The CDPD Public Domain Collection for CDTV 3/CDPDIII.bin/books/plutarch/pyrrhus

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                                      75 AD
                                    PYRRHUS
                                 365?-272 B.C.
                                  by Plutarch
                           translated by John Dryden
PYRRHUS

  OF the Thesprotians and Molossians after the great inundation, the
first king, according to some historians, was Phaethon, one of those
who came into Epirus with Pelasgus. Others tell us that Deucalion
and Pyrrha, having set up the worship of Jupiter at Dodona, settled
there among the Molossians. In after time, Neoptolemus, Achilles's
son, planting a colony, possessed these parts himself, and left a
succession of kings, who, after him, was named Pyrrhidae, as he in his
youth was called Pyrrhus, and of his legitimate children, one was born
of Lanassa, daughter of Cleodaeus, Hyllus's son, had also that name.
From him Achilles came to have divine honours in Epirus, under the
name of Aspetus, in the language of the country. After these first
kings, those of the following intervening times becoming barbarous,
and insignificant both in their power and their lives, Tharrhypas is
said to have been the first who, by introducing Greek manners and
learning, and humane laws into his cities, left any fame of himself.
Alcetas was the son of Tharrhypas, Arybas of Alcetas, and of Arybas
and Troas his queen, Aeacides; he married Phthia, the daughter of
Menon, the Thessalian, a man of note at the time of the Lamiac war,
and of highest command in the confederate army next to Leosthenes.
To Aeacides were born of Phthia, Deidamia and Troas, daughters, and
Pyrrhus, a son.
  The Molossians, afterwards falling into factions and expelling
Aeacides, brought in the sons of Neoptolemus, and such friends of
Aeacides as they could take were all cut off; Pyrrhus, yet an
infant, and searched for by the enemy, had been stolen away and
carried off by Androclides and Angelus; who, however, being obliged to
take with them a few servants, and women to nurse the child, were much
impeded and retarded in their flight, and when they were now
overtaken, they delivered the infant to Androcleon, Hippias, and
Neander, faithful and able young fellows, giving them in charge to
make for Megara, a town of Macedon, with all their might, while they
themselves, partly by entreaty, and partly by force, stopped the
course of the pursuers till late in the evening. At last, having
hardly forced them back, they joined those who had the care of
Pyrrhus; but the sun being already set, at the point of attaining
their object they suddenly found themselves cut off from it. For on
reaching the river that runs by the city they found it looking
formidable and rough, and endeavouring to pass over, they discovered
it was not fordable; late rains having heightened the water and made
the current violent. The darkness of the night added to the horror
of all, so that they durst not venture of themselves to carry over the
child and the women that attended it; but, perceiving some of the
country people on the other side, they desired them to assist their
passage, and showed them Pyrrhus, calling out aloud, and importuning
them. They, however, could not hear for the noise and roaring of the
water. Thus time was spent while those called out, and the others
did not understand what was said, till one recollecting himself,
stripped off a piece of bark from an oak, and wrote on it with the
tongue of a buckle, stating the necessities and the fortunes of the
child, and then rolling it about a stone, which was made use of to
give force to the motion, threw it over to the other side, or, as some
say, fastened it to the end of a javelin, and darted it over. When the
men on the other shore read what was on the bark, and saw how time
pressed, without delay they cut down some trees, and lashing them
together, came over to them. And it so fell out, that he who first got
ashore, and took Pyrrhus in his arms, was named Achilles, the rest
being helped over by others as they came to hand.
  Thus being safe, and out of the reach of pursuit, they addressed
themselves to Glaucias, then King of the Illyrians, and finding him
sitting at home with his wife, they laid down the child before them.
The king began to weigh the matter, fearing Cassander, who was a
mortal enemy of Aeacides, and, being in deep consideration, said
nothing for a long time; while Pyrrhus, crawling about on the
ground, gradually got near and laid hold with his hand upon the king's
robe, and so helping himself upon his feet against the knees of
Glaucias first moved laughter, and then pity, as a little, humble,
crying petitioner. Some say he did not throw himself before
Glaucias, but catching hold of an altar of the gods, and spreading his
hands about it, raised himself up by that; and that Glaucias took
the act as an omen. At present, therefore, he gave Pyrrhus into the
charge of his wife, commanding he should be brought up with his own
children; and a little later, the enemies sending to demand him, and
Cassander himself offering two hundred talents, he would not deliver
him up; but when he was twelve years old, bringing him with an army
into Epirus, made him king. Pyrrhus in the air of his face had
something more of the terrors than of the augustness of kingly
power; he had not a regular set of upper teeth, but in the place of
them one continued bone, with small lines marked on it, resembling the
divisions of a row of teeth. It was a general belief he could cure the
spleen by sacrificing a white cock and gently pressing with his
right foot on the spleen of the persons as they lay down on their
backs, nor was any one so poor or inconsiderable as not to be welcome,
if he desired it, to the benefit of his touch. He accepted the cock
for the sacrifice as a reward, and was always much pleased with the
present. The large toe of that foot was said to have a divine
virtue; for after his death, the rest of the body being consumed, this
was found unhurt, and untouched by the fire. But of these things
hereafter.
  Being now about seventeen years old, and the government in
appearance well settled, he took a journey out of the kingdom to
attend the marriage of one of Glaucias's sons, with whom he was
brought up; upon which opportunity the Molossians again rebelling,
turned out all of his party, plundered his property, and gave
themselves up to Neoptolemus. Pyrrhus having thus lost the kingdom,
and being in want of all things, applied to Demetrius, the son of
Antigonus, the husband of his sister Deidamia, who, while she was
but a child, had been in name the wife of Alexander, son of Roxana,
but their affairs afterwards proving unfortunate, when she came to
age, Demetrius married her. At the great battle of Ipsus, where so
many kings were engaged, Pyrrhus, taking part with Demetrius, though
yet but a youth, routed those that encountered him, and highly
signalized himself among all the soldiery; and afterwards, when
Demetrius's fortunes were low, he did not forsake him then, but
secured for him the cities of Greece with which he was intrusted;
and upon articles of agreement being made between Demetrius and
Ptolemy, he went over as an hostage for him into Egypt, where both
in hunting and other exercises he gave Ptolemy an ample proof of his
courage and strength. Here observing Berenice in greatest power, and
of all Ptolemy's wives highest in esteem for virtue and understanding,
he made his court principally to her. He had a particular art of
gaining over the great to his own interest, as on the other hand he
readily overlooked such as were below him; and being also well-behaved
and temperate in his life, among all the young princes then at court
he was thought most fit to have Antigone for his wife, one of the
daughters of Berenice by Philip, before she married Ptolemy.
  After this match, advancing in honour, and Antigone being a very
good wife to him, having procured a sum of money, and raised an
army, he so ordered matters as to be sent into his kingdom of
Epirus, and arrived there to the great satisfaction of many, from
their hate to Neoptolemus, who was governing in a violent and
arbitrary way. But fearing lest Neoptolemus should enter into alliance
with some neighbouring princes, he came to terms and friendship with
him, agreeing that they should share the government between them.
There were people, however, who, as time went on, secretly exasperated
them, and fomented jealousies between them. The cause chiefly moving
Pyrrhus is said to have had this beginning. It was customary for the
kings to offer sacrifice to Mars at Passaro, a place in the
Molossian country, and that done to enter into a solemn covenant
with the Epirots; they to govern according to law, these to preserve
the government as by law established. This was performed in the
presence of both kings, who were there with their immediate friends,
giving and receiving many presents; here Gelo, one of the friends of
Neoptolemus, taking Pyrrhus by the hand, presented him with two pair
of draught oxen. Myrtilus, his cup-bearer, being then by, begged these
