antony-第4章

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blame；　because　he　was　older　than　Caesar；　and　had　greater　authority　than　Lepidus；　and　withal　he　was　no　sooner　settled　in　his　affairs；　but　he　turned　to　his　luxurious　and　dissolute　way　of　living。　Besides　the　ill　reputation　he　gained　by　his　general　behaviour；　it　was　some　considerable　disadvantage　to　him　his　living　in　the　house　of　Pompey　the　Great；　who　had　been　as　much　admired　for　his　temperance　and　his　sober；　citizen…like　habits　of　life；　as　ever　he　was　for　having　triumphed　three　times。　They　could　not　without　anger　see　the　doors　of　that　house　shut　against　magistrates；　officers；　and　envoys；　who　were　shamefully　refused　admittance；　while　it　was　filled　inside　with　players；　jugglers；　and　drunken　flatterers；　upon　whom　were　spent　the　greatest　part　of　the　wealth　which　violence　and　cruelty　procured。　For　they　did　not　limit　themselves　to　the　forfeiture　of　the　estates　of　such　as　were　proscribed；　defrauding　the　widows　and　families；　nor　were　they　contented　with　laying　on　every　possible　kind　of　tax　and　imposition；　but　hearing　that　several　sums　of　money　were；　as　well　by　strangers　as　citizens　of　Rome；　deposited　in　the　hands　of　the　vestal　virgins；　they　went　and　took　the　money　away　by　force。　When　it　was　manifest　that　nothing　would　ever　be　enough　for　Antony；　Caesar　at　last　called　for　a　division　of　property。　The　army　was　also　divided　between　them；　upon　their　march　into　Macedonia　to　make　war　with　Brutus　and　Cassius；　Lepidus　being　left　with　the　command　of　the　city。　　　However；　after　they　had　crossed　the　sea　and　engaged　in　operations　of　war；　encamping　in　front　of　the　enemy；　Antony　opposite　Cassius；　and　Caesar　opposite　Brutus；　Caesar　did　nothing　worth　relating；　and　all　the　success　and　victory　were　Antony's。　In　the　first　battle；　Caesar　was　completely　routed　by　Brutus；　his　camp　taken；　he　himself　very　narrowly　escaping　by　flight。　As　he　himself　writes　in　his　Memoirs；　he　retired　before　the　battle；　on　account　of　a　dream　which　one　of　his　friends　had。　But　Antony；　on　the　other　hand；　defeated　Cassius；　though　some　have　written　that　he　was　not　actually　present　in　the　engagement；　and　only　joined　afterwards　in　the　pursuit。　Cassius　was　killed；　at　his　own　entreaty　and　order；　by　one　of　his　most　trusted　freedmen；　Pindarus；　not　being　aware　of　Brutus's　victory。　After　a　few　days'　interval；　they　fought　another　battle；　in　which　Brutus　lost　the　day；　and　slew　himself；　and　Caesar　being　sick；　Antony　had　almost　all　the　honour　of　the　victory。　Standing　over　Brutus's　dead　body；　he　uttered　a　few　words　of　reproach　upon　him　for　the　death　of　his　brother　Caius；　who　had　been　executed　by　Brutus's　order　in　Macedonia　in　revenge　of　Cicero；　but；　saying　presently　that　Hortensius　was　most　to　blame　for　it；　he　gave　order　for　his　being　slain　upon　his　brother's　tomb；　and；　throwing　his　own　scarlet　mantle；　which　was　of　great　value；　upon　the　body　of　Brutus；　he　gave　charge　to　one　of　his　own　freedmen　to　take　care　of　his　funeral。　This　man；　as　Antony　came　to　understand；　did　not　leave　the　mantle　with　the　corpse；　but　kept　both　it　and　a　good　part　of　the　money　that　should　have　been　spent　in　the　funeral　for　himself；　for　which　he　had　him　put　to　death。　　　But　Caesar　was　conveyed　to　Rome；　no　one　expecting　that　he　would　long　survive。　Antony；　purposing　to　go　to　the　eastern　provinces　to　lay　them　under　contribution；　entered　Greece　with　a　large　force。　The　promise　had　been　made　that　every　common　soldier　should　receive　for　his　pay　five　thousand　drachmas；　so　it　was　likely　there　would　be　need　of　pretty　severe　taxing　and　levying　to　raise　money。　However；　to　the　Greeks　he　showed　at　first　reason　and　moderation　enough；　he　gratified　his　love　of　amusement　by　hearing　the　learned　men　dispute；　by　seeing　the　games；　and　undergoing　initiation；　and　in　judicial　matters　he　was　equitable；　taking　pleasure　in　being　styled　a　lover　of　Greece；　but；　above　all；　in　being　called　a　lover　of　Athens；　to　which　city　he　made　very　considerable　presents。　