第 9 节
作者:乐乐陶陶      更新:2021-08-28 17:12      字数:9322
  and dexterity in arms; easily overcoming the greater and more awkward
  strength of the younger); and of which the knowledge; as I experimentally
  know; has inspired some with courage above their natural measure; but
  this is not properly valour; because it supports itself upon address; and
  is founded upon something besides itself。  The honour of combat consists
  in the jealousy of courage; and not of skill; and therefore I have known
  a friend of mine; famed as a great master in this exercise; in his
  quarrels make choice of such arms as might deprive him of this advantage
  and that wholly depended upon fortune and assurance; that they might not
  attribute his victory rather to his skill in fencing than his valour。
  When I was young; gentlemen avoided the reputation of good fencers as
  injurious to them; and learned to fence with all imaginable privacy as a
  trade of subtlety; derogating from true and natural valour:
  〃Non schivar non parar; non ritirarsi;
  Voglion costor; ne qui destrezza ha parte;
  Non danno i colpi or finti; or pieni; or scarsi!
  Toglie l'ira a il furor l'uso de l'arte。
  Odi le spade orribilmente utarsi
  A mezzo il ferro; il pie d'orma non parte;
  Sempre a il pie fermo; a la man sempre in moto;
  Ne scende taglio in van; ne punta a voto。〃
  '〃They neither shrank; nor vantage sought of ground;
  They travers'd not; nor skipt from part to part;
  Their blows were neither false; nor feigned found:
  In fight; their rage would let them use no art。
  Their swords together clash with dreadful sound;
  Their feet stand fast; and neither stir nor start;
  They move their hands; steadfast their feet remain。
  Nor blow nor foin they strook; or thrust in vain。〃
  Tasso; Gierus。  Lib。; c。 12; st。 55; Fairfax's translation。'
  Butts; tilting; and barriers; the feint of warlike fights; were the
  exercises of our forefathers: this other exercise is so much the less
  noble; as it only respects a private end; that teaches us to destroy one
  another against law and justice; and that every way always produces very
  ill effects。  It is much more worthy and more becoming to exercise
  ourselves in things that strengthen than that weaken our government and
  that tend to the public safety and common glory。  The consul; Publius
  Rutilius;  was the first who taught the soldiers to handle their arms
  with skill; and joined art with valour; not for the rise of private
  quarrel; but for war and the quarrels of the people of Rome; a popular
  and civil defence。  And besides the example of Caesar;  who commanded his
  men to shoot chiefly at the face of Pompey's soldiers in the battle of
  Pharsalia; a thousand other commanders have also bethought them to invent
  new forms of weapons and new ways of striking and defending; according as
  occasion should require。
  But as Philopoemen condemned wrestling; wherein he excelled; because the
  preparatives that were therein employed were differing from those that
  appertain to military discipline; to which alone he conceived men of
  honour ought wholly to apply themselves; so it seems to me that this
  address to which we form our limbs; those writhings and motions young men
  are taught in this new school; are not only of no use; but rather
  contrary and hurtful to the practice of fight in battle; and also our
  people commonly make use of particular weapons; and peculiarly designed
  for duel; and I have seen; when it has been disapproved; that a gentleman
  challenged to fight with rapier and poignard appeared in the array of a
  man…at…arms; and that another should take his cloak instead of his
  poignard。  It is worthy of consideration that Laches in Plato; speaking
  of learning to fence after our manner; says that he never knew any great
  soldier come out of that school; especially the masters of it: and;
  indeed; as to them; our experience tells as much。  As to the rest; we may
  at least conclude that they are qualities of no relation or
  correspondence; and in the education of the children of his government;
  Plato interdicts the art of boxing; introduced by Amycus and Epeius; and
  that of wrestling; by Antaeus and Cercyo; because they have another end
  than to render youth fit for the service of war and contribute nothing to
  it。  But I see that I have somewhat strayed from my theme。
  The Emperor Mauricius; being advertised by dreams and several
  prognostics; that one Phocas; an obscure soldier; should kill him;
  questioned his son…in…law; Philip; who this Phocas was; and what were his