of Pyrrhus, who not giving them to him, but to another, Myrtilus
extremely resented it, which Gelo took notice of, and, inviting him to
a banquet (amidst drinking and other excesses, as some relate,
Myrtilus being then in the flower of his youth), he entered into
discourse, persuading him to adhere to Neoptolemus, and destroy
Pyrrhus by poison. Myrtilus received the design, appearing to
approve and consent to it, but privately discovered it to Pyrrhus,
by whose command he recommended Alexicrates, his chief cup-bearer,
to Gelo, as a fit instrument for their design, Pyrrhus being very
desirous to have proof of the plot by several evidences. So Gelo,
being deceived, Neoptolemus, who was no less deceived, imagining the
design went prosperously on, could not forbear, but in his joy spoke
of it among his friends, and once at an entertainment at his sister
Cadmea's talked openly of it, thinking none heard but themselves.
Nor was any one there but Phaenarete the wife of Samon, who had the
care of Neoptolemus's flocks and herds. She, turning her face
towards the wall upon a couch, seemed fast asleep, and having heard
all that passed, unsuspected, next day came to Antigone, Pyrrhus's
wife, and told her what she had heard Neoptolemus say to his sister.
On understanding which Pyrrhus for the present said little, but on a
sacrifice day, making an invitation for Neoptolemus, killed him; being
satisfied before that the great men of the Epirots were his friends,
and that they were eager for him to rid himself of Neoptolemus, and
not to content himself with a mere petty share of the government,
but to follow his own natural vocation to great designs, and now
when a just ground of suspicion appeared, to anticipate Neoptolemus by
taking him off first.
  In memory of Berenice and Ptolemy he named his son by Antigone,
Ptolemy, and having built a city in the peninsula of Epirus, called it
Berenicis. From this time he began to revolve many and vast projects
in his thoughts; but his first special hope and design lay near
home, and he found means to engage himself in the Macedonian affairs
under the following pretext. Of Cassander's sons, Antipater, the
eldest, killed Thessalonica, his mother, and expelled his brother
Alexander, who sent to Demetrius entreating his assistance, and also
called in Pyrrhus; but Demetrius being retarded by multitude of
business, Pyrrhus, coming first, demanded in reward of his service the
districts called Tymphaea and Parauaea in Macedon itself and of
their new conquests, Ambracia, Acarnania, and Amphilochia. The young
prince giving way, he took possession of these countries, and
secured them with good garrisons, and proceeded to reduce for
Alexander himself other parts of the kingdom which he gained from
Antipater. Lysimachus, designing to send aid to Antipater, was
involved in much other business, but knowing Pyrrhus would not
disoblige Ptolemy, or deny him anything, sent pretended letters to him
as from Ptolemy, desiring him to give up his expedition, upon the
payment of three hundred talents to him by Antipater. Pyrrhus, opening
the letter, quickly discovered the fraud of Lysimachus; for it had not
the accustomed style of salutation, "The father to the son, health,"
but "King Ptolemy to Pyrrhus, the king, health;" and reproaching
Lysimachus, he notwithstanding made a peace, and they all met to
confirm it by a solemn oath upon sacrifice. A goat, a bull, and a
ram being brought out, the ram on a sudden fell dead. The others
laughed, but Theodotus the prophet forbade Pyrrhus to swear, declaring
that Heaven by that portended the death of one of the three kings,
upon which he refused to ratify the peace.
  The affairs of Alexander being now in some kind of settlement,
Demetrius arrived, contrary, as soon appeared, to the desire and
indeed not without the alarm of Alexander. After they had been a few
days together, their mutual jealousy led them to conspire against each
other; and Demetrius, taking advantage of the first occasion, was
beforehand with the young king, and slew him, and proclaimed himself
King of Macedon. There had been formerly no very good understanding
between him and Pyrrhus; for besides the inroads he made into
Thessaly, the innate disease of princes, ambition of greater empire,
had rendered them formidable and suspected neighbours to each other,
especially since Deidamia's death; and both having seized Macedon,
they came into conflict for the same object, and the difference
between them had the stronger motives. Demetrius having first attacked
the Aetolians and subdued them, left Pantauchus there with a
considerable army, and marched direct against Pyrrhus, and Pyrrhus, as
he thought, against him; but by mistake of the ways they passed by one
another, and Demetrius falling into Epirus wasted the country, and
Pyrrhus, meeting with Pantauchus, prepared for an engagement. The
soldiers fell to, and there was a sharp and terrible conflict,
especially where the generals were. Pantauchus, in courage, dexterity,
and strength of body, being confessedly the best of all Demetrius's
captains, and having both resolution and high spirit, challenged
Pyrrhus to fight hand to hand; on the other side Pyrrhus, professing
not to yield to any king in valour and glory, and esteeming the fame
of Achilles more truly to belong to him for his courage than for his
blood, advanced against Pantauchus through the front of the army.
First they used their lances, then came to a close fight, and
managed their swords both with art and force; Pyrrhus receiving one
wound, but returning two for it, one in the thigh and the other near
the neck repulsed and overthrew Pantauchus, but did not kill him
outright, as he was rescued by his friends. But the Epirots exulting
in the victory of their king, and admiring his courage, forced through
and cut in pieces the phalanx of the Macedonians, and pursuing those
that fled, killed many, and took five thousand prisoners.
  This fight did not so much exasperate the Macedonians with anger for
their loss, or with hatred to Pyrrhus, as it caused esteem and
admiration of his valour, and great discourse of him among those
that saw what he did, and were engaged against him in the action. They
thought his countenance, his swiftness, and his motions expressed
those of the great Alexander, and that they beheld here an image and
resemblance of his rapidity and strength in fight; other kings
merely by their purple and their guards, by the formal bending of
their necks and lofty tone of their speech, Pyrrhus only by arms and
in action, represented Alexander. Of his knowledge of military tactics
and the art of a general, and his great ability that way, we have
the best information from the commentaries he left behind him.
Antigonus, also, we are told, being asked who was the greatest
soldier, said, "Pyrrhus, if he lives to be old," referring only to
those of his own time; but Hannibal of all great commanders esteemed
Pyrrhus for skill and conduct the first, Scipio the second, and
himself the third, as is related in the life of Scipio. In a word,
he seemed ever to make this all his thought and philosophy, as the
most kingly part of learning: other curiosities he held in no account.
He is reported, when asked at a feast whether he thought Python or
Caphisias the best musician to have said, Polysperchon was the best
soldier, as though it became a king to examine and understand only
such things. Towards his familiars he was mild and not easily
incensed; zealous and even vehement in returning kindnesses. Thus when
Aeropus was dead, he could not bear it with moderation, saying, he
indeed had suffered what was common to human nature, but condemning
and blaming himself, that by puttings off and delays he had not
returned his kindness in time. For our debts may be satisfied to the
creditor's heirs, but not to have made the acknowledgment of
received favours, while they to whom it is due can be sensible of
it, afflicts a good and worthy nature. Some thinking it fit that
Pyrrhus should banish a certain ill-tongued fellow in Ambracia, who
had spoken very indecently of him, "Let him rather," said he, "speak
against us here to a few, than rambling about to a great many." And
others who in their wine had made reflections upon him, being
afterward questioned for it, and asked by him whether they had said
such words, on one of the young fellows answering. "Yes, all that,
king: and should have said more if we had had more wine;" he laughed
and discharged them. After Antigone's death, he married several
wives to enlarge his interest and power. He had the daughter of
Autoleon, King of the Paeonians, Bircenna, Bardyllis the Illyrian's
daughter, Lanassa, daughter of Agathocles the Syracusan, who brought
with her in dower the city of Corcyra, which had been taken by
Agathocles. By Antigone he had Ptolemy, Alexander by Lanassa, and
Helenus, his youngest son, by Bircenna: he brought them up all in
arms, hot and eager youths, and by him sharpened and whetted to war
from their very infancy. It is said, when one of them, while yet a
child, asked him to which he would leave the kingdom, he replied, to
him that had the sharpest sword, which indeed was much like that
tragical curse of Oedipus to his sons:-

