it by Storm The Army being in readiness to give the Assault he put on his Arms and coming into the head of his men made a Vow of Plays and Sacrifices to Hercules in Honour if he signaliz'd himself in that day's Action before the Greeks that dwelt in Sicily as became his great Descent and his Fortunes The Sign being given by sound of Trumpet he dissipated first the Barbarians with his Shot and then brought his Ladders to the Wall and was the first that mounted upon it himself and the Enemy appearing in great Numbers he beat them back some he threw down from the Walls on each side others he laid dead in a heap round about him with his Sword nor did he receive the least wound but seem'd very terrible in his Aspect to the Enemy and gave a clear Demonstration that Homer was in the right and pronounc'd according to the truth of Fact that Fortitude alone of all the Virtues is often inspir'd with Furious and Enthusiastick Transports The City being taken he offer'd to Hercules most magnificently and exhibited all Varieties of Shows and Plays A sort of Barbarâ—us People about Mesena call'd Mamertines gave much trouble to the Greeks and put several of them under Contribution These being numerous and valiant from whence they had their Name as much as to say Martial in the Latin Tongue he first intercepted the Collectors of the Contribution Money and cut them off then beat them in open Fight and destroy'd many of their Places of Strength The Carthaginians being now inclin'd to Composition and offering him a round Summ of Money and to furnish him with Shipping if a Peace were concluded he told them plainly aspiring still to greater things there was one way for a Friendship and right understanding between them if they wholly abandoning Sicily he would consent the African Sea should be the limit between them and the Greeks And being heightned with his good Fortune and the Strength of his Forces and pursuing those hopes in prospect of which he first sail'd thither his chief aim was at Africk He had abundance of Shipping but very ill Equipp'd and when he began to press Seamen not carrying himself fairly and obligingly towards the Cities but forcing them in an haughty and insolent way and menacing them with punishments whereas at first he was not so but more winning than any other by a sweet manner of Converse ready to believe and uneasie to none now of a Popular Prince becoming a Tyrant by this severe proceeding he got the name of an ungrateful and a faithless man However they gave way to these things as necessary although they took them very ill from him and especially when he entertain'd a Suspicion of Thion and Sostratus men of the first Quality in Syracuse who invited him over into Sicily and when he was come put the Cities into his power and were most instrumental in all he had done there since his Arrival and would neither suffer them to be about his Person nor leave them at home Sostratus out of fear withdrew himself then he charg'd Thion as in a Conspiracy with t'other and put him to death and now the Scene of his Affairs was chang'd not by little and little nor yet all at once but a mortal hatred being rais'd in the Cities against him some fell off to the Carthaginians others call'd in the Mamertines and seeing Revolts in all places and desires of Alteration and a Potent Faction against him he receiv'd Letters from the Samnites and Tarentines who were beaten quite out of the Field and scarce left able to secure their Towns against the War earnestly begging his help This serv'd as a Colour to make his relinquishing Sicily no Flight nor a Despair of good Success but in truth not being able to keep it which was as a Ship labouring in a Storm and willing to be out of her he suddenly threw himself over into Italy 'T is reported that at his going off he look'd back upon the Island and said to those about him How brave a Field of War do we leave my Masters for the Romans and Carthaginians to fight in which as he then conjectur'd fell out indeed not long after When he was just ready to Sail the Barbarians having conspir'd together he was forc'd to a Fight with the Carthaginians in the very Road and lost many of his Ships with the rest he fled into Italy There were about 1000 Mamertines had cross'd the Sea a little before but afraid to engage him in open Field only setting upon him where the Passages were difficult put the whole Army in Confusion two Elephants fell and a great part of his Rear was cut off he therefore coming up in Person repuls'd the Enemy but was hugely in danger among men train'd long in War and enrag'd his being wounded in the Head with a Sword and retiring a little out of the Fight had heightned the Enemy one of which advancing a good way before the rest large of Body and in bright Armour with an haughty voice challeng'd him to come forth if he were alive Pyrrhus in a great rage violently turn'd himself among his Guards towards him and storming and beswear'd with Bloud he was terrible to look upon and breaking through his own men got afore and stroke the Barbarian on the Head with his Sword such a blow as with the strength of his Arm and the excellent temper of the Weapon pass'd downward so far that in a moment his Body being cut asunder fell in two pieces this stop'd the course of the Barbarians amaz'd and confounded at Pyrrhus as one more than man So that continuing his March all the rest of the way undisturb'd he arriv'd at Tarentum with 20000 Foot and 3000 Horse where reinforcing himself with the choicest Troops of the Tarentines he advanc'd immediately against the Romans who then lay encamp'd in the Territories of the Samnites whose Affairs were extreamly shatter'd and their Councils broken having been in many Fights beaten by the Romans There was also a discontent among them at Pyrrhus for his Expedition into Sicily so that not many came in to join him But he divided his Army in two Parts and commanded the first into Leucania to oppose one of the Consuls there that he should not come in to assist the other the rest he led against Manius Curius who had posted himself very advantageously near Beneventum and expected the other Consul's Forces and partly because the Priests had frighted him with ominous Birds and Sacrifices he resolv'd to remain there Pyrrhus hast'ning to attack these before the other could arrive with his best men and the most courageous Elephants march'd in the Night toward their Camp but being forc'd to go round about and through a very woody Country their Flambeaus fail'd them and their Soldiers lost their way a Council of War being call'd while they were in debate the Night was spent and at the break of Day
his approach was discover'd by the Enemy as they came down the Hills which put the whole Camp into much disorder and tumult but the Sacrifices being auspicious and the time absolutely obliging them to fight he drew out of the Trenches and fell in with their Vantguard and having routed them all the Army was in a Consternation so that a great many were cut off and some of the Elephants taken This success drew on Manius fighting into the Field and in plain Ground he totally defeated one Wing of the Enemy on the other hand being opprest by the Elephants and forced back to his Trenches he commanded out those who were left to guard them standing thick on the Ramparts all in Arms and fresh men these coming down from the Fort and charging the Elephants forc'd them to retire and in the Flight turning back upon their own men caus'd a huge disorder and confusion which at once brought the Romans both Victory and Empire for now having got the Fame of Invincible both for their Conduct and Courage and Glory as well in this Action as in a great many others they soon over-run Italy and not long after Sicily too Thus fell Pyrrhus from his Italian and Sicilian hopes after he had consum'd six Years in these Wars and though unsuccessful in his Affairs yet preserv'd his Courage unconquerable among all these Misfortunes and was held for Military Experience and Personal Valour and Undertaking much the bravest of all the Princes of his time but what he got by great Actions he lost again by vain Hopes and by new desires of what he had not kept nothing of what he had So that Antigonus used to compare him to one who at Dice threw excellently well but knew not how to make the best of his Game He return'd into Epirus with 8000 Foot and 500 Horse and for want of Money to pay them was fain to look out for a new War to maintain the Army Some of the Gauls joining him he fell into Macedon where Antigonus Son of Demetrius govern'd designing to plunder and waste the Country but after he made himself Master of several Towns and 2000 men came over to him he began to hope for something greater and adventured upon Antigonus himself and meeting him at a narrow Passage called the Straits put the whole Army in disorder but the Gauls who brought up Antigonus his Rear were very numerous and stood firm and a brisk Fight hapning the greatest part of them were cut off They who had the charge of the Elephants being surrounded every way delivered up both themselves and the Beasts Pyrrhus taking this advantage and advising more with his good Fortune than his Reason boldly set upon the main Body of the Macedonian Foot already surpriz'd with Fear and troubled at the former loss so that they declin'd any Action or Engagement with him and he holding out his Hand and calling aloud both to the Superiour and under-Officers by Name brought over the Foot from Antigonus who flying privately kept only some of the Sea-Towns Pyrrhus among all these kindnesses of Fortune thinking what he had effected against the Gauls the most advantageous for his Glory hung up their richest and goodliest Spoils in the Temple of Minerva Itonis with this Inscription These Shields of the brave Gauls Great Goddess I Offer to Thee gain'd in full Victory Over Antigonus 'T is no strange thing For Pyrrhus who from Aeacus does spring After this defeat in the Field he quickly took in the Cities and having Aegis in his Power beside other hardships put upon them he left in the Town a Garrison of Gauls some of those in his own Army who being insatiably desirous of Wealth instantly dug up the Tombs of the Kings that lay buried there and took away the Riches and insolently scatter'd about their Bones Pyrrhus in appearance made no great matter of it either deferring it by reason of other extraordinary business or wholly passing it by out of a fear of punishing those Barbarians but this made him hear very ill among the Macedonians and his Affairs being yet unsettled and brought to no firm Consistence he notwithstanding entertained new visionary hopes and in raillery call'd Antigonus Impudent that he had not put on a mean Habit but still wore Purple Cleonymus the Spartan arriving and inviting him to Lacedaemon he frankly embrac'd the Overture Cleonymus was of Royal Descent but seeming too Arbitrary and absolute had no great respect nor credit at home And Areus was King there This was the occasion of an old and publick grudge between him and the Citizens but beside that Cleonymus in his old Age had married a young Lady of great Beauty and Royal Bloud Chelidonis Daughter of Lectychides who falling desperately in Love with Acrotatus Areus his Son a Youth gay and airy render'd this Match both uneasie and dishonourable to Cleonymus for there was none of the Spartans who did not very well know how much his Wife slighted him so these Domestick Troubles added to his Publick discontent He brought Pyrrhus to Sparta with an Army of 20000 Foot 2000 Horse and 24 Elephants but so great a preparation made it evident to the whole World that he came not so much to gain Sparta for Cleonymus as to take all Peloponnesus for himself yet he expresly denied this to the Lacedaemonian Ambassadors that came to him to Megalopolis affirming he came to deliver the Cities from the Slavery of Antigonus and vowing to send his younger Sons to Sparta if he might to be inform'd with Spartan Education that so they might be better bred than all other Kings With these pretensions amusing those who came to meet him in his March as soon as ever he entred Laconia he began to plunder and waste the Country of which the Ambassadors complaining that he began the War upon them before it was proclaimed We know said he very well that neither you Spartans when you design any thing use to talk of it before-hand One Mandracidas then present told him in the broad Spartan Dialect An yau be a God do us no harm for wee'se harm none and if yau be a mon ther'se be some auther as stout as yau He now march'd away directly for Lacedaemon and being advised by Cleonymus to give the Assault as soon as he arrived Pyrrhus as 't is said fearing least the Souldiers entring by Night should plunder the City answer'd they might do it as well next Morning because there were but few Soldiers in Town and unprovided by reason of his sudden approach for Areus was not there in Person but gone to aid the Gortynians then in War and it was this alone that saved the Town because in regard of the small number of Soldiers and the scarcity of Provisions he despised it as not tenable and so imagining no Defence would be made sat down before it that Night Cleonymus's Friends and the Heilots his Domestick
insomuch that when they would droll in the praise of a continual drudging laborious Fellow they called him Marius's Mule 19. But to proceed Very great good Fortune seemed to attend Marius for the Enemy in a manner changing their course and falling first upon Spain he had time to exercise his Soldiers and confirm their Courage and which was most considerable to shew them what he himself was For that fierce humour of his in Authority and inexorableness in punishing proved both just and advantageous to those that did not use to do amiss and were not stubborn in their faults and his turbulent Spirit stern Voice and sowre Aspect which were in a little while grown familiar to them they esteemed terrible not to themselves but only to their Enemies But his Uprightness in judging did more especially please the Soldiers whereof this is a remarkable instance One C. Lucius his own Nephew had a command under him in the Army who was a man in other respects not notoriously debauched but much given to the unlawful Love of young men he particularly loved one that was under his Command called Trebonius with whom notwithstanding his many solicitations he could never prevail at length one Night he sent a Messenger for him and Trebonius came for it was not lawful for him to refuse when he was sent for and being brought into his Tent as Lucius endeavoured to force him he drew his Sword and ran him thorough This was done whilst Marius was absent who when he returned appointed Trebonius a time for his Tryal where whilst many accused him and not any one appeared in his Defence he himself with an undaunted assurancer elated the whole matter and brought witness that he had often resisted Lucius's importunity and that though he had given him considerable Presents he had never consented to him Marius admiring and very much pleased at it commanded a Garland the usual reward of Valour to be brought wherewith he himself Crowned Trebonius as having performed an excellent Action at a time that very much wanted such good Examples 20. This being told at Rome proved no small help to Marius towards his Third Consulship to which also conduced the expectation of the Barbarians at that time of the year the People being unwilling to trust their Fortunes with any other General but him however their arrival was not so sudden as was imagined but the time of Marius's third Consulship was again expired The Election coming on and his Collegue being dead he left the Command of the Army to Manius Aquilius and hastned to Rome where several eminent Persons being Candidates for the Consulship Lucius Saturninus who more than any of the other Tribunes swayed the Populace and of whom Marius himself was very observant made an Harangue to the People advising them to chuse Marius Consul but he seeming to decline the Office as one pretending never to be ambitious of it Saturninus called him Traytor to his Country that in such apparent danger would desert the War And though it was not difficult to discover that he was assistant to Marius in putting this Sham upon the People yet they considering that the present Juncture very much required his rough Discipline and his good Fortune too voted him the fourth time Consul and made Catulus Lutatius his Collegue a man very much esteemed by the Nobility and not unagreeable to the Commons 21. Marius having notice of the Enemy's approach with all expedition passed the Alps and pitching his Camp by the River Rhone he took care first for plentiful Supplies of Victuals lest at any time he should be forced to fight at a disadvantage for want of Necessaries The Carriage of Provision for the Army from the Sea which was formerly long and chargeable he made speedy and easie for the mouth of the Rhone by the Reflux of the Sea being barred and almost filled up with Sand and Dirt the Passage there became narrow difficult and dangerous for those Ships that brought their Provisions Hither therefore bringing his Army then at leisure he drew a great Trench and thereby turning the course of a great Trench and thereby turning the course of a great part of the River brought it to a convenient Haven deep and fit to receive Ships of considerable Burthen as also having a calm and easie opening to the Sea and this still returns the name it took from him 22. The Enemy dividing themselves into two parts the Cimbri chose to go against Catulus higher up through the Country of the Norici and to force that Passage The Teutones and Ambrones to march against Marius by the Sea-side through Liguria whereupon the Cimbri were longer before they arrived in Italy The Teutones and Ambrones with all expedition passing over the interjacent Country appeared to be an incredible number and of a terrible Aspect much different from all others in their ordinary Speech and Shoutings they taking up a great part of the Plain with their Camp challenged Marius to Battel he seemed to take no notice of them but kept his Soldiers within their Fortifications and sharply reprehended those that were of too forward and eager a Courage and who would needs be fighting calling them Traytors to their Country and telling them they were not now in pursuit of the Glory of Triumphs and Trophies but how they might repel such an impetuous Tempest of War and save Italy 23. Thus he discoursed privately with his Officers and Equals but placed the Soldiers by turns upon the Bulwarks to survey the Enemy and so made them acquainted with their shape and voice which were indeed altogether extravagant and barbarous and he caused them to observe their Arms and way of using them so that in a little time what at first appeared terrible to their appprehensions by often viewing became familiar for he very rationally supposed that the strangeness of Foreign things conduces very much to the rendring them formidable and that by our better acquaintance with them even those things which are naturally terrible lose very much of their frightfulnss Now this daily converse did not only diminish some of the Soldiers fear but their Indignation warmed and inflamed their Courage when they heard the threats and insupportable insolence of their Enemies who not only plundered and depopulated all the Country round but also with great Contempt and Resolution threatned to storm their Trenches 24. Hereupon such like Complaints of the Soldiers as these came to Marius's ears What Effeminacy does Marius see in us that he should thus like Women lock us up from encountering our Enemies Come on let us shew our selves men and ask him if he expect any others that must fight for our Liberty Shall he always employ us in servile Offices when he would draw Trenches cleanse places of mud and dirt and turn the course of Rivers In such Works as these it seems he will exercise us then return home and brag of these great
divided the Ambrones and before they could draw up all their Army on the other side of it the Ligurians presently fell upon the Van and began to charge them Hand to Hand The Romans too coming to their assistance and from the higher Ground pouring upon the Enemy forceably repelled them the most of them one thrusting another into the River were there slain and filled it with their Bloud and dead Bodies Those that got safe over not daring to make head the Romans slew as they fled to their Camp and Carriages where the Women meeting them with Swords and Halberts and making an hideous out-cry set upon those that fled as well as those that pursued the one as Traitors the other as Enemies and mixing themselves with the Soldiers with their bare Arms pulling away the Romans Shields and laying hold on their Swords endured the wounds and slashing of their Bodies to the very last with undaunted Resolution Thus the Battel seems to have hapned at that River rather by accident than by the design of the General 31. After the Romans were retreated from the great slaughter of the Ambrones Night came on but the Army was not caressed as it used to be with Songs of Victory drinking in their Tents and kind mutual Entertainments and what is most welcome to Soldiers after an happy Conquest quiet sleep But they passed that Night chiefly in Fears and Tumults for their Camp was without Fortifications and Trenches and there remained several Thousands of their Enemies as yet unconquered to whom were joined as many of the Ambrones as escaped There were heard at Night sad Mournings nothing like the sighs and Groans of Men but a kind of salvage howling and roaring joined with threats and Lamentations proceeded from so great a multitude which the neighbouring Hills and hollow Caves of the River echoed about and filled the whole Plain with an hideous Noise insomuch that the Romans were not a little afraid and Marius himself was astonished with apprehension of a confused tumultuous Night-Engagement But they did not stir this Night or the next Day but were employed in consultation how to dispose and draw themselves up to the greater advantage 32. Of this occasion Marius made good use for there were beyond the Enemies some woody Cliffs and Vallies well shaded with Trees whether he sent Claudius Marcellus very secretly with 3000 Soldiers giving him orders to post them in ambush there and shew themselves at the Rear of the Enemies when the Fight was begun the others whom he had refreshed with Victuals and Sleep as soon as it was day he drew up before the Camp and commanded the Horse to march into the Plain which the Teutones perceiving could not contain themselves till the Romans should come down and fight them on equal terms but hastily arming themselves they inconsiderately ran towards a Hill hard by where the Romans were drawn up Marius sending Officers to all Parts commanded his men to stand still and keep their Ground when they came within reach to throw their Piles then use their Swords and joining their Shields repel the Enemy for he shewed that the steepness of the Ground rendred the Enemies Charge infirm and abated the force of their blows nor could their Shields be joined close together the inequality of the Ground hindering the stability of their Bodies 33. This Counsel he gave them and was observed to be the first that followed it for he was inferiour to none in the exercise of his Body and far excelled them all in resolution Wherefore the Romans vigorously opposed and by that means forced them to retreat from the Hill the Ambrones as soon as they had put their Van in a posture of resistance found those in the Rear very much disordered for Marcellus had not let slip the opportunity but as soon as the Shout was raised among the Romans on the Hills he encouraging his men fell in upon the Enemy behind and running and shouting routed those nearest him and they breaking the Ranks of those that were before them the whole Army was immediately filled with confusion they made no long resistance after they were thus broke in upon but having lost all Order fled 34. The Romans pursuing them slew and took Prisoners above 100000 and possessing themselves of their Spoil Tent and Carriages voted as many of them as were not purloin'd to Marius's share which though so Magnificent a Present yet was generally thought less than his Conduct deserved in so great a danger Other Authors do not agree about the division of the Plunder and number of the slain They say the Inhabitants of Massilia hedged in their Vineyards with the bones and that the Ground enriched by the moisture of the putrefied Bodies which was soaked in with the rain of the following Winter yielded at the season a prodigious Crop which seems to confirm Archilochus's Relation who said that the Fallows were fatted by them Now it is an observation not improbable that extraordinary Rains usually fall after great Battels whether it be that some Deity washeth and cleanseth the polluted Earth with showers from above or that bloud and corruption steaming forth a moist and gross Vapour thicken the Air which by reason of its tenuity is subject to alterations arising generally from the smallest causes 35. After the Battel Marius chose out from amongst the Barbarians Spoils and Arms those that were whole and handsome and that would make the greatest shew in his Triumph the rest he heaped upon a large Pile and offered a very splendid Sacrifice Whilst the Army stood round about with their Arms and Garlands himself attired as the fashion is on such occasions in a Purple Robe taking a lighted Torch and with both Hands lifting it up towards Heaven was then going to put it to the Pile when some of his Friends were espied with all haste coming towards him on Horse-back whereupon every one remained in great silence and expectation when they came near they alighting saluted Marius and bringing him the News of his fifth Consulship delivered him Letters to the same purpose This gave the addition of no small joy to the Solemnity which the Army expressed in a Warlike kind of rejoycing and acclamations and the Officers again crowning Marius with a Lawrel-wreath he set fire to the Pile and finished his Sacrifice 36. But whatever it be which permits us not the enjoyment of Prosperity pure and sincere but still interchanges humane Affairs with the mixture of good and bad whether Fortune or Providence or the necessity of the Nature of Things within a few days Marius received an account of his Collegue Catulus which as another Cloud in this Serenity and Calm terrified Rome with the apprehension of an imminent Storm Catulus who marched against the Cimbri despairing of being able to defend the tops of the Alps lest being compelled to divide his Forces into several Parties he should very much weaken himself with all expedition returned to
