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TRAJAN, before he was Empe∣ror had a Dream, which seemed to tell him, that the Senate of Rome had Chose him, and Seal'd him, as it were for their own. A Person in the like Dress and Form of one, that in Picture the Senate is represented by, that is, in a Robe of State guarded with purple, a Vest purled with large
Knaps of purple, a Crown upon his Head, a little elderly, came to him, he dream'd, and with a Seal which he had in a Ring, sealed him now on the right and now on the left Breast.
He wrote to the Senate after he was de∣clared Emperor, several things with his own Hand, and amongst the rest, he assured them of this; That the Blood of no Man, who was an honest Man, should ever be spilt by him, neither should he be touch'd in his Fortunes or Honour. He assured them of this upon his Oath, and not only then, but he repeated the same to them at other times.
He sent for Aelianus Casperius, together with such of the Soldiers of the Guards, as had mu∣tined against Nerva, as though it were upon some Business to employ them. But he did not suffer their Crime and the Murders which they had committed to pass unpunished, for he put them to Death.
When he came to Rome he altered seve∣ral things for the greater Good of the Pub∣lick, and in the Favour of Persons who had deserved well. He shewed himself particular∣ly careful of the Cities of Italy. He settled Alms and Pensions towards the Maintenance of Children of poor Families, and did a great deal of Good of that nature.
Plotina his Empress, at her first entrance into the Imperial Palace at Rome, turned her∣self upon the Steps to the People and said, I go in here the same as I would wish my self to come out again; and through her whole Reign
she preserved her esteem with a Conduct which was without Reproach.
After some stay at Rome, Trajan undertook an Expedition against the People of Dacia; unto which he was provoked by the Proceed∣ings of that People who had augmented their Forces, and were become insolent; the Mo∣ney besides which was paid to them every Year, and with which the Romans bought their Obedience, was a Burther, that Trajan was wil∣ling to throw off.
Decebalus the King of Dacia was sufficient∣ly apprehensive of a War made upon him under the Conduct of a Prince so formidable. He was sensible that he had another Force, and another Person to deal with, than when he had overthrown Domitian. For Trajan was a Prince with whom the Roman State intirely accorded. A Prince that excelled in Justice, Gallantry and Integrity of Life: Strong; in Body: In the Forty second Year of his Age when he began his Reign: In the full Ma∣turity of his Mind: Past the Rashness of Youth, and not yet arrived to any thing of the feebleness of old Age. He was one, who envied no Man, and disobliged no Man. All such as he found were really deserving, he esteemed and preferred. The Estates of Men, no less than their Lives, remained un∣touch'd by him. If he spent much Money upon his Wars, he spent much also to adorn the Times of Peace. This is seen in the Roads, Ports, and publick Edifices which are his, and which are great and necessary Works. As he
was by Nature of a Temper to appear in what he did, Great and Magnanimous; he rebuilt the Cirque, which was decay'd, much larger than it was before, and more Beautiful. He wrote an Inscription upon it to signify, that he had done it so, to make it worthy to receive the People of Rome. He desired rather to be loved than Adored. He was affable to the People, and respectful to the Senate. All loved him. None dreaded him but the Enemy. He Hunt∣ed, he Feasted with his Ministers, Visited their Offices, Jested with them: Many times sate amongst them in the fourth Place; came to their Houses without a Guard, and made his Conversation pleasant. Tho' he was not one who was studied in all Parts of Learning, yet he acquitted himself in that respect very well; every thing he did was Excellent. I know that he was given to love Boys, and to Drink; and had he been guilty of any thing in either respect that is Base, he would have been to be blamed. But in Drinking he went not to excess, and as to his love of the Boys, he forced or injured no one. He loved War; yet when he had adjusted Affairs, and weakened the E∣nemy, and increased his Alliances, he was sa∣tisfied. No such thing ever befel him, as is commonly happens to others that command Armies; that is, for the Soldiers to Mutiny and be Insolent. This was a Happiness owing to the Excellency of his Conduct, and there∣fore if the King of Dacia feared him, it was not without reason.
As he was upon his March against the Ene∣my, and near the place where they lay, some body had pretended to cut upon a large Mush∣room, which was brought to him, with words in Latin, signifying, That others of his Allies, and particularly the Byrrhi, who bordered upon Dacia, advised him to make a Peace with the Enemy, and retire. But yet this did not hinder, but he began the Fight, in which many of the E∣nemy were killed, and many of his own Men were wounded; to bind up whose Wounds he did not spare to tear his own Cloaths into Rags for Binders to give them; and for others of his Men that were killed, he built an Al∣tar, and ordered that there should be Sacri∣fices every Year offered thereupon in their Honour.
