第 6 节
作者:北方网      更新:2024-04-09 19:51      字数:9322
  with grief to part from Brutus; but strove as much as was possible
  to conceal it; but; in spite of all her constancy; a picture which she
  found there accidentally betrayed it。 It was a Greek subject; Hector
  parting from Andromache when he went to engage the Greeks; giving
  his young son Astyanax into her arms; and she fixing her eyes upon
  him。 When she looked at this piece; the resemblance it bore to her own
  condition made her burst into tears; and several times a day she
  went to see the picture; and wept before it。 Upon this occasion;
  when Acilius; one of Brutus's friends; repeated out of Homer the
  verses; where Andromache speaks to Hector:…
  〃But Hector; you
  To me are father and are mother too;
  My brother; and my loving husband true。〃
  Brutus; smiling; replied; 〃But I must not answer Porcia; as Hector did
  Andromache:…
  〃Mind you your loom; and to your maids give law。〃
  〃For though the natural weakness of her body hinders her from doing
  what only the strength of men can perform; yet she has a mind as
  valiant and as active for the good of her country as the best of
  us。〃 This narrative is in the memoirs of Brutus written by Bibulus;
  Porcia's son。
  Brutus took ship from hence; and sailed to Athens; where he was
  received by the people with great demonstrations of kindness;
  expressed in their acclamation and the honours that were decreed
  him。 He lived there with a private friend; and was a constant
  auditor of Theomnestus; the Academic; and Cratippus; the
  Peripatetic; with whom he so engaged in philosophical pursuits that he
  seemed to have laid aside all thoughts of public business; and to be
  wholly at leisure for study。 But all this while; being unsuspected; he
  was secretly making preparations for war; in order to which he sent
  Herostratus into Macedonia to secure the commanders there to his side;
  and he himself won over and kept at his disposal all the young
  Romans that were then students at Athens。 Of this number was
  Cicero's son whom he everywhere highly extols; and says that whether
  sleeping or waking he could not choose but admire a young man of so
  great a spirit and such a hater of tyranny。
  At length he began to act openly; and to appear in public
  business; and; being informed that there were several Roman ships full
  of treasure that in their course from Asia were to come that way;
  and that they were commanded by one of his friends; he went to meet
  him about Carystus。 Finding him there; and having persuaded him to
  deliver lip the ships; he made a more than usually splendid
  entertainment; for it happened also to be his birthday。 Now when
  they came to drink; and were filling their cups with hopes for victory
  to Brutus and liberty to Rome; Brutus; to animate them the more;
  called for a larger bowl; and holding it in his hand; on a sudden;
  upon no occasion or forethought; pronounced aloud this verse:…
  〃But fate my death and Leto's son have wrought。〃
  And some writers add that in the last battle which he fought at
  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