Trenches towards the River certain Banks or Heads uncut till he saw his opportunity Now Belshazzar finding neither any want or weakness within the City nor any possibility for his enemies without to approach the Walls by reason of the great River that surrounded them he prepared an exceeding sumptuous Feast Publick Plays and other Pastimes and thereto invited a Thousand of his Princes or Nobles besides his Wives Courtezans and others of that Trade This he did either to let the Besiegers know that his Provisions were sufficient not only for all needful uses but even for superfluity and excess Or because he hoped that his enemies by this time were discouraged and even broken under their manifold disasters Or else he made this Feast in honour of Bell his most adored Idol Or lastly because it was his Birth or Coronation Day Or for many or most of these respects Yea he was not contented to use and shew such Magnificence as no Prince else could Equal but he lifted up himself against the God of Heaven Dan. 5. 23. For he his Princes his Wives and his Concubines made carousing Cups of the Golden and Silver Vessels which his Grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the Temple which was at Jerusalem and in contempt of the Lord of Heaven he praised his own Puppets made of Gold and Silver and Brass and Iron and Wood and Stone Whilst Belshazzar was thus triumphing and had his brains well filled with vapours he beheld a hand which by Divine power wrote upon the Wall that was opposite to him certain Words which he understood not wherewith so great a fear and amazement seized upon him that the joynts of his loins were loosed and his knees smote one against another Which Passion when he had in some measure recovered he cryed aloud to bring in the Astrologers the Chaldeans and the Southsayers promising them great rewards and the third place of Honour in his Kingdom to him that could read and expound the Writing But it exceeded their Art and Skill In this disturbance and astonishment the Queen hearing what had passed came in and observing what distraction the King was in after Reverence done She used this Speech O King live for ever Let not thy thoughts trouble thee nor let thy countenance be changed there is a man in thy Kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the holy Gods and in the Days of thy Father light and understanding and Wisdome like the Wisdom of the Gods was found in him whom the King Nebuchadnezzar thy Father the King I say thy Father made Master of the Magicians the Astrologers the Chaldeans and the Southsayers for as much as an excellent Spirit and knowledg and understanding in interpreting Dreams and shewing of hard Sentences and dissolving doubts were found in the same Daniel whom the King named Belteshazzar Now let Daniel be called and he will shew the Interpretation This Queen was either the Grandmother or the Mother of Belshazzar For it appears that She was not any of the Kings Wives because She was absent from the Feast and in regard of her age past banquetting and dancing Yet upon the report of the Miracle She came in to comfort and cheer up the King and whereas Daniel was forgotten and neglected by others of younger years and latter times this old Queen remembred well what Daniel had done in the days of Nebuchadnezzar Grandfather to this Belshazzar and kept in mind both his Religion and Divine gifts When Daniel was brought into the Kings presence he said unto him Art thou that Daniel which art of the Children of the Captivity of Judah whom the King my Father brought out of Jewry I have heard of thee that the Spirit of the Gods is in thee and that light and understanding and excellent Wisdom is found in thee and now the Wise men and the Astrologers have been brought in before me that they should read this Writing and make known to me the Interpretation thereof but they could not do it And I have heard of thee that thou canst make Interpretations and dissolve doubts Now if thou canst read the Writing and make known to me the Interpretation thereof thou shalt be clothed with Scarlet and have a chain of Gold about thy neck and shalt be the third Ruler in the Kingdom But Daniel made answer in a far differing stile from that which he had used to his Grandfather For the evil which he had foretold to Nebuchadnezzar he wished that it might befal his enemies But to this King whose contempt of God and vicious life he hated he answered in these Words Let thy gifts be to thy self and give thy rewards to another Yet I will read the writing to the King and make known to him the Interpretation which yet before he did he shewed him the cause of Gods Judgments against him and the reason of this terrible sentence whereof the King and all his Wise men were utterly Ignorant the substance whereof is this That Belshazzar forgetting Gods goodness to his Father whom all Nations feared and obeyed and yet for his Pride and neglect of those benefits as he had deprived him of his Estate and Understanding so upon the acknowledgement of Gods infinite power he restored him to both again And thou his Son said he O BelshazZar hast not humbled thy heart though thou knowest all this But hast lifted up thy self against the Lord of Heaven and they have brought thee Vessels of his House before thee and thou and thy Lords thy Wives and thy Concubines have drunk Wine in them and thou hast praised the Gods of silver and Gold c. and the God in whose hand thy â—reath is and whose are all thy wayes hast thou not Glorified Then was the part of the band sent from him and this writing was written Mene Mene Tekel Upharâ—in Whereof this is the Interpretation Mene God hath numbred thy Kingdom and finished it Tekel Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting Peres Thy Kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians The very Evening or Night of this Day wherein Belshazzar thus Feasted and wherein these things were done Cyrus either by his Espcials or being inspired by God himself whose Ensign he followed in these Wars finding the time and opportunity fit for him even whilst the Kings Head and and the Heads of his Nobility were no less distempered with the Vapours of Wine than their hearts were with the fear of Gods Judgments he caused all the Banks and Heads of his Trenches to be opened and cut down with all speed and diligence whereby that great River Euphrates was quickly drawn dry and himself with his Army passing through the Channel which was now dry without any opposition they easily made their entrance into the City finding none to disturb them Invadunt urbem somno Vinoque sepultam All the Town lay buried in Wine and Sleep and such as came in
