from the natural Period of his Life he was slain by his Daughter and Son-in-Law after this manner Tullius had two Daughters whom he marry'd to Tarquin's Grandsons Lucius Tarquinius and Aruns Tarquinius The first of a proud tyrannical Nature had a very modest good Wife and the last of a mild sweet Temper had a haughty wicked Woman Lucius inrag'd at Tullius for possessing his grand-Grand-Father's Throne and finding his Brother's Wife of a fiery Temper and rather more cruel than himself agreed with her to change Husbands both promising to dispatch their Consorts which they soon effected and were marry'd together After this they resolv'd the utter Ruine of the King raising what Factions they cou'd against him alledging his illegal Title then claim'd the Crown as Heirs to Tarquin But Tullius by his great Modesty and prudent Management defeated all their Designs and came off with great Honour both with the Senate and the People which brought Lucius to a feign'd Repentance on his side and that produc'd a real Reconciliation on the King 's Lucius cover'd with this Disguise took an opportunity one day when most of the People were out of the City to go to the Senate-House with the Robes and Royal Ensigns as King and getting together such of the Fathers as were his special Friends he boldly took Possession of the King's Throne Tullius unadvisedly with a few Followers hastned thither and going to thrust him out Lucius threw him down the Stairs The old Man hardly recovering his Spirits was led homewards in great Disorder when Lucius's Wife coming to see the Event saluted her Husband King and advis'd him to send after Tullius and dispatch him which was immediately perform'd In her Passage home coming to the Place where the Body lay weltring in Blood and as yet almost gasping her Charioteer stood still startl'd and amaz'd at the Inhumane Spectacle not having Room to pass by it Whereupon she in a Rage threw her Footstool at his Head and in a barbarous manner forcâ—d him to drive her over it the Place which before was call'd Cyprius Vicus was after this Act call'd Sceleratus This was the End of Servius Tullius a Prince of eminent Justice and Moderation after a prosperous Reign of 44 Years but the less pity'd upon the Account of his undue Admission to the Crown which made most of the Patritians espouse his Successor's part especially since he was about altering the Government which wou'd have prov'd the Weakning if not the Ruine of their Authority He left the Roman Dominions in much the same Condition as they were in the last Reign only he got a larger Footing in Hetruria CHAP. VII From the Death of Servius Tullius to the Banishment of Tarquinius Superbus the Seventh King of Rome which caus'd the Dissolution of the Regal State Containing the space of 25 Years I. LUcius Tarquinius having barbarously murder'd his Father-in-Law obtain'd the Kingdom by meer Force and Violence and by his Tyrannical and Imperious Carriage soon got the Surname of Superbus as that of Priscus for distinction sake was given to his Grand-Father He wou'd not permit the King's Body to be publickly interr'd lest the People shou'd rise and cause some dangerous Disturbances he alledging That Romulus dy'd without Burial He murder'd such as he suspected to be of Tullius's Faction and fearing the natural Consequences of his Tyranny he kept a stronger Guard than ordinary about his Person All Controversies whatsoever he decided himself assisted by his intimate Friends and executed banish'd and fin'd all at his own Pleasure He endeavour'd to establish his Tyranny with the more Security by great Alliances marrying his Daughter to Octavius Mamilius the greatest Man among the Latines being descended from Telegonus the Son of Ulysses by Circe and by his false Accusations and a cunning Device caus'd 'em to stone Turnus Herdonius who had discover'd to 'em his Baseness and Villany He neither consider'd the Consent of the Senate or People but much diminish'd the Authority of the former by the Murder of many of the higher Rank whose Wealth he seiz'd on for his own use resolving to chuse no more in their Places that their Power might decrease insensibly and in time be worn out Among those whom he murder'd for their Estates Marcus Iunius was one a most eminent Man among the Romans descended from the Companions of Aeâ—eas and marry'd to Tarquina Daughter to Tarquinius Priscus by whom he had Lucius Iunius This Lucius was nobly educated and had an admirable Wit and Knowledge with a profound Judgment and Understanding but after Tarquin had privily murder'd his Father and his eldest Brother the better to save himself and revenge his Father he counterfeited himself a Fool and thence had the Surname of Brutus Tarquin thinking his Folly real despis'd the Man and having possess'd himself of his Estate kept him as an Ideot in his House suffering him to converse with his Children not out of any Respect as a Kinsman but to make 'em Sport by his ridiculous Words and Actions It hapn'd in the time of a great Pestilence he sent his two Sons Sextus and Titus to consult the Oracle and with them Brutus as a Companion for their Diversion The Sons were well pleas'd with his Company and laugh'd very heartily to see him offer a wooden Staff to Apollo wherein he had secretly convey'd Gold The young Men having executed their Father's Commands enquir'd of the Oracle Which of them shou'd be Prince of Rome It was answer'd He who first shou'd kiss his Mother which the Sons misunderstanding agreed to do it both at their return and reign jointly together But Brutus knowing the meaning of the Oracle as soon as they arriv'd at Italy pretended to fall down by chance and kiss'd the Earth which is the common Mother of all Men. After this he ever made it his Business to find Opportunities of ruining the Tyrant and restoring the Liberties of Rome all which he carry'd on by a profound Secrecy and a wonderful Dissimulation II. Tarquin being a Warlike Prince first march'd against the Sabines who refus'd to pay him Obedience and soo reduc'd them to Submission over whom he obtain'd a Triumph Soon after he began a War with the Volsci a People bordering on Latium which continu'd with some little Intermissions above 200 Years From these he took Suessa-Pometia a considerable City about 26 Miles South-East of Rome where he found great Spoils and Plunder and over them he obtain'd a second Triumph Next he fell upon Gabii a City of great Note 10 or 11 Miles East of Rome which had taken part with Suessa-Pometia He invested it but meeting with great Difficulties he caus'd his eldest Son Sextus to counterfeit Desertion upon Pretence of barbarous Usage from his Father who being honourably receiv'd by the Gabines by his cunning and insinuating Behaviour got to be their Governour After some time he sent to his Father to know what Measures to take Tarquin took the Messenger
