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antony-第5章

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t; either in doing what it approves or avoiding what it condemns; and a good many are so weak as to give way to their habits all the more; and are incapable of using their using minds。 Antony; on this occasion; was a most wonderful example to his soldiers。 He; who had just quitted so much luxury and sumptuous living; made no difficulty now of drinking foul water and feeding on wild fruits and roots。 Nay; it is related they ate the very bark of trees; and; in passing over the Alps; lived upon creatures that no one before had ever been willing to touch。   The design was to join the army on the other side the Alps; commanded by Lepidus; who he imagined would stand his friend; he having done him many good offices with Caesar。 On coming up and encamping near at hand; finding he had no sort of encouragement offered him; he resolved to push his fortune and venture all。 His hair was long and disordered; nor had he shaved his beard since his defeat; in this guise; and with a dark coloured cloak flung over him; he came into the trenches of Lepidus; and began to address the army。 Some were moved at his habit; others at his words; so that Lepidus; not liking it; ordered the trumpets to sound; that he might be heard no longer。 This raised in the soldiers yet a greater pity; so that they resolved to confer secretly with him; and dressed Laelius and Clodius in women's clothes; and sent them to see him。 They advised him without delay to attack Lepidus's trenches; assuring him that a strong party would receive him; and; if he wished it; would kill Lepidus。 Antony; however; had no wish for this; but next morning marched his army to pass over the river that parted the two camps。 He was himself the first man that stepped in; and; as he went through towards the other bank; he saw Lepidus's soldiers in great numbers reaching out their hands to help him; and beating down the works to make him way。 Being entered into the camp; and finding himself absolute master; he nevertheless treated Lepidus with the greatest civility; and gave him the title of Father; when he spoke to him; and though he had everything at his own command; he left him the honour of being called the general。 This fair usage brought over to him Munatius Plancus; who was not far off with a considerable force。 Thus in great strength he repassed the Alps; leading with him into Italy seventeen legions and ten thousand horse; besides six legions which he left in garrison under the command of Varius; one of his familiar friends and boon companions; whom they used to call by the nickname of Cotylon。   Caesar; perceiving that Cicero's wishes were for liberty; had ceased to pay any further regard to him; and was now employing the mediation of his friends to come to a good understanding with Antony。 They both met together with Lepidus in a small island; where the conference lasted three days。 The empire was soon determined of; it being divided amongst them as if it had been their paternal inheritance。 That which gave them all the trouble was to agree who should be put to death; each of them desiring to destroy his enemies and to save his friends。 But; in the end; animosity to those they hated carried the day against respect for relations and affection for friends; and Caesar sacrificed Cicero to Antony; Antony gave up his uncle Lucius Caesar; and Lepidus received permission to murder his brother Paulus; or; as others say; yielded his brother to them。 I do not believe anything ever took place more truly savage or barbarous than this composition; for; in this exchange of blood for blood; they were guilty of the lives they surrendered and of those they took; or; indeed; more guilty in the case of their friends for whose deaths they had not even the justification of hatred。 To complete the reconciliation; the soldiery; coming about them; demanded that confirmation should be given to it by some alliance of marriage; Caesar should marry Clodia; the daughter of Fulvia; wife to Antony。 This also being agreed to; three hundred persons were put to death by proscription。 Antony gave orders to those that were to kill Cicero to cut off his head and right hand; with which he had written his invectives against him; and; when they were brought before him; he regarded them joyfully; actually bursting out more than once into laughter; and; when he had satiated himself with the sight of them; ordered them to be hung up above the speaker's place in the forum; thinking thus to insult the dead; while in fact he only exposed his own wanton arrogance; and his unworthiness to hold the power that fortune had given him。 His uncle; Lucius Caesar; being closely pursued; took refuge with his sister; who; when the murderers had broken into her house and were pressing into her chamber; met them at the door; and spreading out hands; cried out several times。 〃You shall not kill Lucius Caesar till you first despatch me who gave your general his birth;〃 and in this manner she succeeded in getting her brother out of the way; and saving his life。   This triumvirate was very hateful to the Romans; and Antony most of all bore the blame; because he was older than Caesar; and had greater authority than Lepidus; and withal he was no sooner settled in his affairs; but he turned to his luxurious and dissolute way of living。 Besides the ill reputation he gained by his general behaviour; it was some considerable disadvantage to him his living in the house of Pompey the Great; who had been as much admired for his temperance and his sober; citizen…like habits of life; as ever he was for having triumphed three times。 They could not without anger see the doors of that house shut against magistrates; officers; and envoys; who were shamefully refused admittance; while it was filled inside with players; jugglers; and drunken flatterers; upon whom were spent the greatest part of the wealth which violence and cruelty procured。 For they did not limit themselves to the forfeiture of the estates of such as were proscribed; defrauding the widows and families; nor were they contented with laying on every possible kind of tax and imposition; but hearing that several sums of money were; as well by strangers as citizens of Rome; deposited in the hands of the vestal virgins; they went and took the money away by force。 When it was manifest that nothing would ever be enough for Antony; Caesar at last called for a division of property。 The army was also divided between them; upon their march into Macedonia to make war with Brutus and Cassius; Lepidus being left with the command of the city。   However; after they had crossed the sea and engaged in operations of war; encamping in front of the enemy; Antony opposite Cassius; and Caesar opposite Brutus; Caesar did nothing worth relating; and all the success and victory were Antony's。 In the first battle; Caesar was completely routed by Brutus; his camp taken; he himself very narrowly escaping by flight。 As he himself writes in his Memoirs; he retired before the battle; on account of a dream which one of his friends had。 But Antony; on the other hand; defeated Cassius; though some have written that he was not actually present in the engagement; and only joined afterwards in the pursuit。 Cassius was killed; at his own e
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