and very observable that at Christs coming and at the first preaching of the Gospel the Devil in this and in all other his Oracles became speechless From the Temple of Hammon Alexander returned to Memphis where among many other learned men he heard the Philosopher Psammones who understanding that he affected the Title of Jupiters Son told him that God was the Father King of all men and refining the Pride of this haughty King he brought him to acknowledg that God was the Father of all mortal men but that he acknowledgeth none for his Children save good men The charge of the several Provinces of Egypt Alexander gave to several Governours following therein the Rules of his Master Aristotle that a great Dominion should not be continued in the hands of any one man Then gave he order for the building of Alexandria upon the most Westernly branch of Nilus and thus having setled as he could the State of Egypt with the Kingdoms of the Lesser Asia Phoenicia and Syria he Conducted his Army towards Euphrates which passage though the same was committed to Mazeus to be defended by him yet did he abandon it and Alexander without resistance passed it From thence he marched towards Tygris a River for the swiftness thereof called by the Persians The Arrow here might Darius easily have repelled him for the violent course of the stream was such as it drave before it many weighty stones and those that moved not but lay in the bottom were so round and smooth by continual rolling that no man was able to fight upon so slippery a standing Nor were the Macedonian Footmen able to wade through the River otherwise than by joyning their hands and interlacing their Arms each in others making thereby one intire and weighty Body to resist the impetuousness of the stream and besides this the Channel was so deep towards the Eastern Shore where Darius should have opposed him that the Footmen were enforced to lift their Bows Arrows and Darts over their Heads to keep them from being made unserviceable by the Water Indeed it cannot be denied that as all Estates of the World by the surfeit of misgovernment have been subject to many grievous and sometimes mortal diseases So had the Empire of Persia at this time brought it self into a burning Feavour and thereby became frantick and without understanding foreshewing manifestly the death and dissolution thereof But Alexander had now recovered the Eastern Shore of Tygris without any opposition but what the Nature of the River made where Mazeus who had the charge to defend the banks both of Euphrates and it presented himself to the Macedonians being attended with certain Troops of Horsemen as if with uneven forces he durst have charged them upon even ground when as with a multitude far exceeding them he forsook those advantages which no valour of the enemy could easily have overcome But it s commonly seen that timorous and cowardly Persons do ever follow those ways and counsels whereof the opportunity is already lost It s true that he sets all provisions on fire wherewith the Macedonians might be assisted in their passage over Tygris thinking thereby greatly to have distressed them but the execution of good counsel is fruitless when unseasonable For now was Alexander so well furnished with carriages that no conveniences were wanting to the Army which he conducted Those things also which Mazeus now sought to destroy Alexander being in sight by his Horsemen saved and recovered them This Mazeus might have done some days before at good leasure yea at this time he might have done it with so great a strength of Horsemen as the Macedonians might not have dared to pursue leaving the Body of their Foot out of sight and so far behind Darius upon Alexanders first return out of Egypt had assembled all those Forces which the Countries next to him could afford and now also were the Arians Scythians Indians and other Nations come to him Nations saith Curtius that rather served to make up a number than to make resistance Some reckon them to amount to the number of ten hundred thousand Foot and four hundred thousand Horse besides armed Chariots and some few Elephants Curtius numbers them but two hundred thousand Foot and about fifty thousand Horse which is more probable And yet seeing Darius had more confidence in the number than in the Valour of his Souldiers probably he had brought together some three or four hundred thousand of all sorts with which he hoped in those fair plains of Assyria to have overborn the small number of the invading Army But it s most true That in every Battel skil and practice do more towards attaining the Victory than multitudes and rude audacity Whilest Alexander rested and refreshed his Army after their hard passage over Tygris their happened an Eclipse of the Moon at which the Macedonians being ignorant of the cause and reason of it were much troubled taking it as a certain presage of their ruin and destruction insomuch as they began not only to murmur but to speak boldly that to satisfie the ambition of one man and of such a one as disdained Philip for his Father and would needs be called