JW.A&GKLBH
Antique Notitia:
X
OR, THE
ANTIQUITIES
O F
ROME.
In TWO PARTS.
I. A Short H I S T O R Y of the Rife, Progrefs, and
Decay of the COMMONWEALTH.
II. A Defcription of the CITY : An Account of the
Religion, Civil Government, and Art of War; with
the Remarkable Cuftoms and Ceremonies, Public and
Private.
With Copper CUTS of the Principal Buildingt, &c.
To which are prefixed Two ESSAYS, concerning the
Roman LEARNING, and the Roman EDUCATION.
By BASIL KENNEfT, of C. C C Oxon.
Nee definat unquam
^ecum Graia loqui, tecum Romano. iKtuflas. Claudian.
The ELEVENTH EDITION.
DUBLIN:
Printed for J. EXSHAW, and H. BRADLEY, in Dame-Jlrcet.
MDCCLXVII.
To His HIGHNESS the
DUKE of GLOUCESTER.
SIR,
AMONG all the Noble Pre-
fagesof/^/Jand Honour, there
is not one by which YOUR
HIGHNESS hath given greater En-
couragement to the Hopes of thefe
Kingdoms, than by a furprizing Cu-
riofity, and impatient Defire of Know-
ledge. For the fatisfying fo generous
Inclinations, YOUR HIGHNESS cannot
but feek an early Acquaintance with
the Roman State. It muft needs pleafe
A 2 You,
The Epiftle Dedicatory.
You, SIR, to underftand the Conftitu-
tion of that People, before You ap-
pear the Rival of their Glory : And
the firfl Steps to both thefe Attain-
ments will be alike uneafy. Many
Fatigues are to be undergone, ere
You furpafs them in Aftion and Con-
duct: And in the fame Manner, be-
fore You are introduced into the
more delightful Scenes of their Policy
and Government, YOUR HIGHNESS
fhould \szfirft prefented with the rough-
er Profpecl of their Cuftoms and Cere-
monies.
FOR YOUR Direction in fo noble,
though intricate, a Path of Antient Sto-
ry, YOUR HIGHGESS is defired to accept
this fmall Endeavour, no otherwife, than
You would a few Shadows, or a little
Model, to give You, SIR, the firft No-
tion of fome admired Picture, or fome
magnificent Building.
THERE
The Epiftk Dedicatory.
THERE is one Cuftom, which, I make
my felf believe, YOUR HIGHNESS will read
with fome Pleafure; I mean, SIR, the
TROJAN GAME, a Martial Exercife per-
formed by the Youth of the Firft Qua-
lity in Rome, under fuch a Captain as
YOURSELF; and deriving its Original
from young Afcanius, whom I need
not fear to mention as YOUR Precedent,
fince you have already honoured him
with YOUR Imitation.
IT may be expected, perhaps, that,
out of the many Illuftrious Romany I
fhould here propofe to YOUR HIGH-
NESS fome of the moft celebrated Ex-
amples of Virtue and great Atcbieve-
ments. But this would prove a need-
lefs Piece of Service; fmce You can-
not mifs YOUR Way in the Purfuit of
the Fir/}, while YOUR HIGHNESS goes
on, like the Trojan Prince,
Matre Dea monjtrante Viam.
A 3 And
le Dedicatory.
And to the Second, the fhort Advice,
which that Hero gave his Son, will
engage You as the higheft Motive :
TV, ammo repetentem exempla tuorwn,
Et Pater ^Eneas, 5? Avunculus excitet Hedor,
7 am^ S I R,
YOUR HIGHNESS'S
Humlle y and
Mofl Obedient Servant \
Bafil Kennett.
THE
PREFACE.
THE Ufefulnefs of fuck a Defign as this
not being like to be coiled in queftion, I
am obliged no farther ', than to give ajhort
Hiftory of what Attempts have hitherto been made
of the fame Nature, with feme Account of the pre-
Jent Undertaking.
Not to make a Catalogue of the many Traffis on
particular Subjects of Roman Antiquities, the
Two Authors mojt in Ufe for this Knowledge are
Rofinus and Godwin- the fir ft as a full Syftem,
the other as an Abridgment or Compendium. We
have nothing more complete than Rofinus taken
all together : But he will appear very deficient
in many Points, if compared with other learned
Men, who have laboured in the adorning of feme one
Part of his General Subject. 'Thus, I believe, his
Book of War hasfcarce been looked into fmce the
Publijhing of LipfiusV admirable Comment on Po-
lybius. His Accounts of the Habits, Senate, Laws,
and Funerals, will never be Jet in Competition with
the more accurate Pieces of Ferrarius and Rube-
nius, of Paulus Manutius and Kirchman. Not
to urge, that the Names, the Money, the Private
Games, with fever al lejfer Topics, are entirely
omitted; and many more fubftantial Cujloms but'
lightly touched. The Paralipomena o/Dempfter,
which are added in the beft Editions, under the
Name of Notes on this Author, feem for the mojt
A 4 Part,
PREFACE.
Part, barely a franfcript of Common Places, ga-
thered from the Claffics and other Writers, with
little Connection', and therefore though they ferve,
now and then, for a Supplement to Rofinus, yet
it is impoffible they Jhould be very infirulive.
Godwin's Anthologia (which we ufually meet
with in our Schools), befides that it wants all the
Advantages which we have received from the
Learned within thefe threescore Tears, is fojhort
and unfatis factory, in Subjects of thegreatejt Con-
fequence ; Jo crowded with Phrafes, which are to
be found in all our Dictionaries ; fo fluffed with
long Paffages of Latin untranjlated; has fo little
Method, and runs fo dry and heavy in the Reading,
that I fancy, it is a general Wijh it were exchanged
for fomething elfe in the fame Kind, of greater Ufe
and more agreeable Entertainment.
For Cantelius de Romana Republica, to me the
jCiuhfcems very unhappy, that by /pending half
his Book in giving us a hng Relation of the Roman
Wars, Battles, Deaths, &<x which mojl Perfons
dd rather learn from the Original Hiftorians,
wout
he hasfoftraighteneahimfelfin the remaining Part,
as to pafs for no extraordinary Epitomizer. Bcjides
that he cannot fpare Room to Jet down one Word of
Authority for what he fays.
As for thefe Papers : The two EfTays of the
Roman Learning and Education are, I think, what
has not been before attempted in any Language ;
and on that account will be the more eafily par-
doned, if not the better accepted in the World.
The Compendious Hzjl'ory of the Rife, Progrefs, and
Decay of the State, has this at leaft to fay for it f elf,
that it carries its own Credentials alon^ with it,
in con^ant References to the Antient Writers. I
will
PREFACE.
-will not here compoje a Table of Contents for the
Second Part, which has run out intofuch Length^
as to make the Body of the Work j only I may hint, in
a Word or two, that the many Omiffions of Rofinus
and Godwin are largely fupplied, and fcarce any
Thing material (that I know of) pajfed by. That
the City, with the famous Structures of all Sorts,
are dejcribed from the Relations of Eye-witness,
and Authors of Credit: That the Laws, which
occur in the beft Claffics, and often prove a great
Hindrance to the Reader, are difpojed under pro-
per Heads in a very convenient Manner and the
trueft Account of their Import, and the Time
when they were made, colle&ed from the mojl ap-
proved Commentators, and from the admired Trea-
tije of Manutius : That in Jome Subjects it was
thought proper to follow, for the moft Part, one
particular Author, who had managed his Province
with univerfal Approbation : As Sigonius in the
Comitia and the Judgments : Lipfius in the Art
of War, in the Gladiators, and in the Names :
Kirchman in the Funerals -, and Brerewood in the
Account of the Money : That the curious Remarks
of Scaliger, Cafaubon, Graevius, M.onfieur and
Madam Dacier, are inferted on many Occafions: In
Jhort, that no Pains or Charges have been f pared,
which might render the Attempt truly ferviceable,
to the good End for which it was defigned, the Plea-
Jure and Benefit of the Reader.
The great IncorreElnefs of the Second Edition,
was occafionedby the Hafte,and the Necejfities, of the
then unfortunate Proprietor ; from whom no Sight
of the Sheets could be obtained, till the whole wasfo
dijhonourably finijhed. Yet the neceffary Altera-
tions and Additions, before given in, were inferted
in
PREFACE.
in their Places. It was, and is, with all Gratitude,
acknowledged, that the bejl fart of this Affiftance
hath been afforded by the late noble Collections of
the excellent Grzevius ; a Catalogue of -which is
here Subjoined. The Compiler wifhes it may be im-
puted not to Idlenefs, but to Vefign, that he hath
borrowed only a Mite from that Treafury. For
intending an Abridgment, tf a full Body, be
thought it alike unreajonable, either to fwell the
Bulk above the Name and Ufe, or to forbear fuch
Improvements, as could Jcarce in Honeftybe de^ed:
Either to burthen the Reader for the Bookfdlei -s
Advantage, or, under a Pretence of eafing the
former, to injure bath. This new Impreffion has
mt only been amended by careful Supervifal but
adorned by the Beauty of the Letter, and of the ad-
ditional Sculptures. But the chief Recommenda-
tion of the Defign is owing to the favourable Ac-
ceptance, and kind Encouragement of private Ver-
fons and of Societies, efpecially of a Royal and
mofr ilouriihing Seminary, to -which our Thanks can
be returned in no better Wijhes, than that it may
for ever continue in the fame happy State, and un
der the like prudent Government and Direction.
C O N-
CONTENTS.
Two Previous EfTays, viz.
ESSAY I. Of the Rom an Learning.
ESSAY II. Of the Roman Education.
PART FIRST.
The Original, Growth, and Decay of the
ROMAN COMMON-WEALTH.
CHAP. I. Of the Building of the Cir\. Page i
Chap. II. Of the Roman Affairs under the Kings.
p. 4
Chap. HI. Of the Roman Affairs, from the Beginning
of the Confular Government, to the firft um$ War.
p. 6
Chap. IV. Of the Roman Affairs, from the Beginning
of the firft Punic War to the firft Triumvirate.
p. 10
Chap. V. Of the Roman Affairs from the Beginning
of the firft Triumvirate to the End of the Twelve
Csefars. . 14
Chap. VI. Of the Roman Affairs, from Domitian to
the End of Conftantine the Great. p. 21
Chap. VII. Of the Roman Affairs, from Conftantine
the Great to the taking of Rome by Odoacer, and
the Ruin of the JVeftern Empire. p. 26
PART
CONTENTS.
PART II. BOOK I.
Of the Cir Y.
CHAP. I. Of the Pomcerium, and of the Form
and Size of the City, according to the f even Hills.
Page 29
Chap. II. Of the Dwifion of the City into 'Tribes and
Regions ; and of the Gates and Bridges. 34
Chap. III. Of the Places of Worjhip ; particularly of
Temples and Luci. 38
Chap. IV. Of the Theatres, Amphitheatres, Circo's,
Naumachiae, Odae, Stadia, and Xyfti, and of the
Campus Martius. 43
Chap. V. Of the Curias, Senacula, Bafilicae, Fora,
and Comitium. 47
Chap. VI. Of the Porticos, Arches, Columns, and
Trophies. 51
Chap. VII. Of the Bagnios, Nymphse, Aqusedufts,
Cloacae, and public Ways. 56
BOOK II.
Of the Religion of the ROMANS.
CHAP. I. Of the Religion and Morality of the
Romans in general. Page 6 1
Chap. II. Of the Luperci, Lupercalia, &c. of the
Potitii, and Panarii ; and of the Arval Brothers. 64
Chap. III. Of the Augurs, Auguries, &c. 67
Chap. IV. Of the Arufpices and Pontifices. 69
Chap. V. Of the Flamines, Rex Sacrorum, Salii, Fe-
ciales and Sodales. 72
Chap. VI. Of the Veftals. 77
Chap.
CONTENTS.
Chap. VII. Of the Duumviri, Decemviri, and Quin-
decemviri, Keepers of the Sibyline Writings of
the Corybantes, or Priefs of Cybele, and the Epu-
lones. " Page 79
Chap. VIII. Of the Roman Sacrifices. 84
Chap. IX. Of the Roman Tear. 86
Chap. X. Of the Diftinftion of the Roman Days. 89
Chap. XL Of the Kalends, Nones, and Ides. 91
Chap. XII. The moft remarkable Feflivals of the Ro-
mans, as tbeyftand in the Kalendar. 92
BOOK III.
Of the Civil Government of the ROMANS.
CHAP. I. Of the general Divifions of the People.
Page 97
Chap. II. 'Of the SENATE. -101
Chap. III. Of the general Divifions of the Magiflrates,
and the Candidates for Offices. 105
Chap. IV. Of the Con fills. 107
Chap. V. Of the Didator, and bis Matter of the
Horfe. 101
Chap. VI. Of the Praetors. 1 19
Chap VII. Of the Cenfors. n^
Chap. VIII. Of the Quaeftors. 1 14
Chap. IX. Of the Tribunes of the People. 115
Chap. X. 0//^^Ediles. n6
Chap. XI. Of the Decemviri. 117
Chap. XII. Tribuni MiHtium Confulari Poteftate.
119
Chap. XIII. Civil Offices of lefs Note, or Jefs frequent
Occurrence in Authors, and of the public' Servants.
120
Chap. XIV. Of the Provincial Magi/lrates ; andfirft
of the Proconfuls. 124
Chap. XV. Of the Provincial Praetors and Propraetors,
/<?Legati, Quaeftors, and Proquaeftors. 127
Chap.
CONTENTS.
Chap. XIX. 'The Roman Way of taking Towns., with
the moft remarkable Inventions and Engines made Ufe
of in their Sieges. Page 235
Chap. XX. "The Naval Affairs of the Romans. 239
B O O K V.
Mifcellany Cujloms of the ROMANS.
CHAP. I. Of the -private Sports and Games.
Page 247
Chap. II. Of the Circenfian Shows; and firft of the
Pentathlum the Chariot Races, the Ludus-Trojae,
and the Pyrrica Saltatio. 252
Chap. III. Of the Shows of wild Beafls, and of the
Naumachiae. 265
Chap. IV. Of the GLADIATORS. 270
Chap. V. Of the Luoi-SqENicr, or Stage-plays ;
and firft. Of the Satires ; and the Mimic Pieces;
with the Rife and Advances of fuch Entertainments
among the Romans. * 282
Chap. VI. Of the Roman Tragedy and 'Comedy. 2%6
Chap. VII. Of the f acred, votive % and funeral Games.
296
Chap. VIII. Of the Roman Habit. 306
Chap. IX. Of the Roman Marriages. 326
Chap. X. Of the Roman Funerals. 334
Chap. XI. Of the Roman Entertainments. 365
Chap. XII. Of the Roman Names. 370
Chap. XIII. Of the Roman Money. 372
INDEX Rerum & Verborum.
ESSAY
ESSAY I.
Of the ROMAN Learning.
WHOEVER confiders the ftrange Beginning of
the Roman State, the Frame and Constitution on
which it was firft fettled, together with the Qua-
lity of the original Members, will think it no Won-
der, that the People, in that early Age, mould have a
kind of Fiercenefs, or rather Wildnefs in their Temper, ut-
terly averfe'to every Thing that was polite and agreeable.
This favageDifpofition by Degrees turned into a rigid Seve-
rity, which encouraged them to rely r olelyon the Force of
their native Virtue and Honour, without being beholden to
the Advantages of Art, for the Improvement of their Rcafon,
or for the Afiifbnce of their Courage. Hence a Grotihefs of
Invention paffed current with them for Wit, and Study was
looked on as an unmanly Labour : Efpecially, while they
found, that their exaft Difcipline and unconquered Refolu-
tion, rendered them Matters of Nations much more knowing
than themfdves. All this is frankly acknowledged by their
own Authors : Liters in Homine Romano go for a Wonder
with Tully (a). And Virgil, in a Reign when all the Civility
and Learning of the World were tranfplanted to Rome,
chuleth to make the Arts of Government and War the
diftinguiming Excellencies of his Country-meg.
Excudcnt aliifpirantia moH'tus ara:
Credo equidem, vfoos duceat de marmcre vultus ;
Orabunt caitfas wlius, caelique meatus
Def-'rihent radio, ff furgeniia. federa dicent.
Tit regere imperio popitlos, Romans, memento j
(*) De Nat. Dior. Hb, i. De Stnsftute.
ii E S S A T I.
H<e till enmt artes : pacifque imponere morein,
Parcer? fubjefl'iS) & debellare fuperbos (a).
Others (hall beft infpire the mimic Brafs,
Grout of Marble carve a living Face;
Plead -with more Force, and trace the heavenly Roads,
&#* &i Defcribing the wide Empire of the Gods ;
The wandring Stars to fteady Rules confine,
And teach expecting Mortals when they'll mine.
