Chapter 12 Chapter Eleven From Capua to Vesuvius

Two hours after the events described at the end of the previous chapter, the small troop of gladiators who had broken out of the Lendurus gladiatorial school arrived at Gnaeus Gnaeus on a rapid march.Cornelius.Near Torabella's villa.The villa is located on a beautiful hill between the Atela Avenue and the Cooma Avenue, about eight miles from the city of Capua. When Enomay and the others hid behind the barricade that cut off the street and kept repelling the attacks of Roman soldiers, Spartacus and his comrades connected three ladders to each other with ropes and climbed in the dark. They climbed up the wall, and then, at the risk of great trouble, drew the ladder to the top, placed it outside the wall, and climbed down without a hitch, where they took the three ladders apart and tied them together , and put them into that deep moat; for the moat was full of water, and the bottom was muddy, and otherwise it was impossible to pass.Having passed the ditch, they abandoned the ladder, and marched at a rapid march across the wide plain between the Atela and Cooma roads.

They came to the iron gate of Torabella's villa, and Spartacus rang the bell several times.They were answered by the barking of dogs, which woke the dozing janitor, an old Thessarian slave.The old gatekeeper shaded the candles on the brass candlesticks held by his right hand with his left hand, walked towards the iron gate, and muttered in Greek: This shameless fellow, this night-sick fellow.Who is this guy who wanders around in the middle of the night without the housekeeper's permission?No, be careful, I will never pity you!Tomorrow I must report to the butler. The old man went up to the gate; behind him, two great Molossian dogs bared their teeth and ran to and fro barking.

May Jupiter on Olympus bless you, and Apollo on Pygasus will always help you, Spartacus said to the old man in Greek.We are a bunch of Greek slaves, poor as you are.We escaped from Capua.Open the door quickly, and don't ask us to resort to coercion, it's not good for you. The reader may easily imagine the horror of the old Thessarian slave when he heard these words and saw this exhausted company armed with all kinds of strange weapons. The old man was petrified. He held the candlestick high. It would be more appropriate to say that he is a statue rather than a living person.For a moment all were silent, broken only by the barking of the great Molossian dog.So Spartacus woke up the old man from his dementia with a powerful voice:

Well, how are you going to open the door to us for the ancient sacred groves of Mount Ossa and Mount Birion?Why don't you drink your nasty dog ​​off?Would you like us to hack the door with an axe? These few words did not allow the other party to have any further hesitation. The old gatekeeper quickly took out the key and opened the lock, pulled the iron bar, and shouted at the two dogs: Shut up, Pyrrhus!Be silent, Alcitis!May God bless you, brave man!I'll open the door right away, you guys should be gentle, damn you can settle down!The steward will be here in a moment, and he's also a Greek, a respectable good man, and you'll find food and drink here.

No sooner had the procession of gladiators entered the avenue in front of the villa than Spartacus gave the order to close the gate and sent five sentinels there.Then, he led the rest of the people to a square in a few minutes.All kinds of trees and flowers grow around the square, the most fragrant roses, periwinkle and juniper trees.In front of the square is the nobleman Gnaeus.The villa of Torabella, who happened to be consul that year. Spartacus checked the number of his comrades in the square: there were only seventy-eight of them, including Spartacus himself. Spartacus thought for a while, then lowered his head.Beside him stood a Gaul, a tall young man of short stature, with a fair face, red hair, a pair of sky-blue eyes, and an expression of vigor and vitality.So Spartacus sighed and said to the Gaul:

Yes, Bortolix!If fortune had smiled on our valor, our little band of seventy-eight men might have been the foundation of a great war and a just cause! But he went on to say: It is a pity that the nobleness of history to a cause is judged by its results!But how do we know that our seventy-eight gladiators will not be written down in history with the three hundred defenders of the Thermopylae Pass?Who knows! Spartacus immediately interrupted his thoughts, and he began to place sentries near all the entrances and exits.Then he called for Torabella's steward.The steward's name was Biotophiles, and he was from Epirus.Spartacus reassured the steward that they needed only some food, some necessities, and all the weapons they could find here, and that neither Spartacus himself nor his brethren would have Inflict any loss on the owner of the villa; he is absolutely not allowed to steal and plunder.Spartacus advises the steward to automatically supply the troop with everything they need, lest they resort to violence.

In this way, the gladiators quickly got food and wine to restore their energy, and according to Spartacus's order, they stored food for three days.But Spartacus himself did not touch food or drink, although he had not had a rest for several days, and had not eaten for more than thirty hours.To his surprise, he found a Greek slave who worked as a doctor among the ninety slaves who did housework and farm work in the villa.His name is Dionysius.Odnanas.This slave not only healed the slaves, but also healed the master when the owner of the villa lived here.He began to heal Spartacus' arm very carefully.He straightened the bones, splinted the arm, bound it with a special bandage, then looped the strap around the patient's neck and hung the arm across his chest.When he was done dressing, he advised his patients to take a little sleep in order to recover.He warned Spartacus that, if this was not done, there was a danger of fever, for the fatigue and terror of the last seven or eight days had produced a high fever.

