sicily having certain intelligence of these things came to Scipio by Sea and sets down within forty Furlongs of his Colleague and now all things were prepared for the next days Battel Only the River Trebia ran between which the Romans before it was light on a cold and mizling Winters Morning passed over almost up to the breast in Water whilst Hannibal till the second hour refreshed his Solders in their Tents The two Consuls so drew up their Army that they might be on the Wings placing the stoutest of their Foot in the main Body Hannibal opposed his Elephants to the Horse and his Foot to the Phalanx and commanded his Horse to stand still behind the Elephants till he gave them the Signal The Battels being joyned the Romans Horse affrighted with the sight and smell of the Elephants to which they were unaccustomed dispersed all abroad and fled but the Foot though stiff with cold soaked in Water and tired and broken with continual watchings yet with couragious hearts flew upon those Monsters and cutting them cross the Nerves wounded them and had doubtless put to flight his Foot had not Hannibal giving his Signal to his Horsemen sent them to flank the Enemy For then the Roman Foot left naked by their Horse whom the terrour of the Elephants had scattered and oppressed by multitudes fearing to be inclosed by their Enemies took a speedy flight towards their Camp Then were many of the Foot intercepted by the Horse and others that reached the River which was not a little swell'd with the Snow melted by the heat of the Sun were swallowed in the Stream the depth of the Water not giving them foothold nor their heavy Armour suffering them to swim Scipio following them and still encouraging his Soldiers was very near slain and desperately wounded brought with much difficulty to Cremona Near Placentia was a little Castle which Hannibal going to storm with the loss of forty of his men went off himself wounded After which both Armies betook themselves to Winter Quarters Scipio in Cremona and Palantia and Hannibal about the Po. The Romans hearing of this defeat given near the Po for before Hannibals coming they had been worsted by the Boians enrolled a new Army in the City which accounting those at the Po compleated thirteen Legions and twice as many they commanded from their Allies Some of these they thought fit to send into Spain fome to Sardinia for there they were at War too and fome into Sicily the greater part which were left behind the Consuls Cn. Servilius and Flaminius who succeeded Scipio and Sempronius led against Hannibal and Scipio as Proconsul sailed into Spain Flaminius with thirty thousand Foot and three thousand Horse had the Guard of Italy within the Appennine which alone is properly called Italy for the Appennine from the middle of the Alpes stretches it self to the Sea on the right hand of which lyes that part which is truly called Italy that on the left hand towards the Ionian Sea now indeed is Italy for Hetruria is now likewise Italy but part of it towards the Ionian Sea Coasts is inhabited by Greeks and part by Gauls who once making War upon the Romans burnt the City and whom Camillus pursuing to the Appennine I am of the opinion that crossing those Hills they then seated themselves upon the Ionian Sea and made that their Country whence part of that Region is to this day called the Italian Gaul But to proceed the Romans having now at the same time many powerful Armies in several places Hannibal having thereof intelligence very secretly upon the first approach of the Spring entred Hetruria wasting that whole Country and drawing towards the City struck a mighty terrour in the Romans who had now no Army there to oppose him yet of those that remained they levyed eight thousand men whom for want of other Magistrates they gave Centenius the Command of a private man indeed but of the Patritian Race and sent him into Umbria to the Plestine Marsh to guard that passage which was the nearest way to the City In the mean time Flaminius who with thirty thousand men kept the interior Italy hearing of Hannibal's celcrity and being afraid of the City forthwith removes his Camp and giving his Army no rest being a man ignorant of Warlike Affairs and who by pride and popular boasting came to be chosen to this Command by great journies hastens towards Hannibal with resolution to fight him as soon as possible Hannibal who knew the mans furious temper and unskilfulness in War pitch'd his Tents behind a certain Mountain and Marsh and hid all his Horse and Light Armed Men in the Valley In the Morning at break of day Flaminius seeing the Enemies Tents stayed there a small while to refresh his Army and threw up a Trench which done he drew up his Army in Battel before they had yet recovered strength after so much labour and watching but when the Ambushes rose upon them on all sides then penn'd in between the Mountains and the Lake and on both sides charged by their Enemies the Consul himself and twenty thousand with him were slain The remaining ten thousand who had fled to a certain Village fortified by Nature Maharbal one of Hannibal's Commanders who had himself gained great Renown in War seeing he could not easily vanquish them by force and thinking it not prudence to engage with desperate men perswaded them to lay down their Arms engaging upon his
had there left Then the two Roman Generals joyning together whilst Hannibal staid in Lucania begirt Capua with a Trench and a Wall and drawing other Lines without pitch'd their Camp between both raising Bulwarks both towards the City and towards the Country to oppose the assaults of the Enemy so that the face of their Camp was like a great Town inclosing a little City and the space between their Lines and the Town being about two Furlongs like a Theater where daily Combats were to be seen the stoutest men on both sides continually challenging and provoking one another among which that of Claudius Atellus was very memorable he was challenged by one Taureas a Campanian whom having overcome the vanquished fled towards the City Claudius pursuing him to the very Walls not being able to turn his Horse the Gate standing to receive his Enemy he was carried in and running through the whole Town got out at the other Gate and came safe to his own party a strange success of undesigned boldness Hannibal without doing the business which he was sent for into Lucania returned to Capua to undertake the defence of that City which he knew for so many and so great things commodious for the Romans wherefore he assaulted their Works but when he could by no manner of means prevail to send in any supply of Men or Provisions into the Town for the Siege was so close that he could neither send in nor get any intelligence out of the City he with all his Army marched directly towards Rome moved thereunto because he heard that Famine was in the City and out of hopes either to draw the Romans from the Siege of Capua or act something greater than the relief of that place Wherefore continuing his March with a great confluence of Warlike People wherefore some perswaded themselves that for want of strength they would not so much as stop his passage others thought they should not so much as fight for it he came and encamped by the River Anien within thirty Furlongs of the City Never was Rome struck with such Fear and Tumult They wanted all manner of Forces those they had being in Campania and unexpectedly a mighty Army was coming towards them led by a General whose Valor and Fortune made him unconquerable yet with such Forces as they had who were able to bear Arms they set Guards at the Gates The Old Men leaped up on the Walls and the Women and Children brought Darts and Stones great multitudes flocked to them out of the Country the whole City rung with Howlings Lamentations Prayers and mutual Exhortations some going out of the City broke down the Bride that was over the Anien The Romans had built a very little Town among the Aequi and called it Alba after the name of their Metropolis or mother City but in Process of time whether by lengthning or corrupting the word or to distinguish them from the Albans they were called Albenies two thousand of these coming to participate in the danger of Rome were presently armed and placed at the guard of the Gates So much faith and kindness at that time one only Colony among so many showed towards the Romans imitating the Example of the Plateans who with a small Number joyned with the Athenians at the fight at Marathon that by united force they might repulse the present danger The Roman General Annius stay'd at Capua not doubting to reduce that City the other Claudius Flaccus by another way with incredible expedition came and pitcht his Camp opposite to Hannibal on the other side of the Anien Who when Hannibal saw the bridge broken down and found Claudius encamped on the other side he resolved to march round by the springs of the River and Claudius likewise thereupon removed his Camp Here Hannibal made use of his wonted stratagems he left some Horse who when the Armies were retired Fording the River wasted the Roman Territory and when they had terrified the City according to orders returned to Hannibal When he had got round the springs 't is reported that he came by night with three spies to the City not far distant and privately taking a view of the site of it observed the great fear and solitude within the walls yet after all this he returned to Capua whether some God or any other accident at that time averted him whether he dreaded the Valor and Fortune of the City or whether as he used often to say to his Friends exhorting him to the Conquest of it that he would not ruine it least when that was done the Carthaginians should take from him the Command and reduce him to the quality of a private Man for as for the Claudian Army it was no way to be compared with Hannibal's Yet Claudius at Hannibal's return followed him at the heels thinking he did enough if he hindred him from Forraging and took care that by Ambushes he did not damnifie him Yet Hannibal in a dark and moonless night having discovered the place whither Claudius Army tended built indeed no wall but throwing up a trench and leaving some intervals for Gates and lastly raising a Rampire which might serve instead of a Wall opposite to it there continued himself and sending his Horse to a certain eminence fortified by Nature charged them there to stand quiet and not move from the place till the Romans should possess themselves of that place he hoped they would believe to be void Then he gave Command to his Indians that getting upon their Elephants they should by any means between the intervals or over the Rampire get into Claudius Camp At a little distance from these he commanded some Trumpets and Cornets to follow with Orders as they entred to make the greatest noise they could possible that their Numbers might seem the greater sending along with them some that could speak the Latine Tongue who were to call out aloud to the Soldiers by Claudius Orders to desert their Tents and escape to the next hill This stratagem of Hannibal's succeeded at first to his mind and according as he had designed it for Elephants trod down the Rampire and the Trumpets followed them whose noise filling the ears of the Roman Soldiers starting out of their beds in a dark night and so unexpectedly struck a mighty terror into them Besides hearing in the Latine Tongue Command given about possessing the other Hill they already addressed themselves to flight But Claudius to whom all Hannibal's devices as full of deceit and treachery were suspected immediately out of his own prudence or by instinct from some God or else being by some Captive informed of the whole project dispatched away the Military Tribunes into the way leading to the hill to stop such as rushed out and tell them that those Orders were Proclaimed not by their Generals Command but by Hannibal's and therewithal himself drawing first strong guards to the Rampire to repulse the Enemy if perhaps any assault should be made ran through the tents
and with him some others who being fled to the Capitol were slain near the Temple But after this Sacrilege the Seditions were almost continual the people mutinying upon the least occasion the Assassins ran up and down the City sometimes on the one side and sometimes on the other Persons of Quality were slain either in some Temple or in the Assembly or in the Palace and that by order of the Tribunes Praetors Consuls or other Superior Powers insomuch that these Reciprocal Offences increased by little and little the contempt of Justice and the Laws This infection at last spreading it self through all parts open Conspiracies were made against the Common-wealth great Armies brought into the Field sometimes those had been banished and condemned attempting some Novelties and sometimes the principal men of the City fighting among themselves as well without as within for the Government of the State There were likewise some powerful and ambitious Citizens who aspired to the Government either by keeping the Command of Armies entrusted to them by the people or levying fresh Soldiers by their own authority to defend themselves as they said against their Enemies but under pretence of making War against their Enemies they made War against their Country each party striving who should first seise upon the City so that whilst they treated each other as Enemies all places were filled with Assassinations Proscriptions Banishments Executions and Tortures In short there was no cruelty left uncommitted especially then when about fifty years after the death of Gracchus one of the Factions driving away one mischief with another became absolute Master of the Common-wealth and for some time governed it alone under the Title of Dictator a certain Magistrate among the Romans whom they never created but in extreme danger for six Months only and whose use seemed to be abolished when Sylla obtained that Dignity by force Nevertheless though all men believed that he was created Dictator to perpetuity yet having glutted himself as one may say with power he deposed himself and certainly he was the first at least that ever I could gain knowledge of that was so bold as to change a Tyranny for a private life He added to this action a discourse no less worthy of memory He declared he was ready to give an account of his Administration to whoever should demand it and some time after came and walked in the place in the habit of a private man in the face of all the world from whence he returned to his House without having received the least affront from any person so much was that respect to the Sovereign Authority he had possessed engrafted in the minds of men whether that they were astonished at his laying of it down or that they were ashamed to demand an account of that man who offered himself to give it or that they thought it an inhumanity to hate that Power how tyrannical soever it were that was joyned with the publick good Thus the Seditions ceased for a time Sylla having applyed Remedies to the present Distempers but they were only fallen asleep for they awakened again and continued till such time as Iulius Caesar after having for some years made War in Gaul would not dismiss his Army though the Senate decreed it saying it was not the Senates desire but Pompey's who being at present at the Head of the Army in Italy and his Enemy had designed to reduce him under his power as well as others Yet he proposed these Conditions of Accommodation that either both should keep their Armies or that Pompey disarming as well as he should live like a private man under the authority of the Laws But not obtaining either the one or the other he departed from Gaul marched against Pompey and his Country entred the City drove thence his Enemy overtook him in Thessaly defeated him in a memorable Battel and pursued him as far as Egypt Finding Pompey slain by the Egyptians he returned to Rome after having settled the Egyptian Affairs and settled their Kings in that Kingdom so that beholding himself secure by the death of so powerful an Enemy the mightiness of whose Actions had gained him the Title of Great and no person having thenceforth the boldness to oppose his will he was created perpetual Dictator the next after Sylla And now again the Seditious were quieted till such time as Brutus and Cassius either out of envy to his Power or out of a desire they had to settle again the Common-wealth in it's ancient form slew in open Senate this man so cherished by the people and so knowing in the Art of Reigning He was so generally lamented that they sought out for his Murderers to put them to death that they solemnized his Funerals in the publick place and there where they had burnt his Body erected a Temple and offered Sacrifices to him as a God But now the Civil Discords began again and in a short time grew to that height that they were followed by the Murders Proscriptions and Banishments of many as well of the Order of Senators as Knights the Faction interchangeably delivering up the Enemies of one another so that to gain their own satisfaction they spared neither Friends nor their own Brothers so much were men hurried on by their passion to the prejudice of natural Piety At last by a horrible boldness the Roman Empire as if it had been the Stock of some private Citizen was divided between Anthony Lepidus and he who at first was called Octavius but afterwards took the name of Caesar having been adopted by his Uncle After this division they made War on each other as it was but just they should and Caesar more prudent and politick than the other first despoiled Lepidus of Africa which had fallen to this share And in conclusion after the Victory of Actium which he gained over Anthony drove him out of all the Provinces extending from Syria to the Adriatick Gulf. The whole world astonished at these prodigious Successes he made himself likewise Master of Egypt the most ancient and richest Kingdom possessed by any of the Successors of Alexander which only was wanting to complete the Roman Empire to that height we now behold it That done he was placed among the number of the Gods whilst he was yet living and beheld it and being called Augustus by the people he assumed an authority over his Country and the subjected Nations greater than ever was attributed to his Father Caius not so much as in the least appearance asking the votes of the people so that having secured his power by length of time always happy and feared by all the world he left his Successors capable of sustaining the weight of that great Empire and the Sovereign Power being reunited in a single person Concordance once more took place of Sedition This will be the subject of this work which will contain the wonderful Adventures of these People who aimed at Honour and Dominion through all sorts of Calamities
accused the rich men that they disdained to employ them in their Tillage but rather made choice of Slaves their Enemies faithless people and useless in War During these reproaches and mutual laments the contagion of this Distemper spread it it self among the Colonies the Municipal Cities and in all places where Lands were possessed by what Title soever every one feared to lose and there as well as in the City the multitude was divided into two parties and each relying on the number of their Faction stirred them up against the other and all people being concerned in the execution of this Law one party disposing themselves to hinder it and the other being ready to attempt any thing to maintain it mens minds were strangely inclined to Sedition So neither one nor the other party resolving to yield they waited only the day appointed for the passing the Law in the Assembly Gracchus's Design was not so much to relieve the poverty of particular men as to repeople the Country because he believed it the interest of the Common-wealth and that hereupon depended the fortune of all Italy nor doubted he of the success of the Enterprise though it were as difficult as it was important When the Assembly was met after having a long time discoursed the business in Question he asked the Auditors if they believed it not just that what belonged to the Publick should be shared among the People if a Citizen were not to be preferred befor a Slave if a Soldier were no more serviceable to the State than a Ploughman and if a natural Inhabitant were not more affectionate to the Common-wealth than a Stranger and without insisting long upon these comparisons as absurd he began to discourse of the hopes and fears of the City That the Romans had conqueeed many Countries and been in hopes to extend their Conquests to the most distant Climates but that as things now stood there was cause enough to doubt whether they should be able to complete the Conquest of the rest with that small number of Soldiers wherewith Italy was peopled or should not rather lose their own Country by reason of the weakness of their Armies and the powerfulness of their Enemies and withal exaggerating the Glory and Riches on one side and the danger and fear on the other he exhorted the rich men to consider with themselves if it were not much more to the purpose willingly to quit to the unfortunate poor who had great charge of Children the possession of some Lands out of hopes of those great advantages might thereby accrue than to neglect things of most import by disputing Trifles That besides five hundred Acres of good Land well secured and for those had Children half as much for every Head was no contemptible recompence of their past Services After having largely discoursed on this subject and the minds of the poor people and of all such as suffered themselves to be rather led by reason than passion remaining suspended he gave command to the Serjeanâ— to read the Law when M. Octavius his Colleague who was suborned by the rich men to prevent the passing of the Law imposed silence upon the Serjeant Whereupon Gracchus publickly reproaching him adjourned the Assembly till the morrow when having caused some Armed Men to be there as if by force he would have constrained Octavius to yield to him whether he would or no he with threats commanded the Serjeant to read the Law and Octavius on the contrary forbad him Whereupon the Colleagues quarrelling and it being impossible to read the Law by reason of the Tumult the most Considerate of the Assembly besought the Tribunes to refer the Difference to the Senate's judgment Gracchus consented and out of hopes that this Law would displease no reasonable man went straight to the Palace but not being received there with so great applause as among the Vulgar nay on the contrary having reviling words cast at him by the Rich Men he returns to the Assembly and promises that on the morrow he would gather their Voices both concerning the Law and the dismission of his Colleague who opposed the good of the People He accordingly did it And as Octavius presented himself unconcerned he first put it to the Vote concerning him The first Tribe having given their Vote against Octavius Gracchus turned to him and desired him to desist from his Enterprize but seeing him obstinate he persisted to demand the advice of the rest for at this time there were five and thirty of which seventeen all in a fury having voted with the first if the eighteenth were joyned with them the Law became ratified Wherefore Gracchus once more publickly besought his Colleague now upon the very point of being deposed not so stubbornly to disturb a Work so holy and so beneficial to all Italians nor any more oppose a thing which the people so ardently desired the Execution whereof his Office of Tribune obliged him to and in fine not to suffer himself to be deposed After which Entreaties he called the Gods to witness that it was with regret he thus acted against the honour of his Colleague but then seeing nothing would perswade him he began again to gather the Votes Thus Octavius being deprived of his Office and Charge and retired out of the Assembly they substituted Mummius in his stead and at the same time the Law was ratifyed They created Triumvirs for dividing the Land Gracchus himself Caius his Brother and Appius Claudius his Father in Law for the people were fearful the Law might remain without Execution unless he that made it and his Alliance had the Support of it in their own hands As for Gracchus ravished with joy that this Law had passed he was carried back by the people to his House as if he had been the restorer not of one City or one people but of all the Nations of Italy After which the victorious Party went into the Countries from whence they were come to this contention and the other in despair for being overcome staid still in the City publickly declaring that Gracchus should repent as soon as he was out of employment the daring to violate an authority so holy and sacred and be the mover of such a Sedition in Italy Summer being already come the time of the Assembly for the Creation of Tribunes drew nigh and it was very likely the rich men would so contrive it that the dignity might fall upon Gracchus's enemies which somewhat terrified him and fearful lest any thing might pass in the Assembly to his prejudice he did his endeavours to recal the people out of the Country But all people being now employed in their Tillage as is usual in Harvest and the day of Assembly approaching he was forced to have recourse to the people of the City and with kindnesses and submissions solicite every one in particular to continue him in the Tribuneship in acknowledgment of the dangers to which he had exposed himself for their service When