their Infantry who were placed in the left Wing The Roman Commanders soon perceived the Design but could not contain the Soldiers for one happ'ning to shout out that the Enemy fled they all hastned to pursue them whereupon the Barbarian Foot came on moving like a great Ocean Here Marius having washed his hands and lifting them up towards Heaven vowed an Hecatomb to the Gods and Catulus too in the same posture solemnly promised to consecrate a Temple to the Fortune of that day they say that Marius having the Victim shewed to him as he was sacrificing cried out with a loud voice The Victory is mine 43. However in the Engagement they that write Sylla's Life say that Marius was very unfortunate for a great dust being raised which as it might very probably happen almost covered both the Armies he as soon as he had charged them leading his Forces to the pursuit missed of the Enemy and having passed by their Army for a good space wandered up and down the Field mean while the Enemy by chance engaged with Catulus and the heat of the Battel was chiefly with him and his men among whom Sylla says he was The Romans had great advantage of the heat and Sun that shone in the faces of the Cimbri for they though very well able to endure cold as having been bred up in cool and shady places as we observed before were yet overcome with the excessive Heat they sweat extreamly and were much out of breath being forced to hold their Shields before their Faces for this Battel was fought not long after the Summer Solstice or as the Romans reckon about the third of the Calends of August then called Sextilis The Dust too gave no small addition to their Courage in as much as it hid the Enemy for they could not afar off discover their number but every one advancing to encounter those that were nearest to them they were come to fight hand-to-hand before the sight of so vast a multitude had struck terror into them 44. The Romans were so much used to labour and so well exercised that in all the heat and toil of the Encounter not one of them was observed either to sweat or to be out of breath insomuch that they say Catulus recorded it in commendation of his Soldiers Here the greatest part and most valiant of the Enemies were cut in pieces for those that fought in the Front that they should not break their Ranks were fast tied to one another with long Chains put through their Belts As they pursued those that fled to their Camp they met with a most horrid Tragedy the Women standing in Mourning by their Carriages slew all that fled some their Husbands some their Brethren others their Fathers and strangling their little Children with their own hands threw them under the Wheels and Horses feet and then killed themselves They tell of one that was hanging on the very top of a Waggon with her Children tied dangling at her heels the men for want of Trees tied themselves some to the horns of the Oxen the necks of others were fastned to their legs that so pricking them on by the starting and springing of the Beasts they might be torn and troden to pieces Yet for all they thus massacred themselves above 60000 were taken Prisoners and those that were slain were said to be twice as many 45. The ordinary plunder Marius's Soldiers forcibly took away but the other Spoils as Ensigns Trumpets and the like they say were brought to Catulus's Camp which he used for the best Argument that the Victory was obtained by himself and his Army Whereupon some Dissentions arising as it often happens among the Soldiers the Ambassadors from Parma being then present were made Judges of the Controversie whom Catulus's men carried about among their slain Enemies and manifestly shewed them that they were slain by their Piles which were known by the Inscriptions having Catulus's Name cut in the Wood nevertheless the whole Glory of the Action was ascribed to Marius by reason of his former Victory and under colour of his present Authority The Populace more especially stiling him the third Founder of their City as having diverted a danger no less threatning than was that when the Gauls sacked Rome and every one rejoicing at home with his Wife and Children sacrificed to the Gods and to Marius and would have had him solely to have the honour of both the Triumphs However he would not do so but Triumphed together with Catulus being desirous to shew his Moderation even in so great Circumstances of good Fortune besides he was not a little afraid of the Soldiers in Catulus's Army lest if he should wholly bereave their General of the Honour they should endeavour to hinder him of his Triumph 46. Marius was now in his Fifth Consulship and he used for the Sixth in such a manner as never any before him had done he took the People by the hand and ingratiated himself with the Multitude by his Complaisance thereby not only derogating from the Publick Grandeur and Majesty of his Office but acting also contrary to his own inclination that so he might seem popular and obliging for which nature had never designed him He was they say exceeding timorous through his Ambition in any business which concerned the Government or was handled in Publick Assemblies and that undaunted presence of Mind he always shewed in Battel against the Enemy forsook him when he was to Harangue the People being one that was apt to shew very great Concern either at their commendation or dispraise 'T is reported that having at one time made free of the City 1000 men of Camerino who had behaved themselves valiantly in this War and this seeming to be illegally done some or other calling him to an account for it he answered that the Law spake too softly to be heard in such a noise of War however he himself appeared to be more concerned and astonished at that noise which was made by the Assemblies The need they had of him in time of War procured him his Wealth and Dignity but in Civil Affairs when he despaired of getting the first place he was forced to betake himself to the favour of the People never regarding to be a good man so that he were but a great One 47. Whereupon he became very odious to all the Nobility and especially fearing Metellus who had been so ingratefully used by him and who being truly vertuous was naturally an Enemy to those that managed the People not for the publick good but for their private pleasure Marius therefore endeavoured to banish him the City and to this purpose he contracted a familiar Acquaintance with Glaucias and Saturninus a couple of daring resolute Fellows who had a great company of poor seditious People at their beck by their assistance he enacted certain Laws and gathering some Soldiers he placed them in the Assembly and by this Faction oppressed Metellus And as
Action was so surprizing that 't was thought a particular Providence was concern'd in it Some say Castor and Pollux plac'd themselves on each side Lysander's Ship and attended this affair with extraordinary influence Others fansi'd a stone that seem'd to fall from Heaven to be an Omen of this overthrow 'T was of a vast bigness and fell by the River Egus The Peloponnesians esteem it very much and show it among their Curiosities to this day Theophrastus tells us that Lysander when the three Thousand Athenians which he took prisoners were condemned by the Council call'd Philocles and asked him What punishment he thought that man deserv'd who advis'd the Citizens to proceed so severely against the Grecians Philocles not at all daunted in his Adversity reply'd You are no judge in this Case but do you use your Prisoners as I wou'd have us'd you if you had been mine After this bold answer with all gayety and cheerfulness he led on his Country-men as if he had been going rather to a Triumph than his Execution When this Tragedy was over Lysander visited all the neighbouring Cities and Commanded all the Athenians he found upon pain of death to repair to Athens His design was this That the City being thus throng'd might soon be reduc'd to Famine and glad to surrender upon discretion as soon as he open'd the Siege Where-ever he came he chang'd the present Government of the place and put in a Lacedaemonian as Chief with ten other Assistants Thus he dealt not only with his Enemies but his Allies and by this means had in a manner engross'd to himself the whole Empire of Greece He did not employ the Nobility or the wealthy Citizens in any part of the Government but put it into the hands either of private Friends or strangers and entrusted 'em with full power of Life and Death Many were executed whilst he was present and whoever exprest any dislike of his Friends proceedings were sure to meet with very hard usage This management gave the Greeks an ill Opinion of the Lacedaemonian Government From hence Theopompus took occasion by way of drollery to compare the Lacedaemonians with Vint'ners who whilst they pretend to entertain us with sweet Wine give it a dash of Vinegar for though Lysander openly profess'd he allow'd 'em all their Freedom and privileges yet he oppress'd 'em so much by his Ambitious and Tyrannical Officers that no Slavery cou'd be more uneasie to 'em than what he call'd Liberty Having settled Affairs here according to his mind and dispatch'd Messengers to tell the Lacedaemonians that he shou'd return to them with two hundred Sail in a very short time he appear'd before Attica with such assurance as if he thought of nothing less than the immediate surrender of the City But when he found the Athenians made a vigorous defence beyond his expectation he retreated into Asia and made the same alteration in other Cities as he had done in those we mentioned before putting some to death who did not submit to his Tyranny and forcing others to quit their Country He utterly routed the Samians and gave Fugitives the possession of their Cities He us'd the same Barbarity to the Inhabitants of Sestos which was then in the hands of the Athenians and divided it among his Sea-men The Lacedaemonians themselves were displeas'd at these inhumane proceedings though against their Enemies and re-establish'd the Sestians The Greecians were well satisfi'd with Lysander's Conduct for by his means the Aeginites were restor'd to their own Cities of which the Athenians had injustly possess'd themselves By this time Lysander had intelligence that there was a Famine in Athens upon which he sail'd to the Piraeum and had no sooner began his siege but the City surrendred submitting to whatever Terms he demanded 'T is reported among the Lacedaemonians that Lysander wrote to the Magistrates thus Athens is taken To which they return'd this Answer in the same way You say 't is taken we are satisfi'd But this was recorded rather as Laconick than true for they commanded him to observe these orders They run thus Know this is the decree of the Lacedaemonians Pull down the Piraeum and the long Wall Divide their Lands among the neighbouring Cities Allow 'em what 's necessary and set the Captives at liberty When you have perform'd this enjoy that peace which you have so well deserv'd As for the number of Ships use your own discretion in that matter When these orders came to the Athenians they took Theramenes his advice thereupon whom Cleomenes one of the young Councellors ask'd why he acted contrary to the intention of Themistocles and gave those Walls into the hands of the Lacedaemonians which he built in defiance of ' em Youth says he I have my eye upon Themistocles his design He rais'd these Walls for the preservation of the City and I for the very same reason wou'd have 'em destroy'd and if Walls only secure a City Sparta which has none is in a very ill condition Lysander as soon as the Ships and Fortifications of the Athenians were deliver'd into his hands attempted the same alteration among them as he had made in the other parts of Greece but finding 'em more stubborn than he expected he complain'd to the Lacedaemonians that their orders were not observ'd by the Athenians that the Walls were yet standing after the time fix'd for their pulling down was expir'd and now since they had broke their first Articles he declar'd he wou'd not enter into new conditions with ' em Some say he mov'd in Council that they might be reduc'd to Slavery when at the same time Erianthus the Theban propos'd wholly to destroy the City and leave the Country desolate but a little afterwards at an entertainment of the Captains one of 'em repeated some verses out of Eurypides's Electra They begun thus Electra O unhappy Queen Whither wou'd you fly return Your absence the forsaken Groves And desert Palace seem to mourn This struck 'em and gave 'em occasion to reflect how barbarous 't wou'd appear to lay that City in ruine which had been renown'd for the birth and education of so many famous men However Lysander the Athenians entirely submitting to him call'd a great consort of Musick both out of the City and Camp and whilst he pull'd down the Walls and burn'd the Ships his associates dancing and Crown'd with Garlands express'd as much joy as if the end of other men's happiness had been the beginning of their own After this according to his usual way of dealing with Conquer'd People he alter'd their Government appointed thirty Rulers over the City and ten over the Piraeum plac'd a strong Garrison in the Tower and made Callibius a Spartan the Governour who upon some slight occasion offer'd to strike Autolycus a famous wrestler the same whom Xenophon mentions in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the young Gentleman avoided the blow and gave Callibius a fall Lysander though this reflected upon one of his Officers
manner they could and met with some of the straggling Vessels that had escap'd the Storm in which were a very few Horse and not quite 2000 Foot and two Elephants with these Pyrrhus march'd streight to Tarentum and Cineas being inform'd of his Arrival drew out his Forces to meet him when he enter'd the Town he did nothing unpleasing to the Tarentines nor put any force upon them till his Ships were all in Harbour and the greatest part of the Army got together then considering the People as neither able to preserve themselves nor secure others unless they were necessiated to it and intending while he engaged for them in the Field to remain at home bathing and feasting themselves he first shut up the Places of Publick Exercise and their Walks where vainly solicitous they fought for their Country only in discourse of Wars he prohibited likewise all Solemn Festivals Revels and Jollities as unseasonable and call'd them to Arms being most severe and inflexible in Listing men fit for Action and Service Upon which many left the Town unaccustomed to such a Discipline calling it mere Slavery not to live in Pleasures He now received Intelligence that Levinus the Roman Consul was upon his March with a great Army and plundering Lucania as he went The Confederate Forces were not come up to him yet he thought it very indecent to suffer so near an approach of an Enemy and neglect it and drew out with his Army but first sent an Herald to the Romans to know if before the War they would decide the differences between them and the Italicks by a course of Justice and make use of his Mediation to determine them but Levinus returning Answer that the Romans neither accepted him as Arbitrator nor fear'd him as an Enemy Pyrrhus advanc'd and Encamp'd in the Plain between the Cities of Pandosia and Heracléa and having notice the Romans were near and lay on the other side of the River Lyris he rode up to take a view of them and seeing the Order the appointment of the Watches the Excellent Form and in a word the whole Scheme of their Encampment he was amaz'd and calling one of his Friends next to him This Order says he Megacles of a Barbarous Nation is not at all Barbarous we shall see afterward what they can do and growing a little more thoughtful of the Event resolv'd to expect the arriving of the Confederate Troops And to hinder the Romans if in the mean time they should endeavour to pass the River he planted men all along the Bank to oppose them but they hast'ning to prevent the coming up of those Forces he look'd for attempted the Passage with their Infantry where it was fordable the Horse getting over in several places so that the Greeks fearing to be surrounded were oblig'd to retreat which Pyrrhus understanding was hugely surpriz'd and commanded his Foot Officers to range their men in Battalia and continue in Arms himself with 3000 Horse advanc'd hoping to attack the Romans as they were coming over scatter'd and disorder'd but when he saw a vast number of Shields appearing above the water and the Horse following them in good order drawing up his men in a closer Body himself in the Head of them began the Charge he was very remarkable by the bravery and Glistering of his Arms which were exceeding rich but more by the things he did there which gave signal proof that his Fame had not out-gone what he was able effectually to perform but especially when exposing his hands and Body to the Fight he bravely repell'd all that engag'd him managing the Battel with a steady and undisturb'd Reason and such a presence of mind as if he had been quite out of any Action himself flying from place to place and assisting those whom he thought most oppress'd by the Enemy Here Leonatus a Macedonian observing one of the Italians very intent upon Pyrrhus riding up towards him and changing places as he did and moving as he mov'd Do you see Sir said he that Barbarian on the black Horse with white feet he seems to me one that designs some great and dangerous thing he looks constantly at you attends on you only full of Fury and Violence and takes no notice of others Good Sir have a care of that Fellow Leonatus said Pyrrhus it is impossible for any man to avoid his Fate but neither he nor any other Italian shall have much satisfaction in ingaging with me While they were in this discourse the Italian placing his Spear and quickning his Horse rid furiously at Pyrrhus and run his Horse through with his Launce at the same Instance Leonatus ran his through both Horses falling Pyrrhus his Friends surrounded him and brought him off safe and kill'd the Italian bravely defending himself He was by Birth a Tarentine Captain of a Troop and nam'd Oplacus This made Pyrrhus use greater caution and now seeing his Horse give Ground he brought up the Infantry and rang'd them in order and then changing his Robe and his Arms with Megacles one of his Friends and obscuring as it were himself in his charg'd upon the Romans who receiv'd and engag'd him and a great while the Success of the Battle remain'd undetermin'd and 't is said there were seven Turns of Fortune both of pursuing and being pursu'd This change of his Arms was very opportune for the safety of his Person but had like to have overthrown his Affairs and lost him the Victory for several falling upon Megacles the first that gave him his mortal wound was one Dexter who snatching away his Helmet and his Robe rid presently to Levinus holding them up and saying aloud he had kill'd Pyrrhus These Spoils being carried about and shown among the particular Ranks the Romans were transported with Joy and gave a huge Shout but mightily discouraged and terrified the Greeks Pyrrhus understanding what had hap'ned rid about the Army with his face bare stretching out his hand to his Souldiers and telling them aloud it was He. At last the Elephants principally distress'd the Romans their Horses before they came near not enduring them went back with their Riders upon which he commanded the Thessalian Cavalry to charge them in this disorder and gave them a total rout with great effusion of Bloud Dionysius affirms near 15000 fell of the Romans Hieronymus no more than 7000. On Pyrrhus's side the same Dionysius makes 13000 slain the other under 3000 but they were the flower of his men as well of his particular Friends as Officers in whom he always most confided and made use of in greatest occasions Beside he possess'd himself of the Romans Camp which they deserted and drew off several Confederate Cities and wasted the Country round about and advanc'd so far that he was within about 37 Miles of Rome it self After the Fight many of the Lucanes and Samnites came in and join'd him he chid them for their delay and appear'd extreamly satisfi'd and rais'd
Servants had made great preparation at his House as expecting Pyrrhus there at Supper In the Night the Lacedaemonians held a Consult to Ship over all the Women into Crete but they unanimously refused and Archidamia came into the Senate with a Sword in her Hand in the Name of them all representing how unkindly they took it to think they would survive the ruins of Sparta It was next resolved to draw a Trench in a Line directly over against the Enemies Camp and at each end of it to sink Waggons-in the Ground as deep as the Naves of the Wheels that so being firmly fix'd they might obstruct the passage of the Elephants When they had just begun the Work both Maids and Women came to them those had their Clothes truss'd up about their Linen and others in their Shifts only to assist the Elder sort of men As for the Youth that were next day to engage they left them to their rest and undertaking their proportion they themselves finish'd a third part of the Trench which was in breadth six Cubits four in depth and 800 foot long as Phylarchus says Hieronymus makes it somewhat less The Enemy beginning to move by break of day they brought their Arms to the young men and giving them also in charge the Trench exhorted them to defend and keep it bravely as a most worthy thing to conquer in the view of their whole Country and glorious to die in the Arms of their Mothers and Wives falling as became Spartans As for Chelidonis she retired with a Halter about her Neck resolving to die so rather than fall into the Hands of Cleonymus if the City were taken Pyrrhus himself in Person laboured with his Foot to force through the Shields of the Spartans ranged against him and to get over the Trench which was scarce passable because the looseness of the fresh Earth afforded no firm footing for the Soldiers Ptolomee Pyrrhus's Son with 2000 Gauls and some choice men of the Chaonians went about the Trench and endeavoured to get over where the Waggons were but they being so deep in the Ground and plac'd close together did not only make his passage but also the defence of the Lacedaemonians very troublesom yet now the Gauls had got the Wheels out of the Ground and were drawing off the Waggons towards the River when Young Acrotatus seeing the danger they were in passing through the Town with 300 men surrounded Ptolomee undiscerned taking the advantage of some hollow ways till he fell upon his Rear and forced them to wheel about thrusting one another into the Ditch and falling among the Waggons and at last they with much ado were cut off with a very great slaughter the Elderly men and all the Ladies saw this brave action of Acrotatus and when he returned back into the Town to his first Post all covered with Blood and fierce and elate with Victory he seem'd to the Spartan Dames more gallant and beautiful than ever and they envied Chelidonis so worthy a Lover And some of the old men followed him crying aloud Go on Acrotatus enjoy Chelidonis and get brave Fellows for Sparta Where Pyrrhus himself fought was the hottest of the Action and many of the Spartans did gallantly but in particular one Phyllius signaliz'd himself and killed most of those that pressed upon him and when he found himself ready to sink with the many Wounds he had received retiring a little out of his place behind another fell down among their own men that the Enemy might not carry off his Body The Fight ended with the day and Pyrrhus in his Sleep dream'd he threw Lightning upon Lacedaemon and set it all on fire and seemed to rejoyce at the Sight and in this Transport of joy waking commanded his Officers to get all things ready for a second Assault and interpreting his Dream among his Friends that he should take the Town by Storm several assented to it with admiration but Lysimachus was not pleased with the Dream and told him he feared lest as Places struck with Lightning are held Sacred and not to be entred so the Gods might by this let him know the City should not be taken Pyrrhus replied All these things were but idle talk full of uncertainty and only fit to amuse the Vulgar but you my brave Men with your Swords in your hands should always think of that Verse of Homer 'T is the only good presage That for Pyrrhus you engage Changing the last Word of his Verse and surprising them in raillery with putting in the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he got up and drew out his Army to the Walls by break of Day the Lacedaemonians in resolution and courage made a defence even beyond their power the Women were all by helping them to Arms and bringing Bread and Drink to those that desired it and taking care of the wounded The Macedonians attempted to fill up the Trench bringing huge quantities of Materials and throwing them upon the Arms and dead Bodies that lay there all covered over while the Lacedaemonians opposed this with all their Force Pyrrhus in Person appeared on their side of the Trench and the Waggons pressing on Horseback towards the City at which the Soldiers who had that Post making a great Noise and the Women shreiking and running about while Pyrrhus violently pushed on and in Person beating down all that disputed his way his Horse receiv'd a shot in the Belly with a Cretan Arrow and flouncing as he died threw off Phyrrus on slippery and very steep Grounds at which all about him being in a Confusion the Spartans came boldly up and making good use of their Arrows forced them off again This caused Pyrrhus to retreat a second time thinking the Lacedaemonians would abate of their vigour when almost all of them were wounded and very great numbers killed outright But the good Fortune of the City either resolving to make the utmost Experiment of the bravery of her own Citizens upon her self or giving a demonstration how great a power she has in dubious Accidents the Lacedaemonians having now but very slender hopes left brought Ameinias the Phocian one of Antigonus's Commanders from Corinth to their assistance with an Army of Strangers and they were no sooner receiv'd into the Town but Areus their King arrived there himself too from Crete with 2000 men more The Women upon this went all home to their Houses finding it no longer necessary for them to meddle with the business of the War and they also were sent back who though under age were by necessity forced to take Arms the rest prepared to fight Pyrrhus upon the coming of these additional Forces who was possessed with a more eager desire and ambition than before to make himself Master of the Town but his Designs not succeeding and receiving fresh losses every day he gave over the Siege and fell to plunder the Country determining to winter thereabout But Fate is
with the best of his men and the remaining Elephants marched streight through the Gates into the Town to assist his Father Pyrrhus was now making good his Retreat and while the Market-place afforded them Ground enough both to Retreat and Fight frequently repulsed the Enemy that bore upon him when he was forced out of that broad place into a narrow street leading to the Gate and fell in with those who came the other way to his assistance they not hearing him call out to them to give back and coming on very briskly of themselves were also pushed forward by others behind who poured in at the Gate Besides the largest of the Elephants falling down on his side in the very Gate and terribly braying lay in the way of those that would have got out Another of these already in the Town called Nicon striving to take up his Rider who after many wounds received was fallen off his back bore forward upon them that Retreated and thrusting as well Friends as Enemies tumbled them all confusedly upon one another till having found the Body and taken it up with his Trunk he carried it on his Tushes and returning in a great Rage trode down all before him Being thus pressed and crowded together not a man could do any thing singly but wedged so close as it were one Mass the whole multitude rolled and swayed this way and that altogether they did very little Execution upon the Enemy either in their Front or Rear but very much harm to one another for he who had either drawn his Sword or directed his Lance could neither advance it again nor put his Sword up but wounded their own men as by chance they were thrust together and so fell dead one among another Pyrrhus seeing the mighty Storm and Confusion of things took off the Crown he wore upon his Helmet by which he was distinguished and gave it to one nearest his Person and trusting to the goodness of his Horse rid in among the thickest of the Enemy and being wounded with a Lance through his Brest-plate but not dangerously nor indeed very much he turned about to him that struck him who was an Argive not a man of any Illustrious Birth but the Son of a poor old Woman She was looking upon the Fight among other Women from the top of an House and perceiving her Son engaged with Pyrrhus and affrighted at the danger he was in took up a Tile with both Hands and threw it at Pyrrhus which falling on his Head below his Helmet and bruising the Vertebres of the lower part of the Neck his Eye-sight was taken away his Hands let go the Reins and sinking down from his Horse fell just by the Tomb of Lycimnius the common Soldiers knew not who it was but one Zopyrus that served under Antigonus and two or three others running thither and knowing it was Pyrrhus dragg'd him to a Threshold hard by just as he was recovering a little from the blow Zopyrus drawing out an Illyrian Sword and ready to cut off his Head Pyrrhus gave him so fierce a Look that confounded with Terror and sometimes his Hands trembling and then again endeavouring to do it full of Fear and Confusion he could not strike him right but cutting over his Mouth and Chin it was a long time before he got off the Head This was quickly known to a great many and Alcyoneus hast'ning to the place desired to look upon the Head and see whether he knew it and taking it in his hand rid away to his Father and threw it at his feet while he was sitting with some of his particular Favourites Antigonus looking upon it and knowing it thrust his Son from him and struck him with his Cane calling him wicked and barbarous and covering his Eyes with his Robe fell a weeping when he reflected upon the instances of the change of Fortune in his own Family both in his Grandfather and his Father and caused the Head and Body of Pyrrhus to be burned with all due Solemnity after this Alcyoneus discovering Helenus under a mean disguise in a poor thred bare Coat used him very respectfully and brought him to his Father When Antigonus saw him This Son said he was done much more Nobly than before but yet there is a defect that you have not taken off that old Coat which is a Scandal to us who have got the Victory and then treating Helenus with great kindness and as became a Prince restored him to his Kingdom of Epirus and gave the same obliging Reception to all Pyrrhus his principal Commanders after he had reduced the whole Army under his Obedience THE LIFE OF CAIUS MARIUS Englished from the Greek By Miles Stapleton Fellow of All-Souls Colledge in Oxon. VOLUME III. CAIUS MARIUS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. We have seen Marius's Effigies in Stone at Ravenna in Gallia very agreeable to that roughness and Sowreness of his behaviour remarked by all Authors for being naturally valiant and warlike more acquainted also with the Discipline of the Camp than of the City he could not moderate his Passion when in Authority He is said neither to have much studied Greek nor ever to have made use of that Language in any matter of consequence as thinking it ridiculous to bestow time in that Learning the Teachers whereof were little better than their Slaves So after his second Triumph when at the Dedication of a Temple he presented some Shews after the Greek Fashion coming into the Theatre he only sate down and immediately departed Wherefore as Plato often used to say to Xenocrates the Philosopher who was seemingly of a more than ordinary rigid disposition Prethee good Xenocrates sacrifice to the Graces so if any could have perswaded Marius to pay his Devotions to the Greek Muses and Graces he had never brought those his incomparable Designs both in War and Peace to so unhappy a Conclusion or plunged himself into a turbulent and unpleasant old Age through his Passion ill tim'd Ambition and insatiable Avarice but this will farther appear by and by from his Actions 3. He was born of Parents altogether obscure indigent and that supported themselves by their daily labour his Father of the same name with himself his Mother called Fulcinia He had passed a considerable part of his Age before he saw and tasted the pleasures of the City at first he lived in Cirraeaton a Village in the Territory of Arpinum a life compared with the City delicacies harsh and rustical yet temperate and much resembling the ancient Roman severity He first listed himself in the War against the Celtiberes when Scipio Africanus besieged Numantia where he soon signalized himself to his General by his Courage very far above his Comrades and particularly by his so chearfully complying with Scipio's Reformation of his Army before almost ruined by Pleasures and Luxury 'T is reported too that he challenged or at least encountred and vanquished an Enemy in his General
