pompey-第1章

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　POMPEY
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　106…48　B。C。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Plutarch

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　translated　by　John　Dryden




　　THE　people　of　Rome　seem　to　have　entertained　for　Pompey　from　his
childhood　the　same　affection　that　Prometheus；　in　the　tragedy　of
Aeschylus；　expresses　for　Hercules；　speaking　of　him　as　the　author　of
his　deliverance；　in　these　words：…

　　　　　　　　　〃Ah　cruel　Sire！　how　dear　thy　son　to　me！
　　　　　　　　　　The　generous　offspring　of　my　enemy！〃

For　on　the　one　hand；　never　did　the　Romans　give　such　demonstrations
of　a　vehement　and　fierce　hatred　against　any　of　their　generals　as
they　did　against　Strabo；　the　father　of　Pompey；　during　whose
lifetime；　it　is　true；　they　stood　in　awe　of　his　military　power；　as
indeed　he　was　a　formidable　warrior；　but　immediately　upon　his　death；
which　happened　by　a　stroke　of　thunder；　they　treated　him　with　the
utmost　contumely；　dragging　his　corpse　from　the　bier；　as　it　was　carried
to　his　funeral。　On　the　other　side；　never　had　any　Roman　the　people's
good…will　and　devotion　more　zealous　throughout　all　the　changes　of
fortune；　more　early　in　its　first　springing　up；　or　more　steadily　rising
with　his　prosperity；　or　more　constant　in　his　adversity　than　Pompey
had。　In　Strabo；　there　was　one　great　cause　of　their　hatred；　his
insatiable　covetousness；　in　Pompey；　there　were　many　that　helped　to
make　him　the　object　of　their　love；　his　temperance；　his　skill　and
exercise　in　war；　his　eloquence　of　speech；　integrity　of　mind；　and
affability　in　conversation　and　address；　insomuch　that　no　man　ever
asked　a　favour　with　less　offence；　or　conferred　one　with　a　better
grace。　When　he　gave；　it　was　without　assumption；　when　he　received；　it
was　with　dignity　and　honour。
　　In　his　youth；　his　countenance　pleaded　for　him；　seeming　to　anticipate
his　eloquence；　and　win　upon　the　affections　of　the　people　before　he
spoke。　His　beauty　even　in　his　bloom　of　youth　had　something　in　it　at
once　of　gentleness　and　dignity；　and　when　his　prime　of　manhood　came；
the　majesty　and　kingliness　of　his　character　at　once　became　visible
in　it。　His　hair　sat　somewhat　hollow　or　rising　a　little；　and　this；　with
the　languishing　motion　of　his　eyes；　seemed　to　form　a　resemblance　in
his　face；　though　perhaps　more　talked　of　than　really　apparent；　to　the
statues　of　the　King　Alexander。　And　because　many　applied　that　name　to
him　in　his　youth；　Pompey　himself　did　not　decline　it；　insomuch　that
some　called　him　so　in　derision。　And　Lucius　Philippus；　a　man　of
consular　dignity；　when　he　was　pleading　in　favour　of　him；　thought　it
not　unfit　to　say；　that　people　could　not　be　surprised　if　Philip　was　a
lover　of　Alexander。
　　It　is　related　of　Flora；　the　courtesan；　that　when　she　was　now
pretty　old；　she　took　great　delight　in　speaking　of　her　early
familiarity　with　Pompey；　and　was　wont　to　say　that　she　could　never　part
after　being　with　him　without　a　bite。　She　would　further　tell；　that
Geminius；　a　companion　of　Pompey's；　fell　in　love　with　her；　and　made　his
court　with　great　importunity；　and　on　her　refusing；　and　telling　him；
however　her　inclinations　were；　yet　she　could　not　gratify　his　desires
for　Pompey's　sake；　he　therefore　made　his　request　to　Pompey；　and　Pompey
frankly　gave　his　consent；　but　never　afterwards　would　have　any　converse
with　her；　notwithstanding　that　he　seemed　to　have　a　great　passion　for
her；　and　Flora；　on　this　occasion；　showed　none　of　the　levity　that　might
have　been　expected　of　her；　but　languished　for　some　time　after　under
a　sickness　brought　on　by　grief　and　desire。　This　Flora；　we　are　told；
was　such　a　celebrated　beauty；　that　Caecilius　Metellus；　when　he　adorned
the　temple　of　Castor　and　Pollux　with　paintings　and　statues；　among
