cleomenes-第5部分

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Mantinea；　Cleomenes　was　shut　up　within　the　narrow　bounds　of　Laconia；
and　making　such　of　the　helots　as　could　pay　five　Attic　pounds　free　of
Sparta；　and；　by　that　means；　getting　together　five　hundred　talents；　and
arming　two　thousand　after　the　Macedonian　fashion；　that　he　might　make　a
body　fit　to　oppose　Antigonus's　Leucaspides；　he　undertook　a　great　and
unexpected　enterprise。　Megalopolis　was　at　that　time　a　city　of　itself
as　great　and　as　powerful　as　Sparta；　and　had　the　forces　of　the　Achaeans
and　of　Antigonus　encamping　beside　it；　and　it　was　chiefly　the
Megalopolitans'　doing；　that　Antigonus　had　been　called　in　to　assist　the
Achaeans。　Cleomenes；　resolving　to　snatch　the　city　（no　other　word　so
well　suits　so　rapid　and　so　surprising　an　action）；　ordered　his　men　to
take　five　days'　provision；　and　marched　to　Sellasia；　as　if　he
intended　to　ravage　the　country　of　the　Argives；　but　from　thence
making　a　descent　into　the　territories　of　Megalopolis；　and　refreshing
his　army　about　Rhoeteum；　he　suddenly　took　the　road　by　Helicus；　and
advanced　directly　upon　the　city。　When　he　was　not　far　off　the　town；
he　sent　Panteus；　with　two　regiments；　to　surprise　a　portion　of　the　wall
between　two　towers；　which　he　learnt　to　be　the　most　unguarded　quarter
of　the　Megalopolitans'　fortifications；　and　with　the　rest　of　his　forces
he　followed　leisurely。　Panteus　not　only　succeeded　at　that　point；　but
finding　a　great　part　of　the　wall　without　guards；　he　at　once
proceeded　to　pull　it　down　in　some　places；　and　make　openings　through　it
in　others；　and　killed　all　the　defenders　that　he　found。　Whilst　he　was
thus　busied；　Cleomenes　came　up　to　him；　and　was　got　with　his　army
within　the　city；　before　the　Megalopolitans　knew　of　the　surprise。　When；
after　some　time；　they　learned　their　misfortune；　some　left　the　town
immediately；　taking　with　them　what　property　they　could；　others　armed
and　engaged　the　enemy；　and　though　they　were　not　able　to　beat　them　out；
yet　they　gave　their　citizens　time　and　opportunity　safely　to　retire；　so
that　there　were　not　above　one　thousand　persons　taken　in　the　town；
all　the　rest　flying；　with　their　wives　and　children；　and　escaping　to
Messene。　The　greater　number；　also；　of　those　that　armed　and　fought
the　enemy　were　saved；　and　very　few　taken；　amongst　whom　were
Lysandridas　and　Thearidas；　two　men　of　great　power　and　reputation
amongst　the　Megalopolitans；　and　therefore　the　soldiers；　as　soon　as
they　were　taken；　brought　them　to　Cleomenes。　And　Lysandridas；　as　soon
as　he　saw　Cleomenes　afar　off；　cried　out；　〃Now；　King　of　Sparta；　it　is
in　your　power；　by　doing　a　most　kingly　and　a　nobler　action　than　you
have　already　performed；　to　purchase　the　greatest　glory。〃　And
Cleomenes；　guessing　at　his　meaning；　replied；　〃What；　Lysandridas；　you
will　not　surely　advise　me　to　restore　your　city　to　you　again？〃　〃It　is
that　which　I　mean；〃　Lysandridas　replied；　〃and　I　advise　you　not　to　ruin
so　brave　a　city；　but　to　fill　it　with　faithful　and　steadfast　friends
and　allies；　by　restoring　their　country　to　the　Megalopolitans；　and
being　the　saviour　of　so　considerable　a　people。〃　Cleomenes　paused　a
while；　and　then　said：　〃It　is　very　hard　to　trust　so　far　in　these
matters；　but　with　us　let　profit　always　yield　to　glory。〃　Having　said
this；　he　sent　the　two　men　to　Messene　with　a　herald　from　himself；
offering　the　Megalopolitans　their　city　again；　if　they　would　forsake
the　Achaean　interest；　and　be　on　his　side。　But　though　Cleomenes　made
