the Empire; and what to uphold him, having attai∣ned it. And my meaning is to follow his course, and punctually to examine all things: dividing my Dis∣course into two parts: the first, to shew the waies which Augustus used to attaine the Empire; the second, the waies by which he maintained it.
The ordinary waies, as experience and men teach us, to come to a Principality, are either by fortune, or by vertue, or by wickednesse, or by craft, or by electi∣on; or lastly by succession.
Augustus then came to the Empire by fortune; which holpe him three waies: the first, that when Brutus and Cassius who were his enemies were dead; and that Lepidus and Antonius his partners in greatnesse were extinguisht; he only remained of the Caesarian faction: and therfore Tacitus speaking in what manner fortune ayded him, saith, Postquam Bruto & Cassio caesis; nulla jam publica arma, Pompeius apud siciliam oppressus; exuto Lepido, Interfecto Antonio, ne Julianis quidem partibus nisi Caesar Dux reliqu•…•…s: and so following.
This onely ayd of fortune, is the ablest way to raise one to a Principality: and therefore Pericles, (as Plu∣tarch in his life relates) by this onely meanes became Prince of Athens, Postquam Aristides vita decessit, Themi∣stocles exulatum abiit, Cimonem bella, plerique citra Graeciam detinuere, ibi demum Pericles populo se dedit.
But thisalone did not serve Augustus, but fortune in another manner gave him assistance: for the stoutest Citizens, being part banished, and part slaine in bat∣tailes, it was an easie matter to attaine the Empire without any let. This second ayd of fortune, Tacitus expresseth, where he saith, Insurgere paulatim, munia Senatus, Magistratum legumque in se trahere; nullo adver∣sante, cum ferocissimi peracies, aut proscriptione cecidissent.
Not lesse apt then the first, is this ayd, to make a change in States; seeing the people of Tarantum, onely