antony-第1章
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75 AD
ANTONY
83？…30 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
ANTONY
THE grandfather of Antony was the famous pleader； whom Marius put to death for having taken part with Sylla。 His father was Antony； surnamed of Crete； not very famous or distinguished in public life； but a worthy good man； and particularly remarkable for his liberality； as may appear from a single example。 He was not very rich； and was for that reason checked in the exercise of his good nature by his wife。 A friend that stood in need of money came to borrow of him。 Money he had none； but he bade a servant bring him water in a silver basin； with which； when it was brought； he wetted his face； as if he meant to shave； and； sending away the servant upon another errand； gave his； friend the basin； desiring him to turn it to his purpose。 And when there was； afterwards； a great inquiry for it in the house； and his wife was in a very ill…humour； and was going to put the servants one by one to the search； he acknowledged what he had done； and begged her pardon。 His wife was Julia； of the family of the Caesars； who； for her discretion and fair was not inferior to any of her time。 Under her； Antony received his education； she being； after the death of his father； remarried to Cornelius Lentulus； who was put to death by Cicero for having been of Catiline's conspiracy。 This； probably； was the first ground and occasion of that mortal grudge that Antony bore Cicero。 He says； even； that the body of Lentulus was denied burial； till； by application made to Cicero's wife； it was granted to Julia。 But this seems to be a manifest error； for none of those that suffered in the consulate of Cicero had the right of burial denied them。 Antony grew up a very beautiful youth； but by the worst of misfortunes； he fell into the acquaintance and friendship of Curio； a man abandoned to his pleasures； who； to make Antony's dependence upon him a matter of greater necessity； plunged him into a life of drinking and dissipation； and led him through a course of such extravagance that he ran； at that early age； into debt to the amount of two hundred and fifty talents。 For this sum Curio became his surety； on hearing which； the elder Curio； his father； drove Antony out of his house。 After this； for some short time he took part with Clodius； the most insolent and outrageous demagogue of the time； in his course of violence and disorder； but getting weary before long； of his madness； and apprehensive of the powerful party forming against him； he left Italy and travelled into Greece； where he spent his time in military exercises and in the study of eloquence。 He took most to what was called the Asiatic taste in speaking； which was then at its height； and was； in many ways； suitable to his ostentatious； vaunting temper； full of empty flourishes and unsteady efforts for glory。 After some stay in Greece； he was invited by Gabinius； who had been consul； to make a campaign with him in Syria； which at first he refused； not being willing to serve in a private character； but receiving a commission to command the horse； he went along with him。 His first…service was against Aristobulus； who had prevailed with the Jews to rebel。 Here he was himself the first man to scale the largest of the works； and beat Aristobulus out of all of them； after which he routed in a pitched battle； an army many times over the number of his； killed almost all of them and took Aristobulus and his son prisoners。 This war ended； Gabinius was solicited by Ptolemy to restore him to his kingdom of Egypt； and a promise made of ten thousand talents reward。 Most of the officers were against this enterprise； and Gabinius himself did not much like it； though sorely tempted by the ten thousand talents。 But Antony； desirous of brave
actions and willing to please Ptolemy； joined in persuading Gabinius to go。 And whereas all were of opinion that the most dangerous thing before them was the march to Pelusium； in which they would have to pass over a deep sand； where no fresh water was to be hoped for； along the Acregma and the Serbonian marsh （which the Egyptians call Typhon's breathing…hole； and which is； in probability； water left behind by； or making its way through from； the Red Sea； which is here divided from the Mediterranean by a narrow isthmus）； Antony； being ordered thither with the horse； not only made himself master of the passes； but won Pelusium itself； a great city； took the garrison prisoners； and by this means rendered the march secure to the army； and the way to victory not difficult for the general to pursue。 The enemy also reaped some benefit of his eagerness for honour。 For when Ptolemy； after he had entered Pelusium； in his rage and spite against the Egyptians； designed to put them to the sword； Antony withstood him； and hindered the execution。 In all the great and frequent skirmishes and battles he gave continual proofs of his personal valour and military conduct； and once in particular； by wheeling about and attacking the rear of the enemy； he gave the victory to the assailants in the front； and received for this service signal marks of distinction。 Nor was his humanity towards the deceased Archelaus less taken notice of。 He had been formerly his guest and acquaintance； and； as he was now compelled； he fought him bravely while alive； but on his death； sought out his body and buried it with royal honours。 The consequence was that he left behind him a great name among the Alexandrians； and all who were serving in the Roman army looked upon him as a most gallant soldier。 He had also a very good and noble appearance； his beard was well grown； his forehead large； and his nose aquiline； giving him altogether a bold； masculine look that reminded people of the faces of Hercules in paintings and sculptures。 It was； moreover； an ancient tradition； that the Antonys were descended from Hercules； by a son of his called Anton； and this opinion he thought to give credit to by the similarity of his person just mentioned； and also by the fashion of his dress。 For； whenever he had to appear before large numbers； he wore his tunic girt low about the hips； a broadsword on his side； and over all a large coarse mantle。 What might seem to some very insupportable； his vaunting； his raillery； his drinking in public； sitting down by the men as they were taking their food； and eating； as he stood； off the common soldiers' tables； made him the delight and pleasure of the army。 In love affairs； also； he was very agreeable： he gained many friends by the assistance he gave them in theirs； and took other people's raillery upon his own with good…humour。 And his generous ways； his open and lavish hand in gifts and favours to his friends and fellow…soldiers； did a great deal for him in his first advance to power； and after he had become great； long maintained his fortunes； when a thousand follies were hastening their overthrow。 One instance of his liberality I must relate。 He had ordered payment to one of his friends of twenty…five myriads of money or decies； as the Romans call it； and his steward wondering at the extravagance of the sum； laid all the silver in a heap； as he should pass by。 Antony； seeing the heap； asked what it meant； his steward replied； 〃The money you have ordered to be given to your friend。〃 So； perceiving the man's malice； said he； 〃I thought the decies had been much more； 'tis too little； let it be doubled。〃 This； however； was at a later time。 When the Roman state finally broke up into two hostile factions； the aristocratical party joining Pompey； who was in the city； and the popular side seeking help from Caesar； who was at the head of an army in Gaul； Curio； the friend of Antony； having changed his party and devoted himself to Caesar； brought over Antony also to his service。 And the influence which he gained with the people by his eloquence and by the money which was supplied by Caesar； enabled him to make Antony； first； tribune of the people； and then； augur。 And Antony's accession to office was at once of the greatest advantage to Caesar。 In the first
