DELPHES and for euery priuate Captaine of the gallies in like case and the two starres of Castor Pollux in golde besides which vanished away a litle before the battell of Leuctres and no man knewe what became of them Againe in the chamber of the treasory of Brasidas and of the ACANTHIANS there was also a galley made of gold and iuory of two cubittes long which Cyrus sent vnto him after the victory he had wonne by sea of the ATHENIANS And furthermore Alexandrides the historiographer borne at DEEPHES wryteth that the selfe same Lysander had left there to be kept safe a tallent of siluer two fifty Minas and eleuen peeces of gold called Stateres But all this accordeth not with the which all the other historiographers write agreeing of his pouerty But Lysander being aâ—â—â— then and of greater power then euer any GREECIAN was before him caried a greater poâ—e and countenaunce then became his ability For as Duris writeth he was the first of the GREECIANS vnto whome they did euer erect any aulters and offer sacrifice vnto as a god and in honor of whom they did first sing any hvmnes and at this day there is yet good memory of one which beganne in this maner The noble Captaines praise vve meane to celebrate Of Greece that land vvhich is deuine in euery kinde of state Euen be vvhich vvas both borne and brought to high renovvne VVithin the noble vvealthie vvalles of Sparta stately tovvne The SAMIANS by publicke decree ordained that the feastes of Iuno which were called in their city Heroea should be called Lysandria Lysander had euer one Cherilus a SPARTAN Poet about him to wryte and set forth all his doinges in verse An other Poet called Antilocus one day made certaine verses in his praise which pleased him so well that he gaue him his have full of siluer There were two other Poets Antimachus COLOâ—â—â—ONIAN and NICERAUS borne as HERACLEA which did both wryte verses to honor him striuing whether of them should do best Lysander iudged the crowne and victory vnto Niceraus where with Antimachus was so angry that he rased out all that he had writteÌ„ of him But Plato who at that time was young loued Antimachus bicause he was an excellent Poet did comforte him and tolde him that ignoraunce did blinde the vnderstanding of the ignoraunt as blindenes doth the fight of the blinde Aristonous an excellent player of the citerne one that had six times worthe the prises of the Pythian games to winne Lysanders fauor promised him that if once he wanne the prise of his arte againe he would cause him selfe to be proclaimed Lysanders slaue This ambition of Lysander was very odious and grieuous only vnto great persones and men of his estate but besides his ambition in th ende he became very prowde and cruel through the 〈…〉 of his followers and them that courted him so that he exceeded in recompencing his frendes as also in punishinge of his enemies For to gratifie his frendes and familiars he gaue them absolute power and authority of life and death in their townes and cities and to pacific and appeease his anger where he once hated there was no other way but death without all possibilitie of pardon And that he plainly shewed afterwards in the city of MILETVM where fearing least they would flie that tooke parte with the people bicause he would haue them appeare that hid them selues he gaue his word and sware that he would doe them no hurt at all The poore men gaue credit to his worde But so soone as they came out and did appeare he deliuered them all into the handes of their aduersaries which were the chiefest of the nobility to put them all to death they were no lesse then eight hundred men one without other He caused great murders of people to also be done in other cities for he did not only put them to death that had priuatly offended him but numbers besides onely to satisfie and reuenge the priuate quarrells enmities and couetousnes of his frendes whom he had in euery plate And therefore was Eteocles LACEDAEMONIAN greatly commended for his saying that GREECE could not abide two Lysanders Theophrastus wryteth also that the very like was spoken of Alcibiades by Archestratus Howbeit in Alcibiades there was nothing but his insolency and vaine glory that men misliked but in Lysander a seuere nature and sharpe condicions than made his power fearfull intollerable Neuerthelesse the LACEDAEMONIANS passed ouer all other complaintes exhibited against him sauing when they heard the complaints of Pharnabazus who purposely sent Ambassadors vnto them to complaine of the wrongs and iniuries Lysander had done him spoyling and destroying the contry vnder his gouernment Then the Ephori being offended with him clapped vp Thorax in prison one of his frendes and Captaines that had serued vnder him and finding that he had both gold and siluer in his house contrary to the law put him to death And to him selfe they sent immediatly that which they call Scytala as who would say the scrolle wrytten apon a rounde staffe commaunding him that he should retorne immediatly apon receite thereof The Scytala is in this sorte When the Ephori doe sende a Generall or an Admirall to the warres they cause two litlerounde staues to be made of the like bignes and length of which the Ephori doe keepe the tone and thother they geue to him whome they sende to the warres These two litle slaues they call Soytales Nowe when they will aduertise their Generall secretly of matters of importaunce they take a scrolle of parchement long and narrowe like a leather thonge and wreath it about the round staffe leauinge no voyde space betwene the knottes of the scrowle Afterwardes when they haue bound them fast together then they wryte vppon the parchment thus rolled what they will and when they haue done wryting vnfolde it and sende it to their Generall who can not else possibly read it to know what is writteÌ„ bicause the letters are not ioined together not follow in order but are scattered here and there vntill he take his litle rowle of wodde which was geuen him at his departure And then wreathing the scrowle of parchment about it which he receaueth the folding and wreathes of the parchment falling iust into the selfe same place as they were first folded the letters also come to ioyne one with an other as they ought to doe This litle scrowle of parchement also is called as the rowle of wodde Scytala euen as we commonly see in many places that the thing measured is also called by the name of the measure When this parchement scrowle was brought vnto Lysander who was then in the contrie of HELLESPONT he was maruelously troubled withall fearing aboue all other thinges the accusations of Pharnabazus so he sought meanes to speake with him before he departed Hoping thereby to make his peace with him When they were
they sawe howe by this diligence Eumenes had in so shorte a time gotten about him such a number as sixe thowsand three hundred horsemen About that time Craterus and Antigonus hauing subdued the GRAECIANS came on with their army into ASIA to ouerthrow Perdiccas greatnes and power and newes also that shortly they would inuade CAPPADOCIA Whereupon Perdiccas being otherwise occupied in warres fighting against Ptolomye made Eumenes his Lieutenaunt generall and gaue him commission and full authoritie ouer all his souldiers that were for him either in CAPPADOCIA or in ARMENIA and wrote letters vnto Neoptolemus and Alcetas commaunding them by the same that they should be obedient vnto Eumenes and suffer him to order all matters according to his discretion Now for Alcetas he flatly aunswered that he would not be at this warre for the MACEDONIANS vnder his charge were ashamed to take armes against Antipater and moreouer they would not fight against Craterus but contrarily were bent to receiue him for their Captaine so much good will they bare him Neoptolemus on thother side was as ready to play the traitor and to doe Eumenes a shrewde turne as Alcetas was For being sent for by Eumenes to come to him where he should haue obeyed him he set his men in battell ray to fight with him There did Eumenes reape the first frute of his wise foresight of the horsemen which he had set vp to make head against the footemen of the MACEDONIANS For when his owne footemen were broken and ouerthrowen he ouercame Neoptolemus and put him to flight with his horsemen and tooke all his cariage Then he made them march in order of battell against the MACEDONIANS who were dispersed euery where following the chase of his footemen whom they had ouerthrowen Thus cōming apon them in this disorder he draue them to throwe away their weapons and to yeelde vnto him and moreouer euerie man to take his othe to serue him faithfully in this warre wheresoeuer he would lead them Now Neoptolemus gathering a few together that fled went with them vnto Craterus and Antipater who sent vnto Eumenes to pray him to take their parte with condition that he should not onely enioy the contries and prouinces still which he had in gouernment but furthermore that they would geue him others vnto them and make him stronger then euer he was besides that by thacceptation of thoffer he should be taken for Antipaters good frend where before he was euer reckoned his enemy Whereunto Eumenes made aunswere that hauing alwayes bene Antipaters enemy he could not of a sodaine become his frend specially seeing him vse his frendes as enemies howebeit otherwise that he was very willing to make Craterus peace with Perdiccas and to restore him againe to his fauor apon reasonable indifferent condicions And furthermore that if he ment to assaile him that then he would aide him so longe as he had any breath in his bodie and would lose his life before he woulde breake his promise This aunswere being brought vnto Antipater they fel to consult at leasure what was to be done In the meane space Neoptolemus that fled apon his ouerthrowe was come vnto them who told them how the battell was fought and besought them both verie instantly but Craterus chiefly to geue him aide if it were possible For the MACEDONIANS were so farre in loue with him that if they did but see his hatte and heare him speake they would all arme them selues and follow him For to speake a troth Craterus was had in great estimation amōg the MACEDONIANS insomuch as after Alexanders death he was more desired of the common souldiers than any other Captaine remembring how often he had for their sakes incurred Alexanders disgrace and displeasure bicuase he went about to perswade him to leaue the king of PERSIAES maner whereunto Alexander by litle and litle gaue him selfe and also for that he maintained and defended the customes of the contry of MACEDON the which euery man through pride and excesse beganne to forsake and contemne At that time therefore Craterus sent Antipater into CILICIA and he him selfe with Neoptolemus went against Eumenes with the best parte of his army hoping to take him tardy and altogether vnprouided supposing he would geue him selfe to pleasure and pastime after so late a victorie But Eumenes like a wise and vigilant Captaine had taken such order that he heard newes time enough of his enemies comming and had thereupon prepared his men in readines to resist him Yet was not this the chiefest point of his skill in warre For he looked so precisely to his doings that he did not only kepe his enemies frō knowledge of any thing that he did but making his men also to kill Craterus in battell before they knew against whom they should fight and to keepe also so dreadfull an enemie from their knowledge that of all others shewed the passing skill of an expert Captaine And to worke this feate the better this was his policie First he made a rumor to be spred in his host how Neoptolemus Pigres were againe comen against him with certaine horsemen of all sortes gathered together CAPPADOCIANS and PAPHLAGONIANS And when he thought to haue remoued in the night a great desire of sleepe came apon him in the which he had a maruelous straunge dreame For it seemed vnto him that he saw two Alexanders preparing to fight one with an other either of them leading a battell of footemen ranged after the MACEDONIAN facion who comming to geue charge th one apon the other came the goddesse Minerus to aide the one and Ceres likewise to ayde the other Then him thought that after they had fought a long time together he whom Minerus aided was ouerthrowen and that Ceres had gathered eares of corne and made a crowne of them to geue him that had wonne the field Hereupon Eumenes perswaded him selfe that this dreame made for him and promised him victorie for that he fought for a fertile contrie of corne where was great plenty of it For all the fields were sowen with corne in euery place that it was a pleasure to behold it showing the benefit of long peace to see all the corne fields how greene they looked But whē he vnderstoode that the enemies had giuen their souldiers for the signall of battell Minerus and Alexander then was his first imagination confirmed more then before Whereuppon he gaue Ceres and Alexander for signall of the battell to his souldiers and commaunded euery man to make them a garlande of wheate eares to weare on their heades and that they should wreath flowers and nose gayes about their pikes He was in a minde many times to make his trustiest Captaines priuie against whome they should fight and not alone to trust him selfe withall to keepe so necessary a thing as that secret yet in fine he kept his first resolution thinking it the safest way not to commit this daunger but to him selfe Now when he came to geue battell
but rather Philosopher saying that Philosophie was his chiefest profession that for his eloquence he did not vse it but as a necessary instrument to one that pleadeth in the common wealth But glory and opinion hath great power to take mans reason from him euen like a culler from the minds of them that are common pleaders in matters of state and to make them feele the selfe same passions that common people doe by dayly frequenting their companie vnles they take great heede of them and that they come to practise in the common wealth with this resolute minde to haue to doe with the like matters that the common people haue but not to entangle them selues with the like passions and moodes by the which their matters doe rise Nowe Clodius was not contented that he had banished Cicero out of ITALY but further he burnt all his houses in the contry and his house also in ROME standing in the market place of the which he built a temple of libertie and caused his goods to be solde by the cryer so that the cryer was occupied all daye long crying the goods to be sold and no man offered to buye any of them The chiefest men of the citie beginning to be afrayd of these violent parts and hauing the common people at his commaundement whom he had made very bold and insolent he beganne to inuey against Pompey and spake ill of his doings in the time of his warres the which euery man els but him self did commend Pompey then was very angry with him selfe that he had so forsaken Cicero and repented him of it and by his friendes procured all the meanes he could to call him home againe from his banishment Clodius was against it all he could The Senate notwithstanding with one full consent ordeyned that nothing should be established for the common wealth before Ciceroes banishment were first repealed Lentulus was at that tyme Consul and there grewe such an vprore and sturre apon it that some of the Tribunes were hurt in the market place and Quintus Cicero the brother of Cicero was slayne and hidden vnder the deade bodies Then the people beganne to chaunge their mindes And Annius Milo one of the Tribunes was the first man that durst venter vpon Clodius and bringe him by force to be tryed before the Iudges Pompey him selfe also hauing gotten a great number of men about him aswell of the citie of ROME as of other townes adioyning to it beeing strongly garded with them he came out of his house and compelled Clodius to get him out of the market place and then called the people to giue their voyces for the calling home agayne of Cicero It is reported that the people neuer passed thinge with so great good will nor so wholy together as the returne of Cicero And the Senate for their partes also in the behalfe of Cicero ordeyned that the cities which had honored and receiued Cicero in his exile shoulde be greatly commended and that his houses which Clodius had ouerthrowen and rased should be reedified at the charge of the common wealth So Cicero returned the sixtenth moneth after his banishment and the townes and cities he came by shewed them selues so ioyfull of his returne that all manner of men went to meete and honor him with so great loue and affection that Ciceroes reporte thereof afterwardes came in deede short of the very truth as it was For he sayde that ITALY brought him into ROME vpon their shoulders Insomuch as Crassus him selfe who before his banishment was his enemie went then with very good will vnto him and became his friende saying that he did it for the loue of his sonne who loued Cicero with all his hart Nowe Cicero beeing returned he found a tyme when Clodius was out of the citie and went with a good companie of his friendes vnto the Capitoll and there tooke away the tables and brake them in the which Clodius had written all his actes that he had passed and done in the tyme of his Tribuneship Clodius would afterwardes haue accused Cicero for it But Cicero aunswered him that he was not lawfully created Tribune bicause he was of the PATRICIANS and therefore all that he had done in his Tribuneship was voyde and of none effect Therewith Cato was offended and spake against him not for that he liked any of Clodius doings but to the contrary vtterly misliked all that he did but bicause he thought it out of all reason that the Senate shoulde cancell all those thinges which he had done and passed in his Tribuneship and specially bicause amongest the rest that was there which he him selfe had done in the I le of CYPRVS and in the citie of BYZANTIVM Hereuppon there grewe some straungenes betwixt Cicero and Cato the which notwithstanding brake not out to open enmitie but onely to an abstinence of their wonted familiaritie and accesse one to another Shortly after Milo slue Clodius Milo beeing accused of murder prayed Cicero to pleade his cause The Senate fearing that this accusation of Milo who was a hardie man and of qualitie besides woulde moue some sedition and vprore in the citie they gaue commission to Pompey to see iustice executed aswell in this cause as in other offences that the citie might be quiet and iudgement also executed with safetie Thereuppon Pompey the night before tooke the highest places of the market place by his souldiers that were armed whome he placed thereabout Milo fearing that Cicero woulde bee affraied to see suche a number of harnest men about him beeing no vsuall matter and that it might peraduenture hinder him to pleade his cause well he prayed him he woulde come betymes in the morning in his litter into the market place and there to staye the comming of the Iudges till the place were full For Cicero was not onely fearefull in warres but timerous also in pleading For in deede he neuer beganne to speake but it was in feare and when his eloquence was come to the best proofe and perfection he neuer left his trembling and timerousnes Insomuch that pleading a case for Mutius Muraena accused by Cato striuing to excell Hortensius whose pleading was very well thought of he tooke no rest all night and what through watching and the trouble of his minde he was not very well so that he was not so well liked for his pleading as Hortensius So going to defend Miloes cause when he came out of his litter and sawe Pompey set aloft as if he had beene in a campe and the market place compassed about with armed men glistering in euery corner it so amated him that he could scant facion him selfe to speake all the partes of him did so quake and tremble and his voyce could not come to him But Milo on the other side stoode boldly by him him selfe without any feare at all of the iudgement of his cause nether did he let his heere growe as other men
this state at ROME Octauius Caesar the younger came to ROME who was the sonne of Iulius Caesars Nece as you haue heard before and was left his lawefull heire by will remayning at the tyme of the death of his great Vncle that was slayne in the citie of APOLLONIA This young man at his first arriuall went to salute Antonius as one of his late dead father Caesars friendes who by his last will and testament had made him his heire and withall he was presently in hande with him for money and other thinges which were left of trust in his handes bicause Caesar had by will bequeathed vnto the people of ROME three score and fifteene siluer Drachmas to be giuen to euery man the which he as heire stoode charged withall Antonius at the first made no reckoning of him bicause he was very younge and sayde he lacked witte and good friendes to aduise him if he looked to take such a charge in hande as to vndertake to be Caesars heire But when Antonius saw that he could not shake him of with those wordes and that he was still in hande with him for his fathers goods but specially for the ready money then he spake and did what he could against him And first of all it was he that did keepe him from being Tribune of the people and also when Octauius Caesar beganne to meddle with the dedicating of the chayer of gold which was prepared by the Senate to honor Caesar with he threatned to send him to prison and moreouer desisted not to put the people in an vnprore This young Caesar seeing his doings went vnto Cicero and others which were Antonius enemies and by them crept into fauor with the Senate and he him self sought the peoples good will euery manner of way gathering together the olde souldiers of the late deceased Caesar which were dispersed in diuers cities and colonyes Antonius being affrayd of it talked with Octauius in the capitoll and became his friend But the very same night Antonius had a straunge dreame who thought that lightning fell vpon him burnt his right hand Shortly after word was brought him that Caesar lay in waite to kil him Caesar cleered him selfe vnto him and told him there was no such matter but he could not make Antonius beleue the contrary Whereuppon they became further enemies then euer they were insomuch that both of them made friends of either side to gather together all the old souldiers through ITALY that were dispersed in diuers townes made them large promises sought also to winne the legions of their side which were already in armes Cicero on the other side being at that time the chiefest man of authoritie estimation in the citie he stirred vp al meÌ„ against Antonius so that in the end he made the Senate pronouÌ„ce him an enemy to his contry appointed young Caesar Sergeaunts to cary axes before him such other signes as were incident to the dignitie of a Consul or Praetor moreouer sent Hircius and Pausa then Consuls to driue Antonius out of ITALY These two Consuls together with Caesar who also had an armye went against Antonius that beseeged the citie of MODENA and there ouerthrew him in battell but both the Consuls were slaine there Antonius flying vpon this ouerthrowe fell into great miserie all at once but the chiefest want of all other that pinched him most was famine Howbeit he was of such a strong nature that by pacience he would ouercome any aduersitie and the heauier fortune lay vpon him the more constant shewed he him selfe Euery man that feleth want or aduersitie knoweth by vertue and discretion what he should doe but when in deede they are ouerlayed with extremitie and be sore oppressed few haue the harts to follow that which they praise and commend and much lesse to auoid that they reproue and mislike But rather to the contrary they yeld to their accustomed easie life and through faynt hart lacke of corage doe chaunge their first mind and purpose And therefore it was a wonderfull example to the souldiers to see Antonius that was brought vp in all finenes and superfluitie â—â— easily to drinke puddle water and to eate wild frutes and rootes and moreouer it is reported that euen as they passed the Alpes they did eate the barcks of trees and such beasts as neuer man tasted of their flesh before Now their intent was to ioyne with the legions that were on the other side of the Mountaines vnder Lepidus charge whoÌ„ Antonius tooke to be his friend bicause he had holpen him to many things at Caesars hand through his meanes When he was come to the place where Lepidus was he camped hard by him and when he saw that no man came to him to put him in any hope he determined to venter him selfe and to goe vnto Lepidus Since the ouerthrow he had at MODENA he suffred his beard to grow at length and neuer clypt it that it was maruelous long and the heare of his heade also without koming and besides all this he went in a mourning gowne and after this sort came hard to the trenches of Lepidus campe Then he beganne to speake vnto the souldiers and many of them their hartes yerned for pitie to see him so poorely arrayed and some also through his wordes beganne to pitie him insomuch that Lepidus beganne to be affrayd and therefore commaunded all the trompetts to sownd together to stoppe the souldiers eares that they should not harken to Antonius This notwithstanding the souldiers tooke the more pitie of him spake secretly with him by Clodius Laelius meanes whom they sent vnto him disguised in womens apparel gaue him counsel that he should not be affraid to enter into their campe for there were a great number of souldiers that would receiue him and kill Lepidus if he would say the word Antonius would not suffer them to hurt him but the next morning he went with his army to wade a ford at a litle riuer that ranne betweene them and him selfe was the foremost man that tooke the riuer to get ouer seeing a number of Lepidus campe that gaue him their handes plucked vp the stakes and layed flat the bancke of their trenche to let him in to their campe When he was come into their campe and that he had all the army at his commaundement he vsed Lepidus very curteously imbraced him and called him father and though in deede Antonius did all and ruled the whole army yet he alway gaue Lepidus the name and honor of the Captaine Munatius Plancus lying also in campe hard by with an armye vnderstanding the report of Antonius curtesie he also came and ioined with him Thus Antonius being a foote againe and growen of great power repassed ouer the Alpes leading into ITALY with him seuenteene legions and tenne thowsand horsemen besides six legions he left in garrison amonge the GAVLES vnder the charge of
owne money that should haue kept him in his banishment Furthermore Brutus and Cassius were compelled of necessity to make warres bicause they coulde not haue liued safelie in peace when they were driuen out of ROME for that they were condemned to death and pursued by their enemies And for this cause therefore they were driuen to hazard them selues in warre more for their owne safetie then for the libertie of their contrie men Whereas Dion on the other side liuing more merily and safelie in his banishment then the tyranne Dionysius him selfe that had banished him did put him selfe to the daunger to deliuer SICILE from bondage Nowe the matter was not a like vnto the ROMANES to be deliuered from the gouernment of Caesar as it was for the SYRACVSANS to be ridde of Dionysius tyrannie For Dionysius denyed not that he was not a tyranne hauing filled SICILE with suche miserie and calamitie Howebeit Caesars power and gouernment when it came to be established did in deede much hurt at his first entrie and beginning vnto those that did resist him but afterwardes vnto them that being ouercome had receiued his gouernment it seemed he rather had the name and opinion onely of a tyranne then otherwise that he was so in deede For there neuer followed any tyrannicall nor cruell act but contrarilie it seemed that he was a mercifull Phisition whom God had ordeyned of speciall grace to be Gouernor of the Empire of ROME and to set all thinges againe at quiet stay the which required the counsell and authoritie of an absolute Prince And therefore the ROMANES were maruelous sorie for Caesar after he was slaine and afterwardes would neuer pardon them that had slaine him On the other side the cause why the SYRACVSANS did most accuse Dion was bicause he did let Dionysius escape out of the castell of SYRACVSA and bicause he did not ouerthrow and deface the tombe of his father Furthermore towching the warres Dion alway shewed him selfe a Captaine vnreprouable hauing wiselie and skilfullie taken order for those things which he had enterprised of his owne head and counsell and did amende the faults others committed and brought things to better state then he found them Where it seemeth that Brutus did not wisely to receiue the second battell considering his rest stoode vpon it For after he had lost the battell it was vnpossible for him euer to rise againe therefore his hart failed him and so gaue vp all and neuer durst striue with his euill fortune as Pompey did considering that he had present cause enough in the field to hope of his souldiers and being beside a dreadfull Lorde all the sea ouer Furthermore the greatest reproache they could obiect against Brutus was that Iulius Caesar hauing saued his life and pardoned all the prisoners also taken in battell as many as he had made request for taking him for his frende and honoring him aboue all his other frends Brutus notwithstanding had imbrued his hands in his blood wherewith they could neuer reproue Dion For on the contrarie side so long as Dion was Dionysius frende and kinseman he did alway helpe him to order and gouerne his affaires But after he was banished his contrie and that his wife was forciblie maried to an other man and his goodes also taken from him then he entred into iust and open warres against Dionysius the tyranne But in this poynt they were contrarie together For wherein their chiefest praise consisted to witte in hating of tyrannes and wicked men it is most true that Brutus desire was most sincere of both For hauing no priuate cause of complaint or grudge against Caesar he ventred to kill him onely to set his contrie againe at libertie Where if Dion had not receiued priuate cause of quarrell against Dionysius he woulde neuer haue made warre with him The which Plato proueth in his Epistells where is plainlie seene that Dion being driuen out of the tyrans Court against his will and not putting him selfe to voluntarie banishment he draue out Dionysius Furthermore the respect of the common wealth caused Brutus that before was Pompeys enemie to become his frende and enemie vnto Caesar that before was his frend only referring his frendshippe and enmitie vnto the consideracion of iustice and equitie And Dion did many things for Dionysius sake and benefit all the while he trusted him and when he beganne to mistrust him then for anger he made warre with him Wherefore all his frendes did not beleue but after he had driuen out Dionysius he would stablish the gouernment to him selfe flattering the people with a more curteous and gentle title then the name of a tyranne But for Brutus his verie enemies them selues confessed that of all those that conspired Caesars death he only had no other ende and intent to attempt his enterprise but to restore the Empire of ROME againe to her former state gouernment And furthermore it was not all one thing to deale with Dionysius as it was to haue to doe with Iulius Caesar. For no man that knew Dionysius but would haue despised him considering that he spent the most parte of his time in drinking dycing and in haunting lewde womens company But to haue vndertaken to destroy Iulius Caesar and not to haue shroncke backe for feare of his great wisedom power and fortune considering that his name only was dreadfull vnto euerie man and also not to suffer the kings of PARTHIA and INDIA to be in rest for him this could not come but of a maruelous noble minde of him that for feare neuer fainted nor let fall any part of his corage And therefore so sone as Dion came into SICILIA many thowsands of men came and ioyned with him against Dionysius But the fame of Iulius Caesar did set vp his frends againe after his death and was of suche force that it raised a young stripling Octauius Caesar that had no meanes nor power of him selfe to be one of the greatest men of ROME and they vsed him as a remedie to encounter Antonius malice and power And if men will say that Dion draue out the tyran Dionysius with force of armes and sundrie battells and that in contrarie maner Brutus slue Caesar being a naked man and without gard then doe I aunswere againe that it was a noble parte and of a wise Captaine to choose so apt a time and place to come vppon a man of so great power and to finde him naked without his gard For he went not sodainlie in a rage and alone or with a small companie to assaile him but his enterprise was long time before determined of and that with diuers men of all the which not a man of them once fayled him but it is rather to be thought that from the beginning he chose them honest men or else that by his choyse of them he made them good men Whereas Dion either from the beginning made no wise choyse in trusting of euill men or else bicause he could not
