贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > eumenes >

第2章

eumenes-第2章

小说: eumenes 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!



serve on horseback; and buying up a number of horses; which he
distributed among such of his own men as he most confided in;
stimulating the courage of his new soldiers by gifts and honours;
and inuring their bodies to service by frequent marching and
exercising; so that the Macedonians were some of them astonished;
others overjoyed to see that in so short a time he had got together
a body of no less than six thousand three hundred horsemen。
  But when Craterus and Antipater; having subdued the Greeks; advanced
into Asia; with intentions to quell the power of Perdiccas; and were
reported to design an invasion of Cappadocia; Perdiccas; resolving
himself to march against Ptolemy; made Eumenes commander…in…chief of
all the forces of Armenia and Cappadocia; and to that purpose wrote
letters; requiring Alcetas and Neoptolemus to be obedient to
Eumenes; and giving full commission to Eumenes to dispose and order
all things as he thought fit。 Alcetas flatly refused to serve; because
his Macedonians; he said were ashamed to fight against Antipater;
and loved Craterus so well; they were ready to receive him for their
commander。 Neoptolemus designed treachery against Eumenes; but was
discovered; and being summoned; refused to obey; and put himself in
a posture of defence。 Here Eumenes first found the benefit of his
own foresight and contrivance; for his foot being beaten; he routed
Neoptolemus with his horse; and took all his baggage; and coming up
with his whole force upon the phalanx while broken and disordered in
its flight; obliged the men to lay down their arms and take an oath to
serve under him。 Neoptolemus; with some few stragglers whom he
rallied; fled to Craterus and Antipater。 From them had come an embassy
to Eumenes; inviting him over to their side; offering to secure him in
his present government and to give him additional command; both of men
and of territory; with the advantage of gaining his enemy Antipater to
become his friend; and keeping Craterus his friend from turning to
be his enemy。 To which Eumenes replied that he could not so suddenly
be reconciled to his old enemy Antipater; especially at a time when he
saw him use his friends like enemies; but was ready to reconcile
Craterus to Perdiccas; upon any and equitable terms; but in case of
any aggression; he would resist the injustice to his last breath;
and would rather lose his life than betray his word。
  Antipater; receiving this answer; took time to consider upon the
whole matter; when Neoptolemus arrived from his defeat and
acquainted them with the ill success of his arms; and urged them to
give him assistance; to come; both of them if possible; but Craterus
at any rate; for the Macedonians loved him so excessively; that if
they saw but his hat; or heard his voice; they would all pass over
in a body with their arms。 And in truth Craterus had a mighty name
among them; and the soldiers after Alexander's death were extremely
fond of him; remembering how he had often for their sakes incurred
Alexander's displeasure; doing his best to withhold him when he
began to follow the Persian fashions; and always maintaining the
customs of his country; when; through pride and luxuriousness; they
began to be disregarded。 Craterus; therefore; sent on Antipater into
Cilicia; and himself and Neoptolemus marched with a large division
of the army against Eumenes; expecting to come upon him unawares;
and to find his army disordered with revelling after the late victory。
Now that Eumenes should suspect his coming; and be prepared to receive
him; is an argument of his vigilance; but not perhaps a proof of any
extraordinary sagacity; but that he should contrive both to conceal
from his enemies the disadvantages of his position; and from his own
men whom they were to fight with; so that he led them on against
Craterus himself; without their knowing that he commanded the enemy;
this; indeed; seems to show peculiar address and skill in the general。
He gave out that Neoptolemus and Pigres were approaching with some
Cappadocian and Paphlagonian horse。 And at night; having resolved on
marching; he fell asleep; and had an extraordinary dream。 For he
thought he saw two Alexanders ready to engage; each commanding his
several phalanx; the one assisted by Minerva; the other by Ceres;
and that after a hot dispute; he on whose side Minerva was; was
beaten; and Ceres; gathering ears of corn; wove them into a crown
for the victor。
  This vision Eumenes interpreted at once as boding success to
himself; who was to fight for a fruitful country; and at that very
time covered with the young ears; the whole being sown with corn;
and the fields so thick with it that they made a beautiful show of a
long peace。 And he was further emboldened when he understood that
the enemy's password was Minerva and Alexander。 Accordingly he also
gave out as his Ceres and Alexander; and gave his men orders to make
garlands for themselves; and to dress their arms with wreaths of corn。
He found himself under many temptations to discover to his captains
and officers whom they were to engage with; and not to conceal a
secret of such moment in his own breast alone; yet he kept to his
first resolutions; and ventured to run the hazard of his own judgment。
  When he came to give battle; he would not trust any Macedonian to
engage Craterus; but appointed two troops of foreign horse;
commanded by Pharnabazus; son to Artabazus; and Phoenix of Tenedos;
with order to charge as soon as ever they saw the enemy; without
giving them leisure to speak or retire; or receiving any herald or
trumpet from them。 For he was exceedingly afraid about his
Macedonians; lest; if they found out Craterus to be there; they should
go over to his side。 He himself; with three hundred of his best horse;
led the right wing against Neoptolemus。 When having passed a little
hill they came in view; and were seen advancing with more than
ordinary briskness; Craterus was amazed; and bitterly reproached
Neoptolemus for deceiving him with hopes of the Macedonians' revolt;
but he encouraged his men to do bravely; and forthwith charged。
  The first engagement was very fierce; and the spears being soon
broken to pieces; they came to close fighting with their swords; and
here Craterus did by no means dishonour Alexander; but slew many of
his enemies and repulsed many assaults; but at last received a wound
in his side from a Thracian; and fell off his horse。 Being down;
many not knowing him went past him; but Gorgias; one of Eumenes's
captains; knew him; and alighting from his horse kept guard over him
as he lay badly wounded and slowly dying。 In the meantime
Neoptolemus and Eumenes were engaged; who; being inveterate and mortal
enemies; sought for one another; but missed for the two first courses;
but in the third discovering one another; they drew their swords;
and with loud shouts immediately charged。 And their horses striking
against one another like two galleys; they quitted their reins; and
taking mutual hold pulled at one another's helmets; and at the
armour from their shoulders。 While they were thus struggling; their
horses went from under them; and they fell together to the ground;
there again still keeping their hold and wrestling。 Neoptolemus was
getting up first; but Eumenes wounded him in the ham; and got upon his
feet before him。 Neoptolemus supporting himself upon one knee; the
other leg being disabled; and himself undermost; fought
courageously; though his blows were not mortal; but receiving a stroke
in the neck he fell and ceased to resist。 Eumenes; transported with
passion and his inveterate hatred to him; fell to reviling and
stripping him; and perceived not that his sword was still in his hand。
And with this he wounded Eumenes under the bottom of his corslet in
the groin; but in truth more frightened than hurt him; his blow
being faint for want of strength。 Having stript the dead body; ill
as he was with the wounds he had received in his legs and arms; he
took horse again; and hurried towards the left wing of his army; which
he supposed to be still engaged。 Hearing of the death of Craterus;
he rode up to him; and finding there was yet some lif

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的