philopoemen-第3部分

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report　above　four　thousand　killed　in　the　place）；　and　then　faced
about　against　Machanidas；　who　was　returning　with　his　mercenaries
from　the　pursuit。　There　happened　to　be　a　broad　deep　ditch　between
them；　alongside　of　which　both　rode　their　horses　for　a　while；　the　one
trying　to　get　over　and　fly；　the　other　to　hinder　him。　It　looked　less
like　the　contest　between　two　generals　than　like　the　last　defence　of
some　wild　beast　brought　to　bay　by　the　keen　huntsman　Philopoemen；　and
forced　to　fight　for　his　life。　The　tyrant's　horse　was　mettled　and
strong；　and　feeling　the　bloody　spurs　in　his　sides；　ventured　to　take
the　ditch。　He　had　already　so　far　reached　the　other　side；　as　to　have
planted　his　fore…feet　upon　it；　and　was　struggling　to　raise　himself
with　these；　when　Simmias　and　Polyaenus；　who　used　to　fight　by　the
side　of　Philopoemen；　came　up　on　horseback　to　his　assistance。　But
Philopoemen；　before　either　of　them；　himself　met　Machanidas；　and
perceiving　that　the　horse　with　his　head　high　reared　covered　his
master's　body；　turned　his　own　a　little；　and　holding　his　javelin　by　the
middle；　drove　it　against　the　tyrant　with　all　his　force；　and　tumbled
him　dead　into　the　ditch。　Such　is　the　precise　posture　in　which　he
stands　at　Delphi　in　the　brazen　statue　which　the　Achaeans　set　up　of
him；　in　admiration　of　his　valour　in　this　single　combat；　and　conduct
during　the　whole　day。
　　We　are　told　that　at　the　Nemean　games；　a　little　after　this　victory；
Philopoemen　being　then　general　the　second　time；　and　at　leisure　on
the　occasion　of　the　solemnity；　first　showed　the　Greeks　his　army
drawn　up　in　full　array　as　if　they　were　to　fight；　and　executed　with
it　all　the　manoeuvres　of　a　battle　with　wonderful　order；　strength；
and　celerity。　After　which　he　went　into　the　theatre；　while　the
musicians　were　singing　for　the　prize；　followed　by　the　young　soldiers
in　their　military　cloaks　and　their　scarlet　frocks　under　their
armour；　all　in　the　very　height　of　bodily　vigour；　and　much　alike　in
age；　showing　a　high　respect　to　their　general；　yet　breathing　at　the
same　time　a　noble　confidence　in　themselves；　raised　by　success　in
many　glorious　encounters。　Just　at　their　coming　in；　it　so　happened　that
the　musician　Pylades；　with　a　voice　well　suited　to　the　lofty　style　of
poet；　was　in　the　act　of　commencing　the　Persians　of　Timotheus…

　　　　　　　　　〃Under　his　conduct　Greece　was　glorious　and　was　free。〃

The　whole　theatre　at　once　turned　to　look　at　Philopoemen；　and　clapped
with　delight；　their　hopes　venturing　once　more　to　return　to　their
country's　former　reputation；　and　their　feelings　almost　rising　to　the
height　of　their　ancient　spirit。
　　It　was　with　the　Achaeans　as　with　young　horses；　which　go　quietly　with
their　usual　riders；　but　grow　unruly　and　restive　under　strangers。　The
soldiers；　when　any　service　was　in　hand；　and　Philopoemen　not　at　their
head；　grew　dejected　and　looked　about　for　him；　but　if　he　once　appeared；
came　presently　to　themselves；　and　recovered　their　confidence　and
courage；　being　sensible　that　this　was　the　only　one　of　their　commanders
whom　the　enemy　could　not　endure　to　face；　but；　as　appeared　in　several
occasions；　were　frighted　with　his　very　name。　Thus　we　find　that　Philip；
King　of　Macedon；　thinking　to　terrify　the　Achaeans　into　subjection
again；　if　he　could　rid　his　hands　of　Philopoemen；　employed　some　persons
privately　to　assassinate　him。　But　the　treachery　coming　to　light；　he
