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camillus-第9部分

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confirmed by oath on both sides; and the gold brought forth; the Gauls
used false dealing in the weight; secretly at first; but afterwards
openly pulled back and disturbed the balance; at which the Romans
indignantly complaining; Brennus; in a scoffing and insulting
manner; pulled off his sword and belt; and threw them both into the
scales; and when Sulpicius asked what that meant; 〃What should it
mean;〃 says he; 〃but woe to the conquered?〃 which afterwards became
a proverbial saying。 As for the Romans; some were so incensed that
they were for taking their gold back again and returning to endure the
siege。 Others were for passing by and dissembling a petty injury;
and not to account that the indignity of the thing lay in paying
more than was due; since the paying anything at all was itself a
dishonour only submitted to as a necessity of the times。
  Whilst this difference remained still unsettled; both amongst
themselves and with the Gauls; Camillus was at the gates with his
army; and having learned what was going on; commanded the main body of
his forces to follow slowly after him in good order; and himself
with the choicest of his men hastening on; went at once to the Romans;
where; all giving way to him; and receiving him as their sole
magistrate; with profound silence and order; he took the gold out of
the scales; and delivered it to his officers; and commanded the
Gauls to take their weights and scales and depart; saying that it
was customary with the Romans to deliver their country with iron;
not with gold。 And when Brennus began to rage; and say that he was
unjustly dealt with in such a breach of contract; Camillus answered
that it was never legally made; and the agreement of no force or
obligation; for that himself being declared dictator; and there
being no other magistrate by law; the engagement had been made with
men who had no power to enter into it; but now they might say anything
they had to urge; for he was come with full power by law to grant
pardon to such as should ask it; or inflict punishment on the
guilty; if they did not repent。 At this; Brennus broke into violent
anger; and an immediate quarrel ensued; both sides drew their swords
and attacked; but in confusion; as could not be otherwise amongst
houses; and in narrow lanes and places where it was impossible to form
in any order。 But Brennus; presently recollecting himself; called
off his men; and; with the loss of a few only; brought them to their
camp; and rising in the night with all his forces; left the city; and;
advancing about eight miles; encamped upon the way to Gabii。 As soon
as day appeared; Camillus came up with him; splendidly armed
himself; and his soldiers full of courage and confidence; and there
engaging with him in a sharp conflict; which lasted a long while;
overthrew his army with great slaughter; and took their camp。 Of those
that fled; some were presently cut off by the pursuers; others; and
these were the greatest number; dispersed hither and thither; and were
despatched by the people that came sallying out from the
neighbouring towns and villages。
  Thus Rome was strangely taken; and more strangely recovered;
having been seven whole months in the possession of the barbarians;
who entered her a little after the Ides of July; and were driven out
about the Ides of February following。 Camillus triumphed; as he
deserved; having saved his country that was lost; and brought the
city; so to say; back again to itself。 For those that had fled abroad;
together with their wives and children; accompanied him as he rode in;
and those who had been shut up in the Capitol; and were reduced almost
to the point of perishing with hunger; went out to meet him; embracing
each other as they met; and weeping for joy; and; through the excess
of the present pleasure; scarce believing in its truth。 And when the
priests and ministers of the gods appeared bearing the sacred
things; which in their flight they had either hid on the spot; or
conveyed away with them; and now openly showed in safety; the citizens
who saw the blessed sight felt as if with these the gods themselves
were again returned unto Rome。 After Camillus had sacrificed to the
gods; and purified the city according to the directions of those
properly instructed; he restored the existing temples; and erected a
new one to Rumour; or Voice; informing himself of the spot in which
that voice from heaven came by night to Marcus Caedicius;
foretelling the coming of the barbarian army。
  It was a matter of difficulty; and a hard task; amidst so much
rubbish; to discover and re…determine the consecrated places; but by
the zeal of Camillus; and the incessant labour of the priests; it
was at last accomplished。 But when it came also to rebuilding the
city; which was wholly demolished; despondency seized the multitude;
and a backwardness to engage in a work for which they had no
materials; at a time; too; when they rather needed relief and repose
from their past labours; than any new demands upon their exhausted
strength and impaired fortunes。 Thus insensibly they turned their
thoughts again towards Veii; a city ready…built and well…provided; and
gave an opening to the arts of flatterers eager to gratify their
desires; and lent their ears to seditious language flung out against
Camillus; as that; out of ambition and self…glory; he withheld them
from a city fit to receive them; forcing them to live in the midst
of ruins; and to re…erect a pile of burnt rubbish; that he might be
esteemed not the chief magistrate only and general of Rome; but; to
the exclusion of Romulus; its founder also。 The senate; therefore;
fearing a sedition; would not suffer Camillus; though desirous; to lay
down his authority within the year; though no dictator had ever held
it above six months。
  They themselves; meantime; used their best endeavours; by kind
persuasions and familiar addresses; to encourage and appease the
people; showing them the shrines and tombs of their ancestors; calling
to their remembrance the sacred spots and holy places which Romulus
and Numa or any other of their kings had consecrated and left to their
keeping; and among the strongest religious arguments; urged the
head; newly separated from the body; which was found in laying the
foundation of the Capitol; marking it as a place destined by fate to
be the head of all Italy; and the holy fire which had just been
rekindled again; since the end of the war; by the vestal virgins;
〃What a disgrace it would be to them to lose and extinguish this;
leaving the city it belonged to; to be either inhabited by strangers
and new…comers; or left a wild pasture for cattle to graze on?〃 Such
reasons as these; urged with complaint and expostulation; sometimes in
private upon individuals; and sometimes in their public assemblies;
were met; on the other hand; by laments and protestations of
distress and helplessness; entreaties that; reunited as they just
were; after a sort of shipwreck; naked and destitute; they would not
constrain them to patch up the pieces of a ruined and shattered
city; when they had another at hand ready…built and prepared。
  Camillus thought good to refe
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