THE Morals of Princes : OR, An Abftrad: of the moft REMARKABLE PASSAGES Contain' d in the HISTORY Of all the EMPERORS Who Reign d in R O ME. WITH A MORAL REFLECTION Drawn from each QJJ o T A T i o tf Written originally in Italian, By Count JOHN BAPTISTA COMAZZI, Hiftoriographer to his Imperial Majefty. Done into English By WILLIAM HATCHETT, Gent* Regis ad Exemplum CONDON: Printed for T. Wo R R A L L, at the Judges-Head* over-againft St,Duvfian's Church, in Fleet-Jfreet* M.DCC.XJUX. To His G R A C E THE Duke of B ED FOR D. May it pleafe your GRACE, Need not mention to Your GRACE the Advan- tages that arife from reading Hiftory, efpe- cially the Roman, fince every diftinguifhing Capacity muft know, it affords fiich Variety of Examples, as give an Idea ot al- moft all that ought to be imitated, or avoided by the Great, A 2, WHEN 20G3379 iv DEDICATION. WHEN a Perfon is well vers'd in Geography, to look on a Map, reminds him of what he before ftu- dy'd ; and thus far, I flatter my felf, this little Work may be of ufe to your GRACE, in regard of the Roman Hiftory ; for as the one prefents you at one View, with all the different Profpefts of the Uni- verfe, fo the other brings to Re- membrance, the Tranfadtions of many Ages, and aflifts Contem- plation with the moft remarkable Paflages of the Greateft Men that ever livU YOUR GRACE is now paft the painful Parts of Literature, and happily arrived at an Age to put in Practice, what You have fo long been Studying : Men, not Books, muft now imploy your Hours. If therefore what I have done, may {pare your GRACE the Trouble of infpeHng into larger Volumes, and DEDICATION. r and hinder the World from being depriv'd, tho' for the (mailed time, of thofe Bleffings, which your GRACE'S Publick Appearance has the Power of beftowing, my Per- formance will be of univerfal Ser- vice, and give me a Merit, to which I coVd no otherwife pre- tend. IT is, my LORD, with an Infinity of pleas'd Expectation, that the Eyes of z\\ good Men are fix'd upon your GRACE ; and what indeed may they not hope from a young Nobleman, dcfcended from a Race more confpicuous for their Vir- tues, than great Titles ! A Race, which in every Generation, has improv'd in Glory, and fhew'd, they regarded Nothing in Com- petition with true Honour! - But as it is not to be doubted, that your GRACE will fail to make a Figure, anfweruble to your A3 //- vi DEDICATION, llltiftrtous Birth, and Elegant Edu- cation, I Ihall reftrain the ftrug- gling Impatience of my grateful Inclinations, and forbear to expa- tiate on thofe fine Qualities, which fo early adorn your Mind ; en- treating Leave only to thank that generous Condefcenfion, which has allow'd me the Glory of fub- fcribing my felf, With the mo ft profound Duty and Submifjion, Tour GRACED Mo ft Obedient, Mop Bumble, and Moft Faithfully Devoted Servant, WILLIAM HATCHETT. ( vii ) P R EFA C E. HEN Prefaces are written to point out any difficult Taffage in _ an Author, they are \\zzz$zxy -.when to exctife his Errors, or to acquaint his Rea- ders with the Motives of his U undert aking, or to fignify the Pleafure he had in the 'Per- formance, they are to be indulged, as Tokens ^Humility, Dcfircof inftruding, ^^Emu- lation ; but when they are only intended as a Supplement to the Bulk of the* fuccee ding Labour, then they are ridiculous, and de- fer ve not Pcrufal. / mufl own, aTreface to the following Sheets, is no way ncccflary, Jince the Title- Page, the firfl Hiftory, and Moral Reflec- tion, feme to give a fufficient Idea of the whole j but as they were compiVd by a Ter- fon of Figure in the World, and treat on Matters, as well beneficial to thofe in a Private Capacity, as peculiarly adapted to Princes, it wou'd be an unpardonable Tiece of Self-fufficiency, were I vain enough to imagine, that my weak Endeavours have no need of all imaginable Indulgence from my curious Readers, for the Faults I may have committed in this T'ranJIation. A ' No- Viii The PREFACE: Nothing therefore cou'dfomuch incline me to hope the Good Nature of the Publick, as this candid Acknowledgement ^together with the great *Pains I have taken to do my Au- thor J lift ice. It's true, I was not igno- rant of what fo often renders Works of this Kind defective ; yet, without afcribing any Merit to my felf, I may venture to fay y I have difchargd- the Office of a faithful Tranflator : Beauties attributed to the Ori- ginal, or Imperfections to the Tranftation, had little Influence to flacken my AJJlduity, or make me hurry it over by the Sheet, as is but too frequently the Cuftom. As to the otile of my Author, it is very concife ; and where I coiid be fo, without rendering the Exprejfion dark in Englifh, / have imitated it 5 otherwife, I have f al- low d his Senfe, and drefsd it in a proper Thrafe. I can add no more, without being fuper- fiuous j- therefore I commit my ^Performance, fuch as it is, to the World. Thofe, by na- ture indulgent, will overlook the Errors, and be pleas d with the few Beauties, they may meet with : Others, more inclind ta find a Fault than excufe one, will convert all into Error. To the one, / owe Gra- titude t fo the other (ix) LIST O F T H E Subfcribers Names. A. IS Grace the "Duke of Ancaftcr. His Grace the T>uke of Argyle. The Right Honourable the Earl of Abingdon. 2 Books. The Right Hon. the Earl of Arran. The Right Hon. the Lord Abergavenny. The Right Hon. the Lord Afliburnham. William Archer, Efo Mr. Andrews. Mr. Atkins. B. His Grace the 'Duke 0/" Beaufort. His Grace the *Duke of Bedford. The Right Hon. the Earl of Burlington. ? Books. The x A LIST of The Right Hon. the Earl of Briftol. The Right Rev. the Lord Bifhop of Bath and Wells. The Right *Hon. the Lord Bruce. The Right Hon. the Lady Bruce. Sir William Billers, Alderman. Charles Bathurft, Efq-, 4 Books. Thomas Beake, Efq-> Richard Brocas, Ejq-, Alderman. Mr. Robert Bollock, Virtuofo. Mrs. Bouden. Mr. Booth. Mr. Bradley. 2 Books. C. His Grace the Archbifhop . of Canterbury. The Right Hon. the Earl of Cardigan. The Right Hon. the EartofCholmoriddcy. 'The Right Hon. the Earl of Crawford. The Right Rev. the Lord Bifiop of Chi- chefter. The Right Hon. the Lord Craven. His Excellency, the Lord Carteret. Her Excellency, the Lady Carteret. Thomas Coke, Efq-, Serjeant at Arms in Ordinary to his Majejty K. George II. Mr. Clark. Mr. Charter. Mr. Carleton. Mr. ClifFton. Mr. Crew. Mr. Colcman. Mr. Chamberlain. 2 Books. Eh the S u B s c R i B E R s. xi D. His Grace the *Duke of Devoniliire. The Right Hon. the Earl of Dunmore. The Right Hon. the Earl of Dyfcrt. The Right Rev. the Lord Bifhop ^Durham. The Right Hon. the Lord Dalkeith. The Right Hon. George Doddington, Efqi The Hon. Sir Conyers Darcy. Sir Peter Delme, Alderman. Mr. Bryan Dawfon. Mr. Downs. Mr. Drake. Mr. Danby. Mr. Drew. E. Sir John Eyles, Bart. Mr. Ear by. Mr. Edwards. 2 Books. Mr. Elrington. Mr. Eaton. Mr. Edgerton. Mr. Emerton. Mr. Elfworth. Mr. Edlin. F. The Right Hon. the Lord Fitzwalter. Charles de la Fay, Efq-, Mr. Fairfax. Mr. Thomas Fern. 2 Books. Mr. xii A LIST of Mr. Fielding. Mr. Fellows. G. The Right Hon. the Countefs of Gainf- borough. The Right Hon. the EartofGodolphin. The Right Hon. the Lord Gower. Sir John Grofvenor Bart. Peter Geneves, Merchant. Mr. Richard Gowland. Mr. Godfrey. 2 Books. Mr. Goodman. H. "His Grace the *Duke of Hamilton. 2 Books. Her Grace the 'Dutchefs of Hamilton. 2 Books. The Right Hon. the Earl of Huntington. The Right Hon. the Lord Howard ofEf- fingham. The Right Hon. the Lord How. John Hedges, Efqs Aaron Hill, Efq-, William Heathcote, Efq; Mr. George Hatchetr. Mrs. Hay wood. 2 Books. Mr. Hutton. Mr. Harrifon. I. the SUBSCRIBERS. I. William Jeflbp, Efc Mr. Mr.* Mr. Mr. Mr. ones, Mathematician; enkins. efFrys. ackfon. ohnfton. 2 Books. K. His Grace the *Duke of Kent. Sir William Kenedy. John Knight, Efq- 9 Mr. Thomas King. 2 Books. Mr. John Kilbeck. L. The Right Hon. the Earl of Lincoln.' The Right Hon. the Earl of Litchfield. The Right Rev. the Lord Biftop of Lin- coln. My Lady Lombe. Thomas Layton, Mr. Lock. Mr. Langley. M. The Right Hon. the Earl of Marchmont. The Right Hon. the Earl of Macclesfield. Mr. Daniel de Moivre. Mr. Mathews. Mr. Mawbourn. Mr. xiv A LIST of Mr. Milford. Mr. Markham. N. His Grace the 2 Books. Mr. Noble. Mr. Nelfon. O. Mrs. Oldfield. Mr. Otway. Mr. Ofwald. Mr. Oldham. * P. The Right Hon. the Earl of Pembroke. The Right Hon. the Lord Petre. The Right Hon. the Lord Parker. Lady Lucy Price. Mr. Pembroke of Canterbury. Mr. Parkington. Mr- Placket. 2 Books. Mr. Richard Palmer. Mr. Painter. His Grace the T)uke of Quccnsbcrry and Dover. R. the S u B s c R i B E R s. " XV. R. Hi s Grace the ut chefs 'Dowager 0/ Rut- land. His Grace the *Duke of Rutland. Her Grace the T>ut chefs of Rutland. The Right Hon. the Earl of Rochford, , Metcalf Robinfon, Efq; John Rich, Efy- 3 2, Books. Mr. Roberts. Mr. Reade. Mr. Richardfon. Mr. Rudge. Mr. Rawleigh. Mr. Rufhworth. Mr. RadclifF. Mr. Raby. S. The Right Hon. the Earl of Shaftsbury. The Right Hon. the Ear I. of Stair. The Right Hon. the Earl r. Scot. The Rev. Mr. Sharp. William Sharp, Efq$ Mr. Sheldon. Mr. Saunders. Mr. Simpfon. T. xvi A LIST, T. Sir John Thompfon. Edward Thompfon, E Leonard Thompfon, Mr- Thornbridge. Mr. Turner. Mr. Temple, 2 Books. U. The Right Hon. the Earl of Uxbridge* The Hon. Mr. Vane. Walter Vincent, Efq* 'Mr. Vernon. W. The Right Hon. the Earl of Weftmoreiand, Mr. Robert Waite. Mr. Waller. Mr.Wilks. Mr. Williams. Mr. Wilkinforu Mr. White. Mr. Winter. Y. The Rev. Mr. Yates. 2 Books. Mr. Yoving. MORALS 0/ PRINCES^ Ju LIUS CAESAR. L HISTORY. PON JULIUS CESAR'S Arrival at Rome, from his Government in Spain^ he found the Common- wealth divided by two Factions : One headed by CNEIUS POMPEY, the other by MARCUS CRASSUS. Each ftrovc to bring him over to his own Intereft, but C^SAR evaded their fcvcral Sollicitations, and chofc ra- ther to become Mediator of Peace be- tween them. The 2 The MORALS The MORAL REFLECTION. CfiiSA R's Ambition cou'd not fuffer to be under fubje&ion, but afpir'd to reign : he therefore made himielf an Umpire be- tween CRASSUS and POMPEY, that they might both depend on him. He only reigns, who does not depend h $ he does KQ\~%efend y who judges \ and he judges, who is Ar- bitrator between two Competitors. CAESAR did not intend, by this Condud, to render either of the Rivals more formidable and powerful than the other ; but, under the Pretext of his Mediation, aim'd at weaken- ing them both. He negotiated a Peace be- tween them, not with a View of uniting them to one another, but with that of uniting them both to himfelf i his Defign was not to make them Friends, but to ob- lige them to lay down their Arms. . The HISTORY. " PEACE being concluded, by the " good Offices of C^SAR, between POMPEY " and CRASSUS, they mutually join'd their " Interefts to make him Conful 5 and du- " ring the whole time of his Confulffvip, " his Colleague never appcar'd at Court. The MORAL REFLECTION. CALSAR cou'd never endure that the Reputation of good Government ihou'd be attn- ofTRINCES, * attributed to any, but himfeif. He la- bour'd, continually, to influence the Roman People to believe the Advantages of finglc Government, and difposM their Minds to approve of Monarchy in Coniulfhip; by tphich means, he pafe'd upon them for a Conful, while he was a&ually introducing Ufurpation and Tyranny. State Revolu- tions, if effected on a fadden, arc com- monly 'violent-^ and whate\ 7 er is violent, is feldom lofting. The People tolerate and embrace, without the leaft Murmur or Difcontent, any Impoiltion that has not the Shew of Novelty ; and the fureft way to fubdue, is to footh them. The HISTORY. " WHILE C^SAR was Conful, he " marry'd his Daughter JULIA to POMPEY, " and, by a fecond Marriage, efpous'd the " Daughter of Lucius Piso, who was to " fucceed him in the Confulfhip. The MORAL REFLECTION. C&SAR contraded thefe two Al- liances, on no other Motive, than to fervc him as Inftruments of his Policy. While JULIA imagin'd, her Engagement with J?OMPEY, was folely owing to the Sincerity of his Affection, her Father was employing all his Art to engage POMPEV, and made this B "2 Union 4 The MORALS Union a Help to his Defigns. Thus too the Daughter of Piso equally believ'd, that CAESAR had made choice of her, as the Partner of his nuptial Bed, while he only made ufe of her, as a Step to arrive at Sovereign Power. For 'Private Men, Marriage is the End of their Views, but ^Princes make ufe of it, only as an Expe- dient. To Common 'People, Conjugal Love is defign'd as a Tleafure 5 but to 'Politick Men, as an Inftrument of Commerce.. The HISTORY. " CJESAR's Confulfhip being expir'd, " he chofe the Government of France-? " march'd thither with an Army, and made " war on feveral Nations. The MORAL REFLECTION. CALSAR confider'd Fadions might raife him to the firft Station in the Com- mon-wealth, but cou'd never make him M after of it : that cou'd not be cffcdcd, without an Army ; but then the Difficulty was, how to appear in arms, without dif- covcring his Delign. Here it was, that C^SAR fhow'd his Skill : he took up Arms for the Common-wealth ; exerted his Cou- rage, in order to make himiclf M after of it : and cxtoll'd it with all feeming \Varmth and Sincerity, the better to oppreis it. In good of PRINCES. 5 good Policy, the Art of Secrecy doth not confift in an abfolute Silence, but in dif- covering fometimes a probable Intention, in order to conceal and diiguile the true one 5 or even in giving a true one, pro- vided it be not the principal. The moft fubtle Diilimulation in the World, is in knowing well, when and how to make ufe of the Truth. The HISTORY. " CALSARs Faction being imcxpcft- " edly, and on a fudden reduc'd, (by the " Deaths of his Daughter, POMPEY'S Wife, " and of MARCUS CRASSUS, (lain by the " ^Parthians in AJia) he was not confirm'd u in the Charge he had in France-, but " receiv'd Orders from the Senate to re- " turn with all expedition to Rome, and " commit the Condud of the Army to his " SuccdTor; to which CAESAR gave An- " fwer, that he wou'd readily obey, pro-. " vidcd POMPEY fhou'd be oblig'd to do " the fame. The MORAL REFLECTION. IF C.-ESAR had given an abfolnte An- fwer, that he would not obey, his Name wou'd have been immediately regiftcr'd on the Lift of Rebels and proicrib'd Pcrfons j which difhonourable Charader wou'd have B 3 prov'd 6 The M O R A L S prov'd the total Deftru&ion of his Fortune j for then many wou'd have been afham'd to follow him j and without whole Adherence, it was not poiliblc for him to accomplish his Defigns : He therefore fent this Anfwer y that he expected the fame Fate as POMPEY. This prudent Reply, expreiung an Emu- lation, had the Appearance of a Virtue > cloak'd his Confpiracy againft the Common- wealth ; and taught how to difobey, with- out being accounted a capital Offender. By C/ESAR'S declaring he was ready to fhare PoMPEY's Fate, he oblig'd his very Enemies to protect him, left POMPEY fhou'd likewife fall under the fame Cenfure $ and difin- gag'd himfelf from the Neceflity of a Com- pliance, being thoroughly periuaded, that POMPEY wou'd never agree to lay down his Arms. Let him, who means N0, avoid rendering himfelf odious, by faying Tes, with the Addition of a Provifo, that may feem, but not be poiTible. The HISTORY. "IT was not in the power of CAESAR " to bribe the Senators into his Intereft, " he therefore fcduc'd the Soldiers, by gi- " ving them double Pay 5 after which, he " headed them, andlbpafs'd the Rubicon: " which terrify 'd the Senate fo much, that " they ofTRINCES. 7 fc they fled to ^Durazzo, leaving all Italy in C/ESAR'S power. The MORAL REFLECTION. H E who embarks in any great and im- portant Enterprize, ought to be provided with various Schemes for the comparing it i to the end that, if one of them fhou'd mifs its effect, the other may prove more fuccefsful. C/ESAR had not indeed any of the firft Rank in his Intereft, but wanted not the Springs of Aftiort, Money and Strength. The Senate's Relblution of re- ducing C.ESAR to obedience, was only grounded on their arbitrary Authority, and confequcntly cou'd not oblige him to one Step : CESAR'S Refolution of bringing Rome under his Subjection, was not only grounded on the Aid of his Confederates, but on a furer Foundation ftill, that of a formidable Army, which put the Senate both to Confufion and Flight. He, there- fore, who wou'd command, let him leek, by Force of Arms^ to be obefd. The HISTORY. " CM SAR was now in full PoiTeffion, " and M after of Rome, yet he did not " judge it proper to ad at .firft as fuch. He Let us go over, faidhe, thisTaffage is the 'Die, on 'which our Fate depends. When the Pilot was compell'd by bad Wea- ther to tack about, he faid, Go ! carry CAESAR and his Fortune. A familiar and common Saying of his, was this Verfe of EURIPIDES ; That it was lawful to break through the Laws, in order to feize the Government. ]\. /,;,-. The HISTORY. " C&SAR purfu'd POMPEY into E " gift* where he was beheaded by PTO- " LEMY'S Order, with a View of flatter- ing and engaging the future Favour of " the Conqueror. His Head being prc- " fented to CAESAR, he refus'd looking at " it, and feem'd to lament his ill For- " tune. The MORAL REFLECTION. LET not a Prince ever feem to ap- prove an infamous Deed, how advanta- geous foever it may be to him ; but ra- ther publickly reprimand and punifh it, that he 12 T^MORALS he may excufc himfelf from beftowing any Rccompence, which ought never to be gi- ven for a fcandaious Aftion. Twas thus C/ESAR acted : PTOLEMY had render'd him a fmgular Piece of Service ; for if POMPEY had furviv'd, he wou'd in all probability have rally'd again ; yet C/ESAR acted a Concern for his Death, to dethrone PTO- LEMY with the greater Shew of Reafon : whereas, if he had exprefs'd a fenfiblc Plca- fure at fuch an Adion, he muft then have left PTOLEMY the Crown out of Gratitude, which was oppofitc to his Defign of reign- ing himfelf. The Maxim of the Great Men who liv'd in the time of Taganifm, was to undervalue and flight good Turns and Services, to avoid being oblig'd to rccom- pcnfc them! The HISTORY. " CALSAR having made an Acquifi- " tion of Egypt, by the Defeat of PTO- ' LEMY'S Army, and Death of himfelf, " gave it into the hands of CLEOPATRA, " whom he was fallen in love with. The MORAL REFLECTION. CALSAR's Pafllon for CLEOPATRA loft him the Government oi Egypt, yet it did not caufe him to pafs ib much as a Pay idlq : at the fame time he was at war with ofTRINCES. 