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第4章

marcellus-第4章

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themselves at his feet; upon occasion of the following calamity。 Of
those that survived the battle at Cannae; some had escaped by
flight; and some were taken alive by the enemy; so great a
multitude; that it was thought there were not remaining Romans
enough to defend the wall of the city。 And yet the magnanimity and
constancy of the city was such; that it would not redeem the
captives from Hannibal; though it might have done so for a small
ransom; a decree of the senate forbade it; and chose rather to leave
them to be killed by the enemy; or sold out of Italy; and commanded
that all who had saved themselves by flight should be transported into
Sicily; and not permitted to return into Italy; until the war with
Hannibal should be ended。 These; therefore; when Marcellus was arrived
in Sicily; addressed themselves to him in great numbers; and casting
themselves at his feet; with much lamentation and tears humbly
besought him to admit them to honourable service; and promised to make
it appear by their future fidelity and exertions that that defeat
had been received rather by misfortune than by cowardice。 Marcellus;
pitying them; petitioned the senate by letters; that he might have
leave at all times to recruit his legions out of them。 After much
debate about the thing; the senate decreed they were of opinion that
the commonwealth did not require the service of cowardly soldiers;
if Marcellus perhaps thought otherwise; he might make use of them;
provided no one of them be honoured on any occasion with a crown or
military gift; as a reward of his virtue or courage。 This decree stung
Marcellus; and on his return to Rome; after the Sicilian war was
ended; he upbraided the senate that they had denied to him; who had so
highly deserved of the republic; liberty to relieve so great a
number of citizens in great calamity。
  At this time Marcellus; first incensed by injuries done him by
Hippocrates; commander of the Syracusans (who; to give proof of his
good affection to the Carthaginians; and to acquire the tyranny to
himself; had killed a number of Romans at Leontini); besieged and took
by force the city of Leontini; yet violated none of the townsmen; only
deserters; as many as he took; he subjected to the punishment of the
rods and axe。 But Hippocrates; sending a report to Syracuse; that
Marcellus had put all the adult population to the sword; and then
coming upon the Syracusans; who had risen in tumult upon that false
report; made himself master of the city。 Upon this Marcellus moved
with his whole army to Syracuse; and encamping near the wall; sent
ambassadors into the city to relate to the Syracusans the truth of
what had been done in Leontini。 When these could not prevail by
treaty; the whole power being now in the hands of Hippocrates; he
proceeded to attack the city both by land and by sea。 The land
forces were conducted by Appius: Marcellus; with sixty galleys; each
with five rows of oars; furnished with all sorts of arms and missiles;
and a huge bridge of planks laid upon eight ships chained together;
upon which was carried the engine to cast stones and darts;
assaulted the walls; relying on the abundance and magnificence of
his preparations; and on his own previous glory; all which; however;
were; it would seem; but trifles for Archimedes and his machines。
  These machines he had designed and contrived; not as matters of
any importance; but as mere amusements in geometry; in compliance with
King Hiero's desire and request; some little time before; that he
should reduce to practice some part of his admirable speculation in
science; and by accommodating the theoretic truth to sensation and
ordinary use; bring it more within the appreciation of the people in
general。 Eudoxus and Archytas had been the first originators of this
far…famed and highly…prized art of mechanics; which they employed as
an elegant illustration of geometrical truths; and as means of
sustaining experimentally; to the satisfaction of the senses;
conclusions too intricate for proof by words and diagrams。 As; for
example; to solve the problem; so often required in constructing
geometrical figures; given the two extremes; to find the two mean
lines of a proportion; both these mathematicians had recourse to the
aid of instruments; adapting to their purpose certain curves and
sections of lines。 But what with Plato's indignation at it; and his
invectives against it as the mere corruption and annihilation of the
one good of geometry; which was thus shamefully turning its back
upon the unembodied objects of pure intelligence to recur to
sensation; and to ask help (not to be obtained without base
supervisions and depravation) from matter; so it was that mechanics
came to be separated from geometry; and; repudiated and neglected by
philosophers; took its place as a military art。 Archimedes; however;
in writing to King Hiero; whose friend and near relation he was; had
stated that given the force; any given weight might be moved; and even
boasted; we are told; relying on the strength of demonstration; that
if there were another earth; by going into it he could remove this。
Hiero being struck with amazement at this; and entreating him to
make good this problem by actual experiment; and show some great
weight moved by a small engine; he fixed accordingly upon a ship of
burden out of the king's arsenal; which could not be drawn out of
the dock without great labour and many men; and; loading her with many
passengers and a full freight; sitting himself the while far off; with
no great endeavour; but only holding the head of the pulley in his
hand and drawing the cords by degrees; he drew the ship in a
straight line; as smoothly and evenly as if she had been in the sea。
The king; astonished at this; and convinced of the power of the art;
prevailed upon Archimedes to make him engines accommodated to all
the purposes; offensive and defensive; of a siege。 These the king
himself never made use of; because he spent almost all his life in a
profound quiet and the highest affluence。 But the apparatus was; in
most opportune time; ready at hand for the Syracusans; and with it
also the engineer himself。
  When; therefore; the Romans assaulted the walls in two places at
once; fear and consternation stupefied the Syracusans; believing
that nothing was able to resist that violence and those forces。 But
when Archimedes began to ply his engines; he at once shot against
the land forces all sorts of missile weapons; and immense masses of
stone that came down with incredible noise and violence; against which
no man could stand; for they knocked down those upon whom they fell in
heaps; breaking all their ranks and files。 In the meantime huge
poles thrust out from the walls over the ships sunk some by the
great weights which they let down from on high upon them; others
they lifted up into the air by an iron hand or beak like a crane's
beak and; when they had drawn them up by the prow; and set them on end
upon the poop; they plunged them to the bottom of the sea; or else the
ships; drawn by engines within; and whirled about; were dashed against
steep rocks that stood jutting out under the walls; with great
destruction of the soldiers that were aboard them。 A ship was
frequently lifted up to a great height in the air (a dreadful thing to
behold); and was rolled to and fro; and kept swinging; until the
mariners were all thrown out; when at length it was dashed against the
rocks; or let fall。 At the engine that Marcellus brought upon the
bridge of ships; which was called Sambuca; from some resemblance it
had to an instrument of music; while it was as yet approaching the
wall; there was discharged a piece of rock of ten talents weight; then
a second and a third; which; striking upon it with immense force and a
noise like thunder; broke all its foundation to pieces; shook out
all its fastenings; and completely dislodged it from the bridge。 So
Marcellus; doubtful what counsel to pursue; drew off his ships to a
safer distance; and sounded a retreat to his forces on land。 They then
took a resolution of coming up under the walls; if it were possible;
in the night; thinking that as Archimedes used

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