the history-第127章

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！


yond　the　abilities　of　common　men；　and　only　to　be　achieved　by　such　as　are　of　a　bold　and　manly　spirit；　whereas　Telines　is　said　by　those　who　dwell　about　Sicily　to　have　been　a　soft…hearted　and　womanish　person。　He　however　obtained　this　office　in　the　manner　above　described。　　　　　Afterwards；　on　the　death　of　Cleander　the　son　of　Pantares；　who　was　slain　by　Sabyllus；　a　citizen　of　Gela；　after　he　had　held　the　tyranny　for　seven　years；　Hippocrates；　Cleander's　brother；　mounted　the　throne。　During　his　reign；　Gelo；　a　descendant　of　the　high…priest　Telines；　served　with　many　others…　of　whom　Aenesidemus；　son　of　Pataicus；　was　one…　in　the　king's　bodyguard。　Within　a　little　time　his　merit　caused　him　to　be　raised　to　the　command　of　all　the　horse。　For　when　Hippocrates　laid　siege　to　Callipolis；　and　afterwards　to　Naxos；　to　Zancle；　to　Leontini；　and　moreover　to　Syracuse；　and　many　cities　of　the　barbarians；　Gelo　in　every　war　distinguished　himself　above　all　the　combatants。　Of　the　various　cities　above　named；　there　was　none　but　Syracuse　which　was　not　reduced　to　slavery。　The　Syracusans　were　saved　from　this　fate；　after　they　had　suffered　defeat　on　the　river　Elorus；　by　the　Corinthians　and　Corcyraeans；　who　made　peace　between　them　and　Hippocrates；　on　condition　of　their　ceding　Camarina　to　him；　for　that　city　anciently　belonged　to　Syracuse。　　　　　When；　however；　Hippocrates；　after　a　reign　of　the　same　length　as　that　of　Cleander　his　brother；　perished　near　the　city　Hybla；　as　he　was　warring　with　the　native　Sicilians；　then　Gelo；　pretending　to　espouse　the　cause　of　the　two　sons　of　Hippocrates；　Eucleides　and　Cleander；　defeated　the　citizens　who　were　seeking　to　recover　their　freedom；　and　having　so　done；　set　aside　the　children；　and　himself　took　the　kingly　power。　After　this　piece　of　good　fortune；　Gelo　likewise　became　master　Syracuse；　in　the　following　manner。　The　Syracusan　landholders；　as　they　were　called；　had　been　driven　from　their　city　by　the　common　people　assisted　by　their　own　slaves；　the　Cyllyrians；　and　had　fled　to　Casmenae。　Gelo　brought　them　back　to　Syracuse；　and　so　got　possession　of　the　town；　for　the　people　surrendered　themselves；　and　gave　up　their　city　on　his　approach。　　　　　Being　now　master　of　Syracuse；　Gelo　cared　less　to　govern　Gela；　which　he　therefore　entrusted　to　his　brother　Hiero；　while　he　strengthened　the　defences　of　his　new　city；　which　indeed　was　now　all　in　all　to　him。　And　Syracuse　sprang　up　rapidly　to　power　and　became　a　flourishing　place。　For　Gelo　razed　Camarina　to　the　ground；　and　brought　all　the　inhabitants　to　Syracuse；　and　made　them　citizens；　he　also　brought　thither　more　than　half　the　citizens　of　Gela；　and　gave　them　the　same　rights　as　the　Camarinaeans。　So　likewise　with　the　Megarians　of　Sicily…　after　besieging　their　town　and　forcing　them　to　surrender；　he　took　the　rich　men；　who；　having　made　the　war；　looked　now　for　nothing　less　than　death　at　his　hands；　and　carrying　them　to　Syracuse；　established　them　there　as　citizens；　while　the　common　people；　who；　as　they　had　not　taken　any　share　in　the　struggle；　felt　secure　that　no　harm　would　be　done　to　them；　he　carried　likewise　to　Syracuse；　where　he　sold　them　all　as　slaves　to　be　conveyed　abroad。　