antony-第5章
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that were to kill Cicero to cut off his head and right hand； with which he had written his invectives against him； and； when they were brought before him； he regarded them joyfully； actually bursting out more than once into laughter； and； when he had satiated himself with the sight of them； ordered them to be hung up above the speaker's place in the forum； thinking thus to insult the dead； while in fact he only exposed his own wanton arrogance； and his unworthiness to hold the power that fortune had given him。 His uncle； Lucius Caesar； being closely pursued； took refuge with his sister； who； when the murderers had broken into her house and were pressing into her chamber； met them at the door； and spreading out hands； cried out several times。 〃You shall not kill Lucius Caesar till you first despatch me who gave your general his birth；〃 and in this manner she succeeded in getting her brother out of the way； and saving his life。 This triumvirate was very hateful to the Romans； and Antony most of all bore the blame； because he was older than Caesar； and had greater authority than Lepidus； and withal he was no sooner settled in his affairs； but he turned to his luxurious and dissolute way of living。 Besides the ill reputation he gained by his general behaviour； it was some considerable disadvantage to him his living in the house of Pompey the Great； who had been as much admired for his temperance and his sober； citizen…like habits of life； as ever he was for having triumphed three times。 They could not without anger see the doors of that house shut against magistrates； officers； and envoys； who were shamefully refused admittance； while it was filled inside with players； jugglers； and drunken flatterers； upon whom were spent the greatest part of the wealth which violence and cruelty procured。 For they did not limit themselves to the forfeiture of the estates of such as were proscribed； defrauding the widows and families； nor were they contented with laying on every possible kind of tax and imposition； but hearing that several sums of money were； as well by strangers as citizens of Rome； deposited in the hands of the vestal virgins； they went and took the money away by force。 When it was manifest that nothing would ever be enough for Antony； Caesar at last called for a division of property。 The army was also divided between them； upon their march into Macedonia to make war with Brutus and Cassius； Lepidus being left with the command of the city。 However； after they had crossed the sea and engaged in operations of war； encamping in front of the enemy； Antony opposite Cassius； and Caesar opposite Brutus； Caesar did nothing worth relating； and all the success and victory were Antony's。 In the first battle； Caesar was completely routed by Brutus； his camp taken； he himself very narrowly escaping by flight。 As he himself writes in his Memoirs； he retired before the battle； on account of a dream which one of his friends had。 But Antony； on the other hand； defeated Cassius； though some have written that he was not actually present in the engagement； and only joined afterwards in the pursuit。 Cassius was killed； at his own entreaty and order； by one of his most trusted freedmen； Pindarus； not being aware of Brutus's victory。 After a few days' interval； they fought another battle； in which Brutus lost the day； and slew himself； and Caesar being sick； Antony had almost all the honour of the victory。 Standing over Brutus's dead body； he uttered a few words of reproach upon him for the death of his brother Caius； who had been executed by Brutus's order in Macedonia in revenge of Cicero； but； saying presently that Hortensius was most to blame for it； he gave order for his being slain upon his brother's tomb； and； throwing his own scarlet mantle； which was of great value； upon the body of Brutus； he gave charge to one of his own freedmen to take care of his funeral。 This man； as Antony came to understand； did not leave the mantle with the corpse； but kept both it and a good part of the money that should have been spent in the funeral for himself； for which he had him put to death。 But Caesar was conveyed to Rome； no one expecting that he would long survive。 Antony； purposing to go to the eastern provinces to lay them under contribution； entered Greece with a large force。 The promise had been made that every common soldier should receive for his pay five thousand drachmas； so it was likely there would be need of pretty severe taxing and levying to raise money。 However； to the Greeks he showed at first reason and moderation enough； he gratified his love of amusement by hearing the learned men dispute； by seeing the games； and undergoing initiation； and in judicial matters he was equitable； taking pleasure in being styled a lover of Greece； but； above all； in being called a lover of Athens； to which city he made very considerable presents。 The people of Megara wished to let him know that they also had something to show him； and invited him to come and see their senate…house。 So he went and examined it； and on their asking him how he liked it； told them it was 〃not very large； but extremely ruinous。〃 At the same time； he had a survey made of the temple of the Pythian Apollo as if he had designed to repair it； and indeed he had declared to the senate his intention so to do。 However； leaving Lucius Censorinus in Greece； he crossed over into Asia； and there laid his hands on the stores of accumulated wealth； while kings waited at his door； and queens were rivalling one another； who should make him the greatest presents or appear most charming in his eyes。 Thus； whilst Caesar in Rome was wearing out his strength amidst seditions and wars； Antony； with nothing to do amidst the enjoyments of peace； let his passions carry him easily back to the old course of life that was familiar to him。 A set of harpers and pipers； Anaxenor and Xuthus； the dancing…man； Metrodorus； and a whole Bacchic rout of the like Asiatic exhibitors； far outdoing in licence and buffoonery the pests that had followed him out of Italy； came in and possessed the court； the thing was past patience； wealth of all kinds being wasted on objects like these。 The whole of Asia was like the city in Sophocles； loaded； at one time…
〃…with incense in the air； Jubilant songs； and outcries of despair。〃
When he made his entry into Ephesus； the women met him dressed up like Bacchantes； and the men and boys like satyrs and fauns； and throughout the town nothing was to be seen but spears wreathed about with ivy； harps； flutes； and psalteries； while Antony in their songs was Bacchus； the Giver of joy； and the Gentle。 And so indeed he was to some but to far more the Devourer and the Savage； for he would deprive persons of worth and quality of their fortunes to gratify villains and flatterers； who would sometimes beg the estates of men yet living； pretending they were dead； and； obtaining a grant； take possession。 He gave his cook the house of a Magnesian citizen； as a reward for a single highly successful supper； and； at last； when he was proceeding to lay a second whole tribute on Asia； Hybreas； speaking on behalf of the cities； took courage； and told him broadly； but aptly enough for Antony's taste 〃if you can take two yearly tributes； you can doubtless give us a couple of summers and a double harvest time；〃 and put it to him in the plainest and boldest way； that Asia had raised two hundred thousand talents for his service： 〃If this has not been paid to you； ask your collectors for it； if it has； and is all gone； we are ruined men。〃 These words touched Antony to the quick； who was simply ignorant of most things that were done in his name； not that he was so indolent； as he was prone to trust frankly in all about him。 For there was much simplicity in his character； he was slow to see his faults； but when he did see them； was extremely repentant； and ready to ask pardon of those he had injured prodigal in his acts of reparation； and severe in his punishments； but his generosity was much more extravagant than his severity； his raillery was sharp and insulting； but the edge of it was taken off by his readiness to submit to any kind of repartee； for he was as well contented to b
