this punishment for disobeying the Laws Moreover they were depriv'd of that respect and observance which the younger sort were oblig'd to pay to their elders and therefore no man found fault with what was said to Dercyllidas a great Captain and one who had commanded Armies who as he came into the place of Assembly a young man instead of rising and making room for him told him Sir you must not expect that honour from me being young which cannot be return'd to me by a Child of yours when I am old When they had a mind to marry their Courtship was a sort of Rape upon the persons whom they had a fancy for and those they chose not tender and half Children but in the flower of their age and full ripe for a Husband After this She who manag'd the Wedding comes and shaves close the Hair of the Bride dresses her up compleatly in Man's Clothes leaves her upon a Mattress this done in comes the Bridegroom in his every day Clothes sober and compos'd as having supp'd at his Ordinary and steals in as privately as he can into the Room where the Bride lay unties her Virgin Zone and takes her into his embraces and so having stay'd some time together he returns as secretly as he can to his Apartment with the rest of his Camerades with whom he spends all the day and good part of the night too unless he steals a short visit to his Bride and that he did with a great deal of circumspection and fear of being discover'd nor was she wanting as may be suppos'd on her part to use her Womans wit in watching the most favourable opportunities for their meeting and making appointments when company was most out of the way In this manner they liv'd a long time insomuch that they frequently had Children by their Wives before ever they saw their faces by day-light Their interview being thus difficult and rare serv'd not onely for continual exercise of their Temperance and further'd very much the ends and intention of Marriage but besides these short Absences kept their passion still alive which flaggs and decays and dyes at last by too easie Access and long continuance with the beloved object they always parted with regret contriving when they should come together again and thought minutes hours till the next meeting having thus set Modesty as a Sentinel over the Marriage-bed he next bethought himself of a prevention of that wild and womanish passion Jealousie And this he thought the best expedient to allow men the freedom of imparting the use of their Wives to those whom they should think fit that so they might have Children by them and this he would needs make a very commendable piece of Liberality and laugh'd at those who think the violation of their Bed such an insupportable affront that they revenge it by Murthers often and sometimes by cruel Wars Lycurgus thought a man not to be blam'd who being step'd in years and having a young Wife should recommend some vertuous handsome young man that she might have a Child by him who might inherit the good qualities of such a Father and this Child the good Man loves as tenderly as if he was of his own begetting on the other side an honest man who had love for a married woman upon the account of her modesty and the wellfavourdness of her Children might without formality beg of her Husband a nights lodging that he might have a slip of so goodly a Tree which he might transplant into his own Garden And indeed Lycurgus was of a persuasion that Children were not so much the propriety of their Parents as of the whole Commonwealth and therefore he would not have 'em begot by the first Comers but by the best Men that could be found the Laws of other Nations seem'd to him very defective and incongruous who were very solicitous for the breed of their Dogs and Horses and sent a great way and were at no small charges to get the best Stallions and yet kept their Wives under Lock and Key for fear of other men whereas themselves were craz'd old or infirm and more fit to propagate Diseases than their Species if they had made the least reflexion in the world they would have taken notice that the honour and dishonour of Children who generally derive their good or ill qualities from those that beget 'em doth chiefly redound to those who have the charge of their Education and if they prove ill they first feel the smart of it Such reasons may be alledg'd in favour of this Paradox of Lycurgus but this is certain that so long as these Ordinances were observ'd the Women there were so far from that scandalous Liberty which hath since been objected to them that they knew not what the name of Adultery meant A proof of this we have in Geradas a very ancient Spartan who being ask'd by a stranger what punishment their Law had appointed for Adulterers he answer'd there are no Adulterers in our Country but replyed the stranger suppose there were one and the crime prov'd against him how would you punish him he answer'd that the Offender must pay to the Plaintiff a Bull with a Neck so long as that he might drink of the River that ran at the foot of Taygetus over the top of the Mountain the man being surpris'd at this said why 't is impossible to find such a Bull Geradas smilingly reply'd 't was just as possible to find an Adulterer in Sparta And so much I had to say of their Marriages Nor was it in the power of the Father to dispose of the Child as he thought fit but was oblig'd to carry it before the Tryers who were some of the gravest men of the Tribe to which the Child belong'd their business it was carefully to view the Infant and if they found it lusty and well-favour'd