it came to the Vote Gracchus had those of the two first Tribes Whereupon the rich men cryed out that it was not allowed by Law to continue the same dignity in the same Person and Rubrius Tribune of the people whom Lot made President of the Assembly making a demur upon it Mummius the Successor of Octavius obliged him to resign his place and suffer him to gather the Votes but the rest of the Tribunes maintained that Lots ought again to be drawn for the Preheminence and that Rubrius Resignation could not be made but in equal favour of all the Tribunes In this Contest Gracchus seeing his Party the weakest adjourned the Assembly till the morrow and finding his Affairs grow desperate before he was dismissed of his Charge he spent the rest of that day in the place in mourning having his Son with him whom he recommended to all he met as foreseeing himself likely to perish by the violence of his Enemies The Rabble moved to compassion for the man and withal judging that there must be no more talk of Equality between them and the other Citizens but they must resolve to suffer the Tyrannick Rule of the Rich if they forsook their Protector in the danger he was in for their sakes they carryed him to his house in the evening and wished him to be couragious next morning Hereupon he took heart and assembling before it was day those of his Faction gives them a word in case there should be occasion to fight and so seizes on the Capitol and place of Assembly The rich men by the joyning of some Tribunes with them having hindred Votes to be taken about his Continuation he gave to his Party the Signal agreed upon between them whereupon they rose with great clamour and straightway fell to blows some gathering about his Person as his Guards and others tucking up their Robes snatching the Rods out of the Lictors hands and untying them drave all the rich Men out of the Assembly with many blows and wounds in so much that the Tribunes affrighted fled and the Priests shut up the Temple The terror of those who ran flying up and down filled all the City with disorder and uncertain rumors Some said Gracchus had taken the Tribuneship from his Colleagues which seemed the more credible because none of them appeared in publick And others that without expecting the people's Votes he had created himself Tribune Mean while the Senate assembled in the Temple of Faith And surely it is to me a wonder that neither now nor afterwards it entred into the thoughts of any of the Fathers to propose the saving way of a Dictator so often tryed in the like Commotions After a short Consultation they ascended the Capitol led by Cornelius Scipio Nasica High Priest who having cryed aloud that all who loved the safety of the Commonwealth should follow him cast one of the Skirts of his Robe over his shoulder and over his head whether for a sign to assemble the multitude or to give them Signal of Battel or to testifie his respect to the Gods in concealing from them the design he had in his heart Being come to the Capitol and Gracchus people having made way for that great Man at the head of the Senate those that followed him snatcht the Clubs out of their Enemies hands and getting pieces of Forms which they broke or any thing that might serve for offence they fell upon the others with so much fury that they drove the greatest part of them down the Precipices and slew Gracchus himself near the Temple Gates before the Statues of their Kings with a great number of his followers whose bodies were in the night cast into Tyber Thus ended Gracchus Son to a Father that had been twice Consul and to Cornelia Daughter to Scipio the Affrican He was slain being Tribune and in the Capitol serving his Country but with too much violence And this Riot the most infamous we have upon Record was committed in the sacred place where Magistrates are chosen His death wrought two different effects in men's minds some rejoyced and others mourned for many lamented not less their own condition than his calling the present State not the Republick but the Insolence of the victorious Party whilst others believing they had nothing more to fear found themselves at the top of their wishes All this happened in the time of that War when Aristonicus fought with the people of Rome for the Empire of Asia After Gracchus death Appius being likewise deceased Fulvius Flaccus and Papirius Carbo together with the young Gracchus undertook to cause the Law about Lands to be put in Execution And when the ancient Possessors stood off what they could to hinder the Arpentage or Division of Lands they caused Proclamation to be made that whosoever would might summon them before them which gave Rise to numberless difficult Law-Suits for all contiguous Lands that either had been sold or divided fell into dispute to know how they were sold or divided no Writing of Sale appearing and many having lost the Possession of what was let out to them by Division and besides whatever did appear done by contract was very doubtful And moreover in making a general Survey in order to a new Division some who had sowed or otherwise improved their Farms were transplanted to a corner that at present lay Fallow and others from Arable to a Wast Clay or Marshy Ground For from the first there had been no very exact Division made of the Lands gained from the Enemy And because it was enacted that Lands so set out should be tilled by the Possessors some that were more diligent had advanced upon their Neighbours and so confounded the Bounds Besides time having changed the face of places it was no easie matter to discover the Incroachments of the rich Men though they were very great In a word by the often change of Dwellings all things were in confusion and disorder The Italians tired with their Law-Suits and feeling themselves oppressed with the Execution of Judgments that they might be no longer subject to these Injustices besought Cornelius Scipio the African to undertake their Protection They had served him so well in many occasions of War that he could not refuse them his Assistance He therefore went to the Senate where at first dash he struck not directly at the Law for fear to offend the people but having touched somewhat upon the difficulty of the Affair he moved that the cognizance of such Causes as should happen might be taken from the Tribunes as Men suspected and others be sent in their stead His Opinion being found very just the Senate confirmed it by Decree and gave the Commission to Tuditanus then Consul But he having undertaken a business which he found very difficult taking for a pretence the War of Illyria went into that Province and no man longer acknowledging the Triumvirs for Judges all matters were at a stand This lost Scipio in the hearts of
foot which yet hindred not Iudacilius from forcing a Passage through his Enemies and with as many as could follow him entring the place where he reproached them with their Cowardice and Disobedience After which despairing of the safety of his Fellow-Citizens he caused all his Enemies to be slain as well out of former hate as because of the fault lately committed in despising his Orders and giving by their Example occasion to others to do the like Then he caused a Pile to be raised in the Temple upon which setting up a Bed after having been very merry at a Feast to which he invited his Friends he took a draught of Poyson and laying himself upon the Bed desired them to seâ— fire to the Pile and so died that he might not survive his Country Mean while the time of Sex Caesar's Consulate was expired but the Senate prolonged his Command for the year following with the Authority of Consul As soon as he had his new Commission he fell upon twenty thousand of his Enemies as they discamped killed eight thousand upon the place and carried off the Field an infinite number of Bucklers which the rest that fled had left But his Sickness having forced him to stay some time about Ascoly at length carried him off and according to his desire C. Bebius succeeded in his Charge Whilst these things passed on the Coast of the Ionian Sea on the other side the Hetrurians and the Umbrians with some of their Neighbouring People drawn on by the Example of others inclined to a Revolt It was soon known at Rome and the advice of it put them in new fears Wherefore the Senate apprehensive of seeing themselves encompassed by Enemies on all sides caused the Coasts between Cuma and the City to be guarded by new Forces in which for want of men they entertained the Freed Men a thing never before done and granted to those Allies who had continued faithful the Freedom of their City which was the only thing in the World they desired This Decree being published by all the People about Hetruria was received with general satisfaction By this Act of Grace they engaged more firmly the true Friends of the people of Rome setled in their duty such as were wavering and made the Enemy more mild in hopes of the same favour They distributed not these new Citizens into the Tribes which were already five and thirty for fear they should out-number the old ones but they formed new Tribes wherein they were put by Decuries so that they gave last of all their Voices which were often superfluous because the five and thirty Ancient were more than half the number of the Tribes This design was not at first observed or perhaps the Allies contenting themselves at present herewith demanded no more Notwithstanding being afterwards considered it gave fresh occasion to Tumults The people above the Coasts of the Ionian Sea who yet knew not that the Hetrurians had changed their minds had sent fifteen thousand Men to their Assistance whom they had ordered to march through all the by ways imaginable Cn. Pompey lately made Consul surprized them killed about five thousand of them and the rest dispersed endeavouring to recover their Countries through rough and craggy ways and in all the Rigors of a sharp Winter having nothing but Acorns to eat perished almost all with Cold and Hunger During the same Winter Portius Cato Colleague to Pompey going to War upon the Marsians was slain After which L. Cluentius to brave Sylla who lay encamped on the Pompeian Hills went and encamped within three Furlongs of him And Sylla not able to brook the affront without staying for those that were gone to Forage went out and charged him but he was beaten and forced to retreat The Foragers being returned he once more fell on put Cluentius hard to it and forced him to remove his Camp further off whither there coming to him a Recruit of Gauls he returned once more to try the Fortune of the Field As the two Armies were drawn up a Gaul of very large Stature advanced and dared any Roman to a single Combat but he being slain by a very small Numidian struck all the rest of the Gauls into such a Panick that they turned their backs â—nd by the disorder of their Flight caused all the rest of Cluentius Army to do the like and fly by the way towards Nola. Sylla pursued them so eagerly that he slew thirty thousand of them by the way and because they would not open more than one of the Gates of Nola to let them in the Inhabitants fearing lest the Enemy should press in with them there were twenty thousand more slain under the Walls among whom was Cluentius performing to the last all the Offices of a brave and gallant Leader The General going marched against the Hirtians and began to besiege Equilania Whereupon the Inhabitants expecting the Assistance of the Lucanians who were to come the same day demanded time to consider about their Surrendry He who knew their Cunning gave them an hours time during which he caused to be brought great quantity of Bavins of Vine-twigs to the Foot of the Wall which was only of Beams of Timber and the hour being past set fire to them So they surrendring only for fear he gave the Plunder of the Town to the Soldiers as if it had been taken by Storm which Example made other Cities of the Hirpins willingly submit themselves to the Romans Those being yielded he carried the War to the Samnites not by those Avenues which were guarded by Mutilus their Chief but by fetching a Compass through Ways by which they never thought an Enemy could come So that falling in among them at unawares he slew great numbers the rest flying every way they best could and Mutilus himself being wounded escaping with very few into Isâ—rnia Sylla after having pillaged the Camp marched to Boviana where was held an Assembly of the Rebel People where because there were three Forts whilst the Inhabitants thought only of defending themselves from him he caused some Cohorts to march about with Order to strom each of these Forts on the other side and signifie to him by the smoak when they were Masters of them Which succeeding happily he approached the Walls and after three hours Assault took the Town This was what past under Sylla's Conduct during this War after which he went to Rome to demand the Consulate As for Cn. Pompey he reduced the Marsians the Marcinians and the Vestins On the other side C. Cosconius Pretor burnt Salapia after having taken it by force reduced Cannes under the Obedience of the Romans and having besieged Canusa which the Samnites came to relieve after a stout and rugged Fight with great loss of men on both sides he was repulsed and forced to retire into Cuma But he soon got a Revenge for as the Army of the Samnites lay only parted from the Roman by a River Trebatius their
to be put to death and sent his head to Sylla After he had thus treated his Enemies to his hearts content so that there remained none of the contrary Faction but Sertorius and he a great way off he sent Metellus into Spain against him and began to dispose of the Affairs of the City at his pleasure There being now no regard to the Laws or Votes or any of the ancient Formalities all people hiding themselves for fear or at least holding their peace the People and Senate of Rome ratifyed all that Sylla had done as well in his Charge of Consul as in the Quality of Pro-Consul and caused to be erected for him in the place for Orations a guilt Statue on Horse-back with this Inscription To CORNELIUS SYLLA Emperor the Happy For his Flatterers called him happy because of the continual Success of his Arms against his Enemies and it was only Flattery gave him that Sirname I my self found in certain Memoirs that in the same Sessions of the Senate they gave him the Title of THE GRACIOUS which I the easier believe because himself afterwards took the name of FOELIX not much different in signification from that of GRACIOUS There was likewise found an Oracle which confirmed him in the Resolution of undertaking all these things and ran thus Believe brave Roman Venus guides thy Fate Knowing thee sprung from Great Aeneas Line By mighty Actions then advance thy State Sure of Assistance from the Powers Divine But let not Gods their Favours cast away Delphian Apollo waits for Gifts of thine And when War brings thee to Mount Taurus pay A Golden Axe to Carian Venus Shrine However it were or whoever it was that wrote either of these two Epithites on his Statue in my Opinion good Raillery might be made of either But they stopped not here to gain the good Grace of the Conqueror they sent to that place an Axe with a Crown of Gold and put on it this Inscription Great Venus let this Gift Acceptance meet Which Sylla head of Rome lays at thy Feet Dreaming he saw thee ready for the Fight Provoke his Soldiers to maintain his Right Being then in Effect King or Tyrant since he mounted not to this Supreme Power by the consent of the People or the Authority of the Senate but by force yet standing in need of some pretence that he might seem lawfully elected he made use of this Artifice Formerly in Rome the most vertuous were Kings and when any King died the Senators by turns from five days to five days presided over the Government of the Commonwealth till such time as another elected by the Votes of the people succeeded in the Kingdom and this Five Days-Magistrate was called Inter-rex Afterwards when the Republick was governed by Consuls instead of Kings only those Consuls going out of Office had Right to call an Assembly for the naming new and if by any Accident they happened to be wanting they created an Inter-rex to preside in the Assembly According to this custom Sylla took the occasion now there were no Consuls in the Commonwealth Carbo being cut off in Sicily and Marius in Praeneste and retiring for some time out of the City sent word to the Senate they should create an Inter-rex The Senate having received his Orders gave that Dignity to Valerius Flaccus hoping that by this means they should soon have an Assembly for the Election of new Consuls But Sylla writ to Flaccus to acquaint the Senate from him that the present Estate of Affairs required they should name a Dictator not for a certain time as the ancient Custom which had lasted four hundred years required but till the Affairs of the City of Italy and of the whole Empire which till now had been shaken with continual Wars were settled and put in better order There is no doubt this new Proposition meant only himself and indeed he was not shy in shewing the desired it for in the end of the Letter he wrote that if the Fathers thought good he offered himself to render that Service to the Commonwealth When this Letter was read in the City the Senate and people of Rome were grievously perplexed They saw now they must no more hope for a lawful Assembly and that they were no longer Masters wherefore under the Mask of an Assembly they willingly accepted of this false Appearance of Liberty granted them and created Sylla Tyrant with an absolute Power for as long time as he pleased for formerly the Dictatorship was a bounded Tyranny for a certain time of short continuance But having taken away these Bounds there wanted nothing to make it an accomplished Tyranny Yet they gave him a more honest name saying that he was created Dictator to make such Laws as he should judge profitable to the Commonwealth and to apply necessary Orders Thus the People of Rome who had been under the Dominion of Kings about a hundred Olympiads and almost as long under Popular Government where Consuls presided and changed every Year returned under a Form of Royalty in the Seventy fifth Olympiad of the Greeks there was now no fighting at the Olympick Games nor any other Exercise but running For Sylla after the War with Mithridates was ended and the Intestine Disorders appeased sent for all the Combatants and whatever else could give any pleasure to the City under pretence to recreate the people wearied with so many Toyls And that he might not seem to incroach upon the ancient form of Government he permitted the People to chuse Consuls They gave that Dignity to M. Tullius and Cornelius Dolobella but he in Quality of Dictator reigned absolutely even over the Consuls themselves for they carried before him four and twenty Axes as they did before the other Dictators and as formerly before the Kings and he always went encompassed with Guards Besides he cancelled Laws and made new ones Among others he made one by which he enacted that none for the future should receive the Office of Praetor till he had been Quaestor nor be Consul till he had been Praetor nor obtain one Dignity twice until ten years after he had exercised it As for the Tribuneship he so enâ—eebled it that it seemed quite under foot making a Law by which it was enacted that after being Tribune no Man should be admitted to any other Dignity so that no Person either of Quality or desirous of Honour would accept that Charge Yet it is not positively certain whether it was he that transferred it from the People's Choice to the Senate's as it is at present However it were seeing the Senators reduced to a small number by reason of the Tumults and Wars he added three hundred whom he took from the principal Cavaliers yet not till having first demanded the Suffrage of the Assembly for each of them He augmented likewise the number of the People with all the Slaves of the Proscripts whom he found well made and in the Flower of their Age to the number of ten
had not sent Pompey with a new Army to joyn the first Pompey was yet but a young man but already in high esteem for those brave things he had done under Sylla in Africa and likewise in Italy so he undertook this Expedition with great courage and to pass the Alpes after the example of Hannibal he made a new way between the Springs of the Po and the Rhosne which are separated one from the other only by some small Mountains from whence these two Rivers go to discharge themselves in two different Seas the Rhosne into the Tyrhene Sea taking its course through the Transalpine Gaul and Po into the bottom of the Adriatick Gulf gliding along the Cisalpine Gaul As soon as he got to Spain he lost a Legion which he had sent to convoy his Foragers Beasts of Loading and Boys nor could he hinder Sertorius from taking and pillaging the Town of Aurona in the sight of him In the taking of this Town a certain Woman exceeding the ordinary strength of her Sex with her Fingers thrust out the eyes of a man that would have ravished her which coming to Sertorius's knowledge he put the whole Cohort to death though they were all Romans because they had already committed the like crimes Hereupon Winter being come the two Armies separated but at the beginning of the Spring they again took the Field Metellus and Pompey setting forth from the Pyraenean Hills where they kept their Winter Quarters and Sâ—rtorius and Perpenna from Lusitania they met near Sucrona and gave Battel where as they were hotly engaged there not being a Cloud to be seen just before on a sudden the Air was full of Thunder and Lightning which would have passed for a Prodigy with some other Armies but these being all old Soldiers minded it not nor did it hinder them from making a great Butchery on one side and the other Metellus having defeated Perpenna pillaged his Camp but on the other Wing Sertorius having wounded Pompey on the Thigh with a Javelin routed him so that it is incertain which side had the better Sertorius had a tame white Hind which had used to go at liberty in the Fields she having been some days wanting he counted it an ill presage and as long as he thought her lost would not fight with the Enemy who scoffed at him but seeing her come running to him he took the Field and rejoycing at her return as a good Augur began himself the Skirmish Short time after there was another great Battel fought near Saguntâ—m which lasted from Morning to Evening without advantage on one part or the other but at last Pompey was fain to yield after having lost six thousand Men and Sertorius three thousand and for Metellus he likewise cut in pieces five thousand of Perpenna's Men. The next day Sertorius taking along with him a great number of Barbarians went in the Evening to assault Metellus his Camp who doubted of no such thing and he had certainly forced it if Pompey bringing timely relief had not put him by his Enterprise Mean while the Summer being slipped away both Armies parted and went to their Winter Quarters The year following which agrees with the hundred seventy sixth Olympiad the Roman Empire encreased two Provinces by the last Testament of two Kings Nicomedes having left to the Romans Bythinia and Ptolemy sirnamed Apion of the Race of the Lagides the Province of Cyrene but they had likewise great Wars in Spain this we are now speaking of in the East with Mithridates over all the Sea with the Pyrates about Crete with the Inhabitants of the Island and in Italy against the Gladiators who rose all upon a sudden and gave them a great deal of trouble Though they had so many Affairs upon their Hands yet they forbore not to send to the Army they had in Spain two Legions which being arrived Metellus and Pompey came down from the Pyraenean Mountains and Sertorius and Perpenna left Portugal to go meet them when they drew near a great number of Sertorius's Soldiers went and yielded to Metellus which so angred Sertorius that he treated many others with great cruelty and by his ill conduct got the hate of all the rest But the greatest complaint his Army made against him was that instead of Romans he had taken Celtiberians for his Guard and chose rather to trust his person with Strangers than those of his own Nation They could not endure to be accused of infidelity though they bore Arms under an Enemy of the Roman People and that which troubled them the more was that he for whose sake they had been perfidious to their Country would not trust them besides they thought it very unjust that they should be punished for Runaways they who had kept constant to their duty Moreover this gave occasion to the Celtiberians to tell them upon all occasions that they doubted of their fidelity However Sertorius was not quite forsaken the Soldiers standing in need of such a General for indeed there was not any in this age more successful nor that better understood War wherefore the Celtiberians because of his activity and diligence called him Hannibal whom they esteemed the most hardy and most prudent General of all the Earth Upon these wavering inclinations of Sertorâ—us's Army Metellus went dayly out in parties and never returned without bringing in whole Troops of Prisoners and Pompey besieging Palenza had undermined the Walls so that they were only supported by Stanchions of Timber but Sertorius coming on he was forced to raise his Siege and the besiegers having set fire to the Stanchions retreated with Metellus Sertorius having repaired that part of the Wall that was fallen set himself to pursue the Enemies and overtook them on the Borders of Calagyra and slew three thousand Men and this was all passed in Spain this year In the beginning of the next the Roman Generals finding themselves the stronger assailed without fear those Cities that held on Sertorius's Party whose Affairs were now in an ill condition and their first successes having heightened their courage they made great progress yet there was no set Battel but having continued the War till the next year they began to despise Sertorius in such manner that they wasted all his Province For when he saw fortune had turned her back to him he gave ground too and abandoned himself in such manner to the pleasure of Wine and Women that he never afterwards engaged the Enemy but he was beaten He grew likewise extremely cholerick his passion took fire on the least suspicion punishing with cruelty and confiding in no man so that Perpenna who after Lepidus's Death was come of his own accord to joyn him with considerable Forces began to fear and having suborned ten Soldiers took a resolution to destroy him but the conspiracy was discovered some of the Conspirators punished with death and others escaped by flight Perpenna was so fortunate beyond his own hopes as not to be