He pursued his Blow, directing his March over the Hills and Mountains from one to a∣nother, not without great danger, till he came up to the Capital City of Dacia, whilst Lucius employed the Enemy on another side, and killed and took great Numbers of them.
Then Decebalus sent to Trajan to desire Peace, by some of his chief Officers, who coming into his Presence, laid down their Arms, and prostrated themselves upon the Ground before him, and said, That Decebalus did above all things covet the Honour to come and confer with him in Person, being ready on his Part to receive all his Commands. But if this was otherwise to be resolved on, he desired that some Persons might be sent to him with Powers to Treat a Peace. Suras, and Claudius Livianus,
the Captain of the Guards, were sent from Trajan upon this Subject; who were met by others on the side of Decebalus. But nothing being concluded, because Decebalus refused to appear, Trajan took his Castles, and therein his Arms, Artillery and Stores, together with a Roman Standard which had been lost for∣merly under Fuscus. A Sister of Decebalus fell at the same time a Prisoner into the Hands of Maximus; and a strong Town in the Coun∣try was taken by the same. All which coming upon the heels of one another, Decebalus re∣collected himself again, and intirely complied with the Conditions that were offer'd him. He promised to deliver up his Arms, Artillery, the Artificers that made them, and the Deser∣ters that had run over to him: To dismantle his Fortresses, retire from the Land that he had taken from his Neighbours, and have the same Friends and Enemies with the People of Rome: To entertain no Deserters, and to take no Soldiers into his Service, out of Places in the Dominions of the Romans; because most of his best Men were such, as he had inticed into his Service from thence. All which he promised, against his Mind, and being conducted to an Interview with Trajan, he threw himself upon the Ground and adored him.
He sent to the Senate of Rome his Em∣bassadors, to have the same Peace con∣firmed from them, that he had made with Trajan. The Embassadors were introduced into the Senate, where they laid down their Arms upon the Ground, and standing before
the Senate with their Hands within their Fin∣gers, as if they were Captives, they spoke in Terms of great Submission to the Senate, who ratified the Peace, and then they took up their Arms again. Warhel the Capital City of Dacia received a Garrison of the Ro∣mans, and the rest of the Countrey being served accordingly, Trajan returned back to Italy.
He was received in Triumph, and the Title of the Conquerour of Dacia was given him, and inserted into his Stile. The Combats of the Gladiators, in which he delighted, and the di∣versions of the Stage in which Pylades was one that gained much of his Favour; were cele∣brated for his Entertainment. Though he was a Military Prince, he took never the less Care of the Civil Policy, and minded the Affairs of Peace and Justice. In the Forum of Augustus, or in the Portico of Livia, or in other Places, he many times assisted in Person at the Causes which were pleaded there.
In the mean time Decebalus could not per∣suade himself to keep the Conditions of the Peace which he had made. He proceeded to raise Men, provide Arms, entertain Deserters, re-fortify his Castles, and invite the Nations that were his Neighbours to joyn with him, to whom he represented; That if he was for∣saken by them now, their own Ruine was the next thing to follow. It was easier, and the safest way for them, he said, to preserve their Liberties, by standing all by one another whilst
they might, for the Common Defence, than it would be to do this after Decebalus was ruined, which would open a Gap to the Enemy to devour them one by one. Pursuant to this, he began the War by falling upon such as had appear'd against him in the former War, and by possessing himself of a part of the Countrey of the Jazyges, which was upon the Danube towards Dacia.
Hereupon the Senate declared Decebalus again an Enemy, and Trajan without com∣mitting the War to another, went in Person to reduce him a second time. He marched against him with an Army which Decebalus was in an ill Condition by fair Force to resist; but by Deceit and Treachery, he was within a little of effecting that, that he could not by his Arms. He sent Persons under the no∣tion of Deserters into Moesia to assassine him, as Trajan was always easie of access; but then more particularly upon the Incidents of the War, any one was admitted to speak to him. That which disappointed this Design was, one of the Conspirators was taken up on suspi∣cion and put to the Torture, who confessed the whole Plot.
