Lake it comes to pass that when it swells by the Tribute of so many Waters it enlargeth and emptieth it self by the Streight into the Pontus and the Pontus is deliver'd by the Propontis The Mouth or Streight of Palus-Maeotis is call'd Bosphorus Cimmerius which is in Length about threescore Furlongs in Breadth about thirty the Extremities whereof are every-where full of Flats and Shelves The Outlet of the Pontus is call'd the Bosphorus of Thrace being in Length about one hundred and twenty Furlongs but the Breadth is unequal for at the entrance of the Narrow between Chalcedon and Byzantium it is about fourteen Furlongs over but further out about Hieron a Place so call'd on the Coast of Asia it is not above twelve Furlongs broad it is reporred that Jason first sacrific'd here to the twelve gods In a word there are two causes to which is attributed the perpetual Current one way that is observ'd to run in these two Streights The one plain and intelligible to every one For while their Waters are incessantly replenish'd by the Income of so many great Rivers there is no other way but by these Streights to discharge them for being bounded and confin'd every-where by the Coast the surplus of Water necessarily and naturally flows out by these passages The other cause is this namely that the Rivers swelling with the great rains their Streams become thereby so rapid that mighty quantities of Sand and Soil are by the Torrent convey'd down which lodging at the bottom occasion the Water to swell so much the higher and consequently augments the Stream we are speaking of These are the true Causes then of this constant Current and we are not to hearken to the Reports of Sea-faring People in these cases but to have recourse to the Evidence of solid Reason by which alone the natural Causes of Things are understood But since it is our chance to fall on this Discourse it will concern us to endeavour that nothing may be left unsaid that may serve to inform the Understanding touching the nature of the Subject we are treating Wherefore we shall labour to lay things down as plainly as possibly we may to the end no Doubt may remain on the meanest Capacity And in truth there lies an Obligation on us who live in the present Age to examine things with our utmost care and circumspection For as there is nothing remains in these our Days undiscover'd of Earth or Seas it would be a reproach to fly to Fiction with the Poets and others who have paid us with Fables to give us Notions of what themselves knew nothing Nor will it become us to tread in the steps of Historians who have gone before us who as Heraclitus observes by their weak reasoning leave doubtful things more in the dark Our business therefore must be to win the Faith of the Reader by the force and evidence of Reason We conceive then that the Pontus and Palus Maeotis have been ever receiving and do at this Day continue to receive and fill up with the Sand and Rubbish that is brought down by the Rivers we mention'd and will at last be totally fill'd up and levell'd taking it for granted that the Countries continue their situation and the Causes hold their force For since Time is without limits and the Space subject to the Accidents we have noted every-where bounded and enclos'd what wonder is it to conceive That tho' the matter convey'd thither be never so inconsiderable that in process of Time that little will amount to fill a great space And in short 't is a Rule in Nature That such things as are subject to increase and diminish have their period some time or other let the steps of Progression be never so slow or invisible But forasmuch as the quantity of Matter brought into these Seas or Lakes is not a little but without question great beyond all computation there remainâ— no dispute but the Effect we prognosticate will be soon seen and is indeed now visible For the Palus-Maeotis is almost already fill'd up where in some places there is not now above fifteen or twenty Foot depth of Water insomuch as there is no more adventuring to navigate with Ships of Burthen without a Pilot who is acquainted with the difficulties Furthermore whereas this Sea as our Forefathers have observ'd was heretofore replenish'd with salt Water as the Pontus at this day is 't is observable that it is now a fresh-Water Lake the surface of the salt Water being surmounted by the accession of so much Matter as is accumulated and brought thither by the means we mention The like must in time fall out in the Pontus and is in some measure already come to pass But this cannot be yet so easily remark'd by reason of the very great depth of Water in the Channel Howbeit those who carefully examine the Matter may be satisfy'd of the truth thereof Hence the Danube discharging his Waters out of Europe by several Outlets hath begotten a List or Bank of Earth at least forty Leagues long swelling above the surface distant a Day 's Sail from the Shore Which Bank is observ'd to encrease daily by the addition of new Matter constantly brought thither insomuch as whensoever Vessels happen to light upon any of these places which Sea-faring Men call Shelves or Banks they are for the most part broken and suffer Shipwreck Take then my Opinion how it comes to pass that these Mounds or Banks of Earth grow at that distance from the Continent and not nearer to the Shore The Soil and Rubbish then which by the force of the Torrent is convey'd down is by the prevalence of the Current transported still forward into the Sea as long as there remains any strength in the Stream that keeps it in motion but as that declines which happens by the depth and spreading of the Waters which at length are lost in the wide Sea the Matter which was before by the Torrent press'd on sinks and settles to the bottom And in proportion to the greater or less rapidity of the Rivers these Banks or Bars are at a greater or less distance from the Shore tho' the depth be great between that and the Continent This is seen plainly in the gentlest and smallest Streams whose Bars are nearer the Shoar which yet in great Floods their Current being quicken'd transport and remove this Bar at a further distance than ordinary into the Sea in proportion to the swiftness of the Flood and the quantity of the Soil it brings down Hence it will not appear strange that such a mass of Matter as we have noted should grow to so great a dimension as that which is found at the mouth of the Danube nor that such quantities of Sand only but that Rocks and Trees should be unrooted and rent from their Seats It will not then be hard I say to credit what we have deliver'd but obstinacy rather to disbelieve it since we behold the smallest Brooks to