                 "Not by the lot decide,
         But within the sword the heritage divide."

So unsocial and wild-beast-like is the nature of ambition and
cupidity.
  After this battle Pyrrhus, returning gloriously home, enjoyed his
fame and reputation, and being called "Eagle" by the Epirots, "By
you," said he, "I am an eagle; for how should I not be such, while I
have your arms as wings to sustain me?" A little after, having
intelligence that Demetrius was dangerously sick, he entered on a
sudden into Macedonia, intending only an incursion, and to harass
the country; but was very near seizing upon all, and taking the
kingdom without a blow. He marched as far as Edessa unresisted,
great numbers deserting and coming in to him. This danger excited
Demetrius beyond his strength, and his friends and commanders in a
short time got a considerable army together, and with all their forces
briskly attacked Pyrrhus, who, coming only to pillage, would not stand
a fight, but retreating, lost part of his army, as he went off, by the
close pursuit of the Macedonians. Demetrius, however, although he
had easily and quickly forced Pyrrhus out of the country, yet did
not slight him, but having resolved upon great designs, and to recover
his father's kingdom with an army of one hundred thousand men, and a
fleet of five hundred ships, would neither embroil himself with
Pyrrhus, nor leave the Macedonians so active and troublesome a
neighbour; and since he had no leisure to continue the war with him,
he was willing to treat and conclude a peace, and to turn his forces
upon the other kings. Articles being agreed upon, the designs of
Demetrius quickly discovered themselves by the greatness of his
preparation. And the other kings, being alarmed, sent to Pyrrhus
ambassadors and letters, expressing their wonder that he should choose
to let his own opportunity pass by, and wait till Demetrius could
use his; and whereas he was now able to chase him out of Macedon,
involved in designs and disturbed, he should expect till Demetrius
at leisure, and grown great, should bring the war home to his own
door, and make him fight for his temples and sepulchres in Molossia;
especially having so lately, by his means, lost Corcyra and his wife
together. For Lanassa had taken offence at Pyrrhus for too great an
inclination to those wives of his that were barbarians, and so
withdrew to Corcyra, and desiring to marry some king, invited
Demetrius, knowing of all the kings he was most ready to entertain
offers of marriage; so he sailed thither, married Lanassa, and
placed a garrison in the city. The kings having written thus to
Pyrrhus, themselves likewise contrived to find Demetrius work, while
he was delaying and making his preparations. Ptolemy, setting out with
a great fleet, drew off many of the Greek cities. Lysimachus out of
Thrace wasted the upper Macedon; and Pyrrhus, also taking arms at
the same time, marched to Beroea, expecting, as it fell out, that
Demetrius, collecting his forces against Lysimachus, would leave the
lower country undefended. That very night he seemed in his sleep to be
called by Alexander the Great, and approaching saw him sick abed,
but was received with very kind words, and much respect, and
promised zealous assistance. He making bold to reply, "How, sir, can
you, being sick, assist me?" "With my name," said he, and mounting
Nisaean horse, seemed to lead the way. At the sight of this vision
he was much assured, and with swift marches overrunning all the
interjacent places, takes Beroea, and making his headquarters there,
reduced the rest of the country by his commanders. When Demetrius
received intelligence of this, and perceived likewise the
Macedonians ready to mutiny in the army, he was afraid to advance
further, lest, coming near Lysimachus, a Macedonian king, and of great
fame, they should revolt to him. So returning, he marched directly
against Pyrrhus, as a stranger, and hated by the Macedonians. But
while he lay encamped there near him, many who came out of Beroea
infinitely praised Pyrrhus as invincible in arms, a glorious
warrior, who treated those he had taken kindly and humanely. Several
of these Pyrrhus himself sent privately, pretending to be Macedonians,
and saying, now was the time to be delivered from the severe
government of Demetrius by coming over to Pyrrhus, a gracious prince
and a lover of soldiers. By this artifice a great part of the army was
in a state of excitement, and the soldiers began to look every way
about inquiring for Pyrrhus. It happened he was without his helmet,
till understanding they did not know him, he put it on again, and so
was quickly recognized by his lofty crest and the goat's horns he wore
upon it. Then the Macedonians, running to him, desired to be told
his password, and some put oaken boughs upon their heads, because they
saw them worn by the soldiers about him. Some persons even took the
confidence to say to Demetrius himself, that he would be well
advised to withdraw and lay down the government. And he, indeed,
seeing the mutinous movements of the army to be only too consistent
with what they said, privately got away, disguised in a broad hat
and a common soldier's coat. So Pyrrhus became master of the army
without fighting, and was declared King of the Macedonians.
  But Lysimachus now arriving, and claiming the defeat of Demetrius as
the joint exploit of them both, and that therefore the kingdom
should be shared between them, Pyrrhus, not as yet quite assured of
the Macedonians, and in doubt of their faith, consented to the
proposition of Lysimachus, and divided the country and cities
between them accordingly. This was for the present useful, and
prevented a war; but shortly after they found the partition not so
much a peaceful settlement as an occasion of further complaint and
difference. For men whose ambition neither seas, nor mountains, nor
unpeopled deserts can limit, nor the bounds dividing Europe from
Asia confine their vast desires, it would be hard to expect to forbear
from injuring one another when they touch and are close together.
These are ever naturally at war, envying and seeking advantages of one
another, and merely make use of those two words, peace and war, like
current coin, to serve their occasions, not as justice but as
expediency suggests, and are really better men when they openly
enter on a war, than when they give to the mere forbearance from doing
wrong, for want of opportunity, the sacred names of justice and
friendship. Pyrrhus was an instance of this; for setting himself
against the rise of Demetrius again, and endeavouring to hinder the
recovery of his power, as it were from a kind of sickness, he assisted
the Greeks, and came to Athens, where, having ascended the
Acropolis, he offered sacrifice to the goddess, and the same day
came down again, and told the Athenians he was much gratified by the
good-will and the confidence they had shown to him; but if they were
wise he advised them never to let any king come thither again, or open
their city gates to him. He concluded also a peace with Demetrius, but
shortly after he was gone into Asia, at the persuasion of
Lysimachus, he tampered with the Thessalians to revolt, and besieged
his cities in Greece finding he could better preserve the attachment
of the Macedonians in war than in peace, and being of his own
inclination not much given to rest. At last, after Demetrius had
been overthrown in Syria, Lysimachus, who had secured his affairs, and
had nothing to do, immediately turned his whole forces upon Pyrrhus,
who was in quarters at Edessa, and falling upon and seizing his convoy
of provisions, brought first a great scarcity into the army; then
partly by letters, partly by spreading rumours abroad, he corrupted
the principal officers of the Macedonians, reproaching them that
they had made one their master who was both a stranger and descended
from those who had ever been servants to the Macedonians, and that
they had thrust the old friends and familiars of Alexander out of
the country. The Macedonian soldiers being much prevailed upon,
Pyrrhus withdrew himself with his Epirots and auxiliary forces,
relinquishing Macedon, just after the same manner he took it. So
little reason have kings to condemn popular governments for changing
sides as suits their interests, as in this they do but imitate them
who are the great instructors of unfaithfulness and treachery; holding
him the wisest that makes the least account of being an honest man.
  Pyrrhus having thus retired into Epirus, and left Macedon, fortune
gave him a fair occasion of enjoying himself in quiet, and peaceably
governing his own subjects; but he who thought it a nauseous course of
life not to be doing mischief to others, or receiving some from
them, like Achilles, could not endure repose-

           " -But sad and languished far,
         Desiring battle and the shout of war,"

and gratified his inclination by the following pretext for new
troubles. The Romans were at war with the Tarentines, who, not being
able to go on with the war, nor yet, through the foolhardiness and the
viciousness of their popular speakers, to come to terms and give it
up, proposed now to make Pyrrhus their general, and engage him in
it, as of all the neighbouring kings the most at leisure, and the most
skilful as a commander. The more grave and discreet citizens
opposing these counsels, were partly overborne by the noise and
violence of the multitude; while others, seeing this, absented
themselves from the assemblies; only one Meton, a very sober man, on
the day this public decree was to be ratified, when the people were
now seating themselves, came dancing into the assembly like one
quite drunk, with a withered garland and a small lamp in his hand, and
a woman playing on a flute before him. And as in great multitudes
met at such popular assemblies no decorum can be well observed, some
clapped him, others laughed, none forbade him, but called to the woman
to play, and to him to sing to the company, and when they thought he
was going to do so, "'Tis right of you, O men of Tarentum," he said,
"not to hinder any from making themselves merry that have a mind to
it, while it is yet in their power; and if you are wise, you will take
out your pleasure of your freedom while you can, for you must change
your course of life, and follow other diet when Pyrrhus comes to
town." These words made a great impression upon many of the
Tarentines, and a confused murmur went about that he had spoken much
to the purpose; but some who feared they should be sacrificed if a
peace were made with the Romans, reviled the whole assembly for so
tamely suffering themselves to be abused by a drunken sot, and
crowding together upon Meton, thrust him out. So the public order
was passed and ambassadors sent into Epirus, not only in their own
names, but in those of all the Italian Greeks, carrying presents to
Pyrrhus, and letting him know they wanted a general of reputation
and experience; and that they could furnish him with large forces of
Lucanians, Messapians, Samnites, and Tarentines, amounting to twenty
thousand horse, and three hundred and fifty thousand foot. This did
not only quicken Pyrrhus, but raised an eager desire for the
expedition in the Epirots.
  There was one Cineas, a Thessalian, considered to be a man of very
good sense, a disciple of the great orator Demosthenes, who, of all
that were famous at that time for speaking well, most seemed, as in
a picture, to revive in the minds of the audience the memory of his
force and vigour of eloquence; and being always about Pyrrhus, and
sent about in his service to several cities, verified the saying of
Euripides, that

                   " -the force of words
         Can do whate'er is done by conquering swords."