much the more the good Grace of the Citizens he gave them often the Divertisements of Shows and Chases by which he ran in debt every where much beyond what he was worth every day surpassing himself in the Magnificence of his Gifts and the Profuseness of his Largesses At last he brought Matters so about that they gave him the Government of the Gauls as well on this side as beyond the Mountains for five Years with fonr Legions After having obtained it knowing that he must be a long time absent from the City and that Envy has more power than Favour he gave his Daughter in Marriage to Pompey not but that they were already very good Friends but he was fearful left the too great Success of his Arms might stir up Envy even in a Friend Moreover he designed for Consuls the Year following the stoutest of his Faction A. Gabinius one of his greatest Confidents and L. Piso his Father in Law with whom he had lately Allyed himself Cato perpetually crying out that these Marriages tended to a Tyranny and for Tribunes of the People he nominated Vatinius and Clodius Pulcher. This Clodius was infamous for having slipped into the Sacrifices of the good Goddess where none but Women ought to enter in which place he had layed a Blemish upon the Chastity of Caesar's own Wife who yet never expressed any Resentment because this Man was beloved by the People but however he repudiated his Wife there were some who afterwards made him come to a Tryal as a Prophaner of Sacred Things Cicero pleaded his Accusation and Caesar himself was called in as a Witness but he deposed nothing against him On the contrary he advanced him to this Office of Tribune in hate to Cicero who frequently used to blame the Union of these three Men as tending to the Ruin of the Publick Liberty Nor thought he much to pardon one of his Enemies the Affront he had received so he might be revenged of another who had only offended him in suspecting he had an ill Design so much was his Ambition more violent than his Love And yet there is some appearance that Caesar received the first Obligation from Clodius who served him with all his Credit and Interest when he demanded the Government of the Gauls However it were this is what passed in Caesar's Consulate which being expired he went into the Province in Quality of Pro-Consul After his departure from the City Clodius caused Cicero to be called to Judgment for having contrary to Law put to death Cethegus and Lentulus before they were condemned But he bore this Accusation with as much Cowardice as he had shewed Courage in the Noble Action he did for he went through the Streets with his Beard grown his Hair unkembed clad in a sad Colour and begging of every one he met to assist him he was not ashamed to be importunate with People that were utterly unknown to him in so much that having no regard to Decency whilst he would have moved Compassion he made himself ridiculous and that Man who all his life had managed others Affairs with so much Courage suffered himself to fall into the Excess of Fear in his own Cause It is reported the like happened to Demosthenes in Athens and that Orator who had so bravely defended so many accused being accused himself chose rather to fly than to defend himself before the Judges In like manner Cicero seeing that Clodius whom he followed through the Streets in the posture of a Suppliant derided his Prayers and Submissions and reviled him with words lost all hope and resolved to go into a Voluntary Exile whither many of his Friends followed him the Senate having given him Letters of Recommendation to all Kings and Sovereigns where he designed to make his Retreat Whereupon Clodius demolished his Houses as well in the City as the Country and became so fierce and arrogant that he esteemed himself equal to Pompey the most powerful Man of that time in the City Wherefore Pompey made an Agreement with Milo his Colleague a Man of Enterprize to whom he promised the Consulate to serve him against Clodius and obliged him to propose to the People the Return of Cicero believing that being returned he could talk no more of the present Estate of the Commonwealth that he would have in mind the benefit newly received and be always ready to oppose the designs of Clodius Thus Cicero banished by Pompey's means was by the favour of the same Pompey again recalled to his Country about sixteen Months after his departure and his Houses both in City and Country were rebuilt at the Publick Charge When he returned there went such a Concourse to meet him at the Gates that the whole Day was scarce enough for their Complements which happened also to Demosthenes when after his Exile he was received into Athens Mean while Caesar glorious for the great things he had done in Gaul and Brittany as we have said speaking of the Affairs of Gaul and loaden with vast Riches repassed into Cisalpine Gaul that he might a little refresh his Army wearied with continual War As soon as he was arrived there and that he had sent store of Silver to a great many Persons in the City the Officers of the Common-wealth for that Year together with all the other Governors of Provinces and Generals of other Armies came to salute him so that there was sometimes sixscore Rods about his Person There came likewise more than two hundred Senators some to thank him for Favours received some to get Money of him or something else of that kind For now he alone could do all things having so many Forces at his Service and so much Money in his Coffers and besides he was always ready to oblige all the World Pompey and Crassus the Companions of his Power being come as well as others to see him they consulted together about their Affairs and agreed that Pompey and Crassus should take the Consulate and should prolong to Caesar the Government of Gaul for other five Years after which they parted At the time for Election of Consuls Domitius Aenobarbus standing up Competitor with Pompey and the day of Nomination being come they came both before Day to the place where the Assembly is held and after some sharp words fell to blows In the Tumult he that carried the Light before Domitius received a Wound with a Sword upon which all his People fled and he with much hazard escaped to his House Pompey's Robe was also brought home bloody so much danger did they both run in this sudden Broil Crassus and Pompey having obtained the Consulate gave Caesar according to their promise the Government of Gaul for five Years longer and between themselves they divided the Provinces and the Armies Pompey had the Governments of Spain and Africa whither he sent Friends to command in his place and he stayed in the City And Syria with all the Neighbouring Countries remained to Crassus for his
and Macedon so little foresight had he of what might happen As for Caesar he departed as we have said in the Month of December for Brundusium that by this unlooked for diligence he might startle the Enemy and finding neither Provisions nor Military Preparations nor indeed those Men he hoped to find he assembled those were there and thus spoke to them The Oration of Caesar. THough we are now Fellow Soldiers in the depth of Winter and that other Troops that ought to have been here are not yet come nor such Preparations made as I expected yet I am so firmly perswaded that diligence has been the principal thing has given me success in all my Undertakings and so much assured of your Generosity that nothing can retard the resolution I have taken to pass over into Epire. Wherefore let us leave here our Baggage and Servants that the Ships not being over-pesterd may with more conveniency carry us and we cross the Sea without being perceived by our Enemies let us oppose our good Fortune to the bad Weather and if our numbers be but small let our courage supply that defect let us furnish out our wants at the Enemies Expence All those things they have in such abundance will be ours as soon as we are landed and we shall fall on the braver when we know we have no hopes but in Victory Let us go then and make our selves Masters of their Munitions of their Provisions of their Baggage of their Servants whilst the cold shuts them up in their Houses and Pompey thinks I am spending the Winter in the City in the pomps of the Consulate and in Sacrifices Your selves know how much sudden surprises are advantageous in War I will perform a brave exploit only by going before ordering things necessary and preparing a secure retreat for those are to follow us I could heartily wish you were already on board that the time I waste in talking might be spent in sailing so great an earnestness I have to let Pompey see me whilst he thinks I am amusing my self in exercising the Consulate in the City Though I am sure of your good will yet I expect your answer All the Soldiers cryed out he should lead them whither he pleased as soon as he descended from the place whence he had spoke to them he caused five Legions and six hundred chosen Horse to march towards the Sea who being embarqued rode at Anchor because of a Storm that happened as is usual in the Month of December The contrary Winds do what they could stayed them till the first day of the following year when two Legions more coming to Caesar he caused them to embark on the Ships of Burthen for he had left those few long Ships he had for the Guard of Sicily and Sardinia They they set sail all together and the whole Fleet being carried by the Storm to the Ceraunian Rocks there landed them and went immediately back to fetch the rest of the Army Caesar with those he had marched towards Orica but because the ways were rought and narrow he was often forced to file off so that had there been any suspicion of his March it might easily have been prevented because of the cragginess of the ways At length having about break of day with much labour got together all his Army he presented himself before the City where he that commanded by consent of the Inhabitants who thought it not convenient to shut the Gates against a Roman Consul brought him the Keys and afterwards continued on his Party in the same Quality of Governour of that place Lucretius and Minutius who were on the other side of Orica with eighteen long Ships to guard the Ships of Burthen which carried Corn to Pompey hearing of this Surrender sunk the Ships and Corn to the bottom and fled to Dyrrachium From Orica Caesar hastened to Apollonia where the Inhabitants having opened the Gates Tiberius the Governour left the City Caesar after these fortunate Beginnings drew together his Forces and let them know how by the means of his diligence and the favour of Fortune he had surmounted the Difficulties of the Season crossed a great Extent of Sea with Ships taken Orica and Apollonia without fighting and already as he had foretold gained from the Enemy what things they wanted even before Pompey had knowledge of it But if now we can said he make our selves Masters of Dyrrachium where Pompey's Magazines both of Munition and Provision are all that he with so much Cost and Pains has been storing up together will become your Recompence Having said these words he went right to the City continuing his March Night and Day by long and difficult ways Pompey receiving advice hereof advances from Macedonia to prevent him causing all along as he passed trees to be cut down Bridges broken and all Provisions to be burnt to retard Caesar's March if he should come that way for he thought as indeed it was true the preserving of his Stores was of no small importance The Soldiers of both Armies were so eager to gain Dyrrachium first that if in any place they saw at a distance either the dust raised by their Fellows or Fire or Smoak they presently imagined it was the Enemy and run as if they had been to run a race they gave themselves neither time to eat nor to sleep but with Shouts and Hollas encouraged one another pressing their companions forward to follow the Guides which in the night carried Torches before them and which sometimes caused great tumults and as often Allarms as if the Enemy had been upon them some quite tired threw away their Baggage and others privately withdrawing out of the Body stopped in the Valleys to take a little repose which they stood in need of and preferred before the fear or danger they might be in of their Enemies Yet in the end of this Contention between the two Parties Pompey got first to Dyrrachium and encamped near the Walls he sent presently his Fleet to Orica which returned under his obedience and after caused the Sea to be guarded with more diligence than before Caesar pitched his Camp directly against him on the other side of the River Alora which parted the two Armies where yet there happened some Horse Skirmishes now one Party and then another passing the River but neither would engage with all their Forces because Pompey thought good first to exercise his Forces that were newly levyed and Caesar expected those that were to come from Brundusium He thought if they stayed till Spring and then should come over with Ships of Burthen and he had no other they could no way be secured Pompey having such a number of Galleys to defend the passage but if they embarqued during Winter they might slip by their Enemies who now lay harboured in the Islands or if they were engaged might open themselves a passage by the violence of the Winds and the Bulk of their Vessels wherefore he did all
he could to hasten their coming And therefore out of impatience that the rest of his Army came not from Brundusium he resolved himself to go privately over thinking they would sooner follow him than any other wherefore without discovering his design to any one he sent three of his Slaves to a River not above twelve Furlongs distant to secure some very light Boat and a good Pilot as if he had an intention to send him upon some design and feigning himself ill rose from Table where he desired his Friends to continue and taking the habit of a private man mounting his Chariot came to the Boat as Caesar's Messenger He had given orders to his Slaves to command the Mariners what they had to do whilst he kept himself concealed under coverlids and the darkness of the night Though the wind were contrary and very raging the Slaves made the Pilot put off bidding him be of courage and make use of his time to escape the Enemy who were not far from them they laboured so hard that by force of Oars they got the Mouth of the River where the Waves of the Sea beating against the stream of the River the Pilot who on the other side was afraid of falling into the Enemies hands did all was possible for man to do till seeing they gained nothing and the Seamen not able to pull any longer he left the Helm Then the Consul discovering his Head cryed out Courage Pilot fear no storm for thou carriest Caesar and his fortune Whereupon the Pilot and his crew astonished at these words redoubling their force passed the Mouth of the River got out to Sea but because the Winds and the Waves still drove them towards the Lee shore in spite of all their endeavours and day approaching the Mariners fearing to be discovered by the Enemy Caesar angry at fortune that envyed him suffered the Pilate to ragain the River and the Boat presently running afore the Wind came to the place from whence they set out Caesar's Friends admired at his boldness others blamed him for having done an action more proper for a private Soldier than a General and he seeing his design had not succeded and that it was impossible for him to pass over without being known sent Posthumius in his place He first had charge to tell Gabinius that he should presently embark the Army and bring it to him and if he refused then to address himself to Anthony and at last to Calenus and if none of these three had spirit enough to execute these orders he had a Letter for the Army in general by which the Soldiers were exhorted to come over and follow Posthumius landing at any place they could without regarding the Ships for he had more need of Men than Ships so much confidence had he in fortune indeed more than in prudence Pompey then judging he ought no longer to delay drew out his Army in Battalia and caused them to advance against Caesar but two of his Soldiers being entred into the River to sound the Ford and one of Caesar's Men having slain them both he took this as an ill presage and led back his Forces into the Camp though many lamented the loss of so fair an occasion As for the Forces at Brundusium Gabinius refusing to follow the orders brought by Posthumius with all that would follow him went the way of Illyria by Land taking such long Marches that his Men being quite tired the Inhabitants of the Country cut them all in pieces for which Caesar could not yet be revenged being engaged in affairs of more importance Anthony shipped away the rest and having the Wind right aft passed in sight of Apollonia with a merry Gale but about Noon the Wind beginning to slacken they were discovered by twenty of Pompey's Galleys who made up towards them they were fearful lest the Stems of the long Ships running on board them should pierce through and sink them however they were preparing to fight every Man laying hold of his Sling his Javelin or Arms of the like nature when on a sudden there sprung up a fresher gale than the former so that Anthony setting his low Sails went â—pooning away before whilst the others not able to bear Sail were tossed too and fro where the Winds and Waves pleased and at length driven into the Narrows and cast upon Lee shores where there were neither Port nor Harbour Thus Anthony safely recovered the Port of Nymphaeum without losing more than two Ships which unfortunately running upon the Flats were taken by the Enemies Caesar having now with him all his Forces as well as Pompey they pitched their Camps in sight of each other upon eminencies where each entrenched themselves raising out Forts which were often attacqued by one Party and the other one General still striving to block up the others Army and cut them off from Provisions so that there happened many Skirmishes In this new mode of making War as Caesar's Men one day proved the weaker in a Fort assailed by the Enemy a Centurion called Sceva famous before for many gallant actions being wounded in an eye leaped from the Rampart and making a sign with his hand for silence as if he had something to say he called to one of the Centurions of the contrary Party a Man of Reputation to whom he said Save the life of one of thy own quality save the life of thy Friend send some body to lead me by the hand thus wounded as I am Whereupon two Soldiers stepping in to receive him as a Runaway he slew one before he suspected the deceit and knocked the other down He did this action out of pure despair he was in of being able to defend the place but it succeeded better than he imagined for this happy success so raised the courage of his Companions that they repulsed the Enemy and remained Masters of the Fort. Minutius who commanded had a great share in the Glory as well as in the danger of this Assault for 't is said his Buckler was six and twenty times pierced through and he was wounded in the eye as well as Sceva so Caesar honoured them both with many Military Recompences Mean time he had formed intelligence in Dyrrachium and upon hopes the place would be delivered to him he came with a small company to the Gate which is near the Temple of Diana but his design being discovered came off again without doing any thing The same Winter Scipio Father-in-law to Pompey bringing him another Army out of Syria was set upon in Macedon by C. Calvisius whom he defeated and slew him a whole Legion fourscore Soldiers only escaping There came now no more Provisions to Caesar by Sea Pompey being the stronger wherefore the Soldiers were forced to make Bread of a certain kind of Herbs pieces of which being by some Runaways brought to Pompey thinking it would be to him a joyful present instead of rejoycing at it What sort of Beasts said he have we to
deal with Caesar now pinched with necessity drew together his Forces resolving to engage Pompey whether he would or no but Pompey being now possessed of several good Forts kept close in his Trenches which so much troubled Caesar that he undertook a work almost impossible and scarcely credible which was to inclose all the Forts Pompey had with a Trench drawn from the Sea judging that though his design took not effect he should gain the reputation of a man capable of great things for this Trench must have been twelve hundred Furlongs in length Pompey on his part drew Lines and Trenches directly opposite to Caesar's Works thus one eluded the Enterprises of the other At length there happened a great Fight between them wherein Pompey bravely repulsing Caesar's Men and having put them to flight pursued them to their very Camp Many Colours they took and had taken the Eagle of a Legion if the Standard-bearer who carried it had not thrown it with all his force into the Trenches that he might preserve it for Caesar for the Roman Soldiery have a great respect for their Standards Caesar with other Companies came to the relief of those that fled but so terrified were these too that as soon as they beheld Pompey at a distance though they were near the Camp it was not possible for Caesar to stop them nor to make them go in again nor so much as to hearken to him the Soldiers fled away in disorder without shame without reason or without any thing to oblige them to it Caesar might well run up and down and with reproaches shew them that Pompey was yet a great way off This hindred them not from throwing down their Arms and flying or else standing still silent and immoveable fixing their eyes upon the ground with shame and confusion so great was that panick fear had possesed them There was an Ensign who as his General would have stopped him presented him the point of his Javelin but he was upon the spot punished by the Guards as he deserved Those who escaped into the Camp were so cast down that they kept no Guard at the Gates nor lined the Rampire but the Trenches were left without any to defend them All men believed that Pompey might have thrown himself into the Camp with the Flyers and so have made an end of the War if Labienus for God would have it so had not perswaded him rather to pursue those he had routed then march up to the Trenches him therefore he believed whether it were that he was not in such haste as to make an end of all at once or that seeing the Camp defenceless he feared some Ambuscade or else being victorious scorn'd that little advantage Going therefore to charge those were still abroad he made yet a great Slaughter so that in two Engagements in one day he gained twenty eight Colours and twice lost the opportunity of ruining his Enemy beyond redress And Caesar himself stuck not to say that that day the War had been ended had his Enemy known how to make use of his Victory Pompey after this glorious Success wrote largely of it to the Kings and Commonalties and conceived hopes that in a short time Caesar's Army either oppressed by Famine or terrified with this Disgrace would yield themselves to him especially the Tribunes fearful of being punished for a fault they knew themselves guilty of But they and all the Soldiers touched with Repentance as by Divine Inspiration confessed themselves Criminals and afflicted themselves the more that their General spoke kindly to them and granted them Pardon before they asked it They would not forgive themselves but with a wonderful Change desired as a Punishment of their Fault they might be decimated according to the custom of their Ancestors but he would by no means admit it which encreased their shame the more that they should be guilty of such Cowardize in prejudice of the best Man of the World and who most deserved their Faith and their Services They besought him that at least he would punish the Ensigns who had been the Cause of this Rout for in flying they had only followed their Colours and seeing Caesar could not resolve to do that but with much ado would consent to the Punishment of a few his Moderation begot in the minds of the Soldiers a General Joy They began all with one voice to cry out that he should lead them against the Enemy that by gaining a new Victory they might wipe away their Infamy and in the sight of their General they swore by whole Companies one to the other never to return from the Fight but Victorious Wherefore his Friends advised him to take the Army at their Words and make tryal of them upon this height of Repentance before their Zeal grew cooler But he answered them before all the Multitude that he would chuse a time more proper to shew them the Enemy exhorting them then to remember the good Will they now protested and in private he told his Confidents that it was convenient to let that fear which so late a loss had imprinted be worn a little out of the minds of the Soldiery and by temporizing let the fierceness of his Enemies heightned by their late Victory be likewise a little cooled He confessed withal he had committed a great fault in coming to encamp so near Dyrrachium where Pompey had all things in abundance whereas if he had drawn himself farther off they might have met with equal Difficulties After having discoursed in this manner he came to Apollonia and from thence privately by Night took his March towards Thessaly and on the way coming to a little City called Gomphes that refused to open their Gates he took it by Storm and gave the Plunder to his Soldiers who having long endured Scarcity fed now beyond measure and filled themselves with Wine especially the Almains whose Drunkenness made them ridiculous to all the rest So that here again in all appearance Pompey lost a fair occasion of Victory by not pursuing an Enemy he despised but lying still whilst in seven days March he got into Thessaly and encamped near Pharsalia It is reported there happened at Gomphes a thing very memorable that in an Apothecary's Shop there were found twenty Old Men all People of Quality lying groveling upon the Ground with Caps by them in the posture of Drunken Men dead without any Wound and another sitting in a Chair who acting the Physitian had presented the Cups to the rest After Caesar's Departure Pompey held a Council of his Friends where Affranius Advice was that he should employ the Sea-Forces in which they were the stronger to pursue Caesar now flying and necessitous and to incommode him what they could whilst Pompey with the Land-Army past speedily into Italy which favoured their Party and where the other had no Forces and placing good Garrisons both in Gaul and Spain without stirring from home settle the Seat of the War in