ruin'd my best Friend At these Words he retir'd into his Tent and kill'd himself or caus'd his freed Man to do it Titinius arriv'd immediately after with the Cavalry all rejoycing but their Joy was suddenly dash'd and Titinius first accusing himself of Folly and Laziness in a great Rage slew himself upon the Body of his Friend Brutus was extreamly sorrowful for the Death of his Companion whom he call'd the last of the Romans causing his Body privately to be remov'd and bury'd out of Sight lest his Army shou'd be too much dejected In the mean time he told his Friends That he thought Cassius very happy in being beyond the reach of those Misfortunes which remain'd for them to suffer He for some little time kept from Fighting epxecting to starve his Enemies who were now in extream want of Provisions their Fleet being lately defeated but at last being forc'd to it by the Fear of a general Desertion and the Eagerness of his Soldiers he drew 'em up in Battalia It is reported that the Spectre which he had seen before appear'd to him again the Night before his great Battel but now said nothing Whatever melancholy Apprehensions he had upon him he encourag'd his Men as much as possible promising 'em the Liberty of Plundering the two Cities of Lacedemon and Thessalonica and when the Battel began the Eagerness of both Parties made 'em throw aside their missive Weapons and betake themselves immediately to their Swords fighting with great Fury till after much time and more Bloodshed Brutus's Party was born down by main Force and intirely defeated Brutus himself fled to a Hill hard by and there remain'd all Night and when in the Morning he saw no Way of escaping he began to cry out O unhappy Vertue I follow thee as a solid Good but thou art only a meer Notion a vain empty Name or at best a Slave of Fortune Yet shortly after he told some of his Friends That he look'd upon himself much Happier than any of his Conquerors since he shou'd enjoy that Reputation which always follows Vertue and which Tyranny and Injustice cou'd never deserve Then going aside with a particular Friend call'd Strato he with all Earnestness begg'd of him To shew him the last Office of his Friendship and seeing him very unwilling to perform so hard a Duty he call'd for a Slave Ah! then cry'd Strato It shall never be said that the great Brutus in his last Extremity stood in need of a Slave for want of a Friend so turning away his Head he presented the Sword 's Point to Brutus who threw himself upon it and immediately expir'd This was the End of these two memorable Persons Brutus and Cassius and as some write they themselves died by the same Weapons with which they kill'd Caesar who had given 'em their Lives after the Battel of Pharsalia and after that had loaden 'em with his greatest Favours which Favours some make use of to aggravate the Ingratitude and others to magnifie the Justice of the Act. All such as knew themselves guilty of Iulius Caesar's Death slew themselves with their own Hands but the rest rallying themselves sent Deputies to Caesar and Anthony for an honourable Composition which the two Generals frankly allow'd of By this famous Overthrow the Triumviri establish'd their Authority so far as to give the last Blow to the Liberty of the Common-wealth for the Opposition they met from Pompey was inconsiderable in respect of this in which they were to dispute for one Half of the Roman Dominions This hapned above two Years after Iulius Caesar's Death and about half a Year after the second Triumvirate in the 712th Year of the City and 40 before our Saviour's Nativity CHAP. V. From the Deaths of Brutus and Cassius to the Banishment of Lepidus which vary'd the Course of the second Triumvirate's Power Containing the space of six Years I. As the last Efforts and Struggles of a dying Commonwealth are generally the most violent so were these of Rome the greatest that ever she had for the maintaining her Liberty For in the Sedition of the Gracchi and in the Wars of Marius and Sylla Rome and Italy were only Sufferers and tho' in the Dissentions of Caesar and Pompey the Troubles were more General yet several of the Senators and People thought they might well enough stand Neuters out of their Respect to the Common-wealth which Name in Appearance was still reverenc'd Whereas in these last Wars the Mask was wholly laid aside and all things were carry'd on in such an open Manner that there was an absolute Necessity of Declaring for Liberty or against it But now all Pretence of Liberty was utterly ruin'd by the Defeats of Brutus and Cassius and from that Moment the Triumviri began to act as Sovereigns and to divide the Roman Dominions between 'em as their own by Right of Conquest though Lepidus was not much consider'd by the other two as either having no Share in this last Battel or little Interest among the Soldiers The following Days after the Victory were employ'd by the Triumviri in punishing their Enemies Anthony sacrificâ—d Hortensius to the Memory of his Brother Caius Livius Brutus the Father of that Livia who was afterwards marryed to Octavius killâ—d himself in his Tent and Quintilius Varus adorn'd with all the Marks of those Honours he had born caus'd himself to be slain by his freed Man Octavius upon this Occasion appear'd more Cruel than was agreeable to his natural Temper he sent the Head of Brutus to Rome to be thrown at the Feet of his Uncle's Statue his Ashes were sent to his Wife Porcia Cato's Daughter who according to her Father's and Husband's Example it is said kill'd her self by swallowing down hot Coals and Ashes Octavius forc'd a Senator and his Son to draw Lots for their Lives but they both refus'd it the Father voluntarily gave up himself to Execution and the Son stabb'd himself before his Face To another that begg'd of him to have the Rites of Burial he said That that wou'd sâ—on be at the Disposal of the Ravens These bitter Words and rigorous Punishments render'd him both odious as well as terrible to all the Prisoners who were brought before him After the Triumviri had satisfy'd their Revenge they thought upon establishing their Authority Anthony undertook to go into Asia to raise Money for the Soldiers Rewards in those Provinces that were Tributary to the Romans and Octavius took upon him to lead the old Troops into Italy to put them in Possession of the Lands that were promis'd ' em Anthony first visited Greece as being the Country where Flattery was manag'd with the greatest Delicacy in the World was familiarly present at the Conferences of the Philosophers at Athens and made great Presents to that City Then leaving Marcus Censorius to command in Greece he pass'd over into Asia with all his Troops There all the Princes of the East who acknowledg'd the Roman Power came to make their
