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ALI men, who in their pros∣perous affaires are sollicited vnto the society of a warre, ought to consider, whether it may be lawfull for the present to contract peace: then, whether that which
is demanded, be sufficiently pi¦ous, safe, glorious, or else v••∣seemely. Thou mightest inioy a perpetuall peace except the ene∣mies were opportune, and withal∣most wicked. Thy renowne will become illustrious, if thou shalt suppresse the Romanes. Not o∣therwise should I dare to desire thy Aliance; and should vainely hope to blend my euill, and thy good fortunes together.
The storme of a new warre falling vpon Tigranes, and my vnprosperous estate, if thou shalt ballance them truely, will serue for a most speciall incourage∣ment. For he being offended, will entertaine Aliance, as thou wilt: fortune to me, after the losse of many things, hath giuen the benefit of aduising well; and that which is to be wished for of men that flourish, I being the weakest, represent an example, by which thou mayest compose thy affaires more orderly.
For this hath beene the onely, and ancient cause with the Ro∣manes, of warring with Nations, Kings, and People, the profound desire of rule, and riches: out of which they first ingaged warre with Philip King of the Macedo∣nians. Whilst they were pressed by the Carthaginians, counter∣feiting friendship, with a guile they diuerted Antiochus com∣ming to his succours, by the in∣tire graunt of Asia. And forth∣with after Philip, Antiochus was despoiled of all the territory on this side Taurus, and of ten thou∣sand talents. Then Perses the Sonne of Philip, being receyued into protection by the Samothra∣cian gods, after many and various conflicts; they being cunning and inuenters of the trecherie, killed him sleeping, because they had granted him life by compromise.
E••••menes, of whose friendship they gloriously vaunt, at first they betrayed to Antiochus, as
the price of peace. Afterwards they made Attalus, (being Gar∣dian onely of a captiued Coun∣try,) from a King, to become the miserablest of slaues, by the tax∣es and contumelies layd vpon him: and an impious testament being forged, they led his Sonne Aristonicus in triumph, after a hostill manner, because he sought his Fathers Kingdome. They haue besieged Asia: finally, Ni∣comedes being dead, they haue surprized all Bithynia; when as the sonne of Nusa, whom they called Queene, was borne with∣out all doubt.
For what should I name my selfe? whom being disioyned e∣uery where by Kingdomes and Tetrarchies from their Empire, because the report was, that I was rich, and would not serue, they prouoked with warre by Nicomedes, not altogether igno∣rant of their villany; as hauing giuen test of those things, which
happened afterwards; that onely amongst all men, the Creten∣sians and King Ptolomie were free at that season.
But▪ I reuenging my wrongs, expelled Nicomedes out of Bi∣thynia, and recouered Asia the spoile of King Antiochus, and freed Greece from a grieuous seruitude. My proceedings Ar∣chelaus the basest of my seruants hindred, by betraying my Army; and they, whom cowardice, or mischieuous cunning restrained from Armes, thinking that they should be safe-garded by my la∣bours, suffer now most cruell pu∣nishments. Ptolomie for a price delayes the day of warre. The Cretensians assaulted once alrea∣dy, are to expect no end but ruine.
Truely, when I was informed, that by reason of their owne inte∣stine miseries, warre was rather deferred, then peace granted; Tigranes condescending who ap∣proues
my words too late, thou being farre remoued, and all o∣thers obnoxious, for all this I vn∣dertooke the warre againe, and defeated Marcus Cotta Ge∣nerall of the Romanes at Chalce∣don in a Land-battell; at Sea I despoiled him of a most goodly Fleet. Staying at the siege of Cicicus with a great Army, corne failed, no man all about bringing reliefe: withall the win∣ter debarred the benefit of the Sea. Thus being constrained without the enemies force to re∣turne into my natiue Kingdome, I lost with wrackes at Para and Heraclea the best of my Souldi∣ers, together with my Fleetes.
Afterwards my Army being reinforced at Cabira, and sundry battels passing betwixt me, and Lucullus, want inuaded both of vs againe. He had for reliefe the Kingdome of Ariobarzuris, not touched as yet by the warre: I, all the Regions adiacent being
wasted, came into Armenia, and the Romanes following not me, but their custome of subuerting all Kingdomes, because in those fastnesses they restrained the mul∣titude from fight, they account Tigranes imprudence for a victo∣ry.
Now I pray consider, whe∣ther after our conquest, thou canst thinke thy selfe more firme for resistance, or that the warre will be at an end? I know for certaine, that thou art abundantly stored with men, Armes, and money: and for this cause thou art desired by vs for the so∣ciety of the warre, by them for a prey. Besides, it is the counsell of Tigranes, his Kingdome being in∣tire, to finish the warre with lit∣tle labour farre from home, by the bodies of our well experien∣ced Souldiers: since we can nei∣ther vanquish, nor be vanquished without thy danger.
Are you ignorant that the Ro∣manes,
after the Ocean had limi∣ted their Conquests to the west∣ward, conuerted their Armes hi∣ther? and that they had nothing frō the beginning, which was their own, not so much as their houses, wiues, fields, nor Empire? they were in times past a medley of strangers, without Countrie, without Parents, created for the plague of the world, whom not humane, nor diuine Lawes can restraine, but that they will force and ruine their friends and Alies, whether liuing neere or remote, poore or powerfull; and all that are not their vassalls, but specially Kingdomes they esteeme for enemies. For few desire liberty, the greatest part iust Masters: we are suspected for emulatours, and auengers in future time.
But thou, who hast Seleucia the greatest of Citties, and the Kingdom of Persia renowned for riches, what dost thou expect from them but deceit for the
present, and warre afterwards? The Romanes are armed against all men, but most fiercely against those, who being conquered, can yeeld the greatest spoiles: by da∣ring and deceiuing, and by raising warres out of warres, they are growne mighty. By this course they will ruine all, or perish: the last of which is not difficult, if thou from Mesopotamia, we from Armenia surround their Army, wanting corne, wanting aydes. Fortune is as yet intire through our defaults. And this fame will follow thee vndertaking the suc∣cour of mighty Kings, that thou hast suppressed the robbers of the Nations. Which thing, we warne, & perswade thee to doe; and that thou wouldest not with our de∣struction inlarge their onely Em∣pire, rather then by our Aliance to be the Conqerour.