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flamininus-第3部分

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retorted upon Alcaeus with some elegiac verses of his own:…

        〃Naked and leafless see; O passer…by;
         The cross that shall Alcaeus crucify。〃

But such little matters extremely fretted Titus; who was ambitious
of a reputation among the Greeks; and he therefore acted in all
after…occurrences by himself; paying but very slight regard to the
Aetolians。 This offended them in their turn; and when Titus listened
to terms of accommodation; and admitted an embassy upon the proffers
of the Macedonian king; the Aetolians made it their business to
publish through all the cities of Greece; that this was the conclusion
of all; that he was selling Philip a peace at a time when it was in
his hand to destroy the very roots of the war; and to overthrow the
power which had first inflicted servitude upon Greece。 But whilst with
these and the like rumours the Aetolians laboured to shake the Roman
confederates; Philip; making overtures of submission of himself and
his kingdom to the discretion of Titus and the Romans; put an end to
those jealousies; as Titus; by accepting them; did to the war。 For
he reinstated Philip in his kingdom of Macedon; but made it a
condition that he should quit Greece; and that he should pay one
thousand talents; he took from him also all his shipping; save ten
vessels and sent away Demetrius; one of his sons; hostage to Rome;
improving his opportunity to the best advantage; and taking wise
precautions for the future。 For Hannibal the African; a professed
enemy to the Roman name; an exile from his own country; and not long
since arrived at King Antiochus's court; was already stimulating
that prince; not to be wanting to the good fortune that had been
hitherto so propitious to his affairs; the magnitude of his
successes having gained him the surname of the Great。 He had begun
to level his aim at universal monarchy; but above all he was eager
to measure himself with the Romans。 Had not; therefore; Titus; upon
a principle of prudence and foresight; lent an ear to peace; and had
Antiochus found the Romans still at war in Greece with Philip; and had
these two; the most powerful and warlike princes of that age;
confederated for their common interests against the Roman state;
Rome might once more have run no less a risk; and been reduced to no
less extremities; than she had experienced under Hannibal。 But now;
Titus opportunely introducing this peace between the wars; despatching
the present danger before the new one had arrived; at once
disappointed Antiochus of his first hopes and Philip of his last。
  When the ten commissioners; delegated to Titus from the senate;
advised him to restore the rest of Greece to their liberty; but that
Corinth; Chalcis; and Demetrias should be kept garrisoned for security
against Antiochus; the Aetolians on this; breaking out into loud
accusations; agitated all the cities; calling upon Titus to strike off
the shackles of Greece (so Philip used to term those three cities);
and asking the Greeks whether it were not matter of much consolation
to them that; though their chains weighed heavier; yet they were now
smoother and better polished than formerly; and whether Titus were not
deservedly admired by them as their benefactor; who had unshackled the
feet of Greece; and tied her up by the neck; Titus; vexed and angry at
this; made it his request to the senate; and at last prevailed in
it; that the garrisons in these cities should be dismissed; that so
the Greeks might be no longer debtors to him for a partial; but for an
entire favour。 It was now the time of the celebration of the
Isthmian games; and the seats around the racecourse were crowded
with an unusual multitude of spectators; Greece; after long wars;
having regained not only peace; but hopes of liberty; and being able
once more to keep holiday in safety。 A trumpet sounded to command
silence; and the crier; stepping forth amidst the spectators; made
proclamation; that the Roman senate and Titus Quintius; the
proconsular general; having vanquished King Philip and the
Macedonians; restored the Corinthians; Locrians; Phocians; Euboeans;
Achaeans of Phthiotis; Magnetians; Thessalians; and Perrhaebians to
their own lands; laws; and liberties; remitting all impositions upon
them; and withdrawing all garrisons from their cities。 At first;
many heard not at all; and others not distinctly; what was said; but
there was a confused and uncertain stir among the assembled people;
some wondering; some asking; some calling out to have it proclaimed
again。 When; therefore; fresh silence was made; the crier raising
his voice; succeeded in making himself generally heard; and recited
the decree again。 A shout of joy followed it; so loud that it was
heard as far as the sea。 The whole assembly rose and stood up; there
was no further thought of the entertainment; all were only eager to
leap up and salute and address their thanks to the deliverer and
champion of Greece。 What we often hear alleged; in proof of the
force of human voices; was actually verified upon this occasion。 Crows