make an easie passage through all Impediments which increasing their Rage they come to pierce and remove by their violence the hardest Rocks carrying Sand Stones and all before them filling up and so changing the face of things that the View and Landscape becomes in a short space quite another prospect Let it not be thought strange then I say that Rivers so great and rapid should produce such effects as we have Calculated by their descent into the Pontic Sea which we have maintain'd must at length be fill'd up and levell'd For he who weighs the matter rightly will not only perceive it probable but necessary For if we reason but from hence that as the Waters of the Palus-Maeotis are fresher than those of the Euxine and those of the Euxine in a degree different to those in our Seas it is a plain consequence that the Euxine must at long run become a Lake of fresh Water and at length a Moor or Fenny Continent But this effect must be the product of so much a longer space than it hath been brought to pass in the Palus-Moeotis by how much the Euxine is of greater depth and content than the other Howbeit we may justly conclude it will be by some degrees proportionably sooner by how much more the Rivers there are greater and more numerous We have been thus extensive the better to inform such as think it impossible that the Euxine which hath already visibly suffer'd some advance towards it should ever become fill'd up and that so ample a Sea should in process of time grow into Continent We had likewise a further end by thus enlarging on this Subject namely to reprove the fond and fabulous Relations of Sea-faring People and that the Readers may not do like Children who being yet ignorant of all things listen with astonishment to every extravagant Tale that is told them But having their Minds cultivated by the notions of Verity they may become qualify'd to determine of the truth or salshood of what they hear But let us further examine the situation of Byzantium The Streight then that lies between the Euxine and the Propontis is in length about fifteen Miles as was noted On that part towards the Euxine stands the City of Hieron on the extremity thereof the other part towards the Propontis terminates in the space or opening that lies between Byzantium and the opposite Shore Between these on the side of Europe and in the very narrow of all stands the Temple of Mercury built on a Rock that like a Promontory jets a good way into the Sea where the Streight is not above five Furlongs broad Here it was that Report makes Darius to have built his Bridge in his Expedition against the Scythians Now forasmuch as the Coast on both sides from hence downward towards the Propontis trends away streight and preserves a parallel distance as it goes the Current by that means moves equally But as soon as these vast Waters that descend from the Euxine Sea come to be pent up and streighten'd by the narrow passage made by the Promontory where the Temple stands which we but now mention'd on Europe side here driven as it were by some mighty force they recoil over to the Asian Shore and from thence return to the Coast of Europe beating on those Head-lands or Promontories call'd Hestiae and from thence with unspeakable violence take their course over to Asia again towards that part of the Country call'd the Ox where there stands a place bearing that Name and where the Fable tells us Io having swam over the Streight first set her Foot From hence as one may say being push'd off it takes its course at length over to Byzantium where the Waters now dilated and spreading themselves about the Town the Current loseth it self and carries but a weak stream into the Gulf but terminates in a manner at the Cape call'd the Horn. In a word tho' the greatest part of these Waters make their traverse over again towards the Asian Shore yet forasmuch as the strength of the Current is now lost the motion ceaseth ere it arrives so far as Chalcedon situate on that Coast For after so many reverberations the Streight now opening wider the force of the Stream being spent cannot reach directly over but with a kind of Biass declines and steals away And leaving Chalcedon dies in the Channel and so pursues a direct course by the Streight Hence it comes to pass that Byzantium enjoys so many Benefits and Chalcedon so few while to the view one would be apt to judge their situation equally Advantageous But as we have noted the Navigation to the one is very tedious and difficult while to the other the Stream compels and gives a quick and easie passage Hence those who are bound from Chalcedon to Byzantium cannot stand directly over by reason of the strength of the Current but are forc'd first to gain the Point call'd the Ox and the Town of Chrysopolis whereof the Athenians were heretofore possess'd and were the first who by the Counsel of Alcibiades exacted a Toll from all that Traded into the Pontic Sea From hence advancing a little they fall at length into the Current which then forceth them away directly to Byzantium The like happens whether you are bound upward or downward to this place For if Ships are bound from the Hellespont towards the Euxine while the Wind blows at South or from the Euxine towards the Hellespont during the Levants the Passage is direct and easie along the Coast of Europe from Byzantium to the Streight of the Hellespont where stand the Towns of Sestos and Abydus But those who sail from Chalcedon coasting it along find quite the contrary for they are forc'd to ply and turn to Windward by reason of the Land of the Cyzicenians which runs far out into the Sea In short as 't is difficult for those who are bound from the Hellespont to Chalcedon to Coast it along on the Europe side so when they arrive near Byzantium 't is as hard to fetch over to Chalcedon through the exceeding violence of the Current and the other Impediments we have mention'd which cross their Passage It is impossible then to arrive directly from thence at the Coast of Thrace by reason of the strength of the opposing Current and contrary Winds which let us stand which way soever we can blowing almost constantly Trade is ever out of the way for that Navigation For as the Southerly Winds blow fair to waft us into the Pontic Sea and the opposite Point is fair to bring us back so but with one or the other of these two Winds 't is impossible to gain our Passage Thus have we open'd the Causes from whence these great Benefits arrive to the Byzantines by Sea And what we shall now further observe will explain the Reason of their Misfortunes by Land Byzantium stands in the Country of Thrace which borders on and begirts their Territory quite round from Sea to
shew'd them ignorant of the Rights and Customs of human Nature persisting to execute what they had once resolv'd without regard to Gods or Men. As to Dorimachus after he had done all the spoil he could he return'd back to Aetolia And now albeit the Winter was not yet over and the Season afforded no hopes of King Philip's returning yet awhile that Prince notwithstanding taking with him three thousand of that sort of Troops they call Chalcaspides from their carrying Brazen Shields two thousand Buckler-men three hundred Candiots and about four hundred Horse with this Body of Men he departed from Larissa and took his march through Thessaly and so to Eubaea and thence by Cynus to Corinth marching by the Frontiers of Boeotia and Megara and in short perform'd his Journey with so great secresie and expedition that the Peloponnesians had not the least notice of it On his arrival at Corinth he caus'd the Gates of the City to be immediately clos'd and placing Guards on all the Avenues sent the next day to Sicyon for the elder Aratus and dispatch'd Letters to the Achaian Praetor and the several Towns of Achaia requiring them to let him know how soon they could be able to assemble their Troops and to assign a place of Rendezvous This done he continu'd his march towards Dioscurium a City of Phliasia and there encamp'd At this time Euripidas having with him two Cohorts of Eleans and certain Pirats and mercenary Strangers amounting in all to about two and twenty hundred Men With these Troops he departed from Psophis taking his march by Phoenice and Stymphalia ignorant of King Philip's return with design to attack and plunder the Territory of Sicyon But so it chanc'd that the same Night that Philip encamp'd near Dioscurium he march'd by leaving the King's Army somewhat in his Rear expecting the next