performances of his Consulships to the People Or does the defeat of Carbo and Caepio who were vanquished by the Enemy affright him Surely they were much inferiour to Marius both in Glory and Valour and commanded a much weaker Army at the worst it is better to be in Action though we suffer for it like them than to sit idle Spectators of the destruction of our Allies and Companions Marius not a little pleased to hear this gently appeased them pretending that he did not distrust their Valour but that he took his measures as to the time and place of Victory from some certain Oracles 25. He used solemnly to carry about in a Litter a Syrian Woman called Martha a supposed Prophetess and to Sacrifice by her directions She had formerly been driven away from the Senate to whom she addressed her self offering to inform them about these Affairs and to foretel future Events whereupon she betook her self to the Ladies and gave some experiments of her skill especially to Marius's Wife who sitting to see the Gladiators combat she foretold which of them should overcome and was for this and the like Predictings sent by her to Marius and the Army where she was very much admired and for the most part carried about in a Litter when she went to Sacrifice she wore a Purple Robe lined and buttoned up and had in her Hand a little Spear trimmed with Rubans and Garlands This Farce made many question whether Marius did really give any credit to her himself or only play'd the Counterfeit when he shewed her publickly to impose upon the Soldiers 26. But what Alexander Mindius relates about the Vultures does really deserve admiration that always before his Victories there appeared two of them and accompanied the Army which were known by their brazen Collars for the Soldiers when they took them put these about their Necks and so let them go whereupon they in a manner knew and saluted the Soldiers and whensoever these appeared in their Marches they very much rejoiced as at an Omen of good Success in that Expedition But of the many Prodigies that then were taken notice of the rest were but of the ordinary stamp as that it was reported at Ameria and Tudertum two Cities in Italy there were seen at Nights in the Sky flaming Darts and Shields now waved about and then again clashing against one another resembling those postures and motions Soldiers use in their fighting that at length one Party retreating and the other pursuing they all disappearing Westward Much about the same time came Batabaces one of Cybele's Priests from Pessinunce and reported how the Goddess had declared to him by her Oracle That the Romans should obtain the Victory and no small Glory in this War The Senate giving credit to him and voting the Goddess a Temple to be built in hopes of a Victory Aulus Pompeius a Tribune prevented Batabaces when he would have gone and told the People this same Story calling him Impostor and ignominiously pulling him out of the Rostra which Action chiefly got repute to the Fellow's report for Aulus had scarce dissolved the Assembly and returned home when so violent a Fever seized him that it was notoriously known and in every bodies Mouth that he died within a week after 27. Now the Teutones whilst Marius lay quiet ventured to attack his Camp from whence being encountered with showers of Darts and losing several of their men they determined to march forward hoping to recover the other side of the Alps without opposition and packing up their baggage they passed securely by the Roman Camp where the greatness of their number chiefly appeared by the long time they took in their March for they were said to be six days continually going on in passing Marius's Fortifications they marched pretty near and revilingly asked the Romans if they would send any recommendations by them to their Wives for they would shortly be with them As soon as the Enemy was gone by and continued their motion Marius began to move and follow them at his leisure always encamping at some small distance from them chusing also convenient places for his Camp and strongly fortifying it that he might quarter with the greater safety Thus they marched till they came to Aquae-Sextiliae whence the Alps were but little distant where Marius put himself in readiness for the Encounter 28. He chose a place for his Camp of considerable strength but where was scarcity of Water designing as was reported by this means to put an edge on his Soldiers Courage whereat when several were not a little grieved and complained of thirst he pointing to a River that ran near the Enemy's Camp There says he you may have drink but at the expence of your Bloud Why then replyed they do you not lead us to them that we may have something that is liquid though it be Bloud But says he in a softer tone Let 's first fortifie our Camp whereupon the Soldiers for all their repining durst not but obey Now as a great company of their Boys and Pedees having neither drink for themselves nor Horses went down to that River some taking Axes others Halberts and some two Swords and Darts with their Pitchers resolving to have water though they fought for it These were first encountred by a small party of the Enemies for most of them were after bathing at dinner and several were then too bathing themselves for the Country thereabouts abounds very much with hot Springs so that the Romans fell upon them whilst they were enjoying themselves and very much transported with the wonderful pleasantness of the place Upon hearing their shouts more still coming in it was not a little difficult for Marius to contain his Soldiers so much concerned for their Servants and the more warlike part of the Enemies who had overthrown Mallius and Coepio they were called Ambrones and were in number one with another above 30000 taking the Alarm stood to their Arms. 29. These though they had sufficiently filled their bellies yet retained their minds undisturbed and though they indulged themselves even to Intemperance yet did they not rush on like mad-men disorderly or sending forth confused noises but all of them dancing and clashing their Arms in a kind of Consort often repeated their name Ambrones either the better to encourage one another or to strike the greater terrour into their Enemies Of all the Italians in Marius's Army the Ligurians were the first that charg'd and when they understood that the Enemy's confused Shout was calling themselves Ambrones they also echoed the same word which was an Ancient Name of their Country This Acclamation bandied from one Army to the other before they joined the more incensed the Germans so that their Officers on either side encouraging them they strove with all possible vehemence the one to overshout the other taking it mutually for an Omen of Victory and a great Incentive of their Courage 30. The River
Italy and posted his Army by the River Athesis where blocking up the Passages on both sides the River with strong Fortifications he made a Bridge that so he might go to their assistance that were on the other side if so be the Enemy having forced the narrow Passages should storm the Fortresses The Barbarians came on with such Insolence and Contempt of their Enemies that to shew their Strength and Courage rather than out of any necessity they went naked in the showers of Snow and through the Ice and deep Snow climbed up to the tops of the Hills and from thence placing their broad Shields under their bodies let themselves slide from the Precipices along their vast slippery Descents 37. When they had pitched their Camp at a little distance from the River and surveyed the Passage they began to cast up their Banks Giant-like tearing up the neighbouring Hills and brought Trees pulled up by the roots and heaps of Earth to the River therewith damming up its course and with great heavy Materials rowlled down the Stream and dashed against the Bridge they forced away the Planks which supported it whereat the greatest part of the Roman Soldiers very much affrighted left their Camp and fled Here did Catulus shew himself a generous indulgent General in preferring the Glory of his People before his own for when he could not prevail with his Soldiers to stand to their Colours but saw how cowardly they all deserted them he commanded his own Standard to be taken up and running to the foremost of those that fled he led them forward chusing rather that the disgrace should fall upon himself than his Country and that they should not seem to fly but following their Captain to make a retreat The Barbarians assaulted and took the Fortress on the other side Athesis where admiring at the few Romans there left who had shewn themselves of an extream great Courage and had fought worthy their Country they dismissed them with an easie Composition swearing them upon their Brazen Bull which was afterwards taken in the Battel and they say carried to Catulus's House as the chief Trophy of the Victory 38. Thus falling in upon the Country destitute of defence they wasted it extreamly whereupon Marius was presently sent for to the City where when he arrived every one supposing he would Triumph the Senate too unanimously voting it he himself did not think it convenient whether that he were not willing to deprive his Soldiers and Officers of their share of the Glory or that to encourage the People in this juncture he would make the honour of his Victory give place to the present Fortune of the City deferring it now to receive it afterwards with the greater Splendour Having left such Orders as the occasion required he hast'ned to Catulus whose drooping Spirits he very much raised and sent for his Army from Gallia as soon as it came he passing the River Po endeavoured to drive the Barbarians out of that part of Italy which lies South of it 39. But they pretending they were in expectation of the Teutones and wondering they were so long in coming deferred the Battel either that they were really ignorant of their Defeat or at least were willing to seem so for they very much abused those that brought them such News and sending to Marius required some part of the Country for them and their Brethren and Cities fit for them to inhabit When Marius enquired of the Ambassadors who their Brethren were and they calling them Teutones all that were present fell out a laughing but Marius scoffingly answered them Do not trouble your selves for your Brethren for we have already provided Lands for them which they shall possess for ever The Ambassadors perceiving the jeer railed at him and threatned that the Cimbri would make him smart for it and the Teutones too when they came And they are not far off replied Marius it will be very unkindly done of you to go away before you have taken leave of your Brethren saying so he commanded the Kings of the Teutones to be brought out as they were in chains for they were taken by the Sequani before they could make their escape from the Alps. This was no sooner made known to the Cimbri but they with all expedition came against Marius who then lay still and guarded his Camp 40. 'T is said that against this Battel Marius first made their Javelins after a new fashion for before at the place where the Wood was joyned to the Iron it was made fast with two Iron-pins now Marius let one of them alone as it was and pulling out the other put a weak wooden peg in its place contriving it so that when it was stuck in the Enemy's Shield it should not stand right out but the wooden peg breaking the Iron should bend and so the Pile sticking fast by its crooked point should weigh down the Shield Now Baeorix King of the Cimbri came with a small Party of Horse to the Roman Camp and challenged Marius to appoint the time and place where they might meet and fight for the Country Marius answered That the Romans never consulted their Enemies when to fight however he would gratifie the Cimbri so far and so they pitched upon the third day after for the place the Plain near Vercellae which was convenient enough for the Roman Horse and afforded room for the Enemy to display their Numbers 41. They observed the time appointed and drew out their Forces against each other Catulus commanded 20300 and Marius 32000 who were placed in the two Wings leaving to Catulus the Main Battle Sylla who was present at the Fight gives this Relation saying withal that Marius drew up his Army in this Order out of malice to Catulus for he hoped with his Wings stretched out farther to fall in upon the Body of the Enemies Army it being customary in that manner of embattelling that the Army should represent a Crescent the two extream Points much advancing and the main Battel remaining behind and to rout them before Catulus and his Army should be able to charge them They observe likewise that Catulus himself alledgeth this in vindication of his Honour accusing this enviousness of Marius The Infantry of the Cimbri marched quietly out of their Trenches having their Flanks equal to their Front every side of the Army took up thirty furlongs their Horse that were in number 15000 made a very splendid appearance They wore Helmets whereon were the gapings of wild Beasts and other strange shapes which they heightning with Plumes of Feathers appeared greater than they were they had on Breast-plates of Iron and white glittering Shields and for their offensive Arms every one had two-edged Darts and when they came hand to hand they used great and heavy Swords 42. They did not fall directly upon the Front of the Romans but turning to the right they endeavoured to enclose them by little and little getting the Enemy between them and
other situated within Malea and had taken Aeubaea it self From Athens his Seat of War he made his Excursions as far as Thessaly and drew after him most of the States of Greece without the least impeachment save only at Chaeronea For here Brutius Sura Deputy of Sentius Governour of Macedon a man excelling in Valour and Prudence met with Archelaus and though like a Torrent he came pouring along Baeotia made stout resistance and giving him thrice Battel repulsed and forc'd him off again to Sea however being Commanded by Lucius Lucullus to give place to his Successor Sylla and resign the War to whom it was decreed he presently left Baeotia and returned back to Sintius although his Success had out-gone all hopes and Greece was well disposed to a Revolt upon account of his gallant behaviour These be the glorious Actions of Brutius Sylla at his arrival received by their Ambassadors the Complements of all the Cities of Greece except Athens which being forc'd by the Tyrant Aristion within to hold for the King he came against it with all his might and investing the Haven Pyreus laid formal Siege to it erecting all manner of Batteries and trying all manner of Assaults whereas had he forborn never so little he might without hazard have taken the Upper City by Famine being already reduc'd to extreamity through want of Necessaries but hasting to Rome and fearing some Innovation there by many Adventures many Fights and vast Expence he pusht on the War for besides other Equipage the very Work about the Engines of Battery was supplied with no less than ten thousand Yoak of Mules employ'd daily in that Service and when Timber grew scarce for many of the Works fail'd some quash'd to pieces by their own weight others taking fire by the continual play of the Enemy he made bold with the sacred Groves and cut down the stately Walks of the Academy which stands in the Suburbs and the Lyceum and being there wanted a vast Summ of Money to carry on the War he broke up the unvoidable Treasures of Greece that of Epidaurus and that of Olympia sending for the fairest and richest Offertories he wrote likewise to the Amphyctiones at Delphos That it were better to remit the Wealth of the God to him for that he would keep it more securely or in case he made use of it restore as much And of his Friends he sent Caphis the Phocean on this Message commanding him to receive each Particular by weight Caphis came to Delphos but was loth to touch holy things and with many Tears in the presence of the Amphyctiones bewailed the Necessity But some of them making as if they heard the sound of a Harp from the innermost Shrine he whether himself believ'd it or else was willing to strike a Religious awe into Sylla sent back an Express To which Sylla replied in a scoffing way That it was matter of wonder to him that Caphis understood Musick to be a sign of Joy not Anger and therefore wish'd him to go on boldly and receive it from the hands of a Gracious and bountiful God The rest of the things that were delivered out escaped the memory of most Grecians save the Silver Tun that only Relick of Regal Donation which for its weight and bulk the Carriages not being able to receive when the Amphyctiones were forced to cut in pieces they presently call'd to mind now Titus Quinctius Flaminius and Manius Acelius now Paulus Aemilius One of whom when he had thrown Antiochus out of Greece the others when they had brought under Macedonian Kings not only abstained from the Grecian Temples but added to them Gifts and Honour and much Veneration Those indeed according to Law being only elected Chief Leaders of Men well-disciplined and taught to yield ready obedience to Command themselves Great in Soul and Mean in Expences lived within the Bounds of the ordinary establish'd Charges accounting it a greater disgrace to stoop basely to their own Soldiers than to stand in awe of an Enemy whereas the Commanders of these times attaining to Superiority by force not worth and having need of Arms one against another rather than an Enemy were constrained to temporize in Authority and hiring the Soldiers labour at the price of Luxury have rendred their whole Country at unawares Mercenary and themselves Slaves to the vilest of Wretches to the intent they might Lord it over their Betters These Practices cast out Marius and again brought him in against Sylla The same caused Cinna to be the Assassin of Octavius and Fimbria of Flaccus To which beginnings Sylla contributed not the least For he to corrupt and call over those who were under the Command of others would be munificent and profuse towards those who were under his own so as by drawing some of the adverse Party to a revolt and his own men to a dissolute course he came to be in want of a large Treasury especially for that Siege Sylla had a vehement and an implacable desire to Conquer Athens whether out of emulation fighting as it were against the shadow of that once Famous City or out of anger stomaching those Flouts and Scurrillous jests wherewith the Tyrant Aristion fooling and skipping about daily had provoked him and Metella from off the Walls The Tyrant Aristion had his very Being compounded of Wantonness and Cruelty receiving into himself as common Sewer the worst of Mithridates his ill humours and vicious qualities who like some satal disease after its deliverance from innumerable Wars many Tyrannies and Seditions brought the City to the last extreamity At the time when a Medimnus of Wheat was to be sold in the City for one Thousand Drachma's and men were forc'd to live on Feverfew growing round the Cittadel and eat shooes and Oyl-bags sodden he daily carrousing and feasting it in the open face of Noon then dancing in Armour and sporting at the Enemy suffered the holy Lamp of the Goddess to expire for want of Oyl and to the Chief-Priestess who demanded of him an Hemina of Wheat he sent the like quantity of Pepper The Senators and Priests who came in humble guise to beg of him to take Compassion of the City and treat a Peace with Sylla he drove at and dispersed with a flight of Arrows At last with much ado he sent forth two or three of his revelling Companions to parley whom Sylla perceiving that they made no overtures towards an accommodation but went on haranguing in praise of Theseus Eumolpus and their Median Trophies replyed to them thus Happy men ye may put up your Speeches and be gone for I was sent by the Romans to Athens not to learn but to reduce Rebels to obedience In the mean time News came to Sylla that some old men discoursing in the Ceramicum were over-heard to blame the Tyrant for not securing the Passages and Avenues on the side of the Gate Heptachalcos where only the Enemy might easily get over Sylla neglected not
breadth of the River Assus which running betwixt and at the bottom of the same Hill falling into Cephisus with an impetuous Confluence made that a safe Height to lodge on wherefore beholding the Brass Targettiers to make up hastily Sylla was willing to take prepossession and took it by the vigorous Address of the Soldiers Archelaus put back from hence bent his Forces upon Chaeronea The Chaeroneans who bore Arms in the Roman Camp beseeching Sylla not to abandon the City he dispatcht Geminius the Tribune with one Legion and withal sent out the Chaeroneans endeavouring but not able to get in before Geminius so active was he and more swift to relief than they who prayed Relief Juba writes that Ericius was the man sent not Geminius Thus narrowly escaped our Native City From Lebadea and the Cave of Trophonius there were spread abroad favourable Rumours and Prophecies of Victory to the Romans which the Inhabitants report at large And as Sylla himself affirms in the tenth Book of his Memoirs Quintus Titus an obscure Man of those who traffick into Greece came to him after the Battel won at Chaeronea and declared that Trophinius had foretold another Fight and Victory on the same place within a short time After him a Soldier by name Salvenius brought an account from the God of the issue of Affairs in Italy As to the Vision they both agreed in this that for Stature and Majestick Grace they had seen somewhat in the likeness of Jupiter Olympius Sylla when he had passed over the Assus march'd up to Edylium and encamped close to Archelaus who had intrench'd himself strongly between the Mountains Acontium and Edylium towards those called Assia The Place of his Intrenchment is to this day named from him Archelaus Sylla after one days respite having left Muraena behind him with one Legion and two Cohorts to amuse the distracted Enemy with continual Alarms went and sacrificed on the Banks of Cephisus The holy Rights ended he held on towards Chaeronea to receive the Forces there and view Mount Thurion where the Enemy had posted themselves This is a craggy Heighth running up gradually to a Point which we call Orthopagon at the foot of it is the River Morius and the Temple of Apollo Thurius The God had his Surname from Thuro Mother of Cheron whom ancient Fame makes Founder of Chaeronea Others assert that the Cow which Apollo gave to Cadmus for a Guide appeared there and that the Place took its Name from the Beast for the Phaenicians call a Cow Thor. At Sylla's approach to Chaeronea the Tribune who had been commanded out to guard the City drew his Men into Arms and meet him with a Garland of Laurel in his hand which Sylla accepting of and withal caressing and animating the Soldiers to the Encounter two Men of Chaeronea Homoloichus and Anaxidamus present themselves before him and proffer with a small Party to dislodge those who were posted on Thurium for that there lay a Path unknown to the Barbarians from Petrochus along by the Musaeum leading over head upon Thurium by this way it was easie to fall on and either stone them from above or force them down into the Plain Sylla assured of their Faith and Courage by Geminius when he had exhorted them to go on with the Enterprise Embattelled the Army and disposing of the Cavalry on both Wings himself commanded the Right and the left he committed to the direction of Muraena in the Rear of all Gallus and Hortensius his Legates had planted themselves on the upper Grounds with the Cohorts of Reserve to watch the motion of the Enemy who with infinite numbers of Horse and expedite light-armed Foot having made the Wing pliant and ready to wind about at pleasure gave suspicion that he intended to over-reach and enclose the Romans In the mean time the Chaeroneans who had Ericus for Commander by appointment of Sylla covertly surrounding Thurium and discovering themselves there arose a great Confusion and Rout and mutual Slaughter amongst the Barbarians for they kept not their stand but making down in that hurry cast themselves on their own Spears and violently bore each other headlong the Enemy from above pressing on and wounding them on the open side insomuch as there fell three thousand about Thurium Some of them who escaped being met by Muraena as he stood in Array were cut off and destroy'd Others breaking through to their Friends and falling disorderly into the Ranks filled most part of the Army with fear and Tumult and put the Chief Officers to a stand which was no small disadvantage For immediately upon the Discomposure Sylla coming full speed to the Charge disappointed the Service of their Armed Chariots which require a good space of Ground to gather strength and impetuosity in the Career whereas a short drift proves weak and ineffectual like that of Engines without a full swing Thus it fared with the Barbarians at present whose first Chariots that set forth spurtingly and made but a faint impression when the Romans had repulsed with a clattering din and slaughter they called for more as is usual in the publick Cirque By this time the Gross of both Armies met The Barbarians on one side charged their long Pikes and with Shields lock'd close together like a Roof over head strove what in them lay to preserve their Battalion entire The Romans on the other side threw by their Piles and with drawn Swords put by their Pushes the sooner to mingle with them in the rage they were then in For in the Front of the Enemy they beheld fifteen thousand Slaves whom the Royal Commanders had set free by Proclamation and rang'd amongst the Men of Arms. Whereupon a Roman Centurion is reported to say That he never knew Servants allowed to play the Masters unless on the Holy-days of Saturn These Men by reason of their deep and thick Array as well as for their daring Courage yielded but slowly to the weighty Legions till at last by slinging Engines and Darts for which the Roman spar'd not from behind they were forc'd to give way and scatter And as Archelaus was extending the the Right Wing to encompass the Enemy Hortensius with his Cohorts came down amain with intention to charge him in the Flank but Achelaus wheeling about suddenly with two thousand Horse Hortensius overlaid with numbers withdrew himself to the upper Grounds not far from the main Body and was surrounded by the Enemy When Sylla heard this he came speeding from the right to his succour before the Engagement but Archelaus guessing the matter by the dust of his Troops turned to the right Wing from whence Sylla came in hopes to have surprised it without a Commander At the same instant likewise Taxilles with his Brass-Targetiers assailed Muraena so as a Cry coming from both places and the Hills repeating it around Sylla stood in suspence which way to move it seeming best to reassume his own Station he sent in aid