that were accidentally flying over the course fell down dead into
it。 The disruption of the air must be the cause of it; for the
voices being numerous; and the acclamation violent; the air breaks
with it and can no longer give support to the birds; but lets them
tumble; like one that should attempt to walk upon a vacuum; unless
we should rather imagine them to fall and die; shot with the noise
as a dart。 It is possible; too; that there may be a circular agitation
of the air; which; like marine whirlpools; may have a violent
direction of this sort given to it from the excess of its fluctuation。
  But for Titus; the sports being now quite at an end; so beset was he
on every side; and by such multitudes; that had he not; foreseeing the
probable throng and concourse of the people; timely withdrawn; he
would scarce; it is thought; have ever got clear of them。 When they
had tired themselves with acclamations all about his pavilion; and
night was now come; wherever friends or fellow…citizens met; they
joyfully saluted and embraced each other; and went home to feast and
carouse together。 And there; no doubt; redoubling their joy; they
began to recollect and talk of the state of Greece; what wars she
had incurred in defence of her liberty; and yet was never perhaps
mistress of a more settled or grateful one than this which other men's
labours had won for her; almost without one drop of blood; or one
citizen's loss to be mourned for; she had this day had put into her
hands the most glorious of rewards; and best worth the contending for。
Courage and wisdom are; indeed; rarities amongst men; but of all
that is good; a just man it would seem is the most scarce。 Such as
Agesilaus; Lysander; Nicias; and Alcibiades; knew how to play the
general's part; how to manage a war; how to bring off their men
victorious by land and sea; but how to employ that success to generous
and honest purposes they had not known。 For should a man except the
achievement at Marathon; the sea…fight at Salamis; the engagements
at Plataea and Thermopylae; Cimon's exploits at Eurymedon; and on
the coasts of Cyprus; Greece fought all her battles against; and to
enslave; herself; she erected all her trophies to her own shame and
misery; and was brought to ruin and desolation almost wholly by the
guilt and ambition of her great men。 A foreign people; appearing
just to retain some embers; as it were; some faint remainders of a
common character derived to them from their ancient sires; a nation
from whom it was a mere wonder that Greece should reap any benefit
by word or thought; these are they who have retrieved Greece from
her severest dangers and distresses; have rescued her out of the hands
of insulting lords and tyrants; and reinstated her in her former
liberties。
  Thus they entertained their tongues and thoughts: whilst Titus by
his actions made good what had been proclaimed。 For he immediately
despatched away Lentulus to Asia; to set the Bargylians free;
Titillius to Thrace; to see the garrisons of Philip removed out of the
towns and islands there; while Publius Villius set sail; in order to
treat with Antiochus about the freedom of the Greeks under him。
Titus himself passed on to Chalcis; and sailing thence to Magnesia;
dismantled the garrisons there; and surrendered the government into
the people's hands。 Shortly after; he was appointed at Argos to
preside in the Nemean games; and did his part in the management of
that solemnity singularly well; and made a second publication there by
the crier of liberty to the Greeks; and; visiting all the cities; he
exhorted them to the practice of obedience to law; of constant
justice; and unity; and friendship one towards another。 He
suppressed their factions; brought home their political exiles; and;
in short; his conquest over the Macedonians did not seem to give him a
more lively pleasure; than to find himself prevalent in reconciling
Greeks with Greeks; so that their liberty seemed now the least part of
the kindness he conferred upon them。
  The story goes; that when Lycurgus the orator had rescued Xenocrates
the philosopher from the collectors who were hurrying him away to
prison for non…payment of the alien tax; and had them punished for the
licence they had been guilty of; Xenocrates afterwards meeting the
children of Lycurgus; 〃My sons;〃 said he; 〃I am nobly repaying your
father for his kindness; he has the praises of the whole people in
return for it。〃 But the returns which attended Titus Quintius and
the Romans; for their beneficence to the Greeks; terminated not in
empty praises only; for these proceedings gained them; deservedly;
credit and confidence; and thereby power; among all nations; for
many not only admitted the Roman commanders; but even sent and
entreated to be under their protection; neither was this done by
popular governments alone; or by single cities; but kings oppressed by
kings cast themselves into these protecting hands。 Insomuch that in
a very short time (though perchance not without divine influence in
it) all the world did homage to them。 Titus himself thought more
highly of his liberation of Greece than o
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