farther than to Tegea and Theseus and Peirithous being now out of danger having escap'd out of Peloponnesus made an agreement between themselves that he to whom the lot should fall should have Helen to his Wife but should be oblig'd to be ready with his assistance to procure another for his Friend The lot fell upon Theseus who convey'd her to Aphidnae not being yet marriageable and deliver'd her to one of his Allies callâ—d Aphidnus and having sent his Mother Aethra after to take care of her Education desir'd him to keep them so secretly that none might know where they were Which done to return the same service to his Friend Peirithous he accompani'd him in his Journey to Epirus in order to steal away the King of the Molossians Daughter This King his own Name being Aidoneus or Pluto call'd his Wife and his Daughter Proserpina and a great Dog which he kept Cerberus with whom he order'd all that came as Suitors to his Daughter to fight and promis'd her to him that should overcome the Beast But having been inform'd that the design of Peirithous his coming was not to court his Daughter but to force her away he caused them both to be seized and threw Peirithous to be torn in pieces by his Dog and clapt up Theseus into Prison and kept him in Chains About this time Menestheus the Son of Peteus who was great Grandson to Erectheus the first Man that is recorded to have affected Popularity and ingratiated himself with the Multitude stirr'd up and exasperated the most eminent Men of the City who had long born a secret grudge to Theseus and possest them with a belief that Theseus had taken from them their several little Kingdoms and Lordships that so having pent them all up in one City he might use them as his Subjects and Slaves He put also the meaner sort into no small Commotion by accusing them sharply that being deluded with a meer dream of Liberty tho' indeed they were depriv'd both of that and of their Countreys and their Temples instead of many good and gracious Kings of their own they had given themselves up to be lorded over by a New comer and a Stranger Whilst he was thus busi'd in infecting the minds of the Citizens the War that Castor and Pollux brought against Athens came very opportunely to further the Sedition he had been promoting and some say that he by his perswasions was wholly the cause of their invading the City At their first approach they committed no acts of Hostility but peaceably demanded their Sister Helen but the Athenians returning answer that they knew not where she was dispos'd of they prepar'd to assault the City when Academus by what means he came to the knowledge of it is uncertain discover'd to them that she was secretly kept at Aphidnae For which Reason he was both extreamly honour'd during his Life by Castor and Pollux and the Lacedaemonians when in after-times they made several Incursions into Attica and destroy'd all the Countrey round about spar'd the Academy for his sake But Dicaearchus writes that there were two Arcadians in the Army of Castor and Pollux the one callâ—d Echedemus and the other Marathus from the first that which is now call'd the Academy was then nam'd Echedemia and the Village Marathon had its Name from the other who according to the Oracle willingly offer'd up himself a Sacrifice for the prosperous success of the Army As soon as the Lacedaemonians were arriv'd at Aphidnae they first overcame their Enemies in a set Battel and then assaulted it and took the Town And here they say Alycus the Son of Sciron was slain on the Lacedaemonians side from whom a Place in Megara where he was buri'd is call'd Alycus to this day And Hereas writes that it was Theseus himself that kill'd him in witness of which he cites these Verses concerning Alycus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Alycus on fair Aphidna 's Plain By Theseus in the Cause of Helen slain Tho' it is not at all probable that Theseus himself was there when both the City and his own Mother were taken Aphidnae being now won by Castor and Pollux and the whole City of Athens being in great Consternation Menestheus perswaded the People to open their Gates and receive them with all manner of Civility and Friendship who he told them design'd no violence or injury to any but Theseus who had first done them wrong but were Benefactors and Saviours to all Mankind beside And their behaviour to the conquer'd gave credit to what Menestheus promis'd for having made themselves absolute Masters of the Place they demanded no more than to be initiated in the Ceremonies of the Goddess Ceres since they were as nearly related to their City as Hercules was who had receiv'd the same Honour This their Desire they easily obtain'd and were adopted by Aphidnus as Hercules had been by Pylius They were honour'd also like Gods and were call'd by a new Name Anaces either from the cessation of the War or from the singular care they took that none should suffer any injury tho' there was so great an Army within the Walls of the City for the Phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies as much from whence it is likely that Kings were call'd Anactes Others say that from the appearance of their Star in the Heavens they were thus call'd for in the Attick Dialect this Name comes very near the words that signifie Above Some say that Aethra Theseus his Mother was here taken Prisoner and carri'd to Lacedaemonia and from thence went away with Helen to Troy alledging this Verse of Homer to prove that she waited upon Helen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aethra of Pittheus born and Clymene Others reject this Verse as none of Homers as they do likewise the whole Fable of Munychus who the Story says was the Son of Demophoon and Laodice and was brought up privately by Aethra at Troy But Istrus in the 13th Book of his Attic History gives us an account of Aethra different yet from all the rest That after the Fight wherein Achilles and Patroclus overcame Paris in Thessaly near the River Sperchius Hector sack'd and plunder'd the City of the Troezenians and took Aethra Prisoner there But this seems to be an absurd and groundless Tale. Now it happen'd that Hercules passing once by the Countrey of the Molossians was entertain'd in his way by Aidoneus the King who in Discourse accidentally fell upon a Relation of the Journey of Theseus and Peirithous into his Dominions and what they had design'd to do and what they were forc'd to suffer Hercules was extreamly concern'd for the inglorious Death of the one and the miserable condition of the other As for Peirithous he thought it but in vain to expostulate with the King concerning his being put to Death but Theseus being yet kept in Prison he begg'd to have him releas'd for his sake and obtainâ—d that Favour from
of Themistocles placed in the middle of their great Piazza and it is not worth the taking notice of what Andocides writes to his Friends concerning the Reliques of Themistocles how the Athenians robbed his Tomb and threw his Ashes into the Air for he feigns this to exasperate the Nobility against the people and there is no man living but knows that Phrasicles is mistaken in his History where he brings in Neocles and Demopolis for the Sons of Themistocles to incite or move compassion as if he were writing of a Tragedy yet Diodorus the Cosmographer writes in his Book of Sepulchres but by conjecture rather than of his certain knowledge that near to the Haven of Piraea where the Land runs out like an Elbow from the Promontory of Alcimus and when you have doubled the Cape and passed inward where the Sea is always calm there is a vast Foundation and upon this the Tomb of Themistocles in the shape of an Altar and Plato the Comedian seems to confirm this in these Verses Thy Tomb is fairly placed on the Strand Where Merchants from all parts may pass or land Where Ships from every quarter come in sight And may engage in many a bloudy Fight So that thy Ashes placed on the Shore Both Sea and Land may honour and adore Divers honours also and privileges were granted to the Kindred of Themistocles at Magnesia which were observed down to our times and another Themistocles of Athens enjoyed them with whom I had a particular acquaintance and Friendship in the House of Ammonius the Philosopher The End of Themistocles 's Life Furius Camillus Vandrebanc fe THE LIFE OF F. CAMILLUS Englished from the Greek By Mich. Payne Trin. Coll. Cant. Soc. AMong the many remarkable things that are related of Furius Camillus this above all seems most singular and strange that he who for the most part was in the highest commands and had performed the greatest Actions was five times chosen Dictatour triumphed four times and was styled a Second Founder of Rome yet never was so much as once Consul The reason whereof was the state and temper of the then Commonwealth for the People being at dissention with the Senate stifly refused to return Consuls but in their stead elected other Magistrates called Military Tribunes who though they acted every thing with full Consular Power and Authority yet their Government was less grievous to the People by reason they were more in number for to have the management of affairs entrusted in the hands of six persons rather than two was some ease and satisfaction to those who could not endure the Dominion of a few This was the condition of the times when Camillus flourished in the height of his actions and glory and although the Government in the mean time had often proceeded to Consular Elections yet he could never perswade himself to be Consul against the good-will and inclination of the People In all other his administrations which were many and various he so behaved himself that when he was alone in Authority his power was exercised as in common but the honour of all actions redounded intirely to himself even when in joint Commission with others the reason of the former was his moderation commanding without pride or insolence of the latter his great judgment and wisedom wherein without question he excelled all others And whereas the House of the Furii was not at that time of any considerable quality he was the first that raised himself to honour serving under Posthumius Tubertus Dictatour in the great Battel against the Aeques and Volsces for riding out from the rest of the Army and in the charge receiving a wound in his Thigh he for all that gave not over the fight but plucking out the Dart that stuck close in the wound and engaging with the bravest of the enemy he put them to flight for which action among other rewards bestowed on him he was created Censor an Office in those days of great esteem and authority During his Censorship one very good act of his is recorded that whereas the Wars had made many Widows he obliged such as had no Wives some by fair perswasion others by threatning to set Fines on their heads to take them in marriage Another necessary one in causing Orphans to be rated who before were exempted from Taxes the frequent and chargeable Wars requiring more than ordinary expences to maintain them But that which pinched them most was the Siege of Veii some call them Venetani This was the head City of Tuscany not inferiour to Rome either in number of Arms or multitude of Souldiers insomuch that presuming on her wealth and magnificence and priding her self in the variety of pleasures she enjoyed she had fought many a fair Battel with the Romans contending for Glory and Empire But now they had quitted their former ambition having been weakned and brought low in many notable encounters so that having fortified themselves with high and strong Walls and furnished the City with all sorts of Weapons offensive and defensive as likewise with Corn and all manner of Provisions they cheerfully endured the Siege which though tedious to them was no less troublesome and vexatious to the besiegers For the Romans having never been accustomed to lie long abroad in the heat of Summer and constantly to winter at home they were then first compelled by the Tribunes to build Forts and Garrisons in the Enemies Country and raising strong Works about their Camp to joyn Winter and Summer together And now the seventh year of the War drawing to an end the Commanders began to be suspected as too slow and remiss in driving on the Siege infomuch that they were discharged and others chosen for the War among whom was Camillus then second time Tribune But at present he had no hand in the Siege his lot being to make War upon the Falisces and Capenates who taking advantage of the Romans being busied on all hands had much spoiled their Country and through all the Tuscan War given them sore diversions but were now reduced by Camillus and with great losses shut up within their Walls And now in the very heat of the War an accident happened to the Alban Lake no less wonderfull than the most incredible things that are reported and by reason no visible cause could be assigned or any natural beginning whereto to ascribe it it became matter of great amazement It was the beginning of Autumn and the Summer before had neither been very rainy nor in appearance over troubled with Southern winds and of the many Lakes Brooks and Springs of all sorts wherein Italy abounds some were wholly dried up others drew very little Water with them But all the Rivers as they constantly used in Summer ran in a very low and hollow Chanel But the Alban Lake that is fed by no other waters but its own being compassed about with fruitfull Mountains without any cause unless it were Divine began
their case the Sutrians hanging on them resolved not to defer revenge but that very day to lead his Army to Sutrium Conjecturing that the enemy having just taken a rich and plentifull City and not left an Enemy within it nor expecting any from without he should find them wallowing in all riot and luxury open and unguarded Neither did his opinion fail him for he not onely pass'd through their Country without discovery but came up to their very Gates and possessed himself of the Walls there was not a man left to guard them but every one was scattered about from house to house drinking and making merry nay when at last they did perceive that the Enemy had seised the City they were so overcharged with Meat and Wine that few were able so much as to endeavour an escape but in the most shamefull posture either waited for their death within doors or if they were able to carry themselves submitted to the will of the Conquerour Thus the City of the Sutrians was twice taken in one day and it came to pass that they who were in possession lost it and they who had lost their possession gained it again by the means of Camillus for all which actions he received a triumph which brought him no less honour and reputation than both the former for those very Citizens who before most envied and detracted from him ascribing the rest of his successes to a certain hit of fortune rather than steddy virtue were compelled by these last acts of his to allow the whole honour to the great abilities and industry of the man Of all his adversaries and enviers of his glory Marcus Manlius was the most considerable he who gave the first repulse to the Gauls and drove them out that night they set upon the Capitol for which he was sirnamed Capitolinus This man affecting the first place in the Common-wealth and not able by the noblest ways to out-doe Camillus's reputation took the trite and usual methods of Tyranny namely to gain the multitude especially such as were in debt some he would defend against their Creditours and plead their Causes others rescue by force and not suffer the Law to proceed against them insomuch that in a short time he had gotten great numbers of indigent people about him who making tumults and uproars in the Courts struck great terrour into the principal Citizens After that Quintus Capitolinus who was made Dictatour to examine into these disorders had committed Manlius to prison the people immediately changed their apparel a thing never done but in great and publick calamities The Senate fearing some tumult ordered him to be released who set at liberty was never the better but rather more insolent in his practices filling the whole City with his Faction and Sedition Wherefore they chose Camillus again Military Tribune and a day being set for Manlius to answer to his charge the prospect of the place was a great hindrance to his accusers for the very place where Manlius by night fought with the Gauls over-look'd the Court from the Capitol so that stretching forth his hands that way and weeping he called to their remembrance his past actions raising compassion in all that beheld him Insomuch that the Judges were at a loss what to doe and several times forced to adjourn the Trial not willing to acquit him of the crime proved by manifest circumstances and yet unable to execute the Law that noble action of his being always in their eyes by reason of the place Camillus considering this removed the Judgment Seat out of the Gate to the Peteline Grove from whence there is no prospect of the Capitol Here his accuser went on with his charge and the Judges being now at liberty to consider of his late practices he received a just recompense and reward of his wicked actions for being carried to the Capitol he was flung headlong from the Rock having the same place witness of his greatest glory and monument of his most unfortunate end The Romans besides rased his House and built there a Temple to the Goddess they call Moneta ordaining for the future that none of the Patrician Order should ever dwell in the Capitol Mount And now Camillus being called to the sixth Tribuneship desired to be excused as being aged and perhaps not unjealous of the malice of Fortune and those unlucky changes which usually attend great and prosperous actions But the most apparent pretence was the weakness of his Body for he happened at that time to be sick but the people would admit of no excuses but crying that they wanted not his strength for Horse or for Foot service but onely his counsel and conduct they constrained him to undertake the command and with one of his fellow Tribunes to lead the Army immediately against the Enemy These were the Praenestines and Volsces who with great Forces wasted the Countries of the Roman Confederates Having march'd out his Army he sate down and encamped near the Enemy meaning himself to draw out the War in length or if there should be necessity or occasion of fighting in the mean time to strengthen his Body for it But Lucius his Collegue carried away with the desire of glory was not to be held in but impatient to give Battel inflamed with the same eagerness the Captains and Colonels of the Army so that Camillus fearing he might seem out of envy to rob the young men of the glory of a notable exploit gave way though unwillingly that he should draw out the Forces whilst himself by reason of weakness staid behind with a few in the Camp Lucius engaging rashly and headily was soon discomfited when Camillus perceiving the Romans to give ground and fly he could not contain himself but leaping from his Bed with those Servants and retinue he had about him ran to meet them at the Gates of the Camp and making his way through them that fled he drove furiously to oppose the pursuers insomuch that those who were got within the Camp presently turned back and followed him and those that came flying from without made head again and gathered about him exhorting one another not to forsake their General Thus the Enemy for that time was stop'd in his pursuit But the next day Camillus drawing out his Forces and joining Battel with them overthrew them by main force and following close upon them that fled he entred pell mell with them into their Camp and took it slaying the greatest part of them Afterwards having heard that the City Sutrium was taken by the Tuscans and the inhabitants all Romans put to the Sword the main Body of his Forces and heaviest arm'd he sent home to Rome and taking with him the lightest and best appointed Soldiers he set suddenly upon the Tuscans who were in the possession of the City and having master'd them some he drove out others he slew and so returning to Rome with great spoils he gave a signal evidence
