Macedonian Empire I remember a Dispatch of mine to thy Venerable Predecessor of Sacred Memory wherein I touch'd upon some Passages of the Life of that Heroick and Magnanimous Prophet Alexander the Great But now I will inform thee more at large concerning his Birth Education and Renowned Performances Alexander as the Greeks and Latins call him with all the Nations of the West or Scander Ascander and Zulkarnek according to the Style of the Arabians Persians Indians Tartars and other People of the East was born in the CVIth Olympiad 398 Years after the Building of Rome and in the Year of the World 3628 on the 6th Day of the Moon Loo or Hecatombaeon according to the Style of the Grecians The same Night was the Temple of Diana at Ephesus set on Fire And on the same Day two Eagles came and pearch'd on the Top of his Fathers House where they sat all the Day which was taken as an Omen of the Double Empire he was to have over Europe and Asia Philip King of Macedon and Husband to Olympias was the Reputed Father of Alexander as she was his Known Mother But some Historians say That a certain Magician call'd Nectanebus by his Enchantments disguising himself in the Form of Jupiter Ammon lay with Olympias and begot Alexander Others affirm That Olympias her self confessed to Philip That Alexander was not his Son but that she had conceiv'd him of a prodigious great Serpent Whence it came to pass That Philip himself a little before his Death openly declar'd That Alexander was not his Son And for the same Reason he divorc'd Olympias as an Adultress by her own Confession These Reports were so common at that Time That Alexander afterwards hearing the Story of his suppos'd Serpentine Genealogy and that other of Nectanebus in the Masquerade of a God When he march'd through Egypt took Advantage of the latter to impose upon the Credulity and Superstition of his Soldiers For being to pass by the Temple of Jupiter Ammon he made a Halt to visit the Oracle But he had privately sent before some of his Trusty Friends to acquaint the Priests with his Design and to tell them what manner of Words and Address they should use to him as he enter'd the Temple in the Hearing of his Followers Having thus prepar'd those Holy Cheats he with much Ceremony and seeming Devotion made his Approaches to the Temple As soon as he set his Foot within the Portico the Seniors of the Priests met him in their Pontifical Robes with Censers in their Hands and thus saluted him All Hail Son of Jupiter Ammon Alexander being pleas'd at this ask'd them farther If all his Fathers Murderers were punish'd or If any yet survived To which it was answer'd O Son of the Immortal Gods Thy Father cannot be murder'd or dye As for King Philip his Blood is fully reveng'd on them that had a Hand in shedding it Then he added another Question concerning his future Success To which the Oracle replied The Victory shall be thine in all Battels Thou shalt become Lord of all the East The same Mouth also gave in Charge to the Retinue of Alexander That they should adore him not as a King but as a God Returning from thence he built Alexandria calling it after his own Name I have not observ'd a due Method in relating this Story so soon whilst I was but representing the New-born Hero in his Cradle But I did it to convince thee That the various Opinions concerning Alexander's Father are not the Fictions of Wanton Writers but such as Employ'd the Care and Diligence of Alexander himself to improve them to his own Interest and his Mothers Honour For it was accounted a Glorious Thing to be Impregnate by a God To return therefore to the Infant-Prophet He grew apace and discover'd early Signs of a prodigious Wit and Courage At the Age of fifteen Years he was committed to the Care and Tutelage of Aristotle under whom he studied the Sciences five Years and then his Father Philip being murder'd he succeeded in the Throne The same Year also Darius Codomanus obtained the Empire of Persia Against whom Alexander with the Common Consent of almost all Greece prepared to go with a well-disciplin'd Army that he might carry on the War which his Father had begun Only the Lacedaemonians Thebans and Athenians thwarted his Design being corrupted by Demosthenes the Orator who for that purpose had received vast Sums of Gold from Darius But Alexander soon reduc'd these Factious States and Kingdoms to their Duty utterly destroying the City of Thebes with the Slaughter of 90000 of the Citizens besides 30000 Captives This was executed on the 15th of the Moon Boedromion in the 2d Year of the CXIth Olympiad He only spar'd the Host of Philip his Father when he was left as a Pledge in that City whose House was left untouch'd as also that of Pindar's Posterity From thence passing the Hellespont he march'd into Asia in the Year of the World 3650 and in the 3d Year of his Reign He had in his Army 30000 Foot and 4500 Horse As soon as he set Foot on the Ground of Asia he made the Royal Corban and Vows for Victory Then he darted a Javelin into the Earth in Token of Defiance After which when he came to Troy he perform'd certain Holy Rites and Mysteries at the Tombs of Defunct Heroes who fell in the Trojan War When these Ceremonies were accomplish'd he marched directly against the Persians who were in Number 600000 Fighting Men. I will not tire thee with all the Particularities that happen'd in their March Suffice it to say That Alexander with his Handful of Macedonians after many Victories obtained of the Persians at length quite Routed the Army of Darius and took Possession of that Once Formidable Empire But there are some remarkable Passages in this Expedition which deserve to be remembred As his wonderful Continence and Humanity toward the Mother Wife and Daughters of Darius whom he entertain'd in his Camp after they fell into his Hands rather as the Kindred of some Beloved Friend than of a Profess'd Enemy The Story also of his loosing the Gordian Knot is not unworthy thy Knowledge It seems in former Times one Gordius as he Plough'd the Fields was surrounded with a Flight of Birds of all Kinds Being troubled at this he left his Work and hasted to the next City there to enquire of the Augurs what the Meaning of this should be As he entred the Gate of the City he met a Virgin of Incomparable Beauty of whom he ask'd Where he might find the most Skilful Sage with whom he might consult about a Matter of some Importance Then he told the Inquisitive Damsel what had happen'd to him in the Field As soon as she heard this being well vers'd in these Mysterious and Prophetick Sciences she told him That he should be made a King And to confirm him in the Belief of what she said she promis'd to become his
