antony-第7章

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nus；　the　wagon　officer。　He　himself　laid　siege　to　Phraata；　a　principal　city　of　the　King　of　Media；　wherein　were　that　king's　wife　and　children。　And　when　actual　need　proved　the　greatness　of　his　error；　in　leaving　the　siege…train　behind　him；　he　had　nothing　for　it　but　to　come　up　and　raise　a　mound　against　the　walls；　with　infinite　labour　and　great　loss　of　time。　Meantime　Phraates；　coming　down　with　a　large　army；　and　hearing　that　the　wagons　were　left　behind　with　the　battering　engines；　sent　a　strong　party　of　horse；　by　which　Statianus　was　surprised；　he　himself　and　ten　thousand　of　his　men　slain；　the　engines　all　broken　in　pieces；　many　taken　prisoners；　and　among　the　rest　King　Polemon。　　　This　great　miscarriage　in　the　opening　of　the　campaign　much　discouraged　Antony's　army；　and　Artavasdes；　King　of　Armenia；　deciding　that　the　Roman　prospects　were　bad；　withdrew　with　all　his　forces　from　the　camp；　although　he　had　been　the　chief　promoter　of　the　war。　The　Parthians；　encouraged　by　their　success；　came　up　to　the　Romans　at　the　siege；　and　gave　them　many　affronts；　upon　which　Antony；　fearing　that　the　despondency　and　alarm　of　his　soldiers　would　only　grow　worse　if　he　let　them　lie　idle　taking　all　the　horse；　ten　legions；　and　three　praetorian　cohorts　of　heavy　infantry；　resolved　to　go　out　and　forage；　designing　by　this　means　to　draw　the　enemy　with　more　advantage　to　a　battle。　To　effect　this；　he　marched　a　day's　journey　from　his　camp；　and　finding　the　Parthians　hovering　about；　in　readiness　to　attack　him　while　he　was　in　motion；　he　gave　orders　for　the　signal　of　battle　to　be　hung　out　in　the　encampment；　but；　at　the　same　time；　pulled　down　the　tents；　as　if　he　meant　not　to　fight；　but　to　lead　his　men　home　again；　and　so　he　proceeded　to　lead　them　past　the　enemy；　who　were　drawn　up　in　a　half…moon；　his　orders　being　that　the　horse　should　charge　as　soon　as　the　legions　were　come　up　near　enough　to　second　them。　The　Parthians；　standing　still　while　the　Romans　marched　by　them；　were　in　great　admiration　of　their　army；　and　of　the　exact　discipline　it　observed；　rank　after　rank　passing　on　at　equal　distances　in　perfect　order　and　silence；　their　pikes　all　ready　in　their　hands。　But　when　the　signal　was　given；　and　the　horse　turned　short　upon　the　Parthians；　and　with　loud　cries　charged　them；　they　bravely　received　them；　though　they　were　at　once　too　near　for　bowshot；　but　the　legions　coming　up　with　loud　shouts　and　rattling　of　their　arms　so　frightened　their　horses　and　indeed　the　men　themselves；　that　they　kept　their　ground　no　longer。　Antony　pressed　them　hard；　in　great　hopes　that　this　victory　should　put　an　end　to　the　war；　the　foot　had　them　in　pursuit　for　fifty　furlongs；　and　the　horse　for　thrice　that　distance；　and　yet；　the　advantage　summed　up；　they　had　but　thirty　prisoners；　and　there　were　but　fourscore　slain。　So　that　they　were　all　filled　with　dejection　and　discouragement；　to　consider　that　when　they　were　victorious；　their　advantages　were　so　small；　and　that　when　they　were　beaten；　they　lost　so　great　a　number　of　men　as　they　had　done　when　the　carriages　were　taken。　　　The　next　day；　having　put　the　baggage　in　order；　they　marched　back　to　the　camp　before　Phraata；　in　the　way　meeting　with　some　scattering　troops　of　the　enemy；　and；　as　they　marched　further；　with　greater　parties；　at　length　with　the　body　of　the　enemy's　army；　fresh　and　in　good　order；　who　defied　them　to　battle；　and　charged　them　on　every　side；　and　it　was　not　without　great　difficulty　that　they　reached　the　camp。　There　Antony；　finding　that　his　men　had　in　a　panic　deserted　the　defence　of　the　mound；　upon　a　sally　of　the　Medes；　resolved　to　proceed　against　them　by　decimation；　as　it　is　called；　which　is　done　by　dividing　the　soldiers　into　tens；　and；　out　of　every　ten；　putting　one　to　death；　as　it　happens　by　lot。　