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pompey-第15部分
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majority withdrew。 But when it was ordered again for those to withdraw
whose vote was that both should lay down their arms; and neither
command; there were but twenty…two for Pompey; all the rest remained
on Curio's side。 Whereupon he; as one proud of his conquest; leaped
out in triumph among the people; who received him with as great tokens
of joy; clapping their hands and crowning him with garlands and
flowers。 Pompey was not then present in the senate; because it is
not lawful for generals in command of an army to come into the city。
But Marcellus rising up; said; that he would not sit there hearing
speeches; when he saw ten legions already passing the Alps on their
march toward the city; but on his own authority would send some one to
oppose them in defence of the country。
Upon this the city went into mourning; as in a public calamity;
and Marcellus; accompanied by the senate; went solemnly through the
forum to meet Pompey; and made him this address: 〃I hereby give you
orders; O Pompey; to defend your country; to employ the troops you now
command; and to levy more。〃 Lentulus; consul elect for the year
following; spoke to the same purpose。 Antony; however; contrary to the
will of the senate; having in a public assembly read a letter of
Caesar's; containing various plausible overtures such as were likely
to gain the common people; proposing; namely; that both Pompey and he;
quitting their governments and dismissing their armies; should
submit to the judgment of the people; and give an account of their
actions before them; the consequence was that when Pompey began to
make his levies; he found himself disappointed in his expectations。
Some few; indeed; came in; but those very unwillingly; others would
not answer to their names; and the generality cried out for peace。
Lentulus; notwithstanding he was now entered upon his consulship;
would not assemble the senate; but Cicero; who was lately returned
from Cilicia; laboured for a reconciliation; proposing that Caesar
should leave his province of Gaul and army; reserving two legions
only; together with the government of Illyricum; and should thus be
put in nomination for a second consulship。 Pompey disliking this
motion; Caesar's friends were contented that he should surrender one
of the two; but Lentulus still opposing; and Cato crying out that
Pompey did ill to be deceived again; the reconciliation did not take
effect。
In the meantime; news was brought that Caesar had occupied Ariminum;
a great city in Italy; and was marching directly towards Rome with all
his forces。 But this latter was altogether false; for he had no more
with him at that time than three hundred horse and five thousand foot;
and he did not mean to tarry for the body of his army; which lay
beyond the Alps; choosing rather to fall in on a sudden upon his
enemies; while they were in confusion; and did not expect him; than to
give them time; and fight them after they had made preparations。 For
when he came to the banks of the Rubicon; a river that made the bounds
of his province; there he made a halt; pausing a little; and
considering; we may suppose; with himself the greatness of the
enterprise which he had undertaken; then; at last; like men that are
throwing themselves headlong from some precipice into a vast abyss;
having shut; as it were; his mind's eyes and put away from his sight
the idea of danger; he merely uttered to those near him in Greek the
words; 〃Anerriphtho kubos〃 (let the die be cast); and led his army
through it。 No sooner was the news arrived; but there was an uproar
throughout all the city; and a consternation in the people even to
astonishment; such as never was known in Rome before; all the senate
ran immediately to Pompey; and the magistrates followed。 And when
Tullus made inquiry about his legions and forces; Pompey seemed to
pause a little; and answered with some hesitation that he had those
two legions ready that Caesar sent back; and that out of the men who
had been previously enrolled he believed he could shortly make up a
body of thirty thousand men。 On which Tullus crying out aloud; 〃O
Pompey; you have deceived us;〃 gave his advice to send off a
deputation to Caesar。 Favonius; a man of fair character; except that
he used to suppose his own petulance and abusive talking a copy of
Cato's straightforwardness; bade Pompey stamp upon the ground; and
call forth the forces he had promised。 But Pompey bore patiently
with this unseasonable raillery; and on Cato putting him in mind of
what he had foretold from the very beginning about Caesar; made this
answer only; that Cato indeed had spoken more like a prophet; but he
had acted more like a friend。 Cato then advised them to choose
Pompey general with absolute power and authority; saying that the same
men who do great evils know best how to cure them。 He himself went his
way forthwith into Sicily; the province that was allotted him; and all
the rest of the senators likewise departed every one to his respective
government。
Thus all Italy in a manner being up in arms; no one could say what
