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！
no longer to choose their commanders by favour or solicitation； but of
their own motion to select a general of wisdom and capacity for the
management of great affairs。 And such was Paulus Aemilius； advanced in
years； being nearly threescore； yet vigorous in his own person； and
rich in valiant sons and sons…in…law； besides a great number of
influential relations and friends； all of whom joined in urging him to
yield to the desires of the people； who called him to the
consulship。 He at first manifested some shyness of the people and
withdrew himself from their importunity； professing reluctance to hold
office； but； when they daily came to his doors； urging him to come
forth to the place of election； and pressing him with noise and
clamour； he acceded to their request。 When he appeared amongst the
candidates； it did not look as if it were to sue for the consulship；
but to bring victory and success； that he came down into the Campus；
they all received him there with such hopes and such gladness；
unanimously choosing him a second time consul； nor would they suffer
the lots to be cast； as was usual； to determine which province
should fall to his share； but immediately decreed him the command of
the Macedonian war。 It is told； that when he had been proclaimed
general against Perseus； and was honourably accompanied home by
great numbers of people； he found his daughter Tertia； a very little
girl； weeping； and taking her to him asked her why she was crying。
She； catching him about the neck and kissing him； said； 〃O father；
do you not know that Perseus is dead？〃 meaning a little dog of that
name that was brought up in the house with her； to which Aemilius
replied； 〃Good fortune； my daughter； I embrace the omen。〃 This Cicero；
the orator； relates in his book on divination。
It was the custom for such as were chosen consuls； from a stage
designed for such purposes； to address the people； and return them
thanks for their favour。 Aemilius； therefore； having gathered an
assembly； spoke and said that he sued for the first consulship；
because he himself stood in need of such honour； but for the second；
because they wanted a general； upon which account he thought there was
no thanks due： if they judged they could manage the war by any other
to more advantage； he would willingly yield up his charge； but； if
they confided in him； they were not to make themselves his
colleagues in his office； or raise reports； and criticize his actions；
but； without talking； supply him with means and assistance necessary
to the carrying on of the war； for if they proposed to command their
own commander they would render this expedition more ridiculous than
the former。 By this speech he inspired great reverence for him amongst
the citizens and great expectations of future success； all were well
pleased that they had passed by such as sought to be preferred by
flattery； and fixed upon a commander endued with wisdom and courage to
tell them the truth。 So entirely did the people of Rome； that they
might rule； and become masters of the world； yield obedience and
service to reason and superior virtue。
That Aemilius； setting forward to the war； by a prosperous voyage
and successful journey； arrived with speed and safety at his camp I
attribute to good fortune； but； when I see how the war under his
command was brought to a happy issue； partly by his own daring
boldness； partly by his good counsel； partly by the ready
administration of his friends； partly by his presence of mind and
skill to embrace the most proper advice in the extremity of danger；
I cannot ascribe any of his remarkable and famous actions （as I can
those of other commanders） to his so much celebrated good fortune；
unless you will say that the covetousness of Perseus was the good
fortune of Aemilius。 The truth is； Perseus' fear of spending his money
was the destruction and utter ruin of all those splendid and great
preparations with which the Macedonians were in high hopes to carry on
the war with success。 For there came at his request ten thousand
horsemen of the Basternae； and as many foot； who were to keep pace
with them； and supply their places in case of failure； all of them
professed soldiers； men skilled neither in tilling of land； nor in
navigation of ships； nor able to get their living by grazing； but
whose only business and single art and trade it was to fight and
conquer all that resisted them。 When these came into the district of
Maedica； and encamped and mixed with the king's soldiers； being men of
great stature； admirable at their exercises； great boasters； and
loud in their threats against their enemies； they gave new courage
to the Macedonians； who were ready to think the Romans would not be
able to confront them； but would be struck with terror at their
looks and motions； they were so strange and so formidable to behold。
When Perseus had thus encouraged his men； and elevated them with these
great hopes； as soon as a thousand gold pieces were demanded for
each captain； he was so amazed and beside himself at the vastness of
the amount； that out of mere stinginess he drew back and let himself
lose their assistance； as if he had been some steward； not the enemy
of the Romans； and would have to give an exact account of the expenses
of the war to those with whom he waged it。 Nay； when he had his foes
as tutors； to instruct him what he had to do； who； besides their other
preparations； had a hundred thousand men drawn together and in
readiness for their service； yet he that was to engage against so
considerable a force； and in a war that was maintaining such numbers
as this； nevertheless doled out his money； and put seals on his
bags； and was as fearful of touching it； as if it had belonged to some
one else。 And all this was done by one； not descended from Lydians
or Phoenicians； but who could pretend to some share of the virtues
of Alexander and Philip； whom he was allied to by birth； men who
conquered the world by judging that empire was to be purchased by
money； not money by empire。 Certainly it became a proverb； that not
Philip； but his gold； took the cities of Greece。 And Alexander； when
he undertook his expedition against the Indians； and found his
Macedonians encumbered and appear to march heavily with their
Persian spoils； first set fire to his own carriages； and thence
persuaded the rest to imitate his example； that thus freed they
might proceed to the war without hindrance。 Whereas Perseus； abounding
in wealth； would not preserve himself； his children； and his
kingdom； at the expense of a small part of his treasure； but chose
rather to be carried away with numbers of his subjects with the name
of the wealthy captive； and show the Romans what great riches he had
husbanded and preserved for them。 For he not only played false with
the Gauls； and sent them away； but also； after alluring Genthius； King
of the Illyrians； by the hopes of three hundred talents； to assist him
in the war； he caused the money to be counted out in the presence of
his messengers； and to be sealed up。 Upon which Genthius； thinking
himself possessed of what he desired； committed a wicked and
shameful act： he seized and imprisoned the ambassadors sent to him
from the Romans。 Whence Perseus； concluding that there was no need
of money to make Genthius an enemy to the Romans； but that he had
given a lasting earnest of his enmity； and by his flagrant injustice
sufficiently involved himself in the war； defrauded the unfortunate
king of his three hundred talents； and without any concern beheld him；
his wife； and children； in a short time after； carried out of their
kingdom； as from their nest； by Lucius Anicius； who was sent against
him with an army。
Aemilius； coming against such an adversary； made light indeed of
him； but admired his preparation and power。 For he had four thousand
horse； and not much fewer than forty thousand full…armed foot of the
phalanx； and planting himself along the seaside； at the foot of
Mount Olympus； in ground with no access on any side； and on all
sides fortified with fences and bulwarks of wood； remained in great
security； thinking by delay and expense to weary out Aemilius。 But he