to Muraena four Cohorts and commanding the fifth to follow him returned on the spur to the right Wing which then of it self held Archelaus to equal play at his appearance they gave one lusty push for all and overcoming followed them disorderly flying to the River and Mount Acontium Neither was Sylla unmindful of the danger Muraena was in for hasting thither and finding them Victorious he help'd to pursue Many Barbarians were slain on the spot many more cut in pieces as they were making to the Camp Of such infinite Multitudes ten thousand only got safe into Chalcis Sylla writes that there were but fourteen of his Soldiers wanting and that two even of those returned towards evening wherefore he inscribed on Trophies Mars Victory and Venus as having won the Day no less by Good-fortune than by true management and force of Arms. That Trophie of the Field-Battel stands on the Place where Archelaus first gave back as far as the Streums of Molus The other is erected high on the top of Thurium where the Barbarians were environ'd signifying in Greek Letters That Homoloichus and Anaxidamus were the Chief Leaders The Hymns of Victory for this Action were celebrated at Thebes where Sylla built a Stage for Musick near Oedipus's Well As for the Judges of the Performance they were Grecians chosen out of other Cities because he bore an implacable hatred to the Thebans and having cut off from them half their Territories he consecrated the same to Apollo and Jupiter commanding them out of the Revenue to make satisfaction to the Gods for the Riches himself had taken from them After this hearing that Flaccus a Man of the contrary Faction being chosen Consul had crossed the Ionian Sea with an Army to act in shew against Mithridates but in reality against himself he took the way of Thessalia designing to meet him but in his March about Meleteia received Advises from all Parts That the Countries on his back were over spread and harrased by no less a Camp-Royal than was the former For Dorilaus arriving at Chalcis with a mighty Fleet on board of which he brought over with him Eighty Thousand of the best-appointed and best disciplin'd Soldiers of Mithridates his Army had made a sudden Incursion into Baeotia and secured that Coast in hopes to bring Sylla to a Battel making no account of the disswasions of Archelaus but giving it out as to the last Fight that without Treachery so many Thousand Men could never have perished However Sylla facing about expeditiously made it appear to Dorilaus that Archelaus was a wise Man and had good skill in the Roman Valour insomuch as Dorilaus himself after some small Skirmishes with Sylla at Tilphossion was the first of those who thought it not advisable to put things to the decision of the Sword but rather by expence of Time and Treasure to wear out the War nevertheless the Field of Orchomenos where they then lay encamped gave no small encouragement to Archelaus as being most advantageous to those who excel in Cavalry to engage in For of the Baeotian Campagnes that is the fairest and largest which confining on the Principal Seat of the Orchomenians alone opens a clear Prospect void of Cover as far as the Fens where the River Melas is swallowed up Of all the Grecians Rivers this only which ariseth from under the City Orchomenus draws with it a deep and navigable Water from the very Head encreasing about the Summer Solstice like Nile and bringing forth all things growing there yet small and without Fruit. It runs not far before the main Stream loseth it self among the blind and woody Marsh Grounds a small Branch whereof mingleth with Cephisus about that place especially where the Lake is thought to produce the best Flute-reeds Now that both Armies were posted near each other Archelaus lay still but Sylla fell to casting up Ditches athwart from either side that if possible by cutting the Enemies from the firm and open Champagne he might force them into the Fens They on the other hand not enduring this but at the Word of Command issuing out furiously in full Bodies not only the Men at work were dispersed but most part of those who stood in Arms to justifie the Work cast themselves disorderly into flight Upon this Sylla leaps from his Horse and snatching hold of an Ensign rusht through the midst of the Rout upon the Enemy crying out aloud To me O Romans it seems glorious to fall here And as for you when demanded where was it you betrayed your General remember you say at Orchomenus His men Rallying again at these words and two Cohorts coming to his succour from the Right-Wing he gave a fierce Onset and turn'd the Day Then retiring some few Paces back and refreshing his Men he came on again to block up the Enemies Camp but they again sallied out in better Order than before Here Diogenes Son in-law to Archelaus having fought on the Right-Wing with much Gallantry made an Honourable end And the Archers being pressed on hard by the Romans and wanting space for a retreat took their Arrows by handfuls and striking with those as with Swords beat them back In the end they were all shut up into the entrenchment and had a sorrowful Night of it by reason of their slain and wounded The next day again Sylla leading forth his men up to their Quarters went on finishing the Line and as they were drawing out to give him Battel fell on and putting a large Party of them to the rout in the fright they were in none daring to abide he took the Camp by force whence the Marishes were filled with Bloud and the Lake with dead Bodies insomuch as to this day there be found of the Barbarian make many Bows Helmets pieces of Breast-plates and Swords buried deep in Mud some two hundred years since the Fight Thus much of the Action of Chaeronea and Orchomenus Cinna and Narbo at Rome using injustice and violence towards Persons of the greatest Eminency many of them to avoid that Tyranny repaired to Sylla's Camp as to a safe Harbour where in a short space he had about him the Majestick face of a Senate Metella likewise having with difficulty conveyed her self and Children away by stealth brought him word that his City and Country houses were set on fire by the Adversary and prayed his help at home Whilst he was in doubt what to do being impatient to hear his Country abused and not knowing how to leave so great a work as the Mithridatick-War unfinished comes unto him Archelaus a Merchant of Delos with some hopes of an accommodation and private instructions from Archelaus the King's General Sylla lik'd the business so well as to desire a speedy conference with Archelaus in Person and had a meeting at Sea on that side of Delos where the Temple of Apollo stands When Archelaus began to propose and demand of Sylla that quitting his Pretensions to Asia and Pontus he should set
of Polite and Universal Learning but of all the Writings of Aristotle and Theophrastus they had no exact knowledge because Theophrastus bequeathing his Study to the Heir of Neleus Sceptius these happ'ned to fall into rude and illiterate Hands During Sylla's stays about Athens there fell into his Feet a lumpish benuming Pain which Strabo calls the first fetterring on of the Gout Wherefore taking a Voyage to Adipsus he made use of the Hot Waters there easing his thoughts of Care likewise and merrily passing away the time with Drolls As he was walking along the Sea-shore certain Fishermen brought him a lovely Present of Fish Being taken therewith and understanding that they were Men of Alaeae What said he be there any of Alaeae surviving For having won the Field at Archomenus in the heat of a Pursuit he had destroyed three Cities of Baeotia Anthedon Larymna and Alaeae The Men knowing not what to say for fear Sylla with a smiling Countenance bad them cheer up and return in peace as who had brought with them no small or contemptible Intercessors The Alaei from hence took Courage and embodying re-entred the City Sylla having march'd through Thessaly and Mecedon down to the Sea-coast prepared with twelve hundred Vessels to cross over from Dyrrachium to Brundisium Not far from hence is Appollonia and near it a spot of Ground dedicated to the Nymphes which from among flowry Dales and Meads discovers here and there springs of Fire continually streaming out Here they say was a Satyr such as Statuaries and Painters represent found sleeping and brought before Sylla where he was ask'd by several Interpreters who he was when with much ado he sent forth a harsh unintelligible Noise like the Neighing of a Horse and crying of a Goat in mixt Consort Sylla dismay'd at it turned aside in detestation At the point of Transportation because Sylla was concerned least at the first setting foot upon Italy the Army should dissolve of it self one by one among the Cities they of their own accord first took an Oath to stand firm by him and with good-will not to injure Italy then seeing him straitned for a round summ of Money they readily offered their assistance and contributed each Man according to his Ability However Sylla would not accept of the Benevolence but praising their Good-will and withall rowzing up their Courage he put over as himself writes against fifteen Commanders with four hundred and fifty Cohorts under them The happy success of Affairs was plainly foretold him by the Divine Power for as he was sacrificing at his first landing about Tarentum the Liver seemed to have on it the figure of a Crown of Laurel with two Labels pendant And little while before his arrival in Campania about the Mountain Hephaeus two stately Goats were seen in a Rencounter by day performing like Men in a Battel This Apparition rising up gradually from the ground dispersed several through the Heavens like to fancied Representations in the Clouds and so vanish'd out of sight Not long after in the self-same place when Martius the younger and Norbanus the Consul attack'd him with two great Armies without prescribing the Order of Battle or ranging his Men according to their Divisions by the sway only of one common Alacrity and Transport of Courage he overturn'd the Enemy and shut up Norbanus into the City of Capua with the loss of seven thousand of his Men. This was the reason says he that the Soldiers disbanded not throughout the Towns but stuck close together and despised the Enemy though infinitely more in number At Silvium as he himself relates it there met him a Servant of Pontius an Enthusiast saying That he brought him the power of the Sword and Victory from Bellona the Goddess of War and if he hasted not that the Capitol would be burnt which fell out on the same day the Man foretold it namely on the sixth day of the Month Quintilis which we now call July Moreover at Fidentia Marcus Lucullus one of Sylla's Commanders reposed such confidence in the sprightly forwardness of the Soldiers as to dare to face fifty Cohorts of the Enemy with only sixteen of his own but because many of them were unarmed delayed the Onset As he stood thus in gaze considering with himself a gentle gale of Wind bearing along with it from the neighbouring Meadows an innumerable company of Flowers threw them in scatteringly among the Army which falling about casually and resting upon the Shields and Helmets shew'd them to the Enemy as crown'd with Chaplets Upon this being further animated they joyned Battel and victoriously slaying eight thousand Men took the Camp This Lucullus was Brother to that Lucullus who in after-times conquered Mithridates and Tygranes Sylla seeing himself surrounded with so many Armies and such mighty Powers had recourse to Art inviting Scipio the other Consul to a Treaty of Peace The Motion was willingly embrac'd and thereupon followed several Meetings and Consultations in all which Sylla interposing still matter of delay and new Pretences in the mean while debauched Scipio's Men by Under-instruments of his own who in subtil train and all the Methods of Inveigling were as well practised as the General himself For entring into the Enemies Quarters and intermixing they wrought off some by present Money some by Promises others by fair Words and Perswasions so as in the end when Sylla with twenty Cohorts drew near they came forth to salute him leaving Scipio behind them in his Tent where he was found all alone and dismissed Thus Sylla having used twenty Cohorts as Stales to draw in forty more Cohorts of the Enemy led them all back into the Camp On this occasion Carbo was heard to say That having a Fox and a Lion in the Breast of Sylla to deal with he was plagued most with the Fox Some time after at Signium Marius the younger with eighty five Cohorts offered Battel to Sylla who was extreamly desirous to have it decided on that very day for the night before he had seen a Vision which to his thoughts represented Marius the Elder who had been long since dead advising his Son Marius to beware of the following day as of fatal consequence to him For this reason Sylla longing to come to a Battel sent to the Camp afar off for Dolabella But because the Enemy had beset and lock'd up the Passes his Soldiers were exceedingly tired by Skirmishing and Marching at once To these difficulties was added moreover tempestuous rainy Weather which distressed them most of all wherefore the Principal Leaders came to Sylla and besought him to defer the day shewing him withall how the Soldiers lay all along on the Ground cast down with Toil and leaning upon the Target When with much difficulty he had yielded and given order for the setling of the Camp they had no sooner begun to cast up a Rampart and draw a Ditch across but Marius came riding up furiously at the Head of his Troops in hopes to have
scattered them in that disorder and confusion Here the Gods fulfilled Sylla's Dream For the Soldiers stirred up with anger left off to work and sticking their Piles on the Bank with drawn Swords and a couragious Shout came to handy blows with the Enemy who made but small resistance and were miserably slain in the Flight Marius fled to Praeneste but finding the Gates shut tied himself round by a Rope that was thrown down to him and was taken up on the Walls Some there are as Fenestella for one who affirm that Marius knew nothing of the Fight but over-watch'd and spent with hard Duty had reposed himself when the Signal was given beneath some Shade and was hardly to be awakned at the Flight of his Men. Sylla according to his own account lost only three Men in this Brush having killed of the Enemy twenty thousand and taken alive eight thousand The like Success had others of his Commanders as Pompey Crassus Metellus Servilius who with little or no loss cut off vast numbers of the Enemy insomuch as Carbo the prime Supporter of the Cause fled by night from his Charge of the Army and sailed over into Libya In the last Encounter the Samnite Telesinus like to some Champion whose lot it is to enter last of all into the List and take up the wearied Conqueror came nigh to have foiled and overthrown Sylla before the Gates of Rome For Telesinus with his second Lamponius the Lucan having drawn together huge Levies of Men made all hast toward Praeneste to free Marius from the Siege but perceiving Sylla at the Head of him and Pompey in the Tail both making violently at him streightned thus before and behind he as a valiant and expert Soldier arose by night and marching directly with his whole Army had like to have fallen unexpectedly into Rome it self He lay that night before the City some ten Furlongs off from the Gate Collatina all jocund and swoln with further Hopes as having already bafled so many eminent Commanders by Stratagem At break of day being charged by the Noble Youth of the City among many others he overthrew Appius Claudius a Person renowned for Nobleness of Blood and Valour The City as it is easie to imagine was all in an Uproar the Women shrieking and running about as if he had been entred forcibly by Assault till at last Balbus advanced with seven hundred Horse on full speed and after some small halt made for rubbing and bridling again fell into skirmish with the Enemy In the mean time Sylla appeared and commanding the formost to take refreshment drew into order Dolabella and Torquatus were extreme earnest with him to desist a while and not with spent Forces to hazard the whole sum of Affairs having before them in the Field not Carbo or Marius but two warlike Nations bearing immortal hatred to Rome the Samnites and Lucans to grapple with but he put them by and commanded the Trumpets to sound a Charge about four a Clock in the afternoon In this Conflict which was the sharpest as ever was the Right-wing where Crassus stood embattelled had clearly the advantage the Left was overcharged and in a declining condition when Sylla came to its succour mounted on a white Courser full of mettle and exceeding swift of foot which two of the Enemy knowing him by had their Lances in a readiness to cast but this Gentleman giving the Horse a touch he was unknown to himself so far advanced as that the Points falling beside the Horse-tail stuck in the Ground There goes a Story That having a golden Image of Apollo from Delphos he was always wont in the day of Battel to carry it about him in his Bosom and that then he kissed it with these words O Apollo Pythius the Fortunate Cornelius Sylla whom in so many Battels thou hast raised to Honour and Greatness wilt thou now cast down bringing him before the Gate of his Country to perish shamefully with his Fellow Citizens After he had thus addressed himself to the God some of his Men he intreated some he threatned and others he laid hold on till at length the left Wing being wholly shattered he was forc'd in Company of the Rout to betake himself to the Camp having lost many of his Friends and Acquaintance many likewise of the City-spectators were trod to Death So as Common Fame gave the City for taken and had like to have raised the Siege of Praeneste many who escaped by Flight posting thither and advising Lucretius Offella who was appointed to keep on the Siege to rise in all haste for that Sylla was defeated and Rome fallen into the Hands of the Enemy About Midnight there came into Sylla's Camp Messengers from Crassus to fetch Provision for him and his Soldiers for having vanquish'd the Enemy they pursu'd him to the Walls of Antemna and had sat down there Sylla hearing this and that most of the Enemy were destroyed came to Antemna by break of day where three Thousand of the Besieged having sent forth a Herald he promis'd to receive them to Mercy on condition they did the Enemy mischief in their coming over Trusting to his Word they fell foul on the rest of their Companions and made a great Slaughter one of another but however Sylla gathered together in the Cirque as well those as others of the remaining party to the number of seven Thousand and as he was speaking to the Senate in the Temple of Bellona causeth them all to be slain by Men appointed for that Service The cry as must needs be of so vast a multitude put to the Sword in so narrow a space flying abroad and startling the Senators he as he was speaking with a secure unconcern'd Countenance bad them listen to what he had to say and not busie themselves with what was a doing without doors for himself had ordered the Chastisement of a few naughty People This gave the most stupid of the Romans to understand that they had made an exchange only of Tyrannical Government not a change Marius being in himself austere altered not but confirmed Nature by Authority whereas Sylla behaving himself moderately and prudently at first and giving good hopes of a true Patriot firm to the Interests both of the Nobility and Commonalty being moreover of a gay pleasant humour from his youth and of such a melting compassionate disposition as to weep easily has perhaps deservedly cast a Blemish upon the higher Offices of State as if these put us beside our former course of Life and were occasion of Folly Pride Inhumanity This whether it be real change and new frame of Mind arising from Fortune or rather a malicious sly Nature discovering it self in Authority to decide were matter of another sort of Disquisition Now that Sylla was wholly bent upon slaughter and filled the Town incessantly with infinite Executions many disinteressed Persons falling a Sacrifice to private Enmity through his permission and indulgence to a Party Cajus Metellus one of
and minded his Business with the least application there had been no Grecian Commander either before or after him that could have surpassed him for Exploits of War He was indeed a Favourer of the Lacedaemonians even from his Youth and Stesimbrotus reports That of two Sons Twins that he had by a Woman of Clitorium he named one Lacedemonius and the other Eleus Whence Pericles often upbraided them with the Race of their Mother But Diodorus the Geographer doth assert That both these and another Son of Cimon's whose Name was Thessalus were born of Isodice the Daughter of Euryptolemus the Son of Megacles However this is certain that Cimon was countenanced by the Lacedaemonians in opposition to Themistocles whom they hated and while he was yet very young they endeavoured to raise and encrease his Credit in Athens This the Athenians perceived but dissembled their knowledge of it for the Favour of the Lacedaemonians shewed him was at that time advantageous to them and their Affairs who were then Practising with the Allies to win them over to their side So they seemed not at all offended with the Honour and kindness shewed to Cimon for he then bore the greatest sway in the Affairs of Greeee was kind to the Lacedaemonians and Courteous to the Allies But afterwards the Athenians grown more powerful when they saw Cimon so entirely devoted to the Lacedaemonians they began to be angry for he would always in his Speeches preferr them to the Athenians and upon every occasion when he would reprimand these for a Fault or incite them to Emulation he would Cry The Lacedaemonians would not do thus This raised the discontent and got him the hatred of the Gitizens But that which ministred chiefly to the accusation against him fell out upon this Occasion In the fourth year of the Reign of Archidamus the Son of Zeuxidamus King of Sparta there hapned in the City of Lacedaemon the most dreadful Earthquake that ever was known in the Memory of Man the Earth opened into most frightful Abysses and the top of the Mountain Taygetus was so shaken that the hanging Rocks and abrupt prominent Parts of it fell down and except five Houses all the Town was shattered to pieces They say That a little before any Motion was perceived as some young Men were exercising themselves in the middle Portico an Hare of a sudden started out just by them which some of them tho all naked and daubed with Oyl run after shouting no sooner were they gone from the place but the Gymnasium fell down upon them that were left and killed them all In memory of this fatal Accident the Monument where they were afterwards interred is to this day called Sismatias that is The Tomb of those who were killed by the Earthquake Archidamus by the present danger made apprehensive of what might follow and seeing the Citizens intent upon removing the richest of their Goods he commanded an Alarm to be sounded as if their Enemies were comming upon them that they should presently with Arms resort to him 'T was this alone that saved Sparta at that time For the Helotes were got together from the Country about with design to surprise the Spartans and spoil those whom the Earthquake had spared But finding them Armed and well prepared they stole away into their Towns and openly made War with them having drawn into Confederacy not a few of their Neighbours and together with them the Messenians fell upon the Spartans who therefore dispatch'd Periclidas to Athens to sollicite for Succours of whom Aristophanes mocking said Go to the Altars and there prostrate lie And clad in Purple Robes demand Supply This Ephialtes opposed protesting that they ought not to raise up or assist a City that was Rival to Athens but that being down it were best to keep her so and break the Pride and Arrogance of Sparta But Cimon as Critias relates preferring the Safety of Lacedaemon to the Grandeur of his own Country so perswaded the People that he soon marched out with a great Army to their Relief Ion reports the Speech he used to move the Athenians That they should not suffer Greece to be maimed by the loss of so considerable a Member nor their own City to be deprived of her Companion In his return from aiding the Lacedaemonians he passed with his Army through the Territory of Corinth Whereupon Lachartus reproached him for bringing his Army into the Country without first asking leave of the People For he that knocks at another Man's Door ought not to enter the House without the Master's leave But you Lachartus said Cimon did not knock at the Gates of the Cleonians and Megarians but broke them down and entred by force thinking that all should be open to the Powerful And having thus rallied the Corinthian he passed on with his Army Some time after this the Lacedaemonians sent a second time to desire Succours of the Athenians against the Messenians and Helotes who had seized upon Ithone But when they came the Spartans fearing their Courage and Resolution of all that came to their Assistance they sent them only back alledging they were turbulent and seditious The Athenians returned home enraged at this Usage and vented their Anger upon all those who were Favourers of the Lacedaemonians therefore upon some slight occasion they banished Cimon for ten years which is the time prescribed to those that are banished by the Ostracism In the mean time the Lacedaemonians intending to free Delphos from the Phoceans brought an Army to Tanagra whither the Athenians presently marched with design to fight them Cimon also came thither armed and ranged himself amongst those of his own Tribe which was that of Aeneide but the Council of five hundred being informed of this and frighted at it his Adversaries crying out he would disorder the Army and bring the Lacedaemonians to Athens Commanded the Officers not to receive him wherefore Cimon left the Army conjuring Euthippus the Anaphlystian and the rest of his Companions who were also suspected as favouring the Lacedaemonians to behave themselves bravely against their Enemies and by their Actions make their innocence evident to their Country-men These being in all an hundred took the Arms of Cimon and followed his advice and making a Body by themselves they charged so desperately upon the Enemy that they were all cut off leaving to the Athenians a deep regret for the loss of such brave Men and repentance for having so unjustly suspected them Whereupon they did not long retain their severity toward Cimon partly upon remembrance of his former services and partly constrained by the juncture of the times For being defeated at Tanagra in a great Battle and fearing the Peloponnesians would come upon them at the opening of the Spring they recalled Cimon by a decree of which Pericles himself was Author so reasonable were Mens resentments in those times and so moderate their Anger that it always gave way to the publick good even Ambition the
