¶ Augustus.
OCtauius Cesar Augustus em∣perour of Rome, when he herde saye, that kynge Alexander, be∣ynge of the age of. xxxii. when he had conquered the most parte of the coun∣treys of the world, doubted what he shulde do all the reste of his life, Won dered if Alexander iuged it not a grea ter worke, well to gouerne an empyre or lordshyd that is gotten, then to get a great lordshyp. He ryghtly noted the insacyable ambicyon of Alexander, whiche estemed nont other function worthy for a kyng, then to enlarge the limittes of his dominion, where as it is farre, both better and harder to fur nyshe the kyngdome that is fallen to a man, with ryghte lawes and good maners, thā by force of armes to ioyn Page [unnumbered] kyngdom vnto kyngdome.
When the rumour of Herodes cru¦elte cam to Augustus eare, that he had cōmaunded all the chyldren of Jewrie of thage of two yeares and vnder, to be slayne, and amonges them that his owne son was slayne. It is better, {quod} Augustus, to be Herodes swyne then son. Herode was a Jewe, and Jewes absteyne from eatyng of swyne fleshe.
When one Paci••us asked a re∣warde of Augustus and sayde it was reapported of euery man that them∣perour had gyuen hym money. But thou, {quod} themperour, beleue it not. With a mery ieste signifienge that he wolde gyue hym nothyng. The other wayted that themperour wolde reme∣die his shame, lest if it were knowen yt the reapport were vntrew, he shuld be lawghed to skorne. But Augustus shewed an other remedie.
Augustus made a lawe for aduow∣trers, Page [unnumbered] how they shulde be iuged. After warde when a yong man was accused and brought before hym, that he shuld haue to do with Julia themperours doughter, he was in suche fume that he ran vpon the yonge man, to haue beaten hym. But when the yong man cŕyed out, Thou haste made a lawe, o Cesar, the emperour was so sorye, for that he hadde done, that he wolde eate no meate that daye. So sory he was that he obeyed not in all poyntes the lawe, whiche he had made to other.
Aeertayne Greke was wont thus to seke the fauour of the emperoure Augustus, when he cam downe of his palace, he wold present vnto him som excellent verses. Whiche thyng when he had oftentymes done in vayne, and the emperour sawe he wolde not leaue hym, hym selfe wrote with his owne hande, verye neate verses in greake: Page [unnumbered] and when he esyyed ye Greke cōmyng agaynst hym, he sente it vnto hym by one of his seruaūtes. The Greke toke and redde it, and not only with voyce, but also with countenaunce and ge∣sture of body, praysed the verses with great admiracyon. And forthwith ap∣prochynge nere vnto themperour, dyd put his hand into his purse, and pluc∣ked out a fewe grotes, & offred them vnto themperour with these wordes: It is no rewarde for your estate, O emperour, but yf I had more, more wold I gyue. At which wordes, when all themperours company lawghed ex cedyngly, themperour called his purse bearer, and commaunded a thousand markes forthwith to be diliuered him.
One whiche was mayster of the horse, whome themperour had putte out of office, begged a great fee of him vnder this colour: not for the lucre of the money, {quod} he, I desire this, but that Page [unnumbered] it maye be thoughte I gaue ouer the office of myne own mynde, you beyng other wayes my good and gracyouse lorde. Tell euery man, {quod} Augustus, that thou hast receyued this fee of me, and I wyl not denye it. Thus pratily he coulde shake of, suche worldly sha∣mes chyldren.
Herennius a ryottouse yongman, souldiour in his warres, he cōmaūded to departe the tentes. The yongman besought hym with moche lamenta∣tion and wepynge sayeng: How shall I dare go home agayne, what shall I saye to my father? Shewe thy father {quod} themperour, that I haue displeased the. Bicause the yong man was asha∣med to cōfesse, that themperoure was displeased wt hym, he gaue hym leaue to turne the tale and lay ali the blame on hym.
When Augustus was now fourty and aboue, Cinna a yong man of no∣ble Page [unnumbered] byrth and nephue to Pompey, was appeached of hyghe treason, yt he laye in a wayte with his complices to kylle the emperour. It was tolde where, when, and howe they wolde haue exe∣cuted theyr felonye. For they purpo∣sed to haue murthered hym, as he shulde haue sacryficed. The sentence of condemnation was made ready: but in the meane season, while Augu∣stus themperour {per}plexly spake nowe this now that, his wife Liuia, cōming in, & seyng the case, Do, {quod} she, that the phisicians be wont to do, which when ye accustomed remedies wol not helpe, do assay the cōtraries. With sharpe ex ecution, thou hast hitherunto done no good, forgiue, Cinna now bewreyed, can not hurt thy lief, thy fame he may helpe. Forthwith he sent for Cinna a∣lone to come speake with hym, & when he was come, he cōmaunded an other chayre to be set for him. Cinna (sayd ye emperour) this fyrst I requyre of the, Page [unnumbered] that yu interruptest me not in my tale, a tyme shalbe gyuen ye to speake. Here when Augustus themperour had re∣hersed his manifold benefites towar∣des Cinna, how he had saued his life, when at his cōquest he was founde a∣monges his enmies, how he had giuē him agayn al his enheritaūce & patri∣monie, how moreouer he had promo∣ted him to an highe rowine. he demaū ded of hym, why he purposed to haue slayne him. Cinna beyng therwt sore troubled, themperour thus ended his cōmunicatiō. I giue the thy life, Cin∣na, agayn, afore myn enmye, now a cō spirour of my deth & a traitour. From this day let amitie begyn betwene vs, let vs cōtende whether I more fayth∣fully haue gyuen the thy life, or thou dost owe it me. And he offred hym the consulshyp of Rome. Woll ye knowe the ende of this mater? Cinna euet af ter loued Augustus best of al men: he made hym his sole heire & executour. Page [unnumbered] Neuer after that tyme any man con∣spired his death.
