贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > camillus >

第10章

camillus-第10章

小说: camillus 字数: 每页4000字

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!



them; resolved not to defer revenge; but that very day to lead his
army to Sutrium; conjecturing that the enemy; having just taken a rich
and plentiful city; without an enemy left within it; nor any from
without to be expected; would be found abandoned to enjoyment and
unguarded。 Neither did his opinion fail him; he not only passed
through their country without discovery; but came up to their very
gates and possessed himself of the walls; not a man being left to
guard them; but their whole army scattered about in the houses;
drinking and making merry。 Nay; when at last they did perceive that
the enemy had seized the city; they were so overloaded with meat and
wine; that few were able so much as to endeavour to escape; but either
waited shamefully for their death within doors; or surrendered
themselves to the conqueror。 Thus the city of the Sutrians was twice
taken in one day; and they who were in possession lost it; and they
who had lost regained it; alike by the means of Camillus。 For all
which actions he received a triumph; which brought him no less
honour and reputation than the two former ones; for those citizens who
before most regarded him with an evil eye; and ascribed his
successes to a certain luck rather than real merit; were compelled
by these last acts of his to allow the whole honour to his great
abilities and energy。
  Of all the adversaries and enviers of his glory; Marcus Manlius
was the most distinguished; he who first drove back the Gauls when
they made their night attack upon the Capitol; and who for that reason
had been named Capitolinus。 This man; affecting the first place in the
commonwealth; and not able by noble ways to outdo Camillus's
reputation; took that ordinary course towards usurpation of absolute
power; namely; to gain the multitude; those of them especially that
were in debt; defending some by pleading their causes against their
creditors; rescuing others by force; and not suffering the law to
proceed against them; insomuch that in a short time he got great
numbers of indigent people about him; whose tumults and uproars in the
forum struck terror into the principal citizens。 After that Quintius
Capitolinus; who was made dictator to suppress these disorders; had
committed Manlius to prison; the people immediately changed their
apparel; a thing never done but in great and public calamities; and
the senate; fearing some tumult; ordered him to be released。 He;
however; when set at liberty; changed not his course; but was rather
the more insolent in his proceedings; filling the whole city with
faction and sedition。 They chose; therefore; Camillus again military
tribune; and a day being appointed for Manlius to answer to his
charge; the prospect from the place where his trial was held proved
a great impediment to his accusers; for the very spot where Manlius by
night fought with the Gauls overlooked the forum from the Capitol;
so that; stretching forth his hands that way; and weeping; he called
to their remembrance his past actions; raising compassion in all
that beheld him。 Insomuch that the judges were at a loss what to do;
and several times adjourned the trial; unwilling to acquit him of
the crime; which was sufficiently proved; and yet unable to execute
the law while his noble action remained; as it were; before their
eyes。 Camillus; considering this; transferred the court outside the
gate to the Peteline Grove; from whence there is no prospect of the
Capitol。 Here his accuser went on with his charge; and his judges were
capable of remembering and duly resenting his guilty deeds。 He was
convicted; carried to the Capitol; and flung headlong from the rock;
so that one and the same spot was thus the witness of his greatest
glory; and monument of his most unfortunate end。 The Romans;
besides; razed his house; and built there a temple to the goddess they
call Moneta; ordaining for the future that none of the patrician order
should ever dwell on the Capitoline。
  And now Camillus; being called to his sixth tribuneship; desired
to be excused; as being aged; and perhaps not unfearful of the
malice of fortune; and those reverses which seem to ensue upon great
prosperity。 But the most apparent pretence was the weakness of his
body; for he happened at that time to be sick; the people; however;
would admit of no excuses; but; crying that they wanted not his
strength for horse or for foot service; but only his counsel and
conduct; constrained him to undertake the command; and with one of his
fellow…tribunes to lead the army immediately against the enemy。
These were the Praenestines and Volscians; who; with large forces;
were laying waste the territory of the Roman confederates。 Having
marched out with his army; he sat down and encamped near the enemy;
meaning himself to protract the war; or if there should come any
necessity or occasion of fighting; in the meantime to regain his
strength。 But Lucius Furius; his colleague; carried away with the
desire of glory; was not to be held in; but; impatient to give battle;
inflamed the inferior officers of the army with the same eagerness; so
that Camillus; fearing he might seem out of envy to be wishing to
rob the young men of the glory of a noble exploit; consented; though
unwillingly; that he should draw out the forces; whilst himself; by
reason of weakness; stayed behind with a few in the camp。 Lucius;
engaging rashly; was discomfited; when Camillus; perceiving the Romans
to give ground and fly; could not contain himself; but; leaping from
his bed; with those he had about him ran to meet them at the gates
of the camp; making his way through the flyers to oppose the pursuers;
so that those who had got within the camp turned back at once and
followed him; and those that came flying from without made head
again and gathered about him; exhorting one another not to forsake
their general。 Thus the enemy; for that time; was stopped in his
pursuit。 The next day Camillus; drawing out his forces and joining
battle with them; overthrew them by main force; and; following close
upon them; entered pell…mell with them into their camp; and took it;
slaying the greatest part of them。 Afterwards; having heard that the
city Satricum was taken by the Tuscans; and the inhabitants; all
Romans; put to the sword he sent home to Rome the main body of his
forces and heaviest…armed; and taking with him the lightest and most
vigorous soldiers; set suddenly upon the Tuscans; who were in the
possession of the city; and mastered them; slaying some and
expelling the rest; and so; returning to Rome with great spoils;
gave signal evidence of their superior wisdom; who; not mistrusting
the weakness and age of a commander endued with courage and conduct;
had rather chosen him who was sickly and desirous to be excused;
than younger men who were forward and ambitious to command。
  When; therefore; the revolt of the Tusculans was reported; they gave
Camillus the charge of reducing them; choosing one of his five
colleagues to go with him。 And when every one was eager for the place;
contrary to the expectation of all; he passed by the rest and chose
Lucius Furius; the very same man who lately; against the judgment of
Camillus; had rashly hazarded and nearly lost a battle; willing; as it
should seem; to dissemble that miscarriage; and free him from the
shame of it。 The Tusculans; hearing of Camillus's coming against them;
made a cunning attempt at revoking their act of revolt; their
fields; as in times of highest peace; were full of ploughmen and
shepherds; their gates stood wide open; and their children were
being taught in the schools; of the people; such as were trades…men;
he found in their workshops; busied about their several employments;
and the better sort of citizens walking in the public places in
their ordinary dress; the magistrates hurried about to provide
quarters for the Romans; as if they stood in fear of no danger and
were conscious of no fault。 Which arts; though they could not
dispossess Camillus of the conviction he had of their treason; yet
induced some compassion for their repentance; he commanded them to
go to the senate and deprecate their anger; and joined himself as an

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的