Chapter 22 Chapter XXI. Spartacus at work among the Rukonian Mountaineers; the fowler in his own trap.

Mirza, you should tell me, you should reveal to me the secret that has caused you so much pain that you have been painstakingly keeping from me for two years.You should share with me your secret grief, for it torments me as much as it does you.Ah, Mirza!If there was any mercy in your heart, if your nobility and magnanimity matched your extraordinary beauty, you would certainly reveal your secret to me today; for this secret makes you refuse to accept me. Your loyalty and love have robbed me of your passionate kiss.Mirza, you must understand that I love you with all my heart.My love for you is tender and passionate!

These words were spoken by Artorix on the twentieth day after the cremation of Clixus.The young gladiator was standing at the door of Spartacus' command tent, with his back facing the general's execution ground, and his head stuck into the tent, blocking Mierza's way. The camp of the gladiator army has been moved from Xiuliai to the outskirts of the city of Grument in the province of Ruconia.A large number of slaves defected to the camp, and now the number of soldiers in each legion has reached 6,000.Thus the total number of gladiator infantry had grown to seventy-two thousand men.

Spartacus had left the camp with two thousand cavalry.They were going to scout the road between Grument and Mount Furdur. It is said that General Crassus has led 70,000 Roman soldiers over from Mount Furdur. For two years Artorix tried to suppress the love in his heart, but it only became stronger and stronger.In order to know Mircher's secret, he tried several times in vain to persuade her to confide her feelings.But Mirza, like Artorix, became sad and melancholy, and often hid alone.That morning Artorix had evidently made up his mind: he would at all costs make the Thracian girl explain to him; for Mirchard's behavior disturbed him as much as it saddened him.

Since Mirza made friends with Evkipeda, she began to learn the skills of using weapons.Her ability to ride a horse was taught by Spartacus himself in the early days of the gladiator's rebellion; because in this way, the poor girl did not have to go through the hard work of following a large group of soldiers on foot for several days. march. When the rebel army camped near Ravenna, Mirza got from her brother a pair of armor specially made for her by the famous teacher in Ravenna; Delicate; the Thracian girl never took it off since she put it on, because she knew that the danger to her brother was increased, and much more serious than before.So she decided to be with her brother forever.To help him, she will do her best even in battle.And he has to suffer a tragic fate with him under extremely dangerous circumstances.Beneath the helmet, her fair face had a soft, mournful expression against the golden curls.Mircha looked very beautiful in this armor.Although the woman's clothing can set off her charming appearance, her current posture is much more handsome than when she was wearing plain clothes.

Why are you stopping me, Artorix?Myrchard asked the Gallic lad.There seemed to be surprise in her voice, but also blame. Didn't I tell you just now, the Gaul boy looked at the Thracian girl affectionately, and replied gently.Perhaps I have not displeased you, or made you feel disgust and contempt for me; you have confirmed this not only with words, but also with actions and eyes that reflect your inner feelings.Didn't you ever tell me that Spartacus loved me like a brother, and that he would be very happy if you were my wife.You have sworn to me more than once that you love no one else; why, then, are you so obstinate in refusing my love, so passionate, so deep, so irresistible?

But you, replied the Thracian girl excitedly.Her large sky-blue eyes fixed on the young Gaul, and in her eyes she could not help expressing her love for him.But why do you still come to pester me?Why do you still come to torture me?Why should I suffer so much?Didn't I tell you this?I can't I can't be your man, never But I want to know why, Artorix replied.His face grew even paler, and his blue eyes filled with tears, which he managed to hold back.I want to know the reason, and this is my respectful and gentle request to you, and I will ask you for nothing else.You have to understand that a man who could have had the greatest happiness in the world but ended up being less fortunate than all has a right to claim it.I swear by the dagger of Haysus, the almighty god of war, that such a man has a right to ask, and at least a right to know why he must have plunged so suddenly from the pinnacle of happiness to the abyss of despair?

Artorix's words came from the bottom of his heart.It contained a force of passionate emotion, so that Mircher felt that she had been conquered and conquered by him, moved by him, and fascinated by him.Therefore, love suddenly shone in her eyes. She silently watched the Gaul young man, and her eyes contained the most violent and conquering love.Artorix felt that this current of love was constantly pouring out on him, drowning him completely, and he felt that it had penetrated not only to the marrow of his bones, but to the depths of his soul, making his soul The soul is also on fire. The two of them trembled and looked at each other as if enchanted by the same magic.In this way they stood for some minutes in silence, motionless, until at last Artorix was the first to break the silence.Hot tears rolled down his pale cheeks slowly, and he said in a trembling, intermittent, weak voice:

Listen to me, Mirza!I'm not a coward or a weakling, you know that I'm always at the front when I'm fighting, and I'm always staying last when I'm retreating I have a strong and unyielding heart, and there's no place in my heart for those who are mean and mean emotion.In the most dangerous emergency, I don't value life. I'm not afraid of death. My mother taught me to see death as the beginning of our soul's real life. I think it's right. And you all understand but lo and behold now i'm crying like a child Mircher approached Artorix, as if wanting to say something to him.

Do not interrupt me, my holy and venerable Mirza!Listen to me, yes I cried I treasure these tears but they come from my heart and it's from my love for you Believe me these tears are kind to me I feel so blessed Here, with you, I look into your sad sky-blue eyes that reflect like a mirror your noble soul, and your eyes look at me with tenderness and tenderness Miercha suddenly felt a burst of hot blood pouring into her stomach, and two blushes appeared there suddenly.She lowered her eyes. No, I swear to you, Mirza, said Artorix passionately.He folded his palms in front of the girl, as if praying to her.If there are feelings of pity for me in your heart, do not deprive me of the divine aura, for their source is your eyes!Look at me, look at me, look at me as if just now!Your tender gaze full of love conquers me, draws me, captivates me, makes me forget everything in the world. Give me this pure, indescribable joy. I cannot express it to you in words. The joy of love, but my soul is filled with infinite tenderness; it makes me want to pray and call death at this moment, because I feel that dying at this moment is a very holy and joyful happiness!

