OF THE

Peloponnesian Warre.

First described in _Greek_ by _Thucydides_;

Then in _Latin_ by _Lucretius_.

_Now attempted in English_,

By ~THO. SPRAT~.

=LONDON=,

Printed by _E. C._ for _Henry Brome_, at the Gun in

_Ivy-lane_, 1665.

[Illustration: (decorative border)]

_To my Worthy and Learned Friend, Dr._ Walter Pope, _late Proctor of

the University of_ Oxford.

=SIR=,

I Know not what pleasure you could take in bestowing your commands so

unprofitably, unless it be that for which Nature sometimes cherishes

and allows Monsters, The love of Variety. This onely delight you will

receive by turning over this rude and unpolisht Copy, and comparing

it with my excellent Patterns, the _Greek_ and _Latin_. By this you

will see how much a noble Subject is chang’d and disfigured by an ill

hand, and what reason _Alexander_ had to forbid his Picture to be

drawn but by some celebrated Pencil. In _Greek Thucydides_ so well

and so lively expresses it, that I know not which is more a Poem,

his description, or that of _Lucretius_. Though it must be said,

that the _Historian_ had a vast advantage over the _Poet_; He having

been present on the place, and assaulted by the disease himself, had

the horror familiar to his Eyes, and all the shapes of the _misery_

still remaining on his mind, which must needs make a great impression

on his Pen and Fancie. Whereas the _Poet_ was forced to allow his

foot-steps, and onely work on that matter he allow’d him. This I

speak, because it may in some measure too excuse my own defects:

For being so far remov’d from the place whereon the disease acted

its Tragedy; and time having denied us many of the circumstances,

customes of the Countrey, and other small things which would be of

great use to any one who did intend to be perfect on the subject;

besides onely writing by an _Idea_ of that which I never yet saw, nor

care to feel, (being not of the humor of the Painter in Sir _Philip

Sidney_, who thrust himself into the midst of a Fight, that he might

the better delineate it) having, I say, all these disadvantages,

and many more, for which I must onely blame my self, it cannot be

expected, that I should come near equalling him in whom none of the

contrary advantages were wanting. Thus then, Sir, by emboldning me

to this rash attempt, you have given opportunitie to the _Greek_ and

_Latin_ to Triumph over our _Mother tongue_. Yet I would not have the

honour of the Countries or Languages engaged in the comparison, but

that the inequality should reach no farther than the Authors. But

I have much reason to fear the just indignation of that excellent

Person, (the present Ornament and Honour of our Nation) whose way of

writing I imitate: for he may think himself as much injured by my

following him, as were the Heavens by that bold mans counterfeiting

the sacred and unimitable noise of Thunder by the sound of Brass and

Horses hoofs. I shall onely say for my self, that I took _Cicero_’s

advice, who bids us in imitation propose the Noblest pattern to our

thoughts; for so we may be sure to be raised above the common Level,

though we come infinitely short of what we aim at. Yet I hope that

renowned Poet will have none of my crimes any way reflect on himself;

for it was not any fault in the excellent Musician, that the weak

Bird, indeavouring by straining its throat, to follow his Notes,

destroyed her self in the Attempt. Well, Sir, by this, that I have

chosen rather to expose my self than be disobedient, you may guess

with what zeal and hazard I strive to approve my self,

=SIR=,

_Your most Humble and

Affectionate Servant_,

~THO. SPRAT~.

[Illustration: (decorative border)]

~THUCYDIDES~, Lib. 2.

As it is excellently Translated by Mr. _Hobbs_.

_In the very beginning of Summer, the_ Peloponnesians, _and their_

Confederates, _with two thirds of their forces, as before invaded_

Attica, _under the conduct of_ Archidamus, _the son of_ Zeuxidamas,

_King of_ Lacedæmon, _and after they had encamped themselves, wasted

the Countrey about them_.