the Son of Jupiter they should all perish For he enforced them not only to War against a world of enemies but against Rivers Mountains and the Heavens themselves Hereupon Alexander who was now ready to advance made an halt and to quiet the minds of the multitude he led before him the Aegyptian Astrologers that by them the Souldiers might be assured that this Eclipse of the Moon was a sure presage of his good success But they never informed them that it came to pass by natural causes but reserved that as a secret fit to be kept among themselves These Astrologers gave no other reason for it than this That the Grecians were under the Aspect of the Sun and the Persians under that of the Moon and therefore the Moon losing her light did foreshew that the state of Persia was now in danger of falling and their Glory of being obscured This being noised through all the Army every man was satisfied and quieted and their courage redoubled As Alexander drew near the Persian Army certain Letters were intercepted written by Darius to the Grecians proffering and promising them a great sum of money if they would either kill or betray Alexander But these by the advice of Parmenio were suppressed About this time also Darius his beautiful Wife being oppressed with sorrow and wearied with travel died which accident Alexander seemed to bewail no less then Darius who upon the first report of it suspected that some dishonorable violence had been offered to her but being satisfied by an Eunuch of his own that attended her of Alexanders kind and Kingly respect towards her from the very time of her being taken he prayed the immortal Gods that if they had decreed to set a new Master over the
Treasure than to pursue the vanquished This miserable resolution his Nobility rather obeyed than approved Soon after the departure of Darius came Alexander to Arbela vvhich with a great mass of Treasure and many Princely Ornaments was surrendred to him For the fear which accompanied Darius took nothing with it but shame and dishonour He that had been twice beaten before should have sent his Treasure into Media rather than to have brought it to Arbela so neer the place where he intended to wait the coming of his enemy If he had been victorious he might have brought it back at leasure But being overcome he knew it impossible to drive Mules and Camels loaden with Gold from the pursuing Enemy seeing himself at the overthrow which he had in Cilicia cast the Crown from his head to run away the lighter But its easier to reprehend than to amend what is past From Arbela Alexander marched towards Babylon where Mazeus in whom Darius had most confidence rendred to him himself his Children and the City Also the Captain of the Castle where the Treasure was kept strewed the Streets with Flowers burnt Frankincense upon the Silver Altars as Alexander passed by and delivered to him whatsoever was committed to his trust The Magi also who were the Chaldean Astrologers followed this Captain to entertain their new King After these came the Babylonian Horsemen infinitely rich in attire but exceeding poor in Warlike furniture Between these and himself Alexander caused his Macedonian Footmen to march When he entred the Castle he admired the Glory thereof and the abundance of Treasure which he found therein amounting to fifty thousand Talents of Silver uncoined In this City rich in all things but most of all in voluptuous pleasures the King rested himself and his vvhole Army thirty four days spending that time in Banquetting and in all sorts of effeminate exercises which so much softned the minds of the Macedonians not acquainted till now with such delicacies as the severe Discipline of War which taught them to endure hunger and thirst painful travel and hard lodging began rather to be forgotten than neglected Alexander as he was rowed upon a Lake neer Babylon in his Gally a sudden tempest arising blew off his Hat and Crown fastened upon it into the Lake whereupon one of the Marriners leaping into the vvater swam and fetched it to him and to keep it the drier he put it upon his own head Alexander rewarded him with a Talent for saving his Crown but vvithal caused his Head to be cut off for presuming to put his Crown upon it During his abode here Alexander instituted those Regiments consisting of a thousand Souldiers appointing Colonels over them who thereupon were called Chiliarks This new order Alexander brought in vvas to honour those Captains which were found by certain Judges to have deserved best in the late War While Alexander vvas yet at Babylon there came to him a great supply out of Europe For Antipater sent him six thousand Foot and five hundred Hore out of Macedonia and of the Thracians three thousand Foot and as many Horse and out of Greece four thousand and four hundred Horse by vvhich his Army vvas greatly strengthened For those that were infected with the pleasures of Babylon could hardly be brought again to change their soft beds for hard boards and the cold ground Alexander left the City and Castle of Babylon with the Territories adjoyning in charge with three of his own Captains Agathon Minetus and Apolidorus leaving a thousand Talents to supply their wants But to grace Mazeus who delivered up the City to him he gave him the Title of his Lieutenant General and took along with him Bagistines who surrendred the Castle to him and having distributed to every Souldier a part of the Treasure he left Babylon and entred into the Province of Satrapene marching from thence towards Susa in Persia situated on the River Euleus which City vvas sometime Governed by the Prophet Daniel Here Abulites the Governour of this famous City gave it up to the Conquerour with fifty thousand Talents of Silver in Bullion and twelve Elephants for the War with all other the Treasure of Darius there such as the Persian Kings had for a long time heaped up together