pyrrhus-第5部分

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Laevinus；　holding　them　up；　and　saying　aloud　he　had　killed　Pyrrhus。
These　spoils　being　carried　about　and　shown　among　the　ranks；　the　Romans
were　transported　with　joy；　and　shouted　aloud；　while　equal
discouragement　and　terror　prevailed　among　the　Greeks；　until　Pyrrhus；
understanding　what　had　happened；　rode　about　the　army　with　his　face
bare；　stretching　out　his　hand　to　his　soldiers；　and　telling　them
aloud　it　was　he。　At　last；　the　elephants　more　particularly　began　to
distress　the　Romans；　whose　horses；　before　they　came　near；　nor　enduring
them；　went　back　with　their　riders；　and　upon　this；　he　commanded　the
Thessalian　cavalry　to　charge　them　in　their　disorder；　and　routed　them
with　great　loss。　Dionysius　affirms　near　fifteen　thousand　of　the　Romans
fell；　Hieronymus；　no　more　than　seven　thousand。　On　Pyrrhus's　side；
the　same　Dionysius　makes　thirteen　thousand　slain；　the　other　under　four
thousand；　but　they　were　the　flower　of　his　men；　and　amongst　them　his
particular　friends　as　well　as　officers　whom　he　most　trusted　and　made
use　of。　However；　he　possessed　himself　of　the　Romans'　camp　which　they
deserted；　and　gained　over　several　confederate　cities；　and　wasted　the
country　round　about；　and　advanced　so　far　that　he　was　within　about
thirty…seven　miles　of　Rome　itself。　After　the　fight　many　of　the
Lucanians　and　Samnites　came　in　and　joined　him；　whom　he　chid　for
their　delay；　but　yet　he　was　evidently　well　pleased　and　raised　in　his
thoughts；　that　he　had　defeated　so　great　an　army　of　the　Romans　with　the
assistance　of　the　Tarentines　alone。
　　The　Romans　did　not　remove　Laevinus　from　the　consulship；　though　it　is
told　that　Caius　Fabricius　said；　that　the　Epirots　had　not　beaten　the
Romans；　but　only　Pyrrhus；　Laevinus；　insinuating　that　their　loss　was
not　through　want　of　valour　but　of　conduct；　but　filled　up　their
legions；　and　enlisted　fresh　men　with　all　speed；　talking　high　and
boldly　of　war；　which　struck　Pyrrhus　with　amazement。　He　thought　it
advisable　by　sending　first　to　make　an　experiment　whether　they　had
any　inclination　to　treat；　thinking　that　to　take　the　city　and　make　an
absolute　conquest　was　no　work　for　such　an　army　as　his　was　at　that
time；　but　to　settle　a　friendship；　and　bring　them　to　terms；　would　be
highly　honourable　after　his　victory。　Cineas　was　despatched　away；　and
applied　himself　to　several　of　the　great　ones；　with　presents　for
themselves　and　their　ladies　from　the　king；　but　not　a　person　would
receive　any；　and　answered；　as　well　men　as　women；　that　if　an
agreement　were　publicly　concluded；　they　also　should　be　ready；　for
their　parts；　to　express　their　regard　to　the　king。　And　Cineas；
discoursing　with　the　senate　in　the　most　persuasive　and　obliging　manner
in　the　world；　yet　was　not　heard　with　kindness　or　inclination；　although
Pyrrhus　offered　also　to　return　all　the　prisoners　he　had　taken　in　the
fight　without　ransom；　and　promised　his　assistance　for　the　entire
conquest　of　all　Italy；　asking　only　their　friendship　for　himself；　and
security　for　the　Tarentines；　and　nothing　further。　Nevertheless；　most
were　well　inclined　to　a　peace；　having　already　received　one　great
defeat　and　fearing　another　from　an　additional　force　of　the　native
Italians；　now　joining　with　Pyrrhus。　At　this　point　Appius　Claudius；　a
man　of　great　distinction；　but　who；　because　of　his　great　age　and　loss
of　sight；　had　declined　the　fatigue　of　public　business；　after　these