out A Lad being offered some Cocks of the Game so hardy that they would dye upon the place said that he car'd not for Cocks that would dye hardy but for such that would live and kill others Another would by no means be carried home in a Chair as he saw some others were because said he I cannot conveniently rise in it to pay respect to my betters In short their answers were so sententious and pertinent that one said well that to be a Philosopher or a Lacedemonian signified the same thing And though they were a very active people they exercised their Minds much more than their Bodies Nor were they less carefull to sing and compose well than to express themselves in proper terms and to speak to the point And their very Songs had such a life and spirit in them that they enflam'd and ravish'd mens minds with a desire to doe great and good Actions the style of them was plain and without affectation the subject always serious and moral most usually it was in praise of such men as had dy'd in the bed of honour for defence of their Country or in derision of those who would not venture their lives willingly in so good a cause the former they declared happy and almost Gods and the latter they describ'd as most miserable and below the condition of men In these Verses too they talk'd high of what feats they would doe or had done and vaunted of themselves as the bravest and most valiant people in the world The expression was different and sutable to their several ages for you must understand that they had three Choirs of them in their solemn Festivals the first of the old Men the second of the young Men and the last of the Children to give a taste of them the old Men began thus We have been though now spent and old Hardy in Field in Battel Bold The young men answered them singing We are so now let who dares try We 'll conquer or in combat dye The Children came last and said What ever ye can doe or tell We one day will you both excell Indeed if we will take the pains to consider their Compositions and the Airs on the Flute to which they were set when they march'd on to Battel we shall find that Terpander and Pindar had reason to say that Musick was not incompatible with but rather an help and incentive to Valour The first says thus of them Justice goes in procession through their Streets And Mars the Muses in sweet consort meets And Pindar Blest Sparta in whose State we find Things almost inconsistent join'd In quiet times your Martial toils not cease And Wars adorn'd with the soft arts of Peace Gray-headed Wisedom reigns in your Debates And well-bred Youth with equal Fire Handle their Arms or touch their Lyre Ye Gods the Musick of well ordered States So that these two Poets describe the Spartans as being no less musical than warlike and the Spartan Poet himself confirms it Our Sports prelude to War and Musicks charms Inspire deliberate Valour to our Arms. And even before they engag'd in Battel the King did first sacrifice to the Muses in all likelihood to put them in mind of the manner of their education and of the severe judgment that would be pass'd upon their actions and thereby to animate them to the performance of some gallant Exploit sometimes too the Lacedemonians abated a little the severity of their manners in favour of their young men suffering them to curle and perfume their Hair and to have costly Arms and fine Clothes and as well pleas'd they were to see them marching out full of metal and spirit to an Engagement as the other Graecians were to see their trim'd Horses neighing and pressing for the course And therefore when they came to be well-grown Lads they took a great deal of care of their Hair to have it parted and trim'd especially against a day of Battel pursuant to a saying of their Law-giver that a large head of Hair set off a good Face to more advantage and those that were ugly it made more ugly and dreadfull When they were in the Field their Exercises were generally more moderate their Fare not so hard nor so strict a hand held over them by their Officers so that they were the onely people in the world to whom War gave repose When their Army was drawn up in Battel array and the Enemy near the King sacrific'd a Goat commanded the Souldiers to set their Garlands upon their heads and the Pipers to play the Tune of the Hymn to Castor and himself advancing forwards began the Paean which serv'd for a signal to fall on It was at once a delightfull and terrible sight to see them march on to the Tune of their Flutes without ever troubling their Order or confounding their Ranks no disorder in their minds or change in their countenance but on they went to the hazard of their lives as unconcernedly and cheerfully as if it had been to lead up a Dance or to hear a consort of Musick Men in this temper were not likely to be possessed with fear or transported with fury but they proceeded with a deliberate Valour full of hope and good assurance as if some Divinity had sensibly assisted them The King had always about his person some one who had been crown'd in the Olympick Games and upon this account a Lacedemonian refus'd a considerable present which was offered to him upon condition that he would not come into the Lists and having with much to doe thrown his Antagonist some of the Spectatours said to him And now Sir Lacedemonian what are you the better for your Victory he answered smiling O a great deal Sir for I shall have the honour to fight by the side of my Prince After they had routed an Enemy they pursu'd him till they were well assured of the Victory and then they sounded a retreat thinking it base and unworthy of a Graecian people to cut men in pieces who durst not look them in the face or lift up their hands against them This manner of dealing with their Enemies did not onely shew their magnanimity but had a politick end in it too for knowing that they kill'd onely those who made resistance and gave quarter to the rest they generally thought it their best way to consult their safety by flight Hippias the Sophister says that Lycurgus himself was a very valiant and experienced Commander Philostephanus attributes to him the first division of the Cavalry into Troops of fifties in a square Body but Demetrius the Phalerian says quite the contrary and that he made all his Laws in a continued Peace And indeed the cessation of Arms procured by his means and management inclines me to think him a good-natur'd man and one that lov'd quietness and peace Notwithstanding all this Hermippus tells us that he had no hand in the Ordinance that Iphitus made it and
Judges and Determiners of all Causes by which War may justifiably be made The Senate referring the whole matter to the People and the Priests there as well as in the Senate pleading against Fabius the multitude did so little regard their authority that in scorn and contempt of it they chose Fabius and the rest of his Brethren Military Tribunes The Gauls hearing this in great rage would no longer delay their march but hastned on with all the speed they could make The places through which they marched terrified with their numbers and such dreadfull preparations of War and considering the violence and fierceness of their natures began to give their Countries for lost not doubting but their Cities would quickly follow but contrary to expectation they did no injury as they passed or drove any thing from the Fields and when they went by any City they cried out That they were going to Rome that the Romans onely were their Enemies and that they took all others for their Friends Thus whilst the Barbarians were hastening with all speed the Military Tribunes brought the Romans into the Field to be ready to engage them being not inferiour to the Gauls in number for they were no less than forty thousand Foot but most of them raw Souldiers and such as had never handled a Weapon before besides they had neglected to consult the Gods as they ought and used to do upon all difficulties especially War but ran on without staying for Priest or Sacrifice No less did the multitude of Commanders distract and confound their proceedings for before upon less occasions they chose a single person called Dictatour being sensible of what great importance it is in times of danger to have the Souldiers united under one General who had absolute and unaccountable power in his hands Add to all that the remembrance of Camillus his case was no small hinderance to their affairs it being grown a dangerous thing to command without humouring and courting the Souldiers In this condition they left the City and encamped by the River Allia about eleven miles from Rome and not far from the place where it falleth into the Tyber where the Gauls coming upon them and they shamefully engaging without Order or Discipline were miserably defeated The left Wing was immediately driven into the River and there utterly destroyed the Right had less damage by declining the shock and from the low grounds getting to the tops of Hills from whence many of them afterwards drop'd into the City the rest as many as escaped the Enemy being weary of the slaughter stole by night to Veii giving Rome for gone and all that was in it for lost This Battel was fought about the Summer Solstice the Moon being at full the very same day in which formerly happened that sad misfortune to the Fabii when three hundred of that name and Family were at one time cut off by the Tuscans But from this second loss and defeat the day got the name of Alliensis from the River Allia and still retaineth it But concerning unlucky days whether we should esteem any such or no or whether Heraclitus did well in upbraiding Hesiod for distinguishing them into fortunate and unfortunate as one ignorant that the nature of every day is the same I have discoursed in another place but upon occasion of this present subject I think it will not be amiss to annex a few examples relating to this matter On the fifth of June the Boeotians happened to get two signal Victories the one about Leuctra the other at Gerastus about three hundred years before when they overcame Lattamyas and the Thessalians and asserted the liberty of Greece Again on the sixth of August the Persians were worsted by the Grecians at Marathon on the third at Plataeae as also at Mycale on the twenty fifth at Arbeli The Athenians about the full Moon in August got a Sea Victory about Naxus under the Conduct of Chabrias about the twentieth at Salamin as we have shewn in our Book of Days April was very unfortunate to the Barbarians for in that Month Alexander overcame Darius his General at Granicum and the Carthaginians on the twenty seventh were beaten by Timoleon about Sicily on which same Day and Month Troy seems to have been taken as Ephorus Callisthenes Damastes and Phylarchus have related On the other hand the Month July was not very lucky to the Grecians for on the seventh day of the same they were defeated by Antipater at the Battel in Cranon and utterly ruin'd and before that in Chaeronea they were defeated by Philip and on the very same Day same Month and same Year they that went with Archidamus into Italy were there cut off by the Barbarians The Carthaginians also observe the twenty seventh of the same Month as bringing with it the most and greatest of their losses I am not ignorant that about the Feast of Mysteries Thebes was destroyed by Alexander and after that upon the same twentieth of August on which day they celebrate the Mysteries of Bacchus the Athenians received a Garrison of the Macedonians on the self same day the Romans lost their Camp under Scipio by the Cimbrians and under the conduct of Lucullus overcame the Armenians and Tigranes King Attalus and Pompey died both on their birth days I could reckon up several that have had variety of fortune on the same day This day called Alliensis is one of the unfortunate ones to the Romans and for its sake other two in every Month Fear and Superstition as the custom of it is more and more encreasing But I have discoursed this more accurately in my Book of Roman Causes And now after the Battel had the Gauls immediately pursued those that fled there had been no remedy but Rome must have wholly been ruined and all those who remained in it utterly destroyed such was the terrour that those who escaped the Battel had struck into the City at their return and so great afterwards was the distraction and confusion But the Gauls not imagining their Victory to be so considerable and overtaken with the present joy fell to feasting and dividing the Spoil by which means they gave leisure to those who were for leaving the City to make their escape and to those that remained to provide and prepare for their coming For they who resolved to stay at Rome quitting the rest of the City betook themselves to the Capitol which they fortified with strong Rampiers and Mounds and all sort of Slings and Darts in order to hold out a Siege But their first and principal care was of their Holy Things most of which they conveyed into the Capitol But as for the consecrated Fire the Vestal Virgins took it up and fled away with it as likewise with other Holy Relicks Some write that they preserved nothing but that ever-living Fire which Numa had ordained to be worshipped as the Principle of all things for Fire is the most active thing in
perceiving that the Ardeans wanted not men but rather heart and courage through the unskilfull management of their Officers At first he began to deal with the young men flinging out words among them That they ought not to ascribe the misfortune of the Romans to the courage of their Enemy or attribute the losses they sustained by rash counsel to the conduct of those who brought nothing with them to conquer but were onely an evidence of the power of Fortune That it was a brave thing even with danger to repell a foreign and barbarous War whose end in conquering was like Fire to lay waste and destroy But if they would be courageous and resolute he was ready to put an opportunity in their hands to gain a Victory without hazard at all When he found the young men embraced the thing he went to the chief Officers and Governours of the City and having perswaded them also he mustered all that could bear Arms and drew them up within the Walls that they might not be perceived by the Enemy who was near who having scoured the Country and returned heavy laden with booty lay encamped in the Plains in a careless and negligent posture so that the night coming upon them who had been disordered with Wine there was a great silence through all the Camp Which when Camillus understood by his Spies he drew out the Ardeans and in the dead of the night passing in silence those grounds that lay between he made himself master of their Works and then commanding his Trumpets to sound and his Men to shout and hollow he struck such terrour into them that even they who took the alarum could hardly recover their Senses Some were so overcharged with Wine that all the noise of the Assaylants could not awaken them A few whom fear made sober getting into some order for a while resisted and so died with their Weapons in their hands But the greatest part of them buried in Wine and Sleep were surprized without their Arms and dispatched But as many of them as by the advantage of the night got out of the Camp were the next day found scattered abroad and wandring in the Fields and were pick't up by the Horse that pursued them The fame of this Action presently flew through the neighbouring Cities and stirred up the Youth of all Parts to come and join themselves with him But none were so much concerned as those Romans who escaped in the Battel of Allia and were now at Veii thus lamenting with themselves O heavens what a Commander has Providence bereaved Rome of to honour Ardea with his Actions And that City which brought forth and nursed so great a man is lost and gone and we destitute of a Leader and living within strange Walls sit idle and see Italy ruin'd before our eyes Come let us send to the Ardeans to have back our General or else with Weapons in our hands let us go thither to him for he is no longer a banisht man nor we Citizens having no Country but what is in the possession of the Enemy They all agreed upon the matter and sent to Camillus to desire him to take the Command but he answered that he would not untill they that were in the Capitol should legally chuse him for he esteemed them as long as they were in being to be his Country that if they should command him he would readily obey but against their consents he would intermeddle with nothing When this answer was returned they admired the modesty and temper of Camillus but they could not tell how to find a Messenger to carry these things to the Capitol and what was more it seemed altogether impossible for any one to get to them whilst the Enemy was in full possession of the City But among the young men there was one Pontius Cominius of indifferent birth but ambitious of honour this man proffered himself to run the hazard but he took no Letters with him to those in the Capitol lest that being intercepted the Enemy might learn the intentions of Camillus But putting on a poor garment and carrying Corks under it the greatest part of the way he boldly travelled by day and came to the City when it was dark The Bridge he could not pass by reason it was guarded by the Barbarians so that taking his Cloaths which were neither many nor heavy and binding them about his head he laid his body upon the Corks and swimming on them got over to the City And avoiding those Quarters where he perceived the Enemy was awake which he guessed at by the lights and noise he went to the Carmentale Gate where there was greatest silence and where the hill of the Capitol is steepest and rises with craggy and broken stones By this way he got up though with much difficulty by reason of the abruptness of the passage and presented himself to the Guards saluting them and telling them his name he was taken in and carried to the Commanders And a Senate being immediately called he related to them in order the victory of Camillus which they had not heard of before and told them the proceedings of the Souldiers advising them to confirm the Command to Camillus as in whose conduct alone the whole Army abroad relied Having heard and consulted of the matter the Senate declared Camillus Dictatour and sent back Pontius the same way that he came who with the same success that he came got through the Enemy without being discovered and delivered to the Romans the Election of the Senate who received it with great acclamations of joy and Camillus coming to them found twenty thousand of them ready in arms with which forces and those Confederates he brought along with him which were more in number he prepared to set upon the Enemy But at Rome some of the Barbarians passing by chance that way by which Pontius by night had got into the Capitol spied in several places the print of his feet and hands as he caught and clammered and the Moss that grew to the Rock tore off and broken and reported it to the King who coming in person and viewing it for the present said nothing But in the Evening picking out such of the Gauls as were nimblest of body and by living in the Mountains were accustomed to climb He thus spake unto them The Enemy themselves have shown us a way how to come at them which we knew not of before and have taught us that it is not so difficult and impossible but that men may overcome it It would be a great shame for us who command having begun well to fail in the end and to give over a place as impregnable when the Enemy himself chalks us out the way by which it may be taken for in the same place where it was easy for one man to get up it will not be hard for many one after another nay when many shall undertake it their mutual assistence of one another will be a