After Spartacus gave Bortoliks very detailed and exact instructions, he lay down on a comfortable bed and fell asleep immediately.He did not wake up until the next morning, although he had told Bortoliks to wake him at dawn.However, Bartholix heeded Dionysius' advice: he did not disturb Spartacus until he woke up of his own accord. Sleep restored the Thracian, and he awoke feeling full of vigor, confidence, and hope.The sun had been shining for more than three hours on the gorgeous villa and its nearby hills.On one side of the villa is the steep slope of the Apennines, on the slope is a verdant forest, on the other side is a pleasing city view, and many gorgeous villas stretch down to the sea.

Spartacus immediately summoned all the slaves in the villa of Torabella in the square, and he, accompanied by the steward and the overseer, went to the prison which became an appendage of all Roman villas.There were chained slaves; they were forced to do hard labor in iron manacles and fetters. Spartacus ordered the release of the unfortunates, who numbered twenty or so, and told them to join the rest of the slaves in the square.He explained to this group of slaves, almost all Greeks, the reasons for the flight of the gladiators from Capua, and the true meaning of the great cause they had planned; He has decided to devote his whole life to this cause.In brightly colored words, he described the sacred goal for which the insurgents decided to fight to the end: for the oppressed brethren to regain their rights from oppressors and tyrants, to abolish slavery, and to liberate all mankind. The noble aim of the great war waged.

Among you, all who want to be free, all who would rather die a heroic death in battle with a dagger in hand than live a life in a lowly slave, all who think they are brave and strong and ready to fight against the oppression of all nations Take up arms, all you who have endured all the hardships and dangers in the war of the dead, all who are ashamed of the loathsome chain!Pick up any weapon and come with us! Spartacus' stirring words made a deep impression on all unfortunate slaves who had not yet lost their morale, and had not been stupefied by slavery.There was a shout of excitement from them, and tears of joy glistened in their eyes, and among the slaves of Torapera some eighty or so were armed with axes, sickles, and tridents, and immediately Joined the League of the Oppressed and vowed to unite with all the brothers who joined the League.

Spartacus, Bortolix, and the bravest of the gladiators armed themselves with the daggers and spears found in the villa.The Thracian had the foresight to place Torabella's slaves among his experienced comrades-in-arms.In this way, the gladiators could not only inspire the fighting spirit of these new fighters at any time, but also maintain strict order and discipline in this small team of more than 150 people.At two o'clock in the afternoon they left Torabella's villa and set out for Naples by desolate paths through fields and vineyards. This team of gladiators arrived near Naples at dusk with a hasty march, without any accidents along the way.Following Spartacus' orders, they stopped near a noble villa a few miles away from Naples.The Thracians repeatedly enjoined them to strictly prohibit rape and robbery, except to store up food for three days and confiscate what weapons they could find. After two hours, the team left.They were supplemented by fifty or so gladiators and slaves.These men abandoned their chains and answered Spartacus' call.Get ready to take part in the noble war of liberation. Spartacus marched through the night with the vigilance and prudence of a commander well versed in the art of war.He led his company along winding paths through the fragrant fields and picturesque hills that stretched between Naples and Atera.Along the way he stopped once at each villa and courtyard, but only as long as he had to in order to collect arms and call the slaves to revolt.In this way, he rushed to the vicinity of Mount Vesuvius at dawn, and embarked on the uphill road leading from Pompeii to the villas and playgrounds of the