太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > sylla >

第8节

sylla-第8节

小说: sylla 字数: 每页4000字

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!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



long residence of the soldiery in private quarters。 For he ordained
that every host should allow his guest four tetradrachms each day; and
moreover entertain him; and as many friends as he should invite;
with a supper; that a centurion should receive fifty drachms a day;
together with one suit of clothes to wear within doors; and another
when he went abroad。
  Having set out from Ephesus with the whole navy; he came the third
day to anchor in the Piraeus。 Here he was initiated in the
mysteries; and seized for his use the library of Apellicon the
Teian; in which were most of the works of Theophrastus and
Aristotle; then not in general circulation。 When the whole was
afterwards conveyed to Rome; there; it is said; the greater part of
the collection passed through the hands of Tyrannion the grammarian;
and that Andronicus the Rhodian; having through his means the
command of numerous copies; made the treatises public; and drew up the
catalogues that are now current。 The elder Peripatetics appear
themselves; indeed; to have been accomplished and learned men; but
of the writings of Aristotle and Theophrastus they had no large or
exact knowledge; because Theophrastus bequeathing his books to the
heir of Neleus of Scepsis; they came into careless and illiterate
hands。
  During Sylla's stay about Athens; his feet were attacked by a
heavy benumbing pain; which Strabo calls the first inarticulate sounds
of the gout。 Taking; therefore; a voyage to Aedepsus; he made use of
the hot waters there; allowing himself at the same time to forget
all anxieties; and passing away his time with actors。 As he was
walking along the seashore; certain fishermen brought him some
magnificent fish。 Being much delighted with the gift; and
understanding; on inquiry; that they were men of Halaeae; 〃What;〃 said
he; 〃are there any men of Halaeae surviving?〃 For after his victory at
Orchomenus; in the heat of a pursuit; he had destroyed three cities of
Boeotia; Anthedon; Larymna; and Halaeae。 The men not knowing what to
say for fear; Sylla; with a smile; bade them cheer up and return in
peace; as they had brought with them no insignificant intercessors。
The Halaeans say that this first gave them courage to re…unite and
return to their city。
  Sylla; having marched through Thessaly and Macedon to the sea coast;
prepared; with twelve hundred vessels; to cross over from
Dyrrhachium to Brundisium。 Not far from hence is Apollonia; and near
it the Nymphaeum; a spot of ground where; from among green trees and
meadows; there are found at various points springs of fire continually
streaming out。 Here; they say; a satyr; such as statuaries and
painters represent; was caught asleep; and brought before Sylla; where
he was asked by several interpreters who he was; and; after much
trouble; at last uttered nothing intelligible; but a harsh noise;
something between the neighing of a horse and crying of a goat。 Sylla;
in dismay; and deprecating such an omen; bade it be removed。
  At the point of transportation; Sylla being in alarm; lest at
their first setting foot upon Italy the soldiers should disband and
disperse one by one among the cities; they of their own accord first
took an oath to stand firm by him; and not of their good…will to
injure Italy; then seeing him in distress for money; they made; so
they say; a free…will offering; and contributed each man according
to his ability。 However; Sylla would not accept of their offering; but
praising their good…will; and arousing up their courage; went over (as
he himself writes) against fifteen hostile generals in command of four
hundred and fifty cohorts; but not without the most unmistakable
divine intimations of his approaching happy successes。 For when he was
sacrificing at his first landing near Tarentum; the victim's liver
showed the figure of a crown of laurel with two fillets hanging from
it。 And a little while before his arrival in Campania; near the
mountain Hephaeus; two stately goats were seen in the daytime;
fighting together; and performing all the motions of men in battle。 It
proved to be an apparition; and rising up gradually from the ground;
dispersed in the air; like fancied representations in the clouds;
and so vanished out of sight。 Not long after; in the self…same
place; when Marius the younger and Norbanus the consul attacked him
with two great armies; without prescribing the order of battle; or
arranging his men according to their divisions; by the sway only of
one common alacrity and transport of courage; he overthrew the
