第 8 节
作者:小秋      更新:2021-02-17 23:16      字数:9322
  long residence of the soldiery in private quarters。 For he ordained
  that every host should allow his guest four tetradrachms each day; and
  moreover entertain him; and as many friends as he should invite;
  with a supper; that a centurion should receive fifty drachms a day;
  together with one suit of clothes to wear within doors; and another
  when he went abroad。
  Having set out from Ephesus with the whole navy; he came the third
  day to anchor in the Piraeus。 Here he was initiated in the
  mysteries; and seized for his use the library of Apellicon the
  Teian; in which were most of the works of Theophrastus and
  Aristotle; then not in general circulation。 When the whole was
  afterwards conveyed to Rome; there; it is said; the greater part of
  the collection passed through the hands of Tyrannion the grammarian;
  and that Andronicus the Rhodian; having through his means the
  command of numerous copies; made the treatises public; and drew up the
  catalogues that are now current。 The elder Peripatetics appear
  themselves; indeed; to have been accomplished and learned men; but
  of the writings of Aristotle and Theophrastus they had no large or
  exact knowledge; because Theophrastus bequeathing his books to the
  heir of Neleus of Scepsis; they came into careless and illiterate
  hands。
  During Sylla's stay about Athens; his feet were attacked by a
  heavy benumbing pain; which Strabo calls the first inarticulate sounds
  of the gout。 Taking; therefore; a voyage to Aedepsus; he made use of
  the hot waters there; allowing himself at the same time to forget
  all anxieties; and passing away his time with actors。 As he was
  walking along the seashore; certain fishermen brought him some
  magnificent fish。 Being much delighted with the gift; and
  understanding; on inquiry; that they were men of Halaeae; 〃What;〃 said
  he; 〃are there any men of Halaeae surviving?〃 For after his victory at
  Orchomenus; in the heat of a pursuit; he had destroyed three cities of
  Boeotia; Anthedon; Larymna; and Halaeae。 The men not knowing what to
  say for fear; Sylla; with a smile; bade them cheer up and return in
  peace; as they had brought with them no insignificant intercessors。
  The Halaeans say that this first gave them courage to re…unite and
  return to their city。
  Sylla; having marched through Thessaly and Macedon to the sea coast;
  prepared; with twelve hundred vessels; to cross over from
  Dyrrhachium to Brundisium。 Not far from hence is Apollonia; and near
  it the Nymphaeum; a spot of ground where; from among green trees and
  meadows; there are found at various points springs of fire continually
  streaming out。 Here; they say; a satyr; such as statuaries and
  painters represent; was caught asleep; and brought before Sylla; where
  he was asked by several interpreters who he was; and; after much
  trouble; at last uttered nothing intelligible; but a harsh noise;
  something between the neighing of a horse and crying of a goat。 Sylla;
  in dismay; and deprecating such an omen; bade it be removed。
  At the point of transportation; Sylla being in alarm; lest at
  their first setting foot upon Italy the soldiers should disband and
  disperse one by one among the cities; they of their own accord first
  took an oath to stand firm by him; and not of their good…will to
  injure Italy; then seeing him in distress for money; they made; so
  they say; a free…will offering; and contributed each man according
  to his ability。 However; Sylla would not accept of their offering; but
  praising their good…will; and arousing up their courage; went over (as
  he himself writes) against fifteen hostile generals in command of four
  hundred and fifty cohorts; but not without the most unmistakable
  divine intimations of his approaching happy successes。 For when he was
  sacrificing at his first landing near Tarentum; the victim's liver
  showed the figure of a crown of laurel with two fillets hanging from
  it。 And a little while before his arrival in Campania; near the
  mountain Hephaeus; two stately goats were seen in the daytime;
  fighting together; and performing all the motions of men in battle。 It
  proved to be an apparition; and rising up gradually from the ground;
  dispersed in the air; like fancied representations in the clouds;
  and so vanished out of sight。 Not long after; in the self…same
  place; when Marius the younger and Norbanus the consul attacked him
  with two great armies; without prescribing the order of battle; or
  arranging his men according to their divisions; by the sway only of
  one common alacrity and transport of courage; he overthrew the
  enemy; and shut up Norbanus into the city of Capua; with the loss of
