without any ransom, and to aid them in the conquest of all Italy; requiring, at the same time, no other return but their friendship, and a sufficient security for the Tarentines. Several of the senators seemed inclinable to a peace: and this was no unreasonable disposition. They had lately been defeated in a great battle, and were on the point of hazarding another of much more importance. They had likewise reason to be apprehensive of many fatal events; the forces of Pyrrhus having been considerbly augmented by the junction of several of his Ita

lian allies.

The Roman courage in this conjuncture, seemed to want the animating spirit of the celebrated Appius Claudius, an illustrious senator, whose great age and loss of sight had obliged him to confine himself to his family, and retire from public affairs. But when he understood, by the confused report which was then dispersed through the city, that the senators were disposed to accept the offers of Pyrrhus, he caused himself to be carried into the assembly, which kept a profound silence the moment he appeared. There the venerable old man, whose zeal for the honour of his country seemed to have inspired him with all his ancient vigour, made it evident, by reasons equally solid and affecting, that they were on the point of destroying, by an infamous treaty, all the glory which Rome had ever acquired. "Where (said he with a warmth of noble indignation) "where is the spirit "that suggested the bold language you once utter"ed, and whose accents rung through all the world; "when you declared, that if the great Alexander "himself had invaded Italy, when we were young, "and our fathers in the vigour of their age, he "would never have gained the reputation of being "invincible, but have added new lustre to the glory "of Rome, either by his flight or death! Is it pos"sible then, that you should now tremble at the mere name of a Pyrrhus, who has passed his days "in cringing to one of the guards of that Alexander,

and who now wanders, like a wretched adventurer "from country to country, to avoid the enemies he "has at home, and who has the insolence to pro*mise you the conquest of Italy, with those very troops who have not been able to secure him a "small tract of Macedonia!" He added many other things of the same nature, which awakened the Roman bravery, and dispelled the apprehensions of the senators; who unanimously returned this answer to Cineas" That Pyrrhus should first retire from Italy; after which, if he should find himself disposed for peace, he might send an embassy to solicit it: but that, as long as he continued in arms in their country, the Romans would maintain the war against him with all their forces, though he should even vanquish ten thousand such leaders as Levinus."

It is said, that Cineas, during his continuance at Rome, in order to negociate a peace, took all the methods of a man of wisdom and address, to inform himself of the manners and customs of the Romans; their public as well as private conduct, with the form and constitution of their government; and that he was industrious to obtain as exact an account as possible of the forces and revenues of the republic. When he returned to Tarentum, he gave the King a faithful relation of all the discoveries he had made in his conferences with the principal men of Rome, and told him, among other particulars, "That the senate seemed to him an assembly of kings." A just and noble idea of that august body! and with respect to the numerous inhabitants who filled the streets, and all parts of the country, he added, "I greatly fear we are fighting with an hydra." Cineas, indeed, had some reason for this remark, for the consul Levinus had at that time an army in the field, twice as numerous as the first, and Rome had still an infinite number of men capable of bearing arms, and forming many armies as powerful as that which had been newly levied.

The return of Cineas to Tarentum was imme diately succeeded by the arrival of ambassadors to Pyrrhus from the Romans, among whom was Fabricius, who, as Cineas informed the king, was highly esteemed at Rome as a very virtuous man, and welf experienced in military affairs, but that his fortune was extremely low. Pyrrhus received them with extraordinary marks of distinction, and treated them with all the honours possible. The ambassadors, at their audience, said every thing necessary in the present conjuncture; and as they imagined his thoughts were elate by the victory he had obtained over their troops, they represented to him the vicissitudes and inconstancy of fortune, which no prudence of man could foresee; that the greatest overthrows in the field were incapable of sinking the Roman fortitude, and consequently it could never be alarmed at any little disadvantage; that the examples of so many enemies as they had defeated, should teach Pyrrhus to reflect on the enterprize he was forming; that he would find, at worst, that they were enemies prepared to receive him, and in a capacity to defend themselves. They concluded their remonstrances with leaving it to his choice, either to receive a ransom for their soldiers who were then his prisoners of war, or to exchange them for such of his troops as the Romans had taken from him.