Artorix fell silent, and gazed at the girl with ecstasy.Then Mirza, trembling all over, said intermittently: Why do you say die?You should live You are young and brave You have to live trying to be a happy and happy How can I be happy?cried the gladiator in despair.How can it be!How can I live without your love? The silence lasted for a minute.The Thracian girl lowered her eyes again, and she stood silently, looking very embarrassed.The Gallic lad took her by the hand, drew her to his breast, and said in a staccato voice of great excitement: My holy darling, don't deprive me of this sweet fantasy Tell me you love me Make me believe that you love me Soothe me with your holy eyes May the light of happiness be forever from now on Shine in front of my eyes so I can think you've allowed me to imagine our happiest days

Having said this, Artorix took Mirtha's hand, brought it to his burning lips, and began to kiss him passionately.Suddenly the Thracian girl trembled like a leaf, and she whispered brokenly: Ah, don't do this, don't do this, Artorix leave me and go if you know how sad I am If you know how your words hurt me If you know how painful the pain is Maybe, it's just my hallucination, maybe, your tender gaze is fake, if it's true, tell me tell me honestly tell me tell me strong: your wish is in vain, Artorix, my love is another person No, I don't love others, I have never loved anyone before, the girl said enthusiastically, I will never fall in love with anyone in the future, except you! ah!Artorix yelled with indescribable ecstasy.I'm in love with you I'm in love with you!O my holy man!Has the Almighty God ever felt the same joy as I have? ! O God!The Thracian girl wrestled herself from the Gaul boy's arms and said that he had put his arms around her.Ah, God not only knows love, but also revels in the joy of love, but we are destined to love each other silently, our irrepressible passionate love cannot be vented in our passionate kisses, it is impossible But who is that?Who is banning us?asked Artorix, his eyes blazing with joy. Don't ask who is forbidding us, the girl replied sadly.Don't you ask me any more. This is our destiny.I can't belong to you, and you can't belong to me!O cruel, insurmountable fate!You leave me, go, don't ask me again! Mirza wept bitterly, and said: Can't you see how miserable I am?Don't you understand how miserable I am?Ah, you should know how proud I am of your love!You know, I think I'm the happiest guy in the world but it can't be.I can't be a happy man Fate forever forbids me to be this way Go, don't prick my wounds with your questions anymore Go, let me stay alone with my sad heart. As Mirza said, she threw her shield over the corner of the tent, covered her face with her hands, and wept loudly. When the frightened Artorix came up to her and began to kiss her hand, she pushed him away gently, and said to him stubbornly: Get away from me, Artorix, if you are a man of integrity and love me, go as far as you can from here. She raised her eyes and looked out of the tent.I saw Tseduri walking towards the commander's tent following the general's execution ground.Tseduri was originally a Numidian slave girl.She had fled from Greater Rand to the camp of gladiators twenty days ago; for her mistress, a nobleman's wife who had migrated from Jabiganya, thought that Tseduri was too talkative, and ordered her servants to cut off her tongue.Mirza called to her: Tseduri!Tseduri! Then the girl turned to Artorix again and said: Here she comes Artorix, I want you to go away now! The Gallic lad took her hand, kissed it passionately, and said: You must reveal your secret to me anyway! You don't count on this, it's never possible! At this time, Tseduri had approached Spartacus' tent.Artorix, who was extremely excited, felt very happy and very sad at the same time, so he had to leave the tent slowly.Sweet memories filled his heart, but sad thoughts swarmed like bees in his brain. Let us go, Tseduri, and dedicate this little sheep to Mars in Ruconia, Mirza said, pointing to the little sheep tied to a wooden post in a corner of the camp.She tried to hide her agitation. Poor Tseduri could only nod her head in agreement after having her tongue cut out by her brutal mistress. I just put on my armor and I am going to go to the temple with you, the young Thracian girl explained, she picked up the shield that was thrown there not long ago from the ground, and put it on her arm. Mirza walked towards the corner of the tent where the lamb was tied, trying not to let the Numidian woman see the blush that had flooded her cheeks from her lies. Mircha untied the rope, gave it to Tseduri, and together they left the tent.Tseduri led the sheep forward, and the Thracian girl walked side by side with her. The front gates of the camp looked towards Grument City, and the back gates towards the Archie River.The two women