He　did　the　like　also　by　the　Euboeans　of　Sicily；　making　the　same　difference。　His　conduct　towards　both　nations　arose　from　his　belief　that　a　〃people〃　was　a　most　unpleasant　companion。　In　this　way　Gelo　became　a　great　king。　　　　　When　the　Greek　envoys　reached　Syracuse；　and　were　admitted　to　an　audience；　they　spoke　as　follows…　　　　　〃We　have　been　sent　hither　by　the　Lacedaemonians　and　Athenians；　with　their　respective　allies；　to　ask　thee　to　join　us　against　the　barbarian。　Doubtless　thou　hast　heard　of　his　invasion；　and　art　aware　that　a　Persian　is　about　to　throw　a　bridge　over　the　Hellespont；　and；　bringing　with　him　out　of　Asia　all　the　forces　of　the　East；　to　carry　war　into　Greece…　professing　indeed　that　he　only　seeks　to　attack　Athens；　but　really　bent　on　bringing　all　the　Greeks　into　subjection。　Do　thou　therefore；　we　beseech　thee；　aid　those　who　would　maintain　the　freedom　of　Greece；　and　thyself　assist　to　free　her；　since　the　power　which　thou　wieldest　is　great；　and　thy　portion　in　Greece；　as　lord　of　Sicily；　is　no　small　one。　For　if　all　Greece　join　together　in　one；　there　will　be　a　mighty　host　collected；　and　we　shall　be　a　match　for　our　assailants；　but　if　some　turn　traitors；　and　others　refuse　their　aid；　and　only　a　small　part　of　the　whole　body　remains　sound；　then　there　is　reason　to　fear　that　all　Greece　may　perish。　For　do　not　thou　cherish　a　hope　that　the　Persian；　when　he　has　conquered　our　country；　will　be　content　and　not　advance　against　thee。　Rather　take　thy　measures　beforehand；　and　consider　that　thou　defendest　thyself　when　thou　givest　aid　to　us。　Wise　counsels；　be　sure；　for　the　most　part　have　prosperous　issues。〃　　　　　Thus　spake　the　envoys；　and　Gelo　replied　with　vehemence：…　　　　　〃Greeks；　ye　have　had　the　face　to　come　here　with　selfish　words；　and　exhort　me　to　join　in　league　with　you　against　the　barbarian。　Yet　when　I　erewhile　asked　you　to　join　with　me　in　fighting　barbarians；　what　time　the　quarrel　broke　out　between　me　and　Carthage；　and　when　I　earnestly　besought　you　to　revenge　on　the　men　of　Egesta　their　murder　of　Dorieus；　the　son　of　Anaxandridas；　promising　to　assist　you　in　setting　free　the　trading　places　from　which　you　receive　great　profits　and　advantages；　you　neither　came　hither　to　give　me　succour；　nor　yet　to　revenge　Dorieus；　but；　for　any　efforts　on　your　part　to　hinder　it；　these　countries　might　at　this　time　have　been　entirely　under　the　barbarians。　Now；　however；　that　matters　have　prospered　and　gone　well　with　me；　while　the　danger　has　shifted　its　ground　and　at　present　threatens　yourselves；　lo！　you　call　Gelo　to　mind。　But　though　ye　slighted　me　then；　I　will　not　imitate　you　now：　I　am　ready　to　give　you　aid；　and　to　furnish　as　my　contribution　two　hundred　triremes；　twenty　thousand　men…at…arms；　two　thousand　cavalry；　and　an　equal　number　of　archers；　slingers；　and　light　horsemen；　together　with　corn　for　the　whole　Grecian　army　so　long　as　the　war　shall　last。　These　services；　however；　I　promise　on　one　condition…　that　ye　appoint　me　chief　captain　and　commander　of　the　Grecian　forces　during　the　war　with　the　barbarian。　Unless　ye　agree　to　this；　I　will　neither　send　succours；　nor　come　myself。