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第4节

timoleon-第4节

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coming up in haste; desired them not to stop for that reason; but
rather use all possible diligence to surprise the enemy; whom probably
they would now find in disorder; as having lately ended their march
and being taken up at present in erecting tents and preparing
supper; which he had no sooner said; but laying hold of his buckler
and putting himself in the front; he led them on as it were to certain
victory。 The braveness of such a leader made them all follow him
with like courage and assurance。 They were now within less than thirty
furlongs of Adranum; which they quickly traversed; and immediately
fell in upon the enemy; who were seized with confusion; and began to
retire at their first approaches; one consequence of which was that;
amidst so little opposition; and so early and general a flight;
there were not many more than three hundred slain; and about twice the
number made prisoners。 Their camp and baggage; however; was all taken。
The fortune of this onset soon induced the Adranitans to unlock
their gates; and to embrace the interest of Timoleon; to whom they
recounted; with a mixture of affright and admiration; how; at the very
minute of the encounter; the doors of their temple flew open of
their own accord; that the javelin also; which their god held in his
band; was observed to tremble at the point; and that drops of sweat
had been seen running down his face; prodigies that not only
presaged the victory then obtained; but were an omen; it seemed; of
all his future exploits; to which this first happy action gave the
occasion。
  For now the neighbouring cities and potentates sent deputies; one
upon another; to seek his friendship and make offer of their
service。 Among the rest Mamercus; the tyrant of Catana; an experienced
warrior and a wealthy prince; made proposals of alliance with him; and
what was of greater importance still; Dionysius himself; being now
grown desperate; and well…nigh forced to surrender; despising
Hicetes who had been thus shamefully baffled; and admiring the
valour of Timoleon; found means to advertise him and his Corinthians
that he should be content to deliver up himself and the citadel into
their hands。 Timoleon; gladly embracing this unlooked…for advantage;
sends away Euclides and Telemachus; two Corinthian captains; with four
hundred men; for the seizure and custody of the castle; with
directions to enter not all at once; or in open view; that being
impracticable so long as the enemy kept guard; but by stealth; and
in small companies。 And so they took possession of the fortress and
the palace of Dionysius; with all the stores and ammunition he had
prepared and laid up to maintain the war。 They found a good number
of horses; every variety of engines; a multitude of darts; and weapons
to arm seventy thousand men (a magazine that had been formed from
ancient time); besides two thousand soldiers that were then with
him; whom he gave up with the rest for Timoleon's service。 Dionysius
himself; putting his treasure aboard; and taking a few friends; sailed
away unobserved by Hicetes; and being brought to the camp of Timoleon;
there first appeared in the humble dress of a private person; and
was shortly after sent to Corinth with a single ship and a small sum
of money。 Born and educated in the most splendid court and the most
absolute monarchy that ever was; which he held and kept up for the
space of ten years succeeding his father's death; he had; after Dion's
expedition; spent twelve other years in a continual agitation of
wars and contests; and great variety of fortune; during which time all
the mischiefs he had committed in his former reign were more than
repaid by the ills he himself then suffered; since he lived to see the
deaths of his sons in the prime and vigour of their age; and the
rape of his daughters in the flower of their virginity; and the wicked
abuse of his sister and his wife; who; after being first exposed to
all the lawless insults of the soldiery; was then murdered with her
children; and cast into the sea; the particulars of which are more
exactly given in the life of Dion。
  Upon the news of his landing at Corinth; there was hardly a man in
Greece who had not the curiosity to come and view the late
formidable tyrant; and say some words to him; part; rejoicing at his
disasters; were led thither out of mere spite and hatred; that they
might have the pleasure of trampling; as it were; on the ruins of
his broken fortune; but others; letting their attention and their
sympathy turn rather to the changes and revolutions of his life; could
not but see in them a proof of the strength and potency with which
divine and unseen causes operate amidst the weakness of human and
visible things。 For neither art nor nature did in that age produce
anything comparable to this work and wonder of fortune which showed
the very same man; that was not long before supreme monarch of Sicily;
loitering about perhaps in the fish…market; or sitting in a perfumer's
shop drinking the diluted wine of taverns; or squabbling in the street
with common women; or pretending to instruct the singing women of
the theatre; and seriously disputing with them about the measure and
harmony of pieces of music that were performed there。 Such behaviour
on his part was variously criticized。 He was thought by many to act
thus out of pure compliance with his own natural indolent and
vicious inclinations; while finer judges were of the opinion; that
in all this he was playing a politic part; with a design to be
contemned among them; and that the Corinthians might not feel any
apprehension or suspicion of his being uneasy under his reverse of
fortune; or solicitous to retrieve it; to avoid which danger; he
purposely and against his true nature affected an appearance of
folly and want of spirit in his private life and amusements。
  However it be; there are sayings and repartees of his left still
upon record; which seem to show that he not ignobly accommodated
himself to his present circumstances; as may appear in part from the
ingenuousness of the avowal he made on coming to Leucadia; which; as
well as Syracuse; was a Corinthian colony; where he told the
inhabitants that he found himself not unlike boys who had been in
fault; who can talk cheerfully with their brothers; but are ashamed to
see their father; so likewise he; he said; could gladly reside with
them in that island; whereas he felt a certain awe upon his mind which
made him averse to the sight of Corinth; that was a common mother to
them both。 The thing is further evident from the reply he once made to
a stranger in Corinth; who deriding him in a rude and scornful
manner about the conferences he used to have with philosophers;
whose company had been one of his pleasures while yet a monarch; and
demanding; in fine; what he was the better now for all those wise
and learned discourses of Plato; 〃Do you think;〃 said he; 〃I have made
no profit of his philosophy when you see me bear my change of
fortune as I do?〃 And when Aristoxenus the musician; and several
others; desired to know how Plato offended him; and what had been
the ground of his displeasure with him; he made answer that; of the
many evils attaching to the condition of sovereignty; the one greatest
infelicity was that none of those who were accounted friends would
venture to speak freely; or tell the plain truth; and that by means of
such he had been deprived of Plato's kindness。 At another time; when
one of those pleasant companions that are desirous to pass for wits;
in mockery to Dionysius; as if he were still the tyrant; shook out the
folds of his cloak; as he was entering into a room where he was; to
show there were no concealed weapons about him; Dionysius; by way of
retort; observed; that he would prefer he would do so on leaving the
room; as a security that he was carrying nothing off with him。 And
when Philip of Macedon; at a drinking party; began to speak in
banter about the verses and tragedies which his father; Dionysius
the elder; had left behind him; and pretended to wonder how he could
get any time from his other business to compose such elaborate and
ingenious pieces; he replied; very much to the purpose; 〃It was at
those leisurable hours; which such as you and I; and those we call
happy men; bestow upon our cups。〃 Plato had not the opportunity to see
Dionysius at Corinth; being already dead before he came thither; but
Diogenes of Sinope; at their first meeting in the street there;
saluted him with the ambiguous expression; 〃O Dionysius; how little
you deserve your present life! Upon which Dionysius stopped and
replied; 〃I thank you; Diogenes; for your condolence。〃 〃Condole with
you!〃 replied Diogenes; 〃do you not suppose that; on the contrary; I
am indignant that such a slave as you; who; if you had your due;
should have been let alone to grow old and die in the state of
tyranny; as your father did before you; should now enjoy the ease of
private persons; and be here to sport and frolic in our society?〃 So
that when I compare those sad stories of Philistus; touching the
daughters of Leptines; where he makes pitiful moan on their behalf; as
fallen from all the blessings and adv

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