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！
it； had done nothing worthy of the large forces at his disposal；
Pompey urged that it could not be fair or honourable for him to take a
province out of the hands of his senior in command and his superior in
reputation； however； if Metellus were willing； and should request
his service； he should be very ready to accompany and assist him in
the war； which when Metellus came to understand； he approved of the
proposal； and invited him over by letter。 On this Pompey fell
immediately into Gaul； where he not only achieved wonderful exploits
of himself； but also fired up and kindled again that bold and
warlike spirit； which old age had in a manner extinguished in
Metellus； into a new heat； just as molten copper； they say； when
poured upon that which is cold and solid； will dissolve and melt it
faster than fire itself。 But as when a famous wrestler has gained
the first place among men； and borne away the prizes at all the games；
it is not usual to take account of his victories as a boy； or to enter
them upon record among the rest； so with the exploits of Pompey in his
youth； though they were extraordinary in themselves； yet because
they were obscured and buried in the multitude and greatness of his
later wars and conquests； I dare not be particular in them； lest； by
trifling away time in the lesser moments of his youth； we should be
driven to omit those greater actions and fortunes which best
illustrate his character。
Now； when Sylla had brought all Italy under his dominion； and was
proclaimed dictator； he began to reward the rest of his followers；
by giving them wealth； appointing them to offices in the state； and
granting them freely and without restriction any favours they asked
for。 But as for Pompey； admiring his valour and conduct； and
thinking that he might prove a great stay and support to him hereafter
in his affairs； he sought means to attach him to himself by some
personal alliance； and his wife Metella joining in his wishes； they
two persuaded Pompey to put away Antistia； and marry Aemilia； the
step…daughter of Sylla； born by Metella to Scaurus； her former
husband； she being at that very time the wife of another man； living
with him； and with child by him。 These were the very tyrannies of
marriage； and much more agreeable to the times under Sylla than to the
nature and habits of Pompey； that Aemilia great with child should
be； as it were； ravished from the embraces of another for him； and
that Antistia should be divorced with dishonour and misery by him； for
whose sake she had been but just before bereft of her father。 For
Antistius was murdered in the senate； because he was suspected to be a
favourer of Sylla for Pompey's sake； and her mother； likewise； after
she had seen all these indignities； made away with herself； a new
calamity to be added to the tragic accompaniments of this marriage；
and that there might be nothing wanting to complete them； Aemilia
herself died； almost immediately after entering Pompey's house； in
childbed。
About this time news came to Sylla that Perpenna was fortifying
himself in Sicily； that the island was now become a refuge and
receptacle for the relics of the adverse party； that Carbo was
hovering about those seas with a navy； that Domitius had fallen in
upon Africa； and that many of the exiled men of note who had escaped
from the proscriptions were daily flocking into those parts。 Against
these； therefore； Pompey was sent with a large force； and no sooner
was he arrived in Sicily； but Perpenna immediately departed； leaving
the whole island to him。 Pompey received the distressed cities into
favour； and treated all with great humanity； except the Mamertines
in Messena； for when they protested against his court and
jurisdiction； alleging their privilege and exemption founded upon an
ancient charter or grant of the Romans； he replied sharply； 〃What！
will you never cease prating of laws to us that have swords by our
sides？〃 It was thought； likewise； that he showed some inhumanity to
Carbo； seeming rather to insult over his misfortunes than to
chastise his crimes。 For if there had been a necessity； as perhaps
there was； that he should be taken off； that might have been done at
first； as soon as he was taken prisoner； for then it would have been
the act of him that commanded it。 But here Pompey commanded a man that
had been thrice consul of Rome to be brought in fetters to stand at
the bar； he himself sitting upon the bench in judgment； examining
the cause with the formalities of law； to the offence and
indignation of all that were present； and afterwards ordered him to be
taken away and put to death。 It is related； by the way； of Carbo； that
as soon as he was brought to the place； and saw the sword drawn for
execution； he was suddenly seized with a looseness or pain in his
bowels； and desired a little respite of the executioner； and a
convenient place to relieve himself。 And yet further； Caius Oppius；
the friend of Caesar； tells us； that Pompey dealt cruelly with Quintus
Valerius； a man of singular learning and science。 For when he was
brought to him； he walked aside； and drew him into conversation； and
after putting a variety of questions to him； and receiving answers
from him； he ordered his officers to take him away and put him to
death。 But we must not be too credulous in the case of narratives told
by Oppius； especially when he undertakes to relate anything touching
the friends or foes of Caesar。 This is certain； that there lay a
necessity upon Pompey to be severe upon many of Sylla's enemies； those
at least that were eminent persons in themselves； and notoriously
known to be taken； but for the rest； he acted with all the clemency
possible for him； conniving at the concealment of some； and himself
being the instrument in the escape of others。 So in the case of the
Himeraeans； for when Pompey had determined on severely punishing their
city； as they had been abettors of the enemy； Sthenis； the leader of
the people there； craving liberty of speech； told him that what he was
about to do was not at all consistent with justice； for that he
would pass by the guilty and destroy the innocent； and on Pompey
demanding who that guilty person was that would assume the offences of
them all； Sthenis replied it was himself； who had engaged his
friends by persuasion to what they had done； and his enemies by force；
whereupon Pompey； being much taken with the frank speech and noble
spirit of the man； first forgave his crime； and then pardoned all
the rest of the Himeraeans。 Hearing； likewise； that his soldiers
were very disorderly in their march； doing violence upon the roads； he
ordered their swords to be sealed up in their scabbards； and whosoever
kept them not so were severely punished。
Whilst Pompey was thus busy in the affairs and government of Sicily；
he received a decree of the senate； and a commission from Sylla；
commanding him forthwith to sail into Africa； and make war upon
Domitius with all his forces： for Domitius had rallied up a far
greater army than Marius had had not long since； when he sailed out of
Africa into Italy； and caused a revolution in Rome； and himself； of
a fugitive outlaw； became a tyrant。 Pompey； therefore； having prepared
everything with the utmost speed； left Memmius； his sister's
husband； governor of Sicily； and set sail with one hundred and
twenty galleys； and eight hundred other vessels laden with provisions；
money； ammunition； and engines of battery。 He arrived with his
fleet； part at the port of Utica； part at Carthage； and no sooner
was he landed； but seven thousand of the enemy revolted and came
over to him； while his own forces that he brought with him consisted
of six entire legions。 Here they tell us of a pleasant incident that
happened to him at his first arrival。
Some of his soldiers having by accident stumbled upon a treasure； by
which they got a good sum of money； the rest of the army hearing this；
began to fancy that the field was full of gold and silver； which had
been hid there of old by the Carthaginians in the time of their
calamities； and thereupon fell to work； so that the army was useless
to Pompey for many days； being totally engaged in d