CHAP. CXVII.

The News of Varus's Defeat, with the Loss of three Legions, three Wings and fix Cohorts, arrives Soon after the Conclusion of the Dalmatian War. Varus his Character.

CÆsar had just put an End to the Pannonian and Dalmatian War, when, within five Days after the Confummation of ſo great a Work, we received News from Germany, that Varus was ſlain, three Legions, as many Wings, and fix Cohorts ruined and deſtroyed. Fortune befriending us in this Particular only, that our General was not employed Abroad at that Time. The Importance of this Affair requires I ſhould ſay ſomething of the Perſon who conducted it. Varus Quinctilius was rather of an illustrious, than a noble Extraction. He was indolent and ſedate in his Temper and Converſation, unactive both in Body and Mind. He had been more inured to the Ease of a Camp, than the Toils of War. His Love of Money appears to be exorbitant, from his entring into the wealthy Province of Syria in the greateſt Poverty, and returning thence laden with the Riches of the Country, which he had beſieged. When he commanded the Army in Germany, he thought that People had nothing but the Voice and Shape of Men, and that they were to be allured into Subjection by Laws and Equity, who cou'd not be forced to it by Violence and Arms. Upon this Perſwaſion, he advanced into the middle of Germany, and conceived himself among Men who delighted to enjoy the Sweets of Peace, and accordingly ſpent the Summer in determining Cauſes from his Tribunal.

CHAP. CXVIII.

The Methods made use of by Arminius, to Seduce the Roman General. The Character of Arminius. His Deſigns discovered to Varus, but not credited.

BUT they (what no one would believe who is not convinced by Experience) being a People naturally inclined to Diffimulation, diguiſe a counterfeited Policy, under the Shew of Savageneſs and Barbarity: They often pretended Suits and Differences when there were really

really none, appealing to the Roman Tribunal for Juſtice; and returning Thanks that they were ended with so much Equity; they ſeem'd now to recede from their former Cruelty, and ſuffered the Law to decide thoſe Controverſies which were uſed before to be determined by Arms. Thus they brought Quinctilius to the higheſt Opinion of his Safety, ſo that he ſeemed rather a Prætor of the City, ſitting in a Court of Judicature in the Forum, than a General of an Army in the middle of Germany. Upon this, one Arminius, Son to Sigimerus, a Prince of that Nation, a Youth of noble Extraction, great A&ivity, and wonderful Expedition in his Attempts, who discovered the Ardour and Vehemence of his Mind, by his Looks and Complexion, and had been conſtantly in our Service in the former War, and was admitted Citizen and Knight of Rome, was incited to Villany by the Negligence of our Commander; for he wiſely conſidered, that none were more open to Afſaults than they who thought themſelves out of Danger, and that Mens ſeeming Security was often the Occaſion of their greateſt Calamities: He firſt revealed his Intentions to a few, and then admitted more into his Deſigns: He perſwaded them that the Romans might be overthrown; and to add Force to his Opinion, he appointed a Time for the Execution of his Treachery. Sergeſtes, a Man of great Honour and Fidelity in that Nation, informs Varus of their Preparations: But the Fates perplexed his Thoughts, and threw a Cloud over his Underſtanding; for it often happens, that upon some great Revolution of Fortune, our very Thoughts are darkned; and which is the greateſt Calamity, whatever befals us, is looked upon as worthy for us to ſuffer; ſo that Events of Chance are charged as our own Default and Crime. Varus gives no Credit to the Intelligence, alledging that he was ſatisfied of their Good-Will, from a Conſciouſneſs of the Good-Offices he had done them; and when he had thus diſregarded the firſt, there was no room allow'd for a ſecond Information.

CHAP.

CHAP. CXIX.

The Roman Army entirely defeated by the Enemy. Varus kills himself. His Head is cut off and sent to Cæsar.

I Shall endeavour to give a more particular Account of this Overthrow, which was the greatest to the Romans in any Foreign Country, since the Defeat of Crassus among the Parthians (tho' others have already done it) in another Work, at present I shall only lament it. The most valiant, numerous, and well-disciplined Army which the Romans ever saw, was lost and destroyed by the Negligence of the General, the Treachery of the Enemy, and the Perverseness of Fortune: They had no Opportunity to make the Resistance they desired to do, since many of them had been severely corrected for acting with the Courage and Spirit of Romans; they were surrounded by Woods, Morasses, and Ambuscades, and were cut off by an Enemy which was used to fall before them as Sheep, their Life or Death being determin'd according to the Cruelty or Compassion of the Conqueror. The General was more prepared to die than to fight, and following the Example of his Father, and Grandfather, ran himself through with his Sword. The Master of the Camp, L. Eggius, gave as noble an Instance of his Valour, as his Colleague Ceionius did of his Cowardice, who when his Forces were distressed, surrendred them, and so chose to die as a Malefactor, rather than a Soldier. Vala Numonius, the Lieutenant of Varus, was guilty of a like infamous Action; he drew away the Horse from the conquered Foot, and endeavoured with the Wings to fly to the Rhine: But Fortune revenged his Crime and Perfidiousness, for he did not survive those whom he thus abandoned, but died as a Traitor to them and his Country. The Body of Varus half burnt, was tore in Pieces by the Cruelty of the Enemy, his Head was cut off and sent to Maroboduus, which he commanded to be carried to Cæsar, who very honourably interr'd it in the Tombs of his Ancestors.

CHAP.

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