登陆注册
5362600000039

第39章

For what concerns ourselves, who are not so scrupulous in this affair, and who attribute the honour of the war to him who has the profit of it, and who after Lysander say, "Where the lion's skin is too short, we must eke it out with a bit from that of a fox"; the most usual occasions of surprise are derived from this practice, and we hold that there are no moments wherein a chief ought to be more circumspect, and to have his eye so much at watch, as those of parleys and treaties of accommodation; and it is, therefore, become a general rule amongst the martial men of these latter times, that a governor of a place never ought, in a time of siege, to go out to parley. It was for this that in our fathers' days the Seigneurs de Montmord and de l'Assigni, defending Mousson against the Count of Nassau, were so highly censured. But yet, as to this, it would be excusable in that governor who, going out, should, notwithstanding, do it in such manner that the safety and advantage should be on his side; as Count Guido di Rangone did at Reggio (if we are to believe Du Bellay, for Guicciardini says it was he himself) when the Seigneur de l'Escut approached to parley, who stepped so little away from his fort, that a disorder happening in the interim of parley, not only Monsieur de l'Escut and his party who were advanced with him, found themselves by much the weaker, insomuch that Alessandro Trivulcio was there slain, but he himself follow the Count, and, relying upon his honour, to secure himself from the danger of the shot within the walls of the town.

Eumenes, being shut up in the city of Nora by Antigonus, and by him importuned to come out to speak with him, as he sent him word it was fit he should to a greater man than himself, and one who had now an advantage over him, returned this noble answer. "Tell him," said he, "that I shall never think any man greater than myself whilst I have my sword in my hand," and would not consent to come out to him till first, according to his own demand, Antigonus had delivered him his own nephew Ptolomeus in hostage.

And yet some have done very well in going out in person to parley, on the word of the assailant: witness Henry de Vaux, a cavalier of Champagne, who being besieged by the English in the Castle of Commercy, and Bartholomew de Brunes, who commanded at the Leaguer, having so sapped the greatest part of the castle without, that nothing remained but setting fire to the props to bury the besieged under the ruins, he requested the said Henry to come out to speak with him for his own good, which he did with three more in company; and, his ruin being made apparent to him, he conceived himself singularly obliged to his enemy, to whose discretion he and his garrison surrendered themselves; and fire being presently applied to the mine, the props no sooner began to fail, but the castle was immediately blown up from its foundations, no one stone being left upon another.

I could, and do, with great facility, rely upon the faith of another; but I should very unwillingly do it in such a case, as it should thereby be judged that it was rather an effect of my despair and want of courage than voluntarily and out of confidence and security in the faith of him with whom I had to do.

同类推荐
  • 元始说功德法食往生经

    元始说功德法食往生经

    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。
  • 学治臆说

    学治臆说

    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。
  • Love-Songs of Childhood

    Love-Songs of Childhood

    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。
  • Havoc

    Havoc

    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。
  • 梵摩渝经

    梵摩渝经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 夜生花

    夜生花

    那封周露绝不相信会出现的信,终于被寄来了。蓝信封,快递,像对方承诺的那样。信封上有一股淡淡香气。不是香水气味,也不是油墨香。周露十分熟悉这股气味。是那个人身上的气息。一种古老的,叫作鸦片的东西。那个人名叫彭颖,在周露供职的心理咨询中心治疗了半年有余。一周前,彭颖突然决定结束治疗。彭颖恢复的情况并不理想,不过她说,最近工作开始忙碌,不会再有余暇。彭颖的问题是失眠。实在受不了的时候,她就吸食鸦片。小小的黑色膏块,换来脑海短暂的宁静。
  • The Essays of Montaigne

    The Essays of Montaigne

    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。
  • 民国老课本:人生哲学

    民国老课本:人生哲学

    《民国老课本:人生哲学》主要内容包括:浪漫派——道家、理想派——柏拉图、虚无派——叔本华、快乐派——杨朱、功利派——墨家、亚力士多德、新儒家、黑格尔等十三章,每一章都详细的介绍了有关哲学和与人生的区别与联系。
  • 陆先生要恋爱