open in time of War and to be shut in time of Peace as it continu'd all his Reign which as some observe never hapned but four times from his Reign to that of Tiberius Caesar. To the two Flamens or High-Priests of Iupiter and Mars he added a third of Quirinus or Romulus and to this Prince also is ascrib'd the bringing in of the Pontifices whereof he himself was one and officiated accordingly He also ordain'd the Vestal Virgins being four in Number to whom he gave very great Privileges particularly when they went abroad they had the Fasces carry'd before 'em and in their Walks if they met with a Malefactor leading to Execution they had the Power of freeing him from Death upon Oath given that the Meeting was meerly Accidental He also Instituted the Orders of the Salii and the Feciales Priests devoted to Mars the former were to carry those Sacred Shields call'd Ancilia and the latter to judge of the Equity of War and proclaim it with much Ceremony This Prince tho' naturally averse to all Wars yet consider'd that Peace and Security might too much soften and degenerate the Minds of the Multitude therefore he us'd his utmost Endeavours to imprint on their Minds the Notions of Religion and Vertue and the due Reverence of God And to gain the more Credit and Obedience to his Constitutions he pretended he had often and immediate Converse with the Goddess Egâ—ria and wou'd be often telling them that strange Visions and Apparitions were seen and Prophetick Voices heard which Stories had great and remarkable Effects upon a People so superstitiously inclin'd Yet his Religion was of a refin'd Nature being much like that of Pythagoras afterwards and as he taught That the Principle of all Things was not to be perceiv'd by Sence nor was liable to Motion but was Invisible Immortal and to be apprehended by the Understanding alone so Numa forbad the Romans to use the Image of any God which represented him under the Form of a Man or any other living Creature And this was strictly observ'd in all their Temples and Sacred Places for 170 Years at the least they holding it a great Crime to liken such superiour Beings to Things so much below ' em For the Encouragement of Agriculture he divided those Lands which Romulus had gain'd in War among the poorer sort causing his Subjects to apply themselves to Husbandry and by such kind of Employments to cultivate their Minds as well as the Earth Then he divided all the Lands into several Parcels to which he gave the name of Pagi or Boroughs and over every one of these he ordain'd a Chief or Arbitrator in Judicial Causes And that he might take away all Distinction of Roman and Sabine which threatn'd the State with endless Factions and dangerous Divisions he divided all the Inhabitants according to their several Trades and Occupations making every Art a particular Company and Society and appointing to every one their respective Courts and Privileges and this was his Master-piece in Politicks He much abated the Rigour of that Law made by Romulus concerning the Power of Fathers over their Children making it unlawful for 'em to sell their Sons after Marriage because it was very unjust that a Woman who had marry'd a Free-Man shou'd be constrain'd to live with a Slave He also prescrib'd Rules concerning Mourning a Child of Three Years and so upwards to Ten was to be mourn'd for so many Months as it was Years old and the longest time of Mourning for any Person was not to exceed the term of Ten Months Which also was the Time appointed for Widdows before which they cou'd not without great Indecency marry again but in case Circumstances were such as not to admit of so long a Term they were first to sacrifice a Cow with a Calf for Expiation of their Fault One of the principal Things done by this Prince was the Reformation of the Year which in Romulus's Time was much out of Order some Months having more than 35 Days and some fewer than twenty Numa finding the Solar Year to exceed the Lunar by eleven Days doubled these eleven Days and every other Year inserted a Month after February consisting of 22 Days which was by the Romans call'd Mercedonius because it was the usual time for paying of Wages He likewise chang'd the Order of the Months making Ianuary and February the first and second Months which were the two last in Romulus's Days Ianuary had its name from Ianus the most ancient God or King in Italy February was so call'd from the Expiations which us'd to be in it signify'd by the wor'd Februa March so call'd from Mars the suppos'd Father of Romulus which upon that account had been plac'd first April from Aphrodite or Venus because of the Superstitious Worship which was perform'd in it when the Women were crown'd with Myrtle May so nam'd from Maia the Mother of Mercury to whom this Month was made Sacred Iune from Iuno or as some will have it from Iuventus because the Season is warm and as it were Iuvenile The rest had their Names from their Order as Quintilis Sextilis September October November and December only Quintilis and Sextilis were afterwards turn'd into Iuly and August by the Emperors Iulius Caesar and Augustus Numa was marry'd to Tatia King Tatius's Daughter by whom he had one Daughter nam'd Pompilia and after a Reign of 43 Years being above 80 Years old he dy'd and was bury'd with great Honour and Solemnity He forbad his Body to be burnt as it was usual in those days but was bury'd in a Stone Coffin under the Hill Ianiculum and the Books of his Ceremonies were laid by him in another being Twelve written in Latin and as many in Greek These were taken up about 400 Years after and because it was thought a piece of Impiety to communicate such Mysteries to the Multitude were burnt by Order of the Senate He kept the State in such a constant Peace by his prudent Management as did very much contribute to the Strength and Security of the City and he much improv'd and polish'd the rough Genius of the Roman People CHAP. III. From the Death of Numa to the Death of Tullus Hostilius the Third King of Rome Containing the space of 33 Years I. UPon the Death of Numa the Government once more devolv'd upon the Senate and after several Interreges Tullus Hostilius was created King by the universal consent of all People He was Grandson to the famous Hostilius who in Romulus's Days had behav'd himself very Valiantly against the Sabines in the Citadel and had Marry'd the Daughter of Hersilia He was of a bold and fiery Temper and one who often sought and greedily embrac'd all Occasions of War led to it partly by his own proper Inclination and partly by the Glory and Renown of his Grand-Father As he thought the Love of his Subjects the most necessary thing to carry on
