antony-第13节
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the Upper Cilicia； Archelaus of Cappadocia； Philadelphus of Paphlagonia； Mithridates of Commagene； and Sadalas of Thrace； all these were with him in person。 Out of Pontus Polemon sent him considerable forces； as did also Malchus from Arabia； Herod the Jew； and Amyntas； King of Lycaonia and Galatia； also the Median king sent some troops to join him。 Caesar had two hundred and fifty galleys of war； eighty thousand foot； and horse about equal to the enemy。 Antony's empire extended from Euphrates and Armenia to the Ionian sea and the Illyrians； Caesar's； from Illyria to the westward ocean； and from the ocean all along the Tuscan and Sicilian sea。 Of Africa； Caesar had all the coast opposite to Italy； Gaul； and Spain； as far as the Pillars of Hercules； and Antony the provinces from Cyrene to Aethiopia。 But so wholly was he now the mere appendage to the person of Cleopatra that； although he was much superior to the enemy in land…forces； yet； out of complaisance to his mistress； he wished the victory to be gained by sea； and that； too； when he could not but see how； for want of sailors； his captains； all through unhappy Greece； were pressing every description of men； common travellers and ass…drivers； harvest labourers and boys； and for all this the vessels had not their complements； but remained。 most of them； ill…manned and badly rowed。 Caesar； on the other side； had ships that were built not for size or show； but for service； not pompous galleys； but light； swift； and perfectly manned； and from his headquarters at Tarentum and Brundusium he sent messages to Antony not to protract the war； but come out with his forces； he would give him secure roadsteads and ports for his fleet； and； for his land army to disembark and pitch their camp； he would leave him as much ground in Italy； inland from the sea； as a horse could traverse in a single course。 Antony； on the other side； with the like bold language； challenged him to a single combat； though he were much the older； and； that being refused； proposed to meet him in the Pharsalian fields； where Caesar and Pompey had fought before。 But whilst Antony lay with his fleet near Actium； where now stands Nicopolis； Caesar seized his opportunity and crossed the Ionian sea； securing himself at a place in Epirus called the Ladle。 And when those about Antony were much disturbed； their land…forces being a good way off； 〃Indeed；〃 said Cleopatra； in mockery； 〃we may well be frightened if Caesar has got hold of the Ladle！〃 On the morrow； Antony； seeing the enemy sailing up； and fearing lest his ships might be taken for want of the soldiers to go on board of them； armed all the rowers； and made a show upon the decks of being in readiness to fight； the oars were mounted as if waiting to be put in motion； and the vessels themselves drawn up to face the enemy on either side of the channel of Actium； as though they were properly manned and ready for an engagement。 And Caesar； deceived by this stratagem； retired。 He was also thought to have shown considerable skill in cutting off the water from the enemy by some lines of trenches and forts； water not being plentiful anywhere else； nor very good。 And again； his conduct to Domitius was generous； much against the will of Cleopatra。 For when he had made his escape in a little boat to Caesar； having then a fever upon him； although Antony could not but resent it highly； yet he sent after him his whole equipage with his friends and servants； and Domitius； as if he would give a testimony to the world how repentant he had become on his desertion and treachery being thus manifest； died soon after。 Among the kings； also； Amyntas and Deiotarus went over to Caesar。 And the fleet was so unfortunate in everything that was undertaken； and so unready on every occasion； that Antony was driven again to put his confidence in the land…forces。 Canidius； too； who commanded the legions； when he saw how things stood； changed his opinion； and now was of advice that Cleopatra should be sent back； and that； retiring into Thrace or Macedonia； the quarrel should be decided in a land fight。 For Dicomes； also； the King of the Getae； promised to come and join him with a great army； and it would not be any kind of disparagement to him to yield the sea to Caesar； who； in the Sicilian wars； had had such long practice in ship…fighting； on the contrary； it would be simply ridiculous for Antony； who was by land the most experienced commander living； to make no use of his well…disciplined and numerous infantry； scattering and wasting his forces by parcelling them out in the ships。 