Captaines saw their Men thus resolute and desirous to fight and that Xantippus sayd the time was â—itting and conuenient they suffred them to prepare to battell and gaue him leaue to do all at his pleasure Who after he had taken charge of the Captaines hee orders the battell before the whole Army hee sets the Elephants one after another After which hee causeth a Legion of Carthaginians to march with some distance and placeth the strangers vpon the Wings Then he ordereth the brauest among his foote to fight of eyther side betwixt the Wings of the Horse-men The Romans seeing the Carthaginians in battell stayed not to doe the like yet fearing the Violence of the Elephants they set in Front the most actiue of their men re-inforcing their Reare with many Ensignes and diuiding their Horse-men vpon the Wings Their Ordonance was lesse then formerly but more close for feare least the Elephants should open them But as the Romans had set a good order against the Elephants so they had neglected to keepe themselues from inclosing For as the Carthaginians had a greater number of Horse so the close Ordonance gaue them an easie meanes to breake and seperate them The two Armies being in battell either attending who should first Charge suddainly Xantippus causeth the Elephants to beginne the Charge and breake the Enemies rankes and that the Horse-men of both Wings should withall charge furiously The Romanes cause their Trumpets to sound after the manner of the Country and charge where the Enemies forces were greatest It is true that the Roman Horse-men terrified with the multitude of their Enemies abandoned the two Wings And the Foote-men of the lest Wing wauing from the Fury of the Elephants and making no account of the forreigne Souldiers charged the right Wing of the Carthaginians with great fury and put it to flight pursuing them vnto their Fort. On the other side they which indured the charge of the Elephants were broken and trodden vnder their feete by heapes It is true that the whole Ordnance continued for a time in battell for that their supplies beeing in the Reare were very close But after that the Romane Legions set in the Reareward and compassed in of all sides by the Carthaginian Horse-men were forced to make resistance there and that they who as wee haue sayd were appointed to make head against the Elephants were by them repulsed into the thickest of the enemies Battalion where they were defeated and slaine â— then the Romans beeing assaulted on all sides some were beaten downe and slaine by the intollerable fury of the Elephants and others by the Horse-men in the same place where they had their first posture giuen them some few of them seeing no more hope sought their safety by flight of which considering that the Country was very plaine some were defeated by the Elephants and the rest by the Horse-men And some flying with Marcus Attilius were taken to the number of fiue hundred The Carthaginians lost that day but fiue hundred Aduenturers strangers whom the left Wing of the Romanes had defeated But of all the Romane Army there escaped but two thousand with their Ensignes who as we haue sayd pursued a troupe of enemies into their Fort. All the rest were cut in pieces except Marcus Attilius and a few Men which fled with him in regard of those Ensignes which beyond all hope escaped they came vnto Aspis Finally the Carthaginians after the spoile of the Dead retired to Carthage with the Consull and other Prisoners making great ioy and tryumph If we shall duely consider this we shall finde many things profitable for the conduct of Man First Marcus Attilius serues for a faire example to all the World that it is a great folly and indiscretion to put his Hope in Fortune vnder the colour of good successe and enterprises brought to an end according to our desire Who of late after so many tryumphant Victories had not any compassion of the Carthaginians being reduced to extremity refusing to grant them peace which they craued with so much humility hath beene presently after reduced to that constraint as to make the like request Moreouer that which Euripides hath formerly spoken so well that the good Councell of one man alone doth vanquish a great Army hath beene this day verified by that which hath happened In truth one man alone and the Councell of one man hath vanquished and defeated an Army formerly invincible raising and restoring a Towne lost and the hearts of so many desolate men Beleeue mee I haue thought good to relate these actions for the benefit and instruction of the Readers of these Commentaries For as there are two meanes easily to correct and amend our errours whereof the one is his owne Misfortune and the other the example of another mans Miseries there is no doubt but the first hath greater efficacy but it is not without the losse and preiudice of him to whom it happens And although the second be not of so great force yet it is the better for that they are out of danger and therefore no man imbraceth the first meanes willingly for that they cannot helpe it without their owne trouble and losse As for the second euer man followes it willingly For wee may see by him without any hazard or losse what wee ought to follow for the best Wherefore if wee consider it well we shall finde that experience by the remembrance of another mans faults seemes to be a very good doctrine of a true life Without doubt it is that alone which makes the good Iudges of reason without any losse But wee haue discoursed sufficiently of this Subiect The Carthaginians hauing ended their affaires happily and to their content they reioyced in many sorts both in giuing thankes vnto God and sacrificing after their manner or in vsing amongst themselues a mutuall beneuolence and courtesie Soone after that Xantippus had raised the hearts of the Carthaginians hee returned into his Countrey as a man well aduised For the Prowesse and Valour of men and their Vertues are many times the cause of great enuy and detraction Against the which Cittizens that are well allied and haue many Friends make easie resistance But strangers which haue not that support are easily ruined and defeated They say hee went away for some other reason which wee will deliuer when it shall be fitting After that beyond all hope the Romans had receiued Newes of the defeate of their Army in Affricke and the taking of the Consull And that the remainder of their men was besieged in Aspis consulting presently of the safety of those which were remaining in Affricke they appointed an Army to bee raised to goe thither with all speede In the meane time the Carthagaginians besieged Aspis striuing to force it with hope soone to haue this remainder of the Battell But the Vertue and Courage of the Romans which defended it was so great as all the Enemies attempts could not
this day is for Townes and treasure if you gaine this battell you shall be Lords of all Italy Finally after so many labours and dangers being deliuered by this alone you shall purchase the felicity of the Romans You shall bee the Head and Emperours of all the World For the effecting whereof there is not any neede of words but of effects By the will of the Gods before it be long you shall all see by experience that I am a man of my promise After these Remonstrances 〈◊〉 commended their resolution he planted his Campe vpon the Riuer-side where the Enemies greatest forces lay The day following hee commaunds them to treate themselues well and to prepare themselues to battaile for the day following And therefore at the third day he passed the Riuer at the Sunne-rising and put his men in battaile But Emilius seeing that his Forces were not equall in that place and knowing that Hannibal would dislodge for want of victuals came not out of his Fort. When as Hannibal had stayed some time there seeing that hee had in vaine called the Enemies forth to fight he retired the rest of his Army to the Campe and sent the Numidians to charge those which came from the Romans lesser Campe to water which they kept and detained from them pursuing them with great cries vnto the Fort. Whereat Varro disdaining much that the Roman Campe should bee annoyed by these men was the more inflamed and encouraged vnto battaile The whole multitude wished nor desired nothing more so much the expectance in all things is tedious And as in the meane time the newes were come to Rome that although the Armies were not lodged in a place to giue battaile yet they were one right against another and that there were dayly encounters all the World entred into great heauinesse and care Certainly the Romans hauing receiued lately wonderfull great losses feared much the future Euery man fore-casts with him selfe what the Romans fortune would bee after the defeate of this Army All the World poured out threats against the Sybils Bookes they saw nothing in the Temples and priuate houses but prodigies and strange signes And therefore the whole Citty was addicted to Prayers to sacrifices to the Gods and to Ceremonies for the Romans are great obseruers as well in publique as in priuate in the time of Warre neither doe they let passe any thing out of their rememberance which in reason they ought to doe Varro to whom the authority belonged the next day at the Sunne-rising drawes forth the Armies out of both the Campes without the priuity of his Companion And parting with those which were in the great Fort hee ioynes vnto them those that were in the lesser Then putting his men in Battaile hee places the Roman Horse-men vpon the right wing which was neerest vnto the Riuer Next to the which continuing the order hee disposeth of the Foote-men with the greatest number of Ensignes and the closest Bands and the Horse-men of the Allies were vpon the left wing and in Front those that were lightly armed They were with their Allies to the number of fourescore thousand Foote and about sixe thousand Horse Hannibal passing the Riuer at the same time sends them of Maiorque and Minâ—rque with those that were lightly armed before and passing the rest of the Army at two places hee plants himselfe before the Enemy ordring the Horse-men of Gaule and Spaine neere vnto the Riuer vpon the left wing against the Roman Horse-men After which he sets Foote-men in the midst of the Affricans who were armed to proofe and after them the Gaules and Spaniards and finally the rest of the Affricans and on the right wing he lodgeth his Numidian Horse-men When he had put his whole Army in order he placeth in the midst the Troupes of Gaules and Spaniards he ordered them in a crooked forme and a weake figure meaning that the Affricans should vndergoe the danger before them as a safegard to the Battaile The Affricans were armed in such sort as you would haue taken it for a Roman Battalion by reason of the Armes which they had gotten at Trebia and at the Lake of Perouza The Gaules and Spaniards carried the like Targets but their Swords differ'd For the Spaniards were short and therefore easie werewith they did both thrust and strike But the Gaules were long and without points It was a strange and terrible thing to see the Gaules naked aboue the waiste and the Spaniards attired in shirts of Linnen wrought with purple after the manner of their owne Countrey There were ten thousand Horse and aboue forty thousand Foote with the succours that came from Gaule Lucius Emilius led the right wing and Tarrentius Varro the left Marcus Attilius and Cneius Seruilius gouerned the Battalion in the midst And as for the Carthaginian Captaines Asdrubal led the left wing Hanno the right and Hannibal was in the middest with his Brother Mago The Romans looked towards the South and the Carthaginians to the North but neither of them were annoyed with the Sunne After they had giuen warning to battaile the encounters and skirmishes were for a time equall But when as the Gaules and Spaniards of the left wing had charged the Romans the Combate was fierce and cruell so as they did not charge and recharge but ioyning together they did fight Foote to Foote and man to man after they had left their Horses There the Carthaginians vanquished and slew most of the Romans fighting valiantly and with great courage In regard of the rest they slew them retiring neare the Riuer without any mercy or compassion And then the Foote-men receiued those that were aduantagiously armed charging one another The Spaniards and Gaules resisted the Romans valiantly for a short time but being forced they retired breaking their Lunary order Then the Roman Battalion pursuing with great courage did easily disorder the Enemies Rankes for that of the Gaules was weake as hauing fortified the hornes being in the midst of the danger Wherefore the hornes and the midst were not equall so as the midst of he Gaules Battalion aduanced farre vpon the hornes like an halfe Moone the crookednesse turning towards the Enemie Finally the Romans pursuing them marcht thorough without any resistance so as at their coÌ„ming they had vpon their Flancks the Affricans that were best armed who couering themselues with their Targets charg'd their Enemies vpon the sides thrusting with their swords So as by the prouidence of Hannibal the Romans were inclosed among the Lybians by the encounter which they had made against the Gaules They did not fight by Battalion but Man to Man or by troupes turning against those which charged them vpon the Flancks And although that Lucius Emilius who commaunded the right wing had beene in the Combat of the Horsemen Yet hee was safe and well meaning therefore that in giuing courage his deedes should bee answerable to his words
Letters from Molon and when hee affirmed no the other was confident that he would finde some Wherefore entring into the House to search he found the Letters and taking this occasion slew him These things happening thus the King thought that hee was iustly slaine And although the rest of the Court and of his friends were much grieued at this suddaine disaster yet they dissembled their sorrow for feare When as Antiochus was come vnto Euphrates he marcht with his army vnto Antiochia and stayed at Michdionia about the midst of Decâ—mber desiring to passe the â—oughnesse of the Winter there where staying about forty dayes hee went vnto Liba where hee called a Councell And when as they consulted of the way which they should hold to find Molon and from whence and how they might recouer Victuals for at that time hee made his abode in Babylon Hermes was of opinion that they should keepe their way vppon this side the Riuer of Tygris and along the Bankes doubting and not a little fearing the Riuers of Luque and Capre Zeuxis was of another opinion but hee durst not speake nor declare his minde plainely remembring still the death of Epigene But when as the ignorance of Hermes seemed apparent to all the assistants hee with some difficulty deliuered his aduice that they must passe Tygris aswell for many other difficulties which are on this side as for that they must of necessity after they had past certaine places in marching sixe daies iourney by a Desart Country came vnto a Region which they call Diorex where the passage was not safe for that the enemy had seized thereon And that moreouer the returne would be dangerous especially for want of victuals If the King likewise did passe Tygris all the people of Appolonia transported with ioy would come vnto him who at this day obeyed Molon not for any affection but through necessity and feare And withall they should haue abundance of victuals by reason of the fertility of the Countrey and the passage of Media would be shut vp for Molon so as of necessity he should be forced to come and fight Or if hee fled his Troupes would soone yeild vnto the King When the aduice of Zeuxis had beene allowed in Councell they presently past the whole Army with the baggage in three places And marching from thence vnto Dâ—re they raised the siege for one of Molons Captaines had some few dayes before besieged it and afterwards continuing on their way and hauing past the Mountaines which they of the Countrey call Orie in eight daies they came into Apolonia At the same time Molon hauing newes of the Kings comming and not holding himselfe assured of the Sâ—sians and Babilonians beeing lately made subiect vnto him and by surprize fearing moreouer that the passage of Media was stopt hee afterwards resolued to passe by the Riuer Tygris speedily with his whole Army making haste to gaine the Woodes which bend towards the playnes of Apolonia for that he had great confidence in his Slingers whom they call Cyrtles When hee approached neere these places from the which the King parting with his Army from Apolonia was not farre it happened that the forerunners of eyther side lightly armed met vppon a Hill where they skirmished But vpon the approach of both Armies they began to retire and the two Campes lodged within forty furlongs one of another When night came Molon considering that a battaile by day with the King would bee dangerous for him not relying much vppon his men he resolued to assaile Antiochus at mid-night Wherefore hee made choise of the ablest men of his whole Army and takes his way by vnknowne places resoluing to charge the enemy from the higher part But being aduertised vppon the way that ten of his Souldiers had stollen away in the night and retired vnto Antiochus hee gaue ouer his enterprize So as taking another way hee returned to the Campe at the breake of day the which was the chiefe cause of great trouble in his Army For they awaking with this suddaine and short returne of their Companions they were so terrified and amazed as they were in a manner ready to flie and abandon their Campe. Molon when the trueth was knowne and well perceiued pacified this terrour and amazement what hee could in so short a space although it in some part increased still The King being ready to fight drawes his Army to fielde at the breake of day and on the right Wing hee sets the Launces vnder the Commaund of Ardis a man of great experience in the Warre To whom hee gaue for a supply the Candyots his Allies and after them the Gaules and Rhigosages who were followed by the Souldiers of Greece and finally by a great battalion of Foote-men In regard of the left Wing he gaue it to the Allies which were all on horse-backe Hee likewise set the Elephants in Front betwixt the two Wings beeing ten in number In regard of the supplies of Horse and Foote distributed on eyther Wing hee giues them charge to wheele about and to compasse in the enemy as soone as the Battaile should beginne to charge After all this hee encourageth the Souldiers telling them in few words what was necessary for the present And he giues to Hermes and Zeuxis the leading of the left Wing and takes the right vnto himselfe On the other side Molon drawes his Army to Field with great difficulty and puts it but ill in Battaile by reason of the disorder which had happened in the night Yet hee diuided his Horse-men in two wings thinking the enemy had done the like placing the Targetteers and the Gaules with others that were of most apt courage great experience and best Armed in the middest of the Horse-men putting the Archers and Slingers vppon the two Wings without the Troupe of Horse-men and in Front were placed all the Carriages and Bill-men He gaue the leading of the left Wing vnto his brother Neolaus and him selfe takes the right This done the two Armies marcht Molons right Wing was loyall and faithfull vnto him charging Zeuxiâ— with great Courage and fury But when as the left Wing drew somewhat neere vnto the King it retired to the enemy This happening Molons Troupes fainted suddainely And the Kings Army grew more stoâ— and couragious But when as Molon saw and well perceiued himselfe thus betrayed and inuironed by the enemy thinking and immagining of the Torments which hee must indure if hee fell aliue into their hands hee slew himselfe The like the rest did which had beene Traytors vnto the King who recouering their Houses by flight slew themselues When as Neolaus had escaped from the Battaile and was retired vnto Alexander Brother to Molon in Persis hee slew the mother of Molon and his Children After whose death he slew himselfe perswading Alexander to doe the like When as the King had spoiled the enemies Campe hee commaunded that the body of Molon should be hanged vpon a Crosse in the
come vnto their Principallities Wherefore they laboured to encourage their Troupes in reducing to their memory the glory and prowesse of their Ancestors And propounding moreouer a hope of themselues for the future they intreated and solicited the Captaines to fight and to vndergoe the danger resolutely and with courage These were the speeches or such like which they vsed in person or by their Interpreters This done the two Kings marcht one against the other a slow pace Ptolomy was in the left Wing and Antiochus in the right with his royal Battalion Then the Trumpets sounded to Battaile whereof the first Charge was made by the Elephants Few of Ptolomes held good against those of the Enemy whose Souldiers fought valliantly casting of Darts Pertwisans and plummets of lead wounding one another But the Elephants made a stronger Warre beating their Heads furiously together For such is the manner of their fight assailing one another with their teeth and standing firme they repulse one another with great Violence But if they once turne their sides they wound with their Teeth as Buls do with their Hornes But the greatest part of Ptolomes feared the Combate the which doth vsually happen to the Elephants of Lybia For they cannot indure the sent not heare the crye of those of India So as fearing as it seemes their greatnesse and force they flye them as it happened at that time for that flying suddainly they brake the rankes of their owne men and made a great slaughter in Ptolomes great Battallion The which Antiochus perceiuing hee presently chargeth Polycrates Horse-men with the Elephants The Grecians about his great Battallion fell vpon Ptolomes Targetteers Wherefore when the Elephants had broken them his left Wing beganne to turne head When Echecrates Commaunder of the right Wing expecting still the Combate of the sayd Wings saw the Dust rise in the Ayre and that his Elephants durst not charge the Enemies he sends to Phoxide Captaine of the Mercenaries to charge those which he had in Front The which he did likewise marching a slow pace with the Horse-men and the Elephants There the Combate was long and furious yet Echecrates being freed from the danger of the Elephants and making a great slaughter of the Horse-men and withall Phoxide pressing the Arabians and Medes In the end Antiochus his left wing was put to flight By this meanes Antiochus right wing vanquished and the left fled The two great Battalions stood firme and vntoucht being in doubt of the end And when as Ptolomy in the meane time had recouered his great Troupe by his speedy running and was in the middest of them hee amazed his Enemies and gaue great courage vnto his owne Captaines and Souldiers In the meane time King Antiochus being young and of small experience in the Warre seeing himselfe Victorious of the one side thought the like of the rest and pursued the Chase of the Enemy with great eagernesse But when as one of his old Souldiers cald him backe and shewed him the Dust which a great Troupe had raisde in his Fort hee then knew what it meant and turning head he laboured to recouer his Campe. But when hee found that all his Army was in Rout then wanting good Counsell he fled to Raphia immagining that it was not his fault hee had not obtained a glorious and Triumphant Victory and that the basenesse and sloath of his men had beene the cause of his defeate Ptolomy hauing the Victory by the meanes of his chiefe Battalion and hauing lost many of his Horse-men and Souldiers of the right Wing hee returned to his Campe and refresht his Army The next day he caused his men to be sought out among the Dead and buried From thence after they had stript the Enemies that were slaine hee marcht with his Army to Raphia And although that Antiochus gathering together his men that fled had a desire to keepe his Campe and to leaue the Towne yet he was forced to goe to Raphia For that the greatest part of his Souldiers were retired thither The next day earely in the morning he parts with that small Army which he had remaining after so great a defeate and went to Gaza Where planting his Campe he sent men to demaund the dead bodies and to interre them Antiochus lost aboue ten Thousand foote and three hundred Horse There were about foure thousand foote-men taken aliue In regard of the Elephants there were three slaine vpon the fielde and two wounded which dyed afterwards most of the rest were taken This was the ende of that famous battaile where as two powerfull and might Kings fought for the Empire of Syrria neere vnto Raphia When as Antiochus had buried the dead hee returned into his Countrey with his Army As for Ptolomy hee presently recouered Raphia with the other Citties so as the people contended who should preuent his neighbour in yeilding first vnto the King In such euents euery man striues to apply himselfe vnto the time It is true that the people of that Countrey are borne and inclined to imbrace the faâ—â—our of the present time But for asmuch as the people had a special deuotion to the Kings of Alexandria what they then did was held iust and reasonable The people of base Syrria haue alwaies affected this royall House And therefore they honoured Ptolomy with Flowers Sacrifices Altars and such like things When as Antiochus was come to the Citty which is called by his owne name he presently sent his Nephew Antipater with Theodote Hermioly in Embassiâ— to Ptolomy to demaund a peace of him For without doubt hee feared his forces neither did hee much relie vpon his owne souldiers considering the losse which hee had lately made Hee likewise doubted that Acheus might mooue Warre against him considering the opportunity of the time and occasion As for Ptolomy hee thought not of all this But beeing ioyfull of so great a Fortune which hee expected not holding himselfe happy to enioy all Syrria hee refused not the conditions of peace So as being lull'd a sleepe with this base kinde of life which hee had alwaies vsed his heart was much inclined thereunto When the Embassadours presented themselues vnto him he granted them a peace for a yearl after that hee vsed some proud speeches against Antiochus To whom he sent Sosibius with them to confirme the Accord And after hee had stayed about some three moneths in Syrria and Phâ—nicea and had giuen order for the Citties leauing the charge of all those places to Andromachus Aspendius he returned with his sister and Friends to Alexandria On the other side Antiochus after hee had confirmed the Accord with Sosibius and pacified all things to his liking beganne to make preparation for Warre against Acheâ—s according to his first Resolution and determination This was the estate of Asia at that same present At the same time the Rhodiens taking their occasion from an Earthquake which a little before had befalne them in the
