antony-第12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！


　to　Caesar；　and　suffering　the　most　damage　from　a　heavy　sea　that　set　in　right　ahead；　scarcely　at　four　in　the　afternoon；　gave　up　the　contest；　with　the　loss　of　not　more　than　five　thousand　killed；　but　of　three　hundred　ships　taken；　as　Caesar　himself　has　recorded。　Only　a　few　had　known　of　Antony's　flight；　and　those　who　were　told　of　it　could　not　at　first　give　any　belief　to　so　incredible　a　thing　as　that　a　general　who　had　nineteen　entire　legions　and　twelve　thousand　horse　upon　the　seashore；　could　abandon　all　and　fly　away；　and　he；　above　all；　who　had　so　often　experienced　both　good　and　evil　fortune；　and　had　in　a　thousand　wars　and　battles　been　inured　to　changes。　His　soldiers；　however；　would　not　give　up　their　desires　and　expectations；　still　fancying　he　would　appear　from　some　part　or　other；　and　showed　such　a　generous　fidelity　to　his　service　that；　when　they　were　thoroughly　assured　that　he　was　fled　in　earnest；　they　kept　themselves　in　a　body　seven　days；　making　no　account　of　the　messages　that　Caesar　sent　to　them。　But　at　last；　seeing　that　Canidius　himself；　who　commanded　them；　was　fled　from　the　camp　by　night；　and　that　all　their　officers　had　quite　abandoned　them；　they　gave　way；　and　made　their　submission　to　the　conqueror。　After　this；　Caesar　set　sail　for　Athens；　where　he　made　a　settlement　with　Greece；　and　distributed　what　remained　of　provision　of　corn　that　Antony　had　made　for　his　army　among　the　cities；　which　were　in　a　miserable　condition；　despoiled　of　their　money；　their　slaves；　their　horses；　and　beasts　of　service。　My　great…grandfather　Nicharchus　used　to　relate　that　the　whole　body　of　the　people　of　our　city　were　put　in　requisition　to　carry　each　one　a　certain　measure　of　corn　upon　their　shoulders　to　the　seaside　near　Anticyra；　men　standing　by　had　made　them　with　the　lash。　They　had　made　one　journey　of　the　kind；　but　when　they　had　just　measured　out　the　corn；　and　were　putting　it　on　their　backs　for　a　second；　news　came　of　Antony's　defeat；　and　so　saved　Chaeronea；　for　all　Antony's　purveyors　and　soldiers　fled　upon　the　news；　and　left　them　to　divide　the　corn　among　themselves。　　　When　Antony　came　into　Africa；　he　sent　on　Cleopatra　from　Paraetonium　into　Egypt；　and　stayed　himself　in　the　most　entire　solitude　that　he　could　desire；　roaming　and　wandering　about　with　only　two　friends；　one　a　Greek；　Aristocrates；　a　rhetorician；　and　the　other　a　Roman；　Lucilius；　of　whom　we　have　elsewhere　spoken；　how；　at　Philippi；　to　give　Brutus　time　to　escape；　he　suffered　himself　to　be　taken　by　the　pursuers；　pretending　he　was　Brutus；　Antony　gave　him　his　life；　and　on　this　account　he　remained　true　and　faithful　to　him　to　the　last。　　　But　when　also　the　officer　who　commanded　for　him　in　Africa；　to　whose　care　he　had　committed　all　his　forces　there；　took　them　over　to　Caesar；　he　resolved　to　kill　himself；　but　was　hindered　by　his　friends。　And　coming　to　Alexandria；　he　found　Cleopatra　busied　in　a　most　bold　and　wonderful　enterprise。　Over　the　small　space　of　land　which　divides　the　Red　Sea　from　the　sea　near　Egypt；　which　may　be　considered　also　the　boundary　between　Asia　and　Africa；　and　in　the　narrowest　place　is　not　much　above　three　hundred　furlongs　across；　over　this　neck　of　land　Cleopatra　had　formed　a　project　of　dragging　her　fleet　and　setting　it　afloat　in　the　Arabian　Gulf；　thus　with　her　soldiers　and　her　treasure　to　secure　herself　a　home　on　the　other　side；　where　she　might　live　in　peace　far　away　from　war　and　slavery。　But　the　first　galleys　which　were　carried　over　being　burnt　by　the　Arabians　of　Petra；　and　Antony　not　knowing　but　that　the　army　before　Actium　still　held　together；　she　desisted　from　her　enterprise；　and　gave　orders　for　the　fortifying　all　the　approaches　to　Egypt。　But　Antony；　leaving　the　city　and　the　conversation　of　his　friends；　built　him　a　dwelling…place　in　the　water；　near　Pharos；　upon　a　little　mole　which　he　cast　up　in　the　sea；　and　there；　secluding　himself　from　the　company　of　mankind；　said　he　desired　nothing　but　to　live　the　life　of　Timon；　as　indeed；　his　case　was　the　same；　and　the　ingratitude　and　injuries　which　he　suffered　from　those　he　had　esteemed　his　friends　made　him　hate　and　distrust　all　mankind。　　　This　Timon　was　a　citizen　of　Athens；　and　lived　much　about　the　Peloponnesian　war；　as　may　be　seen　by　the　comedies　of　Aristophanes　and　Plato；　in　which　he　is　ridiculed　as　hater　and　enemy　of　mankind。　He　avoided　and　repelled　the　approaches　of　every　one；　but　embraced　with　kisses　and　the　greatest　show　of　affection　Alcibiades；　then　in　his　hot　youth。　And　when　Apemantus　was　astonished；　and　demanded　the　reason；　he　replied　that　he　knew　this　young　man　would　one　day　do　infinite　mischief　to　the　Athenians。　He　never　admitted　any　one　into　his　company；　except　at　times　this　Apemantus；　who　was　of　the　same　sort　of　temper；　and　was　an　imitator　of　his　way　of　life。　At　the　celebration　of　the　festival　of　flagons；　these　two　kept　the　feast　together；　and　Apemantus；　saying　to　him；　〃What　a　pleasant　party；　Timon！〃　〃It　would　be；〃　he　answered；　〃if　you　were　away。〃　One　day　he　got　up　in　a　full　assembly　on　the　speaker's　place；　and　when　there　was　a　dead　silence　and　great　wonder　at　so　unusual　a　sight；　he　said；　〃Ye　men　of　Athens；　I　have　a　little　plot　of　ground；　and　in　it　grows　a　fig…tree；　on　which　many　citizens　have　been　pleased　to　hang　themselves；　and　now；　having　resolved　to　build　in　that　place；　I　wish　to　announce　it　publicly；　that　any　of　you　who　may　be　desirous　may　go　and　hang　yourselves　before　I　cut　it　down。〃　He　died　and　was　buried　at　Halae；　near　the　sea；　where　it　so　happened　that；　after　his　burial；　a　land…slip　took　place　on　the　point　of　the　shore；　and　the　sea；　flowing　in；　surrounded　his　tomb；　and　made　it　inaccessible　to　the　foot　of　man。　It　bore　this　inscription：…

