sertorius-第7部分

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At　all　suppers　and　entertainments　where　Sertorius　was　present；　great
order　and　decency　was　wont　to　be　observed；　for　he　would　not　endure
to　hear　or　see　anything　that　was　rude　or　unhandsome；　but　made　it　the
habit　of　all　who　kept　his　company　to　entertain　themselves　with　quiet
and　inoffensive　amusements。　But　in　the　middle　of　this　entertainment；
those　who　sought　occasion　to　quarrel　fell　into　dissolute　discourse
openly；　and　making　as　if　they　were　very　drunk；　committed　many
insolences　on　purpose　to　provoke　him。　Sertorius；　being　offended　with
their　ill…behaviour；　or　perceiving　the　state　of　their　minds　by　their
way　of　speaking　and　their　unusually　disrespectful　manner　changed　the
posture　of　his　lying；　and　leaned　backward；　as　one　that　neither　heard
nor　regarded　them。　Perpenna　now　took　a　cup　full　of　wine；　and；　as　he
was　drinking；　let　it　fall　out　of　his　hand　and　made　a　noise；　which
was　the　sign　agreed　upon　amongst　them；　and　Antonius；　who　was　next　to
Sertorius；　immediately　wounded　him　with　his　sword。　And　whilst
Sertorius；　upon　receiving　the　wound；　turned　himself；　and　strove　to　get
up；　Antonius　threw　himself　upon　his　breast；　and　held　both　his　hands；
so　that　he　died　by　a　number　of　blows；　without　being　able　even　to
defend　himself。
　　Upon　the　first　news　of　his　death；　most　of　the　Spaniards　left　the
conspirators；　and　sent　ambassadors　to　Pompey　and　Metellus；　and　yielded
themselves　up　to　them。　Perpenna　attempted　to　do　something　with　those
that　remained；　but　he　made　only　so　much　use　of　Sertorius's　arms　and
preparations　for　war　as　to　disgrace　himself　in　them；　and　to　let　it
be　evident　to　all　that　he　understood　no　more　how　to　command　than　he
knew　how　to　obey；　and　when　he　came　against　Pompey；　he　was　soon
overthrown　and　taken　prisoner。　Neither　did　he　bear　this　last
affliction　with　any　bravery；　but　having　Sertorius's　papers　and
writings　in　his　hands；　he　offered　to　show　Pompey　letters　from
persons　of　consular　dignity；　and　of　the　highest　quality　in　Rome；
written　with　their　own　hands；　expressly　to　call　Sertorius　into
Italy；　and　to　let　him　know　what　great　numbers　there　were　that
earnestly　desired　to　alter　the　present　state　of　affairs；　and　to
introduce　another　manner　of　government。　Upon　this　occasion；　Pompey
behaved　not　like　a　youth；　or　one　of　a　light　inconsiderate　mind；　but　as
a　man　of　a　confirmed；　mature；　and　solid　judgment；　and　so　freed　Rome
from　great　fears　and　dangers　of　change。　For　he　put　all　Sertorius's
writings　and　letters　together　and　read　not　one　of　them；　nor　suffered
any　one　else　to　read　them；　but　burnt　them　all；　and　caused　Perpenna
immediately　to　be　put　to　death；　lest　by　discovering　their　names
further　troubles　and　revolutions　might　ensue。
　　Of　the　rest　of　the　conspirators　with　Perpenna；　some　were　taken　and
slain　by　the　command　of　Pompey；　others　fled　into　Africa；　and　were
set　upon　by　the　Moors；　and　run　through　with　their　darts：　and　in　a
short　time　not　one　of　them　was　left　alive；　except　only　Aufidius；　the
rival　of　Manlius；　who；　hiding　himself；　or　not　being　much　inquired
after；　died　an　old　man；　in　an　obscure　village　in　Spain；　in　extreme
poverty；　and　hated　by　all。




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