was best to be done。 For those that were without came from all parts
flocking into the city; and they who were within; seeing the confusion
and disorder so great there; all good things impotent; and
disobedience and insubordination grown too strong to be controlled
by the magistrates; were quitting it as fast as the other came in。
Nay; it was so far from being possible to allay their fears; that they
would not suffer Pompey to follow out his own judgment; but every
man pressed and urged him according to his particular fancy; whether
it proceeded from doubt; fear; grief; or any meaner passion; so that
even in the same day quite contrary counsels were acted upon。 Then;
again; it was as impossible to have any good intelligence of the
enemy; for what each man heard by chance upon a flying rumour he would
report for truth; and exclaim against Pompey if he did not believe it。
Pompey; at length; seeing such a confusion in Rome; determined with
himself to put an end to their clamours by his departure; and
therefore commanding all the senate to follow him; and declaring
that whosoever tarried behind should be judged a confederate of
Caesar's; about the dusk of the evening he went out and left the city。
The consuls also followed after in a hurry; without offering the
sacrifices to the gods usual before a war。 But in all this; Pompey
himself had the glory that; in the midst of such calamities; he had so
much of men's love and good…will。 For though many found fault with the
conduct of the war; yet no man hated the general; and there were
more to be found of those that went out of Rome; because that they
could not forsake Pompey; than of those that fled for love of liberty。
Some few days after Pompey was gone out Caesar came into the city;
and made himself master of it; treating every one with a great deal of
courtesy; and appeasing their fears; except only Metellus; one of
the tribunes; on whose refusing to let him take any money out of the
treasury; Caesar threatened him with death; adding words yet harsher
than the threat; that it was far easier for him to do it than say
it。 By this means removing Metellus; and taking what moneys were of
use for his occasions; he set forward in pursuit of Pompey;
endeavouring with all speed to drive him out of Italy before his army;
that was in Spain; could join him。
But Pompey arriving at Brundusium; and having plenty of ships there;
bade the two consuls embark immediately; and with them shipped
thirty cohorts of foot; bound before him for Dyrrhachium。 He sent
likewise his father…in…law; Scipio; and Cnaeus; his son; into Syria;
to provide and fit out a fleet there; himself in the meantime having
blocked up the gates; placed his lightest soldiers as guards upon
the walls; and giving express orders that the citizens should keep
within doors; he dug up all the ground inside the city; cutting
trenches; and fixing stakes and palisades throughout all the streets
of the city; except only two that led down to the seaside。 Thus in
three days' space having with ease put all the rest of his army on
shipboard; he suddenly gave the signal to those that guarded the
walls; who nimbly repairing to the ships were received on board and
carried off。 Caesar meantime perceiving their departure by seeing
the walls unguarded; hastened after; and in the heat of pursuit was
all but entangled himself among the stakes and trenches。 But the
Brundusians discovering the danger to him; and showing him the way; he
wheeled about; and taking a circuit round the city; made towards the
haven; where he found all the ships on their way excepting only two
vessels that had but a few soldiers aboard。
Most are of opinion that this departure of Pompey's is to be counted
among the best of his military performances; but Caesar himself
could not but wonder that he; who was thus engarrisoned in a city well
fortified; who was in expectation of his forces from Spain; and was
master of the sea besides; should leave and abandon Italy。 Cicero
accuses him of imitating the conduct of Themistocles; rather than of
Pericles; when the circumstances were more like those of Pericles than
they were like those of Themistocles。 However; it appeared plainly;
and Caesar showed it by his actions; that he was in great fear of
delay; for when he had taken Numerius; a friend of Pompey's; prisoner;
he sent him as an ambassador to Brundusium; with offers of peace and
reconciliation upon equal terms; but Numerius sailed away with Pompey。
And now Caesar having become master of all Italy in sixty days;
without a drop of bloodshed; had a great desire forthwith to follow
Pompey; but being destitute of shipping; he was forced to divert his
course and march into Spain; designing to bring over Pompey's forces
there to his own。
In the meantime Pompey raised a mighty army both by sea and land。 As
for his navy; it was irresistible。 For there were five hundred
men…of…war; besides an infinite company of light vessels;
Liburnians; and others; and for his land…forces; the cavalry made up a
body of seven thousand horse; the very flower of Rome and Italy; men
of family; we
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