TheeHeavens', brave Roman, formed for high Command;
/ jfj -^ e thefe thy Arts, from the* victorious Hand
To make glad Nations own their Peace bertow'd,
To fpare the Suppliant, and pull down the Proud.
TheReafon which Horace gives for the flow Advances of
Poetry, will hold in every other Part of polite Learning.
Serus enim Greeds admovit acumina chartis (b).
Their little Acquaintance with the fineWriters of Greece,
who had fettled the Emporium of Arts and Learning in that
Country, deprived them of an Opportunity to cultivate and
beautify their Genius, which was formed by Nature capa-
ble of the higheft Attainments. Some Kind of Poetry,
indeed, they had in their ruftic Times ; but then the Ver-
fes were fuch rude doggrel Stuff, as old Ennius defcribes:
- Qualis Fauni vatefque canebant,
<j>)uom neque Mufarum fcopuhs quifquam fuperarat,
Nee difli Jludiojus erat.
Cicero is inclined to think, That the old Romansm'ightpro-
bably have gained fome little Knowledge in Philofophy from
the Inftru&ions of Pythagoras, the famous Author of the
Jtalick Set, who flourimed in Italy about the fame Time as
the Tarquins were expelled the City. But the antient Cuf-
tom of Singing to the Flute the Praifes of famous Men, at
* great Entertainments, is the only Relique he can find of this
Do&rine, which was delivered in Poetical Numbers^.
Their Intercourfe with Greece begun upon their under-
taking the Defence of that Country, againft Philip of Ma-
cedon, who had a Defign on its Liberty, about the Year of
Rome 555 ; when, according to their ufual Practice, under
(a) jEntiJ. 6. (b) Lib. ^. Epift. i. (c) Cictn Tyfc. Queft. lib. 4.
the
Of the ROMAN Learning. iii
the Name of Deliverers, they made themfelves father the
Martens of that People. And then,^^^^^. c ... .^
Grxcia captaferum viftorem cepit, cjf artes
Intuit t agrejli Lath (a)
The greateft Number of eminent Poets, efpecially Dra-
matic Writers, flourifhed between the End of the firft and
the Third Punic Wars ; or from the Year of the City 5 1 a
to 607. ' The moft confiderable were Livius Andronicus,
Neevius, Ennius, Pacuvius, Accius, C<cilius,Plautus, Ajraniut 9
Terence, and Lucilius. And therefore Horace means only the
firft Punic War, when he fays,
Et pofl Pttnica Bella quietus qmzrere ccepit,
6)uid Sophocles, fc? Tbefpis & Mfchylus utile ferrent:
Tentavit quoque, remft dignl vertere poffet (b).
The Studies of Philofophy and Rhetoric never made any
tolerable Progrefs before the Arrival of the Achaians, who
in the Year of Rome 586 or 587, to the Number of a
Thoufand, or more, were fent for out of their own Coun-
try, where they had (hewed themfelves difaffe&ed to the
Romans, and were difperfed in feveral Parts of Italy. Among
thefe was the famous Polybius theMegaIopoIitan,-whofe great
Parts and Learning not only gained him the entire Friend-
fhip of Scipio /Emilianus and Ltflius, two of the greateft
Romans in that Age, but procured alfo the Releafe of all his
Countrymen that remained after being fome Years in Exile.
Moft of that Company, though not equal to Polybius, yet
being the principal Members of the chief Cities in Greece,
brought away a great Share of the Politenefs and refined
Arts of that Country : And being now reduced to a State
of Life, which took from them all Thoughts of public Ac-
tion, they applied themfelves wholly to the Purfuit of Let-
ters, as well to divert the fad Reflections, on their Banifh-
ment, as to improve and cultivate their Mind (c)
In a few Years their Examples and Inftruflions had
wrought fuch a ftrange Converfion in the Roman Youth,
that the Senate, fearing left the antient Difcipline fhould
by thefe Means be corrupted, and the Minds of the People
foftened and enervated by Study, confulted how to put a
Stop to this Vein of Politenefs, fo contrary to the rough
(a) Her. Lib. a. Epift. i. (1) Ibid. (c) . V'td. Cafautfn. Cbriftl. ad
Ptljb. & Comment, ad Suetcn. de Grammat.
B 2 and
iv E S S A T I.
and warlike Difpofitions of their Anceftors. To this Pur-
pofe we meet with a Decree bearing Date in the Confulfhip
of C. Fannius Strabo and M. Valerius MeJ/ala, A. U. C. 592 ;
'by which it appears, that whereas Marcus Pomponius the
Praetor had made a Report to the Senate about the PbiJofophers
and Rhetoricians, the Fathers^ did hereby order the afore/aid
Praetor to take Cognizance of the Bitfinefs, and to fuffer no
fuch Men in Rome (a).
The eager Paflion for Learning, which this Prohibition
had in fome Meafure allayed, broke out with greater Heat
and Force about fixteen Years after, upon this famous Occa-
fion,as has been mentioned by feveral Authors (b).
The Athenians having plundered Oropus a City of Bceotia,
the Inhabitants made their Complaint to Rome ; the Romans
referring the Cafe to the Judgment of the Sicyonians, a Mulct
of 500 Talents was impoled on the Athenian State. Upon
this Account it was refolved, that Commiflioners mould be
fent to the Roman Senate, to procure a Mitigation of the
Fine. The Perfons pitched on for this Service were Car-
neades the Academic, Diogenes the Stoic, and Critolaus the
Peripatetic. About the Time of their coming, Authors are
very little agreed ; but Petavius and Caufabon fix it in the
fix hundred and third Year after the Building of Rome.
Moft of the fludious Youths immediately waited on the old
Ambaffadors at their Arrival, and heard them difcourfe fre-
quently, with Admiration. It happened too, that they had
each of them a different Way in their Harangues ; for the
Eloquenceof Carneades was violent and rapid ; thatofCr//0/0a/
neat and fmooth ; that of Diogenes modeft and fober. Car-
neades one Day held a full and accurate Difpute concerning
Juftice ; the next Day he refuted all that he had faid before,
by a Train of contrary Arguments, and quite took away the
Virtue that he feemed fo firmly to have eftablimed. This
he did to (hew his Faculty of confuting all manner of po-
fitive Affertions ; for he was the Founder of the Second
Academy, a Seel which denied that any Thing was to be
perceived or underftocd in the World, and fo introduced an
univerfal Sufpenfion of Affent. It foon flew about the City,
that a certain Grecian (by whom they meant Carneades,} car-
rying all before him, had impreffed fo ftrange a Love upon
the young Men, that, quitting all their Pleafures and Paf-
times, they run mad, as it were, after Philofophy. This
(a} Suetsn. de Clar. Grammat. cap. I. A Cell lib. 15. cap. 11. (b)Plut.
in Cat. major. A Gell. lib vii. cap. 14. Macrob. Stat. i.cap. 15.
t
Of the ROMAN Learning. v
to the Generality of People was a very pleafing Sight, and
they rejoiced extremely to find their Sons welcome the Gre-
cian Literature in fo kind a Manner. But old Cato the
Cenfor was much concerned at this, left the Youth, be-
ing diverted by fuch Entertainments, {hould prefer the Glory
of Speaking, to that of Acting. So that the Fame of the
Philofophers encrcafing, he refolved to get as quickly rid
of them as poffible. With this Defign, coming into
the Senate, he accufed the Magi llrates for not giving the Am-
baffadors'a *peedier Diipatch ; they being Perfons whocould
eafily perfuade the People to whatever theypleafed. He ad-
vifed therefore, that in all H tie fomething fhould be con-
cluded on, that being fent Home to their own Schools, they
might declaim to the Grecian Children ; and the Roman
Youth might be obedient to their own Laws and Gover-
nors, as formerly.
The fame grave Difciplinarian, to deter his Son from any
thing pra&ifed bythe Grecians, ufed to pronounce, with a Voice
like an Oracle, in a harfher and louder Tone than ordinary,
That the Romans would certainly be dejlroyed, when they be'
gan once to be infefled with Greek. But it is very likely,
that he afterwards^ altered his Mind; fince his learning
Greek in his old Age.is a known Story, and depends on good
Authority (a). The Lord Bacon fays, 'Tivat a Judgment
upon him for b : *former'Blafphemies (b).
The AmbafTadors, upon the Motion of Cato, had a quick
Difmiffion, but left lo happy an Inclination in the Roman
Youth to Philofophy and good Letters, that they grew
every Day more enamoured of Study ; and fhewed as much
Diligence in their Purfuits of Knowledge, as they had ever
done in their Applications to War.
In the Year of the City.6o8 or 609, Greece, which had
hitherto retained feme Shadow of Liberty, though it had
been a long while at the Romans Command, was, upon
fome flight Occafion, entered with an Army under L. Mum-
mius, and reduced to the common State of the ether con-
quered Nations. This Exploit happening in the very fame
Year that Carthage was dfeftroyed by P. Scipio JEmilianuf,
it will be very pleafant to obferve the different Genius of
the two Commanders, who had the Honour of thefe At-
chievements ; and to fee how Politenefs and the antient Sim-
fa) Cicero Academ. i. De Senefl. S^ulnSlilian. Inji. lib. 12. cap. 1 1.
(b) Advancement of Learning, Bak i.
B 3 plicity
vi E S S A T I.
plicity were at Strife in Rome. Mummius was fo far unfkil-
led in the curious Inventions of Art, that after the taking
of Corinth, -when a great Number of admirable Pictures and
Statues, by the beft Mailers, came into his Hands, he told
the Servants that were to carry them into Italy, If they loft
any by the Way, they Jbould certainly find him new ones in
their Room (a.)
Scipio, on the other Hand, to the Courage and Virtue of
antient Heroes, had joined a profound Knowledge of the
Sciences, with all the Graces and Ornaments of Wit. His
Patronage was courted by every one that made any Figure
in Learning. Panati'us, whom Tully calls the Prince of the
Stoics, and the incomparable Hiftorian Polybius, were his
Bofom-Friends, the Aflifters of his Studies at home, and
the conftant Companions of his Expeditions (b). To which
may be added the Remark of a very great Man, That he
faffed the foft Pours of bis Life In the Confer fatlon of Terence,
and was thought to have a Part in the Compofttion of bis Co-
medies (c).
The higheft Pitch of the Roman Grandeur, in the Time
of the Commonwealth, is thought to have been concluded
before the final Reduction of Carthage and of Greece (d) ;
and the common Reafon afligned for its Decay is, that
Athens, being now become the Mart of the World for Wit
and Breeding, imported the Arts of Debauchery, among
her noble Productions, to Rome; and maintained their Lux-
ury, as well as their Studies and Converfation, at her
Charge. But however their antient Prowefs might decline,
it is certain, the Conqueft of the great Empire of Science
was now carried on more vigoroufly than ever. The Tide
of Learning and Humanity ran every Day with greater
Force, and, after the famous Qato, fcarce met with any
to oppofe it. Between this Period and the Death of Sylla
(fcarce feventy Years,) the moft renowned Orators CraJJus
and Antony ruled the Forum, who were fucceeded by Sul-
ficius, Cotfa, Hortenftus, and other great Names recorded
by Tully in his Brutus. At the fame Time, the two Scee-
vola's, the Augur and the Pontiff, advanced Civil L^w to
its full Perfection.' And Lucretius (who wrote about the
Time of the Jugurthine War) as he excelled even the
Grecian Difciples of Epicurus, in explaining and defending
Paterc. lib. i.cap. 13. (1) It. (c) Sir Witt. Te>nph\ Mifctl.
P. a. Efiay 4. (d) Vid. Cafaulsn. CbratiQlsg. ad Fclyb.
his
Of the R o M A N Learning. vii
his Do&rine, fo he directs us where to begin, in fixing
the Height and Purity of the Roman Poetry and Style (a).
Philofophers were now in univerfal Honour and Requefl,
being invited from all Parts for the Education and Inftruc-
tion of young Patricians, and for the Advice and Affiftance
of the great Minifters of State. And what is moft furpri-
fing, Arts and Civility were rather encouraged, than fright-
ed away by the Wars ; and the Mufes, like their Patronefs
Minerva, had very often their Refidence in theCamp. Sylla
himfelf wrote two and twenty Books of Memoirs (b), and
contributed, in an extraordinary Manner, to the Advance-
ment of Knowledge, by tranfparting to Rome the famous
Library of Apellican the Peripatetic, in which were moft of
the Works of Ariftotte and Theophrafius which had been long
unknown to the greateft Part of their Followers (c).
Syl/a's Rival, Marius, was the only Man of Note, in that
Age, who retained the old Ferocity and unpoHfhed Man-
ner of the firft Romans. He, indeed, would never ftudy Greek,
nor fuffer that Language to be ufed in any Matters of Con-
fequence ; as thinking it ridiculous to beftow Time in that
Learning, the Teachers whereof were little better than
Slaves (d).
But then Lucullus, who fucceeded Sylla in the military
Glory, as to Matters of Learning was much his Superior.
In his Youth he had fo abfolute a Command of the two
only Tongues then in Ufe, that upon a Project of
compiling a Hiftory, he fairly took his Chance, whether
he mould write in Greek or Lathi, in Profe or Verfe. And
after all his Feats of Arms in*he Mithridatic War, when
he was deprived of his Command by the prevailing Faction
of Pompey, the great Employment of his Privacy and Re- -\
treat was the promoting of Knowledge. With this Defign
he built a Library, furnifhed it with a vaft Number of
Books fairly tranfcribed, and made it free to all Vifitants.
The Walks and Schools, which he raifed near the Library,
were always full of Grecians, who retiring hither fromBu-
fmefs, diverted one another with Conferences and Debates,
in the fame Manner -as was ufed in their own Country ;
making Advantage of friendly Converfation, toward the
Improvement of their Underftandings. Lucullus himfelf
often ftudied here, fometimes difputed with the learned
(a) Sir Witt. Temple's MifceL P. 4. EfTay t.
(b) Plutartbui in Sylla. (c) Ibid. & Strati, lib. 13. (A) Phtartb.
in Marii.
B 4 Men,
viii E S S A T I.
Men, and fometimes giving his Advice in Matters of State,
to thofe that defired it; though he meddled with no pub-
lic Bnfmefs in Perfon. He was very well verfed in all the
Se&s of Philofophy, but adhered clofejy tp'-th'e old Aca-
demy; whereas his Friend Cicero was a great Advocate for
the new. Hence it is, that we find the latter Book of the
Academic Ghejlicn-s infcribed to Litcullus ; where that-great
Man is brought in defending the Opinions of his Se& (a).
'The whole Majefty of Language, and Height of Elo-
tjnence, fhone out, as it were, all at once, in T'iilly ; fo
that Paterculus has well obferved, Deleftari ante eum paucif-
Jimis, mirari vero nemineyn poffis, nift aut ab illo vifum, aut
qui ilium viderit (b).
Perhaps the fame Remark will hold good in his Philo-
fophy ; or, at leaft, with refpect to his Predeceflbrs, the
latter Study will yield an equal Praife with the former.
For to handle this Subject in Latin Profe, was purely 3
new Province referved for his Management, and left un-
touched until that Time by the Learned. Thus much he
lets us know in feveral Parts of his Works, particularly in
his Poem to the Tufculan Queftions ; where at the fame
Time he gives us a fhort Account of the Progrefs and Ad-
vances of Arts among the Romans, infinitely worth the
tranfcribing. Meum femper judicium fuit, &c. // ivas al-
ways my Opinion, fays he, That either our Countrymen have
leen more bappy in their Inventions of every Kind, than the
Greeks ; or, c fhat they have made a waft Improvement in what-
ever they borrowed from that Nation, and thought worth their
while to polifo and refine. F& as to the Condufl of Life, and
the Rules of Breeding and Behaviour, together with the Ma-
nagement of Family Concerns, tve are Alajfcrs of more Exafl-
nefs, and have a much genteeler Air. Ij vje afccnd to the Go-
verning and Regulating of public States, our Anccjlcrs may jujl-
ly claim the Preference in this Part of Wifdom, on Account of
their admirable Laivs and Injlitutions. In military Affairs we
tave made a more considerable Advance than any before us ;
which is owing no lefs to our Difcipline, than to our Native
Bravery.
*Tis true, Greece has always had the Renoivn beyond us for
their Attainments in everv Part of Learning, and it iuas an eafy
Matter to conquer, when they met with no Oppofttion. Poetry,
the mofl antient Sort of Writing, had but a late Reception among
(a) Ptrtarclys in LscuUt. (b] Hiji. lib. i. c*p. 17.
Of the ROM AN Learning. ix
us: For Livius Andromcusprefentedbisjir/} Dramatic Piece,
510 (it mould be 514) Ye art after the Building of Rome, in
the Confulfltup of C. Claudius, Son to Appius Caecus, and
M. Tuditan&, a Tear before the Birth of Ennius, ivbo if
Senior to Plautus and Naevtus.
