the middle under the command of Scipio the Spaniards whom Pompey most rely'd upon on the Right under Domitius Aenobarbus and on the Left was Pompey himself with the two Legions Caesar had restor'd at the beginning of the War under Lentulus The rest were in the same Order between Scipio's Legions and the Wings only the Auxiliary Troops at least such as fought in Order compos'd the Body of Reserve for the others they were drawn out without Order upon the Left with the Archers Slingers and all the Cavalry the Right being fortify'd by a River Caesar left two Cohorts to guard his Camp and drew up in three Lines also in the same Order with Pompey the tenth Legion was upon the Right and the ninth upon the Left almost joyn'd to the eighth The rest of the Cohorts being drawn up between these Legions were on the Centre where Domitius Calvinus commanded Sylla having the Right Wing and Anthony the Left Caesar put himself at the Head of the tenth Legion whose Valour he had often experienc'd and with design to be opposite to Pompey who intended to fall suddenly upon the Flanks of Caesar's Troops but he soon perceiv'd it by the Order of his Battel and thereupon he drew six Cohorts out of all his Troops of which he compos'd a Body of Reserve He exactly instructed them in their Duty and above all gave them to understand That all the Hopes of Victory depended upon their Valour and Conduct alone Lastly he plac'd his Cavalry so as to cover the Right of the tenth Legion ordering over and above his third Line not to march till they receiv'd a Signal from him Now it was that the Fate of the vast Empire of Rome was to be decided by the greatest Generals the bravest Officers and the stoutest Soldiers in the World each Man almost being inspir'd with the Desire of conquering Gloriously or dying Honourably As the Armies approach'd the two Generals went from Rank to Rank encouraging their Soldiers Pompey represented to his Men The Iustice and Merit of his Cause the Advantage of their Numbers strengthen'd by the Assistance of so many Illustrious Senators and the Glory lately obtain'd at the Battel of Dyrrachium Caesar was contented only to demonstrate That he had endeavour'd by all possible Means to obtain an honourable Peace and if his Enemies had pleas'd they might have spar'd the Blood of so many brave Men. So seeing the Impatience of his Soldiers to fall on he gave the Signal of Battel the Word on Pompey's side was Hercules the Invincible that on Caesar's Venus the Victorious There was now only so much Space between the two Armies as was just sufficient for the Place of Battel but Pompey order'd his Men to receive the first Shock without moving from their Places Caesar's Soldiers seeing that like Men of Skill of their own accord made a Halt in the midst of their Carrier and after taking a little Breath ran furiously upon the Enemy first discharging their Javelins then drawing their Swords as Caesar had given 'em Orders Pompey's Men receiv'd the Charge without the least Disorder and falling on with their Javelins and Swords a cruel and bloody Battel ensu'd which for some time seem'd equal Then Pompey order'd his Cavalry to charge which with the multitude of Archers and Slingers soon oblig'd Caesar's Men to give ground and got themselves upon the Flank of his Army as they first design'd Whereupon Caesar immediately order'd the six Cohorts to advance which were his Body of Reserve to charge upon the Faces of the Enemy with their Pikes ported This Contrivance disorder'd those nice and esseminate Knights and the fear of spoiling their Faces put 'em into such Confusion that upon the Rallying of Caesar's Cavalry they were all broke in a Moment and the Slingers and Archers being thus abandon'd were all cut to pieces Caesar industriously following that Advantage advanc'd and charg'd Pompey's Troops upon the Flank which Charge they stood with great Resolution and the Allies bravely defended themselves when Caesar gave the Signal for his third Line to advance which fresh Troops pouring in upon Pompey's weary'd out and attack'd on all Sides easily broke ' em The Flight began among the Strangers tho' Pompey's Right Wing still valiantly maintain'd their Ground but Caesar causing his Men to cry out Kill the Strangers but save the Romans the Romans laid down their Arms and receiv'd Quarter but a miserable Slaughter was made among the Strangers who fled with all speed Caesar now finding the Victory certain and Pompey retreated to his Trenches cry'd out to his Men That they ought to pursue the Victory and take the Enemies Camp It was now Noon-day and tho' they were wearied out with the Extremity of the Heat yet upon seeing their General march a-foot at the Head of 'em they follow'd him with great Resolution and falling on with fresh Courage the Enemy all fled to the Mountains not far off Pompey himself was so extreamly dishearten'd and confounded that here he cou'd perform nothing worthy of his great Courage or Reputation but getting on Horse-back he fled to Larissa and from thence to the Sea Caesar found throughout the Camp much rich Furniture in the Tents Tables spread with fine Linen and Cubbords cover'd with Plate which sufficiently shew'd the Luxury and Assurance of the Enemy Caesar earnestly desir'd his Soldiers Not to amuse themselves with Plunder but to compleat this glorious Victory and by means of the great Respect they bore him he prevail'd So a Trench was immediately thrown up about the Mountain where the Enemy was retreated who wanting Water were forc'd to quit it and retire to Larissa Caesar immediately follow'd 'em with four Legions and after six Miles March drew up in Battalia which caus'd the Enemy to betake themselves to a high Hill at the Foot of which ran a River Now Night approaching Caesar's Men were almost spent and ready to faint with the incessant Toil of the whole Day yet still by his obliging Persuasions he prevail'd with 'em to cut off the Conveniency of Water from the Enemy by a Trench This immediately forc'd 'em to a Capitulation only some Senators made their Escape in the Dark The next Morning Caesar order'd all the Enemy to come down into the Plain and lay down their Arms which they obey'd and falling upon their Knees before him in the most suppliant Posture begg'd for Mercy which he granted 'em with all the Clemency and Kindness imaginable and commanded his Soldiers not to offer 'em the least Incivility nor plunder their Baggage Thus Caesar by his wonderful Skill and Courage and by the indefatigable Industry of his Soldiers obtain'd the most compleat tho' not the most bloody Victory that ever General in the World did 15000 of the Enemy being slain in Battel and 24000 surrender'd he himself losing a very inconsiderable Number In the mean time the great Pompey who just before had been the glorious Commander of Kings and all the
Quintius who had both been Consuls before In this Year the Consuls finding the Publick Business to increase to ease themselves procur'd two new Magistrates to be created call'd Censors so nam'd because the Business of the Census which had been instituted by Servius Tullius the Sixth King of Rome was one great part of their Office These Magistrates at first made no great Appearance but in a short time they became Persons of extraordinary Dignity and Power having all the Ornaments and Ensigns of Consuls except Lictors At the beginning they were created for five Years which space was call'd Lustrum as was formerly observ'd but soon after their time was shortned to a Year and half but still they were chosen but once in five Years the Census being no oftner perform'd Their Power was very large and their Office very extensive for tho' at first they only perform'd the Census making an Estimate of Men's Estates distributing them into their several Classes and Centuries taking the Numbers of the Inhabitants c. yet in a short time they became Publick Inspectors of Men's Lives and Manners and were therefore frequently call'd Magistri Morum and took upon 'em to degrade Senators upon Misdemeanors to take away Horse and Ring from Equites or Knights and to turn Plebeians out of their Tribes and put 'em into a Lower and many other things of the like Nature The two first Censors were Papirius and Sempronius both Patritians and the two last Years Consuls and these high Officers were for nigh 100 Years chosen out of the Patritians and only such as were Eminent and Famous and had formerly been Consuls till the Plebeians found the way to this as they did to all other Offices Afterwards the Roman Colonies had their Magistrates call'd Sub-Censors who gave an Account to these of the Number of Inhabitants and their Wealth which was immediately register'd in the Censor's Books The Fathers were extreamly satisfy'd that they had got these Magistrates created out of their own Body and the Tribunes esteeming their Power to be inconderable were willing enough to agree to it In this same Year the Ardeans as being Allies sent to the Romans for Succour against the Volsci who were call'd in by some dangerous Factions among themselves and had reduc'd them to great Extremities The Romans were ready to serve the Persons they had so lately injur'd about their Lands and immediately Geganius the Consul was sent with a considerable Army against the Volsci and he soon reliev'd the Ardeans and clear'd the Country of the Enemy This Victory was very memorable and the Consul had a noble Triumph Clulius the Volscian General being led before the Chariot Ardea had now been so dispeopled with the Factions and the late Wars that they were willing to accept of a Roman Colony which the Senate sent soon after and to shew a further Piece of Generosity restor'd all the Lands they had before adjudg'd to the Publick Use tho' with the great Complaints of many of the Commons II. The Heats of the Commons were still kept alive but for some time were of no dangerous Consequence till three Years after Sp. Maelius a rich Knight incourag'd upon these Contentions by his large Bounty to the Poorer Sort in time of a great Famine began to affect Popularity and by that means to aspire to the Sovereignty His Designs were soon guess'd at and he was accus'd of this by Minucius who had the care of the Provisions which thing in these unsettled times so startled the Senate that by advice of Quintius the Consul they order'd a Dictator to be immediately created the Tumult hourly increasing Quintius Cincinnatus now 80 Years old was the Person who chose Servilius Ahala for his Master of the Horse The Dictator presently summon'd Maelius to appear who being well back'd and supported by the Mob refus'd to obey now breaking out into open Rebellion whereupon Ahala set upon him in the Forum and kill'd him and was justifi'd by Quintius who commanded his Goods to be sold and his House to be demolish'd The Tribunes inrag'd at the Death of their great Friend Maelius procur'd Military Tribunes instead of Consuls to be created for the following Year now six Years after their first Institution hoping that some Plebeian might get into the number of Six which might give 'em an Opportunity of revenging his Death But Three only were created all Patritians too and their Expectation wholly unanswer'd The following Year Consuls were created again and in the same Year Fidenae a Roman Colony revolted to Tolumnius King of the Veientes and to inhance their Crime by his Instigation they treacherously murder'd the Ambassadors sent thither who dying thus for the Publick the Senate generously appointed Statues to be erected in their Honour This War in the beginning prov'd so dangerous and threatning to the Romans that they were forc'd to create a Dictator to manage it Mamercus Aemilius being the Person who made choice of Quinctius Ciâ—cinnatus an Eminent Youth of the City for his Master of the Horse Aemilius the Dictator obtain'd a great Victory over the Enemy in which Battel Cornelius Cossus a Tribune in the Army slew King Tâ—lumnius with his own Hands and by that means obtain'd the Honour of the Opima Spolia or Royal Spoils which were the only Spoils of that Nature since the Reign of Romulus These Spoils were a great Grace to Aemilius's Triumph and a great Honour to Cossus they being with extraordinary Pomp and Ceremony consecrated to Iupiter Feretrius Two Years after this there hapned a great Plague in the City and the Fidenates and Veientes press'd so hard upon the Romans that they were forc'd to have recourse to another Dictator and Servilius Priscus was created who chose Aebutius Elva for his Master of the Horse Servilius was so successful as not only to drive the Enemy back but to take the Town of Fidenae which he did by a Mine The taking of Fidenae was so disadvantageous to the Enemy that the Veientes sent to all their Neighbours about for Succour threatning no less than entire Destruction to Rome These formidable Preparations put the Romans upon creating another Dictator a little above a Year after the last which was Aemilius who had been Dictator three Years before and he chose Posthumius Tubertus for his Master of the Horse In a short time the Romans found that the Veientes cou'd procure no Aid so the Dictator had little Employment abroad but resolving to do something at home he caus'd the Censorship to be reduc'd to a Year and a half which was eight Years after its first Institution and then laid down his Office The Censors from this took an Occasion to remove him out of his Tribe which so inrag'd the People that the next time they procur'd Military Tribunes to be brought in again after there had been Consuls four Years And in this Election notwithstanding the great Industry of the Tribunes of the People they
