太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > coriolanus >

第6节

coriolanus-第6节

小说: coriolanus 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



and urged instead; his language in the senate against an abasement
of the price of corn; and for the overthrow of the tribunician
power; adding further; as a new impeachment; the distribution that was
made by him of the spoil and booty he had taken from the Antiates;
when he overran their country; which he had divided among those that
had followed him; whereas it ought rather to have been brought into
the public treasury; which last accusation did; they say; more
discompose Marcius than all the rest; as he had not anticipated he
should ever be questioned on that subject; and; therefore; was less
provided with any satisfactory answer to it on the sudden。 And when;
by way of excuse; he began to magnify the merits of those who had been
partakers with him in the action; those that had stayed at home; being
more numerous than the other; interrupted him with outcries。 In
conclusion; when they came to vote; a majority of three tribes
condemned him; the penalty being perpetual banishment。 The sentence of
his condemnation being pronounced; the people went away with greater
triumph and exultation than they had ever shown for any victory over
enemies; while the senate was in grief and deep dejection; repenting
now and vexed to the soul that they had not done and suffered all
things rather than give way to the insolence of the people; and permit
them to assume and abuse so great an authority。 There was no need then
to look at men's dresses; or other marks of distinction; to know one
from another: any one who was glad was; beyond all doubt; a
plebeian; any one who looked sorrowful; a patrician。
  Marcius alone; himself; was neither stunned nor humiliated。 In mien;
carriage; and countenance he bore the appearance of entire
composure; and; while all his friends were full of distress; seemed
the only man that was not touched with his misfortune。 Not that either
reflection taught him; or gentleness of temper made it natural for him
to submit: he was wholly possessed; on the contrary; with a profound
and deep…seated fury; which passes with many for no pain at all。 And
pain; it is true; transmuted; so to say; by its own fiery heat into
anger; loses every appearance of depression and feebleness; the
angry man makes a show of energy; as the man in a high fever does of
natural heat; while; in fact; all this action of the soul is but
mere diseased palpitation; distension; and inflammation。 That such was
his distempered state appeared presently plainly enough in his
actions。 On his return home; after saluting his mother and his wife;
who were all in tears and full of loud lamentations; and exhorting
them to moderate the sense they had of his calamity; he proceeded at
once to the city gates; whither all the nobility came to attend him;
and so not so much as taking anything with him; or making any
request to the company; he departed from them; having only three or
four clients with him。 He continued solitary for a few days in a place
in the country; distracted with a variety of counsels; such as rage
and indignation suggested to him; and proposing to himself no
honourable or useful end; but only how he might best satisfy his
revenge on the Romans; he resolved at length to raise up a heavy war
against them from their nearest neighbours。 He determined; first to
make trial of the Volscians; whom he knew to be still vigorous and
flourishing; both in men and treasure; and he imagined their force and
power was not so much abated as their spite and anger increased by the
late overthrows they had received from the Romans。
  There was a man of Antium; called Tullus Aufidius; who; for his
wealth and bravery and the splendour of his family; had the respect
and privilege of a king among the Volscians; but whom Marcius knew
to have a particular hostility to himself; above all other Romans。
Frequent menaces and challenges had passed in battle between them; and
those exchanges of defiance to which their hot and eager emulation
is apt to prompt young soldiers had added private animosity to their
national feelings of opposition。 Yet for all this; considering
Tullus to have a certain generosity of temper; and knowing that no
Volscian; so much as he; desired an occasion to requite upon the
Romans the evils they had done; he did what much confirms the
saying; that…

        〃Hard and unequal is with wrath the strife;
         Which makes us buy its pleasure with our life。〃

Putting on such a dress as would make him appear to any whom he
might meet most unlike what he really was; like Ulysses…

        〃The town be entered of his mortal foes。〃

  His arrival at Antium was about evening; and; though several met him
in the streets; yet he passed along without being known to any and
went directly to the house of Tullus; and; entering undiscovered;
and went up to the fire…hearth; and seated himself there without
speaking a word; covering up his head。 Those of the family could not
but wonder; and yet they were afraid either to raise or question
him; for there was a certain air of majesty both in his posture and
silence; but they recounted to Tullus; being then at supper; the
strangeness of this accident。 He immediately rose from table and
came in; and asked who he was and for what business be came thither;
and then Marcius; unmuffling himself; and pausing awhile; 〃If;〃 said
he; 〃you cannot call me to mind; Tullus; or do not believe your eyes
concerning me; I must of necessity be my own accuser。 I am Caius
Marcius; the author of so much mischief to the Volscians; of which;
were I seeking to deny it; the surname of Coriolanus I now bear
would be a sufficient evidence against me。 The one recompense I have
received for all the hardships and perils I have gone through was
the title that proclaims my enmity to your nation; and this is the
only thing which is still left me。 Of all other advantages; I have
been stripped and deprived by the envy and outrage of the Roman
people; and the cowardice and treachery of the magistrates and those
of my own order。 I am driven out as an exile; and become an humble
suppliant at your hearth; not so much for safety and protection
(should I have come hither; had I been afraid to die?) as to seek
vengeance against those that expelled me; which; methinks; I have
already obtained; by putting myself into your hands。 If; therefore;
you have really a mind to attack your enemies; come then; make use
of that affliction you see me in to assist the enterprise; and convert
my personal infelicity into a common blessing to the Volscians; as;
indeed; I am likely to be more serviceable in fighting for than
against you; with the advantage which I now possess; of knowing all
the secrets of the enemy that I am attacking。 But if you decline to
make any further attempts I am neither desirous to live myself; nor
will it be well in you to preserve a person who has been your rival
and adversary of old; and now; when he offers you his service; appears
unprofitable and useless to you。〃
  Tullus; on hearing this; was extremely rejoiced; and giving him
his right hand; exclaimed; 〃Rise; Marcius; and be of good courage;
it is a great happiness you bring to Antium; in the present use you
make of yourself; expect everything that is good from the
Volscians。〃 He then proceeded to feast and entertain him with every
display of kindness; and for several days after they were in close
deliberation together on the prospects of a war。
  While this design was forming; there were great troubles and
commotions at Rome; from the animosity of the senators against the
people; heightened just now by the late condemnation of Marcius。
Besides that their soothsayers and priests; and even private
persons; reported signs and prodigies not to be neglected; one of
which is stated to have occurred as follows: Titus Latinus; a man of
ordinary condition; but of a quiet and virtuous character; free from
all superstitious fancies; and yet more from vanity and
exaggeration; had an apparition in his sleep; as if Jupiter came and
bade him tell the senate; that it was with a bad and unacceptable
dancer that they had headed his procession。 Having beheld the
vision; he said; he did not much attend to it at the first appearance;
but after he had seen and slighted it a second and third time; he
had lost a hopeful son; and was himself struck with a palsy。 He was
brought into the senate on a litter to tell this; and the story goes
that he had no sooner delivered his message there; but he at once felt
his strength return and got upon his legs; and went home alone without
need of any support。 The senators; in wonder and surprise; made a
diligent search into the matter。 That which his dream alluded to was
this: some citizen had; for some heinous offence; given up a servant
of his to the rest of his fellows with charge to whip him first
through the market; and then to kill him; and while they were
executing this command; and scourging the wretch; who screwed and
turned himself into all manner of shapes and unseemly motions; through
the pain he was in; the solemn procession in honour of Jupiter chanced
to follow at their heels。 Several of the attendants on which were;
indeed; scandalized at the 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 0

你可能喜欢的