not so hot against them as formerly desired a conference between the Generals to the end they might compose all matters between themselves which after the Peoples earnest prayers had obtained Caesar and Anthony went to Baiae Pompey's Friends all with one voice advised him to Peace except only Menodorus who wrote to him from Sardinia that he ought rather now to make War or at least temporize whilst Famine fought for them that when they judged it fit to conclude a Peace they might do it on more advantageous conditions he likewise warned him to have a care of Murcus who counselled him to make Peace only for the advancement of his particular fortune wherefore Pompey who was before jealous of Murcus's experience and authority broke now utterly with him and no longer took his counsel in any thing so Murcus in discontent retired to Syracusa where perceiving some of Pompey's Guards that followed him by his orders he in their presence railed at and reviled him this hastened his end for Pompey having corrupted one of his Tribunes and one of his Centurions sent People to slay him giving out that he was murdered by his Slaves whom they hanged to give the more credit to the cheat However after what had happened to Bithynicus Men easily believed this second attempt committed on the person of a Man famous for his experience in War a constant Friend to Pompey's Faction from the very beginning who had done him signal service in Spain and of his own accord came to him in Sicily After his death all Pompey's Friends exhorted him to Peace accusing Menodorus of being in love with Command considering more his own than his Masters interest finding it profitable to govern a Province with an Army so Pompey embarqued for Aenaria with many choice Ships and himself on a most beautiful Galley of six Banks and thus in great state came sailing towards the Evening by Puteoli in view of the Enemy As soon as day next Morning appeared they drove Piles into the Sea at some distance one from the other and thereon laid two Bridges upon one of which to the Land-side mounted Caesar and Anthony and Pompey and Libo on the other which was separate on the first by a small interval of water so that without speaking aloud they could hardly hear each other Pompey pretended to be Associate in the Empire in the room of Lepidus and the others would only grant him the liberty to return to Rome so they parted without doing any thing yet their Friends kept on foot the Negotiation making divers Propositions on the one part and the other Pompey in behalf of the Proscripts had fled to him for refuge demanded that such as were culpable or Abettors of Caesar's Murder might be in security in their Exile and that the others might with Honour be recalled into the City and put into possession of their Estates upon this demand Famine and the People urging for Peace Anthony and Caesar agreed that they might redeem from the new Possessors a fourth part of their Estates only and they wrote to them about it as supposing they would be therewith contented and indeed so they were for they began now to stand in fear of Pompey instructed by Murcus his misfortune going therefore to him and perswading him to Peace he rent his Robe saying he was betrayed by those for whom he had exposed himself and calling by name Menodorus as the sole Man worthy of Command and the only Friend he had At length by the instigation of Mutia his Mother and Iulia his Wife they met again only they three on a little Eminence encompassed on all sides by the Sea about which they had placed Guards with Ships for their common security Here they agreed to these Conditions That all War should cease between them both by Sea and Land that there should be a free trade and commerce in all places that Pompey should withdraw all his Garrisons out of Italy that he should harbour no more Fugitives that his Ships should cruise no more on the Italian Coasts that he should have the command of Sicily Sardinia and Corsica with the other adjacent Isles for so long as Anthony and Caesar held the Sovereign Power but with condition of sending to Rome what Corn those Islands ought to the Citizens and that besides all this he should have the Peloponnesus that being absent he might exercise the charge of Consul by one of his Friends and should be received into the Colledge of the High Priests that all persons of Quality might return to the City except the Conspirators who had been condemned by publick sentence that the Goods of all those fled to Pompey without being proscribed should be restored except the Moveables and for the Proscripts that they should have a sourth part that all who had served under Pompey should be rewarded if Slaves with Freedom and if Freemen when they had served the time appointed by Law with the same recompences as the Veterans of Caesar and Anthony received These were the Articles which after being ingrossed and signed were sent to Rome to be deposited in the hands of the Vestals This done they by lot feasted each other Pompey began who laying his Galley side to the Rock therein received his Guests the days following Anthony and Caesar treated him pitching Tents on the same Rock with pretence that the Feast might be distributed better to the Shore but perhaps that their mirth might be more secure for there was nothing remitted of the useal care both the Ships were in their stations and the Guards at their Posts and the Guests themselves had Daggers under their Robes 'T is reported that Menodorus when they feasted in the Galley sent to advise Pompey that taking this advantage of his Enemies he should revenge the wrongs his Father and Brother had suffered and recover the authority they had taken from his Father and he would be answerable that not one should escape out of the Ships But Pompey made him an answer woâ—shy his Birth and the present Affair Would to God said he Menodorus â—ould have done this without me for perjury may become him but never Pompey At this Supper â—ompey's Daughter Neice to Libo was contracted to Marcellus Nephew to Anthony Caesar's Sister 's Son The day following Consuls were designed for four years first of all Anthony and Libo but to Anthony with leave to make a Substitute then Caesar and Pompey then Aenobarbus and Sosius and lastly Caesar and Anthony again who being now to be Consuls together the third time it was hoped they would restore the ancient Administration of the Common-wealth Things thus concluded on they departed Pompey by Sea to Sicily and Caesar and Anthony by land to Rome Upon the news of the Peace an universal joy was spread through the City and all Italy Men were transported to see themselves delivered from an intestine War from being often picked out and forced to go from the insolency of the Garrisoris from
Piso came to succeed him sent Scipio before to Rome together with Phameas whom all the Army conducted to the very Ships beseeching the Gods to grant them the favor that they might see Scipio return into Africa in the quality of Consul as if it had been decreed by the destinies that Scipio only could take Carthage and in truth many of the Army wrote as much to Rome The Senate gave publick praises to Scipio honored Phameas with the Purple-robe and chain of Gold presented him with a Horse barded with Gold and a Suit of Arms of the same gave him besides six thousand Sesterces and one hundred and fifty Marks of wrought Silver together with a Tent furnished with all necessary moveables and gave him hopes of much more if he applyed himself heartily to the service of the Republick he promised it and afterwards returned into Africa to joyn with the Roman Camp In the beginning of the Spring Calphurnius Piso Consul and his Collegue L. Mancinus Admiral embarked for Africa whither being come they made no attempt at all neither against Carthage nor against Asdrubal but contented themselves to make War upon the little Cities round about they besieged Aspida by Sea and Land but were forced to raise their Siege 'T is true Piso took another Town which he sack't though the inhabitants complained they had surrendred upon composition From thence he passed to Hippone which is a great City considerable for it's Walls it 's Castle it's Gates and it's Haven and which had been thus fortified by Agathocles Tyrant of Sicily It being Situate near to Utica and Carthage the inhabitants plundered the Convoys of Victuals that were carrying to the Romans with which they were in some measure accommodated wherefore Calphurnius designed not only to chastise them but likewise to make them restore the Prizes they had taken He therefore laid siege to it which continued all the Summer but in vain for the inhabitants made two â—allies wherein being assisted by those of Carthage they burnt all the besiegers Engines Thus Summer being spent without doing any thing the Consul went to take up his Winter quarters at Utica But the Carthaginians who had yet all Asdrubal's Army entire proud of the success of Hippone where they had beaten Piso and strengthned besides with eight hundred Numidian Horse which had revolted from Gulussa to them under the conduct of Bythias enlarged their hopes besides they perceived that though Micypsa and Mavastabal the other sons of Masanissa promised Arms and Mony to the Romans yet they only temporized in expectation to see what course these affairs would take They began therefore to spread themselves throughout all Africa and without fear to fortifie places in the Country declaiming every where against the cowardise of the Romans and to perswade the people they loudly proclaimed the two expeditions of Nucera which had redounded to their shame the last occasion of Hippone where they had been so ill handled and at last having besieged Carthage it self though disarmed though unprovided of all things yet they had been forced to raise the siege They sent likewise to Micypsa to Mavastabal and to the free Moors to advise them to take care left if the Romans took Carthage they should afterwards invade and subdue them They deputed some likewise into Macedonia where one who called himself the Son of Perseus made War against the Romans to exhort him to continue it with promises that Carthage would not let him want either Mony or Shipping In short now they saw themselves armed they entertained no other but exalted thoughts and their courage and their resolution daily increased as they beheld themselves in a better condition of defence Asdrubal their General abroad was no less resolute after having twice successfully dealt with Manlius which had raised his thoughts to that degree that he grew ambitious of having likewise the command of the Forces within the City which to compass he caused Asdrubal the Nephew of Gulussa who at that time commanded to be falsely accused in full Senate of holding intelligence with his Uncle At which he being so surprised that he could answer nothing for himself was knockt on the head with stools But when the cowardise of Piso and the preparations made by the Carthaginians came to be known at Rome the people were extreamly moved out of an apprehension they had left this War undertaken against a neighboring Nation and from all time enemy to the Roman name should grow upon them For they having been first deficient in their word as to what they ordained the Carthaginians there was no more hopes left of an accommodation The memory of those Noble Actions done by Scipio in Africa whilst he was yet but Tribune was yet very fresh and the comparison of present affairs with what he had done raised so much the more the glory of his reputation and as in all meetings every one told what was writ from the Army all the world wish't his return in quality of Consul the day of the Assembly for the Election of Magistrates drew nigh but his not being of the age admitted by Law to possess that dignity forbid his pretending to it for he demanded only the charge of Edile when the people offered him the Consulate The Consuls stood against it and opposed the Law contrary to this Election but the multitude persisted the more alleaging that by the Laws of Tullus and Romulus the people were Judges of the Assembly and so it belonged to them to approve or cancel all Laws that concerned the Assembly At last one of the Tribunes threatned the Consuls to take away their power of presiding if they agreed not to the will of the people whereupon they permitted the Tribunes to abrogate that Law for a year provided it were then re-established The Lacedemonians it seems did the same when being forced to make the Laws yield to necessity to secure from infamy those taken Prisoners at Piles they cryed out Let us this day give the Laws leave to sleep Thus Scipio demanding the Edility obtained the Consulate and when Drusus that was likewise named Consul required that the Government of the Provinces should be drawn by Lot one of the Tribunes assembled the people and speaking of the War with Carthage demanded to which of the Consuls they would give their Commission So the people gave to Scipio the Government of that Province permitting him to raise recruits to compleat the old Troops and to form new ones to receive from the Allies all those volunteers would follow him and to write in the name of the people of Rome to what Kings and Cities he thought convenient and indeed some Kings and some Estates did assist him with forces Things thus disposed he passed into Sicily and from thence forthwith to Utica mean while Piso besieged some Inland Towns and Mancinus lay constantly before Carthage where having observed a certain place in the wall neglected because it was almost inaccessible by