quickly left the camp through the rear camp gate. They climbed a small hill near the Archie River a mile from the camp.On the hill stands the temple of Mars, worshiped by the Rukonians.Here Mirza consecrated the sheep to the god of war, not according to the custom of the Latins, but according to the custom of the Greeks, and begged him to protect the army of gladiators and their leaders. At that time, Spartacus, who had gone out for reconnaissance early in the morning, had already led the cavalry back.There they encountered the enemy's scouting party and fought each other for a while.They not only defeated the Romans and fled, but also captured seven of them.They knew from the mouths of the seven captives that Crassus had led the army to Grument.Spartacus made all the preparations to fight Crassus.Two days later, Crassus and his army arrived at Grument at noon.He took up battle formation in front of the gladiator army. After the trumpets of both sides sounded, the battle began.Then, the fight quickly turned into a massive, horrific fight.The battle lasted four hours in all.Both sides fought each other with equal tenacity and valor, but just as the sun was about to set, the left flank of the gladiator army under Artorix's command suddenly wavered.The new fighters in the gladiator legion not only lacked combat experience, but also did not have sufficient military training, so they could not resist the offensive of the Romans; especially after Crassus issued the order to kill the tithe, the bravery and boldness of the Roman soldiers had already disappeared. Reached the level of desperate.On the left flank of the gladiatorial army, chaos and disorder became more and more evident, and soon the center of the gladiatorial army also began to waver.Artorix, who dismounted to fight the enemy, was wounded in the chest and head.His helm was split, and his face was red with blood, but he would not give up his weapon; but, however valiant he was, his army continued to fall back, and became more and more confused.At this time, the furious Spartacus appeared, and he reprimanded the soldiers with a thunderous voice: I swear to all the gods!Your retreat has turned the Romans into fierce lions, and you yourselves into cowardly rabbits!Hold still, for the sake of Mars of Hippalpoli, come with me and fight with me.We're going to beat them to the ground like we've done in the past.We have defeated them more than once; if you fight like warriors, we will be able to defeat them this time! Spartacus flung his shield at his assailant, and with his left hand seized a wounded gladiator's short sword, just as he had taught gladiators in the gladiator school, holding two short swords. The sword flew at the Romans.He swung his dagger swiftly, and struck the enemy so violently that within a short time a great number of Romans fell to the ground: some dead, some badly wounded and convulsing.The Romans were forced to retreat.Under the fierce, powerful blow of Spartacus, both shield and armor were useless, and everything was smashed under his blade, and his two short swords were constantly scattered around him. Destruction and death. When the gladiators saw this, their morale was lifted, and they mustered new strength, and they went into battle without fear.Then Spartacus hastened to the ranks of the neighboring legions, where the same effect was produced; and thus he almost brought victory to the gladiator army. However, Crassus is personally commanding his six most beloved legions to storm the center line of the gladiator army with all their strength. Those six legions are composed entirely of veterans under the command of Sulla and Marius in the past.The gladiators, unable to withstand the terrible onslaught of these veterans, had begun to retreat. Spartacus was on the left flank when he saw the tragic sight of the gladiators on the center line retreating.He hastened to the reserve cavalry just behind the center line.A Numidian is leading the horse of the gladiator leader, standing beside the cavalry captain Mamilius.Spartacus mounted his horse and gave the order to blow the bugle, forming a second line of cavalry in twelve rows; in this way, the fighters of the retreating gladiator legion could pass through the cavalry battle rank Hid in the camp; then, the buglers sounded the retreat call to all the infantry. But all these measures could not save the center line and left flank of the gladiator army: they began to retreat in disorder and suffered heavy losses.Only the right wing commanded by Granix began to retreat in an orderly manner.In order to deter the enemy's onslaught and prevent the whole army from being completely destroyed, the twelve columns of cavalry, led by Spartacus, pounced on the Roman team.The Roman legions were thrown into disorder, and forced to retreat hastily.They formed many circles, squares and triangles so as not to be wiped