Morning to fall on the Sicyonians But his People lighting on certain of the Candiots who had been commanded out to Forage by these Prisoners Euripidas got notice of the arrival of the Macedonians Whereupon he march'd back with his Troops without imparting his Intelligence to any Body taking the same Road by which he came purposing to prevent the Macedonians and take possession of the Rocks and Ground beyond Stymphalia that commands the Passage The King who knew nothing of his Design departed the next day as he had purpos'd with intention to march by the Town of Stymphalia it self and so to Caphya the place appointed for the Rendezvous of the Achaian Troops At that very instant then that the Vanguard of the Macedonians came to the foot of the Mountain Apeaurus not a Mile from the Town of Stymphalia the Van of the Eleans in like manner approach'd the same Ground Which when Euripidas perceiv'd and by what he was told and by reasonable conjecture became throughly satisfy'd that it was so he takes with him a Party of Horse only and to get himself out of danger escapes to Psophis passing over Rocks and By-ways the better to conceal his flight The rest of his Troops beholding themselves abandon'd of their Leader and being astonish'd at the surprize stood a while to consider what was best to be done For the principal among them were at first of Opinion That it was only Party of Achaians that had been drawn together and came to the relief of the Country Then perceiving they bore brazen Shields they took them for Megalopolitans For it seems that People had made use of these Arms in the Battel that had been fought with Cleomenes near Selasia Antigonus having so order'd it So that keeping themselves in good Order they continu'd their March and with assurance approach'd the Mountain But they no sooner became certain that they were Macedonians when quitting their Arms they betook themselves to slight About twelve Hundred of them were taken some cut in pieces on the place and many perish'd among the Rocks and Precipices and in a word not above one Hundred of the whole Party made their Escape So Philip sending the Prisoners and the Booty to Corinth continu'd his march This Victory pass'd for a kind of Miracle among the Peloponnesians the news of Philip's Coming and Conquering being told at one and the same time After he had travers'd Arcadia and surmounted the Hardships of the Snows and Difficulties of the Ways he arriv'd in three Days at Caphya Here the King halted for two Days to refresh his Army then taking with him Aratus the younger with the Achaian Troops which he had there drawn together amounting to Ten Thousand Men he march'd the Army toward Psophis by the way of Clitoria seizing on the Arms and Ladders in all the Towns in his march Psophis is confess'd by all without contradiction to be the most ancient City of Arcadia Its situation with respect to Peloponnesus is in the heart of that Country with respect to Arcadia it stands on the West-borders thereof towards the Achaian Frontiers in the Neighbourhood of the Elean Territory with whom at that time they were in League Hither Philip arriving in three Days from Caphya Encamp'd on certain Eminences that lie fronting the Town from whence there is an easie prospect out of all danger both of the Town and Neighbouring Villages round about From hence then taking a view of the great strength of the place he grew in doubt what to determine for on the West side there runs a rapid Stream which during almost all the Winter is no way fordable This on that side fortifies the Town and by the depth of its Channel renders it almost inaccessible the Waters falling from on high having in process of time worn it to great depth On the East-side runs the Erymanthus a great and violent River whereof many Tales are told and are in every ones mouth On the South-side where the Torrent empties into the Erymanthus the Town is environ'd with many Waters which give it great strength on that Quarter As to the other part that regards the North there stands an Eminence very strong by Nature and exceedingly improv'd by Art and this work serv'd them for a Citadel Furthermore the Walls and Works about the Town were considerable both for height and structure And over and above all this the Eleans had furnish'd the place with a good Garrison and Euripidas who had escap'd in the late Defeat was in the Town When Philip had well weigh'd all these Matters sometimes he resolv'd not to adventure to Besiege them but soon again he became of another Mind when he reflected on the great Importance of the place For as it greatly annoy'd at that time both the Achaians and Arcadians so it was a Rampier and Bulwark of the Eleans he foresaw that were it once in his possession it would become an admirable Fortress whereby to cover the Arcadians against the Insults of the Enemy and an excellent place of Arms and retreat for the Allies who made War on the Eleans Wherefore he became at length resolv'd to attempt
greatest so it is the most beautiful its Streams swelling to their greatest height about the Month of July when the Snows by the excessive Heats are melted and dissolve from the Mountains Vessels navigate up this River from the Sea by the Out-let call'd Olana from whence they sail at least two hundred and fifty Miles into the Country This River for many Miles together preserves its Water in one Chanel but as it approaches towards the Sea by the accession of many other Rivers it becomes divided into two Streams and from the Country of the Trigaboles it forms two Chanels bearing two different Names that of Padua the other of Olana where it makes the safest and most beautiful Port in all the Adriatick The People of the Country call this River Bodencus Other fabulous things spoken of it by the Greeks namely that Phaeton receiv'd his Fall into these Waters of the Weeping Poplars of the People going perpetually in Black who inhabit thereabout to Commemorate the loss of Phaeton And in a word the many other Stories that have been invented are too Poetical and in no wise useful to our present Purpose Howbeit we may have occasion to make Recital of them else-where to be able thereby the better to prove that Timaeus was not sufficiently instructed in the History of this Country The Tuscans then heretofore possess'd all the Champaign Country and at the same time were Masters of that which was call'd Phlaegria bordering on Capua and Nola. And as that People had with great Resolution withstood those who Invaded them they grew to have a mighty Name among Strangers and acquir'd much Reputation for their Courage and Vertue Hence it comes to pass that those who read the History of the Tyrrhenians are to be cautious how they judge concerning that People by their present Possessions and the Country they now Inhabit but are to consider them by the Rule of those Times of which we now speak and by the Authority and Power of which they were then Masters The Gauls liv'd in their Neighbourhood by which means they had Commerce together but in process of Time beholding so beautiful a Country with an avaricious and envious Eye taking slight Occasion for their Motive they rais'd a numerous Army and attacking the Tuscans by Surprize forc'd them to abandon all that Country bordering on the Po and peopl'd it themselves The Laians and Lebecians and those who border on the Insubrians which at that time compos'd a mighty Nation were the first that inhabited that part of the River towards the East The Cenomans live likewise on the Banks of this River and all beyond as far as the Adriatick was