which they signified by their Cries to which he answered first and after him all the Assailants in like manner There was likewise a great Cry raised on the other side which gave the first terrour to the Carthaginians astonished to be two several ways assaulted by so many Enemies and by night Scipio however notwithstanding all the endeavours he used could not gain the Wall but having observed that on the outside and near the Walls there was a void Tower of the same heighth which belonged to a private person he caused some resolute young men to mount up into it who having with force of Darts made those who defended the Wall dislodge laid Planks and Joysts over and so passed to the Parapet and thence leaped down into the place and having broken open the Gate gave entrance to Scipio with four thousand Men forcing the Inhabitants to retreat into the Fortress as if all the rest of the City had been taken In this Alarm and confused Tumult they took some Prisoners and those who were encamped without forsaking their Camp fled hastily to shelter themselves with the rest in the Cittadel but Scipio perceiving this place of Megara was full of Gardens planted with Fruit-trees and consisted of many little Inclosures of Mud-walls Quick-set Hedges Bushes and some little Streams fearing left the Soldiers among so many Turnings and Windings which they were unacquainted with might pursue the Enemypunc and so give them the opportunity of laying an ambush for them caused the Retreat to be sounded Day appearing Asdrubal enraged at Scipio's boldness caused all the Roman Prisoners he had to be brought upon the Wall and before their Countrymen with Pinchers or Hooks of Iron caused their Eyes or Tongues to be pulled outâ— or their Nerves or Privy Members torn off some had the Soles of their Feet cut off and others their Fingers some he caused to be flead alive and then tumbled down those high Rocks This he did to the end that taking away from the Carthaginians all hopes of Peace with the Romans and sharpening their courages to the utmost they should expect no safety but from their Arms yet his design succeeded quite otherwise for the Carthaginians who found themselves made Complices of such horrible Crimes became rather more timerous than hardy and began to hate Asdrubal who had cut off from them all hopes of pardon especially the Senators who loudly declared that such cruelty and insolence were unseasonable in the publick Calamities by which discourse they incensed him to that degree that he took some of them and slew them with his own hands Thus he made himself terrible living henceforth more like a Tyrant than a Governour and making his security consist in his being feared believing that sufficient to warrant him against all attempts might be made against his person Scipio â—et on fire that Camp the Carthaginians had deâ—erted the night before when they ran to save themselves in the Cittadel and being become absolute Master of the Peninsula he caused a Trench to be dug from one Sea to the other not above a Darts cast from the Enemies who used their utmost endeavours to hinder the work which made it extreme painful to the Soldiers however what by working and what by fighting they perfected it at length though it were five and twenty Furlongs long This being finished he caused such another to be made towards the Inland not far distant from the other and after that two Traverses so that it was a kind of a square Fortification which he caused to be palisadoed with sharp Stakes behind which he likewise caused a Ditch to be made but that he might fortifie himself the better towards Carthage he inclosed it with a Wall five and twenty Furlongs long twelve Foot high and six Foot broad in which he placed Redoubts and Towers at equal distances In the midst of the Fort he caused to be erected a very high Tower on which he placed a square Platform from whence he might discover all that was done in the City These works having been finished in four and twenty days and as many nights by the continual labour of all the Soldiers who by turns stood to their Arms or wrought with their working Tools Scipio lodged his Army Yet he had not built this Fortification only for that use but likewise to serve as a Circumvallation to hinder the bringing Provisions to the Besieged which before came to them by land for besides this Neck of the Peninsula which he now possessed all the rest was encompassed by the Sea This therefore was the first and principal cause of the Besieged's misery which soon brought a Famine into the City for an infinte number of people being fled out of the Country into Carthage durst not go out again for fear of the Besiegers the Merchants came no more because of the War there was no Corn brought by Sea from Lybia but rarely and then when it was calm so that the greatest part of their Provisions came ordinarily by land and that passage being stopped the City presently became afflicted with Famine Bythias who commanded the Carthaginian Horse was now abroad whither he had been sent to make Provisions of Corn but he durst not come near Scipio's Entrenchments much less attempt to force them so that now no Corn could come into Carthâ—ge but by Ships which were laden afarâ— off and which hardly got in because of the Roman Fleet which lay at Anchor not far from the Port. However they being forcedâ— to keep at a good distance because of the danger of the Shore which lay open to all Storms and likewise could not come nearer into the Port without being subject to inconveniencies from the Carthaginians Engines upon the Walls or of being by the violence of the Waveâ— dashedâ— against the Rocks which lie there very thick some Ships of Burthen sent from Bythias and some Merchantâ— Ships that despised the danger out of hopes of the gain took their time when it blew a fresh gale into the Port and with all Sails spread made such way that the Roman Galleys could not reach them but these opportunities offered but seldom and besides that little Provision that came by Sea was at Asdrubal's dispose who distributed it only to those thirty thousand Men he had chosen for the War and gave no part thereof to the rest of the people though perishing for hunger Scipio having observed this dontrived how to block up the Entrance of the Port which opened to the West very near to the Sea Shore and to this purpose he caused to be raised along Dam which advanced from â—hat point of Land that separated the Marish from the Sea very far into the Water towards the Mouth of the Port which he did by casting in and cementing together mighty Stones that the Waves might not remove them it 's Breadth was in the Superâ—icies four and twenty Foot and four times as deep The Carthaginians laughed at first and mocked
Prisoners of great Booty and vast quantity of Spoils caused to be heaped together all that was useless in one place and having made due preparation according to the Custom of the Romans offered them in Sacrifice to those Divinities that preside ore War he himself first kindling the fire Soon after having refreshed his Forces with a little rest he marched with his Light Armed Foot towards Euripus hoping he might there meet with Archelaus But he had made no stay there but because the Romans had no Fleet at Sea went about overrunning the Islands and plundring the Sea-coasts He was likewise so bold as to land upon Zant and to besiege the City but some Romans that came against him having set upon him in an Ambush by Night he hastily reembarked his Men got out to Sea and returned to Chalcis doing things all along rather becoming a Pyrate then a Man of War Mithridates hearing of this great defeat was amazed as indeed he had reason however he began to make new Levies of Soldiers in all the Countries under his obedience and growing jealous that after his being thus beaten there would be some People that either at present or as soon as they had opportunity would make attempt upon his Person before he would renew the War he assembled all that he had the least suspicion of such were the Tetrarchs of Galatia and all those who attended on his Person as Friends but yet owned him not as Subjects All these he put to death with their Wives and Children some by surprize others at a feast by night only three escaped and fled for he thought that if Sylla came nearer none of them would continue faithful to him After this he siesed upon their goods placed Garrisons in their Cities and sent Eumachus Satrap or Governor into Galatia whom the Tetrarchs that had escaped assisted with some Forces of their Vassals raised in the Country drove thence with his Garrisons so that of all the Goods of that Nation Mithridates enjoyed only the Mony Having likewise born a secret hate to the Inhabitants of Chios since one of their Gallies unawares ran aboard the Admiral at the Fight of Rhodes he first confiscated all their Estates who were gone into Sylla's Army then he sent Commissioners to inform themselves of all those who were of the Roman Faction and at last Zenobius landing there as it were in his passage for Greece siesed by night on the Walls and most advantagious places of the City and after having placed Guards at the Gates he caused Proclamation to be made that all the Guests and Inmates should take their repose and that all the Inhabitants should assemble themselves to know the Kings Pleasure That done he told them that the King was Jealous of their City because some of their Inhabitants took part with the Romans and that there was no way to remove that suspicion but by surrendring up their Arms and delivering such Children as should be chosen out of their best Families for Hostages They seeâ—ng their City in his hands yielded both to one and the other whom â—enobius sent immediately to Erythrea telling them that as to what was farther to be done the King would write And indeed his Letter came containing matters to this purpose Mithridates Letter to the Inhabitants of Chios YOU Favor the Romans many of your Citi zens being at this present in their Army and your selves enjoy Lands they have given you in Fee without paying any Tribute to us Your Galley likewise ran on Board mine in the Fight at Rhodes which fault I had only imputed to those had the Government of it could my Clemency have made you wise but you have privately sent the Chief Men of your City to Sylla and have not discovered to me any of those who without the consent of the whole City were guilty of this crime which you ought to have done had you not all been complices I might according to the advice of my Friends punish you with death as Enemies to my self and my Estates However I have chosen rather in reparation of these crimes to condemn you in a Fine of two thousand Talents After having heard this Letter read they desired Zenobius's permission to send Deputies to the King which being refused them disarmed as they were and tyed up by those Hostages they had given and besides seeing a great Army of Barbarians ready to cut them in pieces they began to weep and were forced to sell the Ornaments of their Temples and their Wives Jewels to raise the two thousand Talents When they had paid it in Zenobius under pretence that it wanted weight caused them to Assemble in the Theater and there encompassing them with Soldiers and lining the Streets leading to the Sea-side with Guards all with drawn Swords he caused them to be led out of the Theater one after another and put them on Shipboard the Men on one side and the Women and Children on the other whilst the Barbarians as they past affronted them with a thousand indignities thus he took them all out of their Country and sent them to Mithridates in the Euxine Sea Those of Chios being treated in this manner Zenobius came before Ephesus with all his Forces but the Ephesians made him leave his Arms at the Port and would not let him enter the City but with a very small train He submitted to it and went and lodged at Philopoemens Father of Monima Mithridates Mistress to whom the King had given the Government of that place and soon after proclaimed an Assembly off the City but the Ephesians who expected nothing but mischief from him put off the business till next morning Mean while they assembled in the night and mutually encouraging each other clapt Zenobius in Prison where they put him to death At the same time they planted good Guards on their Walls armed the people made Provision of Victuals and became Masters of their Ciâ—ty Those of Trulles Hypapa and Mesopolis and others whom the Calamity of the Inhabitants of Chios had terrifyed hearing the news follow the Example of the Ephesians So that Mithridates was forced to send an Army against these Rebels severely punishing those who returned not to their obedience till they were forced And to hinder others from revolting he declared all the Grecian Cities free and all Debtors released from their Creditors and gave the Inmates freedom of Burgesses in all places where they inhabited and set the Slaves at liberty Hoping as it happened that the Debtors Inmates and Slaves engaged by these benefits would employ all their force to maintain the Royal Power Mean while Miniâ— and Philotirous Natives of Smyrna and Clysthenes and Asclepiodorus of Lesbos all well known to the King Asclepiodorus himself having sometime commanded his Mercenary Troops conspired against him but the conspiracy being discovered by Asclepiodorus who to give a manifest Proof of it ordered matters so that the King hid behind a bed heard it from Minio's one mouth the