the people dwelling alongest the sea coast commonlie called the riuer of CORINTHE who yeelded vp them selues holdes and townes into his hands he then intreuched in the castell of the Acrocorinthe with a great trench Furthermore when Aratus came to the citie of SICYONE many of the ACHAIANS gathered about him and holding a counsell and assemblie he was chosen their Lieutenaunt generall hauing absolute power and authoritie to doe what he would and gaue him of their owne citizens to gard his person So he hauing managed the affaires of the state and common wealth of the ACHAIANS the space of three and thirtie yeares together and hauing all that time bene counted of all men the chiefest man of power and authoritie in GRAECE he then found him selfe in poore estate forsaken and in great miserie as in the shippewracke of his contrie beaten with storme and in great daunger of him selfe For when he sent vnto the AETOLIANS for aide they flatly denied him and would send him none Furthermore the ATHENIANS being verie desirous to send aide for Aratus sake were disswaded from it through the practise of Euclidas Micion Aratus also had a house in CORINTHE where all his money was the which king Cleomenes at the first meddled not withall neither would suffer any other to touche it but sent for his frendes and officers and charged them to looke well to it to geue Aratus a good accompt of it afterwardes Furthermore he priuately sent Tripylus vnto him and his father in law Megistonus and offered him great gifts and speciallie an annuall pencion of twelue talents which was double as much as king Ptolomy gaue him who sent him yearely six talents Besides he only prayed the ACHAIANS that they would make him their Lieutenāt general also that the garrison in the castel of the Acrocorinthe might be deuided in common betwene them Aratus made aunswere that he had no absolute power in his hands and that it was in the ACHAIANS not in him Cleomenes thinking this but a deuise and excuse of Aratus he presentlie inuaded the contrie of the SICYONIANS and destroyed all as he came and continued the space of three moneths Aratus in the meane time stoode doutfull how to determine whether he should receiue king Antigonus or not bicause Antigonus would not aide him before he deliuered him the castell of the Acrocorinthe into his handes So the ACHAIANS meeting at the citie of AEGIVM to consult vpon it they sent for Aratus thither Howebeit it was daungerous comming thither bicause Cleomenes campe lay hard by the citie of SICYONE besides also that the citizens kept Aratus and helde him by force saying that they would not let him venter him selfe in such apparaunt daunger their enemies being so neere vnto them Moreouer the women and litle children hong about him weeping and compassing him about as their common father and sauior But Aratus comforting them bad them not be affrayed and so tooke his horse with ten of his frends and his sonne that was a young stripling growen and went towards the sea and imbarked in certaine shippes that roade at ancker Thence he sailed vnto AEGIVM where the diet or parlament was kept and there it was resolued that they should sende for Antigonus and deliuer the castell of the Acrocorinthe into his hands And so it was performed for Aratus sent thither his owne sonne among the other ostages The CORINTHIANS were so sore offended withall that they made hauocke of his goods and gaue his house he had in CORINTHE vnto king Cleomenes So king Antigonus being onwardes on his way to come into PELOPONNESVS with his armie bringing with him twentie thowsand footemen all MACEDONIANS foure hundred horsemen Aratus with the greatest states and officers of the ACHAIANS vnwitting to their enemies went to meete him as farre as the citie of PEGES hauing no great trust nor confidence in Antigonus nor the MACEDONIANS For he remembred verie well that he came first to his greatnes by the iniuries he had offered them and howe that the chiefest cause of his rising was the malice he bare vnto olde Antigonus Howbeit making vertue of necessitie and weying the instant occasion of their present extremitie of Gouernors to be driuen to be subiects he put him selfe in aduenture So when Antigonus was tolde that Aratus was comen in person to him hauing with good countenance after a common sort saluted those that came in his companie to Aratus selfe at his first comming he gaue him an honorable welcome and enterteinment Afterwardes also finding him a good and discreete man he fell into inward frendshippe and familiaritie with him For Aratus was not onely skilfull to geue direction in matters of state touching good order and gouernment but moreouer his companie conuersation was verie pleasaunt to entertaine a Princes leasure with Wherefore though Antigonus was but young at that time yet seeing throughly into Aratus nature and that he was a meete man to be well thought of and esteemed about a Prince he vsed his counsell and aduise more then any other mans in all matters not onely touching the affaires of the ACHAIANS but of the MACEDONIANS also And so all things came to passe which the goddes had promised in their sacrifices For in a beast that was sacrificed there were two galles wrapped in one selfe cawle the which the Soothsayers interpreted did prognosticate that two which before were mortall enemies should nowe become assured frendes But Aratus made no account of their prediction neither did also geue any credit to the sacrifices but trusted more to his owne determination So the warres afterwardes hauing good successe and Antigonus making a feast in the citie of CORINTHE where he had bidden many ghests he would nedes haue Aratus lye vpon him at the table and a litle while after commaunded his men to bring him a couerlet and turning to him asked him if he were not a colde Aratus aunswered him it freezed Then Antigonus bad him come neerer him when the seruaunts brought a couerlet for the king they cast it ouer them both Then Aratus remēbring the sacrifice fell a laughing and told their king what a wonder he had seene in the sacrifice what interpretation the Soothsayers made of it This was long after So Antigonus and Aratus being at that time in the citie of PEGES they were sworne brethren together and then went both with all speede against the enemies Thus there fell out hot skirmishes betwene them hard by the citie of CORINTHE For Cleomenes was verie well fortified and the CORINTHIANS valliantly defended them selues In the meane time Aristoteles of ARGOS Aratus frend secretlie sent him word that he would make the citie rebell if he came him selfe with any number of souldiers Aratus tolde it vnto king Antigonus who gaue him fifteene hundred men with the which he imbarked and passed ouer with great speede from the Isthmus or barre in the straight vnto the
as the Poet Pindarus writeth Demophon And for that the Historiographers doe not in anything speake against the tragicall Poets in that which concerneth the ill happe that chaunced to him in the persones of this his wife of his sonne we must needes take it to be so as we finde it written in the tragedies And yet we finde many other reportes touching the mariages of Theseus whose beginnings had no great good honest grouÌ„d neither fell out their endes very fortunate yet for all that they have made no tragedies of them neither haue they bene played in the Theaters For we reade that he tooke away Anaxo the TRâ—EZENIAN that after he had killed Sinnis and Cercyon he tooke their daughters perforce and that he dyd also marye Peribea the mother of Aiax and afterwards Pherebaea Ioppa the daughter of Iphicles And they blame him much also for that he so lightly forsooke his wife Ariadne for the loue of AEgles the daughter of Panopaeus as we haue recited before Lastely he tooke awaye Hellen which rauishement filled all the Realme of ATTICA with warres finally was the very occasion that forced him to forsake his countrye and brought him at the length to his ende as we will tell you hereafter Albeit in his time other princes of GRECE had done many goodly and notable exploits in the warres yet Herodotus is of opinion that Theseus was neuer in any one of them sauing that he was at the battell of the Lapithae against the Centauri Others saye to the contrarie that he was at the iorney of Cholchide with Iason that he dyd helpe Meleager to kill the wilde bore of Calydonia from whence as they saye this prouerbe came Not vvithout Theseus Meaning that suche a thing was not done without great helpe of another Howbeit it is certaine that Theseus self dyd many famous actes without ayde of any man and that for his valiantnes this prouerbe came in vse which is spoken This is another Theseus Also he dyd helpe Adrastus king of the ARGIVES to recouer the bodyes of those that were slayne in the battell before the cittie of THEBES Howbeit it was not as the poet Euripides sayeth by force of armes after he had ouercome the THEBANS in battell but it was by coÌ„position And thus the greatest number of the most auncient writers doe declare it Furthermore Philochorus writeth that this was the first treatie that euer was made to recouer the dead bodyes slayne in battell neuertheles we doe reade in the histories and gestes of Hercules that he was the first that euer suffered his enemies to carye awaye their dead bodyes after they had bene put to the sword But whosoeuer he was at this daye in the village of ELEVTHERES they doe showe the place where the people were buried and where princes tumbes are seene about the cittie of ELEVSIN which he made at the request of Adrastus And for testimonie hereof the tragedie AEschilus made of the ELEVSINIANS where he causeth it to be spoken euen thus to Theseus him self dothe clerely ouerthrowe the petitioners in Euripides Touching the friendshippe betwixt Pirithous and him it is sayed it beganne thus The renowne of his valliancy was maruelously blowen abroade through all GRECE Pirithous desirous to knowe it by experience went euen of purpose to inuade his countrye and brought awaye a certaine bootie of oxen of his taken out of the countrye of MARATHON Theseus being aduertised therof armed straight and went to the rescue Pirithous hearing of his comming fled not at all but returned backe sodainly to mete him And so sone as they came to see one another they both wondred at eche others beawtie and corage and so had they no desire to fight But Pirithous reaching out his hande first to Theseus sayed vnto him I make your selfe iudge of the damage you haue susteined by my inuasion and with all my harte I will make suche satisfaction as it shall please you to assesse it at Theseus then dyd not only release him of all the damages he had done but also requested him he would become his friend and brother in armes Hereupon they were presently sworne brethren in the fielde after which othe betwixt them Pirithous maried Deidamia sent to praye Theseus to come to his mariage to visite his countrye to make merye with the Lapithae He had bidden also the Centauri to the feast who being druncke committed many lewde partes euen to the forcing of women Howbeit the Lapithae chasticed them so well that they slewe some of them presently in the place draue the rest afterwards out of all the countrye by the helpe of Theseus who armed him selfe and fought on their side Yet Herodotus writeth the matter somewhat contrarie saying that Theseus went not at all vntill the warre was well begonne and that it was the first time that he sawe Hercules spake with him neere vnto the cittie of TRACHINA when he was then quiet hauing ended all his farre voyages greatest troubles They reporte that this meeting together was full of great cheere much kindnes and honorable entertainement betwene them and howe great curtesie was offred to eache other Neuertheles me thincks we should geue better credit to those writers that saye they mett many times together and that Hercules was accepted and receyued into the brotherhed of the mysteries of ELEVSIN by the meanes of the countenaunce and fauour which Theseus showed vnto him and that his purification also was thereby allowed of who was to be purged of necessitie of all his ill deedes and cruelties before he could enter into the companie of those of holy mysteries Furthermore Theseus was fiftie yeres olde when he tooke awaye Hellen and rauished her which was very younge and not of age to be maried as Hellanicus sayeth By reason whereof some seeking to hyde the rauishement of her as a haynous facte doe reporte it was not he but one Idas and Lynceus that caryed her awaye who left her in his custodie and keeping and that Theseus would haue kept her from them and would not haue deliuered her to her brethern Castor and Pollux which afterwardes dyd demaunde her againe of him Others againe saye it was her owne father Tyndarus who gaue her him to keepe for that he was affrayed of Enarsphorus the sonne of Hippocoon who would haue had her away by force But that which commeth nearest to the trothe in this case and which in deede by many authors is testified was in this sorte Theseus Pirithous went together to the cittie of LACEDAEMON where they tooke awaye Hellen being yet very younge euen as she was dauncing in the teÌ„ple of Diana surnamed Orthia they fled for life They of LACEDAEMON sent after her but those that followed weÌ„t no further then the cittie of TEGEA Now when they were escaped out of the countrye of PELOPONNESVS they agreed to drawe lots together which of them two
had in his hande but if we commend lying in sporte â— he we shall finde it afterwards in good earnest in all our bargaines dealings Shortely after Pisistratus hauing wounded him self and bloudied all his bodie ouer caused his men to carie him in his coche into the market place where he put the people in an vprote tolde them that they were his enemies that thus traiterously had haÌ„dled arraied him for that he stoode with them about the gouerning of the coÌ„mon weale insomuch as many of theÌ„ were maruelously offended mutined by by crying out it was shamefully done Then Solon drawing neere sayed vnto him O thou sonne of Hippocrates thou doest ill fauoredly couÌ„terfeate the persone of Homers Vlysses for thou hast whipped thy self to deceiue thy cittizeÌ„s as he did teare scratch him self to deceiue his enemies Notwithstanding this the common people were still in vprore being ready to take armes for Pisistratus and there was a generall counsell assembled in the which one Ariston spake that they should graunte fiftie men to cary holberds and mases before Pisistratus for garde of his persone But Solon going vp into the pulpit for orations stowtely inuayed against it and persuaded the people with many reasons like vnto these he wrote afterwards in verse Eche one of you ô men in priuate actes can playe the foxe for slye and subtill craft But vvhen you come vfore in all your factes then are you blinde dull vvitted and bedaft For pleasaunt speache and painted flatterie beguile you still the vvhich you neuer spye But in the ende seeing the poore people dyd tumult still taking Pisistratus parte and that the riche fled here and there he went his waye also saying he had shewed him selfe wiser than some and hardier than other Meaning wiser than those which sawe not Pisistratus reache and fetche and hardier than they which knewe very well he dyd aspire to be King and yet neuertheles durst not resist him The people went on with the motion of Ariston and authorised the same touching the graunte of halbetders limiting no number but suffered him to haue about him and to assemble as many as he would vntill such time as he had gotten possession of the castell Then the cittie was maruelously affrayed and amazed and presently Megacles and all those which were of the house of the Alemeonides dyd flye Solon who for yeares was now at his last cast and had no man to sticke vnto him went notwithstanding into the market place and spake to the cittizens whom he found there and rebuked their beastlines and faynte cowardly hartes and encouraged them not to lose their libertie He spake at that time notably and worthie memorie which euer after was remembred Before sayed he you might more easely haue stayed this present tyrannie but nowe that it is already facioned you shall winne more glorie vtterly to suppresse it But for all his goodly reasons he found no man that would hearken to him they were all so amazed Wherefore he hied him home againe and tooke his weapons out of his house and layed them before his gate in the middest of the streete saying For my parte I haue done what I can possible to helpe and defend the lawes and liberties of my countrie So from that time he betooke him selfe vnto his ease and neuer after delt any more in matters of state or common weale His friends dyd counsell him to flye but all they could not persuade him to it For he kept his house and gaue him selfe to make verses in which he sore reproued the ATHENIANS faults saying If presently your burden heauy be yet murmure not against the godds therefore The fault is yours as you your selues maye see vvhich graunted haue of mightie mars the lore to such as novve by your direction doe holde your necks in this subiection His friends hereupon dyd warne him to beware of such speaches and to take hede what he sayed least if it came vnto the tyrannes eares he might put him to death for it And further they asked him wherein he trusted that he spake so boldly He aunswered them in my age Howbeit Pisistratus after he had obteined his purpose sending for him vpon his worde and faith dyd honour and entertaine him so well that Solon in the ende became one of his counsaill and approued many things which he dyd For Pisistratus him selfe dyd straightly keepe and caused his friends to keepe Solons lawes Insomuch as when he was called by proces into the courte of the Areopagites for a murther euen at that time when he was a tyrante he presented him selfe very modestly to aunswer his accusation and to purge him selfe thereof But his accuser let fall the matter and followed it no further Pisistratus him selfe also dyd make newe lawes as this That he that had bene maymed and made lame of any member in the warres should be mainteined all his life long at the common charges of the cittie The selfe same was before decreed by Thersippus as Heraclides writeth by Solons persuasion who dyd preferre it to the counsell Pisistratus afterwards tooke holde of the motion and from thence forth made it a generall lawe TheophrasÌ„tus sayeth also it was PisisÌ„tratus and not Solon that made the lawe for idlenes which was the only cause that the countrie of ATTICA became more fruitefull being better manured and the cittie of ATHENS waxed more quiet But Solon hauing begonne to write the storie of the Iles ATLANTIDES in verse which he had learned of the wise men of the cittie of SAâ—S in EGYPT and was very necessary for the ATHENIANS grewe wearye and gaue it ouer in mid waye not for any matters or busines that troubled him as Plato sayed but only for his age and bicause he feared the tediousnes of the worke For otherwise he had leysure enough as appeareth by his verses where he sayeth I grovve olde and yet I learne still And in another place where he sayeth Novve Venus yeldes me svvete delights and Bacchus lends me comfort still the muses eke refreshe my sprights and much relieue my vveary vvill These be the pointes of perfect ease vvhich all mens mindes oftetimes doe please Plato afterwards for beawtifying of the storie and fables of the Iles ATLANTIDES was desirous to dilate them out at length as if he would by waye of speache haue broken vp a field or laye lande of his owne or that this gifte had descended to him of right from Solon He beganne to raise vp a stately fronte vnto the same and enclosed it with high walles and large squared courtes at the entrie thereof such was it as neuer any other worke fable or poeticall inuention had euer so notable or the like But bicause he beganne a litle to late he ended his life before his worke leauing the readers more sorowfull for that was left vnwritten than they tooke pleasure in that they founde written For euen as in the cittie of ATHENS the temple of
a lyon Another time being but a litle boye he played at skayles in the middest of the streete with other of his companions and when his turne came about to throwe there came a carte loden by chaunce that waye Alcibiades prayed the carter to staye a while vntill he had played out his game bicause the skailes were set right in the high way where the carte should passe ouer The carter was a stubborne knaue and would not staye for any request the boye could make but draue his horse on still in so much as other boyes gaue backe to let him goe on but Alcibiades fell flat to the grounde before the carte and bad the carter driue ouer and he durste The carter being afeard plucked backe his horse to staye them the neighbours flighted to see the daunger ranne to the boye in all hast crying out Afterwards when he was put to schoole to learne he was very obedient to all his masters that taught him any thing sauing that he disdained to learne to playe of the flute or recorder saying that it was no gentlemanly qualitie For sayed he to playe on the vyoll with a sticke doth not alter mans fauour nor disgraceth any gentleman but otherwise to playe on the flute his countenaunce altereth and chaungeth so ofte that his familliar friends can scant knowe him Moreouer the harpe or vyoll doth not let him that playeth on them from speaking or singing as he playeth where he that playeth on the flute holdeth his mouth so harde to it that it taketh not only his wordes from him but his voyce Therefore sayed he let the children of the THEBANS playe on the flute that cannot tell howe to speake as for vs ATHENIANS we haue as our forefathers tell vs for protect ours and patrones of our countrie and goddesse Pallas and the god Apollo of the which the one in olde time as it is sayed brake the flute and the other pulled his skinne ouer his eares that played vpon the flute Thus Alcibiades alledging these reasons partely in sporte and partely in good earnest dyd not only him selfe leaue to learne to playe on the flute but he turned his companions mindes also quite from it For these wordes of Alcibiades ranne from boye to boye incontinently that Alcibiades had reason to despise playing of the flute and that he mocked all those that learned to play of it So afterwards it fell out at ATHENS that teaching to playe of the flute was put out of the number of honest and liberall exercises and the flute it selfe was thought a vile instrument and of no reputation Furthermore in the accusations Antiphon wrote against Alcibiades it is declared that when he was a boye he fled out of his tutours house into the house of Democrates one of his louers and howe Ariphron one of his tutours thought to haue made a beadle crie him through the cittie But Pericles would not suffer him saying that if he were dead they should knowe it but one daye sooner by crying of him and if he were aliue that it would be such a shame to him while he liued that he had bene better he had neuer bene heard of againe The same Antiphon accuseth him further that he had killed a seruaunt of his that attended on him in the wrestling place of Sibyrtius with a blowe of a staffe But there is no reason to credit his writing who confesseth he speaketh all the ill he can of him for the ill will he dyd beare him Now straight there were many great riche men that made muche of Alcibiades and were glad to get his good will. But Socrates loue vnto him had another ende and cause which witnessed that Alcibiades had a naturall inclination to vertue Who perceyuing that vertue dyd appeare in him and was ioyned with the other beawtie of his face and bodye and fearing the corruption of riches dignitie and authoritie and the great number of his companions aswell of the chiefest of the cittie as of straungers seeking to entise him by flatterie and by many other pleasures he tooke vpon him to protect him from them all and not to suffer so goodly an ympe to lose the hope of the good fruite of his youthe For fortune doth neuer so intangle nor snare a man without with that which they commonly call riches as to let hinder him so that philosophie should not take holde on him with her free severe and quicke reasons So Alcibiades was at the beginning assayed with all delightes and shut vp as it were in their companie that feasted him with all pleasures only to turne him that he should not hearken to Socrates wordes who sought to bring him vp at his charge and to teach him But Alcibiades notwithstanding hauing a good naturall wit knewe that Socrates was and went to him refusing the companie of all his riche friendes and their flatteries and fell in a kinde of familliar friendshippe with Socrates Whom when he had heard speake he noted his wordes very well that they were no persuasions of a man seeking his dishonesty but one that gaue him good counsell went about to reforme his faultes and imperfections and to plucke downe the pride and presumption that was in him then as the common prouerbe sayeth Like to the crauen cocke he drovvped dovvne his vvinges vvhich covvardly doth ronne avvaye or from the pit out flinges And dyd thinke with selfe that all Socrates loue and following of young men was in dede a thing sent from the goddes and ordeined aboue for them whom they would haue preserued put into the pathe waye of honour Therefore be beganne to despise him selfe and greatly to reuerēce Socrates taking pleasure of his good vsing of him much imbraced his vertue so as he had he wist not howe an image of loue grauen in his harte or rather as Plato sayeth a mutuall loue to wit an holy honest affection towards Socrates Insomuch as all the world wondred at Alcibiades to see him commonly at Socrates borde to playe to wrestle to lodge in the warres with Socrates and contrarily to chide his other well willers who could not so much as haue a good looke at his handes and besides became daungerous to some as it is sayed he was vnto Anytus the sonne of Anthemion being one of those that loued him well Anytus making good cheere to certen straungers his friendes that were come to see him went and prayed Alcibiades to come and make merie with them but he refused to goe For he went to make merie with certen of his companions at his own house and after he had well taken in his cuppes he went to Anytus house to counterfeate the foole amongest them and staying at the halle doore and seeing Anytus table and cubberd full of plate of siluer gold he commaunded his seruants to take awaye half of it and carie it home to his house But when he had thus taken his pleasure he would come
there was one Diomedes at ATHENS a friend of Alcibiades no ill man who desired once in his life to winne a game at the playes Olympicall This man being enformed that the ARGIVES had a coche excellently furnished belonging to their cōmon weale and knowing that Alcibiades could doe very much in the cittie of ARGOS bicause he had many friends in the same he came to intreate Alcibiades to buye this coche for him Alcibiades thereupon bought it but kept it to him selfe not regarding Diomedes request he had made Diomedes seeing that fell starke mad for anger and called the goddes men to witnesses that Alcibiades did him open wrong and it seemeth that there fell out sute in lawe vpon the same For Isocrates wrote an oration and drue a plea in defence of Alcibiades being yet but a childe touching a couple of horses yet in this plea his aduersarie was called Tisias and not Diomedes Furthermore Alcibiades being yet but a young man when he came to practise and pleade publikly he put all other Oratours to silence but only two that were euer against him the one was Phaeax the sonne of Erasistratus and the other Nicias the sonne of Niceratus Of these two Nicias was a man growen and had wonne the name reputation of a good captaine And Phaeax beganne also to come forward as he dyd being of a good and honorable house but he lacked many things and among other eloquence specially For he could more properly talke and discourse among his friends priuately then he had any good grace to open a matter openly before the people For he had as Enpolis sayeth VVordes enovve but no eloquence There is a certen oration extant in writing against Alcibiades and Phaeax where among other accusations is brought in howe Alcibiades was ordinarily serued in his house with gold siluer plate that belonged to the cōmon weale and which were vsed to be borne for state magnificence in solemne processions before them and how he vsed them as boldly as if they had bene his owne Now there was one Hyperbolus in ATHENS at that time borne in the village of Perithoide of whom Thucydides maketh mencion as of a naughty wicked man whose tongue was a fit instrument to deliuer matter to all the Comicall poets of that time to poore out all their tawnts and mockes against men Howbeit he was so impudent a persone and cared so litle what men sayed of him that he passed not though he were defamed neither dyd any thing greue him whatsoeuer they reported of him which some doe call boldnes and corage being no better in deede then plaine impudencie extreme madnes and desperate follie He would neuer please any man if the common people had any grudge to any noble man or magistrate whom they would any waye accuse Hyperbolus wicked tongue was their instrument to vtter their spyte Now the people by Hyperbolus procurement being assembled were ready to proceede to the banishment of Ostracismon by most voyces The manner custome of this kynde of banishment was for a time to banish out of their cittie such a one as seemed to haue to great authoritie and credit in the cittie and that was rather to satisfie their enuie then for to remedy their feare And bicause it was manifest it would fall out to one of them three to be banished to wit Alcibiades Nicias or Phaeax Alcibiades sound meanes to ioyne all their three factions in one becomming friends one to another and hauing conferred with Nicias about it he made Hyperbolus self to be banished who was the chief instrument to prepare the waye of their banishment Howbeit other saye he spake not with Nicias about it but with Phaeax and ioyning his parte with Phaeax he caused Hyperbolus to be banished who feared nothing lesse for it was neuer seene before that a man of meane countenaunce and of small authoritie fell into the happe of this banishment As Plato the Comicall poet testifieth speaking of Hyperbolus Although for his deserts this payne to him is due or greater punishment prepard the vvhich might make him rue Yet since he vvas by birth a persone meane and base such punishment therefore dyd seeme for him to great of grace Since Ostracismon vvas not made at first to be nor yet deuisde as punishment for suche meane folke as he But of this matter we haue spoken more at large before and now to returne againe to Alcibiades Nicias had great reputation among straungers and his enemies greued at it no lesse then at the honour the cittizens selues dyd vnto him For his house was the common inne for all LACEDAEMONIANS when they came to ATHENS and they euer laye with him moreouer he had very well entertained the LACADAEMON prisoners that were taken at the sorte of PYLE And afterwards when peace was concluded betweene LACEDAEMON and ATHENS and their prisoners redeliuered home againe by Nicias meanes only procurement they loued him more then euer they dyd before This was blowen abroade through GREECE that Pericles had kindled the warres amongest them and Nicias had quenched it so some called this peace Nicium as one would saye Nicias worke But Alcibiades stomaking this and enuying Nicias glorie determined to breake the peace whatsoeuer came of it Wherefore to compasse this matter knowing first of all that the ARGIVES had no liking of the LACEDAEMONIANS but were their mortall enemies and that they dyd but seeke matter to fall out with them he secretly put them in hope of peace and league with the ATHENIANS Moreouer he dyd persuade them to it both by letters and worde of mouthe speaking with the magistrates and suche as had greatest authoritie and credit amongest the people declaring vnto them that they should not feare the LACEDAEMONIANS nor yeld to them at all but to sticke to the ATHENIANS who would sone repent them of the peace they had made and breake it with them Afterwardes when the LACEDAEMONIANS had made league with the BOEOTIANS and had redeliuered the cittie of PANACTVM to the ATHENIANS all defaced and spoyled contrarie to the league Alcibiades perceyuing how the people were muche offended thereat made them more earnest against them and therewith all brought Nicias in disgrace with the people and charged him with many matters of great likelyhood As at that time when he was generall that he would neuer take any of the LACEDAEMONIANS when they were shut vp within the I le of SPHACTERIA and muche lesse distresse them when he might and moreouer that when other had taken them prisoners by force that he had founde the meanes to deliuer them and send them home againe to gratifie the LACEDAEMONIANS Furthermore that being their friende he dyd not his duety to disswade the people from making of league offensiue and defensiue with the BOEOTIANS and the CORINTHIANS and againe also if there were any people of GREECE that had a desire to become friendes and allies with the