the most part they are methodicall Sciences Wherefore it is a very profitable portion of a well composed History Of Antiochus THe Aspasiens dwell betwixt Oxus and Tanais Of which Riuers the one fals into the Hyrcanian Sea and Tanais into the Lake of Meotis They are Nauigable for their greatnesse So it seemes wonderfull how the Tartarians passing Oxus aswell by foote as Horse-backe come into Hyrcania There are two opinions conceiued The one is credible the other strange although possible Oxus drawes his Springs from Mount Coucasus but augmented much in Bactria by the descent of smaller Riuers it passeth by a violent Course by the Country of Pedâ—a There it fals into a Desart and runs with a violent streame thorough certaine Rockes and Pits for the great number and vehement beating of the places lying vnder it so as its violence ouer-flowes the Rocke in the lower Countries aboue a Furlong By this place neere vnto the Rocke the Aspasiens as they say passing the Riuer both on Foot and Horse-backe descend into Hyrcania The other opinion hath a more propable reason saying that for that place hath great Ditches into the which this Riuer fals with its force shee makes hollow and opens the bottome by the violence of her Course And by this meanes the Riuer takes its course vnder ground for a small space and then riseth againe The Barbarians hauing experience hereof passe there on Horse-backe into Hyrcania When as Antiochus was aduertised that Euthideme was about Tagure with an Army and that a thousand Horse kept the passage of the Riuer of Aria hee proceedes and resolues to besiege it hauing no more confidence in his resolution And when he was within three daies iourney of the Riuer he marcht the two first slowly And on the third hauing fed his men hee causes his Campe to march at the breake of day Then taking the Horse-men and his strongest souldiers with a thousand Targetteers he makes hast in the night Hee had vnderstood that the enemies Cauallery was at the guard of the Riuer in the day time but at night they retired to a City some twenty Furlongs off When hee had performed the rest of the way in the night for those Countries were conuenient for Horsemen he past the Riuer at the break of day with the greatest part of his Army The Bactrian Horse-men being aduertised by their Scouts crie out and fight with the Enemy vpon the way The King seeing that hee was to maintaine their first Charge giues Courage to those which had beene accustomed to accompany him in such encounters which were two thousand Horse and commands the rest to cast themselues betwixt both with their Troupes put into battaile as of custome Finally hee fights with the Bactrian Horse which presented themselues Antiochus seemed in this danger to haue fought more valiantly then his men so as many perished on either side Yet the Kings men defeated the first troupe of Horse But when the second and the third charged them they were repuls'd turning their heads basely But when as Etole had giuen charge to the great power of the Horse to march in Battaile he freed the King and his Company terrifying the Bactrians who were in disorder and put them to flight Wherefore when they were charged by all the Etoliens they ceased not to flie vntill hauing make a great losse they were ioyned vnto Euthideme And when as the Kings Horse-men had made a great slaughter and taken many in the Citty they presently retired and planted their Campe neere the Riuer It happened that in this same Combate Menippe was wounded and dyed loosing some of his Teeth with a blow Finally hee purchased a renowne of Valour After this Combaâ—e Euthideme retired with his Army to Zariaspe a Citty of the Bactrians A PARCELL OF the Eleuenth Booke of the History of POLYBIVS ASdrubal did not allow of any of these things But seeing the Enemies march in Battaile when as matters changed not hee caused the Spaniards and Gaules that were with him to fight Setting the Elephants in Front beeing ten in number and after hee had ioyned the Battalions close vnited and in length and had put all the Army in battaile in a short time casting himselfe in the middest of the Ordonance neere to the Elephants hee assailes the Enemy vpon the left flancke hauing resolued to die in that battaile The Lybian presents himselfe with great Courage to the enemy and in charging fights valiantly with his troupes Claudius Nero one of the Consuls appointed for the right side could not ioyne with the enemy nor yet inclose them for the vneuennesse of the ground wherein Asdrubal trusting he had charged the enemy on the left hand Wherefore as he was perplexed and in doubt for that he lost time hee learned what he had to doe Taking therefore the Souldiers of the right wing he goes beyond his Campe neere vnto a passage behind the Battaile and on the left hand and giues a charge vnto the Carthaginians neere vnto the wing where the Elephants had their station At that time the Victory wauered For in truth the danger was equall of both sides considering that neither Romans Spaniards nor Carthaginians had any hope of safety remaining if they were frustrated of their intention Finally the Elephants were of vse to both of them in the fight For when they were inclosed in the middest and assailed with Darts they aswell brake the rankes of the Spaniards as of the Romans But when as Claudius Troupe had charged the enemy in the reare the Combate was vnequall for the charge giuen vnto the Spaniards both in Front and behind So as it happened that in the beginning of the Combate there was a great laughter made of Spaniards So likewise there were sixe Elephants suâ—ine by the force of the men they carried the other foure brake theirâ— râ—nckes being alone and destitute of their Indians they were taken And when as Asdrubal had beene formerly and vnto his ende an able man hee lost in fighting valiantly his life worthy to be commended Hee was brother to Hannibal who vndertaking the Voyage of Italy gaue him the Conduct of the Warres of Spaine And afterwards being practised by many encounters against the Romans hee hath indured many and variable Fortunes And in this also that the Carthaginians sent Commaunders to succeede him hee alwaies carried himselfe like a man worthy of his Father Barca bearing vnto the ende like a man of Courage all disgraces and losses Wee haue declared these things in regard of the precedent But now we will decide the last Combats in that which seemes worthy of Consideration Seeing before our eyes many Kings and Commanders which hauing great Combates concerning their whole estates haue alwayes cast their eyes vpon the most excellent Actions and of Consequence and who often enquire and Discourse how they shall helpe themselues in euery good Fortune And who moreouer care not for mischances not consider of the meanes nor that
to arme Asdrubal being then forced to drawe the valiantest of his men to field against the Romans being yet fasting without preparation and in haste both the Foot-men and Horse-men and to plant his Army of Foot-men not farre from the Mountaines and the Ordonance in the Plaine as they had beene accustomed The Romans stayed some time but for that the day was well aduanced and that the Combat of either side was vncertaine and equall and that there was danger that they which should be prest turning head would retire vpon their Battalions then Scipio retiring the Skirmishers by the space betwixt the Ensignes he diuides them vpon the wings after those which had beene formerly appointed Then he giues order to assaile the Enemy in Front first to the Iauelings and then with Horse-men and being a Furlong from the Enemy he commands the Spaniards which were in Battaile to march in the same order and that they should turne the Ensignes vpon the right hand and they of the left doing the contrary And when he began on the right side Lacius Marcus and Marcus Iunius led three braue Troups of Horse-men on the left hand and before were those which were lightly armed and accustomed to the Warre with three Bands of Foot-men the Romans call a Band of Foot-men a Cohort to whom the Targetteers ioyned on the one side and the Archers on the other In this sort they marched against the Enemy making by this meanes an attempt with effect considering the continuall repaire of those which ioyned with them by files As by chance these men were not farre from the Enemy and that the Spaniards which were on the wing were farther off as they which matched a slow pace they make an attempt vpon the two Battalions of the Enemy drawne in length with the Roman forces according to that which had beene resolued in the beginning The following alterations by the meanes whereof it happened that they which followed ioyned with the former encountring the Enemies in a direct line had betwixt them diuers orders so as the right Battalion had on the left side the Foot-men mingled with the Horse For the Horse-men which were on the right wing mingling with the Iauelings of the Foot lightly armed laboured to inclose the Enemies The Foot-men on the other side couered themselues with their Targets They which on the left hand were in the Troups charged with their Iauelings and the Hors-men accompanied with the Archers with their full speed By this motion there was a left wing made of the right wing of the Horse-men and of the most valiant Souldiers of the two Battalions But the Commander made no great accompt being more carefull to vanquish the enemy with the other Battalion wherein he had good iudgement We must know things as they are done and vse a fit obseruation according to the occasion offered By the charge of these men the Elephants assailed by the Archers and the Horse-men with Darts and Iauelings and tormented of all sides were wounded making as great a spoile of their Friends as of their Enemies For they ran vp and downe and ouer-threw men of all sides breaking the Carthaginian Battalions In regard of that of the Lybians which held the middle part and was of great seruice it stood idle vnto the end For not able to succour those which on the wings abandoned the place by reason of the Spaniards charge nor remaining in their station doe that which necessity required for that the Enemies which they had in Front did not giue them Battaile It is true that the wings fought for a time valiantly Considering that all was in danger And as the heare was vehement the Carthaginians brake seeing that the end of the Combate succeeded not according to their desire and that their chiefest preparation was hindred The Romans on the other side had the aduantage both in force and courage and in that principally that by the prouidence of the Generall the best furnished among the Carthaginians were made vnprofitable Wherefore Asdrubal being thus prest retired in the beginning with a slow pace from the Battaile Then turning in Troupe he recouered the neighbour Mountaines And when as the Romans pursued them neare they posted to their Pallisadoe If some God had not preserued them they had suddainly lost their Fort. But for that the disposition of the Aire changed and the raine fell continually with violence the Romans could hardly recouer their Fort. And although that Publius Scipio had sufficient experience of the Warre yet he neuer fell into so great a doubt and perplexity the which happened not without reason For as wee may fore-see and preuent exteriour causes and discommodities of the Body as cold heate labour and wounds before they happen and cure them when they come being on the other side difficult to fore-see those which proceed from the Body and are hardly cureable when they happen we must iudge the same of policies and Armies It is true there is a speedy meanes and helpe to preuent the Warres and Ambushes of Strangers when they are contriued But against those which the Enemy doth practise in the State as seditions and mutinies the Phisicke is difficult and requires a great dexterity and singular industry in the gouernment of affaires But in my opinion one aduice is necessary for all Armies Cities and bodies politique which is that in that which concernes the things aboue mentioned they neuer suffer too much sloth and idlenesse especially in time of prosperity and the abundance of all things necessary Scipio as a man of excellent diligence and consequently industrious and actiue to mannage great affaires propounded a certaine course to decide the present combustions after he had assembled the Captaines of thousands He gaue order that they should promise vnto the Souldiers the restitution of the victuals and taxes and to giue credit to his promise they should leuie the ordinary taxes ordained in Cities diligently and openly for the reliefe of the whole Army to the end it might be apparent that this preparation was made for the institution of their Victuals And that moreouer the Milleniers should command the Commissaries of the Victuals and admonish them to haue a care and to take charge of the Victuals and that conferring among themselues they should make knowne if part of them or altogether would vndertake it He sayd that they must consider of that which was to be done The others thinking of the same things had a care of the Treasure And when as the Milleniers had made knowne the things which had beene ordayned Scipio being aduertised imparted vnto the Councell that which was to be done They concluded that they should resolue on the day when they were to appeare So as the people should be sent backe and the Authors seuerely punished who were to the number of fiue and thirty And when the Day was come and the Rebels there present as well to obtaine pardon as for their Victuals
placed his Elephants before the whole Army being aboue foure score and then about twelue thousand Mercenaries which were Genâ—uois Maiorquins Minorquins and Maurusiens After which hee placed the Inhabitants of Affricke and the Carthaginians After all which hee orders those which hee had brought our of Italy and feparates them from the rest aboue a Furlong Hee fortified the Wings with Horse-men ordring the Numidians on the right and the Carthaginians on the left Hee commanded euery Leader to encourage his Souldiers to the end they might put their trust in him and the Troupes which hee had brought out of Italy Hee likewise commands the Carthaginian Captaines to acquaint their men with the miseries which would befall their Wiues and Children if this Battaile succeeded otherwise then they desired The which they effected Hannibal likewise came to them which hee had brought with him and intreates them with a long speech to remember their mutuall and common life for the space of seuenteene Yeares That they should thinke of the many Battailes which they had fought with the Romans in the which they had beene alwayes Victors and had neuer left them any hope of Victory But hee intreated them chiefly that amidst the encounter they should set before their eyes the infinite prerogatiues Namely the Battaile which they gained fighting against the Father of this present Roman Commander neare vnto Trebia Then that which was against Flaminius and also towards Cannes against Emilius the which hee sayd were neither for the number and multitude of men nor according vnto their forces worthy to bee compared to the present danger When he had vsed this Speech hee commands them to looke vpon the Enemies in Battaile telling them that they were not onely fewer in number but they were scarce the least part of those which then fought against them and that they could not compare with them in forces And as the others were before inuincible they had fought cheerefully and stoutly and that of these some were the Children of men and the others the Reliques of such as had beene often defeated in Italy and had so many times shewed them their heeles Wherefore he was of aduice that they should not doe any thing to the preiudice of their glory and fame nor of their Commander But in fighting couragiously confirme the opinion which was conceiued of them to be inuincible Behold the Speeches or such like which they held vnto their Armies When as all things necessary were ready for the Combat and that the Numidian Horse-men had skirmished long Hannibal commanded those which were mounted vpon the Elephants to charge the Enemy But when the Trumpets and Clairons sounded some of them being amazed turn'd head and went violently against the Numidians which were come to succour the Carthaginians Finally the left Wing of the Carthaginians was left bare by Massanissa's Company The rest of the Elephants fighting with the Iauelings in the midst of the Battalions without doubt endured much so likewise they annoyed the Enemies vntill that being amazed some going forth by the spaces were taken as the Generall had giuen order Others flying on the right hand and wounded by the Horse-men passe in the end the place of the Battaile And when the Elephants were thus dismayed Lelyus charging the Carthaginian Horse-men repulseth them in such sort as they soone turned head the Chase being pursued by him The like did Massanissa Whilest these things are in action the two Battalions come to fight with a slow pace and wonderfull great courage except those which were come out of Italy who budge not out of their place When they came to affront one another the Romans crying after their Countrey manner and making their Targets sound with their Swords fought with their Enemies The Mercenaries of the Carthaginians cast forth diuers confused cries for it was not the same sound nor the same voyce but diuers languages for they were men drawne from diuers Countries And when as this Battaile was fought with great courage and man to man for that the Combattants could not helpe themselues with their Iauelings nor Swords the Mercenaries fought in the beginning with great courage and dexterity and wounded many Romans The Romans also trusting in their good order and Armes laboured much to goe on And when as they which were in the Reare of the Romans gaue courage to the first in following them and the Carthaginians not comming on to succour their Souldiers but staying behinde basely and for want of courage the Barbarians declined Wherefore when they saw themselues abandoned by their Companions in retiring they fell vpon those which stood still and slew them the which forced many Carthaginians to dye valiantly For when they were slaine by the Mercenaries they fought boldly as well against their owne men as against the Romans In which combat as they fought after a horrible manner like furious men they made no lesse slaughter of their owne then of the Enemies By this meanes they fell confusedly vpon the Troups that were lightly armed The Captaines of the Principals seeing this accident charg'd their Battalions The greatest part of the Carthaginians and Mercenaries were slaine aswell by them as by those that were lightly armed In regard of such as escaped and fled Hannibal would not suffer them to mingle with the Battalions commanding their Captaines to rankâ— them before and forbidding moreouer to receiue such as approacht wherefore they were forced to retire vpon the Wings and without them But for that the place betwixt the two Armies was full of bloud and dead bodies this put the Carthaginian Generall into great difficulty and was a great let for him to charge againe For the instability of the dead which were bloudy and falne vpon heapes with the confusion of Armes which were fallen among the dead they were to haue a troublesome passage which marcht in Battaile Yet the wounded being carried backe and a retreate being sounded by the Trumpets which followed those that were lightly armed hee puts his men before the fight in the midst of the Enemy In regard of the Principals and Triarij hee giues order that being closely ioyn'd they should march crosse the dead bodies vpon the two Wings When they were equall with those that were lightly armed the Battalions charged one another with great violence and courage It happened that for the multitude courage and equall Armes of either side the Combat was long doubtfull They that were slaine dyed euery man in his Ranke with a braue emulation vntill that Massanissa and Lelyus returning from the chase of the Horse-men had by good fortune rallied their men together with whom charging vpon the Reare of those which were with Hannibal a great number of them were defeated in Battaile and few of them escaped which fled For the Horse-men were dispersed of all sides and the Countrey was plaine and Champion There died aboue fifteene hundred Romans and twenty thousand Carthaginians The Prisoners were not much