was renew'd several Days with almost equal Success In the last Contest the Romans were much worsted in the beginning and fled to the Palatium but rallying and renewing the Fight with Success against the Sabines the Women who were stolen and marry'd to the Romans and the cause of this War through the Persuasions of Hersilia one of the principal among 'em ran desperately into the midst of the Darts and dead Bodies with their Children in their Arms and their Hair about their Ears making such lamentable Shrieks and Out-crys that both Armies immediately desisted These became Mediators and made Peace between the Fathers and Son-in-Laws after the War had lasted six Years The Articles were First That Romulus and Tatius shou'd reign jointly in Rome with equal Power and Prerogative Secondly That the City from Romulus shou'd still be call'd Rome but the Citizens Quirites from Cures the native Place of Tatius Thirdly That now the two Nations shou'd become one and as many of the Sabines as were willing shou'd be made Free of Rome The City being now much increas'd by the Number of the Sabines Mount Capitoline was taken in built upon and laid out for their Habitation Romulus chose out 100 of the most noble of the Sabines and added 'em to the Senate so that it now consisted of 200 Persons The Legions so call'd ab eligendo because they were choice select Men which before contain'd 3000 Men were now encreas'd also to 4000 whence a Legion was call'd Quadrata yet afterwards a Legion compris'd as many Men as was found convenient for the Service of the Common-wealth Several new Feasts were instituted upon the account of this Union as Matronalia Carmentala c. and a particular Respect was had to those Women who procur'd this happy Reconciliation and several Privileges were allow'd 'em particularly they were exempted from all Work unless Spinning and making of Cloth Now the Tribes were call'd by distinct Names the first Rhamnenses from Romulus the second Tatienses from Tatius and the third Luceres from the Lucus or Grove where the Asylum stood For five Years the two King 's reign'd quietly and peaceably together but in the sixth Tatius protecting some of his Friends who had robb'd and plunder'd the Lavinians and killing the Ambassadors who were sent to demand Satisfaction was slain by the Lavinians at his going to sacrifice there Romulus like a generous Prince made Satisfaction to the injured Persons and bury'd Tatius in Rome very honourably III. Romulus once more sole Monarch of Rome march'd against Fidenae and subdu'd it a Town five Miles off Rome that had seiz'd on Provisions coming thither in time of Famine and soon after he took Cameria an Alban Colony not far distant into both which he sent a sufficient Number of Romans to inhabit 'em according to his usual Custom Then he punish'd the Crustumini who had kill'd their Planters which he had plac'd among 'em and over all these he obtain'd a second Triumph The Action of Romulus against the Fidenates was extremely resented by the Veientes their Neighbours who immediately by an Embassy requir'd the Romans to withdraw their Garrison and restore the Inhabitants to all their former Privileges These Veientes were one of the twelve Nations of Hetruria a powerful People inhabiting a strong City and of extraordinary Largeness situated upon a craggy Rock about twelve Miles North of Rome Their Demands being rejected they began their Acts of Hostility and both Armies met at Fidenae where after two sharp Engagements Romulus became Conqueror The Veientes were now forc'd to betake themselves to Intreaties and so enter'd into a League with the Romans for 100 Years upon these Articles To quit a seventh part of their Dominions with their Salt-pits nigh the River and to give up fifty Hostages of the most considerable Families Romulus for this triumph'd a third time leading with him their General an aged Man who had so badly perform'd his Duty that he was afterwards personated by an old Man in all Triumphs This was the last War manag'd by Romulus who after that imploy'd most of his Time in settling the Government and placing it upon the surest Foundations He made many good and profitable Laws most of which were unwritten Particularly he made one concerning Marriages where the Authority of the Husband was so well and conveniently settl'd that for 520 Years a Divorce was not known in Rome He gave Fathers absolute Power over their Sons to sell imprison scourge or kill 'em tho' in never so great an Office and that as long as they liv'd He appointed no Punishment for real Parricide but call'd all Murder by that Name thinking the latter a destable Crime but the other impossible And it was a indeed Crime never known in Rome for 600 Years For the Peoples Way of Living he enjoy'd two Courses of Life Warfare and Husbandry equally dividing the Lands Slaves and Money taken from the Enemy he appointed a Market once in nine Days which from thence was call'd Nundinae When any Town was taken he suffer'd no Prisoner of Man's Age to be slain or sold or their Lands left untill'd but order'd a Colony from Rome to cultivate them and some of the Strangers to be admitted to the Freedom and Privileges of the City and this was his third Contrivance to encrease the City As to Controversies that might arise upon any Injuries he immediately decided 'em or referr'd 'em to others inflicting speedy Punishments according to the Nature of the Crime Finding publick Spectacles to have a great Influence upon the People he set up his Judgment-Seat in the most conspicuous Place in the Forum where his Guard of 300 Celeres and his twelve Lictors with their Rods and Axes in view of all the People scourging or executing Malefactors occasionâ—d an extraordinary Awe and Respect In the latter end of his Reign whether swell'd with the Imagination of his former Successes and present Security or carry'd away with some pleasing Notions of Arbitrary Government he began to grow very Tyrannical inlarging his Prerogative beyond those Bounds he had formerly set to it and making use of the Senate only to ratifie his Commands Tho' he was extreamly belov'd by the common People yet these Actions gain'd him the Hatred of the Nobility and Senate and brought him to an untimely Death he being torn in pieces as is generally believ'd in the Senate House the Senators carrying his Body out by Piece-meal under their Gowns to prevent Discovery The Senators took an occasion from the Secrefie of the Fact and the Concealment of the Body to persuade the Multitude that he was taken up among the Gods and Iulius Proculus one of the chief of the Nobility did almost put all out of doubt by swearing solemnly That Romulus appear'd to him and told him It was the Pleasure of the Immortal Gods to have him continue among Mankind till he had founded a City whose Empire and Glory shou'd far surpass