〃　　　　　Syagrus；　when　he　heard　these　words；　was　unable　to　contain　himself；　and　exclaimed：…　　　　　〃Surely　a　groan　would　burst　from　Pelops'　son；　Agamemnon；　did　he　hear　that　her　leadership　was　snatched　from　Sparta　by　Gelo　and　the　men　of　Syracuse。　Speak　then　no　more　of　any　such　condition；　as　that　we　should　yield　thee　the　chief　command；　but　if　thou　art　minded　to　come　to　the　aid　of　Greece；　prepare　to　serve　under　Lacedaemonian　generals。　Wilt　thou　not　serve　under　a　leader？…　then；　prithee；　withhold　thy　succours。〃　　　　　Hereupon　Gelo；　seeing　the　indignation　which　showed　itself　in　the　wolds　of　Syagrus；　delivered　to　the　envoys　his　final　offer：…　〃Spartan　stranger；〃　he　said；　〃reproaches　cast　forth　against　a　man　are　wont　to　provoke　him　to　anger；　but　the　insults　which　thou　hast　uttered　in　thy　speech　shall　not　persuade　me　to　outstep　good　breeding　in　my　answer。　Surely　if　you　maintain　so　stoutly　your　right　to　the　command；　it　is　reasonable　that　I　should　be　still　more　stiff　in　maintaining　mine；　forasmuch　as　I　am　at　the　head　of　a　far　larger　fleet　and　army。　Since；　however；　the　claim　which　I　have　put　forward　is　so　displeasing　to　you；　I　will　yield；　and　be　content　with　less。　Take；　if　it　please　you；　the　command　of　the　land…force；　and　I　will　be　admiral　of　the　fleet；　or　assume；　if　you　prefer　it；　the　command　by　sea；　and　I　will　be　leader　upon　the　land。　Unless　you　are　satisfied　with　these　terms；　you　must　return　home　by　yourselves；　and　lose　this　great　alliance。〃　Such　was　the　offer　which　Gelo　made。　　　　　Hereat　broke　in　the　Athenian　envoy；　before　the　Spartan　could　answer；　and　thus　addressed　Gelo…　　　　　〃King　of　the　Syracusans！　Greece　sent　us　here　to　thee　to　ask　for　an　army；　and　not　to　ask　for　a　general。　Thou；　however；　dost　not　promise　to　send　us　any　army　at　all；　if　thou　art　not　made　leader　of　the　Greeks；　and　this　command　is　what　alone　thou　sticklest　for。　Now　when　thy　request　was　to　have　the　whole　command；　we　were　content　to　keep　silence；　for　well　we　knew　that　we　might　trust　the　Spartan　envoy　to　make　answer　for　us　both。　But　since；　after　failing　in　thy　claim　to　lead　the　whole　armament；　thou　hast　now　put　forward　a　request　to　have　the　command　of　the　fleet；　know　that；　even　should　the　Spartan　envoy　consent　to　this；　we　will　not　consent。　The　command　by　sea；　if　the　Lacedaemonians　do　not　wish　for　it；　belongs　to　us。　While　they　like　to　keep　this　command；　we　shall　raise　no　dispute；　but　we　will　not　yield　our　right　to　it　in　favour　of　any　one　else。　Where　would　be　the　advantage　of　our　having　raised　up　a　naval　force　greater　than　that　of　any　other　Greek　people；　if　nevertheless　we　should　suffer　Syracusans　to　take　the　command　away　from　us？…　from　us；　I　say；　who　are　Athenians；　the　most　ancient　nation　in　Greece；　the　only　Greeks　who　have　never　changed　their　abode…　the　people　who　are　said　by　the　poet　Homer　to　have　sent　to　Troy　the　man　best　able　of　all　the　Greeks　to　array　and　marshal　an　army…　so　that　we　may　be　allowed　to　boast　somewhat。〃　　　　　Gelo　replied…　〃Athenian　stranger；　ye　have；　it　seems；　no　lack　of　commanders；　but　ye　are　likely　to　lack　men　to　receive　their　orders。　As　ye　are　resolved　to　yield　nothing　and　cl