nobles.Ahead of them the mountains shone merrily, but the forest and the crags made them look wild and gloomy. Spartacus stopped about two miles from Pompeii.He ordered the occupation of several gardens along the road, and scattered his comrades to rest among living hedges of acacia, periwinkle, and rosemary, fragrant.In one day and night, the number of comrades in the uprising has now increased to more than 300.He ordered them to stay here until the sun came out. After a while, gray-white clouds appeared on the top of the mountain that seemed to support the blue sky in the dark night, and they gradually brightened up, like clouds of light smoke heralding the coming of the fire. Flames arose on the slopes of the neighboring Apennines and Vesuvius. The white clouds on the top of the mountain suddenly turned rose-colored, and then turned from rose-colored to purple; finally.They gave off a golden glow, and on those huge granite peaks that had once stood black and terrible, suddenly rushed torrents of living, brilliant sunlight.It brought out the colossal outline of Mount Vesuvius, and illuminated the lush vegetation-covered peaks of the nearby hills; The terrible abyss also illuminates countless beautiful hills.Those hills spread over the ground for miles around Mount Vesuvius, and seemed to lay a wonderfully colored carpet of lush greenery and gorgeous flowers at the feet of the volcanic giant. Vesuvius had a very different face then than it does now; it was not a monstrous, raging monstrosity, and the eruption of the volcano was long, long ago, and it was almost at the time of the events we describe forgotten.Only the remnants of the eruption and the deposits of several layers of magma remained on the ground for miles around the volcano.Here the Osgians established the cities of Stabie, Hecuronum, and Pompeii.The subterranean fires that roared and roared within the volcanoes had not disturbed the tranquility of these wondrous hills for centuries.The blissful inhabitants of this part of the world bathe in the intoxicating warmth of the sun, breathe the clean air full of fragrance, and swim and play in the cool waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea under a sapphire sky; The inhabitants are sung by poets as those at the entrance to Elysian Elysium.Verily, poets could never have found such a scene in another corner of the globe, nor could they have created, even in their inspired fantasies, a more enchanting scene than this, a place truly worthy of Elysian bliss. The title of the entrance to the world. The only thing that disturbs the happiness of the inhabitants of this part of Compania is the shaking and thundering rolling of the ground.From time to time they frightened the inhabitants of the country; but these tremors, though fairly frequent, were harmless, and the inhabitants of the district took them for granted.The foothills of Mount Vesuvius are densely populated with olive groves, fruit trees, lush gardens, vineyards and groves.Many villas and mansions have been built there, so that the area looks like a huge garden, and at the same time looks like a complete big city. That morning, Mount Vesuvius and the whole Bay of Bay, or the Gulf of Naples, in the light of the rising sun, presented a majestic and beautiful scene.It elicited cheers and wonders from all the gladiators and their leaders.Then, they were all immersed in this charming scenery and walked silently. They saw Pompeii, rich and magnificent Pompeii.Pompeii seems to be pounding and pounding with the waves, as its walls have been torn down, recalling the fact that the city once fought against the Romans in a civil war eighteen years earlier.At that time Pompeii was occupied by Sulla's army, and the victorious Sulla, in order to show magnanimity to the residents of the city, only demolished the city's walls.But the city of Stapier, not far from Pompeii, was completely burned by him, and on the ruins of this city, new houses have just begun to be built. From there it can be seen that the same Sulla treated the inhabitants of the city. But it is so cruel. No matter how beautiful this majestic