commendable Study of the Liberal Arts and growing old in the Camp he refreshed his Mind with the more comfortable Profession of Philosophy chiefly favouring the Theoretick Part and thereby wisely preventing that dangerous Contest that was breeding between Pompey and himself Besides what hath been said of his great Learning already one Instance more was That in his Youth upon a Proposal of writing the Marsican War in Greek and Latin Verse and Prose after some witty Rallery upon the Occasion he seriously protested to Hortensius the Lawyer and Sisenna the Historian that hewould take his Lot for it and very probable it is that the Lot directed him to the Greek Tongue for the Greek History of that War is still extant among us Many are the Signs of the great Love which he bore to his Brother Mark the earliest whereof the Romans at this day commemorate Tho he was elder Brother he would not step into Authority without him but deferred his own Advance until his Brother was fitly qualified to bear a share with him who thereby so won upon the People as when absent to be chosen Aedyle with him Many and early were the Proofs of his Valour and Conduct in the Marsican War being admir'd by Sylla for his Constancy and Mildness and always employ'd in dispatching affairs where Industry and Fidelity were required especially in the Mint most of the Money for carrying on the Mithridatick War being Coyned by him Which being soon exchanged for necessaries in the Camp was for a long time Current in the Army and from thence called Luculleian Coyn. After this when Sylla conquered Athens and necessaries for his Army were cut off by reason the Enemy was Master at Sea Lucullus was the man whom he sent into Libya and Aegypt to procure him shipping It was then the depth of Winter when he ventured but with three small Greek Vessels and as many Rhodian Galleys not only into the main Sea but also among multitudes of the Enemies shipping even there where they were absolute Masters Arriving at Crete he gained it and finding the Cyrenians harassed by long Tyranny and War he took Care of their publick Affairs and settled them Putting their City in mind of that saying which Plato had Divinely uttered of them who being requested to prescribe Laws to them and mould them into some sound form of Government made answer That it was a hard thing to give Laws to the Cyrenians abounding with so much Wealth and Plenty For nothing renders a man more intractable than Felicity nor more gentle than the shock of Fortune This made the Cyrenians so willingly submit to the Laws which Lucullus imposed upon them From thence sailing into Aegypt and pressed by Pyrates he lost the best part of his Navy but he himself narrowly escaping was brought in State to Alexandria The whole Fleet a Complement due only to his Majesty met him and young Ptolomy shewed wonderful kindness to him allowing him Lodging and Diet in the Palace in such a manner as no Stranger before him had been received in Besides he gave him Gratuities and Presents not only such as were usually given to men of his Condition but four times as much but he received nothing more than served his necessity and accepted of no Gift tho one worth Eighty Talents was offered him 'T is reported he neither went to see Memphis nor any of the celebrated Wonders of Aegypt It was for a man of no Business and much Curiosity to see such things not for him who had left his Commander in the Trenches storming the Walls of his Enemies Ptolomy fearing the Effect of that War deserted the Confederacy but nevertheless sent a Convoy with him as far as Cyprus and at parting with much Ceremony wishing him a good Voyage gave him a very precious Emerauld set in Gold Lucullus at first refused it but when the King shewed him his own Image graven thereon 't was too late for a Denial for had he shewed any discontent at parting it might have endanger'd his Passage Drawing his Squadron together which he had summoned out of all the maritime Towns except of those suspected of Pyracy he sailed for Cyprus and there understanding that the Enemy lay in wait under the Promontories for him he laid up his Fleet and sent to the Cities to send in Provisions for his wintering among them But when Tide and Time served he Rigg'd them out and went off and Hoising up his Sails in the Night which he let down in the Day came safe to Rhodes Being furnished with Ships at Rhodes he soon prevailed upon the Inhabitants of Chios and Knidia to leave the King's side and joyn with him against the Samians Out of Chios he drove the King's Party and set the Colophonians at Liberty having seized Epigonus the Tyrant who oppressed them About this time Mithridates left Pergamus and retired to Pitane where being closely besieged by Fimbria and not daring to engage with so bold and Victorious a man as Fimbria he contrived his Escape by Sea and sent for all his Fleet to attend him Which when Fimbria perceived having no Ships of his own he sent to Lucullus entreating him to assist him with his in subduing the most Odious and Warlike of Kings lest the opportunity of humbling Mithridates an enterprize which cost the Romans so much Blood and Trouble should now at last be lost when he was within reach and so easily to be taken who being caught no one would be more highly commended than he who stopt his passage and seized him in his flight He being drove from the Land by the one and stopt in the Sea by the other would be matter of Renown and Glory to them both As for the great Actions of Sylla against the Orchomenians about Choeronea they were little valued by the Romans The proposal was no unlikely thing it being obvious to all Men that if Lucullus had hearkned to Fimbria and with his Navy which was then near at hand had block'd up the Haven the War soon had been brought to an end and infinite Numbers of mischiefs prevented thereby But he whether from the Sacredness of Friendship between himself and Sylla reckoning all other Motives far inferiour to it or out of Detestation to wicked Fimbria whom he abhorred for advancing himself by the late Death of his Friend and the General of the Army or at least by divine Providence sparing Mithridates then that he might have him an Adversary for the time to come would by no means comply but suffered Mithridates to escape and laugh at the attempts of Fimbria he himself alone first near Lectos of Troas in a Sea-fight overcame the King's Forces and afterwards when Neoptolemus came upon him with a greater Fleet he went aboard a Rhodian Quinquereme Galley commanded by Demagoras a Man very expert in Sea Affairs and altogether as Friendly to the Romans and sailed before the rest Neoptolemus made up furiously at him and Commanded the Master with
from gilt and rich Armour a greater Temptation to the Victors than security to the Bearers gave them broad Swords like the Romans and Massy Shields chose Horses better for Service than Shape drew up an hundred and twenty Thousand Foot in the figure of the Roman Phalanx had sixteen Thousand Horse besides Chariots Arm'd with Scyths no less than an hundred Besides which he set out a Fleet not at all cumbred with Golden Cabins lascivious Baths and Womens furniture but stored with Weapons and Darts and other necessaries and made a descent upon Bithynia Not only these parts willingly received him again but almost all Asia grievously oppressed before by the Roman Extortioners and Publicans seemed to be recovered of their former Distemper These afterwards who like Harpies stole away their very Nourishment Lucullus drove away and by reproving them did what he could to make them more moderate and thereby prevented a general Sedition then breaking out in all parts While Lucullus was detained in rectifying this Cotta finding Affairs ripe for Action prepared himself for the War with Mithridates and News coming from all hands that Lucullus was then Marching into Phrygia and he thinking Victory just almost in his hands lest his Collegue should share in the Glory of it hasted to Battel without him But being routed both by Sea and Land he lost sixty Ships with their Men and four Thousand Foot he himself was forced into and besieged in Chalcedon there waiting for relief from Lucullus There were those about Lucullus who would have had him leave Cotta and go forward being then in a ready way to surprise the defenceless Kingdom of Mithridates And it was highly resented by the Soldiers that Cotta should not only lose his own Army but hinder them also from Conquest which at that time without the hazard of a Battel they might so easily have obtained But Lucullus in a Solemn Speech declared unto them That he would rather save one Citizen from the Enemy than be Master of all that they had Archelaus Governor of Baeotia under Mithridates revolting from him and siding with the Romans demonstrated to Lucullus that upon his bare coming he might easily surprise all the Country of Pontus but he answered that it did not become him to be more fearful than Huntsmen to leave the chase of the wild Beasts abroad and seek after sport in their deserted Lodges Having so said he made towards Mithridates with thirty Thousand foot and two Thousand five hundred Horse But being come in sight of his Enemies he was astonished at their Numbers and resolved to forbear fighting and wear out time But Marius whom Sertorius had sent out of Spain to Mithridates with Forces under him stepping out and challenging him he prepared for Battel In the very instant of joining no manifest alteration preceeding of a sudden the Sky opened and a great Body of light fell down in the midst between the Armies in shape like a Hogshead but in Colour like melted Silver insomuch that both Armies being surprised stood off This wonderful Prodigy hap'ned in Phrygia near Otryae Lucullus after this began to think with himself that no Man could have Power and Wealth enough to sustain so great Numbers as Mithridates had for any long time in the face of an Enemy Commanded one of the Captives to be brought before him and first of all asked him how many Companions were quartered with him and how much provision he had left behind him and when he had answer'd him Commanded him to stand aside then asked a second and a third the same question after which comparing the quantity of provision with the Men he found that in three or four days time his Enemies would be brought to want As for himself he was able to subsist longer having stor'd his Camp with all sorts of provision and living in plenty was better able to beset his hungry Enemy Which made Mithridates set forward against the Cyzicenians miserably shattered in the fight at Chalcedon where they lost no less than three thousand Citizens and ten Ships And that he might the safer steal away from Lucullus immediately after Supper by the help of a dark and gloomy Night he went off and by the Morning gained the City opposite to it and sat down with his Forces upon the Adrastian Mount Lucullus saw his Motion and pursued him but daring not to fall upon him with disorderly Forces sate down also near the Village called Thracia a convenient pass and plentiful place from whence and through which all the provisions for Mithridates's Camp must of necessity come Whereupon judging of the event he kept not his mind from his Soldiers but when the Camp was fortified and the Works finished called them together and with great assurance told them that in few days without the expence of Bloud he would bring Victory to them Mithridates besieged the Cyzicenians with ten Camps by Land and with his Ships blockt up the Strait that was betwixt their City and the Continent and stormed them on all sides who were fully prepared stoutly to receive him and resolved to endure the utmost extreamity rather than forsake the Romans That which troubled them most was that they knew not where Lucullus was and heard nothing of him though at that time his Army was visible before them But they were imposed upon by the Mithridatians who shewing them the Romans Encamped on the Hills Do ye see those said they those are the Auxiliary Armenians and Medes which Tigranes sent to Mithridates These were astonish'd at the vast numbers round them and could not believe any place of relief was left them no not if Lucullus had come up to their assistance Demonax sent by Archelaus was the first who told them of Lucullas's arrival but they disbeliev'd his report and thought he came with forged News to comfort them At which time a Fugitive Boy was taken and brought before them who being asked where Lucullus was smiled at their jesting as he thought but finding them in earnest with his finger shewed them the Roman Camp upon which they took Courage In the Lake Dascylitis they used Vessels of a midling size the biggest whereof Lucullus drew ashoar and carrying her in a Waggon to the Sea filled her with Soldiers who Sailing along unseen in the dead of the Night came safe to the City The Gods themselves wondring at the constancy of the Cyzicenians seem to have animated them with signs from above but more especially now in the Festival of Proserpina where a black Heifer being wanting for Sacrifice they supplied it by a Meat-offering which they set before the Altar The holy Heifer set apart for the Goddess and at that time grazing with the Herd of the Cyzicenians on the other side of the Strait left the Herd and came home to the City alone and offered her self for Sacrifice By Night the Goddess appearing to Aristagoras the Town Clerk I am come said she and have brought the
and Chaldean Wilderness to fight with Mithridates Lucullus little thinking this would be of so dangerous consequence as it afterwards prov'd took no notice of it but slighted it and choose rather to excuse himself to those who blamed his Tardiness in losing time about small pitiful Places not worth the while and allowing Mithridates time to recruit That is what I design said he and am contriving by my delay that he may grow great again and gather a considerable Army which may induce him to stand and not fly away before us for do ye not see the vast and boundless Wilderness behind Caucasus is not far off and the steep and craggy Mountains enough to conceal numbers of Kings in their flight from Battel Besides 't is a Journey but of few days from Cabira to Armenia where Tigranes Reigns King of Kings who by his Power dissolved the Parthian Empire in Asia brought several Greek Towns under the Median Yoke Conquered Syria and Palaestine extinguished the Royal Line of Seleucus and carried away their Wives and Daughters by violence This same is Relation and Son-in-Law to Mithridates and cannot but receive him upon entreaty and enter into War with us to defend him so that while we endeavour to depose Mithridates we shall endanger the bringing in of Tigranes against us who already hath sought occasion to fall out with us but can never find one so justifiable as the Succour of a Friend and necessitous Prince Why therefore should we put Mithridates upon this strait who as yet knows not how he may best fight with us and utterly disdains to stoop to Tigranes and not rather allow him time to gather a new Army and grow insolent that we our selves might fight with the Colchians and Tibarenians whom we have often defeated already and not with Medes and Armenians Upon these Motives Lucullus sat down before Amisus and slowly carried on the Siege but the Winter being well spent he left Murena in charge with it and went himself against Mithridates then Rendezvouzing at Cabira and resolving to wait for the Romans with forty Thousand Foot about him and thirteen Thousand Horse wherein he chiefly confided But passing the River Lycus he challenged the Romans into the Plains where the Cavalry engaged and the Romans were beaten Pomponius a Man of good note was taken wounded and sore and in pain as he was was carried before Mithridates and asked by the King If by saving his Life he would become his Friend who answered Yes if thou O King wilt be reconciled to the Romans if not thy Enemy Mithridates wondred at him and did him no hurt The Enemy being Master of the Plains Lucullus was something afraid and delayed getting to the Mountains being very large woody and almost inaccessible when by good luck some Greeks who had fled into a Cave were taken the eldest of whom Artemidorus by name promised to bring Lucullus and seat him in a place of safety for his Army and a Fort that overlook'd Cabira Lucullus believing him lighted his Fires and marched in the Night and safely passing the Strait gained the Port and in the Morning was seen above the Enemy pitching his Camp in a place advantageous to descend upon them if he desired to fight and secure from being forced if to lie still Neither side was willing to engage at present but 't is reported that some of the King's Party being hunting a Stag some Romans quartered upon them and met them Whereupon they Skirmished more still drawing together to each side In short the King's Party prevailed where upon the Romans from their Camp seeing their Companions fly were enraged ran to Lucullus with Intreaties to lead them out pressing that Sign might be given for Battel But he that they might know of what consequence the Presence and Appearance of a wise Governour is in time of Conflict and Danger commanded them to stand still but himself went down into the Plains and meeting with the foremost that fled commanded them to stand and turn back with him These obeying the rest followed and making up a Body with no great difficulty drove back the Enemies and pursued them to their Camp After his return Lucullus inflicted a just punishment upon the Fugitives and made them dig a Trench naked of twelve Foot while the rest stood by and look'd on There was in Mithridates's Camp one Olthacus Governour of the Dardarians a Barbarous People living near the Lake Maeotis a Man remarkable for Strength and Courage in Fight Wise in Council and Pleasant and Free in Conversation He out of Emulation and Glory outvying the rest of the Lords promised a great piece of Service to Mithridates no less than the Death of Lucullus The King commended his Resolution and according to agreement counterfeited Anger and slighted him whereupon he took Horse and fled to Lucullus who kindly received him being a Man of great Credit in the Army After some short trial of his Sagacity and Wisdom he found way to Lucullus's Board and Council The Dardarian thinking he had a fair opportunity commanded his Servants to lead his Horse out of the Camp while he himself as the Soldiers were refreshing and easing themselves in the Shade it being then High-noon went to the General 's Tent not at all suspecting that entrance would be denied him who was so familiar with the General and came under pretence of extraordinary Business with him He had certainly been admitted had not Sleep which hath destroyed many Captains saved Lucullus For so it was that Menedemus one of the Bed chamber was standing at the Door who told Olthacus that it was altogether unseasonable to see him since after long Watching and hard Labour he was but just before laid down to compose him Olthacus would not go away upon this Denial but still persisted saying that he must go in to discourse of some necessary Affairs whereupon Menedemus grew angry and replied That nothing was more necessary than the safety of Lucullus and forced him away with both hands Whereupon out of sear he straightway left the Camp took Horse and without Effect returned to Mithridates Thus in Time as in Physick there are Moments of Life and Death After this Somatius being sent out with ten Companies for Forage and pursued by Menander one of Mithridates's Captains stood his Ground and after a sharp Engagement slew and destroyed the Enemy Adrianus being sent afterward with other Forces to procure Food enough and to spare for the Camp Mithridates would by no means suffer him but dispatch'd Meremachus and Myro with a great Force both Horse and Foot against him all which except two as is reported were cut off by the Romans Mithridates concealed the Loss giving it out that it was a small Defeat nothing near so great as reported and occasioned chiefly by the unskilfulness of the Leaders But Adrianus in great Pomp passed by his Camp having many Waggons full of Corn and other Booty which brought Despair upon himself and
to Tigranes but being accused of high Misdemeanors and prohibited all Commerce with his Country-men soon ended his Days Lucullus when he had established wholesome Laws and a lasting Peace in Asia did not altogether banish Pleasure and Mirth but during his residence at Ephesus gratified the Country with Sports Festival Triumphs Wrestling Games and Prizes And they in requital instituted others called Lucullian Games in honour to him thereby manifesting their real love to him which was of more value to him than all the Honour in the World But when Appius came to him and told him he must prepare for War he went again into Pontus and gathering together his Army besieged Synope or rather those of the Kings side who held it who thereupon killed most of the Synopeans and set the City on fire and by night endeavoured to escape Which when Lucullus perceived he came upon the City and killed Eight thousand of those who were left behind but to the others he restored what was their own and took special care for the Welfare of the City To which he was chiefly prompted by this Vision One seemed to come to him in his sleep and say Go on a little further Lucullus for Autolicus is coming to see Thee When he arose he could not imagine what the Vision meant The same day he took the City and as he was pursuing the Cilicians who were fled he saw a Statue lying on the Shoar which the Cilicians carried so far but had not time to carry it aboard It was one of the Master-pieces of Sthenis And one told him that it was the Statue of Autolicus the Founder of the City Which same Autolicus is reported to be Son to Dimachus and one of those who under Hercules went in the Expedition out of Thessaly against the Amazons from whence in his return with Demoleon and Phlogius he lost his Vessel on a point of the Chersonesus called Pedalion He himself with his Companions and their Weapons being saved came to Synope and dispossest the Syrians there The Syrians held it descended from Syrus as is reported the Son of Apollo and Synope the Daughter of Asopis Which as soon as Lucullus heard he remembred the saying of Sylla who positively affirms in his Memoirs That nothing is so credible and beyond dispute as what is revealed in Dreams But as soon as it was told him that Mithridates and Tigranes were just ready to transport their Forces into Lycaonia and Cilicia he much wondred why the Armenian if he had any real intention to fight with the Romans did not assist Mithridates in his flourishing condition and joyn Forces when he was fit for service but suffering him to be vanquisht and broken in pieces should now at last upon slender hopes begin the War and throw himself down headlong with them who were irrecoverably fal'n already But when Macares the Son of Mithridates and Governour of the Bosphorus sent him a Crown valued at a thousand pieces of Gold and desired to be listed a Friend and Confederate of the Romans he justly reputed that War at an end and left Sornatius his Deputy with Six thousand Souldiers to take care of the Province He himself with Twelve thousand Foot and little less than Three thousand Horse advanced to the second War But it was very plain that with two great and ill-advised speed he Marched against Warlike Nations many Thousands of Horse into a vast Champaign every way enclosed with deep Rivers and Snowy Mountains Which made the Souldiers besides the disorder of their ranks with great unwillingness and reluctancy follow him When as at the same time also the Tribunes at home publickly inveighed and declared against him as one that raised up War after War not so much for the Interest of the Republick as that he himself being still in Commission might not lay down Arms but go on enriching himself by the Publick loss These Men at last were even with him But Lucullus by long journeys came to Euphrates where finding the Waters out and rough by reason of the late Winter was much troubled for fear of a delay where danger might come on him while he procured Boats and made a Bridge of them But in the evening the flood giving and decreasing more in the night the next day they saw the River within his Banks Insomuch that the Inhabitants discovering the little Islands in the River and the Water stagnating round them a thing which had rarely hapned before worshipped Lucullus before whom the very River was humble and submissive and yielded an easie and swift passage Making use of the opportunity he carried over his Army and met with a lucky sign at landing Holy Heifers are preserved on purpose for Diana Persica whom of all the Gods the Barbarians beyond Euphrates chiefly adore They use only Heifers for her Sacrifices Which at other times wander up and down undisturbed with the Mark of the Goddess upon them shining brightness and it is no small nor easie thing when occasion requires to seize one of them But one of these when the Army had passed Euphrates coming to a Rock Consecrated to the Goddess stood upon it and then laying down her Neck like others that are forc'd down with a Rope offered her self to Lucullus for Sacrifice Besides which he offered also a Congratulatory Bull to Euphrates for his safe passage All that day he tarried there but on the next and those that followed he travelled through Sophene using no manner of Violence to those who came to him and willingly received his Army But when the Soldiers were desirous to plunder a Castle that seemed to be well stored within That is the Castle said he that we must storm shewing them Taurus at a distance there are the rewards of Triumph Wherefore hastning his March and passing the Tigris he came over into Armenia The first Messenger that gave notice of Lucullus his coming was so far from pleasing Tigranes that he had his Head cut off for his pains and no Man daring to bring farther Information without any Intelligence at all Tigranes sate fuming with Hostility and Wrath giving ear only to those who flattered him by saying That Lucullus would shew himself a greater Commander by standing before Tigranes at Ephesus than by his running away out of Asia frighted with the many Thousands that come against him He is a Man of a strong Body that can carry off a load of Wine and of a singular Constitution that can digest Felicity Mithrobarzanes one of his chief Favorites first dar'd to tell him the truth But had no more thanks for his pains than to be immediately sent out against Lucullus with Three thousand Horse and a great number of Foot with peremptory Commands to bring him alive and trample down his Army Some of Lucullus's Men were then pitching their Camp and the rest were coming up to them when the Scouts gave notice that the Enemy was approaching whereupon he was in fear lest they