　　　　　　　　　〃Here　am　I　laid；　my　life　of　misery　done。　　　　　　　　　　　Ask　not　my　name；　I　curse　you　every　one。〃

And　this　epitaph　was　made　by　himself　while　yet　alive；　that　which　is　more　generally　known　is　by　Callimachus：…

　　　　　　　　　〃Timon；　the　misanthrope；　am　I　below。　　　　　　　　　　　Go；　and　revile　me；　traveller；　only　go。〃

　　Thus　much　of　Timon；　of　whom　much　more　might　be　said。　Canidius　now　came；　bringing　word　in　person　of　the　loss　of　the　army　before　Actium。　Then　he　received　news　that　Herod　of　Judaea　was　gone　over　to　Caesar　with　some　legions　and　cohorts；　and　that　the　other　kings　and　princes　were　in　like　manner　deserting　him；　and　that；　out　of　Egypt；　nothing　stood　by　him。　All　this；　however；　seemed　not　to　disturb　him；　but；　as　if　he　were　glad　to　put　away　all　hope；　that　with　it　he　might　be　rid　of　all　care；　and　leaving　his　habitation　by　the　sea；　which　he　called　the　Timoneum；　he　was　received　by　Cleopatra　in　the　palace；　and　set　the　whole　city　into　a　course　of　feasting；　drinking；　and　presents。　The　son　of　Caesar　and　Cleopatra　was　registered　among　the　youths；　and　Antyllus；　his　own　son　by　Fulvia；　received　the　gown　without　the　purple　border　given　to　those　that　are　come　of　age；　in　honour　of　which　the　citizens　of　Alexandria　did　nothing　but　feast　and　revel　for　many　days。　They　themselves　broke　up　the　Order　of　the　Inimitable　Livers；　and　constituted　another　in　its　place；　not　inferior　in　splendour；　luxury；　and　sumptuosity；　calling　it　that　of　the　Diers　Together。　For　all　those　that　said　they　would　die　with　Antony　and　Cleopatra　gave　in　their　names；　for　the　present　passing　their　time　in　all　manner　of　pleasures　and　a　regular　succession　of　banquets。　But　Cleopatra　was　busied　in　making　a　collection　of　all　varieties　of　poisonous　drugs；　and；　in　order　to　see　which　of　them　were　the　least　painful　in　the　operation；　she　had　them　tried　upon　prisoners　condemned　to　die。　But；　finding　that　the　quick　poisons　always　worked　with　sharp　pains；　and　that　the　less　painful　were　slow。　She　next　tried　venomous　animals；　and　watching　with　her　own　eyes　whilst　they　were　applied；　one　creature　to　the　body　of　another。　This　was　her　daily　practice；　and　she　pretty　well　satisfied　herself　that　nothing　was　comparable　to　the　bite　of　the　asp；　which；　without　convulsion　or　groaning；　brought　on　a　heavy　drowsiness　and　lethargy；　with　a　gentle　sweat　on　the　face；　the　senses　being　stupefied　by　degrees；　the　patient；　in　appearance；　being　sensible　of　no　pain　but　rather　troubled　to　be　disturbed　or　awakened　like　those　that　are　in　a　profound　natural　sleep。　　　At　the　same　time；　they　sent　ambassadors　to　Caesar　into　Asia；　Cleopatra　asking　for　the　kingdom　of　Egypt　for　her　children；　and　Antony；　that　he　might　have　leave　to　live　as　a　private　man　in　Egypt；　or；　if　that　were　thought　too　much；　that　be　might　retire　to　Athens。　In　lack　of　friends；　so　many　having　deserted；　and　others　not　being　trusted；　Euphronius；　his　son's　tutor；　was　sent　on　this　embassy。　