Priests took the Staff and kept it as other holy things not to be touched or defiled Now when they found that whereas all other things were consumed this Staff was not in the least perished by the flames they began to conceive joyfull hopes concerning Rome that this token did portend the everlasting safety and prosperity of it And now they had scarce got a breathing time from their troubles but a new War comes upon them the Aequi Volsci and Latins all at once invade their Territories and the Tuscans besiege Sutrium a confederate City of the Romans The Military Tribunes who commanded the Army and were encamped about the Hill Martius being closely besieged by the Latins and the Camp in danger to be lost send to Rome and Camillus is third time chosen Dictatour About this War there are two different relations I shall begin with the fabulous They say that the Latins whether out of pretence or real design to re-unite the ancient bloud of both Nations should send to desire of the Romans some of their free Maids in Marriage That the Romans being at a loss what to determine for on one hand they dreaded a War having scarce settled and recovered themselves on the other side they suspected that this asking of Wives was in plain terms nothing else but to gain Hostages though they covered it over with the specious name of marriage and alliance a certain Handmaid by name Tutula or as some call her Philotis should perswade the Magistrates to send with her some of the most youthfull and beautiful Damosels in the garb and dress of noble Virgins and leave the rest to her care and management that the Magistrates consenting should chuse out as many as she thought necessary for her purpose and adorning them with Gold and rich Clothes deliver them to the Latins who encamped nigh the City That at night the rest should steal away the Enemies Swords but Tutula or Philotis which you please getting to the top of a wild Fig-tree and spreading out a thick Garment behind her should hold out a Torch towards Rome which was the signal agreed on between her and the Commanders none other of the Citizens perceiving it which was the reason that the issuing out of the Soldiers was tumultuous the Officers pushing their men on and they calling upon one anothers names and scarce able to bring themselves into any order That setting upon the Enemies Works who either were asleep or expected no such matter they should take the Camp and destroy most of them and that this was done in the Nones of July which was then called Quintilis and that the Feast that is then observed is in remembrance of this action for first running out of the City in great crouds they pronounce aloud the most familiar and usual names as Caius Marcus Lucius and the like imitating thereby that calling to one another when they issued out in such haste In the next place the Maid-servants richly adorned run about playing and jesting upon all they meet and amongst themselves use a kind of skirmishing to shew they helped in the conflict against the Latins In the time of their feasting they sit shaded over with Boughs of wild Fig-tree and the day they call Nonae Capratinae as some think from that wild Fig-tree on which the Maiden held out her Torch for the Romans call a wild Fig-tree Caprificus Others refer most of what is said or done at this Feast to that accident of Romulus for on this day without the Gate he vanished out of sight a sudden darkness together with tempest overclouding him some think it an eclipse of the Sun and for this reason the day was called Nonae Capratinae for they call a Goat Capra and Romulus disappeared at a place called Palus Caprae or Goat Marsh whilst he was holding there an assembly as in his Life it is written But the general stream of Writers prefer the other account of this War which they thus relate Camillus being the third time chosen Dictatour and learning that the Army under the Tribunes was besieged by the Latins and Volsces he was constrained to arm not onely the youth but even such as age exempted from service and taking a large compass round the Mountain Martius undiscovered by the Enemy he lodged his Army on their back and then by many fires gave notice of his arrival The besieged encouraged herewith prepared to fall on and join battel but the Latins and Volsces fearing their Enemy on both sides drew themselves within their Works which they fortified with many Trees laid cross-wise and drove into the ground and so round their Camp drew a wall of Wood resolving to wait for more supplies from home and expect the assistence of the Tuscans their confederates Camillus perceiving their drift and fearing to be reduced to the same straits he had brought them to namely to be besieged himself resolved to lose no time and finding their Rampier was all of Timber and observing that a strong wind constantly at Sun-rising blew off from the Mountains after having prepared much combustable stuff about break of day he drew forth his Forces some of which he commanded to take their Darts and with noise and shouting assault the Enemy on the other quarter whilst he with those that were to fling in the fire went to that side of the Enemies Camp on which the wind lay directly and there waited his opportunity When the skirmish was begun and the Sun risen and a violent wind fell down from the Mountains he gave the signal of onset and pouring in an infinite quantity of fiery matter he filled all their Rampier with it so that the flame being fed in the close Timber and wooden Pallisados it went on and dispersed it self into all Quarters The Latins having nothing ready to keep it off or extinguish it the Camp being almost full of fire were reduced to a very small compass and at last forced by necessity to fall into their Enemies hand who stood before the Works ready armed and prepared to receive them of these a very few escaped but those that stayed in the Camp were all consumed by the fire untill such time the Romans to gain the pillage extinguished it These things performed Camillus leaving his Son Lucius in the Camp to guard the Prisoners and secure the Booty passed into his Enemies Country where having taken the City of the Aeques and reduced the Volsces to obedience he immediately led his Army to Sutrium having not heard what had befallen the Sutrians making haste to assist them as if they were still in danger and besieged by the Tuscans But they had already surrendred their City to their Enemies and being destitute of all things with their Garments onely about them they met Camillus on the way leading their Wives and Children and bewailing their misfortune Camillus himself was struck with the object and perceiving the Romans to weep and grievously resent
Command that each Consul should have his day and when his turn came he posted his Army close to Hannibal at a Village called Cannas by the River Aufidius It was no sooner day but he set up the red Flagg over his Tent which was the signal of Battel This boldness of the Consul and the numerousness of his Army double to theirs startled the Carthaginians but Hannibal commanded them to their Arms and with a small train he went forth to take a full prospect of the Enemy upon a rising ground not far distant One of his followers called Gisco a Nobleman of Carthage told him that the number of the Enemy was very astonishing to whom Hannibal reply'd with a serious countenance There is something yet more astonishing which you take no notice of that in all that Army there is not one man whose name is Gisco This jest of their General made all the company laugh and as they return'd to the Camp they told it to those whom they met which caused a general laughter amongst them all The Army seeing Hannibal's attendants come back from viewing the Enemy in such a laughing condition did verily believe that from the good posture of their affairs and from the contempt of the Enemy this laughter had proceeded which did not a little serve to raise the drooping spirits of the Souldiers According to his usual manner Hannibal fail'd not by his Stratagemes to advantage himself In the first place he so drew up his men that the wind was on their backs which was at that time very violent and by reason of the great plains of sand carried before it a great cloud of dust which striking upon the faces of the Romans did very much disable them in the fight In the next place all his best men he put into his Wings and in the Body which was somewhat more advanced than the Wings he placed the worst and the weakest of his Army Then he commanded those in the Wings that when the Enemy had made a thorough charge upon that middle advanc'd Body which he knew would recoile as not being able to stand their shock and that when the Romans in their pursuit should be far enough ingaged within the two Wings they should both on the right and the left charge them in the Flank and endeavour to incompass them This design had all the success imaginable for the Romans pressing upon Hannibal's Front which gave ground reduced the form of his Army into a perfect half Moon and blinded with the dust they followed on so far that they gave room for the Enemies Wings to join behind them and so to inclose and charge them both Flanks and Rere which they did with an incredible flaughter of the Romans To whose Calamity it is also said that a casual mistake did very much contribute For the Horse of Aemilius receiving a hurt and throwing his Master those about him immediately alighted to aid the Consul the Roman Troops seeing their Commanders thus quitting their Horses took it for a sign that they should all dismount and charge the Enemy on foot At the sight of this Hannibal was heard to say This pleaseth me better than if they had been deliver'd to me bound hand and foot For the particulars of this Ingagement we refer our Reader to those Authours who have writ at large upon the Subject The Consul Varro with a thin company fled to Venutia and Paulus Aemilius unable any longer to oppose the flight of his men or the pursuit of the Enemy his Body all covered with wounds and his Soul no less wounded with grief sate himself down upon a Stone expecting the kindness of a dispatching blow His Face was so disfigured and all his Armour so stained with Bloud that his very Friends and Domesticks passing by knew him not At last Cornelius Lentulus of a Patrician Race perceiving who he was alighted from his Horse and tendring it to him desired him to get up and save a life so necessary to the safety of the Commonwealth which at this time would dearly want so great a Captain But nothing could prevail upon him to accept of the offer with tears in his eyes he obliged young Lentulus to remount his Horse then standing up he gave him his hand and commanded him to tell Fabius Maximus that Paulus Aemilius had followed his directions to his very last and had not in the least deviated from those measures which were agreed between them but that it was his hard fate to be overpower'd by Varro in the first place and secondly by Hannibal Having dispatch'd Lentulus with this Commission he mark'd where the slaughter was greatest and there threw himself upon the Swords of the Enemy In this Battel it is reported that fifty thousand Romans were slain four thousand Prisoners taken in the Field and ten thousand in the Camp of both Consuls The Friends of Hannibal earnestly perswaded him to follow his Victory and pursue the flying Romans into the very Gates of Rome assuring him that in five days march he might sup in the Capitol Nor is it easie to imagine what hindred him from it I am apt to believe that the excess of his good fortune or some Tutelary God of the Romans blinded his reason and made him loiter away his time which made Barcas a Carthaginian tell him with indignation You know Hannibal how to get a Victory but not how to use it Yet though he failed in making the best advantage of so mighty a Victory however it produced a strange turn and improvement in his affairs For he who hitherto had not one Town nor a Sea-port in his possession who had nothing for the subsistence of his men but what he pillaged from day to day who had no place of Retreat nor any reasonable hopes to make the War continue nor his Army to hold together now became Master of the best Provinces and Towns of Italy and of Capua it self next to Rome the most flourishing and opulent City all which came over to him and submitted to his Authority It is the saying of Euripides that a man is in no good condition when he is obliged to try a Friend nor a State when it stands in need of an able General And so it was with the Romans who before the Battel branded the counsels and actions of Fabius with the infamous note of cowardise and fear but now in the other extreme they admire and adore his prudence as something divine that could see so far and foretell what would happen so contrary to and so much above the judgment of all others In him therefore they place their onely hope his wisedom is the sacred Anchor which fix'd them in so great a fluctuation and his Counsels alone preserve them from dispersing and deserting their City as in the time when the Gauls took possession of Rome He whom they esteemed fearfull and pusillanimous when they were as they thought in a prosperous condition is
great quantity of Arms and Horses when hereupon the Carthaginians had been compell'd to send their Envoys to Hannibal to call him home and leave Italy to defend Carthage when for so eminent and transcending services the whole People of Rome with no less gratitude than acclamation cry'd up and extoll'd the Actions of Scipio even then did Fabius contend that a Successour should be sent in his place alledging for it onely the old thredbare and pitifull reason of the mutability of Fortune as if she would be weary of long favouring the same person But this too manifestly laid open his envious and morose humour when nothing not done by himself could please him Nay when Hannibal had put his Army on Ship-board and taken his leave of Italy and when the People had therefore decreed a Thanksgiving-day did Fabius still oppose and disturb the universal joy of Rome by spreading about his fears and apprehensions and by telling them that the Common-wealth was never more in danger than now and that Hannibal was a more dreadfull Enemy under the Walls of Carthage than ever he had been in Italy that it would be fatal to Rome when ever Scipio should encounter his victorious Army still warm with the bloud of so many Roman Generals Dictatours and Consuls slain Some of the People were startled with these declamations and were brought to believe that the farther off Hannibal was the nearer was their danger But Scipio afterwards fought Hannibal and defeated him and sufficiently humbled the pride of Carthage whereby he rais'd again the drooping spirits of the Romans no more to be dejected and firmly establish'd their Empire which the tempest of this Punick War had so long caused to fluctuate But Fabius Maximus lived not to see the prosperous end of this War and the final overthrow of Hannibal nor to rejoyce in the well establish'd happiness and security of the Commonwealth for about the time that Hannibal left Italy he fell sick and died We find in the History of Thebes Epaminondas died so poor that he was buried upon the publick charge Fabius on the contrary died very rich yet such was the love of the People towards him that every man of them by a general Tax did contribute to defray his Funeral thereby owning him their common Father which made his End no less honourable than his Life THE COMPARISON OF FABIVS with PERICLES YOU have here had the Lives of two persons very illustrious for their Civil and Military Endowments Let us first compare them in their warlike Capacity Pericles presided in his Commonwealth when it was in a most flourishing and opulent condition great in Power and happy in Success so that he seem'd to stand rather supported by than supporting the Fortune of his Country But the business of Fabius who undertook the Government in the worst and most difficult times was not to conserve and maintain a well establish'd felicity of a prosperous State but to raise and uphold a sinking and ruinous Common-wealth Besides the Victories of Cimon of Myronides and Leocrates with those many famous exploits of Tolmides were made use of by Pericles onely to entertain the People at home and to please their Fancy with Triumphs Feasts and Games of the Circus and Theatre not to inlarge their Empire by prosecuting the War Whereas Fabius when he took upon him the Government had the frightfull object before his eyes of Roman Armies destroy'd of their Generals and Consuls slain of all the Countries round strew'd with the dead Bodies and the Rivers stain'd with the Bloud of his fellow Citizens and yet with his mature and solid Counsels with the firmness of his Resolution he as it were put his Shoulders to the falling Commonwealth and kept it up from foundring through the failings and weakness of others Perhaps it may be more easie to govern a City broken and tamed with calamities and adversity and compell'd to obey by danger and necessity than to rule a People pamper'd and resty with long Prosperity as were the Athenians when Pericles held the reins of Government But then again not to be daunted nor discompos'd with the vast heap of Calamities under which the people of Rome did at that time grone and succumb argues the temper of Fabius to be invincible and his courage more than humane We may set Tarentum re-taken against Samos won by Pericles and the conquest of Euboea we may put in balance with the Towns of Campania though Capua it self was afterwards subdued by the Consuls Furius and Appius I do not find that Fabius won any set Battel but that against the Ligurians for which he had his Triumph whereas Pericles erected nine Trophies for as many Victories obtain'd by Land and by Sea But no action of Pericles can be compar'd to that memorable rescue of Minutius when Fabius redeem'd both him and his Army from utter destruction an Action which comprehends the height of Valour of Conduct and Humanity On the other side it does not appear that Pericles was ever so over-reach'd as Fabius was by Hannibal with his flaming Oxen never was there so certain and so great an advantage lost over an Enemy For in the Valley of Casilinum Hannibal was shut up without any possibility of forcing his way out and yet by Stratageme in the night he frees himself out of those Straits and when day came worsted the Enemy who had him before at his mercy It is the part of a good General not onely to provide for and judge well of the present but also to have a clear foresight of things to come In this Pericles excell'd for he admonish'd the Athenians and told them beforehand what ruine their last War would bring upon them by grasping more than they were able to manage But Fabius was not so good a Prophet when he denounced to the Romans that the undertaking of Scipio would be the destruction of the Commonwealth So that Pericles was a good Prophet of bad success and Fabius was a bad Prophet of success that was good And indeed to loose an advantage through diffidence is no less blameable in a General than to fall into danger for want of foresight For both these faults though of a contrary nature spring from the same root which is want of judgment and experience As for their Civil Policy it is imputed to Pericles that he was a lover of War and that no terms of Peace offer'd by the Lacedemonians would content him It is true that Fabius also was not for yielding any thing to the Carthaginians but would rather hazard all than lessen the Empire of Rome yet this difference there was between them that Fabius made War onely to preserve and recover his own and Pericles to gain what belong'd to others But then the mildness of Fabius towards his Collegue Minutius does by way of comparison highly reproach and condemn the eager prosecution of Pericles and his practices to banish Cimon and Thucydides who held with the