them selues of their troubles and most miserable and straight life But we must not wonder though the SYBARITANS being womanish men and altogeather geuen to pleasure did so thinke that those men hated their liues who feared not death for the desire they had to doo good and goodwill they had to doo their duetie Which was contrarie in the LACEDAEMONIANS For they were of opinion that to liue and die willingly was a vertue as these funerall verses doo witnesse The dead vvhich here doe rest did not in life esteeme that life or death vvere of them selues or good or bad to deme But euen as life did end or death vvas brought to passe so life or death vvas good or bad this their opinion vvas And in deede to flye death is no shame so it proceede not of a cowardly hart nether to desire death is commendable if it be with contempt and hate of life This is the reason why Homer saith the valliantest men are euer best armed when they come to battaile The lawe makers among the GREECIANS doo euer punishe him that castes away his target but neuer him that casteth away his sworde or lawnce For euery man must first thinke to defende him selfe before he seeke to hurt his enimie and specially such as haue the whole state of a realme in their handes and be generalles of the feeld For if the comparison be true that Iphicrates the ATHENIAN captaine made that in an armie of men the light horsemē resemble the handes the men of armes the feete the battaill of footemen the stomake brest the captaine the head of a mans body it seemeth then that the venturous captaine putting him selfe in daunger with out cause is not onely careles of his owne life but also of all theirs whose liues depende vpon his saftie As contrarily he being carefull of his owne person cannot but be carefull of his souldiers that serue vnder him Therefore Callicratidas a LACEDAEMONIAN captaine and a woorthie man otherwise did vnwisely aunswere a soothsaier that bad him take hede to him selfe for the signes and tokens of the sacrifices did threaten his death Sparta said he standeth not vpon one man alone It is true that to fight by sea or by land man for man Callicratidas was but one man of him selfe but as captaine or lieuetenaunt generall he had the whole power and force of the armie in his person For he was not a man alone when so manie mens liues were lost with his Now olde Antigonus was of a contrary minde For he being redie to geue battell by sea about the I le of ANDRO's made a better aunswer to one that said vnto him his enemies had moe shippes then him selfe For how many shippes doest thou recken then my selfe said he Therein he did wisely to make great accompt of the worthines of a generall specially when it is ioyned with hardines and experience For the chiefest poynte of seruice is to saue him that saueth all other For when Chares on a time shewed the ATHENIANS openly the sundrie woundes and cuttes he had receiued apō his body his target also thrust through with many piks Timotheus straight said vnto him Chares I am not of thy minde For when I did besege the citie of SAMOS I was ashamed to see a darte throwne from the walles light hard by me for that I shewed my selfe a rashe young man and more venturous then became a generall of so great an armie For when it standeth much apon the whole armie and that it is necessarie the generall thereof doo put him selfe in daunger then he should put him selfe forwarde and occupie both handes and body without respect not regarding their wordes that say a good wise captaine should die for age or at the least old But where there is smal honor to be woone by very good successe and contrariewise muche losse and distruction by great misfortune no man of wisedome or iudgement would wish a generall to fight as a priuate souldier to hazard the losse of a generall I thought good therefore to make this preface before the liues of Pelopidas and of Marcellus both which were woorthie men and died otherwise then they shoulde For they both were valliant souldiers in the fielde and did both of them honor their contrie with famous victories and specially against great and dreadfull enemies For the one was the first as they saie that ouerthrewe Hanniball who was neuer ouercome by any before And the other also ouercame the LACEDAEMONIANS in battell that ruled al GREECE at that time both by sea and by land Yet they both carelesly lost their liues by venturing to boldely when their contrie stoode in greatest neede of suche men and captaines as they were This is the cause why we folowing the resemblaunce that was betweene them haue compared their liues together Pelopidas the sonne of Hippoclus came of one of the noblest houses of the citie of THEBES as Epaminondas did He being brought vp in great wealth his father left him heire of all his landes and goodes being but a young man So he straight shewed him selfe willing to doo good with his monie to those that needed helpe and were worthie to let the worlde see that his monie was not his maister For as Aristotle saith of these rich men the most part of them do not vse their goods for extreame couetousnes other againe doo abuse them as being geuen to ouermuche pleasures So riche men became slaues all their life time some to pleasure other to profit Now al Pelopidas other frendes woulde be beholding to him and take very thanckfully his curtesie and liberalitie towardes them But Epaminondas could neuer be brought to any thing at his handes Howbeit Pelopidas selfe folowed Epaminondas maner for he tooke a pride and pleasure to goe simply appareled to fare meanely to labor willingly and to make warres openly as he did He was euen such another as Euripides the Poet described Capaneus to be when he said of him He rich and vvelthie vvas yet vvas he there vvithall no vvight that purchast vvorldly hate nor insolent at all For he would haue been ashamed that the poorest man of the cittie of THEBES shoulde haue worne meaner apparell apon his backe then himselfe As for Epaminondas his pouertie was not daintie to him bicause his parentes were euer poore and yet for all that he passed it ouer more easely by studie of Philosophie which he gaue him selfe vnto and for that from his youth he liked to leade a spare life without excesse Where Pelopidas matched in a noble house and maryed highly and had two children by his wife neuerthelesse he had no minde to keepe or increase his goodes the more for that but gaue him selfe altogeather to serue the common weale as long as he liued By reason whereof his wealth decaied and his best frendes grewe angrie with him telling him how he did not well to make no more reckoning of a thing that was
the least if those thinges be to be credited which so many graue and auncient writers haue left in writing to vs touching so great and holy things The THEBANS returning backe from ORCHOMENE and the LACEDAEMONIANS on the other side returning also from LOCRIDE both at one time they fortuned both armies to mete about the citty of TEGYRA Now so sone as the THEBANS had discouered the LACEDAEMONIANS passing the straite one of them ranne sodainely to Pelopidas and tolde him Sir we are fallen into the handes of the LACEDAEMONIANS Nay are not they rather fallen into ours aunswered Pelopidas againe with these wordes he commaunded his horsemen that were in the rereward to come before and sett apon them and him selfe in the meane time put his footemen immediately into a pretie squadron close togeather being in all not aboue three hundred men hoping when he should come to geue charge with his battell he should make a lane through the enemies though they were the greater nomber For the LACEDAEMONIANS deuided them selues in two companies and euery company as Ephoreus writeth had fiue hundred mens and as Callistenes sayed seuen hundred Polybius and diuers other authors saye they were nyne hundred men So Theopompus and Gorgoleon the Captaynes of the LACEDAEMONIANS lustely marched agaynst the THEBANS and it fell out so that the first charge was geuen where the chiefetaynes or generalles were of either side with great furie on eyther parte so as both the generalls of the LACEDAEMONIANS which sett vppon Pelopidas together were slayned They being slayne and all that were about them being either hurt or killed in the fielde the rest of the armie were so amased that they deuided in two and made a lane on either side for the THEBANS to passe through them if they would But when they saw Pelopidas ment not to take the passage they offered him and that he came on still with his men to set apon those that were yet in battel raye and slue all them that stoode before him then they turned tayle and tooke them to their legges Howbeit the THEBANS did not chase them farre fearing the ORCHOMENIANS who were not farre from them and the new garrison besides that were come from LACEDAEMON not long before And this was the cause they were contented that they had ouercomed them by force and had passed through their armie in despite of them and broken and ouerthrowen them So when he had set vp markes of triumphe and spoyled their slayne enemies they returned home againe glad men for their obteyned victorie For in all the warres the LACEDAEMONIANS euer made as well with the GRAECIANS as with the barbarous people also there was neuer chronicle mencioned at any tyme that their enemies being so fewe did ouercome them that were so many nor that they were ouercome also by any number equall in battell Whereuppon they grewe so coragious and terrible that no man durst once abyde them for their onely same did so terrifie their enemies that came to fight agaynst them that they thought with no equall force to be able to performe asmuche as they had done But this battell of TEGYRA was the first that made both them and the other GREECIANS knowe that it was not the ryuer of EVROTAS alone nor the valley that lyeth betweene the tyuers of CNACION and of BABYCE that breedeth the valiant and hardy fighting men but that it is in all places else where they learne young men to be ashamed of dishonest and vyle thinges and to venter their liues for honest causet◠fearing more dishonorable reproche then honorable daunger These are the people most to be feared are most terrible also to their enemies And for the holy bād we mēcioned before it is saide Gorgidas was the first erector of the same They were three hundred chosen men entertained by the state and they alwaies kept within the castell of CADMEA and the bande was called the townes bande for at that time and specially in that part of GREECE they called the castels and great holdes in citties the townes Other say it was a bande of fooremen that were in loue one with another And therefore Pammenes pleasaunt wordes are noted saiying that Nestor coulde no skyll to set an armie in battell raye seeing he gaue the GREECIANS counsell in the ILIADES of HOMER that they should set them in battell raye euery countrie and tribe by them selues That by affections force and lynkes of kyndly loue that one might alvvaise helpe at hande that other to behoue For saide he one frende should rather be set by another that loues togeather bicause in daunger men commonly do litle regarde their contrie men or suche as are of their tribe But men that doo loue one another can neuer be broken nor ouercome for the passion of loue that entertaineth eche others affection for affection sake dothe kepe them from forsaking one another And those that are beloued being ashamed to doo any vyle or dishonest thing before those that loue them for very loue will sticke one by another to the death And sure3 the reason is good if it be true that louers doo in deede more regard them they loue though they be absent then other that be present As appeareth by the example of hym that being striken downe to the ground his enemie lifting vp his swoorde to kyll him he praied him he woulde geue him his deathes wounde before lest his frende that loued him seeing a wounde on his backe shoulde be ashamed of him It is reported also that Iolaus being beloued of Hercules did helpe and accompanie him in all his labors and quarrels Whereupon Aristotle writeth that vnto his time such as loued hartily togeather became sworne brethren one to another apon Iolaus tombe And therefore me thinkes it is likely that this bande was first called the holy bande by the selfe same reason that Plato calleth a louer a diuine frende by goddes appointment It is written also that this bande was neuer broken nor ouerthrowen before the battel of CHAERONEA After that battel Philip taking vewe of the slaine bodies he stayed in that place where the foure hundred men of that bande laye all dead on the grounde one harde by another and all of them slayne and thrust through with pikes on their brestes whereat he wondred muche and being tolde him that it was the louers bande he fel a weeping for pittie saying Wo be to them that thinke these men did or suffered any euyll or dishonest thing And to be short the misfortune of Laius that was slaine by his owne brother Oedipus was not the first originall cause of this custome that the THEBANS beganne to be in loue one with an other as the POETS write but they were their first lawmakers who perceiuing them to be a stout fierce natiō of nature they sought euen frō their youthe to make them gentell and ciuill and therefore in all their actions both of sport and earnest they
towardes the city but scattering wise abroade in the fieldes in euery place he caused the trompet to sound the retreate Then he commaunded the chase to be followed no further for that all the contry thereabout was full of thicke woddes and groues very ill for horsemen and also bicause there were many brookes vallies and quauemyres which they should passe ouer he encamped him selfe presently being yet broade day And so fearinge least his enemies would in the night time draw vnto the city one after an other and by couples he sent a great number of ACHAIANS laid them in ambush amongest the brookes and hilles neere about it which made great slaughter of Nabis souldiers bicause they came not altogether in troupes but scatteringly one after an other as they fled one here an other there and so fell into their enemies handes as birdes into the fowlers net These acts made Philopoemen singularly beloued of the GREECIANS and they did him great honor in all their Theaters and common assemblies Whereat Titus Quintius Flaminius of nature very ambitious and couetous of honor did much repine and was enuious at the matter thinking that a Consul of ROME should haue place honor amongest the ACHAIANS before a meane gentleman of ARCADIA And he imagined he had deserued better of all GREECE then Philopoemen had considering howe by the onely proclamation of an heraulde he had restored GREECE againe to her auncient liberty which before his comminge was subiect vnto kinge Philip and vnto the MACEDONIANS Afterwardes Titus Quintius made peace with the tyran Nabis Nabis was shortely after very traiterously slaine by the AETOLIANS Whereuppon the citie of SPARTA grew to a tumult and Philopoemen straight taking the occasion went thither with his army and handeled the matter so wisely that partely for loue and partely by force he wanne the city ioyned it vnto the tribe of the ACHAIANS So was he maruelously commended and esteemed of the ACHAIANS for this notable victory to haue wonne their tribe and communalty of famous a city and of so great estimacion For the city of SPARTA was no smale encrease of their power and being ioyned as a member of ACHAIA Moreouer he wan by this meanes the loue and good will of all the honest men of LACEDAEMON of the hope they had to finde him a protector and defender of their liberty Wherefore when the tyran Nabis house and goodes were solde as forfitted to the state they resolued in their counsell to make him a present of the money therof which amounted to the summe of sixe score talents and sent Ambassadors purposely vnto him to offer it him Then Philopoemen shewed himselfe plainely to be no counterfeate honest man but a good man in deede For first of all there was not one of all the LACEDAEMONIANS that durst presume to offer him this money but euery man was afrayed to tell him of it and euery body that was appointed to do it made some excuse or other for them selues Notwithstandinge in the ende they made one Timolaus to take the matter vpon him who was his familiar frend and also his hoste And yet the same Timolaus when he came vnto MEGALIPOLIS was lodged entertained in Philopoemenes house did so much reuerence him for his wise talke and conuersation for his moderate diet and iust dealing with all men that he sawe there was no likely possibility to corrupt him with money so as he durst not once open his mouth to speake to him of the present he had brought him but founde some other occasion to excuse the cause of his comminge vnto him And beinge sent vnto him againe the second time he did euen as much as at the first time And making a third proofe he ventured at the last to open the matter vnto him and told him the good will the city of SPARTA did beare him Philopoemen became a glad man to heare it and when he had heard all he had to say to him he went him selfe vnto the citie of SPARTA There he declared vnto the counsell that it was not honest men and their good frends they should seeke to winne and corrupt with money considering they might commaund their vertue vpon any occasion without cost vnto them but that they should seeke to bribe naughty men with money and such as by seditious orations in counsell did mutine and put a whole citie in vprore to the ende that hauing their mouthes stopped with giftes they should trouble them the lesse in the common wealth For said he it is more necessarie to stoppe your enemies mouthes and to sowe vp their lippes from libertie of speaking then it is to keepe your frendes from it So noble a man was Philopoemen against all couetousnesse of money Shortely after the LACEDAEMONIANS beginning to stirre againe Diophanes who was then General of the ACHAIANS beinge aduertised of it beganne to prepare to punish them The LACEDAEMONIANS on the other side preparinge for the warres did set all the contry of PELOPONNESVS in armes Hereupon Philopoemen sought to pacifie Diophanes anger declaring vnto him that king Antiochus and the ROMAINES being at warres together at that present time and they both hauing puisant armies one against an other in the middest of GREECE it was meete for a good Generall and wise gouernor to haue an eye to their doings to be carefull of the same and to beware that he did not trouble or alter any thinge within his contry at that instant but then rather to dissemble it and not to seeme to heare any fault whatsoeuer they did Diophanes would not be perswaded but entred the territories of LACEDAEMON with a great army and Titus Quintius Flaminius with him and they together marched directly towardes the city of SPARTA Philopoemen was so madde with their doings that he tooke apon him an enterprise not very lawfull nor altogether iust neuerthelesse his attempt proceeded of a noble minde and great corage For he got into the citie of SPARTA and beinge but a priuate persone kept out the General of the ACHAIANS the Consull of the ROMAINES for entring the city when he had pacified all troubles and seditions in the same he deliuered it vp againe as it was before into the handes of the communaltie of the ACHAIANS Neuerthelesse him selfe being afterwardes Generall of the ACHAIANS did compell the LACEDAEMONIANS to receiue those home againe whom they had banished for certaine faultes and did put foure score naturall borne citizens of SPARTA vnto death as Polybius wryteth Or three hundred and fifty as Aristocrates an other historiographer reciteth Then he pulled downe the walles of the city and rased them to the grounde and tooke away the most parte of their territories and gaue them to the MEGALOPOLITANS All those whome the tyrannes had made free denizens of SPARTA he compelled them to departe the contry of LACEDAEMON and forced them to dwell in ACHAIA three thousand only excepted who would
euer be at my commaundement to take and dispose it as I haue neede About that time beganne the confederates of the ATHENIANS to be weary of the warres against the barbarous people desiring thenceforth to liue quietly and to haue leasure to manure and husband their groundes and to trafficke also considering that they had driuen their enemies out of their contrie and that now they did them no more hurte by reason whereof they payed the money they were sessed at but they would furnish no moe men nor shippes as they had done before But the other Captaines of the ATHENIANS compelled them to it by all the meanes they could and prosecuted law against them that failed payment condemning them in great fines and that so cruelly that they made the seigniorie and dominion of the ATHENIANS hatefull vnto their confederates Howbeit Cimon tooke a contrary course to them for he compelled no man but was content to take money and voyde ships of theÌ„ that would not or could not serue in their persons being very glad to suffer them to become slothfull mongrells in their houses by too much rest and to transpose them selues from good souldiers which they had bene to laborers marchauntes and farmers altogether altered from armes and warres through the beastly slothfull desire they had to liue pleasauntly at home And contrarily causing a great number of the ATHENIANS one after an other to serue in gallies he so acquainted them with continuall paines in his viages that he made them in shorte space become Lordes and masters ouer them that gaue them pay and entertainment For they beganne by litle and litle to flatter and feare the ATHENIANS whom they saw trained continually in the warres euer bearing armor carying their weapons in their hands becomming expert souldiers at their charge by reason of the pay they gaue them so that in the end they became subiects contributaries as it were vnto theÌ„ where before they were their frendes coÌ„panions So as there neuer was GREECIAN Captaine that brideled more the crueltie and power of that mightie PERSIAN king then Cimon did For after he had driuen him out of all GREECE he left him not so but following him foote hotte as we coÌ„monly say before the barbarous people could take breath or geue wise and direct order for their doinges he made so great speede that he tooke some of their cities from them by force and other some by practise causing them to rebell against the king and turne to the GREECIANS side Insomuch as there was not a man of warre less for the king of PERSIA in all ASIA from the contrie of IONIA directly downe to PAMPHYLIA And furthermore being aduertised that the kinges Captaines were vppon the coast of PAMPHYLIA with a great armie by sea bicause he would feare them in such sorte that they should not braue any more to shewe them selues apon the sea on this side of the Iles of the CHâ—LIDONIANS he departed from the I le of GINDOS and from the citie of TRIOPIVM with two hundred gallies the which at the first had bene excellently well made and deuised by Themistocles as well for swift sayling as for easie turning Howbeit Cimon made them to be enlarged to the end they might carie the greater number of men of warre in battell to assault the enemies And so went first against the PHASELITES who were GREECIANS borne and yet notwithstanding would neither take the GREECIANS parte nor receiue their armie into their hauens landed there destroyed all the contrie and then came and camped with his armie hard at their walles But the men of CHIO being auncient frendes of the FASELITES and in Cimons armie at that iorney did somewhat pacifie his anger and gaue aduertisement to them of the citie of their doinges by letters which they tyed to their arrowes and shotte ouer the walles So as in the end they procured their peace with condicion that the FASELITES should pay ten talentes for a fine and furthermore should also follow the armie of the GREECIANS and from thencefoorth fight with them and for them against the barbarous people Now Ephorus sayth that the PERSIAN Captaine that had charge of the armie by sea was called TITHRAVSTES and the Captaine of the armie by lande PHERENDATES But Callisthenes wayeth that Ariomandes the sonne of Gobrias was the kinges Lieutenaunt hauinge chiefe authority ouer the whole armie that lay at ancker before the riuer of Eurymedon had no desire to fight bicause they looked for a new supply of foure score sayle of the PHENICIANS that should come to them from CYPRVS But Cimon contrarily sought to fight before these gallies of the PHENICIANS came to ioyne with them and put his gallies in order of battell determininge to geue a charge and compell them to fight would they or would they not Which the barbarous people perceiuing drew neerer into the mouth of the riuer Eurymedon bicause they should not compasse them in behinde nor force them to come to battell against their willes Which notwithstanding when they saw the ATHENIANS come to set apon them where they lay they made out against them a fleete of sixe hundred sayle as Phanodemus declareth or as Ephorus wryteth three hundred and fifty sayle only But they did nothinge worthie of so great a power at the least touchinge the fight by sea but turned their prooes straight to the riuer where such as coulde recouer the mouth thereof in time saued them selues flying to their armie by lande which was not farre from that place set also in order of battell But the rest that were taken tardy by the way they were slaine and their gallies sonke or taken whereby we may know that there were a great nuÌ„ber of them for many were saued as it is likely and many also were splitted to peeces and yet the ATHENIANS tooke two hundred of them prisoners In the meane season their armie by lande came neerer to the sea side which Cimon perceiuing stoode in some doubt whether he should lande his men or not bicause it seemed a hard daungerous thing vnto him to land in spight of his enemies and to put forth the GREECIANS already wearied with the first battell against the barbarous people who were altogether whole freshe and lustie and with all many in number against one Neuerthelesse perceiuing that his men trusted in their force besides the corage which the first victorie gaue them and that they desired none other thing but to fight with the enemies he put them a lande while they were whotte yet with the first battell And so with great furie and lowde cries they ranne immediatly against the barbarous people who stoode still sturred not receiued their first charge very valliantly by reason wherof the battell grew sharpe and bloody insomuch as there were slaine all the greatest personages men of best accompt of all the ATHENIANS armie But the other fought it out so
out to the sea By reason whereof Mithridates was compelled to goe abord a litle pinase of pyrates and to put him selfe and his life into their handes by whose helpe in the ende beyond all expectation but not without great daunger he got to lande and recouered the citie of HERACLEA in the realme of PONTVS Now here is to be noted that the great brauerie Lucullus shewed vnto the Senate of ROME fell out according to his imagination by the fauor of the goddes For when the Senate had appointed for ending of these warres to prepare a great nauie of shippes and therewithall had geuen order also for three thowsande talentes Lucullus stayed them by letters that they should not doe it wryting brauely vnto them that without all this charge and great preparation he would be strong enough to driue Mithridates from the sea with the onely shippes he would borrowe of their frendes and confederates And in deede through the speciall fauor of the goddes he brought it so to passe for they say that this terrible storme that destroyed the armie of Mithridates was raised vp by Diana being offended with the men of the realme of PONTVS bicause they had destroyed her temple in the citie of PRIAPOS and had caried away her image Now there were diuers that counselled Lucullus to deferre the rest of this warre vntill an other season but notwithstanding all their perswasions he went through the contrie of GALATIA and BITHYNIA to inuade the realme of Mithridates In the which voyage at the first beginning he lacked vittells so that there were thirty thowsand men of GALATIA following his campe that caried euery one of them a bushell of wheate on their shoulders howbeit entring further into the contrie and conquering the whole there was such exceeding plenty of all thinges that an oxe was sold in his campe but for a Drachma a slaue at foure times as much And of all other spoyle there was such great store that either they made no reckening of it or else they made hauoke of it bicause there was no man to sell it vnto euery man hauing so much of his owne For they ranne ouer all the contrie vnto the citie of THEMISCYRA and to the vallies that lay apon the riuer of Thermodon and stayed no where lenger then they were a spoyling Thereupon the souldiers beganne to murmure at Lucullus bicause he assured all the cities vpon composition and neuer tooke any of them by force nor gaue them any meanes to enrich them selues by spoyle and yet sayd they he would make vs now go further and leaue AMISVS a great rich citie which we might easily take by force if it were but a litle straightly besieged and lead vs into the desertes of the TIBARENIANS and the CHALDAEIANS to fight against Mithridates Lucullus passed ouer all these complaints and made no reckening of them bicause he would neuer haue thought that they would haue fallen into such mutinie and furie as afterwards they did and contrarily excused him selfe the more carefully to them that blamed reproued him for his long tarying vpon townes and villages that were not worth the reckening and suffering Mithridates in the meane time to gather a new force and armie together at his pleasure For said he that is the marke I shotte at and that maketh me linger time vp and downe as I doe wishing nothing more then that he might once againe make him selfe strong and bring a second armie to the field that might embolden him to come eftsoones to the fight with vs and runne away no more Doe you not see sayd he that at his backe he hath an infinite number of desert contries where it is vnpossible euer to follow him by the tracke and hard by him also the mounte Caucasus and many other vnpassable places which are sufficient not only to hide him alone but infinite number of other princes and kings besides that would flie battell and not come to fight Furthermore it is but a litle way from the contrie of the CABIRENIANS vnto the realme of ARMENIA where Tigranes the king of kinges inhabiteth whose power is so great that he driueth the PARTHIANS out of ASIA and carieth whole townes and cities of GRAECE vnto the realme of MEDIA who hath all SYRIA and PALAESTINE in his handes and hath slaine and rooted out the kinges and successors of the great Seleucus and hath caried away their wiues and daughters prisoners by force This great and mightie kinge is allyed vnto Mithridates for he maried Mithridates daughter and it is not likely that when Mithridates shall come and intreate him to helpe him in his distresse that Tigranes will con refuse him but rather we must thinke certainly that he will make warres vpon vs in his defence And thus in making hast to driue out Mithridates we shall bring our selues into great daunger to prouoke a new enemie euen Tigranes against vs who of long time hath lurked fora iust occasion to make warres with vs and he can haue no honester cause to take armes then to defend and kepe a king his neighbour and so neere a kinseman from vtter destruction and one that is compelled to seeke vpon him for succor What neede we then to prouoke him to procure it and teache Mithridates which he purposeth not to whom he should repayre for aide to make warres against our selues and pricke him forward or to say better put him with our owne handes into the way to go seeke aide of Tigranes which of him selfe he will neuer doe thinking it a dishonor vnto him onlesse we driue him to it for very necessitie Is it not better for vs to geue him leasure and time to gather a second force againe of him selfe and his owne people that we might rather fight with the COLCHIANS TIBARENIANS CAPPADOCIANS and with such other people whome we haue so many times ouercome then with the MEDES and ARMENIANS With this determination Lucullus taried a great while before the citie of AMISVS continuing this siege of purpose without distressing them at all Afterwardes when winter was past he left Murena there to continue the siege and him selfe with the rest of his armie went to meete Mithridates who had planted his campe neere vnto the citie of CABIRA determining to tarie the ROMANES comming hauing gathered together againe a new armie of fortie thowsand footemen and foure thowsand horsemen in the which he put his most confidence and trust so that he passed ouer the riuer of Lycus went and presented battell to the ROMANES in the plaine field There the horsemen skirmished the ROMANES had the worse for there was one Pomponius a ROMANE taken of great estimacion who was brought vnto king Mithridates hurt as he was Mithridates asked him if in sauing his life and healing his woundes he would become his seruaunt and frend Straight tcplyed Pomponius with all my hart quod he so that thou make peace
