The liues of Epaminondas, of Philip of Macedon, of Dionysius the Elder, and of Octauius Cæsar Augustus: collected out of good authors. Also the liues of nine excellent chieftaines of warre, taken out of Latine from Emylius Probus, by S.G. S. By whom also are added the liues of Plutarch and of Seneca: gathered together, disposed, and enriched as the others. And now translated into English by Sir Thomas North Knight

THE LIFE OF Conon.

DVring the warres of PELOPONNESVS, Conon ATHENIAN began to deale in the affaires of the common wealth, and did great seruice: for he was chosen Colonell of the infanterie, then Admirall, in which charge he did many goodly exploits. By meanes whereof he grew to be of singular reputation amongst all men, and had the gouernement of all the Iles: during which time he wanne PHARES a Colony of the LACEDAEMONIANS. Towards the end of the warre of PELOPONNE∣SVS, at what time Lysander ouercame the army of the ATHENIANS v∣pon the sea coast which they call the riuer of the Goate, he had then charge of certaine galleys: howbeit he was not at the battell, which was cause that all came to naught, for he was a wise and valiant Captaine: in so much that it was in euery mans mouth, that if he had bene there, the ATHENIANS had not sustained such a losse. He seeing things brought to so poore an estate, and vnderstanding that his citie was besieged: he sought not to hide himselfe to liue I safety, but thought how he might helpe his citizens. For this purpose he went to Pharnabazus, a kinsman and sonne in law of the king of PERSIA, and gouernour of IONIA and of LYDIA, into whose fauour he insinuated himselfe, but with great trouble and much danger. Now when the LACEDAEMONIANS, after they had subdued the ATHENIANS, in stead of maintaining the alliance made with Artaxerxes, had sent Agesilaus to make warre in ASIA, through the perswasion of Tissaphernes, which had forsaken the king (of whom hereto∣fore he was greatly beloued) and ioyned with the LACEDAEMONIANS: Pharnabazus was ap∣pointed Lieutenant generall of the armie of the PERSIANS to make head against Agesilaus. But in truth Conon commaunded all, and nothing was done without his aduice and counsell. It was he that brake the most part of all the intentions and attempts of this great Captaine Agesi∣laus, being a thing certaine inough, that if Conon had not opposed himselfe, the LACEDAEMO∣NIANS had taken all ASIA from the king, vnto the mountaine Taurus. Hereupon Agesilaus be∣ing sent for home by the Ephores, because the BOEOTIANS and ATHENIANS had proclaimed warre against SPARTA: Conon left not to be euer neare to the Lieutenants of the king of PER∣SIA, and did them great seruice.

Tissaphernes withdrew himselfe from the court of PERSIA, the which all men perceiued well

inough but the king, with whom he was in great credite and estimation, though he was no more his seruant. And it is not to be maruelled at if Artaxerxes could beleeue nothing, remembring himselfe that by Tissaphernes meanes he ouercame his brother Cyrus. Conon being sent by Phar∣nabazus vnto the king to accuse this Tissaphernes: he being come to the court, came first to the Captaine of the guard, called Tithraustes, according to the custome of the PERSIANS. He is chiefest of all the officers of the kingdome, and no man can be suffered to come neare the king to speake with him, without his leaue and licence. He being intreated by Conon to let him go vnto the Prince: I am contented, sayth he, but consider first if thou be determined to speake with him thy selfe, or to deliuer thy mind by writing that thou wouldest say vnto him. For if thou come to his presence, thou must kneele to the king: and if thou thinke that grieuous vnto thee, thou maiest execute thy commission by my meanes, as well as by thine owne mouth. As for me, answered Conon, it shall be not troublesome thing to me, to do the king that honour that shall please thee: but I am afraid to do my city dishonor, if I do a thing proper to the barbarous people, & vnfit for that city which was wont to cōmand other nations. So then he deliuered his message in writing: which when the king had seene, he was so moued with the report of so great a person, that he iudged Tissaphernes his enemy, decreed warre against the LACEDAEMONIANS, and suffered Conon to make choise of such a man as he would, to distribute the money necessary to defray the charge of this warre. Conon made this answer, that this election pertained nothing to him, but to the king, that knew his seruants best: yet in his opinion, this charge should be best bestowed vpon Pharnabazus. He was sent backe with great presents to the maritime townes, to commaund the CYPRIOTS, PHENICIANS, and others dwelling vpon this coast to put galleys in readinesse, and to arme a fleete that might keepe the seas the next Sommer, vnder the conduct of Pharnabazus and of Conon, who had so required it.

The LACEDAEMONIANS being aduertised thereof, were amazed, perceiuing well that they were to make another maner of warre then with the barbarous people. For they saw that they must needs come to fight against a valiant and wise Captaine, hauing the kings treasure in his hands, and that had asmuch & better direction and forces then they. With this thought they ga∣thered together great store of shipping, & imbarked themselues vnder the conduct of Pisander. Conon met with them neare vnto CNIDOS, gaue them battell, made them flye, tooke store of galleys, and sunke a great number of them. By meanes of this victory, ATHENS and all GRECE subiect to the dominion of the LACEDAEMONIANS, were set at liberty. Conon returned againe to his countrey with part of these galleys, built vp againe the wals of ATHENS and of the hauen of PIRAEA, which had bene ouerthrowne by Lysander, and presented his citizens with 30000 crownes which Pharnabazus had giuen him. But that which happeneth oftentimes vnto other men, chanced also vnto Conon, that is, to haue lesse courage in prosperity, then in aduersitie. For now that he had ouercome the fleete of the PELOPONNESIANS, thinking he had taken suffici∣ent reuenge of the wrongs receiued by his country: he began to embrace in his mind imagina∣tions too high for his cariage: although this was good and commendable in his enterprise, that he had rather make his owne countrey great and rich, then the king of PERSIA. Therefore he being now growne into wonderfull credite, not onely amongst the barbarous people, but also amongst all the cities of GRECE, after this battell of CNIDOS, he began vnderhand to practise the meanes to restore IONIA and AEOLIA to be subiect againe to the common wealth of the A∣THENIANS. His practises being discouered, Tiribazus gouernour of SARDIS, sent to pray him to come to him, to be sent in Ambassage to the king. Conon straight obeying his commaunde∣ment, he was no sooner arriued, but he was straight clapt vp in prison, where he remained some time. Some write that he was caried to the king, and died in PERSIA. But Dinon the historian, to whom we giue great credite in that he treateth of the affaires of PERSIA, reporteth that Conon saued himselfe, leauing it in doubt whether Tiribazus was priuy to it, or that he knew not of it.

The end of Conons life.