Expedition out of Gordyene They found the Soldiers resty and stubborn before but now plainly discovered their unruliness by no manner of Intreaty or Force to be reclaim'd for they protested and cried out That they would stay no longer there but go away and desert Pontus Which being reported to Lucullus did no small harm to the Soldiers about him who were corrupted with Wealth and Plenty and desirous of Ease and hearing the boldness of the others called them Men and such as they ought to imitate for the Actions which they had done did now well deserve rest and quiet Upon these and worse Words Lucullus left off the thoughts of invading Parthia and in the midst of Summer went against Tigranes where passing over Taurus he was astonish'd at the green Fields before him so much the Season by reason of the cold Air is deferred But however he went down and putting to flight the Armenians who dared to come out against him he plundered and burnt their Villages and seizing on the Provision designed for Tigranes who was afraid of the same reduced his Enemies to great necessity But when he provok'd the Enemy to fight by marching round their Camp and burning the Country before them he could by no means bring them out after their frequent Defeats before he rose up and marched to Artaxata the Royal City of Tigranes where his Wives and Children were kept judging that Tigranes would never suffer that to go without the hazard of a Battel It is reported that Annibal the famous Carthaginian after the Defeat of Antiochus under the Romans coming to Artaxas King of Armenia instructed him in several necessary and useful things who being taken with the pleasant and delightful Situation of that Place then uncultivated and neglected drew a Model of a City for the same and bringing Artaxas thither shewed him the same and encouraged him to build At which the King being pleased and desiring him to oversee the Work erected a large and stately City called after his own Name and made it Metropolis of Armenia Tigranes would by no means suffer Lucullus to come upon this City but came with his Army and on the fourth day sate down by the Romans the River Arsania lying between them which of necessity Lucullus must pass in his March to Artaxata Lucullus after Sacrifice to the Gods as if Victory were already obtained carried over his Army having Twelve Bands in Front the rest being disposed to prevent the Enemies enclosing them For there were many choice Horse drawn up against him In the Front stood the Mardians Horse-Archers and Iberians with long Spears who being the most Warlike Tigranes more confided in than any other Strangers but nothing of moment was done by them for though they skirmished with the Roman Horse at a distance they were not able to stand when the Foot came up to them but being broken and divided on both sides drew the Horse in pursuit after them Though these were routed yet Lucullus was afraid when he saw the Horse about Tigranes in good Order and great Numbers coming upon him Whereupon he recalled his Horse from pursuing he himself first of all withstood the Nobles and engaged with the best of them as they came upon him and before ever they came to close Fight with the very Terror overthrew them Of three Kings in Battel against him Mithridates of Pontus fled away the most shamefully being not so much as able to endure the Noise of the Romans The Pursuit reach'd a long way wherein the Romans not only slew them all night but took many alive seized and carried away great Riches with other Booty till they were weary and left off Livy says There were more taken and destroyed in the first Battel but in the second those of better note Lucullus being flush'd and animated hereby determined to march into the Vplands and there compleat his Conquests over the Barbarians but the Winter-season coming on contrary to his expectation brought severe Weather and frequent Snows and even in the most clear Days hard Frost and Ice which made the Waters scarce drinkable for the Horses by exceeding Cold and scarce passable for the breaking of the Ice and cutting the Horses Sinews The Country for the most part being Forest Inclosed and Woody made them continually wet being covered with Snow as they Marched in the day and sitting down in Moorish places at Night After the Battel they followed not Lucullus many days before they began to be unruly first of all intreating and sending the Tribunes to him but afterwards tumultuously gathered together and made a noise all night long which was a plain sign of a mutinous Army But Lucullus as earnestly entreated them desiring them to have patience but till they took the Armenian Carthage and overturn'd the Work of that cursed Man Annibal But when he could not prevail he led them back and by another Road over Taurus came into the fruitful and pleasant Country of Mygdonia where was a great and populous City by the Barbarians called Nisibis by the Greeks Antioch of Mygdonia Gaurus Brother of Tigranes was the Governour Callimachus Overseer of the Works and Fortifications the same who so much annoyed the Romans at Amisus He brought his Army to it and laying close Siege in a short time took it by Storm He kindly used Gaurus as he surrendred himself but by no means hearkened to Callimachus though he offered to make discovery of hidden Treasures commanding him to be kept in Chains to be punished for firing the City of Amisus which hindred him from shewing Favour and Kindness unto the Greeks as he intended Hitherto one would imagine Fortune attended and fought for Lucullus but afterward as if the Wind had fail'd of a sudden he did all things by force and as it were against the Grain wherein he shewed the Conduct and Patience of a wise Captain but his Actions met with no Honour or Reputation For by bad Success and Divisions in his Army he came within a Hairs-breadth of losing what what he had before Himself was not the least cause of all this being no ways indulgent to his Soldiers but one who thought all Favour shewn to them to be a beginning of Disobedience and Dissolution of Authority But what was worst of all he was naturally unsociable to his Great Officers in Commission with him despising others and thinking them worthy of nothing in comparison with himself These were the Evils attending Lucullus his other Vertues for he is said to have been a lusty goodly and eloquent Man Wise both in Court and Camp Salust says The Soldiers were ill-affected to him from the beginning of the War for being forced to keep the Field two Winters at Cyzicum and afterwards at Amisus There were other Winter-quarters that vexed besides these for they either were in an Enemies Country or else confined to their Tents in the open Fields among their Confederates for Lucullus not so much as once went into a
with fighting the Enemy who rid at Anchor under that Fort. And now it seemed manifest to the Syracusians that their Navy had not been beaten by Strength but by their Disorder in the Pursuit Now therefore all Hands went to work to fit out a gallanter Fleet than the former however Nicias had no Stomach to a Sea-fight but said ' t was madness for them when Demosthenes was coming in all haste with so great a Fleet and fresh Forces to their Recruit to engage the Enemy with a less number of Ships and ill provided On the contrary Menander and Euthydemus puft up with their new Command let loose their Ambition and envy against both the Old Generals They were for preventing Demosthenes by some brave Action before his coming and were for doing something beyond Nicias they pretended the Honour of the City which said they would be blemish'd and utterly lost if they should be afraid of the Syracusians who dared them to Battel Thus they forced Nicias to a Sea-fight and by a Stratagem of Ariston who commanded the Corinthian Gallies they in the left Wing as Thucydides tells us were worsted and lost many of their Men. Hereupon Nicias was overwhelmed with Despair beaten when he had the sole Command and again miscarrying with his Companions But now by this time was discovered before the Haven Demosthenes most splendidly equipp'd and terrible to behold He brought along in seventy three Gallies five thousand Men of Arms of Darters Archers and Slingers not less than 3000 with the glitterring of their Armour the Flags and Streamers waving in the Air from the Gallies the multitude of Trumpeters and Minstrels and Hoboys and set off with all the Warlike Pomp and Ostentation to dismay the Enemy Now one may believe the Syracusians were again in a deadly fright seeing no end nor expectation but toiling in vain and perishing to no purpose But Nicias was not long overjoyed for this Reinforcement for the first time he came to speech with Demosthenes who advised forthwith to attaque the Syracusians and speedily to put all to the hazard to win Syracuse and return home afraid and wondring at his briskness and temerity he beseeched him to do nothing rashly and desperately seeing that delay would be the Ruine of the Enemy whose Money would not hold out nor their Confederates be long kept together that when once they came to be pinch'd with Want they would again presently seek to him for Terms as formerly that many in Syracuse who held secret Correspondence with him wish'd him to stay in regard they were tired with the War nor could endure Gylippus longer And if their Necessities should the least sharpen upon them they would give up all Nicias glancing darkly at these matters and partly unwilling to speak out plainly put the Captains to imagine that it was pure Cowardice which made him talk in this manner And they saying that he was now again upon the relapse to his old Cautions and Shifts and Trifling whereby he let slip the Opportunity in not immediately falling on the Enemy but suffering his Men to cool and to grow contemptible stuck to Demosthenes and with much ado forced Nicias to comply Hereupon Demosthenes with a Party of Foot by night made an Assault upon Epipolae part of the Enemy he slew ere they took the Alarm the rest defending themselves he put to flight Nor was he content with this Victory there but push'd on further till he fell among the Baeotians for these were the first that made head against the Athenians and after a great Shout warmly charged them with Push of Pike and killed many on the Place And now was there nothing but Horror and Confusion throughout the whole Army the Body that stood involved with those that fled they that defended and those who came round falling foul together knock'd one another down taking them in the pursuit for those that fled and handling their Friends as if they were the Enemy For jumbled thus in disorder distracted with blind Fear and Uncertainties and discerning false the Night not being absolutely dark nor yielding any steady Light the Moon then towards setting shadowed with many Weapons and Bodies that moved to and fro and glimmering so as not to shew an Object plain but to make through fear a Familiar suspected for a Foe which cast the Athenians into horrid difficulties and despair Besides all this they had the Moon on their Backs whereby they shaded one another and both hid their Numbers and the Glittering of their Arms but the reflection of the Moon from the Shields of the Enemy made them shew more numerous and better appointed than indeed they were Lastly Being press'd on every side where they had retreated they took the rout and in their flight some were destroyed by the Enemy some fell by the hands of their Friends and some tumbled down the Rocks Those that were dispers'd and stragled in the Fields were pick'd up in the morning by the Horsemen and put to the Sword the slain were Two thousand of the rest few came off safe with their Arms. Upon this Disaster Nicias struck as might be expected accused the rashness of Demosthenes but he coloured it over and advised to be gone in all haste for neither were other Forces to come nor the Enemy to be beaten with the present or supposing they were yet too hard for the Enemy however they ought to remove and avoid that place being always accounted a sickly place and dangerous for an Army especially now because of the season being as they see by experience Pernicious It was the beginning of Autumn and many now lay sick and all were out of heart It grieved Nicias to hear of flight and departing home not that he did not fear the Syracusians but he was worse affraid of the Athenians their Impeachments and Sentence therefore he made as if he apprehended nothing farther there or should ought happen better dye by the hand of an Enemy than by his Fellow-Citizens He was not of the opinion which afterwards Leo of Byzantium declared to his Fellow-Citizens I had rather said he perish by you than with you Nicias therefore for the matter of place and quarter whither to remove their Camp said That might be debated at leisure And Demosthenes his former Counsel having succeeded so ill ceased to press him farther others thought Nicias expected and had assurance from some Body within the City which made him so stoutly oppose their retreat so they did acquiesce But another Army coming to the Syracusians and the Sickness raging in his Camp he also now approved of their retreat and commanded the Soldiers to make ready to go aboard And when all were in readiness and none of the Enemy had observed them not expecting such a thing the Moon fell Eclyps'd in the Night to the great fright of Nicias and of others who for want of experience or out of Superstition are scar'd with these Appearances That the Sun would
But among the many miserable Spectacles that appeared up and down in the Camp the saddest sight of all was Nicias himself labouring under his Malady and unworthily reduced to extreme want of all accommodations necessary for his condition which required more than ordinary because of his Sickness yet he bore up under all this Illness and underwent more than many in perfect health could be able to endure And it was plainly evident that all this toyl was not for himself or from any regard to his own Life but purely for their sake under his Command he would not abandon hope And indeed the rest were given over to weeping and lamentation through fear or sorrow but he whenever forced thereunto 't was manifest he reflected on the shame and dishonour of this Adventure set against the Greatness and Glory he had expected to win Not only beholding his person but calling to mind his words and the disswasions he used to prevent this Expedition they reckoned that so much the less did he deserve to be thus wretched And they had no heart to put their trust in the Gods considering that a Man so Religious who had performed to the Powers Divine so many and so great Acts of Devotion should have no more favourable Success than the wickedest and meanest Fellow of the whole Army Nicias however endeavoured all the while by his Voice his Countenance and his Carriage to be above these Misfortunes and all along the way pelted at and receiving Wounds eight days continually from the Enemy Yet preserved he the Forces with him in a Body entire till that Demosthenes was taken Prisoner The Party that he led whilst they fought and made a stout resistance were at the Village Polyzelia hemmed in Demosthenes thereupon drew his Sword and smote but killed not himself the Enemy presently running in and seizing upon him So soon as the Syracusians had gone and informed Nicias of this and he sent some Horsemen and by them knew the certainty of that Armies Defeat he then vouchsafed to sue to Gylippus for a Truce for the Athenians to depart out of Sicily leaving Hostages for the Money that the Syracusians had expended in the War But now they would not hear of these Proposals but threatning them in great fury and storm and upbraiding them let fly at them destitute of all things necessary Yet Nicias made good his Retreat all that Night and the next day through all their Darts held on his way to the River Assinarus there the Enemy encountring them drove some into the Stream others ready to die for thirst plunged in headlong there drinking and drowning with the same labour And here was the cruellest and most immoderate Slaughter till Nicias falling down to Gylippus Let Pity O Gylippus said he move you in your Victory not for me who have some Glory and Name from such like Misfortunes but for the other Athenians You well know that the Chance of War is common to all and the Athenians used it moderately and mildly towards you in their Prosperity At these Words and at the sight of Nicias Gylippus was somewhat troubled for he was sensible that the Lacedaemonians had received good Offices from Nicias in the late Treaty and he thought it a great and glorious Action to carry off the Chief Commanders of the Athenians alive Wherefore he received Nicias with respect and bid him be of good Chear and commanded his Men to spare the Lives of the rest but the Word of Command being communicated slowly the Slain were far the greater number than the Prisoners Yet many were privily conveyed away by particular Soldiers those taken openly were hurried together on heaps their Arms and Spoils hung up on the goodliest and the fairest Trees all along the River the Conquerors Crowned their Horses splendidly adorned with those of their Enemy cropp'd and cut bare entred the City having in the noblest Contest wag'd by Greeks against Greeks and with the greatest Strength and the utmost Effort of Valour and Manhood won a most entire Victory And a General Assembly of the People of Syracuse and their Confederates sitting Euricles a leading Man moved first That the Day on which they took Nicias should from thence-forward be kept Holy-day by Sacrificing and forbearing all manner of Work and from the River be called the Assinarian Feast This was the Twenty sixth day of the Month of July And that the Servants of the Athenians and the other Confederates be sold for Slaves themselves and the Sicilian Auxiliaries to be kept and employed in the Quarries except the Captains and they to be put to death As the Syracusians debated these matters Hermocrates saying That to use well a Victory was better than to gain a Victory They in a great Hubbub rebuked him warmly And Gylippus demanding the Athenian Generals to be delivered to him that he might carry them to the Lacedaemonians the Syracusians now insolent with their good Fortune gave him ill Words Yet before this even in the War they hardly endured his austere Carriage and Lacedaemonian Haughtiness And as Timaeus tells us they condemned in him his Sordidness and Avarice an Hereditary Vice for which also his Father Cleandrides convicted of Bribery was banish'd And this very Man of the One thousand Talents which Lysander sent to Sparta embezell'd Thirty and hid them under the Tyles of his House which being detected he most shamefully ran his Country But these Matters are more at large handled in the Life of Lysander Timaeus does not say that Demosthenes and Nicias were stoned to death as Thucydides and Philistus have left written but that upon a Message from Hermocrates whilst yet the Assembly were sitting admitted to them by some of the Guards they slew themselves and their Bodies thrown out before the Gates lay open for a Publick Spectacle I have heard that now to this day in a Temple at Syracuse is shown a shield said to have been Nicias's with Gold and Purple curiously wrought and embroidered Most of the Athenians perish'd in the Quarries by Diseases and ill Dyet allowed only two pints of Barley every day and one of Water Many of them were carried off by stealth and sold or concealed amongst the Slaves and sold as Slaves having mark'd an Horse on their foreheads which they suffered over and above their slavery But their modesty and handsome carriage was an advantage to them for they were either soon set free or winning respect continued with those who possest them Several amongst them were saved for the sake of Euripides for of all the In-land Grecians his Muse it seems was of highest esteem with the Men of Sicily And when any Travellers arrived that could tell them some Copy or give them any tast of his Verses they lovingly communicated them to one another Many of those that were preserved are said after they got home to have gone and made their acknowledgments to Euripides relating how that some of them had been released from their slavery by
all his Baggage As he made toward the Alps Cassius that was Praetor of that part of Gaul that lies about the Po met him with ten thousand Men but being overcome in Battel he had much ado to escape himself with the loss of a great many of his Men when the Senate understood this they were displeased at the Consuls and ordering them to meddle no farther they appointed Crassus General of the War and a great many of the Nobility went Volunteers with him partly out of Friendship and partly to get Honour He staid in Picena expecting Spartacus would take a compass and come that way and sent his Lieutenant with two Legions to wheel about and observe the Enemies motion but upon no account to engage or Skirmish but he upon the first opportunity joyned Battel and was routed having a great many of his Men slain and a great many saving their lives with the loss of their Arms. Crassus rebuked Mummius severely and Arming the Soldiers again he made them find Sureties for their Arms that they would part with them no more but for Five hundred that were the Beginners of the flight he divided them into Fifty tenths and one of each was to Die by Lot thus he revived the ancient punishment of Decimation where Ignominy is added to the Circumstances of Death like the representation of a dismal and terrible Tragedy where the rest sit as Spectators When he had thus reclaimed his Men he led them against the Enemy but Spartacus retreated into Lucania toward the Sea and in the straights meeting with some Cilician Pyrats he had thought of attempting Sicily whereupon Landing Two thousand Men he hoped to new-kindle the War of the Slaves which was but lately extinguished and seemed to need but little fewel but after the Pyrats had struck a bargain with him and received his Earnest they deceived him and sailed away He thereupon retired again from the Sea and pitched his Camp in the Peninsula of Rhegium there Crassus came upon him and considering the nature of the place and that it supplyed him for all that was necessary for his undertaking he designed to build a Wall cross the Isthmus thus keeping his Soldiers at once from idleness and his foes from forrage which great and difficult undertaking he perfected in a small time beyond all expectation making a Ditch from one Sea to the other over a neck of land of Three hundred furlongs long fifteen foot broad and as much in depth and upon it built a wonderful high and strong Wall which Spartacus at first slighted and despised but when Provisions began to fail and intending to pass further he found he was walled in and no more was to be had in the Peninsula taking the opportunity of a snowy stormy night he filled up part of the Ditch with earth and boughs of Trees and so passed over the third part of his Army wherefore Crassus was afraid lest he should March directly to Rome but was soon eased of that fear when he saw many of his men upon a mutiny revolt from him and encamp by themselves upon the Lucanian Lake This Lake they say is very changeable sometimes sweet and sometimes so salt that it cannot be drunk Crassus falling upon these beat them from the Lake though he could not pursue the slaughter by reason of Spartacus his coming in who stayed the flight Now he began to repent that he had formerly writ to the Senate to call Lucullus out of Thrace and Pompey out of Spain so that he did all he could to finish the War before they came knowing that the honour of the Action would redound to him that came to his assistance resolving therefore first to set upon those that were revolted and encamped apart whom C. Cunicius and Castus Commanded he sent six thousand men before to secure a little Eminence and to do it as privately as possible which that they might do they covered their Helmets but being discovered by two Women that were sacrificing for the Enemy they had been in great hazard had not Crassus immediately appeared and joined Battel with them which proved very Bloody for twelve thousand three hundred were slain and two only wounded in their backs the rest all died standing in their ranks and fighting bravely Spartacus after this Discomfiture retired to the Mountains of Petilia but Quintus one of Crassus his Commanders and Scropha the Questor pursued and overtook him but when Spartacus rallied and faced them they basely betook themselves to flight and had much ado to carry off their Questor who was wounded this Success ruined Spartacus because it encouraged the Fugitives who now disdained any longer to make a flying Fight not to obey their Officers but as they were upon their March they came to them with their Swords in their Hands and compelled them to lead them back again through Lucania against the Romans and to make what haste they could to find out Crassus here News is brought that Pompey was at hand and people used to talk openly that the honour of this War was reserved for him who would come and oblige the Enemy to fight and certainly rout him Whereupon Crassus desiring to fight he encamped very near the Enemy and made Lines of Circumvallation but the Slaves made a Sally and attacqu'd the Pioneers now as fresh Supplies came in on either side and Spartacus seeing there was no avoiding it he set all his Army in Array and when his Horse was brought him he drew out his Sword and killed him saying if he got the day he should have a great many better Horses of the Enemies and if he lost it he should have no need of this so making directly towards Crassus himself through Wounds and Darts he missed of him but two Centurions that fell upon him together he slew at last being deserted by those that were about him he himself stood his ground and being surrounded by the Enemy he bravely defending himself was cut in pieces But though Crassus made use of his Fortune and not only did the part of a General but gallantly exposed his Person yet Pompey shared in the honour of the Action for he met with many that fled and slew them so that he Wrote to the Senate that Crassus indeed had Vanquished the Fugitives in a pitched Battle but that he had put an end to the War Pompey was honoured with a magnificent Triumph for his Conquest over Sertorius and Spain but Crassus himself could not so much as desire a Triumph and it look'd meanly in him to accept of an Ovation for a Servile War and pass through the City on Foot as to the Difference between Ovation and Triumph it is writ in the life of Marcellus And Pompey being immediately called to the Consulship tho Crassus hoped to be joyned with him he did not scruple to request his Assistance who very readily laid hold on that Opportunity for he desired by all means to lay some Obligation upon Crassus and