several of the Buildings The Long Wall The Cdéum or Musick-Theatre Musick Games instituted The Acropolis or Cittadel A strange accident Minerva 's Statue Several slanders and abuses put upon Pericles Why hard to find out Truth in History Pericles his brave reply when accused for wasting publick Moneys He foils Thucydides and rules all alone He alters his Policy He plays the State-physician The force of Rhetorick His reputation and integrity Some Authours censure of his great power The long time of his Government His thrifty management of his own Estate His House-keeping His Steward Anaxagoras slighted the world The difference betwixt a Philosopher and a Statesman in the manner of their living Anaxagoras in great want A notable saying of his A great project of Pericles for a Convention of all Greece Commissioners dispatch'd to summon them The Project fails His military Conduct A rash attempt of Tolmides The judgment of Pericles upon it The event made it good His Expedition to the Chersonese in Thrace Another round the Morea Another to Pontus He curbs the peoples extravagant designs of making War abroad He reserves their Forces against the Lacedemonians A passage in the Holy War New troubles arise Those of Euboea revolt The Lacedemonians make an inroad They are bought out Cleandrides sentenced for his treachery Gylippus his Son taken in the like practice Pericles his Accounts past He keeps Pensioners at Lacedemon He chastiseth the Euboean revolters The War against Samos The story of Aspasia Thargelia such another A shrewd Woman and much frequented Pericles his former Wife He marries Aspasia The Poets Lampoon her Another so called Concubine to Cyrus An account of the Samian War The ground of it Pericles changes their Government He takes Hostages of them They proffer money He refuseth it They revolt They are beaten in a Fight at Sea They are block'd up in Town Pericles goes off with 60 Gallies The Samians take the advantage and get a victory They mark the Athenian prisoners with an Owl As the Athenians had done them with a Samaena Pericles relieves the Army Beats the Samians Incloseth them with a Wall He orders a Lottery by a white Bean. Engines of Battery Artemo why called Periphoretus Another account of him Pericles takes the Town Duris gives a tragical account of it And is cenfured for it Pericles takes care for the burial of his dead The Ladies complement him Elpinice privately quips him He answers her pleasantly He is said to have been conceited of this Victory As he had reason The occasion of the Peloponnesian War Pericles sends aid to Corcyra by Lacedaemonius His spite to Cimon 's Family He sends more help but too late Several complaints from the other Greeks against the Athenians The business of Megara the main occasion of the War Ambassadours sent from Lacedaemon about it Polyarces his device to re concile the quarrel The ground of the Athenians quarrel against the Megarians The quarrel improv'd by the Herald's death who was sent to them The Megarians reflexion upon the Herald's death Pericles hindred the rasing of the Decree against the Megarians and why The likeliest reason why Pericles hindred it Phidias a favourite of Pericles accused by Menon His main crime the rarity of his Work He is sentenced to Prison and there dies Menon 's reward Aspasia impeached Pericles order'd to bring in his Accounts This order put into general terms Aspasia begg'd off by Pericles He sends away Anaxagoras He promotes the War A message from the Lacedemonians to the Athenians It doth not succeed Pericles prevents suspicion of compliance The Lacedemonians come in with a great Army Pericles is not for giving them battel He minds the publick business without consulting the publick or taking notice of peoples discontents Cleon a Ringleader of the Malecontents * A notorious Coward Pericles sends out a Fleet to the Enemies Country He divides Moneys and Lands among the people The Enemies sufferings equal to theirs A great Plague breaks out The cause of it imputed to Pericles He goes out with a great Fleet. An Eclipse of the Sun happens His device to cure the Pilot of his fear He besiegeth Epidaurus but miscarries He cajoles the people in vain He is turn'd out of Office and fined His domestick misfortunes His eldest Son's quarrel to him He abuseth his Father with stories A Law case about the death of a Horse Pericles his loss of friends by death His unconcernedness His younger Son's death troubles him He is invited again to the Government He undertakes it The Law of Bastardy An Instance of its inconvenience Pericles his proposal to repeal it His Bastard Son legitimated Pericles is sick of the Plague Wears an Amulet about his Neck As his Friends were discoursing of him He overhears them and makes a worthy Reply An Encomium of him His good qualities made him deserve the title of Olympius The Poets mistake who ascribe passions to the Gods Pericles is mist after his death His seeming Arbitrariness excused and commended Fabius by generous purposes aspires to renown Hannibal 's first prodigious march into Italy Fabius 's deliberate advice ineffectual to move Flaminius He dies courageously Fabius by general consent chosen Dictatour His zeal for the performance of religious duties He prudently manages the War with Hannibal Hannibal politickly provokes the Romans to engage Through unskilfulness in the Language he commits a great errour His Stratageme to regain the Passes Fabius upon divers accounts evil spoken of Minutius in Fabius 's absence attacks the Carthaginians Fabius oppos'd by the Tribune Metellus He divides the Army with Minutius The dangerous consequence of Minutius 's rash separating from Fabius Fabius succours Minutius Minutius sensible of his errour submits to Fabius The indiscreet behaviour of Terentius Varro the Consul Fabius 's weighty instructions to Paulus Aemilius Varro 's fatal ingagement with the Carthaginians at Cannas Aemilius the Consul dismounted He dies valiantly Capua revolts to Hannibal Fabius of an even temper in the greatest consternation An Instance of a generous disposition in the Romans Marcellus chosen joint-Commander with Fabius He is circumvented and slain by Hannibal The winning behaviour of Fabius towards his fickle Allies A pleasant fetch of his to reduce a common Souldier His Policy in regaining Tarentum Hannibal diverted by a subtilty of Fabius The inhumane cruelty of Fabius at the sacking of Tarentum Hannibal in vain attempts to relieve it Fabius 's jocular reply to Marcus Livius The transcendent dignity of a Magistrate Scipio thwarted in his designs by Fabius Crassus no promoter of martial exploits The deserved renown of Scipio in Africk He is envy'd by Fabius Pericles 's numerous Victories eclipsed by one of Fabius ' s.
came within sight and viewed each other they made a Challenge to fight a single Duel the Armies standing unconcerned by hereupon Romulus prayed and made a Vow to Jupiter if he did conquer his Enemy to dedicate his Adversary's Armour to his Honour upon which he both overcame him in Combat and after Battel was joyn'd routed his Army also and then took his City but did those he found in it no injury only commanded them to demolish the Place and attend him to Rome there to be made Citizens equally capable of all Priviledges and indeed there was nothing did more advance the Greatness of Rome than that she did always unite and incorporate whom she conquer'd into her self Romulus that he might perform his Vow in the most acceptable manner to Jupiter and withal make the Pomp of it delightful to the eye of the City cut down a tall Oak which he saw growing in the Camp which he adorn'd like a Trophy and fasten'd thereon Acron's whole Suit of Armour in its right symmetry of Parts then he himself girding his Garment about him and crowning his Head with a Laurel-Garland his Hair gracefully flowing carried the Trophy lying at length upon his right Shoulder and so march'd on singing Songs of Triumph and his whole Army following after the Citizens all receiving him with Acclamations of Joy and Wonder the Pomp of this day was the cause and rais'd the Emulation of all after-Triumphs This Trophy was dedicated to Jupiter sirnamed Feretrius from ferire which in Latin is to smite for Romulus pray'd he might smite and overthrow his Enemy These Opima spolia or royal Spoyls are so call'd says Varro from their Richness which the word Opes signifies the one would more probably conjecture from Opus a Deed or Act for when the General of an Army with his own hand kills his Enemy's General to him alone is granted the Honour of offering the Opima spolia as being the sole performer of that Act or Deed of Bravery And on three only of the Roman Captains did this Honour ever happen to be conferr'd First on Romulus upon killing Acron the Ceninensian next on Cornelius Cossus for slaying Volumnius the Thuscan and lastly on Claudius Marcellus upon his conquering Viridomarus King of the Gauls The two latter Cossus and Marcellus made their Entries in triumphant Chariots bearing their Trophies themselves but that Romulus made use of a Chariot Dionysius is in the wrong for History says Tarquinius Damaratus's Son was the first that brought Triumphs to this great Pomp and Grandeur others that Publicola was the first that rode in Triumph however all the Statues of Romulus in Triumph are to be seen in Rome on Foot After the Overthrow of the Ceninensians the Sabines still protracting the time in Preparations the People of Fidena Crustumerium and Antemna joyn'd their Forces against the Romans Battel was no sooner joyn'd but they were likewise immediately defeated surrendred up to Romulus their Cities to be spoil'd their Lands and Territories to be divided themselves to be transplanted to a Colony at Rome All the Lands which Romulus acquir'd he distributed among the Citizens except only what the Parents of the stolnvirgins had and them he suffer'd to possess their own the rest of the Sabines being enraged here-at choosing Tatius their Captain march'd straight against Rome the City was almost inaccessible having for its Fortress that which is now the Capitol where a strong Guard was placed and Tarpeius was their Captain not Tarpeia the Virgin as some say who would make Romulus guilty of a foolish Action But still Tarpeia the Captain 's Daughter coveting the golden Bracelets she saw them wear betrayed the Fort into the Sabines hands and asked in reward of her Treachery all they wore on their left Arms. Tatius conditioning thus with her in the night she opened one of the Gates and received the Sabines in And truly for ought I see it is not Antigonus alone that said He lov'd Betrayers but hated them after they had betrayed nor Caesar when he told Rhymitalces the Thracian that He lov'd the Treason but hated the Traitor but it is a general kind of Affection all Men who have occasion for wicked Persons bear towards them much such as they have for venomous Creatures when they stand in need of their poyson and gall for as they love them while they are of use so they abhor their ill qualities when that is over And thus did Tatius behave himself towards Tarpeia for he commanded the Sabines in regard to their Contract not to refuse her the least part of what they wore on their left Arms upon that he himself first took his Bracelet off his Arm and threw that together with his Buckler at her and all the rest following she being born down and quite smother'd with the multitude of Gold and their Shields died under the great weight and pressure of them nay Tarpeius himself being prosecuted by Romulus was found guilty of Treason as Juba says Sulpitius Galba relates Those who write otherwise concerning Tarpeia as that she was the Daughter of Tatius the Sabine Captain and being forcibly detain'd by Romulus acted and suffer'd thus by her Father's contrivance speak very absurdly of whom Antigonus is one but Smylus the Poet of all Men who thinks Tarpeia betrayed the Capitol not to the Sabines but the Gauls having fallen in Love with their King does plainly dote Thus he writes Tarpeia 't was who dwelling close thereby Open'd the Walls of Rome to th' Enemy She hot in lust of the besieging Gaul Betray'd the City's Strength the Capitol And a little after speaking of her Death But yet the Gauls that strong and numerous Foe Drown'd not the Traitress in the Waves of Po But with their Shields thrown on her Body overlaid So died and was entomb'd at once the wretched Maid Tarpeia afterwards was buried there and the Hill from her was call'd Tarpeius until the Reign of King Tarquin who dedicated the Place to Jupiter at which time her Bones were removed and so it lost her Name except only that part of the Capitol which they still call the Tarpeian Rock from whence they are wont to cast down headlong Malefactors The Sabines being possess'd of the Hill Romulus in great fury bade them Battel and Tatius put on the courage to accept it perceiving if they were so constrain'd where he might make a secure Retreat The Level in the middle where they were to joyn Battel being surrounded with many little Hills seem'd to enforce both Parties to a smart and desperate Conflict by reason of the Difficulties of the Place which had but a few narrow Out-lets inconvenient either for refuge or pursuit It happen'd too the River having overflowed not many days before there was left behind in the Plain where now the Market stands a deep blind Mud and Slime which tho' it did not appear much to the eye and was not easily avoided
to reduce and settle the Government than Romulus to found the City Upon Brutus's departure out of the Forum a consternation horrour and silence for some time possess'd all that reflected on what was done besides the easiness and forbearance of Collatinus gave confidence to the Aquilians to request some time to answer their Charge and that Vindicius their Servant should be remitted into their hands and no longer harbour'd amongst their Accusers The Consul seem'd inclin'd to their motion and thereupon dissolv'd the Assembly but Valerius would not suffer Vindicius to depart who was encircled with the Rabble nor the people to withdraw without censuring the Traitours at length laid violent hands upon the Aquilii and calling Brutus to his assistence exclaim'd against the unreasonable proceedings of Collatinus to impose upon his Collegue the necessity of taking away the lives of his own Sons and yet have thoughts of gratifying some Women with the lives of Traitours and enemies to their Country Collatinus at this displeas'd and commanding Vindicius to be taken away the Lictors dispers'd the Rabble and seiz'd their Man and beat off whosoever endeavour'd a rescue But Valerius's Friends withstood the seisure and the people cry'd out for Brutus who returning and silence being made assur'd them he had shew'd himself a severe animadverter upon his own Sons and therefore left the rest to the suffrages of the free Citizens allowing every man to speak his pleasure and gain the people over to his persuasion But there was no need of Oratory for it being referr'd to the Vote they were return'd condemn'd by all the suffrages and were accordingly beheaded When Collatinus saw his alliance to the Kings had render'd him suspicious and his name had made him odious to the people who abominated the name of Tarquin and perceiving himself as an offence to every one relinquish'd his Charge and departed the City The Court being call'd in his room Valerius honourably obtain'd the Consulship as a just reward of his good will of which he thought Vindicius deserv'd a share whom he made Denizon of Rome and gave him the privilege of voting in what Tribe soever he was pleas'd to be enroll'd which liberty in voting Appius a long time after out of a popular design granted to other Libertines and from this Vindicius a perfect Manumission is call'd to this day Vindicta This done the Goods of the Kings are expos'd to plunder and the Palace to ruine The pleasant Campus Martius which Tarquin enjoy'd was devoted to the service of that God but happening to be harvest season and the Sheaves yet lodging on the ground they thought it not reasonable to commit them to the Flail or unsanctifie them with any use and therefore carrying them to the River side and Trees withall that were cut down they cast all into the Water and dedicated a sluggish and fruitless Soil to the Deity Now these thrown in one upon another and closing together the stream did not bear them far but being carry'd down together and sinking to the bottom there gain'd a settlement and finding no farther a conveyance but there stop'd and interwoven one with another the stream work'd the mass into a firmness and wash'd down mudd which settling there became an accession of matter as well as cement to the rubbish insomuch that the violence of the Waves could not remove it but forc'd all things to it and then with a gentle pressure clos'd it together which by reason of their bulk and solidity gaining new subsidies and the neighbouring space receiving what the stream brought down at last grew into an Island call'd Insula Sacra lying by the City adorn'd with the Temples of the Gods and consecrated Walks call'd in the Latin Tongue inter duos pontes Though some say this happened not at the dedication of Tarquin's Field but in after times when Tarquinia a Vestal Priestess gave the adjacent Field to the publick and for that obtain'd great honours as amongst the rest that of all Women her testimony alone should find credit and acceptance and had the liberty to marry but refus'd it and thus some write it happened But Tarquin despairing of a return to his Kingdom by the Conspiracy found a kind reception amongst the Tuscans who with a great Army lead him out into the Field the Consuls headed the Romans against them and made their rendezvouse in the holy places the one call'd the Arsian Grove the other the Aesuvian Meadow when they came to charge Aruns the Son of Tarquin and Brutus the Roman Consul not incidentally encountring each other but out of a malicious rage the one to avenge Tyranny and enmity to his Country the other his Banishment set Spurs to their Horses and engaging with fury instead of reason grew unmindfull of their own security and so fell together in the combat This so dreadfull an onset hardly ensur'd a more favourable end but both Armies doing and receiving equal damage were diverted by a Storm Now Valerius was much concern'd not knowing the success of the day and seeing his men as well difmayed at the sight of their own dead as reviv'd at the loss of the enemy so undiscernible alike had the greatness of the slaughter made the appearance that each side upon a review of their remains adjudg'd to themselves rather a defeat than from the estimate each made of his enemy a Victory The night being come and such as one may presume must follow such a Battel and the Armies laid to rest they write the Grove shook and murmured a Voice saying that the Tuscans lost one man more than the Romans which was esteem'd as an Oracle and the Romans presently entertain'd it with shouts and expressions of joy whilst the Tuscans through fear and amazement deserted their Tents and were much dispers'd The Romans falling upon the remains which amounted to nigh five thousand took them prisoners and plunder'd the Camp when they numbred the dead they found on the Tuscans side eleven thousand and three hundred exceeding their own loss but by one man This Fight happen'd upon the last of February and Valerius triumph'd upon the Conquest being the first Consul that adorn'd it with a Chariot which fight as it appear'd magnificent so 't was receiv'd with a veneration free from envy or what some suggest an offence to the Spectatours neither did it savour of emulation or ambition when 't was deriv'd to after ages The people applauded likewise the honours he did to his Collegue in setting forth his Obsequies with a Funeral Oration which so pleas'd the Romans and found so good a reception that it became customary for the best men to celebrate the Funerals of great men with Speeches in their commendation and their antiquity is affirm'd to be greater than that of Greece unless according to the Oratour Anaximenes's account we acknowledge Solon to be Authour Yet some part of Valerius's behaviour gave an offence and