As hegoes on, he attributes the flowProgrefs of Poetry to the
wantof dueRewardand Encouragement, and tells us, that, in
a public Oration of Cato, it was objected as a Reproach to
Marcus Nobilior, that he carried the Poet Ennius with him in-
to SEtolia, when he went to refide there as Governor. That
there was no Part of the Mathematics (which the Grecians
efteemed fo honourable a Study) of Ule in Rome, but the bare
Knowledge of Menfuration, and Arithmetic. As to Oratory,
he obferves, that the Romans embraced it very foon, but at
firft without the Advantages of a learned Inftitution; which
were afterwards added with fo much Succefs, as to fet them
on equal Terms with the moft eloquent Matters of Greece :
But thafPhilofophy had lain neglected till that Time, and had
met with no eminent Author to adorn it in the Latin Tongue.
This therefore he profefTeth to undertake as his proper Office;
and how happily he fucceeded in the Attempt, his Works on
that Subject will be a lafting Argument.
If we compare Tully with his Friend Atticus, we find them
both together anfwering the twoexcellent Ends of Philofophy,
the Service of the Public, and the private Eafe and Tran-
quillity of an inoffenfive Life. The Former directed all his
Studies to Action, in the Defence of the Commonwealth,
and the Oppofmg of all Defigns on its Liberty : The Latter,
never entering the Scene of Bufinefs, made himfelf equally
honoured and courted by all Parties, from Sylla to Augujlus
Ceefar. The one gained to himfelf more Glory, the other
more hearty Love and Efteem; and I believe moft Perfons
would be inclined to follow Atticus, and to commend Cicero.
Craffusy Pompey, Antony,* C<efar, Cato, and Brutus, who
made fuch aNcife in the World, almofl all at the fame Time,
were the moft refined Scholars of their Age. The three firft
indeed confined themfelves to the Practice of Eloquence, till
they were wholly diverted by the Profeflion of Arms. But
the three laft, as they outfhone the former in Oratory, fo
they had made much greater Advances in the other Parts of
Human Learning. Poetry and Philofophy were the Diver-
fion of Cdf/ar's leifure Hours; and his Commentaries will be
the Model of good Language, as long as himltlf is the Ex-
ample of great Achievements.
The
x E S S A T I.
The whole Conduct of Cato's Life mews him a greater
Stoic than the moft rigid Profeflbrs of that Set ; or, however
they might equal him in Knowledge, 'tis certain he mamed
them in Practice.
Brutus had been a Hearer of all the Sects of Philofophers,
and made fome Proficiency in every one. When a Soldier
under Pompey t in the Civil Wars, all the Time that he was
in the Camp, except what he fpentin the General's Company,
he employed in Reading and Study. And the very Day before
the decifive Battle at Pbarfalia, tho' it was then the Middle
of Summer, and the Camp under many Inconveniencies,
and he himfelf extremely haraffed and out of Order ; yet,
while others were either laid down to fleep, or taken up
with Apprehenfions about the Iflue of the Fight, he fpent
all his Time, 'till the Evening, in writing an Epitome of
Polybius (a).
It is univerfally known, that the Roman Literature, as well
as Empire, was in its higheft Afcendant under Augujlus. All
the delicate Fruits tranfplanted from Greece were now in
their Bloffbm, being cherilhed by theCalmnefs of theSeafon,
and cultivated by the Hand of an Emperor.
I have often wondered, that Maecenas (hould carry
away the fole Honour of encouraging the Wit and Know-
ledge of this Reign; when it feems probable, that he acted
only in Imitation of his Mafter ; as the Humours of Princes
commonly determine the Inclinations of their Favourites.
The quite contrary happened to the other great Minifter
Agrippa ; the Glory of his Exploits was referred to the Em-
peror, while the Emperor's Bounty advanced Maecenas's
Efteem. And, indeed, the Celebration of Augujlus's
Triumphs and the Panegyrics on his Piety were fufficient
to fet him out in the moft glaring Colours : But had Maecenas
been denied the mining Character of a Patron, he might
have rolled on in Silence among Epicurus's Herd, and we
fhould fcarce have feen him drawn by the Poet's Handy un-
lefs in the fame Pofture as Silenus.
Jnflatum hejierno venaf, utfemper, laccho :
Serta procul cap'iti tantum delapfa jacebant,
Et gravis attritd pendebat cantbarus anfd (b).
() Plutarch, ia Brt. (*) Virgil Eclog. 6.
But
Of the ROMAN Learning xi
But whoever of the Two was the nobler Patron, AuguJJus
muft be acknowledged to have been the greater Scholar. And
for Proof, we need go no further than Suetonius, who has fpent
no lefs than fix Chapters on the Learning of this Emperor.
His prodigious Induftry in the Study of Eloquence and liberal
Arts ; his Labour in compofing every Thing that he fpoke in
Public, tho' he had a very good Faculty at extempore Haran-
gues ; his polite and clear Style, his accurate Knowledge of
the Grecian Literature, by the Affiftance of their beft Ma-
ilers of Rhetoric and Philofophy ; the Thirteen Books of the
Eiftory of his own Life ; his Exhortation to Philofophy, with
feveral other Works in Profe ; his Book of Hexameters, and
another of Epigrams: all confidered together, may equal him
with the moil learned Princes in Hiftory.
Being thus arrived at the higheft Point of the Raman At-
tainments, it cannot be unpleafant to look about us, and to
take a fhort Survey of the Productions in every Kind. Elo-
quence indeed will appear at fome Diftance, rather in the
Auguflan Ace, than in Augujius's Reign, ending in Cicero, at
the Diflblurion of the Commonwealth. Not that his Death
was properly the Ruin of his Profeflion ; for the Philofopher
might have lived much longer, and yet the Orator had been
gone, when once the antient Liberty was taken away, which
infpired him with all his lofty Thoughts, and was the very
Soul of his Harangues. But then the Bounds of Hiflory and
Poetry were fixed under the Emperor's Protection, by Livy 9
Virgil, and Horace. And if we defire a View of Philofophy,
the Two Poets will account for that, as well as for their
own Province.
I think none will deny Horace the Elogy given him by a
celebrated Writer, That be was the greateji Mafter of Life,
and of true Senfe in the Condufl of it (a). Efpecially fince the
Author of that Judgment is one of thofe whom (had he lived
then) Horace himfelf would have willingly chofe for his
Judge ; and inferted in that fhort Catalogue of Men of Wit
and Honour, whom he defired mould approve his Labours ().
Whether or no the common Saying be true, that if all
Arts and Sciences were loft, they might be found in Virgil,
it is plain, he dived very deep into the Myfteries of natural
Science, which he fets forth in all its Ornaments, in feveral
Parts of his fublime Work. And in that admirable Place of
(a} Sir Will Temple's Mifctl p. a. EfTay a. (i) Book i. St. 10.
his
xii E S S A T I.
his fecond Gtorgic, when he expreffeth, in a Sort of Tran-
fport, his Inclinations to Poetry, he feems todireft its whole
End towards the Speculations of the Philofophers, and to
make the Mufes Hand-Maids to Nature*
Me vero pfimum dukes ante omnia Mufa,
Quarum facra fero, ingenti percuffut amore y
Accipiant; ccelique vias & Jydera monjlrent y
Defeflus folis varies, Lunesque Labores ;
Unde tremor terris\ qud vi maria ulta tumefcant
Obicibus ruptis rurfufque in feipfa rejiddnt :
6)uid tantum Oceano properent fe tingere files
f-Iyberni ; vel qua tardis mora noflibus objlet.
For me, the firft Defire, which does controul
All the Inferior Wheels that move my Soul,
Is, that the Mufe me her High-Prieft would make,
Into her holy Scenes of Myftery take,
And open there, to my Mind's purged Eye,
Thofe Wonders which to Senfe the Gods deny : .
How in the Moon fuch Change of Shapes is found ;
The Moon, the changing World'* eternal Bound :
What (hakes the folid Earth : What ftrong Difeafe
Dares trouble the far Centre's antient Eafe :
What makes the Sea retreat, and what advance;
Varieties too regular for Chance:
What drives the Chariot on of Winter's Light,
And flops the lazy Waggon of the Night.
Mr. Cowley.
After Auguftus, the Roman Mufes, as well as the Eagles,
(looped from their former Height; and, perhaps, one of
thefe Misfortunes might be a neceflary Confequence of the
other. I am very forry, when I find either of them attri-
buted to the Change of Government and the Settlement of
the Monarchy : For had the Maxims and the Example of
Auguftus been purfued by his Succeflbrs, the Empire, in all
Probability, might have been much more glorious than the
Commonwealth. But while a new Scheme of Politics was
introduced by Tiberius^ and the C&fars began to aft what
the Tarquins would have been aftiamed of, the Learning
might be very well corrupted, together with the Manners
and the Discipline, and all beyond any Hopes of a Recovery.
It
Of tbe ROMAN Learning. xiit
It cannot be denied, that feme of the worft Princes were
the moft paflionate Affe&ors of Learning, particularly Ti-
berius, Claudius, and Nero : but this rather deterred other
Men from fuch Attempts, than encouraged them in their
Purfuits ; while an applauded Scholar was as much envied
as a fortunate Commander; and a Rival in Wit accounted
as dangerous as a Contender for the Empire : The firft be-
ing certainly the more hardy Combatant, who dared chal-
lenge his Matters at their own Weapons.
Whatever Eflays were made to recover the languiming
Arts under Fefpaftan, Titus, and Domitian, (for this laft too
was an Encourager of Poetry, tho' he banimed the Philofo-
phers,) fcarce ferved to any better Purpofe, than to demon-
ftrate the poor Succefs of Study and Application, while the
antient Genius was wanting.
In the fix next Reigns immediately following Domitian,
Learning feems to have enjoyed a Sort of lucid Interval, and
the. banimed Favourite was again admitted to the Court,
being highly countenanced and applauded by the beft Set of
Princes Rome ever faw.
Not to inquire after the Productions of the other Reigns,
the ufeful Labours of Tacitus, Suetonius, and Pliny yunior,
will make the Government of Trajan more famous than all
his Feats of Arms. If they are lefs happy in their Language
than the Antients, in other Refpe&s, perhaps, they have
overmatched them : The Hiftorians in the Delicacy of their
Politics, and the fmcere Truth of their Relations; and the
Orator in his Wit and good Senfe. If we add to thefe Plu-
tarch, who wrote moft of his Works in Rome, and was ho-
noured by Trajan with the Confulfhip, and @)uintiHan, who
flourimed a very little Time before ; they may pafs for the
Twilight of Learning after the Sun-fet of the Augujlan Age ;
or rather be refembled to a glimmering Taper, which cafts
a double Light when it is juft on the Point of expiring.
It is an Obfervation of Sir William Temple, That all the
Latin Books, which we have till the End of Trajan, and all the
Greek till the End of Marcus Antoninus, have a true and very
cfiimable Value ; but that all written flnce that Time, owe
their Price purely to our Curiofity, and not to their own
Worth and Excellence.
But the Purity of the Tongue was long before corrupted,
and ended, in Sir William Templet Judgment, with Vdleius
Paterculut, under Tiberius. The Reafon he afligns for this
Decay,
xiv E S S A T I.
Decay, is "the ft range Refort of the ruder Nations to Rome,
after the Conqueft of their own Countries.
Thus the Gauls and Germans flocked in Multitudes both to
the Army and the City, after the reducing of thofe Parts by
Julius Cezfar, Auguflus, and Tiberius; as many Spaniards and
Syrians had done before, on the like Account : But the greatefl
Confluence of Foreigners folio wed upon the Victories of Trajan
in the Eaft, and his Eft ablifhment of the Three new Provinces,
Armenia, Affyria, and Mefopotamia. And though Adrian vo-
luntarily relinquished thefe new Acquisitions, yet the prodi-
gious Swarms of the Natives, who had waited on his Pre-
deceflbrs Triumphs, were ftill obliged to live in Rome, in
the Condition of Slaves.
The greateft Part of the fucceeding Princes, who found
it fo hard an Enterprize to defend their own Territories,
had little Leifure or Concern to guard the Pofleffions of the
Mufes. And therefore Claudian in thofe Verfes of his Pa-
negyric or Stilico,
Hinc prlfae redeunt artes, felicibus inde
Jngeniis aperitur iter t defpeflaque Mufee
Colla levant ;
is guilty of a great Piece of Flattery, in making that Mini-
fler the Reftorer of polite Studies, when it is plain, that in
his Time (under Honorius) were the laft Smugglings of the
Roman State.
The Goths and Vandals, who foon carried all before them,
might eafily fright Learning and Sciences off the Stage,
fince they were already To much out of Countenance; and
thus render the Conquerors of the Univerfe as rough and il-
literate as their firft Progenitors.
In this Manner, the Inundations of the barbarous People
proved equally fatal to the Arts and Empire ; and Rome her-
felf, when fhe ceafed to be the Miftrefs of the World, in a'
little Time, quite forgot to fpeak Latin,
ESSAY
<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>
ESSAY II.
Of the ROMAN EDUCATION.
IT is an obvious Remark, that the ftrongeft Body owes
its Vigour, in a great meafure, to the very Milk it re-
ceived in its Infancy, and to the firft knitting of the Joints :
.That the moft ftately Trees, and the faireft of Herbs and
Flowers, are beholden for their Shade and Beauty to the
Hand that'rft fixed them in an agreeable Soil : which Ad-
vantage if they happen to want, they feldom fail to dege-
nerate into Wildnefs, and to aflume a Nature quite diffe-
rent from their proper Species. Every one knows how to
#pply the fame Obfervation to Morals, who has the Senfe
to difcover it in Naturals. Hence the moft renowned People
inHtftory are thofe, whofe Lawgivers thought it their nobleft
and moft important Work to prefcribe Rules for the early
Inftru&ion of Youth. On this Bafis Lycurgus founded the
glorious Discipline of the Spartans, which continued for
Five Hundred Years, without any confiderable Violation.
The Indian Brachmans bad a Strain beyond all the Wit of
Greece, beginning their Care of Mankind even before their
Birth) and employing much Thoughts and Diligence about the
Diet and Entertainment of their Breeding Women ; fo far as to
furnijbjbem with pleajant Imaginations, to compofe their Minds
and their Sleep with the bejl Temper, during the Time that they
carried their Burthens (a).
Plutarch feverely reprehends the Conduft of Numa, that, in
his Settlement of the Roman State, he did not in the firft Place
provide and conftitute Rules for the Education of Children;
\
(a) Sir Will. Temple's Mifcel P. z. Eflay i.
and
xvi E S S A T II.
and makes the Remiflnefs in this early Discipline, the chief
Caufeof the feditious and turbulent Temper of that People,
and what contributed highly to the Ruin of the Common-
wealth (a). Thus much indeed feems agreed on by all the
latter Hiftorians, That in the loofer Times of the Empire,-
the fhameful Negligence of Parents and Inftru&ors, with
its neceflary Confequence, the Corruption and Decay of
Morality and good Letters, ftruck a very great Blow towards
the diflblving of that glorious Fabric. But in the rifing
Ages of Rome, while their Primitive Integrity and Virtue
flourifhed with their Arms and Command, the training up
of Youth was looked on as a moft facred Duty ; and they
thought themfelves in the higheft Manner obliged to leave
fit Succeflbrsto the Empire of the World. So that upon a
ihort Survey of the whole Method of Difcipline from the
Birth to the Entrance on public Bufmefs, they will appear
fo far to have exceeded the Wifdom and Care of other Na-
tions, as to contend for this Glory, even with the antient
Spartans, whom Plutarch has magnified fo much beyond
them : Efpecially, if we agree with a great Judge, That
the taking no Care about the Learning, but only about the
Live^ and Manners of Children, may be juftly thought a
Defect in Lycurgiu's Inftitution (b}.
j>)uintilian (or 'Tacitus] in the Dialogue de Oratoribus, gives
an excellent Account of the old Way of breeding Children,
and fets it off with great Advantage, by comparing it with
the modern.
" As foon as the Child was born, he was not given in
Charge to an hired Nurfe, to live with her in fome piti-
ful Hole that ferved for her Lodging; but was brought
up in rhe Lap and Bofom of the Mother, who reckoned it
among her chief Commendations to keep the Houfe and
to attend the Children. Some antient Matron was pitch-
ed on out of theNeighbours, whofeLife and Manners ren-
dered her worthy of that Office, to whofe Care the Chil-
dren of every Family were committed ; before whom 'twas
reckoned the moft heinous Thing in the World to fpeak an
ill Word or to do an ill. Action. Nor had me an Eye only
on their Inftru&ion, and the Bufinefs thatr they were to fol-
low, but, with an equal Modefty and Gravity, (he re-
gulated their very Diverfions and Recreations. Thus
(a) Phtarch Compar. of Numa and Lycur. (tr) Arch-bifliop Tillotfon't,
Sermon of Education.