13 with PTOLEMY, he made love to CLEOPA- TRA. The Dcfirc of reigning employ 'd the firft Pafllon of his Soul, CLEOPATRA cn- grofs'd the fecond. He knew how to divert himfelf, without giving any body room to take advantage of his Foible ; he was accuf- tonVd to command others, and knew as well how to command his own Paillons. He enjoy'd the full Pofleflion of his Pleafure, but leflen'd not his Grandeur ; he bore an uncontefted Sway, and at the fame time in- dulg'd himfelf in the fofteft Wifhcs. He lov'd without Effeminacy; neither did he pay Homage, or, as is ufual, ferve a Lady, but was ferv'd himfelf by a Queen. He af- pir'd after Glory, even in what is cftecnVd his Frailties: He knew how to languifh, without derogating from the General ; and how to be a Lover, without ceafuig to be C^SAR. The HISTORY. " AFTER. C/ESAR hadrcduc'd Egypt', " with many other African Provinces, un- " der his Subjection, he return'd to Rome, " in order to receive the Honours due to " his Conquefts; but wou'd not allow the " Victories, obtain'd againft POMPEV, to be " reckon'd among them. The 14 The MORALS The MORAL REFLECTION. CAiSAR ' could not triumph over a Roman Conful, without incurring the Dif- pleafureof Rome. On his firft Appearance in the Capitol y he receiv'd more Applaufe For omitting that Vidory, than for all thoie he hadgain'd: Everyone prais'dhis Mode- ration, in appearing both Glorious and Triumphant, without a mixture of Pride and Oftentation. CESAR'S very Enemies, who had been once overcome by his Arms, were thus a fecond time conquer'd by his Prudence and feeming Virtue. All his other Vi&ories were won by C^SAR the Soldier p , but this laft was a Triumph of C^SAR the Prince : Fortune had no fhare in this Glory j it was entirely owing to Virtue and to C^SAR. The HISTORY. t THIS Triumph eftablifh'd the Roman " Empire, and CAESAR was now Mafter of " the World 5 however, he wou'd not be " call'd King, but Emperor, a Title ufually made a publickleftof the very " Name of a Common-wealth ; and highly " relented the Condud of fome Tribunes, and what prov'd the Ruin of the Common- wealth, the Conicquence of the Confuls Deaths, appeared under the fpccious Form of a Viftory. Let the Pretext be what it wou'd, he, who was made Conful by Force, was now in Reality, a ^Prince, and not a Con- ful. The HISTORY. l(i . WHILST the Common- wealth was " incens'd againft OCTAVIUS, he difpatch'd " Ambafiadors to treat of an Accommoda- " tion with MARC ANTONY andLEPious. " Upon which the Parties met, and came " to a good Underftanding in anlflandof " the River Labinus, where they drew up " the Articles of Agreement, by which the " Triumvii -at ^was inftituted. The MORAL REFLECTION. OCTAVIUS not being able to with- ftand both the Power of the Common- wealth, and that of MARC ANTONY, he therefore refolv'd tocomcto amicable Terms \vithhim, and enter into a ftrid Friendfhip with LEPJDUS, tho' he had been one of the principal Ring-leaders ccncern'd in the Af- fafli pstion of PRINCES. z; fafllnation of JULIUS CAESAR, and in Confidcration of which Service, was exalted to the Dignity of Chief-'Przeft. When any great and predominant Paflion rules the Heart of Man, all the others are fubmiflivc to it. Thus in a covetous M ind, if Avarice be the prevailing Pailion, Love muft give way, purely to avoid the Expenccs, that wou'd attend the Purfuitand Gratification of it } whereas on the contrary, when Love is the reigning Paffion, even Avarice iticlf will be converted into Profufenefs. So it was with OCTAVIUS, whofc Dcfirc of Re- venge on LEPIDUS, and Emulation of MARC ANTONY", gave place to his predominant Love of Authority 3 infomuch, that when they were all three together, there feem'd fuch a perfect Harmony between them, as tho* they had never been at enmity. DiHI- mulation and Regal Authority are in a per- petual Confederacy with one another ;. and he, who undcrftands not how to difguifc and ftiflc his Sentiments, is not fit to govern. The HISTORY. " The Articles agreed on amongft them, tl were thcfc : I. That the Dominions of " the Common-wealth Ihou'd be divided " between thcfc three, for the Space of t five Years : Greece and AJla were to be " under MARC-AM TONY 5 Africa under C 4 LE- 2 4 The MORALS " LEPIDUS; and Italy, France, Spain, " Germany and Sctavonia iubjed to OCTA- " vius. II. That all the principal Citizens " of Rome, who had efpous'd the Intereft " of the Common-wealth, and declared " againft their Pretenfions and Attempts, " fhou d be put to death $ which Article " was immediately executed, by the Maf- *' facre of near 300 Senators, and athou- " fand more of the Equeflnan Order, c< which fill'd all Rome with Tears and " Blood. III. That they Ihou'd all join " in deflroying one another's Enemies, " which they bound themfelves by a fo- " lemn Oath to accomplim. In execution "of this laft Article, MARC ANTONY gave " up his Father's Brother to the Rage of " LEPIDUS 5 LEPIDUS abandon'd his own " Brother to the Revenge of OCTAVIUSJ " and OCT AVIUS facrific'd CICERO, whom " who were at the Head of very formi- " dablc Forces in Greece. OCTAVIUS join'd " MARC ANTONY, in order to fubdue " them 5 but BRUTUS and CASSIUS finding " themfelves, after fcveral Engagements, " left to the Mercy of the Conquerors, " chofe rather to fall by the hands of their " own Domefticks. The 26 The MORALS The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Eagerncfs with which OCTAVIUS purfu'd the^Deftru&ion of BRUTUS and CASSIUS, after having brought Rome un- der his Subjection, was a Step, grounded on one of the moft important Maxims of State Policy. When an Enemy begins to give way, let the Attack be redoubled, and allow him no time to take breath; for if he gains Time, he may recover Strength, and if once he recovers a Shadow of 'Power, he may be in a Condition of making Re- prifals. The Diforder of a vanquifh'd Army renders doubly formidable that which op- pofes it ; and the way to defeat it effectu- ally, is to take advantage of that Confu- iion, not fhcathing the Sword, till the to- tal Overthrow be compleated. OCTAVIUS was fo much M after of this Art, that he drove BRUTUS and CASSIUS to the laft Extremity ; and even put them on ieeking Death from the hands of their own Ser- vants. To reduce an Enemy to the Nc- ccflity of pronouncing his own Sentence, is the height of Victory ; for thus, not only the Adveriary's Fortune, but his Life too expires ; and a more complcat Victory need not be wifh'd for, than that which removes and deftroys all Oppoficicn. The ofVRINCES. 27 The HISTORY. "MARC ANTONT, after this " Vidory, went into Egypt, where he " gave himfelf wholly up to the Love of " CLEOPATRA j and OCTAVIUS went to " Rome, in order to recompenfe his Sol- " diers, by the Diftribution of Land. " FULVIA, MARC ANTONY'S Wife, with " a view of forwarding her Husband's " Return, prevail'd with Lucius ANTONY, " her Brothcr-in-Law, then Coniul, to " declare War againft OCTAVIUS, under " pretence, that MARC ANTONY'S Crea- AUGUSTUS ". declar'd open War againft him. The " two Fleets met, and came to a warm <{ Engagement on the Coaft of Eptrus^ in " fight, of Cape-Acius, now call'd Cafe- c< Figolffy which lafted the fpace of ten *' Hours. In the Conclufion, MARC AN- " TONY, at CLEOPATRA'S Requcft, fled ft with her into Egypt ^ where he was pup- he feems to forget the Provocation, while he's bufy in contriving his Revenge. The i / 47 >H' .W.3*! *JOl -' .*l OTr HISTORY. " THE Jealoufy of TIBERIUS became *' inflam'd by the great Reputation of GER- " MANICUS, who was daily fending him " the News of fome frefh ' Conquefis 5 . he " therefore recali'd him to R0me.to triumphs " and after his Arrival, extoli'd him and hi& * f AiSions, both in the Senate and at Court. The MORAL REFLECTION. TIBERIUS's Dcfign, in recalling QE ROMANIC us, was not that, he fhou'd triumph, but that he might leave the Army, in Germany, He commended aim, not witii a view of rendering Juftice to his Merit ; but the better to conceal his Averfioa to his Perfon. A General? too mudi belov'dby, his Soldiers,, becomes fufpeted b>^ a Tyrant : A Tyrant, too lavifh in his Praiics of the Perfon fufpetcd ? takes the foil Step to his Rum. . The HISTORY. " NEWS being brought, t,hat ARTA- " BANUS, King of Tar Ma, had enter 'd " Armenia, a Province, tributary -to. the tc Romans, TIBERIUS fent GKR MANICUS " on that Expedition ; which prov'd fo fuc- . " ccfiful, that he oblig'd ARTADANUS to. i ' " retire,. 4 The MORALS " retire, and petition him for Peace. He " alfo made an Addition of two Provinces " to the Roman Empire: Comagena and " Cappadocia, which remain'd free by the " Deaths of their Kings ; and left QUINTUS " SERVIUS, and QUINTUS VERANIUS Go- u vernours of them. TIBERIUS cou'd now to remove his " formidable Rival by Poifon. The MORAL REFLECTION. I T is not Prudencee to truft the Com- mand of an Army to a General, whofe Birth gives him a Title to reign. He may offend with Impunity ; and it is difficult to reward his Services according to his Expec- tations. If he be unfortunate, there's no removing him from his Charge 5 and if his Enterprizes fucceed, he is infupportable. A Prince ought therefore, in good Policy, to commit the Conduct of his Forces to one, who has no feafiblc or plaufible Pretenfions to the Crown. The HISTORY. CNEIUS T JiTO was accus'd to the " Senate of being acceflfary to the Death an- " fwer'd the Slave, as you came to be Em- " peror. Upon this Repartee, TIBERIUS < caus'd him to be murther'd, and his Body " convey 'd privately away ; but did not " think proper to profecute his Accompli- " ces. The MORAL REFLECTION. I T was not confident with TIBER lus's In- tereft to deftroy himfelf, by punifhingan in- confidcrate and rafhPerlbn in apublkkman- E 2 ner. Si The MORALS ncr. Had he proceeded to revenge himfelf openly ori the Counterfeit AGRIPPA, there xvou'd have been imminent Danger of revi- ving the Memory of the true one--, and if Rome had rofe againft him,that Slaves Death wou'd have prov'd the Emperor's Ruin. 'Twas ab- folutcly neccflary therefore, to remove the Slave, that the Memory of AGRIPPA might expire 5 and it \vas equally etTential to dif- patch him with Privacy, that TIBERIUS might reign in Security. Thins the En-' couragers of this Impoftor, offended with Impunity, becaufe they cou'd not be brought to Juftice, without endangering the ^Prince / The HISTORY. " TIBERIUS was more inclinable ",jtoput an end to War by 'Treaties, than " by die Sword. The MORAL REFLECTION. WHEN a Country is won by the Con- queft of its firft Inhabitants, the whole Praifc of the Action is due to the Captains and Soldiers engag'd in it : But when a Kingdom is gain'd, and the Enemy oblig'd to give it up by virtue of Treaties, the fole Reputation belongs to the 'Prince, whofe Authority only can undertake, and put the finishing Stroke to them. The efTRINCES. 51 The HISTORY. SILANUS, Governourofy^z, being " rcprcfcnted and accus'd as a Perfon both " ruel andintcrcftcd, DOLABELLA perfua- " dcd TIBERIUS to punifh him, as an Ex- a ample to other Governours of Provinces. " I'm no Stranger, reply 'd TIBERIUS, to " what is and was faid of SILANUS, even tl before he went into Ajia ; but? continu'd " he, popular Reports ought not to be the " Standard-Rule ; for we have feen many " corrupted Citizens make 'very good Go- " vernours. The MORAL REFLECTION. 'DO LA BELLA preferred a Com- plaint againft SILANUS, and TIBERIUS took Care to cxcufe himfelf by his Anlwer to it. TiBERiusperceiv'd, that DOLABELLA'S Acculation was fccmingly Icvcll'd at SI- LANUS, but in reality fell on himfelf, for making choice of, and promoting one, whom he knew to be a Man of bafc Principles. However, TIBERIUS wink'd at the Hint, and ftudy'd to prefervc the Reputation of his Prudence, that, when SILANUS fhou'd be call'd to account, SI- LANUS alone ! might fuffcr. Let him there- fore, who commits a Fault, be careful not to fharc the Guilt with his Sovereign. E 3 The 54 The M O R A L The H I S T O R Y. , TIBE RIUS never omitted going " to the Senate, tho'DRtrsus, his Son, lay " dangcroufly ill at the fame time > And " even when he was dead, he did not al- " low the Care of his Obfequics to divert " him from that of the publick Affairs : ". on the contrary, feeing the Senators in " Affli&ion for him, he himfelf undertook " to confole them. The MORAL REFLECTION. WHAT monftrous Artifice and De- ceit is fometimes carry'd on in Courts ! DRUSUS was poifon'd by his Wife LIVIA, at the Inftigation of /LIUS SE JANUS, TIBER lus's Favourite, who afpird to the Empire ; yet they -both feem'd inconfolable at the Lofs, tho j they inward'.y triumph'd in their Succefs. The Senators rejoic'd to fee the Succcflbr of TIBERIUS make way for the Sons of GERMAN icus $ yet they too pretended fo much Concern on this Oc- cafion, that the Father of the deceas'd was pblig'd to be their Comforter 3 and TI- BERIUS, who cou'd not but feel a Paternal Affection for the Death of an only Son, appcar'd infenjible in the midft of all their counterfeited Sorrow. How impious fo- . ever the Hypocrify of LIVIA and SEJANUS ' i was. ofTRINCES. 55 was, the Senate's Diflimulation fhow'd an equal Prudence ; but both were exceeded by the affected Calmncfs of TIBERIUS. The Senate was to be commended for fhcwing marks of Refpect for their Prince, tho' they did not love him : TIBERIUS was to be admir'd, for feeming to prefer the publick Good to his Affection for a Child. He wou'd certainly be an excel- lent Prince, who was really, what TIBE- RIUS fret ended to be. The HISTORY. " TIBERIUS was fo fond of reign- " ing, that the Affairs of State were his 4c only Pleafure and Diverfion. His Con- " cern was not to enlarge his Dominions " by Conqttcft : he was tenacious of Peace, " even tho J his Frontiers were attack'd, " and the repeated Provocations gave a " juft occafion for a V!/ar. The MORAL REFLECTON, THE Prince, who is no Soldier, lofes as much of his Authority, as his Army has Power and Strength, when committed to the Conduct of a Subject. Teace keeps the Subjeft dependent on the Trince : War makes the ^Prince ftand in need of the Subjett. Let him, who defires to extend his Empire, wage War : but let him, who E 4 wou'd 5 6 The MORALS wou'd have his Kingdom flourifh, live in 'Peace^ In Peace the Laws are obferv'd, and by the Laws the Prince rules ; but \vhcre War prevails, the Laws are often trampled on, and involve the Sovereign in the fame Fate. The HISTORY. "CREMUSIUS CORTtUSfa- < ving wrote in praife of BRUTUS and " CASSIUS, concern'd in JULIUS C/ESAR'S " Ailaffination, whom he call'd, The loft " of the Romans 5 TIBERIUS condemn'd " him to death for that Expreflion. EN- " NIUS was accus'd at the fame time of ft having melted down a Silver Statue of " TIBERIUS into Plate, for the ufe of his " Table, but wou'd not fuffer him to be " profecuted; nor even gave the leaft marks " of Difpleafure at it. The MORAL REFLECTION. E NNIUS's Offence was againft the Perfon of TIBERIUS, but that of CREMU- SIUS againft the Prince. TIBERIUS, whole Pafiions were all princely, punifh'd there- fore CREMUSIUS, but fhew'd no Reient- ment to ENNIUS. ENNIUS'S Crime was only privately making away with TIBER lus's Statue, but the Words of CREMUSIUS tended fublickly to the taking off TIBERIUS him- of FRINGES. 57 himfelf ; for to look for a Romany was the fame thing as to enquire for a 'Parri- cide ; and the Art to find another BRUTUS, was to praife the former. The HISTORY. "SEXTUS MARIUS, thericheft " Man in all Spain-, being accus'd of In- " ceft, TIBERIUS condemn'd him to be " thrown from the Capitol, and his vaft " Treafures, confuting chiefly in Mines, to " be confifcatcd.' The MORAL REFLECTION. S EXT US M^RIUS's principal Crime was not in having committed Inceft, but in being poilefs'd of fuch an immenfe Eftate. Inceji indeed render'd him cri- minal, but his Gold prov'd the Caufe of his death. A Tyrant can never brook an Opulcncy becoming a Prince in a Subjed ; and the Law, which provides for the Fe- licity of private Perfons, enacts, That all Treafures and Mines, where-ever they are difcover'd, lhall become the Property of the Prince, left the Landlord, by growing too powerful, fhou'd be cxpos'd to a greater Lois. The 58 The M O R AL S The H I S T O R Y. TIBERIUS difcovering very " weighty Mifdemeanours in ^LIUS SE* " JANUS, his only Confidant, ordered him * c to be put to death, and all his Adhe- a rents in like manner. The MORAL REFLECTION. SE JANUS put TIBERIUS on giving into many Cruelties, only to make him odious to liis Subjeds, and with a view of influencing them to a Change of Govern- ment 5 but TIBERIUS, who had as much Artifice as SEJANUS, and more Authority, k>aded him with the Hatred of all Rome> Condemn'd him to die, and made him father both his own, and TIBERIUS'S Faults. Nothing is more dangerous to a; S&bjeEt', than the exceffive Favours of his Trince, nor nothing commonly more fa- tal to. their Mafters, than great Favour rites. The HISTORY. fi TIBERIUS lying dangeroufty ** ill at a Country-Houfe near Naples, " CALIGULA, his Heir, upon perceiving 6( fome Symptoms of Recovery, murdcr'd *' him. Some Authors ailert, that he " fhio- ofTRIHCES. 59 " fmothcr'd him with the Bolftcr and " Bed- clothes ; others, that he poifon'd ct him : but whatever was the manner of for thoic Princes are generally moft grateful to the Common People, whole Difpofitions arc profufe and lavifh. The HISTORY. "CESONI4, Wiftt-j* CALIGULA, being apprchenfivc, that (He might pro- bably one Day be divorc'd, as feve- ral of her Predeceflbrs had been, gave him a Love-Potion. The Draught was fo 64 " fo violent, that it turn'd his Senfcs, and " he cou'd only take 3 Hours r Allefs Slum- " her in 24. This Condition work'd him " into fuch extravagant Cruelties, that he, " with his Wife and an infant Daughter, but the Common-people chofe rather to be fubjed to one, than be govern'd by many. The HISTORY. "AS foon as CLAUDIUS was fettled on " the Throne, he UTu'd out a general Par- " don for the Senate, and all fuch as had " oppos'dhisEledion. He likewife fct the " Prifon-Doors open to all thofe, who had " been imprifon'd by CALIGULA, either un- " juftly, or upon fome flight Caufe. The MORAL REFLECTION. CLAU / / by a 6th Marriage, " efpous'd JULIA AGRIPPINA, his Brother's " Daughter, andReli&ofDoMiTiusNERo. " His new Bride prevail'd with him to cut off " the Succefllon of the Empire from his and to do it with Regret, is a Mark of Humanity. Thefe two Virtues are fo efiential to eftablifh the Character of a Prince, that if the former be wanting, he governs with Effeminacy ; and if he is not poflefs'd of the latter* he degenerates into a Brute: fo that in both Cafes, he wou d be thought a Monfter, rather than a Trince. The HISTORY. " NERO allowed his Mother a con- " ftderable fhare in the Government, but " me abufing. her Authority by repeated " Ads of Cruelty and Injuftice, he was " oblig'd to withdraw the Confidence and Power he had lodg'd in her hands. The ofTRlNCES. 77 '.'