友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
合租小说网 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

caesar-第9部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!




a strong wind from the sea; which overpowered that from the land; so



that where the river met the influx of the seawater and the opposition



of the waves it was extremely rough and angry; and the current was



beaten back with such a violent swell that the master of the boat



could not make good his passage; but ordered his sailors to tack about



and return。 Caesar; upon this; discovers himself; and taking the man



by the hand; who was surprised to see him there; said; 〃Go on; my



friend; and fear nothing; you carry Caesar and his fortune in your



boat。〃 The mariners; when they heard that; forgot the storm; and



laying all their strength to their oars; did what they could to



force their way down the river。 But when it was to no purpose; and the



vessel now took in much water; Caesar finding himself in such danger



in the very mouth of the river; much against his will permitted the



master to turn back。 When he was come to land; his soldiers ran to him



in a multitude; reproaching him for what he had done; and indignant



that he should think himself not strong enough to get a victory by



their sole assistance; but must disturb himself; and expose his life



for those who were absent; as if he could not trust those who were



with him。



  After this; Antony came over with the forces from Brundusium;



which encouraged Caesar to give Pompey battle; though he was



encamped very advantageously; and furnished with plenty of



provisions both by sea and land; whilst he himself was at the



beginning but ill supplied; and before the end was extremely pinched



for want of necessaries; so that his soldiers were forced to dig up



a kind of root which grew there; and tempering it with milk; to feed



on it。 Sometimes they made a kind of bread of it; and advancing up



to the enemy's outposts; would throw in these loaves; telling them;



that as long as the earth produced such roots they would not give up



blockading Pompey。 But Pompey took what care he could that neither the



loaves nor the words should reach his men; who were out of heart and



despondent through terror at the fierceness and hardihood of their



enemies; whom they looked upon as a sort of wild beasts。 There were



continual skirmishes about Pompey's outworks; in all which Caesar



had the better; except one; when his men were forced to fly in such



a manner that he had like to have lost his camp。 For Pompey made



such a vigorous sally on them that not a man stood his ground; the



trenches were filled with the slaughter; many fell upon their own



ramparts and bulwarks; whither they were driven in flight by the



enemy。 Caesar met them and would have turned them back; but could not。



When he went to lay hold of the ensigns; those who carried them



threw them down; so that the enemy took thirty…two of them。 He himself



narrowly escaped; for taking hold of one of his soldiers; a big and



strong man; that was flying by him; he bade him stand and face



about; but the fellow; full of apprehensions from the danger he was



in; laid hold of his sword; as if he would strike Caesar; but Caesar's



armour…bearer cut off his arm。 Caesar's affairs were so desperate at



that time that when Pompey; either through over…cautiousness or his



ill fortune; did not give the finishing stroke to that great



success; but retreated after he had driven the routed enemy within



their camp; Caesar; upon seeing his withdrawal; said to his friends;



〃The victory to…day had been on the enemies' side if they had had a



general who knew how to gain it。〃 When he was retired into his tent;



he laid himself down to sleep; but spent that night as miserable as



ever he did any; in perplexity and consideration with himself;