shielde but worse then that a voluntary forsaking of his prouince apon a base timerous minde geuing his enemy occasion thereby to doe some noble exployt depriuing him selfe of his honorable charge Wherefore Aristophanes mocketh him againe in his comedy of birdes saying It is no time to slepe and linger still As Nicias doth vvithout good cause or skill Also in an other place of his comedy of plowmen he sayth I faine vvould follovv husbandry VVho lets thee Mary you A thovvsand Dragmaze I vvill geue to be discharged novv Of office in the common vveale Content so shall vve haue Tvvo thovvsand Dragmaze iust vvith those that Nicias lately gaue But herein Nicias did great hurt to the cōmon wealth suffering Cleon in that sorte to grow to credit estimacion For after that victory Cleon grew to so hautie a minde pride of him selfe that he was not to be delt withall wherupon fel out the occasiō of the great miseries that happened to the city of ATHENS which most grieued Nicias of all other For Cleon amongst other thinges tooke away the modesty and reuerence vsed before in publicke Orations to the people he of all other was the first that cried out in his Orations that clapped his hand on his thigh threw open his gowne floong vp downe the pulpit as he spake Of which exāple afterwardes followed all licentiousness and contempt of honesty the which all the Orators counsellors fell into that delt in matters of state cōmon wealth was in the end the ouerthrow of all together In that very time began Alcibiades to grow to credit by practise in the state who was not altogether so corrupt neither simply euill but as they say of the lande of EGYPT that for the fatnes and lustines of the soyle It bringeth forth both holsome herbes and also noysome vveedes Euen so Alcibiades wit excelling either in good or ill was the cause and beginning of great chaunge and alteracion For it fell out that after Nicias was ridde of Cleon he could not yet bring the citie of ATHENS againe to peace and quietnes For when the common wealth began to grow to some rest and reasonable good order then was it againe brought into warres through Alcibiades extreame fury of ambition And thus it beganne The only peacebreakers and disturbers of common quiet generally throughout GRAECE were these two persones Cleon and Brasidas for warre cloked the wickednes of the one and aduaunced the valiantnes of the other geuing to either occasion to doe great mischiefe and also oportunity to worke many noble exploytes Now Cleon and Brasidas being both slaine together at a battell fought by Armphipolis Nicias straight perceiuing the SPARTANS had long desired peace and that the ATHENIANS were no more so hottely geuen to the warres but that both the one the other had their handes full were willing to be quiet deuised what meanes he might vse to bring SPARTA and ATHENS to reconciliation againe and to rid all the cities of GRAECE also from broyle and misery of warre that thenceforth they might all together enioy a peaceable and happy life The riche men the olde men and the husbandmen he found very willing to hearken to peace and talking priuately also with diuers others he had so perswaded them that he cooled them for being desirous of warres Whereupon putting the SPARTANS in good hope that all were inclined to peace if they sought it the SPARTANS beleued him not onely for that they had founde him at other times very soft and curteous but also bicause he was carefull to see that their prisoners of SPARTA who had bene taken at the forte of Pyle were gently intreated and had made their miserable captiuity more tollerable So peace was concluded betwene the SPARTANS and the ATHENIANS for a yeare during which abstinence they frequenting one an other againe and beginning to taste the sweetnes and pleasures of peace and the safety of free accesse one to see an others frendes that were staungers began then to wishe that they might still continue in peace and amity together without effusion of blood of either partie and tooke great delight in their daunces to hear them singe such songes And let my speare lye outgrovven vvith dusty spyders vvebbes They did also with great ioy gladnes remember him which sayd that in peace no sound of trompet but the crowing of the cocke doth wake them that be a sleepe and on the other side they cursed and tooke on with them that sayd it was predestined the warre should continue thrise nine yeares And so vpon a meeting together to talke of many matters they made an vniuersall peace throughout all GRAECE Now most men thought that surely all their sorrowes and miseries were come to an ende and there was no talke of any man but of Nicias saying that he was a man beloued of the goddes who for his deuotion towardes them had this speciall gift geuē him that the greatest blessing that could come vnto the world was called after his name For to confesse a troth euery man was certainly perswaded that this peace was Nicias worke as the warre was Pericles procurement who vpon light causes perswaded the GRAECIANS to runne headlong into most grieuous calamities and Nicias on the other side had brought them to become frends and to forget the great hurtes the one had receiued of the other in former warres And euē to this present day that peace is called Nicium as who would say Nicias peace The capitulacions of the peace were thus agreed vpon that of either side they should alike deliuer vp the cities and landes which eche had taken from other in time of warres together with the prisoners also and that they should first make restitution whose lot it was to beginne Nicias according to Theophrastus reporte for ready money secretly bought the lot that the LACEDAEMONIANS might be the first that should make restitution And when the CORINTHIANS and BOBOTIANS that disliked of this peace sought by the complaintes they made to renue the warre againe Nicias then perswaded both the ATHENIANS and LACEDAEMONIANS that they should adde for strength vnto their contry the allyance peace offensiue and defensiue made betwene them for a more sure knot of frendshippe wherby they might be the better assured the one of the other and also the more dredfull to their enemies that should rebell against them These thinges went cleane against Alcibiades minde who besides that he was ill borne for peace was enemy also vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS for that they sought to Nicias and made none accompt of him but despised him Here was thoccasion that caused Alcibiades to proue from the beginning what he could doe to hinder this peace wherein he preuailed nothing Yet shortly after Alcibiades perceiuing that the ATHENIANS liked not so well of the LACEDAEMONIANS as they did before and that they thought themselues iniuried by thē bicause they
same yet all that commoditie was nothing in respect of the profit his slaues and bondemen brought him dayly in As readers seriueners gold smythes bankers receiuers stewards of householde caruers and other such officers at the table taking paines himselfe to helpe them when they were learners and to instruct them what they should doe◠and to be shorte he thought the greatest care a good householder ought to haue was to see his slaues or seruauntes well taught being the most liuely cattell and best instruments of a mans house And surely therein his opinion was not ill at the least if he thought as he spake that all thinges must be done by seruauntes and his seruauntes must be ruled by him For we see that the arte and skill to be a good husbande when it consisteth in gouernment of thinges without life or sence is but a base thing only tending to gaine but when it dependeth apon good order and gouernment of men me thinkes then it is to knowe how to gouerne well a common wealth But as his iudgement was good in the other so was it very bad in this that he thought no man riche and wealthie that could not maintaine a whole army with his owne proper goods For the warre as king Archidamus was wont to say is not made with any certainty of expence and therefore there must no sufficiency of riches be limited for the maintenance of the same But herein Marius and he differed farre in opinion who hauinge allowed euery ROMANE foureteene akers lande called with them Iugera vnderstanding that some were not pleased but would haue more made them this aunswer The gods forbid any ROMANE should thinke that land litle which in deede is enough to suffise for his maintenance This notwithstanding Crassus was curteous to straungers for his house was open to them all and he lent his frendes money without interest but when they brake day of payment with him then would he roūdly demaunde his money of them So his curtesie to lende many times without interest did more trouble them than if he had taken very great vsery In deede when he had any man to come to his table his fare was but euen ordinary without all excesse but his fine and cleanly seruice the good entertainment he gaue euery man that came to him pleased them better than if he had bene more plentifull of dyet and dishes As for his learning and study he chiefly studied eloquence and that sorte specially that best would serue his turne to speake in open presence so that he became the best spoken man in ROME of all his time and by his great industry and diligent indeuor excelled all them that euen by nature were most apt vnto it For some say he had neuer so small nor litle a cause in hande but he alwayes came prepared hauing studied his case before for pleading and oftentimes also when Pompey Caesar and Citero refused to rise and speake to matters Crassus would defend euery cause if he were requested And therfore was he generally beloued well thought of bicause he shewed him selfe painfull willing to helpe euery man Likewise was his gentlenes maruelously esteemed bicause he saluted euery body courteously and made much of all men for whom so euer he met in the streetes that spake to him as he passed and saluted him were he neuer so meane he woulde speake to him againe and call him by his name It is sayd also he was very well studied in stories and indifferently seene in Philosophy specially in Aristotels workes which one Alexander did read vnto him a man that became very gentle and pacient of nature by vsing of Crassius company for it were hard to say whether Alexander was poorer when he came to Crassus or made poorer while he was with him Of all his frendes he would euer haue Alexander broade with him and while they were abroade would lend him a hat to couer his head by the way but so soone as they were returned he would call for it againe O wonderull pacient of a man to see that he making profession of Philosophie as he did the poore man being in great pouerty did not place pouerty in thinges indifferent But hereof we will speake not hereafter Cinna and Marius being now of greater power and comming on directly towards ROME euery man suspected straight their cōming was for no good to the common wealth but as appeared plainly for the death and destruction of the noblest men of ROME For it so fell out in deede that they slue all the chiefe men they found in the city among whom Crassus father his brother were of the number and him selfe being at that time but young escaped the present daunger only by flight Furthermore Crassus hearing that they layed waite to take him that the tyrannes sought him in euery place tooke three of his frends in his company and tenne seruauntes only and fled into SPAYNE with all possible speede where he had bene with his father before and had got some frendes when he was Praetor and ruled that contrie Neuerthelesse seeing euery body afrayed and mistrusting Marius cruelty as if he had beene at their dores he durst not bewray him selfe to any man but went into the fieldes and hid him in a great caue being within the lande of one Vibius Pitiacus by the sea side from whence he sent a man of his to this Piciacus to feele what good will he bare him but specially for that his vittells beganne to faile him Vibius hearing that Crassus was safe and had scaped became very glad of it and vnderstanding how many persones he had with him and into what place he was gotten went not him selfe to see him but called one of his slaues who was his receiuer and occupied that ground for him bringing him neere the place where Crassus was commaunded him euery night to prouide meate for supper to bring it ready dressed to this rode whereunder was the caue make no wordes of it neither be inquisitiue for whom it was for if he did he should dye for it otherwise for keping the thing secret as he commaunded he promised to make him a free man. This caue is not farre from the sea side is closed in round about with two rockes that mete together which receiue a soft coole winde into them Whē ye are entred into the caue it is of a great height within and in the hollownes thereof are many other caues of great receite one within an other and besides that it neither lacketh light nor water for there is a well of passing good water running hard by the rocke and the naturall riftes of the rockes also receiuing the light without where they mete together do send it inward into the caue So that in the day time it is maruelous light and hath no dampe ayer but very pure and drye by reason of the thickenes of the
them howbeit they gaue no credit vnto him Yet Cicero in an oration of his doth plainly accuse Crassus Caesar as confederats with Catiline howbeit this oration came not forth till they were both dead And in the oration he made also when his office and authority of Consul ceased he sayd that Crassus came one night to him shewed him a letter touching Catiline certainly confirming the conspiracy then in examination For which cause Crassus euer after hated him and that he did not openly reuenge it the let was by meane of his sonne For Publius Crassus much fauoring eloquence and beinge geuen to his booke bare great good will vnto Cicero in such sorte that apon his banishment he put on chaunged garmentes as Cicero did and procured many other youthes to do the like also and in fine perswaded his father to become his frend Caesar now returning to ROME from the prouince he had in gouernment intended to sue for the Consulshippe and perceiuing that Pompey Crassus were againe at a iarre thought thus with him selfe that to make the one of them his frend to further his sute he should but procure thother his enemy and minding therfore to attaine his desire with the fauor of them both sought first the meanes to make thē frendes perswaded with them that by their controuersie th one seeking thothers vndoing they did thereby but make Cicero Catulus and Cato of the greater authority who of them selues were of no power if they two ioyned in frendshippe together for making both their frendes and factions one they might rule the state and common wealth euen as they would Caesar hauing by his perswasion reconciled Crassus and Pompey ioyning their three powers in one made them selues vnuincible which afterwardes turned to the destruction of the people and Senate of ROME For he made them not only greater than they were before the one by the others meanes but him selfe also of great power through them For when they beganne to fauor Caesar he was straight chosen Consull without any deniall and so behaued him selfe in the Consulship that at the length they gaue him charge of great armies and then sent him to gouerne the GAVLES which was as a man may say euen them selues to put him into the castell that should kepe all the citie in subiection imagining that they two should make spoyle and good booty of the rest sithence they had procured him such a gouernment Now for Pompey the cause that made him commit this error was nothing els but his extreame ambition But as for Crassus besides his old vice of couetousnes rooted in him he added to that a newe a uarice and desire of triumphes and victories which Caesars fame for prowes and noble actes in warres did throughly kindell in him that he being otherwise his better in all thinges might not yet in that be his inferior which furie tooke such holde as it neuer left him till it brought him vnto an infamous end and the common wealth to great misery Thus Caesar being come out of his prouince of GAVLE vnto LVCA diuers ROMANES went thither to see him and among other Pompey and Crassus They hauing talked with him in secret agreed among them to deuise to haue the whole power of ROME in their handes so that Caesar should kepe his armie together and Crassus and Pompey should take other prouinces and armies to them Now to attaine to this they had no way but one that Pompey and Crassus should againe sue the second time to be Consulls and that Caesars frendes at ROME should stand with them for it sending also a sufficient number of his souldiers to be there at the day of choosing the Consulls Thereupon Pompey and Crassus returned to ROME to that ende but not without suspicion of their practise for there ranne a rumor in the citie that their meeting of Caesar in LVCA was for no good intent Whereupon Marcellinus and Domitius asked Pompey in open Senate if he ment to make sute to be Consull Pompey aunswered them peraduenture he did peraduenture he did not They asking him againe the same question he aunswered he would sue for the good men not for the euill Pompeyes answers were thought very prowde hawty Howbeit Crassus aunswered more modestly that if he saw it necessary for the common wealth he would sue to be Consull if not that he would nor stand for it Vpon these words some were so bold to make sute for the Consulshippe as Domitius among other But afterwardes Pompey and Crassus standing openly for it all the rest left of their sute for feare of them Domitius only excepted whom Cato so prayed and intreated as his kinseman and frend that he made him to seeke it For he perswaded him that it was to fight for the defense of their libertie and how that it was not the Consulshippe Crassus and Pompey looked after but that they went about to bring in a tyranny that they sued not for the office but to get such prouinces and armies into their handes as they desired vnder colour and countenaunce of the Consulship Cato ringing these words into their eares beleuing it certainly to be true as he sayd brought Domitius as it were by force into the market place where many honest men ioyned with thē bicause they wondred what the matter ment that these two noble men should sue the second time to be Consulls and why they made sute to be ioyned together and not to haue any other with them considering there were so many other worthy men meete to be companion with either of them both in that office Pompey fearing he should be preuented of his purpose fell to commit great outrage and violence As amongest other when the day came to choose the Consulls Domitius going earely in the morning before day accōpanied with his frends to the place where the electiō should be his man that caried the torch before him was slaine by some whom Pompey had layed in waite many of his companie hurt and among others Cato And hauing thus dispersed them he beset a house rounde about whether they fled for succour and inclosed them there vntill they were both chosen Consulls together Shortly after they came with force to the pulpit for orations and draue Cato out of the market place slue some of them that resisted would not flye They also then prolonged Caesars gouernment of the GAVLES for fiue yeres more and procured for them selues by decree of the people the contries of SYRIA and SPAYNE Againe when they drew lottes together SYRIA fell to Crassus and SPAYNE to Pompey Euery man was glad of their fortune For the people on the one side were loth Pompey should goe farre from ROME him selfe also louing his wife well was glad he had occasion to be so neere her that he might remaine the most of his time at ROME But Crassus of all other reioyced
Alexander to pray him to come and aide him bicause there was yet a great squadron whole together that made no countenaunce to flie Somewhat there was in it that they accused Parmenio that day to haue delt but stackely and cowardly either bicause his age had taken his corage from him or else for that he enuied Alexanders greatnes and prosperity who against his will be dame ouer great as Callisthenes sayd In fine Alexander was angry with the second message and yet told not his men truely the cause why but faining that he would haue them leaue killing and bicause also night came on he caused the trompet sound retreate and so went towards his army whom he thought to be in distresse Notwithstanding newes came to him by the way that in that place also they had geuen the enemies the ouerthrowe and that they fled euery way for life The battell hauing this successe euery man thought that the kingdom of the PERSIANS was vtterly ouerthrowen and that Alexander likewise was become only king of all ASIA whereupon he made sumptuous sacrifices vnto the goddes and gaue great riches houses lands and possessions vnto his frendes and familliars Furthermore to shewe his liberalitie also vnto the GRAECIANS he wrote vnto them that he would haue all tyrannies suppressed through out all GRAECE and that all the GRAECIANS should liue at libertie vnder their owne lawes Particularly also he wrote vnto the PLATAEIANS that he woulde reedifie their citie againe bicause their predecessors in time past had geuen their contrie vnto the GRAECIANS to fight against the barbarous people for the defence of the common libertie of all GRAECE He sent also into ITALIE vnto the GROTONIANS parte of the spoyle to honor the memory of the valliantnes and good will of Phayllus their citizen who in the time of the warres with the MEDES when all the GRAECIANS that dwelt in ITALIE had forsaken their naturall contrie men of GRAECE it selfe bicause they thought they could not otherwise scape went with a shippe of his vnto SALAMINA which he armed and set forth at his owne charges bicause he would be at the battell and partake also of the common daunger with the GRAECIANS such honor did Alexander beard vnto prowes that he loued to reward remember the worthy deedes of men Then Alexander marching with his army into the contry of BABYLON they all yeolded straight vnto him When he came into the contrie of the ECEATANIANS he marueled when he saw an opening of the earth out of the which there came continuall sparkes of fire as out of a well that hard by also the earth spued out continually a kinde of mawnd or chalkie clay somwhat lyquid of such aboundaunce as it seemed like a lake This maund or chalke is like vnto a kind of lyme or clay but it is so easie to be sette a fire that not touching it with any flame by the brightnes only of the light that commeth out of the fire it is set afire doth also set the ayer a fire which is betwene both The barbarous people of that contrie being desirous to shewe Alexander the nature of that Naptha scattered the streete that led to his lodging with some of it Then the day being shut in they fired it at one of the endes and the first droppes taking fire in the twinckling of an eye all the rest from one end of the streete to the other was of a flame and though it was darke and within night lightned all the place thereabout Alexander being in bath at that time and waited apon by a page called Steuen a hard fauored boy but yet that had an excellent sweete voyce to sing one Athenophanes an ATHENIAN that alwayes nointed bathed the king much delighted him with his pleasaunt conceites asked him if he would see the triall of this Naptha apon Steuen for if the fire tooke and went not out then he would say it had a wonderfull force and was vnquencheable The page was contented to haue it proued apon him But so soone as they had layed it on him and did but touche it only it tooke straight of such a flame and so fired his body that Alexander him selfe was in a maruelous perplexitie withall And sure had it not bene by good happe that there were many by ready with vessells full of water to put into the bath it had bene vnpossible to haue saued the boy from being burnt to nothing and yet so he escaped narrowly and besides was sicke long after Now some apply this Naptha vnto the fable of Medea saying that therwith she rubbed the crowne and lawne she gaue vnto the daughter of Creon at her mariage so much spoken of in the tragedies For neither the crowne nor the lawne could cast fire of them selues neither did the fire light by chaunce But by oyling them with this Naptha she wrought a certain aptnes to receiue more forcibly the operation of the fire which was in place where the bridesate For the beames which the fire casteth out haue ouer some bodies no other force but to heet and lighten them But such as haue an oyly drie humor and thereby a simpathy and proportionable conformitie with the nature of the fire it easily enflameth and setteth a fire by the forcible impression of his beames Howbeit they make a great question of the cause of this naturall force of Naptha or whether this liquid substance and moyst humor that taketh fine so easily doth come of the earth that is fatty and apt to conceiue fire For this contrie of BABYLON is very hot insomuch as oftentimes batley being put into the ground it bloweth it vp againe as if the earth by vehement inflammacion had a strong blast to cast it out and men in the extreamest heate of the sommer doe sleepe there vpon great leather budgets filled full of fresh water Harpalus whom Alexander left there his Lieutenaunt Gouernor of that contry desiring to set forth and beawtifie the gardens of the kings pallace walkes of the same with all maner of plantes of GRAECE he brought all the rest to good passe sauing Iuie only which the earth could neuer abide but it euer dyed bicause the heate and temper of the earth killed it and the Iuie of it selfe liketh fresh ayer and a cold ground This digression is somwhat from the matter but peraduenture the reader will not thinke it troublesome howe hard soeuer he finde it so it be not ouer tedious Alexander hauing wonne the city of SVSA he found within the castell foure thowsand talentes in ready coyne gold and siluer besides other infinite treasure and inestimable amongest the which it is sayd he found to the value of fiue thowsand talentes weight of purple HERMIONA silke which they had safe locked vp kept that â—â—ace of two hundred yeres saue ten and yet the colour kept as freshe as if it had bene newly 〈…〉 Some say that the
him that it was an ill signe Alexander thereuppon gaue order straight that they shoulde doe sacrifice for the health of Clitus and speciallie for that three dayes before he dreamed one night that he sawe Clitus in a mourninge gowne sittinge amongest the sonnes of Parmenio the which were all dead before This notwithstanding Clitus did not make an ende of his sacrifice but came straight to supper to the kinge who had that day sacrificed vnto Castor and Pollux At this feast there was olde drinking and all the supper time there were certaine verses song and made by a Poet called Pranichus or as others say of one Pierion against certaine Captaines of the MACEDONIANS which had not long before bene ouercome by the barbarous people and only to shame them and to make the companie laugh With these verses auncient men that were at this feast became much offended and grewe angrie with the Poet that made them and the minstrell that song them Alexander on thother side and his familliars liked them verie well and commaunded the minstrell to sing still Clitus therewithall being ouer-taken with wine and besides of a churlish nature prowde and arrogant fell into greater choller and sayd that it was neither well nor honestlie done in that sorte to speake ill of those poore MACEDONIAN Captaines and speciallie amongest the barbarous people their enemies which were farre better men then they that laughed them to scorne although their fortune much worse then theirs Alexander then replied and sayd that saying so he pleaded for him selfe calling cowardlinesse misfortune Then Clitus standing vp sayd againe but yet this my cowardlynes saued thy life that callest thy selfe the sonne of the goddes when thou turnedst thy backe from Spithridates sword and the blood which these poore MACEDONIANS did shedde for thee and the woundes which they receiued of their bodies fighting for thee haue made thee so great that thou disdainest now to haue king Philip for thy father and wilt needes make thy selfe the sonne of Iupiter Hammon Alexander being moued with these words straight replied O villen thinkest thou to scape vnpunished for these prowde words of thine which thou vsest continually against me making the MACEDONIANS rebell against Alexander Clitus aunswered againe too much are we punished Alexander for our paines and seruice to receiue such reward nay most happy thinke we them that long sence are dead and gone not now to see the MACEDONIANS scourged with roddes of the MEDES compelled to curry fauor with the PERSIANS to haue accesse vnto their king Thus Clitus boldly speaking against Alexander and Alexander againe aunswering and reuiling him the grauest men sought to pacifie this sturre and tumult Alexander then turning him selfe vnto Xenodochâ—s .. CARDIAN and Artemius COLOPHONIAN doe you not thinke sayd he that the GRAECIANS are amongest the MACEDONIANS as demy goddes that walke among brute beastes Clitus for all this would not geue ouer his impudency and mallapertnesse but cried out and bad Alexander speake openlie what he had to say or else not to bidde free men come to suppe with him that were wont to speake franckely if not to keepe with the barbarous slaues than honored his PERSIAN girdell and long white garment Then coulde Alexander no longer hold his choller but tooke an apple that was vpon his table and threw it at Clitus and looked for his sworde the which Aristophanes one of his gard that waited on him had of purpose taken from him And when euerie man came straight about him to stay him and to pray him to be contented he immediatly rose from the borde and called his gard vnto him in the MACEDONIAN tongue which was a signe of great trouble to followe after it and commaunded a trompetor to sound the allarme But he drawing backe would not sound whereuppon Alexander strake him with his fist Notwithstanding the trompetor was greatly commended afterwards for that he only kept the campe that they rose not All this could not quiet Clitus whereupon his frends with much a doe thrust him out of the halle but he came in againe at an other dore and arrogantly and vnreuerently rehearsed this verse of the Poet Euripides out of Andromaches tragedie Alas for sorovv euill vvayes Are into Grace crept novv a dayes Then Alexander taking a partisan from one of his gard as Clitus was comming towardes him and had lift vp the hanging before the dore he ranne him through the body so that Clitus fell to the ground and fetching one grone died presently Alexanders choller had left him straight and he became maruelous sorowfull and when he saw his frendes round about him say neuer a word he pluckt the partisan out of his body would haue thrust it into his owne throte Howbeit his gard about him caught him by the hands caried him perforce into his chamber there he did nothing all that night but weepe bitterly the next day following vntill such time as he was able to crie no more but lying on the ground onely laie sighing His frendes hearing his voice no more were afraid and came into his chamber by force to comfort him But Alexander would heare none of them sauing Ariftâ—nder the Soothesayer who remembred him of his dreame he had of Clitus before which was prognostication of that which had happened whereby it appeared that it was his desteny before he was borne This seemed to comfort Alexander Afterwardes they brought in Callisthenes the philosopher akinsman of Aristotles and Anaxarchus borne in AEDERA Of these two Callisthenes fought by gentle talke not mouing any matter offensiue to comfort Alexanders sorow But Anaxarchus that from the beginning had taken a way by him selfe in the studie of philosophie being accompted a braine sicke man and one that despised his companions he comming into Alexanders chamber also with him cryed out at the dore as he came in See yonder is Alexander the great whom all the world lookes apon and is affraid of See where he lies weeping like a slaue on the ground that is affraid of the lawe and of the reproche of men as if he him selfe should not geue them law and stablish the boundes of iustice or iniustice sithence he hath ouercome to be Lord and master and not to be subiect and slaue to a vaine opinion Knowest thou not that the poets saie that Iupiter hath Themis to wit right and iustice placed of either hand on him what signifieth that but all that the prince doth is wholy right and iust These wordes of Anaxarchus did comfort the sorowfull harte of king Alexander at that time but therewithall they made Alexanders maners afterwardes more fierce and dissolute For as he thereby did maruelously grow in fauor with the king euen so did he make the company of Callisthenes who of him selfe was not very pleasaunt bicause of his grauery and sowrenes much more hatefull and misliked then before It is written also that there was certain talke one night at
