In order to strengthen his army he enlisted all the Greek mercenaries, who, following Antiochus, were prisoners; but these Greeks having been treated with cruelty during their captivity, resolved to have revenge; and in the first engagement deserted to the Scythians, and in conjunction with them attacked the Parthians, cut their army to pieces, killed the king, and ravaged their country. In this battle the Chinese also assisted the Scythians, which is their first appearance abroad, which history records. They had previously been confined to their own country in their wars and transactions.

Distinguished Characters in Period IX.

1. Polybius, a learned historian, who wrote the history of the Greeks and Romans.

2. Apollodorus, a Greek grammarian.

3. Lucilius, an early Roman poet.

4. Marius, a celebrated Roman general and consul.

5. Sylla, an able general, eminent for his success and cruelty in war.

6. John Hyrcanus, a liberator of the Jews, and father of the Asmonean dynasty.

§ 1. Polybius was a native of Arcadia, in Greece. He was initiated in the duties, and made acquainted with the qualifications of a statesman, by his father, the instructer of Philopomen. He fought against the Romans in the war of Perseus, but was taken and brought prisoner to Rome, where he was befriended by the younger Scipio.

Polybius acquired an intimacy with the powerful Romans, and was present at the taking of Carthage and Numantia. After the death of Scipio, he retired to Megalopolis, where he died in his 82d year, about 124 years B. C. He wrote a universal history in Greek, divided into 40 books, which began with the first Punic war, and finished with the conquest of Macedonia, by Paulus.

The greatest part of this valuable history is lost. Five books, and numerous fragments, remain. It is highly authentic and accurate. 2. Apollodorus flourished about 115 years B. C. He wrote a history of Athens, besides other works. But of all his compositions nothing is extant, except his Bibliotheca, a valuable work, divided into three books.

3. Lucilius was a Roman knight, born at Aurunca, and distinguished by his virtuous and inoffensive character. He is considered as the first great satirical writer among the Romans, and indeed as the founder of satire. He was superior to his poetical predecessors at Rome; he wrote with great roughness and inelegance, but with much facility, and he gained many admirers.

Blackwell says, that he was "a writer of such keennes of temper and flowing wit, as fitted him to strike out a new road, never trod by poet before." Some, however, admired him beyond his real merits. Of 30 satires which he wrote, nothing but a few verses remains. H died at Naples in the 46th year of his age

4. Marius was born of obscure and illiterate parents, but became one of the most powerful and cruel tyrants, that Rome ever beheld during her consular government. He became seven times consul He destroyed the Ambrones, Teutones, and Cimbri, who were preparing to invade Italy, and raised a civil war, to oppose the power of Sylla, as has been narrated in this History. He died B. C. 86, after he had filled all Rome with blood.

Among the instances which are mentioned of his firmness, this may be recorded. A swelling in the leg obliged him to apply to a physician, who urged the necessity of cutting it off. Marius gave it, and saw the operation performed without a distortion of the face, and without a groan. The physician asked the other, and Marius gave it with equal composure.

5. Sylla was the inveterate enemy of Marius, between whom, as we have seen, the most bloody wars were waged. He was descended from a noble family, but was poor in early life. He afterwards became immensely rich. He first entered the army under Marius, as quæstor, in Numidia. He afterwards had the administration of the Mithridatic war.

In his wars with Marius, Sylla acted the tyrant to a terrible extent, and the streets of Rome he filled with devastation and blood. As perpetual dictator, he exercised the most absolute authority; but at length abdicated and died at Puteoli of a most loathsome disease, in his 60th year, 78 B. C. Mankind have never understood the cause of his abdication. He and Marius both sought in their last sickness to drown the stings of conscience by continual intoxication.

6. John Hyrcanus was prince and high-priest of the Jews, after his father. He restored his nation to independence, from the power of Antiochus, king of Syria, and died 106 years B. C. He was illustrious by his virtues, as well as by being the father of a race of princes. He was succeeded on the throne of Judea by a son of the same name.

PERIOD X.

The period of Roman Literature, extending from the first campaign of Julius Cæsar, 80 years B. C. to the nativity of Jesus Christ, or the commencement of the Christian era. ROME.

SECT. I. ROME, at the commencement of this period, had greatly extended its dominions, and was fast becoming a universal empire. Abroad the Romans triumphed-but at home their affairs were in a melancholy and distracted state. The form of public liberty remained, but the reality had principally departed. The civil dissensions of Marius and Sylla had pros trated many of their most valuable institutions.

Before these dissensions were brought to a close, a man began to appear on the stage, who was destined to destroy the last remnant of the liberties of his country. This man was Julius Cæsar. In his first military enterprise, 80 years B. C., in the siege of Mytilene, under Thermus, the prætor of Asia, his bravery and talents were rewarded with a civic crown.

Soon after this he returned to Rome to prosecute his studies, and for a time refused all interference in the feuds which were then prevailing. Before he had finished his studies, however, he raised troops to repress the incursions of Mithridates, and was successful in saving or rescuing several of the eastern provinces from his grasp.

From this time his ambitious views were too apparent, and in seeking office and popularity, he was but too successful. He had escaped with difficulty the proscriptions of Sylla, who was persuaded to let him live, though that tyrant dreaded Cæsar's abilities.

Cæsar was descended from one of the first families in Rome, and had married a daughter of Cinna. His powerful name and connexions he strengthened, by arts of the most consummate policy and address. His powers of mind were of the highest order, and he excelled in whatever branch of pursuit he engaged.