.: -, The MORAL REFLECTION. AGRITTINA knew how to gain the Empire, but did not know how to0- wrn it: Bafenefs and Artifice were fuf- ficient to effeft the one, but Virtue was re- quifite to difcharge the other. To put NERO in pofleilion of the Crown, 'twas enough he had AGRIPPINA for Mother ; but to excufe her ill Government, 'twas not enough (he had NERO for Son. A Prince has no other Mother, but Jvftice. The HISTORY. " AGRITTINA, in hopes of ob- " liging NERO to comply with her own " Terms, threaten'd to ufe all her Skill to " dethrone him, in favour of BRIT ANNICUS, " then about 1 4 Years of Age ; but NERO, " to prevent her Menaces taking place, " banifh'd her from Court, not allowing " her any Guards, and got BRITANNICUS "' poifon'd. The MORAL REFLECTIQN. AGRITTINA fucceeded fo far as to terrify NERO; but his Fears were fo alarm'd, that a Reconciliation with the Per- Ton who had rais'd them, was not confident with his own Security ; for he confider'd, that others might equally attempt the Pro- motion 78 Tftl'MORALS motion of BRITANNICUS ; who was there- fore to be treated as a Criminal, becaufe he might be made the Inftrument of other Mens Malice. The Innocent are always guilty y when Obftacles in the Tyrant's way; they never efcape his Envy* and feldom his Revenge. The HISTORY: AG R IT TIN A perceiving her Me- " naces were of no Effect, had Rccourfe " to fofter, but more abominable Methods. " She footh'd her own Son with the Lan- " guage of a Miftrefs, and wou'd fain have " prevail'd with him to lie with her 5 but " NERO refus'd the unnatural Offer, left " it fhou'd be difcover'd. The MORAL REFLECTION. T H E R E's nothing more publick than the private Actions of Princes j for it com- monly happens, that thofe entrufted with the Secret, are the firfl who divulge it. Had NERO therefore committed that de- teftable Crime with his Mother, all Rome wou'd foon have been privy to it 5 and the Scandal arifing from thence, might have loft him the Empire. No Temptation is fo predominant in a Prince, as the Defire of reigning. The of PRINCES. 79 D - :;:. The HISTORY. " AGRITTINA defpairing of her " Power to regain the good Graces of her " Son, confpir'd to take away his Life ; " but NERO difcovering her treacherous " Defigns, prevented the Execution of The HISTORY. - i - " NERO perceiving all Rome trcm- " bled at his great Cruelty, grew fo haughty " and vain, that he glory 'd in being the " firft Roman Emperor, who knew how f to exert his Power j and as a Proof of " it, he reduc'd all Rome into Afhes: " during which, no body durft oppofe his " Will, nor even larnent fo dreadful a " Spedacle, The MORAL REFLECTION. N E R O's Glory was rather that of an Aflaffin, than a Prince. The Power a So- vereign has over the Lives and Fortunes of his Subjects, is not given him to tyrannife over them, but to chaftifc their Offences, (b that the Example of one Perfon may tend to the reclaiming of many ; and where a Subj eft can't be convided of any Crime, a Prince's Jurifdiftion can't, or at leaft ought not to extend itfelf, fo far as to condemn him. Cruelty is not the Rule, but the ^De- froyer of all Power. The HISTORY. " WHILE Rome was in Flames, NERO The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Roman Senate had been long opprefs'd by a Monarchical State of the Em- pire, and therefore the more willingly 4ri- courag'd this Infurreftion againft NERO,{atf it gave them a Profpect of reftoring the Common-wealth. By declaring him guilty of death, they rcfum'd their Authority, and aded as Judges ; and by proving the In- famy of NERO'S perfonal Character, they endeavoured to prove, that Monarchy was highly detrimental to Rome. ly ^uoilflan 'i>r;A -jru: ^11 The HISTORY. jf.ni ^li^fJ^iqJ THOSE who had follow'd NERO, *' advis'd him to be his own Murderer, ra " ther than undergo the infamous Sentence " of the Senate : upon which, he took up (C two Poniards, in order to put their Ad- * vice in execution ; but fheath'd them a- " gain, faying, His fatal Hour was not yet come. After that, he begg'd, tho* *' in vain, fome one of his Attendants " wou'd firft kill himfelf, to infpire him <( with the more Courage j but while he " was making this (hameful Propofal, a " Noife of Hories was heard, fent from not becaufe it was truly fo, but becaufe a Superiority of Force in thofe days, rul'd over Reafon $ and he was reckon'd the mo ft Legitimate Trince^ who cou'd&y? difpute his Claim. The ofPRINCES. 93 The HISTORY. " G ALB A was then a Widower of "70 Years of Age, without Children, and " defcended from the moft noble and illui- " trious Family of the SULPITII, tho' not " related by Blood to the foregoing C^E- " SARS. He was promoted to the Empire " for his great Perfonal Merit ; being a Man " of Learning, Valour zn&good Morals. The MORAL REFLECTION. GA LBA's good Qualities render'dhim acceptable to the Roman People 5 not for the fake of their being real Virtues, but be- caufe that Character was new, after NERO'S Tyranny. This Inftability of Temper is very evident, from the Defire they had to re-pofc fefs NERO, after perceiving that GALBAwas more frugal, and free from thofe Vices, which had prov'd advantageous to many of them. The People foon grow weary of any Govern- ment, which gives no hope of Revolutions. The Reign of AUGUSTUS indced,lafted many Years, without giving the leaft Diiguft to Rome-, becaufe he tempered the Toils of War, by the Solemnities of 'Triumphs } and enter- tain d the People, in time of *Peace y with con- tinual Shews : Such as yujiing, Feafting, and raijing new Edifices j Ib that they had no Leifurc to criticiie on the tonduct of their Sovereign. The The M O R A L S The HISTORY. " THERE being a Report fpread thro' " Rome, that the new Emperor was of a " cruel and revengeful Difpofition, GALBA, " for the better Security of his Perfon, re- prefers the Love of his Subjects, to that of Riches : The one weighs Gold-) the other ihidies Man : The former makes Living his chief Care ; the latter gives his Thoughts wholly up to Reigning. The HISTORY. "THE firft Day of January being come, rc on which the Armies us'd to renew the <4 Oath of Allegiance to their Emperors, the " Legions both of High aud Low Germany, " com- cfPRINCES. 97 " commanded by VITELLIUS, refus'd com- w plying with that Cuftom, under pretence s The M O R A L S { < LUCIANUS, a Man of great Worth and '* Virtue, without asking their Advice. The MORAL REFLECTION. LET all Princes learn from thisRefblu- tionofGALBA, that 'tis fometimes Wifdom to acJ 'without Counfel. GALBA'S Minifters were for creating a Creature of their own, frince^ to be all as fo many ^Princes, when created-, but GAL B A, who wanted an Heir to inherit his Authority, made choice of a Succeffor, under whom, the Minifters fliou'd think it a Favour to continue zsfuch. The HISTORY. " THE Adoption of Piso being put> " lifh'd without diftributing the ufual Dona- "*' tive among the Guards, OTHO improving " this Negled of Cuftom to his own Advan- " tage, feduc'd them -by Money and large " Promifes, a nd got him felf proclaimed Em- " peror in their Quarters. The MORAL REFLECTION. GAL BA^ in complaifance to the 'Prato- rians and People, had difmifs J d,and fent back the Spaniards : OTHO therefore met with the lefs Difficulty in his Attempt, having but one Guard alone to corrupt. Where a Prince contents himfclf to be guarded by his own Subjects only, the Guard is not commanded by 99 by the Trince, but the Prince commanded by the Guard. The Princes of Italy always ohufe an Italian and German Guard, be- cauic as they are Strangers to each other's Language, they can't be converfant together, nor fo eafily form a Confpiracy. The HISTORY. -P GALE A being inform'd of the Re- " volt, left his Palace, in hopes his Perfon (< might appeafe the Tumult ; but perceiving " die Confpirators made towards him with " a defign to kill him, he ilrctch'd forth his " Head ready to receive the Blow, faying t " he jhou'd blefs the Hand that gave tt y eath prove an) ways ad- " vantageous to the Common-wealth and < e Roman Teople. The MORAL REFLECTION. I T often happens that a Prince's Prefcnce alone is fufficient to fupprefs agreatDilbr- der, but it had not the fameEffecl in GALBA, becaufe the Soldiers, at that time, were fo accuftom'd to theVifits of the Roman Em- perors in their Quarters, that the Prefence of their Prince., was no more to them, than that of their Comrades. It is obfcrvablc therefore, that nothing can be more eflential to a Prince, than to behave with fuch a Re- fervc, as carries not t!\c Shew of too much H 2 Familia- ioo The M O R AL S Familiarity; fmce by appearing feldom to the Publick, he exafts adueRefpeft, when his Prefence becomes neceflary ; and the Refped of the People is the fureft Guard of a Prince. The HISTORY. " GA L BA was beheaded before he had " bore Imperial Sway the fpace of a Year j " in the 7 3d of his Age, and 7 1 Years after " the Birth of JESUS CHRIST. His Head " was afterwards carry 'd on the Point of a Lance to OTHO, who immediately gave " Orders for P iso to be put to death. The MORAL REFLECTION. y / S O fell a Vidim for no other Caufe, than that of being the chief Favourite of GAL- BA. Had he not beenadopted Succeflbrtothe Empire, he probably wou'dhave liv'd longer, and peaceably enjoy'd his Riches. He that wou'd know how far he ought to raife his Fortune at Court, after having weigh'd the Highnefs of the Station, let him meafure how great the Diftance is between that, and the Trecipice; for many Dignities, which Vanity terms ^Preferments^ are reputed by ^Prudence, no more than Tenls^ and many Civilities^ which feem to encourage Hope, ought never to be depended on, but with die utmoft Caution. MARCUS ifPRINCES. 101 MARCUS SILVIUS OTHO. VIII. The HISTORY. . |F T E R OTHO was declar'd Em- peror, he gave large Donations to all fuch as had affifted him in attaining the Empire ; but ' efpecially to the Tratvrian Soldiers, " whom he was engag'd to by folemn " Promifes. . The MORAL REFLECTION, A S there's no Prince, how pious and juft focver he be, who is exempt from every Frailty 5 or at lead, who is not thought guilty of fome : a Succeffor therefore, who is deilrous of beginning his Reign with Applauic, ought to put in practice that Virtue, which is oppofite to the Tiefett of his Tredeceffor. Twas thus OTHO aded : the firft ufe he made of his Power, was to exercife Liberality > in oppofition to GALBA, H 3 who io The M O R A L S who wasaccus'dof being too parjimoniousl Where Revolutions happen, all the Male- contents are in expectation of amending their Fortunes ; and whiie they afe ftat- ter'd with fuch Hopes, none of them can be faid to be difiatisfy'd. The HISTORY. "IT was the general Opinion, that " OTHO was the Son of TIBERIUS; not " only becaufe every one knew, he'd had " an Intimacy with his Mother, but becaufe there was a Yery e*ad Refemblah'ce : in " their Faces. The MoftAi/ REFLECT ibto? - THERE'S no Perfon in the World fo liable to Remarks as a Prince : the People are not fatisfy'd with knowing his pubtick Adions 5 they alfo cenfure fuch as are private. A good Prince rejoices to fee a Subjed, either Voluntarily, or prompted by Curiofity, ftudy his Morals, with a view of emulating them 3 becaufe then, fhould he have occaTion to fj>eak of him, being affur'd of his Deeds, he will not want Mat- ter for Admiration and Praifc : but a bad one has as much to dread on the other hand, from this receiv'd Opinion of the People, That a Prince cannot reign welt, if he continues to five ill. The if PRINCES. 103 The HISTORY. te OTHO was fo ridiculoufly effemi- < nate, that a Lady of the great eft Deli- " cacy in her Completion cou'd not fur- " pafs him : he us'd to wafh himfelf with " Aries Milk to keep his Skin ftnooth and as Roman Generals. Their Pri- vilege therefore was not juft, iince of nc- ceflity it produc'd continual Diforders ; and it muft confequently be allowed, that for the Happinefs of a People, a 'Prince ought to reign by SucceJJlon^ and a Subjett obey, without a/firing to it. The HISTORY. " O THO put himfelf in a Pofturc of " Defence, and fent his Forces againft thofe " of VITELLIUS in Lombardy. The con- ." tending Parties had fome Encounters, " which ofTRINCES. 105 " which always prov'd fuccefsful on the " fide of OTHO ; but coming at laft to a " general and bloody Battle near Cremona, ^ it ended to the Glory of VITELLIUS. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Armies of VITELLIUS and OTHO being both composed of Romans , there re- main'd no other Remedy, than to hazard, by a decifive Battle, either entirely lojing, or gaining all ; for neither of them wou'd have been fatisfy'd without the Acquifition of Rome, and the Roman Empire cou'd not be divided. This is the reafon, why all Monarchs are defirous to have the Bodies of their Armies, even when compos'd of their own Subjects, fupported by the ma- jor part of their National Troops : 'tis to prevent the ^Danger of a Sedition. Had VITELLIUS been a Native of Germany, and his Legions equally Germans, he probably wou'd have contented himfelf with the Poffeflion of that Country j and fo the Roman Empire muft have fuffer'd a Divi- fion : but on the contrary, both Parties be- ing Romans, the Death of an Emperor was of little Importance, provided the Em- pire remain'd entire. The M O R A L S T&- HISTORY. " THO OTHO might have rally'd the " remaining part of the Army after the " Battle, and have attempted another Trial '* wkh VITELLHJS, yet he pray'd all the " Senators, and Chkf of his Friends, to " acknowledge him for their Sovereign; " faying, that his Oppofition wou'd only " have caus'd frefh Roman Blood to be " fpilt onnccefiarily, finee he had refolvU " to pot a Period to his Life. The MORAL REFLECTION. OTHO was always fo ambitious of reigning, that to acquire Authority he wil- lingly deny'd himfelf all other Pleaiures. In his Youth, he facrifk'd his Wife POPPLE A to the unlawful Embraces of NERO > with a view of obtaining the Government of Ln- foania , he diftributed ail his Riches among the c Pr but much Jcfs, when they confider'd themfelves as Heirs to his Riches, and difengag'd by his death, from what mean and worMefs Souls term two great Incowveniencies ; Gratitude and Reftitutipn. AULUS TbtJA OR A L]S AULUS VlTELLIUS. IX. The HI STORY. \ITELLIUS having receiv'd Advice in France of the Sue- cefs of his Arms, and that ViRGiNius RUFUS, OTHO'S General, had fworn Allegiance to him, he made the beft of his way into Italy. Upon his Arrival, uling frequently to vi- fit the place where the Battle was fought, and being advis'd by his Friends to avoid the Stench of the dead Bodies, as offen- fivc, he made Anfwer, That there cou'd not be a more grateful frnelL than that of a dead Enemy. The MORAL REFLECTION, WHERE the Mind is taken up with an abundance of Pleafure, the Senfes arc dcpriv'd of ail other Confidcrntion : and to be Matter of the World, is the grcatcfl Plcafure the World can afford- The Friends 3 Of ofTRINCES. 100 of VITELLIUS look'd on the Field of the Slain, as ftrew'd with fomany dead Bodies, but VITELLIUS beheld it, as cover'd with fo many Vittims : the former were fbock'd at the Slaughter, but the latter was pleas' d at the Sacrifice. The HISTORY. "HE enter'd Rome , in view of the Se- " nate and Roman People, drefs'd in Sol- " dier's Clothes, and with the Standards " and Colours of the Army flying, as if " he march'd into an Enemy's Garrifon, " taken by Force of Arms. H?r The MORAL REFLECTION. By this manner of entering Rome, VI- TELLIUS gave the Senate to underftand, that he expe&ed no other Authority fhou'd be own'd there, but his; becaufe, as he acquir'd the Empire Jure Belli, the Con- queror was the only Legijlator, and the Metropolis of the World no more to him, than a conquer'd City. The HISTORY. VITTELLIUS made a Recital " of all his Heroick Adions in the Senate 5 " prais'd himfelf in a very extraordinary " manner, and order'd that his Accell'ioa " to no The MORA JL S to the Empire fhou'd be .celebrated with " the utnioft Marks of Joy and Gladncfs. The MORAL REFLECTION. IT was cuftomary for the Senate to compoie Panegyricks, and manage die pub- lick Rejoicings at the Coronation of every new Emperor ; but VITELLIUS fpar'd them that Trouble : he rather chofe to be his own Panegyrift, and order'd how the Re- joicing fhou'd be performed himfelf : nei- ther was this a Weaknefs in VITELLIUS, hut one of the Secrets in the Art of Reign- ing. He avoided the occafion of returning Thanks to the Senate, bccaule an Acknow- ledgement fuppofes a Favour rcceiv'd, and a Prince ought never to accept of Favours from his Subjeds 5 and he gave the necef- fary Orders for the publick Joy, to deprive the Senate of .excrcifing the leaft Authority over the People, under pretence of ho- nouring the Prince. The HISTORY. "DURING thefe Solemnities, Vi- " TELLIUS appear'd forward in accepting * f the Invitations of the principal Romans, " whofe Entertainments were fo fplendid " and expenfive, that each of them did not " amount to lefs than ten thoufand Crowns, " which was thought a vaft Sum in thofc days. ofTRINCES. in " days. The Banquet his Brother prepar'd " alfo for him, was fo fumptuous, that there *' werereckon'd at it, two thoufandDifhesof " the choiccft Fifh, and feven thoufand.of " die moil rare and delicate Wild-Fowl. i/:.?: The MORAL REFLECTION. FITELLIUSdidnot only deJignto diveft the Romans of their Authority, but likewife had a view of impairing their Riches ; and that noDiforder might prove the Confequence of his Proceeding, he found. out the way to impoverifh them by their own Ambition 5 for the TatricM&s thinking themfelves greatly honour'd by the Condefcenfton of their Emperor, expended more than they cou'd afford, to give him a fplendid Reception. He oblig'd his Brother too, to be at a far greater Expence, that his Policy might be the more imperceptible. The HISTORY. " VITELL1US hearing that a cer- " tain Aftrologer had fpread a Report thro' " Rome, that he wou'd not enjoy the Em- " pire a Year, he order 'dall of his Profeflion " to be banifh'd ltaly> and the Magiitrates " to be chofen for tea Years. The The MORALS The MORAL REFLECTION. ALL wife Princes ought to forbid the Belief of this kind of Aftrologers, becaufe, as the Populace are fond of giving Credit to Prediction, and their weak Minds influcnc'd by it, they wou'd govern the World at their pleafure, and be put upon a Level with Re- ligion, which guides the Univerfe by Faith. Aftrologers are much lefs tolerated by tyrannical Princes, becaufe they can't en- dure Men, who know more than them- felves. Authority's the greateft Knowledge; and he that becomes a Sovereign by Force, can fuffer nothing/^r/0r to himfelf. Bud News tofuch Princes, ought not to be men- tion' d y much lefs fore-told. Tho' they are fenfible of their Mortality, yet they willing- ly banifh the Thoughts of k ; but what we wou'd wifh never to happen, ought not al- ways to be contemn'd. The HISTORY. :c HE took particular Care to animarc tc the two Faftions, which divided the Ro- " man People, headed by VENETA and PR A- '' SINA, frequently promoted, to that end, " 3 u ft* n g a nd Courjing, and recompensed " the Vigors. The of PRINCES. 