  nature; qualities; and manners; and so soon as Philip; amongst other
  things; had told him that he was cowardly and timorous; the emperor
  immediately concluded then that he was a murderer and cruel。  What is it
  that makes tyrants so sanguinary?  'Tis only the solicitude for their own
  safety; and that their faint hearts can furnish them with no other means
  of securing themselves than in exterminating those who may hurt them;
  even so much as women; for fear of a scratch:
  〃Cuncta ferit; dum cuncta timer。〃
  '〃He strikes at all who fears all。〃
  Claudius; in Eutrop。; i。 182。'
  The first cruelties are exercised for themselves thence springs the fear
  of a just revenge; which afterwards produces a series of new cruelties;
  to obliterate one another。  Philip; king of Macedon; who had so much to
  do with the people of Rome; agitated with the horror of so many murders
  committed by his order; and doubting of being able to keep himself secure
  from so many families; at divers times mortally injured and offended by
  him; resolved to seize all the children of those he had caused to be
  slain; to despatch them daily one after another; and so to establish his
  own repose。
  Fine matter is never impertinent; however placed; and therefore I; who
  more consider the weight and utility of what I deliver than its order and
  connection; need not fear in this place to bring in an excellent story;
  though it be a little by…the…by; for when they are rich in their own
  native beauty; and are able to justify themselves; the least end of a
  hair will serve to draw them into my discourse。
  Amongst others condemned by Philip; had been one Herodicus; prince of
  Thessaly; he had; moreover; after him caused his two sons…in…law to be
  put to death; each leaving a son very young behind him。  Theoxena and
  Archo were their two widows。  Theoxena; though highly courted to it;
  could not be persuaded to marry again: Archo married Poris; the greatest
  man among the AEnians; and by him had a great many children; whom she;
  dying; left at a very tender age。  Theoxena; moved with a maternal
  charity towards her nephews; that she might have them under her own eyes
  and in her own protection; married Poris: when presently comes a
  proclamation of the king's edict。  This brave…spirited mother; suspecting
  the cruelty of Philip; and afraid of the insolence of the soldiers
  towards these charming and tender children was so bold as to declare hat
  she would rather kill them with her own hands than deliver them。  Poris;
  startled at this protestation; promised her to steal them away; and to
  transport them to Athens; and there commit them to the custody of some
  faithful friends of his。  They took; therefore; the opportunity of an
  annual feast which was celebrated at AEnia in honour of AEneas; and
  thither they went。  Having appeared by day at the public ceremonies and
  banquet; they stole the night following into a vessel laid ready for the
  purpose; to escape away by sea。  The wind proved contrary; and finding
  themselves in the morning within sight of the land whence they had
  launched overnight; and being pursued by the guards of the port; Poris
  perceiving this; laboured all he could to make the mariners do their
  utmost to escape from the pursuers。  But Theoxena; frantic with affection
  and revenge; in pursuance of her former resolution; prepared both weapons
  and poison; and exposing them before them; 〃Go to; my children;〃 said
  she; 〃death is now the only means of your defence and liberty; and shall
  administer occasion to the gods to exercise their sacred justice: these
  sharp swords; and these full cups; will open you the way into it;
  courage; fear nothing!  And thou; my son; who art the eldest; take this
  steel into thy hand; that thou mayest the more bravely die。〃  The
  children having on one side so powerful a counsellor; and the enemy at
  their throats on the other; run all of them eagerly upon what was next to
  hand; and; half dead; were thrown into the sea。  Theoxena; proud of
  having so gloriously provided for the safety of her children; clasping
  her arms with great affection about her husband's neck。  〃Let us; my
  friend;〃 said she; 〃follow these boys; and enjoy the same sepulchre they
  do〃; and so; having embraced; they threw themselves headlong into the
  sea; so that the ship was carriedback without the owners into the
  harbour。
  Tyrants; at once both to kill and to make their anger felt; have employed
  their capacity to invent the most lingering deaths。  They will have their
  enemies des