Romæ antiquæ descriptio a view of the religion, laws, customs, manners, and dispositions of the ancient Romans, and others : comprehended in their most illustrious acts and sayings agreeable to history / written in Latine by ... Quintus Valerius Maximus ; and now carefully rendred into English ; together with the life of the author.

CHAP. V. Of Pride and excess of Power.

ROMANS.

• 1. M. Fulvius Flaccus Cos.
• 2. M. Livius Drusus Tri∣bune of the People.
• 3. C. Pompey the Great, three times Consul.
• 4. M. Antonie Triumvir.

FORREIGNERS.

• 1. Alexander the Great.
• 2. Xerxes King of Persia.
• 3. Hannibal the Cartha∣ginian.
• 4. The Carthaginian and Campanian Se••ate.

1. NOw that Pride and Excess in Power may be brought upon the Stage, Fulvius Flaccus Consul, Colleague with M. Plautius Hypsaeus, being about to make Laws very pernicious to the Common∣wealth, of making free Citizens of Rome, and citing such before the People, who would not change their City, could hardly be perswaded to come into Court. Then when the Senate partly admonish'd him, partly b••sought him to desist, he gave them no answer. He might be accompted a Tyrannical Consul, who had thus carried himself against one Senator, as Flaccus did against the whole Body of so Majestick an As∣sembly.

2. Whose Majesty was no less affronted by the contumely of M. Drusus, a Tribune of the People, who made nothing, because Philip the Consul inter∣rupted him in his Speech, to take him by the throat and to hale him to Prison, not by the hands of an Of∣ficer, but of a Client; with that violence, that the Blood gush'd out of his Mouth. Also when the Se∣nate

sent to him to come into Court; Rather; said he, why doth not the Senate come to the Hostilia to me? I am ashamed to adde the rest: The Tribune despis'd the Authority of the Senate; the Senate obey'd the Tribunes words.

3. How insolently Pompey! who coming out of the Bath left Hypsaeus prostrate at his feet, accused of bribing for Voices, a Nobleman and his Friend; up∣braiding him withal with a contumelious Scoff, tel∣ling him, that he came to spoil his Supper. Yet he was not ashamed to require Scipio, his Sons Father-in∣law, condemned by certain Laws which he had made himself, to the ruine of many Noblemen; governing the Commonwealth according to the caresses of his Nuptial Bed.

4. Vile was the Scoff of M. Antonie both in word and deed; For when the Head of Caesetius Rufus, a Senator, was brought him, being a Triumvir, the rest turning aside, he caus'd it to be brought near, and diligently viewed it. And when all the standers by listned to hear what he would say; This fellow, saies he, I never knew. A haughty scorn of a Senator, but the excess of pride toward a man slain.

FORREIGNERS.

1. Enough of our own, now for Forreigners. The Vertue and Felicity of Alexander the Great w••s eclips'd by three most evident degrees of Insolence. For, contemning his Father Philip, he acknowledged none but Iupiter Ammon for his Father: Laying aside the Customes and Manners of the Macedonians, he as∣sumed the Garments and Laws of the Persians: despising Mortals, he emulated to be a God. Nor was he ashamed to deny himself to be a Son, a ••ellow-Countryman, and a Mortal.

2. Xerxes, in whose name Pride and Impotency inhabit, how insolently did he use his own power, when being to proclaim War against the Grecians, and calling the Princes of Asia together; That I might not seem, said he, to take my own advice, I have assem∣bled you: But remember, tha•• it is your part rather to obey than to give Counsel. Arrogantly said, had he return'd a Victor to his Countrey: But so shame∣fully beaten, I know not whether more insolently or arrogantly.

3. Hannibal, puft up with the success of the Bat∣tle of Cannae, neither admitted any of his Country∣men into his Tents, nor gave answer to any but by an Interpreter, and despis'd Ma••arbal, affirming with a loud voice before his Tent, that he saw a way how he might sup in a few days in the Capitol. So un∣usual a thing it is for Happiness and Moderation to lodge together.

4. There was a kind of emulation between the Carthaginian and Campanian Senate for Insolencie. For the one wash'd in a Bath apart from the Vulgar; the other made use of a different Judgment-Seat. Which Custome retain'd in Capua, is evident in an Epistle of G. Gracchus written to Plautius.