leaving it from Father to Son all which in one hour came into his hands who never cared for it In this sort did those Vassals of Fortune those lovers of the Kings prosperity not of his Person purchase their own peace and safety with their Masters Treasure and herein was Alexander well advised that whatsoever Titles he gave to the Persians yet he left all places of importance in trust vvith his own Captains as Babylon Susa Persepolis with other Cities and Provinces that were Conquered by him for had Darius but beaten the Macedonians in one Battel all the Persian Nobility would have turned again to their natural Lord. Whilest Alexander was ransacking Arbela Mazeus might have furnished Darius from Babylon and whilest he stayed those thirty four days at Babylon Abulites might have holpen him from Susa and whilest he was Feasting and Frolicking there Teridates from Persepolis might fully have supplied him for the chiefest bulk of his Treasure was laid up in that City But benefits bind not the ambitious but the honest for those that are selfish do in all changes consult only the conservation of their own greatness The Government of Susa with the Castle and treasure Alexander committed to his own Macedonians making Abulites who rendred it to him his Lieutenant as he had done Mazeus before giving them Honourable Titles but neither trust nor power For he left three thousand old Souldiers to Garrison that City and with them the Mother and Children of Darius to repose themselves there From Susa Alexander marched with his Army towards Persepolis but when he sought to pass those Mountains that sunder Susiana and Persia he was soundly beaten by Ariobarzanes who defended those Streights against him called Pilae Persidis and after the loss of many of his Macedonians he was forced to save himself by retreat causing his Foot to march close together and to cover themselves with their Targets from the Stones that were tumbled upon them from the Mountain-tops Yet in the end he found out another passage which was discovered to him by a Lycian that lived in that Countrey and thereby coming suddenly upon Ariobarzanes who now was enforced to fight upon even ground he overthrew him who from thence fled to Persepolis But the Citizens refusing to admit him he returned and gave a second charge upon the Macedonians in which he was slain Many Greeks for Authors agree not upon their number having been taken Prisoners by the Persians presented themselves here to Alexander These had the Barbarians so maimed by cutting off their Hands Ears Noses and other Members as that they could not have been known to their own Countrey men but by their Language To each of
these Alexander gave three hundred Crowns with new Garments and such Lands as they liked to live upon Tiridates one of Darius his false hearted Grandees hearing of Alexander's approach to Persepolis made him know that Persepolis was ready to receive him and intreated him to double his pace because there was a determination amongst the People to Plunder the Kings Treasury This City was forsaken by many of her Inhabitants upon Alexanders arrival and they that staid followed the worst Counsel For the City was given up to the Liberty of the Souldiers to spoil and kill at their pleasure There was no place in the world at that time which if it had been lain in the balance with Persepolis would have weighed it down Indeed Babylon and Susa were very rich but in Persepolis lay the bulk and greatest store of the riches of Persia. For after the spoil that had been made of money curious Plate Bullion Images of Gold and Silver and other Jewels there remained to Alexander himself one hundred and twenty thousand Talents and as much other Treasure as twenty thousand Mules and ten thousand Camels could carry away much whereof had been reserved there from the dayes of Cyrus Here it was that Alexander setting himself down upon Darius his Throne it was so high that his feet could not reach the ground whereupon one of his Attendants brought him a little Table and set it under his feet One of Darius's Eunuchs standing by sighed and wept grievously which Alexander taking notice of asked him the reason of it the Eunuch answered I weep to see a Table that was so highly prized by my Master Darius now to be made thy foot-stool Here he left the same number of three thousand Macedonians in Persepolis as he had done in Susa and gave the same formal honour to the Traitor Tiridates as he had done to Abulites but he committed the charge of the place to Nicarides a Creature of his own The Body of his Army he left there for thirty dayes and the care of Parmenio and Craterus and with a thousand Horse and certain chosen Bands of Foot he would needs view in the Winter time those parts of Persia which now were covered with Snow a fruitless and foolish enterprize Some speak it in his praise that when his Souldiers cryed out against him because of the extrem Frost and Snow through which they could not make way but with great difficulty that Alexander forsook his Horse and marched on foot before them But what can be more ridiculous than for a man to bring other men into extremity thereby to shew how well himself can endure it being his walking on foot did no oherwise take off their weariness that followed him than his sometime forbearing to drink did quench their thirst that could less endure it Alexander being returned to Persepolis those Historians that were most enamoured of his Virtues complain that the opinion of his Valour of his Liberality of his Clemency towards the vanquished and all other his Noble conditions were drowned in Drink That he smothered in his carousing cups all the reputation of his former actions and that by descending as it were frow the awful Throne of the greatest King into the company and familiarity of the basest Harlots He began to be despised both of his own and of