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第3节

flamininus-第3节

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Macedonian phalanx is like some single powerful animal; irresistible
so long as it is embodied into one; and keeps its order; shield
touching shield; all as in a piece; but if it be once broken; not only
is the joint force lost; but the individual soldiers also who composed
it lose each one his own single strength; because of the nature of
their armour; and because each of them is strong; rather; as he
makes a part of the whole; than in himself。 When these were routed;
some gave chase to the flyers; others charged the flanks of those
Macedonians who were still fighting; so that the conquering wing;
also; was quickly disordered; took to flight; and threw down its arms。
There were then slain no less than eight thousand; and about five
thousand were taken prisoners; and the Aetolians were blamed as having
been the main occasion that Philip himself got safe off。 For whilst
the Romans were in pursuit; they fell to ravaging and plundering the
camp; and did it so completely; that when the others returned; they
found no booty in it。
  This bred at first hard words; quarrels; and misunderstandings
betwixt them。 But; afterwards; they galled Titus more by ascribing the
victory to themselves; and prepossessing the Greeks with reports to
that effect; insomuch that poets; and people in general in the songs
that were sung or written in honour of the action; still ranked the
Aetolians foremost。 One of the pieces most current was the following
epigram:…

        〃Naked and tombless see; O passer…by;
         The thirty thousand men of Thessaly;
         Slain by the Aetolians and the Latin band;
         That came with Titus from Italia's land;
         Alas for mighty Macedon! that day;
         Swift as a roe; King Philip fled away。〃

This was composed by Alcaeus in mockery of Philip; exaggerating the
number of the slain。 However; being everywhere repeated; and by almost
everybody; Titus was more nettled at it than Philip。 The latter merely
retorted upon Alcaeus with some elegiac verses of his own:…

        〃Naked and leafless see; O passer…by;
         The cross that shall Alcaeus crucify。〃