body else but those that exhorted him to proceed nor did Artabaces King of Armenia confirm him a little who came to his aid with 6000 Horse these were said to be only the King's Life-guard for he promised 10000 Curiassiers more and 30000 Foot at his own Charges he perswaded Crassus to invade Parthia by the way of Armenia for he would not only supply his Army with Forage but his Passage would be more secure by reason of the roughness of the Country and a continued Chain of Mountains which were almost impassable to Horse in which the main strength of the Parthians consisted Crassus returned him but cold thanks for his readiness to serve him and the Splendour of his Assistance and told him he was resolved to pass through Mesopotamia where he had left a great many brave Roman Soldiers whereupon the Armenian went his way As Crassus was passing his Army by Zeugma many strange and supernatural Thunders were heard and the Lightning flashed upon the Army and during the Storm a Hurricane broke down the Bridge and carried part of it away and two Thunderbolts fell upon the very place where the Army was going to Encamp and one of the General 's Horses famously caparison'd broke from the Groom leap'd into the River and was seen no more and when they went to take up the great Standard the Eagle turned its head backward and after he had passed over his Army as they were distributing Provisions they first gave Lentils and Salt which the Romans account ominous being what is set before the dead And as Crassus was haranging his Soldiers he let fall a Word which struck a great terror in the Army for said he I will break down the Bridge that none of you may return and whereas he ought when he had perceived his blunder to have corrected himself and explained his meaning to those that were so concerned at it he wou'd not do it out of meer stubbornness and when at the last general Sacrifice the Priest gave him the Entrails they slipt out of his hand and when he saw the standers by concerned at it he laught and said See what 't is to be an old Man but I 'll hold my Sword fast enough so marching his Army along the River with seven Legions little less than 4000 Horse and as many light armed Soldiers the Scouts returning declaring that not one Man appeared but that they saw the footing of a great many Horses which seemed to retire and fly whereupon Crassus conceived great hopes and the Romans began to despise the Parthians as men that would not come to handy-strokes but Cassius and the rest advised him to refresh his Army in some of the Garrison Towns and remain there till they could get some certain Intelligence of the Enemy at least to make toward Seleucia and keep by the River that so they might have the convenience of Ships to bring him Provisions which might always accompany the Army and the River would secure them from being environed and if they should fight it might be upon equal terms As Crassus was considering hereupon there came to the Camp an Arabian Tribune named Ariamnes a cunning subtle Fellow and one which was the chief cause of all the misfortune that befell them some of Pompey's old Soldiers knew him for he had serv'd with them under him and had received some Kindnesses of him and was looked upon as a Friend to the Romans but was now suborned by the King's Officers and sent to Crassus to entice him if possible from the River and Hills into the Plain where he might be surrounded for the Parthians desired any thing rather than to be obliged to meet the Romans face to face he therefore coming to Crassus and he had his Tongue well hung highly commended Pompey as his Benefactor and admired the Forces that Crassus had with him but seemed to wonder why he delayed and made Preparations as if he should not use his Feet more than his Arms against those Men that taking with them their best Goods and Chattels had designed long ago to fly for refuge to the Scythians or Hyrcanians but supposing they were to fight at least he ought to make what hast he could before the King could recover Courage and get his Forces together for you see Surena and Syllaces are opposed to you to hinder your further progress but the King himself does not appear but this was all a Lye for Hyrodes had divided his Army into two parts with one he in Person wasted Armenia revenging himself upon Artuasdes and sent Surena against the Romans not out of Contempt as some pretend for there is no likelihood that he should despise Crassus one of the Chiefest men of Rome to go and fight with Artuasdes and invade Armenia but for my part I believe he apprehended the danger and therefore he expected the Event and that Surena should first run the hazard of a Battel and circumvent the Enemy Nor was this Surena an ordinary Person but for Wealth Family and Authority the second man in the Kingdom but for Courage and Prowess he was the first neither was any one so large sized or so well shaped whenever he travelled alone he had 1000 Camels to carry his Baggage 200 Chariots full of Concubines 1000 compleatly Arm'd men for his Life-Guards and a great many more light Arm'd and at least 10000 of his Servants and Retinue and the Honour had long belonged to his Family that at the King's Coronation he put the Crown upon his Head and when this very King Hyrodes had been exiled he brought him in 't was he that took the great City of Seleucia was the first Man that scaled the Walls and with his own hand beat off the Defendants and though at that time he was not above 30 years old he was counted as wise and discreet wherein he had much the advantage of Crassus who was easy to be imposed upon first through his overweening confidence and afterwards because he was dastarded and cow'd by his Calamities When Ariamnes had thus work'd upon him he drew him from the Rivers into vast Plains by a way that at first was pleasant and easie but afterwards very troublesome by reason of the depth of the Sand not a Tree not any Water and no end of this to be seen so that they were not only spent with thirst and the difficulty of the passage but the uncomfortable Prospect of not a bough not a stream not a hillock not a green herb dismayed them quite but an odd kind of a Sea of Sand which encompassed the Army with its Waves Here they began to suspect some Treachery and at the same time came Messengers from Artuasdes that he was engaged in a bloody War with Hyrodes that had invaded his Country so that now 't was impossible for him to send him any succours Wherefore he advised Crassus to turn back and with joynt Forces to give Hyrodes Battle or at least that he should so March
wherefore the young Man taking with him 1300 Horse 1000 of which he had from Caesar 500 Archers and Eight Companies of his best Armed Soldiers that stood next him he led them up with design to charge the Parthians Whether it was that they feared to stand an Army in so good Array as some think or else designing to entice young Crassus as far as they could from his Father pretended to fly whereupon he crying out That they durst not stand pursued them and with him Censorinus and Vegabacchus both famous one for his Courage and Prowess the other for being of a Noble Family and an excellent Orator both Intimates of Crassus and his Contemporaries The Horse thus pushing on the Infantry staid little behind being exalted with hopes and joy for they supposed they had already Conquered and now were only pursuing till when they were gone too far they perceiv'd the Deceit for they that seemed to fly now turned again and a great many fresh ones came on hereupon they made an Halt for they doubted not but now the Enemy would Attack them because they were so few but they placed their Curiassiers against the Romans and with the rest of their Horse rode about scowring the field and stirring up the sand they raised such a Dust that the Romans could neither see nor speak to one another and for want of room tumbling upon one another they were slain not by a quick and easie Death but with intolerable pain and convulsions for rowling among the Darts they lingered away of their Wounds and when they would by force pluck out the barbed Arrows they caught hold of the Nerves and Veins so that they tore and tortured themselves many of them Died thus and those that survived were Disabled for any service and when Publius exhorted them to charge the Curiassiers they shewed him their Hands nailed to their Shields and their Feet stuck to the ground so that they could neither fly nor fight wherefore he charged in briskly with his Horse and made a gallant Onset but the Fight was very unequal either as to the offensive or defensive part for the Romans with their weak and little Javelins struck against Targets that were of tough raw Hides or Steel whereas the naked Bodies of the Gauls were exposed to the strong Spears of the Enemy for upon these he mostly depended and with them he wrought Wonders for they would catch hold of their Spears and seize upon the Enemy and so pull them off from their Horses where they could scarce stir by reason of the heaviness of their Armour and many of them quitting their own Horses would creep under those of the Enemy and stick them into the Belly which growing unruly by reason of the pain trampled upon their Riders and Enemies promiscuously The Gauls were chiefly tormented by reason of the Heat and Drought being not accustomed to them and most of their Horses were slain by being spurred on against the Spears so that they were forced to retire among the Foot bearing off Publius grievously wounded Observing a sandy Hillock not far off they made to it tying therefore their Horses to one another and placing them in the midst and joyning all their Shields together before them they thought they might make some Defence against the Barbarians but it fell out quite contrary for when they were drawn up in a Plain the Front in some measure secured those that were behind but when they were upon the Hill one being higher than another there was no avoiding of it but all were equally exposed bewailing their Inglorious and useless Fate There were with Publius two Greeks that lived near there at Carras Hieronymus and Nichomachus they perswaded him to retire with them to Icenas a Town not far from thence and Allie of the Romans No said he there is no death so terrible for the fear of which Publius would leave his Friends that die upon his Account but wishing them to take care of themselves he embraced them and sent them away and because he could not use his Arm for he was run through with a Spear he opened his Side to his Armour-Bearer and Commanded him to run him through and 't was said that Censorinus fell after the same manner Vegabacchus slew himself as also the rest of best note and the Parthians coming upon the rest with their Lances killed them fighting nor were there above 500 taken Prisoners cutting off the head of Publius they directly march towards Crassus and this was the posture of Affairs when he had commanded his Son to fall upon the Enemy and word was brought him that they were fled and perceiving that the Enemy did not press upon him so hard as formerly for they were gone to fall upon Publius he began to take heart a little and drawing his Army into a convenient place expected when his Son would return from the pursuit of those whom he thought defeated as soon as he saw his danger the first Messengers were intercepted by the Enemy and slain the last hardly escaping came and declared That Publius was lost unless he had speedy Succours Crassus was mightily distracted not knowing what Counsel to take being fearful for the main Chance and desirous to help his Son at last he resolved to move with his Forces Just upon this up came the Enemy with their shouts and noises now more terrible with their Drums astonishing the Romans who now feared a fresh engagement and they that brought Publius his Head upon the point of a Spear when they were come so near that it could be known scoffingly enquired where were his Parents and what Family he was of for 't was impossible that so brave and gallant a Gentleman should be the Son of so pitiful a Coward as Crassus This sight above all the rest dismayed the Romans for it did not incite them to courage as it ought to have done but to horror and trembling though they say Crassus out-did himself in this Calamity for he passed through the ranks and cried out to them This dear Country-men is my own peculiar Loss but the Fortune and the Glory of Rome is safe and untainted so long as you are safe but if any one be concerned for my loss of the best of Sons let him shew it in revenging him upon the Enemy Take away their joy revenge their Cruelty nor be dismayed at what is past for whoever attempts great matters must suffer something Neither did Lucullus overthrow Tigranes without Bloodshed nor Scipio Antiochus Our Ancestors have lost 1000 Ships about Sicily and how many Generals and Captains in Italy None of which notwithstanding failed to overthrow the Conquerors for the State of Rome did not arrive to this height by Fortune but by perseverance and virtue While Crassus thus spake exhorting them he saw but few that gave much heed to him and when he ordered them to shout for the Battel he found the deadness of heart of his Army which made but a
faint and weak noise but the shout of the Enemy was clear and bold and when they came to the business the Horsemen riding about shot their Arrows and the foremost ranks with their Spears drove the Romans close together except those who rush'd upon them for fear of being killed by their Arrows Neither did these do much Execution being quickly dispatched for the strong thick Spear made great Wounds and often run through two Men at once as they were thus fighting the Night coming on parted them the Parthians boasting that they would indulge Crassus one Night to mourn his Son unless upon better consideration he would rather go to Arsaces than be carried to him and therefore took up their Quarters near them being flush'd with their Victory But the Romans had a sad Night of it for neither taking care for the Burial of their dead nor the Cure of the Wounds nor the Groans of the expiring every one bewailed his own Fate For there was no means of escaping Whether they should stay for the Light or venture to retreat into the vast Desart in the Dark and now the Wounded Men gave them new trouble for to take them with them would retard their flight and if they should leave them they might serve as Guides to the Enemy by their Crys but however they were desirous to see and hear Crassus though they were sensible he was the cause of all their Mischief but he retired and hid himself where he lay as an Example of Fortune to the Vulgar but to the Wise an Example of Inconsiderateness and Ambition Who not content to be Supperior to so many Millions of Men but being inferiour to two esteemed himself as the lowest of all Then came Octavius his Lieutenant General and Cassius to comfort him but he being altogether struck sensless they called together the Centurions and Officers and agreeing that the best way was to fly they ordered the Army to march without sound of Trumpet and at first with silence but when the disabled Men found they were left behind a strange Confusion and Tumult with an Outcry and Lamentation seized the Camp and a trembling and dread fell upon them as if the Enemy were at their heels by which means now and then turning back now and then standing to their order sometimes taking up the Wounded that followed sometimes laying of them down they wasted the time except 300 Horse whom Ignatius brought safe to Carrae about midnight where calling to the Watch assoon as they heard him he bid them tell Coponius the Governour that Crassus had fought a very great Battel with the Parthians having said but this and not so much as telling his Name he rid away at speed to Zeugma 'T is true by this means he saved himself and his Men but he lost his Reputation by deserting his General but however his Message to Coponius was for the advantage of Crassus for suspecting by this hasty and confused delivery of himself that all was not well he immediately ordered the Garrison to be in Arms and assoon as he understood that Crassus was upon the way towards him he went out to meet him and received him with his Army into the Town but the Parthians although they perceived their dislodgment in the Night yet did not pursue them but as soon as it was day they came upon those that were left in the Camp and put no less than 4000 of them to the Sword and with their light Horse pick'd up a great many straglers Vargontinus the Legate broke off from the main Body with about three Cohorts which strayed out of the way the Parthians encompassing these in an eminence slew every Man of them excepting twenty who with their drawn Swords forced their way through the thickest and they admiring their Courage opened their Ranks to the right and left and let them pass without any further molestation to Carrae Soon after a false report was brought to Syrena that Crassus with his principal Officers had escap'd and that those who were got into Carrae were but a confused Rout of insignificant People not worth further pursuit Supposing therefore that he had lost the very Crown and Glory of his Victory and yet being uncertain whether it were so or not and therefore not able to resolve whether he should besiege Carrae or follow Crassus he sent one of his Interpreters to the Walls commanding him in Latin to call Crassus or Cassius for that the General Syrena had a mind to threat with him as soon as Crassus heard this he embrac'd the Proposal and soon after came up a Band of Arabians who very well knew the faces of Crassus and Cassius as having been frequently in the Roman Camp before the Battel They having espied Cassius from the Wall told him that Syrena desired a Peace and would give them safe Convoy if they would make a League with the King his Master and withdraw all their Garrisons out of Mesopotamia and this he thought most advisable for them both before things came to extremity Cassius greedily embracing the Proposal desired that a time and place might be appointed where Crassus and Syrena might have an interview The Arabians having charged themselves with the Message went back to Syrena who was not a little rejoiced that Crassus would stand a Siege next day therefore he came up with his Army insulting over the Romans and haughtily demanding of them Crassus and Cassius bound if they expected any mercy the Romans seeing themselves deluded and mock'd were much troubled at it and advising Crassus to lay aside his long and empty Hopes of aid from the Armenians resolved to fly for it and this Design ought to have been kept private till they were upon their way but Crassus could not conceal it from the Villain Andromachus nay he was so infatuated as to chuse him for his Guide The Parthians then to be sure had punctual intelligence of all that passed but it being forbid to them by the Laws of their Country and no less difficult to fight by Night Crassus chose that time to set out in and the trusty Andromachus lest he should get the start too far of his Pursuers led him into Morasses and places full of Ditches and Inclosures so that it was exceeding painful and vexatious to his Company and some there were who supposing by these Windings and Turnings of Andromachus that no good was intended resolved to follow him no further and at last Cassius himself returned to Carrae and his Guides the Arabians advising him to tarry there till the Moon was got out of Scorpio he told them that he was most afraid of Sagittarius and they with 500 Horse left him and went into Assyria Others there were who having got honest Guides took their way by the Mountains and got into places of security by day-break these were 5000 under the Command of Octavius a very gallant Man but Crassus fared worse for Andromachus had so intangled him in the Fens and rough
Craterus had a mighty name among them and the Soldiers after Alexander's death were extremely fond of him remembring how he had often for their sakes incurred Alexander's displeasure restrained him from following the Persian Fashions to which he very much inclined and keeping up the Customs of his Country when through Pride and Delicacy they began to be disregarded Craterus therefore sent Antipater into Cilicia and himself and Neoptolemus Marcht with a great Army against Eumenes expecting to come upon him unawares and to find his Army disordered with revelling after the late Victory Now that Eumenes should suspect his coming and be prepared to receive him is an Argument of his Vigilance but no great one of his Sagacity But that he should contrive both to conceal from his Enemies the ill Posture he was in and from his own Men whom they were to fight with so as to serve against Craterus himself not knowing he commanded the Enemy this indeed seems to shew the peculiar Address and Talent of a great General He gave out therefore that Neoptolemus and Pigris with some Cappadocian and Paphlagonian Horse and designing to March by night he fell into a deep sleep and had an extraordinary Dream For he thought he saw two Alexanders ready to engage each Commanding his several Phalanx the one assisted by Minerva the other by Ceres and that after a hot dispute he on whose side Minerva was was beaten and Ceres gathering the Corn wove it into a Crown for the Victor This Vision Eumenes interpreted as boading Success to himself who was to fight for a fruitful Corn-Country the whole being sowed with Corn and the fields so thick with it that they made a beautiful shew of a long peace And he was farther confirmed in his opinion when he understood that the Enemy bore Minerva and Alexander in their Colours wherefore he also bore Ceres and Alexander and gave his Men orders to make Garlands for themselves and to dress their Arms with wreaths of Corn he found himself under many temptations to discover to his Captains and Officers whom they were to engage with and not to conceal a secret of such moment in his own breast alone yet he kept to his first resolutions and ventured to run the hazard of his own Judgment When he came to give Battel he would not trust any Macedonian to engage Craterus but appointed two Troops of Foreign Horse commanded by Pharnabazus Son to Artabazus and Phaenix of Tenedos with Order to charge as soon as ever they saw the Enemy without giving them leisure to speak or retire or receiving any Herauldor Trumpet from them for he exceedingly feared the Macedonians lest knowing Craterus they should go over to his side He himself with 300 of his best Horseled the right Wing against Neoptolemus When the Enemy having past a little Hill came in view and Eumenes his Men charged with more than ordinary briskness Craterus was amazed and bitterly reproached Neoptolemus for deceiving him with hopes of the Macedonians revolt but he encouraged his Men to do bravely forthwith charged The first Ingagement was very fierce and the Spears being soon broke to pieces they came to close fighting with their Swords and here Craterus did by no means dishonour Alexander but slew several of his Enemies and repulst divers that assaulted him but at last received a Wound in his side from a Thracian and fell off his Horse Being down many not knowing him went over him but Gorgias one of Eumenes his Captains knew him alighting from his Horse guarded his Body which was now in an ill condition and even in the very Agony of Death In the mean time Neoptolemus and Eumenes were engaged who being inveterate and mortal Enemies sought for one another but missed for the two first Courses but in the third discovering one another they drew their Swords and with loud Shouts they immediately charged their Horses striking against one another like two Galleys they quitted their reins and taking mutual hold they drew off one anothers Helmets and their Armour from their Shoulders while they were thus stripping one another each of their Horses went from under them and they fell together to the ground each of them keeping their hold and wrestling Neoptolemus getting up first Eumenes wounded him in the hamm and withal got upon his feet before him Neoptolemus staying himself upon one knee the other Leg being grievously wounded and himself undermost fought courageously though his strokes were not mortal but receiving a blow in the neck he fell down and fainted Eumenes transported with Rage and inveterate Hatred to him sell to reviling and stripping of him and perceived not that his Sword was still in his hand wherewith he wounded Eumenes in the Groin near the privy parts but in truth rather frighted than hurt him his blow being faint for want of strength Having stript the dead Body ill as he was of the Wounds he had received in his Legs and Arms he took Horse again and made towards the left Wing of his Army which he supposed to be still engaged Hearing of the Death of Craterus he rode up to him and finding there was yet some Life in him alighted from his Horse and wept and laying his right hand upon him inveighed bitterly against Neoptolemus and lamented both Craterus his Misfortune and his own hard fate that he should be necessitated to engage against an old Friend and Acquaintance and either do or suffer so much mischief This Victory Eumenes obtained about ten days after the former and got a great reputation for atchieving it partly by his Conduct and partly by his Valour But on the contrary it created him great Envy both among his own and his Enemies that he a Stranger and a Foreigner should employ the Forces and Arms of Macedon to cut off one of the bravest and most considerable Men among them Had the news of this defeat come timely enough to Perdiccas he had doubtless been the greatest of all the Macedonians but now he being slain in a Mutiny in Aegypt two days before the News arrived the Macedonians in a rage decreed Eumenes his Death giving joint-Commission to Antigonus and Antipater to prosecute the War against him Passing by Mount Ida where the King had a breed of Horses Eumenes took as many as he had occasion for and sent an account of his doing so to the Masters of his Horse Whereat Antipater is said to have laught and profest to admire the wariness of the Man who seemed to think that an account of the King's Affairs would either be expected from him or given to him Eumenes had designed to engage in the Plains of Lydia near Sardis both because his chief strength lay in Horse and to let Cleopatra see how powerful he was But at her particular request for she was afraid to give any umbrage to Antipater he marched into the upper Phrygia and Wintered in Celaene when Alcetas Polemon and Docimus disputing with him who
time by Charidemus by occasion of a Horse falling down at the Gate which hindred the Trojans so as they could not shut them soon enough and of two Cities which take their Names from most delightful odoriferous Plants Jos and Smyrna the one from a Violet the other from Myrrh the Poet Homer is reported to have been born in the one and to have died in the other To these Remarks if it may be permitted we may further observe that the most warlike Commanders who have perform'd the greatest exploits and carried on the most notable Stratagems by their Courage and Skill in Martial Affairs have had but one Eye as Philip Antigonus and Hannibal and Sertorius also whose Life and Actions we describe at present and who far surpassed the other in all noble Vertues for we may give this true report of him That he was more Temperate Sober and Continent than Philip more Faithful to his Friend than Antigonus and more Merciful and Courteous to his Enemies than Hannibal for Prudence Wisdom and Judgment he gave place to none of them but in Fortune was inferiour to them all who though she was every where more severe and cruel to him than to all his Illustrious Enemies yet for Skill and Experience in War he made himself equal to Metellus for bold Attempts Valour and Bravery he might compare with Pompey and in Success he no ways yielded to Sylla and for Power and Force he made himself a March for the whole Roman Empire and fought gloriously against the united Arms of Rome when he was a Banished Man and a Stranger amongst Barbarous People Of all the Grecian Commanders Eumenes of Cardia may be best compared with him for they were both of them great Generals both Valiant and Politick Commanders making use of Deceit intricate designs and cunning Stratagems in War they were both Aliens and Strangers Banished from their Countries and had the Command of Foreign Forces both had Fortune for their Adversary and so extravagantly injurious to them in the end that they were both betrayed and villainously murdered by those who served them and by whom they had formerly overcome their Enemies Quintus Sertorius was of a noble Family he was born in the City of Nursia in the Country of the Sabines his Father died when he was young he was carefully and decently educated by his Mother whose Name was Rhea and whom he extreamly loved and honoured he exercised himself in Oratory and pleading in his Youth which he performed so judiciously that he acquired no small Reputation and Power in Rome by the force of his Eloquence but the splendor of his glorious Actions in Arms and his successful Atchievments in the Wars induced him to alter his Ambition and to seek for Honour wholly in martial Affairs At his first entring the Field he served under Scipio when the Cimbri and Teutones invaded Gaul where the Romans fighting unfortunately and being put to flight he was wounded in many parts of his Body and thrown from his Horse yet nevertheless he swam cross the River Rhosne in his Armour with his Breast-plate and Shield bearing himself up against one of the swiftest Rivers in the World and breaking through its furious Waves by clear strength so strong a Body he had inur'd to hardship and by long exercise brought to endure all Labour The second time that the Cimbri and Teutones came down with some hundreds of thousands threatning death and destruction to all when it was no small piece of Service for a Roman Souldier to keep his Rank and obey his Commander Sertorius undertook to view the enemies camp and to discover their utmost Forces and Designs and to this intent having learned the manner of their Salutations and the ordinary expressions of their Language he threw himself in amongst the Barbarians dressed in the Habit of a Celtick Gaul where having carefully seen with his own Eyes or having been fully informed by Persons upon the place of all their most important Concerns and Affairs of greatest Moment he returned to Marius General of the Roman Army from whose hands he received the honourable Rewards of his Valour And afterwards giving frequent Demonstrations both of his Conduct and Courage in all the following War he was advanced to Places of Honour and Trust under his General who highly esteemed and consided in him After the Wars with the Cimbri and Teutones he was sent into Spain having the Command of a thousand Men under Didius the Roman General and wintered in the Country of the Celtiberians in the City of Castulo where the Souldiers enjoying great plenty of all things grew insolent and continually drinking the Inhabitants despised them and sent for aid by Night to the Gyrisenaeans their near Neighbours who sell upon the Romans in their Lodgings and slew a great Number of them but Sertorius being alarm'd withdrew out of the City with a few of his Souldiers and rallying together the rest who had slipp'd out he marched round about the Walls and finding the Gate open by which the Gyrisaenians privately entring had set upon the Romans he gave not them the same opportunity but placing a Guard at the Gate and seizing upon all Quarters of the City he slew those who were of age to bear arms and then ordering his Souldiers to lay aside their weapons and put off their own Cloaths and put on the accoutrements of the Barbarians he commanded them to follow him to the City from whence those were sent who fell upon the Romans by Night and deceiving the Gyrisaenians with the sight of their own Armour and Equipage he found the gates of their City open and took great Numbers of them Prisoners who came out thinking to meet their Friends and Fellow-Citizens coming from performing a worthy piece of Service Many also were slain by the Romans at their own Gates and the rest within yielded up themselves and were sold for Slaves This action made Sertorius to be highly renowned throughout all Spain and as soon as he returned to Rome he was constituted Treasurer General of Gallia Cisalpina on both sides of the River Po very advantageously for the Roman Affairs at that time for the War with the Marsi being unanimously resolved upon Sertorius was ordered to raise Souldiers and provide Arms which he performed with such Diligence Speed and Alacrity contrary to the languishing feebleness and slothfulness of his Companions that he got the repute of a man of Life and Spirit in Business nor did he any ways desist from his Milirary Boldness and Bravery when he arrived at the Dignity of a great Commander but performed Wonders with his own hands and never sparing himself but exposing his Body freely in all Conflicts he lost one of his Eyes which was cut out of his head and yet continued to have a chearful Look and always esteemed it an honour to him For others do not continually carry about with them the marks