landscape painting at sunrise can captivate anyone's soul, Spartacus's mind quickly struggled from this enchanting scenery.He raised his head and looked up to the top of the mountain.He tried to ascertain how far the solidified magma road he and his comrades were traveling was going all the way to the summit.However, the dense forest covering the top of the mountain made it impossible for him to see the end of this mountain road.After deliberating for a while, Spartacus decided to send Bortolix and thirty of his most agile comrades to scout the mountain road, while he and most of his comrades set off to nearby villas and manors. Search for weapons and free slaves.He left his core of sixty gladiators in place, hidden under a living fence.This is the place where Spartacus and Bortolix agreed to meet up after the reconnaissance. Everything was carried out according to Spartacus's order.Three hours later, Bortoliks returned.Spartacus was already waiting for him at the appointed place.Spartacus not only found a lot of weapons, but also liberated two hundred gladiators and slaves in nearby villas to supplement their team.The Thracians organized their five hundred warriors into five squadrons.The third squadron, led by Bortolix, included eighty youngest and bravest gladiators.Spartacus armed them with spears and spears. According to the organization of the Roman army, it was called Gastet, which was the spear team.The remaining four squadrons consisted of a hundred fighters each, the fourth and fifth squadrons called Farihifar were armed with scythes: Rhetylia with tridents and sporks; the first The second squadron consisted of Thracian gladiators armed with short swords, knives, and other short weapons.Each squadron was divided into ten squadrons, and Spartacus appointed ten centurions to lead them, and he appointed two centurions, chief and deputy, to each squadron.Both the centurion and the ten centurion were selected from among the seventy-eight gladiators who had escaped from Capua with him and Bortolix, because he knew their perseverance and courage, and he You can fully rely on them. Bortolix reported to Spartacus that the road near them went up the slope for about two miles, and then turned into a narrow path through the woods to the top of the hill, but, at a considerable height, It disappeared in the steep rocky cliffs that were difficult to climb. Ah, the great God who has made us suffer so many trials, has at last taken care of us!Spartacus cried with ecstasy.There, on the hill-tops, in the wild thickets, where the eagles make their nests and wild beasts make their dens and men cannot climb them, we shall plant the banner of our liberty.The God of Destiny can't arrange a better place for us, let's go! As soon as the battalion of gladiators advanced to the top of Mount Vesus, Spartacus summoned nine gladiators from the school of Lendulus. He generously sent a large sum of money to each of them, and then ordered They set out rapidly by different paths, three to Rome, three to Ravenna, and three to Capua, and he ordered them to inform their unfortunate brethren in the gladiatorial schools of those three cities, saying It was Spartacus who had camped on Mount Vesu with five hundred gladiators, and said that all who were ready to join forces in the fight for freedom, whether alone, in whole squadrons, or in whole legions, All should hurry to Spartacus. Spartacus sent three envoys to each city, and his plan was: Even in the worst case, in case someone was arrested halfway, at least three of the nine people would reach the designated place.Spartacus bid farewell to the nine gladiators and told them to be very careful along the way.When these envoys descended to the foot of the mountain, Spartacus also caught up with the vanguard marching towards the top of the mountain. The gladiatorial party quickly turned away from the high road, lined with gardens, houses, and vineyards, and entered the paths through the dense forest; silence.Gradually, bushes and dwarf trees replaced the original briars, holly, elms, oaks over a century old and tall poplars. When they started to go up the