sertorius-第2章

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favour；　either　by　the　command　or　permission　of　Marius；　or　by　their　own
lawless　violence；　committed　all　sorts　of　crimes；　killed　their　masters；
ravished　their　masters'　wives　and　abused　their　children；　their　conduct
appeared　so　intolerable　to　Sertorius　that　he　slew　the　whole　body　of
them；　four　thousand　in　number；　commanding　his　soldiers　to　shoot　them
down　with　their　javelins；　as　they　lay　encamped　together。
　　Afterwards　when　Marius　died；　and　Cinna　shortly　after　was　slain；　when
the　younger　Marius　made　himself　consul　against　Sertorius's　wishes
and　contrary　to　law；　when　Carbo；　Norbanus；　and　Scipio　fought
unsuccessfully　against　Sylla；　now　advancing　to　Rome；　when　much　was
lost　by　the　cowardice　and　remissness　of　the　commanders；　but　more　by
the　treachery　of　their　party；　when　with　the　want　of　prudence　in　the
chief　leaders；　all　went　so　ill　that　his　presence　could　do　no　good；
in　the　end　when　Sylla　had　placed　his　camp　near　to　Scipio；　and　by
pretending　friendship；　and　putting　him　in　hopes　of　a　peace；
corrupted　his　army；　and　Scipio　could　not　be　made　sensible　of　this；
although　often　forewarned　of　it　by　Sertorius…　at　last　he　utterly
despaired　of　Rome；　and　hasted　into　Spain；　that　by　taking　possession
there　beforehand；　he　might　secure　a　refuge　to　his　friends　from　their
misfortunes　at　home。　Having　bad　weather　in　his　journey；　and　travelling
through　mountainous　countries；　and　the　inhabitants　stopping　the　way；
and　demanding　a　toll　and　money　for　passage；　those　who　were　with　him
were　out　of　all　patience　at　the　indignity　and　shame　it　would　be　for
a　proconsul　of　Rome　to　pay　tribute　to　a　crew　of　wretched　barbarians。
But　he　little　regarded　their　censure；　and　slighting　that　which　had
only　the　appearance　of　an　indecency；　told　them　he　must　buy　time；　the
most　precious　of　all　things　to　those　who　go　upon　great　enterprises；
and　pacifying　the　barbarous　people　with　money；　he　hastened　his
journey；　and　took　possession　of　Spain；　a　country　flourishing　and
populous；　abounding　with　young　men　fit　to　bear　arms；　but　on　account　of
the　insolence　and　covetousness　of　the　governors　from　time　to　time　sent
thither　from　Rome　they　had　generally　an　aversion　to　Roman　supremacy。
He；　however；　soon　gained　the　affection　of　their　nobles　by
intercourse　with　them；　and　the　good　opinion　of　the　people　by　remitting
their　taxes。　But　that　which　won　him　most　popularity　was　his
exempting　them　from　finding　lodgings　for　the　soldiers；　when　he
commanded　his　army　to　take　up　their　winter　quarters　outside　the
cities；　and　to　pitch　their　camp　in　the　suburbs；　and　when　he　himself；
first　of　all；　caused　his　own　tent　to　be　raised　without　the　walls。
Yet　not　being　willing　to　rely　totally　upon　the　good　inclination　of　the
inhabitants　he　armed　all　the　Romans　who　lived　in　those　countries
that　were　of　military　age；　and　undertook　the　building　of　ships　and　the
making　of　all　sorts　of　warlike　engines；　by　which　means　he　kept　the
cities　in　due　obedience；　showing　himself　gentle　in　all　peaceful
business；　and　at　the　same　time　formidable　to　his　enemies　by　his
great　preparations　for　war。
　　As　soon　as　he　was　informed　that　Sylla　had　made　himself　master　of
Rome；　and　that　the　party　which　sided　with　Marius　and　Carbo　was　going
to　destruction；　he　expected　that　some　commander　with　a　considerable
army　would　speedily　come　against　him；　and　therefore　sent　away　Julius
Salinator　immediately；　with　six　thousand　men　fully　armed；　to　fortify
and　defend　the　passes　of　the　Pyrenees。　And　Caius　Annius　not　long　after
being　sent　out　by　Sylla；　finding　Julius　unassailable；　sat　down　short
at　the　foot　of　the　mountains　in　perplexity。　But　a　certain
Calpurnius；　surnamed　Lanarius；　having　treacherously　slain　Julius；
and　his　soldiers　then　forsaking　the　heights　of　the　Pyrenees；　Caius
