young Macedonian Nobility I have committed to his trust my Safety Hopes and Victories I have advanc'd his Father to the same degreee you advanc'd me I have given him the Government of Media the Richest of our Provinces with an absolute command over thousands of our Citizens and Allies In fine those from whom I expected most defence have bin the forwardest to ruin me Far better is it to fall at the Head of an Army by valiant Enemies than to be butcher'd in a Camp by treacherous Subjects Preserv'd from Perils I had reason to be afraid of I am now fallen into those I never fear'd Souldiers you have oftentimes desir'd me to have a care of my Life have a care of it now your selves I put my self into your hands I have recourse to your Arms I will not live except you desire it which if you do shew it in avenging me Then Philotas was introduc'd in Chains his Head cover'd with an old Cloth 'T was observ'd he was in that condition look'd on with pity by even those who not long before had envied him They had seen him the day before General of the Cavalry they knew he Supp'd the same Evening with the King and now they saw him at the same time Guilty Condemn'd and loaded with Chains They consider'd likewise the strange Fortune of Parmenio that great Captain who lately had lost two of his Sons Hector and Nicanor and would then shortly hear the sad News of his only remaining Son's Condemnation and of his own Process being made in his absence These Reflections made the Assembly incline to pity But Amyntas exasperated them afresh against Philotas telling them That they were betray'd to the Barbarians that they were in danger of never seeing their own Country their Relations their Wives that they were like to be a Body without a Head without Life without a Name expos'd in a strange Country to the derision of their Enemies This Speech though it prevailed against Philotas was not very pleasing to the King who lik'd not that his Souldiers should be discourag'd by the remembrance of their Country and their Wives Caenus brother-in-Brother-in-Law to Philotas inveighed against him more violently then any He call'd him Traitor to his King to his Country to the Army and took up a great Stone to throw at his Head some have thought this was only to free him from those Torments that were prepared for him but the King holding his hand told him That the Prisoner should have liberty to speak for himself and that he would not otherwise suffer him to be condemn'd Philotas therefore is order'd to plead his own Cause But whether it were remorse of Conscience or fear of Death he dar'd not so much as look up or open his Mouth He shed Tears in abundance and fainted away in the Arms of him that held him They wip'd his Eyes brought him to himself and he was going to speak which the King perceiving The Macedonians said he shall be thy Judges tell me whether thou intendest to use the Language of thy own Country There are here answered Philotas many that are not Macedonians who will understand me better if I use the same Language you have done without doubt on purpose to be understood of most Observe says Alexander Philotas his arrogance he disdains to speak our Language as if he were asham'd of being born a Macedonian No matter let him speak how he will only remember Souldiers that our Customs and Manners are an abomination to him those of the Barbarians very agreeable Men are equally inclin'd to oppress the Great and to pity the miserable A strange thing if you are happy you are persecuted by envy if you are unhappy you are pitied by every one but none comforts you Caenus who had greater Interest than any to preserve the Honour and Life of Philotas whose Sister he had married is the first that rises up against him 't is not enough to call him Traitor to his King to his Country to the Army he is the first that takes up a Stone to throw at his Head Many have believ'd that it was then his intention to have him ston'd that so he might escape more cruel Tortures But the more expert who have try'd the Treachery and Inhumanity of the greatest part of Relations doubted not but that Caenus would have stifled the Compassion Philotas his Misfortune had bred in the Hearts of the Souldiers which taking force through the Grandeur of his Merit and the power of his Oration might at last cause him to be declar'd Innocent Caenus was one of the Council when Philotas his Death was resolv'd upon and spake not one word to justify him neither acquainted he him of this Consult for fear it may be he should suspect him or others look on him as a Traitor to his King thus far he is worthier of Praise than Censure He should have detested the Crime but not condemn'd the Criminal he should have executed Alexander's Orders but not inflam'd his Choler and Revenge As foâ— me I am ready to think that thâ— ambition of augmenting his Fortune from the ruins of Philotus's the Inheritance of the immense Riches of his Brother-in-Law a Grandeur o'retopping his induc'd him to press his Execution Thus does Interest triumph in base Spirits over Duty and Friendship thus is private hatred cover'd with the Vail of Justice thus are the Sacred Laws of Equity made Instruments of Wrath and Vengeance Certainly Alexander merits eternal Praise for with-holding Caenus his Hand Though he ardently desir'd Philotas his Death he defers it till the Army that might have declar'd him innocent has had perfect intelligence of his Crime