There was a Commander of a Legion in the Roman Army of great Skill, and who had often signalized himself in the Wars against Dacia, called Longinus; Decebalus found means by Treachery to get this Colonel into his hands, and then sent to Trajan to tell him, That upon Condition the Countrey as far as the Danube, might be restored to him, and
that Trajan allowed him for the Charges of the War, he courted his Friendship, and would re∣turn Longinus again in safety. To which Tra∣jan answered in a manner, that was to let him know, that he neither made a small, nor yet such a high Account of the Life of Longinus, as to buy it too dear. In the mean time, whilst Decebalus was resolving with himself what more to do, Longinus found means to procure a quantity of Poyson by the help of a Servant, and he took it in the night and died.
Trajan built a Bridge over the Danube, for which I know not how I can sufficiently ad∣mire him. The other Works of his are very Magnificent, but this is above them all. It is a Bridge of Nineteen Arches, all of square Stone; the Heighth one Hundred and Fifty Foot above the Foundation; the Breadth Sixty Foot, and the Distance between each Arch one Hun∣dred and Seventy Foot. How shall I admire the Charge that this cost, and which way also it was possible to Found it in a great River, and a difficult Water which hath an ozy Gra∣vel at the bottom, when in the mean time there was no turning the Stream aside into another Chanel? The River is in other places double and treble the breadth, that it is here where this Bridge covers it. Here it is at the straightest, and therefore so much the more fit place for a Bridge; but yet the Account that I have given, makes it a pretty broad Passage here also. But that which I would chiefly observe from the Breadth of the River
in this and in other places is, that the broader and the more spatious a Flood it is as it comes hither, and the broader and the greater Com∣pass that it challenges as it goes from hence, so much the deeper and the more rapid must it be where it is streightned in its Course; and this must make it the more difficult to cover it with a Bridge, where it is so deep and so rapid. Certainly the Greatness of the Soul of Trajan, shews it self in this Work; tho' it be of no use to us now, nor passable. The Peers are yet standing, which look as if they were only built to shew, That nothing is impossible to the Wit of Man. The reason of Trajan's Build∣ing this Bridge was, to pass his Forces with rea∣diness to the Succour of the Romans on the other side of the Danube, in case the Barba∣rians attack'd them at a time when the River was frozen up. Hadrian fearing on the con∣trary, that the Barbarians might sometime Force the Passage of this Bridge, and give themselves an easie descent by it into the Country of Moe∣sia, demolished it, and broke down the Ar∣ches.
Trajan passing his Army over the Danube by this Bridge, made rather a safe than a quick War, and with time and difficulty fi∣nished the Conquest of the Kingdom of Dacia. He signalized his Conduct and his Gallan∣try in many things himself. The Soldiers by his Example were encouraged to contemn Dan∣gers, and acquit themselves with Honour. A∣mongst the rest a Horseman who was very much wounded, was brought out of a Fight to
the Surgeon to be dress'd; but perceiving that his Life was desperate, and that his Wounds were uncurable, he quitted the Tent again before his Spirits failed him, and rejoyned the Battel, and died, fighting with great Bra∣very.
In fine, Decebalus, after his Capital City was lost, and his Country all taken, and him∣self in danger to be taken, killed himself. His Head was brought to Rome: Dacia was made a Province of the Empire, and Trajan planted it with Colonies of Romans. He had hid his Treasure in the Bed of the River Istrig, not far from Warhel. For he had made his Slaves turn the Water aside another way, and into the Channel dig a Pit, in which he buried a great deal of Gold and Silver, and precious Things that could endure the Wet, which he covered with a heap of Stones and Earth, and then brought the River to run over them in its usual Course again. He hid his Robes and other things of that nature, in Caves of the Earth, by the Hands of the same Slaves, who when they had done their Work, were killed, be∣cause they should say nothing. But one Bi∣cilu, who was one of his Favourites, knowing the thing, and being taken Prisoner by Trajan, he discovered all to him, and the buried Treasure was brought to Light again.
About this time Palmas the Governour of Syria reduced the Stony Arabia under the Obe∣dience of the Empire of Rome.
After Trajan was returned to Rome, Em∣bassies were sent to him from many Nations
of the Barbarians, and amongst the rest from the Indians. The Publick Games and Shews were Celebrated one hundred twenty and three days together: in which eleven thou∣sand Beasts of all sorts were killed, and ten thousand Gladiators diverted the People, spilling their Blood over the Fenns called Au∣ferte Palude in the Campagnia di Roma. He made Causeways, and built Houses upon the Roads, and built Bridges which were very Magnificent.