became　infamous；　and　lost　his　character　through　Greece。　The
Boeotians　besieging　Megara；　and　ready　to　carry　the　town　by　storm；　upon
a　groundless　rumour　that　Philopoemen　was　at　hand　with　succour；　ran
away；　and　left　their　scaling　ladders　at　the　wall　behind　them。　Nabis
（who　was　tyrant　of　Lacedaemon　after　Machanidas）　had　surprised
Messene　at　a　time　when　Philopoemen　was　out　of　command。　He　tried　to
persuade　Lysippus；　then　general　of　the　Achaeans；　to　succour　Messene：
but　not　prevailing　with　him；　because；　he　said；　the　enemy　being　now
within　it；　the　place　was　irrecoverably　lost；　he　resolved　to　go
himself；　without　order　or　commission；　followed　merely　by　his　own
immediate　fellow…citizens；　who　went　with　him　as　their　general　by
commission　from　nature；　which　had　made　him　fittest　to　command。
Nabis；　hearing　of　his　coming；　thought　it　not　convenient　to　stay；　but
stealing　out　of　the　furthest　gate　with　his　men；　marched　away　with
all　the　speed　he　could；　thinking　himself　a　happy　man　if　he　could　get
off　with　safety。　And　he　did　escape　but　Messene　was　rescued。
　　All　hitherto　makes　for　the　praise　and　honour　of　Philopoemen。　But
when　at　the　request　of　the　Gortynians　he　went　away　into　Crete　to
command　for　them；　at　a　time　when　his　own　country　was　distressed　by
Nabis；　he　exposed　himself　to　the　charge　of　either　cowardice；　or
unseasonable　ambition　of　honour　amongst　foreigners。　For　the
Megalopolitans　were　then　so　pressed；　that；　the　enemy　being　master　of
the　field　and　encamping　almost　at　their　gates；　they　were　forced　to
keep　themselves　within　their　walls；　and　sow　their　very　streets。　And　in
the　meantime；　across　the　seas；　waging　war　and　commanding　in　chief　in　a
foreign　nation；　furnished　his　ill…wishers　with　matter　enough　for　their
reproaches。　Some　said　he　took　the　offer　of　the　Gortynians；　because　the
Achaeans　chose　other　generals；　and　left　him　but　a　private　man。　For
he　could　not　endure　to　sit　still；　but　looking　upon　war　and　command
in　it　as　his　great　business；　always　coveted　to　be　employed。　And　this
agrees　with　what　he　once　aptly　said　of　King　Ptolemy。　Somebody　was
praising　him　for　keeping　his　army　and　himself　in　an　admirable　state　of
discipline　and　exercise：　〃And　what　praise；〃　replied　Philopoemen；
〃for　a　king　of　his　years；　to　be　always　preparing；　and　never
performing？〃　However；　the　Megalopolitans；　thinking　themselves
betrayed；　took　it　so　ill　that　they　were　about　to　banish　him。　But　the
Achaeans　put　an　end　to　that　design　by　sending　their　general；
Aristaeus；　to　Megalopolis；　who；　though　he　were　at　difference　with
Philopoemen　about　affairs　of　the　commonwealth；　yet　would　not　suffer
him　to　be　banished。　Philopoemen　finding　himself　upon　this　account
out　of　favour　with　his　citizens；　induced　divers　of　the　little
neighbouring　places　to　renounce　obedience　to　them；　suggesting　to
them　to　urge　that　from　the　beginning　they　were　not　subject　to　their
taxes　or　laws；　or　any　way　under　their　command。　In　these　pretences　he
openly　took　their　part；　and　fomented　seditious　movements　amongst　the
Achaeans　in　general　against　Megalopolis。　But　these　things　happened　a
while　after。
　　While　he　stayed　in　Crete；　in　the　service　of　the　Gortynians；　he
made　war　not　like　a　Peloponnesian　and　Arcanian；　fairly　in　the　open
field；　but　fought　with　them　at　their　own　weapon；　and　turning　their
stratagems　and　tricks　against　themselves；　showed　them　they　played
craft　against　skill；　and　were　but　children　to　an　experienced