mountain, the gladiators met many farmers and pioneers along the way. They came down with baskets or donkeys, and transported vegetables and fruits to the markets of Pompeii, Naples and Hecuronum. Sell.They looked at the armed procession with wonder and horror.But when the gladiators and slaves entered the high woods, they encountered only occasional shepherds with small flocks of sheep and goats grazing in the meadows between the undergrowth, the crags, and the steep slopes. From time to time the bleating of the sheep echoed melancholy through the hills. After about two hours of hard climbing, Spartacus's team finally came to a wide and flat hillock.A few hundred steps up from there is the summit of Mount Vesuvius, covered like a gigantic white membrane by the imperishable snow.Spartacus decided to camp here.When the soldiers sat down to rest, he made a careful inspection around the field.On one side of the hillock, a steep and uneven path winds, which is the way they came up; on the other side of the hillock, there are unclimbable cliffs; , at the foot of those high mountains, and below the wooded cliffs, stretches a great sunny field dotted with vineyards, olive groves, groves, and meadows; The plain of Tseria, which stretches down to the slopes of the Apennines looming on the distant horizon.Climbing or descending on this side is much more difficult than on the Pompeian side, so the hills will never be attacked on this side. The south side of the camp chosen by Spartacus, on the side towards Salernam, was also safe and inaccessible; The shape of the mountain looks like a well. If you want to climb these cliffs, not to mention people, even wild goats can't do it. In this abyss, the light can only shine through the cracks in the rocks.The outside of the abyss is a canyon, but if you go further, an exit suddenly appears unexpectedly.That exit led to a country of lush hillsides, which stretched away for miles until they merged with the plain. Spartacus, having carefully surveyed the position of the post, believed that this camp had been chosen successfully; they could hold out here until reinforcements from Rome, Ravenna, and Capua arrived.He ordered a squadron of Thracians, armed with ordinary axes and tomahawks, to go into the nearby forest to cut wood.In this way they could make great piles of campfires, and save the gladiators from the cold of the night; for it is very easy to feel on the mountains in February. Spartacus posted a small squadron of sentries on the east side of the post, and sent another half squadron of gladiators to guard the direction overlooking Pompeii, blocking their way up the hill.From then on, the name of this hill was called Gladiator's First Set, and this name was kept until a long time later. At dusk, the squadron sent to chop wood returned.These Thracians had brought not only wood for the campfires, but also a great deal of sticks and dead branches, which they intended to use for building huts and barriers, as far as the rocky hillock would permit.Under the guidance of Spartacus, the gladiators built fortifications on the path they had come up.They blocked the mountain road with branches and big stones, dug a wide trench across the road, and quickly piled stones, soil and branches around the ditch to form a barrier, so that the only easy place for this camp was The part under attack was firmly defended.Spartacus deployed half a squadron of gladiators guarding behind this fortification, and built another fortification in the same way on the mountain road below the fortification, and sent another half squadron to guard the half-baked camp. The farthest outpost in Mileland. The gladiators, who were exhausted by the anxiety and hardship of the past few days, soon fell asleep.When the first torch was lit, there was already a scene of silence and tranquility in the camp.The dying campfire reflected the motionless bodies of the sleeping warriors, and the black rocks that formed the background of the strange picture.Only Spartacus was still alive; his tall Attilas-like form, reflected by the dying campfire, floated visibly in the gloom like the ghost of a