marcus brutus-第9节

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The　figure　answered　〃I　am　your　evil　genius；　Brutus；　you　shall　see　me
at　Philippi。〃　To　which　Brutus；　not　at　all　disturbed；　replied；　〃Then
I　shall　see　you。〃
　　As　soon　as　the　apparition　vanished；　he　called　his　servants　to　him；
who　all　told　him　that　they　had　neither　heard　any　voice　nor　seen　any
vision。　So　then　he　continued　watching　till　the　morning；　when　he　went
to　Cassius；　and　told　him　of　what　he　had　seen。　He；　who　followed　the
principles　of　Epicurus's　philosophy；　and　often　used　to　dispute　with
Brutus　concerning　matters　of　this　nature；　spoke　to　him　thus　upon
this　occasion：　〃It　is　the　opinion　of　our　sect；　Brutus；　that　not　all
that　we　feel　or　see　is　real　and　true；　but　that　the　sense　is　a　most
slippery　and　deceitful　thing；　and　the　mind　yet　more　quick　and　subtle
to　put　the　sense　in　motion　and　affect　it　with　every　kind　of　change
upon　no　real　occasion　of　fact；　just　as　an　impression　is　made　upon　wax；
and　the　soul　of　man；　which　has　in　itself　both　what　imprints；　and
what　is　imprinted　on；　may　most　easily；　by　its　own　operations；
produce　and　assume　every　variety　of　shape　and　figure。　This　is
evident　from　the　sudden　changes　of　our　dreams；　in　which　the
imaginative　principle；　once　started　by　any　trifling　matter；　goes
through　a　whole　series　of　most　diverse　emotions　and　appearances。　It　is
its　nature　to　be　ever　in　motion；　and　its　motion　is　fantasy　or
conception。　But　besides　all　this；　in　your　case；　the　body；　being
tired　and　distressed　with　continual　toil；　naturally　works　upon　the
mind　and　keeps　it　in　an　excited　and　unusual　condition。　But　that
there　should　be　any　such　thing　as　supernatural　beings；　or；　if　there
were；　that　they　should　have　human　shape　or　voice　or　power　that　can
reach　to　us；　there　is　no　reason　for　believing；　though　I　confess　I
could　wish　that　there　were　such　beings；　that　we　might　not　rely　upon
our　arms　only；　and　our　horses　and　our　navy；　all　which　are　so
numerous　and　powerful；　but　might　be　confident　of　the　assistance　of
gods　also；　in　this　our　most　sacred　and　honourable　attempt。〃　With
such　discourses　as　these　Cassius　soothed　the　mind　of　Brutus。　But
just　as　the　troops　were　going　on　board；　two　eagles　flew　and　lighted　on
the　first　two　ensigns；　and　crossed　over　the　water　with　them；　and　never
ceased　following　the　soldiers　and　being　fed　by　them　till　they　came
to　Philippi；　and　there；　but　one　day　before　the　fight；　they　both　flew
away。
　　Brutus　had　already　reduced　most　of　the　places　and　people　of　these
parts；　but　they　now　marched　on　as　far　as　to　the　coast　opposite　Thasos；
and；　if　there　were　any　city　or　man　of　power　that　yet　stood　out；
brought　them　all　to　subjection。　At　this　point　Norbanus　was　encamped；
in　a　place　called　the　Straits；　near　Symbolum。　Him　they　surrounded　in
such　sort　that　they　forced　him　to　dislodge　and　quit　the　place；　and
Norbanus　narrowly　escaped　losing　his　whole　army；　Caesar　by　reason　of
sickness　being　too　far　behind；　only　Antony　came　to　his　relief　with
such　wonderful　swiftness　that　Brutus　and　those　with　him　did　not
believe　when　they　heard　he　was　come。　Caesar　came　up　ten　days　after；
and　encamped　over　against　Brutus；　and　Antony　over　against　Cassius。
　　The　space　between　the　two　armies　is　called　by　the　Romans　the　Campi
Philippi。　Never　had　two　such　large　Roman　armies　come　together　to
engage　each　other。　That　of　Brutus　was　somewhat　less　in　number　than
that　of　Caesar；　but　in　the　splendidness　of　the　men's　arms　and　richness
of　their　equipage　it　wonderfully　exceeded；　for　most　of　their　arms　were
of　gold　and　silver；　which　Brutus　had　lavishly　bestowed　among　them。　For
though　in　other　things　he　had　accustomed　his　commanders　to　use　all
frugality　and　self…control；　yet　he　thought　that　the　riches　which
soldiers　carried　about　them　in　their　hands　and　on　their　bodies　would
add　something　of　spirit　to　those　that　were　desirous　of　glory；　and
would　make　those　that　were　covetous　and　lovers　of　gain　fight　the
more　valiantly　to　preserve　the　arms　which　were　their　estate。
　　Caesar　made　a　view　and　lustration　of　his　army　within　his　trenches；
and　distributed　only　a　little　corn　and　but　five　drachmas　to　each
soldier　for　the　sacrifice　they　were　to　make。　But　Brutus；　either
pitying　this　poverty；　or　disdaining　this　meanness　of　spirit　in　Caesar；
first；　as　the　custom　was；　made　a　general　muster　and　lustration　of
the　army　in　the　open　field；　and　then　distributed　a　great　number　of
beasts　for　sacrifice　to　every　regiment；　and　fifty　drachmas　to　every
soldier；　so　that　in　the　love　of　his　soldiers　and　their　readiness　to
fight　for　him　Brutus　had　much　the　advantage。　But　at　the　time　of
lustration　it　is　reported　that　an　unlucky　omen　happened　to　Cassius；
