罗马帝国消亡史经典英文版 (21).docxVIP

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经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

Part3.

AfterasuccessfulexpeditionagainsttheGothicplunderersofAsia,thePalmyrenianprincereturnedtothecityofEmesainSyria.Invincibleinwar,hewastherecutoffbydomestictreason,andhisfavoriteamusementofhuntingwasthecause,oratleasttheoccasion,ofhisdeath.^56HisnephewMaeoniuspresumedtodarthisjavelinbeforethatofhisuncle;andthoughadmonishedofhiserror,repeatedthesameinsolence.Asamonarch,andasasportsman,Odenathuswasprovoked,tookawayhishorse,amarkofignominyamongthebarbarians,andchastisedtherashyouthbyashortconfinement.Theoffencewassoonforgot,butthepunishmentwasremembered;andMaeonius,withafewdaringassociates,assassinatedhisuncleinthemidstofagreatentertainment.Herod,thesonofOdenathus,thoughnotofZenobia,ayoungmanofasoftandeffeminatetemper,^57waskilledwithhisfather.ButMaeoniusobtainedonlythepleasureofrevengebythisbloodydeed.HehadscarcelytimetoassumethetitleofAugustus,beforehewassacrificedbyZenobiatothememoryofherhusband.^58

[Footnote56:Hist.August.p.192,193.Zosimus,l.i.p.36.Zonaras,l.xiip.633.Thelastisclearandprobable,theothersconfusedandinconsistent.ThetextofSyncellus,ifnotcorrupt,isabsolutenonsense.]

[Footnote57:OdenathusandZenobiaoftensenthim,fromthespoilsoftheenemy,presentsofgemsandtoys,whichhereceivedwithinfinitedelight.]

[Footnote58:SomeveryunjustsuspicionshavebeencastonZenobia,asifshewasaccessorytoherhusbandsdeath.]

Withtheassistanceofhismostfaithfulfriends,sheimmediatelyfilledthevacantthrone,andgovernedwithmanlycounselsPalmyra,Syria,andtheEast,abovefiveyears.BythedeathofOdenathus,thatauthoritywasatanendwhichthesenatehadgrantedhimonlyasapersonaldistinction;buthismartialwidow,disdainingboththesenateandGallienus,obligedo