our Selves some share of Happiness in this Life and to antedate the Uncertainties of a Future Bliss by carving out our own Heaven on this side the Grave However I wish thou may'st not surfeit on thy present Enjoyments and so render thy Soul incapable of the Voyage to Eternal Beatitude I tell thee My Dgnet thou art a bold Man to venture on a Place by Choice which the Messenger of God purposely shunn'd as the most dangerous on Earth But I wou'd not discourage thee That City was then in the Hands of Infidels a Seat of Profanation and Idolatry now 't is sanctified by the Presence of True Believers by the Preaching of the Law brought down from Heaven and by the Moschs of perfect Holiness As for the Manner of Life thou hast made Choice of I highly applaud it as the most Primitive Innocent Delightful and Happy above all others Many great Princes and Kings have exchanged the Toilsome Glory and Royal Fatigues of Empire for the sweet Tranquility and Ease of a Country Farm and wholsome Exercises of Agriculture Thus Dioclesian a Roman Emperor quitted his Throne for the sake of a Private Life and those Hands which had been accustomed to weild the Scepter became at last voluntarily familiar with the Spade the Plough and the Harrow So the Grand Cyrus Monarch of the Persians used to boast of the Gardens planted and sow'd with his own Hands And 't is certain that the Fabii the Lentuli the Cicero's the Piso's with many of the Noblest Families in Ancient Rome derived their Names from those Kind of Vegetables which they signifie and which their Fathers took Delight in Planting How many Great Authors have writ in Praise of Husbandry Attalus and Archelaus Two Kings extoll'd it Xenophon and Mago two Generals patroniz'd it and Oppian the Poet celebrates it in Verse Besides Cato Varro Pliny Columella Virgil and many others Some have plac'd Supreme Felicity in this kind of Life Virgil pronounces Husbandmen Fortunate and Horace calls them Blessed Hence it was that the Delphick Oracle declar'd a certain Man nam'd Aglaus to be the happiest of all Mortals because he was busied in Nothing but manuring and cultivating a little Farm never molesting himself with vain Cares or Passions nor encreasing the Miseries of Human Life by tampering with foreign and unnecessary Pleasures which though full of Blandishments and sweet in the Front yet carry a Sting in their Tail embittering all our Joys Thou art situated in the most pleasant Suburb of Damascus for I have survey'd that City and all its Precincts with no small Curiosity The House is encompass'd with lovely Gardens and Meadows It was formerly the Seat of Abul Mecharib the famous Shepherd who took Sanctuary there from the Persecution of Ismael Beglerbegh of Diarbehir Thou know'st the Story and I need say no more than to wish thee as good Fortune in possessing that rich Spot of Ground as he had who as 't is recorded in the Register of Damascus died worth a Hundred Purses of Gold most of it got by the Encrease of his Cattel in those Lucky Fields For my part I cannot pretend to Skill in these Things but it appears to me like a good Omen that thy Predecessor was so prosperous in that Farm I advise thee to take his Measures and stock thy Ground with Sheep Oxen Camels Horses and other Animals of Profit Think no Scorn to follow an Employment ennobled by the Examples of Romulus and Rhemus the first Founders of the Roman Empire of Paris the Son of Priamus of Anchises the Father of Aeneas of Endymion the beloved of Diana who were all Herdsmen or Shepherds So was Polyphemus and Argus So was Apollo who tended the Flocks of Admetus King of Thessaly What shall I say of Mercury the first Inventer of Hautboy and Prince of Shepherds and of Proteus another Divinity Was not Abrahim the Father of Mussulmans a Herdsman and Moyses the Prophet familiar with God and David the Prince of Poets In a Word my Friend the most illustrious Heroes among the ancient Greeks Romans and other Nations were all Keepers of Sheep Goats Oxen c. as the Arabians are at this Day with the Tartars and other Nations of the East Doubtless the Rural Life as it is the most Ancient so it affords the sincerest Pleasures and most unrepented Joys in Nature provided a Man enjoys it with Innocence and Justice But I would have thee avoid the common Temptations to which this Kind of Life is more expos'd than any other that is Hunting and Fowling These are really detestable Exercises Tragical Sports and alltogether inhuman It is a Labour unworthy of Men to watch from Day to Day and and one Night after another the Haunts of our Fellow-Animals that we may destroy them It is a cruel Pleasure that must be maintain'd at the Expence of so much Innocent Blood and a barbarous Triumph to insult over a poor mangled Hare or Hind after you have harass'd them up and down the Country for many Hours together with an Army of Dogs and Men. 'T is recorded that the Thebans were the first Inventers of this unhappy Sport a Nation infamous for Deceit Thefts Perjuries Murders and Incests From whom it pass'd to the Phrygians a People not less wicked but more foolish and easie light and credulous and for that Reason they were despised by the Athenians and Lacedemonians at first However those graver Nations in a little Time learn'd the Trade of Hunting of them So infectious is the Company and very Neighbourhood of ill Men so prevalent the Examples of such as are bold to lead the Way in new Paths of Vice By the God whom I adore My Dgnet it appears to me so foolish a Pastime an Exercise so unbecoming the Majesty of a Rational Spirit to run Yawling with a Parcel of Hounds perhaps a whole Day together after some Timorous Animal that I wonder Men are not asham'd to practise it especially Great Men and Princes who shou'd excel others in the Justice and Clemency of their Nature yet these are most guilty of Rapine Injuries and Spoil My Dear Friend imitate not their pernicious Examples but tread in the Steps of Just and Holy Men whom the Birds and Beasts would obey at a Nod because they cou'd not smell the least Odour of Evil in them How many Prophets have been fed by Ravens Hinds Cats and other Animals Nay the very Serpents and Dragons of the Desart with the Amphibious Monsters of Egypt have quitted their Native Venom to serve an Innocent Man and when Omar the Cailiph was hard pursu'd by a Troop of Egyptian Idolaters even to the Banks of the Nile he commanded a Crocodile which he spy'd in the River to come and Ferry him over on his Back and the Pious Beast was Obedient to his Word Doubtless this was a singular Grace in the Dumb Creature and he was translated to Paradise if our Doctors say true Dgnet I bid thee Adieu and wish thee a plentiful
