登陆注册
5362600000305

第305章

'Tis related of many great leaders that they have had certain books in particular esteem, as Alexander the Great, Homer; Scipio Africanus, Xenophon; Marcus Brutus, Polybius; Charles V., Philip'de Comines; and 'tis said that, in our times, Machiavelli is elsewhere still in repute; but the late Marshal Strozzi, who had taken Caesar for his man, doubtless made the best choice, seeing that it indeed ought to be the breviary of every soldier, as being the true and sovereign pattern of the military art. And, moreover, God knows with that grace and beauty he has embellished that rich matter, with so pure, delicate, and perfect expression, that, in my opinion, there are no writings in the world comparable to his, as to that business.

I will set down some rare and particular passages of his wars that remain in my memory.

His army, being in some consternation upon the rumour that was spread of the great forces that king Juba was leading against him, instead of abating the apprehension which his soldiers had conceived at the news and of lessening to them the forces of the enemy, having called them all together to encourage and reassure them, he took a quite contrary way to what we are used to do, for he told them that they need no more trouble themselves with inquiring after the enemy's forces, for that he was certainly informed thereof, and then told them of a number much surpassing both the truth and the report that was current in his army; following the advice of Cyrus in Xenophon, forasmuch as the deception is not of so great importance to find an enemy weaker than we expected, than to find him really very strong, after having been made to believe that he was weak.

It was always his use to accustom his soldiers simply to obey, without taking upon them to control, or so much as to speak of their captain's designs, which he never communicated to them but upon the point of execution; and he took a delight, if they discovered anything of what he intended, immediately to change his orders to deceive them; and to that purpose, would often, when he had assigned his quarters in a place, pass forward and lengthen his day's march, especially if it was foul and rainy weather.

The Swiss, in the beginning of his wars in Gaul, having sent to him to demand a free passage over the Roman territories, though resolved to hinder them by force, he nevertheless spoke kindly to the messengers, and took some respite to return an answer, to make use of that time for the calling his army together. These silly people did not know how good a husband he was of his time: for he often repeats that it is the best part of a captain to know how to make use of occasions, and his diligence in his exploits is, in truth, unheard of and incredible.

If he was not very conscientious in taking advantage of an enemy under colour of a treaty of agreement, he was as little so in this, that he required no other virtue in a soldier but valour only, and seldom punished any other faults but mutiny and disobedience. He would often after his victories turn them loose to all sorts of licence, dispensing them for some time from the rules of military discipline, saying withal that he had soldiers so well trained up that, powdered and perfumed, they would run furiously to the fight. In truth, he loved to have them richly armed, and made them wear engraved, gilded, and damasked armour, to the end that the care of saving it might engage them to a more obstinate defence. Speaking to them, he called them by the name of fellow-soldiers, which we yet use; which his successor, Augustus, reformed, supposing he had only done it upon necessity, and to cajole those who merely followed him as volunteers:

"Rheni mihi Caesar in undis Dux erat; hic socius; facinus quos inquinat, aequat:"

["In the waters of the Rhine Caesar was my general; here at Rome he is my fellow. Crime levels those whom it polluted."--Lucan, v. 289.] but that this carriage was too mean and low for the dignity of an emperor and general of an army, and therefore brought up the custom of calling them soldiers only.

With this courtesy Caesar mixed great severity to keep them in awe; the ninth legion having mutinied near Placentia, he ignominiously cashiered them, though Pompey was then yet on foot, and received them not again to grace till after many supplications; he quieted them more by authority and boldness than by gentle ways.

In that place where he speaks of his, passage over the Rhine to Germany, he says that, thinking it unworthy of the honour of the Roman people to waft over his army in vessels, he built a bridge that they might pass over dry-foot. There it was that he built that wonderful bridge of which he gives so particular a description; for he nowhere so willingly dwells upon his actions as in representing to us the subtlety of his inventions in such kind of handiwork.

I have also observed this, that he set a great value upon his exhortations to the soldiers before the fight; for where he would show that he was either surprised or reduced to a necessity of fighting, he always brings in this, that he had not so much as leisure to harangue his army. Before that great battle with those of Tournay, "Caesar," says he, "having given order for everything else, presently ran where fortune carried him to encourage his people, and meeting with the tenth legion, had no more time to say anything to them but this, that they should remember their wonted valour; not to be astonished, but bravely sustain the enemy's encounter; and seeing the enemy had already approached within a dart's cast, he gave the signal for battle; and going suddenly thence elsewhere, to encourage others, he found that they were already engaged."

