第 5 节
作者:
瞎说呗 更新:2022-08-26 22:12 字数:9322
took; ran out into the crowd with exclamations; calling on the
plebeians to stand together; and come in to their assistance。 The
assembly met; and soon became tumultuous。 The sum of what Marcius
had spoken; having been reported to the people; excited them to such
fury; that they were ready to break in upon the senate。 The tribunes
prevented this; by laying all the blame on Coriolanus; whom;
therefore; they cited by their messengers to come before them and
defend himself。 And when he contemptuously repulsed the officers who
brought him the summons; they came themselves; with the Aediles; or
overseers of the market; proposing to carry him away by force; and;
accordingly; began to lay hold on his person。 The patricians; however;
coming to his rescue; not only thrust off the tribunes; but also
beat the Aediles; that were their seconds in the quarrel; night
approaching; put an end to the contest。 But; as soon as it was day;
the consuls; observing the people to be highly exasperated; and that
they ran from all quarters and gathered in the forum; were afraid
for the whole city; so that; convening the senate afresh; they desired
them to advise how they might best compose and pacify the incensed
multitude by equitable language and indulgent decrees; since; if
they wisely considered the state of things; they would find that it
was no time to stand upon terms of honour and a mere point of glory;
such a critical conjuncture called for gentle methods; and for
temperate and humane counsels。 The majority; therefore; of the
senators giving way; the consuls proceeded to pacify the people in the
best manner they were able; answering gently to such imputations and
charges as had been cast upon the senate; and using much tenderness
and moderation in the admonitions and reproofs they gave them。 On
the point of the price of provisions; they said there should be no
difference at all between them。 When a great part of the commonalty
was grown cool; and it appeared from their orderly and peaceful
behaviour that they had been very much appeased by what they had
heard; the tribunes; standing up; declared; in the name of the people;
that since the senate was pleased to act soberly and do them reason;
they; likewise; should be ready to yield in all that was fair and
equitable on their side; they must insist; however; that Marcius
should give in his answer to the several charges as follows: first;
could he deny that he instigated the senate to overthrow the
government and annul the privileges of the people? and; in the next
place; when called to account for it; did he not disobey the
summons? and; lastly; by the blows and other public affronts to the
Aediles; had he not done all he could to commence a civil war?
These articles were brought in against him; with a design either
to humble Marcius; and show his submission; if; contrary to his
nature; he should now court and sue the people; or; if he should
follow his natural disposition; which they rather expected from
their judgment of his character; then that he might thus make the
breach final between himself and the people。
He came; therefore; as it were; to make his apology; and clear
himself; in which belief the people kept silence; and gave him a quiet
hearing。 But when; instead of the submissive and deprecatory
language expected from him; he began to use not only an offensive kind
of freedom; seeming rather to accuse than apologize; but; as well by
the tone of his voice as the air of his countenance; displayed a
security that was not far from disdain and contempt of them; the whole
multitude then became angry; and gave evident signs of impatience
and disgust; and Sicinnius; the most violent of the tribunes; after
a little private conference with his colleagues; proceeded solemnly to
pronounce before them all; that Marcius was condemned to die by the
tribunes of the people; and bid the Aediles take him to the Tarpeian
rock; and without delay throw him headlong from the precipice。 When
they; however; in compliance with the order; came to seize upon his
body; many; even of the plebeian party; felt it to be a horrible and
extravagant act; the patricians; meantime; wholly beside themselves
with distress and horror; hurried up with cries to the rescue; and
while some made actual use of their hands to hinder the arrest; and
surrounding Marcius; got him in among them; others; as in so great a
tumult no good could be done by words; stretched out theirs;
beseeching the multitude that they would not proceed to such furious
extremities; and at length; the friends and acquaintance of the
tribunes; wisely perceiving how impossible it would be to carry off
Marcius to punishment without much bloodshed and slaughter of the
nobility; persuaded them to forbear everything unusual and odious; not
to despatch him by any sudden violence; or without regular process;
but refer the cause to the general suffrage of the people。 Sicinnius
then; after a little pause; turning to the patricians; demanded what
their meaning was; thus forcibly to rescue Marcius out of the people's
hands; as they were going to punish him; when it was replied by
them; on the other side; and the question put; 〃Rather; how came it
into your minds; and what is it you design; thus to drag one of the
worthiest men of Rome; without trial; to a barbarous and illegal
execution?〃 〃Very well;〃 said Sicinnius; 〃you shall have no ground
in this respect for quarrel or complaint against the people。 The
people grant your request; and your partisan shall be tried。 We
appoint you; Marcius;〃 directing his speech to him; 〃the third
market…day ensuing; to appear and defend yourself; and to try if you
can satisfy the Roman citizens of your innocence; who will then
judge your case by vote。〃 The patricians were content with such a
truce and respite for that time; and gladly returned home; having
for the present brought off Marcius in safety。
During the interval before the appointed time (for the Romans hold
their sessions every ninth day; which from that cause are called
mundinoe in Latin); a war fell out with the Antiates; likely to be
of some continuance; which gave them hope they might one way or
other elude the judgment。 The people; they presumed; would become
tractable; and their indignation lessen and languish by degrees in
so long a space; if occupation and war did not wholly put it out of
their mind。 But when; contrary to expectation; they made a speedy
agreement with the people of Antium。 and the army came back to Rome;
the patricians were again in great perplexity; and had frequent
meetings to consider how things might be arranged; without either
abandoning Marcius; or yet giving occasion to the popular orators to
create new disorders。 Appius Claudius; whom they counted among the
senators most averse to the popular interest; made a solemn
declaration; and told them beforehand; that the senate would utterly
destroy itself and betray the government; if they should once suffer
the people to assume the authority of pronouncing sentence upon any of
the patricians; but the oldest senators and most favourable to the
people maintained; on the other side; that the people would not be
so harsh and severe upon them; as some were pleased to imagine; but
rather become more gentle and humane upon the concession of that
power; since it was not contempt of the senate; but the impression
of being contemned by it; which made them pretend to such a
prerogative。 Let that he once allowed them as a mark of respect and
kind feeling; and the mere possession of this power of voting would at
once dispossess them of their animosity。
When; therefore; Marcius saw that the senate was in pain and
suspense upon his account; divided; as it were; betwixt their kindness
for him and their apprehensions from the people; he desired to know of
the tribunes what the crimes were they intended to charge him with;
and what the heads of the indictment they would oblige him to plead to
before the people; and being told by them that he was to be
impeached for attempting usurpation; and that they would prove him
guilty of designing to establish arbitrary government; stepping
forth upon this; 〃Let me go then;〃 he said; 〃to clear myself from that
imputation before an assembly of them; I freely offer myself to any
sort of trial; nor do I refuse any kind of punishment whatsoever;
only;〃 he continued; 〃let what you now mention be really made my
accusation; and do not you play false with the senate。〃 On their
consenting to these terms; he came to his trial。 But when the people
met together; the tribunes; contrary to all former practice;
extorted first; that votes should be taken; not by centuries; but
tribes; a change; by which the indigent and factious rabble; that
had no respect for honesty and justice; would be sure to carry it
against those who were rich and well known; and accustomed to serve
the state in war。 In the next place; whereas they had engaged to
prosecute Marcius upon no other head but that of tyranny; which
could never be made out against him; they relinquished this plea;
and urged instead; his language in the senate against an abasement
of the price of corn; and for the