which struck a Damp into the Chiefs of the Conspiracy the more because their Conference was long They already began to make signs to one another that they must now kill him before he arrested them but in the Sequel of the Discourse observing Laena to use rather the Gesture of a Suppliant than an Accuser they deferred it till in the end seeing him return thanks to Caesar they took Courage It is the Custom of the Chief Magistrates entring the Palace first to consult the Divines and here as well as in the former Sacrifices Caesar's first Victim was found without a heart or as some say without the Chief of the Entrails The Divine hereupon telling him it was a mortal Sign he replyed laughing that when he went to fight against Pompey in Spain he had seen the like and the other having replyed that then likewise he had run hazard of losing his Life but that at present the Entrails threatned him with greater danger He commanded they should sacrifice another Victim which fore-boding nothing but ill he fearing to seem tedious to the Senate and being pressed by his Enemies whom he thought to be his Friends without considering the danger entred the Palace for it was of necessity that the Misfortune to befall him should befal They left Trebonius at the Gate to stop Anthony under pretence of discoursing some Business with him and as soon as Caesar was seated the other Conspirators surrounded him according to Custom as Friends having each his Dagger concealed At the same time Attilius Cimber standing before him began to intreat him to grant the Return of his Brother who was in Exile and upon his Refusal under pretence of begging it with more humility he took him by the Robe and drawing it to him hung about his Neck crying out Why do you delay my Friends Thereupon Casca first of all reaching over his Head thought to strike his Dagger into his Throat but wounded him only in the Breast Caesar having disengaged himself from Cimber and caught hold of Casca's hand leaped from his Seat and threw himself upon Casca with a wonderful force but being at Handy Gripes with him another struck his Dagger into his Side Cassius gave him a Wound in the Face Brutus struck him quite through the Thigh Bucolianus wounded him behind the Head and he like one enraged and roaring like a Savage Beast turned sometimes to one and sometimes to another till strength failing him after the Wound received from Brutus he threw the Skirt of his Robe over his Face and suffered himself gently to fall before Pompey's Statue They forbore not to give him many Stabs after he was down so that there were three and twenty Wounds found in his Body And those that slew him were so eager that some of them through vehemence without thinking of it wounded each other After this Murder committed in a Hallowed Place and on a Sacred Person all the Assembly took their Flight both within the Palace and without in the City In the Croud there were several Senators wounded and some killed There were slain likewise other Citizens and Strangers not with design but without knowing the Authors as happens in a publick Tumult for the Gladiators who were armed in the Morning to give Divertisement to the People ran from the Theatre to the Senators Houses the Spectators affrighted dispersed as fast as their Legs would carry them the Commodities exposed to Sale were made Plunder of the Gates were shut and many got upon the Roofs of their Houses to secure themselves from Violence Anthony fortifyed himself in his House judging they had a design upon his Life as well as upon Caesar's And Lepidus General of the Horse hearing upon the place what had passed made haste to the Island in the River where he had a Legion which he drew into the Field of Mars that he might be in readiness to execute the Orders of Anthony for he yielded to him both in the Quality of Caesar's Friend and Consul The Soldiers would very willingly have revenged Caesar's death so basely murdered but that they feared the Senate who favoured the Murderers and expected the Issue of things Caesar had no Soldiery with him for he loved not Guards but contented himself with Ushers Besides he was accompanied with a great number of People of the Robe and whole Troops of as well Citizens as Strangers with Freed Men and Slaves followed him from his House to the Palace but in a moment all these Crouds were vanished there remained with him only three unhappy Slaves who putting him in his Litter and taking it upon their Shoulders carried him who but a little before was Master both of Sea and Land The Conspirators after the Execution had a mind to have said something in the Senate but no body staying to hear them they twisted their Robes about their left Arms instead of Bucklers and with thier bloody Daggers in their Hands ran through the Streets crying out they had slain the King and the Tyrant causing to march before them a Man carrying a Cap on the Head of a Pike which is the Badge of Liberty they exhorted likewise the People to the restoring the Commonwealth putting them in mind of the first Brutus and the Oath wherein he had engaged the Citizens and with them their Posterity There were several others who were not of the Conspiracy who took Daggers and went with them through the City of the number of which were Lentulus Spinther Favonius Aquinius Dolobella Murius and Petiscus who instead of the Honour they expected received the same Punishment with those had been guilty but none of the People joyned with them which begot in them both trouble and fear As for the senate though all the Senators who knew not of the Plot had in the Tumult taken their Flight yet they hoped well from them either because they were Kindred or Friends to most of that Order or because they knew they themselves had an aversion for the Tyranny but they had an ill Opinion of the People and of Caesar's Soldiers of whom there were great numbers in the City some newly dismissed to whom he had given Lands others distributed by Colonies some time before who were returned to follow him They were likewise fearful of Lepidus because he was Master of the Legion of the City and doubted lest Anthony against the Authority of the Senate should engage the People to destroy them Things being in this posture they with the Gladiators seized the Capitol where in their first Consultation it was agreed that they should tempt the People with Gifts for they hoped that some of the People beginning to praise the Action others would follow their Example out of love to Liberty and desire the restore the Commonwealth and they imagined that the Roman People were still the same as they had heard tell they were in the time of first Brutus who drave out the Kings but they considered not that they desâ—red two things
upon it Crowns and other Military Presents they set fire to it and about it the People spent all the Night They forthwith erected an Altar and at present there is a Temple where Caesar is adored as a God for after that Octavius his Adopted Son who changed his Name into that of Caesar had following his steps taken upon him the Government of the State he mightily strengthened and augmented that Monarchy of which he had laid the Foundations which endures to this day and to pay him all possible Honours ranked him in the number of the Gods From this Example it is that to this day the People give the Title of Gods to their Emperors after their death if they have neither been Trants nor manifestly guilty of great Crimes they who formerly would not suffer them to take the name of King whilst living Thus fell Caesar on the Day which the Romans call the Ides of March an Augur had told him that day would be fatal to him but he laughed at it and the very same morning told him jesting The Ides of March are come to which the other without surprize made answer But not yet gone Yet the great Assurance of the Augur nor many other Presages could not hinder him from going to the Assembly where he was murdered in the fifty sixth Year of his Age Happy in all things Magnificent and with just reason comparable to Alexander for they were both beyond measure Ambitious Warlike ready in the Execution of what they had resolved and hardy in Dangers they spared not their Bodies and in War relyed not so much upon their Conduct as upon their Bravery and good Fortune The one went a long journey in a Countrey without Water to go to Hammon happily crossed over the bottom of the Pamphilian Gulf the Sea being retired as if his Genius had locked up the Waters As another time marching in the Champian it caused it to cease from raining Navigated an unknown Sea Being in the Indies first scaled the Walls of a City and leaped down alone into the midst of his Enemies receiving thirteen Wounds was always Victorious and whatever War he was engaged in he ended it in one or two Battels In Europe he subdued many Barbarous People and reduced them under his Obedience together with the Grecians a fierce People and Lovers of Liberty who never before obeyed any Person but Philip who commanded them for some time under the Honourable Title of General of the Greeks He carried his Arms almost through all Asia with an incredible Celerity And to comprize in a word the Happiness and Power of Alexander all the Countries he saw he conquered and as he was designing to conquer the rest he died As for Caesar passing the Ionian Sea in the midst of Winter he found it calm as well as the British Ocean which he passed without any knowledge of it in a time when his Pilots driven by Storm against the English Rocks lost their Ships Another time embarking alone by Night in a little Boat and rowing against the Waves he commanded the Pilot to hoist Sail and rather to consider the Fortune of Caesar than the Sea He threw himself more than once all alone into the midst of his Enemies when his Men were all struck with Panick Fear and is the only General of the Romans that ever fought thirty times in Pitch'd Battel against the Gauls and subdued in Gaul forty Nations before so dreadful to the Romans that in the Law dispensing with Priests and Old Men from going to the War the Wars against the Gauls are excepted and the Priests and Old Men obliged to bear Arms. Before Alexandria seeing himself alone inclosed upon a Bridge he laid down his Purple threw himself into the Sea and pursued by his Enemies swam a long time under Water only by Intervals lifting up his head to take breath till coming near his Ships he held up his hands was known and so saved For the Civil Wars which he either undertook out of Fear as himself says or out of Ambition he had to deal with the greatest Generals of the Age fighting at the Head of many great Armies not Barbarians but Romans encouraged by their former Actions and by their good Fortune yet he defeated them all and not one of them but he ruined in a Fight or two But we cannot say of him as of Alexander that he was never overcome for he suffered once a great loss against the Gauls under the Conduct of Triturius and Cotta his Lieutenants In Spain his Army was so near blocked up by Petreius and Afranius that he wanted but little of being besieged At Dyrrhachium and in Africa they turned their Backs and in Spain against the young Pompey the fled But for Caesar himself he was always undaunted and whatever War he engaged in came off in the end Victorious and the Roman Empire which now extends it self by Sea and Land from the Euphrates to the Atlantick Ocean was brought under his Power partly by his Valour and partly by his Clemency He setled himself much better than Sylla and governed himself with more moderation for being King in effect in spite of all the World he took not that name At last making his Preparations for other Wars he was surprized by death as well as Alexander Their Armies were also alike for the Soldiers of both were chearful in Fight and hardy but stubborn and mutinous when over-wrought with Labour The Deaths of both of them were equally mourned and lamented by their Armies who attributed to them Divine Honours They were both well made in Body and of Noble Aspects both descended from Iupiter one by Eacus and Hercules and the other by Anchises and Venus Though they were inflexible when resisted they were easle to pardon and be reconciled and likewise to do good to such as they had vanquished contenting themselves with the Victory Hitherto the Comparison is just save only that their Beginnings were not equal for Alexander began with the Quality of a King in which he had been before instructed by his Father Philip but Caesar was only a Private Man and though he were of an Illustrious Race yet his Fortunes were much incumbred They both despised the Presages that threatned them without injuring those Divines foretold their death and almost the same Signs happened to them and a like Event for in the Sacrifices made by one and the other twice they found not the Chief of the Entrails of the Victims the first time they were only threatned with great Danger Alexander's happened when besieging the Oxidrakes being mounted first upon the Wall and the too great weight breaking the Ladders behind him he beheld himself deserted by his Men and threw himself into the midst of his Enemies where having received many Wounds on his Breast and a great blow on the Neck he was ready to die when the Macedonians touched with shame broke open the Gates and relieved him The like happened to
came to an Anchor in a Shoal Bay where he lay as if he had been fast in the Ouz till the Enemies running down from the Mountains as to an assured Prey tacking about he rowed off laughing at and deriding them to the grief and astonishment of the whole Army After he had thus made known of what importance it was to Caesar to have him for a Friend or Enemy he gave liberty to a Senator called Rebilus who he had before taken that he might go before and prepare matters raising a report among his People that they should ere long have a Fugitive of consequence which was Vinidius Marcellus an intimate Friend of Caesar's whose affection he himself had gained when he before quitted Pompey's service and after that drawing near to the Enemy and desiring to have some conference with Vinidius in a certain Island touching an Affair of Importance to both Parties Having obtained it when they were alone he told him that when he left Caesar's Party to go to Pompey he had been forced to it by the injuries he dayly received from Calvisius then Admiral but that now Agrippa had the Command of the Navy he was ready to return to Caesar's service of which he could not complain provided Vinidius would bring him a safe conduct from Messala who in Agrippa's absence commanded the Fleet promising by some signal Action to repair his fault However till he had his safe Conduct he must to avoid suspicion make War upon Caesar's Party as before Messala at first scrupled the doing it as dishonourable yet at length he granted it whether yielding to the necessities of the War or before well informed of Caesar's mind or that he foresaw he could not be displeased at it So Menodorus once more changed Parties and going to Caesar cast himself at his Feet begging pardon for his fault without telling what obliged him to commit it Caesar pardoned him because of Messala's word passed to him but gave orders narrowly to watch him and permitted the Officers of his Galleys to go whither they pleased Caesar's Fleet being now ready he came to Vibona where he gave order to Messala to pass over into Sicily with two Legions to joyn Lepidus's Army and that he should land in the Gulf against Tauromenia he sent three likewise to Stylida which is the very extremity of the Strait to wait a fair opportunity and commanded Taurus to sail about with his Fleet from Tarentum to the Promontory of Scyllace which is directly opposite to Tauromenia He came prepared to fight both on Sea and Land for his Land Army followed him before whom marched his Horse with orders to make discoveries from the Land as