Diodorus Siculus

FRAGMENTS - The Library of History



Page 750 to release him and restore him hononourably to his Kingdom; but was willing likewise to have the Favour acknowledg'd by his Son Antiochus, who had marry'd Stratonices the Daughter of Demetrius, and had several Children by her.



Out of the 22d BOOK.

1. WHen a Garrison was put into Rhegium by the Romans, Decius a Campanian, a covetous and impudent Fellow, acted the Base and Treacherous Part of the Mamertines; for as they were receiv'd as Friends by the Messenians, and seiz'd upon their City, and cut the Throats of all the Messenians their Landlords, in their own Houses, and marry'd their Wives, and possess'd themselves of the Estates of them they had murder'd; so the Campanian Soldiers to whom with Decius the Garrison of Rhegium was committed by the Romans, with the like Perfidiousness kill'd all the Rhegians, and dividing their Goods amongst themselves, possess'd themselves of the City. But Decius the Governor after he had sold the Goods of these miserable People, and shared the Money he had treacherously rais'd, was expell'd from Rhegium by the Campanians, his Co-partners in this wicked Fact. But every one of these perfidious Villains at length met with their just Reward: For Decius being seiz'd with a grievous pain in his Eyes sent for an Eminent Physitian of Rhegium, who to revenge the Wrong done to his Country, anointed Decius his Eyes with Cantharides, and by this means having made him stark blind, forthwith fled out of Messena.

2. Phintias having tyrannically oppressed his Citizens, and put to death many of the Wealthy Men of the City, began to be hated by his Subjects for his Cruelty; and therefore all being upon the point ready for a General Defection, and he himself reduc'd to great streights, on a sudden chang'd his former Course, and ruling more moderately, kept his Subjects within the bounds of their Duty and Obedience.

3. Ptolomy King of Macedonia, being indeed very Young, and altogether unexpert in Military Affairs, and naturally Rash and weak Headed, made no provision for any thing as he ought: And therefore when he was advis'd by his Friends to stay for the Auxiliary Forces who were not as yet come up to him, he disregarded their Council.

4. Apollodorus affecting the Sovereign Power, and minding to confirm the Conspirators in whhat they had undertaken, sent for a young Man, one of his Friends, under colour of coming to Sacrifice, and when he came he offer'd him up to the Gods, and gave his Intrails to be eaten by the Conspirators, and drunk to them in his Blood mixed with Wine.

5. The same Apollodorus arm'd some Gauls, and engag'd them with large Gifts, and made use of them for his Life-Guard, because they were naturally Cruel, and ready to execute any Villany. He rais'd likewise a great Sum of Money, by Confiscating and exposing to publick Sale the Goods of the Wealthy Citizens. He grew very potent in a short time, by increasing the Soldiers Pay, and distributing Money among the Poorer sort.

Being wholly given up to Cruelty and Covetousness, he squeez'd Money from the Citizens, and forc'd both Men and Women with Racks and Torments to bring forth all their Gold and Silver; for he made use of one Calliphon a Sicilian for his adviser, an Arts master in Tyranny, who had been long bred up a Courtier among many of the Tyrants in Sicily.

6. When Pyrrhus had plunder'd Aegeas, the Seat-Royal of the Kings of Macedonia, he left there a Garrison of Gauls, who being inform'd by some that there were great Treasures (according to ancient Custom) hid in the Sepulchres of the Kings, dug up all the Tombs, and divided the Wealth amongst themselves, but scattered abroad the Bones and Ashes of the Dead.

However, Pyrrhus though he was rail'd at for this piece of Inhumanity, yet he punish'd not the Barbarians, because he made use of their assistance in his Wars.




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