" Cornell*
Of the ROMAN Education. xvii
" Cornelia) Aurefta, and Attia, M6thers to the Graecbi,Juli-
(f tif Ctffar, and Augujltts, are reported to have undertaken
" the Office of Governeffes, and to have employed them-
" felves in the Education of Noblemens Children. The
" Stri&nefs and Severity of fuch an Inftitution had this
tf very good Defign, T^jiat the Mind, being thus preferved
" in its primitive Innocence and Integrity, and not de-
" bauched by ill Cuftom or ill Example, might apply it-
" felf with the greateft Willingnefs to the liberal Arts,
* and embrace them with all its Powers and Faculties.
" That, whether it was particularly inclined either to the
" Profeflion of Arms, or to the Underflanding of the
tf Law, or to the Practice of Eloquence, it might rritke
" that its only Bufmeis, and greedily drink in the whole
" Knowledge of the favourite Study.
" But now the young Infant is given in Charge to fome
t( poor Grecian Wench ; and one or two of the Servant-
" men, perhaps, are joined in the Commifiion ; gene-
" rally the meaneft and moft ill-bred of the whole Pack,
(C and fuch as are unfit for any ferious Eufinefs. From the
tf Stories and Tattle of fuch fine Companions, the foft
" and flexible Nature mull take its firft Impreflion and
" Bent. Over the whole Family there is not the leaft
" Care taken of what is laid or dcfne before the Child ;
" while the very Parents, inftead of inuring their dear
" little Ones to Virtue and Modefty, accuftom them, on
** the quite contrary, to Licentioufnefs and. Wantonnefs,
" the natural Refult of which ib a fettled Impudence, and
" a Contempt of thofe very Parents, and everv Body
elfe."
Thus although the Cnre and Inftrr.flion of Youth, among
the old Romans, had been provided for by the public Laws,
as in the Spartan State, yet the voluntary Diligence of Pa-
rents would have made all fuch Regulations fuperfluous.
Among the Domeftic Cares, it \vill not be from the
Purpofe to take particular Notice of one, v/hich required
little Trouble or Difficulty, and yet proved as beneficial
and Serviceable as any other Inftitution : I mean the ufmg
of Children to fpeak the Language purely at firit, by let-
ting them hear nothing but the trueft and moil proper
Phrafe. By this only Advantage feveral Perfons arrived at
no ordinary Repute in the Forum, uho were fo unhappy
as to want many other QualiHcations.
C Tally
xviii E S S A Y II.
Tully fays, that the Gracchi were educated, non tarn in
gremio, quam in fermone Matris : And he reports of C. Curio
\vho was reckoned the third Orator of his Time, that he
underftood no Poet, had read no Books of Eloquence, had
made no Hiftorical Collections ; and had no Knowledge of
the public or private Part of the La^w. The only Thing
which gained him his Applaufe was a clear, mining Phrafe,
and a fudden Quicknefs and Fluency of Expr,eflion. This
he got purely by the Benefit of his private Education ; being
ufed to a correct and polimed way of fpeaking in the
Houfe where he was brought up. (a)
For Mailers, in the firft Place, they had the Literatores t
or rfoju^aVai, who taught the Children to read and write :
To thefe they were committed about the Age of Six or
Seven Years (b). Being come from under their Care,
they were fent to the Grammar Schools, to learn the Art of
fpeaking well, and the understanding of Authors : Or more
frequently in the Houfe of great Men fome eminent Gram-
marian was entertained for that Employment.
It is pleafant to confider, what Prudence was ufed in
thefe early Years, to inftil into the Childrens Minds a Love
and Inclination to the Forum, whence they were to expect
the greateft Share of their Honours and Preferments. For
Cicero tells Atticus, in his Second Book de Legibus, That
when they were Boys, they ufed to learn the famous Laws
of the Twelve Tables by Heart, in the fame Manner as
they did an excellent Poem. And Plutarch relates in his
Life of the younger Cato, That the very Children had a
Play, in -vhich they acted Pleadings of Caufes before the
Judges ; accufmg one another, and carrying the condemned
Party to Prifon.
The Maflers already mentioned, together with the In-
ftructors in the feveral Softs of manly Exercifes, for the
improving of their natural Strength and Force, do not pro-
perly deferve that Name, if fet in View with the Rhe-
toricians and Philofophers ; who, after that Reafon had
difplayed her Faculties, and eftablifhed her Command, were
employed to cultivate and adorn the Advantages of Nature,
and to give the laft Hand toward the forming of a Roman
Citizen. FewPerfons made any great Figure on the Scene
of Action in their own Time, or' in Hiflory afterwards,
\vho, befides the conftant frequenting of Public Lectures,
(a) Cic. in J3rut, (b) Fid. Pacier in Herat. Sat. I . Lib. I.
did
Of the R o M A N Education: xix
did not keep with them in the Houfe fome eminent Pro-
feflbr of Oratory or Wifdom.
I have often thought, That one main Reafon of the pro-
digious Progrefs made by the Roman Youths, under thefe
private Tutors, was the perfect Love and Endearment which
we find to have been between Matter and Scholar, by which
Means Government and Inftru&ion proceeded in the fwet-
eft and eafieft way. All Perfons in the happy Ages of Rome
had the Honour and Refpe6t for their Teachers, as Perjiut
had for his Matter, Cornutus the Stoic; to whom addreffing
himfelf in his fifth Satire, he thus admirably defcribes his
own Love and Piety to his Governor, and the ftri& Friend-
fhip that was between them.
Cumque iter ambiguum eft, &? ijlt<e nefclus error
Diducit trepidas ramofa in compita mentes 9
Me tibi fuppofui : teneros tu fufctpis annot
Socratio, Cornute, y/w; tune fallere filers
Appojtta intortos extendit regula mores ;
Et premitur ratione animus, vincique labor at 9
Artificemque tuo duett fub pollice "outturn.
*Tecum etenim longos minime confumere files ;
Et tecum primas epulis decerpere nofles.
Unum opus, y requiem pariter difponimus ambo,
Atque verecunda laxamus feria menfa, ,
Non equidem hoc dubites amborum fadere certo
Confentire dies, ff ab unojtdere duct.
No/Ira vel tequali fufpendit tempora libra
Parca tenax vert, feu nata fidelibus bora *
Di'uidit in Geminos c oncor dia fata duorum ;
Saturnumque gravem nojlro Jove fregimus un&.
Nefcio quod, certt ejl, quod me tibi temperat aftrum*
Juft at the Age when Manhood fet me free,
I then deposM myfelf, and left the Reins to thee :
On thy wife Bofom I repos'd my Head,
And by my better Socrates was led.
Then thy ftrait Rule fet Virtue in my Sight,
The crooked Line reforming by the Right.
My Reafon took the Bent of thy Command;
Was form'd and poltfh'd by thy fkilful'Hand,
Long Summer-days thy Precepts I rehearfe,
And Winter-nights were fhort in our Converfe.
C a One
xx E S S A T II.
One was our Labour, one was our Repofe ;
One frugal Supper did our Studies clofe.
Sure on our Birth fome friendly Planet (hone,
Arrd as our Souls, our Horofco'pe was one :
Whether the mounting Twins did Heaven adorn,
Or with the rifing Balance we were born ;
Both have the fame Impreffion from above,
And both have Saturn's Rage, repell'd by Jove. '
What Star I know not, but fome Star I find,
Has giv'n thee an Afcendant o'er my Mind.
DRYDEN.
Nor was the Reverence paid by the Public to the Infor-
mers of Youth lefs remarkable, than the Efteem and Duty
of their Scholars. Which makes Juvenal break out into
that elegant Rapture :
Dii majorutn umbris tenuem 3* fine pondere terram y
Spirantefque crocos y y in urn a perpetuum ver t
jjhii preeceptorem fancli voluere parent is
Effe loco (a}.
In Peace, ye Shades of our great Grandfires, reft ;
No heavy Earth your facred Bones moleft ;
Eternal Springs and rifing Flowers adorn
The Reliques of each venerable Urn ;
Who pious Rev'rence to their Tutors paid,
As Parents honour'd, and as Gods obey'd.
C. DR-YDEN.
At the Age of feventeen Years, the young 'Gentlemen,
when they put on their manly Govjn t were brought in a
folemn Manner to the Forum, and entered in the Study of
Pleading : Not only if they defigned to make this their chief
Profeffion, but altho' their Inclinations lay rather to the
Camp. For we fcarcemeet with any famous Captain, who
was not a good Speaker ; or any eminent Orator, who had
not ferved fome Time in the Army. Thus it was requi-
fite for all Perfons, who had any Thoughts of rifing in
the World, to make a good Appearance both at the Bar
and in th6 Field ; becaufe, if the Succefs of their Valour
and Conduct iliould advance them_to any confiderable Pofi,
(a] Sat. 7.
Of the ROMAN Education xxi
it would have proved almofl impoflible, without the Advan-
tage of Eloquence, to maintain their Authority with the
Senate and People : Or, if the Force of their Oratory
ihould in time procure them the honourable Office of
Prator, trConfnl, they would not have been in a Capacity
lo undertake the Government of the Provinces, (which
fell to their Share at the Expiration of thofe Employments)
without fome Experience in military Command.
Yet, becaufe the Profeflion of Arms was an Art which
vvpuld eafily give them, an Opportunity of fignalizing them-
felves, and in which they would almofl naturally excel, as
Occafions fnould be afterwards offered far their Services ;
their whole Application and Endeavours were directed at
prefent to the Study of the Law and Rhetoric, as the
Foundations of iheir future Grandeur. Or, perhaps, they,
now and then, made a Campaign, as well for a Diverfion
from feveral Labours, as for their Improvement in martial
Difcipline.
In the Dialogue de Oratories, we have a very good Ac-
count of this Adrmffion of young Gentlemen to the Forum,
and.of the NecefTity of fuch a Courfe in the Common wealth ;
.which, coming from fo great a Mafter, cannot fail to be
very pertinent and inftruftive.
" Among our Anceilcrs, fays that Author, the Youth,
" who was defigned for the Forum and thfe Practice of Elo-
" quence, being now furnifhed with the liberal Arts, and
" the Advantage .of a Domed ic Inftitution, was brought
*' by his Father, .or near Relations, to the mod: celebrated
Orator in the City. Him he ufed conflantjy to attend,
and to be always prefent at his Performance of any Kind,
either in judicial Matters, or in the ordinary Affemblies
of the People : So that by this Means he learned to en-
gsge in the Laurels and Contentions of the Bar, and to
approve himfelf a Man at Arms, in the Wars of the
" Pleaders.
" For itl the nntient Conflitution of a mixed State, when
*' the Differences were never referred to one fupreme Per-
*' fon, the Orators determined Matters as they pleafed,
" by prevailing on the Minds of the ignorant Multitude.
" Hence came the Ambition of popular Applaufe : Hence
" the great Variety of Laws and Decrees : Hence the te-
" dious Speeches and Harangues of the Magistrates, fome-
** times carried on whole Nights in the Roftra : Hence
" the frequent Indidment and Impleading of the powerful
C 3 t( Criminals,
xxii E S S A T 11
Criminals, and the expofing of Houfes to the Violence
and Fury of the Rabble : Hence the Factions of the
Nobility, and the conftant Heats and Bickerings between
the Senate and People. AH which, tho* in a great mea-
' fure they diftra&ed the Commonwealth, yet had this
good EffecT:, that they exercifed and improved the Elo-
" quence of thofe Times> b^ propofmg the higheft Re-
ft wards to that Study. Becaufe the more excellent any
Perfon appeared in the Art of Speaking, the more eafily
' he arrived at Honours and Employments; the more he
< furpafled his Collegue in the fame Office, the greater
' was his Favour with the leading Men of the City, his
<f Authority with the Senate, and his Renown and Efteera
" among the Commons. Thefe Men were courted and
<' waited on by Clients even of foreign Nations: Thefe,
*< when they undertook the Command of Provinces, the
(l very Magiftrates reverenced at their Departure, and
" adored at their Return : Thefe the higheft Offices of
Prator or Conful feemed to require, and call for, and
' court their Acceptance : Thefe, when in a Private Sta-
" tion, abated very little of their Authority, while they
" guided both the Senate and the People by their Counfel.
<{ For they took this for an infallible Maxim, That without
*' Eloquence 'twas impoflible either to attain or to defend a
** considerable Truft in the Commonwealth ? And no
<< Wonder, when they were drawn to Bufmefs, even a-
" gainft their Will, and compelled to mew their Parts in
*' Public. When it was reckoned but an ordinary Matter
** to deliver one's Opinion before the Senate, un-
" lefs a Man could maintain and improve it with the en-
tl gaging Ornament of Wit and Eloquence. When if
' they had contracted any Envy or Sufpicion,they were to
" anfwer the Accufer's Charge in Perfon. When they
* ( could not fo much as give their Evidence, as to public
" Matters in Writing ; but were obliged to appear in
" Court, and deliver it with their own Mouth. So that
'* there was not only a vaft Encouragement, but even
" a Neceflity of Eloquence. To be a fine Speaker was
*' counted Brave and Glorious: On the other hand, to
aft only a mute Perfon, on the Public Stage, was fcan-
" dalous and reproachful. And thus a Senfe of Honour,
' and Defire of avoiding Infamy, was a main Incitement
" to their Endeavours in thefe Studies ; left they mould be
" reckoned among the Clients, rather than among the Pa-
" tronsj
Of the ROMAN Education. xxiii
trons ; left the numerous Dependencies tranfmitted to
them from their Anceftors, fhould now at laft pafs into
other Families, for want of an able Supporter ; left, like
a Sort of ufelefs and unprofitable Creatures, they fhould
either be fruftrated in their Pretenfions to Honour and
Preferments, or elfe difgrace themfelves and their Office,
" by the Mifcarriages of their Adminiftration."
Craffits and Antoniut, the two chief Managers of the
Difcourfe in T//y's firft Book De Qratore, are reprefented
as very oppofite in their Judgments, concerning the necef-
fary Improvements of an accomplifhed Orator. The for-
mer denies any Perfon the Honour of this Name, who
does not poflefs, in fome Degree, all the Qualities, both
native and acquired, that enter into the Compofition of a
general Scholar. The Force of his Argument lies in this,
That an Orator ought to be able to deliver himfelf copi-
oufly on all Manner of Subjects ; and he does not fee how
any one can anfwer this Character without fome Excellen-
cy in all the Myfteries of Arts and Learning, as well as
in the happy Endowments of Nature. Yet he would not
have thefe Acquifitions fit fo loofe about him, as to dif-
play themfelves on every Occafion ; but that (as a great
Man exprefleth it) they mould rather be enamelled in
bis Mind, than emboffed upon it. That, as the Critics rrt
Gaits and Geftnres will eafily difcover by the Deport-
ment of a Man's Body, whether he has learned to dance,
though he does not practife his Art in his ordinary Moti-
on ; fo an Orator, when he delivers himfelf on any Sub-
je6r, will eafily make it appear, whether he has a full Un-
derftanding of the particular Art or Faculty on which the
Caufe depends, though he does not difcourfe of it in the
Manner of a Philofopher, or a Mechanic. Anionius, on
the other hand, reflecting on the Shortnefs of Human Life,
and how great a Part of it is ccv.monly taken up in the
Attainment of but a few Parts of Knowledge, is inclined
to believe, that Oratory does not require the a'ccefiary At-
tendance of its Sifter Arts ; but that a Man may be able.
to profecute a Theme of any Kind, without a Train of
Sciences, and th<fc Advantages of a learned Inftitution.
That as few Perfoiis are at a lofs in the cultivating of their
Land, or the Contrivance and Elegance of their Gardens,
though they never read Cato de Re Rujlica, or Mago the Car-
thaginian ; fo an Orator may harangue with a great deal
of Reafon and Truth, on a Subject taken from any Part
C 4 of
xxiv E S S A T II.
of Knowledge, without any farther Acquaintance with the
nicer Speculations, than his common Senfe and Underftand-
ing, improved by Experience and Converfation, fhall lead
him to. " For who ever (fays be), when he comes to
" move the Affections of the Judges or People, flops at
this, that he hath not Philofophy enough to dive into the
< firft Springs of the PafTions, and to difcover their various
" Natures and Operations? Befides, at this Rate we muft
" quite lay afide the Way of raifing Pity in the Audience, by
< reprefenting the Mifery of a diftreffed Party, or defcrib-
*< ing, perhaps, the Slavery which he endures: WhenPhi-
t{ lofophy tells us, That a good Man can never be mifera-
(C ble, and that Virtue is always abfolutely free."