the Liburnick Brigantines did at Sea As he was advancing in this manner Caesar came and after having seen him near Scyllace and approved the order he kept returned to Vibona Pompey as we have said had placed good Garrisons in all places of the Island where any Forces might land and kept his Fleet at Messina ready to go and relieve who stood in need Whilst these Preparations were made on both sides Lepidus having sent for out of Africa for the remainder of his Forces which consisted in four Legions Papia one of Pompey's Lieutenants met them in open Sea and whilst they staid for him as a Friend gave them chace they took them for the Ships Lepidus was to send to meet them and indeed he did send but coming out too late when the Ships of Burthen saw them they took them for Enemies and would not approach them whereas now staying for Papia some were taken some burnt some sunk and others recovered Africa of the four Legions two perished in the Sea and if any Soldiers saved themselves by swimming Tisienus another of Pompey Lieutenants caused them to be massacred as fast as they came on shore The rest of the Army came either now or afterwards to Lepidus and Papia returned to Pompey Caesar with all his Fleet passed from Vibone to Strongyle one of the five Aeolian Isles and seeing on the Coast of Sicily great store of Forces at Pelora Miles and Tyndari he believed Pompey was there in person wherefore leaving Agrippa his Admiral in the Post he returned to Vibone and soon after joyned with Messala with design to lay hold of the opportunity of Pompey's absence to surprise Tauromenia and so fall upon him two several ways Agrippa therefore goes from Strongyle to Hiera and driving out the Garrison takes the place resolving next day to attempt Miles and Demochares the Admiral who lay there with forty Ships wherefore Pompey fearing Agrippa's success sent other forty Ships from Messina to Demochares under the Command of Apollophanes another of his Freed Men who was followed by Papia with seventy others Agrippa before day weighed with half his Ships as if he were only to fight with Papia whom he had some intelligence he might meet but when he saw Apollophanes's Fleet followed by another of seventy Sail he sent presently to give notice to Caesar that Pompey was at Miles with the greatest part of his Naval Force and placing himself in the middle of his great Ships sent to the rest at Hiera with all speed to follow him These two Ships thus magnificently equipped and having Towers in Poop and Prow being come up with each other after with Signals given and their Men encouraged to do well charged with great violence some stem and stem and others standing off to gain their Enemies Broad-side and fall on with greater terrour great was the noise made by the Ships shocking against each other and greater the Shouts of the Men. Pompey's Ships were middle sized light and easie to go about and so much more active against the Enemy and by their swiftness fit to take all advantages in boarding but Caesar's being greater and heavy were of consequence much less nimble but on the contrary stronger both to give the Shock and abler to receive it Caesar had the best Soldiers and Pompey the most skilful Mariners wherefore these charged not right forwards upon Caesar's great Ships but shearing by them sometimes broke a whole Gang of Oars and sometimes carried away their Rudders and sometimes likewise suddenly bringing about they charged them with their Beak Heads giving no less a Shock than they received but when Caesar's Ships could reach any of these light timbered Vessels they pressed upon them so furiously with their Beak Heads that they either staved them or bored them through and through and if they came at any time to fight Board and Board the great Ships miserably knocked them down with missile Arms thrown from aloft and casting in their Grapnels easily stopped them so that the service being too hard to be born the Adversary had no way to save themselves but by leaping into the Sea where Skiffs appointed for that purpose took them up Mean while Agrippa whose main design was upon Papia's Ship gave him so cruel a Shock in the Bow that he
followed white Oxen then Elephants and after them the Captive Carthaginian and Numidian Captains Before the General marched the Ushers in Purple Robes with a Chore of Musick and Satyrs girt after the Tuscan manner having on their heads crowns of Gold who advanced in order singing and dancing These Satyrs they called Ludions by reason as I imagine that the Tuscans wore formerly the Lydian habit In the midst of all these people was a certain man clad in a long purple Robe adorned with Bracelets and Chains of Gold who with ridiculous postures derided the enemies After followed in train certain men with perfumes and next appeared the General mounted on a Chariot richly carved he had on his head a Crown of Gold set about with Precious Stones his vesture was a purple robe and in one hand he bore an Ivory Scepter and in the other a branch of Laurel which at Rome is the mark of victory There were in the same Chariot with him divers Children and Maidens and on Horses that drew it were mounted young men of his relations All about it marched the guards the Secretaries and Esquires who were followed by the Soldiery marching in order with abundance of Laurels and those who had done any eminent Service wearing the military Recompenses they had received They have all free liberty in these occasions either to praise their Captains pass their jests upon them or if they please to condemn their actions for a Triumph is a thing of absolute freedom and men are priviledged to say any thing In this manner Scipio ascended the Capitol and the Pomp over magnificently treated his Friends in the Temple according to custom Such was the end of the second Punick War which began in Spain and was finished in Africa by a Treaty concluded about that time when the Greeks account the hundred forty fourth Olympiad Sometime after Masanissa sworn Enemy to the Carthaginians having siesed a part of their Territory presuming as much on the Friendship of the Romans as any right he pretended to it they sent deputies to Rome to supplicate the Senate to put a stop to the Enterprizes of that Prince Commissioners were sent to determine the difference but with Orders to advance that Kings interests as high as they could possibly Thus Masanissa was maintained in the possession of what he had taken and made likewise a peace with the Carthaginians which lasted about fifty years During which Carthage enjoying a solid peace and being much improved in men and riches by reason of the fruitfulness of the soil and commodiousness of the Harbors The minds of men as is usual were transported with prosperity and the City was divided into three Factions the Roman the Popular and the Royal. Each of which had for head the most considerable men of the Nobility both for dignity and virtue Hanno the Great stood for the interest of the Romans Hannibal Opsar sided with Masanissa And Amilcar called the Samnite and with him Carthalon were heads of the Popular Faction These last seeing the Romans engaged in a War in Celtiberia and Masanissa hard put to it to defend himself against other Spaniards obliged Carthalon who then in quality of Lieutenant General was going his Circuit to fall at unawares upon Masanissa's Camp then pitched in that Country about which they had been at difference which he did and having taken and slain some of the Kings Troops raised the Country of Lybia against the Numidians There followed some other skirmishes between the two parties till such time as the Romans once more sent Commissioners to make Peace with Orders like the former to do secretly all they could in favor of the King Who made use of this cunning to confirm Masanissa in the possession of what he had before siesed upon They gave no sentence nor took so much as any cognizance of the difference for fear lest Masanissa should seem to have lost his cause they only placed themselves between the two Camps parted them and gave order to both sides to lay down Arms. Some time after Masanissa renewed the War upon a pretence he had to a Country called Lysoa where there were large Champians and fifty good Towns The Carthaginians had again recourse to the Senate and people of Rome they promised to send Deputies upon the place to determine this affair but the Deputation was delay'd till such time as probable conjectures might be made that Masanissa had the advantage Then Commissioners were dispatched and among others Cato who being arrived upon the places contended for required the parties to give them full power to judge the difference as Arbitrators To which Masanissa who found himself the stronger and confided in the Romans easily agreed but the Carthaginians made a difficulty of it and not without reason for they remembred well that in former sentences they had not done them justice and alleged that the accommodations made by the authority of Scipio needed no correctors provided they were observed by one Party and the other Whereupon the Commissioners who would not be Judges but by consent of parties returned without doing any thing But observing in their journy how excellently the Land was cultivated and that the Country abounded in all things they were astonished especially to see Carthage it self so soon recovered of those losses so lately sustained by Scipio's Victory Insomuch that being returned to the City they declared it a fault in the people of Rome not to have a more watchful eye upon Carthage they had so anciently been jealous of and which upon a sudden was so easily restored to such power Cato himself said the Liberty of the people of Rome could never be secured whilst Carthage subsisted Which being proposed in the Senate it was resolved to make War upon the Carthaginians but that the design should be kept secret till opportunity presented 'T is said that Cato hereafter ceased not in open Senate to declare the Necessity of demolishing Carthage but Scipio Nasica quite contrary argued that it was to be left in a condition that the ancient Discipline which began to decay might be maintained in vigor by the fear they would still stand in of that City Mean while in Carthage the Popular Faction suppressed the Royal condemning to banishment about fifty of the Principal and making the people swear never to admit their return nor so much as suffer it to be spoke of The Exiles made their retreat to Masanissa to oblige him to a War He was before sufficiently inclined to it wherefore he sent Gulussa and Micipsa two of his sons to Carthage to solicite the return of those who had for his sake been banished But when they presented themselves at the Gates Carthalon forbid their entrance for fear lest the tears of the Exiles kindred should work upon the people and besides Amilâ—ar the Samnite laid an ambush for Gulussa upon his return which â—lew some of his attendants and put him to flight This gave occasion to Masanissa to besiege
ground and others interred up to the neck were exposed to the cruelty of the Masons and Pioneers who took pleasure to see their heads and brains crushed under the horses feet for these sort of people placed not those wretches so by chance but of set purpose As for the Men of War their being engaged in the fight with the hopes of approaching victory the eagerness of the Soldiers heightned by the sounds of the Trumpets the noise made by the Majors and Captains in giving their Orders made them even like furies and hindred them from amusing themselves at these Spectacles In this bloody toil they continued six days and six nights without respit save only that the Soldiers were from time to time relieved by other fresh ones lest the continual watchings labor slaughter and horror should make their hearts fail them Scipio only bore out all this time without sleeping he was continually in action continually running from one place to another and taking no food but what offered it self by chance as he was passing till such time as quite tyred out he sat down in an eminent place that he might see what passed Mean while strange havock was made on all sides and this calamity seemed likely to continue much longer when on the seventh day they had recourse to his clemency and came to him bringing in their hand the Vervein of Aesculapius whose Temple is the most considerable in all the Fortress desiring no other composition but that he would please to give their lives to all that would come forth which he granted to them except only to the Runaways There came forth fifty thousand as well Men as Women whom he caused to pass out of the little Gate towards the Fields with a good guard The Runaways who were about nine hundred seeing there was no mercy for them withdrew into the Temple with Asdrubal his Wife and Children where though they were but a small Number they might defend themselves because of the height of the place situated upon Rocks and to which in times of peace they ascended by sixty steps but at length oppressed with famine watchings and fear and seeing their destruction so nigh Impatience siesed them and quitting the lower part of the Temple they fled to the highest story Asdrubal mean while privately withdrew himself and went to Scipio with a branch of Olive in his hand Scipio having commanded him to come up and prostrate himself at his feet shewed him to the Runaways who seeing him demanded silence which being granted after having vomited forth an infinite number of revilings and reproaches against Asdrubal they set fire to the Temple and buried themselves in the flame It is said that whilst the fire was kindling Asdrubals Wife decking her self in the best manner she could and placing her self in the sight of Scipio spake to him with a loud voice in this manner The Oration of Asdrubals Wife I Wish nothing to thee O Roman but all prosperity for thou dost act only according to the rights of War But I beseech the Gods of Carthage and thou thy self to punish as he deserves that Asdrubal who has betray'd his Country his Gods his Wife and his Children and then addressing her Speech to Asdrubal Perfidious Wretch said she thou most wicked of all mankind This fire is about to devour me and my Children but thou Great Captain of Carthage for what Triumph art not thou reserved or what Punishment will not he