antony-第14章
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ergamus； containing two hundred thousand distinct volumes； that at a great banquet； in the presence of many guests； he had risen up and rubbed her feet； to fulfil some wager or promise； that he had suffered the Ephesians to salute her as their queen； that he had frequently at the public audience of kings and princes received amorous messages written in tablets made of onyx and crystal； and read them openly on the tribunal； that when Furnius； a man of great authority and eloquence among the Romans； was pleading； Cleopatra happening to pass by in her chair； Antony started up and left them in the middle of their cause； to follow at her side and attend her home。 Calvisius； however； was looked upon as the inventor of most of these stories。 Antony's friends went up and down the city to gain him credit； and sent one of themselves； Geminius； to him； to beg him to take heed and not allow himself to be deprived by vote of his authority； and proclaimed a public enemy to the Roman state。 But Geminius no sooner arrived in Greece but he was looked upon as one of Octavia's spies； at their suppers he was made a continual butt for mockery； and was put to sit in the least honourable places； all of which he bore very well； seeking only an occasion of speaking with Antony。 So at supper； being told to say what business he came about； he answered he would keep the rest for a soberer hour； but one thing he had to say； whether full or fasting； that all would go well if Cleopatra would return to Egypt。 And on Antony showing his anger at it； 〃You have done well； Geminius；〃 said Cleopatra； 〃to tell your secret without being put to the rack。〃 So Geminius； after a few days； took occasion to make his escape and go to Rome。 Many more of Antony's friends were driven from him by the insolent usage they had from Cleopatra's flatterers； amongst whom were Marcus Silanus and Dellius the historian。 And Dellius says he was afraid of his life； and that Glaucus； the physician； informed him of Cleopatra's design against him。 She was angry with him for having said that Antony's friends were served with sour wine； while at Rome Sarmentus； Caesar's little page （his delicia； as the Romans call it）； drank Falernian。 As soon as Caesar had completed his preparations； he had a decree made declaring war on Cleopatra； and depriving Antony of the authority which he had let a woman exercise in his place。 Caesar added that he had drunk potions that had bereaved him of his senses； and that the generals they would have to fight with would be Mardion the eunuch； Pothinus； Iras； Cleopatra's hairdressing girl； and Charmion； who were Antony's chief state…councillors。 These prodigies are said to have announced the war。 Pisaurum； where Antony had settled a colony； on the Adriatic sea； was swallowed up by an earthquake； sweat ran from one of the marble statues of Antony at Alba for many days together； and though frequently wiped off； did not stop。 When he himself was in the city of Patrae； the temple of Hercules was struck by lightning； and； at Athens； the figure of Bacchus was torn by a violent wind out of the Battle of the Giants； and laid flat upon the theatre； with both which deities Antony claimed connection； professing to be descended from Hercules； and from his imitating Bacchus in his way of living having received the name of young Bacchus。 The same whirlwind at Athens also brought down； from amongst many others which were not disturbed； the colossal statues of Fumenes and Attalus； which were inscribed with Antony's name。 And in Cleopatra's admiral…galley； which was called the Antonias； a most inauspicious omen occurred。 Some swallows had built in the stern of the galley； but other swallows came； beat the first away； and destroyed their nests。 When the armaments gathered for the war； Antony had no less than five hundred ships of war； including numerous galleys of eight and ten banks of oars； as richly ornamented as if they were meant for a triumph。 He had a hundred thousand foot and twelve thousand horse。 He had vassal kings attending； Bocchus of Libya； Tarcondemus of the Upper Cilicia； Archelaus of Cappadocia； Philadelphus of Paphlagonia； Mithridates of Commagene； and Sadalas of Thrace； all these were with him in person。 Out of Pontus Polemon sent him considerable forces； as did also Malchus from Arabia； Herod the Jew； and Amyntas； King of Lycaonia and Galatia； also the Median king sent some troops to join him。 Caesar had two hundred and fifty galleys of war； eighty thousand foot； and horse about equal to the enemy。 Antony's empire extended from Euphrates and Armenia to the Ionian sea and the Illyrians； Caesar's； from Illyria to the westward ocean； and from the ocean all along the Tuscan and Sicilian sea。 Of Africa； Caesar had all the coast opposite to Italy； Gaul； and Spain； as far as the Pillars of Hercules； and Antony the provinces from Cyrene to Aethiopia。 But so wholly was he now the mere appendage to the person of Cleopatra that； although he was much superior to the enemy in land…forces； yet； out of complaisance to his mistress； he wished the victory to be gained by sea； and that； too； when he could not but see how； for want of sailors； his captains； all through unhappy Greece； were pressing every description of men； common travellers and ass…drivers； harvest labourers and boys； and for all this the vessels had not their complements； but remained。 most of them； ill…manned and badly rowed。 Caesar； on the other side； had ships that were built not for size or show； but for service； not pompous galleys； but light； swift； and perfectly manned； and from his headquarters at Tarentum and Brundusium he sent messages to Antony not to protract the war； but come out with his forces； he would give him secure roadsteads and ports for his fleet； and； for his land army to disembark and pitch their camp； he would leave him as much ground in Italy； inland from the sea； as a horse could traverse in a single course。 Antony； on the other side； with the like bold language； challenged him to a single combat； though he were much the older； and； that being refused； proposed to meet him in the Pharsalian fields； where Caesar and Pompey had fought before。 But whilst Antony lay with his fleet near Actium； where now stands Nicopolis； Caesar seized his opportunity and crossed the Ionian sea； securing himself at a place in Epirus called the Ladle。 And when those about Antony were much disturbed； their land…forces being a good way off； 〃Indeed；〃 said Cleopatra； in mockery； 〃we may well be frightened if Caesar has got hold of the Ladle！〃 On the morrow； Antony； seeing the enemy sailing up； and fearing lest his ships might be taken for want of the soldiers to go on board of them； armed all the rowers； and made a show upon the decks of being in readiness to fight； the oars were mounted as if waiting to be put in motion； and the vessels themselves drawn up to face the enemy on either side of the channel of Actium； as though they were properly manned and ready for an engagement。 And Caesar； deceived by this stratagem； retired。 He was also thought to have shown considerable skill in cutting off the water from the enemy by some lines of trenches and forts； water not being plentiful anywhere else； nor very good。 And again； his conduct to Domitius was generous； much against the will of Cleopatra。 For when he had made his escape in a little boat to Caesar； having then a fever upon him； although Antony could not but resent it highly； yet he sent after him his whole equipage with his friends and servants； and Domitius； as if he would give a testimony to the world how repentant he had become on his desertion and treachery being thus manifest； died soon after。 Among the kings； also； Amyntas and Deiotarus went over to Caesar。 And the fleet was so unfortunate in everything that was undertaken； and so unready on every occasion； that Antony was driven again to put his confidence in the land…forces。 Canidius； too； who commanded the legions； when he saw how things stood； changed his opinion； and now was of advice that Cleopatra should be sent back； and that； retiring into Thrace or Macedonia； the quarrel should be decided in a land fight。 For Dicomes； also； the King of the Getae； promised to come and join him with a great
