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the history-第45章
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fell into a paroxysm of rage; and not giving himself time for reflection; commanded the nose and ears of Patarbemis to be cut off。 Then the rest of the Egyptians; who had hitherto espoused the cause of Apries; when they saw a man of such note among them so shamefully outraged; without a moment's hesitation went over to the rebels; and put themselves at the disposal of Amasis。 Apries; informed of this new calamity; armed his mercenaries; and led them against the Egyptians: this was a body of Carians and Ionians; numbering thirty thousand men; which was now with him at Says; where his palace stood… a vast building; well worthy of notice。 The army of Apries marched out to attack the host of the Egyptians; while that of Amasis went forth to fight the strangers; and now both armies drew near the city of Momemphis and prepared for the coming fight。 The Egyptians are divided into seven distinct classes… these are; the priests; the warriors; the cowherds; the swineherds; the tradesmen; the interpreters; and the boatmen。 Their titles indicate their occupations。 The warriors consist of Hermotybians and Calascirians; who come from different cantons; the whole of Egypt being parcelled out into districts bearing this name。 The following cantons furnish the Hermotybians:… The cantons of Busiris; Sais; Chemmis; Papremis; that of the island called Prosopitis; and half of Natho。 They number; when most numerous; a hundred and sixty thousand。 None of them ever practices a trade; but all are given wholly to war。 The cantons of the Calascirians are different… they include the following:… The cantons of Thebes; Bubastis; Aphthis; Tanis; Mendes; Sebennytus; Athribis; Pharbaethus; Thmuis; Onuphis; Anysis; and Myecphoris… this last canton consists of an island which lies over against the town of Bubastis。 The Calascirians; when at their greatest number; have amounted to two hundred and fifty thousand。 Like the Hermotybians; they are forbidden to pursue any trade; and devote themselves entirely to warlike exercises; the son following the father's calling。 Whether the Greeks borrowed from the Egyptians their notions about trade; like so many others; I cannot say for certain。 I have remarked that the Thracians; the Scyths; the Persians; the Lydians; and almost all other barbarians; hold the citizens who practice trades; and their children; in less repute than the rest; while they esteem as noble those who keep aloof from handicrafts; and especially honour such as are given wholly to war。 These ideas prevail throughout the whole of Greece; particularly among the Lacedaemonians。 Corinth is the place where mechanics are least despised。 The warrior class in Egypt had certain special privileges in which none of the rest of the Egyptians participated; except the priests。 In the first place each man had twelve arurae of land assigned him free from tax。 (The arura is a square of a hundred Egyptian cubits; the Egyptian cubit being of the same length as the Samian。) All the warriors enjoyed this privilege together; but there were other advantages which came to each in rotation; the same man never obtaining them twice。 A thousand Calascirians; and the same number of Hermotybians; formed in alternate years the body…guard of the king; and during their year of service these persons; besides their arurae; received a daily portion of meat and drink; consisting of five pounds of baked bread; two pounds of beef; and four cups of wine。 When Apries; at the head of his mercenaries; and Amasis; in command of the whole native force of the Egyptians; encountered one another near the city of Momemphis; an engagement presently took place。 The foreign troops fought bravely; but were overpowered by numbers; in which they fell very far short of their adversaries。 It is said that Apries believed that there was not a god who could cast him down from his eminence; so firmly did he think that he had established himself in his kingdom。 But at this time the battle went against him; and his army being worsted; he fell into the enemy's hands and was brought back a prisoner to Sais; where he was lodged in what had been his own house; but was now the palace of Amasis。 Amasis treated him with kindness; and kept him in the palace for a while; but finding his conduct blamed by the Egyptians; who charged him with acting unjustly in preserving a man who had shown himself so bitter an enemy both to them and him; he gave Apries over into the hands of his former subjects; to deal with as they chose。 Then the Egyptians took him and strangled him; but having so done they buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers。 