they gave order for its education and allotted to it one of the nine thousand shares of Land above-mentioned for its maintenance but if they found it deform'd and of an ill complexion they ordered it to be cast into a deep cavern in the earth near the Mountain Taygetus as thinking it neither for the good of the Child it self nor for the publick interest that it should be brought up since nature had denied it the means of happiness in its own particular by not giving it health nor strength sufficient to make it serviceable to the publick upon the same account the Women did not bathe the new-born Children with Water as is the custom in all other Countries but with Wine to prove the temper and complexion of their Bodies for a conceit they had that weakly Children fall into fits of the Convulsion or immediately faint upon their being thus bath'd on the contrary those who were of a strong and vigorous habit would acquire a greater degree of firmness by it and get a temper in proportion like Steel in the quenching Their Nurses too were so
yet at bottom was very deceitful and dangerous upon which the Sabines being unwarily about to enter had good luck befel them for Curtius a gallant Man eager of Honour and of aspiring thoughts being mounted on Horse-back gallop'd a good distance before the rest but his Horse was mired and he endeavour'd a while by Whip and Spur to disintangle him but finding it impossible he quitted his Horse and saved himself the Place from him to this very time is call'd the Curtian Lake The Sabines having escaped this danger began the Fight very smartly the fortune of the day being very dubious tho' many were slain amongst whom was Hostilius who they say was Husband to Hersilia and Grandfather to that Hostilius who reign'd after Numa It is probable there were many other Battels in a short time after but the most memorable was the last in which Romulus having receiv'd a Wound on his Head by a Stone and being almost fell'd to the ground by it and disabled to sustain the Enemy the Romans upon that yielded ground and being driven out of the Field fled to the Palatium Romulus by this time recovering his Wound a little running upon his Men in flight remanded them to their Arms again and with a loud voice encouraged them to stand and fight But being overpowr'd with the number and no body daring to face about he stretching out his hands to Heaven pray'd to Jupiter to stop the Army and not to neglect but rather maintain the Roman Cause which was now in extream danger This Prayer both wrought a great Reverence in many for their Prince and a strange resolution too on the sudden in their minds The Place they first stood at was where now is the Temple of Jupiter Stator which may be interpreted the Stayer there they rallied their Forces and repuls'd the Sabines even to the Place call'd now Rhegia and the Temple of Vesta where both Parties preparing to renew the Fight were prevented by a strange and unexpressible sight for the Daughters of the Sabines which were formerly stoln came running in great confusion some on this side some on that with miserable cryes and lamentations like distracted Creatures into the midst of the Army and among the dead Bodies to come at their Husbands and at their Fathers some with their young Babes in their Arms others their Hair loose about their Ears but all calling now upon the Sabines then upon the Romans in the most tender and endearing words Hereupon both melted into compassion and fell back that they might stand betwixt the Armies Now did a strange lamentation seize all and great grief was conceiv'd at the sight of the Women and at their Speech much more which from Expostulations and high words ended in Entreaties and Supplications Wherein say they have we injured or offended you that we formerly have and now do suffer under these Calamities We were ravish'd away unjustly and violently by those whose now we are that being done we were so long neglected by our Fathers our Brethren and Countreymen that time having now by the strictest bonds united us to those whom we once mortally hated has brought it about that the very Men who once used violence to us we now have a tenderness for in War and lament their deaths So that you do not now come to vindicate our Honour as Virgins from them that injured us but to force away Wives from their Husbands and Mothers from their Children making this your rescue more grievous to us Wretches than your former betraying and neglect of us was so great is their Love towards us and such your Compassion if you make War upon any other occasion for our sakes you ought to desist who are our Fathers our Grandfathers our Relations and Kindred if for us take us and your Sons-in-law and restore us to our Parents and Kinsfolk but do not rob us we humbly beseech you of our Children and Husbands lest we again become Captives Hersilia having spoken many such words as these and others earnestly praying a Truce was made and the chief Officers came to a Treaty the Women during that time brought and presented their Husbands and Children to their Fathers and Brethren gave those that would eat Meat and Drink and carried the wounded home to be cured and shewed also how much they govern'd within doors and how indulgent their Husbands were to 'em in demeaning themselves towards 'em with all kindness and respect imaginable Upon this Conditions were agreed upon that what Women pleas'd might stay where they were exempt from all drudgery and labour but Spinning that the Romans and Sabines should inhabit