possess'd by an ancient People call'd the Veneti who spoke a different Language from the Gauls but much resembl'd them in their Habit and Manners The Tragick Poets have said many fabulous things touching this People Beyond the Po near the Apennines inhabit first the Anians then the Bojans after these towards Adria dwell the Aegones and lastly the Senones living near the Sea-coast In a word these we have recounted were the principal Nations that possess'd the Country we have describ'd they dwelt in Villages open and without any Walls they had few or no Moveables they slept without Beds they eat Flesh and their chief Employments were Husbandry and War being totally ignorant of all other Arts and Sciences their Substance consisted chiefly in Cattel and Gold two Commodities that they could easily carry with them whensoever by any Accident they should be necessitated to remove They understand making their Court and the Art of acquiring Friends which they greatly covet for he among them who hath most Friends is most honour'd and he who is most honour'd is most fear'd and hath most Power Furthermore they were not only Masters of this Country but compell'd the neighbouring Nations aw'd by the Fame of their Valour to pay them Obedience At length they made War on the Romans whom after they had vanquish'd in Battel together with those that took part with them they pursu'd three Days together and took at last the City of Rome itself all but the Capitol But it happening that some new Adventures calling them home the Veneti having march'd into their Country with an Army they Accorded a Peace to the Romans and restoring their City departed Then they fell into Civil Dissentions those of them who inhabited the foot of the Mountains beholding the Prosperity of these with an Eye of Envy join'd to make War on them In the mean time the Romans recover'd strength and enter'd into Alliance with the Latins Thirty Years after the Taking of Rome the Gauls made a second Expedition marching with their Army as far as Alba but forasmuch as the Romans were surpris'd by those sudden Motions of the Enemy and had not leisure to receive Aids from their Allies they did not adventure to march against them Twelve Years after this the Gauls with a powerful Army attack'd them again but the Romans having now timely notice of their Purposes and leisure to summon there Allies to their Assistance march'd out to meet them and offer them Battel when the Gauls out of Countenance at this their Bravery began to waver in their Resolution and grew at length to apprehend the Issue and did not only not adventure to ingage the Romans but secretly by Night rais'd their Camp and fled as if they had lost a Battel Then they lay quiet for the space of thirteen Years when observing the Romans Power daily to augment they at length came to an Agreement with them and enter'd into Articles of Peace After thirty Years of Repose the Trans-Alpine Gauls took Arms again but fearing the Success of the War they compos'd the Difference by Address and great Presents and remonstrating the Evil of making War among themselves who were of one and the same Nation a Pacification thereupon ensu'd and they now labour'd to turn the joint Edge of their Courage against the Romans They march'd their Armies therefore in one entire Body through Tuscany those in that Country having taken part with them and after having ravag'd the Roman Territories and taken much Booty they retir'd home without Molestation where they were no sooner arriv'd but they fell into Feuds about the Partition of their Plunder which went so far that it cost them the loss of the greatest part both of their Booty and their Army And this is a frequent Folly of that People upon any Success especially if they happen to have Disputes when they have drank Wine Four Years after this the Gauls and Samnites join'd their Arms and made War on the Romans giving them Battel in the Country of the Clusians who are likewise call'd Camartines where they made great slaughter of them But soon after this the Romans inrag'd as it were by their Misfortunes march'd against them with a fresh Army and fighting with the same Enemy having all their Legions in the Field in the Country of the
Africk but we shall have occasion else-where to speak more particularly thereof and the Benefit accruing thereby to both those Countries When the Romans came to understand that the Carthaginians had acquir'd so great a Reputation in that Country as to become formidable to the Spaniards they resolv'd to attempt something likewise on that side and concluding that the Growth of the Carthaginian Greatness was principally owing to their Negligence who by a profound Carelessness had as it were slept away their Jealousie they therefore determin'd to repair that Error by their future Care and Vigilance They did not dare however for the present to exact any thing of the Carthaginians that might appear hard and severe nor declare a War with them from the Apprehensions they were under of the Gauls who at that time as it was bruited were preparing an Army to march against Rome They resolv'd therefore for the present to sooth and amuse Asdrubal by Art that they might have the more leisure to deal with the Gauls For they rightly judg'd that while they should have that Enemy at their backs it would be not only impossible for them to become entire Masters of Italy but their City itself would not be out of Danger Wherefore after they had concluded a Treaty with Asdrubal by their Ambassadours by which the Carthaginians were oblig'd not to advance their Arms beyond the River Eber without making mention of any other Countries of Spain they prepar'd to attack the Gauls that inhabited Italy But before we come to speak of that War we have thought it not improper to say something of the Nation of the Gauls whereby to Conduct the Reader to a right Knowledge of those Matters which we purpose to deliver It will also beget a better Connexion of the Parts of our History to shew the Time when that People first planted themselves in Italy In short we have not only judg'd their Actions worthy Recording and that they ought to be deliver'd to Posterity but have concluded it necessary to our Purpose so to do For we shall learn by that means what sort of People it was that serv'd under Hannibal and with what kind of Aids he sustain'd his great Design of Subverting the Roman Government But it seems fit first to make mention of the Country to the end that by being instructed in the Nature and Situation of their Towns we may give a clearer Insight into the principal Parts of our History Italy then is in Form of a Triangle that part which regards the East is terminated by the Ionian Sea and Adriatick Gulf The Western and Southern Parts are bounded by the Tuscane and Sicilian Seas and where these two Lines meet is one Part of the Triangle here is a Promontory looking towards the South which is call'd Cothinthus which separates the Sicilian and Ionian Seas The part which regards the North and joins it to the Continent is bounded by the Alpes which take their beginning about Marseilles and the Places bordering on the Sardinian Sea stretching and extending from thence to the bottom of the Adriatick Gulf if they do not reach quite as far as Adria beneath these Mountains which Line makes the Base of the Triangle there are spacious and fertile Plains ranging North and South which terminate the Continent of Italy These Plains which have likewise a triangular Form whereof the joining of the Alpes and Appennine Hills near Marseilles make one Point exceed