The　people　of　Megara　wished　to　let　him　know　that　they　also　had　something　to　show　him；　and　invited　him　to　come　and　see　their　senate…house。　So　he　went　and　examined　it；　and　on　their　asking　him　how　he　liked　it；　told　them　it　was　〃not　very　large；　but　extremely　ruinous。〃　At　the　same　time；　he　had　a　survey　made　of　the　temple　of　the　Pythian　Apollo　as　if　he　had　designed　to　repair　it；　and　indeed　he　had　declared　to　the　senate　his　intention　so　to　do。　　　However；　leaving　Lucius　Censorinus　in　Greece；　he　crossed　over　into　Asia；　and　there　laid　his　hands　on　the　stores　of　accumulated　wealth；　while　kings　waited　at　his　door；　and　queens　were　rivalling　one　another；　who　should　make　him　the　greatest　presents　or　appear　most　charming　in　his　eyes。　Thus；　whilst　Caesar　in　Rome　was　wearing　out　his　strength　amidst　seditions　and　wars；　Antony；　with　nothing　to　do　amidst　the　enjoyments　of　peace；　let　his　passions　carry　him　easily　back　to　the　old　course　of　life　that　was　familiar　to　him。　A　set　of　harpers　and　pipers；　Anaxenor　and　Xuthus；　the　dancing…man；　Metrodorus；　and　a　whole　Bacchic　rout　of　the　like　Asiatic　exhibitors；　far　outdoing　in　licence　and　buffoonery　the　pests　that　had　followed　him　out　of　Italy；　came　in　and　possessed　the　court；　the　thing　was　past　patience；　wealth　of　all　kinds　being　wasted　on　objects　like　these。　The　whole　of　Asia　was　like　the　city　in　Sophocles；　loaded；　at　one　time…

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃…with　incense　in　the　air；　　　　　　　　　　Jubilant　songs；　and　outcries　of　despair。〃

　　When　he　made　his　entry　into　Ephesus；　the　women　met　him　dressed　up　like　Bacchantes；　and　the　men　and　boys　like　satyrs　and　fauns；　and　throughout　the　town　nothing　was　to　be　seen　but　spears　wreathed　about　with　ivy；　harps；　flutes；　and　psalteries；　while　Antony　in　their　songs　was　Bacchus；　the　Giver　of　joy；　and　the　Gentle。　And　so　indeed　he　was　to　some　but　to　far　more　the　Devourer　and　the　Savage；　for　he　would　deprive　persons　of　worth　and　quality　of　their　fortunes　to　gratify　villains　and　flatterers；　who　would　sometimes　beg　the　estates　of　men　yet　living；　pretending　they　were　dead；　and；　obtaining　a　grant；　take　possession。　He　gave　his　cook　the　house　of　a　Magnesian　citizen；　as　a　reward　for　a　single　highly　successful　supper；　and；　at　last；　when　he　was　proceeding　to　lay　a　second　whole　tribute　on　Asia；　Hybreas；　speaking　on　behalf　of　the　cities；　took　courage；　and　told　him　broadly；　but　aptly　enough　for　Antony's　taste　〃if　you　can　take　two　yearly　tributes；　you　can　doubtless　give　us　a　couple　of　summers　and　a　double　harvest　time；〃　and　put　it　to　him　in　the　plainest　and　boldest　way；　that　Asia　had　raised　two　hundred　thousand　talents　for　his　service：　〃If　this　has　not　been　paid　to　you；　ask　your　collectors　for　it；　if　it　has；　and　is　all　gone；　we　are　ruined　men。〃　These　words　touched　Antony　to　the　quick；　who　was　simply　ignorant　of　most　things　that　were　done　in　his　name；　not　that　he　was　so　indolent；　as　he　was　prone　to　trust　frankly　in　all　about　him。　For　there　was　much　simplicity　in　his　character；　he　was　slow　to　see　his　faults；　but　when　he　did　see　them；　was　extremely　repentant；　and　ready　to　ask　pardon　of　those　he　had　injured　prodigal　in　his　acts　of　reparation；　and　severe　in　his　punishments；　but　his　generosity　was　much　more　extravagant　than　his　severity；　his　raillery　was　sharp　and　insulting；　but　the　edge　of　it　was　taken　off　by　his　readiness　to　submit　to　any　kind　of　repartee；　for　he　was　as　well　contented　to　be　rallied；　as　he　was　pleased　to　rally　others。　And　this　freedom　of　speech　was；　indeed；　the　cause　of　many　of　his　disasters。　He　never　imagined　those　who　used　so　much　liberty　in　their　mirth　would　flatter　or　deceive　him　in　business　of　consequence；　not　knowing　how　common　it　is　with　parasites　to　mix　their　flattery　with　boldness；　as　confectioners　do　their　sweetmeats　with　something　biting；　to　prevent　the　sense　of　satiety。　