all other Nations For when he was enflamed with Wine and being perswaded by the infamous Strumpet Thais he caused the most sumptuous and goodly Castle and City of Persepolis to be consumed with fire notwithstanding all the Arguments that Parmenio could use to the contrary who told him that it was a dishonour to destroy those things by the perswasion of others which by his proper virtue and force he obtained and that it would be a certain evidence to the Asiaticks to think hardly of him and thereby alienate their hearts from him For they might well believe that he which demolished the goodliest Ornaments they had meant nothing less than after such vastations to hold the possession of them About this time Alexander received another supply of Souldiers out of Cilica and advanced to find out Darius in Media Darius had there formed his fourth and last Army which he meant to have encreased in Bactria had he not heard of Alexander's coming on with whom trusting to his present numbers which yet were but thirty or forty thousand he intended once again to try what he might do against him He therefore called together his Captains and Commanders and propounded his resolution to them who despairing of good success stood for a while silent But at last Artabazus one of his eldest men of War who had sometime lived with King Philip the Father of Alexander brake the silence protesting that he could never be beaten by any adversity of the Kings from the Faith that he had ever ought him with firm confidence that all the rest were of the same mind whereof they likewise assured Darius by the like protestation and so they approved of the Kings resolution Two onely and they the greatest to wit Naburzanes and Bessus who was Governour of Bactria had conspired against their Master and therefore advised the King to lay a new foundation for the War and to pursue it for the present by some such person against whom neither the Gods nor Fortune had in all things declared themselves to be an enemy This preamble Naburzanes used and in conclusion advised the election of his fellow Traitor Bessus with promise that when the War should be ended the Empire should be again restored to Darius The King swoln with disdain pressed towards Naburzanes to have slain him but Bessus and the Bactrians whom he commanded being more in number than the rest with-held him Hereupon Naburzanes withdrew himself and Bessus followed him making their Quarters apart from the rest of the Army Artabazus the Kings faithful Servant perswaded him to be advised and to comply for the time the rather because Alexander was at hand and that he would at least make shew of forgetting the offence which the King being of a gentle Disposition easily yielded to Then came Bessus to the King and made his submission But Patron who commanded a Brigade of four thousand Greeks which had in all the former Battels served Darius faithfully and had alwayes made their retreat in despite of the Macedonians offered himself to Darius to guard his Person protesting against the Treason of Bessus But God had otherwise determined of the Empire and therefore so sar was the King infatuated that be ever rejected their Counsel from the beginning of the War who were most faithful to him And now hearkened to Bessus who told him that the Greeks with Patron their Captain were corrupted by Alexander and practiced the division of his faithful servants Yet even this while Bessus had corrupted and drawn to himself thirty thousand of the Army promising them all those things by which the lovers of
them but went presently and charged his Infantry and especially where they had no guard of Horsemen by which means they might be the easiler compassed about Thus they being charged by these in the Flank and in the Van also by the tenth Legion finding themselves contrary to their expectation compassed about by their Enemies whereas they thought to have environed them they could no longer make resistance but were put to the rout also When Pompey saw the dust flying up in the air and thereby conjectured the flight of his Horsemen he was like a man amazed and at his wits end forgetting that he was Pompey the Great and so retiring into his Camp he fat silent for a good while till such time as his Enemies entered pell mell into it together with his men that fled and then he said no more but What! Into our Camp And so rising up he put on a Gown fit for his sad condition and secretly stole out of the Camp His other Legions also fled and Caesars men made a huge slaughter of the Tent keepers and of their Servants that guarded the Camp there were slain about six thousand But at the taking of the Camp Caesars Souldiers plainly saw the madness and folly of Pompeys men For their Pavillions and Tents were full of Nosegays and Garlands of Mirtle and their Couches covered with Flowers their Tables full of Bowls of Wine as men prepared to sacrifice for joy rather than to arm themselves to fight When Pompey was gone a little way from his Camp he forsook his Horse having very few with him and perceiving that none pursued him he walked fair and softly on Foot having his head full of thoughts For he for thirty four years together used always to be Victorious and therefore now it was strange to him to flie He now law how in one hours space he had lost all that Glory and Riches which he had purchased by so many great Victories He that not long before was followed and obeyed by so many thousand men of War by so many Nations and Horsemen by such a great Fleet upon the Sea was now faln into a low and poor estate with so small a train that his very Enemies who sought him knew him not When he had thus passed the City of Larissa he came into the Valley of Tempe where being a thirst he fell down on his belly and drank of the River then rising up he went and came to the Sea side and lay all Night in a Fishers Cottage The next