the Capital City of the Kingdom But this Advice though perfectly good was not followed they chose rather to believe those who maintained that Caesar's Army would soon by Famine be forced to yield to them or if that happened not yet after the Success of Dirrachium it was no great Task to give Perfection to that Victory that besides it would be a shame to let Caesar fly without pursuing him or to let it be said that the Vanquished and the Vanquisher fled each their several ways Pompey therefore moved by these Arguments but principally out of Consideration of the Eastern Nation and of Lucius Scipio lest any disgrace should happen to him in Macedon and besides this assuring himself upon the Alacrity of his Soldiers who ardently desired to fight followed Caesar And as well as he encamped near Pharsalia at about thirty Furlongs distance from him Provisions were brought to him from all Parts for he had before fortifyed the Passages the Havens and the Forts so that he had continual Supplies by Land and every Wind brought him some by Sea But Caesar had no more than what he daily with much difficulty sent out to forage for yet for all that none of his Men forsook him On the contrary as if they had been animated by some Divine Spirit they testifyed an incredible earnestness to fight They considered that being all Veterans trained to War for ten Years together and having to deal only with Raw Soldiers they should prove the stronger but if the War were spun out in length and they forced to labour in Trenches and other Works Age already growing upon them the consuming more time would be to their disadvantage Wherefore they desired no longer delay thinking it better to try the Fortune of Arms than to fight longer against Hunger and Famine On the other side Pompey who knew all these things judged there might be danger in coming to an Engagement and committing himself to the hazard of a Battel with experienced Men whom Despair had made capable of attempting any thing and who were besides commanded by Caesar the most fortunate General of the World But that he might more securely and with more facility defear them streitned as they were and already weakned with want of all things the Country where they lay not being over fertile and they having no Sea-Port nor so much as a Ship to escape in He therefore resolved and surely with a great deal of Prudence not to fight but vanquish his half-starved Enemies by starving them more But having with him a great number of Senators of the same Quality with himself the Choice of all the Roman Knights and many Kings and Potentates they all exhorted him to give Battel some out of Ignorance others having in their Heads the Victory at Dirrachium others relying upon the great number of their Forces in which they had the advantage and some who weary of the War chose rather to hazard Victory at one push than attend it from good Conduct They shewed him Caesar provoking him to fight and always drawn out in Battel But he turned that Example against themselves and told them Caesar did that being forced to it by Famine and that he ought the rather to lie quiet the more Caesar was streitned for want of Provisions And yet at last seeing all the Army puffed up with the last Victory desired to fight and that many Persons of Quality reproached him that he loved to command and that he spun out the War with design to maintain himself so much the longer above so many People his Equals that they called him King and Agamemnon because Agamemnon had likewise commanded Kings during the War he was constrained to forego the Resolution he had taken And now Fortune which had not been over-favourable to him in many other Accidents of this War forsook him quite He grew fainter and slower than ordinarily he used to be and prepared for this Fight much against his Will to his Ruin and the Loss of those who counselled him to it Caesar had that Night sent out two Legions to go fetch in Corn for praising Pompey for temporizing and believing he would continue to do so he endeavoured nothing more than the bringing Provisions to his Camp from all sides But when he had a little notice that his Enemy was disposed to give Battel he was very joyful conjecturing him forced to it by the head-strong humour of his Soldiers and causing those two Legions sent out for Forrage speedily to return he gave all his Men Order to be in a readiness About Midnight he sacrificed to Mars and Venus his Mother for it is said that the Family of the Iulii had their Original as well as Name from Iulus Son to Aeneas and withal made a Vow to build a Temple in the City in Honour of that Goddess After the Sacrifice there having appeared a stream of Lightning which extended it self from Caesar's Camp over that of Pompey's Those of this Party promised themselves a bright and glorious Victory but Caesar interpreted it to his advantage saying he was going with one blow to extinguish all the Glory and Power of Pompey As Pompey sacrificed the same Night the Victims escaping could not be retaken a Swarm of Bees came and set upon the Altars There was raised a little before Day in Pompey's Army a Panick Terror which yet himself going from Quarter to Quarter appeased and after slept soundly and when his Friends waked him told them he dreamed he was dedicating a Temple in the City to Venus the Victorious His Familiars and his Soldiers who had heard nothing of Caesar's Vow rejoyced mightily at it they believed the Advantage certainly theirs and began to despise the Enemy and do things more by impulse of Passion than Reason in so much that some crowned their Tents with Laurel which is the Token of Victory and made their Slaves prepare Magnificent Feasts Nay some there were who disputed among themselves for Caesar's High Priesthood Pompey who had great experience in what related to War had an aversion for all these things but he let not his Anger break forth for it would have been a trouble to him neither did he now think it secure to reprove People who loved rather to command than obey and who by their Importunity had forced him to actagainst his Judgment So stupifyed was now this Great Man who had ever before been so happy whether he were troubled that his Counsel was slighted being so perfectly good and that he was constrained to hazard the safety of so many Men together with his own Glory which never yet had any like it or whether his Genius presenting to him his approaching Misfortune appaled him being just at the point of losing in one moment so great and sublime an Authority However at length having said to his Friends that whoever gained the Victory that day would be the Commencement of infinite Calamities to the Roman People he began to draw up his Army
in Battel from whence some making reflexion on these words which on a suddain heat escaped him have believed that if he had been Victorious he would have made himself Master of the Commonwealth Now to give an Account of the number of the Forces on both Parts without having recourse to that Multitude of Authors who so ill agree in this Point I will follow the gravest of the Romans who report exactly the number of the Italians as the principal Force of the Army and make little mention of the Auxiliaries whom indeed they had but little consideration of Caesar had about two and twenty thousand Men of whom about a thousand were Horse and Pompey had half as many more of whom about seven thousand were Horse So that most credible Authors say that there were about seventy thousand Italians in both Armies those who are most modest say sixty thousand and those who are boldest four hundred thousand of whom some say Pompey's made more than half others that Caesar's were but one third so difficult it is exactly to know the truth But however it were both the one and the other Party placed their chief Relyance on those of that Nation Not but that Caesar had good Auxiliary Forces he had French Cavalry and a great number of Transalpine Gauls and Grecian Light Armed Foot of the Acarnanians Etolians and Dolopes But Pompey had a great multitude of all the Oriental Nations as well Horse as Foot out of Greece the Lacedemonians with their Kings the other Peloponnesians and Boeotians and even the Athenians came to this War Though both Parties had caused it to be proclaimed by the publick Cryer that all Persons were forbid touching them being Priests to Ceres the Inventor of Laws yet would they come to bear Arms that they might have the Honour to fight for the Roman Empire After the Greeks came Troops of almost all Nations lying upon the Sea-Coasts of the Levant Seas from Thrace from the Hellespont from Bithynia Phrygia Ionia Lydia Pamphilia Pisidia Paphlagonia Cilicia Syria Phaenicia Iudaea Arabia Cyprus Rhodes with Slingers from Crete and all the other Isles There were likewife Kings and Sovereigns with their Forces Deiotarus Tetrarch of Gallograecia and Ariarathes King of Cappadocia Taxiles lead the Armenians from this side the Euphrates and Megabates Lieutenant of King Artabasus those from beyond that River besides several little Sovereigns that brought what Forces they had They say likewife that Cleopatra and her Brother yet a Child sent sixty Gallies whose Forces were not at the Fight no more than those of the rest of the Fleet who lay doing nothing at Corcyra And most certain it is that Pompey was not so prudent as he ought to have been in not making good use of his Naval Forces in which he was so strong that he might always have hindred the bringing from any place Provisions to his Enemy but chusing rather to fight on Land against Men hardened to Labour and accustomed to Victory But it is apparent that the Victory at Dyrrachium made him slacken his Care and that nothing could have been more advantageous to Caesar than that loss for Pompey's Soldiers grown proud with that Success would no longer obey and marched against their Enemies hand over head But decreed it was he should commit this fault to give Birth to that Empire which extends it self so far over the Nations of the Earth The Armies being disposed and ready to fight the two Generals by words endeavoured to encourage their Men And Pompey spoke to his in this manner The Oration of Pompey AT length Soldiers you are put in a posture to fight rather by commanding me than doing what I command For whereas I was resolved to destroy Caesar by temporizing you would needs fight him Since you therefore are the Enactors of this Battel and the Arbiters of it shew what you are to those Enemies you so far surpass in number Despise them as young and vigorous Conquerors should the Vanquished surcharged with Age and tired with Labour Besides your advantage over them lies not only in your Preparations and Forces but in the Testimony of your own Consciences and in the Iustice of your Cause since we fight for Liberty for our Country for the Laws for Glory for so many Senators and so many Roman Knights against a Man who aims at Dominion by his Thefts and Robberies Let us go on then in good hopes whither your Courage leads you and remember the Day of Dyrrachium when we put to flight the same Enemy and what a great number of Colours you in one day brought away your Prize Caesar in like manner encouraged his Men in words to this purpose The Oration of Caesar. THe most difficult part of our Labours is now at an end Fellow Soldiers we are no more to fight with Hunger and Want we have now only Men to deal with aud this day will put an end to all provided you do but remember the promise you made me at Dyrrachium and in what manner you swore to one another in my presence never to return from the Fight without Victory These are the Men we are come to seek from as far as the Pillars of Hercules those who durst not stand us but fled before us out of Italy these who after we had fought ten Years together for the Glory of our Country after that we had gained a multitude of Victories and added to the Roman Empire four hundred Nations in Spain Gaul and Brittany would have deprived us of the Honours due to us of the Triumphs and other Recompences our Services merited In a word these whom I could never move neither by the Iustice of my Right nor by the Favours I have done them for you know how many of them I have set free without doing them the least injury in hopes they would do things reasonable for me Remember then their Injustice and if ever you did believe I had any kindness or good will for you if you if you have ever experienced my Liberality or received my Largesses let this Day 's Actions make good your Acknowledgments It is no hard matter for Old Soldiers to overcome Hot-headed Young sters unskilled in the Mystery and who like Children come to the business in disorder and despising their General for I am certainly assured he himself leads them trembling and sore against his mind to this Battel for seeing his Fortune grow old he is himself grown slothful and stupid and does not so much command as obey the Command of others Hitherto I have yet spoke to you only concerning the Italians for the Strangers I would not have you trouble your selves nor account them for any thing nor would I have you go to charge the Slaves of Syria Lydia and Phrygia only born for Flight and Servitude I know it certainly and you shall see it that Pompey will not give them any place in his Battel Engage therefore only the Italians and if the Strangers come to
run after you like Dogs when you have routed the Italians spare them as your Allies but put all the Strangers to the Sword to strike a terror in others But first of all to perswade me that you remember your promise and that you desire to die or overcome as you go out of the Camp I command you that your selves pull up the Palissade and fill up the Trench that we may have no hopes left but in Victory And that the Enemies seeing we have no more a Camp may understand that of necessity we must lodge in theirs After having thus spoke to his Soldiers he left two thousand of the oldest for Guard of the Baggage and the rest as they came out of the Camp pulled up the Pallissade and filled up the Ditch with as little noise as might be Which being told to Pompey by some who thought they prepared themselves for Flight he knowing their Confidence began to sigh that he must fight against fierce Beasts whom he might have defeated by Famine which is the only way to reduce Beasts But now there was no going back for as the Proverb says The Knife was at his Throat Wherefore leaving four thousand Legionary Soldiers for the Guard of the Camp he caused the rest to march in Battalia between Pharsalia and the River Enipeus where Caesar planted himself directly opposite to him So that the Front of both Battels was composed of the Legions in three Bodies at some distance one from the other whose Flanks were covered with two Wings of Horse among whom were mixed Archeres and Slingers The Legions in whom both Parties placed their chief Hope being ranged in this Order they brought on the Strangers more for Shew than Service Pompey had a great number of divers Languages out of which he drew apart the Macedonians Peloponnesians Boeotians and Athenians as more accustomed to keep their Ranks with silence and placed them near his Legions and for the others Caesar had conjectured he drew them into a Body apart with Orders to environ the Enemy as soon as the Battel was begun and to do what they could to break in and plunder Caesar's Camp whose Works he had seen thrown down Scipio Father in Law to Pompey was in the middle of the Battel L. Domitius on the Left Wing Lentulus on the Right and Affranius stayed for Guard of the Camp In Caesar's Army Sylla Anthony and Cn. Domitius commanded and he according to his custom chose his place at the Head of the Tenth Legion Which the Enemies having observed they opposed against him all their best Horse that being the stronger in number they might inclose him Caesar on the contrary knowing their design drew off a Body of three thousand Men of the best of his Foot to releive him upon occasion and commanded that as soon as they saw the Enemy come to invest him they should charge them with their Piles aiming chiefly at the Face for young and unexperienced People who put value on their Beauty would be fearful to receive any Wound might render them deformed And now the Generals went through the Ranks to give necessary Orders exhorting them to shew their Courage and giving them the Word for that day which on Caesar's side was Venus the Victorious and on Pompey's Hercules the Invincible Thus standing in Battalia they for a long time kept silence on both sides each Party keeping his Ground and expecting when the other should begin the Fight For they were moved with Compassion to see the greatest number of Forces that had ever before been seen together of the Italian Nation and all Chosen Men about to expose themselves to the Hazard and Uncertainty of a Battel for the Interest and Passion of two Romans envious of each other And as the Danger approached the Ambition wherewith they had hitherto been blinded began to remit and give place to Fear Reason having chased away the furious Appetite of Glory began to represent to them the greatness and the Cause of the Disgrace wherein they might fall That two Men disputed for the Preheminence with contempt of their Lives and yet neither could promise to himself the living in the meanest Degree unless he got the Victory And that for their Difference such numbers of brave Men were about to hazard their utter Destruction It came likewife into their Minds that having so lately been Friends and Allies and endeavoured to render each other mutual Service for the Support of their Grandeur they should now draw Swords one against another and oblige to be Followeres in their criminal Passion so many Generals and Officers among whom nothing but Concord ought to have been maintained being of the same City and some of them Brethren for so they were having engaged themselves unawares as in two different Parties of so many thousand Men of the same Notion many extraordinary things must necessarily happen Thus the two Generals making these reflecrtions were touched with remorse and because this Day was to make one of them the first or the last of all Men they could not easily resolve to begin a Fight the Success whereof was so soubtful Some report that both of them shed tears The Day was now well advanced whilst both Parties thus stood viewing one another and the Legions stood firm without moving from their places till Pompey perceiving that the Strangers wearied with the delay kept their Ranks but ill fearing lest by their Example the others might take the liberty to do the same before the Battel began commanded first to sound the Charge which Caesar on the other side immediately scconded And now the Soldiers heartned by the sound of the Trumpets and the presence of their Officers who going through the Ranks encouraged them to do well began to march one againsts the other with an incredible Vehemence yet with deep silence like People who had often been upon the same Occasions When they came within a Dart's Flight the Light-Armed Foot gave the first Discharge and then the Horse fell on where after having given great Evidences of their Valour on both sides Pompey's had the Advantage as being more numerous and went about to invest the Tenth Legion Whereupon Caesar gave a Sign to his Reserve appointed for that purpose to advance which at an instant they did throwing their Piles at the Faces of the Horse-men who not able to bear the Brunt of these desperate Men nor endure that they should pierce their Cheeks and thrust out their Eyes fled away in disorder Which gave Opportunity to Caesar's Horse who before were fearful to be environed to charge Pompey's Legions in Flank where they lay naked being deserted by the Horse-men Pompey advised of it gave Order to his Foot not to advance farther nor to assail the Enemy nor to throw any Pile but presenting their Points to those came at them to fight standing their Ground Some have praised this way of fighting invented by Pompey as advantageous to those that are like to be inclosed
But Caesar disapproves it in his Commentaries because in casting the Pile the blow is more violent and the motion gives life to the Courage of the Soldier which grows cold and faint by standing still besides that it is more easie to overturn those are only planted like Stakes which now happened for after Caesar's Horse had charged upon the Flank Pompey's Right Wing which lay naked and stood still whilst they poured upon them at distance whole Showers of Darts The tenth Legion came up close to them in Front and finding them in Disorder made them give Ground which was the beginning of the Victory In other places they fought with divers Success and every where made a great Slaughter yet in a Fight of so many Legions there was not heard the least Cry either of the Wounded or of those that fell save only the last dying Gasps and Groans of them who gave up the Ghost in the same place where they had fought The Strangers Spectators of so many noble Actions were astonished to see Soldiers so resolutely keep their Ranks in so much that surprized with their height of Bravery as at a Miracle they durst not so much as attempt Caesar's Camp defended only by a few Old People but stood like Stocks or Men that had lost their Senses But when they saw Pompey's Right Wing pressed hard by Caesar begin to recoil yet still fighting in the same manner they set a running all towards the Camp crying out they had lost the Day and after having pulled down and plundered the Tents of their own Party fled every Man which way they best could The noise of this Rout made the other Legions give Ground first in good Order anâ— defending themselves the best they might but at last charged home by the Enemy who now found himself the stronger they likewise betook themselves to Flight And now Caesar to prevent their Rallying and to make an end at once not only of this Battel but of the whole War did an Action of great Prudence in causing it to be proclaimed throughout his whole Camp that they should spare the Citizen and put the Stranger to the Sword for at the same time the Vanquishers pursuing the Vanquished bid them stay there in safety And the Proclamation of those Orders having passed from hand to hand through both Armies that Saying Stay there in Safety served as a word to Pompey's Men to make themselves be known and that the easier because being all Italians they wore the same Habit and spoke the same Language Thus Caesar's Soldiers passing by their Country-men sell upon the Strangers of whom they made a mighty Slaughter they not being in any posture of defence Pompey beholding his Men fly lost his Courage retreating by little and little into his Camp and being entred his Tent sat still a great while without saying a word like to Ajax Telamon to whom as it is said something like this happened at the time of the Trojan War But few of his Men returned into the Camp because it having been told them at the time of the Defeat that they should stay there in safety and their Enemies having done them no violence they were dispersed by Companies on one side and on the other Towards the Evening Caesar going through all his Army began to entreat the Soldiers not to think of any repose till they had taken Pompey's Camp telling them that if they suffered the Enemy to rally they were only victorious for a day whereas by making themselves Masters of the Camp they made their Victory perfect and gave the last Stroke to the Work Wherefore stretching out his hands like those that supplicate he began himself to advance that way before them all Though they were extremely tired yet Caesar's Discourse and Authority gave them new strength besides their present good Foutune and the hopes they had to force the Trenches which they thought a thing very important and there is no surer Remedy against Weariness than Hope So they stormed the Pallissade with scorn of those that defended it When Pompey was told of it he at length broke his profound Silence with these words And how Into our very Camp And presently changing Habit mounted on Horse-back and accompanied by four of his Friends rid all Night full Speed and at Break of Day came to Larissa Caesar as he had foretold when he was drawing out his Army lodged in Pompey's Camp supped with Meat they had made ready for him and the whole Army was feasted at the Enemy's Charge As for the Dead on both sides as well Romans as Allies for the number of the Strangers was so great it was hard to count them besides none took the pains Caesar lost thirty Centurions and two hundred Legionary Soldiers or according to the Account of others twelve hundred And on Pompey's side theredyed ten Senators among whom was L. Domitius who had been sent into Gaul Successor to Caesar and about forty Roman Knights of the best Families of the City for the Soldiery those who set down the greatest number say five and twenty thousand But Asinius Pollio one of Caesar's Captains who commanded in this Battel writes in his Commentaries that there were not above six thousand slain Such was the success of the famous Battel of Pharsalia Among those who did best they give the first place to Caesar the second place to the same Caesar with the Tenth Legion by the Consent of all the World and the third Honour is due to the Centurion Crastinus whom Caesar as he went out of the Camp having asken what hopes he had of the Battel replyed with a loud voice We will over come Caesar and thou shall this day praise me either alive or dead And indeed all the Army bare witness that they had seen him run like a Fury through the Bottalions and do Actions almost incredible His Body being found among the Dead Caesar adorned it with Military Rewards and in that manner caused it to be be buried apart with a Magnificent Tomb near the common Sepulture of others Pompey departing immediately from Larissa came to the Sea and going first into a little Boat met by chance with a Ship and got to Mitylene where taking with him Cornelia and lading his Equipage upon four Galleys come to him from Rhodes and Tyre he would go neither to Corcira nor to Africa where he had another Army and a Powerful Fleet but chose rather the way of the East towards the King of the Parthians by whose Assistance he hoped to recover all he had lost He told his Design to no one till being ready to land in Cilicid he discovered it to his Friends but they advised him not to trust the Parthian against whom Crassus had so lately to very ill purpose made War and was still puffed up with Victory he had gained against the Romans Besides it was not safe to carry among Barbarians a beautiful Woman like Cornelia who was moreover Crassus Widdow They
