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aemilius paulus-第8章

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Paulus is; when I see he was able to perform such famous and great
exploits with an army so full of sedition and baseness; nor can I
sufficiently wonder; that a people that seemed to glory in the
triumphs over Illyrians and Ligurians; should now through envy
refuse to see the Macedonian king led alive; and all the glory of
Philip and Alexander; in captivity to the Roman power。 For is it not a
strange thing for you; who upon a slight rumour of victory that came
by chance into the city; did offer sacrifices and put up your requests
unto the gods that you might see the report verified; now; when the
general is returned with an undoubted conquest; to defraud the gods of
honour; and yourselves of joy; as if you feared to behold the
greatness of his warlike deed; or were resolved to spare your enemy?
And of the two; much better were it to put a stop to the triumph;
out of pity to him; than out of envy to your general; yet to such a
height of power is malice arrived amongst you; that a man without
one scar to show on his skin; that is smooth and sleek with ease and
homekeeping habits; will undertake to define the office and duties
of a general before us; who with our own wounds have been taught how
to judge of the valour or the cowardice of commanders。〃 And; at the
same time; putting aside his garment; he showed an infinite number
of scars upon his breast; and; turning about; he exposed some parts of
his person which it is usual to conceal; and; addressing Galba;
said: 〃You deride me for these; in which I glory before my
fellow…citizens; for it is in their service; in which I have ridden
night and day; that I received them; but go collect the votes;
whilst I follow after; and note the base and ungrateful; and such as
choose rather to be flattered and courted than commanded by their
general。〃 It is said this speech so stopped the soldiers' mouths;
and altered their minds; that all the tribes decreed a triumph for
Aemilius; which was performed after this manner。
  The people erected scaffolds in the forum; in the circuses; as
they call their buildings for horse…races; and in all other parts of
the city where they could best behold the show。 The spectators were
clad in white garments; all the temples were open; and full of
garlands and perfumes; the ways were cleared and kept open by numerous
officers; who drove back all who crowded into or ran across the main
avenue。 This triumph lasted three days。 On the first; which was
scarcely long enough for the sight; were to be seen the statues;
pictures; and colossal images which were taken from the enemy; drawn
upon two hundred and fifty chariots。 On the second was carried in a
great many wagons the finest and richest armour of the Macedonians;
both of brass and steel; all newly polished and glittering the
pieces of which were piled up and arranged purposely with the greatest
art; so as to seem to be tumbled in heaps carelessly and by chance:
helmets were thrown upon shields; coats of mail upon greaves; Cretan
targets; and Thracian bucklers and quivers of arrows; lay huddled
amongst horses' bits; and through these there appeared the points of
naked swords; intermixed with long Macedonian sarissas。 All these arms
were fastened together with just so much looseness that they struck
against one another as they were drawn along; and made a harsh and
alarming noise; so that; even as spoils of a conquered enemy; they
could not be beheld without dread。 After these wagons loaded with
armour there followed three thousand men who carried the silver that
was coined; in seven hundred and fifty vessels; each of which
weighed three talents; and was carried by four men。 Others brought
silver bowls and goblets and cups; all disposed in such order as to
make the best show; and all curious as well for their size as the
solidity of their embossed work。
  On the third day; early in the morning; first came the trumpeters;
who did not sound as they were wont in a procession or solemn entry;
but such a charge as the Romans use when they encourage the soldiers
to fight。 Next followed young men wearing frocks with ornamented
borders; who led to the sacrifice a hundred and twenty stalled oxen;
with their horns gilded; and their heads adorned with ribbons and
garlands; and with these were boys that carried basins for libation;
of silver and gold。 After this was brought the gold coin; which was
divided into vessels that weighed three talents; like those that
contained the silver; they were in number seventy…seven。 These were
followed by those that brought the consecrated bowl which Aemilius had
caused to be made; that weighed ten talents; and was set with precious
stones。 Then were exposed to view the cups of Antigonus and
Seleucus; and those of the Thericlean make; and all the gold plate
that was used at Perseus's table。 Next to these came Perseus's
chariot; in which his armour was placed; and on that his diadem。
And; after a little intermission; the king's children were led
captives; and with them a train of their attendants; masters; and
teachers; all shedding tears; and stretching out hands to the
spectators; and making the children themselves also beg and entreat
their compassion。 There were two sons and a daughter; whose tender age
made them but little sensible of the greatness of their misery;
which very insensibility of their condition rendered it the more
deplorable; insomuch that Perseus himself was scarcely regarded as
he went along; whilst pity fixed the eyes of the Romans upon the
infants; and many of them could not forbear tears; and all beheld
the sight with a mixture of sorrow and pleasure; until the children
were passed。
  After his children and their attendants came Perseus himself; clad
all in black; and wearing the boots of his country; and looking like
one altogether stunned and deprived of reason; through the greatness
of his misfortunes。 Next followed a great company of his friends and
familiars; whose countenances were disfigured with grief; and who
let the spectators see; by their tears and their continual looking
upon Perseus; that it was his fortune they so much lamented; and
that they were regardless of their own。 Perseus sent to Aemilius to
entreat that he might not be led in pomp; but be left out of the
triumph; who; deriding; as was but just; his cowardice and fondness of
life; sent him this answer; that as for that; it had been before;
and was now; in his own power; giving him to understand that the
disgrace could be avoided by death; which the faint…hearted man not
having the spirit for; and made effeminate by I know not what hopes;
allowed himself to appear as a part of his own spoils。 After these
were carried four hundred crowns; all made of gold; sent from the
cities by their respective deputations to Aemilius; in honour of his
victory。 Then he himself came; seated on a chariot magnificently
adorned (a man well worthy to be looked at; even without these ensigns
of power); dressed in a robe of purple; interwoven with gold; and
holding a laurel branch in his right hand。 All the army; in like
manner; with boughs of laurel in their hands; divided into their hands
and companies; followed the chariot of their commander; some singing
verses; according to the usual custom; mingled with raillery;
others; songs of triumph and the praise of Aemilius's deeds; who;
indeed; was admired and accounted happy by all men; and unenvied by
every one that was good; except so far as it seems the province of
some god to lessen that happiness which is too great and inordinate;
and so to mingle the affairs of human life that no one should be
entirely free and exempt from calamities; but; as we read in Homer;
that those should think themselves truly blessed whom fortune has
given an equal share of good and evil。
  Aemilius had four sons; of whom Scipio and Fabius; as is already
related; were adopted into other families; the other two; whom he
had by a second wife; and who were yet but young; he brought up in his
own house。 One of these died at fourteen years of age; five days
before his father's triumph; the other at twelve; three days after; so
that there was no Roman without a deep sense of his suffering; and who
did not shudder at the cruelty of fortune; that had not scrupled to
bring so much sorrow into a house replenished with happiness;
rejoicing; and sacrifices; and to intermingle tears and laments with
songs of victory and triumph。
  Aemilius; however; reasoning justly that courage and resolution
was not merely to resist armour and spears; but all the shocks of
ill…fortune; so met and so adapted himself to these mingled and
contrasting circumstances; as to outbalance the evil with the good;
and his private concerns with those of the public; and thus did not
allow anything either to take away from the grandeur; or sully the
dignity of his victory。 For as soon as he had buried the first of
his sons (as we have already said); he triumphed; and the second dying
almost as soon as his triumph was over; he gathered together an
assembly of the people; and made an oration to them; not like a man
that stood in need of comfort from others; but one that undertook to
support his fellow…citizen
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