antony-第5节
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r himself； for which he had him put to death。 But Caesar was conveyed to Rome； no one expecting that he would long survive。 Antony； purposing to go to the eastern provinces to lay them under contribution； entered Greece with a large force。 The promise had been made that every common soldier should receive for his pay five thousand drachmas； so it was likely there would be need of pretty severe taxing and levying to raise money。 However； to the Greeks he showed at first reason and moderation enough； he gratified his love of amusement by hearing the learned men dispute； by seeing the games； and undergoing initiation； and in judicial matters he was equitable； taking pleasure in being styled a lover of Greece； but； above all； in being called a lover of Athens； to which city he made very considerable presents。 The people of Megara wished to let him know that they also had something to show him； and invited him to come and see their senate…house。 So he went and examined it； and on their asking him how he liked it； told them it was 〃not very large； but extremely ruinous。〃 At the same time； he had a survey made of the temple of the Pythian Apollo as if he had designed to repair it； and indeed he had declared to the senate his intention so to do。 However； leaving Lucius Censorinus in Greece； he crossed over into Asia； and there laid his hands on the stores of accumulated wealth； while kings waited at his door； and queens were rivalling one another； who should make him the greatest presents or appear most charming in his eyes。 Thus； whilst Caesar in Rome was wearing out his strength amidst seditions and wars； Antony； with nothing to do amidst the enjoyments of peace； let his passions carry him easily back to the old course of life that was familiar to him。 A set of harpers and pipers； Anaxenor and Xuthus； the dancing…man； Metrodorus； and a whole Bacchic rout of the like Asiatic exhibitors； far outdoing in licence and buffoonery the pests that had followed him out of Italy； came in and possessed the court； the thing was past patience； wealth of all kinds being wasted on objects like these。 The whole of Asia was like the city in Sophocles； loaded； at one time…
〃…with incense in the air； Jubilant songs； and outcries of despair。〃
When he made his entry into Ephesus； the women met him dressed up like Bacchantes； and the men and boys like satyrs and fauns； and throughout the town nothing was to be seen but spears wreathed about with ivy； harps； flutes； and psalteries； while Antony in their songs was Bacchus； the Giver of joy； and the Gentle。 And so indeed he was to some but to far more the Devourer and the Savage； for he would deprive persons of worth and quality of their fortunes to gratify villains and flatterers； who would sometimes beg the estates of men yet living； pretending they were dead； and； obtaining a grant； take possession。 He gave his cook the house of a Magnesian citizen； as a reward for a single highly successful supper； and； at last； when he was proceeding to lay a second whole tribute on Asia； Hybreas； speaking on behalf of the cities； took courage； and told him broadly； but aptly enough for Antony's taste 〃if you can take two yearly tributes； you can doubtless give us a couple of summers and a double harvest time；〃 and put it to him in the plainest and boldest way； that Asia had raised two hundred thousand talents for his service： 〃If this has not been paid to you； ask your collectors for it； if it has； and is all gone； we are ruined men。〃 These words touched Antony to the quick； who was simply ignorant of most things that were done in his name； not that he was so indolent； as he was prone to trust frankly in all about him。 For there was much simplicity in his character； he was slow to see his faults； but when he did see them； was extremely repentant； and ready to ask pardon of those he had injured prodigal in his acts of reparation； and severe in his punishments； but his generosity was much more extravagant than his severity； his raillery was sharp and insulting； but the edge of it was taken off by his readiness to submit to any kind of repartee； for he was as well contented to be rallied； as he was pleased to rally others。 And this freedom of speech was； indeed； the cause of many of his disasters。 He never imagined those who used so much liberty in their mirth would flatter or deceive him in business of consequence； not knowing how common it is with parasites to mix their flattery with boldness； as confectioners do their sweetmeats with something biting； to prevent the sense of satiety。 Their freedoms and impertinences at table were designed expressly to give to their obsequiousness in council the air of being not complaisance； but conviction。 Such being his temper； the last and crowning mischief that could befall him came in the love of Cleopatra； to awaken and kindle to fury passions that as yet lay still and dormant in his nature； and to stifle and finally corrupt any elements that yet made resistance in him of goodness and a sound judgment。 He fell into the snare thus。 When making preparation for the Parthian war； he sent to command her to make her personal appearance in Cilicia； to answer an accusation that she had given great assistance； in the late wars； to Cassius。 Dellius； who was sent on this message； had no sooner seen her face； and remarked her adroitness and subtlety in speech； but he felt convinced that Antony would not so much as think of giving any molestation to a woman like this； on the contrary； she would be the first in favour with him。 So he set himself at once to pay his court to the Egyptian； and gave her his advice； 〃to go；〃 in the Homeric style； to Cilicia； 〃in her best attire；〃 and bade her fear nothing from Antony； the gentlest and kindest of soldiers。 She had some faith in the words of Dellius； but more in her own attractions； which； having formerly recommended her to Caesar and the young Cnaeus Pompey； she did not doubt might prove yet more successful with Antony。 Their acquaintance was with her when a girl； young and ignorant of the world； but she was to meet Antony in the time of life when women's beauty is most splendid； and their intellects are in full maturity。 She made great preparation for her journey； of money； gifts； and ornaments of value； such as so wealthy a kingdom might afford； but she brought with her her surest hopes in her own magic arts and charms。 She received several letters； both from Antony and from his friends； to summon her； but she took no account of these orders； and at last； as if in mockery of them； she came sailing up the river Cydnus； in a barge with gilded stern and outspread sails of purple； while oars of silver beat time to the music of flutes and fifes and harps。 She herself lay all along under a canopy of cloth of gold； dressed as Venus in a picture； and beautiful young boys； like painted Cupids； stood on each side to fan her。 Her maids were dressed like sea nymphs and graces； some steering at the rudder； some working at the ropes。 The perfumes diffused themselves from the vessel to the shore； which was covered with multitudes； part following the galley up the river on either bank； part running out of the city to see the sight。 The market…place was quite emptied； and Antony at last was left alone sitting upon the tribunal； while the word went through all the multitude； that Venus was come to feast with Bacchus； for the common good of Asia。 On her arrival； Antony sent to invite her to supper。 She thought it fitter he should come to her； so； willing to show his good…humour and courtesy； he complied； and went。 He found the preparations to receive him magnificent beyond expression； but nothing so admirable as the great number of lights； for on a sudden there was let down altogether so great a number of branches with lights in them so ingeniously disposed； some in squares； and some in circles； that the whole thing was a spectacle that has seldom been equalled for beauty。 The next day； Antony invited her to supper； and was very desirous to outdo her as well in magnificence as contrivance； but he found he was altogether beaten in both； and was so well convinced of it that he was himself the first to jest and mock at his poverty of wit and his rustic awkwardness。 She； perceiving that his raillery was broad and gross； and savoured more of the soldier than the courtier； rejoined in the same taste； and fell into it at once； without any sort of reluctance or reserve。 For her actual beauty； it is said； was not in itself so remarkable that none could be compared with her； or that no one could see her without being struck by it； but the contact of her presence； if you lived with her； was irresistible； the attraction of her person； joining with the charm of her conversation； and the character that attended all she said or did； was something bewitching。 It was a pleasure merely to hear the sound of her voice； with which； like an instrument of many strings； she could pass from one language to another； so that there were few of the barbarian nations that she answered by an interpreter； to most of them she spoke herself； as to the Ethiopians； Troglodytes； Hebrews； Arabians； Syrians； Medes； Parthians； and many others； whose language she had learnt； w