Their　freedoms　and　impertinences　at　table　were　designed　expressly　to　give　to　their　obsequiousness　in　council　the　air　of　being　not　complaisance；　but　conviction。　　　Such　being　his　temper；　the　last　and　crowning　mischief　that　could　befall　him　came　in　the　love　of　Cleopatra；　to　awaken　and　kindle　to　fury　passions　that　as　yet　lay　still　and　dormant　in　his　nature；　and　to　stifle　and　finally　corrupt　any　elements　that　yet　made　resistance　in　him　of　goodness　and　a　sound　judgment。　He　fell　into　the　snare　thus。　When　making　preparation　for　the　Parthian　war；　he　sent　to　command　her　to　make　her　personal　appearance　in　Cilicia；　to　answer　an　accusation　that　she　had　given　great　assistance；　in　the　late　wars；　to　Cassius。　Dellius；　who　was　sent　on　this　message；　had　no　sooner　seen　her　face；　and　remarked　her　adroitness　and　subtlety　in　speech；　but　he　felt　convinced　that　Antony　would　not　so　much　as　think　of　giving　any　molestation　to　a　woman　like　this；　on　the　contrary；　she　would　be　the　first　in　favour　with　him。　So　he　set　himself　at　once　to　pay　his　court　to　the　Egyptian；　and　gave　her　his　advice；　〃to　go；〃　in　the　Homeric　style；　to　Cilicia；　〃in　her　best　attire；〃　and　bade　her　fear　nothing　from　Antony；　the　gentlest　and　kindest　of　soldiers。　She　had　some　faith　in　the　words　of　Dellius；　but　more　in　her　own　attractions；　which；　having　formerly　recommended　her　to　Caesar　and　the　young　Cnaeus　Pompey；　she　did　not　doubt　might　prove　yet　more　successful　with　Antony。　Their　acquaintance　was　with　her　when　a　girl；　young　and　ignorant　of　the　world；　but　she　was　to　meet　Antony　in　the　time　of　life　when　women's　beauty　is　most　splendid；　and　their　intellects　are　in　full　maturity。　She　made　great　preparation　for　her　journey；　of　money；　gifts；　and　ornaments　of　value；　such　as　so　wealthy　a　kingdom　might　afford；　but　she　brought　with　her　her　surest　hopes　in　her　own　magic　arts　and　charms。　　　She　received　several　letters；　both　from　Antony　and　from　his　friends；　to　summon　her；　but　she　took　no　account　of　these　orders；　and　at　last；　as　if　in　mockery　of　them；　she　came　sailing　up　the　river　Cydnus；　in　a　barge　with　gilded　stern　and　outspread　sails　of　purple；　while　oars　of　silver　beat　time　to　the　music　of　flutes　and　fifes　and　harps。　She　herself　lay　all　along　under　a　canopy　of　cloth　of　gold；　dressed　as　Venus　in　a　picture；　and　beautiful　young　boys；　like　painted　Cupids；　stood　on　each　side　to　fan　her。　Her　maids　were　dressed　like　sea　nymphs　and　graces；　some　steering　at　the　rudder；　some　working　at　the　ropes。　The　perfumes　diffused　themselves　from　the　vessel　to　the　shore；　which　was　covered　with　multitudes；　part　following　the　galley　up　the　river　on　either　bank；　part　running　out　of　the　city　to　see　the　sight。　The　market…place　was　quite　emptied；　and　Antony　at　last　was　left　alone　sitting　upon　the　tribunal；　while　the　word　went　through　all　the　multitude；　that　Venus　was　come　to　feast　with　Bacchus；　for　the　common　good　of　Asia。　On　her　arrival；　Antony　sent　to　invite　her　to　supper。　She　thought　it　fitter　he　should　come　to　her；　so；　willing　to　show　his　good…humour　and　courtesy；　he　complied；　and　went。　He　found　the　preparations　to　receive　him　magnificent　beyond　expression；　but　nothing　so　admirable　as　the　great　number　of　lights；　for　on　a　sudden　there　was　let　down　altogether　so　great　a　number　of　branches　with　lights　in　them　so　ingeniously　disposed；　some　in　squares；　and　some　in　circles；　that　the　whole　thing　was　a　spectacle　that　has　seldom　been　equalled　for　beauty。　　　The　next　day；　Antony　invited　her　to　supper；　and　was　very　desirous　to　outdo　her　as　well　in　magnificence　as　contrivance；　but　he　found　he　was　altogether　beaten　in　both；　and　was　so　well　convinced　of　it　that　he　was　himself　the　first　to　jest　and　mock　at　his　poverty　of　w