Stones at him keeping some distance and by that Means effected their Design The Assassinates gave out that he fell into the Enemies hands but the Soldiers easily perceiving the Villany began to grow very Mutinous and the Decemviri to appease 'em gave Siccius a very Honourable Burial which was perform'd with much Ceremony and an universal Sorrow among the Soldiers who from that time thought upon nothing but a Revolt which the other Army lying at Algedum against the Aequi soon after found a fair Opportunity to effect It was occasion'd dy one Virginius a Plebeian who had a Daughter of most admirable Beauty and of as eminent Chastity whom Appius saw by chance and was so extreamly smitten with her that nothing cou'd allay his violent Passion His own Laws had forbidden him Marrying her as being a Plebeian nor cou'd he hope to enjoy her any other Way but by procuring Claudius one of his Clients to challenge her for his Slave so that the Matter being brought before him he might judge her to be so Claudius according to his Instructions laid Claim to her and bringing the Matter to a Tryal before Appius he affirm'd That she was natural Daughter to his Slave procur'd by Virginius ' s Wife being Barren and now Dead and brought up for her own a thing though known to others as well as himself he had no Opportunity till now to make it â—â—â—ear This Pretence was so Impudent and Groundleâ—â—â—hat it rais'd the Indignation of all unconcern'd Peâ—â—ons and Numitor the Maids Uncle with Icilius who was Contracted to her â—ufficiently prov'd the Falsity of the Assertion But Appius resolutely bent upon his lustful and base Design wou'd hear no Reason nor mind any Proof till at last the loud Cries and Murmurs of the Multitude prevail'd with him to deferr the Matter till her Father cou'd be sent for from the Camp to defend her Cause for which he wou'd allow but one Day He immediately wrote to Algedum at the Camp to confine Virginius but Numitor and Icilius's Brother intercepted the Letters and Virginius pretending the Death of a near Relation got Leave to leave the Camp and come posting to the City The next Day Virginius appear'd at the Place to the great Surprize of Appius he and his Daughter both in Mourning accompany'd with several weeping Matrons and a numerous Train of Advocates the whole City crowding into the Forum Virginius prov'd the Maid to be his own Daughter but Appius corrupted by the Greatness of his Power and inflam'd with the Heat of his Lust neither consider'd the just Defence of the Father nor the bitter Tears of the poor Virgin but was inrag'd at the Pity of the Standers by thinking himself a greater Object of Pity who endur'd more for her Beauty's sake than she her self did He interrupted all that pleaded in her behalf Commanding their Silence and strait judg'd Claudius to be right Lord and Owner of her Great Outcries and Lamentations being made as well by others as the Virgin and her Relations all knowing she was doom'd to the Tyrant's Lusts Appius commanded all to depart and order'd Claudius to take Possession of his Slave Virginius finding no relief desir'd he might speak a Word with his Daughter before he parted from her which being Granted he dragg'd her hanâ—â—ng about him to a Butcher's Stall hard by and 〈◊〉 bewailing her deplorable Condition where catcâ—â—ng a Knife in his Hands he said Daughter I will send thee to our Ancestors both Free and Unspotted for the Merciless Tyrant will suffer thee to be neither here and thereupon stabb'd her to the Heart Then casting his angry Eyes up to the Tribunal he cry'd out Appius thou Tyrant with this Blood I doom thee to certain Death With the bloody Knife in his Hand in a great Rage and Fury he ran through the City wildly calling upon the People in all Places to regain their Liberty and coming to the Gate rod Post to the Army a Company of 400 Plebeians following him In this Posture Virginius arriv'd at the Camp with the Knife and his Clothes all Bloody where with all his Rhetorick and Pathetick Reasons he persuaded 'em to revolt from the Ten and redeem their sinking Country shewing 'em likewise That their Sacramentum or Military Oath was no ways binding in this Case because the Oath suppos'd the Commanders to be made according to Law which the Ten were not having Usurp'd all the Power and Authority they cou'd pretend to The Army ready enough for such a Design immediately decamp'd some few Centurions only remaining and took their Station on Mount Aventine and the next day fortifying their Camp chose Ten Captains whereof one Oppius was Chief And soon after came great Parties from the other Army who were much Offended at the Murder of Siccius and join'd them and this was the second Separation of the Commons Appius in the mean time having endeavour'd by Force to suppress the Disturbances he had rais'd in the City was so over-power'd by the Parties of Valerius and Horatius formerly mention'd that he was forc'd to keep himself to his House Oppius one of the Decemviri assembled the Fathers and urg'd the Punishment of all Deserters but the Senate was so sensible of the threatning Dangers and Miseries of the State that they were glad to come to any Agreement with the Solâ—â—ers Therefore to compose all Differences they immediately dispatch'd Messengers to the Army which had lately remov'd to the Holy Mount as they had once done above 40 Years before Where the People demanded to have the same Form of Government as was setled before the Creation of the Decemviri which was readily Granted 'em the People all returning home to the City Thus in less than three Years time ended the famous Decemvirate III. Valerius and Horatius were for their Services made Consuls for the remaining part of the Year These preferrâ—d divers Laws in favour of the Commons to the great Regret of the Patritians whereof one was That such Laws as the Commons enacted in the Comitia Tributa shou'd have the same Force as those made in the Comitia Centuriata which was a great Advantage to the People After this the Tribunes whereof Virginius was one thought it convenient to call the Decemviri to an Account Appius was Committed to Prison no Bail being allow'd him but before his Tryal was found Dead but by what means is uncertain Oppius the next to him in Guilt was accus'd and being Condemn'd dyâ—d the same day in Prison by his own Hands The other eight banish'd themselves and Claudius the pretended Master of Virginia was driven out after 'em with which Justice the State was satisfy'd and Indemnity granted to all others Affairs thus setled the Consuls took the Field against the Aequi Volsci and Sabines and so successfully as to deserve a Triumph but the Senate gave 'em a Repulse for making Laws so much in favour of the Commons and so disadvantageous to the Patritian Priviledges The Consuls