upon it Crowns and other Military Presents they set fire to it and about it the People spent all the Night They forthwith erected an Altar and at present there is a Temple where Caesar is adored as a God for after that Octavius his Adopted Son who changed his Name into that of Caesar had following his steps taken upon him the Government of the State he mightily strengthened and augmented that Monarchy of which he had laid the Foundations which endures to this day and to pay him all possible Honours ranked him in the number of the Gods From this Example it is that to this day the People give the Title of Gods to their Emperors after their death if they have neither been Trants nor manifestly guilty of great Crimes they who formerly would not suffer them to take the name of King whilst living Thus fell Caesar on the Day which the Romans call the Ides of March an Augur had told him that day would be fatal to him but he laughed at it and the very same morning told him jesting The Ides of March are come to which the other without surprize made answer But not yet gone Yet the great Assurance of the Augur nor many other Presages could not hinder him from going to the Assembly where he was murdered in the fifty sixth Year of his Age Happy in all things Magnificent and with just reason comparable to Alexander for they were both beyond measure Ambitious Warlike ready in the Execution of what they had resolved and hardy in Dangers they spared not their Bodies and in War relyed not so much upon their Conduct as upon their Bravery and good Fortune The one went a long journey in a Countrey without Water to go to Hammon happily crossed over the bottom of the Pamphilian Gulf the Sea being retired as if his Genius had locked up the Waters As another time marching in the Champian it caused it to cease from raining Navigated an unknown Sea Being in the Indies first scaled the Walls of a City and leaped down alone into the midst of his Enemies receiving thirteen Wounds was always Victorious and whatever War he was engaged in he ended it in one or two Battels In Europe he subdued many Barbarous People and reduced them under his Obedience together with the Grecians a fierce People and Lovers of Liberty who never before obeyed any Person but Philip who commanded them for some time under the Honourable Title of General of the Greeks He carried his Arms almost through all Asia with an incredible Celerity And to comprize in a word the Happiness and Power of Alexander all the Countries he saw he conquered and as he was designing to conquer the rest he died As for Caesar passing the Ionian Sea in the midst of Winter he found it calm as well as the British Ocean which he passed without any knowledge of it in a time when his Pilots driven by Storm against the English Rocks lost their Ships Another time embarking alone by Night in a little Boat and rowing against the Waves he commanded the Pilot to hoist Sail and rather to consider the Fortune of Caesar than the Sea He threw himself more than once all alone into the midst of his Enemies when his Men were all struck with Panick Fear and is the only General of the Romans that ever fought thirty times in Pitch'd Battel against the Gauls and subdued in Gaul forty Nations before so dreadful to the Romans that in the Law dispensing with Priests and Old Men from going to the War the Wars against the Gauls are excepted and the Priests and Old Men obliged to bear Arms. Before Alexandria seeing himself alone inclosed upon a Bridge he laid down his Purple threw himself into the Sea and pursued by his Enemies swam a long time under Water only by Intervals lifting up his head to take breath till coming near his Ships he held up his hands was known and so saved For the Civil Wars which he either undertook out of Fear as himself says or out of Ambition he had to deal with the greatest Generals of the Age fighting at the Head of many great Armies not Barbarians but Romans encouraged by their former Actions and by their good Fortune yet he defeated them all and not one of them but he ruined in a Fight or two But we cannot say of him as of Alexander that he was never overcome for he suffered once a great loss against the Gauls under the Conduct of Triturius and Cotta his Lieutenants In Spain his Army was so near blocked up by Petreius and Afranius that he wanted but little of being besieged At Dyrrhachium and in Africa they turned their Backs and in Spain against the young Pompey the fled But for Caesar himself he was always undaunted and whatever War he engaged in came off in the end Victorious and the Roman Empire which now extends it self by Sea and Land from the Euphrates to the Atlantick Ocean was brought under his Power partly by his Valour and partly by his Clemency He setled himself much better than Sylla and governed himself with more moderation for being King in effect in spite of all the World he took not that name At last making his Preparations for other Wars he was surprized by death as well as Alexander Their Armies were also alike for the Soldiers of both were chearful in Fight and hardy but stubborn and mutinous when over-wrought with Labour The Deaths of both of them were equally mourned and lamented by their Armies who attributed to them Divine Honours They were both well made in Body and of Noble Aspects both descended from Iupiter one by Eacus and Hercules and the other by Anchises and Venus Though they were inflexible when resisted they were easle to pardon and be reconciled and likewise to do good to such as they had vanquished contenting themselves with the Victory Hitherto the Comparison is just save only that their Beginnings were not equal for Alexander began with the Quality of a King in which he had been before instructed by his Father Philip but Caesar was only a Private Man and though he were of an Illustrious Race yet his Fortunes were much incumbred They both despised the Presages that threatned them without injuring those Divines foretold their death and almost the same Signs happened to them and a like Event for in the Sacrifices made by one and the other twice they found not the Chief of the Entrails of the Victims the first time they were only threatned with great Danger Alexander's happened when besieging the Oxidrakes being mounted first upon the Wall and the too great weight breaking the Ladders behind him he beheld himself deserted by his Men and threw himself into the midst of his Enemies where having received many Wounds on his Breast and a great blow on the Neck he was ready to die when the Macedonians touched with shame broke open the Gates and relieved him The like happened to
for his Mother and his Sister and fearful lest any mischief should befal them He sent before some Horsemen to assure the People who trembled for fear and to the great astonishment of all the world came and encamped over against Mount Quirinal whilst none durst either oppose or hinder him At his arrival likewise a sudden change arose in the minds of Men the Nobility went in throngs to do him reverence and the People ran by whole companies to welcome the Soldiers who for their parts committed no more disorders than in time of the profoundest peace On the morrow leaving his Army in that place he set forward towards Rome with an indifferent Train which increased infinitely as he went by the concourse of multitudes of persons who came from all parts to complement him and to pay him all the testimonies of respect and submission possible His Mother and Sister who had taken Sanctuary among the Vestals received him with extreme joy in the Temple of that Goddess and the three Legions that were in the City without taking notice of their Officers sent their Deputies and submitted themselves to him and after them the Officers themselves made their composition and swore fidelity to them save only Cornutus who slew himself Cicero understanding how things went by the intermission of Caesar's Friends had leave to see him who made an Oration to him praising him that he demanded the Consulate concerning which he had before made a proposition to the Fathers to all which he in Raillery answered That he was the last of his Friends that came to see him The night following a rumour was raised that the Legion of Mars together with the fourth were coming towards the City to seise it by suprise which the Pretors and Senate too easily believed and though Caesar's Army was all at hand they imagined that they alone with the principal Citizens could for some time make resistance till other Forces from elsewhere might come to their relief so that very night they sent away Acilius Crassus to go and raise Men in the Country of Picenum and gave order to Apuleius one of the Tribunes to go through the City and declare this news to the People and at the same instant assembled themselves in the Palace where Cicero received them at the Gate but when the report proved false fled away in his Litter out of the City Caesar laughed at their weakness and caused his Army to advance into the Campus Martius yet offered no affront to the Pretors not so much as to Crassus who was going to raise Men against him though brought to him disguised in the Habit of a Slave but freely pardoned all that he might beget in the Citizens an opinion of his Clemency In the mean time he caused to be brought to him all the publick Treasure that was in the Ianiculum or elsewhere of which according to Decree of the Senate passed before by the advice of Cicero he distributed to each Soldier two thousand five hundred Drams promising to be accountable for the rest and that done he went out of the City expecting till the day for election of Consuls In conclusion he was nominated to that Dignity and with him according to his desire Quintus Pedius who had given him his part of the Inheritance left by Caesar. He entred Rome as Consul and offered the Sacrifices accustomary upon such occasions during which there appeared over the City twelve Vultures in like manner as it is said there appeared to Romulus when he founded it After having performed these Sacrifices he declared himself Son of Caesar in the Assembly of the Tribes that he might confirm his Adoption by the People for the People are divided into Tribes in Rome in the same manner as the Phratrians among the Greeks Now this formality observed in the Adoptions of those who have no Father gives them the same advantages and the same right that natural Children have in respect to the Kindred and Freed Men of their Fathers wherefore because Caesar besides the great Wealth he left had many Freed Men very rich I am of the mind that the Son not content with his first Adoption thought the second necessary He revoked likewise the Decree by which Dolobella was declared Enemy and permitted all persons whatsoever to become parties against those who were guilty of his Father's Murder There presently appeared great numbers of Caesar's Friends who formed their accusations not only against those who had an immediate hand in the Action but likewise against many who were privy to the plot but were not in Rome when it was executed nor were otherwise guilty than in not discovering it Having all been publickly summoned to appear on the same day they were condemned by default Caesar sitting in Judgment and not one of the Judges arguing for their Discharge except one of the most considerable to whom nothing was said at present but not long after he was proscribed with many others About the same time one of the Pretors of the City named Quintus Gallius Brother of Marcus Gallius who was with Anthony having obtained from Caesar the Government of Africa and after standing convict of an Attempt against the life of his Benefactor was deposed from his Charge by his Brethren in Office the People plundered his House and the Senate condemned him to death However Caesar commanded him to go and find out his Brother and he embarquing himself to that purpose was never seen more After these Exploits Caesar's whole thoughts were employed in reconciling himself with Anthony because he certainly knew that Brutus and Cassius had twenty Legions so that standing in need of him he went out of the City and by small Journies marched towards the Ionian Sea that he might find out how the Senate stood affected For in the absence of Caesar Pedius advised the Fathers to an Accommodation with Anthony and Lepidus before the Animosities that were between the Parties became irreconcileable They saw well such an Accommodation was neither for theirs nor their Countries Advantage and that by it Caesar only aim'd at strengthening himself against Cassius and Brutus yet they beheld themselves in a necessity to consent wherefore they repealed the Decrees by which Anthony and Lepidus with their Armies had been declared Enemies and sent them assurances of their good will Caesar wrote Letters of Congratulation to the Senate and sent to Anthony that if he stood in need of his Arms against Decimus he was ready to serve him and Anthony returned Answer thaâ— he made War against Decimus as a Traytor to Caesar and against Plancus as an Enemy to Anthony and therefore if he pleased he would joyn Forces with him After the mutual sending and reception of the Letters as Anthony pursued Decimus Asinius Pollio came and joyned with him with two Legions and by his intercession Plancus reconciled with Anthony brought him three more so that he became mighty powerful As for Decimus he still had ten
his Army to a stand he published a Proclamation forbidding the Soldiers to plunder or commit any violence upon pain of death After which he called by name about fifty of the Inhabitants of Rhodes whom he put to death and five and twenty others which absented themselves he condemned to Banishment In conclusion he spoiled all the Temples and all the Publick Places of all the Riches and of all the Gold and Silver which he could find and moreover commanded every particular Person to bring in all he had at a prefixed day with threats to put to death those that concealed any thing and promise to reward the Informer with the tenth Penny if he were Free and with Liberty if he were a Slave At first many ventured upon Concealments imagining the threats would not be executed with severity but when they saw the Reward given to the Informers they grew fearful and requested that the time might be prolonged which being granted some dug up their Money from under Ground others drew it up out of Wells others out of Sepulchres so that they brought much greater quantities than before To such calamity was the City of Rhodes reduced in which Lucius Varus was left Governor Cassius extraordinarily well satisfied to have taken it in so short a time and to get withal so much Money gave Command to all the other Provinces to pay him in ten Years Tribute which was readily performed Mean time a report was brought that Cleopatra with a mighty Fleet and great Warlike Preparations were at Sea to go joyn Caesar and Anthony for having formerly underhand favoured their Party for old Caesar's sake she now openly declared her self for the fear she stood in of Cassius Wherefore he caused Mâ—rcus to embark with the best Legion he had and some Archers and in sixty Ships sent him to Peloponnesus giving him Order to post himself about Tenarus from whence himself had taken off all the Cattel and other Provisions in the Peninsula We will now relate the Exploits of Brutus in Lycia But here it will likewise be necessary to look a little back the better to revive the remembrance of things After that he had received from Apuleius those Forces he had with sixteen thousand Talents and gathered in the Tributes of Asia he came to Baeotia Where the Senate having given him order to employ this Money for his present Necessities with the Command of the Armies in Macedon and Illyria Ventidius his Predecessor in the Government of this last Province delivered up to him three Legions whereof the Illyrian Army was composed He took at the same time one from Caius Anthony's Brother whom he found in his Government and after raised four Legions more of new Troops All which together made eight Legions among which were many of Caesar's Veterans and great numbers of Macedonians whom he caused to be exercised in the Roman Discipline And all this without comprizing his Horse which were in no small numbers and his Light-armed Foot and Archers Whilst he was endeavouring to raise Men and gather up Money there appeared an Adventure to him from part of Thrace A King of that Country being slain by his Enemies Polemocratia his Widdow who was fearful for her Son came to Brutus recommending her Infant to him and delivering into his hands the Treasures of her dead Husband He sent the Infant to the Cyzicenians to take care of him till he had leisure to go and restore him to his Kingdom But finding in those Treasures a prodigious quantity of Gold and Silver he caused it to be coyned into Mony When at the Conference with Cassius they had agreed together that before all other things they would make War upon the Lycians and the Rhodians he undertook to fall upon the Lycians by the Siege of the City of Xanthus The Inhabitants pulled down their Suburbs lest Brutus should lodge in them or out of them furnish themselves with Materials for the Seige And fortifying their City defended themselves by the favour of a Ditch fifty Foot deep and proportionably broad in so much that those on either side could do each other no hurt unless with Slings or Arrows for they stood as if parted by a deep River Brutus resolving to fill this Ditch caused Mantelets to be made to secure his Men's Approach and divided the Work by night and day amongst the whole Army beginning to labour in good earnest causing Materials to be with all speed brought from far and omitting no care or diligence necessary on such an occasion In short though at first it seemed likely that either the Enemies would hinder the Work or at least that it would take up some Months time yet it was finished in few days and Brutus found himself at the Foot of the Wall where he caused his Machines to be raised and the Gates stormed by his Foot continually releived by fresh Companies sent one after another Yet for all this did the Besieged though almost all tired out and the most wounded defend themselves as long as their Walls stood There was already some Breaches made and their Towers were all shattered when Brutus well foreseeing what would happen gave over the Storm at the Gates and caused his Men to retreat from the Assault Whereupon the Inhabitants imagining this Retreat proceeded from the Negligence or Cowardise of the Besiegers made a Sally by night upon their Enemies with Torches in their hands The Romans who expected them running in upon them they took their flight towards the Gates which those that had the Guard of shut for fear lest their Enemies should enter with them so that there happened a great Slaughter Some time after those that remained in the City sallyed out at Noon day and having beaten off the Guards fired all the Machines The Gates being left open because of the misfortune that happened before there entred with the Inhabitants about two thousand Romans and as the rest were thronging in after them the Portcullis all on a suddain fell upon them whether by order of the Xanthians or that the Ropes that held them broke Thus of the Romans that had engaged themselves too far some were lost and the rest found themselves inclosed not being able to lift up the Portcullis for want of Cordage so that knocked down from above by the Xanthians in those narrow Streets they with much difficulty gained the Publick Place which was not far off where still extremely tormented with the Arrows shot at them and having neither Bows nor Arrows they retreated into the Temple of Sarpedon for fear of being at last over-pressed by the multitude Mean while the Romans troubled and fearful for those shut within the City attempted all ways possible to relieve them And Brutus went from Quarter to Quarter to encourage his Soldiers but they could not break open the Gates almost covered over with Bars of Iron and their Ladders and Towers of Wood were burnt Notwithstanding some applyed themselves to make new Ladders others
our Enemies we are equal in number of Legions though we have left Men in many places where we judged it necessary we have far the greater number of Horse Ships and Auxiliary Forces sent us from Kings and Nations extending as far as the Medes and Parthians Our Enemies can only assault us before whereas we can likewise fall upon them behind for we have Pompey in Sicily and Murcus in the Ionian Sea besides Aenobarbus has his Fleet well flesh'd with Seamen with two Legions and good store of Archers who do sorely annoy them whereas behind us all is peaceable both on Sea and Shore As for Money which some call Nerves of War they have none at all not being able to pay what they promised their Army that brought in by Proscriptions not answering their expectations for no honest Man would buy those Lands the purchase of which would render him odious to all the world and they can have none elsewhere Italy being drained dry by Seditions Exactions and Proscriptions whereas we have taken such effectual care that we have it in such abundance that we are able to give you another Donative and the Provinces we have left behind us will sufficiently supply us As for Provision which occasions all the difficulty for the subsistance of great Armies they can be supplyed only from Macedon a Mountainous Country or Thessaly a Province of small extent and that by Land with incredible labour and if they pretend to have it brought from Africa Lucania or Povilia Pompey Murcus or Aenobarbus will cut off their passage For our parts we have already plenty and more will dayly be brought by Sea from all the Islands and all the Provinces between Thrace and the Euphrates easily without the opposition of any person we having no Enemy behind us These are Fellow Soldiers the works of humane fore-sight we expect the rest from you and the Gods For our parts besides what you have already received we will pay you what we have promised and as we have already rewarded your fidelity with a Donative so by God's assistance after having gained the Victory we will recompence you with something worthy your services And in the mean time the more to encourage you and because I see the whole Assembly disposed to do well as soon as I descend from this Tribunal we will give every Soldier fifteen hundred Italian Drams to every Centurion five times as much and to every Tribune proportionable After having thus spake and gained the hearts of the Army by Actions by Words and by Gifts he dismissed the Assembly which yet would not break up till after many Acclamations to Brutus and Cassius with promises of good service immediately they distâ—ibuted in ready Money what they had promised gratifying with somewhat more such as had signalized themselves upon any other occasions and as they received their Money they sent them forward on their march towards Dorisca whither in few days the General followed them At the same time two living Eagles came and pearched upon the Siver Eagles of the Standard-bearers and pecking at them as some say and covering them with their Wings there stayed The Generals caused Food to be given them till the day before the Battel when they fled away After two days March on the Banks of the Black Gulf the Army came to Aena and from thence to Dorisca and other Maritime Cities as far as Mount Serria which advances it self into the Sea from thence the Army turned into the Land and Tullius Cimber was commanded with the Fleet one Legion and some Archers to proceed on the way along the Coast. Now this Coast was formerly uninhabited though the Land were excellent good because the Thracians made no advantage of the conveniency of the Sea nor so much as came near the Shore for fear of Ships that passed by Afterward the Chalcidians and other Greeks using the Sea inhabited tilled it and settled a Trade besides that many Thracians were well satisfied to change the Mountains for such a Residence till such time as Philip the Son of Amyntas chasing away the Chalcidians and others there remained no other marks of its ever being inhabited save the pavements of some Temples Tullius then coasting along this desert Shore according to his Orders when he came near the Straits of Salapeas he began to set out the Lines of a Camp and to chuse out certain Caves in the Shore might serve to harbor his Ships that Norbanus thinking it needless to guard both Passes might quit them And indeed part of what he had projected happened for as soon as Norbanus saw the Ships fearful left he alone should not be able to defend the passage of Salapeas he sent presently to Ceditius to quit that of Torpides and come to his assistance which he did and thus Brutus and Cassius finding the strait of Torpides deserted passed it But the deceit being discovered Norbanus and Ceditius so well defended that of Salapeas that Brutus's People not being able to force it were disheartened growing fearful lest at last they should be foâ—ced to go that great way about which at first they had declined and withal return back all the ground they had gone besides that Summer was far spent Whilst they were in this trouble Rascupolis to them that he would find out a way be which in three days they should cros all the Mountains of Salapeas which never any before had passed by reason of the cragginess of the Rocks want of Water and the thickness of the Woods but if they would resolve to carry Water with them and cut a way through the Wood large enough for them to pass they should march under covert without being seen by any Man nay not so much as by the very Birds and on the fourth day should arrive at the River Arpessa which falls into the Heber from whence in one day they might reach Philippi and so inclose their Enemies that it would be impossible for them to escape Though no advice could be proposed in the execution whereof there could be more difficulty yet this was followed the Soldiers being chiefly encouraged to it by the hopes they had in so short a time to behold so great a number of Enemies in their power Lucius Bibulus having then together with Rascupolis taken upon him the charge of preparing the way they caused one half of the Army to move who though it were with much labour and difficulty marched on briskly and cheerfully especially after those who were sent before to discover brought word that from the tops of the Hill they might see the River but the fourth day the Soldiers spent with travel and tormented with thirst because the water brought with them failed began to make reflection upon what had been told them that it was but three days march ere they should find water and to suspect some treason not but they believed those who assured them they had seen the River but they imagined they were led