113 The MORAL REFLECTION. V1TELL1US divided the People into Fattions by Gaming, that they might be at Variance m good Earneft -> and gave considerable Premiums to the Conquerors, that there might be always Combatants. He did not reward Valour becaufe of its T)e- fertj but encouraged T>ifcord> that it might augment in Vigour ; and that the 'Diftonour of the Vanquimd might be improv'd into a Defire of Revenge. Where the People therefore are amus'd with particular Cora- bats, the Prince always reigns triumphant. The HISTORY. " VITELL1 US being told, that at in making himfclf thought Mafter of his Mafter. The HISTORY. "HE committed many other Cruelties ; " among which was the barbarous Murder of " two young Men and Brothers, for begging " for their Father's Life, whom he had con- " demn'd to die. The MORAL REFLECTION. THESE two Brothers were not mur- der'd for .craving Mercy for their Father, but becaufe VITELLIUS perceiv'd them ready to fall into Defpair at his refuting their Rc- quefl ; and therefore judg'd it confident with his Safety to prevent the Revenge, which their Excels of Grief might prompt them to take on his Pcrfon 5 for a Prince's Life is al- ways expos'd to Danger, where he has rcafon to believe, Men given up to Defpair, threa- ten it. The HISTORY. " ONE of the Confidants of VITEL- " LIUS happening to be indilpos'd, he went I 2 " tO The MORALS * to pay himaVifit, and pretending to do " him Honour by filling him a Glafs of Wa- " ter, mixt it with Poifon, of which he died " immediately. The MORAL REFLECTION. THUS, the Favourites of a cruel Prince for the moft part end their Days : As they are privy to ail his Impieties, he beholds them with Confufion 5 and a Tyrant, abhor- ring every thing which difpleafcs him, will confequently contrive their Death, as a Re- medy for his own Difquiet. The HISTORY. " The Cruelties of Vi TELL lus augmen- " ting daily, the Eaftern Legions, accom- " pany'd with thole of Sclavonia and " &gypty proclaim'd VESPASIAN, their Gc- " neral, Emperor ; but he refuflng the Dig- " nity offer'd, the Soldiers threaten'd to mur- " dcr him, if he did not accept of it. The MORAL REFLECTION. V1TELL1US kept Rome in Obedi- ence and Tranquillity, thro' the Fear every one had of his Inhumanities ; but among his Armies, where Scandal and not Fear had Effect, his Cruelty render'd him Odious, and the Hatred ^of the Soldiery is the Qpprejfion of Trinces. The of PRINCES. 117 The HISTORY. " VESTASIAN committed the " Command of the Army againft the Jews, " to his eldeft Son TITUS, and went to " Alexandria $ from whence he lent LICI- " NIUS MUCIANUS, General of the Forces in " Syria, with a powerful Army into Italy. " ANTONIUS, General of Sclavonia, alib < march'd thither with a confiderable Num- " her of Hungarians, and Miflans, whole " Aflifta^nce was requir'd to re-inforce his " Legions. The MORAL REFLECTION. A Prince, whofe Monarchy is compos'd of many and extended dominions, ought to divide each State into many Govern- ments ', for a Variety of Commanders ren- ders an Union difficult to be cfFedcd in any Attempt againft the Sovereign 5 but where many Kingdoms are govern'd by one alone, the Governours arc few, and confcqucntly eafy for them to prefcrvc the Unity requifite to the carrying on of a Confpiracy. Thus it happen'd with VESPASIAN aud ANTONIUS : they commanded a great Part of Europe, Afia and Africa 3 fo having each of them Forces, equivalent to thofe of a powerful Monarch, it only requir'd their Inlurre&ion to become as fuch. I 3 The us The MORALS The HISTORY. VITELLIUS fcnt his Generals, " VALENTE and CECINNA, with a formi- " dable Army to attack ANTONIUS. The " two Armies met, and came to Battle " near Cremona, where VITELLIUS was " worfted, with the lofs of thirty thoufand " Men, and ANTONIUS remain'd Con- " queror, with the lois of about five thou- < fand. From thence, he continued his " March to R0we y and wrote to VITEL- " LIUS, that if he wou'd peaceably reftgn . .ndance ou Chance, than on him who r&gns: the Acqi ifitions of many Ages arc loi: in a few Hours ; and the Viclorious car/t be aflur'd of a longer Continuance, than the Interval be- tween the Viftory and the next Battle \ between good Fortune and had, which ge- nerally have their Vicillitudes. Tbt of FRINGES. The HISTORY. V1TELLIUS negotiated the Re- " nunciation with FLAVIUS SABINUS and " DOMITIAN, the Brother and Son of VES- " PASIAN, who were then in Rome? and " the Treaty being agreed on, he (wore in but they were qucll'd by " QUINTILIUS CERIALES, who was fent < on that Expedition by DOMITIAN. . The MORAL REFLECTION. A Prince may be abicnt from his Do- minions without great Danger, provided his Mind is not abicnt from his Forces, by Indo- ofTRINCES. 127 Indolence and Want of Care. VESPASIAN was in AJia ; but his Vigilance was in Rotne^ in the Perlbn of his Son 5 and his 'poiver was in France, in the Army of QUINTILJUS CERIALES. A Sovereign is never abfent, where the Virtues of a So- vereign are always prefent. The HISTORY. " VEST ASIAN receiving News, " that TITUS had brought all Judea un- " der fubjedionj that he had taken Jeru- 11 falem by Famine, after five Months Siege ; " and that he had fuccour'd TIRIDATES, " King at Armenia-, againft the Alanians-* " a People of Scythia^ who had invaded " his Territories, he call'd him to Rome " to triumph. The MORAL REFLECTION. A S VESPASIAN cou'd not boaft of any great Aclions his Anccftors had done, he was rcfolv'd to glory the more in his De- icendants: while others fpokc of things pafti as incapable of Addition, he artfully represented great things prefent ', as giving Hopes of many others more important. Rome therefore was very happy, after ib many vicious Princes, to have met with one, who \vas oblig'd to fhew a good Pre- cedent. The MORAL S The HISTORY. " VESTAS1AN thought it his " Right to participate of the Triumph, " fince he had begun the War againft the " Jews by NERO'S Orders. There were " (lain of them in the Province and City, " One Million, and one hundred Thou- " fand Souls, befides Ninety feven Thou- " fand led captive ; and they faw their " famous Temple of SOLOMON, and City, " intirely demolifh'd. For this fo memor- " able a Vidory, VESPASIAN made fucha " Triumph, as had not been parallel'd be- " fore; and TITUS was declar'd Colleague " in the Cenforfiip, Tribunal and Conful- The MORAL REFLECTION. T H E Jews were the chief Triumph of TITUS, as TITUS was the chief Triumph of VESPASIAN. While TITUS appear 'd with the utmoft Glory of a Soldier, VESPASIAN appear'd with that of a Father. TITUS was extol'd for having vindicated the Inte- reft of the Roman Empire, and cut off fuch a Multitude of its Enemies; VESPA- SIAN was equally prais'd for having brought up a Son, who had fo gloriouily maintain'd the Honour of the Empire. Such a Father deferv'd fuch a Son for his Colleague ; and fuch ofTRINCES. 129 fuch a Son merited no other than a Roman Emperor for his Father. The HISTORY. VESTASIAN devoted himfclf " wholly to Affairs of Publick Good : he tc reform'd Abufesj incourag'd Moral Vir- " tues 5 compil'd new Laws, and was par- c< ticularly careful of the Adrhiniftration ceafes with the death of the People : a Knowledge of the Laws is only known to a few j but the Magnifi- cence of ftately Edifices remains for many Ages : they are admir'd by every one that beholds them, and their Admiration is juft ; but then 'tis neceffary they fhou'd be built like thofe of VESPASIAN ; that is, in fuch a manner, as every Spe&ator may readily know, that a great Prince only cou'd be the Founder of -them. The HISTORY. " " fions to Men of Letters, and entitled " others efPRINCES, 13 i " others to his Bounty, who were eminent but u aflign'd him Lacedemonta^ a City of " Greece, for his Refidence } and took care " to make a Provifton, fufficient to fup- ** port him and his Family fuitable to their " Quality. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Imprifonment of King ANTIOCUS was partly owing to good Fortune, and partly to the Gcnerofity of CESONIUS ; but the courteous Treatment he met with in Greece, was intirely owing to the Good- nefs of VESPASIAN. Had ANTIOCUS been fcnt tfTRINCES. 133 fent to Rome, every one wou'd have cx- tol'dthc Conqueft of CESONIUS; biit being condudcd to Lacedemonia, every one ad- mir'd the Modefty of VESPASIAN. As the World fpoke greatly in praife of CESONIUS, who was the Miriifter of this celebrated Event, it was not the Bufmefs of VESPA- SIAN to fuffcr his Glory to be filent, who was the Author of it : he therefore refolv'd, that at the fame time CESONIUS (hou'd be allow'd to have behav'd like a brave Soldiery VESPASIAN, with equal Juftice, fhou'd be acknowledg'd to have done an Aftion worthy of a magnanimous and mer- ciful Trince. The HISTORY. FROM the Acccflion of VESPASIAN " to the Empire, he regulated his Life in " the following manner : He gave Orders " to be awoke before Day, and read, or " caus'd to be read over, the Letters, Mc- " morials and other Writings which rc- " quir'd difpatch. While he was drefling " himfelf, he rccciv'd the Miniftcrs, wait- u ing to confer with him ; and after he " was drcft, gave publick Audience, and " came to a Rcfolution of what was of- " fer'd therein, without Delays. From " thence, he walk'd feme time for the *' Benefit of the frefh Air, and then rctir'd K 3 "to 134 The MORALS a to his Palace, where he refrefh'd him-' " felf with a moderate Dinner , and ob- " ferv'd the fame order every day, both as " to publick Affairs and Recreation, The MORAL REFLECTION. HE, whofe Province it is to give Laws, ought not to infringe them. GOD, who commands us to do good, is himfelf infi- nitely the beft. It often happens, that bad Princes govern well, tho' feldom with Sue- cefs : ..the People don't diftinguifh the Au- thority of a Prince from his 'Perfon : they pay a greater Deference to the Terfew than to the 'Prince 5 becaufe per final Cuftoms, are the more imitable-* as they are moft 'vijible, whereas the Right of ^Princely Au- thority is too nice a Point for the Reafon of the Populace to comprehend, as it is not a thing obvious to their Senfes. The *People commonly follow the Example of the Court ; the Court always purlues that of the Trince , and therefore where a So- vereign is inclin'd to be good, thofe, who will not comply with Goodnefs out of 'Duty, will do it out of Flattery. The HISTORY. Several Perfons were accus'd of having <( traduc'd his Charader,yet he never brought for had he perfever'd in his for- mer Courfes, every one wou'd have form'd his Behaviour from the Foible of his Prince 5 but by changing his Method of Living, he left all his Courtiers in a fudden Obfcu- rity, A Prince that knows bzmfelf y will not let himfelf be known by others. The HISTORY. "IN his Youth, he ftudy'd the Law in " Rome ; but VESPASIAN his Father, ra- " ther i 3 8 The MORALS " ther defiring he fhou'd be in a Military " Capacity, gave him the Command of a " Regiment, when he went on the Expe- dition of Judea, which he afterwards " brought under Subjediou. The MORAL REFLECTION, I N that Kingdom where every one may hope to arrive at the Sovereign Power, the only way to fucceed, is to take up the Profeflion of Arms : there, every Step's a Command, and every Advancement a De- gree nearer to the fupreme Authority; whereas , in the Pradice of the Law, every Step's a Servitude. TITUS, as < D0#0r, wou'd have claim'd the Emperor's Effects j but TITUS, i& Soldier -> fucceeded his Father in the Empire. The H I S T O R Y. " WH E N TITUS was invefted with the " Imperial Dignity, he never deny'd a Fa- " vour in his power to grant; and when *' there was not a Poflibility of corre- A iponding with it, he always gave hopes " of obtaining it. Being told one day by " fome of his Counfellors, that he was too " lavifh of his Promiies, he made Anfwer, " That it was not ^Policy in a Trznce, to " f u ff er an y on e t kwe his Trefence " diffatisfy'd. The ofPRINCES. 139 The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Minifters of TITUS did not like to fee their Prince fo liberal of his Pro- mifes 5 becaufc every time he fail'd in the Accomplifhment of them, Complaints were made againft them : for Supplicants are always more inclin'd to impute their Dif- appointments to the Negled of Minifters, than to doubt the Sincerity of a Prince, who has given them courteous Anfwers : but TITUS, who recompens'd his Minifters, expefted they fhou'd difcharge their Office ; and ferve him as he pleas d y not as they wou'd 5 it being their Duty fometimes to incur a Publick Odium, that their Sove- reign may be belov'd. The HISTORY. REFLECTING one Night after " Supper, that he had not given any thing " away that Day ; Friends ! cry'd he to *' thole preient, we have loft a The MORAL REFLECTION. THIS Regret of TITUS, proceeded from a very noble Idea of the Mind, and dcfervcs the Emulation of all Potentates: that Virtue is the 'Duty of a Trince. A private Perfon muft be a Reprobate, not to be thought honeft : Prince piuft excel I in I4 o The M O R A L S in Goodnefsy to be thought good: all his Virtues muft be great and worthy of his Dignity. 1 The HISTORY. T W O Perfons of great Rank having u confpir'd againft him, he order'd them " to be fent for, and in a very affable " manner faid to them, That he was cer- " tain they " ae^f 7B* HISTORY. "TITUS finding his Brother DOM i- " TIAN attempted to feduce the Cohorts, *' he declar'd him his Colleague, andSuccef- " for; advifing him privately, not to im- " brue his Hands in the Blood of a Brother, a who lov'd him with fo much Tendcrnefs. Hi ''II; The MORAL REFLECTION. HAD TITUS punifh'd DOMITIAN, he wou'd indeed have ftrengthen'd his Security; but then he wou'd have loft his Brother, and with him, the Honour of reckoning three Roman Emperors in his Family : He there- fore refolv'd to prevent the Title of Traytor and Fratricide, in the Son of VESPASIAN, and the Brother of TITUS, from being re- mitted to Pofterity. It was not his Life that he valu'd, but the Danger of incurring ar^ cvcrlafting Blot on his Race. The HISTORY. " HE reign'd, with this Lenity of Difpo* tion two Years, two Months, andfome Days; after which, being leiz'd with a " malignant Fever, he died of it at 41 " Years of Age, and 83 after the Birth of rt our REDEEMER ; being greatly lamented " and call'd by every one, the 142 The MORALS " the World. During this fmall fpace of " time, there was an Univerfal Tranquillity ^ throughout the Roman Empire. The MORAL REFLECTION* MILDNESS in reigning produces a happy IflTue, when it proceeds from Virtue ; but it has not the fame EfFeft, when it fprings from an Imbecillity of Nature $ becaufc then, it alfo argues that a Prince ftands in awe of his Subjcfts. Lenity in TITUS, was known to be real Virtue , having given fufficient Proofs of his Conduct and Valour, in the War againft the Jews > covering the Rebellious Country with the Enemy's Blood. Every one therefore, being perfuaded of his Courage, as a Soldier, the more willingly remained peaceable, to enjoy him as a Trince. The HISTORY. " BEFORE he expir'd, he faid, that " Death was the more grievous to him, as " he thought he defer v'd to live longer ; not " remembring to have ever committed any " thing which requir'd his Repentance, but " only once. The MORAL REFLECTION. EVEN in the Agonies of Death, TITUS preferv'd that Prudence, which a Prince ought ofPRINCES. 143 ought always to obferve when he fpeaks : never to repofe fo much Confidence in Do- mefticks, as may make them Privy to their Matter's Frailties. Twas thus TITUS aded, in not revealing the Nature of that Sin, which remain'd to be repented of. By con- f effing to have errd, he prov'd himfelf Man; but by concealing his Err or, he gave a Proof of his Majejfy. Do- DOMITIAN. XII. BBS The HI STORY. OMIT IAN fucceeded his Brother without Oppofition, and began his Reign with great Ap- piaule: He immediately order'd ftately Buildings to be erefted ; entertain'd the People, with fumptuous Feafting ; and frequently caus'd great Quantities of Mo- ney to be thrown to the Populace. The MORAL REFLECTION. EVERY new Acceilion of the Empe- rors, commonly gave birth to fome new Commotions; and therefore 'twas DOMI- TIAN'S Intereft to prevent them, by doing fome Aftion, grateful to the People, and apparently beneficial to the Publick Good. The Commonalty, who gather'd the Money, defir'dno other Prince, than him who caus'd it to be thrown among them ; thofe diverted by Theatrical Performances, were entirely taken up with thofe Pleafures ; and the No- bility, bility, delighted to fee their Country embcl- lifhing with magnificent Buildings, extolld the Prince, and forgot their own Subjection. The HISTORY. "HE punifh'd the .Jews and all Govcr- " nours, without Rcfpcft of Perfons, who " \Verc found guilty of Venality* or any " other Corruption, prc judicial to Juftice } becaufe it gave them an Opportunity of pro- moting their own Intercft. And DOMITIAN began his Reign thus, to pleafe them^ that he might gain time top/eofe htmfelf. The HISTORY. " THE following Provinces, Mufcanjy^ " RuJJla^ Toland, Lithuania, which t<> " gether, were then call'd Sarmatia 5 as alfo " the People of 1)acia, now comprehen- " ding VALLACHIA and TRANSYLVANIA, " revolting againft the Roman Empire, Do- and why Republicks allow the free Exercife of all, are thefe 5 in Monarchy, where the Sove- reign Authority is lodg'd in the hands of one, the Danger confills in the 'Divijion : in Commonwealths, where that Authority is divided, the Danger confifts in the (7- nion. The HISTORY. <( H E took off all the new Taxes, laid " on the Roman Empire by DOMITIAN, fcnt his Captains againft there- " bellious Aflfaflins ; and feeling a fenfible " Decay of Nature, thro' old Age, fet for- " ward for Italy. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE grand Defign of TRAJAN, was not to confine himfelf to Limits, but to make a Conqueft of the whole Earth, that the Ro- man Empire might be the fame thing with the World ; and the three Caufes, which obftruded the Profecution of fo great an En- terprjze, t^ach all Conquerors how they ought to regulate themfelves. The firft Ob- ftacle TRAJAN met with, proceeded from the natural Product of the Country, whofe Fecundity was not fufficient to fupport his Forces. There are many Kingdoms unable to fubltft a powerful Army, and where a fmall one wou'd be of no Signification ; therefore the firft Precaution is to compare the Army with the Duality of the Country. The fecond was the Rebellion of other Parts of the Empire : There's no Nation, how populous foever, can fend an Army into every Province of the World ; therefore the fecond Confideration is to weigh the Strength of the Kingdom to be fubdu'd. The third Obftacle proceeded from the old Age< of TRAJAN: The Life of Man is toofhort to fTRINCES. 