To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
SOme praise Pompey, and say, He was a faithfull and loving Citizen of Rome; a Father, in defending the Laws and Li∣berties; and a Martyr, in dying in the Cause.
Others dispraise him, and say, It was Envy to Caesar that brought him out against him, more than for the Publick Good; and that if Pompey had had but the same Fortune, he would have taken upon him the same Command.
Others again praise Caesar, and say, that he was forced to use his Power and Arms against the Senate, out of necessity, the one, being much in Debt, having exhausted his Estate, the other, in defence of his Life, knowing the Senate would accuse him in∣stead of rewarding him for his good Service; and that Rational Men may judge, by the succession of Story, that he was necessi∣tated, and that Fortune being on his side, gave him greater Hopes, and higher Designs, which he thought not at first on; and that he had Reason, though he had not been necessitated; for though the Roman Government began from a Low and Mean Beginning, yet it came to be the most Powerfull and Fa∣mous, whilst Mediocrity ruled amongst them: for at first their Poverty made them Just, not daring to do Wrong; and Pru∣dent, in providing the best waies and means to keep and raise themselves; and Valiant and Industrious, to defend themselves, and to increase their Dominions. Thus Virtues begot their Strength, and raised their Fame: But their good Fortune brought Plenty, and Plenty Pride; the one runs into Luxury, the other into Ambition; and Ambition begot Factions so much, that in the latter daies of their Government, though it was called a Republick, yet every Man was striving to be Chief, and setting up for themselves. And, say they, why may not Caesar think himself as fit to be Emperor as any of his Fellow∣Citizens, seeing the Government would change? And that it was as great an Injustice, when he cannot do another good, to do himself wrong, as to do another wrong, and do himself no good, or to do himself and another wrong; for how often was it aimed at by Sylla Cataline, and many more, though not ripe untill Caesar's time? so that Caesar had not onely Necessity and Oppor∣tunity but Justice to perswade him, on his side; for any Government is better than none; for they were come al∣most to that pass, that there was no Unity; for every Man was against one another, but onely sided when they saw a particular Rise. But the general Faction fell into two hands, the one for a Republick, the other for a Monarch, wherein the Monarchical Faction prevailed, wherein Caesar was Chief; and it may be a question, whether the other Faction did not take the Republick onely for Name, but had a Monarchical Design? But, say they, Envy, that is the Enemy to all Good Success, would have dis∣claimed against the other side, if they had had the same Fortune; for Envy dyes not when Action ceaseth, but lives as long as Ho∣nourable Fame survives; and that Good Fortune made Caesar seem Ambitious, and Pompey more humble by his Ill; for though Good Fortune hath many Friends, and more Followers, yet it is to the present Condition. But to conclude, that Caesar was Valiant, Witty, Industrious, Sweet-natured, and Bountifull, Gratefull, Constant to his Friends, and Mercifull to his Enemies, shew by his Acts; and for his Valour, he fought many Battels upon great Ods and Disadvantages, and hazarded his Life other
waies many several times. Others dispraise Caesar, and say, he was a Traitor, an Usurper, and naturally Cruel, but what he did artificially with Prodigality to compass his Ends; and that he was a Coward, and bought more Victories by his vast distribu∣tions of Provinces, and other Gifts, than were truly got by his Courage, or Conduct. But the Factions of Caesar and Pompey dyed not when their Wars ceased, but have lived ever since a∣mongst the Historians; for they cannot praise one so well, unless they dispraise the other; for to praise, or dispraise them both, would have made their Theme so short, they should have little to write on; for Disputes both lengthen and heighten. But there are most commonly more faults found by Historians, than Ap∣plauses; but Writing hath as great a defect as Government in Commonwealths and Armies, though of less Consequence. But, they say, Men of Action have two sides, a good side, and a bad side, and some take the good side of Caesar, and the bad of Pompey; others, the good side of Pompey, and the bad of Caesar; but the bad side lyes more open and broader than the good, which makes it so often beaten upon by Envy; for Envy dis∣covers the one; and veils the other.