He Called in, and Melted down all the Di∣minished Coin. He buried Licinius Suras, when he died, with a Publick Funeral, and set up his Statue: who had attain'd to be so Rich and so Great, as to Found at his own Expence a Publick School for the Plays and Exercises of the Romans. This Person, and Trajan, had such a Friendship, and such an In∣timacy in one another, that many times when the Enemies of Suras, who were such as en∣vyed him, had Accused him to Trajan, Tra∣jan went nevertheless to his House to Sup with him, Uninvited; and dismissing all his Guards, First he trusted himself to the Phy∣sician of Suras, to do something to his Eyes and Eyebrows; then he trusted himself to his Barber to shave him; For this was antiently the Custom, as of all other Romans, so of the Emperours: For Hadrian was the first Em∣peror that let his Beard grow unshaved. When this was done, he washed, and went to Sup∣per. The day after he said to those about him, who were always suggesting something
ill to him of Suras, If Suras had a mind to kill me, he would have done it Yesterday. This was a great thing in him, to trust his Person in the least with one, who was pursued with such Accusations. But yet it is more to be ad∣mired, how unalterably he preserved with him his Friendship, and how that nothing was able to make him believe that ever Suras would hurt him. When first he made him a Captain of the Guards, which is to be done by a Cere∣mony of delivering to him a Sword; he drew the Sword, and as he gave it, he said, Take this Sword to Use it for me, if my Reign de∣serve it; or otherwise, to Use it against me.
He set up the Statues of Sossius, Palmas, and Celsus, who were three, that he had a Favour for before others. He referred the Conspi∣racies at any time against him, to the Cogni∣zance of the Senate, by whose Sentence the Offenders were Punished of which Number was Crassus. He built Libraries for Books. He set up in his own Forum, a vast Column, partly for a Tomb for himself, when he dyed, and partly for an Historical Monument of all his Exploits. All the Ground, on which that Forum stands, was before a Mountainous Earth, which he digged down as deep as his Column is high, and so built the Forum Level. After this, He began a War against the Ar∣menians and Parthians; pretending, it was, be∣cause the King of Armenia had received his Crown at the Hands of the King of Parthia, and not of him; but really it was out of a de∣sire of Glory.
When he came as far as to Athens on this Expedition, the Ambassadours of Chosroes the King of Parthia met him; who were sent to desire a Peace with him, and brought Presents to give him from their Master. For when Chosroes had received advice of the Preparati∣ons of Trajan, and that Trajan was resolved to second his Words with good Blows, the Fear, that he was in, obliged him to abate of his Heighth, and to send to beg, That he might not be troubled with a War: For he hum∣bly asked the Crown of Armenia at his Hands, in the behalf of Parthamasiris, his Nephew, the Son of Pacorus, the late King of Armenia; Exedreas, having, as being neither agreeable to the Romans nor the Parthians, Abdicated, he said, the Crown again. Trajan refused to Ac∣cept their Presents, and returned no other Answer; than that a Man's friendship is to be proved by Actions, and not Words; and that when he came into Syria, he should do all things that were fitting. Persisting in which Opi∣nion, he took his way through the Lesser Asia, Cilicia, and the rest of the Provinces, and so came to the City of Seleucia, and from thence to Antioch in Syria.
As he was at Antioch, Abgarus the King of the Osrhoeni in Mesopotamia sent him Presents, and Messages of Friendship. But being e∣qually in fear of the Romans and the Parthi∣ans, and desiring to please both Sides, he de∣clined for that reason the waiting upon him in person. Others of the Kings and Governours of the Countries, where he came, met him,
brought him Presents, and amongst the rest, they Presented him with a Horse, that was taught to Adore; kneeling upon his Fore∣feet, and bowing his Head to the Ground, as Trajan stood before him. He accepted all their Presents.
But the behaviour of Parthamasiris upon this Conjuncture, who had taken upon him the Crown of Armenia, was altogether a piece of Rashness. First, he wrote a Letter to Trajan, in which he gave himself the Name of King of Armenia: and receiving no Answer, He writ another, in which he omitted that Name, and desired that Marcus Junius the Governour of Cappadocia might be sent to him, as if he intended to mediate something by him. Tra∣jan sent to him, the Son of that Junius. In the mean time Trajan march'd to the City of Schemsat in Comagena in Syria, and took it with∣out a Blow. Then he came to Satala, which was the Seat of Anchiolus, the King of the Heniochi, and the Macheloni. Him he obliged so much, as to make him a Present. Then he came to the City of Elegia in Armenia, where Parthamasiris met him, and was re∣ceived; but the manner thus.