these　generous　and　humane　proposals；　Philopoemen　would　not　suffer　them
to　break　their　league　with　the　Achaeans；　and　accusing　Cleomenes　to　the
people；　as　if　his　design　was　not　to　restore　the　city；　but　to　take
the　citizens　too；　he　forced　Thearidas　and　Lysandridas　to　leave
Messene。
　　This　was　that　Philopoemen　who　was　afterwards　chief　of　the　Achaeans
and　a　man　of　the　greatest　reputation　amongst　the　Greeks；　as　I　have
related　in　his　own　life。　This　news　coming　to　Cleomenes；　though　he
had　before　taken　strict　care　that　the　city　should　not　be　plundered；
yet　then；　being　in　anger；　and　out　of　all　patience；　he　despoiled　the
place　of　all　the　valuables；　and　sent　the　statues　and　pictures　to
Sparta；　and　demolishing　a　great　part　of　the　city；　he　marched　away
for　fear　of　Antigonus　and　the　Achaeans；　but　they　never　stirred；　for
they　were　at　Aegium；　at　a　council　of　war。　There　Aratus　mounted　the
speaker's　place；　and　wept　a　long　while；　holding　his　mantle　before
his　face；　and　at　last；　the　company　being　amazed；　and　commanding　him　to
speak；　he　said；　〃Megalopolis　is　destroyed　by　Cleomenes。〃　The
assembly　instantly　dissolved；　the　Achaeans　being　astounded　at　the
suddenness　and　greatness　of　the　loss；　and　Antigonus；　intending　to　send
speedy　succours；　when　he　found　his　forces　gather　very　slowly　out　of
their　winter…quarters；　sent　them　orders　to　continue　there　still；　and
he　himself　marched　to　Argos　with　a　small　body　of　men。　And　now　the
second　enterprise　of　Cleomenes；　though　it　had　the　look　of　a
desperate　and　frantic　adventure；　yet　in　Polybius's　opinion；　was　done
with　mature　deliberation　and　great　foresight。　For　knowing　very　well
that　the　Macedonians　were　dispersed　into　their　winter…quarters；　and
that　Antigonus　with　his　friends　and　a　few　mercenaries　about　him
wintered　in　Argos；　upon　these　considerations　he　invaded　the　country　of
the　Argives；　hoping　to　shame　Antigonus　to　a　battle　upon　unequal　terms；
or　else　if　he　did　not　dare　to　fight；　to　bring　him　into　disrepute
with　the　Achaeans。　And　this　accordingly　happened。　For　Cleomenes
wasting；　plundering；　and　spoiling　the　whole　country；　the　Argives；　in
grief　and　anger　at　the　loss；　gathered　in　crowds　at　the　king's　gates；
crying　out　that　he　should　either　fight；　or　surrender　his　command　to
better　and　braver　men。　But　Antigonus；　as　became　an　experienced
captain；　accounting　it　rather　dishonourable　foolishly　to　hazard　his
army　and　quit　his　security；　than　merely　to　be　railed　at　by　other
people；　would　not　march　out　against　Cleomenes；　but　stood　firm　to　his
convictions。　Cleomenes；　in　the　meantime；　brought　his　army　up　to　the
very　walls；　and　having　without　opposition　spoiled　the　country；　and
insulted　over　his　enemies；　drew　off　again。
　　A　little　while　after；　being　informed　that　Antigonus　designed　a　new
advance　to　Tegea；　and　thence　to　invade　Laconia；　he　rapidly　took　his
soldiers；　and　marching　by　a　side…road；　appeared　early　in　the　morning
before　Argos；　and　wasted　the　fields　about　it。　The　corn　he　did　not
cut　down；　as　is　usual；　with　reaping　books　and　knives；　but　beat　it　down
with　great　wooden　staves　made　like　broadswords；　as　if；　in　mere
contempt　and　wanton　scorn；　while　travelling　on　his　way；　without　any
effort　or　trouble；　he　spoiled　and　destroyed　their　harvest。　Yet　when
his　soldiers　would　have　set　Cyllabaris；　the　exercise　ground；　on
fire；　he　stopped　the　attempt；　as　if　he　felt　that　the　mischief　he　had
done　at　Megalopolis　had　been　the　effort　of　his　passion　rather　than　his
