antony-第18章
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esently he came to himself; and entreated those that were about him to put him out of his pain; but they all fled out of the chamber; and left him crying out and struggling; until Diomede; Cleopatra's secretary; came to him; having orders from her to bring him into the monument。 When he understood she was alive; he eagerly gave order to the servants to take him up; and in their arms was carried to the door of the building。 Cleopatra would not open the door; but; looking from a sort of window; she let down ropes and cords; to which Antony was fastened; and she and her two women; the only persons she had allowed to enter the monument; drew him up。 Those that were present say that nothing was ever more sad than this spectacle; to see Antony; covered all over with blood and just expiring; thus drawn up; still holding up his hands to her; and lifting up his body with the little force he had left。 As; indeed; it was no easy task for the women; and Cleopatra; with all her force; clinging to the rope; and straining with her head to the ground; with difficulty pulled him up while those below encouraged her with their cries; and joined in all her efforts and anxiety。 When she had got him up; she laid him on the bed; tearing all her clothes; which she spread upon him; and; beating her breast with her hands; lacerating herself; and disfiguring her own face with the blood from his wounds; she called him her lord; her husband; her emperor; and seemed to have pretty nearly forgotten all her own evils; she was so intent upon his misfortunes。 Antony; stopping her lamentations as well as he could; called for wine to drink; either that he was thirsty; or that he imagined that it might put him the sooner out of pain。 When he had drunk; he advised her to bring her own affairs; so far as might be honourably done; to a safe conclusion; and that; among all the friends of Caesar; she should rely on Proculeius; that she should not pity him in this last turn of fate; but rather rejoice for him in remembrance of his past happiness; who had been of all men the most illustrious and powerful; and in the end had fallen not ignobly; a Roman by a Roman overcome。 Just as he breathed his last; Proculeius arrived from Caesar; for when Antony gave himself his wound; and was carried in to Cleopatra; one of his guards; Dercetaeus; took up Antony's sword and hid it; and; when he saw his opportunity; stole away to Caesar; and brought him the first news of Antony's death; and withal showed him the bloody sword。 Caesar; upon this; retired into the inner part of his tent; and giving some tears to the death of one that had been nearly allied to him in marriage; his colleague in empire; and companion in so many wars and dangers; he came out to his friends; and; bringing with him many letters; he read to them with how much reason and moderation he had always addressed himself to Antony; and in return what overbearing and arrogant answers he received。 Then he sent Proculeius to use his utmost endeavours to get Cleopatra alive into his power; for he was afraid of losing a great treasure; and; besides; she would be no small addition to the glory of his triumph。 She; however; was careful not to put herself in Proculeius's power; but from within her monument; he standing on the outside of a door; on the level of the ground; which was strongly barred; but so that they might well enough hear one another's voice; she held a conference with him; she demanding that her kingdom might be given to her children; and he binding her to be of good courage; and trust Caesar in everything。 Having taken particular notice of the place; he returned to Caesar; and Gallus was sent to parley with her the second time; who; being come to the door; on purpose prolonged the conference; while Proculeius fixed his scaling…ladders in the window through which the women had pulled up Antony。 And so entering; with two men to follow him; he went straight down to the door where Cleopatra was discoursing with Gallus。 One of the two women who were shut up in the monument with her cried out; 〃Miserable Cleopatra; you are taken prisoner!〃 Upon which she turned quick; and; looking at Proculeius; drew out her dagger which she had with her to stab herself。 But Proculeius ran up quickly; and seizing her with both his hands; 〃For shame;〃 said he; 〃Cleopatra; you wrong yourself and Caesar much; who would rob him of so fair an occasion of showing his clemency; and would make the world believe the most gentle of commanders to be a faithless and implacable enemy。〃 And so; taking the dagger out of her hand; he also shook her dress to see if there were any poison hid in it。 After this; Caesar sent Epaphroditus; one of his freedmen; with orders to treat her with all the gentleness and civility possible; but to take the strictest precautions to keep her alive。 In the meanwhile; Caesar made his entry into Alexandria; with Areius the philosopher at his side; holding him by the hand and talking with him; desiring that all his fellow…citizens should see what honour was paid to him; and should look up to him accordingly from the very first moment。 Then; entering the exercise ground; he mounted a platform erected for the purpose; and from thence commanded the citizens (who; in great fear and consternation; fell prostrate at his feet) to stand up; and told them that he freely acquitted the people of all blame first; for the sake of Alexander; who built their city; then for the city's sake itself; which was so large and beautiful; and; thirdly; to gratify his friend Areius。 Such great honour did Areius receive from Caesar; and by his intercession many lives were saved; amongst the rest that of Philostratus; a man; of all the professors of logic that ever were; the most ready in extempore speaking; but quite destitute of any right to call himself one of the philosophers of the Academy。 Caesar; out of disgust at his character; refused all attention to his entreaties。 So; growing a long white beard; and dressing himself in black; he followed behind Areius; shouting out the verse;
〃The wise; if they are wise; will save the wise。〃
Which Caesar hearing; gave him his pardon; to prevent rather any odium that might attach to Areius; than any harm that Philostratus might suffer。 Of Antony's children; Antyllus; his son by Fulvia; being betrayed by his tutor; Theodorus; was put to death; and while the soldiers were cutting off his head; his tutor contrived to steal a precious jewel which he wore about his neck; and put it in his pocket; and afterwards denied the fact; but was convicted and crucified。 Cleopatra's children; with their attendants; had a guard set on them; and were treated very honourably。 Caesarion; who was reputed to be the son of Caesar the Dictator; was sent by his mother; with a great sum of money; through Ethiopia; to pass into India; but his tutor; a man named Rhodon; about as honest as Theodorus; persuaded him to turn back; for that Caesar designed to make him king。 Caesar consulting what was best to be done with him; Areius we are told; said;
〃Too many Caesars are not well。〃
So; afterwards; when Cleopatra was dead he was killed。 Many kings and great commanders made petition to Caesar for the body of Antony; to give him his funeral rites; but he would not take away his corpse from Cleopatra by whose hands he was buried with royal splendour and magnificence; it being granted to her to employ what she pleased on his funeral。 In this extremity of grief and sorrow; and having inflamed and ulcerated her breasts with beating them; she fell into a high fever; and was very glad of the occasion; hoping; under this pretext; to abstain from food; and so to die in quiet without interference。 She had her own physician; Olympus; to whom she told the truth; and asked his advice and help to put an end to herself; as Olympus himself has told us; in a narrative which he wrote of these events。 But Caesar; suspecting her purpose; took to menacing language about her children; and excited her fears for them; before which engines her purpose shook and gave way; so that she suffered those about her to give her what meat or medicine they pleased。 Some few days after; Caesar himself came to make her a visit and com