For　Alexas　of　Laodicea；　who；　by　the　recommendation　of　Timagenes；　became　acquainted　with　Antony　at　Rome；　and　had　been　more　powerful　with　him　than　any　Greek；　and　was；　of　all　the　instruments　which　Cleopatra　made　use　of　to　persuade　Antony；　the　most　violent；　and　the　chief　subverter　of　any　good　thoughts　that　from　time　to　time　might　rise　in　his　mind　in　Octavia's　favour；　had　been　sent　before　to　dissuade　Herod　from　desertion；　but　betraying　his　master；　stayed　with　him　and；　confiding　in　Herod's　interest；　had　the　boldness　to　come　into　Caesar's　presence。　Herod；　however；　was　not　able　to　help　him；　for　he　was　immediately　put　in　chains　and　sent　into　his　own　country；　where；　by　Caesar's　orders；　he　was　put　to　death。　This　reward　of　his　treason　Alexas　received　while　Antony　was　yet　alive。　　　Caesar　would　not　listen　to　any　proposals　for　Antony；　but　he　made　answer　to　Cleopatra；　that　there　was　no　reasonable　favour　which　she　might　not　expect；　if　she　put　Antony　to　death；　or　expelled　him　from　Egypt。　He　sent　back　with　the　ambassadors　his　own　freedman；　Thyrsus；　a　man　of　understanding；　and　not　at　all　ill…qualified　for　conveying　the　messages　of　a　youthful　general　to　a　woman　so　proud　of　her　charms　and　possessed　with　the　opinion　of　the　power　of　her　beauty。　But　by　the　long　audiences　he　received　from　her；　and　the　special　honours　which　she　paid　him；　Antony's　jealousy　began　to　be　awakened；　he　had　him　seized；　whipped；　and　sent　back；　writing　Caesar　word　that　the　man's　busy；　impertinent　ways　had　provoked　him；　in　his　circumstances　he　could　not　be　expected　to　be　very　patient：　〃But　if　it　offends　you；〃　he　added；　〃you　have　got　my　freedman；　Hipparchus；　with　you；　hang　him　up　and　scourge　him　to　make　us　even。〃　But　Cleopatra；　after　this；　to　clear　herself；　and　to　allay　his　jealousies；　paid　him　all　the　attentions　imaginable。　When　her　own　birthday　came；　she　kept　it　as　was　suitable　to　their　fallen　fortunes；　but　his　was　observed　with　the　utmost　prodigality　of　splendour　and　magnificence；　so　that　many　of　the　guests　sat　down　in　want；　and　went　home　wealthy　men。　Meantime；　continual　letters　came　to　Caesar　from　Agrippa；　telling　him　his　presence　was　extremely　required　at　Rome。　　　And　so　the　war　was　deferred　for　a　season。　But；　the　winter　being　over；　he　began　his　march；　he　himself　by　Syria；　and　his　captains　through　Africa。　Pelusium　being　taken；　there　went　a　report　as　if　it　had　been　delivered　up　to　Caesar　by　Seleucus；　not　without　the　consent　of　Cleopatra；　but　she；　to　justify　herself；　gave　up　into　Antony's　hands　the　wife　and　children　of　Seleucus　to　be　put　to　death。　She　had　caused　to　be　built；　joining　to　the　temple　of　Isis；　several　tombs　and　monuments　of　wonderful　height；　and　very　remarkable　for　the　workmanship；　thither　she　removed　her　treasure；　her　gold；　silver；　emeralds；　pearls；　ebony；　ivory；　cinnamon；　and；　after　all；　a　great　quantity　of　t