giant.According to local myths and legends, in ancient times, a group of giants declared war on Jupiter, the god-king, in this area. They camped on the Falegret Plain next to Mount Vesuvius and decided to stack many high mountains here into steps and march towards the sky. shock. In this all-encompassing silence, Spartacus stood motionless for a long time.With his right hand he held his left hand, which was hanging in a bandage, and looked out at the sea stretching at the foot of the mountain.He stared intently at the lights of a large ship moored in the harbor of Pompeii. But while his eyes were on the lights of the bay, his mind was occupied with anxiety and brooding.This anxiety and contemplation took him far, far away.His thoughts were flying over the high mountaintops of his native Thrace.He remembered the carefree days of childhood and youth, those happy days passing away like gentle breezes.Suddenly his face, which had seemed so peaceful and bright, darkened: he remembered the Roman invasion, the bloody battle and the Thracian rout, their herds stripped of their livestock, Their homes were destroyed, their relatives made slaves and himself Suddenly, Spartacus, who had been immersed in memories and meditation for about two hours, shivered.He listened for a while, then turned his head towards the mountain road up to Pompeii by which they had come.He seemed to hear some voices.But it was very quiet everywhere, except for a gust of wind, blowing the branches and leaves in the woods from time to time. Spartacus was ready to lie down and sleep in the hut.The hut had been built for him by his comrades in spite of his furious protests, out of branches and covered with sheets of goat and sheep skins which had been brought from the estates and villas a few days before.However, Spartacus took a few steps towards the hut and stopped again.He listened carefully again, and at the same time said to himself: Ah, the real Roman soldiers are coming up the hill! He turned to the mound built the day before, and whispered as if conferring with himself: so fast?It's unbelievable! Before he reached the outpost defended by the half-squadron of gladiators, a low, indistinct voice came from below, and he heard the sentry standing in front shout loudly in the silence of the night: which one? Then the sentry shouted louder: Get your weapons ready! Suddenly there was a chaotic sound behind the earth barrier: the gladiators took up their weapons and quickly formed a battle formation behind the obstacle. At that time Spartacus approached the outpost with a dagger in his hand, and said calmly: They are going to attack us but no one can get through here. No one can pass!The gladiators shouted in unison. But you must send someone to the camp to warn them, and demand strict order and silence in my name. But the sentinel standing in front suddenly heard someone approaching making a cut to insist on victory, and the ten commander took eight or nine sentries down to see who the person was.At this time, everyone in the entire camp was awakened.In a few seconds all the gladiators were armed in silence and composure, and every one of them was in the ranks of his squadron.The ranks were as neat as Sulla, veterans of the Marian legions, ready to valiantly repel any attack. When the ten-squad obeyed the rules of caution as much as possible and went to scout the team approaching the camp, Spartacus and the rest of the gladiators in the guard team stood silently behind the mound and looked towards the path. Listen carefully, trying to figure out what's going on below.Suddenly, came the exultant cry of the captain of ten: That's Enomayi! Immediately came the shouts of the gladiators who were going down with the captain: Enomay! A minute later, the thunderous cry of the German came again: Stick to victory!Yes, it was me, and with me were ninety brothers who escaped from Capua one after another! The joy of Spartacus is easy to imagine.He jumped over the earth barrier and rushed towards Enomayi.They hugged tightly like brothers, but at the same time Enomayi tried not to touch the injured arm of the freed gladiator. Ah, Enomay, my