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