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, were named Pyrrhidae; as he in

his youth was called Pyrrhus, and of his legitimate children, one

born of Lanassa, daughter of Cleodaeus, Hyllus's son, had also that

name. From him, Achilles came to have divine honors 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 off 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 end 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

endeavoring 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 after, 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 entrusted; 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 honor, 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

neighboring 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 anyone 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 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 neighbors 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 valor 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, 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 valor, 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 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 favors, while they to

whom it is due can be sensible of it, afflicts a good and a 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 redactions 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 with 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

neighbor; 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 sepulchers in

Molossia; especially having so lately, by his means, lost Corcyra and

his wife together. For Lanassa had taken offense 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 a

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 head-quarters 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 endeavoring 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 rumors 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 sat 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 neighboring kings the most at leisure, and the most

skillful 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 only 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 vigor 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 honor 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 anyone 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, anyone will dare to make further

resistance?" "None," replied Cineas, "for then it is manifest we may

with such mighty forces regain Macedon, and make all 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 labor,

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 labor, 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 his ships were all in harbor, 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 endeavor 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 armor, 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 me 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, not

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, be 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 valor 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 honorable after his victory. Cineas was dispatched 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 dishonorable 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 today make 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 object 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 honor 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 entrusted 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

dispatches 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 judgment 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 favor 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 of 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 of 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 valor, 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 losses 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 Ceraunus, 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 dispatched 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 honor 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 city 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 color

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 laboring 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.

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 armor, 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 dispatched 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 unfavorable 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

valor 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 Gauls when in the fight

Antigonus and all his host took flight;

'Tis not today nor 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 a 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

dishonorable 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 defense

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 wheels, 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 of 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 endeavored 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 defense 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 he 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 threw 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' 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 defense 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 the 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 honor 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 dispatched 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 marketplace. 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 others to other

places of defense, 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 straggling 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 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

marketplace 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 all

together, 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 door way 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

endeavoring 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 favorites. 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, he 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.