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第7章

marcus brutus-第7章

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Philippi; the word that he gave to his soldiers was Apollo; and from
thence conclude that this sudden unaccountable exclamation of his
was a presage of the overthrow that he suffered there。
  Antistius; the commander of these ships; at his parting; gave him
fifty thousand myriads of the money that he was conveying to Italy;
and all the soldiers yet remaining of Pompey's army; who after their
general's defeat wandered about Thessaly; readily and joyfully flocked
together to join him。 Besides this; he took from Cinna five hundred
horse that he was carrying to Dolabella into Asia。 After that; he
sailed to Demetrias; and there seized a great quantity of arms that
had been provided by the command of the deceased Caesar for the
Parthian war; and were now to be sent to Antony。 Then Macedonia was
put into his hands and delivered up by Hortensius the praetor; and all
the kings and potentates round about came and offered their
services。 So when news was brought that Caius; the brother of
Antony; having passed over from Italy; was marching on directly to
join the forces that Vatinius commanded in Dyrrhachium and
Apollonia; Brutus resolved to anticipate him; and to seize them first;
and in all haste moved forwards with those that he had about him。
His march was very difficult; through rugged places and in a great
snow; but so swift that he left those that were to bring his
provisions for the morning meal a great way behind。 And now; being
very near to Dyrrhachium; with fatigue and cold he fell into the
distemper called Bulimia。 This is a disease that seizes both men and
cattle after much labour; and especially in a great snow; whether it
is caused by the natural heat when the body is seized with cold; being
forced all inwards; and consuming at once all the nourishment laid in;
or whether the sharp and subtle vapour which comes from the snow as it
dissolves cuts the body; as it were; and destroys the heat which
issues through the pores; for the sweatings seem to arise from the
heat meeting with the cold; and being quenched by it on the surface of
the body。 But this I have in another place discussed more at large。
  Brutus growing very faint; and there being none in the whole army
that had anything for him to eat; his servants were forced to have
recourse to the enemy; and; going as far as to the gates of the
city; begged bread of the sentinels that were upon duty。 As soon as
they heard of the condition of Brutus; they came themselves; and
brought both meat and drink along with them; in return for which
Brutus; when he took the city; showed the greatest kindness; not to
them only; but to all the inhabitants; for their sakes。 Caius
Antonius; in the meantime; coming to Apollonia; summoned all the
soldiers that were near that city to join him there; but finding
that they nevertheless went all to Brutus; and suspecting that even
those of Apollonia were inclined to the same party; he quitted that
city; and came to Buthrotum; having first lost three cohorts of his
men; that in their march thither were cut to pieces by Brutus。 After
this; attempting to make himself master of some strong places about
Byllis which the enemy had first seized; he was overcome in a set
battle by young Cicero; to whom Brutus gave the command; and whose
conduct he made use of often and with much success。 Caius himself
was surprised in a marshy place; at a distance from his support; and
Brutus having him in his power would not suffer his soldiers to
attack; but maneuvering about the enemy with his horse; gave command
that none of them should be killed; for that in a little time they
would all be of his side; which accordingly came to pass; for they
surrendered both themselves and their general。 So that Brutus had by
this time a very great and considerable army。 He showed all marks of
honour and esteem to Caius for a long time; and left him the use of
the ensigns of his office; though; as some report; he had several
letters from Rome; and particularly from Cicero; advising him to put
him to death。 But at last; perceiving that he began to corrupt his
officers; and was trying to raise a mutiny amongst the soldiers; he
put him aboard a ship and kept him close prisoner。 In the meantime;
the soldiers that had been corrupted by Caius retired to Apollonia;
and sent word to Brutus; desiring him to come to them thither。 He
answered that this was not the custom of the Romans; but that it
became those who had offended to come themselves to their general
and beg forgiveness of their offences; which they did; and accordingly
received their pardon。
  As he was preparing to pass into Asia; tidings reached him of the
alteration that had happened at Rome; where the young Caesar; assisted
by the senate; in opposition to Antony; and having driven his
competitor out of Italy; had begun himself to be very formidable;
suing for the consulship contrary to law; and maintaining large bodies
of troops of which the commonwealth had no manner of need。 And then;
perceiving that the senate; dissatisfied with the proceedings; began
to cast their eyes abroad upon Brutus; and decreed and confirmed the
government of several provinces to him; he had taken the alarm。
Therefore despatching messengers to Antony; he desired that there
might be a reconciliation; and a friendship between them。 Then;
drawing all his forces about the city; he made himself to be chosen
consul; though he was but a boy; being scarce twenty years old; as
he himself writes in his memoirs。 At the first entry upon the
consulship he immediately ordered a judicial process to be issued
out against Brutus and his accomplices for having murdered a principal
man of the city; holding the highest magistracies of Rome; without
being heard or condemned; and appointed Lucius Cornificus to accuse
Brutus; and Marcus Agrippa to accuse Cassius。 None appearing to the
accusation; the judges were forced to pass sentence and condemn them
both。 It is reported that when the crier from the tribunal; as the
custom was; with a loud voice cried Brutus to appear; the people
groaned audibly; and the noble citizens hung down their heads for
grief。 Publicus Silicius was seen to burst out into tears; which was
the cause that not long after he was put down in the list of those
that were proscribed。 After this; the three men; Caesar; Antony; and
Lepidus; being perfectly reconciled; shared the provinces among
themselves; and made up the catalogue of proscription; wherein were
set those that were designed for slaughter; amounting to two hundred
men; in which number Cicero was slain。
  The news being brought to Brutus in Macedonia; he was under a
compulsion; and sent orders to Hortensius that he should kill Caius
Antonius in revenge of the death of Cicero his friend; and Brutus
his kinsman; who also was proscribed and slain。 Upon this account it
was that Antony; having afterwards taken Hortensius in the battle of
Philippi; slew him upon his brother's tomb。 But Brutus expresses
himself as more ashamed for the cause of Cicero's death than grieved
for the misfortune of it; and says he cannot help accusing his friends
at Rome; that they were slaves more through their own doing than
that of those who now were their tyrants; they could be present and
see and yet suffer those things which even to hear related ought to
them to have been insufferable。
  Having made his army; that was already very considerable; pass
into Asia; he ordered a fleet to be prepared in Bithynia and about
Cyzicus。 But going himself through the country by land; he made it his
business to settle and confirm all the cities; and gave audience to
the princes of the parts through which he passed。 And he sent orders
into Syria to Cassius to come to him; and leave his intended journey
into Egypt; letting him understand that it was not to gain an empire
for themselves; but to free their country; that they went thus
wandering about and had got an army together whose business it was
to destroy the tyrants; that therefore; if they remembered and
resolved to persevere in their first purpose; they ought not to be too
far from Italy; but make what haste they could thither; and
endeavour to relieve their fell

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