The history of the world

§. V. How PYRRHVS assailed Sparta without successe. His enterprise vpon Argos, and his death.

PYYRRHVS had now conceiued a great hope, that nothing should bee able to withstand him; seeing, that in open fight, he had vanquished [unspec 50] the Gaules, beaten Antigonus, and won the Kingdome of Macedon; There was not in all Greece, nor, indeede, in all the Lands that Alex∣ander had wonne, any Leader of such name and worth, as deserued to be set vp against him: which filled him with the opinion that he might do what

he pleased. He raised therefore an Armie, consisting of fiue and twenty thousand foot, two thousand horse, and foure and twentie Elephants; pretending warre a∣gainst Antigonus, and the giuing libertie to those Towns in Peloponnesus, which the same Antigonus held in subiection; though it was easily discouered, that such great preparations were made, for accomplishment of some designe more important, then warre against a Prince alreadie vanquished, and almost vterly dejected. Espe∣cially the Lacedaemonians feared this expedition, as made against their State. For Cleonymus, one of their Kings, being expelled out of his Countrie, had betaken him∣selfe to Pyrrhus: who readily entertained him, and promised to restore him to his Kingdome. This promise was made in secret; neither would Pyrrhus make shew [unspec 10] of any displeasure that he bare vnto Sparta; but contrariwise professed, that it was his intent, to haue two of his owne yonger sonnes trained vp in that Citie, as in a place of noble discipline. With such colours he deluded men, euen till he entred vpon Laconia; where presently he demeaned himselfe as an open enemie: excusing himselfe and his former dissembling words, with a jeast; That he followed herein the Lacedaemonian custome, of concealing what was truly purposed. It had been, indeed, the manner of the Lacedaemonians, to deale in like sort with others, whom, in the time of their greatnesse, they sought to oppresse: but now they complained of that, as false∣hood, in Pyrrhus, which they alwaies practised as wisdome, till it made them distru∣sted, forsaken, and almost contemptible. Neuerthelesse, they were not wanting to [unspec 20] themselues in this dangerous extremitie. For the old men and women laboured in fortifying the Towne; causing such as could beare armes, to reserue themselues fresh against the assault: which Pyrrhus had vnwisely deferred, vpon assurance of preuailing.

Sparta was neuer fortified, before this time, otherwise then with armed Citizens: soone after this (it being built vpon vneuen ground, and for the most part, hard to approach) the lower and more accessible places, were fenced with walls; at the pre∣sent, only trenches were cast, and barricadoes made with Carts, where the entrance seemed most easy. Three daies together it was assailed by Pyrrhus, exceeding fierce∣ly; and no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stoutly defended. The desperate courage of the Citizens preserued [unspec 30] the Towne the first day, wherinto the violence of Pyrrhus had forced entrance the second day, but that his wounded horse threw him to the ground, which made his Souldiers more mindfull of sauing the person of their King, than of breaking into the Citie, though alreadie they had torne in sunder the barricadoes. Presently after this, one of Antigonus his Captaines got into Sparta with a good strength of men; and Areus the King returned out of Crete (where he had been helping his friends in warre) with two thousand men, little knowing the danger, in which his owne coun∣trie stood vntill he was almost at home. These succours did not more animate the Spartans, then kindle in Pyrrhus a desire to preuaile against all impediments. But the third daies worke shewed, how great his error had beene, in forbearing to assault [unspec 40] the Towne at his first comming. For he was so manfully repelled, that he saw no likelihood of getting the place, otherwise than by a long siege: in which tedious course he had no desire to spend his time.

Antigonus had now raised an Armie, though not strong enough to meet the e∣nemie in plaine field, yet able to hinder all his purposes. This made Pyrrhus doubt∣full what way to take; being diuersly affected, by the difficultie of his enterprise in hand, and the shame of taking a repulse in his first attempt. Whilest hee was thus perplexed, letters came from Argos, inuiting him thither; with promise, to deliuer that Citie into his hands.