175 to attain, by Atfions, what the Thought aipires after; therefore the third Maxim is to compare the Undertaking with Life, and to propofe poflible Things to be effected in a little time. The HISTORY. V ' rt-*T T' ~ / ^>- JT t XHE jews of Cirene, znd(isgypt 9 " revolted againft the Romans who were "there, and deftroy'd them all. After their " Example, the Cyprian Jews murder'd all " the Inhabitants of the I (land, which a- " mounted to t\vo hundred thoufand Souls. " TRAJAN, on the News of thefe Barbari- " ties, immediately difpatch'd Captains to " all Parts, with.ftrift Orders to put all the " Jews they found to the Sword, without R I A N being near Rome, was " inform'd, that the Senate had prepar'd a " Triumph for the Reception of TRAJAN " and him > he having partaken of all thofe " Conquefts : but ADRIAN refused any fhare " of it, defiring that the Statue of TRAJAN " fhou'd cngrofs the whole Honour. The MORAL REFLECTION. AT>RIAN cou'd not poffibly expert to have the firft Honour in that Triumph 5 for he woud only have triumph'd, as Wit- nefs of TRAJAN'S Conquefts ; nay, even tho' he ihou'd have been reputed a Com- panion in them, 'twas not becoming an Emperor, aduaily reigning, to triumph, accompany 'd with a dead Body \ and to make the fecond Figure, following a Sta- tue. The HISTORY. " A^DRIAR was a very learned " Prince, not only in all fpeculative Know- " kdge, but likewife skill'd in the ptadi- " cal Part of many Arts and Sciences : as " Mufick, Painting, Phyfick, and did molt <( things in Perfection. By the great En- " couragcment he gave to Learning, his N " Court 178 The MORALS Court foon abounded in Men of the profound eft Underftanding, andVirtuofi, < on whom he confcrr'd many considerable " Honours, and made feel the Effects of " his Bounty. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Acquifition of many Arts and Sciences belongs to private ^Perfons^ as it requires great Labour and Study ; -but to enjoy the Labour of others, and to recom- penfe it, belongs to a Trince. While A- DRIAN was a SithjecJy he cndeavour'd to acquire the Accompli foments^ requiftte for one in his Station : When he became a Trince, he ftrove equally to attain the Qua- lities, necefiary for one, who fits on the Throne. To be always admiring the Ele- vation of Majefty, is, to weigh it rightly, no more than a ufelefs Application to Prin- cipality. The HISTORY. " AT) R I A N meeting a certain Man, " who in the time of his lefler Fortune, " had offended him, and againft whom he " had fworn Revenge : Now ! faid he to " him, thou art fecure. The ofTRINCES. The MORAL REFLECTION. . ALL Enmity fuppofes an Equality in Rank and Power j therefore, as that Equa- lity ceas'd in the Enemy of ADRIAN, by becoming his Subjeft, ADRIAN alfo ceas'd to be any longer his Enemy. Had ADRIAN made his Adverfary feel the Effeds of his Re^ fentment, after his Elevation to the Imperial Dignity, the other wou'd have died with this Glory, that to accomplifh his Revenge, he was firft oblig'd to become Emperor. The HISTORY. " T H E Sarmatians, viz. the People of " Riiffia, Mufco'vy^ and 'Poland, having " enter'd Mtfia, now call'd Servia, and Bui" " garta y ADRIAN oppos'd them with a for- " midable Army. They fet on foot a Treaty " of Peace,which he accepted, obliging them " to return to their own Country, without " fpillirng a Drop of Blood. Immediately " after that, he order'd TRAJAN'S Bridge " to be entirely demolifh'd, to prevent the " future Incurfions of the Barbarians. The MORAL REFLECTION. IT was not good Policy in ADRIAN to obftruft the Romans .Entrance into the Barbarians Country, only to cut off the Pafs from the Barbarians into the Roman fmpire : he ought to hive fortify'd, not N a dc- 180 The MORALS deftroy'd the Bridge j but perhaps the fc- crct Grudge, ADRIAN bore to his Uncle, for not inftituting him his Heir, was not quite (titled, and fo cancell'd this glorious Memory of TRAJAN, becaufe of the little Remembrance he had of him, on his Death- bed. An incens'd Sovereign often imagines, that to give full Scope to his Paffion, is reigning. The HISTORY. "ON ADRIAN'S Journey to Rome, a " Confpiracy was form'd againft him, but " was confounded by the Deaths of four " of the chief Promoters of it 5 however, ." he forbid it fhou'd be faid, that they " were kill'd by his Command. Being " arriv'd at Rome, he permitted the Peo- " pie feveral Feafts, and publick Rejoicings. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Revenge of a Prince,, extends no .farther than the Tribunal, which directs a publick Execution ; becaufe his Vengeance ought to be Juflice 5 but when thro' pri- vate Hatred, Revenge is taken, it ought to be concealed, like that of ADRIAN 5 to the end, that the Juftice of a Prince may not be thought the Inflrument of his Pal- fions. The if PRINCES. m The HISTORY. " AFTER having fpent a fmall time " in Rome, he undertook to make the " Tour of the Empire, reforming the A- " bufes and Diforders of every Place he " pafs'd through. On his Arrival in Eng- The MORAL REFLECTION. A Prince, who is cafy of Accefs, faves the Expence of Spies ; for every one afpi- ring to be converfant with his Sovereign, fearches frefh Matter wherewith to deferve his Confidence : and Advices imparted to a Prince thro' Glory > are more fmcere than thofe procur'd by Venality. The HISTORY. ' " HE forbid all, who belong'd to the " Court, taking Premiums for the Favours " he confer'd. The MORAL REFLECTION. ANTONINUS had too much of the ^Prince, to fuffer any of his Houfhold to make a Traffick of his good Works } or that his Court fhou'd bear the Name of being the greateft Market in Rome. He thought it too unbecoming his Chara&er, that his Concefllons fhou'd pav Tribute to his of PRINCES. his Domefticks j or, that his Subj efts, after leaving his Cabinet, fatisfy'd with their Au- dience, fhou'd be molefted in their Paflage thro' the Anti-chamber : his Decorum ex- aded, that none belonging to him, fhou'd be oblig'd to any, but himfelf. The HISTORY. " TH O' he determin'd no Affair with- " out confulting the Senate, neverthelefs " he kept a Courtjof Judicature of fome " of the mod eminent Civilians, in his ^ own Palace. The MORAL REFLECTION. 'TWAS not only Jvfttcc, but alfo To- Ucy, to have a Tribunal in his own Court, as a diftindion of his Authority over the Senate, which took all opportunities of ading independently, being the fame, in regard of the Dignity, and manner of judg- ing, as form'd anciently the Republick j therefore ANTONINUS, for the Tranquillity of Rome, communicated every thing to the Senate ; but for the Support of his Sove- reignty, referv'd the Privilege of revifmg it. The HISTORY. "WHEN ever he heard a heavy Mif- " fortune had befallen any of his Subjeds, " he rctriev'd their Loflcs with his own " Mo- i 9 2 The M O R A L S " Money ; infomuch, that when the great " Fires in Rome, Anttoch, Narbonne and " Carthage, broke out, he order'd the Suf- " ferers Houfes to be re-built at his own " Expence. The MORAL REFLECTION. T O relieve the Diftrcfs'd is the moft va- luable Ad of Humanity : it gains a Prince the intire Love of his Subjects, and is of no lefs Advantage to his Government ; for finding he is acquainted with the parti- cular Misfortunes of every private Pcrfon, tho' remote from his Court, they will na- turally fuppofe, he is not ignorant, even of every other minute Tranfadion. Thus, every one will behave with due Refped 5 and no body will prefume to ad contrary to the Will of the ^Prince, where nothing is aded, but what the Trmce knows of. The HISTORY. "HE moderated the Rigour of feveral " Laws ; was forward to pardon 5 and when " Juftice requir'd Punifhment, he wou'd " always take from the Severity of it. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Laws are the better for being ri- gorous : then the Prince, by remitting fome part of the Punilhmcnt, punifhcs ieverely, with ofPRINCES. with the Praife Of being merciful; and \vhenhegrantsafullPardon, the Bounty is enhanced. 1 The HISTORY. *' HE was wont to fay, when mention u was made of the Valour of CVESAR, HAN- " NIBAL, or any other eminent Captain, " that he chofe rather to defend and fave " the Life of one Friend or Subjeff, than " to kill an hundred Enemies. The MORAL REFLECTION. THERE were many at the Court of ANTONINUS, who defir'd nothing more than a War, in hopes to raife themfelves on the Ruins of other People ; but none of them daring openly to difcover their Thoughts to him, knowing he was of a Di pofltion intirely pacifick, they enter'd on the Praife of Heroick Princes, with a View of firing him with Emulation. This indeed was an ingenious Invention, to advife with- out the Appearance of Advice ; but ANTO- NINUS confounded them with equal Pru- dence 3 for by faying, that he preferred the Life of one Friend, to the 'Deaths of an hundred Enemies, was to let them under- ftand, under the Pretence of Zeal for their Prefcrvation, that he wou'd not make War ; and thus made an abfolute Rcfufal, without O de, 194 The MORALS declaring it. The Policy of Courts, is to know how to ask, without an Obligation* andhowtor^/0/, without difobUgmg? The HISTORY. FOR thefe his great Virtues, ANTO- " NINUS was univerfally belov'd and c- " fteem'd. The Senate gave him the Title " of Father of his Country, and of Tins, " and erected a Temple in his honour, as **' to* the Gods. He left the Empire by A? " doption, as he had promis'd ADRIAN, to " his Son-in-Law MARCUS AURELIUS. He "jdied in 3 days time of a Fever, greatly " lamented in all Parts ; in the 70* Year of " his Age ; in the 2 3 d of his Reign ; and neither is there a better way to conceal Refentment, than by doing Honour to an Adverfary. The HISTORY. u THE Germans revolting a fecond w time, MARCUS AURELIUS went again " with JfTRINCES. " -with a powerful Army to quell them. " After having profecuted the War, with " the utmoft Vigour, for the fpace of three -" years, he was feiz'd with a malignant but COMMODUS avoiding the Blow, " QUINTIANUS was feiz'd by the Guards, " conduded to Prifon, and afterwards con- " demn'd to die, with the reft of the Con- " fpirators 5 among whom were found Lu- " CILLA, his own Sifter, and POMPEIA* " NUS, his Brother -in-Law. The MORAL REFLECTION. COMMO and when once the Multitude are perluaded of their Power over a So'veretgn^ a Sovereign is no longer Matter of the Multitude. The HISTORY. "AFTER the Death of CLEANPRUS, " the two other Favourites he made choice " of, were, JULIANUS andREGiLius, who " difpos'd ot Magiftracics for Bribes, and " then caus'd the Purchafcrs to be mur- " der'd, that they might fell them again " to others, Nimiberlcfs were their clan- < dcftiuc tfTRINCES. 21 j cc deftine and wicked Practices, for which t COM MODUS ordcr'd them to be put to " death, with feVeral others of his Mini- " fltrs. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE death of thefe two Minifters, was not an Ad of Jit/tice, but of Fear in COM- Momrs 5 who intended, by their Sacrifice, to free himfelf from the hatred of the Peo- ple, and to prevent a Violence, which he forefaw, like that of CLEANDRUS ; or, per- haps he chofc to advance the worft Men to the firft Places in the Empire, only to betray, and make away with them. .- The HISTORY. cc IN complaiiance to MARTIA, whom " he lov'd above all his other Concubines, "he us'd to go clad in a Lion's Skin, as " HERCULES is rcprefented ; and fometimcs " drefsd like an Amazon, ' caufing his * Hair to be put up in Curls, and dy'd of ^ d liaht Chefnut, with fcvcral other fuch - like Follies. The MORAL REFLECTION. THESE Extravagancies of COM MODUS, had their private Ends 5 for perceiving his Government was hated by the People, on account of the numberlcfs Murders, which. P 5 The MORALS daily happen'd, he cndeavour'd to convince the common Opinion, that his Minifters contrived them without his Knowledge, by fhewing he was wholly taken up with Love ; and to banilh ftom their Ideas, the Cha- racter of being fierce and cruel, he made himfelf be thought too much inclined to Effeminacy. How far do the diflblute Courfes of a Prince debafe him ! he muft forfeit his Reafon, for the fecurity of his Lift- The HISTORY. " MARTIN finding one day in the Cabinet of COMMODUS, a Lift of the " Perfons, he defign'd to put to death, " read her own Name among the reft, which e fence of " tic Empire, defi-rv'd not the Name of " Emperor. O r The MORAL REFLECTION. A Kingdom is an Inheritance fo much coveted, that much fewer arc thofe, who attain it by Force, than tho&, who wifh the Power of doing the fame ^ neither can this Wifh be fupprcfs'd in any one, but by the Reputation of another's iupcrior Power. Hence arifes the Ncceffity -petty Princes have to bc.proteclcd by great ones ; it creates Rcfpecl iu other Potentates. A Prince, who is not in a ftatc of waging War, let him not hope to enjoy 'Teace. The ofTRINCES. 229 The HISTORY. "THE Senators fpread a Report, that " JULIANUS had poifon'd himfclf, and at " the ftme time lent AirafTms to murder " him,' who found him accompany'd with " his Friends, bewailing his unhappy Fate. " He was kill'd in the s' 1'carof his Age, " in the 7 th Month of . Lign, and 195 " Years after the Dirth 01 J LSUS CHRIST. The MORAL REFLECTION. M I S F O R T U N E S are like Shadov/9, great or little, according to the Eiirnels of the Body. It private Terfons lofc their Subftance, they remain miierablc, yet ftiil enjoy Life, but when a Trince lofcs a King- dom, his Troubles are fo weighty, that Death is unavoidably annex'd to them. Hence it is, that reigning produces fo much Jea- loufy : Princes know, they no fooner ceafp to govern, than they ccafc to live. 230 The M O R A L S SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS. XXI. The HI STORY. [ELBRUS being approach'd near Rome, with his Army, the Senate difpatch'd Ambaffa- dors with the Banners of the Empire to congratulate him. On this, he fent orders to the *Pr and likewife to demand the Af- " fiftance of the Kings of Armenia and " *Parthia 5 as he did in like manner to " divers of the Eaflern Tetrarchs, his *' Friends. The MORAL REFLECTION. S E VE RU S did not want to reduce PERSENIUS by the help of any other Troops, than thofe of his own Armies, but wanted to procure Allies y to prevent PERSENIUS from engaging their Friendfhip : heopprefs'd him rather by way of Negotiation, than by that of Arms, not to reinforce himfelf, but to weaken his Competitor. Befides, the *Parthians efpoufing his Intereft againft PER- SENIUS, product this Effect : Had the Tar- thians prov'd Conquerors, PERSENIUS cou'd no longer have maintained the uturp'd Title of Emperor; had PERSENIUS got the bet- ter, a profefs'd Enemy to the Roman Em- pire, wou'd have been defeated; fo that, which way foever the Vittory happened, SE- VERUS only was fure of conquering. The The Hi ORALS The HISTORY. VERUS haying cnter j d <^fe " with a formidable Army, to attack EMI- " LIANUS,.PERSENIUS'S General, hcoblig'd " him to give Battle, and gain'd it. Tfce MORAL REFLECTION. WHEN the firft Enterprize in War proves iuccefsful, the Event may be fup- pos'd prolperous : it creates a Terror in the Enemy ; and an Enemy, who fears, is half defeated. A Conqueror, who acquires Panic and Valour at his firft fctting out, carries one Army in his Name, and another in the Dependance on his goad Fortune. The HISTORY. * TERSE NI US waited to give SE- (i VERUS Battle in Sicily, and in that very " Field, where ALEXANDER overthrew DA- " RIUS. There cnfu'd the moft terrible " and bloody Engagement ever was known. cc At length, PERSENIUS was worfled j his " Head cut or? by one of SEVERUS'S Sol- " dicrs, and carry 'd on the Point of a Lance^ " thro' the Camp. The MORAL REFLECTION. THIS Pield, twice covef d with fo much l}uman Blood, mews plainly how precious of FRINGES. a Jewel a Kingdom is : in all Ages, the lols. of fo many millions of Souls, has not been regretted, when it tended to the introducing, or maintaining one Perfon in the Character of Prince. Yet fhou'd reigning be aboliflf d, what wou'd become of the World ? all hu- man Society wou'd ceafe : where none had a Right to be fuperior, each wou'd aiTume an Authority over the other ; and where perpetual DiiTenfions are among Men, they wou'd live no longer as fuch. -ib'.il :'. The HISTORY. " SEVERUS remaining victorious, " .put feveral of the Adverfary's Party to " the Sword, who had furviv'd the Battle 5 " ordered the City of Antioch, where PER- " SENIUS had made his Rcfidence, to be " deftroy'd; and banifh'd his Wife and " Children from Rome, whom he after- '_ " wards caus'd to be put to death. The MORAL REFLECTION. TH O' the 'Perfon of PERSENIUS was dead, yet his Memory ftill liv'dm the Mind^ of liis Priends and Children; who, being well inftru&cd in the Art of reigning> and> brought up big with the Hopes of Princi-. pality, were conlcqucntly liable to imlcarc, his Actions : therefore SEVERUS, to remove, that Apprchenfion, made away with all ins Friends The MORALS Friends and Progeny, that PERSENtus might be totally extirpated. The HISTORY. "HE gave large Recompences to fuch as had been ferviceable in the War, and " repair'd the Loffes, feverai Cities had fu- " ftain'd by PERSENIUS'S Arms. The MORAL REFLECTION. WHEN Commotions happen, the faith- ful Soldier's Premium is a Punifhment to Rebels : they are not only overcome by the Arms of their Prince, but likewife tor- tur'd with Envy at the better Fortune of their Companions. Thus, SEVERUS put an end to the War, by Dint of the Sword, and confirm'd his Revenge, by Dint of Money. This affords a valuable Leflbn to all great Pcrfons : to make ufe of a Vir- tue, inftead of a Taffon, for the chaftifc- ment of an Offence. The HISTORY. "THE Tarthians and Terjianf, who " had favoured PERSENIUS, profecuted the " War againft SEVERUS ; but he defeated " them in feverai Engagements, and ex- " tended confiderably, by his Vidories, the " Limits of the Roman Empire 5 neither " did ofTRINCES. 