these instructions to Clausus That Poplicola was assur'd of his goodness and justice and thought it even in bad men unworthy especially in him though injur'd to seek revenge upon his Citizens yet if he pleas'd for his own security to leave his enemies and come to Rome he should be receiv'd both in publick and private with that honour his vertue deserv'd or their grandeur requir'd Appius seriously weighing those things which necessity propos'd as advantageous and advising with his Friends and they inviting others to the same persuasion came to Rome with five thousand Families with their Wives and Children being a people of a quiet and sedate temper Poplicola advertis'd of their approach receiv'd them with all the kind offices of a Friend and enfranchis'd them into the Community alloting to every one two Acres of Land by the River of Aniene but to Clausus twenty five Acres and admitted him into the Senate and made him an associate in the Government which he so prudently manag'd that it hasten'd his preferment and so improv'd his greatness that his posterity the Claudii became inferiour to no Family in Rome The departure of these men rendred things quiet amongst the Sabines yet the chief of the Community would not suffer them to settle into a peace but resented that Clausus what his presence could not atchieve by turning Renegade should obstruct their revenge upon the Romans for all their injuries and coming with a great Army sate down before Fidenae and plac'd an ambuscade of two thousand men near Rome in the obscure and hollow places with a design that some few Horsemen as soon as day should make incursions commanding them upon their approach to the Town so to retreat as to draw the enemy into the ambush but Poplicola soon advertis'd of these designs by the Renegado's dispos'd his Forces to their respective charges and Posthumius Balbus his Son-in-law coming with three thousand men in the evening was order'd to take the Hills under which the ambush lay there to observe their motions and the Collegue Lucretius attended with a Body of light and lusty men was commanded with his Horse to assail the van-curriers of the Sabines whilst he with another Army encompass'd the enemy and accidentally a thick mist falling Posthumius early in the morning with shouts from the Hills assail'd the ambuscade Lucretius charg'd the light Horse and Poplicola besieg'd the Tents so that things assur'd a defeat and ruine to the Sabines and those that made no resistence the Romans kill'd in their flight all their hopes expiring in their own destruction for each Army of the Sabines presuming safety in the other both ceas'd to fight or keep their ground the one quitting the Camp to retire to the Ambuscade the Ambuscade flying to the Camp met those in as great need of assistence to whom they fled in hopes of a security but the nearness of the City Fidenae became a preservation to several of the Sabines especially to those that upon the sacking deserted the Camp but those that could not recover the City either perish'd in the Field or were taken prisoners This Victory the Romans though usually ascribing such success to some God attributed to the conduct of one Captain and 't was observ'd to be heard amongst the Souldiers that Poplicola had deliver'd their enemies lame and blind onely not in chains to be dispatch'd by the Sword besides from the Spoil and Prisoners a great wealth accru'd to the Romans But Poplicola having ended his Triumph and bequeathing the City to the prudence of the succeeding Consuls soon died whose life was led with the goodness and vertue mortality would admit The people as not having gratify'd his deserts when alive but as in gratitude still oblig'd decreed him a publick Interrement every one contributing his Quadrans towards the charge besides the Women by a general consent in private mourned a whole year with a sincere veneration to his memory he was buried by the peoples desire in the Street call'd Velia where his posterity had the honour of burial but now none of the Family are there interred but the Body is carried thither and one places a burning Torch under it and then immediately takes it away as an attestation of the deceased's privilege and his receding from his honour and then the Body is remov'd THE COMPARISON OF POPLICOLA with SOLON NOW there appears somewhat singular in this parallel and what has not occur'd in any other of the Lives as the one to be the imitatour of the other and the other a witness of his vertue so that upon the survey of Solon's Sentence to Croesus applauding Tellus's happiness it seems more applicable to Poplicola for Tellus whose vertuous life and dying well had gain'd him the name of the happiest man yet was never celebrated in Solon's Poems for a good man or that his Children or his Government deserv'd his memorial but Poplicola as his life was the most eminent amongst the Romans as well for the greatness of his vertue as his power so at his death was accounted amongst the greatest Families and even in our days the Poplicolae Mesalae and Valerii for six hundred years acknowledge him as the fountain of their honour Besides Tellus though keeping his order and fighting like a valiant Captain yet was slain by his enemies but Poplicola what was more honourable slew his enemies and saw his Country victorious through his conduct and his honours and triumphs procur'd him what was Solon's ambition an happy end and what as a reproof to Mimnermus touching the continuance of Man's life he exclaimed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A silent unlamented death I hate Let sighs of Friends and tears attend my Fate attested his happiness his death did not onely draw tears from his Friends and acquaintance but became the object of an universal wish and sorrow through the whole City for the very Women deplor'd this loss as of a Son Brother or universal Father Solon said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An Estate I love but not unjustly got lest vengeance should pursue the unjustice But Poplicola's riches were not onely the product of his justice but his distributions of them to the poor were the discretion of his charity so that if Solon was reputed the wisest man we must allow Poplicola to be the happiest for what Solon wish'd for as the greatest and most perfect good that Poplicola in its proper use enjoy'd to his death so that Poplicola became as well an honour to Solon as Solon to him in transmitting the exactest method of modelling a Commonwealth and stripping the Consulship of its pride made it easie and pleasant to the people he transplanted several Laws into Rome as his impowering the people to elect their Officers and allowing Offenders the liberty of appealing to the People as Solon did to the Judges Poplicola did not indeed create a new Senate
them And it seems to me that he left Mardonius behind him not out of any hopes he could have to bring them into subjection but to hinder the Greeks from pursuing him Themistocles is said to be very intent upon heaping up riches that he might be the more liberal for loving to sacrifice often and to be splendid in his entertainment of Strangers he stood in need of a plentifull revenue yet he is accused by others to be parsimonious and sordid to that degree that he would sell the provision which was presented him He desired Philides who was a breeder of Horses to give him a Colt and when he refused it he threatned him that in a short time he would turn his House into a Horse of Wood like the Trojan Horse intimating thereby that he would stir up strife and contests between him and those of his own Family and Relations He went beyond all men in ambition and desire of honour and when he was but young and not known in the world he desired Epicles of Hermiona who had a very good hand at the Lute and was much esteemed by the Athenians to come and practise at his House being ambitious and coveting to be popular and desirous that many should enquire after him and frequent his company When he came to the Olympian Games and was so splendid in his Equipage and Entertainments in his rich Tents and Furniture that he strove to out-doe Cimon he displeased the Greeks who thought that such magnificence might be allow'd of in one who was a young Gentleman of a great Family but a great piece of insolence in him to carry himself thus high who was an upstart and of no considerable Fortune He set out a Tragedy at his own expense and wan the Prize with his Tragedians in those times when they pursued those Sports with great eagerness and ambition and set up a Table of his Victory with this inscription Themistocles the Phrearian was at the charge of it Phrynicus made it Adymantus had the chief Part. He was well beloved by the common people and he would salute every particular Citizen by his own name and always shew himself a just Judge of Controversies between private men and he said to Simonides a Poet of Chios who desired something of him when he was Commander of the Army that was not reasonable Simonides you would be no good Poet if you should go contrary to the due Measures and Rules of Poetry nor should I be a good Magistrate if for favour or affection I should go contrary to the Law And at another time laughing at Simonides he told him that he was a man of little judgment to speak against the Corinthians who were inhabitants of a great and beautisull City and to have his own Picture drawn so often having such an ill Face When he came to be great and had won the favour of the people he stirred up a party against Aristides that expelled him and banished him out of the City by their publick Votes When the King of Persia was coming down into Greece and the Athenians were in consultation who should be their General and many withdrew themselves of their own accord being terrified with the greatness of the danger there was one Epicydes an Oratour Son to Euphemides a Man who was powerfull in speech and of an eloquent Tongue but of a faint Heart and a narrow Soul a mere slave to Riches this Man was desirous of the Command and was look'd upon to be in a fair way to carry it by the number of Votes but Themistocles fearing that if the Government should fall into such a man's hands all would be lost he bought out Epicydes and for a good sum of Money caused him to desist from his pretensions When the King of Persia sent Messengers into Greece with a Greek Interpreter to demand Water and Earth as an acknowledgment of their subjection and obedience to him Themistocles by the consent of the people seis'd upon the Interpreter and put him to death for presuming to publish the Orders and Decrees of the King of Persia in the Grecian Language and for this he was highly honoured by the Greeks as also for what he did to Arthmius of Zelea who for bringing Gold from the King of Persia to corrupt the Grecians was by an Order from Themistocles degraded from all honour and registred in the Book of infamy he and his Children and his Posterity but that which most of all redounded to his honour was that he put an end to all the Civil Wars of Greece compos'd their differences and persuaded them to lay aside all enmity during the War with the Persians and in this great Work Chileus the Arcadian was very assisting to him Having taken upon himself the Command of the Athenian Forces he immediately endeavoured to persuade the Citizens to leave the City and to embark themselves upon their Galleys and to meet with the Persians at a great distance from Greece but many being against this he led a great Army joined with the Lacedemonians into Tempe that in so narrow a Valley bounded on each side with high Rocks he might the more easily defend the Thessalians who had not as yet declar'd for the King but when they return'd without performing any thing and that it was known that not onely the Thessalians but all as far as Baeotia had yielded to Xerxes then the Athenians more willingly hearkned to the advice of Themistocles to fight by Sea and sent him with a Fleet to guard the Straits of Artemisium When the Grecian Fleets were joined the Greeks would have the Lacedemonians to command and Eurybiades to be their Admiral but the Athenians who surpassed all the rest in number of Vessels would not condescend to come after any other till Themistocles perceiving the danger of this contest yielded the command to Eurybiades and got the Athenians to submit extenuating the loss by persuading them that if in this War they behaved themselves like men the Grecians for the future of their own accord would restore to them the chief command and by this moderation of his it is evident that he was the great Authour of the safety of Greece and carried on the Athenians to that height of glory that they surpassed their enemies in valour and their friends and confederates in kindness and civility As soon as the Persian Armada arrived at Aphetae Eurybiades was astonished to see such a vast number of Vessels before him and being informed that two hundred more sail'd about behind the Island of Sciathus he immediately determined to retire further into Greece and to sail back into some part of Peloponnesus where their Land Army and their Fleet might join for he looked upon the Persian Forces to be altogether invincible by Sea But the Eubeans fearing that the Greeks would forsake them and leave them to the mercy of the enemy they sent Pelagon to discourse privately with Themistocles and with him
a good sum of Money which he accepted and gave it to Eurybiades as Herodotus reports In this affair none opposed him so much as Architeles Captain of a Galley called the Powerfull who having not money to supply his Sea-men made haste to set sail but Themistocles so incensed the Athenians against him that they set upon him and left him not so much as his Supper at which Architeles was much surpris'd and took it very ill but Themistocles immediately sent him in a Chest a service of all provisions and at the bottom of it a Talent of Silver desiring him to sup for the present and to provide for his Sea-men and Souldiers for the future if not he would report it amongst the Athenians that he had received money from the enemy thus Phanias the Lesbian relates it Though the Fights between the Grecians and the Persians in the Straits of Euboea were not so great in the whole as to make a final decision or determination of the War yet the experience which the Greeks learnt hereby was of great advantage for thus they effectually understood that neither the number of Ships their riches and ornaments nor their boasting shouts nor barbarous Songs of Victory were any ways terrible to men that dare fight and were resolved to come hand to hand with their enemies these things they were to despise and to come up close and grapple with their foes This the Poet Pindarus took notice of and hath not ill expressed it speaking of the Fight at Artemisium To glorious Liberty Athens did this day By bold attempts a deep foundation lay For boldness is the beginning of victory Artemisium is above the City of Estioea upon the coast of Euboea which lies open to the North but over against it is Olizon and a Country which formerly was under Philoctetes where there is a small Temple of Diana of the East and Trees about it which are encompassed again with Pillars of white Stone and if you rub them with your hand they send forth both the smell and colour of Saffron in one of the Pillars these Verses are engraved Within these Seas the brave Athenians shew Their matchless valour when they overthrew The numerous Nations that from Asia spring And the great Navy of the Persian King And trophies won by such a glorious fate To bright Diana here did consecrate There is a place still to be seen upon this Shoar where in the middle of a great heap of Sand they take out from the bottom a dark powder like Ashes or something that hath passed the Fire and here they think the Shipwrecks and Bodies of the dead were burnt But on the other side as soon as news came from Thermopylae to Artemisium informing them that King Leonidas was slain and that Xerxes had made himself master of all the passages by Land they returned back into Greece the Athenians having the command of the Rere the place of honour and danger as those who by their former actions had testified both their skill and courage in War As Themistocles sail'd along the coast he took notice of the Harbours and fit places for the enemies Ships to retire into and engraved large Letters in such Stones as he found there by chance as also in others which he set up on purpose near to the landing places or where they were to water in these inscriptions he required the Ionians to forsake the Medes if it were possible and come over to the Greeks who were their ancient Founders and Progenitours and were now hazarding all for their liberties but if this could not be done then to be a hindrance and disturbance to the Persians in all their Fights He hoped that these writings would prevail with the Ionians to revolt or raise some great disorders by causing them to be much suspected by the Persians Now though Xerxes had already passed through Doris and invaded the Country of Phocis and had burnt and destroyed the Cities of the Phocians yet the Greeks sent them no relief and though the Athenians earnestly desired them to oppose the Persians in Boeotia before they could come into Attica as they themselves had given assistence to the Greeks by Sea at Artemisium yet the Grecians gave no ear to their request being wholly intent upon Peloponnesus and resolved to gather all their Forces together within the Isthmus and to build a Wall from Sea to Sea in that strait neck of Land which parts the Saronick Bay from the Gulf of Corinth so that the Athenians were enraged to see themselves thus betrayed and at the same time afflicted and dejected at their being forsaken by the Greeks to fight alone against such a numerous Army was to no purpose and this onely expedient was left them for the present to leave their City and betake themselves to their Ships which the people were very unwilling to hearken to imagining that it would signifie little to regard their own safety or to desire victory when they had once forsaken the Temples of their Gods and exposed the Tombs and Monuments of their Ancestours to the fury of their Enemies Themistocles being at a loss and not able to draw the people over to his opinion by any humane reason he set his machines on work as in a Play and brought in his Divine Revelations wonderfull Signs Prodigies Oracles and mystical answers of the Gods The Dragon of Minerva kept in the inward part of the Temple near to her Statue served him for a Prodigy for Themistocles having gained the Priests they gave it out to the people that the Dragon refused to eat that the offerings which were set before it were found untouched that at last it disappeared that the Goddess had left the City and taken her flight before them towards the Sea He often repeated to them the Oracle which bad them trust to Walls of Wood shewing them that Walls of Wood could signifie nothing else but Ships and that the Island of Salamine was not to be termed miserable or unhappy but Apollo had given it the name of Divine for that it should be one day very fortunate to the Greeks at length his opinion prevail'd and he obtain'd a Decree that the City should be recommended to the protection of Minerva the Tutelary Goddess of the Athenians that they who were of age to bear Arms should embark and that all possible care should be taken to save the Children the Women and the Slaves This Decree being confirmed most of the Athenians removed their Parents Wives and Children to Troezena where they were received very courteously and the Troezenians made an Order of Council that they should be maintained at the publick charge distributing daily two oboli to every one gave leave to the Children to gather Fruit where they pleased and paid the Schoolmasters who instructed them This Order was made when Nicagoras was Register There was no publick treasure at that time in Athens but the Senate of Areōpagus as Aristotle
