Page 754 7. When Gelo and Hiero Kings of Sicily were dead in Syracuse, and Hieronymus, who was very raw and young, succeeded, the Kingdom was but ill supply'd with a Governour; for being flatter'd and sooth'd up by his Friends, he fell into Luxury, Debauchery, and Tyrannical Cruelty. For he Ravish'd many Men's Wives, Murther'd his Friends that advis'd him; confiscated the Goods of many without hearing them, and gave their Estates to the flattering Informers; which first stirr'd up the hatred of the People against him, then put them upon Plotting, which broke out at last and ended in his destruction; the common Lot of Tyrants in such cases.
8. When Hiero was kill'd, the Syracusians call'd a Senate, where it was decreed that all the Kindred of the Tyrant should be put to death, both Man and Woman, and that none of his Race or Family should be left alive.
9. When the dead Body of Semprenius Gracchus was sent by Mago to Hannibal, the Soldiers seeing it lie upon the ground, cry'd out to have it cut in pieces, and to be hurl'd away piece by piece out of Slings. But Hannibal having an Object before his Eyes to instruct him in the uncertainty and unconstancy of Fortune, and honouring and admiring likewise the Valour of the Man, said it was an unworthy thing to wreak a Man's Anger upon a speechless Carcass; and afterwards celebrated his Funeral with all the marks of Honour and Respect, and civilly sent his Bones and Ashes in an Urn to the Roman Camp.
9. When Syracuse was taken, all the Citizens went forth to meet Marcellus with Olive-branches in their hands; and he told them he would spare all the Lives of those that were Freemen of the City, but all their Goods should be a prey for his Soldiers.
10. The Carthaginians after they had made an end of the Libyck War, severely punish'd the Micatanian Numidians, with their Wives and Children; for they crucify'd all their Captives, insomuch as their posterity ever since remembring the Cruelty executed upon their Forefathers, are most implacable Enemies to the Carthaginians.
11. But the Valour of Hasdruball is not to be passed over in silence. For he was the Son of Amilcar Barca, the bravest Captain of his Age, who in the Sicilian War was the only General that often overcame the Romans, and having put an happy end to the Civil War, was the first that past over with an Army into Spain; and this Hasdrubal approv'd himself a Son not unworthy the Honour and Dignity of such a Father. For he was generally own'd to be the best Soldier, (next to Hannibal his Brother) of all the Carthaginian Commanders, and therefore he was left General of all the Forces in Spain by Hannibal, where he fought many Battles, and freeing his Army many times from the Straits they were in, he often ran himself into many great Dangers: and being at • ength forc'd up into the heart of the Country, far from the Sea, upon the account of his Valour he got together a mighty Army, and at last came unexpectedly into Italy.
12. Nabis King of Lacedemon Murthered P •l • ps, the Son of ••curg •• the former King, when he was but a very Child; for he was afraid when he was grown up to Man's Estate, he would seek to free and rescue his Country, upon the account of his being of the Blood-Royal. And for this reason he put to death the Nobility of Sparta, and hir'd the basest and most abject Fellows, wherever he could find 'em, to be his Life guard, and protect him in his Dominion: So that Robbers of Temples, Thieves, Highway-men, and Condemn'd Persons flock'd from all places to Sparta. For stepping up into the Throne by wickedness, he had no hopes to keep what he had so wickedly got, but only by the help of such Prophane and Impious Fellows.
13. The Cretians Rigg'd out Seven Ships for Piracy, and robb'd many Passengers at Sea, whereupon the Merchants being altogether discourag'd, the Rhodians looking upon it to belong to them to redress this Mischief, proclaim'd War against the Cretians.
14. Pleminius was left Governor of Locris by Scipio; and being a p • ofliga •• wretch, he forc'd open the Treasury of Proserpina, and carry'd away all the Sacred Treasure. The Locrians enrag'd at the Fact, Address'd themselves to the People of Rome, and intreated their Relief according to their usual Faith; whereupon, Two Military Tribunes seem much offended with the Impious Fact committed, and sharply rebuk'd Pleminius; not that they were really angry at what was done, but because they themselves had no part of the Money. But in a short time after, the Goddess paid them all home for their Impiety. For this was reported to be the most Famous Temple of all that were in Italy, and in all Ages before that time (through the care of the Inhabitants) had remain'd safe and unviolated. For at the time when Pyrrhus transported his Forces out of Sicily to Locris, and his Soldiers were pressing upon him for Pay, he was forc'd to make use of this Sacred Treasure: but in returning back (they say) he suffred much, his whole Fleet being dispers'd, shatter'd and torn in pieces by a • ierce and violent Tempest, and