23 9 " did he quit the Eaft, till he had regu- " lated the Governments, and rcnder'd thofc " Provinces in Ti^nquillity, The MORAL REFLECTION. T O 'return to Rome in Triumph over PERSENIUS, was certainly odious to the Ro- mans, as it reminded them of the bloody Slaughter of their Countrymen by a Stran- ger, SEVERUS being a Native of Africa: however, he refolv'd to go loaded with the rich Spoils of the Barbarians, in hopes to render his Prefence grateful, and himfelf look'd on, not as the 'Deftroyer of the Le- gions of PERSENIUS, but as an Enlarger of the Imperial Confines j being fenfible how great an Influeuce a fine Title has over the Minds of Men. The HISTORY. " SEVERUS, at his Return to Europe* rc was refus'd Entrance into the City of " Byfantium, on which, he order'd it to " t>e deftroy'd. The MORAL REFLECTION. THOSE Crimes, which give a bad Ex- ample, ought to be punifh'd in an exem- plary manner ; and when they are fuch, as favour of Prefumption againft a Prince, they can't be faid to be punStidjuftfy, without being 240 The MORALS being punifh'd fever efy. Trivate Offences are commonly remedy 'd by the Fears of what may enfu? : Tublick ones require 'a frefent Chaftifemcnt, and full of Terrour. The HISTORY. "HE perfecuted the Chriftians with fo " much Cruelty, and put to death fo great 5 C numbers of them, that 'this Pcriccution "was one of the gre'ateft, the Chriftian " Religion ever underwent. The MORAL REFLECTION. THAT Religion was infupportable to *Pagan Princes, which did not derive its Law from their Laws - y and which., on the contrary, in Point of Paith, was directly oppofite, without Fear of Punifhment, not only to their Princes, but allb to their Gods. That Government is only free from Trou- bles, where a Prince either receives his Re- ligion from the Teople, or the Teopk em- brace that of the Trince. The HISTORY. " BEING arriv'd at Rome, he con- " ferr'd the Title of CAESAR on his eldeft " Son BASSIANUS ANTONINUS CARACAL- " LA.J then fet forward to oppofe CLO- y BASSIANUS. The MORAL REFLECTION. HOW truly unhappy ought the Confi- dence of great Men to be look'd on ! The poor Tribune was compell'd to promife the Aflaillnation of the Emperor, left he Ihou'd fall a Vi&im to PLANCIUS'S Doubts of di- vulging what he refus'd to undertake : He was equally bound in Duty to communicate the Treachery of PLANCIUS to the Emperor* yet SEVER us fufpe&ed the Truth of that Difcovery fomuch, that had not PLANCIUS appcar'd, he lay liable to fuffer for Calumny. Innocence, Faith, Treachery, Secrecy and Intelligence, are different things in them- felvcs j but at Courts, they arc aH dangerous alike. The MORALS Tfa HISTORY. " HE made the Tour of Italy, rcftoring " full Vigour to the Laws, and erecting ' -many fpacious Edifices ; and receiving " Advices of new Commotions in England \ t he immediately difpos'd his March thither ; u reduc'd all things to their proper State j " and caus'd the Wall, which had been built " ' w'ith immenfe Charge by ADRIAN, being "30 Leagues in Length from one Sea to the " other, to be entirely demolifh'd.. The MORAL REFLECTION. VICTORIES and Conqucfts are Glo- ries attainable by a Captain, as well as a T^toce ; but the Adminiftration of Jufticc, and' exacting a due Obfervance of the Laws, awb Virtues only belonging to ^Sovereign. H^nee it is, that SEVERUS, after having end- cd*hc War in Afta, and proved his Soldier* frfip' there, apply'd 'himfelf to the Manage^ nicnt-of the Government, to fhew his Skill in Sovereignty. When the Armies had no further Need of his Conduct, hetranfmitted it to the Tribunals j by which he waged War againft all-fucli, as tranlgrcis'd the Laws, be- ing all Enemies to the Principality. The ofTRINCES The HISTORY. ^\ " S E VE R US remaining ftill m-Eng- u land, was feiz'd in Tork Cattle with the tl Gout, and being told, that his Sons BAS- " si AN us and GETA, confpir'd to haftcn his " Death by Poiibn, the Shock of their un- " natural Defign prov'd fatal to him. He " was 70 Years of Age; reign'd 18 Years " and ten Months ; and dy'd 2 1 3 Years after " the Birth of our Saviour, leaving no o- " thcr Heirs to the Empire, than his two " Sons. The MORAL REFLECTION. I N 'Pagan Countries, where a Kingdom is prcferr'd to a good Conlcicncc, the 'Peo- ples Welfare .confifts in their Trinces mar- rying young 3 but the 'Princes Safety, con- fids in delaying it; for the Sons impatience will prefer the Defire of Reigning, to the Love of their Father ; every one being na- turally more inclin'd to command^ than to be under Subjection -, and the People more interetled in a blooming Prince, than in one, whole Nature is declining, thro a common Inclination, to be Icis grateful for what's pafl t than delighted with wlut's to come. Thus when a Son is arriv'd at Ma- turity, before his Father ices Old Age- every Body will clpouic thu Son's Party 5 \viiv R 4 it The M O R A L S if a. Fat 'her becomes grey- headed, while the Son is in his Infancy, then every one will offer up his Prayers "for the Prefervation of the Father. BAS- i ofPRINCES. BASSIANUS ANTONINUS CARACALLA. XXII. The HISTORY. \ASSIANUS, cail'd CARA- CALLA from certain Habits of that Name, which he gave to the Roman People, acceded to the Empire unwilling to fhareitwith his Brother GETA. He us'd all his Endea- vours, but ineffectual, to influence the Army to take the Oath of Allegiance to him only ; hence arofe fo much Jealoufy and Strife between thefe two Royal Bro- thers, that when they refided at Rome, their Courts and Guards were feparated, and they liv'd always in a perpetual Diffi- dence of each other. The MORAL REFLECTION. HE, who reigns not alone, ought ro ftudy more how to prolong his Life, than how 250 The MORAL S how to reign ; the Danger of it being as great as his f hare of the Kingdom. A Com- panion in the Throne, is no other than a neighbourly Enemy ; and the nearer the Al- liance is, the greater the Enmity. T'JJO Heads on one Body n form a Mowfter : Two 'Princes in one Kingdom, compofc Matter for CovfHfan. When two Sovereigns are at variaftie,' fife* War* breaks 'on the Confines of their Territories : When two Colleagues in Government rrave A nimofttics, the Ditlen- fion burirs in the Midft of the Court : The one may end. with ^Peace ; die other can only be decided by T>eath. The HISTORY. OJ J . " THIS Rivalfhip of the two Brothers, " caus'd great Dilbrder in the Empire; their " Opinions were always oppoiitc in Matters " of State, 5 and whatever the one eftabiifh'd * as a Maxim, die other ftrove to overthrow Th& MORAL REFLECTION. WHERE there are two Monarchs, if one of them is not dcpos'd, the Monarchy decays and ccafes. Hadthcfc two Brothers maintain'd a Unity with each other, each wou'd have been Monarch, without detri- ment to the Monarchy ; becaufe tho' they were two . different Men, yet they might conv ofTRINCES. 351 compofe but one Prince. God is Monarch 5 yet the Monarchy of theUniveric fubfifts by the feveral Perfons, which are in Qod ; be- caufe they all have but one Will : whereas, were they capable of Contradiction, thofe divine Peribns woiui be fo far from reigning, that their very Being wou'd ccafc. i;.-; The HISTORY. " THE Senate proposed a DivUion of " the Empire, as a Remedy for thcfe Difor- " ders : BASS i ANUS was deputed to remain " in Rome, and to command the Weft: " GETA to refidc in fomc City of AJia> in anc * if Nature made him abhor the Sin of Fratricide, Policy emboldcn'd him, by fuggcfting, fuch a Character wou'd be loon erfac'd by that of Emperor. When Religion had not power to reflrain ^Princes^ nothing cfTRINCES. Nothing feem'd a Crime, that fcrv'd the Ends of Reigning. The HISTORY. *' THE Senate feem'd to give Credit to " every thing, and approved of the Death " of GETA. The MORAL REFLECTION. A S jfuftice, in criminal Cafes, examines the Caufes of Crimes, fo 'Policy weighs only the Effects of them. B ASS i ANUS, by his Brother's Death, had deliver 'd the whole Empire from a great many Troubles ; there- fore, whether it was committed, thro' Self-'Prefer'vatwn, or thro* Ambition to reign alone, was of fmall Signification to the Senate, fince they found it fo much con- ducive to the publick Welfare. If Actions, advantageous to a State, have not the Glory to be without Fault, they commonly have *he good Fortune to be whhout 'Pumfbment. The HISTORY. " II E order'd all the Friends and Favou- " rites of GETA to bcpublickJy executed, " under the falfc Pretext of their being cou- " ccrn'd in his Brother's Confpiracy, and " fufpended all the Governours of Provin- " ccs, who had been created by him. Tht U54 The MORALS The MORAL REFLECTION. TO fupport the Impofturc of a guilty Prince, how many innocent Victims were oblig'd to fall! what numbcrlcfs Crimes did BASSIAXUS commit, to cover one only! Finding it d. difficult Matter to conceal the Fratricide, he chofe to bury the Caufe of it under a Pile of dead Bodies j and to fmother, by the People's Afhes, the People's Revenge. 'Tis a great Misfortune to be fubjed to a cruel Tyrant-, but afar greater ftill, to live under one, who wou J d be thought a Prince : Under open Cruelty -, Life only isexpos'dto Danger ; but when cloak'd under a fpecious fhew of Jnflicey Honour likewifc is deeply involv'd. The HISTORY. " BASS1ANUS difcourfmg one d*y " with JULIA his Mother-in-Law, who \vas " extraordinary beautiful, and own Mother " to the unfortunate GET A, the Veil, which " cover'd her Breafts, fell back, anddifcovc- cc ring the Finencfs of her Neck and Cheft ; " I cou'd wifh, faid he, it were lawful for " me to enjoy what I behold. On this, Ju- " LIA making anfwer, That it was law- " fol f or a ^rince to gratify what his In- " donations prompted him to j BAISSIANUS " took ofTRINCES. " took her in Marriage, and tcftify\i a great " Love for her, during his Lite. afrxn ,, ... : , The MORAL REFLECTION. y U LIA was not tax'd with being privy to the Confpiracy, becaufe BASS i ANUS was captivated with her Charms: his Cruelty was converted into Tendernefs, bccauic lie beheld her with the Obfequiouihcls of a Lover. BASSJANUS invented Crimes, where there were none 5 and overlooked thofe, he had no mind to difcover. JULLA made herfetf Criminal* not to be condemn d : She com- mitted an infamous Action with her Son-m- JLaw, not to iuffer the fame Fate with her awn Son. . To wliat an unhappy State does a Tyrant therefore reduce his poor .innocent Subject*! 1'hey mud offend^ not to be pn~ ntfid: they mUft do things worthy of for tlie Security of their own Lives'. S^J OJ 3 Tie HISTORY. ". BA SSIANUS went into German , u . and pafsrd ibmc time in the Cities on the " Banks of the 'Danubey where he imitated tl the German Cuftoms, both as to their " Drefs Eating and Hunting ; and when '' he fct forwaixl for Greece, he made choiv.\: " of a Regiment of that /Nation to acconv " pany him. Tht The M O R A L S The MORAL REFLECTION. I T belong'd to the Germans to learn the Cuftoms of the Romans, not a Roman Court to follow thofe of the Germans. Imi- tation is a kind of Adulation, and all Adu- lation is a Servitude, which ill becomes the Grandeur of an over-ruling Nation } much lefsthe Perfonof a Prince, who, if he fat' ters, fears; or fhou'd he a&ually fear, he ought not to flatter, left he ftiou'd be thought fearful. ' The HISTORY. FINDING the Name of ALEXAN- " DER in great Veneration among the Gre- " dans, he quitted his German Drefs, and where remaining feveral Days in " Alexandria, and being derided by thofe " Citizens for his many Follies, he waited " till they were afiembled in the Place, to " fee a publick Shew 5 and then caus'd his " Soldiers to fall on them on every fide, who " cut all that poor People to pieces. The MORAL REFLECTION. HOW zealous was BASSIANUS to exert his Authority in his Follies ! Not to encou- rage them, was thought a Crime, equal to that of High-Treafon ; infomuch, that he dcftroy'd a Whole City, as if it had form'd fome devilifh Confpiracy. The Citizens of Alexandria, had beheld the Extravagan- cies of the Emperor : BASSiANtrsrefolv'dto uphold the Emperor in the Practice of them. The HISTORY. " FROM t^Egyft, he march'd with " his Army into Syria, where he gave Af- " furanccs to the Ambafladors of ARTABA- " NUS, King of 'Parthia, of maintaining " Friendfhip with their Mailer: he more- " over dcfir'd his Daughter in Marriage ^ " and a/tcr having amus'd them by the Faith 3 " of ofTRINCES. of thefc Promifes, he enter'd their Coun- " try in an hoftile Manner, and did great Damage. The MORAL REFLECTION. FRAUT> in War, is an Ad rf Hostility: Fraud in Peace, is betraying a Friend-, and the Victory obtain'd by fuch Treachery ^ may be cali'd To, but in effed it's a Crime, which engages Providence to punifh it, to keep the Government of the World in Reputation. ^Deceit in a Trine e, is a Mark of his Want of Tower, and of his Meannefs : Herejeds all the Glory of conquering, only for a C>r- tainty of gaining. If to fubdue the Difarm'd is Valour, a Trince puts himfelf on the Le- vel with \hzAffaJJin : His Fortune indeed is different ; but his Honour 's the fame to die on the Throne, as on the Gibbet. The HISTORY. " WHEN BASSIANUS perceiv'd the " Tarthians euter'd into vigorous Meafurcs, " he retreated to Mesopotamia, indulging .** himfelf in all the Pleafures, that Country " cou'd afford. At the fame time, he rc- " cciv'd Advice from MATERNUS Gover- " nour of Rome, that his Aftrologers forc- " warn'd him to beware of MACRINUS, his u Prefed, by whom, he was in danger of 44 being murder'd. S 2, The 260 The M O R A L S The MORAL REFLECTION. I F the Predictions of Aftrologers be ine- vitable, their Advice affords no Remedy : If the Fate they allot, may be averted, 'twill be doubtful whether they foretold the Truth* and every rafti Perfon might pretend to the fame Skill. Hence it's evident, that if Af- trology .may be relyd on, 'tis fuperfluous > and if 'tis mftfuperfluoiiSy it can't be relfd on > beftdes, 'tis always attended with ancient Ignorance, and prefent Regret, and converts our Curiofity YS\\.Q Affliction > for who can propofe Joy? when 'Death is denounced ? The Satisfaction Princes have, in knowing the Nature of their Deaths, is no more than what Convifls ex- perience, when their Sentence is pafs'd, de- claring how they fhali undergo the laft Pe- nalty of Juftice. He, who is too happy, falls into this Folly : he pays him^ who anti- cipates his Misfortunes. The HISTORY. BASSIANUS receiving the Lct- " terof MATERNUS, juft as he was going " into his Coach to take the Air, gave it to < MACRINUS, ordering him to let him 4 know the Contents at his Return. The " Prefect forcfceing the Danger he was cx- and obtain'd the Empire, without endeavouring for it. This is the Policy of Courts : you muft mew an Indifference to what you moft defire ; not hurry with Pre- cipitation at what you aim ; but gradually approach it, if you hope a favourable Ifiiic. The HISTORY. " MACRINUS made his Son DIA- " DUMENUS, his Colleague in the Empire ; " and were both conlirm'd by the Senate ; " the Father having given, in his Letters *' to Rome, the ftrongcft Imprecations of " not having been any way concenVd in *< the death of his Prcdeccflbr. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Oath, not demanded, and in Ex- ufeof an Action, untuipecled by the Ro- man People, contain'd a great Myftery : MACHINES dcfign'd, that MATLRNUS and tae Aftrologcrs fhou'd know, that he had per- ofTRINCES: 395 perus'd their Letter to BASSIANUS 5 and that by dreading his Difpleafure, they might ftudy the means to oblige him, by contributing to the Reputation and Tranquillity of his Government : The Cuftom therefore of great Men, is to difguifc one Affair, to be underftood in another. The HISTORY. ARTABANUS having raised a " numerous Army in revenge of the Treaty " of Peace, violated by BASSIANUS, MA- " CRINUS difpos'd his Forces to attack him. " A long and terrible Battle enfu'd, with- " out knowing who had the Viftory ; but " Peace immediately fucceeded ; for the " death of BASSIANUS being notify'd to " ARTABANUS, by the Ambaffadors of MA- " CRINUS, all Motive of Revenge ceas'd " in him, at the Reception of that News. The MORAL REFLECTION. ARTABANUS was brought to a Reconciliation, becaufe he found too much Difficulty attended his Revenge. Had MA- CRINUS prov'd Conqueror, he wou'd have vindicated the Fraud of BASSIANUS; and had ARTABANUS been victorious, he wou'd have perfecutcd MACRINUS for the Crime of BASSIANUS. The only Realbn adher'd to, in the ^agan Wars, was the Succcfs of their Arms. The 266 The MORALS The HISTORY. " PEACE being concluded, MACRI- " Nusamus'd himielf in 'Phoenicia, and the " Soldiers being idle, frequented thcTein- " pie of the Sun, wheje HELIOQABALUS " dwelt with his Grand-Mother MESA; " who having gained them by large Dona- " tives, they declar'd him Emperor in their " Quarters. The MORAL REFLECTION. ME SA, a Princefs brought up in all the Cunning of Courts, well knew the Dan- ger t but a Viftory to be cngag'd in them by jRwr* and Sacri- lege. " 7&* HISTORY. "BY his Irregularity, he overturned the " Order of things: He converted the " Night into *Day, and the *Day into " Night 9 rifing in the Evening, and going " to bed in the Morning. How great " therefore mufttheConfufion of the City " be, which was oblig'd to regulate it felf *' by his capricious Extravagancies. The MORAL REFLECTION. T O divide the Hours, as is cuftomary, HELIOGABALUS thought was entering into Society with thePeople,and fhewinga Com- plaifance to his Domefticks Repofe, which he judg'dakindof Servitude: He therefore refolv'd, they fhould all Jleep, when he was jleepy ; and all be aizake, when he was dif- pos'd tsjleep no more -, that thus, even jleep- ing, hemightr^. The ofTRINCEZ 277 The HISTORY. "ON Feftival Days after the Sacrifices for Gentlenefs, giving Hope of Tar- don, oftentimes encourages Offence j where- 286 The MORALS as, 'Paffion, cauiing Terror, enforces ^Dutf. When a too gentle Prince commands, he 1 feems only to make known what he wifbes > but let a pajfionate Prince only make the leaft Sign, and he immediately fignifies what he expetts : the one always meets with Good-will, but is never well ferv'd : the other, for the moft part is hated, but al- ways obefd. The HISTORY. WHEN he pafs'd thro' any Province, " well govern'd, he honour'd the Gover- " nour with many fingular Marks of his " Satisfaction ; feem'd pleas'd with his Com- " pany^ and when his Government was " expir'd, he order'd Thanks to be return'd " him, in the Name of the Republick, for " his good Adminiftration, then put him " in pofleflion of fome of thofe Lands, " which had devolv'd on the Crown. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Recompences, SEVERUS beftow'd were Riches and Honour ; which manner of rewarding Services is exemplary 5 Princes oftentimes confer Honour out of Avarice, and make that the only Recommence ; while the poor Mmifter, who ftands in need of his Bounty, goes full of Glory to the Hof- pital: others again, as often extend their 3 Li- of PRINCES. 