in the presence of Aristotle him selfe howbeit being very farre he was eaten in the ende by lice and so died about the time that Alexander was hurt fighting against the MALDIANS OXYDRACIANS in the conquest of INDIA but these thinges chaunced a good while after Demaratus CORINTHIAN being very old had a great desire to goe see Alexander and when he had seene him he said that the GRAECIANS which were dead long before were depriued of that blisse and happynes that they could not see Alexander sitte in the royall seate of king Darius Howbeit he did not long enioy the kinges goodwill vnto him for he died of a sicknes soone after he came vnto his campe Alexander did honor his funeralls for all the armie in their armor did cast vp a mounte of earth facioned like a tombe which was a great compasse about foure score cubittes high His ashes afterwardes were brought with an honorable conuoye vnto the sea side in a charriot with foure horses richely set out Alexander being ready to take his iorney to goe conquer INDIA perceyuing that his armie was very heauy vnwildsom to remoue for the wonderfull cariage and spoiles they had with them the cartes one morning being loden he first burnt his owne cariage next his frendes then commaunded that they should also set the cariage of the MACEDONIANS a fire which counsell seemed more daungerous to be resolued of then the proofe of the execution fell out difficulte For there are very few of them that were angry therewith the most part of them as if they had bene secretly moued by some god with lowde cryes of ioy one of them gaue vnto an other such necessary things as they had neede of and afterwardes of them selues did burne and spoile all the rest This made Alexander much more rigorous then he was before besides that he was already become cruell enough and without mercy or perdon did sharpely punish euery man that offended For hauing commaunded Menander one of his frendes to kepe him a strong holde he put him to death bicause he would not remaine there Furthermore he him selfe slue Orsodates a captaine of the barbarous people with a darte for that he rebelled against him About that time there was an eawe that had eaned a lambe which had apon her head the forme and purple culler of the kinges hatte after the PERSIAN maner called Tiara hauing two stones hanging on ech side of it Alexander abhorred this monsterous signe insomuch as he pourged him selfe by certain BABYLONIAN priestes which he alwayes caried about with him for that purpose and said vnto his frendes that this monster did not so much moue him for respect of him selfe as it did for them fearing that the goddes after his death had predestined the force and power of his kingdom to fall into the handes of some base cowardly person This notwithstanding an other signe and token which chaunced in the necke of that did take away this feare and discoragement he had For a MACEDONIAN called Proxenus that had charge of the kinges cariage as he digged in a certain place by the riuer of Oxus to set vp the kinges tent and his lodging he found a certain fatte and oylie vaine which after they had drawen out the first there came out also an other cleerer which differed nothing neither in smell taste nor sauor from naturall oyle hauing the glosse and fattnes so like as there could be discerned no difference betwene them the which was so much more to be wondred at bicause that in al that contry there were no olyues They say also that the water of the riuer selfe of Oxus is very soft maketh their skinnes fatte which wash or bathe them selues therein And yet it appeareth by that which Alexander selfe wrote vnto Antipater that he was very glad of it putting that amongest the greatest signes which the goddes had sent vnto him The Soothesayers did interprete this wonder that it was a signe that he should haue a noble but yet a painefull voyage for the goddes said they haue geuen oyle vnto men to refresh their wearynes And truly so did he susteine many daungers in those warres and was oftentimes hurt in fight But the greatest losse he had of his men was for lacke of vittells and by the infection of the ayer For he striuing to ouercome fortune by valiantnes and her force by vertue thought nothing impossible for a valiant man neither any thing able to withstand a noble harte It is reported that when he went to besiege a strong holde which Sisimethres kept being thought vnsaltable and that his souldiers were in dispeire of it he asked one Oxyarthes what hart Sisimethres had Oxyarthes aunswered him that he was the veriest coward in the world O that is well ê™ Alexander then it is to be wonne if that be true thou saiest sithence the captaine of the peece is but a coward So he tooke it of a sodaine by putting Sisimethres in a great feare After that also he did besiege an other peece of as great strength and difficultie to assault as the other and making the young souldiers of the MACEDONIANS to go to thassault he called one of them vnto him whose name also was Alexander vnto whom he said thus Alexander this daie thou must fight like a man and it be but for thy name sake The yong man did not forget his words for he sought so valliantly that he was slaine for whom Alexander was very sory An other time when his men were affraid durst not come neere vnto the citie of NISA to assault it bicause there ranne a very deepe riuer hard by the walles he came to the riuers side and said oh what a coward am I that neuer learned to swimme and so prepared him selfe to swimme ouer apon his shielde After he had caused them to retire from the assault there came ambassadors vnto him from the cities besieged to craue pardon of him They wondered at him at the first when they saw him armed without any pompe or other ceremonie about him but much more when a chaier was brought him to sit downe on that he commaunded the oldest man amongest them called Acuphis to take it to him and sit him downe Acuphis marueling at Alexanders great curtesie asked him what they should doe for him thenceforth to be his good frendes I will said Alexander that they from whom thou comest as ambassador vnto vs doe make thee their king and withall that they doe send me a hundred of their best men for ostages Acuphis smiling aunswered him againe but I shall rule them better O king if I send you the worst and not the best There was a king called Taxiles a very wise man who had a great contrie in INDIA no lesse in biggenes and circuit then all AEGYPT and as full of good pasture and frutes as any country in the world could be who came on a
in speech Phocion was very wittie For like as coynes of gold or siluer the lighter they waye the finer they be of goodnes euen so the excellencie of speeche consisteth in signifying much by fewe wordes And touching this matter it is reported that the Theater being full of people Phocion walked all alone vpon the scaffold where the players played and was in a great muse with him selfe whereuppon one of his friendes seeing him so in his muses said vnto him Surely Phocion thy minde is occupied about somewhat In deede so is it sayd he for I am thinking with my selfe if I could abridge any thing of that I haue to say to the people For Demosthenes selfe litle esteming all other Orators when Phocion rose vp to speake he would round his friendes in their eares and told them See the cutter of my wordes riseth Peraduenture he ment it by his maners also For when a good man speaketh not a word onely but a wincke of an eye or a nod of his head doth counteruaile many artificiall words speeches of Rethoritians Furthermore when he was a young man he went to the warres vnder Captaine Chabrias and followed him of whom he learned to be a persit souldier and in recompence thereof he reformed many of his Captaines imperfections and made him wiser then he was For Chabrias otherwise beeing very dull and slothfull of him selfe when he came to fight he was so hotte and corageous that he would thrust himselfe into daunger with the desperatest persons therefore for his rashnes it afterwards cost him his life in the citie of CHIO where launching out with his gally before the rest he pressed to land in despite of his enemies But Phocion being wise to loke to him selfe and very quicke to execute on the one side quickned Chabrias slownes and on the other side also by wisedom cooled his heate and furie Chabrias therefore being a good man curteous loued Phocion very well and did preferre him in matters of seruice making him famous amongest the GRAECIANS and employed him in his hardiest enterprises For by his meanes he atchieued great fame and honor in a battell by sea which he wanne by the I le of NAXOS giuing him the left winge of his armie on which side the fight was sharpest of all the battell and there he soonest put the enemies to flight This battel being the first which the citie of ATHENS wanne with their owne men onely after it had bene taken gaue the people cause to loue Chabrias and made them also to make accompt of Phocion as of a noble souldier worthy to haue charge This victory was gotten on the feast day of the great misteries in memory whereof Chabrias did yearly on the sixtenth day of the moneth Boedromion now called August make all the people of ATHENS drinke After that time Chabrias sending Phocion to receiue the tribute of the Ilanders their confederats and the shippes which they should send him he gaue him twenty gallies to bringe him thither But Phocion then as it is reported said vnto him if he sent him to fight with his enemies he had neede to haue moe shippes but if he sent him as an Ambassador vnto his friendes then that one shippe would serue his turne So he went with one gallie onely and after he had spoken with the cities and curteously dealt with the gouernors of euery one of them he returned backe furnished of their confederats with a great fleete of shippes and money to cary vnto ATHENS So Phocion did not onely â—â—uerence Chabrias while he liued but after his death also he tooke great care of his friendes and kinsmen and sought to make his sonne Ctesippus an honest man whom though he sawe way wilde and vntoward yet he neuer left to reforme him and hide his fault It is fayde also that when this young man did trouble him much with vaine friuolous questions seruing then vnder him he being Captaine and taking vpon him to giue him counsell to reproue him and to teache him the dutie of a Captaine he could not but say O Chabrias Chabrias now doe I paye for the loue thou didest beare me when thou wertaliue in bearing with the folly of thy sonne But when he saw that the heads of the citie of ATHENS had as it were by lot deuided amonge them selues the offices of warre and peace and that some of them as Eubulus Aristophon Demosthenes Lycurgus and Hyperides were common speakers and preferrers of matters in counsells and Senate and that others as Diopithes Menestheus Leosthenes and Chares became great men by the warres and had charge of armies he determined rather to follow the manner of gouernment of Pericles Aristides Solon as being mingled of both For either of them seemed as the Poet Archilotus sayth To bee both Champions stovvt of Marsis vvarlyke band And of the Muses eke the artes to vnderstand He knew also that Pallas the goddesse and protector of ATHENS was called Folemica and Politica to wit skilfull to rule both in warre and peace So hauing thus disposed of him selfe in gouernment he alwaies perswaded peace and quietnes and yet was often chosen Captaine and had charge of armies being the onely man that of all the Captaines afore him and in his time did neuer sue for charge neither yet refused it at any time when he was called to serue the common wealth It is certen that he was chosen fiue and forty times Praetor and was alwaies absent at the elections but yet sent for Whereuppon all the wise men wondred to see the manner of the people towards him considering that Phocion had neuer done nor sayd any thing to flatter them withall but commonly had bene against their desires and how they vsed other gouernours notwithstanding that were more pleasant and delightfull in their orations like men to sport at as it is sayd of kings who after they haue washed their handes to goe to their meate doe vse to haue Ieslers and flatterers to make them mery but on thother side when they had occasion of warres in deede how then like wise men they could bethinke them selues and choose the wisest and slowtest man of the citie that most would withstand their mindes and desires For on a time an oracle of Apollo Delphias beeing openly red before them which sayd that all the other ATHENIANS being agreed yet there was one amonge them that was contrary to all the rest of the citie Phocion stepping forth before them all bad them neuer seeke further for the man for it was he that liked none of all their doings Another time he chaunced to say his opinion before all the people the which they all praised and approued but he saw they were so sodeinly become of his minde he turned backe to his friendes and asked them alas hath not some euill thing slipped my mouth vnwares Another time a generall collection being gathered of the people at ATHENS towardes the
not but be a maruelous griefe vnto Cleomenes who beinge a younge man had loste so vertuous and fayer a younge Ladie so dearelie beloued of him and yet he gaue not place vnto his sorowe neither did griefe ouercome his noble courage but he vsed the selfe same voyce apparell and countenaunce that he did before Then taking order with his priuate Captaines about his affayres and hauinge prouided also for the safetie of the TEGEANS he went the next morninge by breake of daye vnto SPARTA After he had priuately lamented the sorowe of his wiues death with his mother and children he presentlie bent his minde againe to publike causes Nowe Cleomenes had sent vnto Ptolomy kinge of AEGYPT who had promised him ayde but apon demaunde to haue his mother and children in pledge So he was a longe tyme before he woulde for shame make his mother priuie vnto it and went oftentymes of purpose to lette her vnderstande it but when he came he had not the harte to breake it to her She first suspectinge a thinge asked Cleomenes frendes if her sonne had not somewhat to saye vnto her that he durst not vtter Whereuppon in fine he gaue the venter and brake the matter to her When she hearde it she fell a laughinge and told him why howe commeth it to passe that thou hast kept it thus long and wouldest not tell me Come come sayed she put me straight into a shippe and sende me whither thou wilt that this bodie of myne may doe some good vnto my contrie before crooked age consume my life without profitte Then all thinges beinge prepared for their iorney they went by lande accompanied with the armie vnto the heade of Taenarus Where Cratesiclea beinge readie to imbarke she tooke Cleomenes aside into the temple of Neptune and imbracinge and kissinge him perceiuinge that his harte yerned for sorowe of her departure she sayed vnto him O kinge of LACEDAEMON lette no man see for shame when we come out of the temple that we haue wept and dishonored SPARTA For that onely is in our power and for the rest as it pleaseth the goddes so lette it be When she had spoken these wordes and facioned her countenaunce againe she went then to take her shippe with a litle sonne of Cleomenes and commaunded the maister of the shippe to hoyse sayle Nowe when she was arriued in AEGYPT and vnderstoode that kinge Ptolomy receiued Ambassadours from Antigonus and were in talke to make peace with him and hearinge also that Cleomenes beinge requested by the ACHAIANS to make peace with them durst not hearken to it and ende that warre without king Ptolomyes consent and bicause of his mother she wrote vnto him that he shoulde not spare to doe any thinge that shoulde be expedient for the honour of SPARTA without feare of displeasing Ptolomy or for regarde of an olde woman and a younge boye Suche was the noble minde of this worthie Ladie in her sonne Cleomenes aduersitie Furthermore Antigonus hauing taken the citie of TEGEA and sacked the other cities of ORCHOMENVM and MANTINEA Cleomenes seeinge him selfe brought to defende the borders onely of LACONIA he did manumise all the ILOTES which were the slaues of LACEDAEMON payinge fiue Attica Minas a man With that money he made the summe of fiue hundred talentes and armed two thowsande of these freed slaues after the MACEDONIAN facion to fight against the LEVCASPIDES to witte the white shieldes of Antigonus and then there fell into his minde a maruelous greate enterprise vnlooked for of euery man The citie of MEGALIPOLIS at that time being as great as SPARTA hauing the aide of the ACHAIANS and Antigonus at hand whom the ACHAIANS as it seemed had brought it chiefly at the request of the MEGALOPOLITANS Cleomenes determininge to sacke this citie and knowing that to bring it to passe nothing was more requisite then celeritie he commaunded his souldiers to vittell them selues for fiue dayes and marching with the choyce of all his armie towardes SELASIA as though he had ment to haue spoyled the ARGIVES sodainly turning from thence he inuaded the contrie of the MEGALOPOLITANS and supping by ROETIVM went straight by ELICVNTA vnto the citie When he was come neere vnto it he sent Panteas before with speede with two bandes of the LACEDAEMONIANS and commaunded him to take a certeine pece of the wall betweene two towers which he knewe was not kept nor garded and he followed him also with the rest of his armie comming on fayer and softly When Panteas came thither finding not onely that place of the wall without gard or watche which Cleomenes had told him of but also the most parte of that side without defence he tooke some parte of the wall at his first comming and manned it and ouerthrew an other peece of it also putting them all to the sword that did defend it and then came Cleomenes and was within the citie with his armie before the MEGALOPOLITANS knewe of his comming At length the citizens vnderstanding that the citie was taken some fled in hast conueying suche light things as came to hande in so great a feare and the others also arming them selues ranne together to resist the enemies But though they valliantly fought to repulse them out of the citie and yet preuayled not they gaue the rest leisure thereby to flye and saue them selues so that there remayned not behinde aboue a thowsande men For all the rest were fled with their wiues and children into the citie of MESSENA The most parte of them also that fought with the enemies saued them selues and verie fewe were taken the chiefest whereof were Lysandridas and Thearidas the noblest persons that were amongest the MEGALOPOLITANS wherefore when the souldiers had taken them they brought them vnto Cleomenes Lysandridas when he saw Cleomenes a good way of cried out alowde vnto him O king of LACEDAEMON this day thou hast an occasion offered thee to doe a more famous princely acte then that which thou hast alreadie done and that will make thy name also more glorious Cleomenes musing what he woulde request well q he what is that thou requirest One thing I will tell thee before hande thou shalt not make me restore your citie to you againe Yet q Lysandridas lette me request thus muche then that ye doe not destroy it but rather replenishe it with frendes and confederates which hereafter will be true and faithfull to you and that shall you doe geuing the MEGALOPOLITANS their citie againe and preseruing suche a number of people as haue forsaken it Cleomenes pawsing a while aunswered it was a hard thing to beleue that but yet q he let honor take place with vs before profit After that he sent a Heraulde straight vnto MESSENA vnto them that were fledde thither and tolde them that he was contented to offer them their citie againe so that they would become good frendes and confederates of the LACEDAEMONIANS forsaking the alliance of the ACHAIANS Philopoemen would by
others of the rude and baser sorte of men were offended with their sonnes bicause to honor Cicero they did alwayes put him in the middest betwene them as they went in the streetes Cicero in deede had suche a naturall witte and vnderstanding as Plato thought meete for learning and apt for the studie of Philosophie For he gaue him selfe to all kinde of knowledge and there was no arte nor any of the liberall sciences that he disdained notwithstanding in his first young yeares he was apter and better disposed to the studie of Poetrie then any other There is a pretie poeme of his in verses of eight staues called Pontius Glaucus extant at this day the which he made when he was but a boye After that being geuen more earnestlie vnto his studie he was not onely thought the best Orator but the best Poet also of all the ROMANES in his time and yet doth the excellencie of his eloquence and commendacion of his tongue continewe euen to this daye notwithstanding the great alteracion and chaunge of the Latine tongue But his Poetrie hath lost the name and estimacion of it bicause there were many after him that became farre more excellent therein then he After he had left his childishe studies he became then Philoes scholler the Academicke Philosopher the onely scholler of all Clitomachus schollers whome the ROMANES esteemed so muche for his eloquence and loued more for his gentle behauiour and conuersation He gaue him selfe also to be a follower of Mutius Scauola who at that time was a greate man in ROME and Prince of the Senate and who did also instruct Cicero in the lawes of ROME He did also followe Sylla for a time in the warres of the MARSIANS But when he sawe that the common wealth of ROME fell to ciuill warres and from ciuill warres to a monarchie then he returned againe to his booke and contemplatiue life and frequented the learned men of GRAECE and alwayes studied with them vntill Sylla had gotten the vpper hande and that he saw all the common wealth againe at some stay About that time Sylla causing the goods of one that was sayd to be slaine to be solde by the â—rier beinge one of the outlawes and proscriptes to witte banished by billes sette vp on postes Chrysogonus one of Syllaes freed bondemen and in great fauour with his maister bought them for the summe of two thowsande Drachmes Therewithall the sonne and heire of the deade person called Roscius being maruelouslie offended he shewed that it was too shamefull an abuse for his fathers goodes amounted to the summe of two hundred and fiftie talentes Sylla finding him selfe thus openlie touched with publike fraude and deceite for the onely gratifyinge of his man he procured Chrysogonus to accuse him that he had killed his owne father Neuer an Orator durst speake in Roscius behalfe to defende his cause but shronke colour fearing Syllaes crueltie and seueritie Wherefore poore Roscius the younge man seeing euerie man forsake him had no other refuge but to goe to Cicero whome his frendes did counsell and perswade boldly to take vpon him the defence of Roscius cause for he shoulde neuer haue a happier occasion nor so noble a beginning to bring him selfe into estimacion as this Thereuppon Cicero determined to take his cause in hande and did handell it so well that he obteyned the thing he sued for whereby he wanne him greate fame and credit But yet being affrayed of Syllaes displeasure he absented him selfe from ROME and went into GRAECE geuinge it out that his trauell was for a disease he had vppon him In deede Cicero was dogge leane a litle eater and woulde also eate late bicause of the greate weakenesse of his stomacke but yet he had a good lowde voyce though it was somewhat harshe and lacked grace and comelynesse Furthermore he was so earnest and vehement in his Oration that he mounted still with his voyce into the highest tunes insomuche that men were affrayed it woulde one daye put him in hazard of his life When he came to ATHENS he went to heare Antiochus of the citie of ASCALONA and fell in greate likinge with his sweete tongue and excellent grace though otherwise he misliked his newe opinions in Philosophie For Antiochus had then forsaken the opinions of the newe Academicke Philosophers and the sect of the Carneades being moued thereunto either through the manifest proofe of thinges or by his certaine iudgement or as some say for that of an ambition or dissention against the schollers and followers of Clitomachus and Philo he had reproued the resolucions of the Academickes which he had of long time defended onely to leane for the moste parte to the Stoickes opinions Howebeit Cicero had most affection vnto the Academickes and did studie that sect more then all the rest of purpose that if he sawe he were forbidden to practice in the common wealth at ROME he woulde then goe to ATHENS leauing all pleaes and Orators in the commonwealth to bestowe the rest of his time quietly in the studie of Philosophie At length when he hearde newes of Syllaes death and sawe that his bodie was growen to good state and health by exercise and that his voyce became dayly more and more to fill mens eares with a sweete and pleasaunt sounde and yet was lowde enough for the constitucion of his bodie receiuing letters dayly from his frendes at ROME that prayed him to returne home and moreouer Antiochus selfe also earnestlie perswadinge him to practise in the common wealth he beganne againe to fall to the studie of Rethoricke and to frame him selfe to be eloquent being a necessarie thing for an Orator and did continuallie exercise him selfe in making Orations vppon any speache or proposicion and so frequented the chiefe Orators and masters of eloquence that were at that time To this ende therefore he went into ASIA vnto RHODES and amongest the Orators of ASIA he frequented Xenocles ADRAMETTIN and Dionysius MAGNESIAN and studied also with Menippus CARIAN at RHODES he hearde Apollonius Molon and the Philosopher Posidonius And it is reported also that Apollonius wanting the Latine tongue he did pray Cicero for exercise sake to declame in Graeke Cicero was verie well contented with it thinkinge that thereby his faultes shoulde be the better corrected When he had ended his declamacion all those that were present were amazed to heare him and euerie man praised him one after an other Howebeit Apollonius all the while Cicero spake did neuer shewe any glad countenaunce and when he had ended he stayed a greate while and sayed neuer a worde Cicero misliking withall Apollonius at length sayed vnto him As for me Cicero I doe not onely praise thee but more then that I wonder at thee and yet I am sorie for poore GRAECE to see that learning and eloquence which were the two onely giftes and honor left vs are by thee obtained with vs and caried vnto the
ROMANES Nowe Cicero being verie well disposed to goe with good hope to practise at ROME he was a litle discouraged by an Oracle that was tolde him For inquiring of the god Apollo DELPHIAN howe he might doe to winne fame and estimacion â— the Nunne Pythias aunswered him he shoulde obtayne it so that in his doinges he woulde rather followe the disposicion of his owne nature then the opinion of the common people Wherefore when he came to ROME at the first he proceeded verie warely and discreetely and did vnwillinglie seeke for any office and when he did he was not greatlie esteemed for they commonlie called him the GRAECIAN and scholler which are two wordes the which the artificers and suche base mechanicall people at ROME haue euer readie at their tongues ende Nowe he beinge by nature ambicious of honour and pricke forward also by the perswasion of his father and frendes in the ende he beganne to pleade and there obteyned not the chiefest place by litle and litle but so soone as he fell to practise he was immediatly esteemed aboue all the other Orators and pleaders in his time and did excell them all Yet it is reported notwithstanding that for his gesture and pronunciacion hauing the selfe same defectes of nature at the beginning which Demosthenes had to reforme them he carefully studied to counterfeate Roscius an excellent commediant and AEsope also a player of tragedies Of this AEsope men wryte that he playing one day Atrius parte vpon a stage who determined with him selfe how he might be reuenged of his brother Thyestes a seruaunt by chaunce hauing occasion to runne sodainly by him he forgetting him selfe striuing to shewe the vehement passion and furie of this king gaue him suche a blowe on his head with the scepter in his hand that he slue him dead in the place Euen so Ciceroes words were of so great force to perswade by meanes of his grace and pronunciacion For he mocking the Orators that thrust out their heades and cried in their Orations was wont to say that they were like to lame men who were driuen to ryde bicause they coulde not goe a foote euen so sayed he they crie out bicause they can not speake Truely pleasaunt tawntes doe grace an Orator and sheweth a fine witte but yet Cicero vsed them so commonly that they were offensiue vnto many and brought him to be counted a malicious scoffer and spightfull man He was chosen Treasorer in the time of dearth when there was great scarcetie of corne at ROME and the prouince of SICILE fell to his lotte At his first comming thither the SICILIANS misliked him verie muche bicause he compelled them to sende corne vnto ROME but after they had founde his diligence iustice and lenitie they honored him aboue any Gouernor that euer was sent from ROME Nowe there were diuers young gentlemen of ROME of noble houses who being accused for sundrie faultes committed in warres against their honor and martiall discipline had bene sent backe againe vnto the Praetor of SICILE for whome Cicero pleaded and did so excellently defende their cause that they were pardoned euerie man Thereuppon thinking well of him selfe when his time expired he went to ROME and by the way there happened a prety ieast vnto him As he passed through the contrie of CAMPANIA otherwise called the lande of labor he met by chaunce with one of the chiefest ROMANES of all his frends So falling in talke with him he asked him what they sayd of him at ROME and what they thought of his doinges imagining that all ROME had bene full of the glorie of his name and deedes His frende asked him againe and where hast thou bene Cicero all this while that we haue not seene thee at ROME This killed his hart straight when he sawe that the reporte of his name and doinges entring into the citie of ROME as into an infinite sea was so sodainely vanquished away againe without any other same or speach But after that when he looked into him selfe and sawe that in reason he tooke an infinite labor in hande to attaine to glorie wherein he sawe no certaine ende whereby to attaine vnto it it cut of a great parte of the ambicion he had in his head And yet the great pleasure he tooke to heare his owne praise and to be ouermuche geuen to desire of honor and estimacion those two thinges continued with him euen to his dying day and did estsoones make him swarue from iustice Furthermore when he beganne thorowely to practise in the affaires of the state he thought it an ill thing that artificers and craftes men shoulde haue many sortes of instrumentes and tooles without life to knowe the names of euerie one of them the places where they shoulde take them and the vse whereto they shoulde employ them and that a man of knowledge and qualitie who doth all thinges with the helpe and seruice of men shoulde be slothfull and carelesse to learne to knowe the names of his citizens Therefore he gaue him selfe to knowe not onely mens names of qualitie but the streetes also they dwelt in what parte of the citie soeuer it was their goodly houses in the contrie the frendes they made of and the neighbours whome they companied with So that when he went abroade into ITALIE wheresoeuer he became Cicero coulde shewe and name his frendes houses He was not verie riche and yet he had enough to serue his turne the which made men muse the more at him and they loued him the better bicause he tooke no see nor gifte for his pleading what cause soeuer he had in hande but then speciallie when he defended a matter against Verres This Verres had bene Praetor of SICILIA and had committed many lewde partes there for the which the SICILIANS did accuse him Cicero taking apon him to defende their cause made Verres to be condemned not by pleading but in manner without pleading and in this sorte The Praetors being his Iudges and fauoring Verres had made so many reiornementes and delayes that they had driuen it of to the laste day of hearing Cicero perceiuing then he shoulde not haue day light to speake all that he had to say against him and that thereby nothing shoulde be done and iudged he rose vp and sayed that there needed no further plea in this matter but onely brought foorth the witnesses before the Iudges and hauing caused their deposicions to be taken he prayed they woulde proceede to sentence according to their euidence geuen on that behalfe Yet some doe reporte that Cicero gaue many pleasaunt tawntes and girdes in pleading the accusacion of the SICILIANS against Verres The ROMANES doe call a bore Verres There was one Caecilius the sonne of a freed bondman who was suspected to holde with the supersticion of the IEWES This Caecilius woulde haue put by the SICILIANS from following the accusacion of Verres and woulde haue had the matter of his accusacion only
