reat a
quantity, but that men in distress might make away themselves? which kings
of old had ever in a readiness, _ad incerta fortunae venenum sub custode
promptum_, Livy writes, and executioners always at hand. Speusippes being
sick was met by Diogenes, and carried on his slaves' shoulders, he made his
moan to the philosopher; but I pity thee not, quoth Diogenes, _qui cum
talis vivere sustines_, thou mayst be freed when thou wilt, meaning by
death. [2765]Seneca therefore commends Cato, Dido, and Lucretia, for their
generous courage in so doing, and others that voluntarily die, to avoid a
greater mischief, to free themselves from misery, to save their honour, or
vindicate their good name, as Cleopatra did, as Sophonisba, Syphax's wife
did, Hannibal did, as Junius Brutus, as Vibius Virus, and those Campanian
senators in Livy (_Dec. 3. lib. 6._) to escape the Roman tyranny, that
poisoned themselves. Themistocles drank bull's blood, rather than he would
fight against his country, and Demosthenes chose rather to drink poison,
Publius Crassi _filius_, Censorius and Plancus, those heroical Romans to
make away themselves, than to fall into their enemies' hands. How many
myriads besides in all ages might I remember, _qui sibi lethum Insontes
pepperere manu_, &c. [2766]Rhasis in the Maccabees is magnified for it,
Samson's death approved. So did Saul and Jonas sin, and many worthy men and
women, _quorum memoria celebratur in Ecclesia_, saith [2767]Leminchus, for
killing themselves to save their chastity and honour, when Rome was taken,
as Austin instances, _l. 1. de Civit. Dei, cap. 16._ Jerome vindicateth the
same in _Ionam_ and Ambrose, _l. 3. de virginitate_ commendeth Pelagia for
so doing. Eusebius, _lib. 8. cap. 15._ admires a Roman matron for the same
fact to save herself from the lust of Maxentius the Tyrant. Adelhelmus,
abbot of Malmesbury, calls them _Beatas virgines quae sic_, &c. Titus
Pomponius Atticus, that wise, discreet, renowned Roman senator, Tully's
dear friend, when he had been long sick, as he supposed, of an incurable
disease, _vitamque produceret ad augendos dolores, sine spe salutis_, was
resolved voluntarily by famine to despatch himself to be rid of his pain;
and when as Agrippa, and the rest of his weeping friends earnestly besought
him, _osculantes obsecrarent ne id quod natura cogeret, ipse acceleraret_,
not to offer violence to himself, "with a settled resolution he desired
again they would approve of hi