The　rest　he　gave　orders　should　have；　instead　of　wheat；　their　rations　of　corn　in　barley。　　　The　war　was　now　become　grievous　to　both　parties；　and　the　prospect　of　its　continuance　yet　more　fearful　to　Antony；　in　respect　that　he　was　threatened　with　famine；　for　he　could　no　longer　forage　without　wounds　and　slaughter。　And　Phraates；　on　the　other　side；　was　full　of　apprehension　that　if　the　Romans　were　to　persist　in　carrying　on　the　siege；　the　autumnal　equinox　being　past　and　the　air　already　closing　in　for　cold；　he　should　be　deserted　by　his　soldiers；　who　would　suffer　anything　rather　than　wintering　in　open　field。　To　prevent　which；　he　had　recourse　to　the　following　deceit：　he　gave　orders　to　those　of　his　men　who　had　made　most　acquaintance　among　the　Roman　soldiers；　not　to　pursue　too　close　when　they　met　them　foraging；　but　to　suffer　them　to　carry　off　some　provision；　moreover；　that　they　should　praise　their　valour；　and　declare　that　it　was　not　without　just　reason　that　their　king　looked　upon　the　Romans　as　the　bravest　men　in　the　world。　This　done；　upon　further　opportunity；　they　rode　nearer　in；　and；　drawing　up　their　horses　by　the　men；　began　to　revile　for　his　obstinacy；　that　whereas　Phraates　desired　nothing　more　than　peace；　and　an　occasion　to　show　how　ready　he　was　to　save　the　lives　of　so　many　brave　soldiers；　he；　on　the　contrary；　gave　no　opening　to　any　friendly　offers；　but　sat　awaiting　the　arrival　of　the　two　fiercest　and　worst　enemies；　winter　and　famine；　from　whom　it　would　be　hard　for　them　to　make　their　escape；　even　with　all　the　good…will　of　the　Parthians　to　help　them。　Antony；　having　these　reports　from　many　hands；　began　to　indulge　the　hope；　nevertheless；　he　would　not　send　any　message　to　the　Parthian　till　he　had　put　the　question　to　these　friendly　talkers；　whether　what　they　said　was　said　by　order　of　their　king。　Receiving　answer　that　it　was；　together　with　new　encouragement　to　believe　them；　he　sent　some　of　his　friends　to　demand　once　more　the　standards　and　prisoners；　lest　if　he　should　ask　nothing；　he　might　be　supposed　to　be　too　thankful　to　have　leave　to　retreat　in　quiet。　The　Parthian　king　made　answer　that；　as　for　the　standards　and　prisoners；　he　need　not　trouble　himself：　but　if　he　thought　fit　to　retreat；　he　might　do　it　when　he　pleased；　in　peace　and　safety。　Some　few　days；　therefore；　being　spent　in　collecting　the　baggage　he　set　out　upon　his　march。　On　which　occasion；　though　there　was　no　man　of　his　time　like　him　for　addressing　a　multitude；　or　for　carrying　soldiers　with　him　by　the　force　of　words；　out　of　shame　and　sadness　he　could　not　find　in　his　heart　to　speak　himself　but　employed　Domitius　Aenobarbus。　And　some　of　the　soldiers　resented　it；　as　an　undervaluing　of　them；　but　the　greater　number　saw　the　true　cause；　and　pitied　it；　and　thought　it　rather　a　reason　why　they　on　their　side　should　treat　their　general　with　more　respect　and　obedience　than　ordinary。　　　Antony　had　resolved　to　return　by　the　same　way　he　came；　which　was　through　a　level　country　clear　of　all　trees；　but　a　certain　Mardian　came　to　him　（one　that　was　very　conversant　with　the　manners　of　the　Parthians；　and　whose　fidelity　to　the　Romans　had　been　tried　at　the　battle　where　the　machines　were　lost）；　and　advised　him　to　keep　the　mountains　close　on　his　right　hand；　and　not　to　expose　his　men；　heavily　armed；　in　a　broad；　open；　riding　country；　to　the　attacks　of　a　numerous　army　of　light　horse　and　archers；　that　Phraates　with　fair　promises　had　persuaded　him　from　the　siege　on　purpose　that　he　might　with　more　ease　cut　him　off　in　his　retreat；　but　if　so　he　pleased；　he　would　conduct　him　by　a　nearer　route；　on　which　moreover　he　should　find　the　necessaries　for　his　army　in　greater　abundance。　Antony　upon　this　began　to　consider　what　was　best　to　be　done；　he　was　unwilling　to　seem　to　have　any　mistrust　of　the　Parthians　after　their　treaty；　but；　holding　it　to　be　really　best　to　march　his　army　the　shorter　and　more　inhabited　way；　he　demanded　of　the　Mardian　some　assurance　of　his　faith；　who　offered　himself　to　be　bound　until　the　army　came　safe　into　Armenia。　