贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > marcellus >

第3章

marcellus-第3章

小说: marcellus 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!



gave a great part of the spoil to their associate cities; and took
care that many presents should be sent also to Hiero; King of the
Syracusans; their friend and ally。
  When Hannibal invaded Italy; Marcellus was despatched with a fleet
to Sicily。 And when the army had been defeated at Cannae; and many
thousands of them perished; and a few had saved themselves by flying
to Canusium; and all feared lest Hannibal; who had destroyed the
strength of the Roman army; should advance at once with his victorious
troops to Rome; Marcellus first sent for the protection of the city
fifteen hundred soldiers from the fleet。 Then; by decree of the
senate; going to Canusium; having heard that many of the soldiers
had come together in that place; he led them out of the fortifications
to prevent the enemy from ravaging the country。 The chief Roman
commanders had most of them fallen in battles; and the citizens
complained that the extreme caution of Fabius Maximus; whose integrity
and wisdom gave him the highest authority; verged upon timidity and
inaction。 They confided in him to keep them out of danger; but could
not expect that he would enable them to retaliate。 Fixing;
therefore; their thoughts upon Marcellus; and hoping to combine his
boldness; confidence; and promptitude with Fabius's caution and
prudence; and to temper the one by the other; they sent; sometimes
both with consular command; sometimes one as consul; the other as
proconsul; against the enemy。 Posidonius writes; that Fabius was
called the buckler; Marcellus the sword of Rome。 Certainly; Hannibal
himself confessed that he feared Fabius as a schoolmaster; Marcellus
as an adversary: the former; lest he should be hindered from doing
mischief; the latter; lest he should receive harm himself。
  And first; when among Hannibal's soldiers; proud of their victory;
carelessness and boldness had grown to a great height; Marcellus;
attacking all their stragglers and plundering parties; cut them off;
and by little and little diminished their forces。 Then carrying aid to
the Neopolitans and Nolans; he confirmed the minds of the former; who;
indeed; were of their own accord faithful enough to the Romans; but in
Nola he found a state of discord; the senate not being able to rule
and keep in the common people; who were generally favourers of
Hannibal。 There was in the town one Bantius; a man renowned for his
high birth and courage。 This man; after he had fought most fiercely at
Cannae; and had killed many of the enemies; at last was found lying in
a heap of dead bodies; covered with darts; and was brought to
Hannibal; who so honoured him; that he not only dismissed him
without ransom; but also contracted friendship with him; and made
him his guest。 In gratitude for this great favour; he became one of
the strongest partisans of Hannibal; and urged the people to revolt。
Marcellus could not be induced to put to death a man of such eminence;
and who had endured such dangers in fighting on the Roman side; but;
knowing himself able; by the general kindliness of his disposition;
and in particular by the attractiveness of his address; to gain over a
character whose passion was for honour; one day when Bantius saluted
him; he asked him who he was; not that he knew him not before; but
seeking an occasion of further conference。 When Bantius had told who
he was; Marcellus; seeming surprised with joy and wonder; replied:
〃Are you that Bantius whom the Romans commend above the rest that
fought at Cannae; and praise as the one man that not only did not
forsake the consul Paulus Aemilius; but received in his own body
many darts thrown at him?〃 Bantius owning himself to be that very man;
and showing his scars: 〃Why; then;〃 said Marcellus; 〃did not you;
having such proofs to show of your affection to us; come to me at my
first arrival here? Do you think that we are unwilling to requite with
favour those who have well deserved; and who are honoured even by
our enemies?〃 He followed up his courtesies by a present of a
war…horse and five hundred drachmas in money。 From that time Bantius
became the most faithful assistant and ally of Marcellus; and a most
keen discoverer of those that attempted innovation and sedition。
  These were many; and had entered into a conspiracy to plunder the
baggage of the Romans; when they should make an irruption against
the enemy。 Marcellus; therefore; having marshalled his army within the
city; placed the baggage near to the gates; and; by an edict;
forbade the Nolans to go to the walls。 Thus; outside the city; no arms
could be seen; by which prudent device he allured Hannibal to move
with his army in some disorder to the city; thinking that things
were in a tumult there。 Then Marcellus; the nearest gate being; as
he had commanded; thrown open; issuing forth with the flower of his
horse in front; charged the enemy。 By and by the foot; sallying out of
another gate; with a loud shout joined in the battle。 And while
Hannibal opposes part of his forces to these; the third gate also is
opened; out of which the rest break forth; and on all quarters fall
upon the enemies; who were dismayed at this unexpected encounter;
and did but feebly resist those with whom they had been first engaged;
because of their attack by these others who sallied out later。 Here
Hannibal's soldiers; with much bloodshed and many wounds; were
beaten back to their camp; and for the first time turned their backs
to the Romans。 There fell in this action; as it is related; more
than five thousand of them; of the Romans; not above five hundred。
Livy does not affirm that either the victory or the slaughter of the
enemy was so great; but certain it is that the adventure brought great
glory to Marcellus; and to the Romans; after their calamities; a great
revival of confidence; as they began now to entertain a hope that
the enemy with whom they contended was not invincible; but liable like
themselves to defeats。
  Therefore; the other consul being deceased; the people recalled
Marcellus; that they might put him into his place; and; in spite of
the magistrates; succeeded in postponing the election till his
arrival; when he was by all the suffrages created consul。 But
because it happened to thunder; the augurs accounting that he was
not legitimately created; and yet not daring; for fear of the
people; to declare their sentence openly; Marcellus voluntarily
resigned the consulate; retaining however his command。 Being created
proconsul; and returning to the camp at Nola; he proceeded to harass
those that followed the party of the Carthaginians; on whose coming
with speed to succour them; Marcellus declined a challenge to a set
battle; but when Hannibal had sent out a party to plunder; and now
expected no fight; he broke out upon him with his army。 He had
distributed to the foot long lances; such as are commonly used in
naval fights; and instructed them to throw them with great force at
convenient distances against the enemies; who were inexperienced in
that way of darting; and used to fight with short darts hand to
hand。 This seems to have been the cause of the total rout and open
flight of all the Carthaginians who were then engaged; there fell of
them five thousand; four elephants were killed; and two taken; but
what was of the greatest moment; on the third day after; more than
three hundred horse; Spaniards and Numidians mixed; deserted to him; a
disaster that had never to that day happened to Hannibal; who had kept
together in harmony an army of barbarians; collected out of many
various and discordant nations。 Marcellus and his successors in all
this war made good use of the faithful service of these horsemen。
  He now was a third time created consul; and sailed over into Sicily。
For the success of Hannibal had excited the Carthaginians to lay claim
to that whole island; chiefly because; after the murder of the
tyrant Hieronymus; all things had been in tumult and confusion at
Syracuse。 For which reason the Romans also had sent before to that
city a force under the conduct of Appius; as praetor。 While
Marcellus was receiving that army; a number of Roman soldiers cast
themselves at his feet; upon occasion of the fol

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的