And Pyrrhus was used to say, that Cineas had taken more towns with his
words than he with his arms, and always did him the honour to employ
him in his most important occasions. This person, seeing Pyrrhus
eagerly preparing for Italy, led him one day when he was at leisure
into the following reasonings: "The Romans, sir, are reported to be
great warriors and conquerors of many warlike nations; if God permit
us to overcome them, how should we use our victory?" "You ask," said
Pyrrhus, "a thing evident of itself. The Romans once conquered,
there is neither Greek nor barbarian city that will resist us, but
we shall presently be masters of all Italy, the extent and resources
and strength of which any one should rather profess to be ignorant
of than yourself." Cineas after a little pause, "And having subdued
Italy, what shall we do next?" Pyrrhus not yet discovering his
intention, "Sicily," he replied, "next holds out her arms to receive
us, a wealthy and populous island, and easy to be gained; for since
Agathocles left it, only faction and anarchy, and the licentious
violence of the demagogues prevail." "You speak," said Cineas, "what
is perfectly probable, but will the possession of Sicily put an end to
the war?" "God grant us," answered Pyrrhus, "victory and success in
that, and we will use these as forerunners of greater things; who
could forbear from Libya and Carthage then within reach, which
Agathocles, even when forced to fly from Syracuse, and passing the sea
only with a few ships, had all but surprised? These conquests once
perfected, will any assert that of the enemies who now pretend to
despise us, any one will dare to make further resistance?" "None,"
replied Cineas, "for then it is manifest we may with such mighty
forces regain Macedon, and make an absolute conquest of Greece; and
when all these are in our power what shall we do then?" Said
Pyrrhus, smiling, "We will live at our ease, my dear friend, and drink
all day, and divert ourselves with pleasant conversation." When Cineas
had led Pyrrhus with his argument to this point: "And what hinders
us now, sir, if we have a mind to be merry, and entertain one another,
since we have at hand without trouble all those necessary things, to
which through much blood and great labour, and infinite hazards and
mischief done to ourselves and to others, we design at last to
arrive?" Such reasonings rather troubled Pyrrhus with the thought of
the happiness he was quitting, than any way altered his purpose, being
unable to abandon the hopes of what he so much desired.
  And first, he sent away Cineas to the Tarentines with three thousand
men; presently after, many vessels for transport of horse, and
galleys, and flat-bottomed boats of all sorts arriving from
Tarentum, he shipped upon them twenty elephants, three thousand horse,
twenty thousand foot, two thousand archers, and five hundred slingers.
All being thus in readiness, he set sail, and being half-way over, was
driven by the wind, blowing, contrary to the season of the year,
violently from the north, and carried from his course, but by the
great skill and resolution of his pilots and seamen, he made the
land with infinite labour, and beyond expectation. The rest of the
fleet could not get up, and some of the dispersed ships, losing the
coast of Italy, were driven into the Libyan and Sicilian Sea;
others, not able to double the cape of Japygium, were overtaken by the
night; and, with a boisterous and heavy sea, throwing them upon a
dangerous and rocky shore, they were all very much disabled except the
royal galley. She, while the sea bore upon her sides, resisted with
her bulk and strength, and avoided the force of it, till the wind
coming about, blew directly in their teeth from the shore, and the
vessel keeping up with her head against it, was in danger of going
to pieces; yet on the other hand, to suffer themselves to be driven
off to sea again, which was thus raging and tempestuous, with the wind
shifting about every way, seemed to them the most dreadful of all
their present evils. Pyrrhus, rising up, threw himself overboard.
His friends and guards strove eagerly who should be most ready to help
him, but night and the sea, with its noise and violent surge, made
it extremely difficult to do this; so that hardly, when with the
morning the wind began to subside, he got ashore, breathless and
weakened in body, but with high courage and strength of mind resisting
his hard fortune. The Messapians, upon whose shore they were thrown by
the tempest, came up eagerly to help them in the best manner they
could; and some of the straggling vessels that had escaped the storm
arrived; in which were a very few horse, and not quite two thousand
foot, and two elephants.
  With these Pyrrhus marched straight to Tarentum, where Cineas, being
informed of his arrival, led out the troops to meet him. Entering
the town, he did nothing unpleasing to the Tarentines, nor put any
force upon them, till the ships were all in harbour, and the
greatest part of the army got together; but then perceiving that the
people, unless some strong compulsion was used to them, were not
capable either of saving others or being saved themselves, and were
rather intending, while he engaged for them in the field, to remain at
home bathing and feasting themselves, he first shut up the places of
public exercise, and the walks, where, in their idle way, they
fought their country's battles and conducted her campaigns in their
talk; he prohibited likewise all festivals, revels, and drinking
parties as unseasonable, and summoning them to arms, showed himself
rigorous and inflexible in carrying out the conscription for service
in the war. So that many, not understanding what it was to be
commanded, left the town, calling it mere slavery not to do as they
pleased. He now received intelligence that Laevinus, the Roman consul,
was upon his march with a great army, and plundering Lucania as he
went. The confederate forces were not come up to him, yet he thought
it impossible to suffer so near an approach of an enemy, and drew
out with his army, but first sent an herald to the Romans to know if
before the war they would decide the differences between them and
the Italian Greeks by his arbitrament and mediation. But Laevinus
returning answer that the Romans neither accepted him as arbitrator
nor feared him as an enemy, Pyrrhus advanced, and encamped in the
plain between the cities of Pandosia and Heraclea, and having notice
the Romans were near, and lay on the other side of the river Siris, he
rode up to take a view of them, and seeing their order, the
appointment of the watches, their method and the general form of their
encampment, he was amazed, and addressing one of his friends next to
him: "This order," said he, "Megacles, of the barbarians, is not at
all barbarian in character; we shall see presently what they can do;
and growing a little more thoughtful of the event, resolved to
expect the arriving of the confederate troops. And to hinder the
Romans, if in the meantime they should endeavour to pass the river, he
planted men all along the bank to oppose them. But they, hastening
to anticipate the coming up of the same forces which he had determined
to wait for, attempted the passage with their infantry, where it was
fordable, and with the horse in several places, so that the Greeks,
fearing to be surrounded, were obliged to retreat, and Pyrrhus,
perceiving this, and being much surprised, bade his foot officers draw
their men up in line of battle, and continue in arms, while he himself
with three thousand horse advanced, hoping to attack the Romans as
they were coming over, scattered and disordered. But when he saw a
vast number of shields appearing above the water, and the horse
following them in good order, gathering his men in a closer body,
himself at the head of them, he began the charge, conspicuous by his
rich and beautiful armour, and letting it be seen that his
reputation had not outgone what he was able effectually to perform.
While exposing his hands and body in the fight, and bravely
repelling all that engaged him, he still guided the battle with a
steady and undisturbed reason, and such presence of mind, as if he had
been out of the action and watching it from a distance, passing
still from point to point, and assisting those whom he thought most
pressed by the enemy. Here Leonnatus the Macedonian, observing one
of the Italians very intent upon Pyrrhus, riding up towards him, and
changing places as he did, and moving as he moved: "Do you see,
sir," said he, "that barbarian on the black horse with white feet?
he seems to be one that designs some great and dangerous thing, for he
looks constantly at you, and fixes his whole attention, full of
vehement purpose, on you alone, taking no notice of others. Be on your
guard, sir, against him." "Leonnatus," said Pyrrhus, "it is impossible
for any man to avoid his fate; but neither he nor any other Italian
shall have much satisfaction in engaging with me." While they were
in this discourse, the Italian, lowering his spear and quickening
his horse, rode furiously at Pyrrhus, and run his horse through with
his lance; at the same instant Leonnatus ran his through. Both
horses falling, Pyrrhus's friends surrounded him and brought him off
safe, and killed the Italian, bravely defending himself. He was by
birth a Frentanian, captain of a troop, and named Oplacus.
  This made Pyrrhus use greater caution, and now seeing his horse give
ground, he brought up the infantry against the enemy, and changing his
scarf and his arms with Megacles, one of his friends, and obscuring
himself, as it were, in his, charged upon the Romans, who received and
engaged him, and a great while the success of the battle remained
undetermined; and it is said there were seven turns of fortune both of
pursuing and being pursued. And the change of his arms was very
opportune for the safety of his person, but had like to have
overthrown his cause and lost him the victory; for several falling
upon Megacles, the first that gave him his mortal wound was one
Dexous, who, snatching away his helmet and his robe, rode at once to
Laevinus, holding them up, and saying aloud he had killed Pyrrhus.
These spoils being carried about and shown among the ranks, the Romans
were transported with joy, and shouted aloud; while equal
discouragement and terror prevailed among the Greeks, until Pyrrhus,
understanding what had happened, rode about the army with his face
bare, stretching out his hand to his soldiers, and telling them
aloud it was he. At last, the elephants more particularly began to
distress the Romans, whose horses, before they came near, nor enduring
them, went back with their riders; and upon this, he commanded the
Thessalian cavalry to charge them in their disorder, and routed them
with great loss. Dionysius affirms near fifteen thousand of the Romans
fell; Hieronymus, no more than seven thousand. On Pyrrhus's side,
the same Dionysius makes thirteen thousand slain, the other under four
thousand; but they were the flower of his men, and amongst them his
particular friends as well as officers whom he most trusted and made
use of. However, he possessed himself of the Romans' camp which they
deserted, and gained over several confederate cities, and wasted the
country round about, and advanced so far that he was within about
thirty-seven miles of Rome itself. After the fight many of the
Lucanians and Samnites came in and joined him, whom he chid for
their delay, but yet he was evidently well pleased and raised in his
thoughts, that he had defeated so great an army of the Romans with the
assistance of the Tarentines alone.
  The Romans did not remove Laevinus from the consulship; though it is
told that Caius Fabricius said, that the Epirots had not beaten the
Romans, but only Pyrrhus, Laevinus; insinuating that their loss was
not through want of valour but of conduct; but filled up their
legions, and enlisted fresh men with all speed, talking high and
boldly of war, which struck Pyrrhus with amazement. He thought it
advisable by sending first to make an experiment whether they had
any inclination to treat, thinking that to take the city and make an
absolute conquest was no work for such an army as his was at that
time, but to settle a friendship, and bring them to terms, would be
highly honourable after his victory. Cineas was despatched away, and
applied himself to several of the great ones, with presents for
themselves and their ladies from the king; but not a person would
receive any, and answered, as well men as women, that if an
agreement were publicly concluded, they also should be ready, for
their parts, to express their regard to the king. And Cineas,
discoursing with the senate in the most persuasive and obliging manner
in the world, yet was not heard with kindness or inclination, although
Pyrrhus offered also to return all the prisoners he had taken in the
fight without ransom, and promised his assistance for the entire
conquest of all Italy, asking only their friendship for himself, and
security for the Tarentines, and nothing further. Nevertheless, most
were well inclined to a peace, having already received one great
defeat and fearing another from an additional force of the native
Italians, now joining with Pyrrhus. At this point Appius Claudius, a
man of great distinction, but who, because of his great age and loss
of sight, had declined the fatigue of public business, after these
propositions had been made by the king, hearing a report that the
senate was ready to vote the conditions of peace, could not forbear,
but commanding his servants to take him up, was carried in his chair
through the forum to the senate-house. When he was set down at the
door, his sons and sons-in-law took him up in their arms, and, walking
close round about him, brought him into the senate. Out of reverence
for so worthy a man, the whole assembly was respectfully silent.
  And a little after raising up himself: "I bore," said he, "until
this time, the misfortune of my eyes with some impatience, but now
while I hear of these dishonourable motions and resolves of yours,
destructive to the glory of Rome, it is my affliction, that being
already blind, I am not deaf too. Where is now that discourse of yours
that became famous in all the world, that if he, the great
Alexander, had come into Italy, and dared to attack us when we were
young men, and our fathers, who were then in their prime, he had not
now been celebrated as invincible, but either flying hence, or falling
here, had left Rome more glorious? You demonstrate now that all that
was but foolish arrogance and vanity, by fearing Molossians and
Chaonians, ever the Macedonian's prey, and by trembling at Pyrrhus who