the　rest　dedicated　hers　for　her　singular　beauty。　In　his　conduct　also
to　the　wife　of　Demetrius；　his　freed　servant　（who　had　great　influence
with　him　in　his　lifetime；　and　left　an　estate　of　four　thousand
talents）；　Pompey　acted　contrary　to　his　usual　habits；　not　quite
fairly　or　generously；　fearing　lest　he　should　fall　under　the　common
censure　of　being　enamoured　and　charmed　with　her　beauty；　which　was
irresistible；　and　became　famous　everywhere。　Nevertheless；　though　he
seemed　to　be　so　extremely　circumspect　and　cautious；　yet　even　in
matters　of　this　nature　he　could　not　avoid　the　calumnies　of　his
enemies；　but　upon　the　score　of　married　women；　they　accused　him；　as
if　he　had　connived　at　many　things；　and　embezzled　the　public　revenue　to
gratify　their　luxury。
　　Of　his　easiness　of　temper　and　plainness；　in　what　related　to　eating
and　drinking；　the　story　is　told　that；　once　in　a　sickness；　when　his
stomach　nauseated　common　meats；　his　physician　prescribed　him　a
thrush　to　eat；　but　upon　search；　there　was　none　to　be　bought；　for
they　were　not　then　in　season；　and　one　telling　him　they　were　to　be
had　at　Lucullus's；　who　kept　them　all　the　year　round；　〃So　then；〃　said
he；　〃if　it　were　not　for　Lucullus's　luxury；　Pompey　should　not　live；〃
and　thereupon；　not　minding　the　prescription　of　the　physician；　he
contented　himself　with　such　meat　as　could　easily　be　procured。　But　this
was　at　a　later　time。
　　Being　as　yet　a　very　young　man；　and　upon　an　expedition　in　which　his
father　was　commanding　against　Cinna；　he　had　in　his　tent　with　him　one
Lucius　Terentius；　as　his　companion　and　comrade；　who；　being　corrupted
by　Cinna；　entered　into　an　engagement　to　kill　Pompey；　as　others　had
done　to　set　the　general's　tent　on　fire。　This　conspiracy　being
discovered　to　Pompey　at　supper；　he　showed　no　discomposure　at　it；　but
on　the　contrary　drank　more　liberally　than　usual；　and　expressed　great
kindness　to　Terentius；　but　about　bedtime；　pretending　to　go　to　his
repose；　he　stole　away　secretly　out　of　the　tent；　and　setting　a　guard
about　his　father；　quietly　expected　the　event。　Terentius；　when　he
thought　the　proper　time　come；　rose　with　his　naked　sword；　and　coming　to
Pompey's　bedside　stabbed　several　strokes　through　the　bedclothes；　as　if
he　were　lying　there。　Immediately　after　this　there　was　a　great　uproar
throughout　all　the　camp；　arising　from　the　hatred　they　bore　to　the
general；　and　an　universal　movement　of　the　soldiers　to　revolt；　all
tearing　down　their　tents　and　betaking　themselves　to　their　arms。　The
general　himself　all　this　while　durst　not　venture　out　because　of　the
tumult；　but　Pompey；　going　about　in　the　midst　of　them；　besought　them
with　tears；　and　at　last　threw　himself　prostrate　upon　his　face　before
the　gate　of　the　camp；　and　lay　there　in　the　passage　at　their　feet
shedding　tears；　and　bidding　those　that　were　marching　off；　if　they
would　go；　trample　upon　him。　Upon　which；　none　could　help　going　back
again；　and　all；　except　eight　hundred；　either　through　shame　or
compassion；　repented；　and　were　reconciled　to　the　general。
　　Immediately　upon　the　death　of　Strabo；　there　was　an　action
commenced　against　Pompey；　as　his　heir；　for　that　his　father　had
embezzled　the　public　treasure。　But　Pompey；　having　traced　the　principal
thefts；　charged　them　upon　one　Alexander；　a　freed　slave　of　his
father's；　and　proved　before　the　judges　that　he　had　been　the
appropriator。　But　he　himself　was　accused　of　having　in　his　possession
some　hunting　tackle；　and　books；　that　were　taken　at　Asculum。　To　this　he
confessed　thus　far；　that　he　received　them　from　his　father　when　he　took
Asculum；　but　pleaded　further；　that　he　had　lost　them　since；　upon
Cinna's　return　to　Rome；　when　his　house　was　broken　open　and　plundered
by　Cinna's　guards。　In　this　cause　he　had　a　great　many　preparatory
pleadings　against　his　accuser；　in　which　he　showed　in　activity　and