GRAECIANS doings adding thereunto all the fables and deuises which they doe write and reporte he was hindered of his purpose against his will by many open and priuate troubles that came vpon him at once whereof notwithstanding he him selfe was cause of the most of them For first of all he did put away his wife Terentia bicause she had made but small accompt of him in all the warres so that he departed from ROME hauing no necessarie thing with him to enterteine him out of his contrie and yet when he came backe againe into ITALIE she neuer shewed any sparke of loue or good will towardes him For she neuer came to BRVNDVSIVM to him where he remeyned a long time and worse then that his daughter hauing the hart to take so long a iorney in hand to goe to him she neither gaue her company to conduct her nor money or other furniture conuenient for her but so handled the matter that Cicero at his returne to ROME founde bare walles in his house and nothing in it and yet greatly brought in det besides And these were the honestest causes alleaged for their diuorse But besides that Terentia denyed all these Cicero him selfe gaue her a good occasion to cleere her selfe bicause he shortly after maried a young maiden being fallen in fancie with her as Terentia sayd for her beawtie or as Tyro his seruaunt wrote for her riches to th ende that with her goods he might pay his dets For she was very rich Cicero also was appointed her gardian she being left sole heire Now bicause he ought a maruelous summe of money his parents and frends did counsell him to mary this young maiden notwithstanding he was too olde for her bicause that with her goodes he might satisfie his creditors But Antonius speaking of this mariage of Cicero in his aunswers Orations he made against the PHILIPPIANS he doth reproue him for that he put away his wife with whome he was growen olde being merie with him by the way for that he had bene an idle man and neuer went from the smoke of his chimney nor had bene abroade in the warres in any seruice of his contrie or common wealth Shortly after that he had maried his second wife his daughter dyed in labor of child in Lentulus house whose seconde wife she was being before maried vnto Piso who was her first husband So the Philosophers and learned men came of all sides to comfort him but he tooke her death so sorowfully that he put away his second wife bicause he thought she did reioyce at the death of his daughter And thus muche touching the state and troubles of his house Nowe touching the conspiracie against Caesar he was not made priuie to it although he was one of Brutus greatest frendes and that it grieued him to see thinges in that state they were brought vnto and albeit also he wished for the time past as much as any other man did But in deede the conspirators were affrayed of his nature that lacked hardinesse and of his age the which oftentimes maketh the stowtest and most hardiest natures faint harted cowardly Notwithstanding the conspiracie being executed by Brutus and Cassius Caesars frendes beinge gathered together euerie man was affrayed that the citie woulde againe fall into ciuill warres And Antonius also who was Consul at that time did assemble the Senate and made some speache and mocion then to draw things againe vnto quietnes But Cicero hauing vsed diuers perswasions fit for the time in the end he moued the Senate to decree following the example of the ATHENIANS a generall obliuion of thinges done against Caesar and to assigne vnto Brutus and Cassius some gouernmentes of prouinces Howbeit nothing was concluded for the people of them selues were sorie when they sawe Caesars bodie brought through the market place And when Antonius also did shew them his gowne all be bloodied cut throst through with swordes then they were like madde men for anger and sought vp and downe the market place if they coulde meete with any of them that had slaine him and taking fire brandes in their handes they ranne to their houses to set them a fire But the conspirators hauing preuented this daunger saued them selues and fearing that if they taried at ROME they should haue many such alaroms they forsooke the citie Then Antonius began to looke aloft and became fearefull to all men as though he ment to make him selfe king but yet most of all vnto Cicero aboue all others For Antonius perceiuing that Cicero began againe to increase in credit and authoritie and knowing that he was Brutus very frend he did mislike to see him come neere him and besides there was at that time some gealousie betwext them for the diuersitie and difference of their manners and disposicions Cicero being affrayed of this was first of all in minde to go with Dolabella to his prouince of SYRIA as one of his Lieutenaunts But they that were appointed to be Consuls the next yeare following after Antonius two noble citizens Ciceroes great frends Hircius Pansa they intreated him not to forsake them vndertaking that they would plucke downe this ouergreat power of Antonius so he would remaine with them But Cicero neither beleuing not altogether mistrusting them forsooke Dolabella and promised Hircius and Pansa that he would spend the sommer at ATHENS and that he would returne againe to ROME so soone as they were entred into their Consulship With this determination Cicero tooke sea alone to goe into GRAECE But as it chaunceth oftentimes there was some let that kept him he could not saile and newes came to him daily from ROME as the manner is that Antonius was wonderfully chaunged and that nowe he did nothing any more without the authoritie consent of the Senate that there lacked no thing but his person to make all things well Then Cicero condemning his dastardly feare returned foorthwith to ROME not being deceiued in his first hope For there came suche a number of people out to meete him that he coulde doe nothing all day long but take them by the handes and imbrace them who to honor him came to meete him at the gate of the citie as also by the way to bring him to his house The next morning Antonius assembled the Senate and called for Cicero by name Cicero refused to goe and kept his bedde fayning that he was werie with his iorney and paines he had taken the day before but in deede the cause why he went not was for feare and suspicion of an ambushe that was layed for him by the way if he had gone as he was informed by one of his verie good frends Antonius was maruelously offended that they did wrongfully accuse him for laying of any ambush for him and therefore sent souldiers to his house and commaunded them to bring him by force or else to sette his house a fire After that time Cicero and he were
alwayes at iarre but yet coldly enough one of them taking heede of an other vntill that the young Caesar returning from the citie of APOLLONIA came as lawfull heire vnto Iulius Caesar Dictator and had contencion with Antonius for the summe of two thowsande fiue hundred Myriades the which Antonius kept in his handes of his fathers goodes Thereuppon Philip who had maried the mother of this young Caesar and Marcellus who had also maried his sister went with young Caesar vnto Cicero and there agreed together that Cicero should helpe young Caesar with the fauour of his authoritie and eloquence as well towardes the Senate as also to the people and that Caesar in recompence of his good will should stande by Cicero with his money and souldiers For this young Caesar had many of his fathers old souldiers about him that had serued vnder him Now there was an other cause that made Cicero glad to imbrace the frendshippe of this young Caesar and that was this Whilest Pompey and Iulius Caesar were aliue and in good case Cicero dreamed one night that the Senators sonnes were called into the Capitoll bicause Iupiter had appointed to shew them him that one day should come to be Lord and king of ROME and that the ROMANES being desirous to see who it should be ranne all vnto the temple and that all the children likewise were waiting there in their goodly garded gownes of purple vntill that sodainly the dores of the temple were open then that al the children rose one after an other went and passed by the image of Iupiter who looked vpon them all and sent them discontented sauing this young Caesar vnto whom he put foorth his hand as he passed by and sayd My Lordes of ROME this childe is he that shall end all your ciuill warres when he commeth to be Lord of ROME Some say that Cicero had this vision in his dreame and that he caried in good memory the looke of this child howbeit that he knew him not and that the next morning he went of purpose into the fielde of Mars where these young boyes did exercise them selues who when he came thither had broken vp from playing and were going home and that amongest them he first saw him whom he had dreamed of and knew him verie well and musing at him the more asked him whose sonne he was The boy aunswered that he was the sonne of one Octauius a man otherwise of no great calling of Accia the sister of Iulius Caesar who hauing no childe made him his heire by his last will and testament and left him all his landes and goodes After that time it is reported that Cicero was verie glad to speake to him when he met with him and that the boy also liked Ciceroes frendshippe and making of him for by good happe the boy was borne the same yeare that Cicero was Consul And these be the reasons alleaged why Cicero did fauor this young Caesar. But in truth first of all the great malice he bare vnto Antonius and secondly his nature that was ambitious of honor were in my opinion the chiefest causes why he became young Caesars frend knowing that the force and power of his souldiers would greatly strengthen his authority and countenance in manedging the affaires of the state besides that the young man coulde flatter him so well that he called him father But Brutus being offended with him for it in his Epistells he wrote vnto Atticus he sharply reproueth Cicero saying that for feare of Antonius he flattered this young Caesar whereby it appeared he did not so much seeke for the libertie of ROME as he did procure him selfe a louing and gentle maister This notwithstanding Brutus brought with him Ciceroes sonne that studied Philosophie at ATHENS and gaue him charge of men vnder him and imployed him in great affaires wherein he shewed him selfe verie forward and valliant Now Ciceroes authoritie and power grew againe to be so great in ROME as euer it was before For he did what he thought good and so vexed Antonius that he draue him out of the citie and sent the two Consuls Hircius and Pansa against him to fight with him and caused the Senate also to decree that young Caesar should haue sergeaunts to carie roddes and axes before him and all other furniture for a Praetor as a man that fighteth for his contry After that Antonius had lost the battell and that both the Consuls were slaine both the armies came vnto Caesar. The Senate then being affraied of this young man that had so great good fortune they practised by honors and gifts to call the armies from him which he had about him and so to minish the greatnes of his power saying that their contrie now stoode in no neede of force nor feare of defence sith her enemie Antonius was fled and gone Caesar fearing this sent men secretly vnto Cicero to pray him to procure that they two together might be chosen Consuls and that when they should be in office he should doe and appoint what he thought good hauing the young man at his commaundement who desired no more but the honor only of the name Caesar him selfe confessed afterwardes that being affrayed he should haue bene vtterly cast away to haue bene left alone he finely serued his turne by Ciceroes ambition hauing perswaded him to require the Consulship through the helpe and assistance that he would geue him But there was Cicero finely colted as old as he was by a young man when he was contented to sue for the Consulship in his behalfe and to make the Senate agreable to it wherefore his frendes presently reproued him for it and shortly after he perceiued he had vndone him selfe and together also lost the libertie of his contrie For this young man Octauius Caesar being growen to be verie great by his meanes and procurement when he saw that he had the Consulshippe vpon him he forsooke Cicero and agreed with Antonius and Lepidus Then ioyning his armie with theirs he deuided the Empire of ROME with them as if it had bene lands left in common betwene them and besides that there was a bill made of two hundred men and vpwards whom they had appointed to be slaine But the greatest difficultie and difference that fell out betwene them was about the outlawing of Cicero For Antonius woulde hearken to no peace betwene them vnlesse Cicero were slaine first of all Lepidus was also in the same mind with Antonius but Caesar was against them both Their meeting was by the citie of BOLONIA where they continued three dayes together they three only secretly consulting in a place enuironned about with a litle riuer Some say that Caesar stuck hard with Cicero the two first dayes but at the third that he yeelded and forsooke him The exchaunge they agreed vpon betwene them was this Caesar forsooke Cicero Lepidus his owne brother Paulus and Antonius Lucius Caesar
to geue the goddes thankes for his comming as for some wonderful great good happe chaunced vnto his seigniory Furthermore the wonderfull modestie and temperaunce that was begon to be obserued in feast and bankets the Court cleane chaunged and the great goodnes and clemencie of the tyran in all thinges in ministring iustice to euerie man did put the SYRACVSANS in great good hope of chaunge and euerie man in the Court was verie desirous to geue him selfe to learning and Philosophie So that as men reported the tyrannes pallace was full of sande and dust with the numbers of studentes that drewe plattes and figures of Geometrie Shortlie after Plato was arriued by chaunce the time was comen about to doe a solemne sacrifice within the castell at whiche sacrifice the Heraulde as the manner was proclaimed alowde the solemne prayer accustomed to be done that is woulde please the goddes long to preserue the state of the tyrannie and that Dionysius being harde by him sayd vnto him what wilt thou not leaue to curse me This worde grieued Philistus and his companions to the harte thinkinge that with time by litle and litle Plato would winne suche estimacion and great authoritie with Dionysius that afterwardes they shoulde not be able to resist him considering that in so short a time as he had bene with Dionysius he had so altered his minde and courage And therefore they nowe beganne not one by one nor in hugger mugger but all of them with open mowth together to accuse Dion and sayed that it was easie to be seene howe he charmed and inchaunted Dionysius through Platoes eloquence to make him willing to resigne his gouernment bicause he woulde transferre it to the handes of the children of his sister Aristomaché Others seemed to be offended for that the ATHENIANS hauing comen before into SICILIA with a great armie both by sea and land they were all lost and cast away and could not win the city of SYRACVSA that now by one only Sophister they vtterly destroyed and ouerthrewe the Empire of Dionysius perswading him to discharge the ten thowsand souldiers he had about him for his garde to forsake the foure hundred gallies the ten thowsand horsemen and as many moe footemen to goe to the Academy to seeke an vnknowen happines neuer heard of before and to make him happy by Geometry resigning his present happines and felicitie to be a great Lord to haue money at will and to liue pleasauntlie vnto Dion and his Neuewes By such like accusations and wicked tongues Dionysius began first to mistrust Dion and afterwardes to be openly offended with him and to frowne vpon him In the meane time they brought letters Dion wrote secretlie vnto the Gouernors of the citie of CARTHAGE willing them that when they would make peace with Dionysius they shoulde not talke with him vnlesse he stoode by assuring them that he would helpe them to set things in quietnes that all should be well againe When Dionysius had red these letters with Philistus had taken his aduise counsel what he should do as Timaeus said he deceiued Dion vnder pretence of recoÌ„ciliacioÌ„ making as though he ment him no hurt saying that he would become frends again with him So he brought Dion one day to the sea side vnder his castell and shewed him these letters burdening him to haue practised with the CARTHAGINIANS against him And as Dion went about to make him answere to cleere himself Dionysius would not heare him but caused him to be taken vp as he was and put into a pinnase commaunded the marines to set him a lande vpon the coast of ITALIE After this was done and that it was knowen abroad in the citie euerie man thought it a cruell parte of Dionysius insomuche that the tyrans pallace was in a maruelous pecke of troubles for the great sorowe the women made for the departure of Dion Moreouer the citie selfe of SYRACVSA began to looke about them looking for some sodaine great chaunge innouation for the tumult vprore that would happen by meanes of Dions banishment and for the mistrust also that all men would haue of Dionysius Dionysius considering this and being affrayed of some misfortune he gaue his frendes and the women of his pallace comfortable words telling them that he had not banished him but was contented that he should absent him selfe for a time being affrayed that in his sodaine angry moode he might peraduenture be compelled to do him some worse turne if he remained bicause of his obstinacie and selfewill Furthermore he gaue vnto Dions frends two shippes to carie as much goodes money and as many of Dions seruauntes as they woulde and to conuey them vnto him vnto PELOPONNESVS Dion was a maruelous rich man for the pompe of his seruice and sumptuous moueables of his house they were like vnto the person of a tyran All these riches Dions frendes brought abord vpon those shippes and caried them vnto him besides many other rich gifts which the women and his frends sent vnto him So that by meanes of his great riches Dion was maruelouslie esteemed among the GRAECIANS who by the â—iches of a banished citizen coniectured what the power of a tyranne might be But now concerning Plato when Dion was exiled Dionysius caused him to be lodged in his castell and by this meanes craftilie placed vnder cloke of frendshippe an honorable garde about him bicause he shoulde not returne into GRAECE to seeke Dion to tell him of the iniurie he had done vnto him Howbeit Dionysius often frequenting him companie as a wilde beast is made tame by companie of man he liked his talke so well that he became in loue with him but it was a tyrannicall loue For he woulde haue Plato to loue none but him and that he shoulde esteeme him aboue all men liuing being readie to put the whole realme into his handes And all his forces so that he woulde thinke better of him then of Dion Thus was this passionate affection of Dionysius grieuous vnto Plato For he was so drowned with the loue of him as men extreamelie gealous of the women they loue that in a moment he woulde sodainly fall out with him and straight againe become frendes and pray him to pardon him And to say truelie he had a maruelous desire to heare Platoes Philosophie but on the other side he reuerenced them that did disswade him from it and told him that he woulde spoyle him selfe if he entred ouerdeepelie into it In the meane time fell out warre and thereuppon he sent Plato againe away promising him that the next spring he woulde sende for Dion him But he brake promise therein and yet sent him his reuenues and prayed Plato to pardon him though he had not kept promise at his time appointed For he alleaged the warre was the cause and that so soone as he had ended his warre he woulde sende for Dion whome in the meane
maried vnto an other man. Now then sith fortune hath made thee Lord of vs all what iudgement giuest thou of this compulsion Howe wilt thou haue her to salute thee as her Vncle or husbande As Aristomaché spake these wordes the water stoode in Dions eyes so he gently and louingly taking his wife Areta by the hand he gaue her his sonne and willed her to goe home to his house where he then remained and so deliuered the castell to the SYRACVSANS He hauing this prosperous successe and victorie would not reape any present benefite or pleasure thereby before he had shewed him selfe thankefull to his frends geuen great gifts also vnto the confederats of SYRACVSA and speciallie before he had geuen euerie one of his frends in the citie and his mercenarie souldiers the straungers some honorable reward according to their deserts exceeding his abilitie with magnanimitie of minde when he him selfe liued soberly and kept a moderate dyet contenting him with any thing that came first to hand Euery man that heard of it wondered at him considering that not only all SICILIA and CARTHAGE but generallie all GRAECE looked vpon his great prosperitie and good fortune thinking no man liuing greater then him selfe nor that any Captaine euer attained to such fame and wonderfull fortune as he was come vnto This notwithstanding Dion liued as temperatly and modestly in his apparell and also in his number of seruauntes and seruice as his bord as if he had liued with Plato in the Academy at ATHENS and had not bene conuersant amongest souldiers and Captaines which haue no other comfort nor pleasure for all the paines and daungers they suffer continuallie but to eate and drinke their fill and to take their pleasure all day long Plato wrote vnto him that all the world had him in admiration But Dion in my opinion had no respect but to one place and to one citie to wit the Academy and would haue no other Iudges nor lookers into his doinges but the schollers of the same who neither wondered at his great exploytes valliantnes nor victorie but only considered if he did wiselie and modestlie vse this fortune he had and could so keepe him selfe within modest boundes hauing done so great thinges Furthermore touching the grauetie he had when he spake to any bodie and his inflexible seueritie which he vsed towards the people he determined neuer to alter or chaunge it notwithstanding that his affaires required him to shew curtesie and lenitie and that Plato also reproued him for it and wrote that seueritie and obstinacie as we sayd before was the companion of solitarines But it seemeth to me that Dion did vse it for two respectes The first bicause nature had not framed him curteous and affable to winne men secondly he did what he could to drawe the SYRACVSANS to the contrarie who were ouerlicentious spoyled with too much flattery for Heraclides began againe to be busie with him First of all Dion sending for him to come to counsell he sent him word he would not come and that being a priuate citizen he woulde be at the common counsell amongest others when any was kept Afterwards he accused him for that he had not ouerthrowen and rased the castell and also bicause he would not suffer the people to breake open the tombe of Dionysius the elder to cast out his bodie bicause he sent for counsellers to CORINTHE and disdained to make the citizens his companions in the gouernment of the common wealth In deede to confesse a troth Dion had sent for certaine CORINTHIANS hoping the better to stablish the forme of a common wealth which he had in his minde when they were come For his minde was vtterly to breake the gouernment of Democratia to wit the absolute gouernment and authoritie of the people in a citie not being as it were a common wealth but rather a fayer and market where thinges are solde as Plato sayth and to stablishe the LACONIAN or CRETAN common wealth mingled with a Princely and popular gouernment that should be Aristocratia to wit the number of a fewe noble men that shoulde gouerne and direct the chiefest and waightiest matters of state And for that purpose he thought the CORINTHIANS the metest men to help him to frame this cōmon wealth cōsidering that they gouerned their affaires more by choosing a few number of the nobilitie then otherwise and that they did not referre many thinges to the voyce of the people And bicause he was assured that Heraclides would be against him in it all that he could and that otherwise he knewe he was a seditious a troublesome and light headed fellow he then suffered them to kill him who had long before done it if he had not kept them from it so they went home to his house and slue him there The murther of Heraclides was much misliked of the SYRACVSANS howbeit Dion caused him to be honorablie buried and brought his bodie to the grounde followed with all his armie Then he made an Oration him selfe to the people and told them that it was impossible to auoyde sedition and trouble in the citie so long as Dion and Heraclides did both gouerne together At that time there was one Callippus an ATHENIAN a familiar of Dions who as Plato sayth came not acquainted with Dion through the occasion of his studie in Philosophie but bicause he had bene his guide to bring him to see the secret misteries and ceremonies of the sacrifices and for such other like common talke and companie This notwithstanding Callippus did accompanie him in all this warre and was verie muche honored of him and was one of the first of all his frendes that entred into SYRACVSA with him and did valliantlie behaue him selfe in all the battells and conflicts that were fought This Callippus seeing that Dions best chiefest frends were all slaine in this warre that Heraclides also was dead that the people of SYRACVSA had no more any heade and besides that the souldiers which were with Dion did loue him better then any other man he became the vnfaithfullest man and the veriest villan of all other hoping that for reward to kill his frend Dion he should vndoubtedly come to haue the whole gouernment of all SICILIA and as some doe reporte for that he had taken a bribe of his enemies of twentie talentes for his labor to commit this murther So he began to practise to bribe and to subborne certaine of the mercenarie souldiers against Dion and that by a maruelous craftie and suttle fetch For vsing commonly to report vnto Dion certeine seditious wordes spoken peraduenture by the souldiers in deede or else deuised of his owne head he wan such a libertie and boldnes by the trust Dion had in him that he might safely say what he would to any of the souldiers and boldly speake euill of Dion by his owne commaundement to th end he might thereby vnderstand
at the foote of a rocke with certaine of his Captaines and frends that followed him and looking vp to the firmanent that was full of starres sighing he rehearsed two verses of the which Volumnius wrote the one to this effect Let not the vvight from vvhom this mischiefe vvent O loue escape vvithout devv punishment And sayth that he had forgotten the other Within a litle while after naming his frendes that he had seene slaine in battell before his eyes he fetched a greater sigh then before specially when he came to name Labio and Flauius of the which the one was his Lieutenant and the other Captaine of the pioners of his campe In the meane time one of the companie being a thirst and seeing Brutus a thirst also he ranne to the riuer for water and brought it in his sallet At the selfe same time they heard a noyse on the other side of the riuer Whereupon Volumnius tooke Dardanus Brutus seruaunt with him to see what it was and returning straight againe asked if there were any water left Brutus smiling gentlie tolde them all was dronke but they shall bring you some more Thereuppon he sent him againe that went for water before who was in great daunger of being taken by the enemies and hardly scaped being sore hurt Furthermore Brutus thought that there was no great number of men slaine in battell and to know the trueth of it there was one called Statilius that promised to goe through his enemies for otherwise it was impossible to goe see their campe and from thence if all were well that he woulde lift vp a torche light in the ayer and then returne againe with speede to him The torche light was lift vp as he had promised for Statilius went thither Nowe Brutus seeing Statilius tarie long after that and that he came not againe he sayd if Statilius be aliue he will come againe But his euill fortune was suche that as he came backe he lighted in his enemies hands and was slaine Now the night being farre spent Brutus as he sate bowed towards Clitus one of his men and told him somwhat in his eare the other aunswered him not but fell a weeping Thereuppon he proued Dardanus and sayd somwhat also to him at length he came to Volumnius him selfe speaking to him in Graeke prayed him for the studies sake which brought them acquainted together that he woulde helpe him to put his hande to his sword to thrust it in him to kill him Volumnius denied his request and so did many others and amongest the rest one of them sayd there was no tarying for them there but that they must needes flie Then Brutus rising vp we must flie in deede sayd he but it must be with our hands not with our feete Then taking euery man by the hand he sayd these words vnto them with a cheerefull countenance It reioyceth my hart that not one of my frends hath failed me at my neede and I do not complaine of my fortune but only for my contries sake for as for me I thinke my selfe happier than they that haue ouercome considering that I leaue a perpetuall fame of our corage and manhoode the which our enemies the conquerors shall neuer attaine vnto by force nor money neither can let their posteritie to say that they being naughtie and vniust men haue slaine good men to vsurpe tyrannical power not pertaining to them Hauing sayd so he prayed euerie man to shift for them selues and then he went a litle aside with two or three only among the which Strato was one with whom he came first acquainted by the studie of Rethoricke He came as neere to him as he coulde and taking his sword by the hilts with both his hands falling downe vpon the poynt of it ran him selfe through Others say that not he but Strato at his request held the sword in his hand turned his head aside and that Brutus fell downe vpon it and so ranne him selfe through and dyed presently Messala that had bene Brutus great frend became afterwards Octauius Caesars frend So shortly after Caesar being at good leasure he brought Strato Brutus frende vnto him and weeping sayd Caesar beholde here is he that did the last seruice to my Brutus Caesar welcomed him at that time and afterwards he did him as faithfull seruice in all his affaires as any GRAECIAN els he had about him vntill the battell of ACTIVM It is reported also that this Messala him selfe aunswered Caesar one day when he gaue him great praise before his face that he had fought valliantlie and with great affection for him at the battell of ACTIVM notwithstanding that he had bene his cruell enemy before at the battell of PHILIPPES for Brutus sake I euer loued sayd he to take the best and iustest parte Now Antonius hauing found Brutus bodie he caused it to be wrapped vp in one of the richest cote armors he had Afterwards also Antonius vnderstanding that this cotearmor was stollen he put the theefe to death that had stollen it sent the ashes of his bodie vnto Seruilia his mother And for Porcia Brutus wife Nicolaus the Philosopher and Valerius Maximus doe wryte that she determining to kill her selfe her parents and frendes carefullie looking to her to kepe her from it tooke hotte burning coles and cast them into her mouth and kept her mouth so close that she choked her selfe There was a letter of Brutus found wrytten to his frendes complayning of their negligence that his wife being sicke they would not helpe her but suffred her to kill her selfe choosing to dye rather then to languish in paine Thus it appeareth that Nicolaus knewe not well that time sith the letter at the least if it were Brutus letter doth plainly declare the disease and loue of this Lady and also the maner of her death THE COMPARISON OF Dion with Brutus TO come nowe to compare these two noble personages together it is certaine that both of them hauing had great gifts in them specially Dion of small occasions they made them selues great men therfore Dion of both deserueth chiefest praise For he had no cohelper to bring him vnto that greatnesse as Brutus had of Cassius who doubtlesse was not comparable vnto Brutus for vertue and respect of honor though otherwise in matters of warre he was no lesse wise and valliant then he For many doe impute vnto Cassius the first beginning and originall of all the warre and enterprise and sayd it was he that did encourage Brutus to conspire Caesars death Where Dion furnished him selfe with armor shippes and souldiers and wanne those frendes and companions also that did helpe him to prosecute his warre Nor he did not as Brutus who rose to greatnesse by his enterprises and by warre got all his strength and riches But he in contrarie maner spent of his owne goods to make warre for the libertie of his contrie and disbursed of his
