pompey-第3章
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it; had done nothing worthy of the large forces at his disposal;
Pompey urged that it could not be fair or honourable for him to take a
province out of the hands of his senior in command and his superior in
reputation; however; if Metellus were willing; and should request
his service; he should be very ready to accompany and assist him in
the war; which when Metellus came to understand; he approved of the
proposal; and invited him over by letter。 On this Pompey fell
immediately into Gaul; where he not only achieved wonderful exploits
of himself; but also fired up and kindled again that bold and
warlike spirit; which old age had in a manner extinguished in
Metellus; into a new heat; just as molten copper; they say; when
poured upon that which is cold and solid; will dissolve and melt it
faster than fire itself。 But as when a famous wrestler has gained
the first place among men; and borne away the prizes at all the games;
it is not usual to take account of his victories as a boy; or to enter
them upon record among the rest; so with the exploits of Pompey in his
youth; though they were extraordinary in themselves; yet because
they were obscured and buried in the multitude and greatness of his
later wars and conquests; I dare not be particular in them; lest; by
trifling away time in the lesser moments of his youth; we should be
driven to omit those greater actions and fortunes which best
illustrate his character。
Now; when Sylla had brought all Italy under his dominion; and was
proclaimed dictator; he began to reward the rest of his followers;
by giving them wealth; appointing them to offices in the state; and
granting them freely and without restriction any favours they asked
for。 But as for Pompey; admiring his valour and conduct; and
thinking that he might prove a great stay and support to him hereafter
in his affairs; he sought means to attach him to himself by some
personal alliance; and his wife Metella joining in his wishes; they
two persuaded Pompey to put away Antistia; and marry Aemilia; the
step…daughter of Sylla; born by Metella to Scaurus; her former
husband; she being at that very time the wife of another man; living
with him; and with child by him。 These were the very tyrannies of
marriage; and much more agreeable to the times under Sylla than to the
nature and habits of Pompey; that Aemilia great with child should
be; as it were; ravished from the embraces of another for him; and
that Antistia should be divorced with dishonour and misery by him; for
whose sake she had been but just before bereft of her father。 For
Antistius was murdered in the senate; because he was suspected to be a
favourer of Sylla for Pompey's sake; and her mother; likewise; after
she had seen all these indignities; made away with herself; a new
calamity to be added to the tragic accompaniments of this marriage;
and that there might be nothing wanting to complete them; Aemilia
herself died; almost immediately after entering Pompey's house; in
childbed。
About this time news came to Sylla that Perpenna was fortifying
himself in Sicily; that the island was now become a refuge and
receptacle for the relics of the adverse party; that Carbo was
hovering about those seas with a navy; that Domitius had fallen in
upon Africa; and that many of the exiled men of note who had escaped
from the proscriptions were daily flocking into those parts。 Against
these; therefore; Pompey was sent with a large force; and no sooner
was he arrived in Sicily; but Perpenna immediately departed; leaving
the whole island to him。 Pompey received the distressed cities into
favour; and treated all with great humanity; except the Mamertines
in Messena; for when they protested against his court and
jurisdiction; alleging their privilege and exemption founded upon an
ancient charter or grant of the Romans; he replied sharply; 〃What!
will you never cease prating of laws to us that have swords by our
sides?〃 It was thought; likewise; that he showed some inhumanity to
Carbo; seeming rather to insult over his misfortunes than to
chastise his crimes。 For if there had been a necessity; as perhaps
there was; that he should be taken off; that might have been done at
first; as soon as he was taken prisoner; for then it would have been
the act of him that commanded it。 But here Pompey commanded a man that
had been thrice consul of Rome to be brought in fetters to stand at
the bar; he himself sitting upon the bench in judgment; examining
the cause with the formalities of law; to the offence and
indignation of all that were present; and afterwards ordered him to be
taken away and put to death。 It is related; by the way; of Carbo; that
as soon as he was brought to the place; and saw the sword drawn for
execution; he was suddenly seized with a looseness or pain in his
bowels; and desired a little respite of the executioner; and a
convenient place to relieve himself。 And yet further; Caius Oppius;
the friend of Caesar; tells us; that Pompey dealt cruelly with Quintus
Valerius; a man of singular learning and science。 For when he was
brought to him; he walked aside; and drew him into conversation; and
after putting a variety of questions to him; and receiving answers
from him; he ordered his officers to take him away and put him to
death。 But we must not be too credulous in the case of narratives told
by Oppius; especially when he undertakes to relate anything touching
the friends or foes of Caesar。 This is certain; that there lay a
necessity upon Pompey to be severe upon many of Sylla's enemies; those
at least that were eminent persons in themselves; and notoriously
known to be taken; but for the rest; he acted with all the clemency
possible for him; conniving at the concealment of some; and himself
being the instrument in the escape of others。 So in the case of the
Himeraeans; for when Pompey had determined on severely punishing their
city; as they had been abettors of the enemy; Sthenis; the leader of
the people there; craving liberty of speech; told him that what he was
about to do was not at all consistent with justice; for that he
would pass by the guilty and destroy the innocent; and on Pompey
demanding who that guilty person was that would assume the offences of
them all; Sthenis replied it was himself; who had engaged his
friends by persuasion to what they had done; and his enemies by force;
whereupon Pompey; being much taken with the frank speech and noble
spirit of the man; first forgave his crime; and then pardoned all
the rest of the Himeraeans。 Hearing; likewise; that his soldiers
were very disorderly in their march; doing violence upon the roads; he
ordered their swords to be sealed up in their scabbards; and whosoever
kept them not so were severely punished。
Whilst Pompey was thus busy in the affairs and government of Sicily;
he received a decree of the senate; and a commission from Sylla;
commanding him forthwith to sail into Africa; and make war upon
Domitius with all his forces: for Domitius had rallied up a far
greater army than Marius had had not long since; when he sailed out of
Africa into Italy; and caused a revolution in Rome; and himself; of
a fugitive outlaw; became a tyrant。 Pompey; therefore; having prepared
everything with the utmost speed; left Memmius; his sister's
husband; governor of Sicily; and set sail with one hundred and
twenty galleys; and eight hundred other vessels laden with provisions;
money; ammunition; and engines of battery。 He arrived with his
fleet; part at the port of Utica; part at Carthage; and no sooner
was he landed; but seven thousand of the enemy revolted and came
over to him; while his own forces that he brought with him consisted
of six entire legions。 Here they tell us of a pleasant incident that
happened to him at his first arrival。
Some of his soldiers having by accident stumbled upon a treasure; by
which they got a good sum of money; the rest of the army hearing this;
began to fancy that the field was full of gold and silver; which had
been hid there of old by the Carthaginians in the time of their
calamities; and thereupon fell to work; so that the army was useless
to Pompey for many days; being totally engaged in d