Now as Cicero, without doubt, fat himfelf for the Picture,
which, in the Name of CraJ/us, he there draws of an Orator,
and therefore ftrengthens hisArguments by his own Example
'as well as his Judgment ; fo Antonius, in the next Dialogue,
does not fcruple to own, that his former Affertion was rather
taken up for the lake of difputing and encountering his Ri-
val, than to deliver the real Sentiments of his Mind. And
therefore the genteel Education in the politer Ages of Rome
being wholly directed to the Bar, it feems probable, that
no Part of ufeful Knowledge was omitted, for the improv-
ing and adorning of the chief Study; and that all the other
Arts were courted, though not with an equal Pafiion. And
upon the whole it appears, that a clofe Affiduity and un-
wearied Application were the very Life and Soul of their
Defigns. When their Hiftorians defcribe an extraordinary
Man, this always enters into his Character as an effential
Tart of it, that he was incredibili induftrid, diligent i A fmgu-
lari ; oj incredible Jndujlry, of Jingular Diligence (a). And
Caio in Sahtft tells the Senate, That it was not the Arms fo
much as the Induflry of their Anceflors, which advanced
the Grandeur of Rome : So that the Founders and Regula-
tors of this State, in making Diligence and Labour necef-
iary Qualifications of a Citizen, took the fame Courfe as
the Poets feigned Jupiter to have thought" on, when he
.iiccecded to the Government over the primitive Mortals:
Pater ipfe colendi
TIaud facilem effe viam "voluit ; primufque per artem
Movit agros, curls acuens mortalia corda,
J^ec torpere gravi paffu s fua regna veterno (b).
(.1) Archbifhop Tillttfon's Serraoa oa Education. (b) Virg, Giorg. \.
To
Of the ROM AN Education.
To confirm the Opinion of their extreme Induftry and
perpetual Study and Labour, it may not feem impertinent
to inftance in the Three common Exercifes cf Tranflating,
Declaiming, and Reciting.
Tranflation the antient Orators of Rome looked on as a
mofl ufeful, though a mod laborious, Employment. AU
Perfons that applied themfelves to the Bar, propofed com-
monly fome one Orator of Greece for their common Pat-
tern ; either Lyftas, Hyperides, Demofthenes, or Efcbines as
their Genius was inclined. Him they continually ftudied,
and to render themfelves abfolutely Matters of his Excel-
lencies, were always making him fpeak their own Tongue.
This Cicfro, <jhiintilian, and Pliny Junior, enjoin as an in-
difpenfible Duty* in order to the acquiring of any Fame
in Eloquence. And the firft of ihefe great Men, befides
his many Verfions of the Orators for his private Ufe,
obliged* the Public with a Tranflation of feveral Parts of
Plato and Xenopbon in Profe, and of Homer and Aratus in
Verfe.
As to Declaiming, this was not the only chief Thing, at
which they laboured under the Mailers of Rhetoric, but
what they praftifed long after they undertook real Caufes,
and had gained a confiderable Name in the Forum. Sue-
tonius, in his Book of Famous Rhetoricians, tells us, That
Cicero declaimed in Greek till he was elected Praetor, and
in Latin till near his Death. That Pompey the Great, at
the breaking out of the Civil Wa , refumed his old Exerciie
of Declaiming, that he might the more eafily be able to
contend with Curio, who undertook the Defence ofCtffar's
Caufe, in his public Harangues. That Marc Antony and
Auguftus did not lay afide this Cuftom, even when they were
engaged in the Siege of Mutina: And that Nero was not
cnly conflant at his Declamations, while in a private Stati-
on, but for the firft Year after his Advancement to the Em-
pire.
It is worth remarking, that the Subject of thefe old De^
clamations was not an imaginary 'Thefts, but a Cafe which,
might probably be brought into the Courts of Judicature.
The contrary Practice, which crept into fome Schools after
-the Auguflan Age, to the great debafing of Eloquence, is
what Petronius inveighs fo feverely againft in the Beginning
of his Satyricon, in a Strain fo elegant, that it would lofe a
great Part of its Grace and Spirit in any Tranflation.
When
xxviit , E S S A T II. 3
the Mitbr'fdatk War, took up his Refulence in Rome. 'Ci-
( ero wholly refigned himfelf to his Inftitution, having no%*
fixed the Bent of his Thoughts and Inclinations to Philofo-i
phy ; to which he gave more diligent Attendance, becaufe
the Dittra&ions of the Times afforded him little Reafon to.
hrpe, that the judicial Procefs and the regular Courfe of
the Laws would ever be reflored to their former Vigour.
Yet not entirely to forfake his Oratory, at the lame Time
he made his Applications to Molo the Rbodian, a famous
Pleader and Mailer of Rhetoric.
Sylla being now the fecond Time advanced againft Mi^
tbridatcs, the City was not much difturbed with Arms lor
three Years together. During this Interval, Cicero, with
unwearied Diligence, made his Advance Day and Night in
all Manner of Learning ; having now the Benefit of a
new Inftruftor, Diodotus the Stoic, who lived and died in
his Houfe. To this Matter, befides his Improvement in
Other Parts of ufeful Knowledge, he was particularly oblig-
ed for keeping him continually exercifed in Logic, which
he calls a concife and compafl Kind of Eloquence.
But tho* engaged at the fame Time in fo many and fuch
different Faculties, he let no Day flip without fome Per-
formance in Oratory ; declaiming conttantly with the heft
Antagonifts he could light on among the Students. In this
Exercife he did not confine himfelf to any ohe Language,
but fometimes ufed Latin, fometimes Greek; and indeed
more frequently, the latter : Either hecaufe the Beauties
and Ornaments of the Greek Stile would by this Means,
grow fo natural as eafily to be imitated in his_own Tongue ;
Or becaufe his Grecian Matters would not be fuch proper
Judges of his Stile and Method, nor fo well able to correct
his Defects, if he delivered himfelf in anyother than their
native Language.
Upon Sylla's victorious Return and his Settlement of the
Commonwealth, the Lawyers recovered their Practice, and
the ordinary Courfe of judicial Matters were revived : And
then it was that Cicero came to the Bar, and undertook the
Patronage of public and private Caufes. His firtt Oration
in a Public 'Judgment was the Defence of Sexlus Rofchus,
profecuted by no lefs a Man than the Diftator himfelf, which
was the Reafon that none of the old experienced Advocates
dared appear in his Behalf. Cicero, gained the Caufe, to
his great Honour, being about fix or feven and twenty :
And having behaved himfelf fo remarkably well in his firft
v Enterprise,
Of tbe ROMAN Education.
F.nterprize, there was no Bufmefs thought too weighty or
difficult for his Management.
He found himfelf at this Time labouring under a very
weak Conftitution, to which was added the Natural Defeat
in his Make of a long and thin Neck: So that in all Pro-
bability the Labour and draining of the Body, required in
an Orator, could not but be attended with manifeft Danger of
his Life. This Was efpecially to be feared in him, becaufe
he was obferved in his Pleadings to keep his Voice always at
the highefl Pitch in a mofl vehement and impetuous Tone,
and at the fame Time to ufe a proportionable Violence in.
Gefture and Aclion. Upon this Confideration the Phyfici-
ans, and his nearefl Friends, were continually urging him
to lay afide all Thoughts of a Profeflion which appeared fb
extremely prejudicial to his Health. But Cicero mewed him-
felf equally inflexible to the Advice of the one, and to the
Entreaties of the other; and declared his Refolution rather
to run the Rifque of any Danger that might happen, than
deprive himfelf -of the Glory which he might juflly chal-
lenge from the Bar.
Confirming himfelf in this Determination, he began to
think, that upon altering his Mode of Speaking, and bring-
ing his Voice down to a lower and more moderate Key, he
might abate confiderably of the Heat and Fury which
tranfported him, and by that Means avoid the Damage
which feemed to threaten his Defign.
For the effecting this Cure, he concluded on a Jourrey
into Greece : And after he had made his Name very con-
fiderable in fhe Forum, by tvkO Years pleading, he left the
City. Being arrived at Athens, he took up his Rcfidence for
fix Months with the Philofopher Aiticus, the wifeft and
moft noble Affsrtor of the old Academy : And here under
jhe Direction of the greateft Matter, he renewed his Ac-
quaintance with that Part of Learning which had been the
conftant Entertainment of +iis Youth, at the fame Time
performing his Exercifes in Oratory under the Care of De-
rnrtrius the Syrian, an eminent Profefiorof the Art of Speak-
ing. After this he made a Circuit round Afta, with fe-
veral of the moft celebrated Orators and Rhetoricians, who
voluntarily offered him their Company.
But not fatisfied with all thefe Advantage?, he failed to
Rhodes, and there entered himfelf once more.among the
Scholars of the famous Molo, whom he had formerly heard
at Rime: One that, befides his admirable Talent 'at plead-
ing
xxx E S S A T H.
ing and writingj had a peculiar Happinefs in marking and
correcting the Defects in any Performance. It was to his
Inftitution that Cicero gratefully acknowledges he owed
the retrenching of his juvenile Heat and unbounded Free-
dom of Thought, which did not confift with the juft Rules
of an exact and fevere Method.
Returning to Rome, after two Years Abfence, he ap-
peared quite another Man : For his Body, ftrengthened by
Exercife, was come to a tolerable Habit : His Way of
Speaking feemed to have grown cool ; and his Voice was
rendered much eafier to himfelf, and much fweeter to the
Audience. Thus, about the one and thirtieth Year of his
Age, he arrived at that full Perfection, which had fo long
taken up his whole Wifhes and Endeavours, and which
hath been, ever fince, the Admiration of the World.
THE
THE
Antiquities of R O M E.
PART I. BOOK I.
The Origin, Growth, and Decay of
the ROMAN Commonwealth.
^^
CHAP. I.
Of the BUILDING of the CITY.
'HILE we view the Origin of States and King-
doms (the moft delightful and furprizing
firft
W'i
Part of Hiftory) we eafily difcern, as the
and faireft Profped, the Rife of the Jeivijb and
Roman Commonwealths : Of which, as the former had the
Honour always to be efteemed the Favourite of Heaven,
and the peculiar Care of Divine Providence ; fo the other
had very good Pretenfions to ftile herfelf the Darling of
Fortune ; who feemed to exprefs a more than ordinary
Fondnefs for her youngeft Daughter, as if (he had defigned
the three former Monarchies purely for a Foil to fet off
this latter. Their own Hiftorians rarely begin without a
Fit oi e Wonder ; and before they proceed to delineate the
glorious Scene, give themfelves the Liberty of ftanding
ftill fome Time, to admire at a Diftance.
For the Founder of the City and Republic, Authors have
long fmce agreed on Romulus, Son of Rbea Sylvia, and De-
fcendant of JEneas, from whom his Pedigree may be thus
derived : Upon the final Ruin and Deftru&ion of Troy
by the Grecians, &neas, with a fmall Number of Followers,
had the good Fortune to fecure himfelf by Flight. His
Efcape
2 72* Rife and Progrefs Part I.
Efcape was very much countenanced by the Enemy, inaf-
nmch as upon all Occafions he had exprefTed his Inclinati-
ons to a Peace, and to the restoring of Helen, the unhappy
Caufe of all the Mifchief. Sailing thus from Troy, after a
tedious Voyage, and great Variety of Adventures, he ar-
rived at laft at Latium, a Part of Italy fo called a latendo, or
from lying bid ; being the Place that Saturn had chofe for
his Retirement, when expelled the Kingdom of Crete by his
rebellious Son Jupiter. Here applying himfelf to the King
of the Country, at that Time Latinus, he obtained, his only
Daughter Lavinia in Marriage ; and, upon the Death of his
Father-in-Law, was left in Pofieflion of the Crown. He
removed the imperial Seat from Laurentum to Lavimum, a
City which he had built himfelf in Honour of his Wife ;
and upon his Deceafe foon after, the Right of Succeflion
vefted in Afcanlus, whether his Son by a former Wife, and
the fame he brought with him from Troy, or another of
that Name, which he had by Lavinia, Livy leaves undeter-
mined. Afcanius being under Age, the Government .was
intruded into the Hands of Lavinia: But as foon as he was
grown up, he left his Mother in PoffefJion of Lavinium ;
and removing with Part of the Men, laid the Foundation'
of a new City, along the Side of the Mountain Albanus,
called from thence Longa Jllba. After him, by a Succefiion
of eleven Princes, the Kingdom devolved at laft to Procas.
Procas at his Death left two Sons, Numitor and Amidius ; of
whom Atttuliui deceiving his elder Brother, obliged him
to quit his Claim to the Crown, which he thereupon fe-
cured to himfelf; and to prevent all Difturbance that might
probably arife to him or his Pofterity,from the elder Family,
deftroying all the Males, he conftrained Numitor's only
Daughter, Rbea Sylvia, to take on her the Habit of a
Veflal, and confequently a Vow of perpetual Virginity.
However, the Princefs was foon after found with Child,
and delivered of two Boys Romulus and Remus. The Ty-
rant, being acquainted with the Truth, immediately con-
demned his Niece to clofe Imprifonment, and the Infants
to be expofed, or -carried and left in a It range Place, where
it was very improbable they mould meet with any Relief.
The Servant, who had the Care of this inhuman Office,
left the Children at the Bottom of a Tree, by the Bank of
the River Tiber. In this fad Condition, they were cafually dif-
covered by Faujiulus,the King's Shepherd ; who beingwholly
ignorant of the Plct, took the Infants up, and carried them
home
Book I. of the R o M A N Empire. 3
home to his Wife Laurentia, to be nurfed with his own Chil-
dren (a). This Wife of his had formerly been a common
Proftitute, called in Latin Lupa; which Word, fignifying
likewife a She-Wolf, gave occafion to the Story of their be-
ing nurfed by fuch a Bead ; though fome take the Word al-
ways in a literal Senfe, and maintain, that they really fub-
fifted fome Time, by fucking this Creature, before they
had the good Fortune to be jelieved by Faujlulus (b). The
Boys, as they grew up, difcovering the natural Greatnefs
of their Minds and Thoughts, addicted themfelves to the ge-
nerous Exercifes of Hunting, Racing, taking Robbers, and
fuch like; and always exprefled a great Defire of engaging
in any Enterprize that appeared hazardous and noble.
(c) Now there happening a Quarrel betwixt the Herdfmen
of Numitor and Amulhis, the former lighting cafually on Re-
mus, brought him before their Mafler to^e examined. Nu-
mitor learning from his own Mouth the ftrange Circumflance
of his Education and Fortune, eafily guefied him to be one
of his Grandfon's, who had been expofed. He was foon
confirmed in this Conjecture, upon the Arrival ciFauJlu-
lus and Romulus ; when the whole Bufinefs being laid open,
upon Confultation had, gaining over to their Party a fuffi-
cient Number of the difaffeted Citizens, they contrived to
furprife Amulius, and re-eftablifhed Numitor, This Defign
was foon after very happily put in Execution, the Tyrant (lain,
and the old King reftored to a full Enjoyment of the Crown{d).
The young Princes had no fooner refeated their Grandfa-
ther in his Throne, but they began to think of procuring
one for themfelves. They had higher Thoughts than to take
up with the Reverfion of a Kingdom ; and were unwilling to
live in Alba, becaufe they could not govern there: So taking
with them their Fofter-father, and fuch others they could
get together, they began the Foundation of a new City, in
the fame place where in their Infancy they had been brought
up (e). The firft Walls were fcarce finifhed, when, upon a
flight Quarrel, the Occafion of which is varioufly reported
by Hiftorians, the younger Brother had the Misfortune to
be {lain. Thus the. whole Power came into the Hands of Ro-
mulus; who, carrying on the Remainder of the Work, gave
the City a Name in Allufion to his own ; and he hath beer,
ever accounted the Founder and Patron of the Roman Com-
monwealth.
(a) Livy, lib . i . (5) See Dtrnfjler's Notes to Rfout's Antiquities, 7/J. i ,
cap. i. (c) Plutarch in the Life of 'Remu/ut. (d} Ibid, and Li-vy y lib. i.
(<fj P/utarcl; as before i and Livj, lib. i.
D CHAP.
4 The Rife and Progrefs Part I.
CHAP. II.
Of the ROMAN Affairs under the Kings.
THE witty Hiftorian (a) had very good Reafon to en-
title the Reign of the Kings, the Infancy of Rome ;
for it is certain, that under them (he was hardly able to
fupport herielf, and at the beft had but a very feeble
Motion. Thegreateft Part of Romulus's Time was taken up
in making Laws and Regulations for the Commonwealth.