This tomb is in the temple of Minerva; very near the sanctuary; on the left hand as one enters。 The Saites buried all the kings who belonged to their canton inside this temple; and thus it even contains the tomb of Amasis; as well as that of Apries and his family。 The latter is not so close to the sanctuary as the former; but still it is within the temple。 It stands in the court; and is a spacious cloister built of stone and adorned with pillars carved so as to resemble palm trees; and with other sumptuous ornaments。 Within the cloister is a chamber with folding doors; behind which lies the sepulchre of the king。 Here too; in this same precinct of Minerva at Sais; is the burial…place of one whom I think it not right to mention in such a connection。 It stands behind the temple; against the backwall; which it entirely covers。 There are also some large stone obelisks in the enclosure; and there is a lake near them; adorned with an edging of stone。 In form it is circular; and in size; as it seemed to me; about equal to the lake in Delos called 〃the Hoop。〃 On this lake it is that the Egyptians represent by night his sufferings whose name I refrain from mentioning; and this representation they call their Mysteries。 I know well the whole course of the proceedings in these ceremonies; but they shall not pass my lips。 So too; with regard to the mysteries of Ceres; which the Greeks term 〃the Thesmophoria;〃 I know them; but I shall not mention them; except so far as may be done without impiety。 The daughters of Danaus brought these rites from Egypt; and taught them to the Pelasgic women of the Peloponnese。 Afterwards; when the inhabitants of the peninsula were driven from their homes by the Dorians; the rites perished。 Only in Arcadia; where the natives remained and were not compelled to migrate; their observance continued。 After Apries had been put to death in the way that I have described above; Amasis reigned over Egypt。 He belonged to the canton of Sais; being a native of the town called Siouph。 At first his subjects looked down on him and held him in small esteem; because he had been a mere private person; and of a house of no great distinction; but after a time Amasis succeeded in reconciling them to his rule; not by severity; but by cleverness。 Among his other splendour he had a golden foot…pan; in which his guests and himself were wont upon occasion to wash their feet。 This vessel he caused to be broken in pieces; and made of the gold an image of one of the gods; which he set up in the most public place in the whole city; upon which the Egyptians flocked to the image; and worshipped it with the utmost reverence。 Amasis; finding this was so; called an assembly; and opened the matter to them; explaining how the image had been made of the foot…pan; wherein they had been wont formerly to wash their feet and to put all manner of filth; yet now it was greatly reverenced。 〃And truly;〃 he went on to say; 〃it had gone with him as with the foot…pan。 If he was a private person formerly; yet now he had come to be their king。 And so he bade them honour and reverence him。〃 Such was the mode in which he won over the Egyptians; and brought them to be content to do him service。 The following was the general habit of his life:… from early dawn to the time when the forum is wont to fill; he sedulously transacted all the business that was brought before him; during the remainder of the day he drank and joked with his guests; passing the time in witty and; sometimes; scarce seemly conversation。 It grieved his friends that he should thus demean himself; and accordingly some of them chid him on the subject; saying to him… 〃Oh! king; thou dost but ill guard thy royal dignity whilst thou allowest thyself in such levities。 Thou shouldest sit in state upon a stately throne; and busy thyself with affairs the whole day long。 So would the Egyptians feel that a great man rules them; and thou wouldst be better spoken of。 But now thou conductest thyself in no kingly fashion。〃 Amasis answered them thus:… 〃Bowmen bend their bows when they wish to shoot; unbrace them when the shooting is over。 Were they kept always strung they would break; and fail the archer in time of need。 So it is with men。 If they give themselves constantly to serious work; and never indulge awhile in pastime or sport; they lose their senses; and become mad or moody。 Knowing this; I divide my life between pastime and business。〃 Thus he answered his friends。 It is said that Amasis; even while he was a private man; had the same tastes for drinking and jesting; and was averse to engaging in any serious employment。 He lived in
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