_They had not been many days in_ Attica, _when the Plague first

began amongst the_ Athenians, _said also to have seized formerly on

divers other parts, as about_ Lemnos, _and elsewhere; but so great

a Plague, and Mortality of Men, was never remembred to have hapned

in any place before. For at first, neither were the Physicians able

to cure it, through ignorance of what it was, but died fastest

themselves, as being the men that most approach’d the sick, nor any

other art of man availed whatsoever. All supplications to the_ Gods,

_and enquiries of_ Oracles, _and whatsoever other means they used

of that kind, proved all unprofitable; insomuch as subdued with the

greatness of the evil, they gave them all over. It began (by report)

first, in that part of_ Æthiopia _that lieth upon_ Ægypt, _and thence

fell down into_ Ægypt _and_ Afrique, _and into the greatest part of

the Territories of the_ King. _It invaded_ Athens _on a sudden, and

touched first upon those that dwelt in_ Pyræus, _insomuch as they

reported that the_ Peloponnesians _had cast poyson into their Wells;

for Springs there were not any in that place. But afterwards it came

up into the high City, and then they died a great deal faster. Now

let every man, Physician, or other, concerning the ground of this

sickness, whence it sprung, and what causes he thinks able to produce

so great an alteration, speak according to his own knowledge; for my

own part, I will deliver but the manner of it, and lay open onely

such things, as one may take his Mark by, to discover the same if it

come again, having been both sick of it my self, and seen others sick

of the same. This year, by confession of all men, was of all other,

for other Diseases, most free and healthful. If any man were sick

before, his disease turned to this; if not, yet suddenly, without

any apparent cause preceding, and being in perfect health, they

were taken first with an extream ache in their Heads, redness and

inflamation of the Eyes; and then inwardly their Throats and Tongues

grew presently bloody, and their breath noysome and unsavory. Upon

this followed a sneezing and hoarsness, and not long after, the pain,

together with a mighty cough, came down into the brest. And when

once it was setled in the Stomach, it caused vomit, and with great

torment came up all manner of bilious purgation that Physicians ever

named. Most of them had also the Hickeyexe, which brought with it

a strong Convulsion, and in some ceased quickly, but in others was

long before it gave over. Their bodies outwardly to the touch, were

neither very hot, nor pale, but reddish, livid, and beflowred with

little pimples and whelks; but so burned inwardly, as not to endure

any the lightest cloaths or linnen garment to be upon them, nor any

thing but meer nakedness, but rather, most willingly to have cast

themselves into the cold water. And many of them that were not looked

to, possessed with insatiate thirst, ran unto the Wells; and to drink

much, or little, was indifferent, being still from ease and power to

sleep as far as ever. As long as the disease was at the height, their

bodies wasted not, but resisted the torment beyond all expectation,

insomuch as the most of them either died of their inward burning in 9

or 7 dayes, whilest they had yet strength, or if they escaped that,

then the disease falling down into their bellies, and causing there

great exulcerations and immoderate looseness, they died many of them

afterwards through weakness: For the disease (which took first the

head) began above, and came down, and passed through the whole body;

and he that overcame the worst of it, was yet marked with the loss of

his extreme parts; for breaking out both at their Privy-members, and

at their Fingers and Toes, many with the loss of these escaped. There

were also some that lost there Eys, & many that presently upon their

recovery were taken with such an oblivion of all things whatsoever,

as they neither knew themselves nor their acquaintance. For this was

a kind of sickness which far surmounted all expression of words, and

both exceeded Humane Nature, in the cruelty wherewith it handled

each one, and appeared also otherwise to be none of those diseases

that are bred amongst us, and that especially by this. For all, both

Birds and Beasts; that use to feed on Humane flesh, though many men

lay abroad unburied, either came not at them, or tasting perished.

An Argument whereof as touching the_ Birds, _is the manifest defect

of such Fowl, which were not then seen, neither about the Carcasses,

or any where else; but by the Dogs, because they are familiar with

Men, this effect was seen much clearer. So that this disease (to

pass over many strange particulars of the accidents that some had

differently from others) was in general such as_ I _have shewn; and

for other usual sicknesses, at that time, no man was troubled with

any. Now they died, some for want of attendance, and some again with

all the care and_ Physick _that could be used. Nor was there any,

to say, certain Medicine, that applied must have helped them; for

if it did good to one, it did harm to another; nor any difference

of_ Body _for strength or weakness that was able to resist it; but

it carried all away what Physick soever was administred. But the

greatest misery of all was, the dejection of Mind, in such as found

themselves beginning to be sick, (for they grew presently desperate,

and gave themselves over without making any resistance) as also their

dying thus like_ Sheep, _infected by mutual visitation: For if men

forbore to visit them for fear, then they died forlorn, whereby many

Families became empty, for want of such as should take care of them.