2S 7 Liberality out of Tride, to be difcngag'd, by the Reward, from all Obligation of feeming fatisfy'd with their good Services. ALEXANDER SEVERUS, who defir'd to ho- nour without A-varice, anncx'd the Recom- pence to the Honour 5 and bccaufe he wou'd be liberal without Tride, he annex'd the Honour to the Recomfence. The HISTORY. "HE retrench'd all the unneceffary Ex- " penccs of his Court and Houfhold, and " had fo little fhare of Vanity, as to him- " felf, that he was never feen to wear a " Ring of any Value on his Finger. He " moreover took off two thirds of the " Contributions and Taxes, ufually levy'd tc on the Empire. The MORAL REFLECTION. SE VE R US thus inflruds Princes to introduce, without Hatred, that which is odious. To cut off fo many Pcnfions 5 to iiifpcnd fo many Places 5 and to regulate the Court after fo exad an Oeconomy, cou'd'not be pleafing to the Publick, fincc Numbers of Families wanted Bread by- it; but then to alleviate fo confidcrably the Contributions, counterbalanced the Dilla- tisfatlion, and prov'd a grateful Adtion to the whole Empire. Thus, the Oppreflion of 288 The M O R A L S of fomc Particulars, is introduc'd without fear of Opposition, when accompany'd with a greater Benefit j and fhou'd any prefume to repine, the Complaints of a few, wou'd be loft in the Traife of the wMe. The HISTORY. " ALEXANDER being repre- c < handed by his Wife and Mother, that his " too great Affability with his Minifters tc and Sub) efts, leflen'd the Grandeur of " the Imperial Dignity, made anfwer, That " thus his Empire wou'd be durable. The MORAL REFLECTION. I N fome Nations, the Familiarity of a Prince, produces Contempt 5 in others Good-will and Affeftion : it behoves a So- vereign therefore to ftudy the Nature of his People, and to follow that Method, which he finds moft advantageous. Expe- rience is the beft Guide in all poflible E- vents ; all other Counfel is liable to Mi- ftakes. SEVER us had the moft tender Re- gard for his Wife and Mother; but yet his defire of reigning was dearer to him. He honour'd them, and corrcfponded with all their wifhes; but liften'd not to them in the Government of the Empire. He was not affable out of Weaknefs* but out of ^Policy j and therefore had he afted o- therwifc of FRINGES. 289 therwife, he wou'd have been rcprehen- fible. The HISTORY. f< HE kept privately in Pay, a certain " number of honed trufty Pcrfons, who in- o The M O R A L S who criticifes on Affairs, but he who f 0*0- municates them with difpatch. HISTORY. " SEVER US reliev'd abundantly the '* Wants of the Poor, left their Ncccffitics * (hou'd compel them to Actions unwar- " rantable. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE two fundamental Pillars of Go- vernment, are thcfe, Bread and 'Pitnifh- merit. To make Provifion fimply for a Fa- mily, is the Office of a Caterer ; to inflidl a Chaftifement only, is the Prerogative of a Judge ; but both to provide and punifh is the Province of a Prince. The Right of Sovereignty is the Produft tf Beneficence j and therefore fuppofes a Subjeft rather a 'Penfioner than a Subject; and a Prince rather a Benefactor than a Trince. SE- VER us, defirous to fulfil all the Obligations of a Prince, firft reliev'd them, to prefcrve them innocent ; that he might punifh them with Rcafon, if they prov'd guilty. The HISTORY. 'HE approy'd, and protected the Chri- " ftian Religion, and gave Orders that a " Temple fhou'd be built for its Celebra- " tion ; ofTRlNCES. 291 u tion j but they were not put in cxccu- " tion. Among the Images of his Gods, ' l he plac'd that of CHRlSTj yet en- 11 tcrtain'd no Thoughts of becoming a Chr/ftian. The MORAL REFLECTION. S ELBRUS cou'd not fecni ignorant of the Ckriftian Religion's being propagated in Rome, fincc 'twas preach'd in all pub- lick places, and complaints were continu- ally made by the idolatrous Pricits. Twas highly nccdTary therefore to iccurc the Au- thority of a Prince, who ought not to o- mit infpccling into every thing, which concerns the Publick, cither to perfecute or proteft them : but SEVERUS was not inclin'd to pcriecute them, perceiving they were Men of good Morality, and in number too great ; he therefore efpous'd their Caulc, to difcngage himlclf from an unjuft and dangerous Pcrlccution. The HISTORY. " A tperfian of mean Extraction, call'd Artaxerxes, intlucnc'd his Countrymen to take up Arms againft Artabanus, King of Tartbia. After having utterly defeated and kill'd him, he fet forward to attack the Rowans-, but was over- tlurowii by SEVERUS, who commanded U 2 292. The M O R A L S *' perfonally in that Expedition. There *' were {lain in the Field, ten thoufand Horfe, and a vaft number of Foot. Af- h?s " old Father hang'd himiclf. The MORAL REFLECTION. SEDITIONS in Armies, prove fatal to the Trince 5 thofe of the ^People, are only fatal to the Teople. Armies, which revolt, dived the ^Prince of his former Tower-, Rebellions of the Teople> augment his of FRINGES. 299 his Authority, and render themfelves more under Subjetfion. 1^& :;: 27* HISTORY. "THE Emperor, tranfported at the " Vidoryof CAPELLIANUS, march' d forth- " with towards Rome ; and his Army was " already near Aquileia, when the .#0- " manSy defpairing of his Pardon, made " choice of MAXIMUS PUPPIEN, for their t( new Emperor, and of CLAUDINUSBAL- ays as " MAXIMIN. The Commanders of the " Army conceiv'd fo great an Indignation at " tlicfe Words, that they immediately cn- " ter'd into Meafures, deftruclivc both to " PUPPIEN The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Senate was compos'd of none, but fuch as afpir'd after the Empire : by congratu- lating The M O R A L S UPPIEN and BALBINUS, they meant to fucceed them ; and by confirming them in their 'Dignities, they ftudy'd how to re- move their 'Perfons. They made ufe of their own Merit to deftroy them ; and this is the fecret Method, politick Men take to undermine: they praife in fucha manner, as their Traife crc3tCs"Enemfes. .. The HISTORY. TH O there was a perpetual Emulation " between PUPPIEN and BALBINUS, yet " they always concurr'd in the Adminiftra- " tion of Affairs, tranfafting them with " great Juftice and Application 5 a Condud, * e which daily augmented the Soldiers Ha- ncverthelefs, as it prov'd fuc- cclsful, he receiv'd the Recompence. Let him, who has his Dependance on Courts, tc dubious'of his good Qualities, and have Hopes of the good IfTue of his bad ones $ for neither Virtue nor Vice, but only the Event j are Fortunes Guide , fhe often ren- dering meritorious, thofe who arc void of Merit. Tht 3 14 The M O R A L S 7#"? " .' ":.' The MORAL REFLECTION. WIS ELY did PHILIP aft, in entering into vigorous Meafures againft DECIUS ; for if the Army had Tower to force him to be call'd Emperor ', they had alfo Tower to force him to become his Enemy : if he was not criminal, 'twas neceflary to op- prefs him, for the Temerity of the Army ; and if he was criminal, 'twas neceflary his Treachery fhou'd not remain unpunifh'd, Guilty or not guilty, his very Title render'd him criminal. The 9f to whom he cou'd not well profcfs Friendfoip y fince they were Invaders of the Roman Em- pire ; neither cou'd he be at Enmity with them, bccaufe he had rcnder'd them too powerful, by the Knowledge of his ViU >fifi r?iHH The HIST-ORY. L US wa^nofooner arriv'd at " Rowe> ; than the Goths broke the Peace, " ,a$d did not only invade Thrace^ but.li.ke- " wife Mifia-> Macedonia and Theffaly , and i''T$hc 'Perjians, following their Example, " entcr'd Mesopotamia and Sjria, commit- " ting Hoftilitks. ^MILIAN was fent to op- " pole the Goths, and overcame them ; but " he foon after drew his Sword againft the " Emperor. f ^lon _*. _, ' The MORAL REFLECTION. V1 ^W HEN the Goths pcrcciv'd the Romans were opprcfs'd at home, they improv'd their inteftine Broils to their own Advantage, and violated the Faith of the Treaty with a Prince, who did not obferve it himfelf. The 'Domeftick Feuds of all States, fpring from ^.Corruption m 'Politicks, and arc remedy'd quite diiferent from natural Difeafcs: the Y om . 1 322 The MORALS one is incurable, if not timely difwver'di the 0/&r proves mortal, if not kept private. The HI STORY. " GALL US went in Perfon tofup- " prefs CHILIAN ; but being kill'd in Bat- tie, the other remain'd Emperor. He " was 47 Years of Age ; reign'dtwo^ and ^ died 255 after the Birth of JESUS CHRIST. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Prefence of a Prince, in an En- gagement againft Rebels, augments their Courage; for then they hope to overcome all, by one Viftory : whereas, if his Cap- tains arc employ 'd, they are fenfible of the Difficulties that muft attend the Acquifition of the Principality , for tho' they fhou'd prove .victorious over the Army, yet the ^Prince remains unconq*er'd $ who, whilft inBeing, never wants Adherents to efpoufe his Caufe. It happens, for the moft part, that Rebellions of a long Duration, grow languid, and are extinguifh'd by themfelves : The Followers of any Pretender, are--oblig'd to facrifice their Lives and Fortunes to fupport him, and finding therefore no real Advantage rife from their Difaffeftipri, but. on the contrary, led aftray from their proper Interefl^ they become at laft Enemits_ to their Fellow-Re- bel. ^E M i- ofTRlNCES. . XXXIL The HISTORY. \MILIAN, a Native of Africa, and of a very mean Extraction, wrote to the Se* nate, that if they wou'd con- defcend to ratify his Accef- " (ton to the Imperial Dignity, he wou'd e immediately attack the YerJuttfS) by Cf which Promife, he obtain'd their Confir- " mation. ^. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Roman Senate did not confirm J&MILIAN, thro* any Necefllty they had of his going againft the *PerJians-> fince many others wou'd have been glad of the Ex- pedition 5 but becaufe they would not lofe the Occafion of difpofmg the Empire by Contraft, and alfo to abolifh the Abufe of claiming it by Superiority of Strength, in- Y 2 troduccd 324 The MORALS troduccd by others. By CHILIAN'S promi* fing the Observance of To weighty a Con- dition, the Senate's Superiority was JLC- knowledg'd j and his appearing dubious of obtaining their Confirmation, gave a plain Proof of his Subjedion. The HIS TORY. e more cruel to them; but when they found him devoted to a diflblute Courfe of Life, their Affrehen- Jiens became their Contempt, being con- vinc'd he had not abandon'd all Duty to his Father to be a Trince, but to be free from the Reftraint of his Virtues. He who fins to reign, lofes Juftice, but acquires Refpett : he who reigns to Jin, meets with Contempt, and lofes the Kingdom. The HISTORY. " GALIEN being fatisfy'd with the " PofTeilion of Italy, which was well af- " fe&ed to him, took no care to fupprefs " the Rebels i but perceiving the Romans " began to refent his Infenfibility, he put " himfelf at the Head of a powerful Army, " and march'd againft INGENUUS, Gover- " nour of Hungary, who had been declar'd *' Emperor by his Legions. They came to " Battle, which was decided in favour of " GALIEN, his Competitor being (lain in " the Engagement. The The MORALS The MORAL REFLECTION.' THE Tranquillity of a Prince, does not confift in contenting himfelf with little: his little is always defir'd by many, and always expos'd to be taken away by thofe, who either can, or dare do much to attain it. A Prince lives peaceably in his Court, who has feveral Dominions to divert the Enemy's Troops in a diftant Country, and to exercife his own on that of other Po- tentates ; for thus being in a continual De- fence, probably none will prefume to at- tack him 5 and thus he may live undifturb'd, when thofe, who fear, are quiet. The HISTORY. " He afterwards went againft the Goths, " whom he alib defeated, and put to the *' Sword all thofe Souls, who inhabited " the Cities by them, flic wing no Mercy to " any body. The MORAL REFLECTION. PRINCES exceffively lafcnious in *Peace, are excefllvely cruel in War ; for being interrupted in their highcft Pleafures, they don't take up Arms thro' Reafons of State, but thro' Revenge : not inftigated by Juftice, but fpurr'd forwards by the Sting of ofTRINCES. j/ m of Rage-, which, when reigning in the Per- fon of a Prince, is never lariated with hu- man Blood, till the laft Drop is fpilt : the Anger of Pcrfons in great Power, is like an exterminating Fire ; never to be ex- tinguifli'd, till Fuel is wanting to fupply its Flames. .:: The HISTORY. < ABOUT this time, AUREOLUS, Go- " : vernour of Sclayonta, who was alfo " a Rebel, enter'd Italy, and t took pof- " fcflion of Milan. GALIEN went againft " him, and laid ftege to the Town 5 but " his Generals being corrupted by Au- " REOLUS, they caus'd him fuddenly to fly, " telling him, the Enemy was already in " the midft of their Camp. In his Flight, " he fell into the Snare, they had laid for " him, and was kill'd with his Brother " VALERIAN. He was 34 Years of Age; " reign'd 153 and died 27 2 after the Birth * of our SAVIOUR, The MORAL REFLECTION. 'TIS a Misfortune where there is a Traitot j but when many Traitors confpue, and thefe compofe the chief of the Court, then 'tis no Misfortune, but a 'Defifl in die Prince, who ought to be judicious e- nough The MORALS nough to keep fuch an Emulation among thofe of the firft Dignities, as may render them more difpos'd to betray each other* than to unite in Meafures to betray him. The HISTORY. " AFTE R the Death of GALIEU, the " Empire was divided in this manner : the " Goths held the Pofleffion of Thrace, " Macedonia, and fome other Provinces " of AJia. ZENOBIA, Widow of ODE- " NATUS AUGUSTUS, enjoy'd the Eaftern tc Empire, with the Title of Emprefs. TE- " TRICUS and VICTORINUS claim'd France " and a Part of Germany, and AUREOLUS " maintained his Title of Emperor, in Scla- " vonia and Milan. The MORAL REFLECTION. T I S worthy of Obfervation, how zea- lous all thefe Rebels appear'd to prefcrve the Roman Empire intire, while they tore it into fo many Parts : none of them took the Title of Prince of that Province he was poflefs'd of 5 becaufe every one pretended a Right to be caird Emperor 5 and by pof- fefling a Part, the Power of Jurifdiction over the Whole. The Reafon was this : as it was the Glory of every Nation to be ac- counted a Member of the Roman Empire, 3 none hone cou'd endure to be feparated from it ; and every People were equally pleas'd, that the Roman Emperor kept his Refidence in their Country : Thus, a great Name de- ceives the moft part of the World. CLAU- The M O R.A L S CLAUDIUS SECUNDUS. xxxv. The HISJORY. ?FTER GALIEN, CLAUDIUS, z'Dalmatian, or, as others af- fert, a Trojan, was elcfted by the Army. He was one of the " principal Captains, and a Perfon, who who wou'd end with a great Reputation, muft be- gin with a great Enterprize 5 for when one difficult Point is furmounted, every other, tho' weighty, is of lefs Moment. The HISTORY. "HE refolv'd after this, to march into " the Raft, in order to recover wholly the " Roman Empire 5 but being feiz'd of a " malignant Fever in Smyrna, his Defigns " prov'd abortive, he dying of it in a few " days. He was afterwards plac'd among " the Roman Gods, and honour'd with a '* golden Statue in the Senate. He reign'd " ten Years 5 and died 283 after the Birth " of CHRIST. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Roman Senate difiinguifttd CLAU- DIUS by ftngular Honours, which he highly merited at their hands ; yet perhaps k was not altogether the Jufticc they ow'd his De- ofTRINCES. Deferts, but a private View of animating his Succeflbrs, with an Emulation of thofe Glo- ries, he acquir'd in foreign Countries, againft the Barbarians : for when the Emperors headed their Troops in Perfon, the Fathers of the Senate remain'd Emperors otRome. Z 3 QJJIM- The M O R A L S QUINTILIUS. XXXVI. The HISTORY. UINTILIUS being in Rome, when ' his Brother CLAUDIUS died, 'was eleded Emperor by the Legions in Ita/y, and confirm 'd by the Senate , but hearing that AURELIAN was chofcn by the Grand Army, and conicious of his Infufficiency to refift his Forces, hecaus'd his Veins to be open'd, and bled to death, twenty Days after his Exaltation ; and 283 Years after the Birth of our RE- DEEMER. The MORAL REFLECTION. BY Living^ QUINTILIUS had loft the Empire > by dying, he bequeathed it : he claofe rather to bequeath, than lofe it, fince 'Death) both ways, was inevitable ; only With this Difference, thaj; by lojim the Em- pire, cfTRINCES. 343 pire, he muft have loft his Life, as his Ene- mies wou'd have judg'd proper 5 and by be- queathing it, he ended his Days, as mod iuited his own Inclination. By an involun- tary Death, his Obfequies wou'd have been \vithout Honours, or perhaps treated with the utmoft Indignities ; whereas, by -SL vohin- tary Resignation of his Life, he was fure to be interr'd with the Ceremonies due to a Ro- man Emperor. Thus, philofophisti the Weakncfsof QUINTILIUS in favour of him- fclf, tho J againfl himfelf : his Thoughts were more intent on how to die, than how to reigns tho', according to the political Rule, a Prince ought to ftudy more how to reign, than how to die : Nature reminds us of *Death 5 whereas, reigning will be totalJy negkfted, if a Trince 'forgets it. ' Z 4 AURE- 344 The M O R A L S AURELIAN. XXXVIL HISTORY. UREL1AN, a Native of Tranfylvania, and of mean Ex- traftion, was, for his fingular Valour, thought not unworthy of the " Imperial .Crown 5 which he was no fooner f c inverted with, than he march'd againfl the < Sarmatians and Swedes, whom he " brought under Sub) edion. The MORAL REFLECTION. H E, who feeks Promotion in the* Service of petty Princes, ought to place a greater Value on the Study ^^Pelicy^ than on the Exercife of Arms--, but he, who wou'd prefer himfelf under a potent Monarch, ought rather to apply himfelf to the Swor than the Cabinet. Every one ought to fit himfelf for thofe Imployments, in which he can be moil ufcful to his Sovereign : A petty.. Prince if TRINCES. 345 Prmce maintains himfelf by Negotiation j a powerful one, by z Superiority of Strength. By this Policy therefore, Aurelian did not only become Great y but like wife became, Trince. The HISTORY. v : ' " WHILE AURELIAN was imploy'd fin the Septentrion, the Marcomanians a enter'd Lombard} ', where they did great " Damage, he not coming immediately to * f the Afliftance of that Province 5 but af- " ter his Arrival, tho' he loft the firft Bat- " tie near Tlacentia, neverthelefs he com- " pleated in two others, fuch a Vidory, " that he (lew and intirely difpers'd the Enemy. i;..iJ:r.