antony-第8节
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les had not limited his hopes of progeny to a single womb； nor feared any law like Solon's or any audit of procreation； but had freely let nature take her will in the foundation and first commencement of many families。 After Phraates had killed his father Hyrodes； and taken possession of his kingdom； many of the Parthians left their country； among the rest Monaeses； a man of great distinction and authority； sought refuge with Antony； who； looking on his case as similar to that of Themistocles； and likening his own opulence and magnanimity to those of the former Persian kings； gave him three cities； Larissa； Arethusa； and Hierapolis； which was formerly called Bambyce。 But when the King of Parthia soon recalled him； giving him his word and honour for his safety； Antony was not unwilling to give him leave to return； hoping thereby to surprise Phraates； who would believe that peace would continue； for he only made the demand of him that he should send back the Roman ensigns which were taken when Crassus was slain； and the prisoners that remained yet alive。 This done； he sent Cleopatra to Egypt； and marched through Arabia and Armenia； and； when his forces came together； and were joined by those of his confederate kings （of whom there were very many； and the most considerable； Artavasdes； King of Armenia； who came at the head of six thousand horse and seven thousand foot）； he made a general muster。 There appeared sixty thousand Roman foot； ten thousand horse； Spaniards and Gauls； who counted as Romans； and； of other nations； horse and foot thirty thousand。 And these great preparations； that put the Indians beyond Bactria into alarm； and made all Asia shake； were all we are told rendered useless to him because of Cleopatra。 For； in order to pass the winter with her； the war was pushed on before its due time； and all he did was done without perfect consideration； as by a man who had no power of control over his faculties； who； under the effect of some drug or magic； was still looking back elsewhere； and whose object was much more to hasten his return than to conquer his enemies。 For； first of all； when he should have taken up his winter…quarters in Armenia； to refresh his men； who were tired with long marches； having come at least eight thousand furlongs； and then having taken the advantage in the beginning of the spring to invade Media； before the Parthians were out of winter…quarters； he had not patience to expect his time； but marched into the province of Atropatene； leaving Armenia on the left hand； and laid waste all that country。 Secondly； his haste was so great that he left behind the engines absolutely required for any siege； which followed the camp in three hundred wagons； and； among the rest； a ram eighty feet long； none of which was it possible； if lost or damaged； to repair or to make the like； as the provinces of the Upper Asia produce no trees long or hard enough for such uses。 Nevertheless； he left them all behind； as a mere impediment to his speed； in the charge of a detachment under the command of Statianus； the wagon officer。 He himself laid siege to Phraata； a principal city of the King of Media； wherein were that king's wife and children。 And when actual need proved the greatness of his error； in leaving the siege…train behind him； he had nothing for it but to come up and raise a mound against the walls； with infinite labour and great loss of time。 Meantime Phraates； coming down with a large army； and hearing that the wagons were left behind with the battering engines； sent a strong party of horse； by which Statianus was surprised； he himself and ten thousand of his men slain； the engines all broken in pieces； many taken prisoners； and among the rest King Polemon。 This great miscarriage in the opening of the campaign much discouraged Antony's army； and Artavasdes； King of Armenia； deciding that the Roman prospects were bad； withdrew with all his forces from the camp； although he had been the chief promoter of the war。 The Parthians； encouraged by their success； came up to the Romans at the siege； and gave them many affronts； upon which Antony； fearing that the despondency and alarm of his soldiers would only grow worse if he let them lie idle taking all the horse； ten legions； and three praetorian cohorts of heavy infantry； resolved to go out and forage； designing by this means to draw the enemy with more advantage to a battle。 To effect this； he marched a day's journey from his camp； and finding the Parthians hovering about； in readiness to attack him while he was in motion； he gave orders for the signal of battle to be hung out in the encampment； but； at the same time； pulled down the tents； as if he meant not to fight； but to lead his men home again； and so he proceeded to lead them past the enemy； who were drawn up in a half…moon； his orders being that the horse should charge as soon as the legions were come up near enough to second them。 The Parthians； standing still while the Romans marched by them； were in great admiration of their army； and of the exact discipline it observed； rank after rank passing on at equal distances in perfect order and silence； their pikes all ready in their hands。 But when the signal was given； and the horse turned short upon the Parthians； and with loud cries charged them； they bravely received them； though they were at once too near for bowshot； but the legions coming up with loud shouts and rattling of their arms so frightened their horses and indeed the men themselves； that they kept their ground no longer。 Antony pressed them hard； in great hopes that this victory should put an end to the war； the foot had them in pursuit for fifty furlongs； and the horse for thrice that distance； and yet； the advantage summed up； they had but thirty prisoners； and there were but fourscore slain。 So that they were all filled with dejection and discouragement； to consider that when they were victorious； their advantages were so small； and that when they were beaten； they lost so great a number of men as they had done when the carriages were taken。 The next day； having put the baggage in order； they marched back to the camp before Phraata； in the way meeting with some scattering troops of the enemy； and； as they marched further； with greater parties； at length with the body of the enemy's army； fresh and in good order； who defied them to battle； and charged them on every side； and it was not without great difficulty that they reached the camp。 There Antony； finding that his men had in a panic deserted the defence of the mound； upon a sally of the Medes； resolved to proceed against them by decimation； as it is called； which is done by dividing the soldiers into tens； and； out of every ten； putting one to death； as it happens by lot。 The rest he gave orders should have； instead of wheat； their rations of corn in barley。 The war was now become grievous to both parties； and the prospect of its continuance yet more fearful to Antony； in respect that he was threatened with famine； for he could no longer forage without wounds and slaughter。 And Phraates； on the other side； was full of apprehension that if the Romans were to persist in carrying on the siege； the autumnal equinox being past and the air already closing in for cold； he should be deserted by his soldiers； who would suffer anything rather than wintering in open field。 To prevent which； he had recourse to the following deceit： he gave orders to those of his men who had made most acquaintance among the Roman soldiers； not to pursue too close when they met them foraging； but to suffer them to carry off some provision； moreover； that they should praise their valour； and declare that it was not without just reason that their king looked upon the Romans as the bravest men in the world。 This done； upon further opportunity； they rode nearer in； and； drawing up their horses by the men； began to revile for his obstinacy； that whereas Phraates desired nothing more than peace； and an occasion to show how ready he was to save the lives of so many brave soldiers； he； on the contrary； gave no opening to any friendly offers； but sat awaiting the arrival of the two fiercest and worst enemies； winter and famine； from whom it would be hard for them to make their escape； even with all the good…will of the Parthians to help them。 Antony； having these reports from many hands； began to indulge the hope； nevertheless； he would not send any message to the Parthian till he had put the question to these friendly talkers； whether what they said was said by order of their king。 Receiving answer that it was； together with new encouragement to believe them； he sent some of his friends to demand once more the standards and prisoners； lest if he should ask nothing； he might be supposed to be too thankful to have leave to retreat in quiet。 The Parthian king made answer that； as for the standards and prisoners； he need not trouble himself： but if he thought fit to retreat； he might do it when he pleased； in peace and safety。 Some few days； therefore； being spent in collecting the baggage he set out upon his march。 On which occasion； though there was no man of his time like him for addressing a multitude； or for carrying soldiers with him by the force of words； out of shame and s