his young Sonne Finally they drag his Wife into the place and kill her This was the end of Agathocles and Agathoclea with their Kinsfolkes I am not ignorant what Fables and colours some Historiographers vse in these actions to amaze the Readers with a copious aduancement of words and otherwise then the truth containes Some referre this accident to Fortune shewing how inconstant and ineuitable shee is seeking to bring Causes and Similitudes of actions It is true that in the pursuite of this Worke I had resolued to helpe my selfe with the sayd actions for that this Agathocies had nothing honourable for his courage and prowesse in the Warre neither any happy mannaging of affaires which ought to bee desired Neither did hee vnderstand the cunning and policy of a Courtier in the which Sosybiâ—s and many others being very well instructed had vsurped Kingdomes The which notwithstanding happened vnto this man Hee grew great by chance for that Philopater was not able to gouerne the Realme Hauing therefore gotten this occasion to come vnto greatnesse when as after his Death hee had a fit opportunity offred to maintaine his power yet hee lost both life and goods faintly and basely being slaine within a short time Wherefore it is not fitting that in the relation of such things they should adde words especially when they speake of such as Agathocles and Denis Sicilians with some others which had beene famous and renowned for their actions One of them in truth came of a base extraction But as Tymeus cauells Agathocles being a Potter he came in his younger yeares to Sarragosse They were eyther of them in their times Tyrants of Sarragosse of that City I say which at that time was great in authority and abounding in riches And afterwards they were Kings of all Sicily and enioyed some parts of Italy In regard of Agathocles hee died not in assailing Affricke but after this manner with a desire to Reigne And therefore they say of Publius Scipio who first forced Carthage that when they demanded of him what men hee held ablest to vndertake an Enterprize and of great discretion and courage hee answered Agathocles and Denis Wee must in truth when the proposition is made hold the Reader in suspence and doubt and relate their fortune and humane accidents in adding words in manner of Doctrine In regard of the sayd things I am not of Opinion it should bee done For this cause wee reiect in this passage the Writers of Agathocles with their many words for that those horrible Narrations and fearefull euents which haue nothing but a conceite worthy to hold the Reader in suspence Finally it is not onely vnprofitable to treate of them with a long discourse but also their vehemency in the end brings tediousnesse and trouble There are two ends namely profit and pleasure whereunto they must haue regard which will ruminate any thing either of hearing or sight And for that profit belongs chiefly to the narration of an History it is most necessary and conuenient that this kind of adding of words vnto fearefull accidents should turne from these two ends What is hee that would willingly follow vnexpected accidents and without reason No man reioyceth continually eyther for the seeing or hearing of things which are out of Nature and the common sence of men But in the beginning wee are exceeding ioyfull and glad to see some and to heare others to the end wee may rightly vnderstand and know after what manner that is done which seemes vnto euery one very strange and impossible When wee once begin to know them no man takes any delight or pleasure to stay vpon things which are strange from the course of Nature nor will haue any desire to fall often vpon the same subiect Wherefore the Narration must drawe a desire of imitation where hee may delight And if they adde words to some miserable accidens besides these ends they are more fitting for a Tragedy then a History Peraduenture you must pardon those which doe not consider things which are common to Nature and the World But they hold the Fortunes of their Ancestors great and wonderfull whereon falling by Fortune in Reading or Hearing them from others they settle their affections Wherefore they know not that they vse more speech of such things then is needefull which are neither new hauing beene spoken formerly by others neither can they profite nor content The remainder is wanting A PARCELL OF the Sixteenth Booke of the History of POLYBIVS Of the Battaile giuen at Sea betwixt Philip and King Attalus PHilip was much troubled seeing many things succcede vnfortunately in his siege and withall that the Enemies were in the Hauen with a good number of couered Vessells neither could hee well resolue what to do And when as the present occasions depriued him of all meanes of choice in the end hee weighed Anchor and set Saile contrary vnto the Enemies Hope For Attalus and his Company expected that he should grow obstinate at the Siege considering the preparation which he had of Engines of Battery Philip made all haste to saile away imagining that hee might get before them and make a safe retreate vnto Samos along the shore Yet hee was deceiued in his conceite For when as Attalus and Theophiliscus saw that hee had weighed Anchor they suddainly resolued and set Saile obseruing no order for that they conceiued that Philip would haue perseuered in his Enterprize Yet they charge him making great speed with their Oares So as Attalus fell vpon the right wing which got before and Theophiliscus vpon the left Philip seeing himselfe thus pestred and suddainly surprized hee gaue the signe of the Battaile to them of the right wing commanding them to turne their prowes against the Enemies and to charge them resolutely Then he retired to the smaller Ilands which were in the mid-way with the lighter Vessels expecting the end of the Battaile The number of Ships of Warre which Philip had were fifty three couer'd Vessels with a hundred and fifty Foists and Galleyes vncouered In regard of the Vessels remaining at Samos hee could not arme them Those of the Enemies were in number threescore Vessels couered with those of Constantinople with the which there were nine Galliots and three Galleyes When as Attalus Ships began the fight presently they that were neare charge one another without command Attalus fell vpon a Vessell with eight Oares crushing it in such sort as it tooke water and when as they which were vpon the hatches had defended themselues long in the end hee sunke it On the other side Philips Galley of ten Oares which was the Admirall was by chance taken by the Enemies For when as a Galliot sayl'd against it it bruised it much in the midst of the Bulke ioyning vnto it behind at the poope to the which it remain'd grapled for that the Pylot could not stay its violence So as when this Vessell stucke close vnto her she was much hindred
neither could they gouerne nor turne her In the meane time two Quinqueremes charge her and bruising her in two places sinke her with the Souldiers Among the which was Democrites Captaine Generall at Sea for Philip. At the same instant Dionysodorus and Dynocrates brethren who were Commanders of the Army vnder Attalus giuing a charge found themselues in great danger in the fight So as Dynocrates gaue charge to a Vessel with seuen Oares and Dionisodorus to one of eight Dynocrates was broken aboue water and that of the Enemy vnder the water yet he could not free himselfe from them although hee had often attempted it in sawing Wherefore when as the Macedonians defended themselues valiantly he was in danger to be taken But for that Attalus came to succour him charging the Enemy and parting the two ships which were grapled Dynocrates saued himselfe by good fortune In regard of the Enemies they were all slaine fighting valiantly so as the Vessell being destitute of Souldiers was taken by Attalus And when as Dionisodorus sayl'd with great swiftnesse to fight hee could not ouertake any and passing through the Enemies he had the Pallisadoe on the right side disarmed and the Beames broken which carried the Tower This happening he was inuested round by the Enemy with great noise and cries All the Marriners perisht with the Ship and Dionisodorus swum away with two others vnto a Galliot which came to succour him In regard of the other Vessels the danger was equall For as the number of Philips Foists was greater so was that of Attalus in couer'd Vessels Finally the Combat was so carried vpon Philips right Wing as the Victory inclined to neither It is true that Attalus was in better hope for the future The Rhodiens in the beginning of the party separated themselues from the Enemies who hauing a great aduantage by the lightnesse of their Vessels fought against the Macedonians making the Reare-ward And when in the beginning they fell to flight they carried away all their defences charging them behinde and in poope But when as Philips Vessels began to turne head altogether giuing aide to those which were in danger and that the Reare of the Rhodiens were ioyned to Theophiliscus then they charged with great fury encouraging one another with great shouts and Trumpets And if the Macedonians had not mingled their Foists among their couered Vessels the Battaile had beene soone decided for they tooke from the Rhodien ships all commodity in diuers sorts For that when as by either side the order was broke they were all mingled Wherefore they could not easily enlarge themselues nor turne their Vessels nor assist themselues with those meanes whereof they were best prouided for that the Foists did continually charge them sometimes falling vpon the Pâ—llisadoe so as they could make no vse of their Rowers and sometimes vpon the prow and poope to depriue them of their Pylot and Oares And when as they fought in a direct line they inuented a stratagem for abating the prowes they made their charge fruitlesse breaking the Enemies Vessels vnder water To preuent the which they could finde no remedy It is true this happens seldome for that all auoided the encounter for that the Macedonians fought valiantly hand to hand and most commonly in passing they razed the Pallisadoe making it vnprofitable Then suddainly casting about they assailed those that were in poope and likewise giuing charge to those which shewed themselues vpon the flankes or which turned aside they brake some and tooke the Equipage from others so as fighting after this manner they had sunke diuers of the Enemies Vessels There were three excellent Quinqueremes of the Rhodiens in danger whereof the Admirall was one in the which Theophiliscus commanded Then that whereof Philostrates was Captaine and the the third was gouerned by Antolice in the which Nycostrates remained It hapned that shee gaue a charge to one of the Enemies Vessels where she left her spurre so as it sunke with the Souldiers And Antolice's Company being inuested for that they tooke water at the prowe defended themselues valiantly But Antolice being wounded fell into the Sea with his Armes and died the rest fighting with great courage At what time Theophiliscus comming to succour them with three Quinqueremes he could not saue the ship being full of water After that he had broken two of the Enemies Vessels and cast the Souldiers into the Sea hee lost the greatest part of his men fighting resolutely for that he was suddainly inuested by many fregats and couerd Vessels It was hardly in his power to saue his ship being wounded in three places for that hee had aduentured himselfe too boldly But Philostrates came to succour him vndertaking the apparent danger with great courage But when hee was ioyned vnto these Vessels he rechargeth the Enemy furiously againe where he was seene weake of body by reason of his wounds but much more excellent and constant in courage then before It happened that there were two Combats at Sea very farre one from another For Philips right Wing coasting still along the shore neuer abandoned the Coast of Asia but the left Wing succouring the Reare-ward had fought with the Rhodiens for that they were not farre from Chios When as Attalus seemed to haue gloriously Vanquished Philips right Wing and that hee approached neere vnto the Iland where he Anchored expecting the end and conclusion of the Battaile he perceiued one of his Quinqueremes in danger to be sunke by a shippe of the Enemles and made hast to succour it with two other of his Quinqueremes When as the Enemies shippes turned away to recouer Land the more hee prest desiring to take it The which Philip perceiuing that Attalus strayed too boldly and aduenturously from his Company hee made hast being accompanied with foure Quinqueremes three Gallâ—otts and the neerest Frigats hoping hee should be able to take it as it fortunately happened forcing him to get vnto the neerest shore in great distresse Then leauing his Vessell there hee fled on foote with the Sea men to saue himselfe in Erythee Wherefore Philip recouered the shâ—p and the Kings plate They which were with Attalus in this great danger bethought themselues of a pollicy in Warre and set the richest of the Kings plate vpon the Hatches Wherefore the first of the Macedonians approaching with their Frigats and seeing great store of plate with a purple Robe and other rich furniture lying there they gaue ouer the pursuite and attended the spoile so as Attalus retired vnto the Port of Erythree without any disturbance And although that Philip were absolutely the weaker in this Battaile at Sea yet he returned very ambitious and proud through Attalus mis-fortune making great haste to come vnto his Company Where after he had drawne and gathered together all his Vessells he perswaded them to be of good Courage and Resolution seeing hee had wonne the Battaile And in trueth such was the opinion of men as if Attalus had
sends those which were vnder the charge of Archidamus and of the Eupolemus and two Tribunes with fiue hundred Horse and two thousand Foote At whose comming they which in the beginning did but skirmish resuming courage presently put on another kind of Combate The Romans relying vpon their Succours double their forces for the fight And although the Macedonians defended themselues brauely yet they sent vnto the King being prest and annoyed by their Armes and for their refuge recouered the tops of the Mountaines And when as Philip had no hope but that they should be able that day to giue Battaile with all their Forces for the fore-sayd Causes hee had sent many of his men to forrage But when he was aduertised of that which happened by those which hee had sent and that the mist was past hee sent Heraclides the Gyrtonien Chiefe of the Thessalian Horse and Leon Commander of the Macedonian Cauallery Hee likewise sent Athenagórus with all the Mercenaries exept the Thracians Who being come to the Ambush and the Macedonians much re-inforced they made head against the Enemy and repuls'd the Romans from the Hills The Dexterity of the Etolien Horse did much hinder the Enemies from turning head They fought in truth with great courage and confidence The Etoliens in regard of the Foote-men are faint both in their Armes and Ordonance for a Combat in Field But their Horse-men are excellent aboue all the other Grecians in particular and separated Combats Wherefore it happened that for that they had stayed the violence and fury of the Enemy they could not so soone recouer the Plaine but stayed for a time in Battaile But when as Titus saw not onely the most valiant and his Horse-men retire but also his whole Troupes to bee dismayed hee drawes his whole Army to Field and puts them in order vpon the Hills At the same instant they which were in Guard ran hastily one after another to Philip crying out vnto him Sir the Enemies flye lose not this occasion The Barbarians seeke vs not This day is yours imbrace the time and by this meanes they â—nâ—ire and stirre vp Philip to Battaile although the scituation of the place did not content and please him For the sayd Hills which they call Dogs-head are rough difficult of all sides and high Wherefore when as Philip had formerly fore-seene the vnequalnesse of the places hee had not in the beginning made any preparation vnto Battaile But beeing then prouoked by the great confidence of the aduertisements hee drawes his Army with all speede out of the Fort. In regard of Titus hee orders his Troupes and Bands for the Battaile and followes them close which began the Skirmish making remonstrances vnto the Battalions as hee turned His Speech was short plaine and intelligible to the Hearers Propounding then the cause hee sayd vnto his Souldiers Are not these O Companions the same Macedonians who formerly holding in Macedony the top of the Mountaines towards Heordia you haue forced with Sulpicius and chased from thence with the defeate of the greatest part of them Are not these the same Macedonians who being seazed vpon the difficult places of Epirus and leauing no hope of approach you haue chased by your prowesse and forced to flye into Macedony abandoning their Armes What reason is there then that you should feare the same men with whom you are to enter into an equall Combate To what end doe we propound vnto you precedent actions to consider on but that in regard of them you should fight more confidently Wherefore Companions attend the Battaile with resolution giuing courage one to another I hold for certaine that with the good pleasure of the Gods the end of this Battaile will soone bee the conclusion of the precedent When Titus had vsed these Speeches hee commands the right Wing of his Army not to budge setting the Elephants before them And assailes the Enemy with great courage with the left Wing being accompanied by the most valiant They which among the Romans had began the Fight shewing their courage prest the Enemies hauing beene relieued by some Troupes of Foot-men And when as at the same time Philip saw that the greatest part of his Army was in order of Battaile before the Pallisadoe hee marcheth taking the Targetteers and the Battalion of the right Wing and ascends the Hills with speede giuing charge to Nicanor whom hee called Elephant to command the rest of the Army to follow close As soone as the first had recouered the top hee defends the Battalion setting the Targets before and seazed vpon the higher Countrey And when as the Macedonians prest the Romans much vpon the two flankes of the Hills he discouered the tops to bee abandoned As he fortified the right Wing of his Army it happened that the Souldiers were much annoyed by the Enemy For when they they which were best armed were ioyned vnto the most valiant of the Romans and succoured them in this fight they prest the Enemies much and flew many As the King was there in the beginning and saw the Combat of the valiant men not to be farre from the Campe hee reioyced againe when hee saw them decline and to haue neede of Succours hee was forced to send them and at that instant to hazard a Battaile although that many of the Troupes of his Army were yet vpon the way and approached to the Hills And in taking the Souldiers hee rankes them all as well on foote as Horsebacke on the right Wing commanding the beares of Burtheâ—s and the Battalions to double the Front of their Rankes and to stand close vpon the right hand This being done when as the Enemies ioyned with them hee commanded the Battalion that bending downe their Iauelings they should match in order and mingle with the strongest At the same instant when as Titus had retired those which had bagunne the Fight to the spaces which were betwixt the Ensignes he chargeth the Enemy The Combat beginning on eyther side with great fury and clamour all crying together yet those which were without the fight crying vnto the rest the Battaile was made very horrible and cruell and it shewed the force of the Combat Philips right Wing carryed it selfe valiantly in this Battaile charging the Enemy from aboue hauing an aduantage in their order which finally for the present fight was much more commodions in regard of the diuersity and seuerall sorts of Armes In regard of the rest of the Army some were ioyned vnto the Enemy fighting a farre off others shewed themselues vpon the left hand hauing gotten the toppes of the Hils When as Tytus saw and did well perceiue that his men could not indure the force of the Enemies battallion and those of the right wing to be repuls'd and some seaine and others to retire by degrees and that all his hope of safety consisted in the right Wing hee goes speedily vnto them and considers the Enemies order When hee saw some succeed in their places
which had fought and others to descend from the Hils and some to stay vpon the tops he marcheth against the Enemy with his Ensignes putting the Elephants before And when as the Macedonians had no â—duertisement by Trumpets and Clarons and that they could not make it good nor receiue any true order of a battallion aswell for the difficulty of the place as for that the Combattants had the forme of goers and not of an order of Battaile and that there was no further meanes to fight single or hand to hand with the Romans Being also terrified and much iniured with the Elephants and likewise separated one from another they marcht presently away Wherefore many Romans pursued them continually and slew them One of the Captaines Milleneirs being of this Troupe hauing but twenty Ensignes considering at the very instant what was to be done did great seruice for the obtaining of an absolute Victory For when he saw those that accompanied Philip assailed the others often and grieuously to annoy the left Wing hee turnes to them that were in distresse leauing those which vanquished on the right Wing and charged the Macedonians in the Reare When as they of the Battallion could not make resistance fighting man to man this other was at their backes killing those they incountred there beeing no man that could succour them so as in the end they were forced to turne head and to abandon their Armes Although that Philip as wee haue sayd in the beginning had a great hope in the Victory making a coniecture in his owne conceite yet seeing the Macedonians to abandon and leaue their Armes suddainly and the Enemies to charge in the Reare hee parts speedily from the Battaile with some Horse and Foote to consider fully of the Combate When as he imagined that the Romans by their pursuite would approach to the right Wing on the tops of the Hills hee seekes to draw together as many Thaesiens and Macâ—donians as possibly hee could When as Tytus pursued the Chase and had discouered the left Wing of the Macedonians to assâ—ile the toppes of the Hills hee stayed For that the Enemies held their Iauelings right vp The which the Macedonians are accustomed to do when they yeild or retire from the Enemy When hee had knowne the cause of this accident hee restraines his men being willing to pardon those that were amazed with feare But whilst that Tytus considered of these things some of the fore most Charge them from aboue and kill many few escaped abandoning their Armes This Battaile being thus ended of all sides and the Romans hauing the victory Philip retires towards Tempe and comming the first day to the Tower of Alexander hee past the Night there The day following passing to Gonnes hee entred Tempe staying there for those which should escape in the flight When as the Romans had pursued the Chase for a time some strip the dead others draw the Prisoners together and a great part goe to force the Enemies Campe. There they finde the Etoliens who had forced it before for spoile and imagining that they were frustrated of a booty which was due and did belong vnto them they beganne to accuse the Etoliens before the Generall and to complaine that hee had imposed the danger and the burthen of the Battaile vpon them giuing the profite and benefit vnto others yet being returned vnto their Campe they were somewhat pacified The day following they assemble and gather together the Prisoners and the rest of the spoile and booty and from thence they tooke their course towards Larissa There dyed in this battaile about seauen hundred Romans and neerâ— vpon eight thousand Macedonians the Prisoners were not lesse then fiue Thousand Besides many that escaped by flight Thus ended this Battaile giuen betwixt Philip and the Romans in Thessaly at the Dogshead Of the difference of the Roman and Macedonian Armes I Had promised in the sixt Booke to make a Comparison of the Roman and Macedonian Armes and of the ordring of their Battailes and wherein they differ eyther worse or better Now I will indeauour to performe my promise As in former times the Macedonian Armies haue giuen good proofes of their Valour hauing Vanquished the Asiatiques and Grecians and that the Romans haue surmounted the Affricans as much as all the Westerne Nations of Europe and that in our time the conferrence of these Armies and men is to be made not for once but for many times it will be commodious and profitable to seeke out their difference and for what reason the Romans vanquish hauing alwayes the vpper hand in Martiall Combats To the end that acknowledging it from Fortune wee should with reason call them happy Victors as the ignorant vsually do But knowing the true cause wee should commend and holde these Captaines for miracnlous In regard of the Battailes giuen betwixt Hannibal and the Romans and their losse it is not needfull to vse any long Discourse The Romans without doubt did not suffer those losses for want of Armes and the order of their Battailes but in regard of the good direction and pollicy of Hannibal We declared this when we related the Battailes themselues The end of the Warre confirmes our opinion For when as the Romans had found a Commaunder like vnto Hannibal they suddainely were Victors So doth this that when as Hannibal had Vanquished the Romans first he furnished the common Souldiers better with the Roman Armes reiecting their owne Hauing vsurped them in the beginning he afterwards made continuall vse of them Pyrrhus in like manner did not onely vse the Italians Armes but also their ordering of Armies when as by change he sets in the head of the Romans an Ensigne and Band of the Battallion Yet hee could not ouer-come nor vanquish by this meanes the end of the Combate beeing alwaies doubt to the one and the other It shal be therefore necessary and conuenient to Treaâ—e thereof first to the end that nothing may seeme any way contrary vnto our opinion but I will beginne our conferrence It is an cafie thing to know by many instructions that if a Battalion obserues its proper order and forces so nothing can annoy it nor withstand it for as an armed man hath three foote in his posture in a close Combate and that the length of his Pike from one end to the other is of foure and twenty foote and at the least of one and twenty And that for the space of his hands with the end which remaines for to shake it they abate sixe foote during the Combate it is apparent that a Pike shall haue fifteene foote in length besides the body of euery man that is armed when with both hands hee presents it and chargeth the Enemy Whereby it commonly happens that the other Pikes passe three foote before the second third and fourth rancke of the precedent The others before the fifth if the Battallions be fitly ioyned and close according vnto the order of