and Valerius Corvus now the fourth time Consul for the following Year and one of the greatest Roman Commanders of his time took Cales also in which he plac'd a Colony of 2500 Persons Corvus return'd in Triumph but he and his Collegue being imploy'd in some small Actions abroad a Dictator was created for the holding the Comitia for the Election of new Consuls which was Aemilius Mamercinus who appointed Publius Philo for his Master of the Horse Two Years before this a Dictator was created and another a Year after this but by reason of their undue Election and their not acting I shall not reckon 'em among the Number of Dictators Affairs abroad were in a peaceable Posture for some time but in two or three Years the mere Rumour of an Invasion by the Gauls occasion'd the Creation of a Dictator which was Papirius Crassus his Master of the Horse being V. Poplicola but neither of 'em had any extraordinary Employment In this same Year two new Tribes were added namely the Metian and the Scaptian for the late admitted Citizens which now made the Number twenty nine The Arunci were also made free of the City but without the Privilege of Voting by a Law prefer'd by Papirius the Praetor About a Year after the Settlement of these Matters above 170 Women were put to Death for the Art of Poysoning being discover'd by a She-slave This was look'd upon as such a Prodigy by the Superstitious People that a Dictator was created to drive a Nail into Iupiter's Temple as the best Remedy for the Distempers of the State Quintius Varus was the Man and Valerius Potius his Master of the Horse and this was the second Dictator created upon that account For the two succeeding Years a War was carri'd on against the Inhabitants of Privernum in the Volscian State who were drawn into it by Vitrurius Vaccus a Man of principal Note among the Arunci The first Year they were overthrown the next Vitrurius was taken Prisoner and Privernum surrender'd the principal Actors with Vitrurius being put to Death and the rest of the Inhabitants made free of the City This hapned in the same Year with Alexander's destroying the Persian Empire and his setting up the Macedonian and 60 after the burning of Rome by the Gauls In a Year or two after the Inhabitants of Palaepolis in Campania trusting to the Treachery of the Samnites and taking advantage from a Plague in Rome committed great Acts of Hostility against the Romans who dwelt about Cumae and Falernus War was presently declar'd against 'em and tho they we assisted by the Samnites and Tarentines a People beyond 'em yet they were forc'd to yield up their City which stood in some Place where Naples did afterwards and the Samnites lost three of their own Towns The Tarentines nevertheless proceeded and drew the Samnites with the Residue of the Palaepoltians again into the War wherein the Vestini together with their Allies were also ingaged In the beginning of this War great Commotions happen'd in the City occasion'd by one Papirius who had given up himself as Slave to Publius a severe Usurer to work out his Father's Debt Papirius being both Young and Beautiful Publius attempted to abuse him after a filthy Manner and upon his Refusal most cruelly scourg'd him In this Condition Papirius fled to the People who were so affected with his barbarous Usage that they procur'd these two Laws Shortly after First That no Man shou'd be detain'd in Bounds except for heinous Misdemeanors and then not after Punishment The second That the Money and Goods not the Body of the Debtor shou'd be responsible Whereupon all Prisoners for Debt were immediately set at Liberty The following Year the Vestini were overthrown by Brutus Scaeva the Consul and two Towns taken from ' em His Collegue Furius Camillus being Sick at Samnium nam'd Papirius Cursor for Dictator the most famous Commander in those times who appointed Fabius Rullianus for his Master of the Horse Papirius being encamp'd nigh the Samnites was forc'd to return to Rome to renew his Auspicia leaving a most strict Command to Fabius not to stir out of his Trenches in his absence But Fabius finding a great Advantage engag'd the Enemy and made a great Slaughter of ' em The Dictator in a great Rage return'd to the Camp and wou'd have put him to Death but the Army rescu'd him which caus'd Papirius to make great complaints to the Senate withaâ— urging the absolute Necessity of a strict Discipline and Authority But at last the Intreaties of the Fathers with the Commotions of the Tribunes and People prevail'd with him to spare his Life This Severity of Papirius so alienated the Hearts of the Soldiers that it almost cost him the loss of a Battel soon after which constrain'd him to be more Popular for the future after which he overthrew the Samnites and so much wasted their Country as forc'd them to desire a Peace The Samnites soon return'd to their former Enmity and in two Years time they grew so strong that the Senate thought it necessary to create a Dâ—ctâ—tor to oppose 'em and this was Cornelius Arvina who appointed Fabius Ambustus for his Master of the Horse and gave the Enemy a great Overthrow by which the Samnites were so weaken'd that they sent all their Prisoners and Plunder to Rome together with the dead Body of the Author of the Revolt who had kilâ—'d himself to avoid being deliverâ—d up and all to purchase Peace The Senate only receivâ—d the Men with such Goods as were particularly challeng'd and dem'd 'em Peace Inrag'd at this Pontius the chief Man among em drew out the Samnites to a Place call'd Caudium and putting ten Soldiers in the Habit of Shepherds he sent 'em to Calatia where the Consuls lay with Instructions to report that the Samnites were now in Apulia before Luceria and had almost taken it The Consuls believing this Report made all speed to relieve the Town lest their Allies the Apulians might be oblig'd to join with the Samnites Now the Romans had but two Ways to March to Luceria one large enough but far about the other a narrow Passage through the Straits of Caudium a Place incompassâ—d with high Mountains and extream difficult and dangerous to pass if an Enemy were nigh The Consuls leading their Army through this were immediately block'd up on all sides by Pontius who had possess'd himself of all the Defiles The Samnites having got the Romans at this great Advantage immediately sent to Herennius Pontius's Father to know how to proceed Herennius sent two several Messages the first to dismiss the Romans without any Injury at all the second to put 'em all to the Sword urging That one of thâ—se two Ways was absolutely necessary for the first would lay a perpetual Obligation on a most powerful People and the second would be a great weakning of a most formidable Enemy and that no third Way cou'd either gain
their Friendship or diminish their Strength But this prudent Counsel wou'd not be heard so the Romans had these Articles allow'd 'em First That their Army shou'd march away only with their under Garments having first in Token of Slavery pass'd under the Jugum or Gallows Secondly They shouâ—d wholly quit all Samnium and remove all their Colonies And Thirdly Both Roman and Samnite shou'd live under the same Terms of Confederacy and Alliance The Romans were constrain'd to submit to these disgraceful Articles and with wonderful Shame Anger and Confusion return'd to Capua disarm'd and half naked and from thence to Rome The whole City was most sensibly afflicted at this shameful Disaster their generous Blood boiling in their Veins and nothing but Fury and Revenge appearâ—d in their Faces The Consuls refused to appear abroad or to act for which reason a Dictatâ—r was created for holding the Comitia for a new Election which was Aemilius Papus who appointed Valerius Flaccus for his Master of the Horse But instead of an Election of Consuls the State for a while fell into an Interregnum there being nothing but Grief and Vexation in all Places and the whole City put into Mourning But the Year following Consuls were chosen Papirius Cursor and Publilius Philo being the Persons and the Senate being assembled Posthumius one of the last years Consuls generously offerâ—d himself to be deliverâ—d together with his Collegue up to the Enemy and so to break the Caudine Treaty urging That only they two were oblig'd to observe the Articles and not the State which was altogether Ignorant of what was done This was gratefully accepted of but Pontius refusâ—d to receive 'em greatly exclaiming against the Perfidiousness of the Romans But the Army soon march'd against them under the Conduct of Papirius and sufficiently reveng'd themselves of all former Affronts overthrowing 'em in several Battels making em all pass under the Iugum recovering several Towns and freeing the 600 Hostages which they had deliver'd to em in the Caudine Treaty so that the Samnites cou'd very hardly obtain a two years Truce In the time of this Truce two new Tribes were added to the rest namely the Ufentine and Falerine which made the Number thirty one The Samnites incouragâ—d by some others broke their Truce which together with the Hetrurians warlike Preparations occasionâ—d the Creation of a Dictator which was L. Aemilius who made L. Fulvius moritious his Master of the Horse and in a bloody Battel overthrew the Enemy who came to relieve Saticula which he had invested The next Year another Dictator was created to carry on this War which was Fabius Maximus who chose Aulius Cerretan for his Master of the Horse and took Saticula managing the War with great Success against the Samnites and considerably inlarging the Roman Dominions in those Parts The following Year a dangerous Conspiracy was discover'd at Capua and this occasion'd the creating of a Dictator which was C. Maenius who made choice of M. Foslius for his Master of the Horse and soon suppressâ—d that Disturbance The next Year the Samnite War was carriâ—d on with great Vigour and a Dictator created which was C. Paetelius who made M. Foslius his Master of the Horse and gain'd great Advantages over the Enemy After which the Romans had a short Breathing Time and but a short one for soon after the Hetrurians making great Threats and as great Preparations another Dictator was created which was Iunius Bubulcus who perform'd little against 'em by reason of their keeping upon the Defensive In this same Year Appius Claudius being one of the Censors made the Famous Cawsey or High-way callâ—d Via Appia a Prodigious Work together with the Channel of Fresh Water which he brought into the City which Works he all alone Accomplishâ—d according to Livy A year or two was employâ—d against the Hetrurians till at last Papirius was made Dictator who chusing Bubulcus his Master of the Horse gave 'em the greatest Overthrow that they ever receiv'd yet all their Choicest Men being lost and from that time they were never able to perform much against Rome Four years after a Dictator was created for holding the Comitia for Election of Consuls which was Cornelius Scipio and Decius Mus was his Master of the Horse In the second Year after this the Samnites after many and great Losses obtainâ—d a Peace 12 Years after they broke their Truce and the Ancient League was renewâ—d with em and this happenâ—d 37 Years after the first War with that Nation Soon after this Peace was concluded the Romans turnâ—d their Arms against the Aequi and chastizâ—d them for Assisting the Samnites which affrighted other Nations into Subjection the Roman Dominions now daily increasing But however such Resistance was made as they thought it necessary to have a Dictator which was Iunius Bubulcus who chose M. Titinius for his Master of the Horse and in Eight days time return'd in Triumph In less than a Year after the Fame of the Hetrurians joyning with the Umbrians a People on the North of them and the Sabines occassion'd the creating of another Dictator which was Valerius Maximus who appointed Aemilius Paulus for his Master of the Horse This Dictator intirely broke the Power of all the Hetrurians reducing all their Territories to the Roman Subjection which happen'd above 420 Years after the first Wars with those People The Umbrians were likewise much weaken'd and lost a considerable Part of their Country the Romans still extending their Dominions on all Sides and continually Increasing their Strength During some sort of Intermission abroad the Commons began to fall into their former dissatisfi'd Humour and the Tribunes much complain'd that all the Priests and Augurs were created out of the Patritians and urgâ—d that the Plebeians might also partake of those Offices The Senate made no great Oppositions as being sufficiently accustom'd to yield in Matters of greater Moment So that whereas at present there were but Four Chief Priests and as many Augurs answering to the Four Tribes in the City now Four more were added and to those Five more out of the Body of the Commons And in this same Year Valerius the Consul preferr'd a Law of Appeal more carefully enacted which was the third time this Law was confirm'd since the Expulsion of the Kings and always occasionâ—d by the same Family The same Consul fell upon the Aequi who were now in Rebellion and in a little time they had nothing left 'em of their Ancient Fortune but the Stoutness of their Tempers The following Year was a Lustrum and Two new Tribes were added to the former namely the Aniensis and the Tarentine which now made the whole Number Thirty three The City was also much increas'd for at the next Lustrum five Years after there were cess'd no less than 262322 free Citizens Within a Year after this the Samnites after six Years Respite broke their League with the
