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camillus-第5部分

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money of his opponent; left his country and; hearing of the state of
the Gauls; went to them; and was the conductor of their expedition
into Italy。
  At their first coming they at once possessed themselves of all
that country which anciently the Tuscans inhabited; reaching from
the Alps to both the seas; as the names themselves testify; for the
North or Adriatic Sea is named from the Tuscan city Adria; and that to
the south the Tuscan Sea simply。 The whole country is rich in
fruit…trees; has excellent pasture; and is well watered with rivers。
It had eighteen large and beautiful cities; well provided with all the
means for industry and wealth; and all the enjoyments and pleasures of
life。 The Gauls cast out the Tuscans; and seated themselves in them。
But this was long before。
  The Gauls at this time were besieging Clusium; a Tuscan city。 The
Clusinians sent to the Romans for succour; desiring them to
interpose with the barbarians by letters and ambassadors。 There were
sent three of the family of the Fabii; persons of high rank and
distinction in the city。 The Gauls received them courteously; from
respect to the name of Rome; and; giving over the assault which was
then making upon the walls; came to conference with them; when the
ambassadors asking what injury they had received of the Clusinians
that they thus invaded their city; Brennus; King of the Gauls; laughed
and made answer: 〃The Clusinians do us injury; in that; being able
only to till a small parcel of ground; they must needs possess a great
territory; and will not yield any part to us who are strangers; many
in number; and poor。 In the same nature; O Romans; formerly the
Albans; Fidenates; and Ardeates; and now lately the Veientines and
Capenates; and many of the Faliscans and Volscians; did you injury;
upon whom ye make war if they do not yield you part of what they
possess; make slaves of them; waste and spoil their country; and
ruin their cities; neither in so doing are cruel or unjust; but follow
that most ancient of all laws; which gives the possessions of the
feeble to the strong; which begins with God and ends in the beasts;
since all these; by nature; seek the stronger to have advantage over
the weaker。 Cease; therefore; to pity the Clusinians whom we
besiege; lest ye teach the Gauls to be kind and compassionate to those
that are oppressed by you。〃 By this answer the Romans; perceiving that
Brennus was not to be treated with; went into Clusium; and
encouraged and stirred up the inhabitants to make a sally with them
upon the barbarians; which they did either to try their strength or to
show their own。 The sally being made; and the fight growing hot
about the walls; one of the Fabii; Quintus Ambustus; being well
mounted; and setting spurs to his horse; made full against a Gaul; a
man of huge bulk and stature; whom he saw riding out at a distance
from the rest。 At the first he was not recognized; through the
quickness of the conflict and the glittering of his armour; that
precluded any view of him; but when he had overthrown the Gaul; and
was going to gather the spoils; Brennus knew him; and; invoking the
gods to be witness; that; contrary to the known and common law of
nations; which is holily observed by all mankind; he who had come as
an ambassador had now engaged in hostility against him; he drew off
his men; and bidding Clusium farewell; led his army directly to
Rome。 But not wishing that it should look as if they took advantage of
that injury; and were ready to embrace any occasion of quarrel; he
sent a herald to demand the man in punishment; and in the meantime
marched leisurely on。
  The senate being met at Rome; among many others that spoke against
the Fabii; the priests called fecials were the most decided; who; on
the religious ground; urged the senate that they should lay the
whole guilt and penalty of the fact upon him that committed it; and so
exonerate the rest。 These fecials Numa Pompilius; the mildest and
justest of kings; constituted guardians of peace; and the judges and
determiners of all causes by which war may justifiably be made。 The
senate referring the whole matter to the people; and the priests
there; as well as in the senate; pleading against Fabius; the
multitude; however; so little regarded their authority; that in
scorn and contempt of it they chose Fabius and the rest of his
brothers military tribunes。 The Gauls; on hearing this; in great
rage threw aside every delay; and hastened on with all the speed
they could make。 The places through which they marched; terrified with
their numbers and the splendour of their preparations for war; and
in alarm at their violence and fierceness; began to give up their
territories as already lost; with little doubt but their cities
would quickly follow; contrary; however; to expectation; they did no
injury as they passed; nor took anything from the fields; and; as they
went by any city; cried out that they were going to Rome; that the
Romans only were their enemies; and that they took all others for
their friends。
  Whilst the barbarians were thus hastening with all speed; the
military tribunes brought the Romans into the field to be ready to
engage them; being not inferior to the Gauls in number (for they
were no less than forty thousand foot); but most of them raw soldiers;
and such as had never handled a weapon before。 Besides; they had
wholly neglected all religious usages; had not obtained favourable
sacrifices; nor made inquiries of the prophets; natural in danger
and before battle。 No less did the multitude commanders distract and
confound their proceedings; frequently before; upon less occasions;
they had chosen a single leader; with the title of dictator; being
sensible of what great importance it is in critical times to have
the soldiers united under one general with the entire and absolute
control placed in his hands。 Add to all; the remembrance of Camillus's
treatment; which made it now seem a dangerous thing for officers to
command without humouring their soldiers。 In this condition they
left the city; and encamped by the river Allia; about ten miles from
Rome; and not far from the place where it falls into the Tiber; and
here the Gauls came upon them; and; after a disgraceful resistance;
devoid of order and discipline; they were miserably defeated。 The left
wing was immediately driven into the river; and there destroyed; the
right had less damage by declining the shock; and from the low grounds
getting to the tops of the hills; from whence most of them
afterwards dropped into the city; the rest; as many as escaped; the
enemy being weary of the slaughter; stole by night to Veii; giving
up Rome and all that was in it for lost。
  This battle was fought about the summer solstice; the moon being
at full; the very same day in which the sad disaster of the Fabii
had happened; when three hundred of that name were at one time cut off
by the Tuscans。 But from this second loss and defeat the day got the
name of Alliensis from the river Allia; and still retains it。 The
question of unlucky days; whether we should consider any to be so; and
whether Heraclitus did well in upbraiding Hesiod for dis
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