Two　days　he　conducted　the　army　bound；　and；　on　the　third；　when　Antony　had　given　up　all　thought　of　the　enemy；　and　was　marching　at　his　ease　in　no　very　good　order；　the　Mardian；　perceiving　the　bank　of　the　river　broken　down；　and　the　water　let　out　and　overflowing　the　road　by　which　they　were　to　pass；　saw　at　once　that　this　was　the　handiwork　of　the　Parthians；　done　out　of　mischief；　and　to　hinder　their　march：　so　he　advised　Antony　to　be　upon　his　guard；　for　that　the　enemy　was　nigh　at　hand。　And　sooner　had　he　begun　to　put　his　men　in　order；　disposing　the　slingers　and　dart…men　in　convenient　intervals　for　sallying　out；　but　the　Parthians　came　pouring　in　on　all　sides；　fully　expecting　to　encompass　them；　and　throw　the　whole　army　into　disorder。　They　were　at　once　attacked　by　the　light　troops；　whom　they　galled　a　good　deal　with　their　arrows；　but　being　themselves　as　warmly　entertained　with　the　slings　and　darts；　and　many　wounded；　they　made　their　retreat。　Soon　after；　rallying　up　afresh；　they　were　beat　back　by　a　battalion　of　Gallic　horse；　and　appeared　no　more　that　day。　　　By　their　manner　of　attack　Antony；　seeing　what　to　do；　not　only　placed　the　slings　and　darts　as　a　rear　guard；　but　also　lined　both　flanks　with　them；　and　so　marched　in　a　square　battle；　giving　order　to　the　horse　to　charge　and　beat　off　the　enemy；　but　not　to　follow　them　far　as　they　retired。　So　that　the　Parthians；　not　doing　more　mischief　for　the　four　ensuing　days　than　they　received；　began　to　abate　in　their　zeal；　and；　complaining　that　the　winter　season　was　much　advanced；　pressed　for　returning　home。　　　But；　on　the　fifth　day；　Flavius　Gallus；　a　brave　and　active　officer；　who　had　a　considerable　command　in　the　army；　came　to　Antony；　desiring　of　him　some　light　infantry　out　of　the　rear；　and　some　horse　out　of　the　front；　with　which　he　would　undertake　to　do　some　considerable　service。　Which　when　he　had　obtained；　he　beat　the　enemy　back；　not　withdrawing；　as　was　usual；　at　the　same　time；　and　retreating　upon　the　mass　of　the　heavy　infantry；　but　maintaining　his　own　ground；　and　engaging　boldly。　The　officers　who　commanded　in　the　rear；　perceiving　how　far　he　was　getting　from　the　body　of　the　army；　sent　to　warn　him　back；　but　he　took　no　notice　of　them。　It　is　said　that　Titius　the　quaestor　snatched　the　standards　and　turned　them　round；　upbraiding　Gallus　with　thus　leading　so　many　brave　men　to　destruction。　But　when　he　on　the　other　side　reviled　him　again；　and　commanded　the　men　that　were　about　him　to　stand　firm；　Titius　made　his　retreat；　and　Gallus；　charging　the　enemies　in　the　front；　was　encompassed　by　a　party　that　fell　upon　his　rear；　which　at　length　perceiving；　he　sent　a　messenger　to　demand　succour。　But　the　commanders　of　the　heavy　infantry；　Canidius　amongst　others；　a　particular　favourite　of　Antony's；　seem　here　to　have　committed　a　great　oversight。　For；　instead　of　facing　about　with　the　whole　body；　they　sent　small　parties；　and；　when　they　were　defeated；　they　still　sent　out　small　parties；　so　that　by　their　bad　management　the　rout　would　have　spread　through　the　whole　army；　if　Antony　himself　had　not　marched　from　the　van　at　the　head　of　the　third　legion；　and；　passing　this　through　among　the　fugitives；　faced　the　enemies；　and　hindered　them　from　any　further　pursuit。　　　In　this　engagement　were　killed　three　thousand；　five　thousand　were　carried　back　to　the　camp　wounded；　amongst　the　rest　Gallus；　shot　through　the　body　with　four　arrows；　of　which　wounds　he　died。　Antony　went　from　tent　to　tent　to　visit　and　comfort　the　rest　of　them；　and　was　not　able　to　see　his　men　without　tears　and　a　passion　of　grief。　They；　however；　seized　his　hand　with　joyful　faces；　bidding　him　go　and　see　to　himself　and　not　be　concerne