dear Enomay!The Thracian cried out with great joy.I didn't expect to see you so soon! Me too, replied the German, stroking Spartacus's blond, thick-haired head with his large hand, and kissing Spartacus's forehead repeatedly. When the welcome and greetings were over, Enomayi began to narrate to Spartacus all the encounters after parting from the beginning to the end.For more than an hour his party resisted the Roman army; then the Roman army was divided into two parts, one part fought the gladiators, and the other part went around through the streets of Capua to attack the city. The rear of the gladiators.Enomay saw through the enemy's attempt; he knew that an hour's resistance would be enough to bring Spartacus's troops out of danger, so he decided to abandon the fortress that crossed the street and retreated.He ordered the gladiators who fought with him to disperse quickly, find places to hide, and make up the next day, and then sneak out of the city one by one.He appointed to meet under certain stone arches of the aqueduct outside the city, where he waited for them until evening, and from there they set out together to Mount Vesuvius.Enomay also mentions the thirty or so fellow brethren who must have lost their lives in the night battle against the Romans in the streets near the school of Lendurus, for obeying his orders to go to the aqueduct stone. Only ninety of the original one hundred and twenty comrades came here.Enomay and the ninety brethren had detoured the night before to the vicinity of Pompeii, where they met an envoy sent by Spartacus to Capua.From him they had the most definite information about the camp of the gladiators who had escaped from the Lendurus gladiator school. The arrival of this sixth squadron made the whole camp very happy.They threw firewood into the campfire and remade some simple food for the new comrades: bread, rusks, cheese, fruit and nuts.In the chaotic voices of everyone, it was almost impossible to tell who was the one who was welcomed and who was the one who was welcomed.Exclaim, ask, answer, narrate, it's all mixed together.Ah, are you here?Are you OK?how did you goHow did you get here?The terrain is good, we can defend here Yeah, we're so lucky!How about the Capua side?How are you comrades?What happened to Jimandre?Poor man!Sacrifice?That's how warriors die!And what about Pompidius?with us?Hello, Pompidius!What about the Lendurus Gladiator School?It melted like a snowdrift touching the sun.Will all the comrades come here?will come.Such questions and answers and shouts came from all directions. Much time had passed in the flurry of chatter and outpourings of hope and anticipation by the gladiators for the arrival of their new comrades.The comrades of Spartacus stayed for a long time before going to sleep, and it was not until late at night that silence and tranquility descended on the insurgents' camp. At dawn the next day, ten slaves and gladiators obeyed the order of Spartacus, blowing horns, reeds and fifes to wake up the sleeping gladiators.After Spartacus and Enomay had arranged the comrades in military formation, they gave them a review.They issued new orders, with certain necessary changes to those which had been passed down, and encouraged every soldier to try to make them as well armed as possible.Then, the outpost was changed, and two squadrons of fighters were sent from the camp, one to try to find food, and the other to cut firewood in the woods. The gladiators who stayed in the camp followed the example of Spartacus and Enomay and took up axes and various farm tools. They had a lot of farm tools and began to move stones from the rocks.They are going to use the stone throwing machine made of the rope they brought to throw stones at the enemy.The gladiators sharpened the ends of the stones with great foresight and stored them in the camp in great piles.Especially on the side facing Pompeii, such sharp stones are piled up in a particularly large number, because that side is most likely to be attacked by the enemy. The gladiators did this work for a whole day and night.At dawn on the third day, the soldiers in the entire camp were prepared by the sentinels for their weapons!The shout woke me up.Two armies of Roman soldiers, about a thousand men, were commanded by Gidus.Under the leadership of Sylvia Leones, they were climbing up the mountain from the foot of Pompeii's side, trying to attack the gladiators hiding in the hills. It turned out that after Sylvia Lionas successfully stopped the uprising of 10,000 gladiators at the Lendurus Gladiator School on that tense night, he got the news two days later that Spartacus and Enomay帶著幾百個叛亂的角鬥士向維蘇威山的方向進發；他們為了搶劫一路上遇到的別墅（這是很明顯的謊話，一定是某些人散布的謠言），斯巴達克斯釋放了所有的奴隸，並且號召他們都拿起武器來（這倒是確實的）。