Trajan sate, as in a Council of War, in the Camp. After Parthamasiris had saluted him, He took the Crown, with which he came, off of his Head, and prostrated it at the Feet of Trajan, and stood silent; expecting when Tra∣jan would return to him the Crown again. The Soldiers seeing this, set up an Huzza, and Congratulated Trajan, as is usual, after a Vi∣ctory:
For they cryed, This was a Victory without a Battel, an unbloody Victory; to see a King of the House of the Arsacidae, the Son of Pacorus, and the Nephew of Chosroes King of Parthia, stand before Trajan like a Captive with∣out a Crown. Parthamasiris amazed at the Noise, and thinking that it was designed for an Affront to him, and to his ruin, turned himself about in a Passion to be gone. But as he was so well surrounded that he could not, he desired, Not to be obliged to speak, what he had to say, in that Crowd. So he was taken into the Tent of Trajan, to whom there he offered the Propositions that he had to make; but Trajan was not pleased to consent to them. Then he threw himself in a Passion out of the Tent, and was retiring through the Camp; when Trajan sent for him back again, and in the Council of War, where he had received him at first, he desired him to speak what he had to say Publickly, in the hearing of the Company; because Persons, who were igno∣rant of what had passed betwixt them in Pri∣vate, should not suggest false Accounts of it, and misrepresent it to the World. Hearing this, Parthamasiris could not contain himself longer; but with a great Courage, amongst other things, said, That he neither had been Conquered, nor taken Prisoner. He came thither voluntarily, in confidence that no Injury would have been offered to him, and that he should re∣ceive his Kingdom of Trajan, as Tiridates did of Nero. Trajan answered him, what he saw fitting, and withal told him; That Armenia
should be no bodies Kingdom. It belonged to the Romans, and should receive a Roman Governour. As for himself, he gave him the liberty to go where he pleased. So he sent Parthamasiris, together with the Parthians that came with him, out of the Country under a Guard, that he should speak with no one, nor attempt no Novelties; but all the Armenians that came with him he ordered to abide in their Proper Dwellings, as being now his own Subjects.
Trajan secured the Country with conveni∣ent Garrisons, and came from thence to the City of Rhoa in Mesopotamia, where he saw King Abgarus, whose Seat was there. Ab∣garus had before sent Presents and Persons to him often, to Complement him: but some∣times for one, sometimes for another reason that he pretended, he had not as yet waited upon him himself, as neither had Manos the Governour of the Arabia next adjoyning, nor Sporaces the Governour of Arthemisia in Me∣sopotamia. Now the Son of Abgarus, Arban∣des, was a handsom charming Youth, whom Trajan had seen, and could not choose but love for his beauty. By the persuasion of this Son, and partly by the fear which Abgarus had of the presence of Trajan, Abgarus met him at his coming to Rhoa, and excusing him∣self to him, Trajan received him very well, and admitted him to his Friendship. His handsome Son was indeed Apology enough for him. He entertain'd Trajan at a Banquet, in which he brought in his Son to dance be∣fore him after the Barbarian Mode.
The Senate of Rome, among other things which they decreed in the honour of these Successes of their Prince, gave him the Title of Optimus, or the Best of Princes. He always marched on foot at the Head of all his Army; whom against every Expedition he Review'd and Furnished; and sometimes marched them in one manner, sometimes another. If they crossed the Rivers on Foot, so did he: some∣times he told them a piece of false News, and acted the part of a Spy amongst them, to make them keep themselves the more carefully to their Duty, and to be ready and intrepid against every thing. He took the Cities of Nisibis: and Ecbatana, from the Parthians, upon which he was Saluted by the Style of Conquerour of the Parthians by the Army. But in none of all the Titles, that he acquired, did he delight so much as in that of the Best of Princes: because this was a commendation rather of his own Nature and Virtues, than of his Arms.