Morning by break a day he went into a little Boat upon the River having some Freemen with him and as for his Slaves he dismissed them and bad them go boldly unto Caesar and not to be afraid Thus rowing up and down the shore side in this little Boat he espied a great Ship in the Sea lying at Anchor which was ready to sail away The Master of the Ship was one Peticius a Roman who though he was not acquainted with Pompey yet he knew him well by sight Some of the Marriners told Peticius that they saw a little Boat coming towards them wherein were some men that held up their hands and made signs to them Peticius looking knew Pompey and commanded his Marriners to let down the Boat wherewith giving Pompey his hand he received him into the Ship and those that were with him and then hoised Sail. With Pompey their were both the Lentuli and Faonius Presently after they espied King Dejotarus coming in a Boat towards them and making signs to be taken in which accordingly they did At Supper time the Master made ready such meat as he had aboard And Faonius seeing Pompey for want of attendants washing himself he ran to him and anointed him and ever after waited upon him doing such Offices as Servants do to their Masters washing his Feet and preparing his food for him Pompey then passing by the City of Amphipolis sailed to the Isle of Lesbos to fetch his Wife Cornelia and his Son who were at Mitilene and having there cast Anchor in the Rode he sent a Servant into the City to his Wife whose Message did not answer her expectation For she had still been put in hope by Letters of her Husbands good success and that the War was well ended The Messenger finding her thus confident thought not fit to salute her but rather by his Tears discovered the great misfortune of Pompey and at last told her that she must dispatch quickly if she would see her Husband with one Ship only and that not his own but borrowed The young Lady hearing this fell down in a swound before him but after she was come to her self remembring that it was now no time to weep and lament she went speedily through the City to the Sea side There Pompey meeting her took her in his Arms and embraced her But she finking under him fell down and at last said Out alas Wo worth my hard Fortune not thine good Husband who now see thee with one poor Ship who before thou marriedst me the Unfortunate Cornelia was wont to sail in these Seas attended with five hundred Alas Why art thou come to see me and didst not rather leave me to my accursed destiny seeing my self am the cause of this thy evil Alas How happy had I been if I had died before I heard of the death of my first Husband Publius Crassus slain in the Parthian War And how wise had I been if according to my determination I then had slain my self whereas I yet live to bring this misfortune upon Pompey the Great To this Pompey answered Peradventure my Cornelia thou hast known a better fortune which hath also deceived thee because she hath continued longer with me than her manner is But since we are born men we must patiently bear these troubles and once more try what she will do For it is not impossible for us again to change this adversity for prosperity no more than it was to fall from our late prosperity into this Calamity When Cornelia heard him say so she sent into the City for her houshould stuff and Family The Metilenians also came to salute Pompey praying him to come and refresh himself in their City But Pompey refused and advised them to obey the Conquerour for said he Caesar is of a just and curteous Nature Then Pompey turning to Cratippus the Philosopher who came amongst the Citizens to visit him made his complaint to him and reasoned a little with him about Divine Providence Then taking his Wife and Friends he hoised sail and departed staying no where but to take in fresh provision and water The first City that he touched at was Atalia in the Country of Pamphilia Thither came to him some Gallies out of Cilicia and many of his Friends and Souldiers insomuch as he had now sixty Senators in his Company Then understanding that his Army by Sea was yet whole and that Cato
L. Villius Annalis who had been Consul flying from the murtherers hid himself in the Suburbs in a little House of one of his clients but his own Son betrayed him to the murtherers who slew him there but shortly after this Particle being drunken quarrelling with the same Souldiers was slain by them C. Terentius also being betrayed by his own Son was slain who in a few days having consumed his Patrimony was condemned for Theft and banished into a place where he died miserably Quintus Cicero was hid by his Son whom they could never make to confess by any torments where his Father was but the old man not being able any longer to endure that they should torment so vertuous a Son came and presented himself to the Murtherers whereupon the Son entreated them to kill him first but they killed them both together The Egnaces the Father and Son embracing one the other were both run through and slain C. Hosidius Geta was put into a grave by his Son as dead who sustained and kept him till the danger was over Aruntius after he had comforted his Son delivered up himself to the murtherers but his Son for grief famished himself Some other Children carefully hid and preserved their Parents Tanusia was such an importunate suitor to Caesar for her Husband T. Junius that she preserved his life He was in the interim hidden by Philopoemen his bondmen enfranchised whom Caesar afterwards Knighted for his fidelity to his Master Q. Ligurius having been concealed by his Wife was discovered by a slave and killed whereupon his Wife pined her self to death Lucretius Vespilio having passed many dangers whilst he sought to hide himself here and there at last came to his Wife Shuria who hid him between the Cieling and the top of the House till she had begged