necessary which were brought to them by Sea whereas the Enemy neither had Provisions nor any place whence to fetch them for the Merchants could not bring any from Egypt at present afflicted with Famine Pompey Murcus and Aenobarbus stopped their coming from Africa Italy and Spain and Macedon and Thessaly who only fed the Army were not long able to maintain it Cassius and Brutus knew all this very well and were therefore in no haste to give Battel but Anthony who was apprehensive of Famine resolved to force them to it He imagined that if secretly he could contrive the making of a way cross the Marish he might cut off the Enemy's Passage for their Provisions brought them from Thassa Having therefore several times caused the Army with all their Ensigns to draw out into Battel as if all his Force had been there wrought night and day with a Party he had drawn out of the Gross to make a little way through the Marish cutting of Bushes and raising a Causway supported with Walls on both sides lest it should tumble down and driving in Piles on those places he could not fill up on which he placed Bridges of Wood with such a profound silence that the Enemy perceived nothing for the Bushes they left on both sides the Causway hindred their Prospect The Work being finished in ten days he sent by night a great number of Cohorts to the other side who seizing on some advantageous Posts raised Forts which they soon brought into a condition of defence Cassius was astonished at this Undertaking and at the secrecy of its Execution And to put the change upon Anthony by hindring his Communication with his Forts He undertook likewise a like Work quite cross the Marish from his Camp to the Sea They therefore began to raise Terrasses and to place Bridges of Wood on Piles in the deepest places as had been done by Anthony and already the Causway which he had made was broken so that those which were passed over had no way of Return nor could he though he knew it releive them This put him in such a rage that though it was already Noon he immediately made his Army which was on the other side march to the Intrenchment which first Cassius had made between his Camp and the Marish making them bring with them Spades Pick axes and Ladders resolving after he had carried it to storm Cassius his Camp Mean while as Caesar's Men made their Bravadoes in that Space which was between the two Camps Brutus's Men thinking it a shame for them if armed as they were they suffered their Enemies unpunished to affront them to their very Beards without any other Orders than that of a Tribune sallyed out and charging them in Flank killed as many as they could reach and having once begun the Fight turned upon the Gross of Caesar's Army which was marching towards them put them to flight and pursued them to the very Camp and at last became Masters of the Camp it self which was in common between Caesar and Anthony Caesar was not there because of a Dream by which he was advertized to absent himself that day as himself has writ in his Commentaries But Anthony seeing the Fight grow hot was very glad to see the Enemy engaged for he was mighty fearful of wanting Provisions yet he would not return into the Plain for fear of disordering his Ranks in countermarching his Army but continued his March towards the Hill which in spite of the Darts lanced at him from above by the Enemy he mounted and came to handy strokes with Cassius's Army which was there drawn up and stood amazed at an Attempt so little judicious Having presently broken them and put them into disorder he assaulted the Trench between the Camp and the Marsh and with an incredible briskness pulled out the Pallissadoes filled up the Ditch beat down the Rampart cut in pieces the greatest part of those that defended the Gate passed over the Bellies of the rest and threw himself into the place Many of his People entred by the Breaches of the Rampart some clambered over heaps of dead Bodies And all this was done in such a moment of time that those who were at work in the Marish came not to the Assistance of their Companions till their Trench was gained and then Anthony and those that entred with him charging them with fury drove them back into the Marish and returned to assault Cassius his Camp whilst the rest of the Army were still fighting with Cassius's People without the Trench The Camp because it was strong of it self was very slenderly guarded and therefore soon forced whereupon those who defended themselves without and were before hard put to it seeing now their Camp in the power of the Enemies betook themselves to a shameful flight Thus the Advantage became equal on both sides Brutus beat the Enemy on the left Wing and took their Camp and Anthony on the other side by a wonderful boldness took Cassius's Camp after having slain great numbers of his Men. The dust flew so thick in the Field of the Battel that one Party knew not what had happened to the other And when the Soldiers came to know the place where they were they called to them their Fellows who looked rather like Day-labourers than Soldiers being so besmeared with dust they could scarce be known and certainly had one Party of them met another loaden with Booty they had again fought for their Spoil It is thought that on Cassius's side there might be slain about eight thousand besides Lacquies and on Caesar's side twice as many more Cassius having lost his Camp and all hopes of regaining it retreated to a Hill hard by Philippi to see what passed but because the dust was so thick that he could see nothing but that his Camp was taken he commanded Pindarus his Esquire to kill him As Pindarus was excusing himself from doing it there came a Man from Brutus to tell him that Brutus on his side had the better and was Master of the Enemy's Camp To which he made only this short Answer Tell him I wish him an entire Victory And turning at the same time towards Pindarus Why delay you said he dispatch and free me from this Infamy Pindarus thereupon ran him with his Sword into the throat and so died Cassius according to the opinion of some Others say that some Horse-men coming to bring him the News of Brutus's Victory he imagined they were Enemies and sent to Titinius to know the certainty and that those Horse-men having received Titinius as Cassius his Friend with Caresses and Shouts of joy he believed Titinius was fallen into the hands of the Enemy and saying We have stayed to see them take away our Friend retired with Pindarus into his Tent and was no more seen wherefore some think he slew his Master without having any Command to do it However it were Cassius died on his Birth-day after this Battel which passed as we
have described Titinius likewise slew himself for grief that he was not come sooner to give him an Answer and Brutus weeping over Cassius's Body called him the last of the Romans whose Vertue would never find its Equal lamented his haste and precipitation and yet esteemed him happy in being delivered from those cares and troubles in which he was engaged and of which he knew not the Success At length having delivered the Body to his Friends to be privately disposed lest the sight of it might sadden the Army without taking any food or sleeping he spent the night in rallying Cassius's Troops On the Morrow the Enemies appeared in Battel that they might make it be thought they had no disadvantage but knowing their thoughts Let us arm too said he and by a like Fiction conceal our loss But the Enemy retreating at the same time that he drew up his Army in Battel he jestingly said to his Friend These people who came out to fight us thinking us wearied durst not make the Experiment The same day of this Battel of Philippi there happened on the Ionian Sea a memorable Defeat Domitius Calvinus was bringing over to Caesar upon Ships of Burthen two Legions one of which was for its valour honoured with the Title of Martial with a Pretorian Cohort or Regiment of two thousand Men four Troops of Horse and other choice Foot which were convoyed by some Gallies Murcus and Aenobarbus engaging them with one hundred and thirty long Ships part of the Ships of Burthen escaped at first with a fresh Gale but the Wind ceasing all on a suddain the rest were surprized with a Calm and were not able to stir as if God had delivered them up to their Enemies who began to assault them one after another and to send them to the bottom for the Gallies which were but few in number could not releive them being kept off by the long Ships Not but that in the danger wherein they were they did all that was possible for Men to do they at first lashed their Ships fast together with Booms and Cables that the Enemy might not separate them But when this succeeded well for a while Murcus at length cast into them great numbers of flaming Darts which forced them to cast off as fast as they had got together and strive to get clear of one another lest they should all burn together So that they again saw themselves exposed to the shock of Murcus Prows or else were soon encompassed each one by a great number The Soldiers were in despair especially those of the Martial Legion that brave as they were they must die unrevenged Some slew themselves for fear of being burnt others leaped into the Enemies Ships and were cut in pieces fighting Some Ships half burnt rowed a long time upon the Water with the Men wherewith they were laden some whereof perished by the Fire others by Hunger and Thirst. Others grasping Masts or Planks were cast either upon Rocks or desert Shores Some were saved beyond all hopes and some there were remained five days upon the Sea licking the Pitch or eating Sails and Cordage till at last the Waves cast them on Shore Many overpressed with so many misfortunes yielded themselves with their Vessels among which were seventeen Gallies whose Sea-men and Soldiers turned to Murcus's Party and swore Fidelity to him Calvinus their Captain whom all Men thought lost returned the fifth day to Brundusium with his Ship And this that may be called Ship-wrack or Sea-fight happened on the Ionian Sea the same day that the Battel of Philippi was fought to the wonder of all the World that knew it As for Brutus having drawn together his Army he spoke to them in this manner The Oration of Brutus IN what passed yesterday Fellow-Soldiers we gained the advantage of our Enemies in all points for you begun the Fight chearfully though you had no Command to do it cut in pieces the fourth Legion drawn up of purpose in that Station because of its Valour and pursued them into their Camp which you took and plundered So that this Victory very much exceeds the Loss we suffered on the Left Wing You might have made it perfect had you not thought it better to rifle the Enemies Carriages than utterly to ruin them for most of you let the Men escape to fall upon the Baggage In which yet we had the better for of two Camps we had they took but one whereas we became Masters of all they had so that in that point their loss was twice as great as ours Hitherto then we have had all the advantage of the Fight And now to know the whole of our Strength you need only ask the Prisoners they will tell you how scarce Victuals are in their Army how dear they cost with what difficulty they are brought to them and that they can scarce find any more to bring For Pompey Murcus and Aenobarbus who keep the Sea with two hundred and sixty Ships prevent the bringing any from Sicily Sardinia Africa and Spain They have already drained Macedon and now only Thessaly affords them a Subsistance and pray judge you if that can last any long time Wherefore when you behold them urging you to fight know that ready to perish with hunger they seek an honourable death Therefore our endeavours ought to be to fight them first with Famine and when we see it convenient for our purpose we may fall on and shall then find them so weak and feeble they will not be able to defend themselves but let not us permit our Courage to transport us before it be time If any one say this is retreating instead of advancing let him look upon the Sea behind us which brings us abundance of all Conveniences offers us an opportunity of overcoming without danger provided you can but have patience and not grow hot when they come to make a Bravado and defie you to the Battel For it is not Generosity in them as yesterday's Fight made appear but that they may deliver themselves of another fear But though I now desire you to moderate your Courage yet pray remember to act with the same warmth and vigour when I shall demand the effects of it And I promise you when it shall please God to give us a perfect Victory to pay you punctually the Rewards we have promised in the mean time for those brave things you did yesterday I will this day give every Soldier a thousand Drams and the Officers proportionably These words were followed by the distribution of the Donative to each Legion to which some say he added the Promise of giving them the Plunder of Lacedemon and Thessalonica On the other side Caesar and Anthony foreseeing well that Brutus had no design to fight drew together their Army to whom Anthony spoke in this manner The Oration of Anthony THough when our Enemies talk of yesterday's Action they may say that in part they gained the Victory because they put some of
ours to flight and took our Camp yet in reality they confess you to be absolutely victorious for I dare assure you that neither to morrow nor in a long time after it they will not dare to engage you again unless they are forced to it which is an indubitable proof of your yesterday's victory and their present fear As Wrestlers in the Gymnick Games when they decline the strife acknowledge themselves the weaker They have indeed assembled all this mighty Army only to come and encamp in the passages into Thrace and there continue for the same fear that made them fortifie themselves at our first coming hinders them from drawing out after the disgrace they yesterday received which was such as obliged the most ancient and most experienced of their Generals to kill himself a most ample Testimony of their disorder These are the reasons why they come not down when we defie them but trust more in their Rocks than their Arms. Now brave Romans make your gallantry appear and force them to fight as yesterday you forced them and certainly it would be dishonourable for you not to dare to assault Cowards trembling with fear or to suffer it to be said that men like you were of less strength than Walls For we are not come hither to remain all our lifetime in the Field where we cannot subsist for all provisions will soon fail us and if that were not yet every wise Man will put an end to War with the soonest and enjoy the sweets of peace the longest he can possibly we will therefore give orders to lay hold on time and occasion We I say whose courage and conduct you repent not to have yesterday followed and you for your parts let your Generals â—ee your bravery now that they demand the effects of it and trouble not your selves for the baggage you yesterday lost for our riches consist not in that but in the victory which if we gain will not only restore what our Enemies took from us but make all they have ours if therefore you are in hast to recover them make haste to fight Not but that yesterday we recovered a great deal it may be more than we lost for they had in their Camp all the riches of which they had robbed Asia and you when you came from home left behind you whatever was precious and brought nothing but what was necessary So that if there were anything valuable in our Camp it was your Generals Equipage a loss they are so far from considering they are ready to venture all that they have left to make you perfectly victorious nor shall that hinder us from giving as a reward of your Victory five thousand Drams to every Soldier five and twenty thousand to every Centurion and to every Tribune fifty thousand On the morrow he drew out his Army but the Enemies not coming down he was troubled yet he continued every day to do the same Brutus on his side always kept one part of his Army at their Arms in case he should be forced to fight and planted the other upon the way by which the Victuallers brought their Provisions to favour their passage there was a little Hill near Cassiâ—s his Camp of which the Enemies could not possess themselves but with difficulty because from the Camp they might be galled with Darts and Arrows yet Cassius had placed a Guard there for fear lest some might be so bold as to come and lodge there Brutus having flighted it Caesar's People one night seised upon it bringing with them great quantities of Hides and Hurdles to defend them from the Darts This Hill being taken ten other Legions went and encamped five Furlongs off near the Sea and two Legions advancing four Furlongs further posted themselves so that they might reach to the very shore Their design was to make an attempt either upon the Shore or cross the Marish or by some other invention to cut off the passage of Provisions to Brutus but he took care to prevent them by building Forts directly opposite to the Enemies Camp which gave them no small vexation for they were manifestly afflicted with Famine which dayly more and more growing upon them as much increased their fears Thessaly was not able to supply them with Provisions enough and by Sea they could not hope to have any Brutus being Master besides the news of the Sea Fight on the Ionian Sea was come to both Armies which gave them fresh occasions of fear and Winter approaching it would be an unsufferable annoyance if they should be forced to endure it encamped in the Marishes To make the best provision in these straits they could they sent a Legion into Achaia to get in what provision they could and send it away speedily to the Army but that could not all warrant them from the dangers wherewith they were threatned Wherefore seeing all their endeavours could not oblige the Enemy to a Fight and that in vain they every day drew out into the Plain they advanced up to the very Trenches with shouts and revilings to incense Brutus's Men who they resolved not to besiege but to force to fight at what rate soever But Brutus continued firm in his first resolution the rather because he knew they were ready to perish with hunger and because his Fleet had got the better in the Sea Fight so that perceiving the despair the Enemies want had brought them to he chose rather to see himself besieged or endure any thing than fight with hunger-starved and desperate Men who expected no other relief than from their Arms. But to this the Soldiers could not consent nor endure to be thus shut up like Women without doing any thing The Officers themselves complained not that they disapproved Brutus's design but that ascertaining themselves upon the disposition they beheld in the Soldiers they believed they should advance the Victory The mildness and courteous temper of Brutus to all Men occasioned much of this for Cassius was severe and imperious the Officers of his Army executed his Orders without asking a reason of them and though they did not approve them durst not contradict them But Brutus was willing to do all things with the approbation and consent of those commanded in the Army At last the Soldiers began to gather in Companies and to ask one another Why has our General so ill an opinion of us what fault have we committed have we not beaten and put to flight our Enemies cut in pieces their best Companies and forced their Camp Yet he still dissembled it and would not speak to them for fear of doing any thing might reflect on his Honour by suffering himself to be led by a blind multitude especially the Strangers who as unconstant as Slaves would every day be changing Masters and on the first occasion would desert him But when he saw himself importuned by the Tribunes and the Centurions who advised him to take that opportunity whilst the Soldiers burning with a desire to
fight would possibly do something great besides if any misfortune happened they could retreat within their Trenches and defend themselves he grew angry that his Officers should give him such counsel and suffer themselves to be so easily carried away by the impatience of his Soldiers who chose rather to hazard the loss of all than to overcome without danger However he consented though to theirs and his own ruine saying only this short sentence I see I am reduced to make War as Pompey did and rather to be commanded than to command For my part I believe he said no more for fear of discovering what he most of all feared lest the Army which had formerly served under Caesar should upon discontent go over to the Enemy For this was what both Cassius and he had from the beginning some suspicion of and therefore took care not to give the Soldiers any cause of dissatisfaction Thus Brutus drew his Men out of the Camp much against his will and drew them up in order but still forbad them going too far from the Hill that their retreat might be more easie and that they might from above charge the Enemy more advantageously with their missile Arms. Both Parties were in a brave and fighting condition and therefore came resolutely forth to the Battel animated by reasonable considerations on the one side the fear of Famine and on the other by a just Shame for having forced their General to fight before he had a mind to it Wherefore they burn'd with desire to make him see in their deeds the same Bravery and Courage they had boasted in words for fear lest he should reproach them of having been carried away rather by rashness than prudence Brutus going on Horseback from Quarter to Quarter with a severe look put them in mind of it and the better to imprint it in their thoughts as time gave leave spoke these words You would needs fight and have forced me to conquer in another manner than I desired But have a care you do not deceive both your own hopes and mine you have the advantage of the Hill which fights for youâ— all behind you is on your side whereas the Enemy are to defend themselves both against you and Famine To which discourse which he made as he went up and down the Army they answered him with shouts of joy and promises of well doing Caesar and Anthony in the mean time went each on their side through the Ranks encouraging their Soldiers with hand and voice without flattering them or dissembling the condition wherein they were being certain to die by Famine if they got not the Victory which was a powerful motive to spur them on We have found our Enemy said they and have got him now Fellow Soldiers out of his Trenches from whence we have taken so much pains to draw him but after having provoked him by so many defiances have a care of your Honour and let your Actions make good the threats you have â—ttered Chuse now either to fight against hunger an invincible Enemy which gives no Quarter or against Men who cannot stand before you if you employ but your Arms your Courage nay your very Despair as you ought to do For our Affairs are in such a condition they admit of no delay this day must put an end to the War either by an entire Victory or a glorious death If you come off victorious you will in one sole day and one only Fight get Provision Treasure Fleets Arms and besides all the Donative we have promised you for the Victory which will surely be ours if in giving the onset we remember the necessity to which we are reduced and after having put them in disorder seise the Gates of their Camp and drive them either among the Precipices or into the Plain so that they can no more rally or shut themselves up in those Trenches where by a cowardise unheard yet in any Enemy they place their hopes not in fighting but in not fighting at all By these words Caesar and Anthony so encouraged their Soldiers that they would have blushed not to have answered their Generals expectation besides there being no other way to remedy their want of Provisions which was augmented by what had happened on the Ionian Sea they chose rather to undergo the worst that could befal them in Fight than to perish by a misery inevitable Upon these Motives the two Armies were inflamed with an incredible ardour The Soldiers no more remembred they were Fellow Citizens but threatened each other as if they had been two Nations that had been at a perpetual enmity Such power now had anger got over them above either reason or nature And in short both Parties divined that this Battel would decide the destiny of the Roman Empire as indeed it did After having employed one part of the day in preparing themselves about nine of the Clock two Eagles began to fight between the two Armies who observed them with a profound silence till such time as that on Brutus's side turning tail gave occasion to the contrary Party with great shouts to run on upon their Enemies The Charge was fierce and cruel for they threw away as useless their Piles and all other Weapons ordinarily used in Fight to come to the Swords point they gave neither blow nor thrust in vain and each side endeavoured to break through and disorder the opposite Ranks the one Party fighting for safety more than for Victory and the other for Victory only remembring that by their importunity they had forced their General to engage Nothing was to be seen but slaughter nor heard but groans as soon as any one fell those of his Party drew him off and another fresh Man stepped in out of the next Rank to supply his place Mean while the Generals acted wonders they run from place to place and shewed themselves every where encouraging those whom they saw had the advantage and exhorting others whom they perceived overpressed yet to hold out a little till they could send fresh Men to disengage them Thus the Front of the Battel was always full yet at last Caesar's People either pressed forward by their fear of Famine or spurred on by his good fortune for Brutus's Men were no way faulty made the first Line of the Enemies a little recoil who gave ground without any trouble or disorder as if it had been a great Machine removed at once but at last the first Rank being broken those who fought in it retreated more nimbly into the second and those of the second into the third that it begat some confusion for they were both pressed upon by the Enemies and those of their own Party so that they betook themselves to a disorderly flight And now Caesar's Men according to the command they had received seised upon the Gate though with a great deal of danger for they were sorely galled by Darts from the Rampart and by those who yet stood their ground without till