indeed read of a Fruit which whosoever tastes will die I aughing And of the Torpedo which if any Man touch though with a Staff or Pole in his Hand immediately it benums him and takes away his Sense of Feeling But I always ascrib'd these Stories to the Romantick Humour of Pliny or at least of those from whom he collected the pleasant Paragraph of his Natural History But now I 'm convinc'd that 't is possible these things may be true In a Word I tell thee plainly that were it not for honest Eliachim the Jew poor Mahmut must starve himself For I wou'd rather die weeping and famishing deploring and lamenting the Miseries of Human Life than pass to Orcus in an Artificial Good Humour only fram'd by the Force of Poysons and Charms but Eilachim and all the Jews are singular in their Diet They take Care not to be polluted by Abominable Infidels They will not eat the Bread of the Christians nor taste of their Flesh The Law of Moses for bids it and they are very curious in observing it They have their Corn-Merchants Millers Bakers Butchers Poulterers and Fish-mongers by themselves Their Fruiterers also and such as serve 'em with Water Wine or any other Beverage They will not easily be cheated of their Lives through the Complaisance of what they call Good Nature Neither French nor Dutch Italians or Spaniards shall impose upon them They eat and drink more nicely I speak of the better Sorts than the Infidel Kings of the Earth Herein lies my Safety amidst the Common Danger I never eat or drink of late but at Eâ—â—â—chiâ—'s House For I dare not so well grounded are the Fears of Poyson in the Society of Nazarenes at this Time in Paris By the God of my Fathers and my God I would not willingly go down to the Shades in a Vehicle of Aia malâ— Xerim or any other subtle Eastern Opiate I 'd rather fairly stand the Fate of a Bullet Dagger Sword or any Thing that with Candor threatens us above-board But to be sneakingly undermin'd circumvented c. goes against the Grane by the Wounds of Mahomet which he receiv'd before the Holy Flight O Ali Ali This Oath brings thy Fame to my Remembrane who durst stand against the Sword of Ali when he was in his Wrath Ali the True Successor of the Prophet Do not take me for a Kysilbaschâ— Heretick Infidel c. For I am of an untainted Race a True Believer a Mussulman in all Senses But I hate Phanaticism and factious Bigotry Though we hate the Persians and pursue 'em as Incorrigible Hereticks may we not love and honour the Cailâ—â—h whom they follow So we are profess'd Enemies to the Christians and yet we reverence Jesus the Son of Mary the Christians Messias But to return to the French the King has erected a Kind of Inquisition-Court which is call'd the Chamber of Poysons Here all Persons suspected of these Diabolical Practises are examin'd and put to the Torture Also Millers Bakers Butchers Fruiterers Vintners and other Trades which sell any thing to eat or drink are sworn in this Chamber and undergo a severe Scrutiny So do all Physicians Druggists and Apothecaries â—dicts are daily publish'd whereby all Peâ—sons pretending to a Spirit of Divination c. are commanded forthwith to depart the Kingdom under the Penalty of Death It is order'd also that whosoever has abus'd any Sentence of the Written Law in making of Enchantments Spells Charms or any Thing beside or beyond the Force of Nature shall be severely punish'd The same Edict forbids all Vse of Poysons unless they be such as are Ingredients of wholesome Medicines and help to compound those Physical Preparations which are necessary to conserve the Life of Men. And that even these shall not be sold to any Person whatsoever but only to those who by their Art and Profession are oblig'd to make use of them Abundance of Care is taken both by the State and the Church by Publick Magistrates and Private Persons to discover the Authors of these Inhuman Tragedies and to prevent the like for the Future Every Man's Eye is upon his Neighbour and they of the same House are jealous one of another The Father suspects and narrowly watches the Motions of his Son and the Mother will not trust the Daughter of her Delight Children are wary of their Parents and one Brother or Sister dares not eat or drink any thing prepar'd by another Neither the Ties nor even the Sacred Bonds of Friendship it self are sufficient to conquer Mens Fears and Apprehensions of being poyson'd In the mean while the Inhabitants have felt a terrible Blow from the French Arms. For the King of France having receiv'd some Aâ—â—â—ont from those Corsairs gave Orders to the Sieur Die Quesne Lieutenant General of his Naval Forces to go and Bombard their City which was perform'd accordingly in the Beginning of the 9th Moon And that Bld Warriour threw so many Bombs into the Town that he ruin'd a considerable Part of it overthrew the Principal Mosque and killed many Thousands of Men Which obliged the Algerines to become humble Supplicants for Peace And it was granted them on certain Conditions advantagious enough for France This Monarch is wholly addicted to War in which also he is no less expert than he is in Matters of State And he loves to see his Subjects follow his Example To this End he has lately establish'd Two Seminaries One in the Cittadel of Tournay the Other in that of Metz where a certain Number of Cadets or Younger Brothers who can prove themselves descended of Noble Blood are educated at the King's Charge and taught the Method and Art of Fortifications with other Exercises of Military Discipline This is a great Encouragement to the young Gentry and Nobles and fills 'em with Glorious Emulations every one being ambitious to excel another in these Heroick Arts. And the King will never want for able Souldiers to serve him in any Station at Home or Abroad Illustrious Kaimacham this is all the News I can at present send thee May God protect thee and all the True Faithful from the â—ly Attempts of Magicians Witches and Poisoners As for me I know not how long I shall escape their Snares But I 'll be as cunning as I can Sage Minister Adieu Paris 4th of the 7th Moon of the Year 1682. LETTER XVI To Nathan Ben Saddi a Jew at Vienna I Receiv'd a Dispatch Yesterday sign'd with thy Name but not writ by thy own Hand nor in thy accustom'd Style and yet there is no mention made of Sickness a broken Arm or any other Misfortune which might hinder thee from penning it thy self which fills me with Abundance of Doubts and Scruples If the Palsy or any other Disease has taken from thee the Use of thy Limbs I hope it has not depriv'd thee of thy Reason That Faculty would have prompted thee to explain this Mysterious Way of Correspondence by the same Hand which wrote the