in Fertility all other Parts of Europe On the North they are bounded by the Alpes extending above two hundred and sixty Miles in length but the Bounds thereof towards the South are made by the Appennines containing in length about four hundred and sixty Miles towards the Sea where the Coast of the Adriatick made another side of the Triangle is computed from Senagallia to the bottom of the Gulf in length about three hundred Miles So that this Plain or Champaign Country contains in Circuit little less than eleven hundred Miles Now touching the Fertility of Italy it is hardly possible to set it forth It abounds so much in Bread-corn that very often and even in our Days the Sicilian Bushel of Wheat hath been sold for four Oboli and Barly at two and a Metreta of Wine at the same price They have Plenty likewise of Millet and all other Grain beyond expression It may be judg'd also that they abound in Oak-mast insomuch as the Italians breed infinite numbers of Swine which are spent in their Sacrifices and common Uses and carry'd in Heards with their Armies In a word it will be seen by what follows how plentifully this Country is stor'd with all things necessary to Human Life those who travel in these parts never cheapen any thing in their Inn but demand only how much they are to pay by the Head where you shall be very well treated for a quarter of an Obolus and it is seldom or never that they demand more Their People are numerous their Men proper and well-propotion'd and by their Actions they make appear that they are no less qualify'd for War The Gauls who are call'd Trans-Alpine inhabit on the North side of the Alpes about the River Rhone the Tauricks the Agonians and many other Barbarous Nations live on the Skirts of the Plains we have been speaking of Those Gauls differ nothing from the others but because they inhabit on the other side of the Alpes the Italians have given them that Appellation The very Tops of these Mountains are not habitable by reason of the Difficulty of Access and the perpetual Snow that covers them The Ligurians live on the Appennines and those Mountains towards Marseilles that join with the Alpes possessing likewise the other two sides that regard the Tuscane Sea and the great Plains but towards the West they spread themselves as far as Pisa which is the first Town in Tuscany and on the Inland-side as far as Arrezzo Then we come to the Tuscans and Ombrians their Borderers who dwell on both sides the Mountains we have mention'd From thence the Appennines which are there distant from the Adriatick Sea at least Sixty Miles leaving the Plains turn away to the Right-hand and dividing Italy as it were in the midst run stretching along as far as the Sicilian Sea As to the Plains but now nam'd where the Appennines turn off they extend to the Sea and advance as far as Sienna The River Po so much celibrated by the Poets who have given it the Name of Erydanus hath its Source in the Alpes about that part which makes one Point of the Triangle This River runs first towards the South watering the Country lying under those Hills and from thence falling into a level Country it takes its Course towards the East and by two Out-lets runs into the Adriatick It is the noblest and most useful River of the whole Continent of Italy for the Waters that fall either from the Alpes or Appennines run thither And as it is the
And directed those who best understood that Affair to take care for the transporting the Elephants while he assembled the Army where he produc'd Magilus who was come to visit him from the Countries that lie about the Po accompanied with other Princes of the Gauls making known to them by an Interpreter the Resolution that People had taken but what most animated the Soldiers was the Presents which those Princes had brought with them the tender of their Service and offers to ingage with them as their Companions in the War against the Romans In short after Magilus had assur'd them he would be their Conductor through all those Passages by which they were to march and that they should shortly arrive in safety in Italy and want for nothing in their Journey they thought it reasonable to yield entire belief to what he said they were likewise greatly encourag'd by what they heard of the abundance and fertility of the Country they were to invade and with the chearful and frank Behaviour of those who were to joyn with them in their Conflicts with the Romans The Gauls being now retir'd out of the Assembly Hannibal return'd where he represented to his People first the important Actions they had already atchiev'd how many notable Services by his Counsel and Leading they had already perform'd how many hazardous Adventures they had gone through whereof not any Man there had cause to repent Then he exhorted them to continue firm in their Resolutions inasmuch as they were of themselves convinc'd that the most difficult part of the Work was now pass'd their Passage over the River succeeding to their own Wishes nor could there be any remaining doubt of the Fidelity and Good-will of their Allies he requir'd in short that they would entertain no anxious Thoughts about the future but rely firmly on his Care and Circumspection telling them that by an entire resignation to his Conduct and Commands they would give the best and surest Marks of their Resolution and ascertain their Title to the Glory they had already won And now after the Soldiers by their Words and Actions had unanimously signify'd their approbation and readiness to obey him and their willingness to engage in all Dangers Hannibal praising their forwardness and imploring the assistance of the Gods for their Preservation commanded them to retire to their repose and to be in a readiness to march for that he determin'd to decamp the next Day so they departed The Assembly was no sooner dismiss'd when the Numidians return'd who had been sent abroad to discover of whom a great part were cut off and those who escap'd had sav'd themselves by slight For having incountred it seems not far from the Camp with certain Horse-men of the Romans whom Publius had sent abroad on the same Errand they had ingag'd so roughly that on the part of the Romans and Gauls an hundred and fifty were kill'd on the spot and of the Numidians above two hundred the Romans pursuing the rest to their Camp by which means they got knowledge of what had pass'd with the Carthaginians and so retir'd to their own Army with all the expedition they were able to assure the Consul of the Enemies arrival Whereupon the Romans decamp'd imbarking all their Baggage on board the Fleet and eagerly wishing to come to action with the Enemy they took their march up the River The Day after Hannibal had made his Oration to the Army he order'd all the Horse to move and march toward the Sea-Coast to intercept any sudden Danger that might threaten from that Quarter then he commanded the Foot to follow while himself attended the coming of the Elephants and those whom he had left to conduct them And here it will not be amiss that we give an account how they imbark'd those mighty Beasts They made many Floats of Timber whereof they joyn'd two and two together these Floats were fifty Foot long each and were plac'd pointing out into the River their inmost ends resting on the Bank and all well united together then they fasten'd others to the ends of those reaching yet farther out into the River these Machines so fram'd resembling in some sort a Bridge were well sustain'd and fasten'd with Cordage on all parts and defended from the violence of the Stream They moor'd or