of Ianus continued shut and in the sixth was open'd by a War with the Illyrians a People nigh Greece who inhabited that Country which is now call'd Dalmatia for Teuta Queen of that Nation elevated by her Prosperity in Peace gave her Subjects Commission to rob all they met with at Sea some of which happen'd to be Merchants of Italy whom they used very Barbarously Upon Intelligence of this the Romans dispatch'd two Ambassadors Caius and Lucius Coruncanus to Illyricum to demand Satisfaction Teuta told 'em That she would take care that no publick Injury shou'd be offer'd to the Romans but she thought it was never the Custom of Princes to hinder their Subjects from making what private Advantage they cou'd from the Sea But Lucius smartly told her That the Romans had learn'd a better Custom which was to punish Private Injuries with a Publick Revenge and to relieve the Distressed and they by the help of the God's would take care to reform her Princely Customs The Queen took this Freedom so heinously that contrary to the Law of Nations she sent after the Ambassadors and slew Lucius This so enrag'd the Romans that War was immediately Proclaim'd against her and the two Consuls sent to Illyricum Fulvius with a Fleet and Posthumius with a Land Army Fulvius had Corcyra surrender'd to him at his first Appearance before it and soon after took Apollonia then the Armies joyning the Consuls reliev'd Dyrrhachium which was Invested by the Illyrians Soon after most of the Illyrick Towns were surrendred to the Consuls whereupon the Queen retir'd with a few Followers to Rhizon a strong Town and the Spring after sent to Rome to beg Peace which was granted upon these Terms First To pay a yearly Tribute Secondly To quit all Illyricum except a very few Places And Thirdly Not to Sail beyond the River Lissus with more than two Barks and those unarm'd Thus ended the first Illyrian War in less than two Years time V. These Wars in Illyricum still Inlarg'd the Roman Dominions and their generous Behaviour gainâ—d 'em as much Love as their Valour had got 'em Reputation in those Parts particularly among the Athenians and Corinthians the latter of which pass'd a Decree in Honour of 'em which made 'em free of the Isthmian Games one of the Four Solemn Exercises of Greece And this same Year were the Praetors encreas'd to Four one being sent to the Province of Sicily and another to that of Sardinia In the mean time Domestick Disturbances about the Division of Lands taken from the Gauls awakened that Nation who concluding that the Romans Fought more out of Covetousness than Glory began that War which the Latine Historians call'd Bellum Gallicum Cisalpinum These fierce People now joyn'd in Confederacy sent â—ver the Alps for other Gauls callâ—d Gessatae nigh the River Rhosne who came over with a Prodigious Force and joyning with the rest made an Irruption into Hetruria with an Army of 50000 Foot and 20000 Horse The Romans to oppose 'em made the greatest Preparations that had been known all Italy being up in Arms to the number of Seven or Eight hundred thousand Men which were plac'd in several Parts to be in readiness upon all Occasions And the Consuls themselves led a particular Army of 50â—00 Foot and 4200 Horse The Gauls now entring Hetruria wasted all with Fire and Sword till they came to Clusium about three Days Journey from Rome where they were block'd up by the Romans the Praetor on their Back and the Consuls before possessing themselves of all the Passes Insomuch that they were forc'd to form Two Fronts and Fight very disadvantageously both by reason of their Nakedness and the Unfitness of their Arms. But the Vanity of the Gessatae prov'd the most injurious to 'em for they throwing off all their Cloaths would needs fight naked and begin the first Charge and these being easily broken so discourag'd the rest that all fled The Gauls were miserably slaughter'd 40000 of 'em being kill'd and 10000 taken Prisoners among the rest Concolitanus a King of the Gessatae The Consuls obtain'd a most Splendid Triumph for this Victory scarce any being more remarkable for the Number of the Prisoners or the Variety and Value of the Spoils The next Year great Inroads were made into the Territories of the Gauls they being several times overthrown At which time the Consuls being abroad a Dictator was created to hold the Comitia for a new Election which was Caecilius Metellus and Fabius Buteo his Master of the Horse or Lieutenant The Gauls were now so harass'd and weakned that they sent Ambassadors to Rome to beg Peace on any Terms but Claudius Marcellus and Cornelius Scipio put a stop to that Affair and stirr'd up the Multitude to continue the War Whereupon the Gauls now grown desperate resolv'd to make their last Efforts and procur'd â—0000 Auxiliaries from the Gessatae The Consuls March'd into the Country of the Insubres and open'd the Campaign with the Siege of Acerrae whereupon the Gauls invested Clastidium a Confederate Town of the Romans Marcellus with two Thirds of his Cavalry and a small Detachment of Light-Arm'd Foot-men March'd both Night and Day towards the Enemy and notwithstanding the great Inequality of the Numbers and the extraordinary Fatigues of the long Marches he fell upon 'em and after a Bloody Battel overthrew ' em Marcellus with his own Hands kill'd Virdomarus King of the Gessatae and dedicated the third Opima Spolia or Royal Spoils to Iupiter Feretrius obtaining likewise a Noble Triumph Those that escap'd fled to Mediolanum now callâ—d Milan the Chief City of the Insubrian Gauls which being shortly after taken the Gallick War was ended after Six Years Continuance to the considerable Enlargement of the Roman Dominions Colonies being planted not long after at Cremona and at Placentia About this time a Multitude of Libertini or Freed Slaves which liv'd dispers'd among all the Tribes gave great Disturbances to the City which occasion'd the Censors at the next Lustrum to confine all these to four Tribes namely Esquilina Palatina Suburrana and Collina at which time were also 170213 Free Citizens cess'd In the same Censorship C. Flaminius one of the Censors built a Cirque and Pav'd the High-way as far as Ariminum 130 Miles both which great Works were afterwards call'd by his Name Within a Year after the Illyrians revolting were reduc'd by Aemilius and Livius the Consuls tho' with some Difficulty and Trouble But the greatest Concern the Romans had now was the successful Progress of the Carthaginians in Spain who now had gain'd a great Part of that Country and more than all had taken Saguntus a Town in Alliance with Râ—mâ— after they were desirâ—d to desist This causâ—d the Romans to send their Ambassadours to Carthage to require their General Hannibal to be deliver'd up and if that were not granted to denounce War The Ambassadours finding the Carthaginians very little inclin'd to give any Satisfaction
was disappointed with considerable Loss and to his great Surprize was surrounded by Pompey with an Intrenchment of above eighteen Miles Circuit Whereupon hearing that Marcius was join'd Pompey he betook himself to Flight having first killed all such as were sick and useless about him But Pompey pursuâ— d him so close that before he cou'd pass the River Euphrates he forc'd him to an Engagement in the Night The Moon being very low and on the Backs of the Romans so lengthen'd their Shadows that the Enemies thinking â—em nigher than really they were shot most of their Arrows without doing Execution Here Mithridates lost many Thousands of Men but he himself broke through with 800 Horse of which only 300 stay'd with him Then sorrowfully wandring through the Woods with his Horse in his Hands he accidentally met with some Mercenaries and about 3000 Foot by whose Assistance he was convey'd into a Castle where he had laid up much Treasure From hence he sent to Tigranes who now refused to receive him alledging that his Son upon his Account had rebellâ— d against him Whereupon Mithridates fled to Colchis which he had formerly conquered and Pompey followed him thinking he would not have stirr'd thence but he immediately passed into Scythia where partly by Force and partly by Perswasions he obligâ— d the Princes of that County to be of his Party bestowing his Daughters in Marriage upon some of 'em having still vast Designs in his Mind even of passing through Thrace Macedâ—nia Pannonia and so over the Alpes into Italy it self Pompey in a short time left Colchis and getting clear of the Ambuscades laid for him by the Albanians and Iberians directed his March to Armenia against Tigranes who now resolvâ— d not to fight upon the Account of the Rebellion of his three Sons he had by Mithridates's Daughter two of which he had executed and the third after an Overthrow had fled to Pompey Tigranes's Ambassadors coming to desire a Peace this Son so far prevail'd that they cou'd not be heard shortly after Pompey invested the City Artaxata which Tigranes immediately surrender'd and shortly after came himself into Pompey's Camp making him Mediator between him and his Son who wou'd not so much as rise up to his Father or shew him any Respect whatsoever But Pompey received him with extraordinary Civility allowing him the greatest Part of his former Dominions and his Son the rest but took away all his Conquests and fin'd him 6000 Talents of Silver for the Charge of the War Tigranes was by these Articles oblig'd to quit many conquerâ—d Territories particularly all Syria and Phoenicia and Euphrates to the Sea but his Son was still very refractory refusing Obedience and threatning the Death of his Father for which he was shut up in Prison by Pompey and reservâ—d for a Triumph and not long afterwards he was put to Death Tigranes being now reconcil'd to the Romans paid more than his Fine and made Presents to every Officer and Soldier for which he was esteem'd a Friend and Allie of the Romans Pompey restor'd Cappadocia to Ariobarzanes giving him also Gordiena and Sophena with Cabala a City of Cilicia and other Places after which with some Opposition he constrain'd the Albanians and Iberians to beg Peace Thus prosperous was this great Commander who still design'd larger and more glorious Conquests and therefore passing over the vast Mount Taurus he march'd against Darius the Median and Antiâ—chus King of Syria for molesting the Roman Allies or assisting their Enemies Whereupon Phraates King of Parthia who had been call'd into Gordiena by Tigranes's Son terriyâ—d at his great Exploits sent to beg Peace of him which he granted not but sent Afraneus into into Gordiena to expel his Forces and restore that Country to Tigranes Phraates upon this invading Armenia Tigranes sent to Pompey for Succour who being unwilling to commence a War with Phraates without positive Orders from Rome sent three Commissioners to make an Accommodation But for Antiâ—chus to whom Lucullus had granted Syria for his Inheritance he first intended to betake himself to the Assistance of Phraates but upon mature Deliberation he resolved to yield himself to Pompey â—S Generosity But Pompey having now possess'd himself of all his Country without Resistance refusâ—d to grant him what he expected and what he knew he was unable