that in point of wisedom they were chiefly to be preferred who not mistrusting the weakness and age of a Commander endued with courage and conduct had rather chosen him who was sickly and desirous to be excused than younger men who were forward and ambitious to command Wherefore when the revolt of the Tusculanes was reported they gave Camillus the charge of reducing them chusing one of his five Collegues to go with him And now when every one of them put in earnestly for the place contrary to the expectation of all he past by the rest and chose Lucius Furius the very same man who against the judgment of Camillus by rashly hazarding a Battel had brought things to a dangerous and almost desperate condition willing as it should seem to hide and dissemble that miscarriage and divert the shame The Tusculanes hearing of Camillus his coming against them sought cunningly to turn off the suspicion of their revolt Their Fields as in times of highest peace were full of Plowmen and Shepherds their Gates stood wide open and their Children went publickly to School as for the people such as were Trades-men he found them in their Shops busied about their several employments and the better sort of Citizens walking in the publick places in their usual Gowns and Formalities The Magistrates very diligent and officious in running about and providing Quarters for the Romans as if they stood in fear of no danger and as though they had committed no fault at all Which Arts though they could not drive out of Camillus the certain opinion he had of their Treason yet wrought in him a certain compassion for their repentance so that he commanded them to go to the Senate and attone their anger and himself became intercessour in their behalf insomuch that their City was acquitted of all offences and admitted into the freedom and privileges of Rome These were the most memorable actions of his sixth Tribuneship After these things Licinnius Stolo raised a great Sedition in the City by which the people fell to dissention with the Senate earnestly contending that of two Consuls one should be chosen out of the Commons and not both out of the Nobility Tribunes of the people were chosen but the Multitude violently opposed the election of Consuls things through this dissention running into greater disorder Camillus was the fourth time created Dictatour by the Senate sore against the will of the People neither was he himself very forward to accept it as being unwilling to oppose his authority against those who in many and great conflicts had reposed singular trust and confidence in him and with whom he had done more things in military Affairs than ever he had transacted with the Nobility in civil that now he was pitch'd upon out of envy that prevailing he might suppress the people or failing be supprest himself However to provide as good a remedy as he could for the present knowing the day on which the Tribunes of the people intended to prefer the Law at the same time he proclaimed a general muster and called the people from the Market-place into the Field threatning to set heavy fines upon such as should not readily obey On the other side the Tribunes of the people opposed themselves to his threats solemnly protesting to fine him in 50000 Drachmas of Silver if he persisted to hinder the people in giving their suffrages for the Law Wherefore either that he feared another banishment or condemnation as not agreeable to his age and misbecoming those great actions he had performed or finding himself not able to stem the current of the Multitude which ran with a strong and irresistible force for the present he betook himself to his House and afterwards for some days together pretending indisposition of body laid down his Dictatourship and the Senate created another Dictatour who chusing Stolo leader of this Sedition to be General of horse suffered that Law to take place which was most grievous to the Nobility namely that no person whatsoever should possess above 500 Acres of Land Stolo exceedingly triumphed in the conquest he had gained till not long after he was found himself to possess more than he allowed unto others and so suffered the penalties of his own Law And now the contention about election of Consuls coming on which of all other dissentions was the sharpest and from its first beginning had administred most matter of division between the Senate and the People certain intelligence arrives that the Gauls again proceeding from the Adriatick Sea marched directly towards Rome and upon the very heels of the report manifest acts of hostility are related that the Country through which they marched was all wasted and such as by flight could not make their escape to Rome were dispersed and scattered among the Mountains The terrour of this War quieted the Sedition so that the Nobility conferring with the Commons and both joyning Councils unanimously chose Camillus the fifth time Dictatour Who though very ancient as not wanting much of fourscore years yet considering the danger and necessity of his Country did not as before pretend sickness or other excuse but readily undertook the charge and listed his Soldiers And knowing that the force of the Barbarians lay chiefly in their Swords with which they laid about them in a rude and unskilfull manner hacking and hewing the Head and Shoulders he caused iron Murrions to be made for most of his Men smoothing and polishing the outside that the Enemies Swords lighting upon them might either slide off or be broken and round about their Shields he drew a little rim of brass the wood it self being not sufficient to bear off the blows Besides he taught his Soldiers in close engaging to use long Javelins or punchion Staves which holding under their Enemies Swords would receive the force and violence of them When the Gauls drew nigh about the River Anien dragging a heavy Camp after them and loaden with infinite Spoil Camillus drew forth his Forces and planted himself upon a Hill of easy ascent and which had many hollow places in it to the end that the greatest part of his Army might lie concealed and those few which appeared might be thought through fear to have betaken themselves to those upper grounds And the more to encrease this opinion in them he suffered them without any disturbance to spoil and pillage even to his very Trenches keeping himself quiet within his Works which were well fortified on all sides At last perceiving that part of the Enemy were scattered about the Country a-forraging and having advice that those that were in the Camp did nothing day and night but drink and revell in the night-time he drew forth his lightest-armed men and sent them before to observe and watch the Enemy and to be ready to hinder them from drawing into order and to vex and discompose them when they should first issue out of their Trenches and early in the
morning he brought down his main Body and set them in battel-array in the lower grounds being a numerous and courageous Army whereas the Barbarians had taken them for an inconsiderable and fearfull party The first thing that abated the pride and courage of the Gauls was that they were to fight when they least expected it and that their Enemies had the honour of being aggressours In the next place the light-armed men falling upon them before they could get into their usual order or range themselves in their proper squadrons did so force and press upon them that they were obliged to fight confusedly and at random without any discipline at all But at last when Camillus brought on his heavy-armed Legions the Barbarians with their Swords drawn went vigorously to engage them but the Romans opposing with their Javelins and receiving the force of their blows on that part of their Shield which was well guarded with steel they turned the edge of their Weapons being made of a soft and ill-tempered metal insomuch that their Swords immediately bent in their hands and stood crooked to the Hilts as for their Bucklers they were pierced through and through and grown so heavy with the Javelins that stuck upon them that forced to quit their own Weapons they endeavoured to make advantage of those of their Enemies so that gathering up the Javelins in their hands they began to return them upon the Romans But the Romans perceiving them naked and unarm'd presently betook themselves to their Swords which they so well used that in a little time great slaughter was made in the foremost ranks and the rest of them fled dispersing themselves all over the Champain Country for as for the Hills and upper Grounds Camillus had possessed himself beforehand of them and they knew it would not be difficult for the Enemy to take their Camp seeing through confidence of victory they had left it unguarded They say this Fight was thirteen years after the sacking of Rome and that from henceforward the Romans took courage and laid aside those dismal apprehensions they had conceived of the Barbarians thinking now that their first defeat was rather the effect of sickness and the strange concurrence of evil chances than the steddy courage or true force of their Enemy And indeed this fear had been formerly so great that they made a Law That Priests should be excused from war-like service unless in an invasion from the Gauls This was the last military Action that ever Camillus performed for as for the City of the Velitrani it was but a by accession to this victory it being surrendred unto him without any resistance But the greatest contention in civil Affairs and the hardest to be managed against the People was still remaining for they returning home full of victory and success violently insisted contrary to the ancient custom to have one of the Consuls chosen out of their own body The Senate strongly opposed it and would not suffer Camillus to lay down his Dictatourship thinking that under the shelter of his great name and authority they should be better able to contend for the power of the Nobility When Camillus was sitting upon the Tribunal dispatching publick affairs an Officer sent by the Tribunes of the people commanded him to rise and follow him laying his hand upon him as ready to seise and carry him away upon which such a noise and tumult followed in the Assembly the like was never heard of before some that were about Camillus thrusting the people from the Bench and the multitude below calling out to pull him down Being at a loss what to doe in this exigent of affairs yet he laid not down his authority but taking the Senatours along with him he went to the Senate-house but before he entred he besought the Gods that they would bring these Troubles to a happy conclusion solemnly vowing when the Tumult was ended to build a Temple to Concord A great contest arising in the Senate by reason of contrary opinions at last the most moderate and agreeable to the people prevailed which yielded that of two Consuls one of them should be chosen of the Commonalty When the Dictatour had proclaimed this determination of the Senate to the People they were immediately as it could not otherwise be pleased and reconcil'd with the Senate and for Camillus they accompanied him home with all the expressions and acclamations of joy and the next day being assembled together they voted a Temple of Concord to be built according to Camillus his Vow facing the Assembly and Market-place and to those Feasts which are called Latines they added one day more making them four Festivals in all and for the present they ordained that the whole people of Rome should sacrifice with Garlands on their heads In the election of Consuls held by Camillus M. Aemilius was chosen of the Nobility and Lucius Sextius the first of the Commonalty and this was the last of all Camillus's actions In the year following a pestilential sickness infected Rome which besides an infinite number of the common sort swept away most of the Magistrates among whom was Camillus Whose death cannot be called immature if we consider his great Age or greater Actions yet was he more lamented than all the rest put together that then died of that distemper The End of Camillus 's Life PERICLES Samos Collins sculp THE LIFE OF PERICLES Translated from the Greek By Adam Littleton D. D. CAesar on a time seeing belike some Strangers at Rome who were people of Quality carrying up and down with them in their Armes and Bosoms young Puppy-dogs and Monkeys and hugging and making much of them took occasion to ask whether the Women in their Country were not used to bear Children by that Prince-like reprimand gravely reflecting upon such persons who spend and lavish that affection and kindness which Nature hath implanted in us upon brute Beasts which is due and owing to humane Creatures those of our own kind Now inasmuch as even the Whelps and Cubs of Dogs and Apes have a kind of inclination to learning and knowledge and love to look about them and to take notice of things the Soul of Man hath by Nature a higher principle of Reason so as to find fault with those who make ill use of that inclination and desire upon idle discourses and sights that deserve no regard while in the mean time they carelesly pass by good and profitable things of that sort For indeed as to the outward Sense that being passive in receiving the impression of those objects that come in its way and strike upon it it is peradventure necessary for it the Sense to entertain and take notice of every thing that appears to it be it what it will usefull or unusefull but every man if he will make use of his Vnderstanding hath a natural power to turn himself upon all occasions and to change and shift with the greatest ease to what
great a power and interest with the Populace imbroiled and routed this Council so that most of those Causes and Matters which had been used to be tried there were through Ephialtes his assistance discharged from the cognisance of that Court and Cimon was banished by Ostracism upon pretence of his being a favourer of the Lacedaemonians and a hater of his own people of Athens notwithstanding that he was one who came behind none of them all for greatness of estate and nobleness of birth and that he had won several famous and signal Victories upon the Barbarians and with a great deal of monies and other spoils of war taken from them had mightily inriched the City as in the history of his Life hath been set down So vast an authority had Pericles gotten among the people The Ostracism or banishment by Shells I mentioned which they us'd in such Trials was limited by Law to ten years during which term the person banished was not to return But the Lacedaemonians in the mean time making an inroad with a great Army on the Country of Tanagra which lay upon the Attick borders and the Athenians going out against them with their Forces Cimon coming from his banishment before his time was out put himself in arms and array with those of his Fellow-citizens that were of his own tribe and resolved by his deeds to wipe off that false accusation of his favouring the Lacedaemonians by venturing his own person along with his Country-men But Pericles his Friends gathering in a body together drove him away as one under the sentence of exile and forced him to retire For which cause also Pericles seems to have laid about him the more behaving himself very valiantly and stoutly in the fight and to have been the gallantest man among them all in the action of that day having exposed himself to all hazard and hardship All Cimon's Friends also to a man fell together in that Battel whom Pericles had impeached as well as him of taking part with the Lacedaemonians And now the Athenians heartily repented them for what they had done to Cimon and long'd to have him home again being in the close of this Fight beaten and worsted upon the confines and borders of their own Country and expecting a sore war to come upon them next Spring or Summer season All which Pericles being sensible of did not boggle or make any delay to gratify the peoples desire but having wrote an Edict or Order for that purpose himself re-call'd the man home And he upon his return concluded a peace betwixt the two Cities for the Lacedaemonians had a respect and kindness for him as on the contrary they hated Pericles and the rest of the Demagogues or Leading-men Yet some there are do say that Pericles did not write that Edict or Order for Cimon's revocation and return till some private Articles of agreement had been made between them and that by means of Elpinice Cimon's Sister Which were that Cimon should go out to Sea with a Fleet of two hundred Ships and should be Commander in chief of all the Forces abroad with a design to harrass and lay wast the King of Persia's Countrys and Dominions and that Pericles should have the power at home and govern in the City This Elpinice it is thought had before this time procured some favour for her Brother Cimon at Pericles his hands and made him more remiss and gentle in drawing up and setting home the charge when Cimon being tried for his life escaped the Sentence of death and was onely banished For Pericles was one of the Committee appointed by the Commons to implead him And when Elpinice made her applications to him and besought him in her Brother's behalf he with a smile in merriment said O Elpinice you are too old a woman to undertake such businesses as this is Moreover when he came to the Bar to impeach him he stood up but once to speak as if he made slight of his commission playing booty as it were and went out of Court having done Cimon the least prejudice of any of his Accusers How then can one believe Idomeneus who charges Pericles as if he had by treachery contrived and order'd the murther of Ephialtes the Demagogue or Counseller of State one who was his Friend and of his Party in the menage of the Government out of a jealousy forsooth saies he and an envy of his great reputation This Historian it seems having raked up these Stories I know not out of what Kennel has thrown them up like vomiting stuff to bespatter this worthy man one who perchance was not altogether free from fault or blame but yet was one who had a generous noble spirit and a soul that affected and courted honour and where such qualities are there can no such cruel and brutal passion find harbour or gain admittance But as to Ephialtes the truth of the Story as Aristotle hath told it is this that having made himself formidable to the Oligarchists those who would have all the power lodged in some few hands by being a severe asserter of the peoples rights in calling to account and prosecuting those who any way injured them his Enemies lying in wait for him did by the means or help of Aristodicus the Tanagrian privately rid themselves of him and dispatcht him out of the way Now Cimon while he was Admiral ended his days in the Isle of Cyprus And the Aristocratians those who were for the Nobless seeing that Pericles was already even formerly grown to be the greatest and formost man of all the City and being withall willing there should be some body set up against him to give him check and to blunt and turn the edge of his Power that it might not without more adoe prove a Monarchy they set up Thucydides of Alopecia a sober discreet person and a near Kinsman of Cimon's to take up the Cudgels against him Who indeed though he were less skill'd in warlike Affairs than Cimon was yet was better versed in the Courts of Law and business of State who keeping close guard in the City and being ingaged with Pericles in the pleading place where the publick Harangues were made in a short time brought the Government to an equal interest of parties For he would not suffer those who were call'd the Honest and Good persons of worth and fashion to be scatter'd up and down and jumbled in a huddle with the Populace as formerly by that means having their honour and credit smutted and darkned by the mixture of the Rabble but taking them apart by themselves and gathering into one the power and interest of them all which was now grown considerable he did as it were upon the balance make a counterpoise to the other party For indeed the contrast of the two parties at first was but as a thing of secret grudg that made but a shallow impression like a thing cut upon
