philopoemen-第1部分
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！
PHILOPOEMEN
253？…183 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
CLEANDER was a man of high birth and great power in the city of
Mantinea； but by the chances of the time happened to be driven from
thence。 There being an intimate friendship betwixt him and Craugis；
the father of Philopoemen； who was a person of great distinction； he
settled at Megalopolis； where； while his friend lived； he had all he
could desire。 When Craugis died； he repaid the father's hospitable
kindness in the care of the orphan son； by which means Philopoemen was
educated by him； as Homer says Achilles was by Phoenix； and from his
infancy moulded to lofty and noble inclinations。 But Ecdemus and
Demophanes had the principal tuition of him； after he was past the
years of childhood。 They were both Megalopolitans； they had been
scholars in the academic philosophy； and friends to Arcesilaus； and
had； more than any of their contemporaries； brought philosophy to bear
upon action and state affairs。 They had freed their country from
tyranny by the death of Aristodemus； whom they caused to be killed；
they had assisted Aratus in driving out the tyrant Nicocles from
Sicyon； and； at the request of the Cyreneans； whose city was in a
state of extreme disorder and confusion； went thither by sea； and
succeeded in establishing good government and happily settling their
commonwealth。 And among their best actions they themselves counted the
education of Philopoemen； thinking they had done a general good to
Greece by giving him the nurture of philosophy。 And indeed all
Greece （which looked upon him as a kind of latter birth brought forth；
after so many noble leaders； in her decrepit age） loved him
wonderfully； and； as his glory grew； increased his power。 And one of
the Romans； to praise him； calls him the last of the Greeks； as if
after him Greece had produced no great man； nor who deserved the
name of Greek。
His person was not； as some fancy； deformed； for his likeness is yet
to be seen at Delphi。 The mistake of the hostess of Megara was
occasioned； it would seem； merely by his easiness of temper and his
plain manners。 This hostess having word brought her that the general
of the Achaeans was coming to her house in the absence of her husband；
was all in a hurry about providing his supper。 Philopoemen； in an
ordinary cloak； arriving in this point of time； she took him for one
of his own train who had been sent on before； and bid him lend her his
hand in her household work。 He forthwith threw off his cloak； and fell
to cutting up the firewood。 The husband returning； and seeing him at
it； 〃What；〃 says he； 〃may this mean； O Philopoemen？〃 〃I am；〃 replied
he in his Doric dialect； 〃paying the penalty of my ugly looks。〃
Titus Flamininus； jesting with him upon his figure； told him one day
he had well…shaped hands and feet； but no belly： and he was indeed
slender in the waist。 But this raillery was meant to the poverty of
his fortune； for he had good horse and foot； but often wanted money to
entertain and play them。 These are common anecdotes told of
Philopoemen。
The love of honour and distinction was； in his character； not
unalloyed with feelings of personal rivalry and resentment。 He made
Epaminondas his great example； and came not far behind him in
activity； sagacity； and incorruptible integrity； but his hot
contentious temper continually carried him out of the bounds of that
gentleness； composure； and humanity which had marked Epaminondas；
and this made him thought a pattern rather of military than of civil
virtue。 He was strongly inclined to the life of a soldier even from
his childhood； and he studied and practised all that belonged to it；
taking great delight in managing of horses and handling of weapons。
Because he was naturally fitted to excel in wrestling； some of his
friends and tutors recommended his attention to athletic exercises。
But he would first be satisfied whether it would not interfere with
his becoming a good soldier。 They told him； as was the truth； that the
one life was directly opposite to the other； the requisite state of
body； the ways of living； and the exercises all different： the
professed athlete sleeping much and feeding plentifully； punctually
regular in his set times of exercise and rest； and apt to spoil all by
every little excess or breach of his usual method； whereas the soldier
ought to train himself in every variety of change and irregularity；
and； above all； to bring himself to endure hunger and loss of sleep
without difficulty。 Philopoemen； hearing this； not only laid by all
thoughts of wrestling and contemned it then； but when he came to be
general； discouraged it by all marks of reproach and dishonour he
could imagine； as a thing which made men； otherwise excellently fit
for war； to be utterly useless and unable to fight on necessary
occasions。
When he left off his masters and teachers； and began to bear arms in
the incursions which his citizens used to make upon the Lacedaemonians
