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aemilius paulus-第2部分
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house; or rather cottage; contained them; their numerous offspring;
and their wives; amongst whom was the daughter of our Aemilius; who;
although her father had been twice consul; and had twice triumphed;
was not ashamed of her husband's poverty; but proud of his virtue that
kept him poor。 Far otherwise it is with the brothers and relations
of this age; who; unless whole tracts of land; or at least walls and
rivers; part their inheritances; and keep them at a distance; never
cease from mutual quarrels。 History suggests a variety of good counsel
of this sort; by the way; to those who desire to learn and improve。
To proceed: Aemilius; being chosen consul; waged war with the
Ligurians; or Ligustines; a people near the Alps。 They were a bold and
warlike nation; and their neighbourhood to the Romans had begun to
give them skill in the arts of war。 They occupy the further parts of
Italy ending under the Alps; and those parts of the Alps themselves
which are washed by the Tuscan sea and face toward Africa; mingled
there with Gauls and Iberians of the coast。 Besides; at that time they
had turned their thoughts to the seas and sailing as far as the
Pillars of Hercules in light vessels fitted for that purpose; robbed
and destroyed all that trafficked in those parts。 They; with an army
of forty thousand; waited the coming of Aemilius; who brought with him
not above eight thousand; so that the enemy was five to one when
they engaged; yet he vanquished and put them to flight; forcing them
to retire into their walled towns; and in this condition offered
them fair conditions of accommodation; it being the policy of the
Romans not utterly to destroy the Ligurians; because they were a
sort of guard and bulwark against the frequent attempts of the Gauls
to overrun Italy。 Trusting wholly therefore to Aemilius; they
delivered up their towns and shipping into his hands。 He; at the
utmost; razed only the fortifications and delivered their towns to
them again; but took away all their shipping with him; leaving them no
vessels bigger than those of three oars; and set at liberty great
numbers of prisoners they had taken both by sea and land; strangers as
well as Romans。 These were the acts most worthy of remark in his first
consulship。
Afterwards he frequently intimated his desire of being a second time
consul; and was once candidate; but meeting with a repulse and being
passed by; he gave up all thought of it; and devoted himself to his
duties as augur; and to the education of his children; whom he not
only brought up; as he himself had been; in the Roman and ancient
discipline; but also with unusual zeal in that of Greece。 To this
purpose he not only procured masters to teach them grammar; logic; and
rhetoric; but had for them also preceptors in modelling and drawing;
managers of horses and dogs; and instructors in field sports; all from
Greece。 And; if he was not hindered by public affairs; he himself
would be with them at their studies; and see them perform their
exercises; being the most affectionate father in Rome。
This was the time; in public matters; when the Romans were engaged
in war with Perseus; King of the Macedonians; and great complaints
were made of their commanders; who; either through their want of skill
or courage; were conducting matters so shamefully; that they did
less hurt to the enemy than they received from him。 They that not long
before had forced Antiochus the Great to quit the rest of Asia; to
retire beyond Mount Taurus; and confine himself to Syria; glad to
buy his peace with fifteen thousand talents; they that not long
since had vanquished King Philip in Thessaly; and freed the Greeks
from the Macedonian yoke; nay; had overcome Hannibal himself; who
far surpassed all kings in daring and power… thought it scorn that
Perseus should think himself an enemy fit to match the Romans; and
to be able to wage war with them so long on equal terms; with the
remainder only of his father's routed forces; not being aware that
Philip after his defeat had greatly improved both the strength and
discipline of the Macedonian army。 To make which appear; I shall
briefly recount the story from the beginning。
Antigonus; the most powerful amongst the captains and successors
of Alexander; having obtained for himself and his posterity the
title of king; had a son named Demetrius; father to Antigonus;
called Gonatas; and he had a son Demetrius; who; reigning some short
time; died and left a young son called Philip。 The chief men of
Macedon; fearing great confusion might arise in his minority; called
in Antigonus; cousin…german to the late king; and married him to the
widow; the mother of Philip。 At first they only styled him regent
and general; but when they found by experience that he governed the
kingdom with moderation and to general advantage; gave him the title
of king。 This was he that was surnamed Doson; as if he was a great
promiser and a bad performer。 To him succeeded Philip; who in his
youth gave great hopes of equalling the best of kings; and that he one
day would restore Macedon to its former state and dignity; and prove
himself the one man able to check the power of the Romans; now
rising and extending over the whole world。 But; being vanquished in
a pitched battle by Titus Flaminius near Scotussa; his resolution
failed; and he yielded himself and all that he had to the mercy of the
Romans; well contented that he could escape with paying a small
tribute。 Yet afterwards; recollecting himself; he bore it with great
impatience; and though he lived rather like a slave that was pleased
with ease; than a man of sense and courage; whilst he held his kingdom
at the pleasure of his conquerors; which made him turn his whole
mind to war; and prepare himself with as much cunning and privacy as
possible。 To this end; he left his cities on the high roads and
sea…coast ungarrisoned; and almost desolate; that they might seem
inconsiderable; in the meantime; collecting large forces up the
country; and furnishing his inland posts; strongholds; and towns; with
arms; money; and men fit for service; he thus provided himself for
war; and yet kept his preparations close。 He had in his armoury arms
for thirty thousand men; in granaries; in places of strength; eight
millions of bushels of corn; and as much ready money as would defray
the charge of maintaining ten thousand mercenary soldiers for ten
years in defence of the country。 But before he could put these
things into motion; and carry his designs into effect; he died for
griefs and anguish of mind; being sensible he had put his innocent son
Demetrius to death; upon the calumnies of one that was far more
guilty。 Perseus; his son that survived; inherited his hatred to the
Romans as well as his kingdom; but was incompetent to carry out his
designs; through want of courage and the viciousness of a character in
which; among faults and diseases of various sorts; covetousness bore
the chief place。 There is a statement also of his not being true…born;
that the wife of King Philip took him from his mother; Gnathaenion
(a woman of Argos; that earned her living as a seamstress); as soon as
he was born; and
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