Romans and with them were fought several Battels the Samnites being almost always Losers But the most Memorable was that about three Years after this last Breach when they had got the Umbrians and Gauls with some of the Hetrurians to assist 'em and receivâ—d a most dreadful Overthrow by the Consuls Fabius Maximus and Decius Mus. In the midst of this Fight Decius seeing his Party retire and in danger of being defeated he follow'd the great Example of his Father above Forty Years before and most solemnly devoted himself to the Gods then rushing into the midst of the Enemy with an extraordinary Fury and Courage he recoverâ—d his Army but with the loss of his Life About two Years after Papirius Son to the former got a noble Victory over 'em took above 15000 Prisoners gainâ—d several Towns and obtainâ—d a splendid Triumph But the following Year the Samnites venturâ—d another Battel and had better Fortune overthrowing Fabius Gurges the Consul which put the Senate upon removing of him But his Father Fabius Maximus to prevent the Disgrace promisâ—d to be Lieutenant to his Son which Office he performâ—d so well as he procur'd him a great Victory and a Triumph And within two Years after the Samnites were so mortifi'd as to beg a Peace after Pontius their General had been taken and slain which was at last granted em and the League was renewâ—d with â—em a fourth time In less than a Years time the Samnites again broke their League but were punishâ—d with the loss of several Battels and more Towns over whom Dentatus the Consul Triumph'd twice in one Year after which were Colonies sent to Castrum Sena and Adria Two years after the Triumviri for Capital Matters were created who had Power to Imprison and Punish all Malefactors and in the same Year 273000 Free Citizens were Cess'd Three Years after that the Commons by reason of their desperate Debts and violent Contests between them and the Patricians withdrew themselves into the Hill Ianiculum which was the third Separation of the Plebeians The Senate to appease this dangerous Tumult Created Q. Hortensius Dictator who with many Arts and much Difficulty perswaded 'em to return Promising them That their Plebiscita shou'd have the Force of Laws and bind the whole Body Politick This was call'd the Lex Hortensia tho' the same in Effect had been granted twice before Soon after Wars were successfully managâ—d against the Lucani a Nation in almost the farthest Parts of Italy who had molested the Thurini the Roman Allies But the last of the Italians that made much Opposition were the Tarentines formerly mentionâ—d who inhabited a very large and rich City in the South-Eastern parts of Italy 240 Miles from Rome These People had plunderâ—d several of the Roman Ships which was the Occasion and Beginning of that War Nevertheless these Tarentines tho' joyn'd with the Lucani Messapii Brutii Apulii and Samnites the four former being their Neighbours and the Inhabitants of the South-Eastern parts of Italy were not able to oppose the extraordinary growing Power of the Romans but were in a short time so distress'd that they were forcâ—d to send for Pyrrhus King of Epirus to come over and Assist ' em And thus began the Memorable War with that Famous Commander the most considerable the Romans ever before met with which happen'd in the 473d Year of the City A. M. 3724 in the 4th Year of the 124th Olympiad 228 since the beginning of the Consular State 109 since the Burning of the City by the Gauls 49 since the beginning of the Macedonian Empire by Alexander and 279 before our Saviour Christ. CHAP. VIII From the first Wars with Pyrrhus King of Epirus to the first Punick or Carthaginian War when the Romans first set Foot out of Italy Containing the Space of 16 Years I. PYrrhus was much Solicited by the Tarentines to come into Italy who in the Name of many of the Italians made many large Presents to him signifying How much they stood in need of a General so Eminent both for Abilities and the reputation of his Arms. Pyrrhus being of a generous and ambitious Temper promis'd 'em to come over with an Army and shortly after dispatch'd Cineas a Thessalian an excellent Orator and Scholar of Demosthenes with 3000 Men for Tarentum Soon after him he put to Sea with 20 Elephants 3000 Horse 20000 Foot 2000 Archers and 500 Slingers but meeting with a great Storm his Ships were much dispers'd and some lost so that he arriv'd at Tarentum but with a small part of his Army When he enter'd the Town he refusâ—d to act without their particular Order till the rest of his Army were Arriv'd then observing how the Inhabitants apply'd themselves chiefly to Bathing Feasting and their Pleasures he shut up the Publick Meeting Places restrain'd them from Drinking and Games and called them to Arms being very severe in Listing Men fit for Action and Service He now receivâ—d Intelligence that Laevinus the Roman Consul was upon his March with a numerous Army wasting Lucania as he passâ—d and tho these Confederate Troops were not all arrivâ—d he drew out his Army against him but before the Armies cou'd joyn he sent to Laevinus offering a Mediation between the Romans and their Adversaries But Laevinus return'd Answer That he neither esteem'd him as a Mediator nor fear'd him as an Enemy and taking his Messengers he order'd 'em to be led through the midst of the Camp and bad them go tell their Master what they had seen Pyrrhus advanc'd and encamp'd on the Plain between Pandosia and Heraclia and perceiving the Romans lay on the other side of the River Lyris in good Order he Planted Men all along the Bank to oppose their Passage But the Romans hastning to prevent the coming up of those Forces he expected Attempted the Passage with their Infantry where it was fordable the Horse getting over in several Places so that the Greeks fearing to be hemn'd in were obligâ—d to retreata little way which Pyrrhus perceiving drew up his Men in Battalia himself at the Head of em and began the Charge He was very remarkable for the Fineness and Richness of his Arms but more for the Bravery and Nobleness of his Acts managing the Battel with a great Steadiness and Presence of Mind and performing the Drudgery of a common Soldier as well as the Office of a general In the midst of the Fight Pyrrhus â— Horse was kill'd under him which oblig'd him to change Armour with one near him who being taken for the King was slain and his Armour taken This Armour being carri'd about by the Romans in token of his Death struck such a Terror into his Soldiers that it had lost him the Victory but that he seasonably and with much Labour made himself known Whilst the Battel seem'd doubtful the Elephants were sent in among the Romans and the Surprize they were in together with their Horses not induring the Smell and Bigness of
