antony-第15节
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and in it grows a fig…tree； on which many citizens have been pleased to hang themselves； and now； having resolved to build in that place； I wish to announce it publicly； that any of you who may be desirous may go and hang yourselves before I cut it down。〃 He died and was buried at Halae； near the sea； where it so happened that； after his burial； a land…slip took place on the point of the shore； and the sea； flowing in； surrounded his tomb； and made it inaccessible to the foot of man。 It bore this inscription：…
〃Here am I laid； my life of misery done。 Ask not my name； I curse you every one。〃
And this epitaph was made by himself while yet alive； that which is more generally known is by Callimachus：…
〃Timon； the misanthrope； am I below。 Go； and revile me； traveller； only go。〃
Thus much of Timon； of whom much more might be said。 Canidius now came； bringing word in person of the loss of the army before Actium。 Then he received news that Herod of Judaea was gone over to Caesar with some legions and cohorts； and that the other kings and princes were in like manner deserting him； and that； out of Egypt； nothing stood by him。 All this； however； seemed not to disturb him； but； as if he were glad to put away all hope； that with it he might be rid of all care； and leaving his habitation by the sea； which he called the Timoneum； he was received by Cleopatra in the palace； and set the whole city into a course of feasting； drinking； and presents。 The son of Caesar and Cleopatra was registered among the youths； and Antyllus； his own son by Fulvia； received the gown without the purple border given to those that are come of age； in honour of which the citizens of Alexandria did nothing but feast and revel for many days。 They themselves broke up the Order of the Inimitable Livers； and constituted another in its place； not inferior in splendour； luxury； and sumptuosity； calling it that of the Diers Together。 For all those that said they would die with Antony and Cleopatra gave in their names； for the present passing their time in all manner of pleasures and a regular succession of banquets。 But Cleopatra was busied in making a collection of all varieties of poisonous drugs； and； in order to see which of them were the least painful in the operation； she had them tried upon prisoners condemned to die。 But； finding that the quick poisons always worked with sharp pains； and that the less painful were slow。 She next tried venomous animals； and watching with her own eyes whilst they were applied； one creature to the body of another。 This was her daily practice； and she pretty well satisfied herself that nothing was comparable to the bite of the asp； which； without convulsion or groaning； brought on a heavy drowsiness and lethargy； with a gentle sweat on the face； the senses being stupefied by degrees； the patient； in appearance； being sensible of no pain but rather troubled to be disturbed or awakened like those that are in a profound natural sleep。 At the same time； they sent ambassadors to Caesar into Asia； Cleopatra asking for the kingdom of Egypt for her children； and Antony； that he might have leave to live as a private man in Egypt； or； if that were thought too much； that be might retire to Athens。 In lack of friends； so many having deserted； and others not being trusted； Euphronius； his son's tutor； was sent on this embassy。 For Alexas of Laodicea； who； by the recommendation of Timagenes； became acquainted with Antony at Rome； and had been more powerful with him than any Greek； and was； of all the instruments which Cleopatra made use of to persuade Antony； the most violent； and the chief subverter of any good thoughts that from time to time might rise in his mind in Octavia's favour； had been sent before to dissuade Herod from desertion； but betraying his master； stayed with him and； confiding in Herod's interest； had the boldness to come into Caesar's presence。 Herod； however； was not able to help him； for he was immediately put in chains and sent into his own country； where； by Caesar's orders； he was put to death。 This reward of his treason Alexas received while Antony was yet alive。 Caesar would not listen to any proposals for Antony； but he made answer to Cleopatra； that there was no reasonable favour which she might not expect； if she put Antony to death； or expelled him from Egypt。 He sent back with the ambassadors his own freedman； Thyrsus； a man of understanding； and not at all ill…qualified for conveying the messages of a youthful general to a woman so proud of her charms and possessed with the opinion of the power of her beauty。 But by the long audiences he received from her； and the special honours which she paid him； Antony's jealousy began to be awakened； he had him seized； whipped； and sent back； writing Caesar word that the man's busy； impertinent ways had provoked him； in his circumstances he could not be expected to be very patient： 〃But if it offends you；〃 he added； 〃you have got my freedman； Hipparchus； with you； hang him up and scourge him to make us even。〃 But Cleopatra； after this； to clear herself； and to allay his jealousies； paid him all the attentions imaginable。 When her own birthday came； she kept it as was suitable to their fallen fortunes； but his was observed with the utmost prodigality of splendour and magnificence； so that many of the guests sat down in want； and went home wealthy men。 Meantime； continual letters came to Caesar from Agrippa； telling him his presence was extremely required at Rome。 And so the war was deferred for a season。 But； the winter being over； he began his march； he himself by Syria； and his captains through Africa。 Pelusium being taken； there went a report as if it had been delivered up to Caesar by Seleucus； not without the consent of Cleopatra； but she； to justify herself； gave up into Antony's hands the wife and children of Seleucus to be put to death。 She had caused to be built； joining to the temple of Isis； several tombs and monuments of wonderful height； and very remarkable for the workmanship； thither she removed her treasure； her gold； silver； emeralds； pearls； ebony； ivory； cinnamon； and； after all； a great quantity of torchwood and tow。 Upon which Caesar began to fear lest she should； in a desperate fit； set all these riches on fire； and； therefore； while he was marching toward the city with his army； he omitted no occasion of giving her new assurances of his good intentions。 He took up his position in the Hippodrome； where Antony made a fierce sally upon him； routed the horse； and beat them back into their trenches； and so returned with great satisfaction to the palace； where； meeting Cleopatra； armed as he was； he kissed her； and commended to her favour one of his men； who had most signalized himself in the fight； to whom she made a present of a breastplate and helmet of gold； which he having received went that very night and deserted to Caesar。 After this； Antony sent a new challenge to Caesar to fight him hand…to…hand； who made him answer that he might find several other ways to end his life； and he； considering with himself that he could not die more honourably than in battle； resolved to make an effort both by land and sea。 At supper； it is said； he bade his servants help him freely； and pour him out wine plentifully； since to…morrow； perhaps； they should not do the same； but be servants to a new master； whilst he should lie on the ground； a dead corpse； and nothing。 His friends that were about him wept to hear him talk so； which he perceiving； told them he would not lead them to a battle in which he expected rather an honourable death than either safety or victory。 That night； it is related； about the middle of it； when the whole city was in a deep silence and general sadness； expecting the event of the next day； on a sudden was heard the sound of all sorts of instruments； and voices singing in tune； and the cry of a crowd of people shouting and dancing； like a troop of bacchanals on its way。 This tumultuous procession seemed to take its course right through the middle of the city to the gate nearest the enemy； here it became the loudest； and suddenly passed out。 People who reflected considered this to signify that Bacchus； the god whom Antony had always made it his study to copy and imitate； had now forsaken him。 As soon as it was light； he marched his infantry out of the city； and posted them upon a rising ground； from whence he saw his fleet make up to the enemy。 There he stood in expectation of the event； but as soon as the fleets came near to one another； his men saluted Caesar's with their oars； and on their responding； the whole body of the ships； forming into a single fleet； rowed up direct to the city。 Antony had no sooner seen this； but the horse deserted him； and went over to Caesar； and his foot being defeated； he retired into the city； crying out that Cleopatra had betrayed him to the enemies he had made for her sake。 She； being afraid lest in his fury and despair he might do her a mischief； fled to her monument； and letting down the falling doors； which were strong with bars and bolts； she sent messengers who should tell Antony she was dead。 He； believing it； cried out； 〃Now； Antony； why delay longer？ Fate
