The historical library of Diodorus the Sicilian in fifteen books : the first five contain the antiquities of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece, the islands, and Europe : the last ten an historical account of the affairs of the Persians, Grecians, Macedonians and other parts of the world : to which are added the fragments of Diodorus that are found in the Bibliotheca of Photius : together with those publish'd by H. Valesius, L. Rhodomannus, and F. Ursinus / made English by G. Booth ..., Esq.

Out of the 25th BOOK.

1. EPicurus the Philosopher, in his Book call'd Maximus, saith, That a Righteous Life is void of all Trouble and Disturbance; but an Unrighteous, nothing but Trouble and Sorrow. * 1.1 It contains much Matter in brief and certain Sentences, tending greatly to the Reforma∣tion of the Manners and Lives of Men: For Injustice is the greatest of all Evils, invol∣ving not only private Men, but (that we may sum up all at once) Nations, Kings and Kingdoms, in most miserable Calamities.—For the Spaniards gall them of the Ba∣leary Islands, Africans, Carthaginians, and Ligureans, join'd with them of Carthage. And * 1.2 the Slaves, whose Parents were Grecians, on one side, who also rebell'd.—Then it was perfectly learnt by Experience, how far the Diligence of an expert Commander excell'd the blind and heady Vulgar, and the rash and ignorant Conduct of a rude Com∣mon Soldier.—So excellent a thing is Modesty in Commanding, that it enjoins no∣thing beyond the Power of Men.—But after their departure out of Sicily, the Carthaginian Mercenaries rose up in Arms against them for these Reasons.—They were unreasonable and excessive in their Demands for the Horses and Men which they had lost in Sicily.—And they were in War one with another 4 Years, and as many Months. But at length they were put to Death by Barcas the General, who had likewise perform'd notable Service in Sicily against the Romans.

2. But Amilcar the Carthaginian General in a short time enlarg'd the Bounds of his Country; for he advanc'd with his Fleet as far as to the Pillars of Hercules and the * 1.3 Gades. This City is a Colony of the Phenicians, lying in the farthest Corner of the Earth on the Sea side, and hath an Haven. Having subdu'd the Iberians and the Tartesians with Istolo∣tius * 1.4

the General of the Celtae, and his Brother, he put most of them to the Sword, amongst * 1.5 whom were the Two Brothers, and several other Honourable Persons: And he receiv'd into his own Army 3000 of them that were prisoners. But Endort••s got again together 50000 Men, but fled before he engag'd, and betook himself to an high Hill: where being beset and blockt up by Amilcar, he fled away again in the night, and most of his Ar∣my were cut off. Indortes himself at length fell into the Enemies hands, and Amilcar put out his Eies, and then with many Scoffs and Scorns Crucify'd him. But he dis∣charg'd above 10000 other prisoners, and took in many Cities, some by f••ir Promises and persuasions: and others by force. Then Asdrubal the Son of Amilcar being sent by his Fa∣ther-in-law to Carthage against the Numidians (who had rebell'd against the Carthagini∣ans) kill'd 8000, and took 2000 prisoners: The rest were subdu'd and brought under Tribute. In the mean time Amilcar having gain'd many Cities in Spain, built a very large Town, which from its situation he call'd Acra Leuca; having afterwards besieg'd the City * 1.6 Helice, he sent away the greatest part of his Army, and Elephants into their Winter Quarters to the City he had lately built, and continu'd with the rest at the Siege. But Orisso the King (under pretence of coming in as a Friend to join with A∣milcar) sucour'd the Besieg'd, and forc'd Amilcar to fly and raise his Siege; his Sons * 1.7 and Friends he order'd for their safety, to take one way by themselves, and he himself pass'd another, and being hotly pursu'd by the King, in taking a great River he was forc'd off his Horse by the violence of the Stream, and so drowned: But Hanniball and Asdruball his Sons got safe to Acra Leuca, or the White Citadell,——And tho' Amil∣car * 1.8 dy'd many Ages before our time, yet History has left an Epitaph and Commemo∣ration of his due praise. But Asdrubal his Son-in-law as soon as he heard of his Father∣in law's death, forthwith marched away, and came to Acra with above 100 Elephants. Being chosen General by the Army, and the Carthaginians, he pickt out 50000 Foot of old experienc'd Soldiers, 6000 Horse, and 200 Elephants. In the first place he ruin'd and broke in pieces King Orisso, then he put to the Sword all that were the occasion of Amil∣car's * 1.9 flight, and got possession of Twelve Cities: and at length all the Cities of Spain. And having now celebrated a new Marriage, and taken the Daughter of the King of Spain to Wife, he was invested with full Power in the Government, by all the Spaniards. He afterwards built a City by the Sea-side which he call'd Carthage, and after this another, and aspir'd to exceed Amilcar in Power and Greatness. He had in his Army 60000 * 1.10 Foot, 8000 Horse, and 200 Elephants. But at length he was assassinated by one of his own Houshold, having been General Nine Years.

