misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写)-第3章
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！
Some of the poems now collected have already appeared in print；
others are supplied by the recollection of friends。 The first two are
published on account of their having been composed in the author's
childhood。 In the poems； as well as in the prose works； will be
occasionally found thoughts and expressions which have afterwards been
adopted in later productions。
No alteration whatever has been made from the form in which the
author left the several articles； with the exception of some changes in
punctuation； and the correction of one or two obvious misprints。
T。F。E。 London； June 1860。
7
… Page 8…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
FRAGMENTS OF A ROMAN
TALE。
（June 1823）
It was an hour after noon。 Ligarius was returning from the Campus
Martius。 He strolled through one of the streets which led to the Forum；
settling his gown； and calculating the odds on the gladiators who were to
fence at the approaching Saturnalia。 While thus occupied； he overtook
Flaminius； who； with a heavy step and a melancholy face； was sauntering
in the same direction。 The light…hearted young man plucked him by the
sleeve。
〃Good…day； Flaminius。 Are you to be of Catiline's party this
evening？〃
〃Not I。〃
〃Why so？ Your little Tarentine girl will break her heart。〃
〃No matter。 Catiline has the best cooks and the finest wine in Rome。
There are charming women at his parties。 But the twelve… line board and
the dice…box pay for all。 The Gods confound me if I did not lose two
millions of sesterces last night。 My villa at Tibur； and all the statues that
my father the praetor brought from Ephesus； must go to the auctioneer。
That is a high price； you will acknowledge； even for Phoenicopters； Chian；
and Callinice。〃
〃High indeed； by Pollux。〃
〃And that is not the worst。 I saw several of the leading senators this
morning。 Strange things are whispered in the higher political circles。〃
〃The Gods confound the political circles。 I have hated the name of
politician ever since Sylla's proscription； when I was within a moment of
having my throat cut by a politician； who took me for another politician。
While there is a cask of Falernian in Campania； or a girl in the Suburra； I
shall be too well employed to think on the subject。〃
〃You will do well；〃 said Flaminius gravely； 〃to bestow some little
consideration upon it at present。 Otherwise； I fear； you will soon renew
8
… Page 9…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
your acquaintance with politicians； in a manner quite as unpleasant as that
to which you allude。〃
〃Averting Gods！ what do you mean？〃
〃I will tell you。 There are rumours of conspiracy。 The order of
things established by Lucius Sylla has excited the disgust of the people；
and of a large party of the nobles。 Some violent convulsion is expected。〃
〃What is that to me？ I suppose that they will hardly proscribe the
vintners and gladiators； or pass a law compelling every citizen to take a
wife。〃
〃You do not understand。 Catiline is supposed to be the author of the
revolutionary schemes。 You must have heard bold opinions at his table
repeatedly。〃
〃I never listen to any opinions upon such subjects； bold or timid。〃
〃Look to it。 Your name has been mentioned。〃
〃Mine！ good Gods！ I call Heaven to witness that I never so much as
mentioned Senate； Consul； or Comitia； in Catiline's house。〃
〃Nobody suspects you of any participation in the inmost counsels of
the party。 But our great men surmise that you are among those whom he
has bribed so high with beauty； or entangled so deeply in distress； that they
are no longer their own masters。 I shall never set foot within his
threshold again。 I have been solemnly warned by men who understand
public affairs； and I advise you to be cautious。〃
The friends had now turned into the Forum； which was thronged with
the gay and elegant youth of Rome。 〃I can tell you more；〃 continued
Flaminius； 〃somebody was remarking to the Consul yesterday how loosely
a certain acquaintance of ours tied his girdle。 'Let him look to himself；'
said Cicero； 'or the state may find a tighter girdle for his neck。'〃
〃Good Gods！ who is it？ You cannot surely mean〃
〃There he is。〃
Flaminius pointed to a man who was pacing up and down the Forum at
a little distance from them。 He was in the prime of manhood。 His
personal advantages were extremely striking； and were displayed with an
extravagant but not ungraceful foppery。 His gown waved in loose folds；
his long dark curls were dressed with exquisite art； and shone and steamed
9
… Page 10…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
with odours； his step and gesture exhibited an elegant and commanding
figure in every posture of polite languor。 But his countenance formed a
singular contrast to the general appearance of his person。 The high and
imperial brow； the keen aquiline features； the compressed mouth； the
penetrating eye； indicated the highest degree of ability and decision。 He
seemed absorbed in intense meditation。 With eyes fixed on the ground；
and lips working in thought； he sauntered round the area； apparently
unconscious how many of the young gallants of Rome were envying the
taste of his dress； and the ease of his fashionable stagger。
〃Good Heaven！〃 said Ligarius； 〃Caius Caesar is as unlikely to be in a
plot as I am。〃
〃Not at all。〃
〃He does nothing but game； feast； intrigue； read Greek； and write
verses。〃
〃You know nothing of Caesar。 Though he rarely addresses the Senate；
he is considered as the finest speaker there； after the Consul。 His
influence with the multitude is immense。 He will serve his rivals in
public life as he served me last night at Catiline's。 We were playing at
the twelve lines。 （Duodecim scripta； a game of mixed chance and skill；
which seems to have been very fashionable in the higher circles of Rome。
The famous lawyer Mucius was renowned for his skill in it。（〃Cic。 Orat。〃
i。 50。）Immense stakes。 He laughed all the time； chatted with Valeria
over his shoulder； kissed her hand between every two moves； and scarcely
looked at the board。 I thought that I had him。 All at once I found my
counters driven into the corner。 Not a piece to move； by Hercules。 It cost
me two millions of sesterces。 All the Gods and Goddesses confound him
for it！〃
〃As to Valeria；〃 said Ligarius； 〃I forgot to ask whether you have heard
the news。〃
〃Not a word。 What？〃
〃I was told at the baths to…day that Caesar escorted the lady home。
Unfortunately old Quintus Lutatius had come back from his villa in
Campania； in a whim of jealousy。 He was n