steadfastness　beyond　his　years；　and　gained　great　reputation　and
favour；　insomuch　that　Antistius；　the　praetor　and　judge　of　the　cause；
took　a　great　liking　to　him；　and　offered　him　his　daughter　in
marriage；　having　had　some　communications　with　his　friends　about　it。
Pompey　accepted　the　proposal；　and　they　were　privately　contracted；
however；　the　secret　was　not　so　closely　kept　as　to　escape　the
multitude；　but　it　was　discernible　enough；　from　the　favour　shown　him　by
Antistius　in　his　cause。　And　at　last；　when　Antistius　pronounced　the
absolutory　sentence　of　the　judges；　the　people；　as　if　it　had　been
upon　a　signal　given；　made　the　acclamation　used　according　to　ancient
custom　at　marriages；　Talasio。　The　origin　of　which　custom　is　related　to
be　this。　At　the　time　when　the　daughters　of　the　Sabines　came　to　Rome；
to　see　the　shows　and　sports　there；　and　were　violently　seized　upon　by
the　most　distinguished　and　bravest　of　the　Romans　for　wives；　it
happened　that　some　goatswains　and　herdsmen　of　the　meaner　rank　were
carrying　off　a　beautiful　and　tall　maiden；　and　lest　any　of　their
betters　should　meet　them；　and　take　her　away；　as　they　ran；　they　cried
out　with　one　voice；　Talasio；　Talasius　being　a　well…known　and　popular
person　among　them；　insomuch　that　all　that　heard　the　name　clapped　their
hands　for　joy；　and　joined　with　them　in　the　shout；　as　applauding　and
congratulating　the　chance。　Now；　say　they；　because　this　proved　a
fortunate　match　to　Talasius；　hence　it　is　that　this　acclamation　is
sportively　used　as　a　nuptial　cry　at　all　weddings。　This　is　the　most
credible　of　the　accounts　that　are　given　of　the　Talasio。　And　some　few
days　after　this　judgment；　Pompey　married　Antistia。
　　After　this　he　went　to　Cinna's　camp；　where；　finding　some　false
suggestions　and　calumnies　prevailing　against　him；　he　began　to　be
afraid；　and　presently　withdrew　himself　secretly　which　sudden
disappearance　occasioned　great　suspicion。　And　there　went　a　rumour
and　speech　through　all　the　camp　that　Cinna　had　murdered　the　young　man；
upon　which　all　that　had　been　anyways　disobliged；　and　bore　any　malice
to　him；　resolved　to　make　an　assault　upon　him。　He；　endeavouring　to　make
his　escape；　was　seized　by　a　centurion；　who　pursued　him　with　his
naked　sword。　Cinna；　in　this　distress；　fell　upon　his　knees；　and　offered
him　his　seal…ring；　of　great　value；　for　his　ransom；　but　the　centurion
repulsed　him　insolently；　saying；　〃I　did　not　come　to　seal　a　covenant；
but　to　be　revenged　upon　a　lawless　and　wicked　tyrant；〃　and　so
despatched　him　immediately。
　　Thus　Cinna　being　slain；　Carbo；　a　tyrant　yet　more　senseless　than
he；　took　the　command　and　exercised　it；　while　Sylla　meantime　was
approaching；　much　to　the　joy　and　satisfaction　of　most　people；　who　in
their　present　evils　were　ready　to　find　some　comfort　if　it　were　but
in　the　exchange　of　a　master。　For　the　city　was　brought　to　that　pass
by　oppression　and　calamities　that；　being　utterly　in　despair　of
liberty；　men　were　only　anxious　for　the　mildest　and　most　tolerable
bondage。　At　that　time　Pompey　was　in　Picenum　in　Italy；　where　he　spent
some　time　amusing　himself；　as　he　had　estates　in　the　country　there；
though　the　chief　motive　of　his　stay　was　the　liking　he　felt　for　the
towns　of　that　district；　which　all　regarded　him　with　hereditary
feelings　of　kindness　and　attachment。　But　when　he　now　saw　that　the
noblest　and　best　of　the　city　began　to　forsake　their　homes　and
property；　and　fly　from　all　quarters　to　Sylla's　camp；　as　to　their
haven；　he　likewise　was　desirous　to　go；　not；　however；　as　a　fugitive；
alone　and　with　nothing　to　offer；　but　as　a　friend　rather　than　a
suppliant；　in　a　way　that　would　gain　him　honour；　bringing　help　along
with　him；　and　at　the　head　of　a　body　of　troops。　Accordingly　he
solicited　the　Picentines　for　their　assistance；　who　as　cordially
emb