transported to these his Murderers so firmly that they afterwards were more stedfast in observing their faith to them against his Son than to Anthony himself who had commanded them under Caesar for none of them deserted Brutus or Cassius even in their utmost misfortune whereas all of them revolted from Anthony at Brundusium in the very beginning of the War he had with Octavius They made their pretence of taking Arms both now and in Pompey's time not private advantage but the name of the Common-wealth specious indeed but usually of little effect and when they thought themselves no longer serviceable to their Country they equally despised their lives As for their particular conduct Cassius like the Gladiators which mind only their Enemies had fixed his thoughts upon War and thought of nothing else But Brutus who in all times and occasions was a Philosopher was pleased to look into and understand many things yet when all is said that possibly can be to assure them great Men the assault they made upon Caeser's person was the only cause none of their designs prospered and certainly it was no ordinary crime nor of little consequence for they had unhappily murdered their Friend their Benefactor one who by right of War might have disposed of their lives and yet had saved them their General in the Senate in a sacred place cloath'd in his holy Robes the most powerful of all the Romans and which is most of all the Man of all the world most serviceable to the Empire and his Country And Heaven accordingly sent tokens of its anger and presages of their ruine for when Cassius offered Sacrifices to purge his Army one of the Lictors put a Crown reversed upon his Head a Golden Image of Victory which he then offered fell down of it self many Flocks of Birds of Prey came and set about his Camp without making any noise and almost dayly they saw Swarms of Bees They saw likewise that Brutus celebrating at Samos in the midst of their Jollity and Feasting wherein he was not used to be out of temper with a sudden passion uttered these Verses But 't was Latona's Son and angry Fate Advanc'd my death And that when he was designing to pass out of Asia into Europe with his Army as he watched by night and his Candle almost spent there appeared to him a Ghost with a strange kind of countenance at which not moved he asked what it was God or Man to which the Ghost answered Brutus I am thy evil Genius thou shalt see me again at Philippi And in truth 't is said it appeared to him the day before the last Battel and that when he drew his Army out of the Camp an Ethiopian met him whom presently the enraged Soldiers cut in pieces This was likewise a token of their misfortune that Cassius after a Fight wherein the loss had been almost equal fell so easily into despair and that Brutus forced to violate the prudent resolution he had taken to temporize yet engaged with starved People whilst he had abundance of Provisions and the conveniency of the Sea Though these two Men had often been in many perillous occasions yet they were never wounded but they murdered themselves as they had murdered Caesar and so received punishment for the crime they had committed Anthony finding Brutus's Body covered it with a Purple â—obe and after having burned it sent the Ashes to Servilia his Mother his Army which yet consisted of fourteen thousand Men as soon as they knew of his death sent Deputies to Caesar and Anthony who having pardoned them divided them betwixt them Soon after those that were in the Forts yielded likewise but on condition that the Plunder both of the Forts and the Camp should be the Prize of Caesar's and Anthony's Soldiers As for the persons of Note and Quality who had sided with Brutus some fell in the Fight others like their Generals slew themselves and others forced their deaths from their Enemies hand of which number were L. Cassius Nephew to the General and the Son of the famous Cato of the same name who several times threw himself into the midst of his Enemies and at last took off his Head-piece either that he might be the easier known or the easier killed or both Labeo known for his wisdom and for being Father to that Labeo to this day holding a prime degree among the famous Doctors of Law caused a hole to be dug in his Tent to the proportion of his Body and after having given his Orders to his Servants and writ to his Wife and Children Letters which he gave to his Slaves to carry took by the Right Hand one of the faithfulest of them and having made him walk round about him according to the Roman custom when they enfranchise a Slave commanded him to take a Sword and presented him his Throat and so made his Tent his Grave The Thracian Rascus brought back many People from the Mountains and for all the service he had done Anthony and Caesar asked only the pardon of his Brother Rascupolis and obtained it which was enough to signifie that at the beginning of the War these Thracians had no private difference but seeing two great Armies coming into their Country to make War not knowing which would have the better one took one part and the other the other that happen what would he on the conquering side might make his Brother's composition As for Portia Brutus's Wife and young Cato's Sister when she heard they were both in this manner lost in spite of all her Servants care to prevent her death she swallowed burning Coals and died Many persons of Quality being escaped to Thassa some of them embarqued to retire elsewhere others with the remainder of the Army chose Messala Corvinus and Lucius Bibulus for their Chiefs to whom they promised to do what they pleased and the rest treating with Anthony's Men as soon as they came to Thassa delivered into their Hands all the Money Provisions and store of other warlike Preparations Thus by a hazardous boldness Caesar and Anthony in two Fights won the greatest Victory that ever till now was gained for never did two such Roman Armies fight together Nor were their Forces raised in haste out of the Citizens but all chosen Men not Apprentices but old Soldiers experienced both in Foreign and Civil Wars all speaking the same Language all exercised in the same Military Discipline equal in experience and valour which made it not easie for them to vanquish each other besides never in any War did so many Citizens once Friends and Comrades fight with so much heat and courage which is sufficiently proved in that considering both Battels the Vanquisher lost not less than the Vanquished However Caesar's and Anthony's Men found the prediction of their Generals true for in one day and one Battel â—hey were not only delivered from the danger of Famine and the fear they were in of perishing but this glorious Victory gave them likewise
came to an Anchor in a Shoal Bay where he lay as if he had been fast in the Ouz till the Enemies running down from the Mountains as to an assured Prey tacking about he rowed off laughing at and deriding them to the grief and astonishment of the whole Army After he had thus made known of what importance it was to Caesar to have him for a Friend or Enemy he gave liberty to a Senator called Rebilus who he had before taken that he might go before and prepare matters raising a report among his People that they should ere long have a Fugitive of consequence which was Vinidius Marcellus an intimate Friend of Caesar's whose affection he himself had gained when he before quitted Pompey's service and after that drawing near to the Enemy and desiring to have some conference with Vinidius in a certain Island touching an Affair of Importance to both Parties Having obtained it when they were alone he told him that when he left Caesar's Party to go to Pompey he had been forced to it by the injuries he dayly received from Calvisius then Admiral but that now Agrippa had the Command of the Navy he was ready to return to Caesar's service of which he could not complain provided Vinidius would bring him a safe conduct from Messala who in Agrippa's absence commanded the Fleet promising by some signal Action to repair his fault However till he had his safe Conduct he must to avoid suspicion make War upon Caesar's Party as before Messala at first scrupled the doing it as dishonourable yet at length he granted it whether yielding to the necessities of the War or before well informed of Caesar's mind or that he foresaw he could not be displeased at it So Menodorus once more changed Parties and going to Caesar cast himself at his Feet begging pardon for his fault without telling what obliged him to commit it Caesar pardoned him because of Messala's word passed to him but gave orders narrowly to watch him and permitted the Officers of his Galleys to go whither they pleased Caesar's Fleet being now ready he came to Vibona where he gave order to Messala to pass over into Sicily with two Legions to joyn Lepidus's Army and that he should land in the Gulf against Tauromenia he sent three likewise to Stylida which is the very extremity of the Strait to wait a fair opportunity and commanded Taurus to sail about with his Fleet from Tarentum to the Promontory of Scyllace which is directly opposite to Tauromenia He came prepared to fight both on Sea and Land for his Land Army followed him before whom marched his Horse with orders to make discoveries from the Land as the Liburnick Brigantines did at Sea As he was advancing in this manner Caesar came and after having seen him near Scyllace and approved the order he kept returned to Vibona Pompey as we have said had placed good Garrisons in all places of the Island where any Forces might land and kept his Fleet at Messina ready to go and relieve who stood in need Whilst these Preparations were made on both sides Lepidus having sent for out of Africa for the remainder of his Forces which consisted in four Legions Papia one of Pompey's Lieutenants met them in open Sea and whilst they staid for him as a Friend gave them chace they took them for the Ships Lepidus was to send to meet them and indeed he did send but coming out too late when the Ships of Burthen saw them they took them for Enemies and would not approach them whereas now staying for Papia some were taken some burnt some sunk and others recovered Africa of the four Legions two perished in the Sea and if any Soldiers saved themselves by swimming Tisienus another of Pompey Lieutenants caused them to be massacred as fast as they came on shore The rest of the Army came either now or afterwards to Lepidus and Papia returned to Pompey Caesar with all his Fleet passed from Vibone to Strongyle one of the five Aeolian Isles and seeing on the Coast of Sicily great store of Forces at Pelora Miles and Tyndari he believed Pompey was there in person wherefore leaving Agrippa his Admiral in the Post he returned to Vibone and soon after joyned with Messala with design to lay hold of the opportunity of Pompey's absence to surprise Tauromenia and so fall upon him two several ways Agrippa therefore goes from Strongyle to Hiera and driving out the Garrison takes the place resolving next day to attempt Miles and Demochares the Admiral who lay there with forty Ships wherefore Pompey fearing Agrippa's success sent other forty Ships from Messina to Demochares under the Command of Apollophanes another of his Freed Men who was followed by Papia with seventy others Agrippa before day weighed with half his Ships as if he were only to fight with Papia whom he had some intelligence he might meet but when he saw Apollophanes's Fleet followed by another of seventy Sail he sent presently to give notice to Caesar that Pompey was at Miles with the greatest part of his Naval Force and placing himself in the middle of his great Ships sent to the rest at Hiera with all speed to follow him These two Ships thus magnificently equipped and having Towers in Poop and Prow being come up with each other after with Signals given and their Men encouraged to do well charged with great violence some stem and stem and others standing off to gain their Enemies Broad-side and fall on with greater terrour great was the noise made by the Ships shocking against each other and greater the Shouts of the Men. Pompey's Ships were middle sized light and easie to go about and so much more active against the Enemy and by their swiftness fit to take all advantages in boarding but Caesar's being greater and heavy were of consequence much less nimble but on the contrary stronger both to give the Shock and abler to receive it Caesar had the best Soldiers and Pompey the most skilful Mariners wherefore these charged not right forwards upon Caesar's great Ships but shearing by them sometimes broke a whole Gang of Oars and sometimes carried away their Rudders and sometimes likewise suddenly bringing about they charged them with their Beak Heads giving no less a Shock than they received but when Caesar's Ships could reach any of these light timbered Vessels they pressed upon them so furiously with their Beak Heads that they either staved them or bored them through and through and if they came at any time to fight Board and Board the great Ships miserably knocked them down with missile Arms thrown from aloft and casting in their Grapnels easily stopped them so that the service being too hard to be born the Adversary had no way to save themselves but by leaping into the Sea where Skiffs appointed for that purpose took them up Mean while Agrippa whose main design was upon Papia's Ship gave him so cruel a Shock in the Bow that he
sunk him for he opened all his Kell and those in his Fore-Castle presently fell and the Water entring all the lower Bank of Rowers were drowned the rest upon Planks saved themselves by swimming Papia received into the next Ship again renews the Fight When Pompey who from the top of a Mountain saw that his People could very hardly defend themselves and that they never came near any of Caesar's Ships but they lost Men and that the rest in Agrippa's Fleet whom he left at Hiera were coming to his assistance made a Signal for them to retreat which by little and little they did still fighting but being close pressed upon they fled not into the Ports but the Rivers Mouths where the Mud and Sand brought down by the constant stream makes Shoal Water wherefore Agrippa's Pilots advising him not to hazard his great Ships upon those Flats he came to an Anchor in sight of them in the open Sea as if he designed to attack them in the Night but his Friends admonishing him not to be ruled more by anger than reason nor to over-harass the Soldiers by too great Labour and Watchings nor yet to be too confident of the calmness of the Sea he retreated towards the Evening and Pompey's Ships got into Harbour They lost in this Battel thirty of their Ships and sunk five of Caesar's besides many other losses which they as well as the Enemy sustained Pompey commended them for having so well defended themselves having to fight not against Ships but Walls nor were his rewards less than if they had been victorious he gave them hopes that fighting in the Strait as their Light Ships would easier stem the Current so they would certainly be victorious promising withal to add somewhat to the heighth of their Ships Such was the success of the Battel between Agrippa and Papia near Melazzo After which Pompey judging what indeed was that Caesar was gone to Taurus's Camp because he had a design upon Tauromenia as soon as he had supped he set Sail for Messina leaving at Melazzo a part of his Ships to make Agrippa believe he was still there Agrippa on the other side having given a little repose to his Men sailed towards Tyndari which had promised to surrender where he was received by the Inhabitants but the Garrison defended it so generously that they drove him thence yet some other Towns revolting to him received his Garrisons and towards Evening he returned to the Fleet. Mean while Caesar being well assured that Pompey was gone from Messina to Melazzo because of Agrippa came from Scyllace to Leucopetra from whence he resolved to pass by Night to Tauromenia but after he heard the success of the Sea-fight he changed his mind believing he need not conceal his embarquing but boldly go on in broad day for he imagined Pompey would not come far from Agrippa Day then beginning to appear he took a view from the Mountains as far as his sight could reach into the Sea and spying none of the Enemies Ships he went on Board loading his Ship with all the Soldiers he could stow and leaving the rest with Messala till the Ships returned to fetch them being come near Tauromenia he summoned the place but the Garrison refusing to surrender he passed beyond the River Onobola and the Temple of Venus and landed near Archigetes where having made his prayers to the Gods he encamped to besiege Tauromenia now Archigetes is a small Statue of Apollo which the Naxians when first sent a Colony into Sicily dedicated There as Caesar set foot on ground he fell but soon got up again he was beginning to work upon the Circumvallation of the Camp when they saw Pompey coming with a great Fleet to the astonishment of all the Army who thought him quite ruined by Agrippa along the Shore likewise came Horsemen riding striving in swiftness to out-pass the Fleet and in several parts were seen great Bodies of Foot Caesar's People seeing themselves thus surrounded by three Armies were utterly dismayed Caesar himself was afraid because he could not now have the assistance of Messala The Horse first fell among Caesar's Men still employed in their Trenches And if the Fleet and the Foot had come on at the same time perhaps Pompey had gained an important Victory but being unskilful in military Affairs and ignorant of the fear their Enemies were in loth to come to a Battel in the Evening they retreated the Fleet to the Promontory of Coccyna and the Foot who durst not lodge near Caesar's Camp to the Town of Phoenissa whilst the night following the lay quiet the Caesarians fortified their Camp but with extreme labour and watching had made themselves utterly unfit to fight they were three Legions five hundred Horsemen without Horses about a thousand light armed Foot and two thousand Veteran Voluntiers besides the Sea-Forces Caesar's left with Cornificius all the Land Forces with order to defend himself as well as he could and before day himself embarqued left he should likewise be shut in by Sea He placed Titinius on the Right and Cancius on the Left and himself in a Brigantine went from one part of the Fleet to the other exhorting all Men to do their best and after that as being in extremity of danger struck his Flag Pompey presently coming to assault him they charged though twice and the Fight lasted till Night But Caesar's Ships were many burnt and sunk and many of them setting their small Sails fled towards the Coast of Italy contrary to and in contempt of Orders some of Pompeys Ships pursued them and soon putting them in disorder took or burnt them as well as the rest those that swum ashore were either slain or taken by Pompey's Horsemen some few escaping to Cornificius's Camp who sent only his light armed Foot to receive them for he did not think it convenient to go out with his Legions in that ill posture wherein they were whilst a Land Army of the Enemies lay so nigh whom the success at Sea had pussed up as is ordinary after Victory Caesar rowed a great way in the night in a small Galley deliberating with himself whether he should endeavour to pass through the midst of his Enemies and get again to Cornificius or go to Messala At length by good fortune he reached the Port of Abala where he landed with one Esquire destitute of Friends Servants or Guards whom some that were come up to the Mountains to see how things stood found afflicted both in Body and Mind whom changing from Boat to Boat that they might the better deceive the Enemy they at length brought to Messala's Camp which was not far distant As soon as he got thither before he would take any food he dispatched a Brigantine to Cornificius and sent to all parts of the Mountains to let those they found there know he was in safety advertizing them to prepare to relieve Cornificius and he wrote to Cornificius that he would suddenly be with him and
bring him relief After he had eat a little and taken some small repose he went by night to Stylida convoyed by Messala to find out Carinas who being ready to sail with three Legions he gave him order to pass over to Lipari and there stay for him and writ likewise to Agrippa that considering the danger Cornificius was in he should with all speed send to him Laronius with the best of his Forces He likewise sent Mecaenas the second time to the City upon intelligence they were contriving some Novelty the Authors of which were publickly punished and Messala he sent to Puteoli where the first Legion lay to bring them to Vibone This was that Messala who was proscribed at Rome by the Triumvirs with promise of rewards both of Money and Liberty to those should slay him and who escaping to Brutus and Cassius after their death delivered up on Composition their Fleet to Anthony which I the rather mention in this place as a great example of Roman Virtue since Messala having now in his power him who proscribed him without attendance and in a deplorable condition received him as his General and saved his life As for Cornificius though he could have defended himself in his Trenches yet being straitned for want of Provision he drew out to provoke the Enemy to sight but Pompey would not hazard the fortune of a Battel against People had nothing but their Arms to trust to and whom he hoped to reduce by Famine yet Cornisicius having placed those escaped from the Sea-Fight and who were without Arms in the midst of the Legions marches on sorely infested in the Plain by the Horsemens missile Arms and by the African Foot in places inaccessible for the Horse who being lightly armed though he sent off several Parties to engage them he could do no good against them The fourth day of his March he came upon a dry ground which the Inhabitants thereabout call The Torrent of Fire reaching quite to the Sea all waters falling on it being evaporated with the very heat of the ground so that the People thereabouts never travel over it but by night to avoid the heat and dust Cornificius's Men not knowing the Country durst not especially in a dark Moon adventure to pass by night for fear of an ambush and by day they could not defend themselves from their Enemies heat and dust suffocated them and the sâ—orching ground being now in the heat of Summer tormented the soles of their Feet especially those were naked thirst no less afflicted them not suffering them to retard their March to go charge those light armed Foot who continually infested them so that they were exposed to wounds without making any defence At last when they drew near to a Strait at the end of this burning ground they met with other Enemies wherefore leaving behind their sick and such as could not fight they advanced furiously to the Charge and gained the Pass but when they saw before them other Straits which the Enemy was likewise possessed of they lost all heart and made a stop being quite spent with thirst heat and labour yet when Cornificius perswaded them to take courage by telling them there was a Fountain close by they renewed the Fight and with considerable loss of theirs drove the Enemy from the Post but other Enemies were still Masters of the Fountain so that now they gave themselves over to grief and despair In this extremity Laronius appeared afar off with three Legions which Agrippa had sent to their relief they were not fully assured he was their Friend however the sight put them in some hopes especially when they saw the Enemy desert the Fountain for fear of being enclosed on both sides then they began to set up Shouts of Joy which Laronius having answered they ran all to the Fountain where notwithstanding all the good counsel of their Officers to make them more temperate they drank so excessively that some of them died upon the place Thus Cornificius when he was quite past hopes saved himself and the rest of the Army and went and joyned with Agrippa who in the mean time had taken Tyndari furnished with good store of Provisions and so commodious for this War that Caesar landed there all his Horse and Foot which were no small number for he brought into Sicily one and twenty Legions twenty thousand Horse and more than five thousand light armed Foot Pompey still held Melazzo Maulochus Pelora and all that Sea-Coast with good Garrisons who out of the fear they were in of Agrippa kept continually Fires as if they would burn the Ships that approached them He was likewise seised of the Passages from Tauromenia to Melazzo and had fortified all the Avenues of the Mountains so that he kept Caesar at a Bay who had a design to enlarge his Quarters beyond Tyndari and yet adventured not a Battel But having advice that Agrippa was about to land at Pelora he hastened thither deserting the Passes of Melazzo of which Caesar seised and of Melazzo it self together with Artemisia a little City famous for the Oxen of the Sun taken away by Ulysses's companions whilst he slept But when the news of Agrippa's coming proved false and Pompey heard of the Passes being lost he sent for Tisienus with his Army whom Caesar going to meet strayed out of his way about Mycono where he staid all night without any Tents in a violent rain as is usual in Autumn with no other covering save a Gallick Shield which the Soldiers held over his Head Here they heard the horrible noise and dreadful roarings of Mount Aetna and beheld the mighty Flames which sorely affrighted the whole Army especially the Germans who starting from the places where they were laid down were no longer scrupulous of believing the wonders told of Mount Aetna especially of the Torrents of Fire After this Caesar went and spoiled the Country of the Palestins where meeting with Lepidus and being supplied with Corn they went both and set down near about Messina But when there happened only light Skirmishes through all Sicily and no memorable Fight Caesar weary of it sent Taurus to cut off Pompey from Provisions by seising upon those Cities that supplyed them which made him resolve to give Battel but because he was afraid of Caesar's Land Forces and thought himself secure in his Ships he sent a Herald to offer him a Sea-Fight Though Caesar of all things abhorred to have do with Salt Water where he had ever been unfortunate yet thinking it dishonourable to refuse any thing he accepted the Challenge and a day was appointed when they were to meet with three hundred Ships each armed with all sorts of missile Arms Towers and Maohines that could be imagined ` T was now Agrippa invented the Harpagon which is a piece of Timber of five Cubits long bound about with Iron at each end having two Rings at one of which is the Harpago or Hook of Iron and at the other many Cords