for　his　lictor；　presenting　him　with　a　garland　that　he　was　to　wear　at
sacrifice；　gave　it　him　the　wrong　way　up。　Further；　it　is　said　that　some
time　before；　at　a　certain　solemn　procession；　a　golden　image　of
Victory；　which　was　carried　before　Cassius；　fell　down　by　a　slip　of
him　that　carried　it。　Besides　this　there　appeared　many　birds　of　prey
daily　about　the　camp；　and　swarms　of　bees　were　seen　in　a　place　within
the　trenches；　which　place　the　soothsayers　ordered　shut　out　from　the
camp；　to　remove　the　superstition　which　insensibly　began　to　infect　even
Cassius　himself　and　shake　him　in　his　Epicurean　philosophy；　and　had
wholly　seized　and　subdued　the　soldiers；　from　whence　it　was　that
Cassius　was　reluctant　to　put　all　to　the　hazard　of　a　present　battle；
but　advised　rather　to　draw　out　the　war　until　further　time；　considering
that　they　were　stronger　in　money　and　provisions；　but　in　numbers　of　men
and　arms　inferior。　But　Brutus；　on　the　contrary；　was　still；　as
formerly；　desirous　to　come　with　all　speed　to　the　decision　of　a　battle；
that　so　he　might　either　restore　his　country　to　her　liberty；　or　else
deliver　from　their　misery　all　those　numbers　of　people　whom　they
harassed　with　the　expenses　and　the　service　and　exactions　of　the　war。
And　finding　also　his　light…horse　in　several　skirmishes　still　to　have
had　the　better；　he　was　the　more　encouraged　and　resolved；　and　some　of
the　soldiers　having　deserted　and　gone　to　the　enemy；　and　others
beginning　to　accuse　and　suspect　one　another；　many　of　Cassius's　friends
in　the　council　changed　their　opinions　to　that　of　Brutus。　But　there　was
one　of　Brutus's　party；　named　Attellius；　who　opposed　his　resolution；
advising　rather　that　they　should　tarry　over　the　winter。　And　when
Brutus　asked　him　in　how　much　better　a　condition　he　hoped　to　be　a
year　after；　his　answer　was；　〃If　I　gain　nothing　else；　yet　I　shall
live　so　much　the　longer。〃　Cassius　was　much　displeased　at　this
answer；　and　among　the　rest；　Attellius　was　had　in　much　disesteem　for
it。　And　so　it　was　presently　resolved　to　give　battle　the　next　day。
　　Brutus　that　night　at　supper　showed　himself　very　cheerful　and　full　of
hope；　and　reasoned　on　subjects　of　philosophy　with　his　friends；　and
afterwards　went　to　his　rest。　But　Messala　says　that　Cassius　supped
privately　with　a　few　of　his　nearest　acquaintance；　and　appeared
thoughtful　and　silent；　contrary　to　his　temper　and　custom；　that　after
supper　he　took　him　earnestly　by　the　hand；　and　speaking　to　him；　as
his　manner　was　when　he　wished　to　show　affection；　in　Greek；　said；　〃Bear
witness　for　me；　Messala；　that　I　am　brought　into　the　same　necessity
as　Pompey　the　Great　was　before　me；　of　hazarding　the　liberty　of　my
country　upon　one　battle；　yet　ought　we　to　be　of　courage；　relying　on　our
good　fortune；　which　it　were　unfair　to　mistrust；　though　we　take　evil
counsels。〃　These；　Messala　says；　were　the　last　words　that　Cassius　spoke
before　he　bade　him　farewell；　and　that　he　was　invited　to　sup　with　him
the　next　night；　being　his　birthday。
　　As　soon　as　it　was　morning；　the　signal　of　battle；　the　scarlet　coat；
was　set　out　in　Brutus's　and　Cassius's　camps；　and　they　themselves　met
in　the　middle　space　between　their　two　armies。　There　Cassius　spoke　thus
to　Brutus：　〃Be　it　as　we　hope；　O　Brutus；　that　this　day　we　may　overcome；
and　all　the　rest　of　our　time　may　live　a　happy　life　together；　but　since
the　greatest　of　human　concerns　are　the　most　uncertain；　and　since　it
may　be　difficult　for　us　ever　to　see　one　another　again；　if　the　battle
should　go　against　us；　tell　me；　what　is　your　resolution　concerning
flight　and　death？〃　Brutus　answered；　〃When　I　was　young；　Cassius；　and
unskillful　in　affairs；　I　was　led；　I　know　not　how；　into　uttering　a　bold
sentence　in　philosophy；　and　blamed　Cato　for　killing　himself；　as
thinking　it　an　irreligious　act；　and　not　a　valiant　one　among　men；　to
try　to　evade　the　divine　course　of　things；　and　not　fearlessly　to
receive　and　undergo　the　evil　that　shall　happen；　but　run　away　from
it。　But　now　in　my　own　fortunes　I　am　of　another　mind；　for　if　Providence
shall　not　dispose　what　we　now　undertake　according　to　our　wishes；　I
resolve　to　put　no　further　hopes　or　warlike　preparations　to　the
proof；　but　will　die　contented　with　my　fortune。　For　I　already　have
given　up　my　life　to　my　country　on　the　Ides　of　March；　and　have　lived
since　then　a　second　life　for　her　sake；　with　liberty　and　honour。〃
Cassius　at　these　words　smiled；　and；　embracing　Brutus；　said；　〃With
these　resolutions　let　us　go　on　upon　the　enemy；　for　either　we　ourselves
shall　conquer；　or　have　no　cause　to　fear　those　that　do。〃　After　this
they　discoursed　among　their　friends　about　the　ordering　of　the
battle；　and　Brutus　desired　of　Cassius