Whilst he Wintered at the City of Antioch in Syria, a dreadful Earthquake happened, which did a great deal of mischief to many Cities in that Country, but Antioch was in a more particular manner afflicted with it. There was at that time a great number of Soldiers, and an extraordinary Concourse of others from all parts in the place, either upon Business of Law, or upon Embassies, or Trade, or Cu∣riosity: whereby it was so, That there was no Nation, nor no Province but what had a share in the Calamity, and all the Roman World suffered in that one City. This Earthquake
was preceded by great Thunders, and unusual Winds: but yet no body suspected from thence the mischief which followed. First, a mighty bellowing Noise was heard on a sudden, from the Earth; then followed a Shock which was was so violent, that it made all the Earth Bounce and Swell. The Houses Danced: some immediately fell with the Toss, and broke into pieces; some reeled to and fro like a Ship in the Sea, and took a com∣pass on one side and the other, and then fell: And the noise of the cracking, and burst∣ing of the Timber, the Brick, and Stones to∣gether, was most dismal. A Dust was raised, that it was impossible to see any one, or speak, or be heard to speak. Many who were with∣out their Houses suffered. They were so tos∣sed up, and then down again, as in a Preci∣pice, and struck against one another: some were wounded, some killed. Trees were torn up from the Roots. But of the rest, who were overtaken within their Houses, an infinite number perished; a great many with the Houses falling upon their Heads; a great many were suffocated under the Ruins: Others, who were held under the Wood and Stones so, by any part of their Bodies, that they could not possibly recover themselves, were in the highest degree miserable: they could not live, and yet they could not soon expire. If, out of such an infinite number as were overtaken within their Houses, several escaped with their lives, yet they were generally hurt; their Legs broken, or their Arms, or their
Heads, or they vomited Blood. Pedo the Consul was one of these, who died soon af∣ter. In short, there was no figure of Misery and Destruction but what was to be seen a∣mongst these People. GOD shook the Earth for many Days and Nights together. The People were all in a Distraction, and without help to fly to. Whilst some were immedi∣ately killed, and buried under the Ruins, others were starved to death, who were pen∣ned up in any void Spaces left by the Tim∣ber, or betwixt Pillars, and in Vaults. After the Earthquake was ceased, a Person who had the Courage to go presently upon the Ruins, heard the Voice of a Woman crying. Nor was she alone: the sucking Infant was with her; and she had kept both her Child and herself alive, with her Milk. They were digged up and saved: and search was made for others. But they found no body more alive, besides one Child, which was hanging upon the Breasts of its Mother, and the Mo∣ther dead. When they took the Dead up out of the Ruins, it was so lamentable a sight, that the living had no Hearts to rejoyce so much as for their own safety; so great was the Calamity which then afflicted Antioch. Trajan escaped through a Window out of the House where he was, by the help of a Man who was extraordinarily Tall, and who came and carried him off, but not without some small Hurts. As the Earthquake continued several days, he kept himself all that time in the open Air, in the Cirque. The Moun∣tain
Lison was so shook, that the Top of it bowed and burst, and threatned to fall down upon the Town. Other Mountains fell, and great Waters started up where none was before, and Streams that had flown before, forsook their Course and vanished.
The Spring being returned, Trajan carried his Arms into the Country of the Enemy. He furnish'd himself with Boats for a Bridge to transport his Forces over the River Tigris, from the Woods about the City of Nisibis; because the Country upon the Banks of that River affords no Timber for that purpose. The Boats were all brought from thence to the River upon Land-Carriages; being built in that manner, that they were to be taken asunder, and joyned again into a Bridge at Pleasure. Which was done; and the Bridge was laid over the Tigris at the Foot of the Mountain Cardynus; not without the great annoyance of the Enemy on the other side, who were Posted to oppose it. To give whom a Diversion, whilst the Bridge was fitting with all speed, as Trajan had Men and Boats in plenty, he Armed out some Boats with Archers and other Soldiers, and detached them against the Barbarians. He detached others to be moving up and down, as it were to try to Land in other places, which so distracted the Barbarians, and especially they were so surprized to see such a number of Shipping gotten together in a Country that is destitute of Wood, that they gave way, and the Ro∣man Army passed the River.
The Roman Army landed in the Country of Adiabene, which is a part of Assyria, and Assy∣ria was then under the Obedience of the King of Parthia. They took all Adiabene, and the Towns of Arbela and Gaugamela, where Alexander the Great did heretofore overthrow Darius. The Barbarians call it Atyria, instead of Assyria, changing the Letters ss into t. But as the Forces of the Parthians had been di∣minished in their Civil-Wars, and still they were at Variance with one another, there was such a scarcity of the Enemy to make Opposition to the March of the Romans, that they came up to the City of Babylon.
Here Trajan beheld the Lake of Bitumen, with which the famous Walls of Babylon were built. It is a sort of a Slime so Clammy and so Strong, that when it is mixt with Brick and Pebbles, it makes a Wall that is stronger than any Stone, and Iron it self. He view'd the Mouth of it, from whence proceeds such a noxious Stench, that it kills all the Beasts, and all the Birds that are brought within its reach. And certainly did it arise much higher, to disperse it self far and wide in the Air, it would render the place Uninhabitable. But it Circulates within it self, and does not ex∣ceed its limits. I have seen such another Lake as this at the City of Hierapolis in the Lesser Asia, and I made an Experiment of it in Birds; my self being in an Upper Apartment, from whence I overlook'd it. For it is shut up in a sort of a Cistern, and above it is built a Con∣venience, where you look down and see the
fatal effects of this Stench in safety. It kills every thing, Living: Men only excepted, that have been Gelt. I do not understand the rea∣son of this. But I speak the things that I have seen, as I saw them, and the things that I have heard, as I heard them.