    陆先生要恋爱

    两家的儿子倒是见面熟,发香烟碰酒杯,热腾腾地说足球股票,意气洋洋,妙语连珠。两家媳妇也有共同语言,说商品打折,说子女的教育问题,交头接耳的。孩子们也凑到一块去了,说电脑游戏,津津乐道的。陆先生和金玉铃被撇在一边,他们又成了局外人。老夫妻两人话语很热烈,眼神却幽幽的。他们一路走着,一路说着,身影一下子拉得老长,一下子缩得很短。他们不再说自己了,儿孙是他们仅存的话题。
  • 青春年华不一样

    青春年华不一样

    这是一部关于青春的仙魔N次元小说,讲述了一些人,从斗之国到炫之国,一起历险的一段故事。这里,围绕着夏樱和他伙伴和父母一起在各个城市里穿梭,然而,在当中,孩子们的爱情故事,也在这当中,发生了很多奇妙的事。在风景当中走过,也停留过,他们的历险、爱情、挑战、奇遇都在发生着。
  • 女主被穿之后

    女主被穿之后

    十年后,景沐终于回到了自己的身体。可是缺失的这十年让她发现自己正面临着巨大的问题。原来的穿越者作死能力MAX,让她周围的所有人都对她充满敌意,于是一场翻牌运动开始了。
  • 蛤蟆镜

    蛤蟆镜

    小昌,80后新锐作家,广西作家协会会员,山东冠县人,1982年出生,大学教师。曾在《北方文学》、《黄河文学》、《延河》等杂志发表中短篇小说若干。现居广西北海。
  • 学霸富二代的全新人生

    学霸富二代的全新人生

    新书《我的梦里有个外星文明》已发布!主角在恐怖袭击中转生到18岁学霸富二代唐川身上,一场干脆利落的欧洲反恐复仇之旅后,带着成长壮大的灵魂异能,回到都市。唐川发现自己的灵魂竟然可以和别人的灵魂连接,当灵魂连接时,一波信息流就会滚滚而来,别人最拿手的技能知识记忆,就成为自己的了。遇到一群各国友人,“下载”过来,然后唐川成为了语言大师。遇到各类专家,“下载”过来,然后唐川成为了超级科学家。……一个全新的人生开始了,中医、武术、修行的真正奥秘被揭开,他开创了灵魂学,并带来人类全新的灵魂科技时代……(PS:有完本作品《活在电脑里》人品保证,大家可以放心入坑。欢迎加入书友群:783808484)
  • 我变成了鲲

    我变成了鲲

    这是灵气复苏的故事。噬人的鬼怪,妖魔在昏暗的路灯下悄然来到你的身后,噬人的大口轻易将你吞噬。神话因灵气而复苏,东西方神话争锋,踏碎凌霄的猴王在天国肆掠。太阳神的传承者被后羿传承者一箭爆了菊花。面对这大争之世,李松偶获神鲲传承,走上了一条吞噬升级的道路。吞噬鬼气,领悟神通【幽冥鬼火】
  • 逃妻追缉令:霸道总裁抓抓紧

    逃妻追缉令:霸道总裁抓抓紧

    【新书《冥帝老公,太凶猛》已上线】“我的恋爱,你负责。”“我的婚姻,你负责。”“我的孩子,你负责。”“我的一切,你都要负责,这辈子你就算死也休想逃掉,这是你当初主动招惹我又毫无理由抛弃我的代价。”楚凌风对着自己好不容易找回的初恋女友陆樱乐霸气宣布。陆樱乐痴痴地看着楚凌风,弱弱地问道:“那我跟你谈恋爱,和你去结婚,给你生孩子,陪你一辈子,可好?”乐观女主升级,打脸,躲总裁;霸道总裁宠着,缠着,追初恋