Annius　advanced　with　large　numbers　and　drove　before　him　all　who
endeavoured　to　hinder　his　march。　Sertorius；　also；　not　being　strong
enough　to　give　him　battle；　retreated　with　three　thousand　men　into
New　Carthage；　where　he　took　shipping；　and　crossed　the　seas　into
Africa。　And　coming　near　the　coast　of　Mauritania；　his　men　went　on　shore
to　water；　and　straggling　about　negligently；　the　natives　fell　upon　them
and　slew　a　great　number。　This　new　misfortune　forced　him　to　sail　back
again　into　Spain；　whence　he　was　also　repulsed；　and；　some　Cilician
private　ships　joining　with　him；　they　made　for　the　island　of
Pityussa；　where　they　landed　and　overpowered　the　garrison　placed
there　by　Annius；　who；　however；　came　not　long　after　with　a　great
fleet　of　ships　and　five　thousand　soldiers。　And　Sertorius　made　ready　to
fight　him　by　sea；　although　his　ships　were　not　built　for　strength；
but　for　lightness　and　swift　sailing；　but　a　violent　west　wind　raised
such　a　sea　that　many　of　them　were　run　aground　and　shipwrecked；　and
he　himself；　with　a　few　vessels；　being　kept　from　putting　further　out　to
sea　by　the　fury　of　the　weather；　and　from　landing　by　the　power　of　his
enemies；　were　tossed　about　painfully　for　ten　days　together；　amidst　the
boisterous　and　adverse　waves。
　　He　escaped　with　difficulty；　and　after　the　wind　ceased；　ran　for
certain　desert　islands　scattered　in　those　seas；　affording　no　water；
and　after　passing　a　night　there；　making　out　to　sea　again；　he　went
through　the　straits　of　Cadiz；　and　sailing　outward；　keeping　the　Spanish
shore　on　his　right　hand；　landed　a　little　above　the　mouth　of　the
river　Baetis；　where　it　falls　into　the　Atlantic　Sea；　and　gives　the　name
to　that　part　of　Spain。　Here　he　met　with　seamen　recently　arrived　from
the　Atlantic　islands；　two　in　number；　divided　from　one　another　only
by　a　narrow　channel；　and　distant　from　the　coast　of　Africa　ten　thousand
furlongs。　These　are　called　the　Islands　of　the　Blest；　rain　falls
there　seldom；　and　in　moderate　showers；　but　for　the　most　part　they　have
gentle　breezes；　bringing　along　with　them　soft　dews；　which　render　the
soil　not　only　rich　for　ploughing　and　planting；　but　so　abundantly
fruitful　that　it　produces　spontaneously　an　abundance　of　delicate
fruits；　sufficient　to　feed　the　inhabitants；　who　may　here　enjoy　all
things　without　trouble　or　labour。　The　seasons　of　the　year　are
temperate；　and　the　transitions　from　one　to　another　so　moderate　that
the　air　is　almost　always　serene　and　pleasant。　The　rough　northerly
and　easterly　winds　which　blow　from　the　coasts　of　Europe　and　Africa；
dissipated　in　the　vast　open　space；　utterly　lose　their　force　before
they　reach　the　islands。　The　soft　western　and　southerly　winds　which
breathe　upon　them　sometimes　produce　gentle　sprinkling　showers；　which
they　convey　along　with　them　from　the　sea；　but　more　usually　bring
days　of　moist；　bright　weather；　cooling　and　gently　fertilizing　the
soil；　so　that　the　firm　belief　prevails；　even　among　the　barbarians；
that　this　is　the　seat　of　the　blessed　and　that　these　are　the　Elysian
Fields　celebrated　by　Homer。
　　When　Sertorius　heard　this　account；　he　was　seized　with　a　wonderful
passion　for　these　islands；　and　had　an　extreme　desire　to　go　and　live
there　in　peace　and　quietness；　and　safe　from　oppression　and　unending
wars；　but　his　inclinations　being　perceived　by　the　Cilician　pirates；
who　desired　not　peace　nor　quiet；　but　riches　and　spoils；　they
immediately　forsook　him　and　sailed　away　into　Africa　to　assist　Ascalis；
the　son　of　Iphtha；　and　to　help　to　restore　him　to　his　kingdom　of
Mauritania。　Their　sudden　departure　noways　discouraged　Sertorius；　he
presently　resolved　to　assist　the　enemies　of　Ascalis；　and　by　this　new
adventure　trusted　to　keep　his　soldiers　together。　who　from　this　might
conceive　new　hopes；　and　a　prospect　of　a　new　scene　of　action。　His
