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！
cold weather； and almost inaccessible to the enemy； and his being
absolute master of the sea； and having at land overcome on that side
wherein he himself was engaged； would have made him full of hope and
confidence。 But it seems the state of Rome not enduring any longer
to be governed by many； but necessarily requiring a monarchy； the
divine power； that it might remove out of the way the only man that
was able to resist him that could control the empire； cut off his good
fortune from coming to the ears of Brutus； though it came but a very
little too late； for the very evening before the fight Clodius； a
deserter from the enemy； came and announced that Caesar had received
advice of the loss of his fleet； and for that reason was in such haste
to come to a battle； But his story met with no credit； nor was he so
much as seen by Brutus； being simply set down as one that had no
good information； or invented lies to bring himself into favour。
The same night； they say； the vision appeared again to Brutus； in
the same shape that it did before； but vanished without speaking。
But Publius Volumnius； a philosopher； and one that had from the
beginning borne arms with Brutus； makes no mention of this apparition；
but says that the first eagle was covered with a swarm of bees； and
that there was one of the captains whose arm of itself sweated oil
of roses； and； though they often dried and wiped it； yet it would
not cease； and that immediately before the battle； two eagles
falling upon each other fought in the space between the two armies；
that the whole field kept incredible silence and all were intent
upon the spectacle； until at last that which was on Brutus's side
yielded and fled。 But the story of the Ethiopian is very famous；
who； meeting the standard…bearer at the opening the gate of the
camp； was cut to pieces by the soldiers； that took it for an ill…omen。
Brutus； having brought his army into the field and set them in array
against the enemy； paused a long while before he would fight； for as
he was reviewing the troops； suspicions were excited and
informations laid against some of them。 Besides； he saw his horse
not very eager to begin the action； and waiting to see what the foot
would do。 Then suddenly Camulatus； a very good soldier； and one whom
for his valour he highly esteemed； riding hard by Brutus himself； went
over to the enemy； the sight of which grieved Brutus exceedingly。 So
that partly out of anger； and partly out of fear of some greater
treason and desertion； he immediately drew on his forces upon the
enemy； the sun now declining； about three of the clock in the
afternoon。 Brutus on his side had the better； and pressed hard on
the left wing； which gave way and retreated； and the horse too fell in
together with the foot； when they saw the enemy in disorder。 But the
other wing； when the officers extended the line to avoid its being
encompassed； the numbers being inferior； got drawn out too thin in the
centre； and was so weak here that they could not withstand the charge；
but at the first onset fled。 After defeating these； the enemy at
once took Brutus in the rear； who all the while did all that was
possible for an expert general and valiant soldier； doing everything
in the peril； by counsel and by hand； that might recover the
victory。 But that which had been his superiority in the first fight
was to his prejudice in the second。 For in the first； that part of the
enemy which was beaten was killed on the spot； but of Cassius's
soldiers that fled； few had been slain； and those that escaped；
daunted with their defeat； infected the other and larger part of the
army with their want of spirit and their disorder。 Here Marcus； the
son of Cato； was slain； fighting and behaving himself with great
bravery in the midst of the youth of the highest rank and greatest
valour。 He would neither fly nor give the least ground； but still
fighting and declaring who he was and naming his father's name； he
fell upon a heap of dead bodies of the enemy。 And of the rest； the
bravest were slain in defending Brutus。
There was in the field one Lucilius； an excellent man and a friend
of Brutus； who； seeing some barbarian horse taking no notice of any
other in the pursuit； but galloping at full speed after Brutus；
resolved to stop them； though with the hazard of his life； and；
letting himself fall a little behind； he told them that he was Brutus。
They believed him the rather； because he prayed to be carried to
Antony； as if he feared Caesar； but durst trust him。 They； overjoyed
with their prey； and thinking themselves wonderfully fortunate；
carried him along with them in the night； having first sent messengers
to Antony of their coming。 He was much pleased； and came to meet them；
and all the rest that heard that Brutus was taken and brought alive
flocked together to see him； some pitying his fortune； others accusing
him of a meanness unbecoming his former glory； that out of too much
love of life he would be a prey to barbarians。 When they came near
together； Antony stood still； considering with himself in what
manner he should receive Brutus； but Lucilius； being brought up to
him； with great confidence said： 〃Be assured； Antony； that no enemy
either has taken or ever shall take Marcus Brutus alive （forbid it；
heaven； that fortune should ever so much prevail above virtue！）； but
he shall be found； alive or dead； as becomes himself。 As for me； I
am come hither by a cheat that I put upon your soldiers； and am ready；
upon this occasion； to suffer any severities you will inflict。〃 All
were amazed to hear Lucilius speak these words。 But Antony； turning
himself to those that brought him； said： 〃I perceive； my
fellow…soldiers； that you are concerned； and take it ill that you have
been thus deceived； and think yourselves abused and injured by it； but
know that you have met with a booty better than that you sought。 For
you were in search of an enemy； but you have brought me here a friend。
For indeed I am uncertain how I should have used Brutus； if you had
brought him alive； but of this I am sure； that it is better to have
such men as Lucilius our friends than our enemies。〃 Having said
this； he embraced Lucilius； and for the present commended him to the
care of one of his friends； and ever after found him a steady and a
faithful friend。
Brutus had now passed a little brook； running among trees and
under steep rocks； and； it being night； would go no further； but sat
down in a hollow place with a great rock projecting before it； with
a few of his officers and friends about him。 At first； looking up to
heaven； that was then full of stars； he repeated two verses； one of
which； Volumnius writes； was this：…
〃Punish； great Jove； the author of these ills。〃
The other he says he has forgot。 Soon after； naming severally all
his friends that had been slain before his face in the battle； he
groaned heavily； especially at the mentioning of Flavius and Labeo；
the latter his lieutenant； and the other chief officer of his
engineers。 In the meantime； one of his companions； that was very
thirsty and saw Brutus in the same condition； took his helmet and
ran to the brook for water； when a noise being heard from the other
side of the river； Volumnius； taking Dardanus； Brutus's armour…bearer；
with him； went out to see what it was。 They returned in a short space；
and inquired about the water。 Brutus； smiling with much meaning；
said to Volumnius。 〃It is all drunk； but you shall have some more
fetched。〃 But he that had brought the first water； being sent again；
was in great danger of being taken by the enemy； and having received a
wound； with much difficulty escaped。
Now Brutus guessing that not many of his men were slain in the
fight； Statyllius undertook to dash through the enemy （for there was
no other way）； and to see what was become of their camp； and promised；
if he found all things there safe； to hold up a torch for a signal；
and then return。 The torch was held up； Statyllius got safe to the
camp； but when after a long time he did not return； Brutus said； 〃If
Statyllius be alive； he will come back。〃 But it happened that in his
return he fell into the e