Enemy he was suddainly taken by the Carthaginians which had saued themselues and was crucofied Moreouer the Romans imployed all their care to seize vpon Sardinia being now Masters of the Sea The yeare following there was not any thing done worthy of Memory in Sicily by the Roman Army Caius Sulpicius and Aulus Rutilius were afterwards made Consuls and sent to Palermo for that the Carthaginians forces wintred there And after the Romans had past they put themselues in battell before the Towne But the Carthaginians being within it presented not themselues to battell The which the Romans seeing they left Palermo and went to Hippane the which soone after they tooke by assault The Towne of Mysistrate was taken likewise by the Consuls hauing held out sometime by reason of the scituation of the place And as they had besieged the Citty of the Camerins which had lately abandoned the Romans it was taken by force by the meanes of their Batteries and breaches Afterwards Aâ—ta was carried by assault with many other Townes of the Carthaginians Lippare was also besieged The yeare following the Sea-army of the Romans lay in the Hauen of the Tindaretins vnder the charge of Aulus Rutilius who seeing the Carthaginian Army neere the shore he sent word vnto his ships to make haste to follow him In the meane time he put to Sea before the rest only with ten Vessels But when as the Carthaginians saw that some did but imbarque others began to set saile and the first were farre from their Fleet and neere vnto them they turned with incredible swiftnesse and compast them in so as most part of them were sunke and the Consuls ship had like to haue fallen into the Carthaginians hands with all that were within it He hardly escaped by the force of his Oares and lightnesse In the meane time the rest of the Romane Army which had gotten into the open sea encountred the Enemy whereof ten ships were taken and eight sunke and the rest recouered the Islands called Lipparees But howsoeuer either of them parted from this Combate with an Opinion to haue gotten the Victory Wherefore they were more eager to continue the War by Sea and were more attentiue to Marrine affaires As for their Armies at Land during this time they did nothing worthy of Note busying themselues about small things and of little esteeme But the Summer following hauing giuen order for their affaires as we haue said they prepared to Warre In regard of the Romans they made their assembly at Messina to the number of three hundred and thirty Vessels armed and sayling from thence leauing Sicily on the right hand and passing the Promontory of Pachina they sayled to Echnomâ—n whereas the Army by Land attended them The Carthaginians in liâ—e manner put to Sea with three hundred and fifty Sayle armed and stayed at Lilybeum and from thence went to Heracleum and so to Minoe The Romans intention was to passe into Affricke and there to make their chiefe War to the end the Carthaginians should not onely run the hazard of the War of Sicily but also haue it at their owne Houses On the otherside the Carthaginians considering how easily their descent would be into Lybia and what little defence the Countrey-men would make when they should be once entred they desired to fight presently with the Romans and by that meanes to hinder the descent into Affricke Wherefore the one being resolued to defend themselues and the other to assaile them considering the obstinacy of either party there was likely-hood of an vndoubted battell When as the Romans had giuen order for all things necessary for the equipage of their Sea-army and to make their descent into Affricke they made choice of the ablest men in all their Army at Land and imbark'd them and then deuided their Army into foure whereof either had two Names The first was called the first Battalion and the first Army So were the rest according to their order but the fourth and the third were called Triarij as in an Army at Land Al this Army at Sea amounted to aboue 140000. men Euery Vessell had three hundred Rowers and sixe score Leginaries In regard of the Carthaginians they were furnished onely with men accustomed with Sea-fights being in number aboue 150000. men according to the order of their Vessels Wherefore they that were present and saw the great danger and power of the two Armies the great charges the multitude of combatants and of ships they did not only wonder but they also who heard speake of it The Romans considering that vpon necessity they must goe vpon the side and that their Enemies sayl'd more lightly they imployed all their Art to make their battell strong and inuincible For the effecting whereof they set two Vessels in front of sixe Bankes in equall distance in the which were Marcus Attilius and Lucius Manlius After which march'd the first and second Battalion of either side their ships following one another so as the distance of the two Battalions did still inlarge themselues The stems of their ships looked outward By this meanes the Battalions drawne thus in length made the two parts of a Triangle to the which they added the third Battalion in the same fashion as a foundation so as the three Battalions made a perfect sigure of a Triangle After the third Battalion the ships which carried the Horses were ordered one after another seruing as a Rampieâ— to the third Battalion The Triarij followed after in their order making the fourth Battalion euery Vessell being ordered in such sort as they past the precedent on either side All the Romane Army was thus ordered whereof the first part that is to say the two sides of the point of the Triangle were empty in the midst but the sides following after the foundation were better supplied By this means their Army was firme and hard to breake In the meane time the Commaunders of the Carthaginians drew their Souldiers together and put courage into them letting them vnderstand that if they wone the battell there would be no more War but in Sicily But if the Romans had the Victory they must expect not to fight for Sicily but for their owne Countrey their Houses and their Children After this exhortation they make them imbarque the which they did resolutely and prepared to fight thinking of the time to come according to the discourse of their Captaines Who seeing the order of the Roman Army deuided theirs likewise into foure whereof three gayning the Sea making the Right-wing longer stayed as if they would inviron their Enemies against whom they turne their beake-heads and they make the Fort to looke towards the Land by a circuite of the Left wing of the whole Army Hanno and Amilcar were Commaunders of the Carthaginians Hanno who was defeated at the battell of Agragas had the leading of the Right wing with the lightest Vessels and Amilcar of the Left This is he who as
we haue sayd fought at Sea neere vnto Tyndaris who hazarding then the middest of his Army vsed this kind of Stratagem of War for the Combate The Romans seeing at the first charge that the Battalion of the Carthaginians was weake forc'd resolutely thorough them But the Carthaginians obseruing the Commaundment of Amilcar left the place presently making shew to flye to the end the Roman Army should separate it selfe whom the Romans followed with too great heate And therefore the first and second Battalion sayl'd with too great Courage after the Enemy but the third and fourth were stayed drawing after them the ships that were laden with Horses with whom the Triarij remained for their Guard When as the two first seemed to be farre from the others the Carthaginians 〈…〉 signe giuen them by Amilcar as he had instructed them turning the Prow suddainly they all assault the Roman Vessels which followed them The Combat was cruell It is true the Carthaginians had a great aduantage by their lightnesse and their pollicy in turning But when as they came to fight and that the Armies affronted one another the Romans had no lesse hope then the Carthaginians for the Force and Prowesse of their men and by the staying of their Ships and casting of their Engines and finally by the Combate of the two Commaunders and the hazard they were in their fight This was the estate of the Battell Presently after Hanno who as we haue sayd had the charge of the Right wing and did not budge before the first charge was giuen seeing the Battell begun with the Romans went to Sea and charged the Triarij where there was a great fight the which was long in suspence In the meane time the fourth Battalion of the Carthaginians which continued neere the shore turning the Prow vpon the Enemy assaulted the Battalion in front by the which the ships which carried the Horses were towed who suddainly slipt the Ropes and fought with great fury There they saw three parts of the Battell and three Combats at Sea at one instant in three diuers places and farre remote The Combate was equall for that the Ships of eyther◠side were of the like number Without doubt euery man performed his Duty in fighting so as all was indifferent and equall Finally Amilcar was defeated and forced to flye with his Squadron And Lucius Manlius towed away the ships that were taken In the meane time Attilius seeing the Combate of the Triarij and of the ships wherein the Horses were came presently to succour them with the Vessels of the second Battalion which were yet whole and entire But when as the Triarij who had beene long and violently charged by Hanno so as they were in great danger saw the Consull come they resumed courage and recharged him resolutely And then then the Carthaginians being much discontented to haue an Enemy in front and behinde and to be inuested by succours contrary to their expectation gained the open Sea relying vpon the lightnesse of their Vessels and saued themselues by flight And Lucius Manlius in the meane time seeing the third Battalion prest neere the shore by the left wing of the Carthaginians and Marcus Attilius in like manner leauing the ships with the Horses and the Triarij in safety resolued both together to succour those that were in danger For they were in a manner besieged and almost at the last gaspe and had beene defeated if the Carthaginians had not feared to ioyne with them by reason of their Engines or Rauens Neither did they presse vpon them but onely to chase them to the shore Finally the Carthaginians were suddainly compast in by the Consuls whereof fifty of their ships were taken with the men Some being driuen vnto the shore saued themselues Behold the three seuerall Combats which the Romans and Carthaginians had in one day Yet the Romans in the end had the Victory of the whole Battell In the which 24 of their ships were broken and aboue thirty of the Carthaginians There was not one Roman Vessell taken whole by the Carthaginians with the men But the Romans tooke three score and foure of the Carthaginians with all the men Soone after this battell the Romans parted with an intent to sayle directly into Lybia after they had made prouision of Victuals and all other munition ioyning to their Army the ships taken being well repaired There is a place in Affricke which they call the Cape of Mercure running farre into the Sea and is directly against Sicily where the Romans arriuing and receiuing their Vessels repaired all Then passing this strond they sayled vnto the Citty of Aspis where they put their Army in Battell neere vnto the Towne and retired their ships rampering them with Ditches and Pallisadoes resoluing to besiege it for that they which held it would not yeeld to the Romans It is true that the Carthaginians who a little before had escaped from the Battell at sea and recouered Carthage by flight furnished the most necessary places belonging to their Citty with Horse and Foo◠and with necessary shipping supposing that the Roman Army after the Victory would come directly vnto them But when they were aduertised of their descent and of the siege of Aspis they leuied men and regarding no more the landing of the Romans but hauing an eye aswell to forreigne affaires as to their owne Countrey they omitted nothing of that which was necessary for the Guard of the Citty and Prouince In the meane time the Consuls after they had taken Aspis by assault and put a Garrison into it and in the Country and had sent vnto Rome to aduertise the Senate of their successe to the end they might consider what was afterwards to be done they drew the whole Army into the Carthaginians Country where they found no Resistance spoyling and setting fire on their goodly and glorious buildings so as they carried away a booty of all sorts of Beasts with aboue twenty thousand Prisoners which were Embarked In the meane time they receiued newes from Rome by the which the Senate sent them word that one of the Consuls should remayne in Affricke with sufficient forces and that the other should Returne with the ships The pleasure of the Senate being knowne Marcus Attilius Regulus stayed in Affricke with forty ships fifteene thousand foote and fiue hundred Horse and Marcus Manlius set sayle with the rest of the ships and Army hauing the Prisoners with him and arriued first in Sicily and then at Rome without any mischance But the Carthaginians fore-seeing that the Romans War would be long they first made two Generall Captaynes in their Army which were Asdruball the sonne of Hanno and Bostar Moreouer they sent for Amilcar who was in Heracleum who Embarking presently with fiue thousand foote and fiue hundred Horse came to Carthage and was constituted the third Captayne of the Army taking the Conduct of the War with Asdruball and Bostar When as these
againe Maisters of the Sea with out contradiction seeing the Romans had no more any Fleete at Sea Moreouer they had great confidence in their Army at Land and not without cause For after that the report of the battell giuen in Affricke came to Rome and that they vnderstood that the defeate of their men hapned by the force and fury of the Elephants for that they had broken the Rankes and opened the battalions and that they had made a wonderfull slaughter of them Their feare of the Elephants from that day was so great as for two yeares after they neuer durst charge the Carthaginians although they made many incounters in Affricke and in the Country of Selinuntia nor Campe in the Plaines within fiue or sixe furlongs of them keeping alwayes the Mountaynes and hilly Countries to saue themselues from the Elephants so as they only forced Theruce and Lipara Wherefore the Romanes knowing the feare their Army had resolued againe to put a Fleete to Sea At that time the Romane people being assembled they chose vnto the Consulship Caius Attilius and Lucius Manlius They also made fifty new ships and Rigg'd out the olde the which they furnished with Souldiers proportionably When as Asdruball Generall of the Carthaginians knowing well the feare of the Romans had beene aduertised by the Fugitiues that one of the Consuls was returned vnto Rome with halfe the Army and Cecilius remayned alone at Palermo with the other he parts from Lylibeum when as Haruest approached with his Army to spoile and falls vpon the Territory of Palermo planting his Campe vpon the Mountaines Cecilius hauing newes of their comming and knowing that Asdruball desired nothing but a battell kept his Army within the Towne By this meanes Asdruball growing very confident conceiuing that Cecilius kept himselfe close for feare he causeth his Army to March to Palermo hauing ruined and burnt all the Champion Countries The Consull was alwaies of opinion not to go to field vntill that his enemy was drawne to passe the Riuer which runnes neere vnto the Towne Walls But when he saw that the Campe and the Elephants approached he caused a â—ally to be made by the nimblest and most actiue men of his Army commaunding them to skirmish with the enemy vntill their whole Campes should be forced to come to the combats And afterwards considering that matters had succeeded as he desired he ordaines the lightest and most actiue to plant themselues beyond the Towne ditch giuing them charge to cast Pertuisans Darts and Spits a farre off at the Elephants And if they came running vpon them with fury and violence they should slip into the Ditch and from thence cast their Darts at them He also commaunded the Archers of the Marker place to go out of the Towne and to fight at the foote of the wall In the meane time he issued foorth with all the Eâ—signes by another side of the Towne right against the enemies left Wing and sent many to those which fought with Darts Presently after the skirmish beganne the Maister of the Elephants who with a desire of glory would haue the honour of the Victory incensed them against the enemies not attending Asdrubals pleasure The Romans obseruing the Consuls commaundment turned head presently and when as the Elephants pursued them with fury they slipt into the Ditch the Elephants being vppon the side of it they were suddainly charged with Darts and Pertuisans aswell by the Townesmen which were vpon the Walls as from the Souldiers which lay in the Ditch And when as they could passe no further they turned head being necessarily forced to fall vpon their owne battallions with great slaughter In the meane time Cecilius goes suddainly to field hauing his whole Army entire and in good order by another gate and chargeth his enemies furiously who being already broken by the Elephants and charged againe by the Consuls Troupes were easily defeated A part of them were slaine the rest saued themselues by flight There were ten Elephants taken with their Indian Maisters 〈…〉 after the battell their Gouernours being cast downe This Victory purchased great honour to Cecilius as the Man who by the report of all the whole World had beene the cause that the Romanes after that time resuming courage camped in the Plaines When the Romanes had newes of this Victory it is not credible the ioy which they conceiued not so much for the taking of the Elephants whereby the Carthaginians power was much decreased as for that their men seemed to be grownâ— more hardy in the Warre for that they had conquered them Wherefore they Prepared an Army at Sea as they had formerly resolued and sent the Consuls into Sicily with two hundred Vessells desiring to make an end of that Warre Whither they past hauing made prouision of Victualls and other things necessary This was the foureteeneth yeare since the beginning of the Warre The Consuls being arriued and receiuing the Bands of Souldiers that were there they go and lay siege to Lylibeum hoping after the taking thereof they might easily transport the Warre into Affricke But the Carthaginians mooued with the like considerations resolued by all meanes to keepe it knowing well that after the losse of Lylibeum they had nothing else remaining in Sicily The Romans in truth held in a manner the whole Iland except Trepanum But to the end that what wee speake of Sicily may not seeme obscure to some one by reason of the ignorance of places we will deliuer the Scituation in few words All Sicily hath its Scituation in regard of Italy and the limits thereof like vnto Morea in respect of Greece and its bounds It is true â—here is some difference for that there is a little Sea betwixt this and Italy Whereas Morea is ioyned vnto Greece by a little slip of Land for they may goe on dry foote from Morea vnto Greece and not from Sicily into Italy without shipping Sicily is of a Triangular forme and so many Angles as it hath so many Capes or Promontories there are vpon the Sea shore Among the which that whereon the Sicilian Sea doth beate is called Pachinus and lookes towards the South that which tends towards the North where the Sea doth end and is not aboue a mile and a halfe from Italy is called Pelorus The third which hath his Aspect towards Affricke and towards the Winterly West and which is right against Carthage from the which vnto the Affricke shore there is not aboue one hundred twenty and seuen miles is called Lylibeum diuiding the Sea of Sardinia and Sicily There is a Towne on this Cape which carries the same name the which the Romans besieged at that time The which is strong with Walls and Ditches and moreouer with Marshes and Pooles by the which lyes the passage for ships into the Port but the entry is difficult and not accessible but by expert Marriners The Romans then to besiege it throughly made round about it Trenches
crossed and troubled for the reasons aboue mentioned the more beneficiall and fortunate it was for the Carthaginians For they might easily discouer the Enemies and all the Engines and if they they cast any thing against the Romans or their Engines the Winde draue it with great violence and made the blow more forcible Finally the fire was so great as the foundation whereon the Towers were set were burnt and the Heads of the Rammes consumed The Consuls after this had no more care to repaire their Engines resoluing to carry the Towne by a long siege in causing a great Trench with a Rampiâ—r to be cast vp round about it and there Campe with a resolution not to raise the Siege before they had taken it When as they of Lylibeum had rampired all places necessary they indured the Siege with great courage But after the Romans had receiued newes of this Disaster the Senate caused ten thousand men to bee raised which they sent into Sicily to refresh their Army for that many had died at this siege and their Army at Sea was bare of Men These faild first vnto the Port then they marcht by Land vnto the Campe before Lylibeum Appius Claudius being now Consuil and chiefe of the Army and the other Consuls vpon their returne to Rome seeing the Succours also arriued assembled the Captaines and let them know that in his Opinion it was time to sayle to Tripanum with all their forces by Sea to surprize Adherball the Generall of the Carthaginians nothing doubting of the Succours which were newly arriued into Sicily and would neuer conceiue that the Romane Army would put to Sea after so great a losse of men during the siege of Lylibeum When as this aduice was approued by the Captaines hee made choice of some out of the old and new Bands and furnished all his ships with the ablest men in the whole Army who imbarked most willingly for that the Voyage was short and the promises great Being then ready they parted at mid-night vnknowne to the Enemy and sayled directly vnto Tripanum But at the breake of day being neere the Towne and they discouering that they were Romane ships Adherball recouered his spirits and assured himselfe although thaâ— at the first hee was amazed at their â—uddaine arriuall resoluing to try the fortune of the fight and to vndergoe the hazard rather then to be besieged shamefully in the Port. Wherefore he presently caused their Oares to imbarke and caused the Trumpet to round to draw the Souldiers together shewing them in few words according to the necessity of the time that if they did their duties there was hope of Victory But if they refused to fight he layed them before the miseries of men besieged And when as the Souldiers made shew of resolution crying oâ—t that hee should make no stay to march against the Enemy then Adherball commending their forwardnesse causeth them all to imbarke giuing them charge to haue an eye vnto his ship and that they should follow with courage Presently after hee parts first our of the Port as he had said on the contrary side to the Romans But the Consull seeing the Enemies contrary to his hope not to abandon the place nor ready to flye but seeking the Combat with great heate hee called backe his shippes whereof some were already in the Port others at the entry following them neere And when as the first turned head according to the Consulls commaund and that the rest which followed farre off made hast to enter into the Port they fell foule one vpon another at the entry and at the comming foorth so as the Romans were in danger to haue lost all Finally after the Vessells had recouered the open Sea the Captaines Ranked themselues along the shore one after another turning their Prowe to the enemy But the Consull who from the beginning had alwayes followed the Army made the left Wing casting himselfe into the open Sea In the meane time Adherball hauing gotten aboue the left Wing of the Romans with fiue Vessells and turning the Prowe to the enemy he fortified himselfe by the Sea commaunding other foure which followed him to do the like When they were thus in Front against the enemy he giues them a signe to charge the Romanes whose ships as we haue sayd were Rank'd along the shore It is true they had done it to the end that the enemies Vessells which should part out of the Port might be incountred with more ease The battell was long and furious so as the danger seemed equall without doubt they were the choyce men of both the Armies at Land Yet the Carthaginians had alwayes the better for that their Vessells were lighter their men more expert in Rowing and moreouer they were in the open Sea where they might turne vp and downe at their pleasure If any one were neere prest by the Enemy he knew how to sauâ— himselfe suddainly by the lightnesse of his ship And if the Enemies pursued him many others turning presently together compassed and hemb'd them in by their lightnesse By this meanes they spoiled them much and sometimes sunke them And if any one of their companions were in danger they relieued him easily without perill sailing in the open Sea Contrariwise the shore neere vnto the Romanes did annoy them much for being forced in a streight they could not Retyre in necessity nor defend themselues nor succour them that were prest nor passe beyond the Enemies to charge them againe Which is a mâ—st requisite thing in fighting at Sea For that they were closed vp in a streight and their Vessells were heauy and their Marriners vnskilfâ—ll in Sea causes nor well practised to Rowe The Consull seeing that all went from â—ad to worse some of his ships being broken vpon the shore others sunke and finally being voide of all hope he flyes away first There were about thirty Vessells remayning of the whole Army which by chance were neere him and followed him all the rest to the number of fourescore and thirteene were taken by the Carthaginians Moreouer all the â—ands of men were taken except those which 〈◊〉 by the Wracke Adherball was in wonderfull great esteeme among the Carthaginians for this Victory hauing well mannaged the Affaires by his onely Wisdome and great Courage Whereas on the other side Appiâ—s Claudius was infamous and indured a thousand iniuries by the Romane people for that he had carried himselfe so indiscreetly and had drawne the Romane Common-wealth into so great danger Finally being Deposed from the Consulship he dyed by the hand of Iustice with great ignomy and shame And although the Romans were very sensible of this great Defeate yet like Men of great Courage and Resolution they suddainly prepare a Fleete at Sea with a new Leuy of Men and send Lucius Iunius the Consull into Sicily to whom they giue charge to Relieue the Campe before Lylibeum and to carry them Victualls and other necessary Munitions He saiâ—'d