fasten'd this Platform to the Trees which grew on the Bank whereof there were good store after having inlarg'd and run out this Work to about two hundred Foot in length they joyn'd to the end thereof two other large substantial Floats well fasten'd together which they so joyn'd to the six'd Platform with Ropes as to be able easily to disjoyn them from the other to these moveable Floats they fasten'd Ropes whereby to tow and draw them with Boats appointed for that purpose to the other side the River and to hold them up against the Current that it might not drive down the Stream when the Machine should be loosen'd from the fix'd Stage then they cover'd the surface of it with Earth to make it appear firm Ground like that on the Bank for the Elephants were taught an exact Obedience to their Governors and were so in all things passing over the Water only excepted whereof they stood in great fear Wherefore the better to prevail on the rest they led two gentle Female Elephants foremost the others following They being brought to the outermost moveable Floats they then unty'd the Ropes by which they were fasten'd and tow'd the said Float with the Cargo of Elephants to the other side The Beasts were terrify'd at first and ran from one side to the other of the Float but beholding nothing but Water on all sides their sear then kept them in order Thus by several Voyages they wafted over all their Elephants some few excepted which leap'd through fear into the Water when they were in the middle of the Stream but these were likewise preserv'd tho' their Guides perish'd for by the help of their great Trunks which they held above Water they thereby discharg'd their Stomachs of the Water they had taken in and breath'd with freedom By this Artifice they transported their Elephants to the other side the River And now Hannibal posting his Horse and his Elephants in the Rear of the Army continu'd his march down the Stream towards the East The source or head of the Rhosne is situate far up in the Country above the Gulf of the Adriatick-Sea towards the West in those parts of the Alpes which regard the North tending in its passage towards the Southwest and discharging it self into the Sardinian-Sea In short this River for the most part makes its passage through a Champaign Country environ'd on both sides with Mountains whose North-side is inhabited by the Gauls-Ardienses the other is bounded by the North-side of the Alpes That part of the Alpes which runs from Marseilles to the bottom of the Adriatick separates the plain Country in the neighbourhood of the Po whereof we have
Allies who tho' they were likewise Prisoners were us'd however with all possible Humanity These he caus'd to be assembled where he told them That he had undertaken a Voyage into Italy not to molest or make War on them but to fight their Battels against the Romans and remonstrated to them That if they knew how to consult their own Good they would do well to court his Friendship That his chief end was to restore Liberty to the Italians and to re-establish the Inhabitants in the Towns and Villages whom the Romans had injuriously dispossess'd After this he dismiss'd them and order'd them all to be enlarg'd Ransom-free the better thereby to engage the People of Italy to his Party and to alienate them from the Romans and to animate such against them to whom the Romans had done any late violence by seizing any Town or Sea-Port He had likewise meditated during the Winter another piece of African-Craft for being well instructed in the Gaulish Levity and apprehensive lest they should form any secret Design on his Life his Friendship with them being yet but new he caus'd Peruques to be made of sundry sorts and for divers Ages than which nothing disguiseth more even to a degree of rendring People totally Strangers to one another of these sometimes he us'd one sort sometimes another providing Habits likewise sorted to every kind of Disguise insomuch as those who but now departed from his Presence could not know him a moment after nor could his most intimate Friends without difficulty distinguish him And now Hannibal taking notice that the rest of the Gauls were not very well satisfy'd that their Country should continue to be the Seat of War and that the Army was dispos'd to follow him every-where and impatiently desir'd to march into the Enemy's Country for the Hatred they pretended to the Romans while in truth their thirst of Booty was at the bottom thought it time to move out of his Winter-Quarters to gratifie the Desire of the Army Accordingly as soon as the Weather favour'd his Design and he had been throughly instructed in the way he propos'd to march resolving to shun the common Road as being too long and too well known to the Enemy and concluding that tho' the way through the low Fenny Country into Tuscany was the most difficult yet being the shortest cut and that Flaminius would be astonish'd at so hardy an Attempt he therefore who was ever enclin'd to such-like Enterprizes determin'd to take his passage that way But it was no sooner bruited in the Army that the General had taken that Resolution when every one show'd his own share of fear for so hazardous a March through a Country lying for the most part under-water and full of conceal'd Pits and Precipices Nevertheless Hannibal after he had well inform'd himself of the Nature of the Soil through which he was to march being now satisfy'd that albeit the way was wet and marshy yet that it was hard at bottom caus'd the Army to march The Van he gave to the Spaniards and Africans and appointed the care of the Baggage to the best and most useful Men in the Army to the end that if they should be oblig'd to encamp they might have every thing at hand of which they cou'd stand in need For in their other Marches he took little or no care for the transporting of Provisions along with him taking for granted That if they were vanquish'd they should need none and That if they overcame and made themselves Masters of the Country where-ever they came all things would be provided for them The Gauls march'd in the Rear of the Spaniards and Africans and the Horse in the Rear of all Hannibal order'd Mago to have a vigilant are to keep the Soldiers from stragling and to march the Army in their order apprehensive least the Gauls especially whose sloth and impatience of Labour he very well knew should through the travail of so hard a march be tempted to return back by the way they came wherefore he Horse were so posted that they might compel those to march who otherwise might be dispos'd to desert the Service The Spaniards and Africans then advane'd into the Fens where none before had ever adventur'd to go and bore their part with chearfulness they being a robust People and harden'd to the like toilsome Exercises but it far'd not so with the Gauls who march'd not but with great difficulty for the Ground having been potch'd and broken by those who march'd in the Van they often sell and were not able to keep their Legs It being very difficult fort them to support that kind of Travel to which they bad never been accustom'd nor had they any hopes of remedy by returning back the Horse being posted to hinder them In a word the whole Army suffer'd unspeakable Hardships in this march and what was most troublesome they were fore'd to pass four Days and Nights without sleep marching constantly in Water but to the Gauls it was most grievous the greatest part of their Horse and other Beasts were lost by the way falling and sticking in the Mud and Mire which yet prov'd in some sort a relief to the