第 11 节
作者:雨霖铃      更新:2022-08-21 16:42      字数:9322
  y; who had before been affianced to Demetrius; and with whom he now consummated his marriage。 Immediately after; he proceeded to carry out his project; and was so fortunate in the beginning that many cities revolted to him; others; as particularly Sardis; he took by force; and some generals of Lysimachus; also; came over to him with troops and money。 But when Agathocles; the son of Lysimachus; arrived with an army; he retreated into Phrygia; with an intention to pass into Armenia; believing that; if he could once plant his foot in Armenia; he might set Media in revolt; and gain a position in Upper Asia; where a fugitive commander might find a hundred ways of evasion and escape。 Agathocles pressed hard upon him; and many skirmishes and conflicts occurred; in which Demetrius had still the advantage; but Agathocles straitened him much in his forage; and his men showed a great dislike to his purpose; which they suspected; of carrying them far away into Armenia and Media。 Famine also pressed upon them; and some mistake occurred in their passage of the river Lycus; in consequence of which a large number were swept away and drowned。 Still; however; they could pass their jests; and one of them fixed upon Demetrius's tent…door a paper with the first verse; slightly altered; of the Oedipus:…
  〃Child of the blind old man; Antigonus;           Into what country are you bringing us?〃
  But at last; pestilence; as is usual when armies are driven to such necessities as to subsist upon any food they can get; began to assail them as well as famine。 So that; having lost eight thousand of his men; with the rest he retreated and came to Tarsus; and because that city was within the dominions of Seleucus; he was anxious to prevent any plundering; and wished to give no sort of offence to Seleucus。 But when he perceived it was impossible to restrain the soldiers in their extreme necessity; Agathocles also having blocked up all the avenues of Mount Taurus; he wrote a letter to Seleucus; bewailing first all his own sad fortunes; and proceeding with entreaties and supplications for some compassion on his part towards one nearly connected with him; who was fallen into such calamities as might extort tenderness and pity from his very enemies。   These letters so far moved Seleucus; that he gave orders to the governors of those provinces that they should furnish Demetrius with all things suitable to his royal rank; and with sufficient provisions for his troops。 But Patrocles; a person whose judgment was greatly valued; and who was a friend highly trusted by Seleucus; pointed out to him that the expense of maintaining such a body of soldiers was the least important consideration; but that it was contrary to all policy to let Demetrius stay in the country; since he; of all the kings of his time; was the most violent; and most addicted to daring enterprises; and he was now in a condition which might tempt persons of the greatest temper and moderation to unlawful and desperate attempts。 Seleucus; excited by this advice; moved with a powerful army towards Cilicia; and Demetrius; astonished at this sudden alteration; betook himself for safety to the most inaccessible places of Mount Taurus; from whence he sent envoys to Seleucus; to request from him that he would permit him the liberty to settle with his army somewhere among the independent barbarian tribes; where he might be able to make himself a petty king; and end his life without further travel and hardship; or; if he refused him this; at any rate to give his troops food during the winter; and not expose him in this distressed and naked condition to the fury of his enemies。   But Seleucus; whose jealousy made him put an ill…construction on all he said; sent him answer; that he would permit him to stay two months and no longer in Cataonia; provided he presently sent him the principal of his friends as hostages for his departure then; and; in the meantime; he fortified all the passages into Syria。 So that Demetrius; who saw himself thus; like a wild beast; in the way to be encompassed on all sides in the toils; was driven in desperation to his defence; overran the country; and in several engagements in which Seleucus attacked him; had the advantage of him。 Particularly; when he was once assailed by the scythed chariots; he successfully avoided the charge and routed his assailants; and then; expelling the troops that were in guard of the passes; made himself master of the roads leading into Syria。 And now; elated himself; and finding his soldiers also animated by these successes; he was resolved to push at all; and to have one deciding blow for the empire with Seleucus; who indeed was in considerable anxiety and distress; being averse to any assistance from Lysimachus; whom he both mistrusted and feared; and shrinking from a battle with Demetrius; whose desperation he knew; and whose fortune he had so often seen suddenly pass from the lowest to the highest。   But Demetrius; in the meanwhile; was taken with a violent sickness; from which he suffered extremely himself; and which ruined all his prospects。 His men deserted to the enemy; or dispersed。 At last; after forty days; he began to be so far recovered as to be able to rally his remaining forces; and marched as if he directly designed for Cilicia; but in the night; raising his camp without sound of trumpet; he took a countermarch; and; passing the mountain Amanus; he ravaged all the lower country as far as Cyrrhestica。   Upon this; Seleucus advancing towards him and encamping at no great distance; Demetrius set his troops in motion to surprise him by night。 And almost to the last moment Seleucus knew nothing; and was lying asleep。 Some deserter came with the tidings just so soon that he had time to leap; in great consternation; out of bed; and give the alarm to his men。 And as he was putting on his boots to mount his horse; he bade the officers about him look well to it; for they had to meet a furious and terrible wild beast。 But Demetrius; by the noise he heard in the camp; finding they had taken the alarm; drew off his troops in haste。 With the morning's return he found Seleucus pressing hard upon him; so; sending one of his officers against the other wing; he defeated those that were opposed to himself。 But Seleucus; lighting from his horse; pulling off his helmet; and taking a target; advanced to the foremost ranks of the mercenary soldiers; and; showing them who he was; bade them come over and join him; telling them that it was for their sakes only that he had so long forborne coming to extremities。 And thereupon; without a blow more; they saluted Seleucus as their king and passed over。   Demetrius; who felt that this was his last change of fortune; and that he had no more vicissitudes to expect; fled to the passes of Amanus; where; with a very few friends and followers; he threw himself into a dense forest; and there waited for the night; purposing; if possible; to make his escape towards Caunus; where he hoped to find his shipping ready to transport him。 But upon inquiry; finding that they had not provisions even for that one day; he began to think of some other project。 Whilst he was yet in doubt; his friend Sosigenes arrived; who had four hundred pieces of gold about him; and; with this relief; he again entertained hopes of being able to reach the coast; and; as soon as it began to be dark; set forward towards the passes。 But; perceiving by the fires that the enemies had occupied them; he gave up all thought of that road; and retreated to his old station in the wood; but not with all his men; for some had deserted; nor were those that remained as willing as they had been。 One of them; in fine; ventured to speak out; and say that Demetrius had better give himself up to Seleucus; which Demetrius overhearing; drew out his sword; and would have passed it through his body; but that some of his friends interposed and prevented the attempt; persuading him to do as had been said。 So at last he gave way; and sent to Seleucus; to surrender himself at discretion。   Seleucus; when he was told of it; said it was not Demetrius's good fortune that had found out this means for his safety; but his own; which had added to his other honours the opportunity of showing his clemency and generosity。 And forthwith he gave order to his domestic officers to prepare a royal pavilion; and all things suitable to give him a splendid reception and entertainment。 There was in the attendance of Seleucus one Apollonides; who formerly had been intimate with Demetrius。 He was; therefore; as the fittest person; despatched from the king to meet Demetrius; that he might feel himself more at his ease; and might come with the confidence of being received as a friend and relative。 No sooner was this message known; but the courtiers and officers; some few at first; and afterwards almost the whole of them; thinking Demetrius would presently become of great power with the king; hurried off; vying who should be foremost to pay him their respects。 The effect of which was that compassion was converted into jealousy; and ill…natured; malicious people could the more easily insinuate to Seleucus that he was giving way to an unwise humanity; the very first sight of Demetrius having been the occasion