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marcellus-第6部分

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and the power of his presence now; in his robe of state; appeared
far more terrible and severe than it had done when he was arrayed in
armour。 Yet; reanimated at length by Marcellus's rivals; they began
their impeachment; and made an oration in which pleas of justice
mingled with lamentation and complaint; the sum of which was; that
being allies and friends of the people of Rome; they had;
notwithstanding; suffered things which other commanders had
abstained from inflicting upon enemies。 To this Marcellus answered
that they had committed many acts of hostility against the people of
Rome; and had suffered nothing but what enemies conquered and captured
in war cannot possibly be protected from suffering: that it was
their own fault they had been made captives; because they refused to
give ear to his frequent attempts to persuade them by gentle means:
neither were they forced into war by the power of tyrants; but had
rather chosen the tyrants themselves for the express object that
they might make war。 The orations ended; and the Syracusans; according
to the custom; having retired; Marcellus left his colleague to ask the
sentences; and; withdrawing with the Syracusans; stayed expecting at
the doors of the senate…house; not in the least discomposed in spirit;
either with alarm at the accusation; or by anger against the
Syracusans; but with perfect calmness and serenity attending the issue
of the cause。 The sentences at length being all asked; and a decree of
the senate made in vindication of Marcellus; the Syracusans; with
tears flowing from their eyes; cast themselves at his knees;
beseeching him to forgive themselves there present; and to be moved by
the misery of the rest of their city; which would ever be mindful
of; and grateful for; his benefits。 Thus Marcellus; softened by
their tears and distress; was not only reconciled to the deputies; but
ever afterwards continued to find opportunity of doing kindness to the
Syracusans。 The liberty which he had restored to them; and their
rights; laws; and goods that were left; the senate confirmed。 Upon
which account the Syracusans; besides other signal honours; made a
law; that if Marcellus should at any time come into Sicily; or any
of his posterity; the Syracusans should wear garlands and offer public
sacrifice to the gods。
  After this he moved against Hannibal。 And whereas the other
consuls and commanders; since the defeat received at Cannae; had all
made use of the same policy against Hannibal; namely; to decline
coming to a battle with him; and none had had the courage to encounter
him in the field and put themselves to the decision by the sword;
Marcellus entered upon the opposite course; thinking that Italy
would be destroyed by the very delay by which they looked to wear
out Hannibal; and that Fabius; who; adhering to his cautious policy;
waited to see the war extinguished; while Rome itself meantime
wasted away (like timid physicians; who; dreading to administer
remedies; stay waiting; and believe that what is the decay of the
patient's strength is the decline of the disease); was not taking a
right course to heal the sickness of his country。 And first; the great
cities of the Samnites; which had revolted; came into his power; in
which he found a large quantity of corn and money; and three
thousand of Hannibal's soldiers; that were left for the defence。 After
this; the proconsul Cnaeus Fulvius with eleven tribunes of the
soldiers being slain in Apulia; and the greatest part of the army also
at the same time cut off; he despatched letters to Rome; and bade
the people be of good courage; for that he was now upon the march
against Hannibal; to turn his triumph into sadness。 On these letters
being read; Livy writes that the people were not only not
encouraged; but more discouraged than before。 For danger; they
thought; was but the greater in proportion as Marcellus was of more
value than Fulvius。 He; as he had written; advancing into the
territories of the Lucanians; came up to him at Numistro; and; the
enemy keeping himself upon the hills; pitched his camp in a level
plain; and the next day drew forth his army in order for fight。 Nor
did Hannibal refuse the challenge。 They fought long and obstinately on
both sides; victory yet seeming undecided; when; after three hours'
conflict; night hardly parted them。 The next day; as soon as the sun
was risen; Marcellus again brought forth his troops; and ranged them
among the dead bodies of the slain; challenging Hannibal to solve
the question by another trial。 When he dislodged and drew off;
Marcellus; gathering up the spoils of the enemies; and burying the
bodies of his slain soldiers; closely followed him。 And though
Hannibal often used stratagems; and laid ambushes to entrap Marcellus;
yet he never could circumvent him。 By skirmishes; meantime; in all
of which he was superior; Marcellus gained himself such high repute;
that; when the time of the Comitia at Rome was near at hand; the
senate thought fit rather to recall the other consul from Sicily
