Quintus Sertorius

, a Roman general, son of Quintus and Rhea, born at Nursia. His first campaign was under the great Marius, against the Teutones and Cimbri. He visited the enemy’s camp as a spy, and had the misfortune to lose one eye in the first battle he fought. When Marius and Cinna entered Rome and slaughtered all their enemies, Sertorius accompanied them, but he expre ed his sorrow and concern at the melancholy death of so many of his countrymen. He afterwards fled for safety into Spain, when Sylla had proscribed him, and in this distant province he behaved himself with so much addre and valour that he was looked upon as the prince of the country. The Lusitanians universally revered and loved him, and the Roman general did not show himself le attentive to their interest, by establishing public schools, and educating the children of the country in the polite arts, and the literature of Greece and Rome. He had established a senate, over which he presided with consular authority, and the Romans, who followed his standard, paid equal reverence to his person. They were experimentally convinced of his valour and ♦ magnanimity as a general, and the artful manner in which he imposed upon the credulity of his adherents in the garb of religion, did not diminish his reputation. He pretended to hold commerce with heaven by means of a white hind which he had tamed with great succe , and which followed him everywhere, even in the field of battle. The succe of Sertorius in Spain, and his popularity among the natives, alarmed the Romans. They sent some troops to oppose him, but with little succe . Four armies were found insufficient to crush or even hurt Sertorius; and Pompey and Me tell us, who never engaged an enemy without obtaining the victory, were driven with dishonour from the field. But the favourite of the Lusitanians was exposed to the dangers which usually attend greatne . Per penna, one of his officers who was jealous of his fame and tired of a superior, conspired against him. At a banquet the conspirators began to open their intentions by speaking with freedom and licentiousne in the presence of Sertorius, whose age and character had hitherto claimed deference from others. Per penna overturned a gla of wine, as a signal for the rest of the conspirators, and immediately Antonius, one of his officers, stabbed Sertorius, and the example was followed by all the rest, 73 years before Christ. Sertorius has been commended for his love of justice and moderation. The flattering description which he heard of the Fortunate Islands when he pa ed into the west of Africa, almost tempted him to bid adieu to the world, and perhaps he would have retired from the noise of war, and the clamours of envy, to end his days in the bosom of a peaceful and solitary island, had not the stronger calls of ambition and the love of fame prevailed over the intruding reflections of a moment. It has been observed that in his latter days ♠ Sertorius became indolent, and fond of luxury and wanton cruelty; yet we must confe that in affability, clemency, complaisance, generosity, and military valour, he not only surpa ed his contemporaries, but the rest of the Romans. Plutarch , Lives .— Paterculus , bk. 2 , ch. 30 , . — Florus , bk. 3 , ch. 21 , . — Appian , Civil Wars .— Valerius Maximus , bk. 1 , ch. 2 ; bk. 7 , ch. 3 .— Eutropius. — Aulus Gellius , bk. 15 , ch. 22 . ♦ ‘magnamimity’ replaced with ‘magnanimity’ ♠ ‘Ser to rio us’ replaced with ‘Sertorius’