out by the gladiator's cavalry.The cavalry began to hack to death the scattered Roman soldiers who fled in a hurry. Crassus wanted to pull his own cavalry up, but he dared not risk giving orders because it was getting dark.Everything has become blurred, merging into a large black mass in the dusk that has already fallen.Both sides blew the call to retreat, and then the fighting armies returned to their camps, and the fighting was suspended. The Romans lost five thousand men.The rebel army lost 7,000 warriors, and another 1,200 gladiators were captured by the enemy. Spartacus returned to the camp and began to organize his army with the help of various commanders, generals and centurions.At the same time, he sent someone to take care of and treat the injured Artorix, but in the end, the doctor didn't think Artorix's injury was serious.The leader of the gladiators ordered the campfires to be lit in the camp as usual.In the middle of the night, Spartacus led his army quietly left Grument and marched towards Neruri.They arrived there at noon the next day, rested only four hours, and went to Lavinia, where they passed the night.At dawn the next day they set out for Pendocia; from there the Thracians were going to enter the country of the Brutes, and then to Cosenzia. A messenger sent by Crassus caught up with Spartacus in Pandocia.Crassus refused the Thracian's offer of a hundred Roman nobles for Ephgipeda (she had been hiding in the general's camp since she left the army of Clixus and caused them to fall on Mount Galgon). It was suggested that Crassus now had his emissaries tell Spartacus that he would exchange the twelve hundred gladiators he had captured at Grument for the one hundred nobles. Spartacus discussed this matter with Granix and the other three legion commanders, and decided to accept Crassus's suggestion.He agreed with the messenger that after three days the two sides would exchange prisoners at Rothium. When Crassus' emissary left, Spartacus considered the exchange of prisoners not without danger.It may be that the Roman general wanted to use this suggestion to stall the gladiator army and win back his lost time; therefore he decided to order 1,200 cavalry with another 1,200 horses and 100 soldiers. Roman captives go to Rothium.He told Mamilius, who was in charge of exchanging prisoners, that he must not hand over a hundred nobles until the Romans handed over 1,200 gladiators to him; Having given it to him, he should at once let them mount the team of horses he had brought with him, and gallop to Themes, where Spartacus will arrive with his army in four days' time.There they will camp for a few days: if Mamilius finds out that the Romans are trying to deceive them, he can kill the captured Roman nobles and flee to the place of Spartacus. The thousand or two hundred gladiators had no choice but to resign themselves to their fate. As Spartacus was marching from Pandocia to Themes, he encountered an armed force on the way.Scouts of the gladiator army mistook them for the Romans.But they are Gaius.Conix commanded five thousand slaves; he assembled and armed them into a detachment.Conix admitted his mistakes in front of Spartacus and repented of his past actions.Now he led his troops back into the camp of the rebels.He vowed to absolutely obey the leadership of Spartacus in the future and to strictly observe military discipline forever. The Thracians received Conix and his warriors as brothers, and immediately ordered them to be armed with the best weapons, and these warriors were added to the original twelve legions respectively, and among them A legion of his men was handed over to Gaius.Monix conducts. On the fifth day after this, Mamilius returned with twelve hundred captive gladiators.Spartacus delivered a short, reprimanding speech to them, letting them know that there would not always be a hundred Roman nobles in the camp who could save the lives of gladiators captured by the enemy, without such luck. These twelve hundred gladiators had long since hung from the trees on both sides of the road from Grument to Rothium, and had become food for the crows and vultures in the forests of the Apennines.Therefore, in the future, they should die on the battlefield, and must not be captured alive by the enemy, and then hanged shamefully. Crassus appeared near Taimes.He was twenty days late.But before that, he had already sent letters to the autonomous provinces of Ruconia, Apulia, Calabria and Jabigania asking for reinforcements.He mentioned to the first two provinces the losses suffered by the gladiatorial armies of Spartacus, and tried to prove to them how good it would be to exterminate these rebellious bands; , suggesting to them that if it were not for his help, they would have suffered heavy losses under the lash of this human whip. After Crassus took this measure, reinforcements came to him from all