propositions　had　been　made　by　the　king；　hearing　a　report　that　the
senate　was　ready　to　vote　the　conditions　of　peace；　could　not　forbear；
but　commanding　his　servants　to　take　him　up；　was　carried　in　his　chair
through　the　forum　to　the　senate…house。　When　he　was　set　down　at　the
door；　his　sons　and　sons…in…law　took　him　up　in　their　arms；　and；　walking
close　round　about　him；　brought　him　into　the　senate。　Out　of　reverence
for　so　worthy　a　man；　the　whole　assembly　was　respectfully　silent。
　　And　a　little　after　raising　up　himself：　〃I　bore；〃　said　he；　〃until
this　time；　the　misfortune　of　my　eyes　with　some　impatience；　but　now
while　I　hear　of　these　dishonourable　motions　and　resolves　of　yours；
destructive　to　the　glory　of　Rome；　it　is　my　affliction；　that　being
already　blind；　I　am　not　deaf　too。　Where　is　now　that　discourse　of　yours
that　became　famous　in　all　the　world；　that　if　he；　the　great
Alexander；　had　come　into　Italy；　and　dared　to　attack　us　when　we　were
young　men；　and　our　fathers；　who　were　then　in　their　prime；　he　had　not
now　been　celebrated　as　invincible；　but　either　flying　hence；　or　falling
here；　had　left　Rome　more　glorious？　You　demonstrate　now　that　all　that
was　but　foolish　arrogance　and　vanity；　by　fearing　Molossians　and
Chaonians；　ever　the　Macedonian's　prey；　and　by　trembling　at　Pyrrhus　who
was　himself　but　a　humble　servant　to　one　of　Alexander's　life…guard；　and
comes　here；　not　so　much　to　assist　the　Greeks　that　inhabit　among　us；　as
to　escape　from　his　enemies　at　home；　a　wanderer　about　Italy；　and　yet
dares　to　promise　you　the　conquest　of　it　all　by　that　army　which　has　not
been　able　to　preserve　for　him　a　little　part　of　Macedon。　Do　not
persuade　yourselves　that　making　him　your　friend　is　the　way　to　send　him
back；　it　is　the　way　rather　to　bring　over　other　invaders　from　thence；
contemning　you　as　easy　to　be　reduced；　if　Pyrrhus　goes　off　without
punishment　for　his　outrages　on　you；　but；　on　the　contrary；　with　the
reward　of　having　enabled　the　Tarentines　and　Samnites　to　laugh　at　the
Romans。〃　When　Appius　had　done；　eagerness　for　the　war　seized　on　every
man；　and　Cineas　was　dismissed　with　this　answer；　that　when　Pyrrhus
had　withdrawn　his　forces　out　of　Italy；　then；　if　he　pleased；　they　would
treat　with　him　about　friendship　and　alliance；　but　while　he　stayed
there　in　arms；　they　were　resolved　to　prosecute　the　war　against　him
with　all　their　force；　though　he　should　have　defeated　a　thousand
Laevinuses。　It　is　said　that　Cineas；　while　he　was　managing　this　affair；
made　it　his　business　carefully　to　inspect　the　manners　of　the　Romans；
and　to　understand　their　methods　of　government；　and　having　conversed
with　their　noblest　citizens；　he　afterwards　told　Pyrrhus；　among　other
things；　that　the　senate　seemed　to　him　an　assembly　of　kings；　and　as　for
the　people；　he　feared　lest　it　might　prove　that　they　were　fighting　with
a　Lernaean　hydra；　for　the　consul　had　already　raised　twice　as　large
an　army　as　the　former；　and　there　were　many　times　over　the　same
number　of　Romans　able　to　bear　arms。
　　Then　Caius　Fabricius　came　in　embassy　from　the　Romans　to　treat
about　the　prisoners　that　were　taken；　one　whom　Cineas　had　reported　to
be　a　man　of　highest　consideration　among　them　as　an　honest　man　and　a
good　soldier；　but　extremely　poor。　Pyrrhus　received　him　with　much
kindness；　and　privately　would　have　persuaded　him　to　accept　of　his
gold；　not　for　any　evil　purpose；　but　calling　it　a　mark　of　respect　and
hospitable　kindness。　Upon　Fabricius's　refusal；　he　pressed　him　no
