Theusurperpursued，withimplacablerage，thelifeofhisyoungerbrother，whosecourageandabilitieshefeared；andMascezel，oppressedbysuperiorpower，refugeinthecourtofMilan，wherehesoonreceivedthecruelintelligencethathistwoinnocentandhelplesschildrenhadbeenmurderedbytheirinhumanuncle。Theafflictionofthefatherwassuspendedonlybythedesireofrevenge。ThevigilantStilichoalreadypreparedtocollectthenavalandmilitaryforceoftheWesternempire；andhehadresolved，ifthetyrantshouldbeabletowageanequalanddoubtfulwar，tomarchagainsthiminperson。ButasItalyrequiredhispresence，andasitmightbedangeroustoweakentheofthefrontier，hejudgeditmoreadvisable，thatMascezelshouldattemptthisarduousadventureattheheadofachosenbodyofGallicveterans，whohadlatelyservedexhortedtoconvincetheworldthattheycouldsubvert，aswellasdefendthethroneofausurper，consistedoftheJovian，theHerculian，andtheAugustanlegions；oftheNervianauxiliaries；ofthesoldierswhodisplayedintheirbannersthesymbolofalion，andofthetroopswhichweredistinguishedbytheauspiciousnamesofFortunate，andInvincible。Yetsuchwasthesmallnessoftheirestablishments，orthedifficultyofrecruiting，thatthesesevenbands，^44ofhighdignityandreputationintheserviceofRome，amountedtonomorethanfivethousandeffectivemen。^45ThefleetofgalleysandtransportssailedintempestuousweatherfromtheportofPisa，inTuscany，andsteeredtheircoursetothelittleislandofCapraria；whichhadborrowedthatnamefromthewildgoats，itsoriginalinhabitants，whoseplacewasoccupiedbyanewcolonyofastrangeandsavageappearance。

　　\"Thewholeislandsaysaningenioustravellerofthosetimesisfilled，orratherdefiled，bymenwhoflyfromthelight。TheycallthemselvesMonks，orsolitaries，becausetheychoosetolivealone，withoutanywitnessesoftheiractions。Theyfearthegiftsoffortune，fromtheapprehensionoflosingthem；and，lesttheyshouldbemiserable，theyembracealifeofvoluntarywretchedness。Howabsurdistheirchoice!howperversetheirunderstanding!todreadtheevils，withoutbeingabletosupporttheblessings，ofthehumancondition。Eitherthismelancholymadnessistheeffectofdisease，orexerciseontheirownbodiesthetortureswhichareinflictedonfugitiveslavesbythehandofjustice。\"^46SuchwasthecontemptofaprofanemagistrateforthemonksasthechosenservantsofGod。^47Someofthemwerepersuaded，byhisentreaties，toembarkonboardthefleet；

　　anditisobserved，tothepraiseoftheRomangeneral，thathisdaysandnightswereemployedinprayer，fasting，andtheoccupationofsingingpsalms。Thedevoutleader，who，withsuchareenforcement，appearedconfidentofvictory，avoidedthedangerousrocksofCorsica，coastedalongtheeasternsideofSardinia，andsecuredhisshipsagainsttheviolenceofthesouthwind，bycastinganchorintheandcapaciousharborofCagliari，atthedistanceofonehundredandfortymilesfromtheAfricanshores。^48

　　[Footnote43:Hewasofamatureage；sincehehadformerlyA。D。

　　373servedagainsthisbrotherFirmusAmmian。xxix。5。

......

购买会员看全站小说，或者下载APP免费观看所有作品 点击立即下载，搜索"History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empir",免费读到尾