directions.He gathered more than four legions in fifteen days.So Crassus began to attack Spartacus, because the total number of his army had reached one hundred thousand. Meanwhile the Thracian entered into negotiations with a group of Silesian pirates who haunted the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea; he asked them to load his army into Sicily, promising thirty talents as a reward; The charge of the plunder of the gladiators was arbitrarily charged to the gladiator army, and in fact this amount was the entire wealth in the gladiator's inventory. These pirates agreed to Spartacus' request.They even got an advance payment of ten talents from Granix, who was negotiating.But, on the very night when they were about to load the gladiator army, they sneaked away from Themes, deceiving the Thracians.It is likely that the pirates feared revenge from the Romans for helping Rome's enemies. Just as the leaders of the gladiators watched from their camps that the pirate ship's aircraft left the coast, gradually shrank on the sea, and finally disappeared into the water and sky, a small team of scouts rushed to the camp and reported Marcus.News that Crassus' army is approaching. The gladiators took up their weapons and formed a battle formation, waiting for the approaching enemy.Then, the six legions of Spartacus's first-line army, taking advantage of the fact that the Romans were not ready for battle, began to pounce on the Romans fiercely.This caused great confusion to Crassus's team. The second Thracian army consisted of four legions.Spartacus deployed 4,000 cavalry on their right and left flanks respectively; Spartacus left two legions in the city of Taimes, so that in case of defeat, they would cover the entire army to enter the city, and then wait for favorable conditions. Time to retaliate against the enemy.Perhaps, he has already thought about the future plan, and he can lead the whole army out of the crisis if necessary. Before leading the troops into battle, Spartacus once ordered the commanders of the six legions on the first line: when retreating, they must order the blowing of the soldiers' trumpets, and they must verbally order the centurions and tens of officers to tell the soldiers in advance. Men, tell them to retreat through the gap in the second line of ranks. The fight had dragged on for hours, with Romans and gladiators battling each other.The armies on both sides fought each other with equal valor and heroism, but at an hour after that Crassus threw a large body of the main force into the field and stretched the front; Surrounded by the enemy, it was decided to give the order to retreat; thanks to the efforts of the soldiers, this retreat through the gap between the ranks of the second line was carried out quite quickly and well organized.So when Roman soldiers raised their short swords and decided to destroy their defeated enemies, they encountered a new front of gladiators.The rapid and powerful impact of these new forces drove the Romans into flight, causing them to suffer heavy losses. Marcus.Crassus had to blow the retreat horn.He drew up the eight reserve regiments and prepared to start a new and more terrible battle.He distributed two other legions on the left and right of his line, and was about to turn the enemy's flank, but the sudden appearance of Spartacus' cavalry on the left and right flanks of the line frustrated the Roman commander's plan. By then Granix had made six legions of the first line army ready for battle.He distributed them on the slopes of the hills surrounding the city of Themes; when Crassus decided to order the cavalry into battle, Spartacus led his army back to the front line commanded by Granix. In the rear of the army, the six legions that had already been prepared began to fight the Romans again. In this way, the army of gladiators approached the walls of Themes in the evening by alternating attacks and retreats.Crassus' army, though numerically superior, failed to bring the desired results to their commander.The general had to give the order to stop the fighting.Standing at the foot of the hill outside Taimes, he said to his lieutenant, Scrofa: You can call him what you will, but it must be admitted that this damned Spartacus has many of the traits of a great general. Honestly, said Scrofa, in a low voice, mournfully.Spartacus is a fearless, wise and excellent commander. Thus ended the battle, which lasted seven hours; the gladiators lost six thousand men, and the Romans seven thousand. However, this did not prevent Crassus from declaring himself the winner, because Spartacus finally retreated to the city of Taimes and hid.The general wrote to the senate that he expected the war to be over in a day or two, since the gladiators were locked up in the city, and of course they could not escape him. At this time, Spartacus had dug a very wide trench around the