these marks or brands upon the Samians foreheads they say that that passage in Aristophanes hath a secret allusion where he saith The Samian people fy for shame For store of Letters have great fame Pericles as soon as news was brought him of the disaster that had befaln his Army made all the haste he could to come in to their relief and having got the better of Melissus who bore up against him and having put the Enemies to flight he presently hemm'd them in with a Wall resolving to master them and take the Town rather with some cost and time than with the wounds and hazards of his Citizens But inasmuch as it was a hard matter to keep in or hold back the Athenians who were vexed at the delay and were eagerly bent to fight he dividing the whole multitude into eight parts or bodies of men ordered the business by lot so that that part which had the white Bean should have leave to feast and take their ease while the other seven were busie a fighting For which reason they say also that people when at any time they have been merry and enjoy'd themselves call such a day a white day in allusion to this white Bean. Ephorus the Historian tells us besides that Pericles made use of Engins of Battery in this Siege being much taken with the strangeness of the invention and that he plaid them in presence of Artemo himself the Engineer who being lame was used to be carried about in a Litter or Sedan upon occasion of business where his attendance was required and for that reason was called Periphoretus But Heraclides Ponticus disproves this out of Anacreon's Poems where mention is made of this Artemo Periphoretus several Ages before the Samian War or any of those passages And he says that Artemo being a man who lov'd his Belly and his ease and had a tender apprehension of danger so as to be struck down with fear at the very thoughts of it did for the most part keep close within door having two of his Servants to hold a brazen Shield over his Head that nothing might fall upon him from above and if he were at any time forced upon necessity to go abroad that he was carried about in a Pallankeen or little hanging Bed close to the very ground almost and that for this reason he was called Periphoretus In the ninth month the Samians surrendring themselves and delivering up the Town Pericles pull'd down their Walls and seis'd their Shipping and set a Fine of a great sum of money upon them part of which they paid down upon the nail and the rest they agreed to bring in by a certain time and gave Hostages for security Now Duris the Samian makes a Tragical outcry of this Story charging the Athenians and Pericles with a great deal of cruelty which neither Thucydides nor Ephorus nor Aristotle hath given any relation of but it is likely enough that that Authour had little regard to truth in his so doing as how that he brought the Captains of the Galleys and the Sea-men into the Market-place at Miletum and there having bound them fast to Boards for ten days he then gave order to have them poor Wretches who were already as good as half dead to be kill'd by beating out their Brains with Clubs and their dead Bodies to be flung out into the open Streets and Fields unburied But as for Duris he being one who even where he hath no private concern of his own is not wont to keep his historical accounts he gives within the compass of truth it is the more likely that upon this occasion he hath aggravated the calamities which befell his Country on purpose to draw an odium upon the Athenians Pericles after the overthrow of Samos as soon as he returned back to Athens he took care that those who died in the War should be honourably buried and made such a Funeral Harangue as the custom is in their commendation at their Graves and Monuments that he was highly admired and esteemed for it As he came down from the Pulpit or place where they delivered their Speeches the rest of the Ladies came and complemented him taking him by the hand and crowning him with Garlands and Rubans as they used to do with Gamesters that won the publick Prizes onely Elpinice coming near to him saith she These are brave things Pericles that you have done and such as deserve our Chaplets who have lost us a many brave worthy Citizens not in a War with Phoenicians or Medes Enemies and Foreigners as my Brother Cimon wont to doe but for the overthrow of a City that was in alliance and of the same Country and Kindred with us As Elpinice spoke these words he gently smiling as 't is said returned her this Verse of Archilochus for answer Old Woman as you are You should not powder Hair Nor as you walk perfume the Air Leave these things to the Young and Fair. Now Ion saith of him that upon this exploit of his conquering the Samians he entertain'd a strange and high conceit of himself in that whereas Agamemnon was ten years a taking a barbarous City he had in nine months time vanquished and taken the chiefest and the most powerfull people among all the Ionians And indeed it was not without reason that he assumed this glory to himself for to say the truth there was much uncertainty and great hazard in this War if so be as Thucydides tells us the Samian State were come to that pitch that they were within a very little of wresting the whole power and dominion of the Sea out of the Athenians hands After this was over a War from Peloponnesus being already breaking out in full tide he advised the people to send help and assistance to the Corcyraeans the people of the Island now called Corfu who were invaded and set upon by the Corinthians and to take into their protection and alliance an Island so strengthened as that was with naval power seeing that the Peloponnesians were already more than ever made Enemies against them The Commons readily consenting to the motion and voting an aid and succour for them he dispatch'd away Lacedaemonius Cimon's Son having onely ten Ships along with him as it were out of a design to affront and abuse him For there was a great kindness and friendship betwixt Cimon's Family and the Lacedemonians wherefore that Lacedaemonius might lie the more open to a charge or suspicion at least of favouring the Lacedemonians and playing booty with them if he performed no considerable or handsome exploit in this conduct and service he allowed him such a small number of Ships and sent him out against his will and indeed he did wholly by all means he could make it his business to hinder Cimon's Sons from rising in the State pretending that by their very names they were not to be
Soul designed and in him was the happy mixture of Caution and Boldness Fabius being thus installed in the Office of Dictatour in the first place he gave the Command of the Horse to Lucius Minutius and next he asked leave of the Senate for himself that in time of Battel he might serve on Horseback which by an ancient Law amongst the Romans was forbid to their Generals whether it were that placing their greatest strength in their Foot they would have their Commanders in chief posted amongst them or else to let them know that how great soever their authority were the People and Senate were still their Masters of whom they must ask leave But then again to make the authority of his Charge more awfull and to render the People more submiss and obedient to him he caused himself to be accompanied with four and twenty Lictours and when the Consul came to visit him he sent him word that at his audience he should dismiss his Lictours with their Fasces the ensigns of authority and appear before him onely as a private person The first solemn action of his Dictature was to order publick Prayers to be made to the Gods and to admonish the People that their late overthrow did not befall them through want of courage in their Souldiers but through the neglect of Divine Ceremonies in the General He therefore exhorted them not to fear the Enemy but by extraordinary honour to appease the Gods This he did not to fill their minds with superstition but onely to raise their courage and lessen in them the fear of the Enemy by making them believe that Heaven was on their side In order hereunto the Sibyline Books were consulted in which they conceived the secrets of destiny and future events were to be learnt but whoever look'd into them was under a tye of secrecy not to reveal what they found After this he assembled the People and made a Vow before them to offer in Sacrifice the whole product of the next Season all Italy over of the Cows Goats Swine Sheep both in the Mountains and the Plains and the more to solemnize this great Vow he commanded the precise sum of 333 Sesterces and 333 Pence and one third of a Peny to be expended upon festival Games in honour of the Gods What his mystery might be in that number is not easie to determine unless it were in regard of the perfection of the number of three as being the first of odd numbers the first that contains in it self multiplication with all the other properties belonging to any whatsoever Number besides In this manner Fabius having raised the hearts of the People by making them believe that the Gods took their part and by the same means having made them supple and pliant to his will he for his own part placed his whole confidence in himself believing that the Gods bestowed victory and good fortune onely upon the valiant and the prudent Thus prepar'd he set forth to oppose Hannibal not with intention to fight him but to wait upon him to straiten his Quarters to cut off his Provisions and by so doing to make his victorious Army molder away and consume with penury and want With this design he always incamp'd on the highest grounds where their Horse could have no access to him He still kept pace with them when they marched he followed them when they incamped he did the same but at such a distance as not to be compell'd to an Ingagement and always keeping upon the Hills free from the insults of their Horse by which means he gave them no rest but kept them in a continual Alarm But this his dilatory fencing way gave occasion both at Rome and even in his own Camp to suspect his want of Courage and this opinion prevail'd also in Hannibal's Army who was himself the onely man who was not deceived and who clearly saw his own Ruine in his Enemy's Conduct Wherefore he resolved with all the arts and subtilties of War to break his Measures and to bring Fabius to an Ingagement like a cunning Wrestler who watcheth every opportunity to get good hold and close with his Adversary Sometimes he draws up his men to the very intrenchments of the Enemy reproaching the Romans with their Cowardise so to exasperate and incense them against their General then again he makes a retreat to a good distance that so he might draw them out to fall upon his Rere At other times in sight of the Roman Camp he wastes and burns the Countries round to increase the clamour of the People against Fabius All this artifice though it had no effect upon the firmness and constancy of the Dictatour yet upon the common Souldier and even upon the General of the Horse himself it had too great an operation For this Minutius began to have a contempt of the General and his way of proceeding which he misconstrued to be a timorous cunctation so that in his harangues he humoured the Souldiery in their mad fondness of coming to a Battel and in their scorn and reproaches which they cast upon Fabius calling him the Pedagogue of Hannibal since he did nothing else but follow him up and down and look and wait upon him At the same time they cried up Minutius for the onely Captain worthy to command the Romans whose vanity and presumption did thereupon swell to that degree that he insolently rallied Fabius's Incampments upon the Mountains saying that he lodged them there as on a Theatre to behold the flames and desolation of their Country And in his vain fit he would sometimes ask the very Friends and Domesticks of the General Whether it were not his meaning by so leading them from Mountain to Mountain to carry them at last having no hopes on Earth up into Heaven and hide them in the Clouds from Hannibal's Army When his Friends related these things to the Dictatour perswading him that to avoid the general obloquy and the danger that might thereupon ensue he would ingage the Enemy his answer was I should be more faint-hearted than they make me if through fear of idle reproaches I should abandon my own reason It is no inglorious thing to have fear for the safety of our Country That man is not fit to rule others who shall be startled and give ground upon the noise of rumours and calumnies for in so doing he subjects himself and his government to the fancy of those whom he ought to command But an oversight of Hannibal at this time committed did happily allay these distempers in the Roman Camp For he desirous to refresh his Horse in some good Pasture-grounds drew off his Army and ordered his Guides to conduct him to Casinum they mistaking him by reason of his ill-pronouncing the Latin Tongue led him and his Army to the Town of Casilinum near Campania which the River Vulturnus divides in two The Country about it is a Valley circled round with Mountains which inlargeth it self
towards the Sea near which that River overflowing causeth a great deal of Marish ground and at last discharging it self into the Sea makes a very unsafe Coast without any Harbour As soon as Hannibal was entred into this Valley Fabius dispatch'd four thousand choice men to seise the entrance into it and stop him up and lodged the rest of his Army upon the neighbouring Hills in the most advantageous places but at the same time he detacked a commanded Party of his lightest armed Men to fall upon Hannibal's Rere which they did with such success that they cut off eight hundred of them and put the whole Army in disorder Hannibal finding the errour and the danger he was fallen into immediately caus'd the poor Guides to be hang'd which satisfy'd his revenge but did not lessen his danger For his Enemies were so advantageously posted that there was no hopes of breaking thorough them and his Souldiers began to despair of ever coming out of those Straits Thus reduc'd Hannibal had recourse to this Stratageme he caused two thousand head of Oxen which he had in his Camp to have Torches and dry Bavens well fastned to their Horns and lighting them in the beginning of the night he ordred the Beasts to be fair and foftly drove on towards the passages out of the Valley when this was done he made his Army with great silence march after them The Oxen at first kept a slow orderly pace and with their lighted Heads resembled an Army marching by night frighting onely the Shepherds and Herdsmen of the Hills about But when the fire had burnt down the Horns of the Beasts to the quick they no longer observed their sober pace but unruly with their pain they ran dispers'd about tossing their Heads and scattering the fire round about them This became a surprising spectacle to the Romans especially to those who guarded the Passages who being at some distance from their main Body and seeing the fire on the sudden dispersing it self on every side as if the Enemy had design'd to surround them in great fright and amazement quitted their Post and precipitously retir'd to their Camp on the Hills They were no sooner gone but a light Body of Hannibal's men according to his order immediately seis'd the Passages and soon after the whole Army with all the Bagage came up and safely marched through the Passes Fabius before the night was over quickly found out the trick for some of the Beasts with their flaming heads fell into the hands of his Men but for fear of an Ambush in the dark he kept his men all night to their Arms in the Camp And as soon as it was day he charged the Enemy in the Rere where many fell and by reason of the Straits and unevenness of the Passages the disorder had like to have been general over the whole Punick Army but that Hannibal speedily detached from his Van a Body of Spaniards who of themselves active and nimble were accustomed to the climbing of Mountains These briskly attacked the Roman Troops who were in heavy Armour and routing the foremost gave such a check to Fabius that he was no longer in condition of following the Enemy This action brought a strange obloquy and contempt upon the Dictatour They said it was now manifest that he was not onely inferiour to his Adversary what they always thought in Courage but even in Conduct And Hannibal maliciously to improve their hatred against him marched with his Army close to the Lands and Possessions of Fabius and then giving order to his Souldiers to burn and destroy all the Country about he forbad them upon pein of death to doe the least damage in the Territories of the Roman General and placed Guards for their security These matters reported at Rome had that effect with the People which Hannibal desired Their Tribunes raised a thousand stories against him chiefly at the instigation of Metellus who not so much out of hatred to him as out of friendship to Minutius whose Kinsman he was thought by depressing Fabius to raise his Friend The Senate on their part was also offended with him for the bargain he had made with Hannibal about the exchange of Prisoners of which the conditions were that after the exchange made of Man for Man if any on either side remained they should be redeemed at the price of two hundred and fifty Drachms a Head and upon the whole account there remained two hundred and forty Romans unexchanged They not onely refused to allow money for the Randsomes but also reproached Fabius for making a Contract so contrary to the honour and interest of the Commonwealth in redeeming those men at so dear a rate who had cowardly suffered themselves to be taken by the Enemy Fabius heard and endur'd all this with invincible patience but having no money by him and on the other side being resolved to keep his word with Hannibal he dispatch'd his Son to Rome to sell Land and to bring with him the price sufficient to discharge the Randsomes which was punctually performed by his Son and accordingly the Prisoners were delivered to him amongst whom many that were able offered when they were released to repay the money of their Randsome but Fabius would not permit them to doe it About this time Fabius was called to Rome by the Priests to assist according to the duty of his Office at some of their solemn Sacrifices whereby he was forced to leave the command of the Army with Minutius but before he parted he charged him and intreated him in his absence not to come to a Battel with Hannibal His commands his intreaties and his advice were lost upon Minutius for his back was no sooner turn'd but the new General immediately sought all occasions to fight the Enemy And notice being brought him that Hannibal had sent out a great part of his Army to forage he fell upon a considerable Party of them doing great execution and driving them to their very Camp with no little terrour to the rest who apprehended their breaking in upon them but in the mean time Hannibal had drawn his men up into a Body and Minutius without any loss made his retreat This success did much increase the boldness and presumption of Minutius and fill'd the Souldiers minds with a contempt of the Enemy and with a longing desire of a Battel The news was suddenly spread about Rome and then was Fabius heard to say those memorable words That he dreaded nothing more for the safety of Rome than the success of Minutius But the People were mad with joy and Metellus who was then their Tribune made an Oration to them in which he infinitely extolled the valour of Minutius and fell bitterly upon Fabius accusing him not onely for want of Courage but even of Loyalty and not onely him but also many others of the most eminent and considerable persons in Rome that by their means the Carthaginians had brought the War into Italy