make thee suffer at whose feet I now see thee After these reproaches she cut her Childrens throats and cast them into the fire and then threw her self headlong in such as is reported was the end of this Woman but this death had certainly better become her Husband As for Scipio seeing that City which had flourished for seven hundred years since it was first built comparable to any Empire whatsoever for Extent of Dominion by Sea and Land for its Arms for its Fleets for its Elephants for its Riches and preferable even to all Nations on the Earth for Generosity and Resolution since after their Arms and Ships were taken away they had supported themselves against Famine and War for three years together Seeing it I say now absolutely ruined t is said that he shed tears and publickly deplored the hard fortune of his enemies He considered that Cities People and Empires are subject to Revolutions as well as the conditions of private Men that the same disgrace had happened to Troy that powerful City and afterwards to the Assyrians Medes and Persians whose Dominion extended so far and lately to the Macedonians whose Empire was so great and flourishing which was the reason that unawares and as it were without thinking of it that Distich of Homers escaped him Priam's and Troy's time come they Fates obey And must to Fire and Sword be made a prey And Polybius who had been his Tutor demanding of him in familiar discourse what he meant by those words he ingeniously answered That the consideration of the Vicissitude of Humane Affairs had put him in mind of his Country whose Fate he likewise feared as the same Polybius reports in his Histories Carthage thus taken Scipio gave the Plunder to the Soldiers for some days except only the Gold and Silver and Offerings which were found in the Temples After which he distributed several Military recompenses to all his Soldiers except only to those who had pillaged Apollo's Temple And having caused a very light Ship to be loaden with the spoil of the Enemy he sent it to Rome to carry news of the Victory and caused it be signified throughout all Sicily that those who would come and claim the offerings made to their Temples which had been carried away by the Carthaginians when they had made War in that Island should have them restored Thus giving testimonies of his goodness in all that he could he gained the good will of all people And at last having sold what remained of the spoil he caused all the Bucklers Engins and useless Ships to be piled together and being girt after the manner of the Romans set fire to them as a sacrifice to Mars and Minerva The Ship that went from Carthage happened to arrive at Rome in an Evening where as soon as the news was known of the taking of that City all the people flock'd to the publick places and the Night was spent in rejoycings and imbracing each other as if this Victory the greatest that ever the Romans had gained had confirmed the Publick Repose which they before thought unsecure They knew well that they and their Predecessors had done great things against the Macedonians the Spaniards and lately against the Great Antiochus as likewise in Italy but they confessed they never had a War so much to be feared as this by reason of the generosity prudence and hardiness of their Enemies nor so perillous by reason of their infidelity They likewise remembred the miseries they had suffered by the Carthaginians in Sicily
places Thus Pompey cleared the Seas without fighting and his Lieutenants every one in their Quarter took all the Corsairs that haunted there After this he went into Cilicia with a great number of Soldiers and Workmen and store of Engines believing he should be put to the assaulting after sundry manners those Forts built upon such high Rocks But the renown of his name alone and the vastness of his preparations struck such a terror into the Pyrates that they believed they should make the better composition if they yielded without fighting Those who were in the two largest Forts called Crague and Anticrague were the first who submitted at discretion and after them all those who held the Mountains of Cilicia one after another yielded themselves with great quantities of Arms either already furnished or else only begun in the Shops besides a great number of Ships some half built others ready to sail with Copper Iron Canvas Cordage and divers others Materials which they had gathered together for their use There were found also many Captives which they kept there some for Ransome others to labour in their works Pompey burnt all their unwrought Materials carried the Ships along with him and sent the Captives home many of whom found that their Funerals had been performed their friends believing them dead As for the Pyrates who appeared not to have engaged themselves in this kind of life but because they had lost their substance by the War he assigned them for their dwellings Malle Adane Epiphania and such other Cities as were but thinly inhabited in the upper Cilicia some of them likewise he sent to Dima in Achaia Thus the War against the Pyrates which all Men thought would have been long was ended in a few days by Pompey There were seventy two Ships taken three hundred yielded up with sixscore Towers Forts and others places of retreat and about ten thousand slain of those who stood out upon their Defence After this so expeditious victory the success of which exceeded all Mens hopes the Senate and People of Rome in acknowledgement of the great Service done by Pompey conferred on him signal Honors They gave him the Commission of the War against Mithridates continued to him the same Power to make Peace and War and at his own Arbitrement to declare Friends and Enemies to the People of Rome those whom he should think Worthy and over and above all this made him Generalissimo of all their Forces out of Italy Never before had the People of Rome given so much Power to one Man at once which possibly was the Reason why they called him GREAT for as to any thing else the other Generals had before left but little to do in this War Pompey then having Assembled the Forces of Asia went and encamped on the Frontiers of Mithridates Estates who had at present a very gallant Army composed of thirty thousand Foot and three thousand Horse all chosen Men raised upon his own Lands for the defence of his Kingdom Lucullus had not long before spoiled all that Country so that victuals were still scarce which made many of Mithridates Soldiers run into the Roman Army and though the King inflicted cruel punishment upon those were surprised in the attempt throwing some headlong down the Rocks squeezing out others eyes and burning some alive so that fear kept many of them in their duty yet did his Army by little and little wast by reason of the scarcity Which occasioned his sending Ambassadors to Pompey to demand upon what conditions he might have peace to which the Roman answered by delivering up the Runaways and yielding himself at discretion The King having reported this answer to the Revolters and seeing them terrified at it swore he never would have peace with the Romans because of their cruelty Nor would consent to any thing but what should be for the Common good of those had done him Service Whereupon Pompey having laid a party of Horse in Ambush sent the rest to skirmish with Mithridates Camp with Orders to give ground after the first charge as if they had been surprised with fear till such time as having drawn the Enemy into the Ambush they charged them both together And indeed the Romans put them to the Rout and might possibly have entred the Camp in the Rear of those that fled if Mithridates fearing the disorder had not drawn out his Foot and placed them in Order before the Camp which forced them to a retreat This was the first Engagement of Horse between the two parties At length the King oppressed for want of provisions returned into the heart of his Kingdom in hopes that the Enemy could not subsist in that ruined Country at least without much inconveniency But Pompey presently discamped and bringing in provisions along with him marched as far as the Eastern parts of the Kingdom where he caused a Line to be drawn of one hundred and fifty furlongs in length fortified with many Forts to inclose the King and cut of his passage to fetch in Corn and Forrage Mithridates gave no hindrance to this work either out of fear or out of imprudence which ordinarily precedes Calamity and soon found himself once more reduced to such want that he was forced to kill all the beasts of burthen to sustain his Army keeping only the Horses of Service With infinite trouble he made a shift to subsist thus for fifty days and afterwards with great silence made his escape by night through difficult ways On the morrow Pompey overtaking him fell upon his Rear-guard but the King notwithstanding all the Counsel of Friends would not give Battel but contenting himself to oppose the Romans with some Horse to keep him off gained towards Evening the Forrests which served him for Retreat The next day he possessed himself of a Village fortified with Rocks on all sides to which there was but one Avenue in which he placed four Regiments for Guard directly opposite to which the Romans went and pitched their Camp that so the King might have no way to escape On the morrow the two Armies betook themselves to their Arms very early and those which had the Guard on one Party and the other began the skirmish Some of the Kings Horsemen alighting from their Horses without Command went to assist their Infantry but seeing a great party of the Roman Cavalry come forward to the charge they all at once set a running towards the Camp to take their Horses that they might return to fight against the Romans on equal terms But those who were still above and ready to descend in a posture of fighting seeing these People run with great cries and in disorder and not knowing the reason believing that the Camp being taken on the other side they fled themselves likewise threw down their Arms and betook themselves to flight and because the way was narrow the croud was so great that they overthrew and tumbled one another down the Precipices Thus the Army
up to be plundered Which usage being divulged many before Asdrubal came to them rose in Arms against the Garrison Soldiers and with various fortune sometimes the Townsmen sometimes the Soldiers had the better hence followed mighty slaughters with the Rapes of Matrons and Virgins and other villanies usually committed at the Sack of Towns As for those Italian Soldiers who had deserved well under him Hannibal knowing them to be stout and well excercised Men with magnificent promises tried to draw them over with him into Africa Such as for any villanies committed were afraid to return into their own Country condemning themselves to voluntary banishment followed him but those who had no guilt upon their consciences refused to go Those therefore who chose rather to stay then go having commanded to assemble all in one place as if he either designed to speak to them or to reward them for past services or command them somewhat for the future he encompassed with his Army and commanded his men to chuse out among them as many as they listed for Slaves Some there were that those others were ashamed to take into such base servitude those who as fellow Soldiers had done so many brave things with them Those that remained that they might never be useful to the Romans he caused to be thrust through with Darts Likewise of four thousand Horses and Oxen no small Number he caused the throats to be cut because he had not the Conveniency to carry them into Africa After which embarking his Army leaving only a few for a show of a Garrison in the Country of the Brutians he stay'd only for a wind but the Petelini and other Italians rising upon them at their departure slew some and so retreated Thus Hannibal returning to Africa left Italy which for sixteen whole years he had wasted and by a thousand miseries often reduced the desolate inhabitants to the last Extremities treating the Roman Subjects and Associates with all contumelious Cruelty and for those whose service not so much out of good will as necessity he had formerly made use of now they could yield him no more help or advantage he treated them likewise as Enemies Hannibal being gone the Senate pardoned all those Italian people had revolted to the Carthaginians granting a perfect act of Oblivion for all things past But the Brutians because they had continued his ready Associates to the last they condemned in part of their Land and took away all their Arms if they had any left after Hannibal's plundring them All Service in the Militia as people who had lost their right of Freedom was likewise forbidden them and when the Roman Consuls went into the Provinces to oversee any publick works they Commanded them to follow them like Servants This was the Conclusion of Hannibal's Expedition into Italy in the two and fiftieth year of the Punick Wars The end of the Eighth Book of the Roman Wars with Hannibal APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars OF ROME In Five BOOKS PART II. BOOK I. The Argument of this Book I. A Short Recital of the several Dissentions and Civil Wars of the Romans and the division of this History II. Gracchus attempts passing the Law about Lands wherein all the people are concerned some for the Law and some against it III. It is at last passed IV. Gracchus thereupon is slain V. Flaccus Carbo and young Gracchus would notwithstanding put in execution Scipio the African opposes it and is found dead VI. Young Gracchus and Flaccus pursue their enterprise and declaring against the Senate are at length slain VII The Enterprise of Apuleius and Glaucia against Metellus who is banished VIII Apuleius and Glaucia slain and Metellus recalled from Exile IX The beginning of the War against the Allies and the death of Drusus X. The Tyranny of the Roman Knights occasioned by the Revolt of the Roman Allies who at first prosper in their Attempts XI The Romans subdue them and put an end to the War XII Sedition of Usurers â—ithin the City XIII The beginning of the War betwixt Marius and Sylla and the entrance of Sylla and Q. Pompey Conâ—uls in Arms into the City XIV Orders imposed by the Consuls in the City the death of Sulpitius flight of Marius and death of