- The MORAL REFLECTION. HAD not AURELIAN firft put an end to the War* againft the Spr. mat tans, he wou d have been oblig'd to encounter two Enemies at once, with the Danger of be- ing vanquifh'd by both : he chofe therefore to delay his March, that he might have only to do with one Enemy ; neither did he think it effential to hazard the Strength of the Empire, to prevent the Ruin of one Province. A Country may be repair'd in a few Years 5 but a powerful Army can't be completed with the fame Facility: floufe* The M O R A L S Hotifes may be rebuilt ; but Afoz can't be brought to Life again. The HISTORY. AFTER he had defeated the *f comanians, he went triumphant to " where he cruelly punifli'd thofe, who had * fpoken ill of his Delay in fuccoufing *' Itafy, during his Abfence * ancj then eh- " larg'd the Walls of the City, a Privilege " granted only to thofe, who had ex- " tended the Confines of the Roman Em- " pire. The MORAL RE FLECTION. F RE E D O M of Speech, on the Aftions of Princes, is a kind of Judgement, which the Multitude prefumes to ufurp over their Sovereign. Aurelian punifh'd fuch Perfons otter two ways : The one was by an adual Chaflifement 5 the other, by 'enlarging the Walls of Rome. This laft Article, being a Token of Triumph, fhew'd his Conduft had been fuccefsful, and to confound raih Tongues, there can be no greater Punifh- ment, than to dctcft trfeir Untruths. The HISTORY. " AUREL1AN having remain'd " fome Days in Rome, fct forward to op- " pole tfTRlNCES. U7 " pofe ZENOBIA, Emprefs of the Eaft j " and being, on his March, rcfus'd Entrance " into Tiana-, a City of Cappadocia, he " rnade an Oath to punifh thofc Citizens " in fuch a manner, that not even a Dog " Ihou'd be left alive j but APOLLONIUS, e a famous Philofopher of that City, ap- " pearing to him in a Dream, laid before " him b many forcible Exhortations, that " he not only abolifti'd his Oath, in regard " of Tiana, but likewife became touch'd " with more Humanity for the future. The MORAL REFLECTION. I T was a Policy among the ancient 'Pa- gan Princes, to attract the Wonder and Admiration of the People, by prepofleffing them with a Belief, that they convers'd with the Dead, as if they were of a different Species from the Commonalty; and that invifiblc Beings were ambitious to hold In- telligence with Princes on Earth. The real Motive, which induc'd AURELIAN to par- don Ttana, was not the Exhortations of APOLLONIUS, but thofe of Policy ,- he not being willing to render himfelf odious by Revenge, at a time when he was engaged in fo important an Expedition : he knew it more advantageous to enter the Eaft with the Reputation^of a clement, than a cruel Prince. The ORALS HISTORY. " HAVING obtain'd Entrance into ft Tianaj by the Treachery of HERACLE- " MONES, he immediately ordci'd him to " be put to death. The MORAL REFLECTION. AURELIAN made known the Mo^ tive of his Orders for the death of HERA- CLEMONES, faying, That he, who was a Traitor to his Country, wou'd not fcruple to betray him alfo. To recompenfe Trai- tors is Wcaknefs ; for by (hewing to ftand in need of fuch Means to procure Conqueft, bctokehs want of Strength to obtain it by Force of Arms. + The HISTORY. "THE Soldiers murmuring at their " Ditappointment of ranfacking Tiana, " AURELIAN having promis'd them by Oath, " that not fo much as a Dog fhou'd be " fpar'd, he made Anfwer : Since I gave " you my Word, that not a 'Dog fiou'd be " left alive in Tiana, / leave you at fitll " liberty to deftroy them all. cfTRINCES. The MORAL REFLECTION. r AUREL!AN did not think it pro- per to confefs a Breach of his Promife to the Army, for the fake of his ^Decorum > and he wou'd not obferve it, for the fake of his Clemency : thus, by way of a face- tious Anfwer, he freed himfclf from all Engagements. That Prince is wife, who has the Art of faying, 1 will not, without rendering himfelf odious 5 and much more he, who can fpeak the fame Words with Applaufe. Tbe HISTORY. " AFTER this, he advanc'd into3>r/4, " where ZENOBIA, at the Head of a very " powerful Army, attended his Arrival, not " commanding as a Woman, but as a va- "^ liant General. The Armies meeting a " Day's March from the City of Emefa, " ZENOBIA put the Roman Horfe to fuch " Confufion, that they were oblig'd to re- <( treat 5 but being fupported by the In- tf fantry, they rally'd, and renew'd the Bat- " tie. ZENOBIA no longer able to refift, " at laft betook herfelf to flight, leaving " AURELIAN victorious, tho' not without 4 The M O R AL S " her TETRICUS, accompany'd with an " ' immenfc Quantity of the Enemies Spoils. The MORAL REFLECTION. THERE was more Difficulty for a Chariot to be drawn by four Stags, than by four Horfes ; but as the greateft Orna- ment of a Triumph, is the Multitude of Spectators, it behov'd him to invent fome- thing new to attrad the Eyes of the Po- pulace. Human Grandeur is attended with this Inconvenience ; That without the Af- iiftance of the Vulgar, neither Pomp, nor Grandeur can be cQmpleated. The HI STORY. "AFTER the Solemnity of the Tri- " umph was over, he gave TETRICUS the " Government of thofe Provinces, which and they made choice of an old, decrepid Man, in hopes that the Army, which required a vigorous Emperor to endure the Fatigues of the War, wou'd not confirm Kirn J or, at Icaft if they fhou'd, that they wou'd foon refume their former Privilege, and the Senate theirs. In Elcdive States, all, who afpire after Regal Autho- rity, endeavour to render thole Princes grateful, whole old Age promifcs an im- mediate Vacancy in the Throne. FLO- 359 F L O R I A N. XXXIX. The HISTORY. LORI AN, the Brother of TACITUS, afliim'd the Title of Emperor, without waiting for the Eledion, cither of the Se- " nate, % or Army ; but hearing that the " latter had dctermin'd in Favour of PRO- " BUS, he caus'd his Veins to be open'd, bccauic the Zeal of Authority^ conlidcrs not the Virtus of others, but its o'jan Jurifdidion furpalTes a.ll other A a 4 Coa- 3 6o T&r.MQRALS Confiderations 5 and every Republick chufes rather tp be govern'd, even by the worft of Princes, who are elefted y than by the beft y who are intruded: for how good or bad focver their Morals may be, they change with the Prince ; but the Titles of Dorni* nion always remain. PROBUS of PRINCES. 3 6i PRO BUS. XL. The HISTORY. ROB US, born in Sermius in Hungary, was a very va- liant Soldier, and a Prince of _ good Morals. After hisAo ceffion to the Imperial Throne, he went to attack the Germans, who had taken pofleflion of France. The Armies met, and came to a bloody Battle, which lafted the Space of two Days, the Night only being fet apart as an Interval to take breath. The Vidory feem'd dubious : fometimes inclining to one fide, and fometimes to the other; but at laft PROBUS remain'd victorious, with the Death of thirty thoufand of the.EnC" The . MORAL REFLECTION. THE Germans fought, becaufe they were oblig'd to defend thcmfelvcs 5 the Ro- wans, The M O R A L S wans, becaufe they thirftcd after the Glory of overcoming: the one had Recourfe to Ncceffity to fave their Lives > the ot her con- temn 1 'd Life, to exercife their Tower. Hence it is, that the Germans firft gave way, and the Romans fupported the Fatigueof the Bat- tie, till the Victory enfu'd : The Germans charged with Fear} PROBUS attack'd with Courage j and he, who is daring in A&ion; always prevails over him, \vl\ofears. . The HISTORY. AFTER this Defeat of the Germans, " he went to oppofe the Sarmatians> who " had committed feveral Ads of Hofti- . Tke MORAL REFLECTION. HAD PROBUS been conqucr'd, the Goths wou'd have courted the Amity of the Sarmatians j but proving viftorious, they fought to become his-Tuends; judging* it good Policy to adhere tothcftrongeft Party : whereas, the Reaibn, why the Romans fo often opprefs'd the Barbarians, was this : becaufe true Policy of State, teaches to lend Aflifiance to the weakcft, to prevent too great . 365 great encreafe of Strength in an Enemy, and to keep puiflant Powers in an equal Bal- lancc. Tke HISTORY. ''HE fubdu'd the Province of Ifauria, " on the Confines of Cilicia, which had re- t( volted ; divided the Fields thereof among " the oWcft of his Soldiers > and regain'd " Arabia, Taleftine, and Judea y chiefly " poflefs'd by the Blemians, a People of " Ethiopia ex The MORAL REFLECTION. I T's more prudent to confifcate the E- ftates of Rebels, than to make them fuffer the Law : Death only punilhes their Per- fons; whereas, Confifcation affefts their Pofterity, and creates in them Horror for a Crime, which has produc'd fuch dire Effects in their Fam ily : Befides, when Subjeds per- ceive a Prince augments his own Coffers by their Mifdemeanours, they have a double Fear : the one of his Army ; the other of his Laws. Hence it may be infcrr'd, that all, who claim any Right of Heirfhip, will have a watchful Eye over him, who muft bequeath it : he will be careful of his Fidelity, not to remain a Beggar 5 and Loyalty join'd with Inter eft, may be depended Qn. The. 3*4 The MORALS The HISTORY. "HE declar'd War againft NARSEUS, " King of ferfia, who purchas'd a Peace " for a confiderable Sum of Money, and " agreed to all the Conditions, prefcrib'dby ', the Emperor. The MORAL REFLECTION. A rich Treafury often contributes more to the Prefervation of Kingdoms, than a ivell-ftor'd ArfenaL The Troops of NAR- SEUS, were not powerful enough to make good his Refiftance, but the Force of his Goldy fupported his 'Defence. The one chofc rather to pur chafe his own, than to lofe it > the other, who drftr'd not to pafs the Con- fines of the Roman Empire, efteem'd it his good Fortune, to have the Power of difpo- fing of what was not his Right, and to have diicover'd the Art of heaping up Trea/ures> by Mevaces. The HISTORY. < ABOUT this time, the World en. " joy'd a perfect Tranquillity ; butitlafted which Vittory was owing to the Reproach of having loft. Thus, a Prince truely corrects when he reprimands, without Contempt 5 and how amiable is it in Majcfty to appear kind in the midft of Rigour,' and with the Severity of a Judge, blend the Tendernefs of a Father ! The HISTORY. CONSTANTIUS CHLORUS t being 'attacked by the Germans, in his " Retreat from England, furpriz'd the E- " 'hfcmy's Camp in the Obfcurity of Night, " 'ind cut off almoft fucty thoufand near *' -the -City of Cigones in Flanders, repair- "4ng, by this Vidory, his former ill Suc- " cefs. The MORAL REFLECTION. T H O' CONSTANTIUS had made a vigo- rous Oppofttion againft CERAUSIUS, and fully difcharg'd the Duties of his Command, yet he return'd diflatisfy'd, becaufe he had loft. Tis not 'Defert, but Viflory that crowns the End of Martial Undertakings ; nor is it enough, for the Acquifition of Glory, to have done what's rcquifite -, we muft obtain what we attempt : Valour, in Ttifgrace, attracts CompaJJion, not Applaufe ; 2 and ofTRINCES. 3 8i and CONSTANTIUS was more afflicted to think of the Romans Commiferation, than to have loft the Battle againft the Englifb. Courage took away the Blame; but For- tune took away the Traife. The H I S T O R Y. " but the particular Glory of DIOCLESIAN therein, confided in conclud- ing three victorious Princes, whd were all his Dependents. The Trophies and Spoils, brought from three Parts of the World, .were acquir'd by the Force of the Armies j but to have maintained a due Obedience, and perfect Harmony between three Princes of the Roman Empire, was.an Undertaking .dfeclcdT.by the Force of his Mmd> which, by the MORALS by 1 giving the Name of Sovereign to each, had the Art to keep them all under Sub- jeftton. The Common-T eople prais'd the Strength m&Unity of the Colleagues ; but the Politicians admir'd the Wtfdom and *Prudence of their Head. The HI STORY. " AFTER DIOCLESIAN had procur'd " a perfed Tranquillity thro* the Empire, cc and render'd it rever'd and obey'd by all ." the World, he renounced it in the 20th " Year of his Reign, and retir'd to Solo- " nichiLy a City of 'Dalmatia, his native " Country, to enjoy, in Repofc, the lat- " ter Years of his Life. MAXIMINIAN, " thro' his Perfuafions and Example, made ** the fame Renunciation in Milan, leaving " the Empire to CONST AN TIUS and GA- " LERIUS, 3 1 7 Years after the Birth of our BleiTedLORD. The MORAL REFLECTION. THE Littlencfs of this great World, is fuch, that if he, who has render'd himfclf Matter of it, defires to climb higher, let him defpife it. The whole Earth, tho' all in Revolutions, was but a Field, fufficient to of PRINCES. 385 to imploy DlocLfcsiAN's Mind, for more than 20 Years j yet a fmall Extent at laft contained it. By acquiring the World, he 1 fhew'd, that a Tart of it belong'd to others ; but by making a Trefent of it, he fhew'd, that it was his own to give. The HISTORY. VIOCLESIAN was feveral " times entreated to refume the Empire * " but there was no Poflibility of draw- " ing him from cultivating his Garden, " in which he declar'd he enjoy'd infinitely " more Peace and Confolation of Mind, " than amidft all the Pleafures and Gran- " deur of a Court. This Refolution ex- " cited the Admiration of the whole " World, but particularly the Chriftians, " whom, during his Adminiftration, he had " cruelly perfecuted. The MORAL REFLECTION. I F he, who has aflum'd Fortitude, gives 'way, he breaks -, if he, who is on a Pin- nacle, moves, ^precipitates himfelf. When Entreaties arc convincing, it's Strength to yield i but when they are compos'd of 'DeluJionSy to confent to them is Cunning. DIOCLESIAN was courted by the Romans, becaufe 384 The MORALS bccaufc they had loft a^ good Emperor *, but the Empire was not courted by Dio- CLESIAN, becaufe by remaining in Soli- tude, he had loji Nothing. \ . . . tun i . . ' . --- - 0(il ^y^" tiioL ...: ' 585 CONSTANTIUS CHLORUS. XLIIL The HISTORY. ONSTANT1US remain- ing Emperor, ailign'd to his Colleague GALERIUS, the Governments of ScLevonia* Macedonia, Thrace, Greece, Afia, Egypt, Syria, and all the Eaft ; " and a little time after added to them, " Africa and Italy, rcferving for himfclfj " France, Spain, Germany and England. The MORAL REFLECTION". N O Nation in the World ever acquir'd fo much Dominion as the Roman j a thing well worthy of wonder, as Italy was nei- ther fo populous, nor fo abounding in Pro- vifion, as many other Countries, which fre- quently fupply'd it with Corn ; and as the Armies of the Romans, were never fo nu- C c merous The M O R A L S merous as thofe of the Barbarians, whom they dcftroy'd on their Incurfions -on the Empire. Hence it may be inferr'd, that it is not the Number, but the Minds of Men, which give Tower > and tho' many of the Emperors' were not Romans by Birth, yet they were fuch by their Education. Men beget Men} but good Conftitutions and Maxims produce ^Princes. A Shep- herd guides his Flock, feeds it, {hears it, and fends it to the Slaughter-Houfe at plea- fure, becaufe all of it put together, can't claim the fame Conduct as the Shepherd, "AFT E R having regulated the Af- K fairs of State, for the Support of Juftice K in his Abfence, he went to England '* (which was return'd to its former Sub- " jedion) in hopes to introduce a better : Form of Government there, and to pre- * vent its being liable to fo many Com- " motions; but being feiz'd of a riialig- * nant Fever in Tork, he died of it in a " few Days 5 in the fecond Year of his viz. To vifit his 'Dominions } flock them with good Laws, and abolifh the bad ones : Arms take poffefTion of a Country *, but the Laws take poffeflion of the Hearts of Men : Men therefore, and not Territo- ries, form Kingdom*. The Administration of Juftice, prevents private Injuries} and when private Perfons obferve their re- fpeftive Obligations, the Tublick enjoys Tranquillity; and in the Tranquillity of the Tublick, all the Felicity of a Trine? confifts. TABLE ( 388 ) TABLE .:-,- Of all the EMPERORS, WHO Reign'd in R M E. \ULIUS CJLSAR, affaf- itnated in the Capitol, Tage i OCTAVIUS AUGUSTUS, died of a natural death, 1 8 TIBERIUS, . affaffinated by CALIGULA, 40 CAIUS CALIGULA, affaffinated by CHE- REA and others, 60 TIBERIUS CLAUDIUS,- poifon'd by his x Wife AGRIPPINA, 65 CLAUDIUS NERO, ftabb'd himfelf, 74. GALBA, aflaffinated, 92 MARCUS TA B LE of all the Emperors, &c. 3 8 9 MARCUS SILVIUS OTHO, - ftabb'd him- i or AULUS VITE^LIUS,' - murdcr'cl in an ig- nominious manner, by the Soldiers and Populace, 108 PJLAVIUS VESPASIAN,- died of a natural death, 1 2 3 TITUS VESPASIAN, - died of a natural death, _3 W 137 DOMITIAN, - afTalTinated, 144 COCCEIUS NERVA, died of a natural ~deaijh, 153 TRAJAN, - -fufpeded to have been poi- fon'd, 1 6 1 PuBLtus ^ELIUS ADRIAN, - died of a na- tural death, 175 MARCUS ANTONINUS Pius, -died of a natural death, 187 MARCUS AURELIUS, -- died of a malig- _ iiant Fever ; but his late was haftcn'd by his Son's Corrupiiuu of the Phyficians, 195 COATMODUS, - poifon'd, and afterwards ft abb- d, 209 PUBLIUS H^ELVIUS PERTINAX, - aflaffi- nated by his Guards, 21 d DIDIUS JULIANUS, - aflaffinated by order of the Senate, tho* they pretended he had poifon'd himfelf, 225 SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, - died of a natural death, BAS- 390 TAB LE of all the Emperors} BASSIANUS ANTONINUS CARACALLA, -^ afiaflinated, 249 OPILIUS MACRJNUS, murder'd by the Soldiers, 26 j HELIOGABALUS, thrown into the Tiber with a Stone about his Neck by the !Pr^- torians, after having treated him in a moll opprobrious manner, 269 ALEXANDER SEVERUS, -murder'dby hU Soldiers, . 28 z MAXIMIN, murder'd by his Soldiers, 294 MAXIMUS PUPPIEN, murder'd by the Tr* tor tans, 301 GORDIAN,- mnrder'd at the Infftgation of PHILIP, 30$ PHILIP^ murder'd by his Soldiers, 310 DEC i us, drown'd himfelf, 3 * 6 TREBONIANUS CALLUS, kill'd in Battle, 320 '^EMILIAN, kill'd by his Soldiers, 325 VALERIAN, murder'd, after feven Years Imprifonment, by Order of SAPORE King ofTerfia, 326 GAL i EN, kill'd by the Treachery of his Generals, 330 CLAUDIUS SECUNDUS,- died of a na- tural death, 336 QUINTILIUS, caus'd his Veins to be open'd, and bled to death. 342 AURELIAN, murder'd by a Confpiracy fornVd by his Secretary, 344 Retgrid in RO M E. 391 TACITUS, died of a natural death, 357 F LOR I AN, - caus'd his Veins to be o- pen'd, and bled to death, 359 PROBUS, - -murder'd by his Soldiers, 361 CARUS, - kill'd in his Tent by a Thun- der-bolt, 368 DIOCLESIAN, - died of a natural death, after having renounced the Empire, to live a retir'd Life in his own Country, CONSTANTIUS CHLORUs, - died of a na- tural death, in Tork. 585 FINIS. BOO RS jnftTrintedfor T. WORRALI,. 4N APOLOGYfor PRINCES: or, the Reverence due to Government. A M O N, preach'd at St. Margaret'^ Weft- minfter, before the Honourable Houfe of Com- mons, Jan. 30, 1728-9. By E. YouNG > LL.D. Fellow of Ail-Souls College, Oxon. and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majefly. Dedicated to the Members of that Honourable Houfe. 2. The Adventures of A B DA L LA, Son of Hanif, fent by the Sultan of the INDIES to make a Difcovery of the Ifland of Borico. Intermixt with the following entertaining and inftru&ive Novels, viz. The Hiftory ofAlmoraddin ; The Adventures of the hdianduady deliver'd from the Fire, and of the Indian Virgin carried away by the Fakirs ; The three Stories of Loulcu, Daughter of the Perftan Lady ; The Hiftory of the King without a Nofe, and of the Perfian Lady, with her Voyage to the Topfy-Turvy Ifland , The World reversed ; The Hiftory of Ajoub of.Scbiras ; The Refurredbion of Queen Feramak, and Gian her Husband; The Hi- ftory of Prince Ganguly and the Princefs with a Nofe a Foot long ; The Adventure of the Father of the Pilot ; The Hiftory of the Giant Hardoun and the beautiful Nour ; As alfo, that of the Ge- xius, Feridoun^ and the Princefs Cheroudah ; With the Adventures -of the five forrowful Santons. II- luftrated with Copper-Plates, curioufly engraven. Price 35. 6d. 3. ADVICE from a MOTHER to her Son and Daughter. Written originally in French, by the Marchionefs de L A M B E R T, (Author of the Reflexions on the Fair Sex) and lately pub- lifn'd with great Approbation, at Paris and in Holland. Price 25. Both Tranflated from the French, by Mr. HATCHETT. . 000 029 374 6