for pillage and plunder； he would always march out the first and
return the last。 When there was nothing to do； he sought to harden his
body； and make it strong and active by hunting； or labouring in his
ground。 He had a good estate about twenty furlongs from the town；
and thither he would go every day after dinner and supper； and when
night came； throw himself upon the first mattress in his way； and
there sleep as one of the labourers。 At break of day he would rise
with the rest； and work either in the vineyard or at the plough；
from thence return again to the town； and employ his time with his
friends or the magistrates in public business。 What he got in the wars
he laid out on horses； or arms； or in ransoming captives； but
endeavoured to improve his own property the justest way； by tillage；
and this not slightly； by way of diversion； but thinking it his strict
duty so to manage his own fortune as to be out of the temptation of
wronging others。
He spent much time on eloquence and philosophy； but selected his
authors； and cared only for those by whom he might profit in virtue。
In Homer's fictions his attention was given to whatever he thought apt
to raise the courage。 Of all other books he was most devoted to the
commentaries of Evangelus on military tactics； and took delight； at
leisure hours； in the histories of Alexander； thinking that such
reading； unless undertaken for mere amusement and idle conversation；
was to the purpose for action。 Even in speculations on military
subjects it was his habit to neglect maps and diagrams； and to put the
theorems to practical proof on the ground itself。 He would be
exercising his thoughts and considering as he travelled； and arguing
with those about him of the difficulties of steep or broken ground；
what might happen at rivers； ditches； or mountain…passes； in
marching in close or in open； in this or in that particular form of
battle。 The truth is； he indeed took an immoderate pleasure in
military operations and in warfare； to which he devoted himself； as
the special means for exercising all sorts of virtue； and utterly
contemned those who were not soldiers； as drones and useless in the
commonwealth。
When he was thirty years of age； Cleomenes； King of the
Lacedaemonians； surprised Megalopolis by night； forced the guards；
broke in； and seized the market…place。 Philopoemen came out upon the
alarm； and fought with desperate courage； but could not beat the enemy
out again； yet he succeeded in effecting the escape of the citizens；
who got away while he made head against the pursuers； and amused
Cleomenes； till； after losing his horse and receiving several
wounds； with much ado he came off himself； being the last man in the
retreat。 The Megalopolitans escaped to Messene； whither Cleomenes sent
to offer them their town and goods again。 Philopoemen perceiving
them to be only too glad at the news； and eager to return； checked
them with a speech； in which he made them sensible； that what
Cleomenes called restoring the city was； rather； possessing himself of
the citizens； and through their means securing also the city for the
future。 The mere solitude would； of itself； ere long force him away；
since there was no staying to guard empty houses and naked walls。
These reasons withheld the Megalopolitans； but gave Cleomenes a
pretext to pillage and destroy a great part of the city； and carry
away a great booty。
Awhile after King Antigonus coming down to succour the Achaeans；
they marched with their united forces against Cleomenes； who； having
seized the avenues； lay advantageously posted on the hills of
Sellasia。 Antigonus drew up close by him； with a resolution to force
him in his strength。 Philopoemen； with his citizens； was that day
placed among the horse； next to the Illyrian foot； a numerous body
of bold fighters who completed the line of battle； forming； together
with the Achaeans； the reserve。 Their orders were to keep their
ground； and not engage till from the other wing； where the king fought
in person； they should see a red coat lifted up on the point of a
spear。 The Achaeans obeyed their order and stood fast； but the
Illyrians were led on by their commanders to the attack。 Euclides； the
brother of Cleomenes； seeing the foot thus severed from the horse；
detached the best of his light…armed men； commanding them to wheel
about； and charge the unprotected Illyrians in the rear。 This charge
putting things in confusion； Philopoemen； considering those
light…armed men would be easily repelled； went first to the king's
officers to make them sensible what the occasion required。 But they
not minding what he said； but slighting him as a hare…brained fellow
（as indeed he was not yet of any repute sufficient to give credit to a
proposal of such importance）； he charged with his own citizens； at the
first encounter disordered； and soon after put the troops to flight
with great slaughter。 Then； to encourage the king's army further； to
bring them all upon the enemy while he was in confusion； he quitted
his horse； and fighting with extreme difficulty in his heavy