was disappointed with considerable Loss and to his great Surprize was surrounded by Pompey with an Intrenchment of above eighteen Miles Circuit Whereupon hearing that Marcius was join'd Pompey he betook himself to Flight having first killed all such as were sick and useless about him But Pompey pursuâ— d him so close that before he cou'd pass the River Euphrates he forc'd him to an Engagement in the Night The Moon being very low and on the Backs of the Romans so lengthen'd their Shadows that the Enemies thinking â—em nigher than really they were shot most of their Arrows without doing Execution Here Mithridates lost many Thousands of Men but he himself broke through with 800 Horse of which only 300 stay'd with him Then sorrowfully wandring through the Woods with his Horse in his Hands he accidentally met with some Mercenaries and about 3000 Foot by whose Assistance he was convey'd into a Castle where he had laid up much Treasure From hence he sent to Tigranes who now refused to receive him alledging that his Son upon his Account had rebellâ— d against him Whereupon Mithridates fled to Colchis which he had formerly conquered and Pompey followed him thinking he would not have stirr'd thence but he immediately passed into Scythia where partly by Force and partly by Perswasions he obligâ— d the Princes of that County to be of his Party bestowing his Daughters in Marriage upon some of 'em having still vast Designs in his Mind even of passing through Thrace Macedâ—nia Pannonia and so over the Alpes into Italy it self Pompey in a short time left Colchis and getting clear of the Ambuscades laid for him by the Albanians and Iberians directed his March to Armenia against Tigranes who now resolvâ— d not to fight upon the Account of the Rebellion of his three Sons he had by Mithridates's Daughter two of which he had executed and the third after an Overthrow had fled to Pompey Tigranes's Ambassadors coming to desire a Peace this Son so far prevail'd that they cou'd not be heard shortly after Pompey invested the City Artaxata which Tigranes immediately surrender'd and shortly after came himself into Pompey's Camp making him Mediator between him and his Son who wou'd not so much as rise up to his Father or shew him any Respect whatsoever But Pompey received him with extraordinary Civility allowing him the greatest Part of his former Dominions and his Son the rest but took away all his Conquests and fin'd him 6000 Talents of Silver for the Charge of the War Tigranes was by these Articles oblig'd to quit many conquerâ—d Territories particularly all Syria and Phoenicia and Euphrates to the Sea but his Son was still very refractory refusing Obedience and threatning the Death of his Father for which he was shut up in Prison by Pompey and reservâ—d for a Triumph and not long afterwards he was put to Death Tigranes being now reconcil'd to the Romans paid more than his Fine and made Presents to every Officer and Soldier for which he was esteem'd a Friend and Allie of the Romans Pompey restor'd Cappadocia to Ariobarzanes giving him also Gordiena and Sophena with Cabala a City of Cilicia and other Places after which with some Opposition he constrain'd the Albanians and Iberians to beg Peace Thus prosperous was this great Commander who still design'd larger and more glorious Conquests and therefore passing over the vast Mount Taurus he march'd against Darius the Median and Antiâ—chus King of Syria for molesting the Roman Allies or assisting their Enemies Whereupon Phraates King of Parthia who had been call'd into Gordiena by Tigranes's Son terriyâ—d at his great Exploits sent to beg Peace of him which he granted not but sent Afraneus into into Gordiena to expel his Forces and restore that Country to Tigranes Phraates upon this invading Armenia Tigranes sent to Pompey for Succour who being unwilling to commence a War with Phraates without positive Orders from Rome sent three Commissioners to make an Accommodation But for Antiâ—chus to whom Lucullus had granted Syria for his Inheritance he first intended to betake himself to the Assistance of Phraates but upon mature Deliberation he resolved to yield himself to Pompey â—S Generosity But Pompey having now possess'd himself of all his Country without Resistance refusâ—d to grant him what he expected and what he knew he was unable to keep from the Incursions of the Jews and Arabians on both sides of him And the better to excuse himself told him That since the Romans had been at such Charges and Pains to conquer Tigranes it wou'd be unreasonable that the Reward shou'd fall to another Therefore he only allow'd him that Part of Syria call'd Comagena and in a short Time after extending his Conquests farther over the Ituraeans and Arabians he reduc'd all Syria into a Roman Province The Time that Pompey was proceeding in these Successfull Expeditions Mithridates sent to him to desire Peace but being order'd to come to him himself he refus'd it and proceeded in his Preparations for War After which many of his Places revolted and many of his Friends with one of his Sons were executed upon that Account Yet still he design'd to pass into Europe there to join with the Gauls and invade Italy but the Unwillingness of his Soldiers to this difficult Expedition and the Rebellious Designs of his Son Pharnaces causâ—d his Armyâ—s Revolt and his Ruine his Son being shortly after faulted King Mithridates now under Confinement seeing this from an Upper-Room sent to his Son to ask leave to depart but in vain who bidding his Father Die he cry'd out with many bitter Imprecations That he might one Day hear the same Words from his own Children Then coming down to his Wives Daughters and Concubines he gave 'em all Poison and fearing to be delivered up to the Romans he took some himself but having much us'd his Body to Antidotes particularly to that Sort which still goes by his Name the Poison wou'd not operate whereupon he wounded himself but that not dispatching him soon enough he call'd to one Bitaeus a Gaul who got in through the broken Wall and by his Hands he dy'd Thus fell Mithridates a Man who sometimes in Fortune and at all times in Courage was of the highest Rank in Direction a skilful Commander in Execution a great Soldier and in Hatred to the Romans a second Hannibal having made longer Opposition than he And thus ended the Mithridatick War after twenty five Years and eleven since it last broke out a War which in the Beginning happened to be dangerous to the Roman State as creating other Mischiefs but in the End provâ—d very glorious and advantageous to it by the Addition not only of all Mithridates's Dominions but likewise of many other rich Countries in Asia Pompey when the News of Mithridates's Death was brought to him was near Iericho marching towards Ierusalem against Aristobulus King of Iudea who had depos'd his elder Brother Hyrcanus and usurp'd his Kingdom Hyrcanus