than to withdraw Marcellus from his conflict with Hannibal; and on his
arrival they bid him name Quintus Fulvius dictator。 For the dictator
is created neither by the people nor by the senate; but the consul
of the praetor; before the popular assembly; pronounces him to be
dictator whom he himself chooses。 Hence he is called dictator;
dicere meaning to name。 Others say that he is named dictator because
his word is a law; and he orders what he pleases; without submitting
it to the vote。 For the Romans call the orders of magistrates Edicts。
  And now because Marcellus's colleague; who was recalled from Sicily;
had a mind to name another man dictator; and would not be forced to
change his opinion; he sailed away by night back to Sicily。 So the
common people made an order that Quintus Fulvius should be chosen
dictator: and the senate; by an express; commanded Marcellus to
nominate him。 He obeying proclaimed him dictator according to the
order of the people; but the office of proconsul was continued to
himself for a year。 And having arranged with Fabius Maximus that;
while he besieged Tarentum; he would; by following Hannibal and
drawing him up and down; detain him from coming to the relief of the
Tarentines; he overtook him at Canusium: and as Hannibal often shifted
his camp; and still declined the combat; he everywhere sought to
engage him。 At last; pressing upon him while encamping; by light
skirmishes he provoked him to a battle; but night again divided them
in the very heat of the conflict。 The next day Marcellus again
showed himself in arms; and brought up his forces in array。
Hannibal; in extreme grief; called his Carthaginians together to an
harangue: and vehemently prayed them to fight to…day worthily of all
their former success; 〃For you see;〃 said he; 〃how; after such great
victories; we have not liberty to respire; nor to repose ourselves;
though victors; unless we drive this man back。〃 Then the two armies;
joining battle; fought fiercely; when the event of an untimely
movement showed Marcellus to have been guilty of an error。 The right
wing being hard pressed upon; he commanded one of the legions to be
brought up to the front。 This change disturbing the array and
posture of the legions gave the victory to the enemies; and there fell
two thousand seven hundred Romans。 Marcellus; after he had retreated
into his camp; called his soldiers together。 〃I see;〃 said he; 〃many
Roman arms and bodies; but I see not so much as one Roman。〃 To their
entreaties for his pardon; he returned a refusal while they remained
beaten; but promised to give it so soon as they should overcome; and
he resolved to bring them into the field again the next day; that
the fame of their victory might arrive at Rome before that of their
flight。 Dismissing the assembly; he commanded barley instead of
wheat to be given to those companies that had turned their backs。
These rebukes were so bitter to the soldiers; that though a great
number of them were grievously wounded; yet they relate there was
not one to whom the general's oration was not more painful and
smarting than his wounds。
  The day breaking; a scarlet toga; the sign of instant battle; was
displayed。 The companies marked with ignominy begged they might be
posted in the foremost place; and obtained their request。 Then the
tribunes bring forth the rest of the forces; and draw them up。 On news
of which; 〃O strange!〃 said Hannibal; 〃what will you do with this man;
who can bear neither good nor bad fortune? He is the only man who
neither suffers us to rest when he is victor; nor rests himself when
he is overcome。 We shall have; it seems; perpetually to fight with
him; as in good success his confidence; and in ill success his
shame; still urges him to some further enterprise。〃 Then the armies
engaged。 When the fight was doubtful; Hannibal commanded the elephants
to be brought into the first battalion; and to be driven upon the
van of the Romans。 When the beasts; trampling upon many; soon caused
disorder; Flavius; a tribune of soldiers; snatching an ensign; meets
them; and wounding the first elephant with the spike at the bottom
of the ensign staff; puts him to flight。 The beast turned around
upon the next; and drove back both him and the rest that followed。
Marcellus; seeing this; pours in his horse with great force upon the
elephants; and upon the enemy disordered by their flight。 The horse;
making a fierce impression; pursued the Carthaginians home to their
camp; while the elephants; wounded and running upon their own party;
caused a considerable slaughter。 It is said more than eight thousand
were slain; of the Roman army three thousand; and almost all
wounded。 This gave Hannibal opportunity to retire in the silence of
the night; and to remove to greater distance from Marcellus; who was
kept from pursuing by the number of his wounded men; and removed; by
gentle marches; into Campania; and spent the summer at Sinuessa;
engaged in restoring them。
  But as Hannibal; having disentangled himself from Marcellus;
ranged with his army round about the country; and wasted Italy free
from all fear; at Rome Marcellus was evil spoken of。 His det

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