to keep from the Incursions of the Jews and Arabians on both sides of him And the better to excuse himself told him That since the Romans had been at such Charges and Pains to conquer Tigranes it wou'd be unreasonable that the Reward shou'd fall to another Therefore he only allow'd him that Part of Syria call'd Comagena and in a short Time after extending his Conquests farther over the Ituraeans and Arabians he reduc'd all Syria into a Roman Province The Time that Pompey was proceeding in these Successfull Expeditions Mithridates sent to him to desire Peace but being order'd to come to him himself he refus'd it and proceeded in his Preparations for War After which many of his Places revolted and many of his Friends with one of his Sons were executed upon that Account Yet still he design'd to pass into Europe there to join with the Gauls and invade Italy but the Unwillingness of his Soldiers to this difficult Expedition and the Rebellious Designs of his Son Pharnaces causâ—d his Armyâ—s Revolt and his Ruine his Son being shortly after faulted King Mithridates now under Confinement seeing this from an Upper-Room sent to his Son to ask leave to depart but in vain who bidding his Father Die he cry'd out with many bitter Imprecations That he might one Day hear the same Words from his own Children Then coming down to his Wives Daughters and Concubines he gave 'em all Poison and fearing to be delivered up to the Romans he took some himself but having much us'd his Body to Antidotes particularly to that Sort which still goes by his Name the Poison wou'd not operate whereupon he wounded himself but that not dispatching him soon enough he call'd to one Bitaeus a Gaul who got in through the broken Wall and by his Hands he dy'd Thus fell Mithridates a Man who sometimes in Fortune and at all times in Courage was of the highest Rank in Direction a skilful Commander in Execution a great Soldier and in Hatred to the Romans a second Hannibal having made longer Opposition than he And thus ended the Mithridatick War after twenty five Years and eleven since it last broke out a War which in the Beginning happened to be dangerous to the Roman State as creating other Mischiefs but in the End provâ—d very glorious and advantageous to it by the Addition not only of all Mithridates's Dominions but likewise of many other rich Countries in Asia Pompey when the News of Mithridates's Death was brought to him was near Iericho marching towards Ierusalem against Aristobulus King of Iudea who had depos'd his elder Brother Hyrcanus and usurp'd his Kingdom Hyrcanus
with all imaginable Silence leaving only some Archers and Slingers upon the Walls who were order'd to make their Retreat in small Boats on purpose as Soon as his Soldiers were got on Board The Inhabitants of the Town provokâ—d by the Ruin of their Houses advisâ—d Caesar of their Retreat who immediately put his Troops into Order and orderâ—d Ladders to be planted at the same Moment that Pompey shou'd give the Signal to his Archers who notwithstanding secur'd their Retreat by certain private Paths which they were acquainted with So that Pompey got all his Troops on Board immediately weighâ—d Anchor Caesar's Men got over the Walls and had fallen into the Pits prepar'd for 'em had not timely Warning from the Inhabitants prevented it This was a considerable stop to 'em but not so great but they had time enough with some small Vessels to seize upon two of Pompey's Ships which through hast had run themselves a-ground while the rest made what Sail they cou'd and favâ—d themselves Thus did Pompey with great Skill and Diligence make his escape and thus did Caesar in sixty Days time become Master of all Italy with-little or no Bloodshed IV. Caesar finding he couâ—d not follow Pompey for want of Shipping resolv'd to pass over into Spain to drive out Pompey's Troops all old Soldiers under the Command of Afranius and Petreius but first he design'd for Rome to settle there some Sort of Government He likewise sent a considerable Force into Sicily and Sardinia the one kept by Cato and the other by Aurelius Cotta but both were abandonâ—d by them upon the Arrival of Caesar's Troops Caesar in his Journey to Rome gave Cicero a Visit but cou'd not perswade him to go thither with him tho' much Civility pass'd between em Upon his arrival at Rome he compos'd a Body of such Senators as he found there and call'd them the Senate and when they were assembled made 'em a plausible Speech in Justification of all his Actions then he proposâ—d the sending of Ambassadours to Pompey but finding none to undertake that Office he began to consider about furnishing himself with Money and his Recourse was to the publick Treasury which he wouâ—d have had open'd but Metellus the Tribune boldly oppos'd him in that alledging That the Money was Sacred that the Laws forbad it and horrible Imprecations had been denounced against such as touch'd it upon any Occasion but the Gallick War To which Caesar replyâ—d That Arms and Laws seldom agreed well together and that he had remov'd the former Reasons by reducing all Gaul to the Roman Obedience and immediately went to the Doors of the Treasury but the Keys cou'd not be found whereupon Caesar sent to the People to break open the Locks and when Metellus had still the Boldness to dispute it with him in a great Rage he laid his Hand upon his Sword threatning to kill him with these words Know young Man that it is harder for me to say this than to do it Which so terrify'd Metellus that he retir'd Caesar took out 3000 pound weight of Gold out of the Treasury and ever after that had the Treasury at his Command in all his Wars After this Caesar departed from Rome upon his Spanish Expedition and knowing all Pompey's Circumstances said with his usual Confidence That he went to find an Army without a General and then he wou'd come back to find a General without an Army He receiv'd News in Provence that the People of Marseilles had resolv'd to refuse him Entrance that Domitius had got thither with seven Gallies fillâ—d with Slaves Libertines and Peasants that belonged to his Lands and that the Marsiillians had call'd down all the Inhabitants of the neighbouring Mountains to their Assistance When Caesar sent to 'em to submit they return'd for Answer That they resolv'd to take part with neither Casar nor Pompey to both whom they had equal Obligations Caesar incensed at their Proceedings immediately besieg'd the Town with three Legions and order'd twelve Ships of War to be buâ—lt at Arles which were compleated in a Month and brought before Marseilles Caesar finding the Siege like to be very tedious left D. Brutus to command the Ships and C. Trebonius to carry on the Siege and so departed for Spain with all speed where Fabius whom he had sent before joyn'd him with three Legions which together with his own Forces made a noble Army Upon a Report in that Country That Pompey was coming by Way of Mauritania to Command his Troops in Person Caesar us'd extream Diligence and to assure himself of his Men he Borrow'd Money of all his Officers which he Distributed among his Soldiers by that means engaging his Officers by their own Interests and his Soldiers by his Liberality Afranius and Petreius were then posted nigh the City Ilerda in Catalonia with sufficient Forces Caesar advanc'd towards 'em and Encamp'd along the River Segre over which Fabius had laid two Bridges but endeavouring to get between the River Herde and the Enemies Camp a Bloody Contest ensu'd which continu'd for many Hours in which Caesar's Men were much surprizâ—d with the Enemies irregular Way of Fighting fearing to be hemm'd in till by Caesar's Incouraging 'em they press'd forward into a dangerous Place which they still Maintain'd for Five Hours and then retreated in Good Order Both Parties attributed to themselves the Honour of the Victory Caesar for driving the Enemy before him and Afranius for keeping the Post for which they Fought Afranius had Greater Appearance of Advantage shortly after for the continual Rains carry'd away Caesar's two Bridges and hinder'd the River from being fordable any where Which reduc'd him to Great Streights not being able to get Provisions nor to joyn a Supply of Forces that came to him from Gaul nor yet to rebuild his Bridges by reason of the Violence of the Stream and the Opposition he met with from the Enemy who lay on the other side of the River The News of this gave such great Hopes to Pompey's Party at Rome that they went in Great Numbers to Afranius's Wife to Congratulate her Husbands Good Fortune and several of the Senators who were Neuters before went over to Pompey and among them Cicero himself though he took an Opportunity of leaving him again shortly after But all these Great Hopes vanishâ—d by means of Caesar's extraordinary Diligence who causâ—d slight Boats cover'd with Leather to be made and while the Enemy were diverted by endeavouring to Intercept some Gauls who were coming to joyn him he carried the Boats in Wagons twenty Miles distant from his Camp put 'em upon the River and with a wonderful Quickness and Dexterity caus'd his Legions to pass the River by which means he re-built the Bridges Thus he re-establish'd his Passage got Provisions joyn'd the Forces which came to his Assistance by his Great Skill astonish'd the Enemy and Gain'd so much Reputation as together with the News of Brutus's Beating the Marseillians by Sea gain'd him
Upon this Cato recoverâ—d his Spirits and being transported with Fury thrust back the Physician rent open his Wound again and tearing his Bowels expir'd before their Eyes Thus dy'd Cato a Person of singular Justice Severity and Magnanimity upon the hearing of whose Death Caesar said Cato has eâ—vyâ—d me the Glory of saving his Life and therefore do I envy his Death designing as was thought to have conquerâ—d him by his Kindness and Generosity His Death compleatly finish'd Caesar's War in Africk Africk being entirely reduc'd to Subjection Caesar return'd to Rome to triumph for all his Victories and first to obtain the Favour of the People he gave 'em to understand That his last Victory had gainâ—d the Commonwealth of Rome a Country so large and rich that it cou'd yearly furnish the City with 200000 Bushels of Corn and 3000000 Pounds of Oil. After this he order'd the Preparations for his Triumph upon four successive Days the first design'd for the Triumph over Gaul shew'd in a great many Tables the Names of 300 Nations and 800 Cities conquer'd by the Death of a Million of Foes whom he had defeated in several Battels The second Triumph was over Aegypt The third shew'd the Defeat of Pharnaces in Asia And the fourth that of King Iuba in Africk which Triumphs were over Foreigners not Romans Here was the utmost Shew of Magnificence and all the Roman Soldiers follow'd their great General crown'd with Laurels and in that Equipage he went to the Capitol the Steps whereof he mounted upon his Knees forty Elephants being rang'd on each Side carrying great Candlesticks fill'd with Flambeaus The Silver Vessels and Statues of Goldsmith's Work which were us'd in these Triumphs amounted to 65000 Talents which is above twelve Millions of our Money besides 1822 Crowns of Gold weighingâ— 15033 l. which were Presents that the Princes and Cities had made him after his Victories according to the Customs of those Times Out of these Summs he paid his Soldiers besides what he had promisâ—d them in the beginning of the Civil Wars To every one 150 Pounds of our Money as much more to the Centurions and twice as much as that to the Tribunes and Commanders of the Cavalry and for their Retreat after the Wars he gave them Inheritances in several Places separated from Italy The People also were sensible of his Bounty for he distributed to each particular Person ten Bushels of Corn and ten Pounds of Oil and added 100 Denarii to the 300 he had promis'd 'em before Atfer this he nobly entertain'd the whole People at 22000 several Tables and that nothing might be wanting to the Pomp and Magnificence of these Feasts he caus'd 2000 Gladiators to fight before the People and made Representations of Sea and Land-Fights of four or five Thousand Men of a side besides all sorts of Plays and Shows These Entertainments drew so many People to Rome that the greatest part of 'em were forc'd to lie in the open Air and a great many were stifâ—ed in the Press among the rest two Senators Many great Honours were after this conferr'd upon Caesar among which was that of Master of Manners as if the Name of Censor was too mean for three Years all joyning to shew their great Forwardness in preferring him some out of Love and Respect others out of Fear and Flattery And indeed many began to dread the Severities of Marius and Sylla but Caesar's extraordinary Civility to both Parties and the Greatness of his Nature in a great