同类推荐
  • 元儒考略

    元儒考略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 秋水轩尺牍

    秋水轩尺牍

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 甘泽谣

    甘泽谣

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 仁学

    仁学

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 傅青主女科歌括

    傅青主女科歌括

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 重生之蛇蝎妖姬

    重生之蛇蝎妖姬

    前世爱上美渣男,倾尽所有的付出爱情,付出青春、美貌和心机,十年后,结局却是欺骗和杀戮。重生一世,且看她如何将渣男渣女踩成泥,再飞上枝头,炼成一代翻云覆雨的绝世妖姬!
  • 散文诗·帕拉莎(智量文集)

    散文诗·帕拉莎(智量文集)

    您正在掀开的《散文诗帕拉莎》是一本绚丽多彩的书。 在这本《散文诗帕拉莎》中,屠格涅夫有时用他一支饱含诗情画意的笔恬静地、满怀深情地为我们描绘着他的祖国俄罗斯那片美丽丰饶的天地。那蓝天、 白云、峡谷、亚麻田、滚滚的麦浪、高翔的云雀……和善良的普通俄罗斯人的日常生活与劳动。
  • 出曜经

    出曜经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 家庭休闲娱乐百科全书:收藏鉴赏休闲娱乐

    家庭休闲娱乐百科全书:收藏鉴赏休闲娱乐

    人类在采集打制石器的过程中,发现了各色“彩石”之美。按照万物有灵观念认为美石——玉是山川的精华,上天恩赐的宝物,具有沟通天地,鬼神的灵性。被用来作为氏族图腾物,氏族首领的标志和祭祀祖先、鬼神的仪礼用品。过去文物器物学著作,常根据《周礼》记载界定玉礼器六种,现依据考古学新成果,将各种礼制活动供奉和仪杖品,代表鬼神和权利、等级标志物玉器归纳为礼制玉器。
  • 阅读,打开教育的另一扇门

    阅读,打开教育的另一扇门

    《阅读,打开教育的另一扇门》是中学语文特级教师、中国教育报“2012年度十大读书推动人物”之一凌宗伟老师的一本阅读随笔集。全书收录60篇文章,按作者的阅读思考,分为“我这样理解教育”“寻找理想学校的走向”“改变从自己开始”“在热闹纷繁的教育世界中”“我们需要怎样的课堂”“从孩子的角度来思考”“建构自己的教育哲学”等七部分。作者立足于对教育经典著作的阅读、理解,思考中国当下教育的生态,反思现实教育存在的种种问题,追寻教育的本质,提醒广大教育者重返“为了人”的教育。
  • 自信心·一个微笑的价值

    自信心·一个微笑的价值

    张海君编著的《自信心·一个微笑的价值》是一本讲述自信心的文集,这些精巧富有哲理的故事能让对自己没有信心内心昏暗的人重新找回对生活还有理想的自信。成功的人,不一定多么天才,但是他们都相信自己。其实很多时候,你也可以告诉自己,我可以。
  • 侠客管理员

    侠客管理员

    如果有个系统,能让你进入武侠世界把人救回来,你选择谁?萧峰?郭靖?杨过?欧阳克?阿朱?黄蓉?小龙女?殷素素?程灵素?毕晶:小孩子才做选择题,我都要!我要什么就是什么,我欢喜谁就是谁!所以……毕晶:你们有没有搞错,为什么找工作靠我,挣钱靠我,打架还是靠我?古代侠客现代生活日常。特别提醒:这是一本典型现实主义作品,我们的口号是——严肃创作,拒绝恶搞!读者群:391361923
  • 神级娱乐主播

    神级娱乐主播

    江枫穿越到了另一方时空,而他的传奇主播之路也就此启航。荒野求生只是开胃菜,还有美食、游戏、星秀和音乐等等直播元素……没有最传奇,只有更传奇!
  • 新兴女性:女性未来人格与修养的10大全新展现

    新兴女性:女性未来人格与修养的10大全新展现

    成功的女性身上自有许多美好的精神和思想,完全可以借鉴和发扬。本书介绍了新时代女性人格与修养的十大特点,系统阐述了自我主见能力、人格魅力、个性的独特、高雅的气质、卓越的品位等。
  • 争婚

    争婚

    闽家兄弟反目,关她什么事?为什么她要被骂是祸水?如果早知道那天会遇到闽家熠,周沫死也不会替人去军区演出。一见误终身,已经谈婚论嫁的男友提出分手。早就放弃她的周家又接她回去,没问她一句婚事就已经安排好了。“我答应。”她反抗得了吗?闽家和周家紧紧攥住了她的软肋。【片段一】周沫穿着洁白的婚纱安静的等着即将成为她丈夫的闽家大少闽家曋,然而遍体鳞伤的闵二少闽家熠捷足先登,冲上台先一步将戒指套进她手指:“沫沫,我们结婚了。”“你…”周沫惊讶的望着面前这个本该是她小叔的人,完全不明状况。【片段二】“我知道你委屈,本来这婚就是我抢来的,周沫,你心里一直记恨着我吧。”“我没有…”“你走吧,就当我什么都没说,这个家,不要也罢,我马上就回队里。”拉着行李箱站在门口的周沫进退两难,最终妥协,给剧组导演打电话说家里临时有事,不能参加去沈阳的话剧演出。而此时另一边的男人眼底得逞的笑意一闪而过。【片段三】夜里,粗粝的大掌直往周沫衣服里钻,周沫猛地弹起来怒喝:“闽家熠,你说过不会强迫我的!”男人面色为难:“我没强迫你,我是在强迫我自己…”“你,无耻!”“对,我就是强迫自己无耻…沫沫,我来了…”很快,安静的房内上演着一场激烈的饿狼扑羊的精彩大戏。