The New Aid to Memory/Plate III
PLATE III.
1. Mithridatic War begins.
Hop, 89 B.C.
A withered date-tree (for Mithridatic); upon it is the Roman Standard, entwined by the hop-plant.
These symbols will suggest the Roman invasion of Pontus in Asia, the kingdom of Mithridates. This war continued 26 years.
Hop will give the date 89 B.C.
2. Civil Wars of Marius and Sylla.
Abbey, 88 B.C.
A broken bottle of Marsala wine, and an abbey in ruins, where a solitary individual is seen weeping. Marsala we may suppose to be compounded of Mar and Sylla, and consequently will easily suggest the names of Marius and Sylla. The ruin will suggest the ruins of Carthage, where Caius Marius concealed himself from the vengeance of Sylla.
Abbey will give the date 88 B.С.
3. Death of Sylla.
Cow, 78 B.C.
A sillabub (for Sylla) in a Roman urn, and by it stands a cow.
A little before his death, Sylla made his own epitaph, the tenor of which was, "that no man exceeded him in doing good to his friends, or injury to his enemies."
Cow will give the date 78 B.C.
4. Servile War.
Game, 73 B.C.
Dead game and a dying Gladiator, who has on a servant's hat, will suggest the origin and date of the Servile War. It took its rise from a few gladiators, who broke from the fencing-school at Capua, having drawn a number of slaves after them. Their number at length increased to an army of 40,000 men, who talked of attacking Rome.
At length they were completely exterminated by Pompey, though they fought bravely to the last.
Game will give the date 73 B.C. 5. Catiline's Conspiracy.
Dome, 63 B.C.
A cat-of-nine tails (for Catiline) on the dome or top of the Roman Senate-house, will suggest the name of Catiline, who was accused in the Senate-house by Cicero with being a traitor and the enemy of his country.
Catiline and his army were totally destroyed by Petreius.
Dome will give the date 63 B.C.
6. First Triumvirate.
Adze, 60 B.C.
A triumphal (for triumvirate) chariot, in which are standing three men, Julius Cæsar, Pompey, and Crassus; preceding the chariot are the lictors, with their fasces or bundles of rods; in the middle of each bundle, instead of the axe, is placed an adze, which will give the date 60 B.C.
7. Civil War between Cæsar and Pompey.
Eels, 50 B.C.
The seas are (for Cæsar) swelling with much pride and pomp, and eels are curling in the waves.
Eels will give the date 50 B.C.
8. Battle of Pharsala.
Robe, 48 B.C.
A robe for sale (for Pharsalia) will suggest the name and date of this battle between the troops of Cæsar and Pompey.
Robe will give the date 48 B.C.
9. Alexandria taken by Cæsar.
Arc, 47 B.C.
Cæsar taking a mug of ale X (for Alexandria), and sitting upon an arc. He appears also to be wounded by Cupid's arrow. These symbols will suggest the taking of Alexandria by Cæsar, and his being captivated with the charms of Cleopatra, by whom he had a son called Cæsario.
Arc will give the date 47 B.C.
10. Cato kills himself.
Reed, 46 B.C.
A cat (for Cato) basking by an African reed; around the cat's neck hangs a sword. These symbols will suggest not only the death of Cato, but the African war, at the end of which Cato killed himself, determined not to survive the liberty of his country.
Reed will give the date 46 B.C.
1
The Mithridatic throne alarmed!
The Hop suggests when Romans armed.
2
A ruined Abbey without rites,
Marks Marius and Sylla's fights.
3
When Sylla's corse to ashes burn,
By a Cow the date we learn.
4
Dead Game denotes the War of Slaves,
When Gladiators met their graves.
5
A Dome will easily define
Conspiracy of Gataline.
6
An Adze, instead of Axe of State,
Will give the First Triumvirate.
7
Cæsar and Pompey take the field,
And Eels the very year have sealed.
8
In Robe of woe let Pompey moan,
Cæsar! Pharsalia's thine own.
9
An Arc denotes, though old and shaken,
Alexandria by Cæsar taken.
10
Our life is but a fragile reed,
Thought Cato, when his soul he freed.
NONSENSE HEXAMETERS.
Mith. Hop War, Mar. Abbey Sylla War, Cow Sy-de, Ser. Game.
Cati. Dome, First Tr. Adze, Eels Cæ-po, Phars. Robe, Alex. Arc. Cat. Reed.