Trajan was once designing to make a Cutt for the River Euphrates upon which Babylon stands, to fall into the Tigris; that passing his Vessels by that Cut, out of the First into the other River, he might give himself a Bridge to March his Army over the Tigris to the Siege of Ctesiphon in Assyria. But when he understood that the Bed of the Euphrates was much higher than the Bed of the Tigris, he forbore that design, lest the abundance of the Water running into the Lower Bed should ren∣der the Euphrates unnavigable. So he mount∣ed his Vessels upon Land-Carriages, and brought them to the Tigris over the little Streight of Land which is betwixt the two Ri∣vers; and having passed his Army, and taken the City of Ctesiphon from the Parthians, he was Confirm'd in the Title of the Conquerour of the Parthians, and the Senate of Rome de∣creed, that he should enjoy what Triumphs, and what Festivals for the Honour of his Vi∣ctories, soever he pleased.
After he had taken Ctesiphon, his Curiosity led him to go on Board his Fleet, and Sail for the Red Sea; which is a Branch of the Indian Ocean, and called Erythraeum Mare, that is, the Red Sea, from a King of the Name of
Erythrus, who was sometime very Powerful upon it. He took in his way the Island of Messene, which is in the Tigris, the King whereof was Athambylus, without any difficul∣ty: only the Winter, the rapidity of the Tigris, and the Tides of the Ocean were something dangerous. The Town of Spasinum, belong∣ing to Athambylus, received him well. From thence he came upon the Ocean, where in∣forming himself in the Nature thereof, and discovering a Ship that was bound to India, he said, Was I Young, I would certainly make a Visit to the Indians. He enquired much about them, and their Actions, and admired the Happiness of Alexander, who had Conquered them, and who had gone so much further than he. He writ the same to the Senate; But yet at the same time he was not able, what he had already Conquered to keep. The Senate de∣creed several things in his Honour; and a∣mongst the rest, that in relation to as many Nations as he pleased, his Successes should be adorn'd with Triumphs. For they were more than were known to them, so much as by Name, as they continually understood by his Accounts. They set up in his Honor a Trium∣phal Arch in his own Forum, and the Citizens prepared themselves to go a great way to meet him, at his return to Rome. But he never came thither; nor was the End of his Acti∣ons suitable to his Beginnings, because what he had Conquered, he lost again.
In the time that he was Sailing for his Plea∣sure upon the Indian Ocean, all his Conquests were chang'd and revolted, and the Garrisons which he had left amongst them were either turned out or killed. It was nothing but the Fame of the Indian Ocean which had drawn him thither, together with his Honour for the Memory of Alexander the Great, to whom he had sometime sacrificed in the House, in which he dyed at Babylon. But as he met with nothing worthy of that Fame; Fables and Prospects of Ruins were his only Entertain∣ments.
He was as yet on Board, when the News was brought to him of the revolt of his Con∣quests; against whom, he dispatched Lucius and Maximus. Maximus was deseated and killed. Lucius acquitted himself very well, and amongst other things recovered the City of Nisibis, Storm'd, Plundered, and Burnt the City of Rhoa, whilst Erycius Clarus, and Ju∣lius Alexander took and burnt the City of Se∣leucia. In the mean time, fearing lest the Parthians of Ctesiphon should attempt some∣thing, Trajan was willing to oblige them, by giving them, instead of a Roman Governour, a King of their own. He Assembled, when he came to Ctesiphon, all the Romans, and all the Parthians that were there into a large Plain; and raising himself upon a high Throne, and glorying in the great Actions that he had done, he appointed Parthamaspates King of the Parthians, and put the Crown upon him.
Then he came into Arabia, to Reduce there the People called the Hagarens, who had also Revolted. Their Town is neither Great nor Rich; but the Country adjoyning to it is for the most part a Desart; without Water, which it seldom hath, and then it is naught; without Wood, and without Forage: all which make it impossible for a great number of Men to lye long before it, defended as it also is by the heats of the Sun, to which it is exposed. So it was neither taken by Trajan then, nor by Severus afterwards, though they both made Breaches in part of the Walls. Trajan disguised himself, and Headed a Body of Horse up to the Walls in Person; but his Horse returned in an ill Condition to the Camp, and himself escaped very narrowly: For the Barbarians believing it was he, by his Age and Presence, shot at him, and killed a Horseman that was next him. It Thundered and Lightened, Rainbows appeared in the Clouds, Storms of Hail and Wind fell upon the Romans, when they made their Attacks. The Flyes rendred their Victuals and their Drink nauseous. So Trajan raised the Siege, and fell sick not long after.