Q. Pompey XV. Cinna being Consul strives to pass a Law in favour of the new Citizens but is driven from the City and deposed from his Consulate whom Merula succeeds XVI Cinna and Marius besiege the City XVII They enter it and make a dreadful Slaughter XVIII Sylla after his Victory over Mithridates returns towards Italy writes to the Senate an Accommodation is debated and Cinna preparing for War is slain XIX Sylla arrives at Brundusium makes his preparations as the Consuls do likewise XX. Many Victories of Sylla's who comes to Rome where he is well received XXI Sylla again takes the Field continues his Victories and at last being Master of Rome after the taking of Praeneste and Norba War ceases in Italy XXII The cruelty exercised by Sylla over his Enemies in the City XXIII He makes himself perpetual Dictator and reigns like a Tyrant XXIV He lays down the Dictatorship retires into the Country his Death and Funerals XXV The War of Sertorius his and Perpenna's death XXVI The War of Spartacus THe Roman People often fell into Dissentions with the Senate upon the account of the Publication of Laws the Abolition of Debts the Division of Lands and the Election of Magistrates but yet they came not to Blows for these Differences were decided by the ways of Justice because both Orders bore to each other a mutual respect so that though the people often saw themselves already armed against some Foreign Enemy yet they abused not that power to make any Sedition And then when they drew up to the Mount which therefore is called Sacred they restrained themselves from committing any extraordinary violence contenting themselves only to create for the maintenance of their Rights a new Magistrate whom they called Tribune of the people The creation of this Office was designed only to counterpoise the Power of the Consuls whose Election then depended only on the Senates and to keep them from exercising the whole authority in the Administration of their Republique yet this bred abundance of Hate and Quarrels amonst these Magistrates the one seeing themselves supported by the Senate and the other by the favour of the people and each party thought themselves robbed of that which was added to the other These same Contentions were the cause that Marcus Coriolanus being condemn'd without any desert of his went into Banishment among the Volsces and soon after made War upon his Country and this was the first Civil Division wherein Arms were made use of and which only began by a Fugitive yet after this they never bore Arms in the Assembliess nor began any Massacre of their Fellow Citizens till such time as Tiberius Gracchus raised a Sedition wherein he perished
the form of Assemblies lawfully held instead of those overawed by the tyranny besides it would be more honourable for them not to be esteemed less worthy those Honours after the restoring the Common-wealth than under the Monarchy As soon as they heard these Discourses some Praetors deposed their Ornaments and the marks of their Dignities on the Benches of the Authors of this opinion in hopes to receive them more legitimately with the others but the greater part being doubtful of the snare believed if they once let go what they had in their hands they should never catch it again Mean while Anthony and Lipidus went out of the Senate into the place where some were assembled and demanded their presence when they saw them coming from above they began to cry out in confusion and after with much trouble they were silenced one of them whether of his own motion or suborned cryed out that they should prevent the Cities falling into the like calamities which they had formerly suffered Then Anthony opening his Robe shewed his Corslet underneath to incense the multitude as if the life of the Consul himself were not secure without Arms. Thereupon some crying out that the crime ought to be punished and others demanding pardon for the guilty and peace he said to these As for peace we will consider of the ways to make it so that it may last for it is very hard to find securities for it since the Oaths made to Caesar and those with execrations against those that violated them were in vain Then turning himself to those required vengeance for this Murder having praised them as the more religious observers of Faith and Piety he added these words I would put my self at the head of you and first of all my self cry the same thing if I were not Consul but my charge obliges me to do not so much what is just as what is advantageous to the Common-wealth for so it is ordained by all those in the Palace though that has been the loss of Caesar who pardoning those he had overcome in favour of the publick Good has been murdered by themselves After these artificial Discourses made by Anthony to each Party those who were for revenging the Murder would have Lepidus undertake to execute the vengeance and when he began to speak to them the multitude who were too far off cryed out that he should come down unto the middle of the place that the people might more easily hear him whereupon thinking there might be some change in the minds of the people he came to the Tribunal for Orations where with tears in his eyes he before all the world deplored the misfortune arrived to Caesar and in the end added I was yesterday with Caesar in this very place where today I am forced to demand your opinion of his death what would you have me do To which many crying out Let him be revenged The Mercenaries on the contrary cryed out Peace To whom he answered We would with all our hearts but what peace can we make or upon what Oaths can it be secured since there are none so sacred by which we have not sworn to Caesar and yet they have all been violated by those whom we thought good Men Then turning to the others Our Caesar said he is dead that person truly sacred that adorable Man and we are fearful his death will cause some great misfortune to the Common-wealth but the Fathers will consider of it and the most part of them are of advice to take order in it Whereupon they began again to cry Do you alone do that I would said he and can alone undertake it but it is not sufficient that you and I would or do undertake it alone Upon these artificial contests the Mercenaries knowing him inflamed with ambition praised him and offered him the High Priesthood of Caesar which he listened to with much joy and told them Remember what you offer me another time if you thing me worthy of it The hopes he conceived of this Priesthood having given him the boldness to ask with more instance for peace he told them Though reason and Iustice forbid it I will do what you desire After which words he returned with speed to the Palace where in the interim Dolobella had shamefully consumed all that time in endeavouring to have himself confirmed in the Consulate Anthony who expected what the people would do beheld that with derision and because there was great difference of opinion contented himself to be a Spectator in the end seeing the people were not heated with all these things he resolved to consent to the impunity of the Conspirators because indeed he saw himself constrained to it yet dissembling the necessity he let them understand that in sparing their lives he did them a great favour and as to what concerned Caesar he undertook to cause all he had done to be ratified and confirmed by Decree So Commanding silence he began to speak in this manner The Oration of Anthony WHilst you debated Gentlemen about the crime committed by our Citizens I gave you nothing of my opinion and when you put it to the question and took votes concerning Caesar I proposed you but one thing of all he had done which extremely perplexed you and not without reason for if we lay down our charges we tacitly confess that we and so many great men are unworthy Let us now consider the other things which it is not easie to express In so great a number of Cities Provinces Kings and Potentates for almost all the people which Caesar has subdued by his valour and his Forces from the East to the West have received his Laws and are obliged to his liberality and favour Can you believe any of them will suffer what they possess to be taken away at any less rate than blowing up the Flames of War in all parts you who think it it convenient to save wicked men because the Common-wealth is weak and impotent I will not speak of people far distant whom fear hath hitherto kept within the bounds of duty Regard not only our Neighbours but those who dwell among us in Italy those old Soldiers who have received from Caesar the reward of those Victories for which they exposed their lives They are still in Bodies and armed and there are many thousands of them in the City what think you they would do if what was given be taken from them Will they wait for other Colonies and other Lands You may conjecture by what you saw last night for as you went through the City to solicite for the guilty you know how they threatened you think you they will stand quietly and see Caesar's Body unworthily draggâ—d and thrown into the common Sewer for the Laws enact that Tyrants should be so treated do you think it would not move them who have fought under him or that they can hope you will let them enjoy the rewards of those Victories they have gained against the
Legions four whereof composed of experienced Soldiers were yet sick after the Famine they had undergone in Modena and six were newly levyed neither trained nor inured to hardship wherefore thinking it imprudence to bring them to action he resolved to retreat to Brutus in Macedon and took his March not by the Cisalpine Gaul but by Ravenna or Aquileia and yet at last because Caesar was to come into those Quarters he attempted a longer and more incommodious March by going over the Rhine to cross a Country inhabited by Barbarians The difficulty of this unknown way at first sight so affrighted his new Forces that they left him and submitted to Caesar and not long after the four old Legions went over to Anthony with all the rest of his Forces except only the French Horse designed for his Life Guard Reduced to this small number he gave license to all that had yet a mind to depart making them some present of Money and with three hundred Horse only came to the Banks of the Rhine but by reason of the difficulty of passing the River they by little and little forsook him except only ten with whom habited after the fashion of the Gauls and speaking their language he began again to travel and without fetching so great a compass took the Road to Aquileia where he thought he might pass unknown because of his slender Train In the way being taken by Thieves and bound he asked them how they called the Lord of that Country and when he understood it was Camillus for whom he had done some services he intreated them to carry him before him When Camillus saw him he received him with much civility before the People sharply reproving those that brought him bound that through ignorance they had affronted so great a Man but in private he gave advice to Anthony who had so much compassion of his fortune that he would not see him However he sent to Camillus for his Head which after having viewed he gave to some of his People to be buried Thus ended Decimus who had been General of the Horse to Caesar Governour of the Transalpine Gaul under him designed by him for Consul the year following and with it provided of the Government of the Cisalpine Gaul He was the second that perished for murdering Caesar. And about the same time Minutius Basilius who was likewise of the Conspiracy was slain by his Slaves for making some of them Eunuchs by way of punishment The End of the Third Book of the Civil Wars of Rome APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars OF ROME PART II. BOOK IV. The Argument of this Book I. THe Author's Design in this Book The Accommodation of Caesar Anthony and Lepidus II. Dismal Presages of future Miseriâ—â— Pedius begins the Proscriptions and Caesar Anthony and Lepidus are named Triumvirs III. A Copy of the Edict of Proscription IV. The general Cruelties committed in the Execution of it V. Many Particularities of such as suffered VI. The Triumph of Lepidus Proscription of the Women and Hortensia's Oration for her Sex VII Particulars of several escaped the Proscription VIII Defeat of Cornificius Lelius and Ventidius in Lybia by Sextus Caesar's Lieutenants IX Cassius besieges and takes Dolobella in Laodicea and does many other things in Syria X. Cassius about to besiege Rhodes Archelaus endeavours to disswade him XI Cassius answers him and besieges and takes Rhodes XII Brutus besieges the Xantiens and takes the City XIII After which Patara yields to him and Murcus who sides with him is besieged by Anthony near Brundusium XIV Sex Pompey coming into Sicily fights at Sea against Salvidienus with equal Advantage XV. Murcus and Domitius AEnobarbus sieze on the Passage of the Ionian Sea and Ciditius and Norbanus Lieutenants to Caesar and Anthony march by Land against Cassius and Brutus XVI Brutus and Cassius having drawn together their Army Cassius makes an Oration to them XVII Brutus and Cassius go and encamp near Philippi XVIII Anthony and Caesar encamp hard by them they engage Brutus gets the better but Cassius is worsted XIX The Death of Cassius Murcus and Aenobarbus defeat Domitius Calvinus XX. Brutus Speech to his Army to oblige them to temporize and Anthony's to encourage his to the Battel XXI Brutus's Army force him to fight XXII The Battel Brutus defeated XXIII The Death of Brutus Praises of Brutus and Cassius and End of this Book HAving in the former Book declared how two of Caesar's Murderers perished in their Governments to wit Trebonius in Asia and Decimus in Gaul in this we shall set forth how Brutus and Cassius the principal Authors of the Conspiracy were punished Men that were Masters of all the Provinces from Syria to Macedon who commanded mighty Armies both by Sea and Land having more than twenty Legions great number of Shipping and abundance of Money And this was done at a time when Proscriptiptions were dreadful at Rome and that as many proscribed Persons as could be found were miserably put to death So that the like had never been seen or known among all the Tumults and Wars of the Grecians nor yet among those of the Romans if you except the time of Sylla who was the first proscribed his Enemies for Marius only slew such as fell into his Hands whereas Sylla not only permitted any that would to slay those he had proscribed but proposed Rewards to the Murderers and decreed Punishments against any durst give succour to a proscribed Person But of all those things we have discoursed in writing what passed in the time of Marius and Sylla let us proceed to our order of History Caesar being reconciled to Anthony it was determined to have a Conference together The place designed for it was near Modena in a little flat Island of the River Labinia whither they came with each five Legions which taking their Stands on each side the River the two Generals accompanied only by three hundred Men each advanced to the Bridges that went over the Streams Lepidus who was before gone into the Island to see that there were no Ambuscade having made them the Signal by shewing his Coat-Armor they left all their Train at the Bridges and advancing on to the highest part of the Island they three sat down Caesar in the middle because of his Quality of Consul After two whole Days Conference they came to this Result That Caesar should for the rest of the Year quit the Consulate to Ventidius That to put a stop to the Civil Wars there should be created a new Office which Anthony Lepidus and Caesar should exercise joyntly for five Years with the same Power as the Consuls for they would not make use of the name of Dictator perhaps because of the Law Anthony had so lately made to abolish the Dictatorship That as soon as they had taken Possession of this new Dignity they should design for five Years the Annual Officers of the City That the Provinces should be parted among them Anthony