Three of his State Defigns, I mean the Afylum, the Rape
of the Sabtne Virgins, and his Way of treating thofe Few
whom he conquered, as they far exceeded the Politics of
thofe Times, fo they contributed in an extraordinary De-
gree, to the Advancement of the new Empire. But then
Numa's long Reign ferved only for the Eftablifhment of
Priefts and religious Orders; and in thofe three and
forty Years (b] t Rome gained not fo much as one Foot of
Ground. Tullut HoJJilius was wholly employed in convert-
ing his Subjects from the pleafing Amufements of Superfti-
tion, to the rougher Institution of martial Difcipline : Yet
we find nothing memorable related of his Conquefts; only
that, after a long and dubious War, the Romans entirely
ruined their old Mother Alba (c). After him, Ancus Mar-
cius, laying afide all Thoughts of extending the Bounds of
the Empire, applied himfelf wholly to ftrengthen and beau-
tify the City (d] ; and efteemed the Commodioufnefs and
Magnificence of that the nobleft Defign he could poffibly
be engaged in. Tarquinius Prifcus, though not altogether fo
quiet as his Predeceflbr, yet confulted very little elfe befidet
the Dignity of the Senate, and the Majefty of the Go-
vernment; for the Increafe of which, he appointed the Or^
naments and Badges of the feveral Officers, to diftinguifh
them from the Common People (e). A more peaceful Tem-
per appeared in Servius 'Tullius, whofe principal Study was
to have an exact Account of the Eftatesof the Romans', and
according to thofe to divide them into Tribes, ( f) that fo
they might contribute with Juflice and Proportion to the
public Expences of the State. Tarquin the Proud, though
perhaps more engaged in Wars than any of his Predecef-
(a) ekrus in the Preface to his Hiftory. (b) Plutarch in the Life of Nutaa.
(c) Flerut, 1. i. cap. 3. (J) Idem, \. i. cap. 4. (e) I<Jem, 1. i. cap. 5.
(/) Idem, 1. i. cap. 6".
fors,
Book I. of the ROMAN Empire. 5
fors (a), yet had in his Nature fuch a ftrange Compofition
of the mod extravagant Vices, as muft neceflarily have
proved fatal to the growing Tyranny. And had not the
Death of the unfortunate Lucretia adminiftered to the Peo-
ple an Opportunity of Liberty, yet a far (lighter Matter
would have ferved them for a fpecious Reafon to endeavour
the Affertion of their Rights. However, on this Accident,
all were fuddenly tranfported with fuch a Mixture of Fury
and Companion, that, under the Conduct of Brutus and
Collatinus, to whom the dying Lady had recommended the
Revenge of her injured Honour (b], running immediately
upon the Tyrant, they expelled him and his whole Family.
A new Form of Government was now refolved on; andbe-
caufe to live under a divided Power carried fomething of
Complacency in the ProfpeQ: (c), they unanimoufly con-
ferred the fupreme Command on the two generous Affer-
tors of their Liberties (d). Thus ended the Royal Adrrii-
niftration, after it had continued about two hundred and
fifty Years.
Florus, in his Reflections on the firft Age of Rome, can-
not forbear applauding the happy Fate of his Country, that
it mould be bleffed in that weak Age, with a SucceiHon of
Princes fo fortunately different in their Aims and Defigns ;
as if Heaven had purpofely adapted them to the feveral Exi-
gencies of the State (e). And the famous Macbia-vel is of
the fame Opinion (f). But a judicious Author (g) hath
lately obferved, that this Difference of Genius in the Kings,
\vas fo far from procuring any Advantage to the Roman
People,that their fmalllncreafe under that Government is re-
ferable to no other Caufe. However, thus far we are allur-
ed, that thofe feven Princes left behind them a Dominion
of no larger Extent than that of Parma or Mantua, at
prefent.
(a] See Ftsrur, /.i.e. 7. (t) Idem, lib. i. cap. 9. (c) Plutarch in
the Life of Pcfltccla. (J) Ibid & Florus, lib. i. cap. 9. (e) Idem,
cap. 8. (/) Macbia<utr$ Difcourfes on Livy, lib. a. cap. 12.
(g) Monfieur St. Evremint\ Reflections on the Genius of the Roman People,
D 2 CHAP
6 3le Kife and Progrefs Parti.
CHAP.. III.
Of the ROMAN Affairs, from the Beginning cf tb'e Confulaf
Government to the firjl Punic War.
T
HE Tyrant was no fooner expelled, but, as it ufual-
ly happens, there was great plotting and defigningfor
his Reftoration. Among feveral other young Noblemen,
Brutus his two Sons had engaged themfelves in the Affect-
ation : But the Confpiracy being happily difcovered, and
the Traitors brought before the Confuls, in order to their
Punifhment, Brutus only addreffing himfelf to his Sons, and
demanding whether they had any Defence to make againft
the Indictment, upon their Silence, ordered them immedi-
ately to be beheaded ; and flaying himfelf to fee the Exe-
cution, committed the Reft to the Judgment of his Col-
legue (a). No A6lion among the old Romans has made a
greater Noife than this. It would be exceeding difficult
to determine, whether it proceeded from a Motion of He-
roic Virtue, or the Hardnefs of a cruel or unnatural
Humour; or whether Ambition had not as great a Share in
it as either. But though the Flame was fo happily ftifled
within the City, it foon broke out with greater Fury abroad :
For Tarquin was not only received with all imaginable
Kindnefs and Refpeft by the neigbouring States, but
fupphed too with all Neceffaries, in order to the Reco-
very of his Dominions. The moft powerful Prince in
Italy was at that Time Porfrnna, King of Hetruria, or Tuf-
cany ; who, not content to furnifh him with the fame Sup-
plies as the Red, approached, with a numerous Army in
Hs Behalf, to the very Walls of Rome (/>). The City wai
in great Hazard of being taken, when an Admiration of the
Virtue and gallant Difpofition of the Romans induced the
Befiegers to a Peace (c). The moft remarkable Inftances of
this extraordinary Courage were Codes, Mutins and Cl<slia.
Codes, when the Romans were beaten back in an unfortu-
nate Sally, and the Enemy made good their Purfuit to the
very Bridge, only with the Afliftance of two Perfons, de-
fended it againfi their whole Power, till his own Party
broke it down behind ; nnd then caft himfelf in his Armour
(a] P'ufarcl. in vita Pcfliecl. (*) Mem, & Fltrut, lib. i. (r) Plut. in
into
Book I. of the R o M A N Empire. 7
into the River, and fwam over to the other Side (a). Mtr
tius having failed in an Attempt upon Porfenna's Perfon, and
being brought before the King to be examined, thrufl his
Right-hand, which had committed the Miftake, into a Pan
of Coals that flood ready for the Sacrifice. Upon which
generous AcYton he was difmiffed without further Injury.
As for Cleelia, flie, with other noble Virgins, had been de-
livered to the Enemy for Hoflages, on Account of a Truce;
when obtaining the Liberty to bathe themfelves in Ti-
ber, me getting on Horfeback before the Reft, encouraged
them to follow her through the Water to the Romans ;
though the Conful generoufly fent them back to the Ene-
my's Camp. Porfenna had no fooner drawn off his Army,
but the Sabines and Latines joined in a Confederacy againft
Rome ; and though they were extremely weakened by the
Defertion of Appius Claudius, who went over with five thou-
fand Families to the Romans ; yet they could not be entire-
ly fubdued, till they received a total Overthrow from Vale-
rius Poplicola (). B,W,jhe,iify iV \ia.and the Volfci, the moil
iGfetyB$b f atins ftyled all their Comrnki.emies of Rome,
feems to have been of a round Figure : The chief Parts or"
it were the Tribunal, or General's Pavilion ; the Augurale>
fet a-part for Prayers, Sacrifices, and other religious Ufes ;
the Apartments of the young Noblemen, who came under
the Care of the General, to inform themfelves in the Na-
ture of the Countries, and gain fome Experience in Mili-
tary Affairs: Thefe Gentlemen had the honourable Title of
Imperatoris Contubernales.
On the right Side of the Pr<etorium flood the Quttjlwium,
afligned to the Quajlor, or Treafurer of the Army, and
near it the Forum ; ferving not only for the Sale of Com-
modities, but alfo for the meeting of Councils, and giving
Audience to the Ambafladors : This is fometimes called
On the other Side of the Pr<ftorium were lodged the Ls-
gati, or Lieutenant-generals : And below the Pratori:im, the
Tribunes took up their Quarters by fix and fix, oppofite to
their proper Legions, to the End they might the better go-
vern and infpet them.
The Prafefii of the foreign Troops were lodged next the
Tribune!) over-againfl their fefpecYive Wings : Behind thcfe
were the Lodgments of the Evocati, and then thofe of the
Extraordinarii and Able fit Equites, all which compofed the
higher Part of the Camp.
R Between
S The Rife and Progrefs Part I.
Whereupon the Ambaffadors going into the Town, and
encouraging the Cluftuns to a Sally, one of them was feen
personally engaging in the A&ion. This, being contrary
to the received Law of Nations, was refented in fo high a
Manner by the Enemy, that, breaking up from before Clu-
Jium, the whole Army marched dire&ly towards Rome. A-
bout eleven Miles from the City, they met with the Roman
Army commanded by the Military Tribunes, who>^ngaging
without any Order or Difcipline, received an entire De-
feat. Upon the Arrival of this ill News, the greateft Part
of the Inhabitants immediately fled : Thofe that refolved to
flay fortified themfelves in the Capitol. The Gauls foon
appeared at the City Gates ; and, deftroying all with Fire
and Sword, carried on the Siege of the Capitol with all
imaginable Fury. At laft, refolving on a general AfTault,
they were difcovered by the Cackling of the Geefe that
were kept for that Purpofe ; and as many as had climbed
the Rampart were driven down by the valiant Manlius ;
when Camillus, fetting upon them in the Rear with twen-
ty thoufand Men, that he got together about the Country,
gave them a total Overthrow. The greateft Part of thofe
that efcaped out of the Field were cut off in ftraggling Par-
ties, by the Inhabitants of the neighbouring Towns and
Villages. The City had been fo entirely demolimed, that,
upon the Return of the People, they thought of removing
to Veil* a City ready built, and excellently provided of all
Things. But being diverted from this Defign by an Omen
(as they thought) they fet to the Work, with fuch extraor-
dinary Diligence and Application, that within the Compafs
of a Year the whole City was rebuilt. They had fcarce
gained a Breathing-time after their Troubles, when the
united Powers of the AEqui, ^olfd, and other Inhabitants
of Latium, at once invaded their Territories. But they
were foon over-reached by a Stratagem of Camillus, and
totally routed (a}.
Nor had the Samnites any better Fate, though a People
very numerous, and of great Experience in War. The
Contention with them lafted no lefs than fifty Years (),
when they were finally fubdued by Papirius Curfor (c).
The Tareniine War, that followed, put an End to the en-
tire Conqueft of Italy. Tarentuni) a City of great Strength
and Beauty, feated on the Adriatic Sea,, was efpecially re-
(a] Pht. in -nit. Cam. 1. () Flarus^ lib. i. cap. ifi. (c) Liv. lib. 10,
(J) Fim, lib. i. cap. 1 8,
markabje
Book I. Of the ROMAN Empire. 9
markable for the Commerce it maintained with moflofthe
neighbouring Countries, as Eptruf,JifyHcvm,Sirily, &c. (d).
Among other Ornaments of their City, they had a fpacious
Theatre for public Sports,built hard by the Sea-fhore. They
happened to be engaged in the Celebration of fome fuch
Solemnity, when, upon Sight of the Roman Fleet, that
cafually failed by their Coafts, imagining them to Jbe Ene-
mies, they immediately fet upon them, and, killing the
Commander, rifled the greateft Part of the VefTels. Am-
bafladors were foon difpatched from Rome to demand Satis-
faction ; but they met with as ill Reception as the Fleet,
being difgracefully fent away without fo much as a Hear-
ing. Upon this a War was foon commenced between the
States. The Tarentines were increafed by an incredible
Number of Allies from all Parts : But he that made the
greateft Appearance in their Behalf was Pyrrbus, King of
Epirus, the moft experienced General of his Time. Be-
iides the choiceft of his Troops that accompanied him in
the Expedition, he brought into the Field a confiderable
Number of Elephants, a Sort of Beaft fcarce heard of till
that Time in Italy. In the firft Engagement, the Romans
were in fair Hopes of a Victory, when the Fortune of the
Day was entirely changed upon the coming up of the Ele?
phants ; who made fuch a prodigious Deftru&ion in the'
Roman Cavalry, that the whole Army was obliged to retire.
But the politic General, having experienced fo well the
Roman Courage, immediately after the Victory, fent to
offer Conditions for a Peace ; but was absolutely refufed.
In the next Battle, the Advantage was on the Roman Side,
who had not now fuch difmal Apprehenfions of the Ele-
phants, as before. However, the Bufmefs came to an-
other Engagement; when the Elephants over-running
whole Ranks of their own Men, enraged by the Cry of a
young one who had been wounded, gave the Romans an
abfolute Victory (a}. Twenty-three thoufa'nd of the Ene-
my were killed (), and Pyrrbus finally expelled Italy. In
this War the Romans had a fair Opportunity to fubdue
the other Parts that remained unconquered, under Pretext
of Allies to the Tarentines. So that at this Time, about
the 477th Year of the Building of the City (c}> they had
made themfelves the intire Matters of Italy.
(?} Fbrus t Ibid. (I) Eutnpiur, lib. *, (<) Ibid.
P4 CHAP.
jo 'fhe Rife and Progrefs Part I.
CHAP. IV.
Of the ROMAN Affairs, from the Beginning of the firjl Pu-
nic War to thefrft Triumvirate.
BU T the Command of tbe Continent could not fatisfy
the Roman Courage, efpecially while they faw fo deli-
cious an Ifle as Sicily almoft within their Reach : They
only waited an Occafion to pafs the Sea, when Fortune
prefented as fair a one as they could wifh. The Inhabitants
of MeJJina, a Sicilian City, made grievous Complaints to the
Senate, of the daily Encroachments of the Carthaginians, a
People of vaft Wealth and Power, and that had the fame
Defign on Sicily as the Romans (a). A Fleet was foon manned
out for their Afllftance ; and, in two Years ^ime, no lefs
than fifty Cities were brought over (). The entire Con-
quert of the Ifland quickly followed ; and Sardinia and Cor-
ftca were taken in about the fame Time by a feparate Squa-
dron. And now, under the Command of Regulus and Man-
Hits, the Confuls, the War was tranflated into Africa. Three
hundred Forts and Caftles were deftroyed in their March,
and the victorious Legions encamped under the very Walls
of Carthage. The Enemy, reduced to fuch Straits, were
obliged to apply themfelves to Xantippus, King of the Lace-
demonians, the greateft Captain of the Age ; who immedi-
ately marched to their Afliftance with a numerous and well-
difciplined Army. In the very firft Engagement with the
Romans, he entirely defeated their whole Power: Thirty
thoufand were killed on the Spot, and fifteen thoufand, with
their Conful Regulus, taken Prifoners. But as good Succefs
always encouraged the Romans to greater Defigns ; fo a con-
trary Event did but exafperate them the more. The new
Confuls were immediately difpatched with a powerful Na-
vy, and a fufficient Number of Land Forces. Several Cam-
paigns were now wafted, without any confiderable Advantage
on either Side : Or if the Romans gained any Thing by their
Victories, they generally loft as much by Shipwrecks ; when
at laft the whole Power of both States being drawn together
on the Sea, the Carthaginians were wholly defeated, with
the Lofs of 125 Ships funk in the Engagement ; 73 taken,
32,000 Men killed, and 1300 made Prifoners. Upon this they
(a) Fhru:, lib. a. cap. a. (*) Eutrtf. Ijb. a.
were
Book I. of the ROMAN Empire. n
were compelled to fue for a Peace; which, after much In-
treaty, and upon very hard Conditions, was at laft obtained (a).
But the Carthaginians had too great Spirits to fubmit to
fuch unreasonable Terms any longer than their Neceffities
obliged them. In four Years Time () they had got together
an Army of 80,000 Foot, and 20,000 Horfe (f), under the
Command of the famous Hannibal; who forcing a Way thro*
the Pyrenean Mountains and the Alps, reputed till that Time
impaflable, defcended with his vaft Army into Italy. In four
fucceflive Battles he defeated the Roman Forces ; in the laft
of which, at Canna, 40,000 of the latter were killed (d) :
And had he not been merely deferted by the Envy and
Ill-will of his own Countrymen, it is more than probable,
that he muft have entirely ruined the Roman State (e) : But
Supplies of Men and Money being fometimes abfolute'y de-
nied him, and never coming but very flowly, the Romans
had fuch Opportunities to recruit, as they little expected
from fo experienced an Adverfary. The wife Management
of FabiusMaximus was the firft Revival of the Roman Caufe.