He was in person slender, tall, and delicate, and was reputed to be the handsomest man in Rome. He had a habit of running his finger under the nicely adjusted curls of his head, when he appeared in public assemblies: this led Cicero to remark, “that one would hardly imagine that under such a fine exterior, there was hatching the destruction of the liberties of Rome."

Of his feats in war, and the important part he acted in the commonwealth, we shall have occasion to speak, in following the order of

events.

2. After the death of Sylla, contention broke out anew; for the terror of his power had created a short interval of a dreadful repose.

Catulus and Lepidus settled their difficulties only by armsand the War of Sertorious, and the Servile War ensued. These, however, were safely terminated after a few years. The war of Sertorius commenced 77 years B. C. The Servile War commenced 73 years B. C.

Lepidus, who was consul, wishing to annul all the acts of Sylla. was opposed by his colleague Catulus. To carry his point he found it necessary to use force, and accordingly he raised an army in his government of Gaul, with which he approached, in hostile array, towards Rome.

Catulus, to whom Pompey and his forces were joined, met him at the Milvian Bridge, two miles from Rome, and gave him battle. Le

pidus was entirely defeated, and escaping into Sardinia, soon died of grief. His party, however, did not expire with him.

A more dangerous enemy still remained in Spain. This was Sertorius, a veteran soldier, who had been bred under Marius, his equal in courage-his superior in virtue. Banished from Rome by Sylla, he had found a refuge in Spain, whither all, who fled from Sylla's cruelty, resorted to him. Having gained the affections of its warlike nhabitants, he resisted, during eight years, the Roman power.

Metellus, and afterwards Pompey, were sent to bring him to submission, but he often came off victorious, and was even threatening to invade Italy, when he was suddenly destroyed by the treachery of one of his lieutenants. The revolted provinces of Spain quickly submitted to Pompey.

The Servile War took its rise from a few gladiators, who broke from their fencing-school at Capua, and having drawn a number of slaves after them, overthrew the force that was sent against them, and from this success, their number soon increased to an army of 40,000 men.

With this strength, and headed by Spartacus, their general, they sustained a vigorous war of three years in the very heart of Italy, and even talked of attacking Rome; but Crassus, having assembled all the forces in the neighbourhood of the capital, destroyed the greatest part of them, and among them Spartacus, fighting bravely to the last.

3. The War which had been carried on against Mithridates, and which Sylla had suspended by means of a peace, was renewed about this time, 72 years B. C. This was one of the most important wars which the Romans ever waged. Mithridates defeated the successor of Sylla, and contracting an alliance with Tigranes, king of Armenia, began to be quite formidable to the power of Rome.

Lucullus, however, an experienced general, was sent against him, and defeated him in several engagements, with immense loss. Tigranes also felt the weight of the Roman arm; and both, doubtless, would have been obliged soon to sue for peace, had not Lucullus, by means of intrigue, been deposed from his command, and Glabrio appointed in his stead.

After this, Mithridates met with success again, till Pompey was appointed to take the command against this powerful enemy of Rome. Under the auspices of this great general, the Roman arms were completely victorious, and the war terminated about 63 years B. C., with the death of Mithri dates.

§ Mithridates was the undaunted enemy of Rome during 25 years. His resources in wealth and soldiers were great, and his bravery and talents were equal to his resources. The Roman general with whom

he had finally to contend, was an antagonist worthy of him, in every respect. Pompey had already become a favourite hero of the Roman people.

He had generally been successful in his military enterprises, and in the commission which he had recently received of managing the war against the pirates of the Mediterranean, he had shewn equal intrepidity and skill. Pleased with his success, the people had entrusted to him the sole management of the Mithridatic war, with an almost unlimited authority.

His power would have rendered him extremely dangerous to the liberties of his country, had he been an enemy to those liberties. But though highly ambitious, he was desirous rather of glory than of dominion. He wished to be the first man in the state, and for this reason entered into a contest with Crassus for the favour of the people, as he afterwards fought against Cæsar, in behalf of the republic. In the Mithridatic war he manifested his qualities as a general. He first proposed terms of accommodation to Mithridates. But these were refused; and the king, collecting an army from the wrecks of his former power, was about to carry the war into Armenia. In this project, however, he was disappointed, and was obliged to flee. Pompey, nevertheless, overtook him before he had time to pass the Euphrates. It was then night, but being compelled to engage, it is said the moon, shining from behind the Roman army, lengthened their shadows so much, that the archers of Mithridates shot their arrows at these, mistaking the shadow for the substance.

He was overthrown with great loss; but he broke through the Roman army with a few hundred horse, and escaped. Here, after wandering through the forests several days, leading his horse, and subsisting on fruits which were found in his way, he met with a few thousand of his troops that had survived the engagement, who conducted him to one of his magazines, containing the treasures deposited to support the war.

After this he sought aid from several princes; but though he failed in this attempt, and though he was betrayed by his unnatural son, he still aimed at great designs, and even in the heart of Asia, he projected the invasion of the Roman empire. Upon being apprized of his intentions, a mutiny ensued, which was promoted by his son.

Being obliged to take refuge in his palace, he sent to his son for leave to depart, with offers of the remnant of his kingdom to him. The monster, however, denied this request, and sternly conveyed a message to the old man, intimating that death was now all that he could expect.

This instance of filial ingratitude aggravated all his other calamities; and he sought for his wives, children, and himself, a voluntary death. They all readily consented to die with their monarch, rather than to undergo the horrors of a Roman captivity.

4. After defeating Mithridates, Pompey made very numerous and extensive conquests, setting up and deposing kings at his pleasure. He at length marched against Jerusalem,