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第21章

pompey-第21章

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lightly as if they were to engage only with Tigranes; King of Armenia;
or some petty Nabathaean king; not with that Caesar and his army
that had stormed a thousand towns; and subdued more than three hundred
several nations; that had fought innumerable battles with the
Germans and Gauls; and always carried the victory; that had taken a
million of men prisoners; and slain as many upon the spot in pitched
battles?
  But they went on soliciting and clamouring; and on reaching the
plain of Pharsalia; they forced Pompey by their pressure and
importunities to call a council of war; where Labienus; general of the
horse; stood up first and swore that he would not return out of the
battle if he did not rout the enemies; and all the rest took the
same oath。 That night Pompey dreamed that; as he went into the
theatre; the people received him with great applause; and that he
himself adorned the temple of Venus the Victorious with many spoils。
This vision partly encouraged; but partly also disheartened him;
fearing lest that splendour and ornament to Venus should be made
with spoils furnished by himself to Caesar; who derived his family
from that goddess。 Besides there were some panic fears and alarms that
ran through the camp; with such a noise that it awakened him out of
his sleep。 And about the time of renewing the watch towards morning;
there appeared a great light over Caesar's camp whilst they were all
at rest; and from thence a ball of flaming fire was carried into
Pompey's camp; which Caesar himself says he saw as he was walking
his rounds。
  Now Caesar having designed to raise his camp with the morning and
move to Scotussa; whilst the soldiers were busy in pulling down
their tents; and sending on their cattle and servants before them with
their baggage; there came in scouts who brought word that they saw
arms carried to and fro in the enemy's camp; and heard a noise and
running up and down as of men preparing for battle; not long after
there came in other scouts with further intelligence; that the first
ranks were already set in battle array。 Thereupon Caesar; when he
had told them that the wished…for day was come at last; when they
should fight with men; not with hunger and famine; instantly gave
orders for the red colours to be set up before his tent; that being
the ordinary signal of battle among the Romans。 As soon as the
soldiers saw that; they left their tents; and with great shouts of joy
ran to their arms; the officers likewise; on their part; drawing up
their companies in order of battle; every man fell into his proper
rank without any trouble or noise; as quietly and orderly as if they
had been in a dance。
  Pompey himself led the right wing of his army against Antony; and
placed his father…in…law; Scipio; in the middle against Lucius
Calvinus。 The left wing was commanded by Lucius Domitius; and
supported by the great mass of the horse。 For almost the whole cavalry
was posted there in the hope of crushing Caesar; and cutting off the
tenth legion; which was spoken of as the stoutest in all the army; and
in which Caesar himself usually fought in person。 Caesar observing the
left wing of the enemy to be lined and fortified with such a mighty
guard of horse; and alarmed at the gallantry of their appearance; sent
for a detachment of six cohorts out of the reserves; and placed them
in the rear of the tenth legion; commanding them not to stir; lest
they should be discovered by the enemy; but when the enemy's horse
should begin to charge; and press upon them; that they should make
up with all speed to the front through the foremost ranks and not
throw their javelins at a distance; as is usual with brave soldiers;
that they come to a close fight with their swords the sooner; but that
they should strike them upwards into the eyes and faces of the
enemy; telling them that those fine young dancers would never endure
the steel shining in their eyes; but would fly to save their
handsome faces。 This was Caesar's employment at that time。 But while
he was thus instructing his soldiers; Pompey on horseback was
viewing the order of both armies; and when he saw how well the enemy
kept their ranks; expecting quietly the signal of battle; and; on
the contrary; how impatient and unsteady his own men were; waving up
and down in disorder for want of experience; he was very much afraid
that their ranks would be broken upon the first onset; and therefore
he gave out orders that the van should make a stand; and keeping close
in their ranks should receive the enemy's charge。 Caesar much condemns
this command; which; he says; not only took off from the strength of
the blows; which would otherwise have been made with a spring; but
also lost the men the impetus; which; more than anything; in the
moment of their coming upon the enemy; fills soldiers with impulse and
inspiration; the very shouts and rapid pace adding to their fury; of
which Pompey deprived his men; arresting them in their course and
cooling down their heat。
  Caesar's army consisted of twenty…two thousand; and Pompey's of
somewhat above twice as many。 When the signal of battle was given on
both sides; and the trumpets began to sound a charge; most men of
course were fully occupied with their own matters; only some few of
the noblest Romans; together with certain Greeks there present;
standing as spectators without the battle; seeing the armies now ready
to join; could not but consider in themselves to what a pass private
ambition and emulation had brought the empire。 Common arms; and
kindred ranks drawn up under the selfsame standards; the whole
flower and strength of the same single city here meeting in
collision with itself; offered plain proof how blind and how mad a
thing human nature is when once possessed with any passion; for if
they had been desirous only to rule; and enjoy in peace what they
had conquered in war; the greatest and best part of the world was
subject to them both by sea and land。 But if there was yet a thirst in
their ambition; that must still be fed with new trophies and triumphs;
the Parthian and German wars would yield matter enough to satisfy
the most covetous of honour。 Scythia; moreover; was yet unconquered;
and the Indians too; where their ambition might be coloured over
with the specious pretext of civilizing barbarous nations。 And what
Scythian horse; Parthian arrows; or Indian riches could be able to
resist seventy thousand Roman soldiers; well appointed in arms;
under the command of two such generals as Pompey and Caesar; whose
names they had heard of before that of the Romans; and whose
prowess; by their conquests of such wild; remote; savage; and
brutish nations; was spread further than the fame of the Romans
themselves? To…day they met in conflict; and could no longer be
induced to spare their country; even out of regard for their own glory
or the fear of losing the name which till this day both had held; of
having never yet been defeated。 As for their former private ties;
and the charms of Julia; and the marriage that had made them near
connections; these could now only be looked upon as tricks of state;
the mere securities of a treaty made to serve the needs of an
occasion; not the pledges of any real friendship。
  Now; therefore; as soon as the plains of Pharsalia were covered with
men; horse; and armour; and that the signal of battle was raised on
either side; Caius Crassianus; a centurion; who commanded a company of
one hundred and twenty men; was the first that advanced out of
Caesar's army to give the charge and acquit himself of a solemn
engagement that he had made to Caesar。 He had been the first man
that Caesar had seen going out of the camp in the morning; and Caesar;
after saluting him; had asked him what he thought of the coming
battle。 To which he; stretching out his right hand; replied aloud;
〃Thine is the victory; O Caesar; thou shalt conquer gloriously; and
I myself this day will be the subject of thy praise either alive or
dead。〃 In pursuance of this promise he hastened forward; and being
followed by many more; charged into the midst of the enemy。 There they
came at once to a close fight with their swords; and made a gre

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