He rather chuses to rescue Philotas from being tortur'd and to deliver him over to be judged by the Macedonians than to oppress him by his own Authority Alexander having ended his Accusation withdrew from the Assembly A Prince should never be present at the condemnation of a Criminal nor at any thing else that may make him be esteemed cruel and insensible So that leaving to the Judges the liberty of Condemning or Absolving he will acquire himself in the Hearts of the People the reputation of being Just He will avoid likewise shewing favour to the Criminal which 't is dangerous to refuse being requested by an Assembly touched with Compassion Tho severity in a Prince when it proceeds not to cruelty as in my Opinion more proper than Clemency to attract the Fear and Love of his Subjects it concerns nevertheless the Policy of a great Monarch seldom to refuse these sorts of Favours which are a great proof of his Power and Bounty But it concerns his Prudence too to avoid the persecution of the Criminal's Friends or Relations by a prompt execution of the Sentence passed by the Judges Philotas having liberty to speak said thus As naked Truth without disguise has much more force than an Eloquent and Elaborate Discourse so Innocence ought not to seek out words for its Defence I
is oppos'd to the Admiral the Affection of the People to the Souldier's Rebellion but if a Minister be General of an Army Superintendent of the Treasury Admiral or if these Charges are at his disposal what is there that he cannot do if faithful he is formidable if unfaithful he is King Parmenio and Philotas were Masters of the Empire one General of the Cavalry the other of a whole Army the former Governor of several Provinces Superintendent of the Treasury having in all Battels the command of one Wing the latter awing the great Ones a Favorite and Arbiter of his Prince's Life The immense Riches of Philotas the great number of Creatures of all sorts and conditions inseparably linked to his Fortune his Authority in the Armies almost equalling the King's might well induce him young as he was cruel full of delicacy and pride to conspire the death of Alexander the only Let to him in his way to the highest pitch of Grandeur Add to these the Love of a Woman the true cause of his destruction Antigone of a noble Birth an excellent Beauty a sweet Nature a lively pleasant charming Spirit was one of those illustrious Prisoners that the Governor of Damascus delivered to Permenio with all the Treasures Darius had committed to his disloyal custody This fair Slave made her self Mistress of Philotas his Liberty he forgot that he had all power over her and shamefully submitted himself to her Laws That pride that contempt that made him but a little before despise Darius his Nobles the chiefest of the Macedonians and equal himself to his King chang'd it self immediately into submissions to his own Captive he became fearful as are the greatest part of Lovers and thought himself unworthy of her because he was not Alexander The violence of his Passion rouzes in his Heart a vehement desire of making himself King impatient of enjoying Antigone he despairs of possessing her unless he share the Empire with her At the Wars egg'd on with great Love and Courage he exposes himself to dangers more than ordinary he is liberal to prodigality gentle affable gains the Hearts of his Souldiers cloaths himself like them accommodates himself to their Manners protects them is belov'd and reigns already over the whole Army But so many good Qualities were produc'd by Love which being blind can never guide Lovers in their Conduct and in his Reason and Prudence had no share At Table in his Bed in the midst of good Cheer and Imbracements he begins to celebrate his Actions Alexander could not recompence them with a Kingdom large enough for his Ambition Philotas looks on him no longer as his Benefactor accuses him of Injustice speaks insolently of him debases this great Monarch ascribes all his Conquests to Parmenio le ts scape some injurious Language the most clear-sighted penetrate into his Designs and suspect his Loyalty Perhaps he might think that he discharg'd his Heart into the Bosom of a Woman amorous and discreet A strange thing that so many Examples of Infidelity cannot make Lovers suspicious of the usual Inconstancy of their Mistresses Fickle Antigone ceases to love Philotas and betrays him She must destroy him to preserve her new Lover She thinks it her securest way to acquaint Alexander with the imminent danger threatning him Craterus whom the King honour'd particularly with his Favour jealous of Philotas his Glory and an Enemy to his Grandeur seeks occasion to ruin him which Antigone proffers him and tells him all that miserable Wretch had discover'd to her of his Mind during the most tender moments of their privacy As it is impossible that the Dust cast into the Wind should not be scatter'd so it is very difficult for a Secret intrusted with a Woman young handsom and amorous not to be divulg'd She longs to know that that 's kept from her and when she knows it desires as much to publish it She is ardent in her Pursuit treacherous after Enjoyment cruel in her new Love No kindness can retain her the remembrance of a Man she has lov'd tenderly and amorously embrac'd affects her not like the Earth that darkens the Sun from whence it receives its warmth But if there be any thing firm in the tenderness of