wheadl'd out of his Eternal Reason no Incense can be of Proof to Nose the Sense of the Omniscient nor the most elegant Words delude him who is perfect in Knowledge He takes no Delight in the pompous Addresses of the Great nor is he to be mov'd by the multitude of Solemn Ceremonies All that he requires of Man is a Heart conform to the Divine Will and Actions void of Offence But the Lawgivers and Governours of Nations observing That there was a certain Religious Fear and Reverence of some Divine Power as it were planted in the Natures of all Men and considering that this might be improv'd with good Management to the Advantage and Interest of the Common-wealth they invented set Forms of Discipline and exteriour Offices of Worship which they term'd Holy Rites and Mysteries These they fortified with severe Laws and Sanctions inflicting grievous Penalties on the Contemners of the Publick Service perform'd to the Gods So Hermes Trismegistus first taught the Egyptians Melissus the foster-Foster-Father of Jupiter instructed the Inhabitants of Crete Faunus and Janus the Latins Numa Pompilius the Romans Orpheus the Grecians or as some say Cadmus the Son of Agenor first instructed that Nation in the Solemnities which were counted Divine and which he himself learn'd in Phoenicia He instituted the Consecration of Images and Statues the Burning of Incense the Building of Temples and Altars with the Hymns Sacrifices and other magnificent Rites by which they honour'd the Powers Above Now that all this Religious Pageantry was establish'd only for the Ends of Policy and State is evident from hence That the Chief Magistrates took the Liberty of making what Gods they pleas'd and of encreasing or diminishing their Number at Discretion So that in Process of Time there were reckon'd no less than Thirty Thousand Gods in the Roman Catalogue though at first their Calendar cou'd shew but Twenty Five Divinities But when once they had found out a way to distinguish these Divinities into several Classes or Ranks terming some Gods of the Greater Nations others of the Lesser having also their Tutelar Genii their Demigods their Rural and Houshold Gods c. there was no limiting the crafty Devices of the Priests and Rulers in imposing or the Superstition of the credulous People in believing and adoring an infinite Rabble of New Young and Unheard-of Divinities They took also the same Freedom to change and alter the establish'd Rites and Ceremonies sometimes abolishing the old and Primitive Institutions and superinducing new ones in their stead or at least adding to the Heap of insignificant Ceremonies in every Age some mysterious Novelty which might please the People and fasten them in a devouter Obedience and Veneration of their Pious Guides and Leaders Hence sprung the Dedication of Temples Fanes Chapels Oratories and certain Days in the Year to the Service of particular Gods hence arose the Invention and Use of so many sorts of Vessels of Silver and Gold and other Materials in their Sacrifices of Lights Flowers and Perfumes of Musick Pictures and other Decorations besides the Rich and Majestick Vestments of the Priests their grave and compos'd Carriage Looks and Gestures All design'd purely to catch the rude and unpolish'd Multitude in the Snares of Priest-craft to strike their unwary Minds with an Awe and profound Attach for Religion that so being once made thus flexible they might warp them to what Bent they pleas'd and for ever lead 'em in a blind implicite Admiration of they knew not what 'T is certain that Religion has this Effect on the Vulgar to make them more Obedient to their Governours Just to one another and Zealous for the Publick Welfare I mean the Religion allow'd by the State For where the Subjects dare to make Innovations and Schisms to set up new Sects and Parties the greater Zeal each Faction has for their own Way of Worship the more cruel and tragical Disorders are generally committed So fatal a Thing is it to be Opinionative in Religion to invade the Priests Prerogative and to disturb the quiet Stream of Traditions running in the Channel of Publick Faith from one Generation to another My Dear Gnet let Thou and I shun the devout Superstition of Bigots and the wanton Prophaneness of Libertines and Atheists adoring One God with sincere Faith and a Reason void of Error Let us also keep our Lives free from all Injustice and Vice which will be of more Comfort to us than if we had sacrific'd every Day a thousand Bulls Paris 25th of the 9th Moon of the Year 1677. LETTER XIV To Kerker Hassan Bassa THE Subject of most Mens Discourse at present in this City is the Taking of Friburgh by the French This is a City of Germany whereof I made frequent mention in my Letters when I first came to Paris It is situated on a certain Height near a small River and is encompass'd with two Walls Strengthned also by a Citadel four Bastions and other Fortifications The Emperor has likewise a strong Garrison in it On the 10th of this Moon the Mareschal de Crequy Besieg'd it and press'd it with such vigorous Assaults and continual Batteries That the Governour found himself oblig'd to Surrender it on the 17th when the Mareschal took Possession of it in the Name of the French King The Imperialists cannot boast of equal Success when they Besiege Towns or Fortresses in the Hands of the French For not long before this the Prince of Orange General of the Confederate Armies in Flanders undertook the Siege of Charleroy a Place of Strength in those Parts But the Want of Provisions together with the stout Resistance of the Inhabitants and the Duke of Luxemburgh's Approach with the French Army forced him to decamp and retire The Duke of Luxemburgh is a valiant and sage General in high Esteem with the French But his Enemies say he is a Magician and deals with the Devil because of the good Success which generally crowns all his Enterprises So impossible it is for a Man of extraordinary Virtues and Heroick Endowments to escape without Envy and scandalous Aspersions 'T is as natural for the Vulgar to inveigh against Generous Souls as 't is for Dogs to bark at the Moon Yet that Planet appears impassible and not being mov'd at the Snarles of invidious Animals keeps on her Heavenly Course in Majesty and Silence So do Souls that are truly Noble contemn the Censures of the Inferiour Part of Men and never stop till they arrive at the Meridian and Zenith of Perfection Most Serene and Illustrious Arab thou art a lively Example of this and I dare say no more lest I offend thy Modesty May perpetual Benediction and Glory crown thy Years that are yet to come Paris 29th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1677. LETTERS Writ by A Spy at PARIS VOL. VIII BOOK III. LETTER I. To the Wisest of the Wise the most Venerable Mufti I Obey thy Commands without the least Demur And now proceed to write of the