Ciuill dissension raging then hotly in Argos, caused the heads of seuerall facti∣ons [unspec 50] to call in Pyrrhus and Antigonus; but the comming of these two Princes, taught the Citizens wit, and made them desirous to rid their hand of such powerfull As∣sistants, as each of the two Kings pretended himselfe to be. Antigonus told the Ar∣giues, that he came to saue them from the tyrannie of Pyrrhus; and that hee would

be gone if they needed not his helpe. On the other side, Pyrrhus would needes per∣swade them, that he had none other errand, than to make them safe from Antigo∣nus; offering in like manner, to depart if they so desired.

The Argiues tooke small pleasure, in hearing the Foxe and Kite at strife, which of them should keepe the Chickins from his enemie: and therefore prayed them both, to diuert their powers some other way. Hereunto Antigonus readily condes∣cended, and gaue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to assure his word: for he was the weaker, and stood in neede of good-will. But Pyrrhus thought it enough to promise: Hostages he would giue none, to his inferiours: especially, meaning deceipt. This made them suspect his purpose to be such, as, indeede, it was. Yet he lesse regarded their opinions, [unspec 10] than to hold them worthie of assurance, by giuing such a bond, as hee intended to breake ere the next morning.

It was concluded, that a Gate of the Citie should be opened by night vnto Pyr∣rhus, by his Complices within Argos: which was accordingly performed. So his Armie, without any tumult, entred the Citie: till the Elephants, with Towers on their backs, cloyed the way, being too high to passe the Gate. The taking off, and setting on againe, of those Towers, with the trouble thereto belonging, did both giue alarme to the Citie, and some leisure to take order for defence, before so many were entred, as could fully master it. Argos was full of ditches, which greatly hin∣dred the Gaules (that had the Vantgarde) being ignorant of the waies, in the darke [unspec 20] night. The Citizens, on the other side, had much aduantage, by their knowledge of euery by-passage: and setting vpon the enemies on all sides, did put them to great losse, and more trouble.

Pyrrhus therefore, vnderstanding by the confused noise, and vnequall shoutings of his owne men, that they were in distresse, entred the Citie in person, to take or∣der for their reliefe, and assurance of the place. But the darkenesse, the throng, and many other impediments, kept him from doing any thing of moment, vntill breake of day. Then beganne he to make his passage by force, and so farre preuailed, that he got into the Market-place. It is said, that seeing in that place, the Image of a Wolfe and a Bull, in such posture as if they had beene combattant, hee called to [unspec 30] minde an Oracle, which threatned him with death, when he should behold a Bull fighting with a Wolfe: and that hereupon he made retrait.

Indeede, the comming of Antigonus to the rescue, the disorder and confusion of his owne men; with diuers ill accidents, gaue him reasonable cause to haue retired out of the Citie, though the Wolfe and Bull had beene away. The tumult was such, that no directions could be heard; but as some gaue back, so did others thrust forward, and the Argiues pressing hard vpon him, forced Pyrrhus to make good his retrait, with his owne sword. The tops of the houses were couered with women, that stood looking on the fight. Among these was one, that saw her owne sonne in dangerous case, fighting with Pyrrhus. Wherefore, shee tooke a tile-stone, or slate, [unspec 40] and threw it so violently downe on the head of Pyrrhus, that hee fell to ground a∣stonished with the blow; and lying in that case, had his head cut off.

Thus ended the restlesse ambition of Pyrrhus, together with his life: and thus returned the Kingdome of Macedon to Antigonus; who forthwith possessed the armie, the bodie, and the children of his enemie. The bodie of Pyrrhus had ho∣nourable funerall, and was giuen by Antigonus vnto Helenus his sonne; which yong Prince he graciously sent home, into his Fathers Kingdome of Epirus. From this time forwards, the race of Antigonus held the Kingdome of Macedon; the po∣steritie of Seleucus raigned ouer Asia and Syria; and the house of Ptolomie had quiet possession of Aegypt: vntill such time, as the Citie of Rome, swallowing all vp, dige∣sted [unspec 50] these, among other Countries, into the bodie of her owne Empire.