lays of ancient rome(古罗马方位)-第8章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Patroclus。
But there is one circumstance which deserves especial notice。 Both the
war of Troy and the war of Regillus were caused by the licentious passions
of young princes； who were therefore peculiarly bound not to be sparing
of their own persons on the day of battle。 Now the conduct of Sextus at
Regillus； as described by Livy； so exactly resembles that of Paris； as
described at the beginning of the third book of the Iliad； that it is difficult
to believe the resemblance accidental。 Paris appears before the Trojan
ranks； defying the bravest Greek to encounter him：
3 lines from the Iliad； in Greek； probably those
translated by Pope as：
。。。 to the van； before the sons of fame Whom Troy
sent forth； the beauteous Paris came：
Livy introduces Sextus in a similar manner： ‘‘Ferocem juvenem
Tarquinium； ostentantem se in prima exsulum acie。'' Menelaus rushes to
meet Paris。 A Roman noble； eager for vengeance； spurs his horse towards
Sextus。 Both the guilty princes are instantly terror…stricken：
34
… Page 35…
Lays of Ancient Rome
3 more lines in Greek； Pope's translation being：
。。。＇Menelaus＇ approaching near； The beauteous
champion views with marks of fear； Smit with a conscious sense；
retires behind； And shuns the fate he well deserv'd to find。
‘‘Tarquinius；'' says Livy； ‘‘retro in agmen suorum infenso cessit hosti。''
If this be a fortuitous coincidence； it is also one of the most extraordinary
in literature。
In the following poem； therefore； images and incidents have been
borrowed； not merely without scruple； but on principle； from the
incomparable battle…pieces of Homer。
The popular belief at Rome； from an early period； seems to have been
that the event of the great day of Regillus was decided by supernatural
agency。 Castor and Pollux； it was said； had fought armed and mounted； at
the head of the legions of the commonwealth； and had afterwards carried
the news of the victory with incredible speed to the city。 The well in the
Forum at which they had alighted was pointed out。 Near the well rose their
ancient temple。 A great festival was kept to their honor on the Ides of
Quintilis； supposed to be the anniversary of the battle； and on that day
sumptuous sacrifices were offered to them at the public charge。 One spot
on the margin of Lake Regillus was regarded during many ages with
superstitious awe。 A mark； resembling in shape a horse's hoof； was
discernible in the volcanic rock； and this mark was believed to have been
made by one of the celestial chargers。
How the legend originated cannot now be ascertained； but we may
easily imagine several ways in which it might have originated； nor is it at
all necessary to suppose； with Julius Frontinus； that two young men were
dressed up by the Dictator to personate the sons of Leda。 It is probable that
Livy is correct when he says that the Roman general； in the hour of peril；
vowed a temple to Castor。 If so； nothing could be more natural than that
the multitude should ascribe the victory to the favor of the Twin Gods。
When such was the prevailing sentiment； any man who chose to declare
that； in the midst of the confusion and slaughter； he had seen two godlike
forms on white horses scattering the Latines； would find ready credence。
We know； indeed； that in modern times a very similar story actually found
35
… Page 36…
Lays of Ancient Rome
credence among a people much more civilized than the Romans of the
fifth century before Christ。 A chaplain of Cortes； writing about thirty years
after the conquest of Mexico； in an age of printing presses； libraries；
universities； scholars； logicians； jurists； and statesmen； had the face to
assert that； in one engagement against the Indians； St。 James had appeared
on a gray horse at the head of the Castilian adventurers。 Many of those
adventurers were living when this lie was printed。 One of them； honest
Bernal Diaz； wrote an account of the expedition。 He had the evidence of
his own senses against the legend； but he seems to have distrusted even
the evidence of his own senses。 He says that he was in the battle； and that
he saw a gray horse with a man on his back； but that the man was； to his
thinking； Francesco de Morla； and not the ever…blessed apostle St。 James。
‘‘Nevertheless；'' Bernal adds； ‘‘it may be that the person on the gray horse
was the glorious apostle St。 James； and that I； sinner that I am； was
unworthy to see him。'' The Romans of the age of Cincinatus were probably
quite as credulous as the Spanish subjects of Charles the Fifth。 It is