city wall.He is always on the lookout for the enemy, concerned with defense, and silently considers a plan of action that will help him out of trouble. The Thracians absolutely forbade the inhabitants of the city to leave the city, no matter what excuse they used; gladiators guarded the city gates and patrolled the city walls day and night. Spartacus' ban terrified the residents of Taimes.They thought that this measure would cause Crassus to immediately adopt a long-term siege and blockade against the gladiators, which would cause great danger and disaster to the residents.The inhabitants had foreseen all the horrors of want and hunger. Spartacus took advantage of this terrifying psychology.Therefore, when the representatives of the authorities in Taimes City were willing to use weapons, food and a lot of money as rewards to ask the gladiator leaders to lead the army to leave, Spartacus replied to them: there is only one way to save them from the horror of the siege. Threatened by hunger, they had to collect all the fishing boats, canoes, and boats of all kinds in the city, and muster them as quickly as possible to the shore where his cavalry and three legions were stationed.In addition, they had to send and transport there all shipwrights in the city and all shipbuilding materials, so that the Thracian could build a whole fleet of ships and carry his men to the shore of Sicily.Only in this way can the inhabitants of the city be spared the threat of a long blockade and the horrors of war. The authorities, the nobility, and the entire population of Themes City immediately agreed to this condition.So hundreds of craftsmen quickly came to the coast, and with the help of thousands of gladiators, they began to build ships. Although the fleet of ships was not large, their number was considerable. At this time, in order to block the rebel army, Crassus occupied some of the most important positions outside the city, and at the same time sent envoys to the west of Thurias, Metapont, Heraclea, Dalante and Bron, demanding that those cities Bring in a large number of siege equipment such as ballistas and battering hammers as soon as possible.Because he understands that without the help of those siege weapons, the war will be delayed. Just as one commander was ordering his troops to prepare for a brutal siege of Themes, and another was preparing to cross the sea to Sicily to start a war there that was even more terrible than the present one, the angry and impatient Evekipeda , was wandering alone among the Roman camps, with a vengeful heart; and her courageous and daring temper made her think of a visit near the walls.She wanted to get as close as possible to the outpost of the rebel army, so that she could find a difficult, if difficult, passage on the hills close to the wall, and let the Romans rush into the city by surprise.A brown ointment had been prepared according to her instructions by the two slaves she had brought from Grand Lantern.She had been wiping her hands, face, and neck with it for days; Efkipeda had become unrecognizable now, and she looked like a real black Ethiopian woman.She changed into the garb of a slave girl, and tied her red hair, which covered her ears slightly, with a wide band.That day Evkipeda came out of the camp before dawn, holding an amphora in her hand, which made her look like a slave girl going out to fetch water.She walked towards a hill where the walls of Times snaked all the way to the top of the hill, and a nearby farmer told her that the spring was in the hillside. The pretended Ethiopian woman walked cautiously in the twilight of dawn, and presently came near the spring the farmers had told her about; suddenly she heard a faint murmur and the clang of a dagger on a shield and she knew that the spring was probably guarded by a team of gladiators. So she turned quietly to the left and walked along the foot of the hill to survey the terrain. After walking about half a mile, Evekipeda felt that the hill she was circling suddenly stretched out and joined another higher hill.From there, looking to her left, she could see the sea.The young woman stopped and began to survey the surrounding terrain in the proud morning light.She noticed a building looming in the dark forest in front of her.So she began to look at it more closely, and finally decided that it was a temple. She stood there thinking for a while, then waved her hand vigorously, which showed that she had made up her mind.She walked quickly towards the temple, which was far away from the city walls.Here the walls snaked up the slope of the hill she thought must have been taken by gladiators. A few minutes later, Evkipeda came to the temple.The temple is not very big, but it is very beautiful and elegant.那是一座用大理石造成的多利安式的建築物。她很快就揣度到那是奉祀海克力斯的神廟。但那兒並沒有看守的角鬥士，他們的前哨陣地只伸展到離神廟兩箭遠的一個小莊院那兒。愛芙姬琵達決定走到廟裡去。那座廟宇是空的，她繞著它走了一周，正當她準備離開時忽然發現了一個老頭子；根據他的裝束看來，他大概是廟中的祭司。