some Infernal Spirits Enemies to Rome rather then Men and nothing ought further to be thought of than the honouring the Memory of this illustrious Hero and placing him among the Immortal Gods At the End of this Oration one of the principal Attendants as if some Fury had possess'd him tore off Caesar's Robe from the Trophy and shew'd it to the People crying out That it was the Spoil of a Person belov'd of the Gods and reverenc'd by the World even to Adoration This and several other things he spoke in a most moving Tone using many great Outcries and strange Postures of Sorrow which extreamly stirrâ—d up the People's Compassion At the same time was expos'd Caesar's Image in Wax which mov'd it self by Springs and shew'd the several Wounds which he had receiv'd upon his Face and in his Body and this Sight transported the People even to Madness and made 'em cry out That they wou'd inflect the most cruel Punishments and execute the most dreadful Revenges upon the Heads of all his Murtherers Upon the lighting of the Pile all the old Soldiers who had serv'd under him with an unexpressible Grief threw into the Fire all their Coronets Pikes Bracelets and other Tokens of Honours which he had given ' em A great many Ladies of Quality also threw in their Children's Robes and Ornaments with every thing they had of Value about ' em The People ran and tore up the Benches and Seats of the Magistrates just by and after that with flaming Brands from the Pile ran desperately to set Fire to the Conspirators Houses and meeting with one Cinna whom they mistook for another of that Name they immediately tore him in a thousand Pieces The Conspirators themselves being of the greatest Families and well guarded with no great Trouble repuls'd the People but nevertheless so great was the Rage and Threats of the People that they thought it much more safe to retire from the City All the Strangers in Rome mourn'd after their Customs and more particularly the Iews who watch'd several Nights at Caesar's Pile At last Divine Honours were given him and an Altar erected in the Place of his Burning where Octavius Caesar afterwards call'd Augustus caus'd a Temple to be built and a Pillar of Jasper twenty Foot high with this Inscription To the Father of his Country At the same time that Caesar was kill'd his Heir and Adopted Son Octavius afterwards call'd Augustus was at Apollonia in Greece who upon the first News of the Murther notwithstanding the earnest Advice of his Friends to secure himself there return'd to Rome with all speed with a full Resolution to revenge his Death not questioning but to find Anthony both a Friend and Assistant in this Design But Anthony now was so much chang'd and so busily employ'd in his Projects of raising and advancing himself that he cou'd hearken but little to such a Proposal and when Octavius publickly declar'd himself Caesar's Heir and demanded his Money of Anthony or at least some part of it he receiv'd him with great Coldness and Contempt of his Youth refusing to give him any upon several Pretences Yet neither Anthony's Repulses nor his Friends Advices to the contrary cou'd stop Octavius from pursuing his Designs who was now about eighteen Years old of a great Wit a lofty Mind and of a most insinuating Conversation and had a Face so Comely and Graceful that it acquir'd him a Veneration from all Men. That he might be certain to gain the People's Hearts he sold all his Inheritance to pay off the Legacies given 'em by his Uncle Caesar's Will which procur'd him much Love and Caesar's old Soldiers flock'd to him in considerable Numbers whom he accepted of out of Fear to Anthony who daily became more Suspicious both to the Senate and People Octavius manag'd his Affairs with so much Skill and Dexterity that those who before admir'd at his Boldness of opposing Anthony were now as much surpriz'd at his extraordinary Address and Authority Anthony on the other side being sensible of the passionate Affection the People had for Pompey to curry Favour propos'd the promoting Sextus his only surviving Son that in requital of his Father's Estate confiscated he might have an Allowance out of the Publick and the same Command of the Seas and Navy that his Father formerly had This was receiv'd with great Applause and strait enacted so Pompey was call'd back into Sicily where he afterwards manag'd a sharp War against Octavius Anthony was still Restless and resolv'd if it were possible to procure some Province to be assign'd him that he might get the greater Authority and the Difference daily increasing between him and Octavius he desir'd to command the six Legions which lay in Macedonia and obtain'd them by deceiving the Senate with a false Rumour that the Getae hearing of Caesar's Death had invaded that Province And because the Senate shew'd great Unwillingness to this Demand and more Jealousie of his Power he endeavour d to satisfie 'em by preferring a Law against any Man's being Dictator for the future and making it Death for any to offer at it These Legions he design'd to bring over into Italy to awe and command all and the better to effect this he preferr'd another Law for changing of Provinces and by that procur'd Macedonia for his Brother C. Antonius which had been assign'd to M. Brutus and the Hither Gaul for himself which had been allotted to Decimus Brutus The Senate wou'd by no means admit of this Demand but sent to D. Brutus to strengthen himself against the Pretensions of Anthony which caus'd Anthony to betake himself to the People where partly by Force and partly by Bribes he obtain'd it But still he was not altogether so Successful as he expected for his daily Quarrels with Octavius and his little Care of revenging Caesar's Death gain'd him the Hatred of his Soldiers so that when he had brought over his Legions two of 'em went over to Octavius who now was very busie in going through all Italy and gathering together Soldiers out of the Colonies which his Uncle had planted At length Anthony with a considerable Army march'd into Gaul from whence he commanded Decimus Brutus to depart who gave Way to him for some time but at last retreated to Mutina where Anthony soon after streightly besieg'd him And thus a new War broke out in about three quarters of a Year after Caesar's Death II. About this time new Consuls were made which were Hirtius and Pansa both great Friends of Iulius Caesar as well as Intimates of Cicero the former of which serv'd under Caesar and gave the Relation of the Wars of Aegypt and Africk which is annex'd to his Commentaries Upon their Assembling the Senate Anthony was declar'd Enemy to the State but especially by Cicero's Means who now had made many ingenious and severe Invectives against him which in Imitation of Demosthenes he publish'd under the Name of Philippicks This prov'd of great Advantage