the City promiscuously together that the City should be call'd Rome from Romulus but the Romans Quirites from the Countrey of Tatius and that they both should govern and command in common The Place of this Ratification is still call'd Comitium from Coire to agree The City being thus doubled in number an 100 of the Sabines were elected Senators and the Legions were increas'd to 6000 Foot and 600 Horse then they divided the People into three Tribes the first from Romulus were named Rhamnenses the second from Tatius Tatienses the third were call'd Luceres from the Lucus or Grove where the Asylum stood whither many fled for Sanctuary and were received into the City and that they were just three the very Name of Tribe and Tribune does testifie each Tribe contained then ten Curiae or Wards which some say took their Names from the Sabine Women but that seems to be false because many had their Names from different Regions Tho' 't is true they then constituted many things in honour to the Women As to give them the way where-ever they met them to speak no ill word in their presence not to appear naked before them that they should not be summon'd into Court before a Judge sitting on Cases of Blood that their Children should wear an Ornament about their Necks call'd the Bulla because it was like a Bubble and the Praetexta a Garment edged with purple The Princes did not immediately joyn in Council together but at first each met with his own Hundred afterwards all assembled together Tatius dwelt where now the Temple of Moneta stands and Romulus close by the Steps as they call them of the fair Shore near the descent from the Mount Palatine to the Circus Maximus There they say grew the Holy Cornel-tree of which they report that Romulus once to try his strength threw a Dart from the Aventine Mount the Staff of which was made of Cornel which struck so deep into the ground that no one of many that tryed could pluck it up Now the Soyl being fertil nourish'd the Wood and sent forth Branches and produced a Trunk of considerable bigness this did Posterity preserve and worship as one of the most sacred things and therefore wall'd it about and if to any one it appear'd not green nor flourishing but inclining to fade and wither he
is call'd the Flight of the Rabble or the Nones of the Goats because they go then out of the City and sacrifice at the Goats-Marsh and as they go they call out loudly upon the Names of some of their Compatriots as Marcellus and Caius imitating how they then fled and call'd upon one another in that Fright and Hurry Some say this was not in imitation of a Flight but of a quick and hasty Onset giving this account of it After the Gauls who had taken Rome were driven out by Camillus and the City had not as yet recover'd her strength many of the Latines under the Command of Livius Posthumius took this time to march against her The Army sitting down before Rome an Herald was sent signifying that the Latines were desirous to renew their former Alliance and Affinity that was now almost decayed by contracting new Marriages between both Nations if therefore they would send forth a good number of their Virgins and Widows they should settle into a Peace and Friendship as they formerly did with the Sabines upon the like Conditions The Romans hearing this they both dreaded a War yet thought a Surrender of their Women little better than a meer Captivity Being in this doubt a Servant-maid call'd Philotis or as some say Teutola advis'd them to do neither but rather by a Stratagem both to avoid Fighting and the giving up of such Pledges The Stratagem was this that they should send her self with a company of handsom Wenches well dress'd to the Enemy instead of Free-born Virgins and she would in the night light up a Torch at which the Romans should come arm'd and surprize them asleep The Latines were thus deceiv'd and accordingly Philotis set up a Torch in a wild Fig-tree skreening it behind with Curtains and Coverlets from the sight of the Enemy But it was plain to the Romans when they saw it they ran furiously together out of the Gates hastening one another what they could so falling in unexpectedly upon the Enemy they defeated them Upon that they made a Feast of Triumph call'd the Nones of the Goats because of the wild Fig-tree call'd by the Romans Caprificus or the Goat-Fig and they feast the Women without the City in Arbors made of Fig-tree boughs and the Maids meet and run about playing afterwards they fight in Sport and throw Stones one at another in memory they did then aid and assist the Roman Men in Fight This many Authors do not admit for true for the calling upon one anothers Names by day and the going out to the Goats-Marsh as to Sea seems to agree more to the former Relation unless perhaps both the Actions done at several times might have happen'd on the same day of the Week Now they say it was in the 54th year of his Age and the 38th of his Reign that Romulus left the World The Comparison of Romulus and Theseus THis is all I ever happen'd to hear of Romulus and Theseus worthy of memory First Theseus seem'd out of his own free-will without any compulsion when he might have reign'd in security at Trazene in the enjoyment of no inglorious Empire to have affected great Actions by himself The other to escape present Servitude and a punishment that threatned him according to Plato grew valiant purely out of fear and dreading the extreamest Inflictions attempted great Enterprizes out of meer necessity Again His greatest Action was only the killing of one