fastened in Pulleys to draw it back with a Catapulta or Sling to dart it forcibly into the Enemies Ships But the day of Battel being come the whole Gang of Rowers began to shew their skill not without great Shouts and Acclamations then followed the flying of missile Arms some thrown out of Engines some out of Hand as Stones Javelins Arrows Fire-brands and flaming Darts the Ships run Board and Board some in the Waste some on the Bows and some ran with their Prows so fiercely at others that they over-set those stood on their Fore-Castles and made their own Ships unserviceable Other lighter Vessels contented themselves only to skirmish lancing as they passed by unto each other Darts Javelins and other missile Arms other smaller were appointed to take up such as fell into the Sea The Soldiers Rowers and Seamen did wonders assisted by the skill of the Pilots heartned by the encouragements of the Commanders and the continual playing of the Engines but the Harpagon was most of all approved being light enough to fly at a distance into the Enemies Ships it stuck fast especially when they drew it back with the Cords they could not cut it being bound about with Iron Hoops and the Cords they could not reach to because of its length besides this Machine being yet unknown they were not provided of any long Bills to cut the Ropes There was but one way in this unprepared condition they could think of and that was by force of Oars to strive to get loose from it but then the Enemy pulled up too both striving one way the Harpagon still did its office wherefore coming to a close Fight they leaped into one anothers Ships and were often so mixed together that it was hard to know which party any were of for they wore all one kind of Habit and most spoke the Latine Tongue and the Word for that day was known by both Parties And in this confusion when no person trusting to anothers giving him the Word if he did not know him there was a horrible Slaughter and the Sea was presently covered with Bodies Arms and Wracks of Vessels for they left nothing unattempted besides Fire which after the first shock and that they came to fight Board and Board they made no more use of Both Armies from the Shore beheld this dreadful Fight not without fear and passion as thinking them engaged for every one of their particular safeties but how intentive soever they were they could discern nothing for it was impossible in a long Train of six hundred Ships from whom they heard shouts and acclamations sometimes from one side and sometimes from the other to discover any thing distinctly At length Agrippa judging by the Colours upon their Towers which was the only mark of difference between them that there were more of Pompey's Ships perished than theirs encouraged those about him as if already victorious to renew the Charge and not give over pressiâ—g upon the Enemy which they did till those opposite to him were first forced to give way and beating down their Towers shewed him their Poops and fled towards the Strait to the number only of seventeen Ships most of the rest cut off by Agrippa who got between them and the Flyers from going the same way run violently on Shore where sticking fast they were either got off by the Enemy or there burnt which those that were yet fighting in open Sea seeing yielded The Caesarian Sea Forces soon proclaimed their Victory by their Shouts and Acclammations which were answered by the Land Army on Shore whilst Pompey's Men groaned out of grief and despair As for Pompey himself he departed in haste from Naulochus to go to Messina so astonished that he had no thoughts at all of his Land Army which made them led by Tisienus surrender to Caesar upon good conditions which example was likewise followed by the Horse perswaded by their Officers There were in this Battel three of Caesar's Ships sunk and twenty eight of Pompey's and all the rest burnt taken or split upon the Rocks save only those seventeen that fled Pompey as upon the way he heard of the defection of his Army laid down his Imperial Robe and took a private habit sending some before to Messina to load what they could upon his Ships for he was prepared for this a long time before and sending to Plenius who was at Lilybaeum with eight Legions to come presently to him Plenius forthwith set forward but all his Friends and all his Garrisons having yielded to the Conquerour and his Enemies being already in the Strait to come to Messina he did not think it convenient to stay for Plenius in the City though it were a very strong place but embarquing upon those seventeen Ships he had made Sail towards Anthony whose Mother he had favourably received in a like misfortune and Plenius arriving at Messina after Pompey's departure he there shut himself up resolving to stand upon his defence Now after the Victory Caesar staying in his Camp near Naulochus had given order to Agrippa to go and besiege Messina which together with Lepidus he did Plenius having sent out to them Deputies to capitulate Agrippa was of the mind to defer the business till next day that Caesar came thither but Lepidus himself received them upon composition and to get the Army of Plenius into his own possession gave them share in the plunder of the City equal with his own so that besides pardon which they only asked for they had found a Booty they did not expect they that very night plundered the City with Lepidus's Men and delivered themselves up to be his So that Lepidus by this recruit beholding himself Master of two and twenty Legions and a brave Body of Horse raised his hopes and laid a design upon seising upon Sicily This project he founded upon his first having landed in the Island and having taken more Cities than Caesar wherefore he gave Command to his Garrisons not to receive any Forces but his own and seised upon all the Passages On the morrow Caesar being arrived at Messina sends some of his Friends to Lepidus to make his complaint of these proceedings and to represent to him that he was come into Sicily only to serve Caesar and not to conquer for himself To which he answered by a reciprocal complaint That they had taken from him his part of the Empire which Caesar had usurped all to himself and if he would restore that he would willingly part with Africa and Sicily Caesar angry at this answer goes to him himself reproaches him with ingratitude and after some mutual threats they part and from that instant begin to keep Guard apart and the Ships went and anchored at some distance from the Port because as was reported Lepidus had a design to burn them and the Soldiers detesting these Dissentions believed they were again falling into another Civil War Not that they made any comparison of Lepidus with
lent to Caesar against Pompey for the Sicilian War being ended Caesar returned them At the same time Titius arrived out of Syria with sixscore other Ships and a great Army and all together landed at Proconesus Thereupon Pompey somewhat daunted burnt his Ships and armed his Rowers and Seamen whom he thought would do him better service on shore But Cassius of Parma Nasidius Saturninus Thermus Antistius and all the most considerable of Pompey's Friends and even Fannius himself for whom he had the greatest value and Libo his Father-in-law seeing that after the coming of Titius to whom Anthony had given commission either to make War or Peace he was still obstinate to continue the War against one more powerful than himself left him and making their own composition submitted to Anthony being deserted by his Friends he advanced through the mid-land of Bithynia with design as 't is said to get into Armenia Furnius Titius and Amyntas having notice that to this intent he had quitted his Camp by night followed him and made such haste that before day was shut in they overtook him near a certain Eminence above which they encamped separately without entrenching because it grew late and their Men were over tired Pompey seeing them in this posture drew off three thousand Men who went and charged them in the dark night so briskly that they slew a great number some in Bed and others rising and the rest for the most part naked shamefully took their flight so that if Pompey had fallen on with all his Forces or had but given them chase he might have completed his Victory but his adverse fortune put it out of his thoughts and he reaped no more fruit of this Victory save the continuing his March into the Uplands The Enemies being rallied followed him close at the Heels and very sorely tormented him that being reduced to want of Provisions he desired a Conference with Furnius Friend to the great Pompey and besides that the most considerable of all the other Commanders and the honestest Man Being in order thereunto come to the Bank of a River that run between them Pompey told them that having sent deputies to Anthony and having in the mean time no Provisions noâ— no person that would furnish him with any he had been forced to do what he had done The ORATION of POMPSEY to FVRNIVS BUt for your part added he if it be by Anthony's Orders you make War upon me he is ill advised not foreseeing a considerable War hanging over his Head but if it be of your own motion I beseech you to expect the return of my Deputies or to carry me to Anthony after having past your word for my security for Furnius 't is you only I confide in and put my self into your hands provided you promised me upon your Honour to deliver me in safety to Anthony This he said as confident of Anthony's good nature and fearing only some misfortune might happen to him in the Journey Furnius made answer The ANSWER of FURNIUS to POMPEY IF you had any intention to yield your self to Anthony you ought in person to have gone to him at first or have staid his Answer at Mitylene but you designed War and have done all you could for why should you deny things we certainly know Yet if you now repent we are three that command here for Anthony do not create any jealousie among us but deliver your self up to Titius who only has Commission concerning you you may require of him the same security you do of me for his Orders are if you obstinately hold out to kill you but if you submit to send you honourably to Anthony Pompey was angry at Titius as an ungrateful Man to undertake this War against him whom he had so kindly treated when he was his Prisoner besides he thought it dishonourable for Pompey to yield himself into the hands of Titius a man of mean extract and whom he was jealous of either distrusting his Principles or conscious of some injury he had done him before the last kindness wherefore he offered himself once more to Furnius and begged him to receive him and when that could not be obtained he desired that at least he might yield himself into Amyntas's Hands But Furnius telling him that Amyntas would not do that which would prove injurious to him who had Anthony's Commission for this purpose the Conference ended Anthony's Lieutenants believed that Pompey would next morning for very want be forced to yield himself to Titius but as soon as it was night he caused Fires to be kindled and gave orders to the Trumpets to sound at every Watch of the Night according to custom and he without any noise went out of his Camp with the Flower of his Forces not telling any one of them his design which was to return to the Sea and set fire on Titus's Fleet and possibly he might have done it if Scaurus who deserted him and run to the Enemy had not given him notice of his departure and the way he had taken without being able to say more Amyntas presently followed him with fifteen hundred Horse for whom Pompey's being all Foot it was no hard matter to overtake As soon as he appeared all Pompey's Men forsook him some privily others openly so that almost desperate and fearing his own Domesticks he yielded himself to Amyntas without conditions who had refused the Composition offered by Titius Thus was the last Son of the great Pompey taken He had lost his Father when he was a Child and when he grew somewhat elder his Brother after whose death he lay concealed a long time living like a Bandito in Spain till such time as a multitude of loose People understanding he was Pompey's Son slocked to him and then he began to over-run and plunder the Country After the death of C. Caesar having got a good Army Ships and Money he made a War and became Master of some Islands after which he was created Admiral of the Western Sea and then sorely annoyed Italy almost famishing his Enemies and forcing them to peace on his own Conditions but what is most considerable in that dreadful time of Proscriptions at Rome he was the only Refuge of the Miserable and saved many persons of Quality who were obliged to him for their return to their Country but as if Fortune had deprived him of Judgment he never would give the onset upon any Enemy but lost many fair opportunities content only to defend himself Such was the Pompey now taken Titius received an Oath from his Army in Anthony's name and sent him to Miletum where at forty years of age he put him to death either because the old injury had more power over him than Gratitude for a later kindness or because he had Anthony's Orders for it Though some say Anthony gave no such Order but it was done by Plancus Governour of Syria who in Affairs of great Importance was wont to set Anthony's Hand and Seal Others
provision to be brought for themselves by Sea but those of Utica and Carthage being in great necessity plundred those which brought them till a recruit of shipping being come to Scipio he opposed the enemy in such manner that they not daring longer to cruise as they were wont those Cities were miserably afflicted with famine During this same winter Syphax not being far distant Masanissa desired of Scipio a third part of the Roman Army which being arrived under the Command of Lelius and joyned with that Kings Forces they together pursued Syphax who still retreated before them till such time as coming to the Banks of a certain River he was forced to fight The Numidians according to their Custom cast at first charge showers of Darts at each other whilst the Romans covering themselves with their shields still advanced forward Syphax seeing Masanissa in the heat of the Battel transported with rage makes directly towards him and Masanissa joyfully runs to meet him After they had generously fought as well on one side as the other at length Syphax party was routed and as he was passing the river to save himself his horse wounded by some accidental stroke reared and came backward with his Master into the water Whereupon Masanissa pressing in took him and one of his sons prisoners both which he sent to Scipio There were in this fight about two thousand men slain on Syphax his party the Romans lost seventy five and Masanissa three hundred there were likewise four thousand of Syphax men taken prisoners of which two thousand five hundred were Massesuliens that had deserted Masanissa to take part with Syphax these Masanissa demanded of Lelius and having obtained his request caused them to be all cut in pieces After this they entred into the Territories of the Massesuliens and of Syphax to re-establish Masanissa in his Kingdom by receiving those who submitted and forcing those to obey who refused The inhabitants of Cirtha sent deputies unto them with Orders to offer them the Royal Palace and in particular there came others to Masanissa from Sophonisba wife of the Prisoner King to excuse her of that Marriage to which she had been forced He easily accepted of her Excuses but when he returned back to Scipio left her still at Cirtha foreseeing what would happen When Syphax was brought to Scipio he was ask't by him what evil Genius had perverted his spirit to the violation of his faith and despising of those Gods that were witnesses by deceving the Romans in taking up arms against them and following the part of the Carthaginians their common enemy after having intreated him as a friend to come into Africa To which he answered It was Sophonisba the daughter of Asdrubal with whom says he to my ruine I fell in love she is passionately affected to her Country and there 's no man can withstand what she desires though I was your friend her Charms made me the friend of her Country and from that happiness in which I lived has precipitated me into this misery since therefore I am now at your dispose and being lost to Sophonisba ought to fix my self to your interests I give you advice to be careful left that woman draw Masanissa from you for there is no hopes she should ever favor the Romans such a lover she is of her Country These things he said either because they were indeed true or out of jealousie to prejudice Masanissa After this Scipio having an esteem of Syphax prudence and because he knew the Country called him to the Council of War and asked his advice as Cyrus had formerly done with Croesus King of Lydia Lelius being come and assuring him of what had been before told him concerning Sophonisba Scipio required Masanissa to deliver her into his hands which he seeming averse to do declaring what had passed between him and that woman Scipio urged it with more rigor telling him he should not think to withhold by force any part of that spoil which belonged to the people of Rome that he ought first to present her and afterwards request her back if he thought convenient Whereupon he departed with some Romans to deliver Sophonisba into their hands but first he posted to her himself alone and giving her a cup of poison told her there was but this choice either to drink that or be carried Captive to Rome and without saying word more remounted his horse and returned She having shewed the Cup to her Nurse and intreated her not to mourn her death since thus she died gloriously presently drunk up the poison The Romans being come Masanissa exposed the body to their view and after having given it a funeral worthy a Queen he returned to wait on Scipio who highly praised him and to comfort him for the loss of an evil woman crowned him for the Victory gained over Syphax and made him most Magnificent presents As for Syphax he being carried to Rome some were of opinion they ought to pardon a man had served them so well in Spain others judged that he ought to be punished the rather for having revolted from his friends but whilst these things were in debate he died of a distemper occasioned by grief When Asdrubal had well excercised his Army he sent a Messenger to Hanno General of the Carthaginians Army to entreat him to accept him as a Companion in that charge and withal to tell him that there were some Spaniards in Scipio's Army who might be corrupted by mony and promises to set on fire the Roman Camp and there he would not fail to be ready at the time appointed if the General thought it convenient Hanno having received this advice though he designed to deceive Asdrubal yet resolved to make use of it and to that end sent one of his people into Scipio's Camp with good quantity of Silver This man shelters himself there as a Runaway and not being suspected by any one corrupted many and after they had set a day for putting their design in execution he returns to Hanno who presently sends him to Asdrubal but as Scipio sacrificed the Aruspices having advertised him to beware of fire he gave order to one of his Domesticks to take care to see the fires put out in all places where such an accident might be feared He continued for some days the same sacrifices and still the entrails threatned him with the same misfortune which troubled him much and made him resolve to discamp but the plot was in this manner discovered A Certain Roman Knight had a Spanish slave who suspecting his companions had some mischievous design feign'd himself of the party and by that means having gain'd knowledge of the whole enterprize discovered it to his Master his Master brought him to Scipio who causing the guilty wretches to be siezed on put them all to death and made their bodies be thrown out of the Camp Hanno who was not far off having news of it came not to the place appointed Asdrubal who knew nothing
storm their City causing to that intent a Harpe to be built which is a great Engine raised upon two Ships And having understood by the Runaways that it was easie to take the Town on that side where stood the Temple of Iupiter Tabyriâ—s by Scaling the Wall which was in that part very low he caused some of his Soldiers to Embarque on the Ships and giving Scaling Ladders to others ordered them all to keep silence till they saw a signal of fire given them from the place and that then raising as great a shout as they could some should fall in at the Port others at the Wall As they were going to put this design in execution without making the least noise the Guards of the City who had notice of it shewed a fire which they taking for the signal to be given from the place called Tabyria broke silence and both Soldiers and Mariners began to make the Air ring with Shouts of Joy but being answered with the same Notes by those of the City that stood upon the Walls the Royalists attempted nothing all that Night and in the Morning were forced to retreat It is true that the Harpe which they drew nigh unto the Wall opposite to the Temple of Isis extreamly terrified the inhabitants for it cast at the same time mighty quantities of Darts and Arrows there were likewise upon it Rams which battered the Walls and besides multitudes of Soldiers ran out of the Ships with their Scaling Ladders to mount the Walls but the Rhodians made a resolute resistance till the Engine broke with its own weight and the Statue of the Goddess Isis was seen to dart flames of fire against it Whereupon the King after this last trial losing all hopes of taking the Town raised his Siege After this he went and besieged Patoria where as he was about to cut down a Forest consecrated to Latona for building of Machines he was frightned by a dream from touching those sacred trees Whereupon leaving Pelopidas in Lycia to continue the War he sent Archelaus into Greece to draw what Cities he could to his side either by good will or constraint And henceforward easing himself of the Labors and Toils of War which he committed to his Generals he did nothing but leavy Soldiers and make provision of Arms passing away his time with that Woman of Stratoniâ—ea and in giving judgment upon those who were accused of having plotted against his life done any thing against his Service or favored in any kind whatsoever the Roman party Whilst he busied himself in these matters affairs in Greece passed in this manner Archelaus going with a Fleet well appointed took by force the Island of Delos which had revolted from the Athenians together with some places which he gave to that Republick after the slaughter of twenty thousand Men the most part Italians and rendring by these Actions the Power of Mithridates formidable in those parts he gained him the Friendship and Alliance of that People he sent to them likewise the consecrated Treasure at Deloâ—s by Aristion one of their Câ—â—y to whom he gave two thousand Men for a Guard of that Mony but he imploy'd them to another purpose for seeing two thousand Men at his Command he lived like a Tyrant in his Country putting to death many of his Fellow Citizens and delivering up others to Mithridates under pretence they were of the Roman Faction Yet he made Profession of being a Philosopher of the Sect of Epicurus but he was not the only Philosopher that has tyrannized in Athens Critias and his Companions who professed the same Philosophy plaid the Tyrants before him The followers of Pythagaras did the same in Italy Nor were there any of those who were called the seven Wise-men of Greece and had any hand in the Government of the Commonwealth but exercised their Authority with more Tyranny then an unlearned Man would have done So that it is not without reason that some have doubted whether the other Philosophers followed the Study of Wisdom so much out of the pure Love of Virtue as to be a comfort to their Poverty and an excuse for their Sloath Since even to this Day we see many leading a close and necessitous Life who cloak their Poverty under a pretence of Wisdom furious by railing at all rich men and Magistrates which they do not so much out of contempt of Riches as out of envy to those which possess them wherefore I think those much wiser then who know how to slight and contemn their Invectives Thus much by the way against Aristion who gave occasion to this short digression To proceed Archelaus drew to his Party the Acheans Lacedemonians and Beotians all but the City of Thespia to which he laid Siege At the same time as Metrophanes whom Mithridates had likewise sent into Greece with another Army made havock in the Isle of Eubea Demetriada and Magnesia who had refused to declare for the King Brittius came out of Macedon and falling upon his Fleet with a very small force beat them sunk a great Ship and a Foist and slew all the Mariners and this in the very face of Metrophanes which put him in such a fear that he fled Brittius when he could not overtake him went and besieged Sciatha a nest of barbarous Pyrates and having taken it hanged the Slave and cut of the Masters hands from thence he went to Boeotia whither a recruit of a Thousand men as well Horse as Foot being come to him out of Macedon he gave Battel to Aristion and Archelaus which lasted three days without knowing which had the better till such time as the Lacedemonians and Acheans having sent relief to the Enemy finding himself then two weak he went and encamped neer Pyraeum which Archelaus coming afterwards with his Fleet to seise took him there Prisoner Sylla to whom the Senate had given the Commission for the War against Mithridates not able before to leave Italy now passed over into Greece with five Legions some Cohorts and a few Horse whither Money being sent him and Auxiliary Troops come together with Provisions of Victuals out of Etolia and Thessaly finding himself sufficiently prepared he advanced into Attica against Archelaus He took his march through Boeotia which almost all yielded to him not the great City of Thebes which out of giddiness of temper had before preferred Mithridates to the Romans durst now make Tryal of his Arms but in its turn deserting Archelaus and his Party declared for the Romans The Consul being arrived in Attica divided his Forces into two Bodies one he sent to Besiege Aristion in the City and with the other marched directly to the Port of Pyraeum where Archelaus had engarrisoned himself confident in the strength of the place the Walls of which were near forty Cubits high and all of hewn stone It was indeed a mighty work which had been raised by Pericles in the time of the War of Peloponnesus who when all the hopes