of their better Education he really made them Hostages and Sureties for their Country however their Fathers were wonderfully pleased to see their Children going daily to the Schools in good order handsomely dressed in fine long Garments edged with Purple and that Sertorius paid a Sallary for their Learning examin'd them often distributed Rewards to the most deserving and gave them Jewels to hang about their Necks and Golden Bosses which the Romans called Bullae There being a Custom in Spain that when a great Commander was slain in Battle those who attended his Person fought it out till they all died with him which the Inhabitants of those Countries called an Offering or a pouring out of Blood in Sacrifice There were few Commanders that had any considerable Guard or Number of Attendants but Sertorius had many thousands who offered up themselves and vowed to sacrifice their Lives and spend their Bloods with his and it is reported that when his Army was defeated near to a City in Spain and the Enemy pressed hard upon them the Spaniards took no care for themselves but being totally sollicitous to save Sertorius they took him up on their Shoulders and passed him from one to another till they carried him into the City and when they had thus placed their General in safety every one provided afterwards for his own security Nor were the Spaniards alone ambitious to serve him but the Roman Soldiers also that came out of Italy were impatient to be under his Command and when Perpenna who was of the same Faction with Sertorius came into Spain with great Riches and a good Army and designed to make War against Metellus in a distinct Body by himself his own Soldiers opposed it and discoursed continually of the great Fame and Merit of Sertorius which was no small Mortification to Perpenna who was puffed up with the Grandeur of his Family and his Riches When they afterwards understood also that Pompey the Great had passed the Pyrenaens they took up their Arms laid hold on their Ensigns called upon Perpenna to lead them to Sertorius and threatned him that if he refused it they would go and place themselves under a Commander who was sufficiently able to defend himself and those that serv'd him which forced Perpenna to yield to their desires who immediately joining with Sertorius added to his Army three and fifty Cohorts and when all the Cities on this side of the River Iberus also united their Forces together under his Command his Army grew great for they flocked together and flowed in upon him from all Quarters but when they continually cried out to charge the Enemy and were impatient of Delay their unexperienced Rashness was troublesome to Sertorius who at first strove to restrain them with Reason and good Counsel but when he perceived them refractory and unseasonably violent he gave way to their impetuous Desires and permitted them to engage with the Enemy in such sort that being repulsed yet not totally routed he hoped they would become more obedient to his Commands for the futue which happ'ning as he conjectured he soon rescued them and brought them safe into his Camp and after a few days being willing to encourage them again when he had called all his Army together he caused two Horses to be brought into the Field one an old feeble lean Jade the other a lusty strong Horse with a very fair thick long Tail near to to the lean Jade he placed a tall strong man and near to the strong young Horse a weak little despicable Fellow to look upon and at a Sign given the strong Man took hold of the weak Horses Tayl with both his hands and drew it to him with his whole force as if he would presently pull it off the other little weak Fellow in the mean time fell to plucking off hair by hair from the great Horses Tail and when the strong man had given trouble enough to himself in vain and sufficient divertisement to the Company and had given over his intent whilst the weak pitiful Wretch in a short time and with little pains had left never a hair on the great Horses Tail Sertorius rose up and spake to his Army after this manner You see Fellow Soldiers that Ingenuity is greater than Force and Perseverance more prevailing than Violence Many things which cannot be overcome when they are together do yield themselves up by degrees when they are separated Assiduity and continued Diligence is resistless and in time overthrows and destroys the greatest Powers whatever Time being the favourable Friend and Assistant of those who through mature Judgment understand aright how to take their best Advantages and the destructive Enemy of those who are unseasonably urging and pressing forward with such like Inventions and Discourses wherewith he frequently entertained them he brideled the rash fierceness of the Barbarous People and taught them to attend and to watch for their best Opportunities of Fighting But of all his Remarkable Exploits and wonderful Stratagems in War none raised greater Admiration in all than that which he put in practice against the Characitanians these are a People beyond the River Tagus who inhabited neither Cites nor Towns but liv'd in a vast high Hill within the deep Dens and Caves of the Rocks the Mouths of which open all towards the North the Country below it is a clayish chalky Soyl and being also light full of Pores and spungy it is apt to be crummed and broken into Powder and is not firm enough to bear any one that treads upon it and if you touch it in the least it flies about like Ashes or unslaked Lime In any danger of War these People descend into their Caves and carrying in their Booty and Prey along with them are free from all fear and think themselves invincible And when Sertorius being at some distance from Metellus had placed his Camp near this Hill they slighted and despised him imagining that he retired into these Parts being overthrown by the Romans and whether out of Anger and just Resentment or out of his unwillingness to be thought to fly from his Enemies he caused himself to be carried thither early in the Morning to view the situation of the Place but finding there was no way to come at it as he rode about threatning them in vain and troubled in his Mind he took notice that the Wind raised the dust and carried it up towards the Caves of the Characitanians the Mouths of which as we said before opened towards the North and the Northerly Winds which some call Coecias prevailing most in those Parts engendred out of the moist Morish Plains or the Mountains covered with Snow and in the Heat of Summer being supplied and encreased by the Relaxation and Melting of the Ice on the Peaks of the Northern Hills it blows a delightful fresh Gale which recreates the Characitanians and refreshes their Cattle all the Day long Sertorius confidering well all
the dividing of the Spoyl gave over the Pursuit Afranius in the mean time as soon as Sertorius had left his Right Wing to assist the other part of his Army overthrew all that opposed him and pursued them to their Camp fell in with them and plunder'd them till it was dark Night knowing nothing of Pompey's Overthrow nor being able to restrain his Soldiers from Pillaging When Sertorius returning with Victory fell upon the Forces of Afranius which were in Disorder and slew great Numbers of them and the next Morning came into the Field again well arm'd and offered Battle but perceiving that Metellus was near he drew off and returned to his Camp saying If this old Woman had not been here I would have whipped that Boy soundly and sent him to Rome Sertorius being much concerned that his white Hind could no where be found whereby he was destitute of an admirable Contrivance both to amuse and encourage the Barbarous People at a time when he most stood in need of it some of his Men wandring in the Night chanced to meet her and knowing her by her colour took her to whom Sertorius promised a good Reward if they would tell no one of it and presently shut her up a few days after he appeared in Publick with a very chearfull Look and declared to the Chief Nobility of the Countrey that the Gods had foretold him in a Dream that some great good Fortune should suddenly attend him and being set on the Tribunal to Answer the Petitions of those who applied themselves to him The Keepers of the Hind let her loose and she no sooner espied Sertorius but she ran leaping with great joy to his Feet laid her Head upon his Lap and licked his Hands as she formerly used to do and Sertorius stroaking her and making much of her again with that tenderness that the Tears stood in his Eyes all that were present were immediately filled with Wonder and Astonishment and afterwards accompanying him to his House with respectfull Congratulations and loud Shouts for Joy they looked upon him as a Person above the Rank of Mortal Men as one that was influenced from above and that was highly beloved by the Gods and being hereby mightily encouraged they conceived far better hopes for the future When he had reduced his Enemies to the last extremity for want of Provision he was forced to give them Battle in the Plains near Saguntum to hinder them from foraging and plundring the Countrey where both Parties fought gloriously and Memmius the greatest Commander in Pompey's Army was slain in the heat of the Battle but Sertorius overthrew all before him and with great slaughter of his Enemies pressed forward towards Metellus This old Commander making a stout resistance beyond what could be expected from one of his years was wounded with a Lance which struck amazement into all that saw it or heard of it and filled the Roman Soldiers hearts with Sorrow and with Shame to be thought to have left their General in distress but at the same time it provoking them to Revenge and Fury against their Enemies they soon covered Metellus with their Shields and brought him off in safety and then valiantly repulsed the Spaniards whereby Victory changed sides and Sertorius that he might afford a more secure Retreat to his Army and that more Forces might more easily be raised retired into a strong City in the Mountains and thought it was the least of his Intention to sustain a long Seige yet he began to repair the Walls and to fortifie the Gates whereby he deluded his Enemies who came and set down before the Town hoping to take it without much resistance and gave over the pursuit of the Spaniards affording them opportunity to gather together again and to raise new Forces for Sertorius to which purpose he had sent Commanders to all their Cities with Orders when they had sufficiently encreased their Numbers to send him word of it which News he no sooner received but he sallied out and forced his way through his Enemies and easily joyned with the rest of his Army and having received this considerable reinforcement he set upon the Romans again and by fiercely assaulting them by alarming them on all sides by ensnaring circumventing and laying Ambushes for them he cut off all Provisions by Land while with his Ships of War and Pyratical Vessels he kept all the Coast in awe and hindred their Recrutes by Sea whereby he forced the Roman Generals to dislodge and to separate from one another Metellus departed into Gallia and Pompey wintered among the Baccaeans in a wretched condition where being in extreme want of Money he wrote a lamentable Letter to the Senate to let them know that if they did not speedily supply him he must draw off his Army for he had already spent his own Estate in the Defence of Italy To these Extremities the Chiefest and the most Powerfull Commanders of the Age were reduced by the Skill and Valour of Sertorius and it was the common Opinion in Rome that he would be sooner in Italy than Pompey and how far Metellus was terrified with his Greatness and at what rate he esteemed him he plainly declared when he offered by Proclamation an hundred Talents and twenty thousand Acres of Land to any Roman that should kill him and leave if he were banished to return attempting villanously to betray and sell him when he despaired of ever being able to overcome him in open War with all the powerfull Forces of the Roman Empire And when afterwards he gained some advantage in a Fight against Sertorius he was so wonderfully pleased and transported with his good Fortune that he caused himself to be publickly proclaimed Imperator or Sovereign Commander and ordered that all the Cities which he visited should receive him with Altars dedicated and Sacrifices offered to him where indulging himself in splendid Entertainments and costly Suppers he would sit drinking in his Triumphal Robes with Garlands and Crowns upon his Head while the Images and Figures of Victory were introduced by the motion of Machins bringing in with them Crowns and Trophies of Gold to present to him and Companies of young Men and Women danced before him courted him and sang to him Songs of Joy and Triumph whereby he rendred himself deservedly ridiculous for being excessively delighted and puffed up with the thoughts of following one that retired of his own accord and for having once the better of him whom he used to call Sylla's Fugitive and his Forces the Remainder of the scattered Troops of Carbo The Generosity of Sertorius signally appeared when he appointed a Senate and called together all the Roman Senators which fled from Rome and came and resided with him and out of these he chose Praetors and Quaestors and adorned his Government with all the Roman Laws and Constitutions and though he made use of the Arms Riches and Cities of the Spaniards yet he would never
contract by that large living but to have them in condition to fly if occasion required he assigned a Room fourteen Cubits long the largest in all the Fort for the men to walk in directing them to begin their walk gently and so gradually mend their pace And for the Horses he tied them to the Roof with great Halters which being fastened about their Necks with a Pully he gently raised them till standing upon the ground with their hinder feet they just touched it with the very ends of their fore-feet In this posture the Grooms plied them with Whips and Noise provoking them to curvet and caper endeavouring to stand upon their fore-feet and thus their whole Body was exercised till they were all in a foam and groaned again an excellent sort of exercise this whether for strength or speed and then he gave them their Corn boiled that they might sooner dispatch and better digest it The Siege continuing long Antigonus receiv'd advice that Antipater was dead in Macedon and that Affairs were embroyl'd by the differences of Cassander and Polyperchon whereupon he conceiv'd no mean hopes purposing to make himself Master of all and in order to his design to bring over Eumenes that he might have his advice and assistance Wherefore he sent Hieronymus to treat with him proposing a certain Oath which Eumenes first corrected and then referred himself to the Macedonians themselves that besieg'd him to be judged by them which of the two Forms were the most equitable Antigonus in the beginning of his had slightly mentioned the Kings but all the sequel referred to himself alone But Eumenes would have the Form of it to Olympias and the Kings and would swear not to be true to Antigonus only but to them and to have the same Friends and Enemies not with Antigonus but with Olympias and the Kings This Form the Macedonians thinking the more reasonable swore Eumenes according to it and raised the Siege sending also to Antigonus that he should swear in the same Form to Eumenes Now all the Hostages of the Cappadocians which Eumenes had in Nora he returned and from those they were returned to took War-horses Beasts of Carriage and Tents in exchange and rallying those men which from the time of his flight were scattered and wandering about the Country got together a Body of near a thousand Horse and with them fled from Antigonus whom he justly feared for he had not only ordered him to be first blocked up but had sent a very sharp Answer to the Macedonians for admitting Eumenes his Amendments of the Oath While Eumenes was flying he received Letters from them in Macedonia who were jealous of Antigonus his greatness to wit from Olympias inviting him thither to take the Charge and Government of Alexander's little Son against whom there was divers Plots Other Letters he had from Polyperchon and Philip the King requiring him to make War upon Antigonus making him General of all the Forces in Cappadocia and impowring him out of the Revenue of Cyndos to take fifty Talents to reimburse himself and levy as much more as he thought necessary to carry on the War they write also to the same effect to Antigenes and Teutamus the Chief Officers of the Argyraspides who receiving these Letters treat Eumenes with a shew of respect and kindness but it was apparent enough they were full of Envy and Emulation disdaining to give place to him Now their Envy Eumenes very fairly declined by refusing to accept the Money as if he had not needed it and their Ambition and Emulation who were neither able to govern nor willing to obey he conquered by turning it into Superstition For he pretended that Alexander had appeared to him in a Dream and shewed him a Regal Pavilion richly furnished with a Throne in it and told him if they would sit in Council there he himself would be present and prosper all the Consultations and Atchievements upon which they should enter in his name Antigenes and Teutamus were easily prevailed upon to believe this being unwilling to come and consult Eumenes as much as he disdained to wait at another Man's Threshold Wherefore they erected a Tent-Royal and a Throne and called it Alexander's and there they met to consult upon all Affairs of moment Afterwards they advanced into the upper Country and in their March met with Peucestus friend to Eumenes and with other of the Lords who joined Forces with them and greatly encouraged the Macedonians with the number and appearance of their Men. But they themselves having since Alexander's Decease been from under Government and lived with great delicacy and so becoming soft and effeminate and imagining themselves great Princes which fond conceit of theirs was daily pampered by the flattery of the Barbarians all these things concurring made them rude to one another and unconversable and all of them unmeasurably flatter the Macedonians inviting them to Revels and Sacrifices till in a short time they brought the Camp to be a dissolute Place of Entertainment by every Captains endeavouring to make a Party among the Commons as in all Democracies is usual Eumenes perceiving they despised one another and all of them feared him and sought an opportunity to kill him pretended to be in want of Money and took up many Talents of those especially who most hated him to make them both confide in him and forbear all Violence to him for fear of losing their own Money Thus his Enemies Estates were the guard of his Person and by receiving Money he purchased safety for which other Men use to give it Now the Macedonians while there was no shew of Danger made all their Court and came to the Levè of those that treated and presented them and they had their Guards and affected to appear Generals But when Antigonus came upon them with a great Army and their Affairs themselves seemed to call out for a true General then not only the common Soldiers cast their Eyes upon Eumenes but these Men who had appeared so great in a peaceful time of ease submitted all of them to him and quietly posted themselves severally as he appointed them And when Antigonus attempted to pass the River Pasitygris all the rest that were appointed to guard the Passes were not so much as aware of his March only Eumenes met and encountered him slew as many of his Men as filled up the River with their Carcases and took 4000 of them Prisoners Chiefly when Eumenes was sick the Macedonians discovered that in their Judgment others would treat handsomely and make fire-balls but he alone knew how to fight and lead an Army For Peucestas having made a splendid Entertainment in Persia and given each of the Soldiers a Sheep wherewith to Sacrifice promised himself to Command in chief some few days after the Army was to march and Eumenes being dangerously sick was carried in a Litter without the Body of the Army that his rest might not be disturbed But when they were a
little advanced unexpectedly they had a view of the Enemy who had passed the Hills that lay between them and was marching down into the Plain seeing therefore the glittering of the Enemies Golden Armour which glar'd in the Sun the good Order of their March the Elephants with their Castles on their backs and the Men in their Purple as their manner was when they were going to give Battel the Front stopt their March and called out for Eumenes for they would not advance a step but under his Conduct and fixing their Arms in the ground gave the Word among themselves to stand requiring their Officers also not to stir or engage or hazard themselves without Eumenes News of this being brought to Eumenes he hastned them that carried his Litter and put forth his right hand Assoon as the Soldiers saw him they saluted him in the Macedonian Language and took up their Shields and striking them with their Pikes gave a great shout inviting the Enemy to come on for now they had a Leader But Antigonus understanding by some Prisoners he had taken that Eumenes was sick and to that degree as to be carried in a Litter presumed it would be no hard matter to tread in pieces the rest of them since he was ill Wherefore he made the greater haste to come up with them and engage But being come so near as to discover how the Enemy was drawn up and appointed he was astonished and paused for some time at last he saw the Litter carrying from one Wing of the Army to the other and as his manner was laughing aloud he said to his Friends That Litter there it seems is the thing that offers us Battel but withal he immediately wheeled about with all his Army and decamped The other side finding a little respite returned to their former custom of revelling and assuring every Man the port of a General taking up for their Winter-Quarters near the whole Country of the Gabeni so that the Front was quartered near 100 furlongs from the Rear which Antigonus understanding marcht immediately towards them taking the worst way through a Country that wanted Water but the way was short though uneven hoping if he should surprize them thus scattered in their Winter-Quarters the Soldiers would not easily be able to come up time enough and join with their Officers But being to pass through a Country uninhabited where the Winds were bleak and boisterous and the Frosts great he was very much checkt in his March and his men exceedingly tired The only relief in this case was making continual fires whereby his Enemies got notice of his coming For the Barbarians who dwelt on the Mountains bordering upon the Desart amazed at the multitude of fires they saw sent Messengers upon Dromedaries to acquaint Peucestus He being astonisht and almost struck dead with the News and finding the rest in no less disorder resolved to flee and get up what Men he could by the way But Eumenes delivered him from his great fear and trouble undertaking to stop the Enemies Career that he should arrive three days later than he was expected Having persuaded them he immediately dispatched Expresses to all Officers to draw the Men out of their Winter-Quarters and Muster them with speed He himself with some of the chief Officers rode out and chose an eminent place within view of such as travelled the Desart this he fortified and quartered out and commanded many fires to be made in it as the Custom is in a Camp This done and the Enemies seeing the fire upon the Mountains Anguish and Despair seized Antigonus supposing that his Enemies had been long advertised of his March and were prepared to receive him Wherefore lest his Army now tired and wearied out with their March should be forced immediately to encounter with fresh Men who had Wintered well and were ready for him quitting the near way he marched slowly through the Towns and Villages to refresh his Men. But meeting with no such Skirmishes as are usual when two Armies lie near one another and being assured by the People of the Country that no Army had been seen but only continual Fires in that place he concluded he had been outwitted by a Stratagem of Eumenes and being very much troubled advanced towards him resolving immediately to give Battel By this time the greatest part of the Forces were come together to Eumenes and admiring his Conduct declared him sole Commander in chief of the whole Army Whereat Antigenes and Teutamus Captains of the Argyraspides being very much offended and envying Eumenes formed a Conspiracy against him and assembling the greater part of the Lords and Officers consulted when and how to cut him off When they had unanimously agreed first to abuse his service and make him miscarry in the next Battel and thence take an occasion to destroy him Eudamus the Master of the Elephants and Phadimus gave Eumenes private advice of this design not out of kindness or good will to him but lest they should lose the Money he had lent them Eumenes having commended them retired to his Tent and telling his Friends he lived among a Herd of wild Beasts made his Will mangled and tore all his Letters lest his Correspondents after his Death should be questioned or punished for the Intelligence they had given him Having thus disposed of his Affairs he thought of letting the Enemy win the Field or of flying through Media and Armenia and seizing Cappadocia but came to no Resolution while his Friends stayed with him After forecasting divers things in his mind which his changeable Fortune made unsteady and sickle he at last put his Men in Array and encouraged the Greeks and Barbarians as for the Argyraspides they encouraged him and bid him be of good heart for the Enemy would never be able to stand them For indeed they were the oldest of Philip and Alexander's Soldiers tried Men that had long made a Trade of War that had never been beaten or so much as foiled most of them 70 none less than 60 years old Wherefore when they charged Antigonus his Men they cried out You fight against your Fathers you Rascals and furiously falling on routed the whole Troop at once no Body being able to stand them and the greatest part dying by their hands so that Antigonus his Foot were routed but his Horse got the better and he became Master of the Baggage through the Cowardise of Peucestus who behaved himself negligently and basely While Antigonus not daunted with the loss of his Infantry was vigilant and active and had the advantage of the ground For the place where they fought was a large Field neither deep nor hard under foot but like the Sea-shore covered with a fine soft sand which the treading of so many Men and Horses in the time of the Battle reduced to a small white dust that like a Cloud of Lime darkened the Air so that one could not see clearly at any distance and so made it