measure freed 'em from any such Fears He began now to settle the Common-wealth and make many new Laws He committed the Power of Judicature to the Senators and Equites alone and both by Laws and his own Care he restrain'd the profuse Way of Living of rich Persons And because the City was manifestly exhausted by reason of Multitudes quitting it he propos'd Rewards to all such as had many Children Then considering that by his long Command in Gaul he himself had Opportunity of establishing an extraordinary Power by a Law he ordain'd That no Praetor shou'd Command above a Year in his Province nor a Consul above two Years after the Expiring of his Office Moreover to shew that nothing shou'd escape his Care he undertook to regulate the Roman Year which was at this time very much confounded and tho' Numa the second King of Rome had bestow'd much Pains about it yet still the Reckoning according to Lunar Months and the odd eleven Days and a quarter caus'd a great many Inconveniencies Whereupon Caesar after his consulting the most able Astronomers being also himself very well instructed in that Science whereof he had written regulated the Year according to the Course of the Sun allotting to each Year 365 Days and adding one Day more every fourth Year which was call'd the Bissextile and this is the Method which we to this Day follow and goes still by the Name of the Iulian Account and the Old Stile whereas the New Stile is call'd the Gregorian Account In this same Year flourish'd Catullus the Poet one of the principal Epigrammatists of all the Romans IV. While Caesar was thus employ'd in the Affairs of the Common-wealth the two Sons of Pompey had fortify'd themselves in Spain and as the People still passionately affected the Memory of their Father they soon gather'd together a powerful Army they also had very good Officers and among the rest Labienus which oblig'd Caesar to go in Person to oppose their Proceedings tho' not without some Unwillingness by reason that his beloved Mistress Cleopatra was now at Rome He was now just made Consul again and likewise Dictator for another Year and Lepidus who was Consul with him he chose for his Master of the Horse Caesar proceeded in his Expedition with his wonted Vigour and Celerity and arriv'd in Spain before the Enemy so much as imagin'd it Cneius the eldest of the two Pompey's had laid Siege to the City of Ulla and Sextus the younger Brother was in Corduba with a strong Garrison Caesar to raise the Siege and to give some Jealousie to Cneius advanc'd towards Corduba which occasion'd him to raise the Siege before Ulla and come and oppose Caesar but Caesar finding he cou'd not draw him to a Battel went and invested Attegna a Place of great Importance and full of Provisions This Siege lasted some considerable time and the Pompeys endeavour'd to throw in Succours into the Town but in vain till at last it was constrain'd to eapitulate Caesar being Master of this several other Places submitted to him and the Pompeys marching up and down and fearing the rest shou'd revolt were resolv'd to come to a general Battel their Army being now encamp'd in the Plains of Munda and Caesar's not far distant Both Generals were equally impatient to come to an Ingagement so that Cneius drew up his Men by Break of Day well posting himself upon a Hill and the Exactness of their Order shew'd his Troops to great Advantage especially his Cavalry who were very well arm'd Caesar with great Art drew up his Troops likewise and after he had advanc'd a little Distance from his Trenches made a Halt expecting the Enemy to
got home they presented themselves before Poplicola but he fearing the dangerous Consequences such an Act might occasion sent them all back to Porsena which Tarquin understanding laid an Ambuscade for them and their Convoy but they were rescu'd by Aruns Porsena's Son Porsena examining them was so much taken with the extraordinary Courage and good Behaviour of Claelia presented her with one of his own Horses sumptuously equip'd and gave her Power of disposing of a set number of the Hostages which she did with much Discretion chusing out the Youngest as being less able to bear Injuries and Hardships Then to give a further Testimony of his great Respect to the Romans besides other pieces of Magnificence he commanded all his Soldiers to leave the Camp with only their Arms delivering to the Romans his Tents well furnish'd with Provisions and Riches On the other side the Romans to shew their Gratitude and to preserve his Memory erected a Statue for him by the Senate House and another to Claelia as Livy relates it which was a Maid on Horseback in the Street call'd Via Sacra giving likewise to Mutius a Field beyond the Tiber afterwards call'd Mutia Prata Thus ended the Hetrurian War much to Tarquin's Dissatisfaction and soon after Herminius and Lartius who had so bravely defended the Bridge were together chosen Consuls IV. A Year or two after the Sabines began to be very troublesome making Incursions into the Roman Territories M. Valerius being one of the Consuls by the Instructions of his Brother Poplicola obtain'd great Honours overthrowing 'em twice the last time killing 13000 with little or no Loss to the Romans Besides his Triumph he had the additional Honour of a House built for him at the publick Charge The Year following when Poplicola was Consul the fourth time the whole Nation of the Sabines joyn'd in Confederacy with the Latines against Rome but Appius Clausus an Eminent Man among the Sabines for Riches Valour and Eloquence being much against the War first retarded their Preparations then after a short time came over to the Romans with 5000 Families of his Friends and Dependants These had a considerable quantity of Land and large Priviledges allow'd 'em besides their Freedom especially Clausus himself who was made also a Senator and the Clausâ— afterwards call'd Claudii became as great a Family as any in Rome Soon after this the Tribes of the Roman State were encreas'd from Four to One and twenty and one of the four in the City was call'd Tribus Claudia from the foremention'd Appius Claudius and this remarkable Change happ'ned in the 250th Year of this City but upon what Account and by whose Means it was effected Historians are very silent The Sabines having made all necessary Preparations advanc'd with all the Troops to Fidenae laying an Ambuscade of 2000 Foot whereof Poplicola having some Notice by Deserters he divided his Forces into three Parts and taking the advantage of a Mist fell upon the Enemy on so many Sides that only the nigh Distance of Fidenae sav'd 'em from being all cut off the Romans obtaining large Plunder and Poplicola a noble Triumph Not long after Poplicola having ended his Consulship dy'd and the People as well upon the account of his Poverty as to shew their Respect to so great and serviceable a Person decree'd he shou'd be bury'd at the Publick Charge and by a favour peculiar to that Family alone within the City This was perform'd with an equal Mixture of Pomp and Sorrow the Women by a general Consent mourning for him a whole Year as they had before done for Brutus In the same Year Posthumius and Meneniâ—s being Consuls the Sabines once more drawing together a numerous Army march'd up almost to the Walls of Rome As the Consuls advanc'd towards 'em Posthumius fell into an Ambuscade lost many of his Men and narrowly escap'd himself which unfortunate Disadvantage put the Citizens into so great a Consternation that they ran back with all speed to their Walls expecting when the Enemy shou'd attack the City But the Enemy making no such Attempt they march'd out again resolving to redeem their lost Credit and Posthumius more concern'd than the rest behav'd himself nobly and together with his Collegue obtain'd a notable Victory which had been finish'd with the entire Ruine of the Sabines had not the Night interpos'd For the greatness of this Victory the Senate decreed Menenius a full Triumph but Posthumius by reason of his ill Success in the beginning had only an inferior one which the Romans call'd Ovation so nam'd from the Letter O as it is said which the Soldiers in way of Joy were wont to eccho at their return from Victory whereas in Triumphs they cri'd Io Triumphe Now an Ovation differ'd from a Triumph properly so call'd in these Particulars namely that in an Ovation the General enter'd the City on foot and not in a Chariot that he was met only by the Knights and Gentlemen not by the Senators in their Robes that he himself had only the pretexta toga the ordinary Habit of Consuls and Praetors and not the Robe interwoven with Gold And lastly That he had not a Sceptre in his Hand but had only Laurel and a Wreath of Myrtle on his Head The Year following Cassius and Virginius being Consuls the Sabines receiv'd another great Overthrow at Cures 10300 being kill'd and 4000 taken Prisoners which Defeat forc'd 'em to beg Peace and purchase it with Corn Money and part of their Lands While Cassius did this good Service against the Sabines his Collegue Virginius subdu'd the Camarinaeans who had revolted and having executed the Ring-Leaders he sold the rest and demolish'd the City And thus ended the Contests with the Sabines for a while V. Tarquin still restless and unsatisfy'd by the Assistance of Mamilius Octavius his Son-in-Law stirr'd up the whole Body of the Latines to declare War against Rome and moreover had procur'd Fidenae to revolt But the Senate prudently declin'd making War with all the Latines well knowing that many of 'em were rather inclin'd to live in Peace therefore at first they block'd up Fidenae which had receiv'd some of Tarquin's Forces Tarquin meeting with no greet Success now endeavour'd to accomplish his Designs a more easie Way by fomenting Differences and Quarrels between the Rich and Poorer sort of Rome for the effecting of which he happen'd on a very convenient Opportunity for his purpose For about this time the common People who were burden'd by Usury were much dissatisfi'd with the present State of Affairs especially with the unreasonable Severity of Creditors who generally seiz'd upon the Body of their Debtors and us'd 'em worse than Slaves Tarquin being sensible of all this sent certain of his Friends with good quantities of Gold giving 'em some in hand and promising more after the King's Restoration and thereby procur'd a Conspiracy of many poor Citizens and discontented Slaves But the whole Matter
Afflictions and Severities of Fire and Sword and was the true Scene of all kind of Misery and Desolation the Town deserted by its Inhabitants and all its stately Buildings a heap of Rubbish no hopes being left but in the Capitol which was now closely besieg'd by the Gauls and in the Banish'd Camillus whose Presence was now heartily wish'd for While the Gauls lay before the Capitol they sent out many Parties to Forage in all the Country about who ravag'd and destroy'd all the Towns and Villages they arriv'd at and that with the greatest Carelesness and Security imaginable conceiving no sort of Opposition or any manner of Danger But the greatest and best order'd Body of their Forces approaching Ardea Camillus who had liv'd there a retir'd Life began to rouse himself from the sullen Resentments of his Wrongs to the moving Considerations of the Miseries of his Country and by a brave and incouraging Speech perswaded all the Ardeans that were able to bear Arms to fall upon the Enemy in the Night time which was done so effectually that scarce any were left to carry the News of the Defeat The Fame of this Victory began to revive the fainting Spirits of the Romans who now found that these dreadful People were not invulnerable and the Romans who lay at Veii now finding Camillus's readiness immediately sent to him to be their General begging of him to forget all former Injuries and succour his distressed Country He objected his banish'd Condition and refus'd to Act unless by Commission from those in the Capitol whom he consider'd as the true Body of the surviving Roman State This modest Answer was extreamly well taken but they cou'd not imagine by what means to send to the Capitol while the Enemy was in full Possession of the City But for the Undertaking this desperate Attempt one Pontius Cominius offer'd his Service which being kindly accepted of he thus perform'd Putting on a poor Garment carrying Corks underneath he went for Rome and arriv'd at the City when it was dark The Bridge he cou'd not pass by reason of the Guards but taking his Cloaths and binding 'em about his Head he swam down the Tiber upon his Corks and avoiding those Quarters where he perceiv'd the Enemy to be awake which he guess'd at by the Lights and Noise he got into the City and from thence to the Capitol climbing up in the steepest Place with extream Danger and Difficulty The Besieged were much