Soldiers for lying with their Burthens in the way above Water they pass'd over them dry-shod and often made use of them to repose on for some short space The Hooss of many of their Horses that escap'd drop'd off through so long a Journey in the Water and Fenny Ground Hannibal himself who was earry'd by the only Elephant that was left shar'd a severe part of the Hardship of the Journey for being before much afflicted with a defluxion in his Eyes his Malady grew to that height that he lost one intirely by the way for want of time and convenient place to attend his Cure After the Army to the wonder of all the World had pass'd the Fens Hannibal being inform'd that Flaminius was posted near Arrezzo he led his Army as soon as possibly he could into the Upland Country as well to refresh and repose his Men as to inform himself of the Enemies Purposes and of the course and situation of the Country And after he had been told that the Territory was rich and that there was much Plunder to be got that Flaminius was more an Orator than a Soldier that tho' he had the Gift of Persuasion he was totally to seek in Military Matters and that furthermore he was proud and grown confident of his numbers and the strength of his Army he therefore concluded that if he could by any means march by him and get into the Country beyond him that this Consul not able to suffer the Clamours and Reproaches of the Country-People would be drawn to do his utmost to hinder him from spoiling and ravaging the Country and that in short he would be drawn into greater Assurance and Negligence and endeavour to Attack the Carthaginians at any rate and follow them whithersoever they should lead him and that impatient to
Enemy The Day prov'd very dark and lowring by reason of a great Fogg that was risen nevertheless Hannibal upon notice that the better part of the Roman Army was now enter'd on the Plain and that their Vanguard was hard at hand gave the Signal of Battel dispatching his Orders to those who were in ambush to do their Duty so that the Enemy was on the sudden surrounded and at once attack'd on all sides Flaminius and the whole Army with him were struck with astonishment at this surprizing shock of the Enemy for the Fogg was so thick that they were not able to see about them and the Enemy falling among them from the Hills in all Quarters at once the Tribunes and Captains of the Romans could not discern which way to lead their Men nor how to bring Succours and Relief where 't was wanted and were in a word totally to seek how to behave themselves for they were charg'd at one and the same time in Front Flank and Rear by which means great numbers were slain not as Men sighting like Soldiers in Battel but taken as it were by stealth in their march e're they were able to put themselves in a posture of defence being as one may say betray'd and ensnar'd by the Imprudence of their General Flaminius himself now destitute both of Hope and Resolution falling among a Party of Gauls was by them environ'd and slain In this Battel there fell on the part of the Romans to the number of fifteen Thousand who were so beset that they could neither fight nor sly for it is religiously observ'd in the Roman Discipline never to abandon their Ranks or break their Order by flight Those who were surpriz'd in the Passage between the Lake and the Mountain dy'd miserably for being push'd by the Enemy into the Lake some being forc'd into the Water with their Arms not having leisure to think what they did were unfortunately drown'd others being the greater part enter'd the Lake as far as they were able leaving nothing above Water but their Heads where they remain'd a while till the Horse coming in attack'd them there Whereupon seeing there was now no other Remedy they demanded quarter in vain being all cut off those who were not slain by the Enemy killing one another About six Thousand who were well advanc'd in the Plain chanc'd to have the better of the Enemy whom they fought with in Front but in regard they could not discover how the Battel went they knew not whither to move or whom to relieve tho' it had been in their Power to have done much toward a Victory Wherefore believing they might light on some further occasion of Action they held on their march advancing till they had gain'd the top of the Hills where after they had remain'd a while and the Fogg began to clear up beholding the lamentable state of their Army and it being now out of their power to perform any Service to purpose the Enemy being Masters of the Field they made good their Retreat to a certain Town in Tuscany But the Battel was no sooner over when Hannibal sent a Detachment of Spaniards and his light-arm'd Troops after them under the Command of Maherbal who besieg'd them in the Place and after he had reduc'd them to extremity they yielded to his discretion who gave them their Lives Thus have we given the Narrative of this Battel that was sought in Tuscany between the Romans and Carthaginians Hannibal causing Maherbal's Prisoners to whom quarter had been given to be brought before him together with the rest that had fallen into their hands to the number of fifteen Thousand After he had told them That it was by his Orders that Maherbal had given them their Lives he distributed the Roman Prisoners to the Army to secure them under a good Guard but he sent home all the Latins gratis telling them only what hath been elsewhere noted That he was not come to invade or molest the Italians but to rescue their Liberty out of the hands of the Romans After this he led his Army into Quarters of Refreshment and solemnly bury'd thirty of his Officers who had been slain in the Battel His other Losses were inconsiderable the Victory not costing him above fifteen Hundred Men whereof the major part were Gauls And now his Hopes being thus justly rais'd he deliberated with his Brother and the rest of his Friends about the future Methods they were to take for improving the Victories they had gain'd In the mean time when the news came to Rome of this Defeat the Magistrates who could neither soften nor diminish it the Stroke had fallen so heavy assembled the People to whom they reported the naked truth of their Case And when at the same time the Praetor ascending the Tribunal pronounc'd these words We are Overcome they were struck with such terror that those who were then present and had been in the Battel thought they had cause to believe the Defeat was greater in Rome than in the Field Nor indeed was this surprize without reason for the Romans who had held so long a possession of Victory and were to learn the mournful Language of Vanquish'd and Oppress'd knew not how with Constancy to support an Affliction so new and unexpected The Senate only preserv'd their Temper with decency and omitted nothing that belong'd to their Function holding frequent Assemblies to deliberate about a Remedy for the Disease of which they were so sick During these Transactions the other Consul who was at Rimini near Adria on the Skirts of the Gauls and Confines of Italy not far from the mouth of the Po receiving intelligence that Hannibal was advanc'd into Tuscany and had besieg'd Flaminius in his Camp had therefore resolv'd to march to his Relief and joyn their Troops But in regard his Army was too numerous to march all in one Body he therefore pick'd out four Thousand Horse from the whole number of their Cavalry and giving the Command of these to C. Centronius order'd him to march before with expedition in order to the relief of Flaminius in case he should chance to be press'd before he could arrive But when Hannibal got intelligence that they were now sending those Succours after the Battel was lost he order'd out Maherbal with the light-arm'd Troops and a Body of Horse to encounter them Accordingly they met with Centronius fought with him and beat him killing almost half his Men on the place and forcing the rest to take Sanctuary on a neighbouring Hill and the next Day they fell alive into their hands It was but three Days ago that the news of their Misfortunes at the Battel of Thrasimene came to Rome and their Sorrow in the utmost ferment when to fill up the measure of their Affliction the news of this their last Defeat arrives when behold now not only the People in consternation but the Senate it self became sensibly touch'd Whereupon they thought it needful without deliberating on the Election of
