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marcus brutus-第12节

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but at the first onset fled。 After defeating these; the enemy at
once took Brutus in the rear; who all the while did all that was
possible for an expert general and valiant soldier; doing everything
in the peril; by counsel and by hand; that might recover the
victory。 But that which had been his superiority in the first fight
was to his prejudice in the second。 For in the first; that part of the
enemy which was beaten was killed on the spot; but of Cassius's
soldiers that fled; few had been slain; and those that escaped;
daunted with their defeat; infected the other and larger part of the
army with their want of spirit and their disorder。 Here Marcus; the
son of Cato; was slain; fighting and behaving himself with great
bravery in the midst of the youth of the highest rank and greatest
valour。 He would neither fly nor give the least ground; but still
fighting and declaring who he was and naming his father's name; he
fell upon a heap of dead bodies of the enemy。 And of the rest; the
bravest were slain in defending Brutus。
  There was in the field one Lucilius; an excellent man and a friend
of Brutus; who; seeing some barbarian horse taking no notice of any
other in the pursuit; but galloping at full speed after Brutus;
resolved to stop them; though with the hazard of his life; and;
letting himself fall a little behind; he told them that he was Brutus。
They believed him the rather; because he prayed to be carried to
Antony; as if he feared Caesar; but durst trust him。 They; overjoyed
with their prey; and thinking themselves wonderfully fortunate;
carried him along with them in the night; having first sent messengers
to Antony of their coming。 He was much pleased; and came to meet them;
and all the rest that heard that Brutus was taken and brought alive
flocked together to see him; some pitying his fortune; others accusing
him of a meanness unbecoming his former glory; that out of too much
love of life he would be a prey to barbarians。 When they came near
together; Antony stood still; considering with himself in what
manner he should receive Brutus; but Lucilius; being brought up to
him; with great confidence said: 〃Be assured; Antony; that no enemy
either has taken or ever shall take Marcus Brutus alive (forbid it;
heaven; that fortune should ever so much prevail above virtue!); but
he shall be found; alive or dead; as becomes himself。 As for me; I
am come hither by a cheat that I put upon your soldiers; and am ready;
upon this occasion; to suffer any severities you will inflict。〃 All
were amazed to hear Lucilius speak these words。 But Antony; turning
himself to those that brought him; said: 〃I perceive; my
fellow…soldiers; that you are concerned; and take it ill that you have
been thus deceived; and think yourselves abused and injured by it; but
know that you have met with a booty better than that you sought。 For
you were in search of an enemy; but you have brought me here a friend。
For indeed I am uncertain how I should have used Brutus; if you had
brought him alive; but of this I am sure; that it is better to have
such men as Lucilius our friends than our enemies。〃 Having said
this; he embraced Lucilius; and for the present commended him to the
care of one of his friends; and ever after found him a steady and a
faithful friend。
  Brutus had now passed a little brook; running among trees and
under steep rocks; and; it being night; would go no further; but sat
down in a hollow place with a great rock projecting before it; with
a few of his officers and friends about him。 At first; looking up to
heaven; that was then full of stars; he repeated two verses; one of
which; Volumnius writes; was this:…

         〃Punish; great Jove; the author of these ills。〃

  The other he says he has forgot。 Soon after; naming severally all
his friends that had been slain before his face in the battle; he
groaned heavily; especially at the mentioning of Flavius and Labeo;
the latter his lieutenant; and the other chief officer of his
engineers。 In the meantime; one of his companions; that was very
thirsty and saw Brutus in the same condition; took his helmet and
ran to the brook for water; when a noise being heard from the other
side of the river; Volumnius; taking Dardanus; Brutus's armour…bearer;
with him; went out to see what it was。 They returned in a short space;
and inquired about the water。 Brutus; smiling with much meaning;
said to Volumnius。 〃It is all drunk; but you shall have some more
fetched。〃 But he that had brought the first water; being sent again;
was in great danger of being taken by the enemy; and having received a
wound; with much difficulty escaped。
  Now Brutus guessing that not many of his men were slain in the
fight; Statyllius undertook to dash through the enemy (for there was
no other way); and to see what was become of their camp; and promised;
if he found all things there safe; to hold up a torch for a signal;
and then return。 The torch was held up; Statyllius got safe to the
camp; but when after a long time he did not return; Brutus said; 〃If
Statyllius be alive; he will come back。〃 But it happened that in his
return he fell into the enemy's hands; and was slain。
  The night now being far spent; Brutus; as he was sitting; leaned his
head towards his servant; Clitus; and spoke to him; he answered him
not; but fell a weeping。 After that he drew aside his armour…bearer;
Dardanus; and had some discourse with him in private。 At last;
speaking to Volumnius in Greek; he reminded him of their common
studies and former discipline and begged that he would take hold of
his sword with him; and help him to thrust it through him。 Volumnius
put away his request; and several others did the like; and some one
saying; that there was no staying there; but they needs must fly;
Brutus; rising up; said; 〃Yes; indeed; we must fly; but not with our
feet; but with our hands。〃 Then giving each of them his right hand;
with a countenance full of pleasure; he said; that he found an
infinite satisfaction in this; that none of his friends had been false
to him; that as for fortune; he was angry with that only for his
country's sake; as for himself; he thought himself much more happy
than they who had overcome; not only as he had been a little time ago;
but even now in his present condition; since he was leaving behind him
such a reputation of his virtue as none of the conquerors with all
their arms and riches should ever be able to acquire; no more than
they could hinder posterity from believing and saying; that being
unjust and wicked men; they had destroyed the just and the good; and
usurped a power to which they had no right。 After this; having
exhorted and entreated all about him to provide for their own
safety; he withdrew from them with two or three only of his peculiar
friends; Strato was one of these; with whom he had contracted an
acquaintance when they studied rhetoric together。 Him he placed next
to himself; and; taking hold of the hilt of his sword and directing it
with both his hands; fell upon it; and killed himself。 But others say;
that not he himself; but Strato; at the earnest entreaty of Brutus;
turning aside his head; held the sword; upon which he violently
throwing himself; it pierced his breast; and he immediately died。 This
same Strato; Messala; a friend of Brutus; being after reconciled to
Caesar; brought to him once at his leisure; and with tears in his eyes
said; 〃This; O Caesar; is the man that did the last friendly office to
my beloved Brutus。〃 Upon which Caesar received him kindly; and had
good use of him in his labours and his battles at Actium; being one of
the Greeks that proved their bravery in his service。 It is reported of
Messala himself; that; when Caesar once gave him this commendation;
that though he was his fiercest enemy at Philippi in the cause of
Brutus; yet he had shown himself his most entire friend in the fight
of Actium; he answered; 〃You have always found me; Caesar; on the best
and justest side。〃
  Brutus's dead body was found by Antony; who commanded the richest
purple mantle that he had to be thrown over it; and afterwards the
mantle being stolen; he found the thief; and had him put to death。
He sent the ashes of Brutus to his mother Servilia。 As for Porcia
his wife; Nicolaus the philosopher and Valerius Maximus write; that;
being desirous to die; but being hindered by her friends; who
continually watched her; she snatched some burning charcoal out of the
fire; and; shutting it close in her mouth; stifled herself; and
died。 Though there is a letter current from Brutus to his friends;
in which he laments the death of Porcia; and accuses them for
neglecting her so that she desired to die rather than languish with
her disease。 So that it seems Nicolaus was mistaken in the time; for
this epistle (if it indeed is authentic and truly Brutus's) gives us
to understand the malady and love of Porcia; and the way in which
her death occurred。




                               THE END

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