his Life of the Triumvirs Apuleius was saved by his Wife who fled away with him Antius his Wife wrapped him up in Coverlets and caused him to be carried to the Sea side as a pack of Stuff where he embarked and sailed into Sicily Coponius was saved by his Wife who lent her Body to Anthony for one night to save him whom she preferred before her honour But the Wife of Septimius having shamefully given her Body to one of Anthonies Familiars caused her Husband to be put into the number of the Poscripts that she might the more freely continue her Adulteries and her Husband was slain by her means Q. Vettius Salussus was hidden in a very secret place but acquainting his Wife with it she betrayed him to the Murtherers Fulvius was discovered by one of his slaves and his Concubine though he had made her free and given her goods wherewithall to maintain her self P. Naso was betrayed by his slave enfranchised with whom he had been too familiar but he revenged himself upon his slave whom he killed and then held forth his neek to the cut throats L. Lucceius had put into the hands of two of his Freed men as much as would have relieved him in his Banishment but they ran away with all whereupon he delivered himself to the Murtherers Haterius who had hid himself in a very secret place was sold and betrayed by his slave and killed Cassius Varus who was betrayed by a slave made free had his Head struck off Caius Plotius was hidden by his slaves but being given to Perfumes the scent thereof discovered him yet when the Souldiers could not find him they cruelly tormented his Servants to make them confess where he was which yet they would not do But the Master pittying his faithful Servants came out of his secret place and delivered himself to the murtherers Appius Claudius changed his Gown with his slave who in that habit presented himself to the murtherers and was slain by them instead of his Master Another slave of Menius did the like for he went into his Masters Litter and offered his neck to the murtherers who cut off his Head and so his Master escaped into Sicily The slave of Urbinus Panopio hearing that the murtherers were coming to his Masters house took off his Gown and his Ring and gave him his own apparel and put him out at a back door then he went up and lay upon his Masters Bed where he boldly attended them that killed him for Panopio The slave of Antius Restio though his Master had soundly beaten him a few dayes before for some knavish tricks yet to save his Master meeting an old man by the way he struck off his Head and shewing that with his whippings to the murtherers he made them believe that thus he had revenged himself of his Master with whom he shortly after fled into Sicily The slaves of Martius Censorinus kept their Master secretly till he had opportunity to escape into Sicily to Sextus Pompeius Q. Oppius an honourable old man being very near taking was rescued by his Son who conveying him out of Rome carried him upon his shoulders and sent him into Sicily vvhere all the poor distressed Romans were courteously entertained by S. Pompeius who sent forth Ships and Galleys to lye upon the Coast of Italy ready to receive all them that fled to him doubly rewarding those that saved any that was proscribed He gave also honourable Offices to all that had been Consuls and comforting the rest with singular courtesie Many others fled into Macedonia to Brutus and Cassius others into Africk to Cornisicius Statius Samnis an honourable Senator being about eighty years old that those Thieves might have no part of his Goods he gave them for a prey to whomsoever would take them then setting his House on fire he burnt himself in it Aponius having been long concealed by his slave grew weary of that confinement came out into the Market-place and yielded his neck to the murtherers Cestius being in the like condition caused his slaves to make a great fire threw himself into it and died Sulpitus Rufus who had been Consul was murthered because he would not sell an Isle of his to Fulvia also Ampius Balbus was slain because he would not give her a pleasant place of his M. Anthony put into the number of Proscripts a Senator called Nonius Struma onely to get from him an Emerald esteemed worth fifty thousand Crowns but Nonius found a means to escape with his Emerald to the great grief of Anthony Some valiantly defended themselves as Atteius Capito who killed many Souldiers who came rudely running upon him but being at last oppressed with multitudes he was slain Vetulinus assisted by his Son valiantly repulsed the murtherers but at last was slain Sicilias Coranas hoping to escape put himself amongst the Mourners that followed a dead Corps but being discovered was slain The Triumviri caused the Goods of the Proscripts to be sold by the Drum at such prizes as the Souldiers pleased yet most part of them was spoiled and given away They promised also to Widows their Joyntures and to
twenty thousand men to see the conditions performed And to make his passage into France the more easie he commanded him to lodge in a place of advantage in the Pyrenean mountains called Roâ—cevaux and so the French Army marched backwards to France under the conduct of Charlemagne who little dreamed of such an affront as he shortly after met with Whilst the French Army were upon their retreat Marsile and Bellingand slept not but gathering together all the Forces they could they lodged them secretly in the hollow Caves of those Mountains being places inaccessible and wholly unknown but only to the Inhabitants of those Countries They had intelligence given them by Ganes what number of men Charlemagne had left in Spain under the command of Rowland to whom the reputation of his Uncle and the good will of the People of Spain in the chiefest Towns was of more use than his twenty thousand men although they were the choice of all the Army Rowland