was himself but a humble servant to one of Alexander's life-guard, and
comes here, not so much to assist the Greeks that inhabit among us, as
to escape from his enemies at home, a wanderer about Italy, and yet
dares to promise you the conquest of it all by that army which has not
been able to preserve for him a little part of Macedon. Do not
persuade yourselves that making him your friend is the way to send him
back, it is the way rather to bring over other invaders from thence,
contemning you as easy to be reduced, if Pyrrhus goes off without
punishment for his outrages on you, but, on the contrary, with the
reward of having enabled the Tarentines and Samnites to laugh at the
Romans." When Appius had done, eagerness for the war seized on every
man, and Cineas was dismissed with this answer, that when Pyrrhus
had withdrawn his forces out of Italy, then, if he pleased, they would
treat with him about friendship and alliance, but while he stayed
there in arms, they were resolved to prosecute the war against him
with all their force, though he should have defeated a thousand
Laevinuses. It is said that Cineas, while he was managing this affair,
made it his business carefully to inspect the manners of the Romans,
and to understand their methods of government, and having conversed
with their noblest citizens, he afterwards told Pyrrhus, among other
things, that the senate seemed to him an assembly of kings, and as for
the people, he feared lest it might prove that they were fighting with
a Lernaean hydra, for the consul had already raised twice as large
an army as the former, and there were many times over the same
number of Romans able to bear arms.
  Then Caius Fabricius came in embassy from the Romans to treat
about the prisoners that were taken, one whom Cineas had reported to
be a man of highest consideration among them as an honest man and a
good soldier, but extremely poor. Pyrrhus received him with much
kindness, and privately would have persuaded him to accept of his
gold, not for any evil purpose, but calling it a mark of respect and
hospitable kindness. Upon Fabricius's refusal, he pressed him no
further, but the next day, having a mind to discompose him, as he
had never seen an elephant before, he commanded one of the largest,
completely armed, to be placed behind the hangings, as they were
talking together. Which being done, upon a sign given, the hanging was
drawn aside, and the elephant, raising his trunk over the head of
Fabricius, made an horrid and ugly noise. He, gently turning about and
smiling, said to Pyrrhus, "Neither your money yesterday, nor this
beast to-day, makes any impression upon me." At supper, amongst all
sorts of things that were discoursed of, but more particularly
Greece and the philosophers there, Cineas, by accident, had occasion
to speak of Epicurus, and explained the opinions his followers hold
about the gods and the commonwealth, and the objects of life,
placing the chief happiness of man in pleasure, and declining public
affairs as an injury and disturbance of a happy life, removing the
gods afar off both from kindness or anger, or any concern for us at
all, to a life wholly without business and flowing in pleasures.
Before he had done speaking, "O Hercules!" Fabricius cried out to
Pyrrhus, "may Pyrrhus and the Samnites entertain themselves with
this sort of opinions as long as they are in war with us."
  Pyrrhus, admiring the wisdom and gravity of the man, was the more
transported with desire of making friendship instead of war with the
city, and entreated him, personally, after the peace should be
concluded, to accept of living with him as the chief of his
ministers and generals. Fabricius answered quietly, "Sir, this will
not be for your advantage, for they who now honour and admire you,
when they have had experience of me, will rather choose to be governed
by me than by you." Such was Fabricius. And Pyrrhus received his
answer without any resentment or tyrannic passion; nay, among his
friends he highly commended the great mind of Fabricius, and intrusted
the prisoners to him alone, on condition that if the senate should not
vote a peace, after they had conversed with their friends and
celebrated the festival of Saturn, they should be remanded. And,
accordingly, they were sent back after the holidays; it being
decreed pain of death for any that stayed behind.
  After this Fabricius taking the consulate, a person came with a
letter to the camp written by the king's principal physician, offering
to take off Pyrrhus by poison, and so end the war without further
hazard to the Romans, if he might have a reward proportionable to
his service. Fabricius, hating the villainy of the man, and
disposing the other consul to the same opinion, sent despatches
immediately to Pyrrhus to caution him against the treason. His
letter was to this effect: "Caius Fabricius and Quintus Aemilius
consuls of the Romans, to Pyrrhus the king, health. You seem to have
made an ill-judgement both of your friends and enemies; you will
understand by reading this letter sent to us, that you are at war with
honest men, and trust villains and knaves. Nor do we disclose this
to you out of any favour to you, but lest your ruin might bring a
reproach upon us, as if we had ended the war, by treachery, as not
able to do it by force." When Pyrrhus had read the letter and made
inquiry into the treason, he punished the physician, and as an
acknowledgment to the Romans sent to Rome the prisoners without
ransom, and again employed Cineas to negotiate a peace for him. But
they, regarding it as at once too great a kindness from an enemy,
and too great a reward for not doing an ill thing to accept their
prisoners so, released in return an equal number of the Tarentines and
Samnites, but would admit of no debate of alliance or peace until he
had removed his arms and forces out of Italy, and sailed back to
Epirus with the same ships that brought him over. Afterwards, his
affairs demanding a second fight, when he had refreshed his men, he
decamped, and met the Romans about the city Asculum, where, however,
he was much incommoded by a woody country unfit for his horse, and a
swift river, so that the elephants, for want of sure treading, could
not get up with the infantry. After many wounded and many killed,
night put an end to the engagement. Next day, designing to make the
fight on even ground, and have the elephants among the thickest of the
enemy, he caused a detachment to possess themselves of those
incommodious grounds, and, mixing slingers and archers among the
elephants, with full strength and courage, he advanced in a close
and well-ordered body. The Romans, not having those advantages of
retreating and falling on as they pleased, which they had before, were
obliged to fight man to man upon plain ground, and, being anxious to
drive back the infantry before the elephants could get up, they fought
fiercely with their swords among the Macedonian spears, not sparing
themselves, thinking only to wound and kill, without regard to what
they suffered. After a long and obstinate fight, the first giving
ground is reported to have been where Pyrrhus himself engaged with
extraordinary courage; but they were most carried away by the
overwhelming force of the elephants, not being able to make use of
their valour, but overthrown as it were by the irruption of a sea or
an earthquake, before which it seemed better to give way than to die
without doing anything, and not gain the least advantage by
suffering the utmost extremity, the retreat to their camp not being
far. Hieronymus says there fell six thousand of the Romans, and of
Pyrrhus's men, the king's own commentaries reported three thousand
five hundred and fifty lost in this action. Dionysius, however,
neither gives any account of two engagements at Asculum, nor allows
the Romans to have been certainly beaten, stating that once only after
they had fought till sunset, both armies were unwillingly separated by
the night, Pyrrhus being wounded by a javelin in the arm, and his
baggage plundered by the Samnites, that in all there died of Pyrrhus's
men and the Romans above fifteen thousand. The armies separated;
and, it is said, Pyrrhus replied to one that gave him joy of his
victory that one other such would utterly undo him. For he had lost
a great part of the forces he brought with him, and almost all his
particular friends and principal commanders; there were no others
there to make recruits, and he found the confederates in Italy
backward. On the other hand, as from a fountain continually flowing
out of the city, the Roman camp was quickly and plentifully filled
up with fresh men, not at all abating in courage for the loss they
sustained, but even from their very anger gaining new force and
resolution to go on with the war.
  Among these difficulties he fell again into new hopes and projects
distracting his purposes. For at the same time some persons arrived
from Sicily, offering into his hands the cities of Agrigentum,
Syracuse, and Leontini, and begging his assistance to drive out the
Carthaginians and rid the island of tyrants; and others brought him
news out of Greece that Ptolemy, called Ceranus, was slain in a fight,
and his army cut in pieces by the Gauls, and that now, above all
others, was his time to offer himself to the Macedonians, in great
need of a king. Complaining much of fortune for bringing him so many
occasions of great things all together at a time, and thinking that to
have both offered to him was to lose one of them, he was doubtful,
balancing in his thoughts. But the affairs of Sicily seeming to hold
out the greater prospects, Africa lying so near, he turned himself
to them, and presently despatched away Cineas, as he used to do, to
make terms beforehand with the cities. Then he placed a garrison in
Tarentum, much to the Tarentines' discontent, who required him
either to perform what he came for, and continue with them in a war
against the Romans, or leave the city as he found it. He returned no
pleasing answer, but commanded them to be quiet and attend his time,
and so sailed away. Being arrived in Sicily, what he had designed in
his hopes was confirmed effectually, and the cities frankly
surrendered to him; and wherever his arms and force were necessary,
nothing at first made any considerable resistance. For advancing
with thirty thousand foot, and twenty-five hundred horse, and two
hundred ships, he totally routed the Phoenicians, and overran their
whole province, and Eryx being the strongest town they held, and
having a great garrison in it, he resolved to take it by storm. The
army being in readiness to give the assault, he put on his arms, and
coming to the head of his men made a vow of plays and sacrifices in
honour to Hercules, if he signalized himself in that day's action
before the Greeks that dwelt in Sicily, as became his great descent
and his fortunes. The sign being given by sound of trumpet, he first
scattered the barbarians with his shot, and then brought his ladders
to the wall, and was the first that mounted upon it himself, and,
the enemy appearing in great numbers, he beat them back; some he threw
down from the walls on each side, others he laid dead in a heap
round about him with his sword, nor did he receive the least wound,
but by his very aspect inspired terror in the enemy; and gave a
clear demonstration that Homer was in the right, and pronounced
according to the truth of fact, that fortitude alone, of all the
virtues, is wont to display itself in divine transports and
frenzies. The being taken, he offered to Hercules most
magnificently, and exhibited all varieties of shows and plays.
  A sort of barbarous people about Messena, called Mamertines, gave
much trouble to the Greeks, and put several of them under
contribution. These being numerous and valiant (from whence they had
their name, equivalent in the Latin tongue to warlike,*) he first
intercepted the collectors of the contribution money, and cut them
off, then beat them in open fight, and destroyed many of their
places of strength. The Carthaginians being now inclined to
composition, and offering him a round sum of money, and to furnish him
with shipping, if a peace were concluded, he told them plainly,
aspiring still to greater things, there was but one way for a
friendship and right understanding between them, if they, wholly
abandoning Sicily, would consent to make the African sea the limit
between them and the Greeks. And being elevated with his good fortune,
and the strength of his forces, and pursuing those hopes in prospect
of which he first sailed thither, his immediate aim was at Africa; and
as he had abundance of shipping, but very ill equipped, he collected
seamen, not by fair and gentle dealing with the cities, but by force
in a haughty and insolent way, and menacing them with punishments. And
as at first he had not acted thus, but had been unusually indulgent
and kind, ready to believe, and uneasy to none; now of a popular
leader becoming a tyrant by these severe proceedings, he got the
name of an ungrateful and a faithless man. However, they gave way to
these things as necessary, although they took them very ill from
him; and especially when he began to show suspicion of Thoenon and
Sosistratus, men of the first position in Syracuse, who invited him
over into Sicily, and when he was come, put the cities into his power,
and were most instrumental in all he had done there since his arrival,
whom he now would neither suffer to be about his person, nor leave
at home; and when Sosistratus out of fear withdrew himself, and then
he charged Thoenon, as in a conspiracy with the other, and put him
to death, with this all his prospects changed, not by little and
little, nor in a single place only, but a mortal hatred being raised
in the cities against him, some fell off to the Carthaginians,
others called in the Mamertines. And seeing revolts in all places, and
desires of alteration, and a potent faction against him, at the same
time he received letters from the Samnites and Tarentines, who were
beaten quite out of the field, and scarce able to secure their towns
against the war, earnestly begging his help. This served as a colour
to make his relinquishing Sicily no flight, nor a despair of good
success; but in truth not being able to manage Sicily, which was as
a ship labouring in a storm, and willing to be out of her, he suddenly
threw himself over into Italy. It is reported that at his going off he
looked back upon the island, and said to those about him, "How brave a
field of war do we leave, my friends, for the Romans and Carthaginians
to fight in," which, as he then conjectured, fell out indeed not
long after.

