第 6 节
作者:小秋      更新:2021-02-17 23:16      字数:9322
  his surname from Thuro; mother of Chaeron; whom ancient record makes
  founder of Chaeronea。 Others assert that the cow; which Apollo gave to
  Cadmus for a guide; appeared there; and that the place took its name
  from the beast; Thor being the Phoenician word for cow。
  At Sylla's approach to Chaeronea; the tribune who had been appointed
  to guard the city led out his men in arms; and met him with a
  garland of laurel in his hand; which Sylla accepting; and at the
  same time saluting the soldiers and animating them to the encounter;
  two men of Chaeronea; Homoloichus and Anaxidamus; presented themselves
  before him; and offered; with a small party; to dislodge those who
  were posted on Thurium。 For there lay a path out of sight of the
  barbarians; from what is called Petrochus along by the Museum; leading
  right down from above upon Thurium。 By this way it was easy to fall
  upon them and either stone them from above or force them down into the
  plain。 Sylla; assured of their faith and courage by Gabinius; bade
  them proceed with the enterprise; and meantime drew up the army; and
  disposing the cavalry on both wings; himself took command of the
  right; the left being committed to the direction of Murena。 In the
  rear of all; Galba and Hortensius; his lieutenants; planted themselves
  on the upper grounds with the cohorts of reserve; to watch the motions
  of the enemy; who; with numbers of horse and swift…footed; light…armed
  infantry; were noticed to have so formed their wing as to allow it
  readily to change about and alter its position; and thus gave reason
  for suspecting that they intended to carry it far out and so to
  inclose the Romans。
  In the meanwhile; the Chaeroneans; who had Ericius for commander
  by appointment of Sylla; covertly making their way around Thurium; and
  then discovering themselves; occasioned a great confusion and rout
  among the barbarians; and slaughter; for the most part; by their own
  hands。 For they kept not their place; but making down the steep
  descent; ran themselves on their own spears; and violently sent each
  other over the cliffs the enemy from above pressing on and wounding
  them where they exposed their bodies; insomuch that there fell three
  thousand about Thurium。 Some of those who escaped; being met by Murena
  as he stood in array; were cut off and destroyed。 Others breaking
  through to their friends and falling pell…mell into the ranks;
  filled most part of the army with fear and tumult; and caused a
  hesitation and delay among the generals; which was no small
  disadvantage。 For immediately upon the discomposure; Sylla coming full
  speed to the charge; and quickly crossing the interval between the
  armies; lost them the service of their armed chariots; which require a
  considerable space of ground to gather strength and impetuosity in
  their career; a short course being weak and ineffectual; like that
  of missiles without a full swing。 Thus it fared with the barbarians at
  present; whose first chariots came feebly on and made but a faint
  impression; the Romans; repulsing them with shouts and laughter;
  called out; as they do at the races in the circus; for more to come。
  By this time the mass of both armies met; the barbarians on one side
  fixed their long pikes; and with their shields locked close
  together; strove so far as in them lay to preserve their line of
  battle entire。 The Romans; on the other side; having discharged
  their javelins; rushed on with their drawn swords; and struggled to
  put by the pikes to get at them the sooner; in the fury that possessed
  them at seeing in the front of the enemy fifteen thousand slaves; whom
  the royal commanders had set free by proclamation; and ranged
  amongst the men of arms。 And a Roman centurion is reported to have
  said at this sight; that he never knew servants allowed to play the
  masters; unless at the Saturnalia。 These men; by their deep and
  solid array; as well as by their daring courage; yielded but slowly to
  the legions; till at last by slinging engines; and darts; which the
  Romans poured in upon them behind; they were forced to give way and
  scatter。
  As Archelaus was extending the right wing to encompass the enemy;
  Hortensius with his cohorts came down in force; with intention to
  charge him in the flank。 But Archelaus wheeling about suddenly with
  two thousand horse; Hortensius; out…numbered and hard pressed; fell
  back towards the higher grounds; and found himself gradually getting
  separated from the main body and likely to be surrounded by the enemy。
  When Sylla heard this; he came rapidly up to his succour from the