further；　but　the　next　day；　having　a　mind　to　discompose　him；　as　he
had　never　seen　an　elephant　before；　he　commanded　one　of　the　largest；
completely　armed；　to　be　placed　behind　the　hangings；　as　they　were
talking　together。　Which　being　done；　upon　a　sign　given；　the　hanging　was
drawn　aside；　and　the　elephant；　raising　his　trunk　over　the　head　of
Fabricius；　made　an　horrid　and　ugly　noise。　He；　gently　turning　about　and
smiling；　said　to　Pyrrhus；　〃Neither　your　money　yesterday；　nor　this
beast　to…day；　makes　any　impression　upon　me。〃　At　supper；　amongst　all
sorts　of　things　that　were　discoursed　of；　but　more　particularly
Greece　and　the　philosophers　there；　Cineas；　by　accident；　had　occasion
to　speak　of　Epicurus；　and　explained　the　opinions　his　followers　hold
about　the　gods　and　the　commonwealth；　and　the　objects　of　life；
placing　the　chief　happiness　of　man　in　pleasure；　and　declining　public
affairs　as　an　injury　and　disturbance　of　a　happy　life；　removing　the
gods　afar　off　both　from　kindness　or　anger；　or　any　concern　for　us　at
all；　to　a　life　wholly　without　business　and　flowing　in　pleasures。
Before　he　had　done　speaking；　〃O　Hercules！〃　Fabricius　cried　out　to
Pyrrhus；　〃may　Pyrrhus　and　the　Samnites　entertain　themselves　with
this　sort　of　opinions　as　long　as　they　are　in　war　with　us。〃
　　Pyrrhus；　admiring　the　wisdom　and　gravity　of　the　man；　was　the　more
transported　with　desire　of　making　friendship　instead　of　war　with　the
city；　and　entreated　him；　personally；　after　the　peace　should　be
concluded；　to　accept　of　living　with　him　as　the　chief　of　his
ministers　and　generals。　Fabricius　answered　quietly；　〃Sir；　this　will
not　be　for　your　advantage；　for　they　who　now　honour　and　admire　you；
when　they　have　had　experience　of　me；　will　rather　choose　to　be　governed
by　me　than　by　you。〃　Such　was　Fabricius。　And　Pyrrhus　received　his
answer　without　any　resentment　or　tyrannic　passion；　nay；　among　his
friends　he　highly　commended　the　great　mind　of　Fabricius；　and　intrusted
the　prisoners　to　him　alone；　on　condition　that　if　the　senate　should　not
vote　a　peace；　after　they　had　conversed　with　their　friends　and
celebrated　the　festival　of　Saturn；　they　should　be　remanded。　And；
accordingly；　they　were　sent　back　after　the　holidays；　it　being
decreed　pain　of　death　for　any　that　stayed　behind。
　　After　this　Fabricius　taking　the　consulate；　a　person　came　with　a
letter　to　the　camp　written　by　the　king's　principal　physician；　offering
to　take　off　Pyrrhus　by　poison；　and　so　end　the　war　without　further
hazard　to　the　Romans；　if　he　might　have　a　reward　proportionable　to
his　service。　Fabricius；　hating　the　villainy　of　the　man；　and
disposing　the　other　consul　to　the　same　opinion；　sent　despatches
immediately　to　Pyrrhus　to　caution　him　against　the　treason。　His
letter　was　to　this　effect：　〃Caius　Fabricius　and　Quintus　Aemilius
consuls　of　the　Romans；　to　Pyrrhus　the　king；　health。　You　seem　to　have
made　an　ill…judgement　both　of　your　friends　and　enemies；　you　will
understand　by　reading　this　letter　sent　to　us；　that　you　are　at　war　with
honest　men；　and　trust　villains　and　knaves。　Nor　do　we　disclose　this
to　you　out　of　any　favour　to　you；　but　lest　your　ruin　might　bring　a
reproach　upon　us；　as　if　we　had　ended　the　war；　by　treachery；　as　not
able　to　do　it　by　force。〃　When　Pyrrhus　had　read　the　letter　and　made
inquiry　into　the　treason；　he　punished　the　physician；　and　as　an
acknowledgment　to　the　Romans　sent　to　Rome　the　prisoners　without
ransom；　and　again　employed　Cineas　to　negotiate　a　peace　for　him。　But
they；