tell how to vse them he had chosen of good men he made them become euill so that neither the one nor the other coulde be the parte of a wise man For Plato him selfe reproueth him for that he had chosen suche men for his frendes that he was slaine by them and after he was slaine no man woulde then reuenge his death And in contrarie maner of the enemies of Brutus the one who was Antonius gaue his bodie honorable buriall and Octauius Caesar the other reserued his honors and memories of him For at Millayne a citie of GAVLEON ITALIE side there was an image of his in brasse verie like vnto him the which Caesar afterwardes passing that way behelde verie aduisedly for that it was made by an excellent workeman and was verie like him and so went his way Then he stayed sodainly againe and called for the Gouernors of the citie and before them all tolde them that the citizens were his enemies and traitors vnto him bicause they kept an enemie of his among them The Gouernors of the citie at the first were astonied at it and stowtlie denyed it and none of them knowing what enemie he ment one of them looked on an other Octauius Caesar then turning him vnto Brutus statue bending his browes sayd vnto them this man you see standing vp here is he not our enemie Then the Gouernors of the citie were worse affrayed then before could not tel what answere to make him But Caesar laughing and commending the GAVLES for their faithfulnes to their frendes euen in their aduersities he was contented Brutus image should stand still as it did THE LIFE OF Aratus CHrisyppus the Philosopher my frend Polycrates being affrayed as it seemeth of the euill sound of an auncient prouerbe not rightlie as it was spoken and in vse but as he thought it best he wrote in this maner VVhat children do their auncetors commend But those vvhom fortune fauors to the end But Dionysodorus TROEZENIAN reprouing him doth rehearse the prouerbe rightly as in deede it is VVhat children do their auncetors commend But those vvhose life is vertuous to the end Saying that this prouerbe stoppeth their mouthes who of them selues are vnworthie of praise and yet are still boasting of the vertues of their auncesters whose praise they hiely extoll But affore those that as Pindarus sayth Do match their noble auncetors in provvesse of their ovvne And by their frutes commend the stocke vvhence they them selues are grovvne As thy selfe that conformest thy life vnto the examples and maners of thy vertuous auncesters it is no small good happe for them often to remember the noble deedes of their parentes in hearing them spoken of or otherwise for them selues oftentimes to remember some notable doings of their parents For in them it is not for lacke of commendable vertues that they report others praise and glorie but in ioyning their owne vertues to the vertues of their auncesters they do increase their glorie as inheriting their vertuous life as challenging their discent by blood Therefore hauing wrytten the life of Aratus thy contrie man and one of thy auncesters whose glorie and greatnesse thou doest not blemishe I doe sende it vnto thee not that I thinke but that thou hast more diligentlie then any man else searched out all his deedes and sayings But yet bicause that thy two sonnes Polycrates and Pythocles reading and still hearing some thing reported might be brought vp at home by the example of their auncesters whose deedes shall lye before them to followe For he loueth him selfe more then he regardeth perfit vertue or his credit that thinketh him selfe so perfit as he neede not follow any others example The citie of SICYONE after it fell from her first gouernment of the optimacie and nobilitie which is proper to the cities of the DORIANS like an instrument out of tune it fell into ciuill warres and seditious practises through the Orators of the people and neuer ceassed to be plagued with those troubles and miseries alway chaunging new tyrannes vntill that Cleon being slaine they chose Timoclidas and Clinias their Gouernors two of the noblest men of greatest authoritie in all the citie Now when the common wealth beganne to grow to a certeine state of gouernment Timoclidas dyed and Abantidas the sonne of Paseas pretending to make him selfe Lord of the citie he slue Clinias and put to death some of his parentes and frendes draue away others and sought also to put his sonne Aratus to death that was then but seuen yeare old But in this hurly burly and tumult Aratus flying out of his fathers house among them that ranne away and wandering vp and downe the citie being scared and affrayed finding no man to helpe him by good fortune he gotte into a womans house called Soso which was Abantidas sister and wife vnto Periphantus his father Clinias brother She being of a noble minde and iudging that the childe Aratus by Gods prouidence fledde vnto her hidde him in her house and in the night secretlie sent him vnto the citie of ARGOS Now after that Aratus had scaped and was safe from this daunger from that time there bred in him a vehement malice against tyrannes the which still increased in him as he grewe in yeares So he was vertuouslie brought vp in the citie of ARGOS with his fathers frends and perceiuing with him selfe that he waxed bigge and strong he disposed his bodie to diuers exercises and became so excellent in them that he contended in fiue manner of exercises and oftentimes bare the best away And in his images and statues he appeared in face ful and well liking as one that fed well and the maiestie of his countenaunce argueth that he vsed suche exercise and suche commonly are large eaters From whence it came that he did not geue him selfe so muche to pleading as peraduenture was requisite for a Gouernor of a common wealth Howebeit some doe iudge by his Commentaries he wrote that he had an eloquenter tongue then seemed vnto some bicause he wrote them in hast hauing other busines in hand and euen as things came first into his minde But afterwards Dinias and Aristotle Logitian slue Abantidas who did commonlie vse to sit in the market place to heare their matters and to talke with them And this gaue them good meanes and oportunitie to worke their seate they did After Abantidas death his father Paseas possessed the tyrannie whom Nicocles afterwardes slue also by treason and made him selfe tyranne in his place It is reported that this Nicocles did liuelie resemble the countenaunce of Periander the sonne of Cypselus as Orontes PERSIAN was very like vnto Alcmaeon the sonne of Amphiaraus and an other young LACEDAEMONIAN vnto Hector of TROYA whom Myrsilus wryteth was troden vnder mens feete through the ouergreat presse of people that came to see him when they hearde of it This Nicocles was tyranne foure monethes together in the which
by the officers to see that Galba did lament the miseries calaminities they endâ—red as if they had bene done vnto him selfe So when any slaunderous rymes were made against Nero which were song vp and downe in euerie place he would neither forbid them not yet was offended as Neroes officers were Therefore he was maruelouslie beloued in the contrie with them that were acquainted with him bicause he was then in the eight years of his gouernment as Proconsul amongest them at which time Iunius Vindex being Propraetor of GAVLE rebelled against Nero who as it is reported had written vnto Galba before he entred into open action of rebellion But Galba did neither beleue him nor also accuse bewray him as diuers others which were gonernors of armies prouinces did who sent Vindex letters vnto Nero which he him selfe had written vnto them so did as much as in them lay to bindet the enterprise who afterwards being of the conspiracy did confesse they were traitor to them selues as much as vnto him Howbeit when Vindex afterwards had proclaimed opening against Nero he wrote againe vnto Galba praied him to take the Imperiall crowne vpon him and to become the head of a strong and mightie bodie which were the GAVLES that lacked nothing but a head and Gouernor being a hundred thowsand fighting men ready armed and might also leauie a great number more of them Then Galba consulted thereuppon with his frends among them some were of opinion that he should stay a while to see what change and alteracion would grow at ROME vpon this sturre Howbeit Titus Iunius Captaine of the Praetorian band said vnto him O Galba what meaneth this so doutfull a deliberacion Be not we wise men to call in question whether we shall allowe of Vindex frendship or accuse him Yea and with armes persecute him that desired rather to haue thee Emperour then Nero tyranne ouer the estate of ROME Afterwardes Galba by bills set vp euerie where appointed a day certaine to enfranchise suche as woulde make sure for it This rumor flying straight abroad he gathered a great number of souldiers together that were verie willing to rebell and he was no sooner gotten vp into the tribunall or chaire of state but all the souldiers did salute him by the name of Emperour Howbeit he was not content with this name at the first but accusing Nero and lamenting the deathes of the noblest men whome he had cruellie put to death he promised that he would imploy his best wit and discression to the seruice and benefit of his contrie neither naming him selfe Caesar nor Emperour but only Lieutenant to the Senate and state of ROME Now that Vindex did wiselie to call Galba to be Emperour Nero him selfe in his doings doth witnesse it Who hauing alwayes made a countenance as though he passed not for Vindex that he wayed not the rebellion of the GAVLES when it was told him that Galba was called Emperor he being theÌ„ at supper for spight he ouerthrew the table Moreouer though the Senate had iudged Galba an enemie yet Nero to be pleasaunt with his frends made as though he was nothing affrayed of it and said this newes made all for him bicause he stoode in neede of money also that it was a happy occasion offred him to helpe him withall For sayd he we shall soone haue all the GAVLES goodes as the spoyle of a iust warre after we haue once againe ouercomen and conquered them and moreouer Galbaes goods also would quickly be in his hands that he might sell them considering that he was become his open enemy So he presently commaunded Galbaes goods should be openly sold to them that would giue most Galba vnderstanding that did also by sound of trompet sell all Neroes goods he had in all the prouince of SPAYNE and did also finde more men readier to buy then there were goods to sell. Daily men rose against Nero in euery contry who tooke Galbaes parte Clodius Macer only excepted in AFRICK and Verginius Rufus in GAVLE both of them hauing charge of legions appointed for the safe keping of GERMANY and both of them did follow seueral directions by them selues varying in minde intent For Clodius Macer hauing robbed much put diuers men also to death through his cruelty couetousnes he shewed plainly that he swamme betwene two waters as one that could neither let go his charge nor yet kept it Verginius also on the other side being Generall ouer great mighty legions who had sundry times called him Emperour did in maner force him to take vpon him the name and Empire he notwithstanding did euer aunswere them that he neither minded to take the Empire vpon him nor yet to suffer any other to do it then such as the Senate should choose and call vnto the same This at the first somwhat amazed Galba But when both the armies of Vindex and Verginius in spight of their Captaines who could not stay nor keepe them backe no more then cochmen can keepe backe the horse with their bridells were ioyned in a great battell together where were slaine twenty thowsand GAVLES in the field and Vindex also slue him selfe shortly after it was geuen out that the conquerors after so great a victory obtained would coÌ„pell Verginius to take vpon him to be Emperour or else that they would take Neroes part againe Then Galba being not a litle perplexed wrote vnto Verginius perswaded him to ioyne with him to hold vp the Empire liberty of the ROMANES thereupon fled straight into a city of SPAYNE called COLONIA rather repeÌ„ting him of that he had done wishing for his wonted peaceable quiet life wherwith he was brought vp then otherwise occupying him selfe about any necessary or proffitable thing for the furtherance of his enterprise Now it was about the beginning of sommer and one day towards euening there came to Galba one of his slaues infranchised a SICILIAN borne that was comen froÌ„ ROME in seuen daies who vnderstanding that Galba was alone went presently to his chamber dore opened it coÌ„ming in against the wils of the groomes of the chamber that stood at the dore he told him that Nero being yet aliue but sene no more first the people of ROME then the Senate had proclaimed him Emperor that immediatly after newes came that Nero was dead the which he hardly beleuing notwithstanding went thither him selfe saw his body layed out vpon the ground then made towards him with all speede to bring him these newes These newes maruelously reuiued Galba and a multitude of men thronged straight about his dore which began to be coragious seing him liuely againe although the speede of the Messenger seemed incredible Howbeit two dayes after Titus also arriued with certaine other of the campe who told Galba perticulerly what the Senate had decreed in his behalfe So this Titus was called to great
to it through Scipioes liberalitie or else bicause he thought the time was come that it was the surest way to take part with the ROMANES which were the conquerors It is that Masinissa that afterwards through the goodnes of the ROMANES became the great and mighty king of NVMIDIA and in deede he was diuers wayes a profitable frende vnto the ROMANES Furthermore the selfe same yeare which was the fourteenth of the seconde warre with the AFRICANS SPAYNE was the first nation and people of the vpland men dwelling in the hart of the realme that was conquered vnder the happie conduct of the Viceconful Scipio howbeit it was the last realme that was made a prouince long time after by Augustus Caesar. Now Scipio not contenting him self with the great victories he had obteined in verie short time in SPAYNE for he had an imagination good hope also to cōquer AFRICKE he thought that his best way to make all the meanes he could possible to get Syphax king of the MASAESYLIANS a frend to the ROMANES Wherefore after he had felt the kinges minde perceiuing that he was well inclined to make league with the ROMANES he presently set all his other affaires aside and sailed into AFRIKE with two gallies onely at fiue owers to a bancke At the selfe same time also came Hasdrubal the sonne of Gisgo thither from GADES so that both these valliant lusty Captaines came of purpose to the king enuying one the other to craue the kinges good will vnto their contrie and common wealth Syphax welcomed them both into his Court and did vse them verie honorably and curteouslie and appointed that they should both eate at one table and lye in one selfe chamber bicause the one shoulde not thinke his enterteinment better then the other It is reported that Hasdrubal wondering at the magnanimity and great wisedom of Scipio that was present he considered with him selfe the great daunger the citie of CARTHAGE and all AFRIKE besides was in through that mans meanes for he saw him yet a young man quicke and excellent in all manner of great vertues and that had continuallie obtained such victories and therefore considering the lustie youth of this gentleman he imagined that it was vnpossible to perswade him to imbrace peace rather then warre Besides he was affraied also that Syphax moued by the personage and authoritie of him that was present would take parte with the ROMANES and in deede his minde gaue him rightlie for so it happened For though Syphax at the first shewed him selfe in different to them both and had moued talke to end the warre betwext the ROMANES and the CARTHAGINIANS yet afterwards when Scipio tolde him he coulde conclude no peace without consent of the Senate of ROME he reiected Hasdrubal and inclining to Scipioes request he made league with the people of ROME So Scipio being returned againe into SPAYNE him self partely by force and partely also by L. Martius meanes conquered ILITVRGIVM CASTVLO and certaine other places that refused to yeeld them selues vnto the ROMANES And to the end nothing should be lacking for all kinde of sports and pleasures after he had so fortunatelie obtained so many famous victories when he was come to newe CARTHAGE he caused the fensers to prepare them selues to fight with great pompe where there were many great estates not only to see that pastime but also they them selues to handle the weapons in person But amongest other SPANYARDES of noble houses there were two called Corbis Orsua which were at strife together for the kingdom but that day they ended their quarrell the one being slaine by the others hand The fight was verie lamentable grieuous to the beholders but the death of him that was slaine troubled them much more for they were both cousin germaines After all this Scipio hauing his mind still occupied in matters of greater waight and importance then those which he had already brought to passe he fell sicke His sickenes being caried through all SPAYNE and as it happeneth often his disease being reported to be muche greater and daungerous then it was in deede thereuppon not only the nations of SPAYNE beganne to rise in hope of chaunge but the armie selfe also of the ROMANES the which he had left at SVCRO First of all martiall discipline was corrupted through the absence of the Generall Afterwardes also the report of his sickenes and daunger of his life being spred abroad in the armie raised suche a rebellion among them that some of them litle regarding the authoritie and commaundement of the head Captaines of the bands they draue them away and chose two meane souldiers for their Captaines who presumptuouslie tooke vpon them the name geuen vnto them by men of no authority and yet with more arrogancie made the bundells of roddes and axes to be caried before them Such follie doth furie and vaine ambicion oftentimes worke in mens minds On the other side the SPANYARDS slept not and specially Mandonius and Indibilis who aspiring to the kingdom of SPAYNE came to Scipio when he was conqueror after he had taken newe CARTHAGE But afterwards being offended to see the power of the ROMANES increase daily they sought occasion to make some alteracion So after they had heard not onely of Scipioes sicknes but also how he was at deathes dore and did beleue it they presentlie leauied an armie and went and made warre with the SVBSSITANS which were confederates of the ROMANES But Scipio being recouered againe of his sickenes like as vpon the false rumor of his death euery man beganne to rise euen so after the truth was knowen in deede of his recouerie they were all put downe againe and not a man of them durst proceede any further in their rebellion Scipio being more skilfull in martiall discipline then acquainted with sedition and rebellion although he was maruelously offended with the souldiers that had committed this follie yet in the end least following his anger men should haue thought him to haue exceeded all boundes of reason in punishing of them he referred all vnto the counsell The most parte of them gaue aduise that the authors of the rebellion shoulde be punished and all the rest pardoned for by this meanes sayd they the punishment shall light vpon a few that haue deserued it and all the rest shall take example by them Scipio followed that aduise and presently sent for all the seditious bands to come to new CARTHAGE to receiue their pay The souldiers obeyed his commaundement some of them making their fault lesse then it was as men doe often flatter them selues others also trusting to the Captaines clemencie as knewing him not to be extreame in punishment For Scipio was wont to say that he had rather saue the life of one ROMANE citizen then to kill a thowsand enemies The rumor ranne also that Scipio had an other armie readie the which he looked for to ioyne with them and then
punishing of them But when they saw his army his shippes and all his other furniture and munition for warre it is reported that they wondred so much to see the great aboundance and good order taken for all thinges that when they returned to ROME they greatly commended Scipio and reiecting all the accusations of his accusers they did promise the Senate and people of ROME assured hope of victory So when all these home troubles at ROME were taken away there chaunced other outward troubles a broad that grieued him much For the Ambassadors of king Syphax came and told him that their maister had made new league with the CARTHAGINIANS was become frend to Hasdrubal whose daughter he had maried and therefore that he wished him if he ment to do his contry good to make no attempt vpon AFRIKE for he was determined to reckon the CARTHAGINIANS frends his also to set vpon them whom the CARTHAGINIANS account their enemies Scipio quickelie returned the Ambassadors againe vnto Syphax bicause the effect of their comming should not be blowen abroad in his campe gaue them letters in the which he praied king Syphax that remembring his league and faithfull promise he should beware he attempted nothing vnworthy the name of a ROMANE and faith of a king Afterwards calling his men together he told thē that the Ambassadors of king Syphax were come into SICILE to complaine of his long tarying as Masinissa had done before Therefore he was to hasten his iorney to goe into AFRIKE and thereupon cōmaunded all his souldiers to put them selues in readines and to prouide all things necessary for their iorney The Consuls commaundement being published through all SICILE there repaired immediatlie vnto Lilybea a multitude of people not only of those that were to faile into AFRIKE but of others also that came to see the fleete army of the ROMANES bicause they neuer saw an army better furnished nor set out with all things necessary for warre nor better replenished with souldiers then that So Scipio all things being ready imbarked at LILYBEA with so earnest a desire to passe ouer the sea that neither owers nor wind did content his minde Yet he was brought in few daies sailing to the promontory or mountaine called fayer and there he put all his men a land The newes of his arriual flying straight to CARTHAGE all the city was presently in such an vprore that sodainly they sounded the alarom and garded the gates walls as appeareth by testimony of some in writing For from M. Regulus time vnto that present day it was almost fifty yeares space since any ROMANE Captaine euer entred AFRIKE with force of armes And therefore it was no maruell though they were affrayed and grew to vprore The name of Scipio did encrease their feare the more bicause the CARTHAGINIANS had no Captaine matchable with him Hasdrubal the sonne of Gisgo had the name at that time of a lusty Captaine whom they knew had notwithstanding bene ouercome and driuen out of SPAYNE by Scipio Howbeit putting all the hope safety of their contry in him in king Syphax that mighty king they neuer left intreating the one nor perswading the other to come helpe the affaires of AFRIKE with all the spede they could possible So whilest they two were preparing to ioyne both their armies together Annibal the sonne of Hamilcar being appointed to kepe the next contry adioyning to it came against the ROMANES Scipio after he had destroyed the contry enriched his army with great spoyle he camped by the city of VTICA to see if it were possible for him to win so noble and wealthy a city and being besides so commodious for the warres both by sea and land At the selfe same time Masinissa came to the ROMANES campe and was inflamed with a vehement desire to make warre against king Syphax by whom he had before bene driuen out of his kingdom inheritance Scipio that had knowen him in SPAYNE a young Prince of an excellent wit and quicke valliant of his hand he sent him to discouer the army of the enemies before the CARTHAGINIANS could gather any greater power and willed him to vse all the deuise and meanes he coulde possible to intise Hanno to fight Masinissa as he was commaunded began to prouoke the enemy and drawing him out by litle litle he brought him where Scipio lay with all his legions armed looking for a good hower to fight The armie of the enemies was nowe wearied when the ROMANES came to set vpon them with their freshe army Hanno at the first onset was ouercomen slaine with most of his men and all the rest fled and dispersed them selues here and there where they thought they might best scape After this victory Scipio returning backe againe to besiege the city of VTICA the sodaine comming of Hasdrubal and king Syphax made him to leaue of his enterprise for that they brought with them a great army both of footemen horsemen and came and camped not farre from the ROMANES Scipio perceiuing that raised his siege immediatly and came and fortified his campe vpon a hill from whence he might go fight with the enemy and molest them of VTICA and also keepe his shippes safe that road at ancker Howbeit the time of the yeare being comen that both armies were to dispose their men in garrisons for the winter season he determined to send vnto king Syphax to feele his minde and to make him leaue the frendshippe of the CARTHAGINIANS if it were possible For he knew well it was his mariage with Sophonisba that through her flattering perswasions had brought him to that furie that he had not only forsaken the frendshippe of the ROMANES but also ment to destroy them contrary to his faith and promise and that if he had once satisfied the heate of his loue with her he thought then he might be called home againe Syphax hauing vnderstoode Scipioes message sent him he answered that in dede it was time not only to leaue the league with the CARTHAGINIANS but also to geue vp all thought of warre and so promised that he would be a good meane to make peace Scipio gaue good care vnto it and caught holde of an excellent fine deuise He chose the valliantest souldiers in his army apparelled them like slaues and made them waite vpon the Ambassadors and gaue them instructions what they shoulde doe These fellowes whilest the Ambassadors and king Syphax were in talke together about the articles and condicions of peace and that the consultation helde lenger then it was wont to doe they went and walked vp and downe through the enemies campe to see all the wayes and entries into it according vnto Scipioes instructions After they had done this diuers times they came againe to Scipio Truce was taken for a time the which being expired Scipio seemed to make preparation for warres as being out of hope of any peace to make