had no fear of an Enemy whenas returning to his Garrison he was suddenly set upon by the Sarazins who were far more in number than the French who seeing themselves thus treacherously assaulted and compassed in defended themselves valiantly against those miscreants But still fresh Troops of Sarazins issued forth of these Caves on every side in so great numbers as that in the end the French tired and spent in so long and painful a conflict were oppressed by the multitudes rather than overcome by the Valour of their Enemies Rowland in so great and extream a danger gathering together the pieces of his shipwrack performed both the Duty of a good Commander and of a valiant and resolute Souldier fighting gallantly and having beaten down a great number where the Enemies were thickest he at length came where King Marsile was whom he slew with his own hands But Belingand holding the Victory absolutely his own pursued the French with great violence insomuch as Rowland not able to hold out any longer retired himself apart and finding his Death approaching he endeavoured to break his good Sword Durandall but his strength failing him he died of Thirst through so long and difficult a combate in that hot Country and with him died Oliver Oger the Dane Renald of Montaubon Arnald of Belland and other Noble Personages who are the subject of many fabulous stories Yet the Fame of their singular Virtues and Prowess is engraven in the Original of true Histories where it shall never be blotted out Charlemagne having intelligence brought him of this great and unexpected loss returned suddenly to take his revenge upon the Sarazins of whom â—he killed an infinite number in several places and being informed of the Treason of Ganes he caused him to be drawn in pieces by four Horses as the only author of this miserable defeat And being transported with a just disdain and indignation for this so base an affront he had purposed to have passed on in Spain to take further revenge But the great and weighty affairs of his other estates called him back into France to attend upon them And so ended his Spanish Wars with small success having troubled Charlemagne at divers times for the space of fourteen years For God had appointed the limits of his designs as reserving to himself a Sovereign power over all mens enterprizes even of the greatest Charlemagne made a Tomb for his Nephew Rowland and honoured the memory of those other worthy Warriers who died in the Bed of Honour with Monuments after which he was necessitated to undertake divers other Wars both in Italy and Germany in all which it pleased God to give him better success Italy during Charles his troubles in Spain had rebelled being provoked thereto by Adalgise Duke of Beneventum who endeavoured to repossess the Race of Didier but that attempt was soon suppressed by Charlemagne to the cost of the Lombard Rebells Yet shortly after ensued another War in Germany The like occasion also bred a War in Bavaria For the King Tassillon who was Son in Law to Didier King of Lombardy being eagerly pressed by his Wife and wonderfully discontented with Charlemagne shaked off the yoke of subjection and betook himself to Arms But Charlemagne surprized him with such celerity that Tassillon was forced to sue for Peace which Charlemagne granted upon condition of his subjection and loyalty But again Tassillon not able to contain himself raised a new War in another place as when we stop one breach it finds vent by another He stirred up the Huns and Avars a neighbouring People to Austria which was one of the Estates of the French Monarchy against Charlemagne who yet suppressed them with happy success and Tassillon himself being again vanquished by Charlemagne and found guilty of Rebellion and Treason was condemned to lose his Estate according to the Salique Law and with him the Kingdom of Bavaria ended being now wholly incorporated into the Crown of France The Huns and Avars of whose names joyned together the word Hungary hath been made were also punished by Charlemagne and brought under the yoke of the French Monarchy They had formerly attempted by War to disquiet the Country of Austria whom Charlemagne had at divers times opposed by his Forces so that the War at times had continued for the space of eight years and the final issue was that all the Countrey obeyed him The Danes also the Sorabes and Abrodites and the Westphalians who had all joyned in this War of Hungary were also brought under the obedience of Charlemagne The limits of the Northern Kingdom called Austrasia were so enlarged that it was divided into two Kingdoms and the Realm of Austria which joyns upon France was called Westriech that is to say the Realm of the West and that which is towards Danubius was called Ostriech that is the Kingdom of the East Austria being then of a greater command than at this day For it contained all Hungary Valachia Bohemia Transylvania Denmark and Poland Then was the French Monarchy of a vast extent But all these Nations have since either returned to their first beginning or new Lords have seized upon them Thus the French Monarchy was greatly enlarged by the Prowess and Valour of Charlemagne and his children were grown up as in age so in knowledge and experience through the careful education which their prudent Father gave them who framed them to the management of affairs intending them to provide that they might first succeed him in his Virtues and afterwards in his Kingdoms But man purposeth and God disposeth France Italy Germany Spain and Hungary made the Roman Empire in the West and Charlemagne being Master of these goodly Provinces was in effect an Emperour but only wanted the Title and the solemn Declaration of this dignity And shortly after the Providence of God that gave him the former ministred opportunity to him for the enjoyment of the latter which came thus to pass Leo was at this