of his Bed For she had conceived an insatiable Desire of having a Child by Him whom all the East proclaimed the Greatest Hero in the World Alexander granted her Request and when she had enjoy'd his Company thirteen Days she departed well satisfied to her own Country promising that if she brought forth a Male she would send him to his Father according to the manner of the Amazons but if a Female she wou'd keep it her self From hence Alexander march'd against Bessus who had murder'd Darius and caused himself to be proclaimed King of Persia by the Name of Artaxerxes Having overcome him and punish'd his Treasons he proceeded and subdu'd all the Regions running along the Foot of Mount Cancasus In fine he extended his Conquests to the utmost Borders of India even to the Oriental Sea where he took Shipping and return'd to Babylon partly by Sea and partly by Land An Astrologer of great Reputation met him by the way and dissuaded him by all the Arguments he could use from entring the City assuring him that Place would be Fatal to his Person But though Alexander made some Demur at first and seem'd to credit the Words of the Sage yet being over-rul'd by the Counsel of Anaxarchus the Philosopher he enter'd Babylon where he died some say of Poyson others affirm that he surfeited himself with too much Wine This was in the 33d Year of his Life and the 12th of his Reign There was a deep and melancholy Silence throughout Babylon whon once it was known That the Conqueror of the World was dead Every one was possess'd with various Thoughts and Cares according to their different Affections and Interests The Macedonians inwardly rejoyc'd as if they were now rid of some great and formidable Enemy cursing his Severity and restless Temper which had expos'd them to so many Toils and Perils of War Besides the Princes flatter'd themselves with a prospect of enjoying every one his Share in so vast an Empire And the private Soldiers had their Eyes intently fix'd hn the Immense Treasures of Gold which Alexander left behind him and which they hop'd to share among them For there were at that time Fifty Thousand Talents in Bank and Three Hundred Thousand coming in yearly by way of Tribute and Custom On the other side the Conquer'd Nations would not at first give Credit to the Report of those who carry'd the News of Alexander's Fate For they thought he must needs be Immortal whom they had always found Invincible But when Couriers upon Couriers had remov'd their Incredulity bringing Fresh Expresses from Babylon they Mourn'd for him not with bare Outward Ceremonies as for an Enemy that had subdu'd 'em but with Real Sorrow as for a Father that had protected and cherish'd ' em More especially the Grief of Darius's Mother was remarkable who tho she had lost Eighty of her Brethren with their Father all cruelty Murder'd by Ochus tho she had lost Darius the only surviving of seven Sons and was her self cast down from the Height of Majesty to the Abject State of a Captive yet she bore all with an Even Mind till Alexander's Death whose Indulgence alone whilst living had supported her under so many grievous Calamities But as soon as he had forsaken the Earth she grew weary of tarrying any longer on it too Not that she esteemed an Enemy above her Father Brethren and her Son but because she had experienc'd in him whom she dreaded as an Enemy the Goodness and Piety the Modesty and Regatd of all these Relations This Great Monarch being Dead and not having appointed a Successor there arose almost as many Kings as there were Governours of Provinces and Leaders in the Army Hence sprang Innumerable Confusions Wars and Disorders in the Empire There were Tumults and Insurrections in Greece especially at Athens where the Citizens under the Conduct of Leosthenes their Captain invited the Rest of the Grecians to assert their Liberty by taking Arms. Nor was there less stirs in Asia and Egypt Every where Mens Minds were unsetled and desirous of Novelty Ptolomy had Egypt for his Share of the Cantoniz'd Empire There he establish'd himself and his Posterity by the Name of Kings Seleucus took possession of Babylon and Syria with the same Title Cassander Reign'd over Macedon and Greece Antigonus govern'd Asia and Lysimachus Thrace But as Antigonus soon lost his Empire being overcome and kill'd in a Battel by Ptolomy and his Confederates So did the rest either in their own Persons or in their Posterity yield to the prevailing Fortune of their Enemies Till at length all these shatter'd Remains of the Macedonian Empire became Provinces of the Roman Of which I will say something in my next In the mean while I triumph to think that the Ottoman Empire now is become more Formidable Large and Victorious than all that went before it May God encrease the Felicities and Honours of True Believers till the Day of the Final Metamorphosis Paris 12th of the 4th Moon of the Year 1678. LETTER II. To Musu Abul Yahyan Professor of Philosophy at Fez. I Received thy Venerable Dispatch with great Satisfaction and am glad to find thou art so far from being tir'd with what I have already said concerning Constantinople that thou challengest me with a Promise I formerly made thee of giving thee a farther Account of what I have observed there most remarkable In describing this Imperial City I have imitated the Painters who when they wou'd draw a Beauty to the Life do not go Arithmetically to work or observe any Order in their rough Draughts But following the Conduct of a wild and strong Fancy they dash their Pencil here and there as that Volatile Faculty inspires 'em regarding only the Symmetry of the Picture without preferring one Part to another or being curious in delineating every little Singularity So I in pourtraying this Queen of Cities this superlative Beauty of the whole Earth draw my Strokes at Random not designing to present thee with an Anatomy-Lecture over her or to unveil all her interior Secrets But only to give thee a transient View of those Parts which appear most Eminent and attract the Eyes of all Travellers And this I do not perform all at once 'twere too great a Task but even like them by Fits and Starts as I find my Opportunities I have hitherto presented thee with a Prospect of very magnificent and curious Objects as Temples Mosques Aqueducts Columns Obelisks Bazars c. Now prepare thine Eyes for an Entertainment of another Nature I will shew thee Things though perhaps not so illustrious to outward Appearance or strutting with Royal Grandure yet sufficiently Great and Splendid to perpetuate the Memory of the Founders and to convey their Fame to all Generations Things also of publick Use and Service Designs of Charity Policy and generous Wisdom Undertakings of a Noble and Heroick Character as thou wilt perceive by the following Account No Traveller can survey the Streets of Constantinople and
