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pompey-第19章

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ranks were already set in battle array。 Thereupon Caesar; when he
had told them that the wished…for day was come at last; when they
should fight with men; not with hunger and famine; instantly gave
orders for the red colours to be set up before his tent; that being
the ordinary signal of battle among the Romans。 As soon as the
soldiers saw that; they left their tents; and with great shouts of joy
ran to their arms; the officers likewise; on their part; drawing up
their companies in order of battle; every man fell into his proper
rank without any trouble or noise; as quietly and orderly as if they
had been in a dance。
  Pompey himself led the right wing of his army against Antony; and
placed his father…in…law; Scipio; in the middle against Lucius
Calvinus。 The left wing was commanded by Lucius Domitius; and
supported by the great mass of the horse。 For almost the whole cavalry
was posted there in the hope of crushing Caesar; and cutting off the
tenth legion; which was spoken of as the stoutest in all the army; and
in which Caesar himself usually fought in person。 Caesar observing the
left wing of the enemy to be lined and fortified with such a mighty
guard of horse; and alarmed at the gallantry of their appearance; sent
for a detachment of six cohorts out of the reserves; and placed them
in the rear of the tenth legion; commanding them not to stir; lest
they should be discovered by the enemy; but when the enemy's horse
should begin to charge; and press upon them; that they should make
up with all speed to the front through the foremost ranks and not
throw their javelins at a distance; as is usual with brave soldiers;
that they come to a close fight with their swords the sooner; but that
they should strike them upwards into the eyes and faces of the
enemy; telling them that those fine young dancers would never endure
the steel shining in their eyes; but would fly to save their
handsome faces。 This was Caesar's employment at that time。 But while
he was thus instructing his soldiers; Pompey on horseback was
viewing the order of both armies; and when he saw how well the enemy
kept their ranks; expecting quietly the signal of battle; and; on
the contrary; how impatient and unsteady his own men were; waving up
and down in disorder for want of experience; he was very much afraid
that their ranks would be broken upon the first onset; and therefore
he gave out orders that the van should make a stand; and keeping close
in their ranks should receive the enemy's charge。 Caesar much condemns
this command; which; he says; not only took off from the strength of
the blows; which would otherwise have been made with a spring; but
also lost the men the impetus; which; more than anything; in the
moment of their coming upon the enemy; fills soldiers with impulse and
inspiration; the very shouts and rapid pace adding to their fury; of
which Pompey deprived his men; arresting them in their course and
cooling down their heat。
  Caesar's army consisted of twenty…two thousand; and Pompey's of
somewhat above twice as many。 When the signal of battle was given on
both sides; and the trumpets began to sound a charge; most men of
course were fully occupied with their own matters; only some few of
the noblest Romans; together with certain Greeks there present;
standing as spectators without the battle; seeing the armies now ready
to join; could not but consider in themselves to what a pass private
ambition and emulation had brought the empire。 Common arms; and
kindred ranks drawn up under the selfsame standards; the whole
flower and strength of the same single city here meeting in
collision with itself; offered plain proof how blind and how mad a
thing human nature is when once possessed with any passion; for if
they had been desirous only to rule; and enjoy in peace what they
had conquered in war; the greatest and best part of the world was
subject to them both by sea and land。 But if there was yet a thirst in
their ambition; that must still be fed with new trophies and triumphs;
the Parthian and German wars would yield matter enough to satisfy
the most covetous of honour。 Scythia; moreover; was yet unconquered;
and the Indians too; where their ambition might be coloured over
with the specious pretext of civilizing barbarous nations。 And what
Scythian horse; Parthian arrows; or Indian riches could be able to
resist seventy thousand Roman soldiers; well appointed in arms;
under the command of two such generals as Pompey and Caesar; whose
names they had heard of before that of the Romans; and whose
prowess; by their conquests of such wild; remote; savage; and
brutish nations; was spread further than the fame of the Romans
themselves? To…day they met in conflict; and could no longer be
induced to spare their country; even out of regard for their own glory
or the fear of losing the name which till this day both had held; of
having never yet been defeated。 As for their former private ties;
and the charms of Julia; and the marriage that had made them near
connections; these could now only be looked upon as tricks of state;
the mere securities of a treaty made to serve the needs of an
occasion; not the pledges of any real friendship。
  Now; therefore; as soon as the plains of Pharsalia were covered with
men; horse; and armour; and that the signal of battle was raised on
either side; Caius Crassianus; a centurion; who commanded a company of
one hundred and twenty men; was the first that advanced out of
Caesar's army to give the charge and acquit himself of a solemn
engagement that he had made to Caesar。 He had been the first man
that Caesar had seen going out of the camp in the morning; and Caesar;
after saluting him; had asked him what he thought of the coming
battle。 To which he; stretching out his right hand; replied aloud;
〃Thine is the victory; O Caesar; thou shalt conquer gloriously; and
I myself this day will be the subject of thy praise either alive or
dead。〃 In pursuance of this promise he hastened forward; and being
followed by many more; charged into the midst of the enemy。 There they
came at once to a close fight with their swords; and made a great
slaughter; but as he was still pressing forward; and breaking the
ranks of the vanguard; one of Pompey's soldiers ran him in at the
mouth; so that the point of the sword came out behind at his neck; and
Crassianus being thus slain; the fight became doubtful; and
continued equal on that part of the battle。
  Pompey had not yet brought on the right wing; but stayed and
looked about; waiting to see what execution his cavalry would do on
the left。 They had already drawn out their squadrons in form;
designing to turn Caesar's flank; and force those few horse; which
he had placed in the front; to give back upon the battalion of foot。
But Caesar; on the other side; having given the signal; his horse
retreated back a little; and gave way to those six subsidiary cohorts;
which had been posted in the rear; as a reserve to cover the flank;
and which now came out; three thousand men in number; and met the
enemy; and when they came up; standing by the horses; struck their
javelins upwards; according to their instructions; and hit the
horsemen full in their faces。 They; unskillful in any manner of fight;
and least of all expecting or understanding such a kind as this; had
not courage enough to endure the blows upon their faces but turning
their backs; and covering their eyes with their hands; shamefully took
to flight。 Caesar's men; however; did not follow them; but marched
upon the foot; and attacked the wing; which the flight of the
cavalry had left unprotected; and liable to be turned and taken in the
rear; so that this wing now being attacked in the flank by these;
and charged in the front by the tenth legion; was not able to abide
the charge; or make any longer resistance; especially when they saw
themselves surrounded and circumvented in the very way in which they
had designed to invest the enemy。 Thus these being likewise routed and
put to flight; when Pompey; by the dust flying in the air; conjectured
the fate of his horse; it were very hard to say what his thoughts or
intentions were; but looking like one distracted and beside himself;
and without any recollection or reflection that he was Pompey the
Great; he retired slowly towards his camp; without speaking a word
to any man; exactly according to the description in the verses…

         〃But Jove from heaven struck Ajax with a fear;
          Ajax the bold then stood astonished there;
          Flung o'er his back the mighty sevenfold shield;
          And trembling gazed and spied about the field。〃

  In this state and condition he went into his own tent and sat
down; speechless still; until some of the enemy fell in together
with his men that were flying into the camp; and then he let fall only
this one word; 〃What! into the very camp?〃 and said no more; but
rose up; and putting on a dress suitable to his present fortune;
made his way secretly out。
  By this time the rest of the army was put to flight; and there was a
great slaughter in the camp among the servants and those that
guarded the tents; but of the soldiers themselves there 
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