King of Alba whereas the by-Adventures and Preludes of the other were the Conquests of Sciron Scinnis Procrustes and Corynetes by reducing and killing of whom he ridded Greece of very violent Oppressors before any of them that were relieved knew who did it and he might then without any trouble as well have gone to Athens by Sea considering he himself never was in the least injured by those Robbers whereas Romulus could not but be in Action whilst Amulius lived A great testimony of this is that Theseus for no wrong done himself but for the sake of others did fall upon these Villains but Romulus and Remus as long as they themselves suffer'd no ill by the Tyrant permitted him to opprefs all others And if it be a great thing to have been wounded in Battel by the Sabines to have kill'd King Acron and to have conquer'd many Enemies we may oppose to these Actions the Battel with the Centaurs and the Feats done against the Amazons But what Theseus adventur'd in offering himself voluntarily with the other young Boys and Virgins as part of the Tribute into Crete either to be a Prey to a Monster or a Victim upon the Tomb of Androgeus or what is least of all to live vilely and dishonourably in slavery to insulting and cruel Men a Man cannot express what an Act of Boldness or Courage or Justice to the Publick or of Honour and Bravery that was So that methinks the Philosophers did not define Love ill to be the service of the Gods in assisting and preserving Youth for the Love of Ariadne above all seems to be the proper work and design of some God in order to preserve Theseus and indeed we ought not to blame her for loving him but rather wonder all Men and Women were not alike affected towards him and if she alone were so truly I dare pronounce her worthy of the Love of a God who was her self so great a Lover of Vertue and Goodness and the bravest Man But both these naturally affecting Government neither lived up to the true Character of a King but flew off and ran one into Popularity the other into Tyranny falling both into the same fault out of different Passions For a Prince's chief end is to preserve his Empire which is done no less by avoiding Indecencies than by maintaining a decorum in all things Who-ever is either too remiss or too strict in this is no more a King or a Prince but either too popular a Man or too lordly and so becomes either odious or contemptible to his Subjects This seems to be the fault of Easiness and good Nature the other of Pride and Severity but if we must not in all respects impute Misfortunes to the Fates but consider in them the difference of mens Manners and Passions as the unreasonable and inconsiderate effects of Wrath and Anger a Man can neither excuse one in his Behaviour to his Brother nor the other to his Son Tho' the Anger of Theseus is more excusable because it proceeded from a greater Cause as being struck with the severer Lash Romulus having disagreed with his Brother advisedly and deliberately upon the Concerns of the Publick one would think he could not of the sudden have been put into so great passion but Love and Jealousie and the Complaints of his Wife which few Men can avoid being provoked with seduced Theseus to commit that Outrage upon his Son And what is more Romulus in his Anger committed an Action of most unfortunate Consequence but that of Theseus
first were great Friends partly because they were a kin and partly because Pisistratus was a handsome gracefull man and they say Solon lov'd him and that is the reason I suppose that when afterwards they differ'd about the Government their enmity never produc'd any hot and violent passion they remembred their old kindnesses and that kept the flame of their love and dear affection still alive For that Solon was Amorous and unable stoutly to resist the force of Beauty we may conjecture by his Poems and by a Law he forbad Slaves to perfume themselves or love Boys making that an honourable action and onely fit for Gentlemen and as it were inviting the Worthy to the practice when he commanded the Unworthy to forbear Pisistratus likewise is reported to have lov'd one Charmus and to have consecrated his Statue in the Academy where those light their Torches that win the sacred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Solon as Ermippus writes when his Father had ruin'd his Estate in doing benefits and kindnesses to other men though he had Friends enough that were willing to contribute to his relief yet he was asham'd to be beholding to others since he was descended from a Family who were accustomed to doe kindnesses rather than receive them He therefore apply'd himself to Merchandise though others assure us that Solon travel'd rather to get Learning and Experience than to raise an Estate 't is certain that he was a lover of Wisedom for when he was old he would say I grow old still learning many things But he was no admirer of Riches esteeming those equally wealthy Who sees vast heaps of Gold at his command Fine Horses and a fair Estate in Land And Him to whom indulgent Fate bestow'd Sufficient wealth to buy him Clothes and Food But if to this a Wife and pratling Boys And youth and grace He hath the height of Joys And in another place I would be rich and yet to raise my purse Not cheat for wealth so got the Gods will curse Now 't is no shame for a prudent man and a good Citizen not to be solicitous about superfluities or to look after competent necessaries In his time according to Hesiod a Trade was not dishonourable nor did it debase the quality of the professours