demetrius-第1章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
DEMETRIUS
337？…283 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
INGENIOUS men have long observed a resemblance between the arts and the bodily senses。 And they were first led to do so； I think； by noticing the way in which； both in the arts and with our senses； we examine opposites。 Judgment once obtained； the use to which we put it differs in the two cases。 Our senses are not meant to pick out black rather than white； to prefer sweet to bitter； or soft and yielding to hard and resisting objects； all they have to do is to receive impressions as they occur； and report to the understanding the impressions as received。 The arts； on the other hand； which reason institutes expressly to choose and obtain some suitable； and to refuse and get rid of some unsuitable object； have their proper concern in the consideration of the former； though； in a casual and contingent way； they must also； for the very rejection of them； pay attention to the latter。 Medicine； to produce health； has to examine disease； and music； to create harmony； must investigate discord； and the supreme arts； of temperance； of justice； and of wisdom； as they are acts of judgment and selection； exercised not on good and just and expedient only； but also on wicked； unjust； and inexpedient objects； do not give their commendations to the mere innocence whose boast is its inexperience of evil； and whose truer name is； by their award； simpleness and ignorance of what all men who live aright should know。 The ancient Spartans； at their festivals； used to force their Helots to swallow large quantities of raw wine； and then expose them at the public tables； to let the young men see what it is to be drunk。 And； though I do not think it consistent with humanity or with civil justice to correct one man's morals by corrupting those of another； yet we may； I think； avail ourselves of the cases of those who have fallen into indiscretions； and have； in high stations； made themselves conspicuous for misconduct； and I shall not do ill to introduce a pair or two of such examples among these biographies； not； assuredly； to amuse and divert my readers； or give variety to my theme； but as Ismenias； the Theban； used to show his scholars good and bad performers on the flute； and to tell them； 〃You should play like this man；〃 and； 〃You should not play like that；〃 and as Antigenidas used to say； Young people would take greater pleasure in hearing good playing； if first they were set to hear bad； so； in the same manner； it seems to me likely enough that we shall be all the more zealous and more emulous to read； observe； and imitate the better lives； if we are not left in ignorance of the blameworthy and the bad。 For this reason； the following book contains the lives of Demetrius Poliorcetes and Antonius the Triumvir； two persons who have abundantly justified the words of Plato； that great natures produce great vices as well as virtues。 Both alike were amorous and intemperate； warlike and munificent； sumptuous in their way of living and overbearing in their manners。 And the likeness of their fortunes carried out the resemblance in their characters。 Not only were their lives each a series of great successes and great disasters； mighty acquisitions and tremendous losses of power； sudden overthrows followed by unexpected recoveries； but they died； also； Demetrius in actual captivity to his enemies and Antony on the verge of it。 Antigonus had by his wife； Stratonice； the daughter of Corrhaeus； two sons； the one of whom； after the name of his uncle； he called Demetrius； the other had that of his grandfather Philip； and died young。 This is the most general account； although some have related that Demetrius was not the son of Antigonus； but of his brother； and that his own father dying young； and his mother being afterwards married to Antigonus； he was accounted to be his son。 Demetrius had not the height of his father Antigonus； though he was a tall man。 But his countenance was one of such singular beauty and expression that no painter or sculptor ever produced a good likeness of him。 It combined grace and strength； dignity with boyish bloom； and； in the midst of youthful heat and passion； what was hardest of all to represent was a certain heroic look and air of kingly greatness。 Nor did his character belie his looks； as no one was better able to render himself both loved and feared。 For as he was the most easy and agreeable of companions； and the most luxurious and delicate of princes in his drinking and banqueting and daily pleasures； so in action there was never any one that showed a more vehement persistence； or a more passionate energy。 Bacchus； skilled in the conduct of war； and after war in giving peace its pleasures and joys； seems to have been his pattern among the gods。 He was wonderfully fond of his father Antigonus； and the tenderness he had for his mother led him； for her sake； to redouble attentions； which it was evident were not so much owing to fear or duty as to the more powerful motives of inclination。 It is reported that； returning one day from hunting； he went immediately into the apartment of Antigonus； who was conversing with some ambassadors； and after stepping up and kissing his father； he sat down by him； just as he was； still holding in his hand the javelins which he had brought with him。 Whereupon Antigonus； who had just dismissed the ambassadors with their answer； called out in a loud voice to them； as they were going； 〃Mention； also； that this is the way in which we two live together；〃 as if to imply to them that it was no slender mark of the power and security of his government that there was so perfect good understanding between himself and his son。 Such an unsociable； solitary thing is power； and so much of jealousy and distrust in it； that the first and greatest of the successors of Alexander could make it a thing of glory in that he was not so afraid of his son as to forbid his standing beside him with a weapon in his hand。 And； in fact； among all the successors of Alexander； that of Antigonus was the only house which； for many descents； was exempted from crime of this kind； or to state it exactly； Philip was the only one of this family who was guilty of a son's death。 All the other families； we may fairly say； afforded frequent examples of fathers who brought their children； husbands their wives； children their mothers； to untimely ends； and that brothers should put brothers to death was assumed； like the postulate of mathematicians as the common and recognized royal first principle of safety。 Let us here record an example in the early life of Demetrius； showing his natural humane and kindly disposition。 It was an adventure which passed betwixt him and Mithridates； the son of Ariobarzanes； who was about the same age with Demetrius； and lived with him； in attendance on Antigonus； and although nothing was said or could be said to his reproach； he fell under suspicion； in consequence of a dream which Antigonus had。 Antigonus thought himself in a fair and spacious field； where he sowed golden seed； and saw presently a golden crop come up； of which； however； looking presently again； he saw nothing remain but the stubble； without the ears。 And as he stood by in anger and vexation； he heard some voices saying Mithridates had cut the golden harvest and carried it off into Pontus。 Antigonus； much discomposed with his dream； first bound his son； by an oath not to speak； and then related it to him； adding that he had resolved； in consequence； to lose no time in ridding himself of Mithridates； and making away with him。 Demetrius was extremely distressed； and when the young man came； as usual； to pass his time with him； to keep his oath he forbore from saying a word； but； drawing him aside little by little from the company； as soon as they were by themselves； without opening his lips； with the point of his javelin he traced before him the words 〃Fly； Mithridates。〃 Mithridates took the hint； and fled by night into Cappadocia； where Antigonus's dream about him was quickly brought to its due fulfillment； for he got possession of a large a