But such little matters extremely fretted Titus; who was ambitious
of a reputation among the Greeks; and he therefore acted in all
after…occurrences by himself; paying but very slight regard to the
Aetolians。 This offended them in their turn; and when Titus listened
to terms of accommodation; and admitted an embassy upon the proffers
of the Macedonian king; the Aetolians made it their business to
publish through all the cities of Greece; that this was the conclusion
of all; that he was selling Philip a peace at a time when it was in
his hand to destroy the very roots of the war; and to overthrow the
power which had first inflicted servitude upon Greece。 But whilst with
these and the like rumours the Aetolians laboured to shake the Roman
confederates; Philip; making overtures of submission of himself and
his kingdom to the discretion of Titus and the Romans; put an end to
those jealousies; as Titus; by accepting them; did to the war。 For
he reinstated Philip in his kingdom of Macedon; but made it a
condition that he should quit Greece; and that he should pay one
thousand talents; he took from him also all his shipping; save ten
vessels and sent away Demetrius; one of his sons; hostage to Rome;
improving his opportunity to the best advantage; and taking wise
precautions for the future。 For Hannibal the African; a professed
enemy to the Roman name; an exile from his own country; and not long
since arrived at King Antiochus's court; was already stimulating
that prince; not to be wanting to the good fortune that had been
hitherto so propitious to his affairs; the magnitude of his
successes having gained him the surname of the Great。 He had begun
to level his aim at universal monarchy; but above all he was eager
to measure himself with the Romans。 Had not; therefore; Titus; upon
a principle of prudence and foresight; lent an ear to peace; and had
Antiochus found the Romans still at war in Greece with Philip; and had
these two; the most powerful and warlike princes of that age;
confederated for their common interests against the Roman state;
Rome might once more have run no less a risk; and been reduced to no
less extremities; than she had experienced under Hannibal。 But now;
Titus opportunely introducing this peace between the wars; despatching
the present danger before the new one had arrived; at once
disappointed Antiochus of his first hopes and Philip of his last。
  When the ten commissioners; delegated to Titus from the senate;
advised him to restore the rest of Greece to their liberty; but that
Corinth; Chalcis; and Demetrias should be kept garrisoned for security
against Antiochus; the Aetolians on this; breaking out into loud
accusations; agitated all the cities; calling upon Titus to strike off
the shackles of Greece (so Philip used to term those three cities);
and asking the Greeks whether it were not matter of much consolation
to them that; though their chains weighed heavier; yet they were now
smoother and better polished than formerly; and whether Titus were not
deservedly admired by them as their benefactor; who had unshackled the
feet of Greece; and tied her up by the neck; Titus; vexed and angry at
this; made it his request to the senate; and at last prevailed in
it; that the garrisons in these cities should be dismissed; that so
the Greeks might be no longer debtors to him for a partial; but for an
entire favour。 It was now the time of the celebration of the
Isthmian games; and the seats around the racecourse were crowded
with an unusual multitude of spectators; Greece; after long wars;
having regained not only peace; but hopes of liberty; and being able
once more to keep holiday in safety。 A trumpet sounded to command
silence; and the crier; stepping forth amidst the spectators; made
proclamation; that the Roman senate and Titus Quintius; the
proconsular general; having vanquished King Philip and the
Macedonians; restored the Corinthians; Locrians; Phocians; Euboeans;
Achaeans of Phthiotis; Magnetians; Thessalians; and Perrhaebians to
their own lands; laws; and liberties; remitting all impositions upon
them; and withdrawing all garrisons from their cities。 At first;
many heard not at all; and others not distinctly; what was said; but
there was a confused and uncertain stir among the assembled people;
some wondering; some asking; some calling out to have it proclaimed
again。 When; therefore; fresh silence was made; the crier raising
his voice; succeeded in making himself generally heard; and recited
the decree again。 A shout of joy followed it; so loud that it was
heard as far as the sea。 The whole assembly rose and stood up; there
was no further thought of the entertainment; all were only eager to
leap up and salute and address their thanks to the deliverer and
champion of Greece。 What we often hear alleged; in proof of the
force of human voices; was actually verified upon this occasion。 Crows
that were accidentally flying over the course fell down dead into
it。 The disruption of the air must be the cause of it; for the
voices being numerous; and the acclamation violent; the air breaks
with it and can no longer give support to the birds; but lets them
tumble; like one that should attempt to walk upon a vacuum; unless
we should rather imagine them to fall and die; shot with the noise
as a dart。 It is possible; too; that there may be a circular agitation
of the air; which; like marine whirlpools; may have a violent
direction of this sort given to it from the excess of its fluctuation。
  But for Titus; the sports being now quite at an end; so beset was he
on every side; and by such multitudes; that had he not; foreseeing the
probable throng and concourse of the people; timely withdrawn; he
would scarce; it is thought; have ever got clear of them。 When they
had tired themselves with acclamations all about his pavilion; and
night was now come; wherever friends or fellow…citizens met; they
joyfully saluted and embraced each other; and went home to feast and
carouse together。 And there; no doubt; redoubling their joy; they
began to recollect and talk of the state of Greece; what wars she
had incurred in defence of her liberty; and yet was never perhaps
mistress of a more settled or grateful one than this which other men's
labours had won for her; almost without one drop of blood; or one
citizen's loss to be mourned for; she had this day had put into her
hands the most glorious of rewards; and best worth the contending for。
Courage and wisdom are; indeed; rarities amongst men; but of all
that is good; a just man it would seem is the most scarce。 Such as
Agesilaus; Lysander; Nicias; and Alcibiades; knew how to play the
general's part; how to manage a war; how to bring off their men
victorious by land and sea; but how to employ that success to generous
and honest purposes they had not known。 For should a man except the
achievement at Marathon; the sea…fight at Salamis; the engagements
at Plataea and Thermopylae; Cimon's exploits at Eurymedon; and on
the coasts of Cyprus; Greece fought all her battles against; and to
ensla

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