enemy; and shut up Norbanus into the city of Capua; with the loss of
seven thousand of his men。 And this was the reason; he says; that
the soldiers did not leave him and disperse into the different
towns; but held fast to him; and despised the enemy; though infinitely
more in number。
  At Silvium (as he himself relates it); there met him a servant of
Pontius; in a state of divine possession; saying that he brought him
the power of the sword and victory from Bellona; the goddess of war;
and if he did not make haste; that the capitol would be burnt; which
fell out on the same day the man foretold it; namely; on the sixth day
of the month Quintilis; which we now call July。
  At Fidentia; also; Marcus Lucullus; one of Sylla's commanders;
reposed such confidence in the forwardness of the soldiers; as to dare
to face fifty cohorts of the enemy with only sixteen of his own: but
because many of them were unarmed delayed the onset。 As he stood
thus waiting; and considering with himself; a gentle gale of wind;
bearing along with it from the neighbouring meadows a quantity of
flowers; scattered them down upon the army; on whose shields and
helmets they settled; and arranged themselves spontaneously so as to
give the soldiers; in the eyes of the enemy; the appearance of being
crowned with chaplets。 Upon this; being yet further animated; they
joined battle; and victoriously slaying eight thousand men; took the
camp。 This Lucullus was brother to that Lucullus who in aftertimes
conquered Mithridates and Tigranes。
  Sylla; seeing himself still surrounded by so many armies; and such
mighty hostile powers; had recourse to art; inviting Scipio; the other
consul; to a treaty of peace。 The motion was willingly embraced; and
several meetings and consultations ensued; in all which Sylla; still
interposing matter of delay and new pretences; in the meanwhile;
debauched Scipio's men by means of his own; who were as well practised
as the general himself in all the artifices of inveigling。 For
entering into the enemy's quarters and joining in conversation; they
gained some by present money; some by promises; others by fair words
and persuasions; so that in the end; when Sylla with twenty cohorts
drew near; on his men saluting Scipio's soldiers; they returned the
greeting and came over; leaving Scipio behind them in his tent;
where he was found all alone and dismissed。 And having used his twenty
cohorts as decoys to ensnare the forty of the enemy; he led them all
back into the camp。 On this occasion; Carbo was heard to say that he
had both a fox and a lion in the breast of Sylla to deal with; and was
most troubled with the fox。
  Some time after; at Signia; Marius the younger; with eighty…five
cohorts; offered battle to Sylla; who was extremely desirous to have
it decided on that very day; for the night before he had seen a vision
in his sleep; of Marius the elder; who had been some time dead;
advising his son to beware of the following day; as of fatal
consequence to him。 For this reason; Sylla; longing to come to a
battle; sent off for Dolabella; who lay encamped at some distance。 But
because the enemy had beset and blocked up the passes; his soldiers
got tired with skirmishing and marching at once。 To these difficulties
was added; moreover; tempestuous rainy weather; which distressed
them most of all。 The principal officers therefore came to Sylla;
and besought him to defer the battle that day; showing him how the
soldiers lay stretched on the ground; where they had thrown themselves
down in their weariness; resting their heads upon their shields to
gain some repose。 When; with much reluctance; he had yielded; and
given orders for pitching the camp; they had no sooner begun to cast
up the rampart and draw the ditch; but Marius came riding up furiously
at the head of his troops; in hopes to scatter them in that disorder
and confusion。 Here the gods fulfilled Sylla's dream。 For the
soldiers; stirred up with anger; left off their work; and sticking
their javelins into the bank; with drawn swords and a courageous
shout; came to blows with the enemy; who made but small resistance;
and lost great numbers in the flight。 Marius fled to Praeneste; but
finding the gates shut; tied himself round by a rope that was thrown
down to him; and was taken up on the walls。 Some there are (as
Fenestella for one) who affirm that Marius knew nothing of the
fight; but; overwatched and spent with hard duty; had reposed himself;
when the signal was given; beneath some shade; and was hardly to be
awakened at the flight of his men。 Sylla; according to his own
account; lost only twenty…three men in this fight; having k

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 1

你可能喜欢的