About this time the Jews about Cyrene in Africa, Commanded by one Andrew, whom they had set up over them, committed great Slaughters upon both the Romans and Grecians, They Eat their Flesh, made themselves Gar∣lands of their Guts, washed themselves in their Blood, and Cloathed themselves in their Skins.
They sawed many in Two, from the Head, with Saws. They threw others to Wild Beasts. They forced others to fight till they kill'd one another. About two hundred and twenty thousand Persons were destroyed by this means. They did the like in Egypt, and in the Island of Cyprus, under the Command of Artemion; where two hundred and forty thou∣sand Persons more were destroy'd. For which reason, it is, that it is forbidden a Jew to set foot upon that Island; even though by Storm he is driven upon it, he is to be put to death. At length they were reduced under Obe∣dience again, as by others, so particularly by Lucius, who was sent against them by Trajan.
Trajan was resolved to have carried the War anew into Mesopotamia, if his sickness, increasing upon him, had not obliged him to set Sail towards Italy, and to commit to Publius Aelius Hadrian the Command of the Army in Syria. And now all the Pains that had been taken, and all the Dangers which had been run by the Romans, in the Conquest of Ar∣menia, the greatest part of Mesopotamia, and the Parthians, became in vain: for the Par∣thians turn'd off King Parthamespates, of the appointment of Trajan, and betook them∣selves to be Governed by their own Mea∣sures.
Trajan suspected, in his own mind, that he was poisoned: but others say that he had been used every year to void Blood downward, and
that this Evacuation had stopped; that he had a Dead Palsie upon him, and was insensible in a part of his Body, and that he was all over Dropsical. He came as far as to the Ci∣ty Iclenos, which is otherwise called Trajanople from him, in Cilicia, in the Lesser Asia, and there immediately dyed; having Reigned nineteen Years, six Months, and fifteen Days.
HE had been Consul in Conjunction with Acilius Glabrio, in the Reign of Domiti∣an, and then received some Omens of his fu∣ture Reign.
HE was a Native of the same Town in Spain with Hadrian, whose Guardi∣an he was, and to whom he married his Niece. He dyed without Children, and his Ashes were interred in the Column of his own Work.
THE Town in Spain, at which Trajan was born, was Old Sevil in the Lower Andaluzia. He lived sixty three Years, nine Months, and four Days. He was Proclaim'd Emperor at Cologne in Germany. The Height
of his Column was one hundred and for∣ty, or one hundred forty and four Feet. The Younger Pliny, born at the City of Com•• in the Dutchy of Milan, who was a famous Orator and Historian, flourished in his time, who has left us a Panegyric on this Emperor, pronounc'd by him the first day of his Consulship.
A. Christi XCIX.
Trajan's Dream.
He puni∣shes the old Muti∣neers.
His Em∣press.
The Daci∣an War.
Character of Trajan.
His Inscri∣ption on the Cirque
He fights the Ene∣my.
Decebalus desires Peace.
Decebalus submits.
Trajan's Triumph.
Decebalus renews the War.
Treachery of Deceba∣lus defeat∣ed.
Longinus trapan'd.
Trajan's Bridge o∣ver the Danube.
His Per∣sonal Va∣lour.
Decebalus kills him∣self.
His hid∣den Trea∣sure.
Trajan re∣turns to Rome.
His Friend Licinius Suras dies.
His pub∣lic Works.
His Par∣thian Ex∣pedition.
Courted by the Eastern Kings.
Behavi∣our of Par∣thamasiris.
His Ap∣pearance. before Trajan.
His Speech in the Coun∣cil of War.
He is dis∣mist.
Trajan's Congress with Ab∣garus.
A new Title de∣creed him.
A great Earth∣quake.
Fore-run∣ners thereof.
Miserable Effects of it.
Trajan proceeds in his Ex∣pedition.
He comes to Baby∣lon.
Ctesiphon taken.
His Expe∣dition to the Red Sea.
Honour done to him by the Senate.
A general Revolt.
Trajan gives a King to the Par∣thians.
Expediti∣on against the Haga∣rens.
Jewish Barbari∣ty.
Jews quell'd.
Death of Trajan.