He knew very well the Strength of the Enemy, and there-
fore marched againft him without intending to hazard a
Battle ; but to wait constantly upon him, to ftraiten his
Quarters, intercept his Provifions, and fo make the victo-
rious Army pine away with Penury and Want. With this
Defign he always encamped upon the high Hills, where
the Horfe could have no Accefs to him: When they
marched, he did the fame ; but at fuch a Diftance, as not
to be compelled to an Engagement. By this Policy he fo
broke Hannibal's Army, as to make him abfolutely defpair
of getting any Thing in Italy (/"). But the Conclufion
of the War was owing to the Conduct of Scipio: He had
before reduced all Spain into Subjection ; and now taking
the fame Courfe as Hannibal &t firft had done, he marched
with the greateft Part of the Roman Forces into Africa ; and,
carrying all before him to the very Walls of Carthage, o-
bliged the Enemy to call home their General out of Italy,
for the Defence of the City. Hannibal obeyed ; and both
Armies coming to an Engagement, after a long Difpute,
wherein the Commanders and Soldiers of both Sides are
reported to have outdone themfelves, the Victory fell to
the Romans. Whereupon the Enemy were obliged once
more to fue for a Peace ; which was again granted them,
though upon much harder Conditions than before.
(a) Eutrop. lib. 2. (b] Fltrtts, lib. 1. cap. 6. (c) Eutrtp. lib. 3.
(J) Ibid, (e} Cornelius Nepss ia vit. Hannibal. (f ) Plut. in vit. Fab. Max.
The
12 The Rife and Progrefs Part I.
The Romans, by the happy Conclufion of this War, had
fo highly advanced themfelves in the Opinion of the neigh-
bouring States, that the Athenians, with the greateft Part of
Greece, being at this Time miferably enflaved by Philip
King of Macedon, unanimoufly petitioned the Senate for Af-
ftftance. A Fleet, with a fufficient Number of Land-Forces,
were prefently difpatched to their Relief; by whofe Valour,
the Tyrant, after feveral Defeats, was compelled to reftore
all Greece to their antient Liberties, obliging himfelf to pay
an annual Tribute to the Conquerors (a).
Hannibal, after his late Defeat, had applied himfelf to An*
tiofbus King of Syria, who at this Time was making great
Preparations againft the Romans. Acilius Glabrio was firft
fent to oppofe him, and had the Fortune to give him feveral
Defeats ; when Cornelius Scipio the Roman Admiral, engag-
ing with the King's Forces at Sea, under the Command of
Hannibal, intirely ruined the whole Fleet. Which Victory
being immediately followed by another as fignal at Land,
the effeminate Prince was contented to purchase a Peace at
the Trice of almoft half his Kingdom (b}.
The victorious Romans had fcarce concluded the Public
Rejoicings on Account of the late Succefs, when the Death
of Philip King of Macedon prefented them with an Occafion
f a more glorious Triumph. His Son Perfeus, that fuo
ceeded, refolving to break with the Senate, applied himfelf
wholly to raifing Forces, and procuring other Neceffaries
for a War. -Never were greater Appearances in the Iyel4
than on both Sides, moft of the considerable Princes in the
World being engaged in the Quarrel. But Fortune ftill de-?
dared for the Romans, and the greateft Part of Perfeus's pro-t
<JigiousArmy was cut off by the Conful Emi!iuf,anA the King
obliged to furrender himfelf into the Hands of the Conquer-^
ror (r). Authors that write of the four Monarchies, here
fix the End of the Macedonian Empire.
But Rome could not think herfelf fecure amongfl all thefe
Conquefts, while her old Rival Carthage was yet {landing :
So that, upon a flight Provocation, the City, after three
Years Siege, was taken, and utterly razed, by the Valour
of Publius Scipio, Grandfon, by Adoption, to him that
conquered Hannibal (d).
Not long after, Attains King of Pergamus, dying without
Iflue, left his vail Territories, containing near all AJia, to the
(a) Eutrtp. 1. 4 . (4) Floras, 1. a. c. 8. (c) VAL Paterc, 1. i. (J) ItiJ.
Romans
Book I. of the Ro M A N Empire. 13
Romans (a). And what of Africa remained unconqiered was
for the mod Part, reduced in the Jugurtbine War, that im-
mediately followed; Jugurtba himfelf, after feveral Defeats,
being taken Prifoner by Marius, and brought in Triumph to
Rome ().
And now after the Defeat of the Teutones and Cimbri, that
had made an Inroad into Italy, with feveral lefler Conquefts
in Afta and other Parts, the Mitbridatic War, and the Civil
War between Marius and Sylla, broke out both in the fame
Year (c). Sylla had been fent General againft Mitbridates
King of Pontus, who had feized on the greateft Part of
Afta and Acbaia in an hoftile Manner ; when, before he was
got out of Italy, Sulpicius, the Tribune of the People, and
one of Marius's Faction, preferred a Law to recall him,
and to depute Marius in his Room. Upon this, Sylla, lead-
ing back his Army, and overthrowing Marius and Sulpicius
in his Way, having fettled Affairs at Rome, and baniflied
the Authors of the late Sedition, returned to meet the Fo-
reign Enemy (</). His firft Exploit was the taking of Athens,
and ruining of the famous Mole in the Haven Piraeus (e).
Afterwards, in two Engements, he killed and took near
130,000 of the Enemy, and compelled Mitbridates to fue
for a Truce (/). In the mean Time Marius, being called
home by the new Confuls, had exercifed all Manner of Cru- -
elty at Rome: Whereupon, taking the Opportunity of the
Truce, Sylla once more marched back towards Italy. Marius
was dead before his Return (g) ; but his two Sons, with the
Confuls, raifcd feveral Armies to oppofe him. But fome of
the Trcops being drawn over to his Party, and the others
routed, he entered the City, and difpofed all Things at his
Plea'ure, afluming the Title and Authority of a perpetual
Dictator. But having regulated the State, he laid down
that Office, and died in Retirement (b).
Mitbridftfs had foon broke the late Truce, and invaded
Bitbynia and AJta, with as great H'ury as ever ; when the Ro-
man General LucuIIus, routing his vaft Armies by Land and
Sea, chafed him quite out of Afta ; and had infallibly put
an happy Conclufion to the War, had not Fortune referved
that Glory for Pompey (/'). He being deputed in the Room
of Lucullui, after the Defeat of the new Forces of Mitbri-
dates, compelled him to fly to his Father-in-Law Tigranes
(a) Eutrop. lib. 4. (b) IbiJ. (c) Eutrep. lib. $. (J) ttlA. () Fell. Patert.
lib. ^. (/) Etrop. lib. g. (g) Vdl. faterc. lib. i. (b) Jurelim PiStr in
*it. Sjlla. (/) FtlL Paterc. ibid.
King
14 be Rife and Progrefs Part I.
King of Armenia. Pompey followed with his Army; and
ftruckfucha Terror into the whole Kingdom, that Tigranes
ivas conftrained in an humble Manner to prefent himfelf to
the General,and offer his Realm and Fortune to his Difpofal.
At this Time the Catalinarian Confpiracy broke out, more
famous for the Obftinacy than the Number of the Rebels ;
but this was immediately extinguifhed by the timely Care
of Cicerot and the happy Valour of Antony. The Senate,
upon the News of the extraordinary Succefs of Pompey, were
under fome Apprehenfion of his affecting the Supreme Com-
mand at his Return, and altering the Conftitution of the
Government. But when they faw him difmifs his vaft Ar-
my at Brundufium, and proceeded in the reft of hisjourney to
the City with no other Company than hb ordinary Attend-
ants, they received him with all the Fxpreflions of Compla-
cency and Satisfaction, and honoured him with a fplendid
Triumph (k}.
(k) Veil Faterc. ib.
CHAP. V.
Of the ROMAN Affairs, from the Beginning of thejirjl Tri-
umvirate to the End of the twelve Csefars.
ZIE three Perfons that at this Time bore the greateft
Sway in the State, were Craffus, Pompey, and C<efar.
rft by reafon of his prodigious Wealth ; Pompey for
his Power with the Soldiers and Senate ; and Ccefar for his
admirable Eloquence, and a peculiar Noblenefs of Spirit.
When now taking Advantage of the Confulfhip of C<zfar,
they entered into a folemn Agreement to let nothing pafs in
the Commonwealth without their joint Approbation (a). By
virtue of this Alliance, they had in a little Time procured
themfelves the three beft Provinces in the Empire, Craffuf
AJta, Pompey Spain, and Ctcfar Gaul. Pompey, for the bet-
ter retaining of his Authority in the City, chofe to man-
age his Province by Deputies (b) ; the other two entered
on their Governments in Perfon. But Craffus foon after, in
an Expedition he undertook againft the Partbians, had the ill
Fortune to lofe the greateft Part of his Army, and- was him-
(a) Suet, in Jut. C<ef. cap. 19. (i) Taterc. lib. a. cap. 48.
was
Book I. of the ROMAN Empire. 15
felf treacheroufly murdered (a). In the mean Time Ctefar
was performing Wonders in Gaul. No lefs than 40,000 of
the Enemy he had kilkd, and taken more Prifoners : And
nine Years together (which was the whole Time of his Go-
vernment) deferves a Triumph for the Actions of every Cam-
paign (3). The Senate, amazed at this ftrange Relation of
his Victories, were eafily inclined to fufpeft his Power : So
that taking the Opportunity when he petitioned for a fecond
Confulfhip, they ordered him to difband his Army, and ap-
pear as a private Perfon at the Election (c}. Cafar endea-
voured by all Means to come to an Accommodation : But
finding the Senate violently averfe to his Intereft, and refo'v-
ed to hear nothing but what they firft propofed (d), he was
conftrained to march towards Italy with his Troops, to ter-
rify or force them into a Compliance. Upon the News of
his Approach, the Senate, with the greatefl Part of the No-
bility, pafling over into Greece, he entered the City without
Oppofition,and creating himfelf Conful and Di&ator,haften-
edwith his Army into Spaing where theTr oops under Pompey^s
Deputies were compelled to fubmit themfelves to his Dif-
pofal. With this Reinforcement he advanced towards Ma-
cedonia, where the Senate had got together a prodigious
Army under the Command of Pompey. In the firft Engage-
ment, he received a considerable Defeat. But the whole
Pow?v>n both Sides being drawn up on the Plains of Tbef-
faly, after a long Difpute the ViSory fell to Cafar, with
the entire Ruin of the adverfe Party. Pompey fled directly
towards Egypt, Cafar, with his victorious Legions imme-
diately followed. Hearing at his Arrival, that Pompey had
been killed by Order of Kin&PtoIetny, he laid clofe Siege to
Alexandria, the capital City ; and having made himfelf ab-
folute Matter of the Kingdom, committed it to the Care of
Cleopatra, Sifter to the late King(^). Scipio and Juba he foon
after overcame in Africa, and Pompey's two Sons in Spain (/).
And now being received at his Return with the general
Applaufe of the People and Senate, and honoured with the
glorious Titles of, Father of bis Country, and perpetual Dicla-
tor, he was defigning an Expedition into Partbia ; when,
after the Enjoyment of the fupreme Command no more
than five Months, he was murdered in the Senate-Houfe
(g)-f Brutus and Caffius, with mod of the othe* Confpira-
tors, being his particular Friends, and fuch as he had obliged
in the higheft Manner.
(a) Plutarch in Craft. (4) Patere. !. Z. (c) ttid. c. 29. (/) IHJ. c. ecd.
(<) Suet, injul. C<ef. c. 35. (/) Ibid. c. eod. (j) Patere. 1. 2. c. s ff.
A Civil
1 6 We Rife and Progrefs Part. I.
A Civil War neceflarily followed, in which the Senate,
confifting for the moft Part of fuch as had embraced the
Faction of Pompey, declared in Favour of the AfTaffins, while
Mark Antony the Conful undertook the Revenge of Cetfar.
With this Pretence he exercifed all Manner of Tyranny in the
City, and had no other Defign but to fecure the chief Com-
mand to himfelf. At laft, the Senate were obliged to de-
clare him an Enemy to the State ; and, in purfuance of their
Edil, raifed an Army to oppofe him under the Command
of Hirtius and Panfa the new Confuls, and Oflavius Nephew
and Heir to Cafar (a). In the firft Engagement Antony was
defeated ; but Hirtius being killed in the Fight, and Panfa
dying immediately after, the fole Command of the Army/
came into the Hands of Oftavius (b}. The Senate before
the late Victory, had exprefled an extraordinary Kindnefs
for him, and honoured him with feveral Marks of their
particular Efteem : But now, being freed from the Danger
they apprehended from Antony, they foon altered their Mea-
fures ; and taking little Notice of him any longer, decreed
the two Heads of the late Confpiracy, Brutus and Cafliut,
the two Provinces of Syria and Macedonia, whither they had
retired upon Commiffion of the Fact (c). Oflavius was
very fenfible of their Defigns, and thereupon was eafily in-
duced to conclude a Peace with Antony : And foon after en-
tering into an AfTociation with him and Lepidus, as his Uncle
had done with Craffus and Pompey, he returned to Rome, and
was elected Conful when urider twenty Years of Age (d).
And now, by the Power of him and his two Aflbciates, the
Senate was for the moft Part banifhed, and a Law preferred
by his Collegue Pedius, That all who had been concerned
in the Death of Ceefar, (hould be proclaimed Enemies to
the Commonwealth, and proceeded againft with all Extre-
mity (e). To put this Order in Execution, Oflavius and
Antony advanced with their Forces under their Command to-
ward Macedonia, where Brutus and Cajfius had got together
a numerous Army to oppofe them : Both Parties meeting
near the City Pbilippi, the Traitors were defeated, and the
two Commanders died foon after by their own Hands (/).
And now for ten Years, all Affairs were managed by the
Triumviri ; when Lepidus, fetting up for himfelf in Sicily,
was contented, upon the Arrival of Otfavius, to compound
for his Life, with the difhonourable Refignation of his Share
(a) Paterc. 1. 4. c. 6\. (i) Suet, in Augufl. c. n. (c) Fltrut 1. 4 c. 7.
(d) Fitert. 1. a. c . $>. (t) Ib. (/) fleruf.lj,. c, 7.
in
Book I. of the ROMAN Empire. t7
in the Government (a). The Friendship of Oflaviuf and
dntony was not of much longer Continuance : For the latter,
being for feveral Enormities declared an Enemy to the State,
was finally routed in a Sea-Engagement at Afli um; and flying
thence with his Miftrefs Cleopatra, killed himfelf foon after,
and left the fole Command in the Hands of Ofiavius. He,
by his Prudence and Moderation, gained fuch an intire Inte-
reft in the Senate and People, that when he offered to lay
down all the Authority he was inverted with above the reft,
and toreftore the Commonwealth to theantientConftitution,
the unanimously agreed in this Opinion, That their Liberty
was fooner to be parted with, than fo excellent a Prince.
However, to avoid all Offence, he rejected the very Names he
thought might be difpleafmg, and above all Things, the Titl
of Diflator, which had been fo odious in Sylla and C<efar. By
this Means he was. the Founder of that Government which
continued ever after in Rvme. The new Acquifitions to the
Empire were in his Time very confiderable : Cantabria, A-
quitania, Pannonia, Dalmatia, and lllyricum being wholly fub-
dued : the Germans were driven beyond the River Albis*
and two of their Nations, the Sue-vi and Sicambri, tranf-
planted into Gaul (b).
Tiberius, tho' in Augu/luf's^T'ime he had given Proofs of an
extraordinary Courage in the German War (c) ; yet upon hia
own Acceffion to the Crown is memorable for no Exploit,
but the reducing of Cappadocia into a Roman Province (J):
And this was owing more to his Cunning, than his Valour.
And at lad, upon his infamous Retirement into the IflandCd-
preee, he grew fo ftrangely negligent of the public Affairs, as
to fend no Lieutenants for the Government of Spain and Sy-
ria, for feveral Years ; to let Armenia be over-run by thePar-
tbians, Mafia by the Dacians and the Sarmatians, and almoft
all Gaul by the Germans ; to the extreme Danger, as well as
Dishonour of the Empire (e). Caligula, as he far fucceeded his
Predeceffor in all Manner of Debauchery, fo in Relation to
Martial Affairs he was much his Inferior. However, he is fa-
mous for a Mock-Expedition that he made againft the Ger-
mans; when arriving in that Part of the Low-Countries which
is oppofite to Britain, and receiving into his Protection a fu-
gitive Prince of the Ifland, he fent boafting Letters to the
Senate, giving an Account of the happy Conqueft of the
whole Kingdom. (/). And foon after making his Soldiers fill
(a) Pat ere. 1. a. c. 80. (i) Suetan in Augujl. c. a I. (c) Fide Paterc. I. a. cap.