  right wing; which as yet had not engaged。 But Archelaus; guessing
  the matter by the dust of his troops; turned to the right wing; from
  whence Sylla came; in hopes to surprise it without a commander。 At the
  same instant; likewise; Taxiles; with his Brazen Shields; assailed
  Murena; so that a cry coming from both places; and the hills repeating
  it around; Sylla stood in suspense which way to move。 Deciding to
  resume his own station he sent in aid to Murena four cohorts under
  Hortensius; and commanding the fifth to follow him; returned hastily
  to the right wing; which of itself held its ground on equal terms
  against Archelaus; and; at his appearance; with one bold effort forced
  them back; and; obtaining the mastery; followed them; flying in
  disorder to the river and Mount Acontium。 Sylla; however; did not
  forget the danger Murena was in; but hasting thither and finding him
  victorious also; then joined in the pursuit。 Many barbarians were
  slain in the field; many more were cut in pieces as they were making
  into the camp。 Of all the vast multitude; ten thousand only got safe
  intoe Chalcis。 Sylla writes that there were but fourteen of his
  soldiers missing; and that two of these returned towards evening;
  he; therefore; inscribed on the trophies the names of Mars; Victory;
  and Venus; as having won the day no less by good fortune than by
  management and force of arms。 This trophy of the battle in the plain
  stands on the place where Archelaus first gave way; near the stream of
  the Molus; another is erected high on the top of Thurium; where the
  barbarians were environed; with an inscription in Greek; recording
  that the glory of the day belonged to Homoloichus and Anaxidamus。
  Sylla celebrated his victory at Thebes with spectacles; for which he
  erected a stage; near Oedipus's well。 The judges of the performances
  were Greeks chosen out of other cities; his hostility to the Thebans
  being implacable; half of whose territory he took away and consecrated
  to Apollo and Jupiter; ordering that out of the revenue compensation
  should be made to the gods for the riches himself had taken from them。
  After this; hearing that Flaccus; a man of the contrary faction; had
  been chosen consul; and was crossing the Ionian Sea with an army;
  professedly to act against Mithridates; but in reality against
  himself; he hastened towards Thessaly; designing to meet him; but in
  his march; when near Melitea; received advices from all parts that the
  countries behind him were overrun and ravaged by no less a royal
  army than the former。 For Dorylaus; arriving at Chalcis with a large
  fleet; on board of which he brought over with him eighty thousand of
  the best appointed and best disciplined soldiers of Mithridates's
  army; at once invaded Boeotia; and occupied the country in hopes to
  bring Sylla to a battle; making no account of the dissuasions of
  Archelaus; but giving it out as to the last fight; that without
  treachery so many thousand men could never have perished。 Sylla;
  however; facing about expeditiously; made it clear to him that
  Archelaus was a wise man; and had good skill in the Roman valour;
  insomuch that he himself; after some small skirmishes with Sylla
  near Tilphossium; was the first of those who thought it not
  advisable to put things to the decision of the sword; but rather to
  wear out the war by expense of time and treasure。 The ground; however;
  near Orchomenus; where they then lay encamped; gave some encouragement
  to Archelaus; being a battlefield admirably suited for any army
  superior in cavalry。 Of all the plains in Boeotia that are renowned
  for their beauty and extent; this alone; which commences from the city
  of Orchomenus; spreads out unbroken and clear of trees to the edge
  of the fens in which the Melas; rising close under Orchomenus; loses
  itself; the only Greek river which is a deep and navigable water
  from the very head; increasing also about the summer solstice like the
  Nile; and producing plants similar to those that grow there; only
  small and without fruit。 It does not run far before the main stream
  disappears among the blind and woody marsh…grounds; a small branch;
  however; joins the Cephisus; about the place where the lake is thought
  to produce the best flute…reeds。
  Now that both armies were posted near each other; Archelaus lay
  still; but Sylla employed himself in cutting ditches from either side;
  that if possible; by driving the enemies from the firm and open
  champaign; he might force them into the fens。 They; on the other hand;
  not enduring this; as soon as their leaders allowed them the word of
  command; issued out furiously in large bodies; when not only the