of their Wives or Children or Freed Men or Slaves or Debtors or Neighbours that coveted some of their Goods than of the Murderers themselves All private Grudges were now discovered and it was a strange change to see the prime Men of the Senate Consulars Pretors Tribunes or Pretenders to these Dignities cast themselves at the feet of their Slaves with tears in their eyes begging and caressing them calling them their Saviors and Patrons and which is most deplorable not be able with all these submissions to obtain the least favour The most pernicious Seditions and cruellest of Wars never had any thing in them so terrible as the Calamities wherewith the City was now affrighted for in War and Tumult none but Enemies were feared and Domesticks were confided in whereas now Domesticks were more dreadful than Enemies because having no cause to fear for themselves as in War or Tumult from Familiars they became of a suddain Persecutors either out of a dissembled hate or out of hope of Recompence publickly proposed or because of some Silver or Gold hid in the House So that no person found himself secure in his House Servants being ordinarily more sensible of Profit than of the Affection they owe to their Masters and though some might be found faithful and kind yet they durst not assist a Proscript nor conceal him nor so much as stay with him for fear of falling into the same misfortune There was now much more danger than when the seventeen first proscribed were fallen upon for then no person being publickly proscribed when on a suddain they saw some killed one Man defended another for fear lest the same should happen to him But after the Proscription was published those comprized in it were presently forsaken by all the World some that thought themselves secure having their minds bent on Profit sought them to deliver them to the Murderers that they might have the Reward others pillaged the Houses of those that had been killed and with the present gain comforted themselves against the Publick Misery The most Prudent and Moderate surprized at a thing so extraordinary stood like Men astonished considering that other Cities turmoiled with Divisions were re-established by the Concord of their Citizens Whereas the Romans already afflicted with Civil Dissentions compleated their Ruin by this Reconciliation Some were killed defending themselves others who thought themselves not condemned without any defence Some let themselves die with hunger or hanged or drowned themselves or threw themselves headlong from the tops of Houses or cast themselves into the Fire or run to meet their Murderers Others again sought to protract the time and either hid themselves or begged shamefully or fled or offered Money to save their Lives Many likewise were slain contrary to the intention of the Triumvirs either by mistake or out of some particular grudge but the Bodies of the Proscripts might be known from the others because they wanted the Head which was cut off and carried before the Tribunal for Orations where they payed the Reward On the other side wonderful Examples were to be seen of the Affection of Wives Children Brethren and Slaves who found out a thousand inventions to save their Husbands Fathers Brethren or Masters dyed with them when they were discovered or killed themselves upon those Bodies they were not able to defend Of those that escaped the Proscription some pursued by their ill fortune perished by Shipwrack others saved beyond all probability came afterwards to exercise Dignities in the City to have Command of Armies and arrive at the Honour of Triumph Such wonderful things were to be seen in those days which do not happen in an ordinary City or in a small Kingdom but in the Mistress of the world as well by Sea as Land Providence disposing it so to reduce things to that excellent order wherein you now see them Not but that Rome felt the same miseries under Sylla and before him under Marius and we have in writing of them reported many Actions of Cruelty even to the depriving their Enemies of Burial But what passed under the Triumvirs made much more noise because of the height of their Reputation and particularly the Valour and Good Fortune of him who having fixed the Foundations of this Empire has left it to those of his Race and Name even to this present I will therefore relate what was now done most remarkable and most cruel which I can the easier do because the length of time has not yet quite effaced the memory of these Actions Yet I will not write all for a common death or the flight of some private Men who after obtaining Pardon of the Triumvirs returned and spent the rest of their Lives without appearing seems not to me worthy being recorded But I will relate some extraordinary Examples that the Reader may be perswaded of the truth of what I have before said Many Roman Authors have hereof wrote particular Books out of which I have extracted what appeared most credible to compose a Summary which may well make the happiness of our Times be admired The Massacre unhappily began with the Magistracy of whom the first slain was Salvius Tribune of the People though by the Laws the Tribunes were holy and inviolable and so powerful that sometimes they have imprisoned Consuls This Man when they were about to declare Anthony Enemy opposed it but afterwards he took part with Cicero Therefore when he knew the Triumvirs were agreed and marched towards the City he made a Feast for his Domesticks as having now but a short time to live with them The Soldiers entring the place where they were eating all the people affrighted began to rise up but the Centurion commanding them to keep their places took Salvius by the Hair drew him over The Table cut off his Head and forbid the others from stirring for if they made the least noise he would serve them in the same manner At which they were so affrighted that after the Centurion was gone they spent most part of the Night by the Body without speaking a word After Salvius was slain the Pretor Minutius Upon notice brought him as he gave Audience in the place that the Soldiers were coming towards him he rose suddainly to seek out some place to shelter himself in and having changed Cloaths went to hide himself in a Shop but his People and those that carried the Marks of his Dignity whom he commanded to leave him staying there some time out of a fear and affection they had for him were the occasion without designing it that the Murderers did the more easily find him Annalis the other Pretor as he solicited the People for his Son who demanded the Questors Office his Friends and Lictors understanding that he was in the Roll of the Proscripts all of a suddain left him Whereupon he fled and retired into a wretched House that one of his Creatures had in the Subburbs where because the place was utterly contemptible he was for a
or Murcus's Naval Power but that bad weather and other losses with her own sickness had made her return into Egypt where she received news of the Victory Here Anthony wounded in the very soul by the charms of this Queen became as foolishly in love as if he had been a young Man though he were now above forty years of age True it is he is reported to have always had a natural inclination for this passion and that formerly when she was but a child he conceived a love for her having seen her at Alexandria when he served under Gabinius as General of the Horse Anthony therefore all upon a sudden neglecting the care of his Affairs Cleopatra disposed of all things at her pleasure without considering either reason or justice insomuch that Arsinoe her Sister having taken Sanctuary at Miletum in the Temple of Diana Leucophryna Anthony sent some thither who slew her and commanded the Tyrians to deliver up to Cleopatra Serapion Governour of Cyprus who was fled into the Sanctuary at Tyre because he had taken part with Cassius and gave the same order to the Aradians touching another who had fled for refuge into their City because the Brother of Cleopatra overcome by Caesar in a Naval Engagement on the Nile being seen no more this unhappy Man had told the Aradians that he was Ptolemy and at last ordered the Ephesians to bring before him Megabyzes the High Priest of Diana because he had received Arsinoe as a Queen but the Ephesians having besought Cleopatra in his behalf pardoned him Thus in a short time might a strange change be perceived in Anthony's spirit caused by that passion which was the beginning and end of all those miseries afterwards befel him for after Cleopatra's return to Egypt he sent his Horse to Palmyra a City near the Euphrates to sack it his pretence for doing it being very slight for he could accuse the Inhabitants of nothing but that being situated between the Dominion of the Romans and that of the Parthians they strove to accommodate themselves the best they could with one and t'other and indeed it was a City of Trade through which were transported from Persia to Rome all the commodities of India and Arabia but his main design was to enrich his Cavalry The Palmyrians foreseeing it had caused all they had of value to be carried to the other side of the River on the Banks of which they planted good Archers to defend the approach for there are the best Archers of the world so the Cavalry finding not a person in the City returned without drawing their Swords or making any purchase The Parthian War which happened soon after seems from hence to have taken its brith many of the Tyrants of Syria being retired with them for Syriâ— till the time of Antiochus the Pious and his Son of the same name had been governed by Kings of the race of Seleucus Nicator as we have already said writing the Affairs of Syria but this Province being reduced by Pompey's Arms he placed therein Scaurus for Governonr to whom the Senate sent others for Successors among whom was Gabinius who went to make War against the People of Alexandria to Gabinius succeeded Crassus who was slain by the Parthians and after him Bibulus At length after the death of C. Caesar during these troubles which were almost universal there rose up in every City Tyrants supported by the Parthians for after Crassus's misfortune they had spread themselves into Syria and had intelligence with the Tyrants which Anthony now forced to retire to them whom after he had expelled charged the People with Imposts and made this impertinent attempt upon the Palmyrians he took â—o farther care how to appease the troubles wherein he beheld the Province and put his Army in Garrison and went to find out Cleopatra in Egypt where being magnificently received he spent the Winter without any mark of Command both habited and living like a private Man whether because he was in a Country dependant on another and in the Royal City or that he might the more pleasantly pass away the time whilst Winter lasted for he banished all manner of care and dispensed with the Officers put off his usual habit to wear a square Robe after the Greek Fashion with white Attick Hose such as are worn by the Priest's of Athens and of Alexandria which they call Phaecasion and only visited the Temples Schools and Philosophy Assemblies holding conversation with none but the Greeks in service of Cleopatra for whose sake alone he had undertook this Journey Mean while Caesar going to Rome was very much distempered in Body especially at Brundusium where the danger was so great that a report was raised of his being dead but at length by degrees the Distemper diminishing he entred the City where shewing Anthony's orders to those who had charge of his Affairs they presently signified to Calenus that he should deliver to him the two Legions and wrote to Sextus in Africa to surrender up the Province which was performed After which Caesar finding that Lepidus was not guilty of what he had been charged with quitted to him Africa instead of those Provinces that had been taken from him and exposed to sale what were left of the Goods of the Proscribed But when it came to the point of sending Soldiers to Colonies and giving them Lands many difficulties presented themselves The Soldiers pretended they ought to give them the best Cities of all Italy according to the promise made them before the War And the Cities demanded that all Italy should contribute to this charge or that others should draw lots with them and that for the Lands the Generals should pay the purchase but there was no Money in the Treasure There were dayly to be seen coming to Rome young and old Women and Children who assembling in the great place or in the Temples with tears in their eyes cryed out That being Italians without having committed any fault they were driven from their Lands and their Houses as if it had been a conquered Country The Romans had compassion on them and their deplorable condition drew tears from a multitude of People especially when they considered that this War had not been undertaken for the publick good but to satisfie the ambition of the Chiefs who had no other aim than the seising of the Empire Besides they were sensible that they gave not the Soldiers the recompense promised after the Victory nor sent them into Colonies with any other intent but that the Common-wealth should never more get Head again the Usurpers of the Government having so many People obliged by their good turns ready to take up Arms at their first command Caesar made excuse to the Cities from the necessity constraining these things telling them withal he was much afraid the Soldiers would not be so content neither And indeed they were not content for they oppressed their Neighbours and took not only more than the Lands set out to
