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！
resolution of forcing his way over the mountains。 But Philip； having
possessed himself of them with his army； showered down his darts and
arrows from all parts upon the Romans。 Sharp encounters took place；
and many fell wounded and slain on both sides； and there seemed but
little likelihood of thus ending the war； when some of the men； who
fed their cattle thereabouts； came to Titus with a discovery； that
there was a roundabout way which the enemy neglected to guard： through
which they undertook to conduct his army； and to bring it； within
three days at furthest； to the top of the hills。 To gain the surer
credit with him； they said that Charops； son of Machatas； a leading
man in Epirus； who was friendly to the Romans； and aided them （though；
for fear of Philip； secretly）； was privy to the design。 Titus gave
their information belief； and sent a captain with four thousand foot
and three hundred horse； these herdsmen being their guides； but kept
in bonds。 In the daytime they lay still under the covert of the hollow
and woody places； but in the night they marched by moonlight； the moon
being then at the full。 Titus； having detached this party； lay quiet
with his main body； merely keeping up the attention of the enemy by
some slight skirmishing。 But when the day arrived that those who stole
round were expected upon the top of the hill； he drew up his forces
early in the morning； as well the light…armed as the heavy； and；
dividing them into three parts； himself led the van； marching his
men up the narrow passage along the bank； darted at by the Macedonians
and engaging； in this difficult ground； hand to hand with his
assailants； whilst the other two divisions on either side of him threw
themselves with great alacrity among the rocks。 Whilst they were
struggling forward； the sun rose； and a thin smoke； like a mist；
hanging on the hills； was seen rising at a distance； unperceived by
the enemy； being behind them； as they stood on the heights； and the
Romans； also； as yet under suspense； in the toil and difficulty they
were in； could only doubtfully construe the sight according to their
desires。 But as it grew thicker and thicker； blackening the air； and
mounting to a greater height； they no longer doubted but it was the
fire…signal of their companions； and； raising a triumphant shout；
forcing their way onwards； they drove the enemy back into the roughest
ground； while the other party echoed back their acclamations from
the top of the mountain。
The Macedonians fled with all the speed they could make； there fell；
indeed； not more than two thousand of them； for the difficulties of
the place rescued them from pursuit。 But the Romans pillaged their
camp； seized upon their money and slaves； and； becoming absolute
masters of the pass； traversed all Epirus； but with such order and
discipline； with such temperance and moderation； that； though they
were far from the sea； at a great distance from their vessels； and
stinted of their monthly allowance of corn； and though they had much
difficulty in buying； they nevertheless abstained altogether from
plundering the country； which had provisions enough of all sorts in
it。 For intelligence being received that Philip； making a flight；
rather than a march； through Thessaly； forced the inhabitants from the
towns to take shelter in the mountains； burnt down the towns
themselves； and gave up as spoil to his soldiers all the property
which it had been found impossible to remove； abandoning； as it
would seem； the whole country to the Romans； Titus was； therefore；
very desirous； and entreated his soldiers that they would pass through
it as if it were their own； or as if a place trusted into their hands；
and； indeed； they quickly perceived； by the event； what benefit they
derived from this moderate and orderly conduct。 For they no sooner set
foot in Thessaly； but the cities opened their gates； and the Greeks；
within Thermopylae； were all eagerness and excitement to ally
themselves with them。 The Achaeans abandoned their alliance with
Philip； and voted to join with the Romans in actual arms against
him； and the Opuntians； though the Aetolians； who were zealous
allies of the Romans； were willing and desirous to undertake the
protection of the city； would not listen to proposals from them； but
sending for Titus； intrusted and committed themselves to his charge。
It is told of Pyrrhus； that when first； from an adjacent hill or
watchtower which gave him a prospect of the Roman army； he descried
them drawn up in order； he observed； that he saw nothing
barbarian…like in this barbarian line of battle； And all who came near
Titus could not choose but say as much of him； at their first view。
For they who had been told by the Macedonians of an invader； at the
head of a barbarian army； carrying everywhere slavery and
destruction on his sword's point； when； in lieu of such an one； they
met a man； in the flower of his age； of a gentle and humane aspect；
a Greek in his voice and language； and a lover of honour； were
wonderfully pleased and attracted； and when they left him； they filled
the cities； wherever they went； with favourable feelings for him；
and with the belief that in him they might find the protector and
assertor of their liberties。 And when afterwards； on Philip's
professing a desire for peace； Titus made a tender to him of peace and
friendship； upon the condition that the Greeks he left to their own
laws； and that he should withdraw his garrisons； which he refused to
comply with； now after these proposals the universal belief even of
the favourers and partisans of Philip was； that the Romans came not to
fight against the Greeks； but for the Greeks against the Macedonians。
Accordingly； all the rest of Greece came to peaceable terms with
him。 But as he marched into Boeotia； without committing the least
act of hostility； the nobility and chief men of Thebes came out of
their city to meet him； devoted under the influence of Brachylles to
the Macedonian alliance； but desirous at the same time to show
honour and deference to Titus； as they were； they conceived； in
amity with both parties。 Titus received them in the most obliging
and courteous manner； but kept going gently on； questioning and
inquiring of them； and sometimes entertaining them with narratives
of his own； till his soldiers might a little recover from the
weariness of their journey。 Thus passing on； he and the Thebans came
together into their city； not much to their satisfaction； but yet they
could not well deny him entrance； as a good number of his men attended
him in。 Titus； however； now he was within； as if he had not had the
city at his mercy； came forward and addressed them； urging them to
join the Roman interest。 King Attalus followed to the same effect。 And
he； indeed； trying to play the advocate； beyond what it seems his
age could bear； was seized； in the midst of his speech； with a
sudden flux or dizziness； and swooned away； and； not long after； was
conveyed by ship into Asia； and died there。 The Boeotians joined the
Roman alliance。
But now； when Philip sent an embassy to Rome； Titus despatched
away agents on his part； too； to solicit the