  * Mamers being another and older form for Mars. The Mamertines
were descended from Campanian or Oscan mercenaries and spoke a kind of
Latin.

  When he was sailing off, the barbarians having conspired together,
he was forced to a fight with the Carthaginians in the very road,
and lost many of his ships; with the rest he fled into Italy. There,
about one thousand Mamertines, who had crossed the sea a little
before, though afraid to engage him in open field, setting upon him
where the passages were difficult, put the whole army in confusion.
Two elephants fell, and a great part of his rear was cut off. He,
therefore, coming up in person, repulsed the enemy, but ran into great
danger among men long trained and bold in war. His being wounded in
the head with a sword, and retiring a little out of the fight, much
increased their confidence, and one of them advancing a good way
before the rest, large of body and in bright armour, with an haughty
voice challenged him to come forth if he were alive. Pyrrhus, in great
anger, broke away violently from his guards, and, in his fury,
besmeared with blood, terrible to look upon, made his way through
his own men, and struck the barbarian on the head with his sword
such a blow, as with the strength of his arm, and the excellent temper
of the weapon, passed downward so far that his body being cut
asunder fell in two pieces. This stopped the course of the barbarians,
amazed and confounded at Pyrrhus, as one more than man; so that
continuing his march all the rest of the way undisturbed, he arrived
at Tarentum with twenty thousand foot and three thousand horse, where,
reinforcing himself with the choicest troops of the Tarentines, he
advanced immediately against the Romans, who then lay encamped in
the territories of the Samnites, whose affairs were extremely
shattered, and their counsels broken, having been in many fights
beaten by the Romans. There was also a discontent amongst them at
Pyrrhus for his expedition into Sicily, so that not many came in to
join him.
  He divided his army into two parts, and despatched the first into
Lucania to oppose one of the consuls there, so that he should not come
in to assist the other; the rest he led against Manius Curius, who had
posted himself very advantageously near Beneventum, and expected the
other consul's forces, and partly because the priests had dissuaded
him by unfavourable omens, was resolved to remain inactive. Pyrrhus,
hastening to attack these before the other could arrive, with his best
men, and the most serviceable elephants, marched in the night toward
their camp. But being forced to go round about, and through a very
woody country, their lights failed them, and the soldiers lost their
way. A council of war being called, while they were in debate, the
night was spent, and, at the break of day, his approach, as he came
down the hills, was discovered by the enemy, and put the whole camp
into disorder and tumult. But the sacrifices being auspicious, and the
time absolutely obliging them to fight, Manius drew his troops out
of the trenches, and attacked the vanguard, and, having routed them
all, put the whole army into consternation, so that many were cut
off and some of the elephants taken. This success drew on Manius
into the level plain, and here, in open battle, he defeated part of
the enemy; but, in other quarters, finding himself overpowered by
the elephants and forced back to his trenches, he commanded out
those who were left to guard them, a numerous body, standing thick
at the ramparts, all in arms and fresh. These coming down from their
strong position, and charging the elephants, forced them to retire;
and they in the flight turning back upon their own men, caused great
disorder and confusion, and gave into the hands of the Romans the
victory and the future supremacy. Having obtained from these
efforts, and these contests, the feeling as well as the fame of
invincible strength, they at once reduced Italy under their power, and
not long after Sicily too.
  Thus fell Pyrrhus from his Italian and Sicilian hopes, after he
had consumed six years in these wars, and though unsuccessful in his
affairs, yet preserved his courage unconquerable among all these
misfortunes, and was held, for military experience, and personal
valour and enterprise, much the bravest of all the princes of his
time, only what he got by great actions he lost again by vain hopes,
and by new desires of what he had not, kept nothing of what he had. So
that Antigonus used to compare him to a player with dice, who had
excellent throws, but knew not how to use them. He returned into
Epirus with eight thousand foot and five hundred horse, and for want
of money to pay them, was fain to look out for a new war to maintain
the army. Some of the Gauls joining him, he invaded Macedonia, where
Antigonus, son of Demetrius, governed, designing merely to plunder and
waste the country. But after he had made himself master of several
towns, and two thousand men came over to him, he began to hope for
something greater, and adventured upon Antigonus himself, and
meeting him at a narrow passage, put the whole army in disorder. The
Gauls, who brought up Antigonus's rear, were very numerous and stood
firm, but after a sharp encounter, the greatest part of them were
cut off, and they who had the charge of the elephants being surrounded
every way, delivered up both themselves and the beasts, Pyrrhus,
taking this advantage, and advising more with his good fortune than
his reason, boldly set upon the main body of the Macedonian foot,
already surprised with fear, and troubled at the former loss. They
declined any action or engagement with him; and he, holding out his
hand and calling aloud both to the superior and under officers by
name, brought over the foot from Antigonus, who, flying away secretly,
was only able to retain some of the seaport towns. Pyrrhus, among
all these kindnesses of fortune, thinking what he had effected against
the Gauls the most advantageous for his glory, hung up their richest
and goodliest spoils in the temple of Minerva Itonis, with this
inscription:-

        "Pyrrhus, descendant of Molossian kings,
         These shields to thee, Itonian goddess, brings,
         Won from the valiant Gaul when in the fight
         Antigonus and all his host took flight;
         'Tis not to-day or yesterday alone
         That for brave deeds the Aeacidae are known."