The description of Sureness army Crassus head brought to Hyrodes See the reward of craft and periury The miserable ende of king Hyrodes and Surena Hyrodes strangled by his sonne Nicias and Crassus richesse Lycurgus saying Nicias and Crassus actes in the commoÌ„ wealth The duetie of Gouernors Magistrates Nicias fearefulnes Themistocles and Catoes vertue Nicias honestie The diuersitie betwext Nicias and Crassus Nicias actes commended Crassus by his folly bleamished the happines of the Romanes Crassus death more commendable then Nicias end VVhy chalices of necessitie happen one like an other The townes where Homer was borne and dyed Foure famous Captaines that had but one eye a peace The praise of Sertorius The paretage of Sertorius Rhea the mother of Sertorius Sertorius eloquent Sertorius first souldierfare Sertorius souldierfare vnder Marius Sertorius Colonell of a thowsands footemen Castulo a city of the Celtiberians Sertorius stratageame Sertorius treasorer Generall of Gaule aboue the Poâ— Padua â—â— Sertorius lost one of his eyes by fight The occasion of Sertorius malice vnto Sylla Sertorius tooke parte with Cinna Sertorius disswaded Cinna to receiue Marius Sertorius temperance Sertorius slue Marius garde of bondmen Sertorius went into Spayne Sertorius curtesie to the Spanyardes Sertorius flieth out of Spayne into Africke The I le of Pityusa The fortunate Ilandes The Elysian fieldes Sertorius wan the citie of Tingis Antaeus tombe and greatnes Iuba of a kinges stocke Sertorius was sent for by the Lusitanians to be their Captaine Sertorius vertues and qualities Sertorius bountie and clemencie Sertorius fained lye of the hynde Sertorius army The army of this Romanes led by foure Captaines Sertorius victories This place may well be taken two wayes and either of both allowable according to the other is might be said to leade Romane citizens to the warres fighting like valliant men Sertorius warlike vertues Metellus practiseth to besiege the Langobrites and to take their city for lacke of water Sertorius finely deceiued Metellus at the siege of the Langobrites Sertorius ouerthew Aquinus Sertorius taught the Spanyards the maner of the Romanes The citie of Osca Sertorius subtill policies The Spanyards deuotion The Spanyards loue to Sertorius Perpenna ioyned with Sertorius Ebrus fâ— A fine deuise of Sertorius to teache men the benefit of time and perseuerance Sertorius wordes to his souldiers declaring thinâ—onâ— of his deuise The Characitanians what people they be Tagus fl Sertorius wonderfull deuise against the barbarous people called the Characitanians Sertorius dedes against Pompey Sertorius goeth to lay siege to the citie of Lauron Sertorius worthy saying of a Captaine Sertorius burnt the city of Lauron in Pompeis sight Sertorius of him selfe inuincible Battell betwext Sertorius Pompey Pompey fled Sertorius at Sucron Sertorius mocke to Pompey Sertorius slue Memmius Pompeis Lieutenaunte Shame turned into anger Sertorius bisieged of Pompey Metellus feared Sertorius Metellus made himselfe be called Imperator Metellus veâ—itie Sertorius noble minde Sertorius honorable respect vnto his contrie Sertorius minde greatest in aduersity Sertorious affection to his contrie Sertorius naturall loue to his mother Mithridates sent Ambassadors vnto Sertorius in Spayne Sertorius noble 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 their daâ—â—â— requests Sertorius worthy saying Sertorius league with Mithridates M. Marius sent vnto Mithridates King Mithridates gaue M. Marius Proconsull the vpper hand The enuie of Perpenna vnto Sertorius The seditious words of Perpenna against Sertorius Sertorius slew the Spanyards sonnes The treason of Perpenna his accomplices against Sertorius The treason deuised against Sertorius Sertorius modesty as his table The murder of Sertorius Perpenna taken by Pompey Pompeis wisedom in burning Sertorius letters Perpenna his conspirature put to death by Pompey Eumenes parentage How Eumenes came to preferrement by the kinges of Macedon Barsine the wife of Eumenes Eumenes made Gouernor of the contries of Cappadocia and Paphlagonia Eumenes skill in warre Eumenes dreams Battell betwext Eumenes and Craterus Craterus death Neoptolemus slaine Eumenes victory of Craterus and Neoptolemus Sardis the chiefe city of Lydia The constancy of Eumenes in aduersity Eumenes stratageame Eumenes talke with Antigonus and magnanimity Eumenes besieged in the forte of Nora Eumenes personage and pleasantnes Eumenes industry in the siege for marshall exercise This was Aridaus the sonne of Philippe father of Alexander whom they had surnamed Philippe Eumenes made king Philippes Lieutenaunt of his army Argyraspides Alexanders souldiers so called for their siluered shieldes Eumenes to temperance Eumenes fairred deuise Eumenes wilienesse to minde him selfe out of daunger Pasitigris fl Eumenes battell with Antigonus and victorie Antigonus souldiers armed with gilt armors Antigonus mocke to Eumenes Eumenes stratageame against Antigonus Enuy the coÌ„panion of vertue Eumenes death conspired Eumenes tare all his frendes letters to kepe them out of trouble The old band of the Macedonians were euery man 60 yeare old and most about Eumenes conflict with Antigonus Eumenes bestrayed by the Argyraspides The oration of Eumenes to the trailors Argyraspides his souldiers Antigonus aunswer for the keping of Eumenes being prisoner The noble minde of Eumenes The head of Eumenes The iust reward of treason The gouernment of Eumenes and Sertorius The deedes condition of Eumenes and Sertorius coÌ„pared Sertorius death more honest then the death of Eumenes The parentage of Agesilaus The instruction of Agesilaus Agesilaus learned to obey before he came to commaund The modestie of Agesilaus Agesilaus laments Alcibiades committeth adultery with kinge Agis wife Agesilaus created king through Lysanders meanes A lame king Agesilaus proclaimed king Leotychides a bastard Ephori were certaine officers authorised to coÌ„â—oâ—le the kinges insolency and iniustice if any were by them vsed Agesilaus an vprighter enemy than a frend VVhether attention among the nobility be profitable in a common wealth Agesilaus iorney into Asia Agesilaus dreame in Avlide Lysanders glory diminished Agesilaus grudge vnto Lysander See the life of Lysander Ambitious heades are very daungerous in a common wealth Agesilaus dedes in Asia and the falsehood of Tisaphernes Agesilaus crafe Sardis the chiefe city of Lydia Agesilaus victory of Tisaphernes Agesilaus made Generall of all the Lacedaemonians nauy Cotys king of Paphlagonia become Agesilaus frend Agesilaus draue Pharnabazus out of his temes The meeting of Agesilaus and Pharnabazus Agesilaus wordes vnto Pharnabazus Agesilaus to his frendes was without respect a frend Agesilaus letter in the behalfe of his frend Other read to haue pity and to be wise Agesilaus saying Agesilaus vertues Agesilaus sent for one of Asia Agesilaus obedience to his contrie Agesilaus darke speeches Agesilaus despising deceiuing the barbarous people returned home through their contries Agesilaus ouercome the Pharsalians Narthacium mens The eclipse of the sunne Pisander Generall of the 〈…〉 slaine in battell The Ilande of Gnidos Agesilaus battell with the Thebans Helicon mens The worthines of Agesilaus The temple of Minerua Itonian The constancy of Agesilaus Canathrum what it is Cleora the wife of king Agesilaus Apolia and Prolyta Agesilaus daughters
the king of Persia Demosthenes praiseth them that were slaine at the battell of Chaeronea The death of Philip king of Macedon Demosthenes preferreth the ioy of his contrie before the sorow of his owne daughter AEschinesse proued by Plutarch for his fonde beleefe that blubbering and sorowing are signes of loue and charitie Plutarch praiseth Demosthenes constancie for leauing of his mourning to reioyce for his common contrie benefit Demosthenes raiseth vp the Graecians against Alexander Alexander required certaine Orators of Athens Demosthenes â—ale of the sheepe and woulues The iudgement of the crowne vnto Ctesiphon Harpalus a great money man came to Athens flying from Alexander Demosthenes bribed by Harpalus with oxenty â—ateâ— * This concelâ— can hardly be expressed in any other language then in Greeke For he sayth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alloâ—ding to the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to delight by pleasaunt speeche or sound Demosthenes banishment Demosthenes tooke his banishment grieuously Three mischieuous beasts Antipater besieged of the Athenians Demosthenes called home from exile Demosthenes fine of fiftie talentes remitted Archias Phygadotheras a hunter of the banished men Demosthenes dream Demosthenes taketh poyson to kill him selfe in the temple of Neptune in the I le of Calauria The death of Demosthenes The time of Demosthenes death The Athenians honored Demosthenes after his death * He sayth Antigonus in the life of Phocius Demades death and reward for his treason Ciceroes parentage Cicero why so called Cicero Quaestor Ciceroes birth An image appeared to Ciceroes nursâ— Ciceroes towardnes and wit. Cicero a notable Poet. Cicero Philoes scholler the Academicke Philosopher Cicero a follower of Mutius Scauola Roscius pâ—â— in siâ—â— Cicero a weake man. Cicero Antiochus scholler The commoditie of exercise Cicero goeth into Asia and to Rhodes Cicero declamed in Graeke Apollonius testimonie of Cicero An Oracle giuen to Cicero Ciceroes first practising in the common wealih Roscius and AEsopus comon players Cicero a fine Tawnser Cicero chosen Quaestor Ciceroes diligence iustice and lenitie Cicero ambitious desirous of praise Cicero geuen to know mens names their landes and frendes Ciceroes doings against Verres He spake it bicause the Iewes doe ease no swines flesh Cicero chosen AEdilis Ciceroes riches Ciceroes great curtesie and resorte Cicero chosen Praetor Licinius Macer condemned Cicero with one word pacified the offended Tribunes Cicero made Consul The conspiracy of Cateline Catalines wickedness C. Antonius and M.T. Cicero created Consuls Great troubles at Rome in the time of Ciceroes Consulshippe A law preferred for the creacion and authority of the Decemuiri Cicero by his eloquence ouerthrow the law of the Decemuiri Ciceroes swâ—â—â— tongue * Others â—â—â— say Lucius Roscius Otho Tribune of the people Roscius lawe for deuiding of the Roman Knights from the common people Syllaes souldiers conspired with Catiline Cicero examined Catalin in the Senate Syllanus and Murana and Consulls Letters brought to Crassus of Catilines conspiracie Fuluia betrayeth Catilines intent to kill Cicero Catiline departed Rome C. Lentulus why called Sura Oracles of three Cornelij that should raigne at Rome Great treason practised in Rome by C. Lentulus and Cethegus The conspiratours apprehended Syllanus sentence of the conspirators Caesar priuie to Catilines conspiracie Caesars opinion for the punishment of the conspirators The execution of the conspirators They liuedâ— A word vsurped for the dead Ciceroes praise Catilin slaine in battell by Antonius Caesar chosen Praetor Metellus and Bestia Tribunes of the people Cicero resigneth his office Ciceroes Consulship praised by Cato Cicero the first man called Father of the contry Cicero too much giuen to praise him self Cicero friendâ—y to praise others Cicero sayeth Demosthenes sleepeth in his orations Ciceroes subtile end pleasant â—â—â—ge The Stoickes opinion A wise man is euer riche * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Actius is a proper name of a Romane and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke signifieth worthyt So the grace of the equiuocation can not be expressed in any other language * Bicause the Africanes haue commonly their eares bored through The malice betwixt Cicero Clodius Cicero gaue euidence against Clodius The wicked parts of Clodius * Some olde bookes doe read Teritâ— Clodius 〈…〉 and found not gilty Caesars wordes of the putting away his wife Pompeia Clodius chosen Tribune of the people Piso and Gabinius Consuls Crassus Pompey and Caesar three of the greatest men in Rome tooke part with Clodius against Cicero Cicero accused of Clodius The knights of Rome and Senate chauÌ„ged garments for Ciceroes sake Pompey would not see Cicero being accused Ciceroes exile Hipponium alias Vibone a city in Luke A wonder shewed vnto Cicero in his exile Ciceroes faint hart in his exile The wonderfull power of glory Pompey chauÌ„ging mind doth fauor Cicero Lentulus Consul Cicero called home from banishment Cicero taketh away the tables of Clodius actes out of the Capitoll Clodius the Tribune slaine by Milo. Cicero fearefull in warres and timerous in pleading Cicero pleadeth Miloes case Cicero chosen Augure Ciceroes integritie for the gouernment of his prouinces MoÌ„â— Amanus Cicero called Imperator Cicero seeketh to pacifie the quarrell betwext Pompey and Caesar Ciceroes words of Pompey and Caesar. Cicero goeth vnto Pompey Cato gaue place to Cicero and offered him the charge of the nauy at Dyrrachium The force of Ciceroes eloquence how it altered Caesar. Ciceroes life vnder Caesar. Cicero did put away his wife Terentia Cicero maried a young maiden Cicero not made priuy to the conspiracie against Caesar. Priuate grudge betwext Antonius and Cicero Cicero saileth into Greece Ill will betwext Cicero Antonius Cicero and Octauius Caesar ioyned in frendship Ciceroes dreame of Octauius the adopted sonne of Iulius Caesar Octauius and Accia the parents of Octauius Caesar. Octauius Caesar was borne in the yere of Ciceroes Consulship Ciceroes great power â—â— Rome Octauius Caesar sueth to be Consul Octauius Caesar forsaketh Cicero Note the fickelnes of youth The meeting of the Triumuiri Antonius Lepidus Octauius Caesar Cicero appointed to be slaine Quintus Cicero slaine * Some doe read Cajete A wonderous matter foreshewed by crowes vnto Cicero Herennius Popilius sent to kill M. T. Cicero M.T. Cicero slain by Herennius Ciceroes head and hands set vp ouer the pulpit for Orations A strange and cruell punishmeÌ„t taken by Pomponia Quintus Ciceroes wife of Philologus for betraying of his maister Augustus Caesars testimony of Cicero Ciceroes sonne Consul with Augustus Caesar. The decree of the Senate against Antonius being dead Demosthenes eloquence Ciceroes rare and diuers doctrines Demosthenes and Ciceroes maners Demosthenes modest in praising of him selfes Cicero too fall of ostentacion Demosthenes and Ciceroes cunning in their Orations in the coÌ„mon wealth Authoritie sheweth ment vertues and vices Ciceroes abstinense freâ—â— money Demosthenes a money taker Diuers causes of the banishment of Demosthenes and Cicero The differeÌ„ce betwext Demosthenes and Ciceroes death How sences and artes doe agree differ The master of the SpartaÌ„s to
Antonius acts in AEgypt vnder Gabinius Antonius curtesie vnto Archelaus being dead Antonius shape presence The house of the Antonij discended from Hercules Antonius liberalitie Antonius Tribune of the people and Augure Antonius acts for Caesar. Antonius flyeth from Rome vnto Caesar. Cicero reproued for lying Alexander Cyrus Caesar all contended to raigne Caesars ambition the onely cause of the ciuill warre Caesar gaue the charge of Italy vnto Antonius Antonius vices Antonius taketh sea with his army at Brundusium and goeth vnto Caesar. Antonius manthood in warres Antonius led the left wing of Caesars battell at Pharsalla where Pompey left the field The dignitie of the general of the horsemen Dissention betwixt Antonius and Dolabella Antonius abominable life Antonius laid vp his stomack before the whole assembly Antonius insolency Caesar Lepidus Consuls Antonius byeth Pompeys house Antonius maried Fuluia Clodius widowe Fuluia ruled Antonius at home and abroad Caesar Antonius Consuls Antonius vnwittingly gaue Caesars enemies occasion to conspire against him Antonius Lupercian putteth the diademe vpon Caesars head Brutus Cassius conspire Caesars death Consultation about the murther of Antonius with Caesar Antonius maketh vprore among the people for the murther of Caesar. Calpurnia Caesars wife Charonites why so called M. Antonius Consul Caius Antonius Praetor Lucius Antonius Tribune all three brethren Variance betwixt Antonius and Octauius Caesar heire vnto Iulius Caesar. Octauius Caesar ioyned to friendship with Cicero Antonius and Octauius became friends Antonius dreame Antonius iudged an enemy by the Senate Hircius and Pausa Consuls Antonius ouerthrowen in battell by the citie of Modena Antonius pacient in aduersitie Antonius hardnes in aduersitie notwithstanding his fine bringing vp Antonius won all Lepidus army from him Varius surnamed Cotylon The conspiracie and meeting of Caesar Antonius Lepidus The prescription of the Tr 〈…〉 Antonius cruelty vnto Cicero Lucius Caesars life saued by his sister Antonius riot in his Triumâ—â—-rate The praise of Pompey the great The valliantnes of Antonius against Brutus The death of Cassius Brutus slue him selfe Antonius gaue honorable buriall vnto Brutus Antonius great curtesie in Graece The plagues of Italie in riot Antonius crueltie in Asia Hybraeas wordes vnto Antonius touching their great payments of money vnto him Antonius simplicity Antonius maners Antonius louâ— to Cleopatra whom he sent for into Cilicia The wonderfull sumptuousnes of Cleopatra Queene of AEgypt going vnto Antonius Cydnus fl The sumptuous preparations of the suppers of Cleopatra and Antonius Cleopatraes beawtie An order set vp by Antonius Cleopatra The excessiue expences of Antonius and Cleopatra in AEgypt Eight wilde boares rosted whole Philotas a Phisition borne in Amphissa reporter of this feast Philotas Phisition to the younger Antonius Philotas subtil proposition Plato writeth of foure kinde of flatterie Cleopatra Queene of all flatterers Antonius fishing in AEgypt The warres of Lucius Antonius and Fulvia against Octauius Caesar The death of Fuluia Antonius wife All the Empire of Rome deuided betwene the Triamuri Octania the halfe sister of Octauius Caesar daughter of Anchavia which was not Caesars mother A law at Rome for marying of widowes Antonius maried Octauia Octauius Caesar halfe sister Antonius and Octauius Caesar doe make peace with Sexius Pompeius Sextus Pompeius taunt to Antonius Sexius Pompius being offered wonderfull great fortune for his honestie and faithes sake refused it Antonius told by a Soothsayer that his fortune was inferior vnto Octauius Caesar Antonius vnfortunate in sport and earnest against Octauius Caesar Orades king of Parthia Ventidius notable victorie of the Parthians The death of Pacorus the king of Parthians sonne Ventidius the only man of the Romanes that triumphed for the Parthians Canidius conquest Newe displeasures betwext Antonius and Octauius Caesar The wordes of Octauia vnto Macinas and Agrippa Octauia pacifieth the quarrell betwixt Antonius and her brother Octanius Caesar Plato calleth coÌ„cupiscence the lawes of the minde Antonius sent for Cleopatra into Syria Antonius gaue great provinces vnto Cleopatra Antigonius king of Iuvrie the first king beheaded by Antonius Antonius twinnes by Cleopatra their names Phraortes slue his father Orodes king of Persia. Antonius great puisant army Antonius dronke with the loue of Cleopatra Antonius besiegeth the city of Phraata in Media The ParthidÌ„s tooke Antonius engines of battery Battell betwext the Parthians Antonius The Romanes good order in their march Decimation a marshall punishment The craft of the Parthians against the Romanes Antonius returneth from the iorney of the Parthian The ParthiaÌ„ doe see vpon Antonius in his returne The bold act of Flauius Gallus Canidius fault Antonius Captaine Flauius Gallus slaine Antonius care of theâ— that were wounded The loue and reuerence of the souldiers vnto Antonius The rare and singular gifts of Antonius The king of Parthia neuer came to fight in the field Antonius charitable prayer to the gods for his army The Romanes â—estudo and couering against shot Great famine in Antonius army A deadly erbe incurable without wine The valliantnes of tenne thowsand Graecians whome Xenophon brought away after the ouerthrow of Cyrus The Parthians very suttell and craftie people Mithridates a Parthian bewrayeth vnto Antonius the conspiracie of his own contry men against him A salt riuer Antonius great liberalitie vnto Mithridates for the care he had of his saftie The tumult of Antonius soldiers through courteousnes Antonius desperat minde Hroxes ft. 18. seuerall battels fought with the Parthians The trechery of Artabazus king of Armenia vnto Antonius Antonius triumphed of Artabazus king of Armenia in AEgypt Antonius pined away looking for Cleopatra Cleopatra come to BlaÌ„cbourg vnto Antonius VVarres betwixt the Parthians and Medes Octauia Antonius wife came to Athens to meete with him The flickering enticements coments of Cleopatra vnto Antonius The occasion of ciuil warres betwixt Antonius and Caesar. The loue of Octauia to Antonius her husband and her wise and womanly behauior Antonius arrogantly onely deuideth diuers prouinces vnto his children by Cleopatra Caesarian the supposed soÌ„ne of Caesar by Cleopatra Alexander Ptolomy Antonius sonnes by Cleopatra Accusations betwixt Octauius Caesar Antonius Antonius came with eight hundred saile against Octauius Caesar Antonius carieth Cleopatra with him to the warres against Octauius Caesars kept great feasting at the I le of Samos together Antonius put his wife Octauia out of his house at Rome Octauius Caesar exacteth grieuous payments of the Romanes Titius and Plancus reuolt from Antonius and doe yeld to Caesar. A famous librarie in the citie of Pergamum Furnius an eloquent Orator among the Romanes Geminius sent from Rome to Antonius to bid him take heede to him selfe Many of Antonius friends doe forsake him Antonius Empire taken from him Signes and wonders before the ciuill wares betwixt Antonius and Oct. Caesar. Pesaro a citie in Italy sonck into the gretle by an earthquake An ill signe foreshoned by swallowes breding in Cleopatraeas shippe Antonius power against Oct. Caesar. Antonius had eyght kinge
fauor the MEDES no sayd he they do not so but the MEDES doe play the LACEDAEMONIANS Neuertheles threatning warre to all the GRAECIANS which would not agre to the conditions of this peace he compelled them to yeld vnto that the king of PERSIA liked But surely he did this chiefly for respect of the THEBANS to th ende that they being enforced by the capitulations of the peace to set the contry of BOEOTIA at libertie againe should be so much the weaker This plainly appeared soone after by that that followed For Phoebidas hauing committed a fowle acte in open peace to take the castell of the citie of THEBES called Cadmea offending thereby all the other GRAECIANS and the SPARTANS them selues also not being very well pleased withall and those specially which were Agesilaus enemies Phoebidas being asked in great anger at whose commaundement he had done that sodaine enterprise to lay all the suspition of the facte apon him Agesilaus for Phoebidas discharge letted not openly to say that the qualitie of the facte was to be considered of whether it were profitable for the common wealth or not and that it was well done of him the thing fallinge out profitable for his contry to do it of his owne head without commaundement All this notwithstanding he was wont to say in priuate talke that iustice was the chiefest of all vertues and therefore that valiantnes without iustice was of no validity and that if all men were iust valiantnes were of no estimation And to them that tolde him the great king will haue it so Why sayd he and wherein is he better then my selfe if he be not iuster Iudging very wisely therein that they should esteeme a king whether he were of great or small power by his iustice as by the beame of princely ballance When peace was concluded the king of PERSIA hauing sent him a priuate letter desiring his frendshippe Agesilaus refused it saying that common frendshippe was enough betwext them and that they should neede none other so long as that was kept But this notwithstanding when it came to the poynt of performaunce he went from his first good opinion and gaue place to his will ambition specially against the THEBANS at that time when he did not only saue Phoebidas but also procured the citie of SPARTA to take the fault apon them which he had committed and to iustifie it by keeping the castle of Cadmea still and making Archias and Leontidas Gouernours of the citie of THEBES by whom Phoebidas came by the castell of Cadmea and possessed it Thereupon euery man thought straight that Phoebidas was he that had put the matter in execution that Agesilaus gaue the counsell to do it as thinges falling out afterwardes did manifestly proue the suspicion true For after that the THEBANS had driuen the garrison of the LACEDAEMONIANS out of the castell of Cadmea and restored their citie againe to libertie burdening them that they had traiterously slaine Archias and Leontidas who in deede were tyrannes though in name Gouernors he made warre with them and Cleombrotus raigning then king with him after Agesipolis death was sent before into BOEOTIA with an armie Agesilaus was dispensed with by lawe for going any more to the warres by reason of his age for that he was fortie yeare olde from the first growth of heare on his face therefore went not that iorney being ashamed that the THEBANS should now see him fight to reuēge the tyrans deathes who had but a litle before taken armes for the banished men against the PHLIASIANS At that time there was a LACONIAN called Sphodrias of the contrarie faction vnto Agesilaus and was then Gouernour in the citie of THESPIES a valliant and stowt man of his handes but euer fuller of vaine hope than of good iudgement He desiring fame and supposing that Phoebidas came to dignitie and great estimation through his valliant enterprise at THEBES perswaded him selfe that he shoulde winne much more honor if of him selfe he tooke the hauen of Piraea sodainly stealing apon the ATHENIANS by land cutting them of by that meanes from al trade by sea It was thought commonly that this was a practise deuised by Pelopidas and Gelon Gouernours of BOEOTIA who had allured certaine men to faine them selues very deuout and frendly to the LACEDAEMONIANS These men praising and extollinge Sphodrias to his face put him in the head that they knew none so worthie as him selfe alone to take in hand so noble an enterprise Thus by their perswasions they trained him on to this attempt which for vilenes was nothing inferior vnto that tretcherous winning of the castell Cadmea at THEBES although it was attempted with lesse hardines and diligence For day was broken when he was yet in the plaine of Thriasium where he made account to haue bene at the walles of Piraea by night Furthermore it is reported that the men he brought with him seeing certaine fires from the temples of the city of ELEVSIN were all afrayed and amazed yea he him selfe also fainted perceiuing he was discouered and so returned backe with shame and dishonor to the citie of THESPIES without any exployt done sauing only a litle spoyle taken Thereupon accusers were straight sent from ATHENS vnto SPARTA who apon their arriuall found that they needed not to accuse him for that the counsell and Gouernours of the citie had already sent for him to come vnto them to condemne him of hie treason But he durst not returne to SPARTA fearing the furie of his contriemen thinking in deede that they would seeme as though the wronge had bene done to them bicause it should not be thought that they had caused it to be done This Sphodrias had a sonne called Cleonymus a very fayer boy with whome Archidamus Agesilaus sonne was farre in loue who then was maruelous sorie to see this boy he loued in so great daunger to lose his father yet durst not be seene to helpe him bicause Sphodrias was one of Agesilaus aduersaries Notwithstanding Cleonymus making his mone to him with the teares in his eyes and praying him to pacifie his father Agesilaus whome they feared aboue all men else Archidamus followed his father three or foure dayes together and durst not breake the matter to him in fine the day of the next session being at hand when iudgement should be geuen of Sphodrias he boldly ventered to tell him howe that Cleonymus had prayed him to be an humbler suter to him touching his fathers fact Agesilaus vnderstanding that his sonne loued Cleonymus would not withdrawe him from louing of him bicause the boy euen from his childehoode gaue alwayes good hope that one day he would sure make as honest a man as any other whatsoeuer neither made he any countenaunce to his soone as though he would doe any thing at his sute but onely aunswered him for that he would doe as became him in such a case Whereupon Archidamus being bashefull lest comming any more
to Cleonymus where before he would see him oftentimes in a day This made Sphodrias frendes dispaire of his life more then before vntill Etymocles one of Agesilaus familiars talking with them tolde them that for the facte it selfe Agesilaus thought it a shamefull deede and as much misliked it as might be but for Sphodrias selfe that he tooke him for a valliant man saw that the common wealth had neede of men of such seruice This was Agesilaus common talke to please his sonne when any man came to speake to him of Sphodrias accusation Insomuch that Cleonymus found straight that Archidamus had delt as faithfully and frendly for him as might be and then Sphodrias frendes also tooke hart againe vnto them to solicite his cause and to be earnest suters for him Agesilaus among other had this speciall propertie that he loued his children deerely and a tale goeth on him that he would play with them in his house when they were litle ones and ride apon a litle cocke horse or a reede as a horsebacke Insomuch as a frende of his taking him one day with the maner playing among his children he prayed him to say nothing till he had litle children him selfe In fine Sphodrias was quit by his iudges The ATHENIANS vnderstanding it sent to proclaime warre with the LACEDAEMONIANS Whereupon Agesilaus was much reproued bicuase that to please the fonde affection of his sonne he had hindered iustice brought his citie to be accused among the GRAECIANS for such grieuous crimes Agesilaus perceiuing that king Cleombrotus his companion went with no verie good will to make warre with the THEBANS he breaking the order set downe for leading of the army which was kept before went to the warres him selfe in person so inuading BOEOTIA he both receiued and did great hurt Wherupon Antalcidas seeing him hurt one day now truely sayd he the THEBANS haue paide you your deserued hier for teaching them against their wills to be souldiers that neither had will nor skill to fight For in dede they say the THEBANS became better souldiers and warriours than they were before being dayly trained and exercised in armes through the continuall inuasions of the LACEDAEMONIANS Loe this was the reason why the olde father Lycurgus in his lawes called Rhetra did forbid them to make warre too oft with one selfe people bicause that by compulsion they should not be made expert souldiers For this cause did the confederats of LACEDAEMON hate Agesilaus saying that it was not for any knowen offence to the state but for very spite priuate malice of his owne that he sought to vndoe the THEBANS in this maner and that to follow his humor they consumed them selues going yearely to the warres one while this way an other while that way without any necessitie at all following a few LACEDAEMONIANS them selues being alwayes the greater number Then it was that Agesilaus desiring to make thē see what number of men of warre they were vsed this deuise On a time he commaunded all the allies to sit downe together one with an other by them selues the LACEDAEMONIANS also by them selues Then he made a herauld proclaime that all pottemakers should stand vp on their feete When they were vp he made him crie to the brasiers to rise also After them in like maner the carpinters then the masons so consequently all occupations one after an other So that at the length the confederates obeying the proclamacion were all in maner on their feete The LACEDAEMONIANS not one of them rose bicause all base mechanicall craftes were forbidden them to occupie Then Agesilaus laughing at them loe my frendes sayd he doe ye not see now that we bring moe souldiers to the field than ye doe At his returne from this iorney of THEBES passing by the city of MEGARA as he went vp into the counsell house within the castell there sodainly tooke him a great crampe in his left legge that swelled extreamely and put him to great paine men thinking that it was but blood which had filled the vaine a Phisitian of SYRACVSA in SICILE being there straight opened a vaine vnder the ankle of his foote which made the paine to cease notwithstanding there came such aboundance of blood that they could not stanche it so that he sounded oft was in great daunger of present death In fine a way was found to stoppe it and they caried him to LACEDAEMON where he lay sicke along time so that he was past going to the warres any more The SPARTANS in the meane time receiued great ouerthrowes both by sea and land and among other their greatest ouerthrow was at the battell of LEVCTRES where the THEBANS ouercame and slue them in plaine battell Then the GRAECIANS were all of one minde to make a generall peace and thereuppon came Ambassadors and the Deputies from all the cities of GRAECE met at LACEDAEMON to that ende One of these Deputies was Epaminondas a notable learned man and a famous Philosopher but as yet vnskilfull in warres He seeing how the other Ambassadors curried fauor with Agesilaus only he of the rest kept his grauety to speake freely and made an Oration not for the THEBANS alone but for all GRAECE in generall declaring to them all how warres did only increase the greatnes power of the citie of SPARTA and contrarily did minish and decay all other cities and townes of GRAECE and for this cause that he did counsell them all to conclude a good and perfit peace indifferently for all to the ende it might continewe the lenger when they were all alike Agesilaus perceiuing then that all the GRAECIANS present at the assemblie gaue him good eare and were glad to heare him speake thus boldely of peace asked him openly if he thought it mete and reasonable that all BOEOTIA should be set clere at libertie againe Epaminondas presently boldly againe asked him if he thought it iust and requisite to set all LACONIA clere againe at liberty Agesilaus being offended therwith stoode vpon his feete and commaunded him to aunswere plainly whether they would set all BOEOTIA at libertie or not Epaminondas replied vnto him with the selfe speache againe and asked him whether they would set all LACONIA at liberty or not That nettled Agesilaus so that besides he was glad of such a cloke for the old grudge he euer bare vnto the THEBANS he presently put the name of the THEBANS out of the bill of those which should haue bene comprised within the league and cried open warres apon them in the market place For the rest he licensed the other Deputies and Ambassadors of the people of GRAECE to departe with this conclusion that they should louingly take order among thē selues for the controuersies betwext them if they could peaceably agree together and they that could not fall to such agreement that then they should trie it by warres for that it was a hard thing to take vp