of the place they should haue encountred them and charged them from aboue and if necessity had required they might haue retired safely on the right hand to charge the Enemy againe In doing this they had easily broken defeated and put the Macedonians to flight But they did the contrary as if they had the Victory certaine in their hands for without moouing from the place which the Cleomenes had appointed them they staied expecting the enemy with hope of a greater defeate For that they should be repulsed and beaten from the highest place of the Mountaine But they soone suffered the pennance of their basenesse For after that the Macedonians had recouered the Mountaine without any resistance and were come into the Plaine they fell vpon their enemies fighting hand to hand with so great sury as they presently draue them backe into the hollow Caues and inaccessible places In the meane time the Combate was cruell among the Horse-men where it was worth the sight to behold with what heate force and courage the Acheins fought considering they all fought for the liberty of the Countrey But among all others they made great esteeme of Philopomene for when his Horse was ouer thrown with a Pertuisane he fainted not fighting long on foote with great courage Finally in the end hee died valliantly being shot thorough the shinne-bones with an Arrow On the other side the Kings had begunne the fight at Mount Olympus with the mercenaries and such as were lightly armed They were about fiue thousand men who fought sometimes man to man and sometimes they tried the Fortune of the whole Troupe There the Victory was long in suspence finally they parted equally from the battell But when as Cleomees was aduertised that Emlide had abandoned the Mountaine and that the Allies had turned head and that the Horse-men were in great despaire and that all trembled for feare hee resolued to goe out of his Fort and to put his whole Army in Front vpon one side of the Campe and therefore hee caused them to sound a Retreate By this meanes when those that were lightly armed were drawne together the two Armies charged with their Pikes and Iauelings The Combate was cruell and the charge performed with so great courage on either side as the Victory was long doubtfull and the iudgement difficult who deserued the greatest honour For that sometimes the Lacedemonians retired and againe they made the Maceâ—onians giue backe Finally when as the Lacedemonians were vanquished and put to flight they were slaine heere and there like sheepe Cleomenes saued himselfe in Sparta without any wound beeing accompanied by some of the Horse-men From thence hee retired the night following to Sythia where he imbarqued in certaine shippes which lay long ready for the necessities of the Countrey and sailed with his friends to Alexandria When as Antigonus was entred into Lacedemon finding no resistance hee intreated the Lacedemonians graciously and courteously in all things but especially in suffering them to liue and gouerne their Common-weale after the Lawes of the Country When he had staied certaine daies there he returned into Macedony with his Army hauing newes of the descent of the Sclauonians and of the spoile they made Behold how Fortune disposeth of great affaires as she pleaseth There is no doubt but if Cleomenes had deferred the battell a little or staied in Sparta after his defeate keeping them in hope in the end he had preuailed in his affaires after the retreate of Antigonus Antigonus came from thence to Tegee to whom hee left their Common-weale intire Three dayes after he arriued at Argos at such time as the people were gathered together to celebrate the Nemean games who presently went foorth to meete him All the Citty had their eyes fixt vppon him and beheld him all the World commended him all the assembly of Greece and euery Citty in perticular did him Honour not onely Humane but Diuine From thence he made hast to go into Macedon where as he found the Sclauonians spoiling the Country to whom hee gaue battell and got the Victory after a long combate But hee cried so much during the fight as within few dayes after hee died of a fluxe of blood so as the Grecians lost the great hope they had conceiued not so much for his skill in Warre as for his vertue and royall perfections He left the Realme of Macedony to Philip the sonne of Demetrius But if you demaund of me why I haue helde so long a Discourse of this present Warre you must know I haue done it of purpose For as this time concurres with that whereof wee meane to speake I haue held it fit and necessary to let the World vnderstand according to my first resolution what the estate of the Macedonians and Grecians were at that time At that time Ptolomy died of sicknesse to whom succeeded Ptolomy Philopater The like did Seleucus the sonne of Seleucus who was surnamed Callinice and in like manner Pogon to whom his brother Antiochus succeeded in the Realme of Syria The like in a manner hapned to those which helde the Kingdomes of Alexander after his death as Seleucus Ptolomy and Lysimacus for those died in the hundreth foure and twenteth Olympiade as wee haue formerly related and these in the hundreth thirty nine Seeing wee haue exposed the preparation of all our History and sufficiently declared at what time and how and for what causes the Romanes after the conquest of all Italy assailed forraigne Realmes and what the estate then was of Greece Macedony and the Carthaginians I haue thought it fit to make an end of this Booke with a Commemoration of these actions and this alteration of Kingdomes Seeing that according to our intention we are come vnto the times when as the Grecians made the VVarre of the Allies the Romanes against Hannibal and to that when as the Kings of the lower Asia fought for the Empire of Syria The end of the Second Booke of Polybius THE THIRD BOOKE of the History of POLYBIVS WEe haue shewed sufficiently in the First Booke how that wee haue taken for the beginning and foundation of the Romane actions the VVarre betwixt the Allies that of Hannibal and that of Syria Wee haue in like manner set downe the causes for the which wee haue beene forced in reducing the beginnings farther off to write the History of the Second Booke Now we will indeauour to make you vnderstand the Warres themselues and the causes why they were vndertaken and dispersed in so many places hauing let you vnderstand in as few words as possible we may the attempts of the people of Rome Seeing that which wee haue vndertaken to write is but a Worke and as it were a spectacle that is to say how when and wherefore all the Countries of the VVorld haue beene reduced vnder the obedience of the Romans and that this hath a notorious beginning a prefixed time and the end certaine VVee haue thought it
whole Army whom he called vnto his Tent after supper and made a speech vnto them according to the opportunity of the time declaring vnto them what he had resolued Moreouer he giues euery one of them charge to choose out of all the Troupes nine others like themselues and that they should repaire to a certaine place in the Campe. These presently obeyed the commandment of their Generall Thus Mago accompanied with a thousand Horse and as many Foote and with a guide came to the place of his Ambush being well instructed by Hannibal what hee was to doe At the breake of day Hannibal calls the Numidian Horse-men able to beare labour to whom when he had made a speech and promised great rewards if they carried themselues like braue men hee discouers his Enterprize Hee giues them charge to passe the Riuer of Trebia and to runne vnto the Gates of the Enemies Campe and to draw them forth to fight with their Darts desiring much to surprize them in disorder and to fight with them before they had taken any repast the which he did much esteeme He also giues charge to all the other Captaines appointed for the Combate to feed their men and their horses and commands them to be ready armed attending the sound of the Trumpet But when as Sempronius saw the Enemy approach he first sent out all his Horse-men and after them sixe thousand Darters Finally he drawes all his Troupes to field as if hee meant that day to make an end of the Warre and who for the good fortune which two daies before hee had in fight together with the great number of his men was in hope to get the Victory It was by chance in Winter and did snow that day with a vehement cold Moreouer the Souldiers were come forth in confusion with the Horses and had no great heat neither had they fed And therefore although in the beginning they were ready and resolute yet being entred into the Riuer they came forth wet vnto the brest for that the show which had fallen in the night had made the Riuer swell so as they began to be so afflicted with cold and hunger that as the day came on they were scarce able to hold their Armes In the meane time the Carthaginians oyl'd and warm'd themselues at fires neere vnto their Tents hauing their Horses ready after they had fed well When as Hannibal who had an eye euery where saw that the Enemies had past the Riuer he sets before the Ensignes the stingers of Maiorque and Minorque and those that were lightly armed to the number of eight thousand men and puts the rest of his Army in Battalion When he had marcht about a Mile he sets vpon the wings twenty thousand Foote Spaniards Affricans and Gaules the like he did of his Horse-men who with the Allies that the neighbour Townes of Gaule had sent him were ten thousand men After them on either side were placed the Elephants Then Sempronius caused a retreate to be sounded to call backe the Horse-men lest pursuing the Nuâ—idians inconsiderately they might be suddainly inclosed by them for their custome is to flie here and there at the first charge and to stay suddainly when they thinke good recharging the Enemy with incredible courage and resolution Then hee ordered his Foote men after the manner of the Romans Among the which there were about sixteene thousand Romans and about twenty thousand Latins their Allies for when they were to vndergoe any great Warre and that the two Consuls were ioyned together the perfect number of their Army was of so many thousands Then hee placed three thousand Horse-men vpon the wings When he had thus disposed of his men he marcht in battaile a slow pace scarce mouing The two Armies being neere one vnto the other those that were lightly armed began the fight wherewith the Romans were suddainly opprest All things fore-told good vnto the Carthaginians for the bodies of the Roman Foote were growne feeble with hunger and wearinesse and numm'd with cold Being moreouer slaine by the multitude of Darts which the Numidians cast For their parts they had abandoned their Darts as vnprofitable by reason of the continuall humidity The Horse-men suffred the like with the whole Army Contrariwise the Carthaginians being in their force in good order and fresh were diligent and ready at need Wherefore when as they had made way for their forlorne hope to retire and that the Armies had charged one another the Carthaginian Horse-men fell vpon the Enemies wings and quite defeated them It is true the Romans were weake in their numbers of Horse and the Souldiers were tired with labour and hunger After the rout of the Horse-men the Foote resisted more with the equality of courage then of force But the Numidians besides the Ambush which the Army had past without discouering them shewing themselues vpon the Reare put them in a great amazement yet the Battallions stood firme for a time although they were inuolued with so many miseries But in the end when as the two wings were prest hauing the Elephants in front and that those which were lightly armed had compassed them in they fled directly to the neere Riuer This done when as the Romans which fought in the battell saw their supplies broken they were partly enuironed by them of the Ambush and partly defeated and slaine Others past through the Battalion of the Gaules where were many Affricans making a great slaughter of the Enemies But when as they could neither succour their men nor get to their Fort as well for the multitude of the Enemies Horse as for the swelling of the Riuer and the raine they recouered Plaisance to the number of ten thousand men the rest for the most part were slaine along the Riuer by the Elephants and Horse-men Some few Foote and Horse flying dispersed ouer the Fields drew to Plaisance following the route of the Army The Carthaginians hauing pursued them to the Riuer of Trebeia returned to the Campe for that they could not proceed any farther by reason of the raine being very ioyfull of the victory whereas the losse of Spaniards and Affricans was small and that of the Gaules great But they were so tormented with raine cold that all the Elephants except one and the greatest part of the carriage-horses with many men and horses died After this action Sempronius desirous to couer and conceale so great a losse sent men to Rome to let them vnderstand that the violence of the raine had depriued them of an absolute Victory the which the Romans did easily beleeue But when as within few dayes after they had newes that the Carthaginians held their Army in strength and that all the Gaules held for them abandoning their party and withall that their Army kept the Towne for that it was not well assured within its Fort and that they drew victuals from the Sea by the Riuer of Poe they grew into so great
take a better aduice hauing seene the euent of this Warre I intreate you and exhort you not to enuy your owne safety and liberty nor that of the rest of Greece And when by his Speech as he conceiued somewhat moued the opinions of many Philips Embassadour entred who leauing the things which might be spoken in particular he sayd that he had two points in charge That if the Etoliens brake the peace he was ready to appeale vnto the Gods and to the Grecian Embassadours there present that they were to be held for the Authors of those things which hereafter should fall vpon Greece and not Philip. Glory saith he doth much amaze the Enemy but a reasonable preparation of Armes is of greater seruice for necessity Then they should doe that which is necessry if they transferre the diligence and care which they haue at this day for their apparrell to the preparation of their Armes obseruing in their apparrell the ancient negligence For by this meanes they may giue order for their priuate course of life and preserue their Common-wealth And therefore saith he it is not needfull that he which giues himselfe to Armes and to the profession of Warre should looke when he puts on his Boots whether they be handsome and if his strops and pantables be braue nor whether his Cloake and Iacket be rich when he must put on a Head-peece Beleeue me the danger is manifest which they must expect which haue an exteriour shew in more recommendation then things necessary Finally it were fit they should consider that this curiosity in habits sauoured of a woman I meane that is not much chast where as the charges in Armes and seuerity restraine a good man desiring to preserue himselfe and his Countrey All the assistants found this Speech so good in wondring at the aduice of this remonstrance that after they were gone out of the Court they pointed at those that were richly clad forcing some to leaue the place and finally they prepared themselues to Armes and to make Warre accordingly Behold how one sole Oration pronounced by a man of esteeme and in season not onely retires men from great vices but also incites them to great Enterprizes But if he which giues good aduice leads a life answerable to his words it is necessary that his councell should purchase credit the which happened in this man He was sober and simple in his apparrell and liuing and in the vsage of his body Finally he was of a pleasing speech without enuy and rancour He studied wonderfully to be found veritable in all his life and therefore when he vsed any ordinary speech the Auditors gaue him great credit And as his life serued for an example in all things so the Auditors had no great neede of any long Discourse Wherefore he hath often in few words by his credit and knowledge in things ouerthrowne the long speeches which seemed to haue beene deliuered sufficiently by the Enemies When the Councell was ended euery man retired to his Countrey And in commending as well the man as his words they had a conceite that they could not doe amisse vnder his gouernment Finally Philopemen went speedily to the Cities to make preparation for the Warre Then he trained vp a multitude assembled and when he had not imployed eight Moneths in the preparation of these forces he leads his Army to Mantinea to fight with the Tyrant for the liberty of all Morea Machanides likewise taking courage and thinking to preuaile ouer the Acheins at his pleasure giues the Lacedemonians to vnderstand the things that were then necessary as soone as hee was aduertised of the assembly of the Tegeans at Mantinia Then suddainly the next day at Sun-rising hee takes his way towards Mantinia marching on the right wing with the Legionaries and placing the Mercenaries on the right and left going a slow pace in the beginning of his voyage He addes moreouer Chariots carrying a great abundance of instruments of Warre and Cros-bowes At the same time Philopomen hauing diuided his Army into three he caused the Sclauonians and Corslets to goe forth by the Gate which tends to the Temple of Neptune and withall the strangers and strong men then by that which lookes to the West the Legionaries and the Horse-men of the City by the next Moreouer he seazed with the best of his aduenturers of a little Hill lying right against the City the which extends vpon the way of strangers and the Temple of Neptune And ioyning the Corslets he lodgeth them on the South ordring the Sclauonians in a place neare vnto them Then casting the Legionaries behind them in a round he lodgeth them in the space neare the Ditch which drawes to Neptunes Temple by the midst of the Mantinians Plaine and ioynes vpon the Mountaines neare vnto Elisfasiens He orders moreouer vpon the right wing the Acheian Horsmen of which Aristonete of Dymce had the leading and vpon the hee had all the Strangers hauing their distinct Ordonance amongst them When the Enemies Army approacht he comes to the Legionaries admonishing them in few words but with the efficacy of the present danger But most part of his words were not heard for the multitude prest the cause so much for the affection they bare him and the impetuosity of the people that the Army as it were moued with a certaine diuine fury perswaded him to worke without feare Finally he endeauoured if time would haue permitted him to declare vnto them diligently how this present danger concerned some in regard of infamy and a base seruitude and others in regard of liberty alwayes memorable and glorious Moreouer Machanides instructs first the Battalion of the Legionaries which they call Orthie that it should fight with the right wing of the Enemies Then he marcheth and after he had gain'd a meane space makes the forme of a Snaile and drawes his Army in length putting his right wing in Front to the left of the Acheins In regard of the Targetteers he placeth them before the whole Army with some space Philopomen seeing his attempt who thought by the Targeteers to giue a Charge to the Legionary Bands which offended the Souldiers and caused a great alarum in the Army so as hee delayed no longer making vse in effect of the Tarrentins at the beginning of the Combate neare to Neptunes Temple vpon the Plaine which was commodious for Horse-men Machanides seeing this is forced to doe the like and to cause the Tarrentins which were with him to march Finally they fought valiantly in the beginning But when those that were lightly armed preuailed something ouer them that were weaker it fell out in a short time that the Combate began of either side betwixt the forreine Souldiers And when as they had ioyned together and had fought long like braue men the danger was equall so as the rest of the Armies expecting the issue of the Battaile could not fight there for that many times both the one and the other
of innouation whensoeuer they sent their Souldiers and Commanders out of the Countrey and that Leptine was a man of great reputation and of more credit then any other of the Cittizens and that he was very pleasing vnto the Multitude he held it fit to make an alliance with him to the end he might leaue some report in the Citty for him whensoeuer he should goe to the VVarre and lead an Army out of the Countrey Hauing therefore taken the Daughter of Leptine to VVife knowing well that the old band of forraigne Souldiers were changeable and subiect to mutinies he led his Army of set purpose against the Barbarians who held the Citty of Messina And hauing seated his Campe neere to Centoripe and put his men in battell close vpon the Riuer of Ciamossure he stayed in a place apart all the Horse and Foote of his owne Nation as if he meant to charge the Enemy on the other side suffering the forraigne Souldiers to be defeated by the Barbarians and whilest the others fled he makes his retreate safely with all the Saragossins to the Citty When he had by this pollicy brought his designe vnto an end and had freed his Army of all the Mutines hee makes a great leuy of Souldiers Soone after when as all things were settled in good order Hieron seeing that the Barbarians were growne too audacious and proud of their late Victory he parts from the Citty with an Army of his Countrey souldiers well trained and disciplined and making dilligence he came to Myle where along the Bankes of the Riuer of Longane he fought with them with all his forces Hauing vanquished them and taken their Captaines seeing their pride much abated by this Victory he returnes 〈◊〉 Saragosse with his Army and was by the generall fauour and consent of all the Cittizens saluted King by the Allies The Mamertins as we haue sayd being depriued of the succours of of the Romane Legion and hauing lost so great a Battell their hearts being broken they retire for the most part vnto the Carthaginians and yeeld themselues and their Fort The rest sent vnto the Romans deliuering their Towne vnto them and requiring succours as to those that were of the same Nation The Romans were long in suspence what to doe For they found it strange hauing lately punished their Cittizens so seuerely for violating their faith with the Rhegins to send succours now vnto the Mamertins who were guilty of the like crime They were not ignorant of all these things Yet considering that the Carthaginians had not onely drawne Affricke vnder their obedience by force of Armes but also many places in Spaine and moreouer all the Islands of the Sea of Sardinia and Italy they doubted that their Neighbour-hood would be dangerous if they made themselues Lords of the rest of Sicily They likewise vnderstood that it would be easie to effect if the Mamertins were not relieued And there was no doubt that if Messina had beene deliuered vnto them they would presently haue recouered Saragosse for that they held all the rest of Sicily And as the Romans considered these things they were of opinion that it was necessary not to abandon Messina nor to suffer the Carthaginians to make vnto themselues as it were a Bridge to passe into Italy at their pleasure This was long in debate yet it was not concluded in that assembly for it seemed vnto them as vnreasonable as profitable to relieue the Mamertins But as the Commons much weakned with their former Warâ—es seemed to haue need of rest so the Captaines shewing the great profit that might ensue they resolued to succour the Mamertins This Opinion being confirmed by the Commons presently they appointed Appius Claudius one of the Consuls to passe the Army into Sicily and to relieue the Mamertins who had put out of their Towne aswell by threats as pollicy the Captaine of the Carthaginians which as we haue sayd held the Fort. And they called vnto them Appius Claudius deliuering the Citty into his hands The Carthaginians hung him on a Crosse which had had the Guard supposing that he had yeelded it basely for feare and want of Courage Then suddainly they drew their Sea-army neere vnto Pellore and that at land about the Countrey called Sene holding by this meanes Messina streightly besieged In the meane time Hieron thinking to haue found a good opportunity to chase the Barbarians which held Messina out of Sicily followed the Carthaginians party And going from Saragosse he takes his way to the Towne and layes his Siege on the other side neere vnto Mount Calshidique By this meanes he tooke from the Townesmen all meanes to sally forth on that side But the Consull passing the Sea by night with great danger in the end he arriued at Messina where seeing the Enemy round about it and that this Siege was as dishonourable vnto him as dangerous for that the Enemies were the stronger both by Land and Sea he desired first to try by Embassies sent to both Camps if it might be possible to pacifie things so as the Mamertins might be freed But the Enemies not vouchsafing to heare them he was in the end forced to vndergoe the hazard and resolued first to giue battell to the Saragossins He therefore causeth his Army to march and put it in battell to the which the King likewise came speedily But after that Appius had fought long in the end he preuailed ouer his Enimies pursuing them into their Fort. The Consull after the spoile of the dead retires into the Citty and Hieron being frustrate of all hope recouered Saragosse speedily the Night following The next day Appius Claudius aduertised of the flight of the Saragossins and hauing resumed courage and confidence he had no will to stay but to goe and fight with the Carthaginians Wherefore he commanded his men to be ready and the next day he past early and chargeth his Enimies whereof some were slaine and the rest forced to saue themselues in the neighbour-townes By this meanes the Siege being raiâ—ed he rauaged and spoyled the Countrey to Saragosse and their Allies without danger And after that he had ruined all in the end he besieged Saragosse Behold then for the causes aboue mentioned the first Voyage which the Romane Army made out of Italy And for that we haue held it fit for the entrance of our designe we haue made it our beginning in looking somewhat backe to the times past to the end we may not leaue any occasion of doubt vpon the causes we shall yeeld And in truth I haue held it necessary to declare first at what time and by what meanes the Romans being in extreame danger to lose their Countrey began to grow fortunate And when likewise after they had subdued Italy they began to conquer other Countries to the end that the greatnesse of their Empire which was since may seeme more likely in knowing the beginnings No man must
