Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/31

Rh quite clear, appointed a Meeting of all his Fleet at the Haven of Brunduium, and from thence ailing round into the Adriatick, he went directly to attack thee Pyrates in their Hives; as oon as he came near the CoraceiumCoreceſium [sic] in Cilicia, where the Remainder of the Pyrates now lay, they had the Hardines to come and give him Battle, but the Genius of old Rome prevailed, and the Pyrates received an entire Overthrow, being all either taken or detroyed; but as they made many trong Fortrees upon the Sea Coat, and built Catles and trong Holds up the Country, about the Foot of Mount Taurus, he was obliged to beiege them with his Army; ome Places he took by Storm, others urrendered to his Mercy, to whom he gave their Lives, and at length he made an entire Conquet.

But it is probable, that had thee Pyrates receiv’d ufficient Notice of the Roman Preparation againt them, o as they might have had Time to draw their cattered Strength into a Body, to have met Pompey by Sea, the Advantage appeared greatly on their Side, in Numbers of Shipping, and of Men; nor did they want Courage, as may be een by their coming out of the Port of Coraceium, to give the Romans Battle, with a Force much inferior to their’s; I ay, had they overthrown Pompey, it is likely they would have made greater Attempts, and Rome, which had conquer’d the whole World, might have been ubdued by a Parcel of Pyrates.

This is a Proof how dangerous it is to Governments to be negligent, and not take an early Care in uppreing thee Sea Banditti, before they gather Strength.

The Truth of this Maxim may be better exemplified in the Hitory of Barbaroue, a Native in the City of Mitylene, in the Iland of Lesbos, in the Egean Sea; a Fellow of ordinary Birth, who being bred to the Sea, firt et out from thence upon Rh