If they forbore not, then they died themselves, and principally the

honestest men. For out of shame, they would not spare themselves,

but went in unto their friends, especially after it was come to this

pass, that even their Domesticks, wearied with the lamentations of

them that died, and overcome with the greatness of the calamity,

were no longer moved therewith. But those that were recovered, had

much compassion both on them that died, and on them that lay sick,

as having both known the misery themselvs and now no more subject

to the like danger: For this disease never took any man the second

time so as to be mortal. And these men were both by others counted

happy, and they also themselves, through excess of present joy,

conceived a kind of light hope, never to die of any other sickness

hereafter. Besides the present affliction, the reception of the

Countrey people, and of their substance into the City, oppressed

both them, and much more the people themselves that so came in. For

having no Houses, but dwelling at that time of the year in stifling

Booths, the Mortality was now without all form; and dying men lay

tumbling one upon another in the Streets, and men half dead about

every Conduit through desire of water. The_ Temples _also where they

dwelt in_ Tents, _were all full of the dead that died within them;

for oppressed with the violence of the Calamity, and not knowing what

to do, Men grew careless, both of_ Holy _and_ Prophane _things alike.

And the Laws which they formerly used touching_ Funerals, _were all

now broken; every one burying where he could find room. And many for

want of things necessary, after so many Deaths before, were forced to

become impudent in the_ Funerals _of their_ Friends. _For when one

had made a_ Funeral Pile, _another getting before him, would throw

on his dead, and give it fire. And when one was in burning, another

would come, and having cast thereon him whom he carried, go his way

again. And the great licentiousness, which also in other kinds was

used in the City, began at first from this disease. For that which

a man before would dissemble, and not acknowledge to be done for

voluptuousness, he durst now do freely, seeing before his Eyes such

quick revolution, of the rich dying, and men worth nothing inheriting

their Estates; insomuch as they justified a speedy fruition of their

Goods, even for their pleasure, as Men that thought they held their

Lives but by the day. As for pains, no man was forward in any action

of Honour, to take any, because they thought it uncertain whether

they should die or not, before they atchieved it. But what any man

knew to be delightful, and to be profitable to pleasure, that was

made both profitable and honourable. Neither the fear of the Gods,

nor Laws of men, awed any man. Not the former, because they concluded

it was alike to worship or not worship, from seeing that alike they

all perished: nor the latter, because no man expected that lives

would last, till he received punishment of his crimes by Judgement.

But they thought there was now over their heads some far greater

Judgement decreed against them; before which fell, they thought to

enjoy some little part of their Lives._

[Illustration: (decorative border)]

_The Plague of_

~ATHENS~.

Unhappy Man! by Nature made to sway,

And yet is every Creatures prey,

Destroy’d by those that should his power obey.

Of the whole World we call _Mankind_ the Lords,

Flattring our selves with mighty words;

Of all things we the Monarchs are,

And so we rule, and so we domineer;

All creatures else about us stand

Like some _Prætorian_ Band,

To guard, to help, and to defend;

Yet they sometimes prove Enemies,

Sometimes against us rise;

Our very Guards rebel, and tyrannize.

Thousand Diseases sent by Fate,

(Unhappie Servants!) on us wait;

A thousand Treacheries within

Are laid weak Life to win;

Huge Troops of Maladies without,

(A grim, a meager, and a dreadful rout:)

Some formal Sieges make

And with sure slowness do our Bodies take;

Some with quick violence storm the Town,

And all in a moment down:

Some one peculiar sort assail,

Some by general attempt prevail.

Small Herbs, alas, can onely us relieve,

And small is the assistance they can give;

How can the fading Off spring of the Field

Sure health and succour yield?

What strong and certain remedie?

What firm and lasting life can ours be?

When that which makes us live, doth ev’ry Winter die?