flamininus-第3章
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Antiochus found the Romans still at war in Greece with Philip； and had
these two； the most powerful and warlike princes of that age；
confederated for their common interests against the Roman state；
Rome might once more have run no less a risk； and been reduced to no
less extremities； than she had experienced under Hannibal。 But now；
Titus opportunely introducing this peace between the wars； despatching
the present danger before the new one had arrived； at once
disappointed Antiochus of his first hopes and Philip of his last。
When the ten commissioners； delegated to Titus from the senate；
advised him to restore the rest of Greece to their liberty； but that
Corinth； Chalcis； and Demetrias should be kept garrisoned for security
against Antiochus； the Aetolians on this； breaking out into loud
accusations； agitated all the cities； calling upon Titus to strike off
the shackles of Greece （so Philip used to term those three cities）；
and asking the Greeks whether it were not matter of much consolation
to them that； though their chains weighed heavier； yet they were now
smoother and better polished than formerly； and whether Titus were not
deservedly admired by them as their benefactor； who had unshackled the
feet of Greece； and tied her up by the neck； Titus； vexed and angry at
this； made it his request to the senate； and at last prevailed in
it； that the garrisons in these cities should be dismissed； that so
the Greeks might be no longer debtors to him for a partial； but for an
entire favour。 It was now the time of the celebration of the
Isthmian games； and the seats around the racecourse were crowded
with an unusual multitude of spectators； Greece； after long wars；
having regained not only peace； but hopes of liberty； and being able
once more to keep holiday in safety。 A trumpet sounded to command
silence； and the crier； stepping forth amidst the spectators； made
proclamation； that the Roman senate and Titus Quintius； the
proconsular general； having vanquished King Philip and the
Macedonians； restored the Corinthians； Locrians； Phocians； Euboeans；
Achaeans of Phthiotis； Magnetians； Thessalians； and Perrhaebians to
their own lands； laws； and liberties； remitting all impositions upon
them； and withdrawing all garrisons from their cities。 At first；
many heard not at all； and others not distinctly； what was said； but
there was a confused and uncertain stir among the assembled people；
some wondering； some asking； some calling out to have it proclaimed
again。 When； therefore； fresh silence was made； the crier raising
his voice； succeeded in making himself generally heard； and recited
the decree again。 A shout of joy followed it； so loud that it was
heard as far as the sea。 The whole assembly rose and stood up； there
was no further thought of the entertainment； all were only eager to
leap up and salute and address their thanks to the deliverer and
champion of Greece。 What we often hear alleged； in proof of the
force of human voices； was actually verified upon this occasion。 Crows
that were accidentally flying over the course fell down dead into
it。 The disruption of the air must be the cause of it； for the
voices being numerous； and the acclamation violent； the air breaks
with it and can no longer give support to the birds； but lets them
tumble； like one that should attempt to walk upon a vacuum； unless
we should rather imagine them to fall and die； shot with the noise
as a dart。 It is possible； too； that there may be a circular agitation
of the air； which； like marine whirlpools； may have a violent
direction of this sort given to it from the excess of its fluctuation。
But for Titus； the sports being now quite at an end； so beset was he
on every side； and by such multitudes； that had he not； foreseeing the
probable throng and concourse of the people； timely withdrawn； he
would scarce； it is thought； have ever got clear of them。 When they
had tired themselves with acclamations all about his pavilion； and
night was now come； wherever friends or fellow…citizens met； they
joyfully saluted and embraced each other； and went home to feast and
carouse together。 And there； no doubt； redoubling their joy； they
began to recollect and talk of the state of Greece； what wars she
had incurred in defence of her liberty； and yet was never perhaps
mistress of a more settled or grateful one than this which other men's
labours had won for her； almost without one drop of blood； or one
citizen's loss to be mourned for； she had this day had put into her
hands the most glorious of rewards； and best worth the contending for。
Courage and wisdom are； indeed； rarities amongst men； but of all
that is good； a just man it would seem is the most scarce。 Such as
Agesilaus； Lysander； Nicias； and Alcibiades； knew how to play the
general's part； how to manage a war； how to bring off their men
victorious by land and sea； but how to employ that success to generous
and honest purposes they had not known。 For should a man except the
achievement at Marathon； the sea…fight at Salamis； the engagements
at Plataea and Thermopylae； Cimon's exploits at Eurymedon； and on
the coasts of Cyprus； Greece fought all her battles against； and to
enslave； herself； she erected all her trophies to her own shame and
misery； and was brought to ruin and desolation almost wholly by the
guilt and ambition of her great men。 A foreign people； appearing
just to retain some embers； as it were； some faint remainders of a
common character derived to them from their ancient sires； a nation