but Merchandise was a worthy Calling which brought home the good things which the barbarous Nations enjoy'd was the occasion of friendship with their Kings and mother of Experience Some Merchants have built great Cities as the Founder of Massilia that man so much esteem'd by the Gauls that live about the Rhone some also report that Thales and Hyppocrates the Mathematician traded and that Plato defray'd the charges of his Travels by selling Oil in Aegypt Now Solon's softness and profuseness his discourse of pleasures in his Poems too loose for a Philosopher were occasion'd by his trading life for having suffer'd a thousand dangers 't was fit they should be recompenc'd with pleasure and enjoyments but that he accounted himself rather poor than rich is evident from these lines Some wicked men are rich some good are poor I would not change my Vertue for their store For that 's a sure possession firm as Fate Whilst wealth now flies to this man now to that At first he us'd his Poetry onely in trifles in vain humours and to pass away his idle hours but afterwards his Numbers contein'd moral Sentences and many transactions of the Commonwealth which he did not write for the bare sake of the History but to apologize for his own actions and sometimes to correct chastise and stir up the Athenians to noble performances Some report that he design'd to put his Laws into a Poem and began it thus We humbly beg a blessing on our Laws From mighty Jove and honour and applause Of moral Philosophy as most of the then wise men he chiefly esteemed Politicks in Physicks he was very rude and illiterate as appears by this Soft Snow and Hail fall from a frozen Cloud From glaring Lightning Thunder roars aloud The Winds make the Seas rough they vex the Main But when they cease to blow 't is smooth and plain And indeed 't is probable that at that time Thales onely had rais'd wisedom above practice into speculation and the other six were call'd wise from their prudence in Politick concerns Fame delivers that they had an enterview at Delphos and another at Corinth by the procurement of Periander who made provision for their entertainment but their reputation was chiefly raised by sending the Tripod to them all and their modest refusal and complaisant yielding to one another For as the story goes some of the Coans fishing with a Net some strangers Milesians bought the draught at a venture the Net brought up a golden Tripod which they say Helen at her return from Troy upon the remembrance of an old prophecy threw in there Now the strangers at first contesting with the Fishers about the Tripod and the Cities espousing the quarrel so far as to engage themselves in a War Apollo decided the Controversie by commanding to present it to the wisest Man and first it was sent to Miletum to Thales the Coans freely presenting him with that for which they fought all the Milesians but Thales declaring Bias the wiser person it was sent to him from him to another and so going round them all it came to Thales a second time and at last being carried from Miletum to Thebes it was there dedicated to Apollo Ismenius Theophrastus writes that it was first presented to Bias at Priene and next to Thales at Miletum and so through all it returned to Bias and was afterwards sent to Delphos This is a general report onely some instead of a Tripod say this present was a Cup sent by Croesus others a piece of Plate that one Buthocles had left 'T is reported that Anacharsis and Solon and Solon and Thales were familiarly acquainted and some have deliver'd parts of their discourse For they say Anacharsis coming to Athens knock'd at Solon's Door and told him That he being a stranger was come to be his Guest and contract a Friendship with him and Solon replying 'T is better to seek Friends at home Anacharsis return'd Then you that are at home take me as a Guest and as a Friend Solon somewhat surprised at the briskness of that Repartee receiv'd him kindly and kept him some time with him whilst he was managing the Commonwealth and contriving his Laws which when Anacharsis understood he laught at him for imagining the Citizens unruly desires and affections could be restrain'd by these Laws which were like Spider's Webs and would catch 't is true the weak and poor but are easily broken by the mighty and rich To this Solon return'd Men keep their promises when neither side can get any thing by the breaking of them and he would so fit his Laws to the Citizens that all should understand 't was more eligible to
at last he discover'd that his frequent excursions were to visit a young Woman with whom he was in love Hereupon he gave private order to some of his men to find out the Woman and secretly to convey her into his own Tent and then sent for the Lucanian and calling him aside told him that he very well knew how often he had lain at nights out of the Camp which was a Capital transgression against military Discipline and the Roman Laws but he knew also how brave he was and the good services he had done and therefore in consideration of them he was willing to forgive him his fault But to keep him in good order he was resolved to place one over him to be his keeper who should be accountable for his good behaviour having said this he produced the Woman and told the Souldier terrified and amazed at the adventure This is the person who must answer for you and by your future behaviour we shall see whether your night rambles were upon the account of love or upon any other worse design Another passage there was something of