第 2 节
作者:精灵王      更新:2021-02-20 18:24      字数:2442
  advantage of his fleet and his superiority at sea; if he would but
  have followed the examples of Maximus; Marius; Lucullus; and even
  Agesilaus himself; who endured no less tumults within the city of
  Sparta; when the Thebans provoked him to come out and fight in
  defence of the land; and sustained in Egypt also numerous calumnies;
  slanders; and suspicions on the part of the king; whom he counselled
  to abstain from a battle。 And thus following always what he had
  determined in his own judgment upon mature advice; by that means he
  not only preserved the Egyptians against their wills; not only kept
  Sparta; in those desperate convulsions; by his sole act; safe from
  overthrow; but even was able to set up trophies likewise in the city
  over the Thebans; having given his countrymen an occasion of being
  victorious afterwards by not at first leading them out; as they
  tried to force him to do; to their own destruction。 The consequence
  was that in the end Agesilaus was commended by the very men; when
  they found themselves saved; upon whom he had put this compulsion;
  whereas Pompey; whose error had been occasioned by others; found
  those his accusers whose advice had misled him。 Some indeed profess
  that he was deceived by his father…in…law Scipio; who; designing to
  conceal and keep to himself the greatest part of that treasure which
  he had brought out of Asia; pressed Pompey to battle; upon the
  pretence that there would be a want of money。 Yet admitting he was
  deceived; one in his place ought not to have been so; nor should have
  allowed so slight an artifice to cause the hazard of such mighty
  interests。 And thus we have taken a view of each; by comparing
  together their conduct and actions in war。
  As to their voyages into Egypt; one steered his course thither out
  of necessity in flight; the other neither honourably; nor of
  necessity; but as a mercenary soldier; having enlisted himself into
  the service of a barbarous nation for pay; that he might be able
  afterwards to wage war upon the Greeks。 And secondly; what we charge
  upon the Egyptians in the name of Pompey; the Egyptians lay to the
  charge of Agesilaus。 Pompey trusted them and was betrayed and
  murdered by them; Agesilaus accepted their confidence and deserted
  them; transferring his aid to the very enemies who were now attacking
  those whom he had been brought over to assist。
  THE END