therefore conceivable that the appearance of Castor and Pollux may be
become an article of faith before the generation which had fought at
Regillus had passed away。 Nor could anything be more natural than that
the poets of the next age should embellish this story； and make the
celestial horsemen bear the tidings of victory to Rome。
Many years after the temple of the Twin Gods had been built in the
Forum； an important addition was made to the ceremonial by which the
state annually testified its gratitude for their protection。 Quintus Fabius
and Publius Decius were elected Censors at a momentous crisis。 It had
become absolutely necessary that the classification of the citizens should
be revised。 On that classification depended the distribution of political
power。 Party spirit ran high； and the republic seemed to be in danger of
falling under the dominion either of a narrow oligarchy or of an ignorant
and headstrong rabble。 Under such circumstances； the most illustrious
patrician and the most illustrious plebeian of the age were entrusted with
the office of arbitrating between the angry factions； and they performed
their arduous task to the satisfaction of all honest and reasonable men。
One of their reforms was the remodelling of the equestrian order； and；
36
… Page 37…
Lays of Ancient Rome
having effected this reform； they determined to give to their work a
sanction derived from religion。 In the chivalrous societies of modern
times；societies which have much more than may at first sight appear in
common with with the equestrian order of Rome；it has been usual to
invoke the special protection of some Saint； and to observe his day with
peculiar solemnity。 Thus the Companions of the Garter wear the image of
St。 George depending from their collars； and meet； on great occasions； in
St。 George's Chapel。 Thus； when Louis the Fourteenth instituted a new
order of chivalry for the rewarding of military merit； he commended it to
the favor of his own glorified ancestor and patron； and decreed that all the
members of the fraternity should meet at the royal palace on the feast of St。
Louis； should attend the king to chapel； should hear mass； and should
subsequently hold their great annual assembley。 There is a considerable
resemblance between this rule of the order of St。 Louis and the rule which
Fabius and Decius made respecting the Roman knights。 It was ordained
that a grand muster and inspection of the equestrian body should be part of
the ceremonial performed； on the anniversary of the battle of Regillus； in
honor of Castor and Pollux； the two equestrian gods。 All the knights； clad
in purple and crowned with olive； were to meet at a temple of Mars in the
suburbs。 Thence they were to ride in state to the Forum； where the temple
of the Twins stood。 This pageant was； during several centuries； considered
as one of the most splendid sights of Rome。 In the time of Dionysius the
cavalcade sometimes consisted of five thousand horsemen； all persons of
fair repute and easy fortune。
There can be no doubt that the Censors who instituted this august
ceremony acted in concert with the Pontiffs to whom； by the constitution
of Rome； the superintendence of the public worship belonged； and it is
probable that those high religious functionaries were； as usual； fortunate
enough to find in their books or traditions some warrant for the
innovation。
The following poem is supposed to have been made for this great
occasion。 Songs； we know； were chanted at religious festivals of Rome
from an early period； indeed from so early a period that some of the sacred
verses were popularly ascribed to Numa； and were utterly unintelligible in
37
… Page 38…
Lays of Ancient Rome
the age of Augustus。 In the Second Punic War a great feast was held in
honor of Juno； and a song was sung in her praise。 This song was extant
when Livy wrote； and； though exceedingly rugged and uncouth； seemed to
him not wholly destitute of merit。 A song； as we learn from Horace； was
part of the established ritual at the great Secular Jubilee。 It is therefore
likely that the Censors and Pontiffs； when they had resolved to add a grand
procession of knights to the other solemnities annually performed on the
Ides of Quintilis； would call in the aid of a poet。 Such a poet would
naturally take for his subject the battle of Regillus； the appearance of the
Twin Gods； and the institution of their festival。 He would find abundant
materials in the ballads of his predecessors； and he would make free use of
the scanty stock of Greek learning which he had himself acquired。 He
would probably introduce some wise and holy P