406. &t. (J)Eu!roj>.\.j. (e)Suetfn.ia T,b. cap. 41. (f)SttttQH.iuCal,g. cap. 41,
their
i8 The Rife and Progrefs Parti,
their Helmets with Cockle-fhells and Pebbles, which he
called, The Spoils of the Ocean (a), returned to the City to
demand a Triumph. And when that Honour was denied
him by the Senate, he broke out into fuch extravagant Cru-
elties, that he even compelled them to cut him off, for
the Security of their own Perfons (b). Nay, he was To far
from entertaining any Defire of benefiting the Public, that
he often complained of his ill Fortune, becaufe no fignal
Calamity happened in his Time ; and made it his conftant
Wifh, That either the utter Definition of an Army, or
fome Plague, Famine or Earthquake, or other extraordi-
nary Defolation might continue the Memory of his Reign,
to fucceeding Ages (c].
Caligula being aflaffinated, the Senate aflembled in the
Capitol, to debate about extinguishing the Name and Family
of the Ceefars, and reftoring the Commonwealth to the
old Conftitution (d) : When one of the Soldiers that were
ranfacking the Palace lighting cafually upon Claudius, Uncle
to the late Emperor, where he had hid himfelf in a Corner
behind the Hangings, pulled him out to the reft of his Gang,
and recommended him as the fitteft Perfon in the World
to be Emperor. All were ftrangely pleafed at the Motion ;
and taking him along with them by Force, lodged him a-
mong the Guards (e). The Senate, upon the firft Informa-
tion, fent immediately to flop their Proceedings : But not
agreeing among themfelves, and hearing the Multitude
call out for one Governor, they were at laft conftrained to
confirm the Election of the Soldiers; efpecially fince they
had pitched upon fuch an eafy Prince, as would be wholly
at their Command and Difpofal (/). The Conqueft of Bri-
tain was the moft memorable Tranfaclion in his Time ;
owing partly to an Expedition that he made in Perfon, but
chiefly to the Valour of his Lieutenants, OJJorius, Scapula,
Aulus Plavtius, and Fefpajtan. The Bounds of the Em-
pire were in his Reign as follow ; Mefopotamia in the
Eaft; tfa'Kbint and Danube in the North ; Mauritania in
the South, and Britain in the Weft (g).
The Roman Arms cannot be fuppoCed to have made any
considerable Progrefs under Nero ; efpecially when Suetoni-
us tells us, he neither hoped or defired the Enlargement of
the Empire (&). However, two Countries were in his
Time reduced into Roman Provinces ; the Kingdom of
(a) Idem, cap. 46. (I) Mem, cap. 47. fc) Idem, c. 49. & 56. (d) Idem,
cap 3'- ( e ) Id"", cap. 60. (f) Idem in Claud, cap. 10. (g) AurfUus VtElar
jt&farittti h Cal-gula. (I) Aunlw Kfitr d, Cxfaribus in Claud.
Psntur,
Book I. of tie ROMAN Empire. 19
Pontus, and the CottianAlpes, or tha-t Part of the Mountains
which divides Daupbine and Piedmont, Britain and Armenia
were once both left (a), and not without great Difficulty reco-
vered. And indeed, his Averfion to the Camp made him far
more odious to the Soldiers, than all his other Vices, to the
People: So that when the Citizens had the Patience to endure
him for fourteen Years, the Army under Galka, his Lieute-
nant in Spain, were conftrained to undertake his Removal.
Galba is acknowledged on all Hands for the great Reformer
of martial Difcipline: And though before his Acceflion to the
Empire, he had been famous for his Exploits in Germany and
other Parts (b); yet the Shortnefs of his Reign hindered him
from making any Advancements afterwards. His Age and Se-
verity were the only Caufes of his Ruin : The firft of which
rendered him contemptible, and the other odious. And the
Remedy he ufed to appeafe the Diffatisfa&ions only ripened
them for Revenge. For immediately upon his adopting Pifo t
by which he hoped to have pacified the People, Otbo, who
had ever expected that Honour, and was now enraged at his
Difappointment (c}, upon Application made to the Soldiers,
eafily procured the Murder of the old Prince, and his adopted
Son; and by that Means advanced himfelf to the Imperial
Dignity.
About the fame Time, the German Army under Vitellius y
having an equal Averfion to the old Emperor with thofe at
Rome, had fworn Allegiance to their own Commander. Otho,
upon the firft Notice of their Defigns, had fent to proffer Vi-
tellius an equal Share in the Government with himfelf (d).
But all Propofals for an Accommodation being refufed, and
himfelf compelled, as it were, to march againft the Forces
that were fent towards Ityly, he had the good Fortune to de-
feat them in three fmall Engagements. But having been de-
feated in a greater Fight at Bebriacum, though he had ftill
fufficient Strength for carrying on the War, and expecled
daily a Reinforcement from feveral Parts (e) ; yet he could
not be prevailed on to hazard another Battle; but killed him-
felf with his own Hands. On this Account, Pagan Authors,
though they represent his Life as the moft exat Picture of
unmanly Softnefs, yet generally confefs'his Death equal to
the nobleft Antiquity; and the fame Poet (f) that has given
him the lafting Title of mollis Otho, hath yet fet him in
Competition with the famous Cato, in Reference to the final
Action of his Life.
(a] Sueton. in Nereite, cap. 18. (b] Sueton. in Galb. cap. 8. (c) Idem
cap. 17. (</) Suetcn. m Qtkon, cap. 8. (e) IsiJ. cap. 9. (f) Marital
2O, The Rife and Progrefs Fart t
It has been obferved of Vitellius, that he obtained the Em-
pire by the fole Valour of his Lieutenants, and loft it purely
on his own Account. His extreme Luxury and Cruelty
were for this Reafon the more deteftable, becaufe he had
been advanced to that Dignity, under the Opinion of his
being the Patron of his Country, and the Reftorer of the
Rights and Liberties of the People. Within eight Months
Time, the Provincial Armies had unanimoufly agreed on
Vefpafian (a] for their Emperor ; and the Tyrant Vitellius,
after being ftrangely mangled by the extreme Fury of the
Soldiers and Rabble, was at laft dragged into the River Ti-
ber (*).
The Republic was fo far from making any Advance-
ment under the Disturbances of the three lad Reigns, that
jfhe muft n?ceffarily have felt the fatal Confequences of them,
had (he not been feafonably relieved by the happy Manage-
ment of Vefpafian. It was a handfome Turn of fome of
his Friends, when, by Order of Caligula, his Bofom had
by Way of Punifhment beeji fluffed with Dirt, to put this
Interpretation on the Accident, that the Commonwealth
being miferably abufed, and even trodden under Foot, mould
hereafter^ to his Bcfom for Protection (c) ; and indeed,
he feems to have made it his whole Care and Defign to re-
form tlie Abufes of the City and State, occafioned by the
Licentioufnefs of the late Times. Nine Provinces he add-
ed to the Empire (a), and was fo very exact in all Circum-
flances of his Life and Conduct, that one, who has examin-
ed them both with all the Nicenefs imaginable, can find no-
thing in either that deferves Reprehenfion, except an immo-
derate Defire of Riches (e). And he covertly excufes him for
this, by extolling at the lame Time his extraordinary Mag-
nificence and Liberality (f). t
But perhaps he did not more oblige the World by his own
Reign, than by leaving fo admirable a Succeffor as his Sort
Titus-, the only Prince in the World that has the Character
of never doing an 511 Action. He had given fuffieient Proof
of his Courage in the famous Siege of Jerufalent, and might
have met with as e;ocd Succefs in other Parts, had he not
been prevented by an untimely Death, to the univerfal Grief
of Mankind.
But Donn'trw fo far degenerated from the two excellent
Examples of his Father and Brother, as to feem more emu-
(a) SutHn. in KtfU. cap. 15. (/-) U. /</. cap. 17. (r) Seto. in I'efpaf.
ap. 5. (d) Luiry. lib. 7. (e) U. ibiJ. cap. 16. (/) U.iiid. cap. 17', 18.
Book I. of l!x ROMAN Empire. , 21
lous of copying Nero or Caligula. But as to martial Af-
fairs, he was as happy as moft of his PredecefTors ; ioving
in four Expeditions fubdued the Catti, Dad, and the Sarma-
tians, and extinguifhed a Civil War in its Beginning (a). By
thefe Means he had fo intirely gained the Affections of the
Soldiers, that when we meet with his fieareft Relations, and
even his Wife, engaged in his Murder (b), yet we find
the Army fo extremely diffatisfied, as to have wanted only
a Leader to revenge his Death (c}.
(a) Stitttn. in Dsmii. cap. 6. (t) Id. ibid. cap. 14. (c] Id. ibid, cap. 23.
CHAP. VI.
'Of the ROMAN Affairs, from Domitian to ibe End of
Conftantine the Great.
TH E two following Emperors have been defervedly ftil-
ed theReilorers of the Roman Grandeur; which, by
Reafon of the Vicioufnefs, or Negligence, of the former
Princes, had been extremely impaired.
Nerva? though a Perfon of extraordinary Courage and Vir-
tue, yet did not enjoy the Empire long enough to be on any
other Account fo memorable, as for fubftituting fo admirable
a Succeffcr in his Room as Trajan.
It was he, that, for the Happinefs which attended his Un-
dertakings, and for ms juft and regular Adminiftraiion of
the Government, has been fet in Competition even with
Romulus. It was he, that advanced the Bounds of the
Empire farther than all his PredecefTors ; reducing fhto v
Roman Provinces the five vaft Countries of Dacia, Af-
fyritij Armenia, Mejopotamia, and Arabia (a). And yet
his prudent Management in Peace has been, generally
preferred to his Exploits in War. His Juftice, Can-
dour, and Liberality, having gained him fuch an univer-
fal Efleem and Veneration, that he was even deified be-
fore his Death.
() Eutnf. lib. 8.
E 2 Adrian's
22 The Rife and Progrefs Part I.
Adrian's Character has more of the Scholar than the Sol-
dier : Upon which Account, as much as out of Envy to
his Predeceflor, he flighted three of the Provinces that
had been taken by Trajan, and was contented to fix the
Bounds of the Empire at the River Euphrates (a). But
perhaps he is the firft of the Roman Emperors that
^ver took a Circuit round his Dominions, as we are af-
fured he did (b).
Antoninus Pius ftudied more the Defence of the Empire,
than the Enlargement of if. However, his admirable Pru-
dence and ftn'6t Reformation of Manners rendered him,
perhaps, as ferviceable to the Commonwealth as the great-
eft Conquerors.
The two Antonini, Marcus and Lucius, were they that
made the firft Divifion of the Empire. They are both
famous for a fuccefsful Expedition againft the Partbians :
And the former, who was the longeft Liver, is efpecially
remarkable for his extraordinary Learning and ftriQ: Profef-
fion of Stoicifm ; whence he has obtained the Name of the
Pbilofopher.
Commodus was as noted for all Manner of Extravagances,
as his Father was for the contrary Virtues ; and, after a ve-
ry ihort Enjoyment of the Empire, was murdered by" one
of his Miftrefles (c).
Pertinax too was immediately cut off by the Soldiers, who
found him a more rigid Exator of Difcipline, than they had
been lately ufed to. And now, claiming to themfelves the
Privilege of choofing an Emperor, they fairly expofed the
Dignity to Sale (</).
Didius Julian was the higheft Bidder, and was there-
upon inverted with the Honour. But as he only expofed
himfelf to Ridicule by fuch -a mad Project, he was in an
Inflant made away with, in Hopes of another Bargain. Zo-
(tmns m?.kes him no better than a Sort of an Emperor in a
Dream (i).
But the Roman Valour and Difcipline were in a great
Mcafure reftcrcd by Sevenis. Befides a famous Victory
over the Partbians, the old Enemies of Rome, he fubdu-
ed the greateft Part of Perfta and Arabia, and marching
into the Ifland of Britain, delivered the poor Natives
from the miferable Tyranny of the Scots and Plcls ; 'which
an excellent Hiftorian (f) calls the greateft Honour of
his Reign.
() Eutrop. lib. 8. . (A) Id. iliJ. (0 Ztfmus, Hift. lib. i. (</) BiJ.
(f) Ibid. (f) jElius Sfartian. in Sever.
Antoninus
Book I. of tie Ro M A N Empire. 23
Antoninus Caracal/a had as much of a martial Spirit in him
as his Father, but died before he could defign any Thing
memorable, except an Expedition agatnft the Partbians,
which he had juft undertaken.
Opilius Macrinus and his Son Diadumen had made very
little Noife in the World, when they were cut off without
much Difturbance, to make room for Helhgabalus, Son of
the late Emperor.
If he was extremely pernicious to the Empire by his
extravagant Debaucheries, his Succeflbr Alexander Seve-
rus was as ferviceable to the State in reftoring Ju'ftice
and Difcipline. His nobleft Exploit was an Expedition
againft the Per/tans, in which he overcame their famous
King Xerxes (a).
Maximirit the firft that from a common Soldier afpired to
the Empire, was foon taken off by Pupienus ; and he, with
his Collegue Balbinus, quickly followed ; leaving the fu-
preme Command to Gordian, a Prince of great Valour and
Fortune, and who might probably have extinguiflied the
very Name of the Perfians (b], had he not been treacherouf-
ly murdered by Philip, who within a very little Time fuf-
fered the like Fortune himfelf.
Decius in the former Part of his Reign had been veryfuc-
cefsful againft the Scythians and other barbarous Nations;
but was at laft killed, together with his Son, in an unfortur
nate Engagement (c).
But Callus, who fucceeded'him, not only concluded a
fhameful League with the Barbarians, but fuffered
them to over-run all Thrace, Theffaly, Macedon, Greece,
cf,. (d). -
They were jufl: threatening Italy, when his Succeflbr
Mmilfan chafed them off with a prodigious Slaughter:
And, upon his Promotion to the Empire, promijed the
Senate to recover all the Roman Territories that had been
entirely loft, and to clear thofe that were over-run (<*).
But he was prevented after three Months Reign, by the
common Fate of the Emperors of that Tim;.'.
After him Valerian was fo unfortunate as t lofe the great-
eft Part-of his Army in an Expedition againft the Perf.ans,
and to be kept Prifoner himfelf in that Country till the Time
of his Death (f).
(a) Eutrop. lib. 8. () Psmp-.n. Letus. in GorJian. (,-) /./,,
in Dfda. (J) Uem, in Galb. (?) Idem, ibiJ. ' {f} Id.m,
ia yaleriam.
E 3 Upon
24 The Rife and Progrefs Part I.
of Affairs was committed to his Son Galloinus^ a Prince fo ex-
tremely negligent and vicious,as to become the equal Seorn and
Contempt of both Sexes (a) : The Loofenefs of his Govern-
ment gave Occaflon to ti-r Ufnrpation of the thirty Tyrants ;
of whom fome indeed t.v'y deferved that Name; others
were Perfons of great Courage and Virtue, and very fer-
viceable to the Commonwealth (). In his Time the Al~
maigrtf, after they had wafteo all Gaul, broke into Italy. Da-
eta, which had been gained by Trajan, was entirely loft; all
Greece, Macedon, Pontus, and Afta, over-run by the Goths*
The Germans too had proceeded as far as Spain, and taken
the famous City Terraco* now Tarragona, in Catalonia (c).
This defperate State of Affairs was in fome meafure redref-
fed by the happy Conduct of Claudius, who, in lefs than two
Years Time, routed near three hundred thoufand Barbari-
ans, and put an intire End to the Gothic War: Nor were his
other Accomplifhments inferior to his Valour ; an elegant
Hiftorian (d) having found in him the Virtue of Trajan, the
Piety of Antoninus, and the Moderation o( Augujlus.
UnintiUus was, in ail Refpe&s, comparable to his Brother ;
whom he fucceeded, not on Account of /iis Relation, but his
Merits (e). But reigning or.ly feventeen Days, it was impofli-
ble he could do any Thing more than raife an Expectation in
the World.
If any of the Barbarians were left witliin the Bounds of the
Empire by Claudius, Aurelian intirely chafed them out. In
one Tingle War he is reported to have killed a thoufand of
the Sarmatians with his own Hands (fj. But his noblefl
Exploit was the conquering of the famous Zenobia, Queen of
the Eaft (as fhe ftiled herfelf) and the taking of her Capital
City Palmyra. At his Return .to Rome, there was fcarce any
Nation in the World, out of which he had not a fufficient
Number of Captives to grace his Triumph : The mofl confi-
derable were the Indians, Arabians, Gotbs, Franks, Suevians f
Saracens, Vandals, and Germans (g).
Tacitus was contented to mew his Moderation and Juflice,
in the quiet Management of the Empire, without any hoftile
Defign : Or had he any fuch Inclinations, his fhort
Reign mufl neceffarily have hindered their EfFe&.
Probus, to the wife Government of his Predeceffor, added
the Valour and Conduct of a good Commander: It was he
that obliged the barbarous Nations to quit ail their footing
(a}TrcJ>slLP<illi!\nTfran. (b}!d.\nGa!lieno. (c) Eutrf>. ]. 9. (d) Trebelb
fillie in Claudia, (e) Ibid, (f) Flavius fof'fe., in Aurelian}. (g) Ibid.
in