surpriz'd at the Greatness of the Attempt and presently giving him his Instructions sent him back the same Way he came and this part of his Expedition he perform'd with the same good Success that he had done the other and upon his Return delivered to Camillus an Order of the Senate to make him Dictator Camillus chose Valerius Potitus for his Master of the Horse and getting together an Army of above 40000 Men he prepar'd to march against the Enemy In the mean while at Rome some of the Gauls hapned to discover some Foot-steps and Prints made by Pontius at his climbing the Hill which being privately told to Brennus their King he order'd a select Party of Men in the dead of Night to climb up the same Way and take the Capitol by Surprize These Men perform'd their Office with great Difficulty and much Time not any of the Dogs appointed for the Watch perceiving it nevertheless it so hapned that some Sacred Geese which were kept by the Temple of Iunâ— by their Gaggling and clapping their Wings discover'd them The Romans every one snatching what Weapon he cou'd did their utmost on this sudden Occasion and Manlius a Patritian of great Courage was the first that made Head against 'em boldly mounting the Rampier and presently tumbling down two of the Enemy at once Others soon came in to his Assistance and drove down all the rest not a Man escaping and the next Morning the Captain of the Watch was thrown Headlong down the Rock and Manlius rewarded as well as Circumstances wou'd permit Henceforwards the Affairs of the Gauls were in a worse Condition first wanting Provisions then infected with the Plague which rag'd much among 'em but still the Besieged cou'd have no Relief being reduc'd to a languishing and desponding Condition for want of Provisions and Necessaries So that after a seven Months Siege they were forc'd to Capitulate and it was agreed That the Romans paying down 1000 Pound weight of Gold the Gauls should immediately quit the City and Territories This Agreement being confirm'd by Oath and the Gold brought forth the Cauls out of Covetousness us'd false Dealings in the weighing pulling back the Balance as they thought fit at which the Romans complaining Brennus cast in his Sword and Belt into the Scales scoffingly crying Vae Victis Woe to the Vanquish'd which afterwards became a Proverb Whilst this Difference lasted Camillus was arriv'd with his Army and hastning with a choice Party of Men to the Place where the Gold was a weighing he came boldly and took it out of the Scales telling the Gauls that it was the Custom of the Romans to deliver their Country with Iron not with Gold Therefore he null'd the Compact because made without his Consent who alone as being then their Dictator had the sole Power of making Peace Upon this therefore a Fight immediately ensu'd where after a most bloody Contest the Gauls were intirely routed and such great Execution done upon 'em in the pursuit that all the Roman Territories were in a short time clear'd of ' em Thus was Rome unexpectedly taken and in seven Months as unexpectedly recover'd Camillus for his excellent Services having a noble Triumph being now deservedly look'd upon as their second Romulus II. After this War was finish'd the Tribunes of the People began to urge once more for the removing to Veii which caus'd the Senate to procure Camillus to hold his Office of Dictator for a whole Year which was six Months longer than the usual time Camillus with kind Words and gentle Language appeas'd the Multitude shewing 'em How unworthy and dishonourable a Thing it wou'd be for 'em to forsake the venerable Seat of their Ancestors and all their Sacred Rites which were appropriated to this Place to inhabit a conquer'd and inslav'd City Upon this therefore Rome was order'd to be rebuilt with all Diligence and all Persons were employ'd about it but it was carry'd on with that Haste and Hurry that the City wanted much of its former Beauty and Regularity and the Water-courses formerly laid in the Streets now ran for the most part under private Houses When Camillus's second six Months were out Military Tribunes were chosen and in the same Year the Aequi Volsci and Hetrurians all took up Arms and invaded the Roman Territories The Military Tribunes were soon block'd up by the Enemy and were brought to such Straits that the Senate made Camillus Dictator a third time and he chose Servilius Ahala for his Master of the
young Men who Jeared one another at first began with Rude and Artless Verses call'd Versus Fescennini from Fescâ—nninum a City of Hetruria This was about 40 Years after the Deaths of Sophocles and Euripides in Greece Still the Plague continu'd which with the Overflowing of Tiber made the Romans Consider of some other Ways and some of the elder People reporting That a Pestilence was formerly asswag'd by the Dictator's driving of a Nail the Senate immediately created a Dictator which was Manlius Capitolinus who appointed Pinarius Natta for his Master of the Horse This Nail with great Ceremony and Superstition was driven on the right side of Iupiter's Temple in the Capitol just by that of Minerva and this was the first Dictator created upon this Account The Year following the Ground cleaving asunder in the Forum to a vast Depth M. Curtius a brave young Soldier is said to have rode into this Gulph Arm'd and with great Solemnity and so being swallow'd up purchas'd the Deliverance of his Country according to the Declaration of their Gods The same Year the Hernici being up in Arms against Rome Genucius the Plebeian Consul marching against 'em was slain and his Army routed which threatning Danger caus'd the Senate to create a Dictator which was Claudius Crassinus who made Cornelius Scipio his Master of the Horse and gain'd so much Advantage over the Enemy as to obtain an Ovation Within a Year after the Gauls were gather'd together in great Numbers and had march'd within three Miles of Rome which put the City into such a Consternation that according to their usual Way in such Cases they created a Dictator and this was Quintius Pennus who had Cornelius Maluginensis for his Master of the Horse The Armies being drawn up on both sides a Gaul of vast Bulk and Stature challeng'd any of the Romans to meet him in a single Combat which Challenge was accepted of by T. Manlius a Courageous young Man who with great Bravery and Agility overthrew his mighty Foe and slew him Then taking a Torques or Golden Chain from his Neck return'd and was Honourably receiv'd by the Dictator and from thence he and his Posterity had the Sirname of Torquatus The Gauls were so discourag'd at this Action that they fled by Night and retired into the Tiburtines Country a People of Latium and the Dictator return'd in Triumph The War with the Tiburtines and Hernici gave the Gauls Opportunity to do much Injury to the Roman Territories which occasion'd the Creation of another Dictator which was Servilius Ahala who chose Quintius Capitolinus for his Master of the Horse and soon quell'd the Gauls but Paetileus the Consul who had been employ'd against the Hernici hapned to come off with the greatest Honour In a Year after Peace was made with the Latines which was advantageous enough to the Romans by reason of their frequent Auxiliaries from them But the Year following the great Preparations of the Gauls caus'd the Senate to create another Dictator which was Sulpitius Peticus who appointed Valerius Poplicola for his Master of the Horse and marching against the Enemy obtain'd a Signal Victory over ' em In this Year were two new Tribes added to the former five and twenty Namely the Pomptine and the Publican About two Years after this the whole Body of the Hetrurians took up Arms against Rome led on by the Tarquinii and Falisci in which great time of Danger Marcius Rutilus a Plebeian was made Dictator which was the first Commoner that ever obtain'd this Honour it being now 143 Years since their first Creation He appointed Plantius Proculus for his Master of the Horse a Plebeian likewise and tho' he was oppos'd by the Patritians as much as they cou'd yet he did great Service against the Enemy and Triumph'd but still against the Senate's Consent The Patritians were so enrag'd at this that at the next Election they took away the Consul-ship from the Commons after they had enjoy'd it ten Years and this hapned in the 399th Year of the City This occasion'd many violent Heats and vast Disturbances between both Parties for three Years successively when some of the Hetrurians press'd so hard upon the Roman Territories that another Dictator was created namely Manlius Torquatus who made Cornelius Cossus his Master of the Horse but the Enemy out of Fear was soon brought to a Peace and so little was perform'd by him Now the Contests and Quarrels at home were grown to that height that the Senate was forc'd to give the Commons once more the Privilege of the Consul-ship four Years after they had taken it from 'em and because Usury again was grown exceeding Burthensome to the poorer Sort they appointed five Men to order the Payment of Debts out of the Treasury So now all Differences were again reconcil'd Soon after this a groundless Apprehension of the Hetrurians who were reported to be all united against Rome occasion'd the Creation of another Dictator which was C. â—fulius who made L. Aemilius his Master of the Horse but he had so little Employment that he left all to the next Consuls who were both Patritians And they went against the Tarquinii and Falisci who were not yet quieted and brought 'em to a Peace for the Term of 40 Years V. Now Rome was for a while at Peace abroad and might have been longer so at home had not Marcius Rutilus the Plebeian Dictator stood for the Office of Censor and rais'd new Disturbances The Plebeians urg'd it hotly but the Patritians the better to oppose 'em procur'd a Dictator to be created which was M. Fabius Q. Servilius being his Master of the Horse but still without Success for after many Contests the Plebeian Faction prevail'd and Marciâ—s was made one of the Censors which was the first Plebeian Censor in this City it being 92 Years after their first Creation The next Year a considerable Victory was obtain'd over the Gauls who now grew troublesome again and one of the Consuls being wounded and the other sick the Senate was forc'd to create a Dictator for assembling the Comitia for a new Election of Consuls which was Furius Camillus who made Cornelius Scipio his Master of the Horse and this was the Dictator created upon this account Camillus himself was chosen for one Consul and the Death of his Collegue soon after and the pressing Wars with the Gauls caus'd the Senate to give him the sole Authority so that he was almost the same with a Dictator Camillus led a noble Army against the Gauls and when they were in sight of each other a Gaul remarkable both for his Stature and the Richness of his Arms challenged any of the Romans to a single Combate M. Valerius a brave young Colonel of the Foot met him and in a little time slew him but in the midst of the Combat a Crow came and sitting upon Valerius's Head with Beak and Wings assisted him in his Fight