wisdom。　And　when　Antigonus；　first　of　all；　came　hastily　back　to
Argos；　and　then　occupied　the　mountains　and　passes　with　his　posts；　he
professed　to　disregard　and　despise　it　all；　and　sent　heralds　to　ask　for
the　keys　of　the　temple　of　Juno；　as　though　he　proposed　to　offer
sacrifice　there　and　then　return。　And　with　this　scornful　pleasantry
upon　Antigonus；　having　sacrificed　to　the　goddess　under　the　walls　of
the　temple；　which　was　shut；　he　went　to　Phlius；　and　from　thence　driving
out　those　that　garrisoned　Oligyrtus；　he　marched　down　to　Orchomenus。
And　these　enterprises　not　only　encouraged　the　citizens；　but　made　him
appear　to　the　very　enemies　to　be　a　man　worthy　of　high　command；　and
capable　of　great　things。　For　with　the　strength　of　one　city；　not　only
to　fight　the　power　of　the　Macedonians　and　all　the　Peloponnesians；
supported　by　all　the　royal　treasures；　not　only　to　preserve　Laconia
from　being　spoiled；　but　to　waste　the　enemy's　country；　and　to　take　so
many　and　such　considerable　cities；　was　an　argument　of　no　common
skill　and　genius　for　command。
　　But　he　that　first　said　that　money　was　the　sinews　of　affairs；　seems
especially　in　that　saying　to　refer　to　war。　Demades；　when　the　Athenians
had　voted　that　their　galleys　should　be　launched　and　equipped　for
action；　but　could　produce　no　money；　told　them；　〃The　baker　was　wanted
first；　and　the　pilot　after。〃　And　the　old　Archidamus；　in　the
beginning　of　the　Peloponnesian　war；　when　the　allies　desired　that　the
amount　of　their　contributions　should　be　determined；　is　reported　to
have　answered；　that　war　cannot　be　fed　upon　so　much　a　day。　For　as
wrestlers；　who　have　thoroughly　trained　and；　disciplined　their
bodies；　in　time　tire　down　and　exhaust　the　most　agile　and　most
skilful　combatant；　so　Antigonus；　coming　to　the　war　with　great
resources　to　spend　from；　wore　out　Cleomenes；　whose　poverty　made　it
difficult　for　him　to　provide　the　merest　sufficiency　of　pay　for　the
mercenaries；　or　of　provisions　for　the　citizens。　For；　in　all　other
respects；　time　favoured　Cleomenes；　for　Antigonus's　affair　at　home
began　to　be　disturbed。　For　the　barbarians　wasted　and　overran　Macedonia
whilst　he　was　absent；　and　at　that　particular　time　a　vast　army　of
Illyrians　had　entered　the　country；　to　be　freed　from　whose
devastations；　the　Macedonians　sent　for　Antigonus；　and　the　letters
had　almost　been　brought　to　him　before　the　battle　was　fought　upon　the
receipt　of　which　he　would　at　once　have　marched　away　home　and　left
the　Achaeans　to　look　to　themselves。　But　Fortune；　that　loves　to
determine　the　greatest　affairs　by　a　minute；　in　this　conjuncture　showed
such　an　exact　niceness　of　time；　that　immediately　after　the　battle　in
Sellasia　was　over；　and　Cleomenes　had　lost　his　army　and　his　city；　the
messengers　came　up　and　called　for　Antigonus。　And　this　above　everything
made　Cleomenes's　misfortune　to　be　pitied；　for　if　he　had　gone　on
retreating　and　had　forborne　fighting　two　days　longer；　there　had　been
no　need　of　hazarding　a　battle；　since　upon　the　departure　of　the
Macedonians；　he　might　have　had　what　conditions　he　pleased　from　the
Achaeans。　But　now；　as　was　said　before；　for　want　of　money；　being
necessitated　to　trust　everything　to　arms；　he　was　forced　with　twenty
thousand　（such　is　Polybius's　account）；　to　engage　thirty　thousand。
And　approving　himself　an　admirable　commander　in　this　difficulty；　his
citizens　showing　an　extraordinary　courage；　and　his　mercenaries　bravery
enough；　he　was　overborn