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Pyrrhus, after a consultation with his friends, an swered the ambassadors to this effect: "Romans, it "is with an ill grace you demand the prisoners I "have taken from you, as you intend to employ "them against me, after your refusal of the peace "I proposed. If our mutual interest had been the subject of your attention, you never would have "had recourse to such evasions. Be it your care to "end, by an amicable treaty, the war you are main"taining against me and my allies, and I promise to "restore you all my prisoners, as well your citizens

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Dion. Halicarn. Excerpt. Legat. p. 744-748.

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me.

as your confederates, without the ransom you offer If you reject this condition, it is in vain for you to imagine, that Pyrrhus will ever be prevail"ed upon to release so great a number of soldiers."

When he had returned this answer to the ambassadors, he took Fabricius aside, and addressed him in the following manner: "As for you, Fabricius, I વર્ડ am sensible of your merit: I am likewise informed "that you are an excellent general, and perfectly

qualified for the command of an army; that jus"tice and temperance are united in your character, "and that you pass for a person of consummate virહૈદ tue. But I am likewise as certain of your poverty; and must confess, that fortune, in this particular "alone, has treated you with injustice, by misplacing you in the class of indigent senators. In order, "therefore, to supply that sole deficiency, I am ready to give you as much gold and silver as will raise ἐσ you above the richest citizen of Rome; being fully "persuaded, That no expence can be more ho"nourable to a prince than that which is employed "in the relief of great men, who are compelled by "their poverty to lead a life unworthy of their vir

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tue; and that this is the noblest purpose to which "a king can possibly devote his treasures.' At the "same time, I must desire you to believe, that I

have no intention to exact any unjust or dishonourable service from you, as a return of gratitude. "I expect nothing from you but what is perfectly consistent with your honour, and what will add to your authority and importance in your own country. Let me, therefore, conjure you to assist me "with your credit in the Roman senate, which has "hitherto assumed an air of too much inflexibility, "with relation to the treaty I proposed, and has "never consulted the rules of moderation in any re

spect. Make them sensible, I intreat you, that I "have given my solemn word to assist the Taren"tines and other Greeks who are settled in this part "of Italy; and that I cannot in honour abandon

"them on any account, and especially as I am now at the head of a potent army that has already gained me a battle. I must however acquaint you, that I am called by some pressing affairs, to my "own dominions; and this is the circumstance "which makes me wish for peace with the greater "solicitude. As to any other particulars, if my "quality as a king causes me to be suspected by the "senate, because a number of other princes have openly violated the faith of treaties and alliances, "without the least hesitation; become my surety "yourself on this occasion; assist me with your "counsels in all my proceedings, and command my "armies under me. I want a virtuous man and a "faithful friend; and you as much need a prince, "whose liberalities may enable you to be more use"ful, and to do more good to mankind. Let us, "therefore, consent to render mutual assistance to "each other, in all the future conjunctures of our " lives."

Pyrrhus having expressed himself in this manner, Fabricius, after a few moment's silence, replied to him in these terms. "It is needless for me to "make any mention of the experience I may pos

sibly have in the conduct of public or private "affairs, since you have been informed of that from "others. With respect also to my poverty you "seem to be so well acquainted with it, that it would "be unnecessary for me to assure you, I have no "money to improve, nor any slaves from whom I "derive the least revenue: that my whole fortune "consists in a house of no considerable appearance; "and in a little spot of ground that furnishes me "with my support. But if you believe my poverty "renders my condition inferior to that of every other "Roman, and that, while I am discharging the "duties of an honest man, I am the less consider"ed, because I happen not to be of the number of "the rich; permit me to acquaint you, that the "idea you conceive of me, is not just, and that