arrival　in　Mauritania　being　very　acceptable　to　the　Moors；　he　lost　no
time；　but　immediately　giving　battle　to　Ascalis；　beat　him　out　of　the
field　and　besieged　him；　and　Paccianus　being　sent　by　Sylla；　with　a
powerful　supply；　to　raise　the　siege；　Sertorius　slew　him　in　the
field；　gained　over　all　his　forces；　and　took　the　city　of　Tingis；　into
which　Ascalis　and　his　brothers　were　fled　for　refuge。　The　Africans　tell
that　Antaeus　was　buried　in　this　city；　and　Sertorius　had　the　grave
opened；　doubting　the　story　because　of　the　prodigious　size；　and　finding
there　his　body；　in　effect；　it　is　said；　full　sixty　cubits　long；　he
was　infinitely　astonished；　offered　sacrifice；　and　heaped　up　the　tomb
again；　gave　his　confirmation　to　the　story；　and　added　new　honours　to
the　memory　of　Antaeus。　The　Africans　tell　that　after　the　death　of
Antaeus；　his　wife　Tinga　lived　with　Hercules；　and　had　a　son　by　him
called　Sophax；　who　was　king　of　these　countries；　and　gave　his
mother's　name　to　this　city；　whose　son；　also；　was　Diodorus；　a　great
conqueror；　who　brought　the　greatest　part　of　the　Libyan　tribes　under
his　subjection；　with　an　army　of　Greeks；　raised　out　of　the　colonies
of　the　Olbians　and　Myceneans　placed　here　by　Hercules。　Thus　much　I
may　mention　for　the　sake　of　King　Juba；　of　all　monarchs　the　greatest
student　of　history　whose　ancestors　are　said　to　have　sprung　from
Diodorus　and　Sophax。
　　When　Sertorius　had　made　himself　absolute　master　of　the　whole
country；　he　acted　with　great　fairness　to　those　who　had　confided　in
him；　and　who　yielded　to　his　mercy；　he　restored　to　them　their　property；
cities；　and　government；　accepting　only　of　such　acknowledgments　as　they
themselves　freely　offered。　And　whilst　he　considered　which　way　next
to　turn　his　arms；　the　Lusitanians　sent　ambassadors　to　desire　him　to　be
their　general；　for　being　terrified　with　the　Roman　power；　and　finding
the　necessity　of　having　a　commander　of　great　authority　and
experience　in　war；　being　also　sufficiently　assured　of　his　worth　and
valour　by　those　who　had　formerly　known　him；　they　were　desirous　to
commit　themselves　especially　to　his　care。　And　in　fact　Sertorius　is
said　to　have　been　of　a　temper　unassailable　either　by　fear　or　pleasure；
in　adversity　and　dangers　undaunted；　and　noways　puffed　up　with
prosperity。　In　straightforward　fighting；　no　commander　in　his　time
was　more　bold　and　daring；　and　in　whatever　was　to　be　performed　in　war
by　stratagem；　secrecy；　or　surprise；　if　any　strong　place　was　to　be
secured；　any　pass　to　be　gained　speedily；　for　deceiving　and
overreaching　an　enemy；　there　was　no　man　equal　to　him　in　subtlety　and
skill。　In　bestowing　rewards　and　conferring　honours　upon　those　who
had　performed　good　service　in　the　wars；　he　was　bountiful　and
magnificent；　and　was　no　less　sparing　and　moderate　in　inflicting
punishment。　It　is　true　that　that　piece　of　harshness　and　cruelty
which　he　executed　in　the　latter　part　of　his　days　upon　the　Spanish
hostages　seems　to　argue　that　his　clemency　was　not　natural　to　him；
but　only　worn　as　a　dress；　and　employed　upon　calculation；　as　his
occasion　or　necessity　required。　As　to　my　own　opinion；　I　am　persuaded
that　pure　virtue；　established　by　reason　and　judgment；　can　never　be
totally　perverted　or　changed　into　its　opposite；　by　any　misfortune
whatever。　Yet　I　think　it　at　the　same　time　possible　that　virtuous
inclinations　and　natural　good　qualities　may；　when　unworthily　oppressed
by　calamities；　show；　with　change　of　fortune；　some　change　and
alteration　of　their　temper；　and　thus　I　conceive　it　happened　to
Sertorius；　who；　when　prosperity　failed　him；　became　exasperated　by
his　disasters　against　those　who　had　done　him　wrong。
　　The　Lusitanians　having　sent　for　Sertorius；　he　left　Africa；　and　being
made　general　with　absolute　authority；　he　put　all　in　order　amongst
the