from whom it was a mere wonder that Greece should reap any benefit
by word or thought； these are they who have retrieved Greece from
her severest dangers and distresses； have rescued her out of the hands
of insulting lords and tyrants； and reinstated her in her former
liberties。
Thus they entertained their tongues and thoughts： whilst Titus by
his actions made good what had been proclaimed。 For he immediately
despatched away Lentulus to Asia； to set the Bargylians free；
Titillius to Thrace； to see the garrisons of Philip removed out of the
towns and islands there； while Publius Villius set sail； in order to
treat with Antiochus about the freedom of the Greeks under him。
Titus himself passed on to Chalcis； and sailing thence to Magnesia；
dismantled the garrisons there； and surrendered the government into
the people's hands。 Shortly after； he was appointed at Argos to
preside in the Nemean games； and did his part in the management of
that solemnity singularly well； and made a second publication there by
the crier of liberty to the Greeks； and； visiting all the cities； he
exhorted them to the practice of obedience to law； of constant
justice； and unity； and friendship one towards another。 He
suppressed their factions； brought home their political exiles； and；
in short； his conquest over the Macedonians did not seem to give him a
more lively pleasure； than to find himself prevalent in reconciling
Greeks with Greeks； so that their liberty seemed now the least part of
the kindness he conferred upon them。
The story goes； that when Lycurgus the orator had rescued Xenocrates
the philosopher from the collectors who were hurrying him away to
prison for non…payment of the alien tax； and had them punished for the
licence they had been guilty of； Xenocrates afterwards meeting the
children of Lycurgus； 〃My sons；〃 said he； 〃I am nobly repaying your
father for his kindness； he has the praises of the whole people in
return for it。〃 But the returns which attended Titus Quintius and
the Romans； for their beneficence to the Greeks； terminated not in
empty praises only； for these proceedings gained them； deservedly；
credit and confidence； and thereby power； among all nations； for
many not only admitted the Roman commanders； but even sent and
entreated to be under their protection； neither was this done by
popular governments alone； or by single cities； but kings oppressed by
kings cast themselves into these protecting hands。 Insomuch that in
a very short time （though perchance not without divine influence in
it） all the world did homage to them。 Titus himself thought more
highly of his liberation of Greece than of any other of his actions；
as appears by the inscription with which he dedicated some silver
targets； together with his own shield； to Apollo at Delphi：…
〃Ye Spartan Tyndarids； twin sons of Jove；
Who in swift horsemanship have placed your love；
Titus； of great Aeneas's race； leaves this
In honour of the liberty of Greece。〃
He offered also to Apollo a golden crown； with this inscription：…
〃This golden crown upon thy locks divine；
O blest Latonia's son； was set to shine
By the great captain of the Aenean name。
O Phoebus； grant the noble Titus fame！
The same event has twice occurred to the Greeks in the city of
Corinth。 Titus； then； and Nero again in our days； both at Corinth； and
both alike at the celebration of the Isthmian games； permitted the
Greeks to enjoy their own laws and liberty。 The former （as has been
said） proclaimed it by the crier； but Nero did it in the public
meeting…place from the tribunal； in a speech which he himself made
to the people。 This； however； was long after。
Titus now engaged in a most gallant and just war upon Nabis； that
most profligate and lawless tyrant of the Lacedaemonians； but in the
end disappointed the expectations of the Greeks。 For when he had an
opportunity of taking him； he purposely let it slip； and struck up a
peace with him； leaving Sparta to bewail an unworthy slavery；
whether it were that he feared； if the war should be protracted；
Rome would send a new general who might rob him of the glory of it； or
that emulation and envy of Philopoemen （who had signalized himself
among the Greeks upon all other occasions； but in that war
especially had done wonders both for matter of courage and counsel；
and whom the Achaeans magnified in their theatres； and put into the
same balance of glory with Titus）； touched him to the quick； and
that he scorned that an ordinary Arcadian； who had commanded in a
few encounters upon the confines of his native district； should be
spoken of in terms of equality with a Roman consul； waging war as
the protector of Greece in general。 But； besides； Titus was not
without an apology too for what he did； namely； that he put an end
to the war only when he foresaw that the tyrant's destruction must
have been attended with the ruin of the other Spartans。
The Achaeans； by various decrees； did much to show Titus honour：
none of these returns； however； seemed to come up to the height of the
actions that merited them； unless it were one present they made him；
which affected and pleased him beyond all the rest； which was this。
The Romans； who in the war with Hannibal had the misfortune to be
taken captives； were sold about here and there； and dispersed into
slavery； twelve hundred in number were at that time in Greece。 The
reverse of their fortune always rendered them objects of compassion；
but more particularly； as well might be； when they now met； some
with their sons； some with their brothers； others with their
acquaintance； slaves with their free