determination to march and to take their way by Laconia through the Territory of the Argians and to joyn the King's Forces with what speed they might Accordingly they took the Field and arriving near Glympia a Fortress on the Borders of the Argians and Lacedaemonians it chanc'd that they did not encamp with that circumspection which they ought having neither Retrenchment or Pallisade nor was the place where they Encamp'd well chosen but in confidence of the good Will of the Inhabitants they quarter'd themselves under the Walls of the place Lycurgus coming to understand the Messenians were arriv'd took with him his Mercenaries and a small Party of Lacedoemonians and march'd to attack them and coming upon them about the close of the Evening boldly attempted their Camp And now tho' the Messenians had acted otherwise imprudently in every thing and had march'd with too small a Force and destitute of Officers in whose Judgment and Abilities they might rely nevertheless their behaviour in this Rencounter was without blame considering the surprize For as soon as they receiv'd notice of the arrival of Lycurgus leaving all their Lumber and whatever might trouble them behind they retir'd to a certain Fortress so that the Enemy got nothing but their Baggage and a few Horses of their Foot they lost not a Man and of their Horse not above eight or nine who fell on the spot After this Defeat the Messenians return'd home by the way of Argos and Lycurgus exalted with his Success march'd back to Sparta where he fell to making of new Levies and to deliberate with his Friends how to proceed so as to oblige Philip to come to a Battel before he left Laconia But the King nevertheless march'd from Elia plundering and ravaging the Country all along in his way and four Days aster return'd to Amycla with his Army in view of the Enemy As soon as Lycurgus had given the necessary Orders to his Friends and Officers touching the Battel they had resolv'd on he commanded the Troops to draw out of the Town consisting of about Two Thousand Men taking Possession of all the nearest Posts to Menelaium leaving Instructions with those that were appointed to remain within the Town to have a special regard to a Signal that he would give them which as soon as they saw they should issue out of the Town with all expedition and by as many ways as they could and draw up on a certain Ground where the River ran nearest to the Town In this posture stood Matters between the two Armies But lest our Relation should seem obscure through want of due light in the nature and situation of Places about which we treat we shall therefore do our best to be as clear in that as in our accounts of matters of fact which shall be our manner throughout our whole Work Some Places which are unknown we shall describe by comparing them with others that are known distinguishing them by Marks and Notes of common Observation For through want of a right Information herein many and great Errors have been committed in the Conduct of Enterprizes both by Sea and Land But we shall labour our utmost that the Readers of our History may be instructed as well in the manner as matter of Occurrences and that nothing may be left unsaid touching the Description of Towns and Countries and principally in Military Adventures wherein the better to explain our Mind we shall have recourse sometimes to some certain Port of the Sea sometimes to an Island sometimes to some conspicuous Temple Promontory oâ— Mountain or the Name of some Country and in short the divers Regions of the Heavens as being things generally known and familiar to Mankind 'T is by this Method then I say that we hope to be able to lead the Reader to a just Conception of Places and Situations to him otherwise unknown To give a general description then of thâ— City of Sparta 't is observable that in figure it is round it stands on a plain or bottom where there rises here and there certain Hillocks or Eminences and some places are waste and barren On the West-side runs the River Eurotas which is deep and unfordable at certain Seasons of the Year The Mountains of Menelaium are on the other side of the River regarding the North-East part of the Town these being almost inaccessible and exceeding high command all the space of Ground lying between the Eurotas and the Town which space in a word taking likewise the River into the account which runs by the foot of the Hills is not above a Furlong and an half wide Now by this way King Philip was oblig'd to pass in his return from his Expedition having on his left the Town and the Lacedaemonians drawn up in Battalia and on his right the River and the Troops of Lycurgus posted on the skirts of the Hills Furthermore the Lacedoemonians having stop'd the course of the River had brought all that space of Ground we mention'd under Water so that it became impossible for their Foot much less their Horse to march Wherefore the King's Army had no other way to go but in defilée along the foot of the Mountains by which means neither Party could sustain or relieve the other and the whole Army would run a mighty hazard marching so expos'd to the continual shot of the Enemy Philip therefore well weighing the Peril resolv'd that nothing could be better first done than to attempt Lycurgus and endeavour to beat him from his Post Wherefore taking with him his Mercenaries and Buckler-men which were sustain'd by the Illyrians he pass'd the River and march'd directly towards the Hills Lycurgus who could not but understand the King's purpose put himself in a posture to receive him and at the same time gave Signal to those within the Town who immediately sally'd out and drew up as they had been order'd placing the Horse on their right When Philip was advanc'd somewhat near to Lycurgus he order'd the Mercenaries to march to the Attack and so began the Battel For a while the Lacedaemonians having the advantage both in their Arms and the Ground had also the better in the Dispute But as soon as the Buckler-men advanc'd to sustain the others and that Philip himself with the Illyrians fell on their Flank the Mercenaries on the coming up of this Relief took new Courage and engag'd with so much Bravery that Lycurgus was worsted and betook himself to flight leaving about an Hundred of his Men dead on the place and 〈◊〉 greater number that were taken Prisoners Many got into the Town and Lycurgâ—s himself favour'd by the coming on of the Night got likewise through by-ways into Sparta Whereupon Philip having now the Mountains to friend where he plac'd the Illyrians on the Guard return'd himself with the Buckler-men and Mercenaries to the gross of the Army At the same time Aratus came from Amyclâ—e with the Phalanx on whose approach to the Town Philip repass'd the River to