out from among the Tents However Anthony wrote to Caesar he ought not to break the peace and threatned to clap Menodorus in Irons as his Fugitive Slave for he had been Slave to Pompey the Great whose Goods Anthony bought under the Spear by right of War Yet Caesar sent Men into the Islands of Sardinia and Corsica to take possession of them from Menodorus and caused Forts to be built upon all the Coasts of Italy to hinder Pompey from making any spoil giving orders for building other Ships at Ravenna and sending for a powerful Army that was in Illyria and when Menodorus came to him from one enfranchised made him absolutely free by giving him the Command of the Fleet he brought with him yet but in quality of Lieutenant to Calvisius his Admiral Though things were thus well disposed yet he would make greater preparations before he began the War complaining of Anthony that he had not staid for him however he gave order to Cornisicius to bring what Ships he had in readiness from Ravenna to Tarentum in his passage there arose a furious Tempest in which there yet perished only the Admiral built on purpose for Caesar himself which was made an Omen of what was to happen for most men thought this War renewed by the violation of the Treaty to remove which suspicion Caesar wrote to the Roman People and spoke in person to the Army telling them Pompey had broke the League by infesting the Sea with Pyrates which was evident both by confession of the Pyrates themselves and of Menodorus of which Antonius was not yet ignorant and thefore delivered not up to him the Peloponnesus When all his preparations were in a readiness he embarqued at Tarentum to go and invade Sicily on one side whilst Calvisius Sabinus and Menodorus who set sail from Etruria invested it on the other and the Land Army marched towards Rhegium with wonderful diligence Pompey perceived not that Menodorus had revolted from him to Caesar till he came before Sicily However seeing himself assailed on both sides he resolved to expect Caesar at Messina and opposed against Calvisius and Menodorus a great Fleet under the Command of Menecrates his Freed Man who out of mutual emulation was a mortal Enemy to Menodorus Menecrates comes out to Sea presenting himself about Evening to the Enemy who retired into a Gulf above Cuma where they anchored that night and he steered his course towards the Island of Aenaria As soon as it was day the Enemy coasting about the Bay drawn up in form of a Crescent for fear of being broken Menecrates appeared in sight and made towards them but seeing they would not be drawn off from the Shore-side and that he could not do what he designed with a fierce charge he drove them a ground so with their sterns ashore and their Prows to Seaward they lay upon their defence in such manner that it was easie for the Enemy to come and give them a shock and then tacking about to stand off to Sea and so return again upon them with fresh and fresh Ships they had likewise the Rocks to struggle with on which many stuck so fast that neither moving Head nor Stern it seemed like a kind of Sea-fight against a Land Force one of which could neither flie nor the other pursue Mean while Menodorus and Menecrates having discovered each other leaving the rest of the Fight with mutual shouts and fury begin an assault and in all appearance which of these two got the better would carry the Victory for his Party In the charge they met so fiercely that both Ships were disabled Menodorus lost his Beak-head and Menecrates Oars were broken At length having cast their Graplings on Board they lashed their Ships fast together and began a Fight as if on dry ground and nothing was wanting either of alacrity or dexterity to gain the Victory they made use of all sorts of Arms Arrows Stones Darts and cast Planks from Ship to Ship to board each other but because Menodorus's Ship was the tallest it was much easier for his Men to board the other and the Darts they threw fell with more violence and execution At last many being slain and almost all the rest wounded Menodorus had his Arm pierced through with a Dart which was soon drawn out but Menecrates being struck into the Thigh with a Barbed Iron Javelin made after the Spanish Fashion which could not easily be drawn out he became unable to do more yet still with his voice he encouraged his Men till his Ship being taken he threw himself over-board Menodorus fastening his Prize to his Poop towed it into the Road and was all he could do that day This was done on the Left Wing On the Right Wing which fought against the Enemies Left Calvisius cut off some of Menecrates's Ships from the rest of the Squadron and pursued them out to Sea but Democrates another of Pompey's Freed Men charging the rest of Calvisius's Ships put some of them to flight and drove the rest upon the Rocks where they were beat to pieces and the Men forced to cast themselves into the Sea and those which remained whole he had burnt had not Calvisius returning from the Chase of the Enemy and bringing along with him some of his Ships that had fled saved one of them Night coming on each party retreated to the same places where they rode the Night before and so ended this Sea-Fight wherein Pompey had much the better Yet Demochares was so much concern'd for Menecrates's death which he esteemed a mighty loss for Menedorus and Menecrates were two of Pompey's principal Officers at Sea that he left all and steered his course directly towards Sicily as if he had not only lost Menecrates and one Vessel but the whole Fleet. As for Calvisius as long as he thought Demochares would return to him he kept his station being in no condition to fight for his best Ships were sunk and the rest disabled but when he heard his Enemy was gone for Sicily he refitted his Ships and held on his course keeping the Shore close aboard and not so much as crossing over any Bay On the other side Caesar being come from Tarentum to Rhegium with a great Fleet and a mighty Army met Pompey near Messina who had but forty Ships wherefore his Friends advised him not to let slip this opportunity but to assault these few with his whole Navy now in such good order before more Ships came to Pompey but he would not hearken to their counsel expecting Calvisius and not thinking it prudence to expose himself to danger whilst he expected greater Forces Mean while Demochares coming to Messina Pompey gave him and Apollophanes another of his Freed Men the Command of the Fleet instead of Menecrates and Menedorus and Caesar understanding the loss he had suffered near Cuma set forward through the Strait to go meet Calvisius having got through the better part as he was passing by the place called
Stylida to turn about the Rock of Sylla Pompey coming out of Messina first fell upon his Rear and after came up with the rest of the Fleet to provoke Caesar to give him Battel and though Caesar's Ships were sorely infested yet they stirred not from about the Admiral he having forbid it whether he durst not fight in the Strait or whether he was firm to the resolution of not fighting without Calvisius he only gave them orders to get close under Shore and there coming to an Anchor defend themselves from the Forecastles if any came to assault them But Demochares coming with two Ships to charge each Ship of Caesar's put them all into trouble and disorder so that some were split against the Rocks others falling foul of each other sunk and in short many perished most cowardly for in the same manner as at the Battel at Cuma they stuck fast whilst the Enemies charging and then falling off oppressed them in a strange manner nor was fortune wanting to assist the Enemy Caesar himself in this confusion leaped out upon the Rocks where he received those that saved themselves by swimming and led them himself to the next Mountains But Cornificius and the rest of the Captains encouraging one another without their General 's order cut their Cables and went out to Sea to charge the Enemy judging it better to die fighting than thus to be exposed to Blows without any defence Cornisicius first of all with a dangerous boldness clapped on board the Admiral Ship of Demochares and took her forcing him to leap into another Whilst in this Fight a world of Men perished Calvisius and Menodorus appeared coming with full Sails not towards Caesar's People who were either cast on shore or engaged at Sea but towards Pompey's who being far off from Land as soon as they saw them retreated for tired they durst not engage fresh Men and besides 't was almost night yet the chance was happy for those yet in danger Night coming on many deserted their Ships and fled to the Mountains where they kindled many Fires for Signals to those yet at Sea so they spent the night without meat without sleep and in want of all things yet they comforted themselves with the presence of Caesar who no better supplyed than they went from place to place exhorting them to have patience till Morning They knew not yet Calvisius was so nigh and had no hopes in their own Ships forsaken because of the Wrack but by good fortune the thirteenth Legion which had taken their March over the Mountains and was not far off having heard of the disaster by craggy ways making towards the Fires found their General and those with him hungry and weary The Soldiers took what care they could of their companions and the Officers forthwith brought their General left without any of his Houshold Servants dispersed in the tumult of the Night to a Tent there pitched whence sending all about to give notice he was safe news was brought him that Calvisius was arrived and so unexpectedly refreshed with this second good tydings he took some repose As soon as it was day casting his eyes upon the Sea he saw Ships flaming others burnt and others half burnt others floating upon the Sea in the midst of pieces of Wracks Masts Sails and Yards and many that remained sorely shattered near the Shore wherefore ordering Calvisius's Fleet to come near he took care for necessaries to patch up such Ships as yet might be made serviceable while the Enemy gave them leisure who were retreated either out of fear of Calvisius or because they had rather fight him in open Sea While things were in this condition about Noon rose a Wind from the South which soon began to make the Waves roar in a Sea naturally moved with little wind Pompey was now safe in the Harbour of Messina but Caesar's Ships on a Lee shore craggy Rocks and without any Port were either dashed against the Rocks or against one another besides wanting many necessary Tacklings they were not easie to govern Menodorus therefore fearing lest the wind should yet every hour grow fresher got out at first into the open Sea and came to an Anchor because in deep water the Waves broke less and not so violently and with the force of Oars he eased his Cables lest his Anchors should give way some others imitated him but the greater part imagining the Storm would soon be over as is usual in the Spring moor'd their Ships with an Anchor to Sea and another to the Shore and with Booms kept them off from falling foul of each other but the wind raging more and more all fell into confusion and disorder for their Cables breaking they either fell foul or run ashore one after another several cries and lamentations and howlings were mixed with Commands and Exhortations which were only uttered to deaf people there was now no difference between the Pilot and the Sailer neither for industry skill nor obedience They perished all alike whether they stayed in their Ships or leaped over-board they were killed by the pieces of Timber which the Waves beat against the Ships for all the Sea was floating with the Wrack of the Ships and with Bodies some dead and some living of which if any swum to Shore they were miserably beat in pieces among the Rocks but when the Sea began to swell with a contrary wind as it ordinarily happens in this Strait new terrours seised these people who were not accustomed to it and their Ships tossed now this way and then the other fell foul do all they could besides towards the Evening the wind doubled its violence to double their grief by making them perish in the dark so that all Night long the air was filled with dreadful Shouts and Crys Those upon the Shore ran up and down calling their Friends they thought engaged in the Shipwrack by name and when they answered them not believed them lost and wept others lifting their Heads above the Waves called to their Friends on Shore to help them but there was no manner of way to assist them for as it was dangerous for those staid in the Ship or leaped into the Sea so it was no less upon the Shore side because of the Waves driven up by the Winds which all that came near were fearful to be carried away with Thus by an extraordinary effect of the Tempest those who were near Land feared the Land and yet durst no◠go farther off to Sea than to secure themselves from beating in peices against the Rocks for the place narrow by nature the difficulty of the passage the tumbling of the Waves the Whirlwinds caused by the circumjacent Hills and the swallowing Whirlpool by the fierceness of the Current suffered them not to stay in one place nor yet to retire back besides the horrour of an extreme dark night added still to their affliction Thus they perished without seeing 〈◊〉 another some crying out others silently expecting