coming to the conclusion that he had conducted the war amiss。 For when



he had a fertile country before him; and all the wealthy cities of



Macedonia and Thessaly; he had neglected to carry the war thither; and



had sat down by the seaside; where his enemies had such a powerful



fleet; so that he was in fact rather besieged by the want of



necessaries; than besieging others with his arms。 Being thus



distracted in his thoughts with the view of the difficulty and



distress he was in; he raised his camp; with the intention of



advancing towards Scipio; who lay in Macedonia; hoping either to



entice Pompey into a country where he should fight without the



advantage he now had of supplies from the sea; or to overpower



Scipio if not assisted。



  This set all Pompey's army and officers on fire to hasten and pursue



Caesar; whom they concluded to be beaten and flying。 But Pompey was



afraid to hazard a battle on which so much depended; and being himself



provided with all necessaries for any length of time; thought to



tire out and waste the vigour of Caesar's army; which could not last



long。 For the best part of his men; though they had great



experience; and showed an irresistible courage in all engagements; yet



by their frequent marches; changing their camps; attacking



fortifications; and keeping long night…watches; were getting worn



out and broken; they being now old; their bodies less fit for



labour; and their courage; also; beginning to give way with the



failure of their strength。 Besides; it was said that an infectious



disease; occasioned by their irregular diet; was prevailing in



Caesar's army; and what was of greatest moment; he was neither



furnished with money nor provisions; so that in a little time he



must needs fall of himself。



  For these reasons Pompey had no mind to fight him; but was thanked



for it by none but Cato; who rejoiced at the prospect of sparing his



fellow…citizens。 For he; when he saw the dead bodies of those who



had fallen in the last battle on Caesar's side; to the number of a



thousand; turned away; covered his face; and shed tears。 But every one



else upbraided Pompey for being reluctant to fight; and tried to



goad him on by such nicknames as Agamemnon; and king of kings; as if



he were in no hurry to lay down his sovereign authority; but was



pleased to see so many commanders attending on him; and paying their



attendance at his tent。 Favonius; who affected Cato's free way of



speaking his mind; complained bitterly that they should eat no figs



even this year at Tusculum; because of Pompey's love of command。



Afranius; who was lately returned out of Spain; and; on account of his



ill success there; laboured under the suspicion of having been



bribed to betray the army; asked why they did not fight this purchaser



of provinces。 Pompey was driven; against his own will; by this kind of



language; into offering battle; and proceeded to follow Caesar。 Caesar



had found great difficulties in his march; for no country would supply



him with provisions; his reputation being very much fallen since his



late defeat。 But after he took Gomphi; a town of Thessaly; he not only



found provisions for his army; but physic too。 For there they met with



plenty of wine; which they took very freely; and heated with this;



sporting and revelling on their march in bacchanalian fashion; they



shook off the disease; and their whole constitution was relieved and



changed into another habit。



  When the two armies were come into Pharsalia; and both encamped



there; Pompey's thoughts ran the same way as they had done before;



against fighting; and the more because of some unlucky presages; and a



vision he had in a dream。 But those who were about him were so



confident of success; that Domitius; and Spinther; and Scipio; as if



they had already conquered; quarrelled which should succeed Caesar



in the pontificate。 And many sent to Rome to take houses fit to



accommodate consuls and praetors; as being sure of entering upon those



offices as soon as the battle was over。 The cavalry especially were



obstinate for fighting; being splendidly armed and bravely mounted;



and valuing themselves upon the fine horses they kept; and upon



their own handsome persons; as also upon the advantage of their



numbers; for they were five thousand against one thousand of Caesar's。



Nor were the numbers of the infantry less disproportionate; there



being forty…five thousand of Pompey's against twenty…two thousand of



the enemy。



  Caesar; collecting his soldiers together; told them that Corfinius



was coming up to them with two legions; and that fifteen cohorts



more under Calenus were posted at and Athens; he then asked him



whether they would stay till these joined them; or would hazard the



battle by themselves。 They all cried out to him not to wait; but on



the contrary to do whatever he could to bring about an engagement as



soon as possible。 When he sacrificed to the gods for the lustration of



his army; upon the death of the first victim; the augur told him;



within three days he should come to a decisive action。 Caesar asked



him whether he saw anything in the entrails which promised a happy



event。 〃That;〃 said the priest; 〃you can best answer yourself; for the



gods signify a great alteration from the present posture of affairs。



If; therefore; you think yourself well off now; expect worse



fortune; if unhappy; hope for better。〃 The night before the battle; as



he walked the rounds about midnight; there was a light seen in the



heavens; very bright and flaming; which seemed to pass over Caesar's



camp and fall into Pompey's。 And when Caesar's soldiers came to



relieve the watch in the morning; they perceived a panic disorder



among the enemies。 However; he did not expect to fight that day; but



set about raising his camp with the intention of marching towards



Scotussa。



  But when the tents were now taken down; his scouts rode up to him;



and told him the enemy would give him battle。 With this news he was



extremely pleased; and having
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!