the Army he either forcâ—d or by former Agreement brought Albinus to submit upon most dishonourable Terms In this Condition did Metellus the following Consul find Affairs and the whole Army was almost ruin'd for want of Discipline to the great Dishonour of the Roman State and the grievous Vexation of the honester sort in the City Metellus having with much difficulty brought his Soldiers into good Order within the space of two years overthrew Iugurth several times forc'd him out of several Towns and pursu'd him beyond her own Frontiers which constrainâ—d him to submit and beg Peace but he in a short time broke the Conditions of it and so the former Hostility return'd At this time one C. Marius was Legatus or Lieutenant to Mâ—tellus a Person of Frugality Policy and Military Experience and of vast Courage in War a Contemner of Pleasure but very ambitious of Honour which made him extreamly desirous to gain the Consulship To obtain this he privately blam'd Metellus to the Merchants of Utica avowing That he was able with half the Army to take Jugurth Prisoner and that within few Days By these and the like detracting Discourses he procurâ—d many Complaints to be written to Rome against Metellus and getting leave to go thither obtainâ—d the Consulship and had likewise the management of the War committed to him Notwithstanding the People were so grateful to Metellus that at his return being satisfy'd as to his Behaviour they both granted him a Triumph and bestow'd upon him the Surname of Numidicus as an additional Honour Marius shew'd himself a very expert Warrior and in a short time took the City Capsa a place very rich and strong and after this another call'd Mulucha `fugurth now finding himself too weak to oppose him any longer procur'd Bocchus King of Mauritania and his Father-in-Law to joyn with him who by the Assistance of his Numerous Cavalry much harrass'd the Roman Army Marius had Invested Cirta and Bocchus approaching to raise the Siege partly by the Number of his Horse reported to be 60000 and partly by the violent Heats and great Dusts the Romans were sorely distress'd and the Fight continuâ—d dangerous and terrible to them for three Days at the end of which a Tempest of Rain falling spoil'd the Enemies Weapons and relievâ—d Marius's Men almost famish'd with Thirst and now the Course of Fortune changing the Two Kings were entirely defeated In another Battel Marius 't is said killâ—d 90000 after which Bocchus began to repent of his Enterprise and sent to Rome to enter into a League which he could not procure nevertheless he obtain'd Pardon for his Crime Not long after Marius took Iugurth in an Ambuscade whither he had drawn him by specious Pretences and deliver'd him up to Sylla his Quaestor who had brought over some Forces from Italy and under Marius he learnt that Skill in War which he afterwards employ'd against him Iugurth with his Two Sons were led in Triumph by Marius and shortly after by Order of Senate he was put to Death and so the Iugurthine War ended after it had continu'd about Seven Years III. At the same time a War was carry'd on against the Cimbri a Vagabond People of Cimbrica Chersonesus now call'd Denmark who joyning with the Teutones a Nation of the Germans made dreadful Irruptions into several Parts of the Roman Dominions particularly Gaul and Spain where they had overthrown several Consuls in the last Battel killing 80000 Romans after which they resolv'd to pass the Alps into Italy Rome began now to be in a great Consternation and Marius having just vanquish'd Iugurtha they made him Consul a â—d time as the only Man thought able to Manage so Threatning a War and to preserve the State While they continu'd in Spain Marius March'd against their Friends the Tolosans in Gaul where King Copilus was taken by Sylla his Lieutenant Being made Consul again the following Year he declin'd Fighting till the Enemies Force was weakned by Delays The next Year in his Fourth Consulship the Enemy in Three several Parties were just upon passing the Alps into Italy and as he attended their Motions it happened that his Army was extreamly afflicted with Thirst the Teutones and Ambrones lying between them and the Water which Necessity brought him to an Ingagement with 'em and in Two Days time he by his excellent Conduct utterly destroy'd 'em taking Theutobocchus their King Prisoner The Cimbri escap'd him and fled over into Italy notwithstanding the Winter-Season and the Alps cover'd with Snow being in vain oppos'd by Catulus both at the Alps and at the River Athesis nigh Verona The Year following Marius was again made Consul and joyning with Catulus was challengâ—d by the Enemy to give Battel Whereupon he fell upon their numerous Army and gave 'em a most dreadful Overthrow their Wives all the while making a wonderful Resistance from the Chariots and when they saw all things in a desperate Condition they in a great Fury first kill'd all their Children and after that themselves About 140000 were slain in this Battel and 60000 taken Prisoners which ended this War after it had continu'd 12 Years Marius the Fifth time and Aquilius Nepos being Consuls The former was then esteem'd the Preserver of his Country and contented himself with one Triumph when he might have had more and his Collegue had now also finish'd the Second Servile War in Sicily which had lasted almost Four Years Notwithstanding these Dangers abroad the City was not without Domestick Troubles which were occasion'd by Saturninus one of Marius's Friends who having been Quaestor at Ostia during a Famine was turn'd out of his Place by the Senate to revenge which usage he procur'd the Tribune-ship But after his Year was expirâ—d Metellus Numidicus formerly mention'd being Censor endeavour'd to remove him from the Senate but was hinderâ—d by his Collegue This so enragâ—d him that he stood again for the Tribunâ—-ship and Nine of the Ten Tribunes being chosen by the Assistance of Marius he Murderâ—d Nonius his Competitor and so obtain'd the Place Now being once again in Power he preferrâ—d a Law for the Division of such Lands as Marius had recoverâ—d in Gaul and compell'd the Senate to Swear to it which Oath Numidicus refusing he set him a day to Answer it before the People but for fear of him and Marius together Numidicus fled to Smyrna in Asia Saturninus procuring the Tribuneship a Third time and finding Memmius Candidate for the Consulship he also caus'd him to be Murder'd to make way for Glaucius the Praetor one of his own Party These base and ungenerous Practices rais'd several Troubles and Commotions in the City and the Senate resolvâ—d to make him Answer it whereupon Marius now a Sixth time Consul perceiving him in a declining Condition very politickly withdrew himself from his Friendship The Consuls were now as in some other Dangerous Times Invested with an unusual and Dictatorian sort of Power the manner of conferring of which was by a
Disturbances in those Parts and relieving â— Cicero Brother to the Orator and one of his Lieutenants who was besieg'd by the Eburones he finish'd his fifth Year's Expedition The next Year Caesar perceiv'd that many of the States of Gaul were dispos'd to a general Insurrection in a great measure upon the account of an imperfect Settlement of Affairs the last Year whereupon he re-inforc'd his Army with three Roman Legions and as many Auxiliaries as he cou'd well procure He pursu'd his Business with great Vigour and openâ—d the Campaign sooner than ordinary thereby to break or at least to weaken their Union He soon subdu'd and reduc'd several Nations of the Gauls as the Nervii first and shortly after the Senones Carnutes and the Menapians while his Lieutenant Labienus reduc'd all the People about Triers After this he built a Bridge and pass'd the Rhine a second time by reason that several of the Germans had enter'd into a Confederacy with the Gauls where after he had made some Attempts upon the Suâ—vi with little Success upon the account of their flying into Woods and impassable Places he turn'd his Arms against the Eburones But while he was ravaging their Territories the Sigambri crossing the Rhine suddenly set upon Cicero's Camp kill'd many and caus'd a great Consternation among his Men but at last were forc'd to retire at the News of Caesar's Approach who after that fell a-fresh upon the Country of the Eburones then call'd a Council in Gaul for the Punishment of all Revolters and providing his Army with all Necessaries drew it into their Winter-Quarters and so ended Caesar's sixth Year's Expedition in the 701st Year of the City IV. During these great Actions in Gaul Pompey and Crassus upon the expiring of the Time of their Consulships began to take care about their several Governments that were allotted ' em Crassus was extremely elevated with the Thoughts of his Expedition into Syria and Parthia promising himself greater Success and Glory that even Pompey himself Therefore he was very forward and diligent in his Preparations The Tribunes hinder'd the raising of Men as much as they cou'd and labour'd to repeal the Laws made for their Expeditions Pompey was well enough satisfy'd sending his Lieutenants into his Provinces being unwilling to leave the City as he pretended because of the general Charge of Provisions committed to him an Honour which Cicero in Recompence for his Ressitution had procur'd him from the Senate that so he might have Authority all over the Roman Empire But Crassus betook himself to Force which when the Tribunes saw themselves unable to withstand they desisted but loaded him with horrible and unheard-of Curses and Imprecations and many exclaimâ—d against it as an unworthy Thing to injure the Parthians who deserv'd no Ill at the Romans Hands but were now in Peace with ' em But Crassus heeding no Reproaches in this case after he had got all things in a Readiness set forward to his Province Pompey the mean time kept himself wholly to the City still contriving how to make himself more great and powerfull in his Country But the Fame of Ceasars Conquests which daily fillâ—d the City began to prove very ungratefull to him who feared nothing so much as a Rival in point of Glory and therefore he set himself to do all that was in his power to diminish the Reputation of Caesar obliging the Magistrates not to publish any Letters they receiv'd till he had forestall'd the Credit of 'em by spreading selfe and disadvantageous Reports This gave great cause of Trouble to many discreet and wise Persons who foresaw the Miseries that wou'd follow from a Rupture between two such Extraordinary Persons and what still augmented their Fears was the Death of Pompey's Wife Iulia Daughter to Caesar which hapned at the same time Pompey most passionately lov'd her and her Wit and Vertue had always a great Ascendant over the Dispositions both of Caesar and Pompey The people of Rome gave sufficient Testimony of the Respect they bore her by publick Demonstrations of their Sorrow and when Pompey wou'd have carry'd her Body to one of his Houses nigh Alba the people wou'd not suffer it but bore it into the Field of Mars where they bury'd it with the greatest Magnificence imaginable From this Moment Pompey resolv'd to pursue nothing but his own particular Advancement and for the restoring himself to the Favour of the People he caus'd a stately Theatre to be built which he dedicated by Plays and other magnificent Shews which were no ways pleasing to Cicero as appears from one of his Epistles While Pompey was managing his Affairs at home and Caesar in the midst of Gaul Crassus was pursuing his Expedition with all Vigour In his Journey he march'd through Ierusalem where he riâ—led the Temple of a great Treasure to the value of 10000 Talents which Pompey to his great Reputation had spar'd He spent many Days in weighing the Treasure of the Idol Goddess in Hierapolis or Edâ—sia in Syria and in his whole Passage he shew'd more of Covetousness than Valour listing many Men and then discharging 'em again for Money He likewise neglected his Opportunities of falling upon the Parthians unprovided despissâ—d the Friendship of the Armenian King who gave him leave to pass through his Country to Parbia and took no care about the refreshing of his Men some City till he had certain News of the Enemy and neglected to pass down the River Selucia as he was adviâ—'d where he might have been supplyâ—d with Provisions by Water This latter Counsel he rejected by means of the cunning Insinuations of Abgarus the Osroenian who having formerly been a Friend and Alley of the Romans was now in the Interests of the Parthians and feeding Crassus with Money to gild over his Treachery gave 'em Notice of all that pass'd in the Roman Camp He likewise persuaded Crassus to lay aside all Thoughts of Selucias and Câ—esiphon and march directly against Surenas the Parthian General This Advice he follow'd and thereby first losing his Son a very hopefull Youth he himself was circumvented by Surenas under Pretence of a Treaty and either slain by his Enemies or killâ—d by some of his own Men to prevent his falling into their Hands His Men were miserably slaughterâ—d to the Number of 10000 besides 10000 taken and his Head carryâ—d to Orodes King of Parthia who caus'd melted Gold to be poured into his Month crying Now satisfy thy self with Gold of which thou always hast been so insatiably greedy Thus fell Crassus in the second Year after his setting out one of the richest Men in all the Roman Empire and by this one of the Heads of the Triumvirate was cut off This laid the foundation of the following Civil War between the other two for while he liv'd he was a Check to â—em both and ballanc'd their Interests but after this an open Field was left for their Ambition and Emulation to work in This happenâ—d in the