her Sentiments happy is the Man that has her she is an inexhaustible Sourse of Pleasures Craterus glad to destroy his Enemy by preserving the Life of his King runs to Alexander and gives him an account of what he had heard Antigone is call'd and is not asham'd to publish her own Infamy and the secret of a Man that so intirely lov'd her The King nevertheless dissembles whether it were that the consideration of Parmenio's great Services his unbyass'd Friendship his incorrupted Loyalty inclin'd him to Clemency or whether it were that he thought Philotas innocent or feared too lightly to condemn upon the bare testimony of a slave the fidelity of an ancient Servant most passionate for his Glory one of his chief Captains and Confidents adored by the Souldiers for his Liberality and Magnificence But Fortune that took a particular care of Alexander and prepar'd for him new Conquests discover'd the whole Intreigue of a most horrid Plot. Dymnus one in no great Authority at Court but of a stout Heart and great Spirit was one of those that had conspir'd the King's Death he was so in love with a young Youth call'd Nicomachus that he could not but intrust him with a Secret upon which depended his own safety and that of so many Persons of Quality who were concern'd in the Enterprize He declares it to him and endeavours to perswade him to make one as well from the consideration of their Friendship as from that of his future Grandeur after the Attempt He Weeps Caresses Threatens Urges and sometimes promising him a Kingdom sometimes setting the Image of Death before his Eyes if he refuse to hold with them Would'st thou have says he my dear Nichomachus a greater Testimony of my Affection I trust my Life to thy Faith and I call thee to be a sharer in the Empire of all Asia This young Youth bearing a great love towards his King was seized with horror at a Crime so full of cruelty he protests he 'l never be wanting to his Duty to the Loyalty he owes his Master that all he can do for his Friend is not to ruin him if he 'l repent of so great a wickedness Dymnus stood wavering between Love and Fear at length setting his Sword at his Friend's Brest calling him sometimes Coward sometimes Traitor he was going to begin with him the execution of his Design but that the young Man in a fright promis'd more than he was ask'd He feigned therefore a resolution to execute the Enterprize and desired to know the number and quality of the Conspirators Dymnus full of joy that he had gain'd him names Peucolaus Nicanor Aphaebetus Loceus Demetrius Dioxenus Archepolis and Amyntas 'T is certain he made no mention of Philotas who I am
from all others to participate in a Glory that shall never die Provide for your security rescue the Liberty of your Country shake off a Yoke full of Infamy and Pain Revenge the Gods revenge your selves join with me and put an end to our Calamities This invective of Hermolaus made such an Impression upon the Spirits of those young Nobles that they presently resolv'd to take away Alexander's Life Sostratus one of them who lov'd Hermolaus intirely could not behold the Marks of his Stripes but with extream grief and exagerating the King's Cruelty his Friends Merit the Macedonians Disgrace the injury done the Gods the necessity of revenging that Affront he so inflam'd those young Spirits already dispos'd for revenge that they promised interchangeably to be faithful one to another and became unfaithful to Alexander So powerful is Religion that it has an absolute dominion over the Spirits The Fealty Subjects usually swear to their Soveraign is for the most part inviolable the People are seized with a Religious Horror when any one breaks his Faith But we must not mistake there are two sorts of Religions the one draws its Original from Heaven and being wholly Divine has a secret force to make us do good the other is founded on humane fear and frailty almost all our inward Motions have no other Rule but this imperfect Religion our obedience to the Laws and Magistrates proceeds from the fear we have of Magistrates and of the Laws When this Fear ceases in the Heart of Man Religion ceases too You see Hermolaus and Sostratus perswade their Companions that the Gods approve of their Revenge and conspire together with them and upon that account they banish from their Hearts that fear which the Power of the Laws had till then maintained in them they are no longer restrain'd by that Religion that is wholly Celestial the Gods in their Opinion are offended at the Affront given them they think to revenge them in revenging themselves Confederates with Hermolaus and Sostratus were Nicostratus Antipater Asclepiodorus Philotas Articles Elaptonius and Epimenes At the very first they met with an Obstacle in their way They foresaw because they could not be all on the Guard at once that it would be difficult for them to execute their Design But at last by changing the order of the Guards they brought it about that they were one Night altogether alone in the Palace 'T is a wonder that in two and thirty days the time they imploy'd in taking their Measures not one of them should reveal a Secret intrusted to so many Souls truly generous which act only out of a desire of Glory are most capable of silence 'T was only their Animosity against the King and the Honour they thought would redound to them from that Action that induc'd them to their Revenge Ambition and Interest had no share