統領急忙趕到加普亞的元老院裡去，同時另外派急使趕到羅馬的共和國元老院裡去。那些驚惶萬分，索索發抖的加普亞元老們，正聚集在提法特山的朱庇特的神廟裡開會。賽爾維里昂納斯在向他們報告了一切經過情形和他所採取的挽救加普亞和共和國的步驟以後，就請求元老院允許他提出自己的意見和他認為可以撲滅叛亂幼苗的方策。 這位勇敢的青年很希望能從鎮壓叛亂的戰事中獲得盛譽和高官厚祿，因此他在獲得了發言權以後，就竭力證明：讓斯巴達克斯和埃諾瑪依活命以及讓他們有可能自由自在地在郊野間活動，即使是幾天的短時期也是非常危險的，因為隨時隨刻都有奴隸和角鬥士在投奔叛亂者，危險正在不斷地增長。賽爾維里昂納斯堅決認為：必須立刻派兵追趕這批逃亡者，追上他們，然後予以消滅；而且，為了恐嚇那一萬名角鬥士，必須把逃亡者的頭掛在長矛上，掛到倫杜魯斯．巴奇亞圖斯角鬥學校裡去示眾。 這一建議使受了不少驚嚇的加普亞元老們感到非常滿意。他們對角鬥士的叛亂非常害怕；恐懼和不安破壞了他們那太太平平、無憂無慮的安逸生活。他們一致贊成季杜斯．賽爾維里昂納斯的建議，接著又頒布了兩道命令。在第一道命令中，元老院為了獲得斯巴達克斯和埃諾瑪依兩人的頭，出了兩泰倫脫黃金的巨額懸賞，而且對這兩個不在加普亞的角鬥士和他的同伴們預先判處了絞刑；說他們本來就是卑賤的人，但現在更加卑賤了，因為他們已經變成一群橫行不法聚眾搶劫的強盜。不論自由人或奴隸，一律不准給他們任何幫助，違者將要受極嚴厲的刑罰。在加普亞元老院的第二道命令中，他們任命統領季杜斯．賽爾維里昂納斯率領駐加普亞的兩大隊正規軍中的一大隊出發追剿，另一大隊羅馬兵和加普亞城防軍，則由百夫長波比里烏斯統率，留駐加普亞，監視倫杜魯斯角鬥學校與保衛本城。元老院又授權賽爾維里昂納斯，他可以在附近的城市阿台拉再徵調一大隊羅馬兵士，用這些兵力去鎮壓這一瘋狂的暴動。 於是那幾道命令送到提督梅季烏斯．李倍奧納斯那兒去簽署。這位提督大人自從挨了埃諾瑪依那猛烈的一腳，神志差不多到現在還沒有清醒過來。那天晚上，李倍奧納斯連魂都掉了，他患了熱病，足足有兩天兩夜沒有下床。不要說兩道命令，就是一萬道命令他都甘願簽署，只要他能免除再一次遭到那值得紀念的夜晚所受到的驚嚇，那一次驚嚇的後果，對他說來還是記憶猶新的。 Jidus.賽爾維里昂納斯在當天晚上就出發了；他在阿台拉接收了第二個大隊，率領了整整一千二百名兵士，取捷徑來到了維蘇威山附近。山腳下村子裡的某些居民，就把角鬥士們藏身的地點告訴了他。 那天晚上季杜斯．賽爾維里昂納斯和他的軍隊在山腳下過了夜，到了拂曉時分，他在兵士前面發表了一通簡短而熱烈的演說，就開始向山頂突擊。當太陽出來的時候，他已離角鬥士的營地很近了。 雖然羅馬兵士的隊伍，在行動時竭力不發出響聲，而且非常小心，但是角鬥士哨所派出來的最前面的一個哨兵，早已在離羅馬兵一弩箭遠的地方發現了他們。那個哨兵發出了警報，同時退到他後面的一個哨兵那兒，就這樣，一個向另一個傳遞著信號。那幾個哨兵驚起了營地中所有的角鬥士，同時他們自己又一直退到擔任警戒的半中隊角鬥士所在的土壘後面。這些哨兵立刻用擲石機和徒手投擲的石彈武裝起來，準備用雹子一般的石塊迎擊羅馬兵士。 當荒涼的山岩上響起警號、深不可測的峽谷中發出重複的回聲時，角鬥士們已做好了戰鬥準備。那時候，賽爾維里昂納斯統頷首先向前衝去，他那戰鬥的呼喊在一千二百名羅馬兵的隊伍中哄然重複著。呼喊聲一會兒就變成最凶惡的吼聲，好像洶湧的大海發出來的怒號聲一般。那是一種拖長的、狂野的、震耳欲聾的進攻的呼喊，模仿著大象的叫聲巴爾啦啦！羅馬的兵士通常就是在這樣的吼喊聲中向敵人猛撲的。 但是，賽爾維里昂納斯和前面幾排兵士剛剛衝近土壘，站在土壘後面的五十名角鬥士，就用冰雹一般的石塊向羅馬人擲去。 向上衝啊！為了督戰的朱庇特向上衝啊！Be brave!Be brave!剛毅的統領叫道。讓我們一下子衝進這些強盜的營地，把他們統統剁成肉醬！ 石頭的雹子愈來愈急驟了，但是羅馬人不顧輕傷和重傷，繼續向土壘衝上去，一到土壘下面他們就開始使用自己的武器，他們竭力用投槍向那些沒有土壘保護的角鬥士擲去。 呼喊聲更激烈了，雙方的接觸已轉變為殘酷的流血戰鬥。 斯巴達克斯從懸崖頂上觀察著全部戰況，他的隊伍就在那片懸崖上列好了戰鬥隊形，他那比得上迦太基的漢尼拔和馬其頓的亞歷山大的洞察一切的能力，立刻發覺那位年輕鹵莽、輕率自負的羅馬指揮官犯了極大的錯誤。賽爾維里昂納斯的兵士不得不在狹窄的山路上用密集隊形作戰了。他們最前面的戰線不比十人的行列更寬。由於這一個特點，又長又密集的羅馬人的隊伍就完全處在冰雹似的石塊打擊之下了。角鬥士們投擲下來的石頭可說是每一塊都擊中了目標。斯巴達克斯看出了羅馬人的錯誤，就在環境所許可的程度之內，竭力來利用這一個錯誤。他讓自己的戰士們向前移動，接著在營地邊緣朝著發生戰事的方向，按照營地的寬度排列成兩行，然後他命令他們用全力向敵人不斷地投擲石塊。 不到一刻鐘羅馬人就要轉身逃跑了，斯巴達克斯叫道，他占據了營地邊緣最前面的位置，開始用石塊向羅馬兵士擲去。那時候我們就緊緊跟上去追擊他們，用我們的短劍解決他們！ 一切都按照斯巴達克斯的預見實現了。雖然剛毅的統領賽爾維里昂納斯和好些勇敢的兵士已經衝到土壘前面，並且用長矛攻打著角鬥士，竭力想衝到土壘後面去，他們卻遇到了極其猛烈的抵抗；但同時在隊伍末尾的羅馬兵卻絲毫也不能獲得使用長矛和短劍的機會。冰雹似的石塊一分鐘比一分鐘更猛烈了。尖石塊敲破了頭盔和鎧甲，使羅馬的兵士們受傷流血，有的更直接落到他們頭上把他們打昏或者打倒在地上。很快，進攻者的隊伍就支持不住了，他們轉身逃去，隊伍頓時變得非常混亂。賽爾維里昂納斯徒然用他本來已經喊啞了的喉嚨竭力喊叫，向自己的兵士們提出不可能的要求叫他們忍受這可怕的石塊的暴風雨。由於上面的行列遭到角鬥士愈來愈猛烈的攻擊，他們就愈來愈急切地向下面的行列擠去，這使整個隊伍亂成一團。混亂的擠軋開始了，羅馬的兵士們把自己人擠倒在地上，踏著倒下去的人的身體，拚命逃竄。 羅馬人開始向下逃竄，現在後隊變成了前隊。角鬥士們被復仇的怒火所驅使，緊緊追趕著進攻他們的人，於是這一整條長繩也似的人流，就從土壘起往山下伸展，從遠處看過去，活像一條大蛇在山坡之間蜿蜒。 那時候，角鬥士們全從土壘後面跳了出來，奔下去追擊敵人了。羅馬人的部隊就完全垮了。 以出乎羅馬人意料的全軍大敗告終的短促戰鬥，具有一個特點，那就是：兩千名以上參加戰鬥的人，一部分逃，另一部分追，卻都不能進行戰鬥。羅馬人很想戰鬥卻不可能停下來，因為向前逃奔的人被後面的人推擠著，而後面的人又被更後面的人推擠著。由於同樣原因，角鬥士們也不能停。狹窄的山路被兩邊的岩石緊緊夾住，峻峭的岩坡使這條人流下山速率達到致命的程度；他們像雪崩般向下直瀉，一直到山腳附近才停止。 真的，只有到了山路變成寬闊的大路、山坡也比較平坦的地方，潰逃的兵士才能夠分散到鄰近的田野和果園中去。也只有到了那兒，角鬥士們才能夠展開兵力，把羅馬兵士包圍起來，開始痛痛快快地向他們進行砍殺。 賽爾維里昂納斯在一所華麗的別墅附近停了下來，他號召兵士們在他身邊集合起來，繼續對角鬥士們進行頑強的抵抗。但是，只有很少一部分兵士響應他的號召，在他身邊聚集起來，努力抵擋敵人。百夫長索朗尼烏斯也湊集了五十來個兵士，這一小隊人猛烈地進行反撲，阻擋角鬥士們的追擊。此外，某幾個曾經在馬略軍團中戰勝森布里人和條頓人，或是在蘇拉麾下戰勝希臘人和米特里達梯斯王的副百夫長或者十夫長，也各自聚集起一小撮勇敢的兵士，東一處西一處地進行著抵抗：他們還是希望那決定戰爭的幸運之神，仍舊會像過去一樣對他們微笑。但是一切英勇的掙扎都毫無用處。大部分羅馬兵士已經亂得一團糟，他們驚慌地四散奔逃，每個人所關心的只是逃命。 斯巴達克斯帶著一中隊角鬥士圍住了賽爾維里昂納斯和百來名他手下的勇敢兵士。戰鬥是殘酷的、流血的。賽爾維里昂納斯在斯巴達克斯的手中送了命。圍困羅馬兵的角鬥士的人數每分鐘都在增多，沒有多久，這隊羅馬兵就被他們消滅了。同時，埃諾瑪依一劍劈死了那位勇敢的百夫長索朗尼烏斯，然後開始追逐那些幸而活下來的羅馬兵。 兩個大隊的羅馬兵完全打垮了：約莫有四百多名兵士戰死，三百多名負傷；俘虜統統繳了械，然後按照斯巴達克斯的命令全部釋放。戰勝者那一方面的損失是：戰死三十名，負傷五十名。 午後，奪取了很多戰利品的角鬥士們，穿戴著羅馬人的頭盔和鎧甲，用敵人的長矛弓箭武裝了自己，在腰間繫上了短劍，回到維蘇威山頂上的營地中去。他們把大批兵器運到那兒，現在他們可以把投奔他們的人數眾多的同志全部武裝起來了。