Greatness and Magnificence of Rome now found himself reduc'd to seek Retreat with some few of his Friends in a poor Fisherman's Cabbin From whence he went aboard another Vessel and made forward every Day as much as he cou'd but the ungrateful Sound of his Defeat still flew before him which so dejected and confounded him that he cou'd not think of any thing that might be serviceable to him His Assurance of Victory made his Defeat most intolerable leaving him naked and disarm'd of all Relief And his Misfortunes had so infaturated his Mind that he could not so much as use those Advantages he had still by Sea where he had a powerful and victorious Fleet. He sail'd first to Amphipolis then to Lesbos where he took his Wife who bitterly complain'd of the ill Destiny which allid her to Crassus first and afterwards to Pompey only to cause the Ruine of two such Illustrious Families Pompey from thence directed his Course to Aegypt where King Ptolemy a Minor was in War with his Sister Cleopatra whose Father Pompey had setled in his Kingdom Pompey sent to him That in regard of the ancient Hospitality and Amity between him and his Father he desir'd a Retreat of him in Alexandria and that by his Wealth and Power he wou'd support him now fallen into the utmost Misery and Calamity The Message was well enough receiv'd but such as were Protectors of the King and Guardians of the Kingdom now in his Minority either induc'd by the Fear of the Armies being gain'd by Pompey many of 'em having been his Soldiers or else despising the lowness of his Fortune gave a civil Answer openly to the Messengers and desir'd him to come to the King But secretly plotting among themselves sent Achillas a principal Commander and of great Boldness together with Septimius a Roman Tribune to kill him They met him with much Civility and Pompey knowing Septimius to have led a Company under him in his War against the Pirates went aboard a little Bark with a few of his Soldiers and there was barbarously and treacherously murther'd by Achillas and Septimius his Wife and Friends flying with what sail they cou'd make His Head being cut off they left the Body on the Shoar which was carefully taken up by Philip his Freed-Man who gathering up some Pieces of a Broken Boat for a Pile was surpiz'd by an old Roman Soldier of Pompey's residing in Aegypt Who art thou said he that art making these sad Preparations for the great Pompey ' s Funeral Philip answer'd him One of his Freed-Men Ab reply'd he thou shalt not have all this Honour to thy self but suffer me to partake in an Action so Iust and Sacred that among all the Miseries of my Exile I may please my self in having the Honour to touch the Body and assist at the Funeral of the greatest and noblest Soldier that Rome ever produc'd After which they gave him the last Rites the Sadness of which Ceremony was very peculiar Such was the End and such the Funeral of Pompey the Great who after his escaping so many memorable and eminent Dangers where he might have fall'n with the Honour agreeable to the Greatness of his Character came at last to lose his Life miserably by the Hands of three or four Villains he being now in the 58th Year of his Age. This happened near two Years after his Breach with Caesar and this cut off the second Head of the Triumvirate and made way for Caesar's Absolute Power soon after and this hapned in the 706th Year of the City A. M. 3957 about 12 Years after the beginning of the Triumvirate and 46 before our Saviour's Nativity CHAP. III. From the Death of Pompey to the Death of Caesar which finish'd the Power of the first Triumvirate but still kept down the Consular State Containing the space of nigh four Years I. THUS Successful was Caesar in all his Actions especially in the last which Advantage heresolv'd to pursue to the utmost and knowing that all his Enemies Hopes were lodg'd in the Person of Pompey he follow'd him with his usual Diligence And as tho' Fortune was resolv'd never to forsake him Cassius retreating into Asia with a Fleet of 60 Sail fell in among Caesar's little Barks he had provided for his Troops and tho' he might easily have ruin'd Caesar yet Caesar's Presence and Behaviour so over-aw'd him that he immediately surrender'd himself with all his Navy Caesar shortly after arriv'd at Alexandria with two Legions and 800 Horse in ten Galleys of Rhodes and a few Ships of Asia ordering the rest of his Men to follow Tho' these Forces were very inconsiderable the Legions being reduc'd to 3200 Men yet the Confidence he had in his Victories and the high Reputation they had gain'd him made him believe that he shou'd meet with Obedience where-ever he cou'd find Men. Upon his landing at Alexandria he was entertain'd with the News of the Death of Pompey whose Head was presented to him and his Ring which he us'd for his Signet This mournful Spectacle immediately reviv'd the Thoughts of his former Friendship which with the sad Imagination of the fatal Misfortunes that attend the greatest Men drew Tears from his Eyes and made him turn away his Face with Horrour keeping the Ring and sending away the Messenger in a Moment He afterwards to shew his Respect to this great Man caus'd a magnificent Sepulchre to be built by the Place where he was murder'd with a Temple which he call'd The Temple of Wrath. Caesar upon his entry into Alexandria having his Axes and Fasces carry'd before him as Consul the Multitude were much offended as they were at his Landing crying out That the King's Authority was diminish'd which occasion'd Caesar to give Orders for other Legions which were enroll'd for Pompey's Service to be brought to him out of Asia In the mean time as an Argument of his Confidence he made great Entertainments and assisted at the Conferences of Philosophers who were in great Numbers within that City But Photinus the Eunuch who came to Alexandria with the young King daily gave him fresh Marks of his Dissatisfaction and Intention of making use of Arms till at length the Insolence of this Person and probably the Reputation of the admirable Beauty of Cleopatra caus'd him to declare publickly That the Controversie between the King and his Sister belong'd to the Cognisance of the People of Rome and consequently to himself as Consul and the rather because old Problemy by his Will had left his eldest Son and Daughter Heirs and the People of Rome Executors Upon this Account he intended to make up all Differences between 'em and sent to 'em to have 'em rather to plead their Causes before him than to decide the Controversie by the Sword At this time Photinus had the Administration of the Kindgdom and he disdain'd to come to Caesar's Proposals but thereupon procur'd Acbillas to march directly to Alexandria at the Head of 22000 stout Men
Court to him and the fairest Princesses strove to gain his Favour either by the Charms of their Beauty or the Magnificence of their Presents This Crowd of Soveraigns that daily waited in his Anti-Chamber with their Praises and Submissions did most agreeably sooth his voluptous and ambitious Temper He pardon'd all those of Brutus's Party that surrender'd themselves to him except Petronius and Quintus the first was charg'd with being one of the Conspirators and the other with betraying Dolabella in Laodicea But then he took away the Estates of several wealthy Citizens to inrich his Flatterers and Buffoons and assembling the Deputies of all the Subjects and Allies of the Romans in those Parts in a set Speech he insisted upon his Necessities and their Duties and so squeez'd out of the Inhabitants almost all that Money which had been left 'em by Brutus and Cassius After which he went a Progress all over the Country where he frequently gave extraordinary Demonstrations of Generosity and Good-nature He pardon'd Lucius Brother to Cassius and several other of his Enemies in those Parts but he spar'd none that had a Hand in Caesar's Death or were of the Number of the Conspirators so that never any Man's Death was more severely reveng'd than his Anthony then made himself Soveraign Judge of the Differences between the Kings of those Countries as in Cappadocia between Ariarathes and Sysenes for whom the Beauty of his Mother Glaphyra was so powerful as to carry the Crown from his Competitor But among all those Soveraigns in the East which depended upon the Romans none were of such Note as Cleopatra Queen of Aâ—gypt whose Conduct in these last Wars had given her good Reason to fear Anthony For tho' â—he had assisted Dolabella yet at the same time Sâ—rapion her Lieutenant in Cyprus fought for Cassius This she knew had not at all been pleasing to the Triumviri considering what she ow'd to the Memory of Iulius Caesar especially since the Love of that great Man had been sufficiently known to all the World Upon which she resolv'd to meet Anthony and try how much her Wit and Beauty cou'd plead for her since Reason cou'd do so little as if she had been resolv'd to conquer and triumph over the Romans in the Persons of their Generals For besides the Addresses of Iulius Caesar she had receiv'd those of Pompey's eldest Son so that never Beauty was ever signaliz'd with more illustrious Conquests She had such a high Opinion of her Charms that she question'd not but to revive that Flame in Anthony's Heart of which formerly he had given her a Testimony in Aegypt when he had some Command there But above all it was her Wit that most supported this Assurance for tho' her Person was admirable and the Brightness of her Eyes not to be withstood yet there were some at Rome that did not yield to her in the least for Beauty but none cou'd compare with her for her agreeable Wit and her charming Conversation which never fail'd both to please and to persuade These Perfections besides her wonderful Accomplishments in Tongues and Learning made her resolve to go in Person to Anthony in Cilicia who had sent Dellius to cite her to give an Account of her late Conduct Never did any Princess appear in a more singular and magnificent Manner than Cleopatra arriving at the Mouth of the River Cydnus she embark'd in a Vessel whose Stern was of Gold the Sails of purple Silk the Oars of Silver which gently kept time to a Consort of excellent Musick The Queen was laid under a Canopy of rich Cloth of Gold adorn'd like Venus rising out of the Sea with lovely Children about her like Cupids fanning her and her Women habited like Nereids and Graces leaning negligently on the Sides and Shrouds of the Vessel The Sweets that were burning perfum'd the Banks of the River which were cover'd with an infinite Number of People who ran thither with such Eagerness that Anthony who was mounted on a Throne to make a Shew of Majesty was left alone while the Multitude flock'd to the River with extraordinary Delight and Wonder Anthony in civility desir'd her to Land and sup with him but she immediately desir'd his Company first which he wou'd not deny for fear of appearing ill bred He was extreamly surpriz'd at the Neatness and Magnificence of the Entertainment and with the ingenious Placing of the Lights and many other peculiar Contrivances The next Day he in his Turn wou'd Treat her an endeavour'd to out-go her in Sumptuousness but he soon perceiv'd he was far short of it whereupon he turn'd all into Mirth and Railery which she joyn'd with and carry'd on with all the Delicacy and Dexterity imaginable till at last taking a more serious Air in her Discourses she told him That she came not thither to clear her self but to be recompenc'd for the great Services she had done to him and Caesar in assisting Dolabella in Commanding a Fleet in Person in spite of Cassius and his Commanders with many other things which she related with that Artifice and Cunning and that Wit and Pleasantry that Anthony cou'd no longer defend his Heart but from that Moment entertain'd a Passion for her which was the Cause of all the future Misfortunes of his Life He was so strucken with her that he left all his former Business and Honourable Employments and presently follow'd her into Aegypt where first sacrificing to her her Sister Arsione he liv'd with her all the following Year in all the Ease and Softness to which his vicious Temper cou'd prompt him and all the Delights and Pleasures sures with which that luxurious Nation cou'd furnish him II. While Anthony remain'd thus idle in Aegypt Octavius was extreamly busie about settling the Affairs of Italy and dividing the Lands for satisfying the old Soldiers This he found very difficult and not a little dangerous by reason it exasperated so many against him for it was absolutely necessary for him to give up the several Towns allotted for their Recompence or else to satisfie his Soldiers with a proportionable Quantity of Money but that cou'd not be rais'd since the Treasury was so much exhausted Almost all the Inhabitants of the Towns concern'd in this Matter came in great Multitudes to Rome and vast Numbers of Women with Children in their Arms whose tender Years and Inncence drew every one's Compassion daily fill'd the Temples and Publick Places with their Lamentations The People of Rome talk'd very freely and boldly upon this Account whose Complaints and Murmurings Octavius bore with all the Discretion and Cunning imaginable first borrowing what Money he cou'd but finding not that sufficient he at last broke through all Difficulties and gave his Soldiers Places and Lands for their Inheritance as he first design'd The City of Cremona was one that suffer'd most in this Distribution for being so much of Brutus's Party and Mantua by reason of her Neighbourhood had more than her Share in