But for all this； Cleopatra prevailed that a sea…fight should determine all； having already an eye to flight； and ordering all her affairs； not so as to assist in gaining a victory； but to escape with the greatest safety from the first commencement of a defeat。 There were two long walls； extending from the camp to the station of the ships； between which Antony used to pass to and fro without suspecting any danger。 But Caesar； upon the suggestion of a servant that it would not be difficult to surprise him； laid an ambush； which； rising up somewhat too hastily； seized the man that came just before him； he himself escaping narrowly by flight。 When it was resolved to stand to a fight at sea； they set fire to all the Egyptian ships except sixty； and of these the best and largest； from ten banks down to three； he manned with twenty thousand full…armed men and two thousand archers。 Here it is related that a foot captain； one that had fought often under Antony； and had his body all mangled with wounds； exclaimed； 〃O my general； what have our wounds and swords done to displease you； that you should give your confidence to rotten timbers？ Let Egyptians and Phoenicians contend at sea； give us the land； where we know well how to die upon the spot or gain the victory。〃 To which he answered nothing； but； by his look and motion of his hand seeming to bid him be of good courage； passed forwards； having already； it would seem； no very sure hopes； since when the masters proposed leaving the sails behind them； he commanded they should be put aboard； 〃For we must not；〃 said he； 〃let one enemy escape。〃 That day and the three following the sea was so rough they could not engage。 But on the fifth there was a calm； and they fought； Antony commanding with Publicola the right； and Coelius the left squadron； Marcus Octavius and Marcus Insteius the centre。 Caesar gave the charge of the left to Agrippa； commanding in person on the right。 As for the land…forces； Canidius was general for Antony； Taurus for Caesar； both armies remaining drawn up in order along the shore。 Antony in a small boat went from one ship to another； encouraging his soldiers； and bidding them stand firm and fight as steadily on their large ships as if they were on land。 The masters he ordered that they should receive the enemy lying still as if they were at anchor； and maintain the entrance of the port； which was a narrow and difficult passage。 Of Caesar they relate that； leaving his tent and going round； while it was yet dark； to visit the ships； he met a man driving an ass； and asked him his name。 He answered him that his own name was 〃Fortunate； and my ass；〃 says he； 〃is called Conqueror。〃 And afterwards； when he disposed the beaks of the ships in that place in token of his victory； the statue of this man and his ass in bronze were placed amongst them。 After examining the rest of his fleet； he went in a boat to the right wing； and looked with much admiration at the enemy lying perfectly still in the straits； in all appearance as if they had been at anchor。 For some considerable length of time he actually thought they were so； and kept his own ships at rest； at a distance of about eight furlongs from them。 But about noon a breeze sprang up from the sea； and Antony's men； weary of expecting the enemy so long； and trusting to their large tall vessels； as if they had been invincible； began to advance the left squadron。 Caesar was overjoyed to see them move； and ordered his own right squadron to retire； that he might entice them out to sea as far as he could； his design being to sail round and round； and so with his light and well…manned galleys to attack these huge vessels； which their size and their want of men made slow to move and difficult to manage。 When they engaged； there was no charging or striking of one ship by another； because Antony's； by reason of their great bulk； were incapable of the rapidity required to make the stroke effectual； and on the other side； Caesar's durst not charge head to head on Antony's； which were all armed with solid masses and spikes of brass； nor did they like even to run in on their sides； which were so strongly built with great squared pieces of timber； fastened together with iron bolts； that their vessels' beaks would easily have been shattered upon them。 So that the engagement resembled a land fight； or； to speak yet more properly； the attack and defence of a fortified place； for there were always three or four vessels of Caesar's about one of Antony's； pressing them with spears； javelins； poles； and several inventions of fire； which they flung among them； Antony's men using catapults also； to pour down missiles from wooden towers。 Agrip