drawes his Army out of Heracleum and causeth the Numidian Horse-men to march before giuing them charge to skirmish and to doe all their indeauours to draw the Romane Horse-men to fight vpon whose charge they should turne head and not cease to flye vntill they were returned vnto him The Numidians failed not to execute the Command of their Captaine nor to skirmish with one of the Camps to draw them to fight Presently the Romane Horse-men charge them and pursue them indiscreetly But the Numidians obseruing the Commandment flye backe to Hanno and re-charging the Enemy againe slew many chasing the rest vnto their Campe. After these things the Carthaginians marched and planted themselues vpon Mount Torâ— which was not tenne Furlongs from the Enemies Campe. Continuing in this manner for the space of two Moneths they attempted not any thing but skirmished daily with their Arrowes and Darts In the meane time Haniball made fires often in the Night and sent men to Hanno to aduertise him that the Army could endure hunger no longer and that many of his men were retired to the Enemy for want of Victuals Finally Hanno moued by these reasons put his men in Battell wherein the Consull vsed no lesse dilligence in regard of their necessities Either Army drew forth in Battell into an equall place Then they came to combate whereas they charged one another with great fury The Battell was long and cruell Finally the Romans brake the Vanguard and forced them to fly among the Elephants who being terrified opened the rankes of the Carthaginians The Captaines of Hundreds following the Route of the Elephants forced the Enemies to turne head By this meanes the Carthaginians hauing lost the Battell and part of them shine the rest retired to Heracleum and the Romans after the taking of most of the Elephants and all the baggage of the Carthaginians retired to their Campe. But for that they were negligent to keepe a good Guard the night following aswell for the great ioy which men vsually haue for their good fortune as for the toyle of the Battell past Haniball being frustrate of all hope thought this a fit and conuenient time to saue himselfe and his Army for the reason aboue mentioned Wherefore he drew all his forces out of Agragas and passed thorough the Enemies Trenches filling them with straw By this meanes he escaped without any losse and without their priuity At the breake of day when as the Romans 〈◊〉 advertised of this Retreat they followed the Enemy a little but returning soone to take the Towne they gaue an assault vnto the Gates where they found no resistance The whole Army entred and spoyled It was a rich Towne where as the Souldiers tooke many Slaues and got great Wealth When as the newes came to Rome of the taking of Agragas after the defeate of the Carthaginians the Romans lifted vp their Heads and beganne to conceiue greater Designes They did no longer insist vpon the reasons for the which they were first mooued neyther were they satisfied for that they had preserued the Mamertins and Messina or to haue much weakned the Carthaginians in Silily But hoping for greater Matters they desired to chase them away wholly which done they had a great Hope and opinion to inlarge their Empire much They were therefore very attentiue to this businesse and had no thoughts but of Sicily knowing well that they were vndoubtedly the stronger at land After the taking then of Agragas Lucius Valerius and Titus Octacilius being chosen Consulls they were sent into Sicily with a great Army Thus the Warre was in a manner equall for that the Carthaginians were Maisters of the Sea without contradiction whereof this is the reason for after the taking of Agragas most of the Townes which were in the heart of Sicily yeelded to the Romans fearing their Army at Land But when as the Carthaginians Army by Sea was arriued many more Sea-townes yeelded for feare to their Obedience Thus their forces were equall Many times also the Sea coasts of Italy were spoyled by the courses of their Army at Sea the which Affricke did not suffer The Romans considering carefully of these things resolued to fight with their Enemies by Sea This is the thing which hath mooued me most to Write this present Warre more at large to the end the Reader may not be ignorant of this beginning that is to say in what manner and for what causes and in what time the people of Rome were induced to put an Army to Sea and to fight with their Enemy Seeing then that there was no probabillity that the Warre should be otherwise ended the Romans speedily made sixe score Vessels for the Sea whereof a Hundred were Quinqueremes or of fiue bankes and the rest were Triremes It is true that the Quinqueremes were more difficult to make for that they had neuer vsed any such Vessels in Italy vntill that time Wherein the excellency and great courage of the Romans is worthy of admiration considering they had neuer beene inclined to actions by Sea neyther had they euer thought of it vntill that day yet they aduentured it with such courage and resolution as they had sooner fought with the Carthaginians then made triall of the dangers of the Sea Although the others held at that time in that circuite of the World the principallity and commaund of the Sea as formerly gotten by their Predecessours and left it vnto them as an hereditary right which is a singular testimony of the things which we haue Written of the Romans boldnesse and courage Beleeue me when they first aduentured to passe their Army to Messina they were only a Hundred ships of War and moreouer they had not one Galley nor one Briggandine It is true when they vndertooke the Voyage of Sicily with an Army they made vse of the Quinqueremes and Triremes of the Tarrentines Locreins and Neapolitans At that time many Carthaginian Ships scoured the Seas about Sicily whereof a Quinquereme straying farre from the rest was broken by casualty and afterwards taken by the Romans which afterwards serued them for a patterne to make the like so as all their ships were made in that manner Wherefore if this had not hapned they would haue â—ound themselues much troubled in their enterprise Whilest these were a making they did practise a number of men to the Oare after this manner They did set bankes in order vpon the Sand vpon the which the men that were to Rowe were placed being attentiue to the voice of the Patron or Gouernour who was in the middest of them where as they did learne to stretch foorth and pull backe their armes altogether and did draw their Oares in the Sand finally they beganne and ended altogether according to the Patrons whistle By this meanes hauing learned the Arte to Rowe and their ships finished they put to Sea and within few dayes after made a Tryall And when as the Consull Cornelius lately appointed
Commaunder of the Sea Army had giuen charge to the Sea Captaines to draw vnto the Port assoone as the Vessels should be ready he went directly to Messina with seauenteene ships and left the rest vpon the Italian shore whereas hauing made prouision of things necessary for the equipage of his ships he sailes vpon necessity directly to Lipparo sooner then was needfull At that time Haniball Commaunder of the Carthaginians kept his Sea Army at Palermo who being aduertised of the Consuls comming sent one Boodes a Senator of Carthage with twenty ships to draw into that Quarter Who arriuing by night found the Roman ships and besieged them in the Port so as at the breake of day the multitude got to Land But Gneius Cornelius thus vnfortunately surprised could finde no other meanes but to yeild himselfe vnto the Enemy The Carthaginians after this prise returned to Haniball soone after this apparent and new defeate of Cornelius Haniball to whom Fortune was at that time gracious receiued as great a losse He had intelligence that the Romanes Army at Sea which coasted about Italy was not farre from Sicily Wherefore desiring wonderfully to see their number and their order and the manner of the trimming of their ships he takes fifty Vessells and sailes into Italy But for that he had a contrary VVind the which was fauourable to the Romanes by the reason of the Coast of Italy he fell vnaduisedly into their Army which was in order and in Battell where he was suddainly charged so as he lost in a manner all his ships and saued himselfe with very few contrary to his Hope and the opinion of all the VVorld The Romanes after this defeate approached neerer vnto Sicily and being aduertised by the Prisoners of the Consuls ouer-throw they sent speedily to Caius Duellius Consull hauing at that time the charge of the Army by Land Where hauing attended some space and receiued newes that the Enemies Army at Sea was not farre off they all prepared to battell They planted vpon euery one of their ships for that they were ill built and heauy a kind of Engine which was afterwards called a Rauen behold the fashion of this Engine They did set a Pillar or Mast of foure fathome long and nine inches thicke vppon the Prowe the which had also a pulley on the top and one the side was made an assent of boards all along the which was foure foot broade and foure fathome long the passage was turning about the pillar in the two first fathomes of the assent About the which were barres of eyther side to the height of a mans knee and they had set at the end of it an Iron like vnto a pestell which went vp streight the which had on the top of it a King so as altogether seemed as an Engine wherewith they pound things To this Ring was fastned a cord by meanes whereof at the encounter of the ships they fastned the Rauens by the pulley and let them fall vpon their Enemies ships Sometimes at the Prowe sometimes on the side in turning when as they could not assaile them by the flanke and after that the Rauens were fastned within the bands of the ships and that the Vessels were grapled and fast if they found themselues vpon the side they entred it of all sides And if it were by the Prowe they marcht by the bridge two and two to the Combate whereof the first couered their bodies with their Targets and they which followed defended the flankes and held their Targets euen with the bars When as this Equipage at Sea was ready they attended a conuenient time for the battell When as Caius Duelius had beene suddainly aduertised of the mis-fortune of the Commaunder at Sea he left that at Land to the Tribunes of the men of Warre and makes hast to that at Sea And being aduertised that the Carthaginians spoyl'd the Country of Myles hee drew thither with his whole Army But when the Enemy was certayne of his comming they were in great hope thinking the Romanes vnderstood not any thing in Sea-fights Wherefore they drew out to Sea with an Equipage of sixe score and ten Vessels thinking this War not worthy of any order of battell as if they had gone to a certaine booty Whereof this Haniball who as wee sayd retyred his Army by night and past ouer the Enemies Trenches was Commaunder He had a Vessell of seauen bankes which did sometimes belong to Pyrrhus King of the Epirotes When as the two Armies beganne to approach and that their Engines called Rauens were discouered the Carthaginians were a time in suspence for the nouelty Finally whatsoeuer it were without any further reckoning they charge with great fury The ships ioyn'd and grapled so as the Romane souldiers by meanes of their Engines called Rauens entred their enemies ships where there was a great slaughter made of the Carthaginians The rest being amazed at this kind of Engines yeilded you would haue sayd it had beene a battell at Land where the danger is not lesse The thirty Vessells of the Carthaginians which gaue the first Charge were taken among the which was that of the Captayne which we haue sayd had belonged vnto King Pyrrhus Haniball whose Fortune was otherwise then he expected saued himselfe in a little Skiffe The rest of the Carthaginian Army came with great fury agaynst their Enemies as the former had done but when they were aduertised that their first ships had beene taken by the meanes of the Engines they did not charge in Front thinking to auoyde them but came vpon their flanke trusting to the lightnesse of their Vessels thinking by this meanes to auoyde the violence of their Engines but they were made in such sort as of what side soeuer the Enemy approached they could easily grapple with them Wherefore the Carthaginians amazed with the strangenesse of these Engines in the end fled after the losse of fifty of their ships The Romans being now become masters of the Sea contrary vnto their Hope sayl'd about the Sea towards Segestane and raysed the siege which lay before the Towne Then parting from thence they tooke the Towne of Macelle by assault After this battell at Sea when as Amilcar being then Captayne Generall in Sicily of the Army by Land was aduertised remayning at Panorme that there was a great quarrell betwixt the Romanes and their-Allies touching the prowesse and glory of the Combate and that the Allies after they had beene beaten were retired apart betwixt Prope and Termine hee marcht with all speed to the Allies Campe and slew foure thousand by surprize Haniball after all these Fortunes retyred to Carthage with those few ships which he had remaining at the battell Within few dayes after he was dispatch to goe with an Army into Sardinia with some excellent Sea Captaines but he was soone inclos'd in a Port by the Romans and in a manner lost his whole Army And as he had escaped the
day drew forth their Ensignes before the breake of day returning into Gaule along the Sea-shore laden with all sorts of pillage When as Lucius Emilius had retired those which had fled to the Hill he pursued the Gaules with his Army Yet he did not hold it fit to present battell to so great a multitude but rather resolued to attend some opportunity either of time or place where hee might amaze the Enemy or make them abandon the booty in some sort At the same time Caius Attilius tbe other Consull who was lately arriued at â—â—sa from Sardinia landed with his whole Army and marched directly to Rome by the Sea-shore before the Gaules They were not farre from Telamona a Towne of Tuscany when as some of their scouts fell by surprize into the Romans hands who discouered vnto the Consull that the Gaules were not farre off and that Lucius Emilius pursued them These things being vnderstood Caius Attilius wondering at this fortune and hoping partly of the Victory for that Fortune seemed to haue deliuered the Enemy betwixt their two Campes he gaue the Legions to the Tribunes of the Souldiers and gaue them charge to march against the Enemy as much as the opportunity of place would giue them leaue In the meane ttme seeing a little Hill vpon the way very commodious for their Warre to the which the Gaules seemed to tend hee tooke the Horse-men and resolued to get it before them and to vndergoe the danger hoping that if the Romans had the Victory by this meanes they would attribute the honour vnto him The Gaules ignorant in the beginning of the Consuls comming and doubting by the things which they saw that Lucius â—milius had past before night with his horsmen to gaine the Countrey which was aduantagious for the Warre they presently sent all their Horse and some of their most actiue men to recouer this Hill But when they were aduertised by the Prisoners that Attilius held it they presently caused their Foot-men to march and order their battell in the Reare as in the Front for that they saw Emilius followed them in the taile and that the other attended them in front as they had learned by the Prisoners and by the things which had happened They which were with Emilius were not yet confident although it were a common bâ—uite that the Army of Sardinta was arriued at Pisa. But they were assured when as they saw the combat at the Hill for the Enemies were very neere and therefore the Emilian Horse reioyced much and tooke a way by the side of the neerest Hill to goe and succour those which defended it Emilius in the meane time marcht after the Gaules in the same order hee had beene accustomed When the Gaules saw themselues thus inuolued by the Enemies they put vpon the Reare the Gâ—ssates and Milannois against Emilius who followed them and vpon the Front the Pâ—emontois and those which inhabite along the Poe appointing the Bolonians and the Caâ—s with all the baggage apart without the two Battalions and all the pillage vpon a 〈◊〉 Hill with some Horse-men to guard it When they had thus ordained their Battell with two fronts it seemed not onely terrible to bâ—hold but also of a wonderfull efficacy for the combat The Bolonians and Millannois made choice of such as had Breeches and were most at ease in their apparrell But the Gessates for the great courage and wonderfull desire of glory which they had stript themselues and put themselues before the Battalion naked onâ—ly with their Armes hauing a conceit that by this meanes they should be more actiue and disposed to fight For the Bushes which were thicke there would stay them by their Clothes and hinder their fighting First the Combate which was at the Hill was in the sight of both Aâ—mies whereas the Horse men charged one another and fought valiantly There Caiâ—s Attilius was slaine fighting too rashly whose Head was presently carried to the Kings of the Gaules Yet the Romane cauallery fainted not but were the more incensed to fight so as in the end they not onely defended the Hill but defeated all the Gaules Horse-men In the meane time the Foot men approach and the combate began the which was not onely horrible and wonderfull to behold for those that were present but likewise for those which shall heare it spoken of First coâ—sidering that the battell was of three Armies euery man may imagine that the sight was not onely new and fearefull to the assistants but also their manner of fighting Moreouer who will doubt but the Gaules had the worst being chargd as well in the Reare as in the Front Or it may be the better for that they fought altogether against the two Armies and that the two sides repulsed their Enemies so as at the same instant they defended one another And that moreouer they could not passe on not hope for flight backe ward There is no doubt but a Battell with two Fronts hath the benefit that the Souldiers haue no meanes to flye In regard of the Romanes they had hope of Victory for that they saw their Enemies inclosed as it were deliuered into their hands On the other side they feared the fury and order of their Army the sound of Trumpets and Clairons was terrible with the which all the Troope made a great cry and shoute so as there was an incredible noise They could not heare the Trumpets and Souldiers and moreouer the neighbour places seemed to ecchoe forth their cries It was a terrible thing to see the forlorne hope march naked Beleeue me these great naked bodies with their motions vnder their Bucklers were maruelous and fearefull The beauty and riches of their Apparrell gaue also a great luster For the whole Army shined with chaines of Gold and Silkes wouen with purple The which the Romanes obseruing they were partly amazed and partly encouraged with the hope of spoile Finally the taile of the Army which was armed was not gauld by the Roman Archers who doe vsually march before the Battalion But the forlorne hope which fought naked before their Troopes were contrary to all hope much annoyed For they could not couer their great naked bodies with their French Bucklers And therefore the Arrowes fell easily vpon them Finally when they saw themselues thus beaten and could not bee reuenged of the Archers by reason of the distance and for the multitude of Arrowes which flew from all parts they cast themselues like desperate mad-men some vpon their Enemies where they were slaine others retired vpon their owne Troopes who being all bloody daunted the courage of the rest and put them in disorder By this meanes the fiercenesse of the Gessates which made the forlorne hope was abated Then the Milannois the Bolonians and the Turinois maintained the burthen of the battell where they did not fight a fatre off with their Arrowes and Darts as formerly but hand to hand with their Speeres and Swords and
the Combate was as furious as euer any was for euery man performed his duty It is true that their Targets and Swords were not equall For the Gaules Swords were heauy and blunt and their Targets weake The Romanes couered themselues with stronger Targets and carried short Swords and sharpe And therefore the Gaules were still defeated in what manner so euer they fought whether in troope or man to man Yet they stood firme in battell vntill that the Romane Cauellery came downe from the Hill in great fury Then they were broken and slaine here and there The Foot-men died in the place where they had their Stations appointed But the Horse-men fled The Gaules lost in this battell forty thousand men there were onely taken ten thousand with King Congollitane Aneroeste which was the other King of the Gaules fled with some few which followed him to a neighbour-place who some dayes after slew themselues After this defeate Lucius Emilius the Consull sent the Enemies spoyles to Rome and restored the booty to those to whom it did belong From thence he went thorough the Genouois Countrey into that of Bâ—lonia making great spoyles And hauing in a short time inrich't his Army with all sorts of booty he brought it backe to Rome with the Armes chaines and bracelets of gold wherewith hee did adorne the Capitoll being a kind of ornament of gold which the Gaules are accustomed to carry about their wrists and neckes the rest of the spoyles and all the prisoners went before him in triumph Behold those great attempts of the Gaules which the Romans not onely feared but all Italy in like manner came to nothing The Romans hoping now to chase the Gaules out of Italy sent Quintus Fuluius and Titus Manlius late made Consuls with a great Army into Gaule Who at their entry forced the Bolonians to submit themselues to their obedience But they could not proceede in the warre but were forced to retire by reason of the continuall Raine and the Plague Afterwards Publius Furio and Caius Flaminius being created Consuls came againe into Gaule with an Army and after they had receiued the Ananes into friendship which are not farre from Marselles they marched directly into the Country of Milan with their Legions where as the Riuer Ada ioynes vnto the Poe. The Milannois had made a great leuie to repulse their enemyes By whom when the Romans had receiued great losse not onely at the passage of the Riuer but also in fortifying their Campe they parted thence and tooke their way to the Country of the Cenomans where after they had ioyned their Army to theirs for they were their Allies they made a new descent into the Milannois by the higher Country which lookes toward the Alpes ruining all where they past The Princes of Milan hearing the resolution of the Romans to bee immutable resolued to vndergoe the hazard and to fight with them Wherefore after they had drawne an Army together and taken the Ensignes of gold which they call vnmoueable out of Minerva's Temple made prouision of all other things necessary they marcht against them with great assurance planting their Campe â—ight against them to the number of fifty thousand Men. It is true the Romans finding themselues not strong enough were of aduice to call the Gaules to their aide with whom they were in league But for that they feared their reuolt they were to fight with men of the same Nation they held it dangerous to trust in such men in so great a danger and especially to put their safeties in their handsat such a time and in such an action Finally being neere the Riuer they call the Cenomans and cause them to passe When all were past they brake the Bridge depriuing them at one instant of the meanes to ioyne with their Enemies and leauing their Men no hope of safety but in the victory When this was done they put their men in order and offâ—â— battell to the Milannois It seemes the Romanes had ordered this battell discreetly by the aduertisement of the Tribunes for the meanes to fight in troope or man to man For when as their men were in battell they tooke the Pikes from the Triarij and gaue them to such as were in the Front giuing them charge to entertaine the fury of the Gaules vntill their first heate of fighting were spent Which being done leauing their Pikes they should flye to their Swords ordayning it in this manner for that they had seene by the former Warres that the Gaules had a furious poynt and afterwards their hearts were faint and effeminate and that moreouer their Swords as we haue sayd were only fit to giue one blow but afterwards their length grew crooked and the edge turned by reason of the breadth So as if they did not suffer them to set the poynt to the ground and to make them straight againe with their Feete the second blow wrought no effect The Romanes following the Commaund of the Tribunes charge their enemies with great blowes vpon the brest with their Pikes The Gaules on the other side imploy all their fury to cut them Then the Romanes abandoning their Pikes fought hand to hand breaking by this meanes the fury of the Gaules And taking from them all meanes to steppe backe which these people are accustomed to vse in their Charge for that their Swords are blunt and vnprofitable by reason of their length but only to giue one blow a farre off But the Romans by meanes of their short Swords wherewith they did not strike like vnto them but thrust often through the bodies and throates of the Gaules so as they slew a great number Behold how the prouidence of the Tribunes preuailed much without doubt the Consull had not made choise of a place fit to fight Considering that in ordering the battell vpon the Riuer side hee had taken from the Romanes the meanes to march which is vsuall vnto them Wherefore if during the Combate they had beene forced to retyre they had all fallen into the Riuer by the errour of the Consull Yet they had a goodly Victory by their owne forces and retyred to Rome with a great multitude of Prisoners and spoyle The yeare following the Gaules weakned with so many battel 's lost sent an Embassie to the Romanes for a Peace making them goodly promises But Marcus Claudius and Caius Cornelius chosen Consuls vsed all diligence to draw their Army into their Country to the end the Senate should not yeild vnto it Wherefore the Gaules hauing no more hope of peace being as it were in despaire raysed a new Army and intertayned thirty thousand Gessates who as we haue sayd dwell on this side the Rhine hauing them all ready and in Armes attending the descent of the Romanes When as the Consuls were entred the Millannois Country in the Spring they besieged the Towne of Acorras which lyes betwixt the Poe and the Alpes And although it were