this nature which also fell under the management of Fabius and proved highly advantageous to the Roman affairs whereby he gain'd Tarentum There was a young Tarentine in the Army that had a Sister in Tarentum then in possession of the Enemy who entirely loved her Brother and wholly depended of him He being inform'd that a certain Brutian whom Hannibal had made Governour of that Garrison was deeply in love with his Sister conceived hopes that he might possibly turn it to account in behalf of the Romans And having first communicated his design with Fabius he left the Army as a Deserter in shew and went over to Tarentum At his first coming the Brutian abstain'd from visiting the Sister for neither of them knew that the Brother had notice of the Amour between them whereupon the young Tarentine took an occasion to tell his Sister how he had heard that a man of quality and great authority had made his addresses to her Therefore he desired her to tell him who it was for said he if he be a man that has bravery and reputation it matters not what Country-man he is since at this time the Sword mingles all Nations and makes them equal and an alliance with such a person in this Reign of Mars is both honourable and profitable Hereupon the Woman sends for her Gallant and makes the Brother and him great Friends and whereas she henceforth shew'd more countenance to her Lover than formerly by the same degrees that her kindness increased did his friendship also with the Brother advance So that at last our Tarentine thought this Brutian Officer well enough prepar'd to receive the offers he had to make him and that it would be easie for a Mercenary Man who was in love to accept upon the terms proposed of great Sums promised by Fabius and of a Mistress whom he passionately loved In conclusion the bargain was struck and the promise made of delivering the Town This is the common tradition though some relate this story otherwise and say that this Woman by whom the Brutian was inveigled to betray the Town was not a native of Tarentum but a Brutian born and that she had been kept by Fabius as his Concubine and being a Country-woman and an acquaintance of the Brutian Governour he privately sent her to him to corrupt him Whilst these matters were thus brewing to draw off Hannibal from scenting the design Fabius sends orders to the Garrison in Rhegium that they should waste and spoil the Brutian Country and should also lay siege to Caulonia and storm the place with all possible vigour These were a Body of eight thousand men the worst of the Roman Army who had most of them been run-aways and had been branded by Marcellus with the ignominious note of Cowardise so that the loss of them would not be great nor much lamented by the Romans Fabius therefore threw out these men as a bait for Hannibal to divert him from Tarentum who instantly bit at it and led his forces to Caulonia and in the mean time Fabius lay down before Tarentum The sixth day of the Siege his young Tarentine slips by night out of the Town and having well observed the place where the Brutian Commander according to agreement was to let in the Romans he gives an account of the whole matter as they had laid it to Fabius who thought it not safe to rely wholly upon the information given him and the bargain which was made but went himself with great privacy to take a view of the Post and the avenue and then gave order for a general assault to be made on the other side of the Town both by Land and Sea This being accordingly executed when the Tarentines and most of the Garrison ran to defend the Town on that side where the attack was made Fabius with the men reserved for that purpose scales the Walls at the place design'd and enters the Town without opposition Here we must confess that the Ambition of Fabius was both cruel and unfaithfull For to make it appear to the world that he had taken Tarentum by force and his own prowess and not by treachery he commanded his men to doe execution upon all the Brutians and not to spare a man of them many of the Tarentines were also kill'd and thirty thousand of them were sold for Slaves The Army had the plunder of the Town and there was brought into the Treasury three thousand Talents whilst they were thus ordering and distributing the Spoils the Officer who took the Inventory ask'd what should be done with their Gods meaning the Statues and Images in the Temples to whom Fabius answer'd Let us leave their angry Gods to the Tarentines And yet one Statue of Hercules which was of extraordinary bigness he caus'd to be set up in the Capitol next to his own in Brass which stood there on Horseback The severe and sanguinary proceeding on this occasion as it reflects on the memory of Fabius so also it did very much set off in the eyes of the world the clemency and humanity of Marcellus as in his Life we have already shewn When Hannibal had the news brought him that Tarentum was besieged he marched with great diligence to relieve it and being come within five miles he was inform'd that the Town was taken which made him say that Rome had also got a Hannibal and by the same Art Tarentum was lost by which he formerly had gain'd it And being in private with some of his Confidents he plainly told them that he always thought it difficult but now he held it impossible with the Forces he then had to master Italy Upon this success Fabius had a Triumph decreed him at Rome much more splendid than the former for they look'd upon him now as a Champion who had clearly worsted his Antagonist and been too hard