soldier。　Having　acted　here　with　great　bravery；　and　great　reputation　to
himself；　he　returned　into　Peloponnesus；　where　he　found　Philip　beaten
by　Titus　Quintius；　and　Nabis　at　war　both　with　the　Romans　and　Achaeans。
He　was　at　once　chosen　general　against　Nabis　but　venturing　to　fight
by　sea；　met；　like　Epaminondas；　with　a　result　very　contrary　to　the
general　expectation　and　his　own　former　reputation。　Epaminondas；
however；　according　to　some　statements；　was　backward　by　design；
unwilling　to　give　his　countrymen　an　appetite　for　the　advantages　of　the
sea；　lest　from　good　soldiers　they　should　by　little　and　little　turn；　as
Plato　says；　to　ill　mariners。　And　therefore　he　returned　from　Asia　and
the　Islands　without　doing　anything；　on　purpose。　Whereas　Philopoemen；
thinking　his　skill　in　land…service　would　equally　avail　at　sea；　learned
how　great　a　part　of　valour　experience　is；　and　how　much　it　imparts　in
the　management　of　things　to　be　accustomed　to　them。　For　he　was　not　only
put　to　the　worst　in　the　fight　for　want　of　skill；　but　having　rigged
up　an　old　ship；　which　had　been　a　famous　vessel　forty　years　before；　and
shipped　his　citizens　in　her；　she　foundering；　he　was　in　danger　of
losing　them　all。　But　finding　the　enemy；　as　if　he　had　been　driving
out　of　the　sea；　had；　in　contempt　of　him　besieged　Gythium；　he　presently
set　sail　again；　and　taking　them　unexpectedly；　dispersed　and　careless
after　their　victory；　landed　in　the　night；　burnt　their　camp；　and　killed
a　great　number。
　　A　few　days　after；　as　he　was　marching　through　a　rough　country；
Nabis　came　suddenly　upon　him。　The　Achaeans　were　dismayed；　and　in
such　difficult　ground　where　the　enemy　had　secured　the　advantage；
despaired　to　get　off　with　safety。　Philopoemen　made　a　little　halt；　and；
viewing　the　ground；　soon　made　it　appear　that　the　one　important　thing
in　war　is　skill　in　drawing　up　an　army。　For　by　advancing　only　a　few
paces；　and；　without　any　confusion　or　trouble；　altering　his　order
according　to　the　nature　of　the　place；　he　immediately　relieved
himself　from　every　difficulty；　and　then　charging；　put　the　enemy　to
flight。　But　when　he　saw　they　fled；　not　towards　the　city；　but　dispersed
every　man　a　different　way　all　over　the　field；　which　for　wood　and
hills；　brooks　and　hollows；　was　not　passable　by　horse；　he　sounded　a
retreat；　and　encamped　by　broad　daylight。　Then　foreseeing　the　enemy
would　endeavour　to　steal　scatteringly　into　the　city　in　the　dark；　he
posted　strong　parties　of　the　Achaeans　all　along　the　watercourses　and
sloping　ground　near　the　walls。　Many　of　Nabis's　men　fell　into　their
hands。　For　returning　not　in　a　body；　but　as　the　chance　of　flight　had
disposed　of　every　one；　they　were　caught　like　birds　ere　they　could
enter　into　the　town。
　　These　actions　obtained　him　distinguished　marks　of　affection　and
honour　in　all　the　theatres　of　Greece；　but　not　without　the　secret
ill…will　of　Titus　Flamininus；　who　was　naturally　eager　for　glory；　and
thought　it　but　reasonable　a　consul　of　Rome　should　be　otherwise
esteemed　by　the　Achaeans　than　a　common　Arcadian；　especially　as　there
was　no　comparison　between　what　he　and　what　Philopoemen　had　done　for
them；　he　having　by　one　proclamation　restored　all　Greece；　as　much　as
had　been　subject　to　Philip　and　the　Macedonians；　to　liberty。　After
this；　Titus　made　peace　with　Nabis；　and　Nabis　was　circumvented　and
slain　by　the　Aetolians。　Things　being　then　in　confusion　at　Sparta；
Philopoemen　laid　hold　of　the　occasion；　and　coming　upon　them　with　an
army；　prevailed　with　some　by　per