  seven thousand of his men。 And this was the reason; he says; that
  the soldiers did not leave him and disperse into the different
  towns; but held fast to him; and despised the enemy; though infinitely
  more in number。
  At Silvium (as he himself relates it); there met him a servant of
  Pontius; in a state of divine possession; saying that he brought him
  the power of the sword and victory from Bellona; the goddess of war;
  and if he did not make haste; that the capitol would be burnt; which
  fell out on the same day the man foretold it; namely; on the sixth day
  of the month Quintilis; which we now call July。
  At Fidentia; also; Marcus Lucullus; one of Sylla's commanders;
  reposed such confidence in the forwardness of the soldiers; as to dare
  to face fifty cohorts of the enemy with only sixteen of his own: but
  because many of them were unarmed delayed the onset。 As he stood
  thus waiting; and considering with himself; a gentle gale of wind;
  bearing along with it from the neighbouring meadows a quantity of
  flowers; scattered them down upon the army; on whose shields and
  helmets they settled; and arranged themselves spontaneously so as to
  give the soldiers; in the eyes of the enemy; the appearance of being
  crowned with chaplets。 Upon this; being yet further animated; they
  joined battle; and victoriously slaying eight thousand men; took the
  camp。 This Lucullus was brother to that Lucullus who in aftertimes
  conquered Mithridates and Tigranes。
  Sylla; seeing himself still surrounded by so many armies; and such
  mighty hostile powers; had recourse to art; inviting Scipio; the other
  consul; to a treaty of peace。 The motion was willingly embraced; and
  several meetings and consultations ensued; in all which Sylla; still
  interposing matter of delay and new pretences; in the meanwhile;
  debauched Scipio's men by means of his own; who were as well practised
  as the general himself in all the artifices of inveigling。 For
  entering into the enemy's quarters and joining in conversation; they
  gained some by present money; some by promises; others by fair words
  and persuasions; so that in the end; when Sylla with twenty cohorts
  drew near; on his men saluting Scipio's soldiers; they returned the
  greeting and came over; leaving Scipio behind them in his tent;
  where he was found all alone and dismissed。 And having used his twenty
  cohorts as decoys to ensnare the forty of the enemy; he led them all
  back into the camp。 On this occasion; Carbo was heard to say that he
  had both a fox and a lion in the breast of Sylla to deal with; and was
  most troubled with the fox。
  Some time after; at Signia; Marius the younger; with eighty…five
  cohorts; offered battle to Sylla; who was extremely desirous to have
  it decided on that very day; for the night before he had seen a vision
  in his sleep; of Marius the elder; who had been some time dead;
  advising his son to beware of the following day; as of fatal
  consequence to him。 For this reason; Sylla; longing to come to a
  battle; sent off for Dolabella; who lay encamped at some distance。 But
  because the enemy had beset and blocked up the passes; his soldiers
  got tired with skirmishing and marching at once。 To these difficulties
  was added; moreover; tempestuous rainy weather; which distressed
  them most of all。 The principal officers therefore came to Sylla;
  and besought him to defer the battle that day; showing him how the
  soldiers lay stretched on the ground; where they had thrown themselves
  down in their weariness; resting their heads upon their shields to
  gain some repose。 When; with much reluctance; he had yielded; and
  given orders for pitching the camp; they had no sooner begun to cast
  up the rampart and draw the ditch; but Marius came riding up furiously
  at the head of his troops; in hopes to scatter them in that disorder
  and confusion。 Here the gods fulfilled Sylla's dream。 For the
  soldiers; stirred up with anger; left off their work; and sticking
  their javelins into the bank; with drawn swords and a courageous
  shout; came to blows with the enemy; who made but small resistance;
  and lost great numbers in the flight。 Marius fled to Praeneste; but
  finding the gates shut; tied himself round by a rope that was thrown
  down to him; and was taken up on the walls。 Some there are (as
  Fenestella for one) who affirm that Marius knew nothing of the
  fight; but; overwatched and spent with hard duty; had reposed himself;
  when the signal was given; beneath some shade; and was hardly to be
  awakened at the flight of his men。 Sylla; according to his own
  account; lost only twenty…three men in this fight; having k