他正扶著神廟的一根柱子站在那兒沉思，在他前面不遠矗立著一座精美的海克力斯大理石像，石像的手中拿著一根橄欖樹的大頭棍，這就是這座神像叫做奧列佛利烏斯．海克力斯的由來。 愛芙姬琵達轉身回去。她走到祭司身邊，操著拙劣的拉丁話對他說，她是一個本地農民的女奴隸，她想從神廟附近的泉裡汲一甕水；她的主人知道了軍隊逼近的消息逃了出去，躲在山谷深處一座倒坍的雅努斯神廟裡，可是那兒連一滴水也沒有。 這個波季提烏斯族的後裔，陪著女奴隸向可以汲水的泉邊走去，一面跟她談論著可悲的時局、戰爭所產生的種種惡果。他特別提到宗教人類幸福的唯一泉源也被人們拋棄了。愛芙姬琵達唯唯諾諾地表示同意，同時裝出一副天真純樸的態度，不時發出驚歎聲或者提出好些狡猾的問題來鼓勵這個饒舌的祭司。老祭司確信：古代的義大利人從來就是以虔誠敬神著名的，因此薩杜爾納斯、朱庇特、馬爾斯、朱諾、采萊爾、海克力斯、雅努斯等神就慷慨地賜福給他們，庇佑他們，但到了現在，懷疑主義與伊比鳩魯主義愈來愈深入人心，人們非但不再祭祀大神而且還要嘲弄祭司；神被人們這些不信神的行為激怒了，因此使他們遭受公正的天譴。因此，按照這位最仁慈的波季提烏斯的後裔的說法，近三、四十年來把義大利攪得昏天黑地的一切戰爭、屠殺和叛亂，並不是由於什麼別的原因，恰恰就是由於這些憤怒了的神的旨意的明顯表現。 老祭司還向女奴隸訴說了他的厄運。自從斯巴達克斯的角鬥士軍隊占領了台梅斯以後，他不得不和另外兩個祭司躲在這個神廟裡；他哭訴著台梅斯城遭到封鎖的悲慘結果。由於斯巴達克斯禁止居民出城，不論什麼人，包括那些虔敬的信徒在內，就都不能到廟裡來敬神或是給神帶來犧牲和祭品了。這一點使老祭司最為痛心，因為每一次奉祀海克力斯神的結果就是酒宴，而祭神的犧牲和禮品總是歸祭司們享用的。 事情很明顯，不論是當時或者現在，也不論是一切時代、一切宗教、一切民族中的祭司們，都是為迷信服務的偽善者；祭司們對那些愚蠢無知、受騙的善男信女的虔敬程度，完全是根據他們帶到廟中祭神的犧牲和祭品的多寡來判斷的；因為不論是奉獻給這一位或者那一位神的祭品，都是落到那些祭司餵不飽的肚子裡去的。 我們這所奧列佛利烏斯．海克力斯神廟在魯康尼亞、布魯丁一帶是非常有名的，但是已經有整整二十天沒有一個人到這兒來祭神了老祭司嘆著氣說。 我去告訴我的主人，如果他想使他的房子和田地不受兵士們的搶掠，就讓他親自或者派人把祭品送到這兒來奉祀奧列佛利烏斯．海克力斯神。愛芙姬琵達裝出一副恭順的態度，同時用極有把握的口氣操著拙劣的拉丁話對祭司說。 但願海克力斯神保佑你，好心的姑娘，祭司答道。 他沉默了一會，接著說： 是啊，的確是這樣信徒必須在女人中間找，婦女們常常有一顆虔誠的心。我剛才對你說過，已經有整整二十天沒有人到廟中來參拜，也沒有人給我們的神送犧牲來了但事實上並不是完全如此，角鬥士營壘裡的一個姑娘，好像是希臘人，曾經帶了犧牲到這兒來過兩次她非常誠心，非常虔敬，而且長得非常美貌！ 愛芙姬琵達的兩眼頓時迸發出喜悅的光芒，一陣痙攣掠過她的身子，熱血突然湧到她的臉上；幸而，搽在皮膚上的棕黑色顏料，使祭司看不到那使她的容貌突然改變的紅暈，也使他無從察覺這是另一類型的女人，完全不是一個普通的黑種女奴隸。 啊，她一面竭力控制住自己，壓抑著激動的感情，一面說。你說，敵人的營壘裡有一個年輕女人到這兒來過嗎？ 是啊，是啊，她披著鎧甲，佩著短劍，每一次都由一個像你一樣的黑種女人陪伴著可憐的黑女人，是個啞巴，她的主人下令把她的舌頭割掉了。 愛芙姬琵達做了一個對這事情感到非常恐怖的手勢，接著故意做出一副天真而又善良的表情，說： 從角鬥士的營壘中來我的主人說過，角鬥士是我們的敵人但是，甚至敵人，也崇敬偉大的神明天我一定到這兒來在天還沒有亮的時候來我非常害怕角鬥士如果我不能說服我的主人給赫赫有名的海克力斯神送犧牲來，那我就把我自己的微薄禮品帶來奉獻給他。 老祭司大大地讚揚了她一番，鼓勵她的虔敬精神，說是海克力斯神一定會庇佑她。當他們分別的時候，他又指給她從神廟通向兩座小山間的山谷中去的小路，因為循著那條路走下山比較容易，上山的時候也不會被人家發現。 奸猾的希臘妓女回營時的那股高興的勁兒是難以形容的。她的心好像要從胸腔中跳出米了；她居然找到了這樣出色的一個幫手，那簡直是她所想像不到的；那個祭司喜愛賄賂和貪婪的特性非常顯著。收買他是毫不困難的；很可能，在他的幫助之下去找到一條隱蔽的接近城牆的祕密通路；無論如何這就是她的心所以要狂跳的原因如果她沒有辦法用利劍刺穿斯巴達克斯的胸膛，那麼殺死他的妹妹對他也一樣是致命的打擊。祭司和神廟會幫助她達到這一目的。 愛芙姬琵達一回到營壘裡，就進了自己的帳幕，她在那兒待了一整天沒有出來。到了晚上，她來到將軍的司令帳前，立刻被衛兵放進去見克拉蘇。她告訴他所發現的一切，並且認為她可能獲得極大的成功。她告訴將軍，她需要錢，克拉蘇就允許她到副將管理的財庫中任意支取。愛芙姬琵達說她一共需要五泰倫脫的錢。斯克羅發就照這一數目把錢付給了她。 半夜一點鐘的時候，愛芙姬琵達又離開了營壘。她趕來了一隻羔羊，兩隻小豬。而且還帶來四隻白鴿；她循著祭司指示的小路上山，在拂曉前兩小時到達海克力斯神廟前面。她在那兒等待了一個多鐘點，直到祭司替她開了廟門。老祭司和另外兩個祭司一起接受了可憐的女奴隸的祭神禮品，三個祭司都異口同聲地讚揚她。 愛芙姬琵達和前一天碰到的那個老祭司他的名字叫做艾烏斯．斯頓狄烏斯談了一會，接著告訴他說，如果她的主人不怕從他藏身的破廟中出來的話，他可能會親自到這兒海克力斯神廟中來參拜，他將給神帶來豐富的祭品。萬一他不能親自到這兒來，她一定可以說服他，使他把這一崇高的使命付託給她。 到了第二天，愛芙姬琵達真的牽了一頭耕牛來了，牛背上馱著葡萄酒和穀物；這一切她都是以她主人的名義帶來祭神的。 在五、六天之內，愛芙姬琵達每天都去拜訪海克力斯神廟；她巧妙地摸透了艾烏斯．斯頓狄烏斯的脾氣，就準備向他提出叫他去執行重大任務的建議。希臘妓女向老祭司說明，她並不是他一向所想像的人。她叫他與羅馬人合作而且為羅馬人服務，如果他和另外兩個祭司能夠給羅馬軍隊指出一條可以從城牆的某一點出敵不意地突入城內的通路，克拉蘇一定會重賞他們。 老祭司對這樣的談話其實是早已有了心理準備，但無論如何，他還是認為有必要裝出一副吃驚的樣子。He said: 這麼說，你無論如何，你扮得太像了這麼說，你並不是一個黑種的女奴隸？你是一個忠於羅馬人的希臘姑娘？你裝扮得多麼巧妙啊！ 我的喬裝是由於軍事機密的需要。 I'm not blaming you.偉大的神公正地庇護著羅馬人他們對神的虔敬是有名的。海克力斯的祭司應當站在羅馬人的一邊，因為他們對我們這位大神非常尊敬，在他們的城市裡，足足有六座奉祀祂的宏偉壯麗的神廟。 你可以替克拉蘇的計劃效力嗎？希臘妓女問，她的兩眼閃耀著喜悅的光輝。 我願意效勞就我力所能及盡力去做祭司答道。 他們很快地商量妥當了。老祭司答應，在密爾查再到廟裡來的時候，他決定不顧任何危險，用適當的藉口跟她一起往城邊去一次；他說，他只知道一條經過峻峭山坡通到一段幾乎倒塌的城牆邊的小路；如果角鬥士們並沒有把它修築得十分牢固，就很容易從那兒衝到城裡去。最後他建議愛芙姬琵達每天晚上到他這兒來聽取跟角鬥士的軍事機密有關的消息就這樣，這位虔敬的祭司把他和愛芙姬琵達一起策劃的陰謀換了一個好聽的名稱。斯巴達克斯的妹妹很可能在幾小時之內到廟裡來，因此，當他在下一次與愛芙姬琵達碰頭時，他就可能把自己的偵察結果報告她了。 愛芙姬琵達跟祭司這樣商量好以後，又告訴他，大功告成後克拉蘇一定會慷慨地酬謝他，但除此之外，她將先送給他十個泰倫脫。第二天晚上，愛芙姬琵達好不容易才洗淨了臉上的黑色，回覆了原來的面貌。然後，她披上鎧甲來到海克力斯神廟裡。雖然老祭司暫時還不能報告她什麼消息，她還是把十個泰倫脫交給了她。 第二天晚上，愛芙姬琵達又來到廟裡，但是艾烏斯．斯頓狄烏斯卻不見了；她從另外兩個祭司口中知道密爾查在白天來過了，她帶來了奉獻給海克力斯神的犧牲；艾烏斯．斯頓狄烏斯在祭神的儀式舉行以後就與密爾查一起到城裡去了。 愛芙姬琵達的心劇烈地跳動了起來。她覺得非常懷疑，她希望事情成功，但同時又害怕遭到失敗；她為了等待老祭司回來，第二天又在廟裡等待了整整一天。但老祭司直到那天黃昏才回到廟裡。他告訴她，那段倒塌的城牆已被斯巴達克斯修築得非常牢固；原來這位極具遠見的統帥早已巡視了全部城牆，把不很牢靠的地方統統修復了。 愛芙姬琵達聽到了老祭司的這一消息非常生氣，不禁對英明而又極具遠見的斯巴達克斯大聲咒罵了一陣。 她坐在那兒苦苦地想了好久，最後，她問祭司： 那麼密爾查斯巴達克斯的妹妹，她準備什麼時候再到這廟裡來呢？ 我不知道，老祭司猶豫不決地說。也許她會在後天上這兒來因為後天是安提瑪赫節，那是慶祝海克力斯神的節日，紀念他穿了女人衣服逃出庫奧島的事跡；在那一天，信徒們應該帶一套女人的衣服來獻給我們的神。密爾查告訴我，她準備在後天帶祭品到這兒來，以便祈求海克力斯神保佑起義的奴隸弟兄們，特別是保佑她的哥哥。 啊，朱庇特，你真公道！還有你，海克力斯也很公道！啊，奧林帕斯山上偉大的神啊，你們都是十分公道的！希臘妓女抬起兩眼望著天空叫道，在她的眼光中流露出獸性的歡悅；當她逐字逐句仔細地傾聽著老祭司說話時，她的臉上浮起了復仇女神一股的微笑，同時流露出無可形容的緊張表情。她接著又說：我這一次復仇要比過去幾次還要可怕：這將是一次真正的流血的復仇！ 你說的是什麼樣的復仇？老祭司驚奇地問。你也明白，神是絕不允許也絕不鼓勵凡人復仇的！ 但是，如果那是由不應得的侮辱而產生的，如果復仇的意願是由於受到別人無緣無故的凌辱而引起的啊，那就不僅是地獄中的神，就是天上的神也一定會庇護受辱的人，鼓勵他去復仇！愛芙姬琵達從肩上卸下那把用很粗的金鏈子掛著的小巧短劍。劍把子上嵌滿了寶石和青玉。她把金鏈子和短劍一起交給老祭司說：啊，斯頓狄烏斯，難道不是如此麼？祭司貪婪的眼光立刻開始在那件到手的禮物上滴溜溜地打轉，而且暗暗地估量著它的價值。愛芙姬琵達又添上一句說：即使是住在天上的神，對正當的復仇也會覺得高興，對嗎？ 自然囉毫無疑問如果復仇是正當的，而且受到的侮辱又是沒有理由的祭司答道，奧林帕斯山上的神自然會讚許的這樣的復仇，難道不會使天上的神覺得痛快高興嗎？ is this real?愛芙姬琵達問，一面從頭上取下那頂銀盔，盔頂上鑲著一條純金的小蛇，小蛇的眼睛是兩顆極其珍貴的紅寶石。她把那頂頭盔交給祭司，又追問了一句：這是真的嗎？ 當祭司的貪婪目光炯炯地莊視著那些值錢的禮物時，愛芙姬琵達又說： 我把這些微薄的禮物奉獻給可敬的海克力斯神。明天我還要帶十個泰倫脫來獻給我所尊敬的海克力斯神，接著她把最後的一句話說得特別響：使他的祭司，也就是你，能夠幫助我復仇。 卡斯托爾和皮魯克斯呀！祭司叫道。但是，那如果是正當的我自然應當幫助你我對普羅賽爾賓娜女神的令杖發誓！偉大的神的祭司應該幫助神親自所庇護的人！ 明天晚上你應該讓兩位勇敢而又可靠的武士藏在這兒。 這兒？神廟裡？褻瀆偉大的海克力斯的神聖住所嗎？叫我冒這麼大的風險，讓角鬥士們把我當做和羅馬人同謀的殺人犯嗎？萬一他們在這兒發現了你派來的兩個武士，無疑他們會把我吊死的。老祭司嚇得倒退了兩步說。 那麼你怎麼能幫助我復仇呢？你剛才不是答應我的嗎？愛芙姬琵達責問老祭司。 是的但是我不能允許他們不能允許他們在這兒殺死密爾查在她到我的神廟來時去殺死她這一點，我做祭司的絕不能允許！但如果唔，如果她做了他們俘虜的話由他們把她交給你 愛芙姬琵達的綠眼睛像電閃一般地進射出磷光，她的嘴唇頓時被奇特的微笑扭歪了。 Yes, yes!she cried.captive!落在我的手中如果我不能使斯巴達克斯本人為了救她而落到我的手中，我就要親手殺死她！ 你準備怎麼處置她，我可不應該而且也不願意知道我只要求一點，那就是不要使我參與這一流血的事件和殺人的陰謀。