wait the event nor would he trust to the reports of others but he himself upon an eminence in his Camp viewed all that passed When therefore he saw the Army of Minutius incompass'd by the Enemy and that by their countenance and shifting their ground they were more disposed to flight than to resist with a great sigh striking his hand upon his Thigh he said to those about him O Hercules how much sooner than I expected and yet how much later than he would have done hath Minutius destroy'd himself He then commanded the Ensigns to march and the Army to follow him telling them we must make haste to rescue Minutius who is a valiant man and a lover of his Country and if he hath been too forward to ingage the Enemy at another time we will tell him of it Thus in the head of his men Fabius marched up to the Enemy and in the first place he cleared the Plains of those Numidians and next he fell upon those who were charging the Romans in the Rere running down all that made opposition and obliging the rest to save themselves by a hasty retreat lest themselves should be environed as the Romans had been Hannibal seeing so sudden a change of affairs and the great execution done by Fabius beyond the force of his age opening his way thorough the Ranks that he might joyn Minutius warily commanded a Retreat and drew off his men into their Camp The Romans on their part were no less contented to retire in safety It is reported that upon this occasion Hannibal said to his Friends Did not I tell you that this Cloud which always hover'd upon the Mountains would at some time or other come down with a Storm upon us Fabius after his men had pick'd up the Spoils of the Field retired to his own Camp without saying any harsh or reproachfull thing to his Collegue who also on his part gathering his Army together in this manner delivered himself to them Never to commit a fault is above the force of humane Nature but to learn and improve by the faults we have committed is that which becomes a good and a prudent man Some reasons I may have to accuse Fortune but I have many more to thank her for in a few hours she hath cured a long mistake and taught me that I am not the man who should command others but have need of another to command me and that we are not to contend for a victory over those to whom it is our advantage to yield Therefore for the future the Dictatour must be your Commander but in gratitude towards him I will still be your Leader and always be the first to obey his orders Having said this he commanded the Roman Eagles to march forward and all his men to follow him in their orders into the Camp of Fabius The Fabians stood amazed at the novelty of the sight and were anxious and doubtfull what the meaning might be When he came near the Dictatour's Tent Fabius went forth to meet him and he presently laid his Colours at his Feet calling him with a loud voice his Father and the Army commanded by him the Patrons of his Liberty and after several civilities and congratulations he thus addressed himself to the Dictatour You have this day Fabius obtain'd a double Victory one by your Valour and Conduct upon your Enemies and another by your Humanity and Compassion upon your Colleque you have at once preserved us and instructed us and when we were shamefully beaten by Hannibal you restor'd us to our honour and our safety and instead of him Fabius more honourably is now our Victor Wherefore I can call you by no other name but that of a Father since you have not onely at this present given life to me but as a common Parent to all these who are under me After this he threw himself with great tenderness and submission into the Armes of the Dictatour and in the same manner the Souldiers of each Army embraced one another with an excess of gladness and tears of joy Not long after Fabius laid down the Dictature and new Consuls were created Those who immediately succeeded observ'd the same method in managing the War and avoided all occasions of fighting Hannibal in a pitch'd Battel they onely succour'd their Allies and preserv'd the Towns from falling off to the Enemy But afterwards when Terentius Varro a man of obscure Birth but very popular and bold had obtain'd the Consulship he soon made it appear that by his rashness and ignorance he would expose the Commonwealth to the last hazard For it was his custom to declaim in all Assemblies that as long as the Counsels of Fabius prevail'd in Rome there never would be an end of the War and he made his brags that when ever he should get sight of the Enemy he would free Italy from the Arms of Strangers With these promises he so prevail'd with the credulous multitude that he rais'd a greater Army than had ever yet been sent out of Rome There were listed fourscore thousand fighting men but that which gave confidence to the populace did at the same time very much terrifie and deject the wife and experienced and none more than Fabius For if so great a Body and the flower of the Roman Youth should be cut off they could not see any resource for the safety of Rome Wherefore they address'd themselves to the other Consul Paulus Aemilius a man of great experience in War but hated by the common People who formerly upon some displeasure had set a Mulct upon him This other Consul they incourage to withstand the temerity of his Collegue telling him if he will profitably serve his Country he must no less oppose Varro than Hannibal since both conspired to decide the fate of Rome by a Battel It is more reasonable said Fabius to him that you should believe me than Varro in matters relating to Hannibal when I tell you that if for this year you abstain from fighting with him either his Army will of it self moulder away and be destroyed or else he will be glad to depart and free Italy from those troublesome Guests This evidently appears inasmuch that notwithstanding his Victories none of the Countries or Towns of Italy come in to him and that now his Army is not the third part of what it was at first To this Paulus Aemilius is said to have reply'd Did I onely consider my self I should rather chuse to be exposed to the Weapons of Hannibal than to the Suffrages of my fellow Citizens whose rancour I am sure to increase against me if I avoid ingaging the Enemy yet since the life of Rome is at stake I will rather in my conduct please and obey Fabius than all the world besides But these good measures were broken by the ambitious importunity of Varro for when they were both come to the Army nothing would concent this Favourite of the People but a separate
at last he discover'd that his frequent excursions were to visit a young Woman with whom he was in love Hereupon he gave private order to some of his men to find out the Woman and secretly to convey her into his own Tent and then sent for the Lucanian and calling him aside told him that he very well knew how often he had lain at nights out of the Camp which was a Capital transgression against military Discipline and the Roman Laws but he knew also how brave he was and the good services he had done and therefore in consideration of them he was willing to forgive him his fault But to keep him in good order he was resolved to place one over him to be his keeper who should be accountable for his good behaviour having said this he produced the Woman and told the Souldier terrified and amazed at the adventure This is the person who must answer for you and by your future behaviour we shall see whether your night rambles were upon the account of love or upon any other worse design Another passage there was something of this nature which also fell under the management of Fabius and proved highly advantageous to the Roman affairs whereby he gain'd Tarentum There was a young Tarentine in the Army that had a Sister in Tarentum then in possession of the Enemy who entirely loved her Brother and wholly depended of him He being inform'd that a certain Brutian whom Hannibal had made Governour of that Garrison was deeply in love with his Sister conceived hopes that he might possibly turn it to account in behalf of the Romans And having first communicated his design with Fabius he left the Army as a Deserter in shew and went over to Tarentum At his first coming the Brutian abstain'd from visiting the Sister for neither of them knew that the Brother had notice of the Amour between them whereupon the young Tarentine took an occasion to tell his Sister how he had heard that a man of quality and great authority had made his addresses to her Therefore he desired her to tell him who it was for said he if he be a man that has bravery and reputation it matters not what Country-man he is since at this time the Sword mingles all Nations and makes them equal and an alliance with such a person in this Reign of Mars is both honourable and profitable Hereupon the Woman sends for her Gallant and makes the Brother and him great Friends and whereas she henceforth shew'd more countenance to her Lover than formerly by the same degrees that her kindness increased did his friendship also with the Brother advance So that at last our Tarentine thought this Brutian Officer well enough prepar'd to receive the offers he had to make him and that it would be easie for a Mercenary Man who was in love to accept upon the terms proposed of great Sums promised by Fabius and of a Mistress whom he passionately loved In conclusion the bargain was struck and the promise made of delivering the Town This is the common tradition though some relate this story otherwise and say that this Woman by whom the Brutian was inveigled to betray the Town was not a native of Tarentum but a Brutian born and that she had been kept by Fabius as his Concubine and being a Country-woman and an acquaintance of the Brutian Governour he privately sent her to him to corrupt him Whilst these matters were thus brewing to draw off Hannibal from scenting the design Fabius sends orders to the Garrison in Rhegium that they should waste and spoil the Brutian Country and should also lay siege to Caulonia and storm the place with all possible vigour These were a Body of eight thousand men the worst of the Roman Army who had most of them been run-aways and had been branded by Marcellus with the ignominious note of Cowardise so that the loss of them would not be great nor much lamented by the Romans Fabius therefore threw out these men as a bait for Hannibal to divert him from Tarentum who instantly bit at it and led his forces to Caulonia and in the mean time Fabius lay down before Tarentum The sixth day of the Siege his young Tarentine slips by night out of the Town and having well observed the place where the Brutian Commander according to agreement was to let in the Romans he gives an account of the whole matter as they had laid it to Fabius who thought it not safe to rely wholly upon the information given him and the bargain which was made but went himself with great privacy to take a view of the Post and the avenue and then gave order for a general assault to be made on the other side of the Town both by Land and Sea This being accordingly executed when the Tarentines and most of the Garrison ran to defend the Town on that side where the attack was made Fabius with the men reserved for that purpose scales the Walls at the place design'd and enters the Town without opposition Here we must confess that the Ambition of Fabius was both cruel and unfaithfull For to make it appear to the world that he had taken Tarentum by force and his own prowess and not by treachery he commanded his men to doe execution upon all the Brutians and not to spare a man of them many of the Tarentines were also kill'd and thirty thousand of them were sold for Slaves The Army had the plunder of the Town and there was brought into the Treasury three thousand Talents whilst they were thus ordering and distributing the Spoils the Officer who took the Inventory ask'd what should be done with their Gods meaning the Statues and Images in the Temples to whom Fabius answer'd Let us leave their angry Gods to the Tarentines And yet one Statue of Hercules which was of extraordinary bigness he caus'd to be set up in the Capitol next to his own in Brass which stood there on Horseback The severe and sanguinary proceeding on this occasion as it reflects on the memory of Fabius so also it did very much set off in the eyes of the world the clemency and humanity of Marcellus as in his Life we have already shewn When Hannibal had the news brought him that Tarentum was besieged he marched with great diligence to relieve it and being come within five miles he was inform'd that the Town was taken which made him say that Rome had also got a Hannibal and by the same Art Tarentum was lost by which he formerly had gain'd it And being in private with some of his Confidents he plainly told them that he always thought it difficult but now he held it impossible with the Forces he then had to master Italy Upon this success Fabius had a Triumph decreed him at Rome much more splendid than the former for they look'd upon him now as a Champion who had clearly worsted his Antagonist and been too hard
it was thought a base and dishonourable thing for the better sort to take Money from their Inferiors And so much of these Matters In the 4th month after the City was built as Fabius writes the Adventure of stealing Women was attempted and some say Romulus himself being naturally a Martial man and predispos'd too perhaps by some certain Oracles as if the Fates had ordain'd the future growth and greatness of Rome should depend upon the benefit of War did begin to use violence to the Sabins and that he took away only 30 Virgins rather to give an occasion of War than out of any want of Women tho' this is not very probable but rather that he observing his City presently fill'd by a Confluence of Foreigners few of whom had Wives and that the Multitude in general consisting of a mixture of mean and obscure Creatures fell under contempt and seem'd to be of no long continuance together and hoping farther after the Women were appeas'd to make this Injury in some measure an occasion of Confederacy and mutual Commerce with the Sabines took in hand this Exploit after this manner First he gave it out as if he had found an Altar of a certain God hid under ground the God they call'd Consus or the God of Council for they still call a Consult Consilium and their chief Magistrates Consules namely Counsellors this God is Neptune the Inventer of Horse-riding for the Altar is kept cover'd in the greater Cirque or Tilt-yard at other times only at Horse-racing then it appears to publick view and some say it was not without reason that this God had his Altar hid under ground because all Councils ought to be secret and conceal'd Upon discovery of this Altar Romulus by Proclamation appointed a day for a splendid Sacrifice and for publick Games and Shews to entertain all sorts of People and many flock'd thither he himself sate uppermost amidst his Nobles clad in Purple Now the Sign of their falling on was to be whenever he rose and gather'd up his Robe and threw it over his Body his Men stood all ready arm'd with their eyes intent upon him and when the Sign was given drawing their Swords and falling on with a great shout ravish'd away the Daughters of the Sabines they themselves flying without any let or hindrance they say there were but 30 taken and from them were the Tribes or Parishes nam'd but Valerius Antias says 527. Jubas 683 Virgins which was the greatest excuse Romulus made that they had taken never a married Woman save one only Hersilia by Name and her too unknowingly which was a means of their reconciliation for hence it appear'd they did not for an affront or injury commit this Rape but with a design purely to joyn Families and unite with 'em upon the greatest and surest Bonds This Hersilia some say Hostilius married a most eminent Man among the Romans others Romulus himself and that she bare two Children to him a Daughter who by reason of Primogeniture was call'd Prima and one only Son whom from the great concourse of Citizens to him at that time he call'd Aollius but after-Ages Abillius But these things Zenodotus the Trazaenian writes which are contradicted by many Among those who committed this Rape upon the Virgins there were they say as it so then happen'd some of the meaner sort of Men who were carrying off a Damsel far excelling all both in beauty and comeliness of Stature whom when some Gentlemen that met 'em attempted to take her from 'em they cried out they were carrying her to Talasius a young Man indeed but a brave and worthy Person hearing that they commended and applauded them highly insomuch that some turning back accompanied them with great joy and gladness shouting and extolling the Name of Talasius Hence do the Romans to this very time at their Weddings sing Talasius for their Nuptial word as the Greeks do Hymenaeus because say they this Lady proved a fortunate and happy Match to him But Sextius Sylla the Carthaginian a Man wanting neither Learning nor Ingenuity told me Romulus gave this word as a Sign when to begin the Onset every body therefore who made prize of a Virgin cried out Talasius and for that Reason the Custom continues so now at Marriages But most are of opinion of whom Jubas particularly is one this word was us'd to new married Women by way of admonishment and incitement to good Huswifery the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying Spinning and the Italian words not being then mix'd with the Greek But if this be not false and the Romans did at that time use the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as we Graecians do a Man might fancy a more probable Reason of the Custom For when the Sabines after the War against the Romans were reconcil'd Conditions were made concerning their Women that they should be obliged to do no other servile Offices to their Husbands but what concern'd Spinning it was customary therefore ever after at Weddings for those that gave the Bride or led her or for any one else present sportingly to say Talasius intimating thereby how she was now brought to no other Servitude but what was in Spinning Moreover it is a Custom at this very day for the Bride of her self not to enter her Husband's Threshold but to be lifted over in memory that the Sabine Virgins were carried in by violence and would not enter freely Some say too the Custom of parting the Brides Hair with the head of a Spear was in token their Marriages began at first by War and Acts of Hostility of which I have spoken more fully in my Book of Questions This Rape was committed the 18th day of the month Sextilis which is now August on which the Solemnities of the Consualia are kept The Sabines were a numerous and martial People but liv'd in small unfortified Villages as it became them who were a Colony of the Lacedaemonians to be naturally of great courage and fear nothing nevertheless seeing themselves by great Hostages bound up to their good behaviour and being solicitous for their Daughters they sent Ambassadors to Romulus with fair and equitable Requests that he would return their young Women and retract that act of Violence and afterwards in all Reason and Equity establish a friendly and neighbourly correspondence between both Nations But Romulus would not part with the young Women yet proposed to the Sabines to enter into an alliance with 'em upon which Point some consulted and demurr'd long but Acron King of the Ceninenses a Man of great Courage and well experienced in War who had all along a jealousie of Romulus's bold Attempts and considering particularly from this Exploit upon the Women he would grow formidable to all People and indeed insufferable were he not chastised was the first that rose up in Arms and with a powerful Army made head against him Romulus like-wise prepared t◠receive him but when they