After this victory in the field, he proceeded to secure the cities,
and having possessed himself of Aegae, beside other hardships put upon
the people there, he left in the town a garrison of Gauls, some of
those in his own army, who being insatiably desirous of wealth,
instantly dug up the tombs of the kings that lay buried there, and
took away the riches, and insolently scattered about their bones.
Pyrrhus, in appearance, made no great matter of it, either deferring
it on account of the pressure of other business, or wholly passing
it by, out of fear of punishing those barbarians; but this made him
very ill spoken of among the Macedonians, and his affairs being yet
unsettled and brought to no firm consistence, he began to entertain
new hopes and projects, and in raillery called Antigonus a shameless
man, for still wearing his purple and not changing it for an
ordinary dress; but upon Cleonymus, the Spartan, arriving and inviting
him to Lacedaemon, he frankly embraced the overture. Cleonymus was
of royal descent, but seeming too arbitrary and absolute, had no great
respect nor credit at home; and Areus was king there. This was the
occasion of an old and public grudge between him and the citizens;
but, beside that, Cleonymus, in his old age, had married a young
lady of great beauty and royal blood, Chilonis, daughter of
Leotychides, who, falling desperately in love with Acrotatus,
Areus's son, a youth in the flower of manhood, rendered this match
both uneasy and dishonourable to Cleonymus, as there was none of the
Spartans who did not very well know how much his wife slighted him; so
these domestic troubles added to his public discontent. He brought
Pyrrhus to Sparta with an army of twenty-five thousand foot, two
thousand horse, and twenty-four elephants. So great a preparation made
it evident to the whole world that he came, not so much to gain Sparta
for Cleonymus, as to take all Peloponnesus for himself, although he
expressly denied this to the Lacedaemonian ambassadors that came to
him at Megalopolis, affirming he came to deliver the cities from the
slavery of Antigonus, and declaring he would send his younger sons
to Sparta, if he might, to be brought up in Spartan habits, that so
they might be better bred than all other kings. With these pretensions
amusing those who came to meet him in his march, as soon as ever he
entered Laconia he began to plunder and waste the country, and on
the ambassadors complaining that he began the war upon them before
it was proclaimed: "We know," said he, "very well that neither do
you Spartans, when you design anything, talk of it beforehand." One
Mandroclidas, then present, told him, in the broad Spartan dialect:
"If you are a god, you will do us no harm, we are wronging no man; but
if you are a man, there may be another stronger than you.
  He now marched away directly for Lacedaemon, and being advised by
Cleonymus to give the assault as soon as he arrived, fearing, as it is
said, lest the soldiers, entering by night, should plunder the city,
he answered, they might do it as well next morning, because there were
but few soldiers in town, and those unprovided against his sudden
approach, as Areus was not there in person, but gone to aid the
Gortynians in Crete. And it was this alone that saved the town,
because he despised it as not tenable, and so imagining no defence
would be made, he sat down before it that night. Cleonymus's
friends, and the Helots, his domestic servants, had made great
preparation at his house, as expecting Pyrrhus there at supper. In the
night the Lacedaemonians held a consultation to ship over all the
women into Crete, but they unanimously refused, and Archidamia came
into the senate with a sword in her hand, in the name of them all,
asking if the men expected the women to survive the ruins of Sparta.
It was next resolved to draw a trench in a line directly over
against the enemy's camp, and, here and there in it, to sink wagons in
the ground, as deep as the naves of the wheel, that, so being firmly
fixed, they might obstruct the passage of the elephants. When they had
just begun the work, both maids and women came to them, the married
women with their robes tied like girdles round their underfrocks,
and the unmarried girls in their single frocks only, to assist the
elder men at the work. As for the youth that were next day to
engage, they left them to their rest, and undertaking their
proportion, they themselves finished a third part of the trench
which was in breadth six cubits, four in depth, and eight hundred feet
long, as Phylarchus says; Hieronymus makes it somewhat less. The enemy
beginning to move by break of day, they brought their arms to the
young men, and giving them also in charge the trench, exhorted them to
defend and keep it bravely, as it would be happy for them to conquer
in the view of their whole country, and glorious to die in the arms of
their mothers and wives, falling as became Spartans. As for
Chilonis, she retired with a halter about her neck, resolving to die
so rather than fall into the hands Cleonymus, if the city were taken.
  Pyrrhus himself, in person, advanced with his foot to force
through the shields of the Spartans ranged against him, and to get
over the trench, which was scarce passable, because the looseness of
the fresh earth afforded no firm footing for the soldiers. Ptolemy,
his son, with two thousand Gauls, and some choice men of the
Chaonians, went around the trench, and endeavoured to get over where
the wagons were. But they, being so deep in the ground, and placed
close together, not only made his passage, but also the defence of the
Lacedaemonians, very troublesome. Yet now the Gauls had got the wheels
out of the ground, and were drawing off the wagons toward the river,
when young Acrotatus, seeing the danger, passing through the town with
three hundred men, surrounded Ptolemy undiscerned, taking the
advantage of some slopes of the ground, until he fell upon his rear,
and forced him to wheel about. And thrusting one another into the
ditch, and falling among the wagons, at last with much loss, not
without difficulty, they withdrew. The elderly men and all the women
saw this brave action of Acrotatus, and when be returned back into the
town to his first post, all covered with blood and fierce and elate
with victory, he seemed to the Spartan women to have become taller and
more beautiful than before, and they envied Chilonis so worthy a
lover. And some of the old men followed him, crying aloud, "Go on,
Acrotatus, be happy with Chilonis, and beget brave sons for Sparta."
Where Pyrrhus himself fought was the hottest of the action and many of
the Spartans did gallantly, but in particular one Phyllius
signalized himself, made the best resistance, and killed most
assailants; and when he found himself ready to sink with the many
wounds he had received, retiring a little out of his place behind
another, he fell down among his fellow-soldiers, that the enemy
might not carry off his body. The fight ended with the day, and
Pyrrhus, in his sleep, dreamed that he drew thunderbolts upon
Lacedaemon, and set it all on fire, and rejoiced at the sight; and
waking, in this transport of joy, he commanded his officers to get all
things ready for a second assault, and relating his dream among his
friends, supposing it to mean that he should take the town by storm,
the rest assented to it with admiration, but Lysimachus was not
pleased with the dream, and told him he feared lest as places struck
with lightning are held sacred, and not to be trodden upon, so the
gods might by this let him know the city should not be taken.
Pyrrhus replied, that all these things were but idle talk, full of
uncertainty, and only fit to amuse the vulgar; their thought, with
their swords in their hands, should always be-

        "The one good omen is King Pyrrhus's cause,"