not in the power of the Millannois to succour the besieged for that the Romanes held the passages Yet their full intent being to raise the siege they cause a part of their Army to passe the Poe to whom they giue charge to besiege Clastidium a Towne belonging to the Allies of the Romanes hoping by this meanes the Consuls should be forced to rayse their siege But presently when they had the newes Marcus Claudius makes hast with the Horse-men and the most actiue of the foote to succour the besieged When the Gaules were aduertised of the Consuls comming they presently raysed the siege and went resolutely to encounter the Romanes offering them battell At the first the Gaules had the better for that the Romane Horsemen were surprized by theirs But being afterwards environed by the Romane Cauallery they were broken and defeated Many were drowned hauing cast themselues into the Riuer flying the Enemy The greatest part were slaine and the rest taken Prisoners But when they which were besieged in Acerras had notice of the defeate of their men neere vnto Clastidium they retired to Millan the Capitall Citty of the Countrey Then Cornelius hauing goâ—ten the Towne of Acerras well furnished with Corne and all other Munition hee pursued the Gaules and planted his Campe neere vnto Millan And for that the Milannois came not out to fight he drew backe his Army spoyling the Countrey Then the Milannois pursuing them began to charge them in the Reare and make a great slâ—ughter whereof some fled vntill that Cornelius turning head against the Enemy with the Legions encouraged the whole Army to sight Who willingly obeying the Consuls commaundment fell with great fury vpon the Gaules who hauing lately beene so often beaten made no long resistance but presently turned head and recouered the Alpes Cornelius pursued them spoyling the whole Countrey and from thence hee marcht to Millan which he tooke by force and brought it vnder the Romans obedience After all these defeats the Princes of the Gaules seeing there was no more hope in their affaires submitted themselues to the will of the Romans Thus ended the Warre of the Gaules hauing neuer vnto this day heard speake nor read of a greater be it for the obstinacy of courage or the resolution of Souldiers or the cruelty of battels or the great slaughter of men or the greatnesse of Armies Although the counsell the enterprize and the daily aduice were vnprofitables For that the Gaules mannage their affaires by rage and fury not by reason Of whom we might haue considered in how short a time they haue beene chased out of their naturall Countrey by the Romans in leauing them a small portion within the Alpes wee haue thought it good to relate summarily their first attempts the successe of affaires and finally their last ruines For that I hold it fitting for a History to make such accidents knowne to those of future times to the end that our men for want of knowing them may not easily feare the rash descents which Barbarians doe often make and that they rather try their fortune than to omit any thing that is necessary nor to subiect themselues vnto them Certainly such people are easily and without difficulty broken and defeated if they resist their first fury I imagine that they which haue written the Gests of the Persians against the Grecians and of the Gaules against the Delphiens haue done a great fauour to the Grecians to fight for the liberty of the Countrey There is no doubt but a man will not be amazed for riches forces or the multitude of men if he fights for the defence of his Countrey if hee hath before his eyes the actions of those times and consider how many thousands of men what forces and what Armies the virtue of Souldiers with valour and reason hath vanquished broken and defeated The Grecians haue not onely beene â—errified by the Gaules in former times but also many times in our age which is the thing which hath mooued mee most to relate their actions summarily beginning with the Originall But to returne where we left after that Asdruball Generall of the Carthaginians had continued eight yeeres in Spaine hee was in the end traiterously slaine in the Night in his lodging by a Gaule by reason of some priuate hatred Hee was not onely excellent and expert in the Art of Warre but was so eloquent to moue the hearts of men as hee much augmented the Carthaginians Empire Then they gaue the charge of the Army which was in Spaine to Hannibal being then a young Man for that hee had a good beginning and a wonderfull great courage for his age Who at his comming made declaration that hee would bee an Enemy to the Romans the which fell out soone after From that time the Romans and the Carthaginians iealous of one another To speake the truth the Carthaginians grew laboured secretly to surprize them for that they had chased them out of Sicily On the other side the Romans knowing their intent gaue no greate credit vnto them so as it might easily bee conceiued the Warre would soone breake out At the same time the Achaiens with Phillip King of Macedon and their Allies made Warre against the Etoliens which they called the Warre of the Allies As wee haue related the Warre which the Romans made against the Carthaginians in Sicily and in Affricke and the things which followed and being now come according to the order of our preparation to the beginning of the Warre betwixt the Allies and to the second of the Carthaginians which they call the Warre of Hannibal seeing wee haue resolued to begin our course with those times it is reasonable wee should come to the Gests and Exploits of the Grecians to the end that making by this meanes a preparation of all parts wee may begin the History which wee haue resolued on when as wee shall come to the same end of all things As therefore wee haue not vndertaken to write the actions onely of one Nation or another as other Historiographers haue done as of the Grecians or Persians but of all the parts of the world together which are come to our knowledge for that this present time hath beene of great vse whereof we will speake more amply in another place it shall be fitting to make a summary mention of the most knowne Nations and Countries of the whole World before the beginning of our worke In regard of the actions of the Asians and Egyptians it shall bee sufficient to deliuer those of our time considering that many haue written the deeds of times past whereof no man is ignorant Neither is there any thing innouated which is not according to the Commentaries of Historiographers In regard of the people of Achaia and the house of Macedon it is fitting to search out the times past summarily As for that which concernes the Macedonians the proofe will bee easie And as for the Achaiens there hath beene made as wee
hinder him to haue the Victory seeing he hath a greater Troupe of men If he doth not abandon the Citty as it is fitting hee can carry backe his men without danger into his Countrey after that he hath ouer-runne the Champion Leauing a great amazement and terrour to his Enemies and assuring the hearts of his owne Souldiers The which succeeded according to his proiect For when the people saw the whole Prouince thus spoyled they began to blame Antigonus who notwithstanding discharging the Duty of a wise and discreet Captaine would not goe to field Cleomenes in the meane time ouer-ran their whole Countrey without feare By this meanes he returned safely into his Countrey after that hee had at pleasure ruined the Prouince and left a great amazement amongst the Argiues and made his owne men more hardy for the future VVarre But when the Spring came the Macedonians and the Acheins returning from wintering went to field Antigonus marcht to Laconice with his Army consisting of ten thousand Macedonians three thousand Archers three hundred Horse a thousand Bowmen and likewise as many of the Gaules Moreouer three thousand Foote which were Mercinaries with three hundred Horse and about a thousand Megalopolitains armed after the manner of the Macedonians whereof Cerciâ—es had the leading As for the Allies hee had two thousand Foote of Bauâ—ere and two hundred Horse a thousand Foote of the Epirâ—tes and fifty Horse and as many of the Acarnanians and besides all these a thousand and sixe hundred Sclanonians whereof Demetrius of Phare was Captaine Thus the whole Army consisted of twenty eight thousand Foote and twelue hundred Horse Cleomenes being aduertised by his Spies of the Enemies descent hee placed forces vpon the passages by the which they might enter into his Countrey fortifying them with Trenches and Trees cut downe And hee himselfe went with his Army to a passage which they call Sellasia thinking as it happened that the Enemy would take that way His Army was about twenty thousand men There were two Mountaines in this passage whereof the one is called Eua by the people of the Countrey and the other Olympus There is a way betwixt both which runs along a Riuer vnto Sparta When as Cleomenes had lodged himselfe in these two Mountaines and had carefully fortified them with Trenches and Pallisadoes hee put the Souldiers which were drawne together with the Allies into Eua whereof his Cozen Euclide had the Commaund and stayed himselfe in that of Olympus with the Lacedemonâ—ans and Mercenaries Moreouer hee placed his Horse-men in the Plaine with some of the Mercenaries vpon the two Bankes of the Riuer When as Antigonus was come into those places and finding the scituation of them and the wonderfull industry of Cleomenes to dispose of his Army hee was not resolued to fight at that time And therefore hee camped neere vnto him vpon the banke of the Riuer of Gorgile whereas staying some dayes hee turned about the Countrey and the Enemies Campe and sought to draw them to battell by skirmishes But when hee found nothing without defence for that the Prouidence of Cleomenes had carefully rampired all places hee gaue ouer his enterprize But in the end they resolued by a common consent to make an end of their Warre by a battell Behold how Fortune had drawne together two great Captaines equall in virtue Counsell and Wisedome Thus Antigonus opposed in Front to those which held the Mountaine of Eua the Macedonians with their Targets and the Sclaâ—onians and hee put the Leginaries in diuers bands to succour the one and the other to whom hee gaue for Commaunder Alexander the Sonne of Ameta and Demetrius of Phare After these marcht the Acarnanians and they of Candy Finally he placed two thousand Acheins for a supply to succour them at need Then he set his Horse-men neere vnto the Riuer-side in Front of the Enemies Horse whereof Alexander had the charge with two thousand Foote-men As for Antigonus hee lodged neere vnto Mount Olympus with the bands of Aduenturers and the Macedonians where hee resolued to fight with Cleomenes VVhen hee had put the Mercenaries into battell hee caused the Battalion of the Macâ—donians to march The place which was straight would not suffer them to doe otherwise They had giuen charge to the Sctauonians to begin the battell as soone as they should see a white cloth which should be aduanced neere vnto Mount Olimpus at the foote whereof they lodged at Night vnder the Riuer of Gorgile The Megalopolitains also with the Horse-men were to enter the combate as soone as they should see a purple Robe aduanced in the Aire from the Kings Quarter The houre of the battell was now come the Sclauonians had already discouered Antigonus signe They encourage their Companions according to the opportunity of the time making no doubt but they had the victory in their hands Then they endeauoured with wonderfull resolution to gaine the Mountaine But the Foote-men which were lightly armed whom Cleomenes as wee haue sayd left in the Plaine with the Horse-men seeing that the Bands of the Acheins had not the courage to second them charg'd them vpon the Reare so as they were in great danger For on the right hand and in Front Euclide had the better with his men and the Mercenaries on the left hand fighting obstinately made a great spoile vpon the Reare By this meanes they were suddainly enuironed with two Troopes of Enemies When Philopomene the Megalopolitaine saw this disorder hee suddainly gaue good aduice to the Captaines But for that hee was a young man and had neuer had charge they gaue no eare vnto him Wherefore addressing himselfe to those of his Nation Companions sayth hee the Victory is ours if you will follow mee And in charging the Enemies Horse they assailed them with great courage Wherefore the Aduenturers strangers who fought in the Reare of those which assail'd the Mountaine hearing a great noise and seeing the Combate of the Horse-men retired to aide and succour them whereunto they had beene at the first ordained The order of the Enemies being by this meanes broken the Sclauonians and Macedonians with others whom Antigonus had appointed fell vpon them with great violence and fury So as afterwards all the World was of opinion that the industry and courage of Philopomene had defeated Euclide at that time And therefore they say that when as Antigonus demaunded of Alexander why hee had sent the Horse-men against the Enemy before hee had seene the signe and that hee had answered it was not hee but a young Megalopolitaine which had done it without his priuity hee then replied that this young man had performed the duty of a good Captaine and Alexander that of a young foole But they which kept the toppe of the Mountaine with Eucelide shewed their basenesse seeing the Enemies ascend for they should not haue attended vntill they had gain'd the top with safety But relying vpon the aduantage
by reason of the Ford it seemed good for that the Riuer diuided it selfe in two They suddainly cut downe wood and made floates sufficient to passe the men and other things necessary By this meanes they past the Rhone without danger or impeachment Afterwards they recouered a place strong by nature where they refresht themselues a day for the toile which they had taken aswell for their march by night as for the paines they had indured being all attentiue to affect their enterprize in time Hannibal likewise made hast to do the like with the rest of the Army But he was troubled to passe the Elephants being thirty seauen in number The night following they which had past the Rhone marching along the Riuer side at the breake of day approached neere vnto the Barbarians who as we haue sayd were there assembled Hannibal on the other side hauing his men ready commaunds them all to be reâ—olute to passe and that they should put the Horse-men prepared for the Combat in Boates to the end that being past they might serue if necessity required And that the most actiue and nimblest foot-men should enter into the Skifs And to the end they might passe with more ease and safety and might the better breake the vehemency of the Waues he placed Boates aboue the Riuer to breake the Violent and swift course He also caused three or foure Horses to be tyed to the Poope to swim it ouer and there were two men set of either side of the Poope By this meanes the greatest part of the Horses had bin past in the first Voyage The which the Barbarians seeing they came out of their Fort and runne vnto the shore in a great throng and without order as if they should easily defeat the Enemies But after that Hannibal had stayd a little and seeing his men approach by the smoake that they cast according to his appointment he gaue a signe to his whole Army to passe the which the Carthaginians seeing they laboured with all their power to passe the Riuer with great cries and to breake the Violence of the streame so as euery one laboured to passe first When as the Carthaginians held the two Bankes and past the riuer with great noise the Gaules endeauouring with great fury to ressist them crying and singing after their manner The Charge was terrible for the time and the Combat horrible to see All the Gaules were run downe vnto the Riuer and had left their Tents Hanno arriues presently with his Troupe whereof one part fals vpon their Campe and the other Charges them in the reare The Gaules being amazed at this suddaine accident recouer a part of their Campe to keepe it from the Enemies the others were no lesse attentiue in the Combate When Hannibal saw his enterprize succeed so happily he incourageth his Souldiers putting them in minde of their auncient prowesse and perswading them to repulse the Enemies couragiously Whereupon they fall vpon them with great fury Finally the Gaules retired into their Villages with a shamefull flight for that they had begun the battell without order and had bin terrified by the surprize which Hanno made with his Legion When as Hannibal had at one instant vanquished the Riuer and his Enemies he causeth the rest of his Army to passe at leasure And being all past in a short time he planted his Campe without feare of the Gaules and spent the night in peace vpon the Riuer side Three dayes after he was aduertised of the entry of the Roman Consull with his Army at Sea into the mouthes of Rhone Wherefore he sent fiue hundred Numidians to discouer the Enemies to view their numbers and to learne what they resolued In the meane time he giues order vnto the maisters of the Elephants to be carefull to passe the Rhone And hauing drawne his men together he causeth the Kings to be called who were come vnto him from Gaule which lyes beyond the Poe. Who speaking vnto the whole Campe by an Interpreter aduised them to passe the Mountaines promising that both themselues and the rest of the inhabitants of Gaule should giue them both aide and assistance That the waies were safe and well furnished with all things necessary And that moreouer the mountaines were not very difficult to passe and they should finde the places where they were to goe abounding in all things Besides they should finde such Allies whose Courage in times past was not a little feared by the Romans After these or the like words the Kings presently retired Then Hannibal entring into the Assembly he shewes them first their Actions past wherein following his Councell and opinion they had bin alwaies Victorious And that Fortune had neuer bin auerse vnto them Moreouer he intreates them to be of good courage being assured that they had ended the greatest of their Labours hauing past so dangerous a Riuer considering the good affection of their Allies who were ready and prepared Finally that they should lay the burthen of affaires vpon him shewing only their Obedience where it should be needfull with a remembrance of his Vertue and Prowesse which he had performed with so great resolution His speech being ended seeing the ioyfull Countenance of his men carrying the shew of resolution he commended them all Then hauing made his prayers vnto the gods according to their manner he retired and sent them away to feed giuing them charge to be ready to part the next day The Company was scarce dismist when as the Numidians who as wee haue sayd had beene sent to discouer returned defeated and broken by the Enemy for as they encountred neere vnto their Campe the Roman Cauallery whom Scipio had sent for the same cause they charged one another with such fury as there were slaine seauen score Horse as well Romans as Gaules and aboue two hundred Numidians The Romans pursuing the Carthaginians vnto their Campe where hauing diligently obserued all they returned to the Consull and reported certaine newes of the Enemy and of the Combat they had with the Numidians Which things being heard Publius Cornelins seeing that his stay there would bee of no great moment imbarkes his Baggage and parting with all his Troupes along the Bankes of Rhone and makes haste as if hee would giue battell to the Enemy Three dayes after that Hannibal had made his Oration to the Souldiers at the breake of day hee sets all his Horsemen vpon the Sea-shore as it were for a guard and causeth the Foote-men to march a slow pace being parted from their Campe vsing the greatest diligence he could possible to passe the Elephants For the effecting whereof hee tooke this aduice Hee made prouision of many floats and tied two together from the Land vnto the Riuer being fifty foote broade to the which they added two others on the side of the Bankes The which they tied fast vnto Trees which were vpon the Bankes to the end they might swimme safely their length