their Posterity live to this Day As to the Manners of the Modern Swiss they answer exactly the ancient Character being wholly addicted to War hardy to bear all Inconveniencies of Hunger Thirst Cold and other Afflictions of Nature Providence Destiny or Chance A little Money serves their Turn to defray the Expences of eating their Diet being very plain and ordinary consisting chiefly of Milk and Cheese If they are chargeable in any Thing 't is in Wine and other strong Liquors For you shall find but mean and squalid Houses and contemptible Furniture and they wear Garments answerable to the Rest But they are given to Drinking above Measure They will consume whole Days and Nights successively without Intermission in their drunken Debauches Nor can any Friendship be contracted among them but over their Cups For he who drinks most and is most Frolicksome and Debonaire he is taken for a Man of Integrity Whereas he that seems timorous of his Health or makes any frivolous Excuses is look'd upon as a sneaking Fellow not worthy of such good Company Nay sometimes their Madness grows to that heighth as to set a Dagger to his Threat who refuses to pledge in his Turn And yet after all this Reproach it must be confess'd That these People are very Prudent and Circumspect both in their Private and Publick Affairs For notwithstanding the Pleasure they take in liberal Compotations yet every Man when the Frolick is over is intent on his Business using double Industry and Diligence to make good the Expences of his last Vanity They Work to Drink and Drink that they may better Work again So in the Publick 't is evident that they are not defective in Policy since they have been able for so many Centuries of Years to maintain their Union and Confederated Liberties against so many Princes who have endeavour'd to bring them under a Foreign Yoke And not only so but such is the Singularity of their Conduct that the most mighty Monarchs in Europe are glad to enter into a League with them and send Yearly vast Sums of Money Thou wilt not after what I have said expect to find in Swisserland the Riches of Arabia and Babylon nor the rest of the Luxious and Magnificent Superfluities of the East The Situation of the Country and Nature of the Soil denies these glittering Vanities It is sufficient that it brings forth enough to Nourish the Inhabitants They fear no Foreign Invasion both on the Account of this National Poverty and the Inaccessible Heights of the Alpes with which they are on all sides environ'd as by a Wall Add to this the invincible Resolution of the People who abhor and fear Subjection more than Death it self So that no Prince in Europe dares or thinks it worth his while to carry a War into this Country knowing that if he shou'd conquer it the Revenues with all the Spoil of his new-gotten Possessions would not counterbalance the Expences of one short Campaign Besides their Union is so strict and close that it is almost impossible to break or dissolve it Then they have some very strong Cities Castles Forts and other Places of Defence which wou'd give no small Diversion and Incumbrance to him who should undertake such an Expedition In fine such are their Circumstances That all the Courts round about them think it safer to court this untameable Nation than to threaten or huff them I will relate to thee a Story by way of Instance or Example From whence thou may'st comprehend more clearly the Humour of this People In former Times as I have already said Swisserland was a Province of the German Empire or at least reputed so And there were certain Prefects or Governours set over them by Caesar on succeeding another Some of these for their Insolence were driven out of the Nation others were kill'd by Reason of their Tyrannous and cruel Practices Among the rest one of these Governours being disgusted at a certain Swiss commanded him to be York'd with Oxen that drew Burdens in a Cart. But when neither by fair nor foul Means they could force him to this vile Condescension he commanded his Eyes to be put out Which was done accordingly This was murmur'd at But being the first Essay of his Cruel Disposition they wink'd at it A while after the same Governour commanded a Woman in her Husband's Absence to prepare a hot Bath for him Which when the chaste Matron refus'd to perform till her Husband came home he struck her dead with an Axe This also though heightning the Choler of the Swiss was pass'd by in Meditation of future Revenge At last he grew so foolishly proud and imperious that walking one Day in the Streets of the City he stuck his Cane in the Ground and plac'd his Turbant or Bonnet thereon commanding all that pass'd by to give Honour to it Which when a certain honest Swiss refus'd to do he commanded him to strike off an Apple from his Son's Head with a Short from his Cross-bow The good Father for a long Time refused thus to hazard his Son's Life But being overcome by the Tyrant's importunate Menaces he rather ventur'd to trust to Providence the Life of his Son than to Sacrifice both that and his own to the Implacable Malice of a Barbarian So he shot and hit the Apple off without touching his Son's Head The Governour seeing this and taking notice that he brought two Arrows with him asked him the Reason of it To whom the Swiss answered If I had shot amiss and hurt my Son with the first Arrow I was resolved to have pierced thy Heart with the second Upon this all the People gave a Shout and running together seis'd upon the Governour and tore him to Pieces Neither would they ever afterwards endure or admit any Man into their Cities from the Emperor unless he came in the Quality of an Embassador Serene Minister if these Memoirs are in the least acceptable to thee 't is but to command and thou shalt find I have a Stock not easie to be exhausted Adieu adieu for the present May the Curtains of God's Pavilion be unfurl'd about us to skreen us from the Injuries of Daemons who hunt by Night for Mortals For 't is now their Hour Paris 6th of the 2d Moon of the Year 1679. LETTER VII To Dgnet Oglou at Damascus I Could hardly believe my own Eyes when I first read thy Letter and understood that thou art turn'd Husbandman at last and setled in a Place the most delectable on Earth the very Center and Rendezvouz of all Pleasures and whatsoever is agreeable to Mortals Thou art a wary Man resolved to be sure of one Paradise at least though it be by Mortgaging thy Title to the other Thou wilt not suffer God Almighty to go upon Tick with thee nor trust all his Promises for Heaven in Reversion Yet I cannot discommend thy Cautiousness We know not what shall befall us after Death and therefore Nature prompts us to secure to