3. The Celtae with the Gauls entring into a War against the Romans, rais'd an Army * 1.11 of 200000 Men; and in the First Battle were victorious; and likewise in the Second, wherein one of the Roman Consuls were kill'd: tho' the Romans had an Army of 70000 Foot and 7000 Horse. However, tho' they were worsted in the Two First Battles, yet in the Third they gain'd a signal Victory, killing 40000 upon the place, and taking the rest prisoners—So that the greatest of their Kings cut his own Throat: but the other was taken alive. After this brave Exploit, Aemilius being made Consul, wasted the Country of the Gauls and Celtae, and took in many Cities and Castles, and filled the Ci∣ty of Rome with Spoils.

4. Hiero King of Syracuse supply'd the Romans with Corn in the Celtick War, and was paid for it when the War was ended.

5. The Army wanting a General after Asdrubal was slain, the Charthaginians unani∣mously * 1.12 chose Hannibal the Eldest Son of Amilcar to be their General—While the Ci∣ty Seguntum was Besieg'd by Hanniball, the Citizens got together all the Riches in the * 1.13 Temples, and all the Silver and Gold in the Houses, nay, till it came to the Jewels in the Womens Ears, and laid them on an heap, and melted them down, mixing Brass and Lead with the Gold and Silver to make them useless and invaluable: and having so done, they all valiantly made a Sally, and fought it out to the last Man, and all dy'd upon the place, not without a great slaughter first made of their Enemies. The Mothers like∣wise first kill'd their own Children, and then stifled themselves by the smoak of the Fur∣naces. And so Hanniball gain'd the Town without any benefit of Plunder: whom when the Romans demanded to be brought to Trial for his breach of the League, and could not prevail, they began the War call'd the Hannibal War.

Notes

• * 1.1

  * 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  This was the great Rebellion in Africk a∣gainst Car∣thage, and Matho and Spendius, which War continu'd three year. Vid. Po∣lyb. l. 1.
• * 1.3

  Now Cadiz or Cales, in the Streights.
• * 1.4

  Tarseites, of Tarseium; A City near Hercules Pillars in the Streights, now not in being.
• * 1.5

  Amilcar over∣comes Indortes the Prince of ••he Celtae. These Celtae a People of Spain. Indortes Cru∣cify'd.
• * 1.6

  Acra Leuca now St. Leu∣car. probable. r.
• * 1.7

  now not in be∣ing.
• * 1.8

  Amilcar drown'd in Spain.
• * 1.9

  Gr.
• * 1.10

  Asdrubal As∣sassinated in Spain.
• * 1.11

  Olymp. 138. 4. Ant. Ch. 223. A War between the Celtae and the Romans.
• * 1.12

  Hanniball.
• * 1.13

  The beginning of the Second Punick War which conti∣nued 17 Years. Olymp. 1140. 3. Ant. Ch. 216. Seguntum ta∣ken in Spain.