and so got up, and drew out his army to the walls by break of day. The
Lacedaemonians, in resolution and courage, made a defence even
beyond their power; the women were all by, helping them to arms, and
bringing bread and drink to those that desired it, and taking care
of the wounded. The Macedonians attempted to fill up the trench,
bringing huge quantities of materials and throwing them upon the
arms and dead bodies, that lay there and were covered over. While
the Lacedaemonians opposed this with all their force, Pyrrhus, in
person, appeared on their side of the trench and wagons, pressing on
horseback toward the city, at which the men who had that post
calling out, and the women shrieking and running about, while
Pyrrhus violently pushed on, and beat down all that disputed his
way, his horse received a shot in the belly from a Cretan arrow,
and, in his convulsions as he died, threw off Pyrrhus on slippery
and steep ground. And all about him being in confusion at this, the
Spartans came boldly up, and making good use of their missiles, forced
them off again. After this Pyrrhus, in other quarters also, put an end
to the combat, imagining the Lacedaemonians would be inclined to
yield, as almost all of them were wounded, and very great numbers
killed outright; but the good fortune of the city, either satisfied
with the experiment upon the bravery of the citizens, or willing to
prove how much even in the last extremities such interposition may
effect, brought, when the Lacedaemonians had now but very slender
hopes left, Aminias, the Phocian, one of Antigonus's commanders,
from Corinth to their assistance, with a force of mercenaries; and
they were no sooner received into the town, but Areus, their king,
arrived there himself, too, from Crete, with two thousand men more.
The women upon this went all home to their houses, finding it no
longer necessary for them to meddle with the business of the war;
and they also were sent back, who, though not of military age, were by
necessity forced to take arms, while the rest prepared to fight
Pyrrhus.
  He, upon the coming of these additional forces, was indeed possessed
with a more eager desire and ambition than before to make himself
master of the town; but his designs not succeeding, and receiving
fresh losses every day, he gave over the siege, and fell to plundering
the country, determining to winter thereabout. But fate is
unavoidable, and a great feud happening at Argos between Aristeas
and Aristippus, two principal citizens, after Aristippus had
resolved to make use of the friendship of Antigonus, Aristeas to
anticipate him invited Pyrrhus thither. And he always revolving
hopes upon hopes, and treating all his successes as occasions of more,
and his reverses as defects to be amended by new enterprises,
allowed neither losses nor victories to limit him in his receiving
or giving trouble, and so presently went for Argos. Areus, by frequent
ambushes, and seizing positions where the ways were most
unpracticable, harassed the Gauls and Molossians that brought up the
rear. It had been told Pyrrhus by one of the priests that found the
liver of the sacrificed beast imperfect that some of his near
relations would be lost; in this tumult and disorder of his rear,
forgetting the prediction, he commanded out his son Ptolemy with
some of his guards to their assistance, while he himself led on the
main body rapidly out of the pass. And the fight being very warm where
Ptolemy was (for the most select men of the Lacedaemonians,
commanded by Evalcus, were there engaged), one Oryssus of Aptera in
Crete, a stout man and swift of foot, running on one side of the young
prince, as he was fighting bravely, gave him a mortal wound and slew
him. On his fall those about him turned their backs, and the
Lacedaemonian horse, pursuing and cutting off many, got into the
open plain, and found themselves engaged with the enemy before they
were aware, without their infantry; Pyrrhus, who had received the
ill news of his son, and was in great affliction, drew out his
Molossian horse against them, and charging at the head of his men,
satiated himself with the blood and slaughter of the Lacedaemonians,
as indeed he always showed himself a terrible and invincible hero in
actual fight, but now he exceeded all he had ever done before in
courage and force. On his riding his horse up to Evalcus, he by
declining a little to one side, had almost cut off Pyrrhus's hand in
which he held the reins, but lighting on the reins, only cut them;
at the same instant Pyrrhus, running him through with his spear,
fell from his horse, and there on foot as he was proceeded to
slaughter all those choice men that fought about the body of
Evalcus; a severe additional loss to Sparta, incurred after the war
itself was now at an end, by the mere animosity of the commanders.
Pyrrhus having thus offered, as it were, a sacrifice to the ghost of
his son, and fought a glorious battle in honour of his obsequies,
and having vented much of his pain in action against the enemy,
marched away to Argos. And having intelligence that Antigonus was
already in possession of the high grounds, he encamped about
Nauplia, and the next day despatched a herald to Antigonus calling him
a villain, and challenging him to descend into the plain field and
fight with him for the kingdom. He answered, that his conduct should
be measured by times as well as by arms, and that if Pyrrhus had no
leisure to live, there were ways enough open to death. To both the
kings, also, came ambassadors from Argos, desiring each party to
retreat, and to allow the city to remain in friendship with both,
without falling into the hands of either. Antigonus was persuaded, and
sent his son as a hostage to the Argives; but Pyrrhus, although he
consented to retire, yet, as he sent no hostage, was suspected. A
remarkable portent happened at this time to Pyrrhus; the heads of
the sacrificed oxen, lying apart from the bodies, were seen to
thrust out their tongues and lick up their own gore. And in the city
of Argos, the priestess of Apollo Lycius rushed out of the temple,
crying she saw the city full of carcasses and slaughter, and an
eagle coming out to fight, and presently vanishing again.
  In the dead of the night, Pyrrhus, approaching the walls, and
finding the gate called Diamperes set open for them by Aristeas, was
undiscovered long enough to allow all his Gauls to enter and take
possession of the market-place. But the gate being too low to let in
the elephants, they were obliged to take down the towers which they
carried on their backs, and put them on again in the dark and in
disorder, so that time being lost, the city took the alarm, and the
people ran, some to Aspis the chief citadel, and other places of
defence, and sent away to Antigonus to assist them. He, advancing
within a short distance, made an halt, but sent in some of his
principal commanders, and his son with a considerable force. Areus
came thither, too, with one thousand Cretans, and some of the most
active men among the Spartans, and all falling on at once upon the
Gauls, put them in great disorder. Pyrrhus, entering in with noise and
shouting near the Cylarabis, when the Gauls returned the cry,
noticed that it did not express courage and assurance, but was the
voice of men distressed, and that had their hands full. He, therefore,
pushed forward in haste the van of his horse that marched but slowly
and dangerously, by reason of the drains and sinks of which the city
is full. In this night engagement there was infinite uncertainty as to
what was being done, or what orders were given; there was much
mistaking and struggling in the narrow streets; all generalship was
useless in that darkness and noise and pressure; so both sides
continued without doing anything, expecting daylight. At the first
dawn, Pyrrhus, seeing the great citadel Aspis full of enemies, was
disturbed, and remarking, among a variety of figures dedicated in
the market-place, a wolf and a bull of brass, as it were ready to
attack one another, he was struck with alarm, recollecting an oracle
that formerly predicted fate had determined his death when he should
see a wolf fighting with a bull. The Argives say these figures were
set up in record of a thing that long ago had happened there. For
Danaus, at his first landing in the country, near the Pyramia in
Thyreatis, as he was on his way towards Argos, espied a wolf
fighting with a bull, and conceiving the wolf to represent him (for
this stranger fell upon a native as he designed to do), stayed to
see the issue of the fight, and the wolf prevailing, he offered vows
to Apollo Lycius, and thus made his attempt upon the town, and
succeeded; Gelanor, who was then king, being displaced by a faction.
And this was the cause of dedicating those figures.
  Pyrrhus, quite out of heart at this sight, and seeing none of his
designs succeed, thought best to retreat, but fearing the narrow
passage at the gate, sent to his son Helenus, who was left without the
town with a great part of his forces, commanding him to break down
part of the wall, and assist the retreat if the enemy pressed hard
upon them. But what with haste and confusion, the person that was sent
delivered nothing clearly; so that quite mistaking, the young prince
with the best of his men and the remaining elephants marched
straight through the gates into the town to assist his father. Pyrrhus
was now making good his retreat, and while the market-place afforded
them ground enough both to retreat and fight, frequently repulsed
the enemy that bore upon him. But when he was forced out of that broad
place into the narrow street leading to the gate, and fell in with
those who came the other way to his assistance, some did not hear
him call out to them to give back, and those who did, however eager to
obey him, were pushed forward by others behind, who poured in at the
gate. Besides, the largest of his elephants falling down on his side
in the very gate, and lying roaring on the ground, was in the way of
those that would have got out. Another of the elephants already in the
town, called Nicon, striving to take up his rider, who, after many
wounds received, was fallen off his back, bore forward upon those that
were retreating, and, thrusting upon friends as well as enemies,
tumbled them all confusedly upon one another, till having found the
body, and taken it up with his trunk, he carried it on his tusks, and,
returning in a fury, trod down all before him. Being thus pressed
and crowded together, not a man could do anything for himself, but
being wedged, as it were, together into one mass, the whole
multitude rolled and swayed this way and that altogether, and did very
little execution either upon the enemy in their rear, or on any of
them who were intercepted in the mass, but very much harm to one
another. For he who had either drawn his sword or directed his lance
could neither restore it again, nor put his sword up; with these
weapons they wounded their own men, as they happened to come in the
way, and they were dying by mere contact with each other.
  Pyrrhus, seeing this storm and confusion of things, took off the
crown he wore upon his helmet, by which he was distinguished, and gave
it to one nearest his person, and trusting to the goodness of his
horse, rode in among the thickest of the enemy, and being wounded with
a lance through his breastplate, but not dangerously, nor indeed
very much, he turned about upon the man who struck him, who was an
Argive, not of any illustrious birth, but the son of a poor old woman;
she was looking upon the fight among other women from the top of a
house, and perceiving her son engaged with Pyrrhus, and affrighted
at the danger he was in, took up a tile with both hands and threw it
at Pyrrhus. This falling on his head below the helmet, and bruising
the vertebrae of the lower part of the neck, stunned and blinded
him; his hands let go the reins, and sinking down from his horse he
fell just by the tomb of Licymnius. The common soldiers knew not who
it was; but one Zopyrus, who served under Antigonus, and two or
three others running thither, and knowing it was Pyrrhus, dragged
him to a doorway hard by, just as he was recovering a little from
the blow. But when Zopyrus drew out an Illyrian sword, ready to cut
off his head, Pyrrhus gave him so fierce a look that, confounded
with terror, and sometimes his hands trembling and then again
endeavouring to do it, full of fear and confusion, he could not strike
him right, but cutting over his mouth and chin, it was a long time
before he got off the head. By this time what had happened was known
to a great many, and Alcyoneus hastening to the place, desired to look
upon the head, and see whether he knew it, and taking it in his hand
rode away to his father, and threw it at his feet, while he was
sitting with some of his particular favourites. Antigonus, looking
upon it, and knowing it, thrust his son from him, and struck him
with his staff, calling him wicked and barbarous, and covering his
eyes with his robe shed tears, thinking of his own father and
grandfather, instances in his own family of the changefulness of
fortune, and caused the head and body of Pyrrhus to be burned with all
due solemnity. After this, Alcyoneus, discovering Helenus under a mean
disguise in a threadbare coat, used him very respectfully, and brought
him to his father. When Antigonus saw him, "This, my son," said he,
"is better; and yet even now you have not done wholly well in allowing
these clothes to remain, to the disgrace of those who it seems now are
the victors." And treating Helenus with great kindness, and as
became a prince, restored him to his kingdom of Epirus, and gave the
same obliging reception to all Pyrrhus's principal commanders, his
camp and whole army having fallen into his hands.


                                THE END