第 11 节
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北方网 更新:2024-04-09 19:51 字数:9321
resisted him; and if all his soldiers had fought; and the most of them
had not passed beyond the enemy in pursuit of the plunder; it is
very likely that he had utterly defeated every part of them。
There fell of his side eight thousand men; reckoning the servants of
the army; whom Brutus calls Briges; and on the other side; Messala
says his opinion is that there were slain about twice that number。 For
which reason they were more out of heart than Brutus; until a
servant of Cassius; named Demetrius; came in the evening to Antony;
and brought to him the garment which he had taken from the dead
body; and his sword at the sight of which they were so encouraged;
that; as soon as it was morning; they drew out their whole force
into the field; and stood in battle array。 But Brutus found both his
camps wavering and in disorder; for his own; being filled with
prisoners; required a guard more strict than ordinary over them; and
that of Cassius was uneasy at the change of general; besides some envy
and rancour; which those that were conquered bore to that part of
the army which had been conquerors。 Wherefore he thought it convenient
to put his army in array; but to abstain from fighting。 All the slaves
that were taken prisoners; of whom there was a great number that
were mixed up; not without suspicion; among the soldiers; he commanded
to be slain; but of the freemen and citizens; some he dismissed;
saying that among the enemy they were rather prisoners than with
him; for with them they were captives and slaves; but with him freemen
and citizens of Rome。 But he was forced to hide and help them to
escape privately; perceiving that his friends and officers were bent
upon revenge against them。 Among the captives there was one Volumnius;
a player; and Sacculio; a buffoon; of these Brutus took no manner of
notice; but his friends brought them before him and accused them
that even then in that condition they did not refrain from their jests
and scurrilous language。 Brutus; having his mind taken up with other
affairs; said nothing to their accusation; but the judgment of Messala
Corvinus was; that they should be whipped publicly upon a stage; and
so sent naked to the captains of the enemy; to show them what sort
of fellow…drinkers and companions they took with them on their
campaigns。 At this some that were present laughed; and Publius
Casca; he that gave the first wound to Caesar; said; 〃We do ill to
jest and make merry at the funeral of Cassius。 But you; O Brutus;〃
he added; 〃will show what esteem you have for the memory of that
general; according as you punish or preserve alive those who will
scoff and speak shamefully of him。〃 To this Brutus; in great
discomposure; replied; 〃Why then; Casca; do you ask me about it; and
not do yourselves what you think fitting?〃 This answer of Brutus was
taken for his consent to the death of these wretched men; so they were
carried away and slain。
After this he gave the soldiers the reward that he had promised
them; and having slightly reproved them for having fallen upon the
enemy in disorder without the word of battle or command; he promised
them; that if they behaved themselves bravely in the next
engagement; he would give them up two cities to spoil and plunder;
Thessalonica and Lacedaemon。 This is the one indefensible thing of all
that is found fault with in the life of Brutus; though true it may
be that Antony and Caesar were much more cruel in the rewards that
they gave their soldiers after victory; for they drove out; one
might almost say; all the old inhabitants of Italy; to put their
soldiers in possession of other men's lands and cities。 But indeed
their only design and end in undertaking the war was to obtain
dominion and empire; whereas Brutus; for the reputation of his virtue;
could not be permitted either to overcome or save himself but with
justice and honour; especially after the death of Cassius; who was
generally accused of having been his adviser to some things that he
had done with less clemency。 But now; as in a ship; when the rubber is
broken by a storm; the mariners fit and nail on some other piece of
wood instead of it; striving against the danger not well; but as
well as in that necessity they can; so Brutus; being at the head of so
great an army; in a time of such uncertainty; having no commander
equal to his need; was forced to make use of those that he had; and to
do and to say many things according to their advice; which was; in
effect; whatever might conduce to the bringing of Cassius's soldiers
into better order。 For they were very headstrong and intractable; bold
and insolent in the camp for want of their general; but in the field
cowardly and fearful; remembering that they had been beaten。
Neither were the affairs of Caesar and Antony in any better posture;
for they were straitened for provision; and; the camp being in a low
ground; they expected to pass a very hard winter。 For being driven
close upon the marshes; and a great quantity of rain; as is usual in
autumn; having fallen after the battle; their tents were all filled
with mire and water; which through the coldness of the weather
immediately froze。 And while they were in this condition; there was
news brought to them of their loss at sea。 For Brutus's fleet fell
upon their ships; which were bringing a great supply of soldiers out
of Italy; and so entirely defeated them; that but very few of the
men escaped being slain; and they too were forced by famine to feed
upon the sails and tackle of the ship。 As soon as they heard this;
they made what haste they could to come to the decision of a battle;
before Brutus should have notice of his good success。 For it had so
happened that the fight both by sea and land was on the same day;
but by some misfortune; rather than the fault of his commanders;
Brutus knew not of his victory twenty days after。 For had he been
informed of this; he would not have been brought to a second battle;
since he had sufficient provisions for his army for a long time; and
was very advantageously posted; his camp being well sheltered from the
cold weather; and almost inaccessible to the enemy; and his being
absolute master of the sea; and having at land overcome on that side
wherein he himself was engaged; would have made him full of hope and
confidence。 But it seems the state of Rome not enduring any longer
to be governed by many; but necessarily requiring a monarchy; the
divine power; that it might remove out of the way the only man that
was able to resist him that could control the empire; cut off his good
fortune from coming to the ears of Brutus; though it came but a very
little too late; for the very evening before the fight Clodius; a
deserter from the enemy; came and announced that Caesar had received
advice of the loss of his fleet; and for that reason was in such haste
to come to a battle; But his story met with no credit; nor was he so
much as seen by Brutus; being simply set down as one that had no
good information; or invented lies to bring himself into favour。
The same night; they say; the vision appeared again to Brutus; in
the same shape that it did before; but vanished without speaking。
But Publius Volumnius; a philosopher; and one that had from the
beginning borne arms with Brutus; makes no mention of this apparition;
but says that the first eagle was covered with a swarm of bees; and
that there was one of the captains whose arm of itself sweated oil
of roses; and; though they often dried and wiped it; yet it would
not cease; and that immediately before the battle; two eagles
falling upon each other fought in the space between the two armies;
that the whole field kept incredible silence and all were intent
upon the spectacle; until at last that which was on Brutus's side
yielded and fled。 But the story of the Ethiopian is very famous;
who; meeting the standard…bearer at the opening the gate of the
camp; was cut to pieces by the soldiers; that took it for an ill…omen。
Brutus; having brought his army into the field and set them in array
against the enemy; paused a long while before he would fight; for as
he was reviewing the troops; suspicions were excited and
informations laid against some of them。 Besides; he saw his horse
not very eager to begin the action; and waiting to see what the foot
would do。 Then suddenly Camulatus; a very good soldier; and one whom
for his valour he highly esteemed; riding hard by Brutus himself; went
over to the enemy; the sight of which grieved Brutus exceedingly。 So
that partly out of anger; and partly out of fear of some greater
treason and desertion; he immediately drew on his forces upon the
enemy; the sun now declining; about three of the clock in the
afternoon。 Brutus on his side had the better; and pressed hard on
the left wing; which gave way and retreated; and the horse too fell in
together with the foot; when they saw the enemy in disorder。 But the
other wing; when the officers extended the line to avoid its being
encompassed; the numbers being inferior; got drawn out too thin in the
centre; and was so weak here that they could not withstand the charge;
but at the first onset fled。 After defeating these; the enemy