in it for then likewise when Riches or some alteration in Affairs are expected the fear of losing what is already possess'd injoyns secresy Those act with great courage their desires increase with the danger and every moment seems to them an Age. These act nothing without Fear at the point of Execution they tremble and the dread of Punishment makes them think of their own and their Prince's preservation The Night came in which the Conspirators intended by treachery to spoil Alexander of his Life they stood waiting at the Door whilst the King was at Supper for his coming out to go to Bed On the one hand they were glad to see him sit at Table longer than ordinary imagining that it would be easier for them to dispatch him charg'd with Wine and Sleep On the other they feared that the pleasure of the Repast might retain him till it were day and that other Guards taking their places they might be forced to defer the execution of their Design eight days longer which put them into strange disquiets In fine Alexander retires and the Conspirators think themselves certain of their Enterprize Let a prudent and wise Man order things with the exactest diligence and greatest caution neither his caution nor his diligence shall be able to change the course of Fortune Fortune in my opinion is no vain imaginary thing 't is an assembling of certain Circumstances which neither our Wisdom can unite or separate and 't is great rashness to presume to change the order of Fate Just as Alexander was going to Bed a Woman accounted Foolish who used to foretel things to come came and told him that he was threatned with some danger and that he should return and spend the rest of the Night at Table Whether it were that the King was troubled at this Discourse or that his own Inclination perswaded him to debauch he said 't was good to follow the Counsel of the Gods and caus'd his Company to be called back I know not why the Law forbids to give credit to those that pretend to foretel things to come A number of Events foreseen several Ages before they happen'd may perswade us that this Science is not altogether vain Yet notwithstanding we must be subject to the Law as it is the emanation of the Wisdom of God and not believe Histories which are oftentimes no other than meer humane Fictions As soon as it was day the Guards according to custom were reliev'd which notwithstanding the Conspirators whom a vehement desire of revenge push'd on to the execution of their Design would continue still The King perswaded that they were willing to give him a proof of their Obedience and Affection praised their Zeal and sending them to take their Rest ordered fifty thousand Sesterces a Man to be given them What cannot a generous Action work upon the Spirit of Man What cannot the Favours of a King effect with a Soul never so passionate An insatiable desire of Avarice causes daily a thousand base Actions a thousand Treacheries how much greater is the force of Liberality that excites acknowledgment from the most ingrate that reclaims the cruelty of Tyrants that appeases the Anger of the Gods If Riches in the corruption of the Age we live in serve to cover the infamy of the wicked will not Vertue think you accompanied with the Goods of Fortune appear with greater luster What wonder then if it be of greater force to attract the Hearts of Men Without doubt Vice would not reign on Earth if Vertue were but recompenced Here Princes should bestow their Favours this is the true means to secure themselves the Fidelity of their Subjects The desire of Man having no other Object than Honour and Riches there 's no one but had rather merit them by faithful Services then acquire them treacherously Who is he that would prefer Ignominy before Glory punishment before a Reward that that is uncertain and to come before the enjoyment of a certain and present good Two things render a Prince odious and incline his Subjects to revolt When he rewards the Services of the Upright with Ingratitude and vents
against me in your presence He is an Olynthian and therefore I had him not brought in because the Macedonians only have the Priviledg to be try'd by the Army As for the Criminals Relations they shall live and enjoy their Charges though I should not have let these Parricides know this that if they had any sentiment of Affection for them they might die with more regret Alexander is worthy of praise for pardoning the Criminals Relations It concern'd his Prudence as well as his Bounty so to do And I am ready to think that this Law of the Macedonians inveloping the Innocent with the Guilty was only made to give terror without any design of putting it in execution For what likelihood was there of massacring a number of brave Men highly necessary to the State for their Valour and Experience I suppose too in a great Army it would have bin more dangerous than easy to have condemn'd them Laws are to be applied as Medicines which not rightly used work a contrary effect and bring Death instead of curing After the King had dismissed the Assembly the Conspirators were deliver'd over to their Companions who to testify their fidelity and the horror they had for the Treachery of Parricides executed them in a cruel manner We can learn nothing certain from History concerning the Death of Calisthenes Some write that he died upon the Rack others that he endur'd the Rack and was afterwards Crucified all agree that either he liv'd