Routed and Overcome After which the Roman King caused the Traytor Metius Tufetius to be tied with Cords to Two Chariots and torn in Pieces by Wild Horses He also ruin'd and quite demolish'd Alba not looking on that City now as the Parent but the Rival of Rome However he first transported to Rome all the Riches of Alba with the Inhabitants that so that City might not seem to perish but only to remove its Situation and be Incorporated with Rome Ancus Marcius succeeded Tullus Hostilius being the Grandchild of Numa by his Daughter He inherited his Qualities also as well as his Blood He encompass'd the City with Walls and joyn'd the Banks of Tyber which ran through the Middle of it with a Bridge He likewise built the Port Ostia just by the Mouth of the River where it flows into the Sea planting there a Colony of Romans as if he had then Presag'd what afterwards came to pass That the Merchandizes of the World should be brought in thither as into the Maritime Store-house of the City destin'd to conquer all Things Him succeeded Tarquinius afterwards surnam'd Priscus He was of Foreign Extraction yet obtain'd the Sovereignty by his Elegance and Wit For being the Son of Lucumo a Corinthian who abandon'd his Country and fled into Toscany where he was made King this Tarquinius polishing his Greek Nature with Italian Arts insinuated so far with the Romans that they chose him for their King He augmented the Number of Senators and added Three Hundred Soldiers to the Troops that were already establish'd Which was all he durst do in Regard Attius Navius an Augur in High Request among the Romans had forbid any greater Number to be added These Augurs were a sort of Diviners who foretold Things to come from the Chirping Flying Feeding and other Actions of Birds Tarquinius one Day ask'd this Attius Navius Whether the Thing could possibly be done which he had then thought upon The Augur consulting his Art answer'd It might be done Then said the King I was considering whether I could cut this Whet-stone with a Razor Yes you may replied Attius And the King did it From that Time the College of Augurs first Founded by Romulus was had in Sacred Esteem by the Romans I should have call'd them the Triumvirate of Augurs for there were but Three at first one out of every Tribe But Servius Tullius the next King added a Fourth These were all Nobles But afterwards they were increas'd to Nine and last of all to Fifteen in the Dictatorship of Silla To return to Tarquinius He was no less prosperous in War than in Peace for he subdued Twelve Cities of the Toscans with the Territories belonging to them He invented Robes and Ensigns of State the Ivory-Seats of Chariots wherein the Senators were carried to the Council the Gold-Rings and Magnificent Horse-Trappings which were given to the Roman Knights as Badges of Honour Also the Purple and Scarlet-Robes the Triumphal Chariot of Gold the Painted Phrygian Robe worn by a Victorious General when he celebrated a Triumph With many other Ornaments and Publick Decorations to set forth the Majesty and Grandeur of the Roman State Tarquinius being mortally wounded his Wife Tanaquil persuaded the People that all was well with him that his Wounds were not dangerous that he was only laid in a Slumber and that in a little Time they should fee him Well again In the Mean while she said it was his Will and Pleasure that they should obey Servius Tullius a Favourite of hers who would administer Justice and govern the People wisely during the King's Illness This Servius Tullius was the Son of a Prince in Latium who being kill'd in a Battel with the Romans his Wife was carried Captive to Rome and being presented to Queen Tanaquil liv'd free from Servitude under her Protection And being with Child was deliver'd of Servius Tullius in Tanaquil's Palace The Queen stook a Singular Fancy to the Noble Infant and gave him Royal Education presaging from a Flame which she saw environing his Head that he would be a Famous Man in Time 'T was for this Reason she persuaded the People to receive him as the King's Substitute or Deputy for a While Not doubting but that after they had tasted the Sweetness of his Government and the Death of Tarquin should be known they would easily submit to him as Tarquin's Successor Her Stratagem had its desir'd Effect For Servius Tullius improv'd his Time so well in pleasing the People that the Kingdom which he obtain'd by Craft was acknowledg'd by all as due to his Merits and Vertues He first brought the People of Rome under an Assessment whereby every Man's Estate was valu'd He divided them into Classes Wards and Colleges And the Commonwealth was brought into such Order by the Exquisite Policy of this Wise King that the Difference of every Man's Patrimony Dignity Age Trade and Office was Register'd in Publick Tables Which render'd the Oeconomy of this Great State as regular and easie as that of a Private Family or House The Last of all the Kings was Tarquinius Surnam'd The Proud for the Morose and Disdainful Haughtiness of his Temper He married the Daughter of Servius Tullius in Hopes of Succeeding in the Kingdom But he not having Patience to wait for the Natural Death of his Father-in-Law hired Ruffians to Murder him and then seiz'd upon the Kingdom by Violence Neither did he govern the State with less Wickedness and Cruelty than that by which he obtain'd it For he denied Burial to his Murder'd Father-in-Law Saying That he deserv'd not Better Vsage than Romulus who perish'd without a Sepulchre He also slew the Chiefs of the Nobles whom he suspected to be of Servius's Interest And his Wife Tullia was as bad as he For as soon as she had saluted her Husband by the Title of King she caus'd her self to be driven in a Chariot over the Dead Carcase of her Father Both of them exercis'd Great Cruelty and massacred many of the Senators But the Pride of Tarquin was intolerable to all Till at Length when he had spent enough of his Rage at Home he turn'd it against his Foreign Enemies Abroad and took many Strong Towns in Latium However Notwithstanding all his Vices he gave the World this Proof of his Piety That put of the Spoils which he took from his Enemies he rais'd Mony and finish'd therewith the Temple of Jupiter in the Capitol which his Father Tarquinius Priscus had begun The Story says That as they were Laying the Foundations of this Temple they found the Head of a Man which they interpreted as a Good Omen That Rome should be the Seat of a Vast Empire and Mistress of the whole Earth as it afterwards came to pass The People of Rome bore with the Pride of Tarquin but would not bear with the Lust and Tyranny of his Sons one of which ravish'd Lucretia a Woman of Admirable Beauty and Vertue The Chaste Matron expiated the Disgrace by