老祭司假仁假義地說。 對啊，對啊，愛芙姬琵達說。就這樣吧，明天晚上在這兒動手。她說著又把套在左手中指上的一個戒指脫了下來送給祭司，嵌在戒指上的那顆大黃玉正在閃閃發光。 不在這兒，不在廟裡，祭司連忙接過戒指說。我要指給你那兩位可靠的武士藏身的地方離這兒並不遠在路旁的冬青樹叢中那樹叢真像是老天爺為了這事情特地創設的 她不會從那兒逃走嗎？ 我剛才不是跟你說過，那真是一處使鴉鳥進籠的天造地設的好地方。 好吧，就遵照你的意思辦理就讓你這位正直的祭司充分保持你那絲毫不苟的精神吧，愛芙姬琵達暗暗嘲諷道。 過了一會兒她又說： 但是，這樣做是不是會發生什麼危險呢 什麼危險？艾烏斯．斯頓狄烏斯問。 如果在這一晝夜之內你那絲毫不苟的精神又突然抬頭了呢？它不但驚擾你的靈魂，激動你的良心，而且挑起了你對角鬥士的恐懼心，害怕被他們吊死；在這樣的情況下，你是不是就可能，譬如說，收拾起你的武器和用具逃進台梅斯城呢？ 當愛芙姬琵達說這些話的時候，她一直注視著老祭司的眼睛，察看他的反應和表情。 What did you say?艾烏斯．斯頓狄烏斯毫無懼色地反駁她的假定，同時故意提高了聲音，做出自己的尊嚴受到別人侮辱時的憤怒表情。你的腦子裡又鑽出什麼怪念頭來了？ 一個極其出色的念頭，我的高貴而又虔誠的祭司。 What thought? 你不必對你的兩位同伴說明，可以和我一起把我帶來奉獻給海克力斯神的微薄禮物藏在可靠的地方；然後你跟著我到羅馬人的營壘中去，我要在那邊安排酒宴款待你我們可以享受一桌豐盛的酒菜因為我不僅尊崇奧列佛利烏斯．海克力斯神的高貴祭司，而且要對你這位正直而又善良的公民表示敬意！ God!祭司故意裝出非常生氣的樣子叫道。這麼說，你不相信我了，是不是？ 並不是我不相信你而是你那潔白無瑕的良心使我感到不安。 但是我不知道，我是不是應該 你是不是應該跟我一起去嗎？但你不是應該幫助我把我們說妥的十五個泰倫脫帶到這兒來嗎？還是像你剛才所說的是十個泰倫脫？ 十五個泰倫脫！我剛才說的是十五個泰倫脫！老祭司慌忙糾正道。 不論怎麼樣。即使你剛才說錯了，說成了十個泰倫脫也沒有關係因為我為了替自己復仇，還是要帶十五個泰倫脫來獻給海克力斯神的。我們走吧，光明磊落的艾烏斯．斯頓狄烏斯，你對今天這個日子會感到滿意的。 老祭司不得不領著愛芙姬琵達在一個祕密的地方藏起了頭盔、短劍和戒指，然後跟著她一起進了羅馬人的營壘。 Marcus.克拉蘇現在對愛芙姬琵達已完全信任了；他允許她自由出入營壘，不論是獨個兒或者是帶著由她挑選的不論什麼人。 愛芙姬琵達用豐盛的酒席款待了老祭司；這位客人喝了八、九杯醇厚的采古勃葡萄酒以後，就把希臘妓女曾經對他加以懷疑的不快遭遇忘記得乾乾淨淨了。 愛芙姬琵達在那時候叫來了她的心腹奴隸席諾克拉特，很快地對他低聲囑咐了幾句，然後讓他離開。 到了下半夜，將近拂曉時分，愛芙姬琵達戴上了鐵盔，佩上一把小巧而又鋒利的短劍，和祭司一起出了營壘。這位波季提烏斯的後裔，由於痛飲了采古勃葡萄酒，已經連站也站不穩了。 在離開愛芙姬琵達和艾烏斯．斯狄執烏斯幾步遠的地方，跟著兩個全副武裝、身材魁梧的卡帕陀西亞人。他們是瑪爾庫斯．Ricinius.克拉蘇的奴隸。 當這一夥人向奧列佛利烏斯．海克力斯神廟走去時，讓我們暫時回過頭來看看台梅斯城中的情形。斯巴達克斯的船隊建造工作已經完成了三天，他只等待看一個黑夜，以便把一萬五千名角鬥上裝上幾千艘想盡種種方法建造和聚集起來的大小船隻。 被天空中愈來愈密的灰黑色雲塊遮蔽了一整天的蒼白色的太陽剛下山，斯巴達克斯預見到那正是他所需要的黑夜，就命令三個軍團拔營出發。他們在海岸邊列成隊伍，然後分頭裝載到碇泊在海港中的幾千艘船舶上去。色雷斯人命令葛拉尼克斯和那三個軍團一起上船。天一黑斯巴達克斯就發出命令，有帆的船把帆升起來，沒有帆的用槳划，船隊就浩浩蕩蕩地出發了。 角鬥士的軍隊嚴守秩序，保持極度的肅靜，乘著船從台梅斯的海港中。駛到廣闊的海面上來了。 但是，白天裡把烏雲吹集在一起的地中海熱風，繼續執拗地從阿非利加海岸那邊吹來，而且，不管那批航海者如何努力，還是把他們吹回布魯丁半島，不讓他們有駛近西西里島沿岸的可能。 角鬥士們不知疲倦地划著槳，總算前進了好幾英里路。但是到了拂曉時分，海面上的波濤顯得分外洶湧了，地中海的熱風又極其狂暴地吹刮起來。角鬥士的脆弱不堪的船隊已經面臨覆滅的厄運，於是葛拉尼克斯不得不遵照從台梅斯來到船上的漁夫、水手以及熟諳航海的角鬥士們的勸告，下令叫船隊向岸邊駛去。一萬五千名起義的角鬥士，在尼科台拉附近荒涼的海灘上登了陸。葛拉尼克斯決定把隊伍開到附近山裡去，同時他派了一個百夫長率領八、九個戰士乘了一艘快艇趕到斯巴達克斯那兒去報告他們的遭遇。 這時候，兩個卡帕陀西亞奴隸已經跟著老祭司和愛芙姬琵達來到奧列佛利烏斯．海克力斯神廟中。老祭司就在黑夜裡領他們到那條從神廟通到城裡去的大路上，叫他們在路旁的冬青樹叢中埋伏起來。在冬青樹叢前面兩箭遠的地方，有一座不大的莊院。那兒就是角鬥士們前哨的哨所，而且，不管哨兵們怎樣小心地保持肅靜，兩個卡帕陀西亞人還是時時刻刻可以聽到被狂風吹送過來的低語聲和腳步聲。 喂，艾爾齊頓，一個奴隸用卡帕陀西亞土話對另一個低聲說。我們必須活捉那個女強盜。 如果可能，我們就照辦，阿斯古巴爾，艾爾齊頓答道。 我也這麼說如果可能就照辦。 因為，老實說，如果她用短劍或者匕首抵抗，我只要兩下子就可以解決她；但是，我們既然可以在這兒聽得見角鬥士們的話聲，他們也一定可以聽到這個女強盜喊救的聲音。 自然，他們一聽見喊聲，只要幾秒鐘就可以跑到這兒，那時候我們就完蛋了；從這兒到角鬥士的哨所總共只有兩箭遠，可是從這兒到我們的營壘裡卻要遠上一千倍。 我對朱庇特發誓，你說得對！這可使我害怕起來了。 我對這一點已經考慮了一個多鐘頭。 兩個卡帕陀西亞奴隸都沉默了，他們苦苦地在那兒想。 突然，在風吹樹叢的瑟瑟聲中傳來了一陣清楚的腳步聲；在離開他們埋伏的地方不遠的灌木叢中，有一個人走過來了。 which one?阿斯古巴爾拔出短劍低聲喝道。 which one?艾爾齊頓跟著問道。 不要作聲，一個女人的聲音說，是我，愛芙姬琵達我正在附近察看你們用不到注意背後，只要留心前面的大路。 愛芙姬琵達走到兩個卡帕陀西亞人附近低聲說了幾句，接著就一直向冬青樹叢裡走去。過了一會兒，兩個奴隸除了一陣陣喧鬧的風聲之外就什麼也聽不到了。 阿斯古巴爾和艾爾齊頓沉默了好久，最後阿斯古巴爾用很輕的聲音對他的同伴說： 艾爾齊頓！ How about it? 你知道我在想什麼？ 是不是這事情比我們起先所想像的困難得多。 我也這麼想，但是我剛才想的是怎樣才能使我們從這危險的境地中安全地脫身。 你說得對！你已經想出了辦法嗎？ 似乎想出來了 好啊，說吧。 當那女強盜走到離開我們十五到二十步遠的地方，我們就對她射去兩枝箭。一枝對準她的胸口，另一枝對準她的脖子你可以相信我，她連喊也不會喊一聲的。你對這辦法覺得怎麼樣？ 好漢子阿斯古巴爾這辦法不壞 如果她還掙扎，那就讓我們再加上一箭。 想得真好。 我們就這麼辦。 Just do it. 艾爾齊頓，你在二十來步遠的地方完全有把握射中她的胸口嗎？ Totally sure.那麼你能射中她的脖子嗎？ 你瞧吧。 兩個卡帕陀西亞奴隸都緊張地傾聽著，而且在準備好了弓箭以後，便默默地動也不動地站在那兒。 這時候焦急不安的愛芙姬琵達彷彿在催促曙光女神趕快降臨人間似的，正在附近逛蕩。她迫切地希望密爾查會在這時候出城到神廟裡來。愛芙姬琵達覺得時間簡直是無窮無盡的；她曾經從冬青樹叢中出去五、六次之多，幾乎每一次都一直走到角鬥士的哨所跟前才轉回來；她發覺，地中海的熱風經過整夜的吹刮風勢漸漸地減弱了，最後完全平息了。她向遠處縱目望去。遙遠的亞平寧山連綿不斷的崗巒峰巖已經顯現了輪廓，她發覺山後面濃密的烏雲已微微地染上了極淡的橘黃色。她輕鬆地吐了一口氣：那是預報曙光女神將要來臨的最初的一批使者。 她又向通莊院的大路瞥了一眼，接著，小心翼翼地向角鬥士的哨所走去。但是，她還沒有走上兩百步，突然聽到有人用低沉、可怕的聲音迫使她停了步，然後對她喝道： which one? 這是角鬥士的巡邏隊。他們按照軍隊中的老規矩，在拂曉時出來巡查哨所附近的地區。但是愛芙姬琵達並不回答，她轉過身子準備悄悄地很快地溜到樹叢中去。巡邏隊沒有得到對方的回答，就向愛芙姬琵達隱沒的地方跑來。逃的人和追的人一會兒就接近了兩個卡帕陀西亞奴隸埋伏的冬青樹叢，他們正拉著弓在那兒緊張地等候著。 你聽見腳步聲了嗎？阿斯古巴爾問艾爾齊頓。 聽見了。 快準備。 我立刻要射箭了。 剛降臨的曙光已經開始驅逐黑夜的昏暗，但是兩個奴隸還是分辨不清來人的面目。他們只看見一個身材矮小的戰士裝束的人很快地向他們跑來。 正是她，阿斯古巴爾用好不容易才能聽得出的聲音對艾爾齊頓說。 不錯身上披著鎧甲還有頭盔身材又這麼矮小，那一定是個女人。 一定是她是她。 於是兩個卡帕陀西亞奴隸對準那個女人同時放開原先緊扣著的弓弦。兩枝箭嗖嗖地飛了出去，一枝穿透了愛芙姬琵達雪白的脖子，另一枝穿過了白銀鎧甲，正中她的胸脯。 一陣尖厲而又長久的撕人肺腑的慘叫，緊接著傳了過來。同時，阿斯古巴爾和艾爾齊頓聽到了好多人跑來的腳步聲和哨所中傳來的雷鳴股的喊聲：準備武器！ 兩個卡帕陀西亞奴隸立刻轉過身子，向羅馬營壘那邊飛也似地逃去。追來的十夫長和四個角鬥士被愛芙姬琵達的身子擋住了去路。她一下子倒在地上，現在正伸開四肢躺在一大攤鮮血中。那些血是從她的傷口中流出來的，尤其是從她脖子上流出來的特別多；因為阿斯古巴爾的箭剛巧射中了她的頸動脈，把這根大血管射斷了。 愛芙姬琵達大聲呻吟著，發出嘶啞的響聲，卻不能說一句話。 角鬥士們連忙彎下身子察看這倒在地上的人，然後把她扶了起來。五個人就一起問她是什麼人，是怎麼受傷的。 這時候，太陽已經出來了。角鬥士們把愛芙姬琵達扛到路旁，讓她的背靠著一棵橡樹的樹幹。他們拿掉她的頭盔，只見濃密的紅髮紛紛地披散到她的肩上，他們立刻異口同聲地叫道： 是個女人！ 他們一起向她彎下身子，察看她的死白的臉，那就立刻認出了她。因此，他們又異口同聲地叫道： Love Fuji Pida! 這時候哨所裡一中隊角鬥士也趕到了。大家團團圍住了受傷的人。 既然她受了傷，那就是附近有使她受傷的人，指揮那個中隊的百夫長說。快派五十個弟兄去搜查凶手，他們不會逃得很遠的。 五十個角鬥士立刻朝著奧列佛利烏斯．海克力斯神廟的方向跑去。 其餘的人圍著快要死去的希臘妓女。她的鎧甲已經完全染紅了，鮮血像泉水一股向外迸流。角鬥士們顯出陰沉的臉色，注視著這個曾經給他們帶來這麼多的災難和不幸，而現在正在作垂死掙扎的女人。這個有名的妓女的臉已經變成青色。她不安地轉動著，把她的頭一會兒扭向左肩，一會兒扭向右肩，同時發出一陣陣瘋狂的呻吟；她舉起兩手，好像要摸自己的脖子，但她的手卻軟綿綿地垂了下來。她的嘴痙攣地一開一閉，似乎竭力地想說出什麼話來。 Love Fuji Pida!該死的叛徒！百夫長沉默了一會兒，嚴厲而又陰沉地叫道。what are you doing here這麼早你來幹什麼？誰射傷了你？我簡直什麼也不明白但是根據已經發生的這些情況看來，我想你一定又在佈置某種新的可怕陰謀可是你自己怎麼反而成了這一陰謀的犧牲者。 從愛芙姬琵達紫色的嘴唇上發出了更可怕的呻吟；她用手指著角鬥士們，想叫他們走開。 No!百夫長一面咒罵她，一面叫道。你用你的反叛行為使我們四萬個弟兄送了性命我們必須指出你所犯的狠毒罪行；必須使你的痛苦變得更加可怕我們要用這一點來安慰我們弟兄的沒有復過仇的冤魂！ 愛芙姬琵達的頭垂到了胸前。如果不是聽到她那急促的呼吸，人家還以為她真的死了呢。 這時候派去追逐凶手的五十個角鬥士，統統喘吁吁地跑回來了。他們抓來了艾爾齊頓；這個卡帕陀西亞奴隸大腿中了