a most miserable Life or dy'd a most cruel Death Certain 't is that he was no ways Confederate in the Conspiracy but he was of a morose humour inflexible and very unproper for the Court He would treat with the King upon equal terms and speak at Court as in the Schools whence Aristotle said of him That he had all the Austerity of a Philosopher all the Eloquence of an Orator but very little Conduct and Judgment Whatsoever may be said the memory of Alexander will be odious to all Ages for causing to be executed a Man of an incorruptible probity excellent in Wisdom and Knowledg the fairest Ornament of Greece THE CONSPIRACY OF ANTIPATER NOw are we arrived to the triumph of Perfidy hitherto have bin but vain endeavours Fortune was vigilant in Alexander's preservation but at last she delivers him over to a Traitor who by Poison hurries him out of the World that had made himself Master of it Antipater is the Man the more blame-worthy as Alexander had intrusted him with the Kingdom of Macedonia This Prince when he went for Asia left behind him his Mother Olympias a Woman haughty ambitious cruel and if we may believe History Adulterous and skill'd in Magick He left her all the Authority and State of a great Princess and commanded Antipater to observe all her Motions but to do nothing that might shew distrust The jealousy of supream Authority presently divided these ambitious Spirits and the affection of the People Antipater was the Image of their Prince Olympias his Mother the Laws of the Kingdom defended Him Nature protected Her Had Alexander foreseen these Discords he had done like a great Prince to leave in Macedonia these two Spirits jealous one of another This was the only means in his absence to preserve himself the Kingdom of his Ancestors To leave his Mother in absolute Authority was dangerous the Macedonians doubtless would never have yielded Obedience to a Woman the Grecian Provinces would have revolted and all the Neighbour Princes jealous of Alexander's Grandeur would have taken up Arms and have made use of his absence On the other hand it was to be fear'd that if Antipater were established sole Governor of so powerful a Kingdom Olympias as the Prince's Mother might make a Party sufficient to effect the ruin of the State But the choice Alexander made of these two Persons was not the effect of his Providence For Antipater having written a Letter to him full of Invectives against Olympias he laugh'd at the reading of it and said to those then present That one Tear from his Mother was able to efface all the evil Impressions that could be given of her Conduct that Antipater was a very bad Politician to oppose the Queen's Desires and that all Greece could not make him suspect her And Antipater having added That Cleopater Alexander's Sister prostituted her self shamefully and led a very dissolute Life he answered That she might make use of her Royal Priviledg On the other hand Olympias accused Antipater of Tyranny Her Policy was to set Alexander against him and to perswade him that she had an intire motherly Affection for him a true Zeal and Passion for his Service Alexander desiring to please his Mother and suspecting upon the Advice she had given him Antipater's Fidelity takes from him the Government of Macedonia and confers it on Craterus Alexander having therefore taken from Antipater the Government of Macedonia should either have secur'd a Man of so great Credit or have recompenced his Services He on the contrary instead of sending him away calls him into the Army and prefers his Sons Jollas and Philip to Charges not to be intrusted but with those on whom a Prince has showred Favours In the mean while he continues disaffected towards their Father irritating his Courage already not well brooking the Affront given him Alexander glorying in his Conquests meditated vast Designs the extent of so great an Empire not satisfying his Ambition he aspir'd to the Monarchy of the Universe In the mean while Antipater receiving the news of his Disgrace presently conspires the Death of his King And remembring the unfortunate Success of the Conspiracies both of Philotas and Hermolaus he avoided the Precipice into which they fell He took other measures and thought Poison an infallible means to dispatch Alexander Some write that Aristotle gave him this Advice But as for me I cannot imagine that Philosopher capable of so great a Villany against his Pupil and his King who had loaded him with Favours The Example of Seneca who according to all appearance conspir'd the Death of Nero proves nothing against Aristotle he only made profession of Wisdom the other aspir'd to an Empire Alexander's Death being resolv'd upon Antipater sent his Son Cassander to the Army intending speedily to follow him and charg'd him to acquaint the King how false and malicious Olympias her Accusations were Coming to the Army near Babylon and seeing the Persians prostrate themselves at the King's feet he began openly to scoff at them and could not forbear laughing which so offended the King that he took him by the Hair of his Head drag'd him on the Ground and trampl'd on him Some days after Cassander having undertaken his Father's Defence against those that were come to accuse him the King commanded him to hold his peace saying 'T was very unlikely Men should come so far to tell him Lies Cassander would continue but Alexander told him in choler That he would make him repent of