as a Dream And so inveterate was their Aversion for Kings that they expell'd Collatinus from the City only because he was Nephew to Tarquin the Proud whose Name also he bore Valerius Publicolâ— was substituted in his Stead A Man singularly devoted to the publick Good He own'd himself the Creature of the People and gave Power of Appealing from him to them And lest he might offend them by the Lofty Building of his House which also standing on a Rock seem'd strong as a Castle he pulld down the Upper Stories and made it level with Ordinary Houses Brutus's Collegue was no less studious than he to gain the Favour of the Citizens even with the Destruction and Slaughter of his own Children For When he perceiv'd his Sons Conspiring to restore the Abrogated Monarchy he brought them forth into the Forum or Market-place and having caus'd them to be scourg'd with Rods he beheaded them Thus demonstrating That as a Parent of the People he Adopted them in the Room of his Persidious Children The Romans being from this Time made perfectly Free first took up Arms in Defence of their New-gotten Liberty against the Neighbouring Kings Next for the Bounds of their Dominions Then for their Confederates And last of all for Glory and Empire Being on every Side invaded and molested by the Adjacent People For they had no Territories within the Walls of their City So that they were no sooner out of the Gates but they were exposed to the Toscans and Latines between whom the City was seated as it were in the Middle Therefore resolving to inlarge their Territories they took one City and Province after another till at length they became Masters of all Italy Their First Expedition was against Porsena King of the Toscans who took the Field with a great Army having the Tarquins along with him whom he undertook to re-establish in the Throne of their Fathers He made fierce and resolute Advances possessing himself of the Hill Janiculum and the Avenues of the City where he besieged them close and pressed them with Famin. Yet the Romans sustain'd all with Admirable Bravery And their stout Resistance had this Effect that at length Porsena when he had almost vanquish'd them made a League of Peace He was chiefly mov'd to this by those Prodigies and Miracles of Roman Fortitude Horatius Cocles Mutius Scaevola and Clelia The First of which when he was not able alone to keep off the unequal Throng of his Enemies every where crowding on him at length broke down the Bridge and swam cross the Tyber with his Weapons in Hand The Second attempting to kill Porsena in his own Camp When by Mistake he had instead of the King stabb'd his Vizir or Secretary and for that Fact was seized He thrust his Right Hand that was guilty of the Error into the Fire Saying with a Menacing Voice Think not thy self the safer O King because thou hast escaped my Hand since there yet remain Three Hundred Romans who have all sworn to make the same Attempt Porsena trembled and was astonish'd at the Boldness of the Man whilst Mutius stood still undaunted with his Hand broiling in the Fire as a Demonstration of his invincible Constancy and of the Truth of what he affirm'd Thus did those Two Famous Men behave themselves And as if a Glorious Envy had fermented the Vertue of the Female Sex A certain Noble Virgin call'd Clelia who was given in Hostage to King Porsena escap'd her Guards by Night and mounting a Horse which she found in the Way swam over the Tyber on him Porsena as if he were terrifyed at the Fortune and stupendous Resolution of the Romans consented to a Peace But the Latins would not let them rest so For they also attempted to restore the Tarquins not so much in Love to them as out of Spight to the Inhabitants of Rome being desirous to see that People at least subjugated at Home who Lorded iâ— so Abroad There was a Bloody Fight between 'em and the Fame goes That Two Gods Castor and Pollux were present on white Horses as Spectators of the Combat Wherefore after the Romans had gotten the Victory they built a Temple to these Warlike Deities as a Stipend or Reward to their Champions And thus far they fought for Liberty which having successfully asserted and established they were involv'd in Fresh Wars about the Confines of their Dominion It would be too tedious to rehearse the various Battles and Encounters between them and the Neighbouring Nations wherein at last they always got the Victory and extended the Limits of their Empire far and wide Such also and so prodigious were the Actions Exploits and hardy Performances of this stout People that when King Pyrrhus consider'd it he brake forth into this Exclamation How easie were it said he to obtain the Empire of the World were Pyrrhus King of the Romans or the Romans Soldiers to Pyrrhus Yet as fast as this Victorious People enlarg'd their Territories Abroad so did their Seditions and Tumults encrease at Home raised by the Ambition of some and the Discontent of others 'till at length they had entirely subdued all Italy to their Obdience In which Enterprize they spent Five Hundred Years before they brought it to Perfection Then like a Fire which devours all the Wood it meets in its Way till its Fury be stopp'd by the Intercourse of some River so the Romans ceas'd not to conquer to the very Shores of Italy But when they consider'd Sicily as a most Rich and plentiful Island only rent as it were by some Injurious Stroke of Time or Fate or Chance from their Continent they resolved to unite these again by Arms and War which cou'd not be joyn'd together by Bridges or Peers And a very favourable Opportunity presented it self to them for this Purpose whilst the Confederated People of Messina the Chief Mart of that Island complain'd of the Tyranny practised by the Carthaginians At that Time Rome and Carthage were Aemulous of each other Both equally Rivals for Sicily and the Empire of the World Therefore under a Mask of helping their Friends and Allies the Romans betook themselves to the Sea but with Real Designs to Enrich themselves with Booty and adding this Island to their Empire Whilst the Carthaginians appear'd like Open Enemies and Pyrates without any Disguise These having lost their Fleets in various Conflicts their Fate yielding to that of Rome the Romans made Sicily a Tributary Province and then reduc'd Sardinia and Corsica Thus having expell'd the Carthaginians out of all the Islands of the Mediterranean Sea there remain'd Nothing for them to Conquer on that Side but Africk it self Where also they Landed and took above Three Hundred Places of Strength in a short Time Though they were stoutly oppos'd not only by Men but also by Monsters For a certain Stupendous Great Serpent a Hundred and Twenty Foot in Length Annoyed their Camp very much near the River Bragada as if this Dreadful Beast had come