a manner are inaccessible Where Hannibal being arriued hee found two Brothers in quarrell for the Kingdome and their Armies fronting one another But being called by the eldest and increased to restore him to his Fathers inheritance he obeyed him thinking it would assist him much in his Enterprize And when hee had chased away the younger and put him in possession of his Realme hee had not onely store of victuals and abundance of all things for a recompence But moreouer they were furnished with all sorts of Armes and other furniture whereof the roughnesse of the cold Mountaines forced him to make prouision His Army and himselfe were likewise conducted safely by the King and his forces through the Sauoyards Countrey vnto the Mountaines which was a great benefit to him When he in ten daies after his departure from the Rhone had march't labou◠an hundred miles he began to ascend the Mountaine where he was in great danger It is true that whilest the Carthaginians past the Plaine the Lords of Sanuoy suffered them to goe on quietly partly fearing their Horse-men and partly the Gaules forces which did accompany them But when as they were retired to their houses and that the Carthaginians began to ascend the rough and steepe Mountaines then they drew together in great multitudes and seiz'd vpon the passages by the which Hannibal must of necessity goe And if they had layed seattering ambushes in the Valleyes and had charg'd them suddainly without doubt they had made a great slaughter of the Carthaginians But being discouered by Hannibal they did not so much annoy the Enemy as themselues For when he found that they held all the passages he causeth his Army to stay and lodging among the Rocks and hollow places he sent some no the Gaules that were with him to visite the places and to discouer the Enemies intention and and preparations Being aduertised by them that the Enemy stayed there onely in the day and that by night euery man retired to his house to a Towne which was neere by he vsed this inuention At the breake of day hee recouers the Hills with his whole Army as if he had an intent to force through the Enemy But when he was neere vnto them he setled his Campe and fortified himselfe And when hee found the Villains of the Mountaines had retired themselues from their Hills he makes many fires in his Campe leauing the greatest part of his Army there and steales through the streights with the best and ablest men of his Army staying vpon those Hills which the Enemy formerly held This done when the Villaines of the Mountaines saw it 〈◊〉 the breake of day they made a stand for a time But finding that the baggage and the multitude of Horse-men disordered the Army in the streights thinking likewise that the least amazement were sufficient to defeated them they charge them in diuers places by the inaccessible Rocks Then the Carthaginians were not so much annoyed by the Enemy as by the difficulty of the place for that the Horses and baggage made a great spoile of men and goods For as the streights were of either side sleepe and like a Gulfe many Horses fell with their burthens a wonderfull height The Horses being strucke or hurt were wonderfully troubled the way being narrow falling partly for feare and partly for the griefe of their hurts The which Hannibal seeing and thatthere was no hope in flight after the losse of his baggage he descends with great fury from the place where he had remained all night And although he gaue a great defeate to the Enemy yet he slew many of his owne For the motion increasing on either side many fell Finally after that the Sau. yards had beene slaine some in fighting and some in the route Hannibal past the rest of his Horse and baggage with great paine and trouble And hauing drawne together the rest of his Army hee marcht to the Citty from whence the Sauoyards had sallied the which he tooke without resistance finding no man in it It was a great reliefe vnto him for all things necessary not onely for the present but for the future for he carried away a great number of Horses and Prisoners and victualled his Army for three daies with Corne and Cattell Amazing the other Inhabitants of the mountaines who durst not make the like attempt Which was a thing more to be esteemed He staied there one day and parting with his Army he march't but little the two daies following and on the fourth he was againe in great danger He was come vnto a place among the Mountaines very well peopled with Inhabitants who altogether had Conspired to deceiue the Carthaginians Wherefore they go to meet Hannibal carrying Garlands of Flowers which is a signe of friendship and peace among the Barbarians like vnto the Caducei among the Grecians Hannibal did not thinke it fit to giue credit easily vnto them and inquires what their will and intent was Who answered that they did like well of the taking of the Towne and the defeate of the Gaules who were Enemies vnto them And as for themselues they would obey his will and would not do nor suffer any ourrage promising to giue him Hostages for the assurance of their promises And although that Hannibal was long in suspence what to do yet he considered that he might happily pacifie the Barbarians if he accepted these Conditions and if he refused them they would declare themselues his Enemies Wherefore in giuing them a gracious answer he makes shew to receiue their Alliance And when they had not only giuen him Hostages but furnished him with abundance of Victuals and put themselues into his hands Hannibal had so great Confidence in them as he made no doubt but to make vse of them for Guides in difficult places When they had marcht two daies and were come vnto a streight Valley hauing the Mountaine on one side the Carthaginians were in danger to be wholy defeated For that the Barbarians fallied from all sides out of their Ambushes If Hannibal who had not yet so great confidence in the Gaules and who fore-saw future things had not put the Elephants and Horse-men in the foreward and had followed in the Reare with the force of his foot-men hauing an Eie ouer all By this supply the losse proou'd the lesse yet it was great both of Men Horses and Baggage for the danger was so great as Hannibal was inforced to continue a whole night there with halfe his Army without his Cauallery of Baggage For that the Enemy held the top of the Mountaine which was very neere vnto them rolling downe pieces of the Rocke into the Army and sometimes casting stones The day following when the Gaules began to grow cold he recouered the Mountaine ioyning with his Horse and Baggage Then the Gaules presented themselues no more to Battell charging like Theeues sometimes in the foreward sometimes in the Reare as time and place gaue
the Alpes hath lost two parts of his Forces And the rest is so tired and broken with toile hunger cold and pouerty as they can hardly support themselues and the remainder of his Horses if any be escaped are so worne with labour and the tedious wayes as they could not make vse of them Finally it sufficed the Romans onely to present themselues and that moreouer his presence should with reason make them more resolute seeing that he had not left the Army at Sea nor the affaires of Spaine nor had not transported himselfe thither with such speed going so great a circuite both by Sea and Land if he had not knowne it necessary for the Countrey and the victory to be certaine The Army being inflamed with this Speech and making shew of a resolution to fight Scipio commending their good will sent them away and gaue them charge to feed and to be ready and in Armes at the sound of the Trumpet and Drumme Three daies after the two Commaunders marcht with their Army along the Riuer on the side of the Mountaines The Romans had the left hand and the Carthaginians the right And when as the day following they were aduertised by their Spies of their approach one vnto another they stayed The third day after the two Commaunders fronted one another with all their Horse Scipio being moreouer accompanied with men that cast Darts chosen out of the bands of foot-men The which they did to discouer the number of the men and what they were But when they came to affront one another and the dust beginning to rise by reason of the Horses they presently prepared themselues to Battell Scipio puts in Front the Gaulish horse-men with those that Darts and appointed the rest to second them marching a slow pace In regard of Hannibal he makes his point of the strongest of his horse-men and presents it to the Enemy casting the Numidians vpon the Wings But when the two Armies began to enter the Combat furiously they had scarce begun the Crie but the Darters fled without any fight and passing through their supplies they recouered the Battell They were in truth amazed at the violent charge fearing to be ouerthrowne by the encounter of the Horse-men In the meane time the Combat was great betwixt the Horse-men for both the one and the other fought with great courage which made the Battell to continue long in suspence There was fighting both on horse-backe and on foot for that many had left their horses in the Battell And when as the Numidians in turning about had fallen vpon the reare of the Darters who in the beginning had fled from the fury of the Horse-men they were inuironed by them and defeated in great Troupes They also which fought with the Carthaginian Horse-men after they had receiued great losse of their men and slaine many of their Enemies in the end they gaue backe for that the Numidians charged in the reare Some were dispersed here and there others retired to the Campe in a throng sauing the Consull who was wounded in the middest of the Troupe from thence Scipio Commaunded his men to follow him without noise and marcheth with his Army to the Bridge which he had made vpon the Poe there to passe without tumult or danger but when he saw the fields about the Poe so great and spacious and that the Carthaginians were stronger in horses and being moreouer troubled with the Wound which he had receiued he held it the safest course to passe his Army before the Enemy should pursue him Hannibal made his account that the Romans would fight sometime with their foot-men but when he was aduertised of their flight and that abandoning their Fort they had past the Poe by a Bridge which they had made he pursues them with speed The end of the Bridge was already broken and the guard was yet remaining of the which he presently tooke about sixe hundred Hannibal aduertised that the rest of the Army was not farre off hee returnes to his Fort seeking carefully for a place fit to make a Bridge The which two daies after he found with great difficulty and then effected it ioyning many floats together Afterwards he gaue the Charge to Asdrubal to passe the Army whilst that he busied himselfe to heare the Embassie of the Gaules which were come vnto him from diuers neighbour Countries For as soone as it was bruted that the Romans had bin defeated by the Carthaginians all the neighbour Gaules made hast to ioyne with Hannibal as they had formerly resolued and to giue him succours and to go to the Warre After he had giuen them a good reception he past his Army beyond the Poe and takes his way along the Riuer hoping more easily to ouer-take the Enemy When as Scipio had led his Army to Plaisence which was a Roman Collony he had a care to cure those that were Wounded and thinke of a place whither he might lead his Army The third day after that Hannibal had past the Poe he puts his men in order before Plaisence in view of the Enemies and presented them Battell And when as no man offered himselfe he Camp'd hauing found a conuenient place within sixe miles of them The Gaules who had come to succour Scipio seeing better hopes with the Carthaginians resolued among themselues to abandon the Romans And when at mid-night they found all men asleep they being in Armes in their Tents they part and kill'd most of the Romans they met in their way cutting off some of their heads Finally they retired to the Carthaginians to the number of two thousand foot and two hundred Horse Being graciously receiued and inflamed with hope of good Hannibal sends them home to their Houses to the end they might make those things knowne and induce their Country to seeke the Alliance of the Carthaginians He saw plainly that of necessiy they would leaue the Roman party considering the foule crime which their men had committed Moreouer there was an Embassie come from the Bolonians deliuering vnto Hannibal the Triumviry who as wee haue formerly said had bin sent by the Romans to diuide the Lands being taken by Treason Hannibal commending their good affection makes an Alliance with them and restores vnto them the Triumviry to serue them as a meanes to retire their Hostages as they had formerly resolued Scipio being troubled not so much for the Treason of the Gaules and the slaughter of his men but for that he fore-saw that all the Gaules Country which had bin a long time Enemy vnto the Romans would reuolt which made him study how to giue order in time for his Affaires Wherefore the night following about the breake of day he dislodg'd without noise and seated his Campe neere vnto the Riuer of Trebia on the highest Hils of the Country relying vpon the scituation of the place and the multitude of their Allies inhabiting thereabouts Hannibal being aduertised of his Enemies flight he causeth the
from returning Finally the whole Army was in great trouble and paine and they languished the more for that they had watch'd foure daies and three nights going through the Waters But amongst all the rest the Gaules were most tormented Most part of their carriage Horses falling into the Mire dyed seruing the tyred Souldiers to rest themselues vpon and the baggage lying downe vpon them in the Water so as they tooke their necessary rest some part of the night Many Horses also lost their hoofes by their continuall going in the mire Hannibal could hardly escape the moares but that he was carried vpon an Elephant which was onely remaining Who by a great paine in his eyes which had hapned by the bad condition of the Ayre in the end hee lost an eie for that he had neither time nor place to prevent it After that he had past the Moares contrary to the opinion of all the World and was aduertised by his Spies that Flaminius was about the Wals of Aretzo he planted himselfe neere vnto the Marishes partly to refresh his army being tyred with so great toyle and likewise to learne the Resolution and forces of the Enemy with the scituation of the Country and Wayes But being aduertised that among the Regions of Italy that was very fertile and that the Champaigne betwixt Aretzo and Fesula was very rich in Corne and all other things necessary and that moreouer the Consull was a proud man affecting the applause of the people but without experience of Warre and relying much vpon Fortune he thought it fit that in leauing the enemy on the left hand he should drawe towards Fesula to spoyle the Country of Tuscany being conceited that the Consull for the naturall desire he had to purchase the fauor the people would neuer suffer the Country to bee spoi'd Nor attend his Companion as desiring him not in things well done But contrariwise would follow him wheresoeuer he went without feare hauing a desire to fight By this meanes he foresawe good opportunities to giue Battaile making therin a wise and politique discourse of future things Beleeue mee he is deceiued that thinkes any duty greater in a Captaine then to discouer the opinion and Nature of the enemy For as you must obserue in a Combate betwixt man and man the place where you meane to strike and consider diligently where he lies open and discouered So in a great Warâ—e you must seeke the Enemy not so much to vnderstand where the the parts of the body are naked but by what meanes you may discouer the Nature and proceedings of the Generall There are many which not onely forget the publicke Affaires by a dulnesse and negligence but also many times those which concerne their priuate Liues Others subiect to Wine cannot rest vntill they be drunke and some giuen too much to women not only ruine Townes and Common-weales but also their Liues with infamy Moreouer Cowardize and feare in priuate men is full of Reproach and disgrace but in a Commaunder it is sometimes the cause of great losse Ouerweening rashnesse Choller and vaine bragging is preiudiciall and profitable to the Enemy Beleeue me such kind of men doe easily fall into the Snares and Ambushes of their Enemies And therefore if any one hauing discouered the Vices of the Enemy findes some occasion whereby he may circumvent the Generall he may easily preuaile ouer the rest For as an Enemy doth easily boord a Shippe when it is without a Gouernour So if any one during the Warre defeates a Commaunder by his Iudgement and good aduice hee will soone be master of the rest of the Army As Hannibal had made this Discourse of the Roman Consull so he was not deceiued in his opinion for parting with all speede thorough the Fesulans Countrey leauing the Enemy behind he began to put all Tuscany to fire and Sword The Consull inflamed herewith thinking that the Enemy made no account of him holding it a great dishonour to suffer the Goods of their Allies to bee thus spoil'd aâ—d carried away before his face could not take any rest And therefore although that many aduised him not to pursue Hannibal nor to fight with him but to keepe his Horse and foote entire vntill the comming of his Companion to the end that both Armies being ioyned they might mannage the Warre by a common Councell hee would not doe any thing giuing them no other answere but that they should consider what the people of Rome would say seeing the Enemy Camp'd in the middest of Italy and march directly to Rome without resistance they sleeping in Tuscany at his backe Hauing vsed this Speech he began to pursue the Enemy after that he had suddainly drawne his Troupes together without consideration either of time or places desiring onely to fight as if the Victory had beene certaine He had put his whole Army in hope of winning the Battaile so as there were more which charged themselues with chaines and fetters and such like things then with armes to fight Hannibal marching directly to Rome spoil'd all the Champaigne Country which lies betwixt the Towne of Cortone and the Lake of Perouze vsing all manner of cruelty to draw the enemy to fight But when he had newes of Flaminius pursuite with his Army seeing the place conuenient to lay his Ambushes hee began to prepare himselfe for a battaile There was a large plaine enuironed round about with high Mountaines ioyned together hauing within it a lesser Hill which was painfull and difficult and behind lies the Lake of Perouze betwixt the which and the Mountaines there is a narrow passage whereby they enter into the plaine Hannibal gaines these first Hils planting his Campe there and lodgeth with the Spaniards and Affricans laying behind the Mountaines the Souldiers of Maiorque and Minorque with others that were lightly armed He doth also place in the streight the Horse-men with the Gaules to the end that as soone as the Romans should be entred they should be wholy inuironed by the Lake and Mountaines opposing the Horse-men in Front And hauing thus disposed of his men in the night he went to take his rest Flaminius pursuing his enemy with great heate came vnto the Lake before the Sun setting and the next day early began to lead his Army through the streight The day was thicke and misty by reason of a Fogge which came from the Lake and the Neighbour mountaines When as Hannibal saw the greatest part of the Army entred into the Plaine and that the fore-most approached neere vnto him hee then gaue his men a signe of battaile Which done they fall vpon them that were neerest The Romans were amazed at this suddaine surprize for that the mist hindred their sight and with all the Enemies charg'd them on all sides at one instant so as they could not put themselues into battaile nor make vse of their Armes nor scarce know what had beene done being assailed by some in front by
time very fearefull These are no strange things but vsuall and well knowne vnto those that doe obserue them Wee likewise see many men in hunting to bee wonderfull hardy against the cruellest sauage Beasts that can bee found whom if you leade to the Warre against the Enemy would be found Cowards and faint hearted You shall likewise finde many in the Warre which are resolute to fight man to man but in pitcht Battaile are of no esteeme It is certaine that the Horse-men of Thessaly being ioyned together are not to bee forc't in a Battaile but if you charge them by small Troupes it is easie to cut them in peeces the which is contrary in the Etoliens They of Candy are the most actiue men in the World as well for Combate at Sea and Land for Ambushes Robberies Rapines surprizes in the Night and for all manner of deceipts But in a pitcht Battaile they are faint-hearted Cowards and of no seruice To whom the Acheins and Macedonians are quite contrary I haue deliuered these things in few words to the end that no man should maruaile nor giue lesse credit to the History if sometimes wee shew that one and the same man hath carried himselfe diuersly in the like affaires Let vs now returne where wee left After the assembly had beene made at Megalapolis of able men for the Warre the Messeniens came againe to the Acheins intreating them to helpe and assist them being so apparently wronged by the Etoliens and desiring withall if it were their good pleasure to bee receiued into their league hereafter to beare the necessary charges for the preseruation thereof The cheife of the Acheins make answere that as for the alliance they could not hearken vnto it for that it was not in their power and ability to receiue or fauour any one without the consent of Philip and the other Allies For that the accord continued yet firme which had beene made in the time of the Cleomenique Warre vnder the command of Antigonus betwixt the Acheins Epirotes Phocenses Macedonians Beociens Arcadians and Thessalians And yet they would willingly giue them succours so as they will giue their Children for hostages vnto the Acheins promising neuer to make peace nor any accord with the Etoliens without the consent of the Acheins It is true the Lacedemonians had drawne downe an Army neere vnto Megalopolis not so much in regard of their Alliance as to see the euent of the Warre When as Arate had thus concluded with the Messeniens he sends an Embassie to the Etoliens signifying vnto them to retire their Army out of the Messeniens Countrey and that hereafter they should doe them no wrong nor touch the Acheins Countrey And if they did otherwise hee declared himselfe their Enemy Scope and Dorimache hauing heard the Embassadours charge and being aduertised of the preparation of the Acheins thought good to yeeld vnto Arate Wherefore they sent Letters presently into Cylene to Aristo chiefe of the Etoliens requiring shipping and two daies after they parted causing the Baggage to march before taking their way towards the Elienses a people which had beene alwayes faithfull to the Etoliens But Arate thinking simply they had gone away as they had resolued gaue leaue to all his Bands to retire vnto their houses and went directly to Patras accompanied onely with three thousand Foote and three hundred Horse which were vnder the charge and command of Taurion to cut off the Enemies retreate Dorimache being aduertised and fearing they should hinder the passage hee sent all the booty with a good Conuoy to the ships giuing charge to those which had the conduct that they should come and meete him at Rhie where he had resolued to imbarke When he had conducted the booty a little way hee presently turnes head and comes to Olympia Being there aduertised that Taurion was about Clitoria with his Troupes fearing that he should not be able to imbarke at Rhie without fighting or danger hee held it best to fight presently with Arate who had but small Troopes and was ignorant of his Enterprize Hee conceiued that hee should make his retreate safely that way which he had resolued if he defeated the Enemy in running the whole Prouince before the Acheins should make a new head and if they fled the Combate for feare hee should passe where hee pleased without danger Dorimache moued with these reasons seated his Campe neere vnto Methydrie which is not farre from Megalopolis The Acheins aduertised of the comming of the Etoliens made so little vse of those things which were visible as they forgot nothing that might augment and increase their folly First in leauing Clitoria they planted their Campe neere vnto Caphies And when as the Etoliens parting from Methydrie had pastat Orchomene the Acheins marcht by the Countrey of the Caphiens being inclosed with a Riuer as with a Rampier The Etoliens fearing to fight with the Enemy according to their first resolution as well for the difficulty of the places for there were before the Riuer Ditches and inaccessible places as for the comming of the Acheins They marcht vnto Oligâ—rte in good order being loath that any one should force them to runnne into danger When as the Bands of Horse-men followed them vpon a Plaine neere vnto them Arate sent the Foot-men that were lightly armed after the Horse-men vnder the conduct of Acarnane giuing them charge to fight with them and to trie the Fortune wherein hee committed a great errour for seeing hee had an intent to fight he should not haue charged them in the Reare for that they were not farre from the Mountaines but in front before they should haue gotten the top By this meanes the Battaile had beene in the Plaine Whereby vndoubtedly the Etoliens had beene defeated by reason of their kind of Armes and order Contrariwise Arate by bad aduice left vnto the Enemies the opportunity of the place and of time which was offred him When as the Etoliens saw the Acheins march they vsed all diligence to gaine the Mountaine making haste to ioyne with their Foote-men Arates men not duely considering what had beene done and being ignorant of the Enemies enterprize when they saw the Horse-men runne they sent those that were lightly armed of two wings thinking it had beene a flight and giue them charge to succour the Horse and Foote Then Arate marched with the rest much discontented making a long wing The Etolien Horse-men approaching to the Foote of the Mountaines began to march a slow pace and called downe their Foote-men with great cries who comming suddainly to succour them and seeing they were not fewer in number then the Enemy they turned head against the Achein Horse-men and charged them for that they had an aduantage in the number of men and the opportunity of the place The Combate was fierce on either side and the victory for a time was in suspence Finally the Achein Horse-men were repuls'd And when
the Gods had beene by the aduice of one of them It is true that this was done contrary to the course of Arates life during the which hee neuer did any thing rashly nor without consideration whereas Demetrius did alwayes the contrary There are likewise particular presumptions thereof whereof we will speake when it shall be fit Philip then returning to out discourse parts from Therme laden with all spoiles and returnes the same way he came causing the Baggage to goe before with those that were best armed and placing the Acarnaniens in Rearward with the Mercenaries he made haste to passe the streights He feared that the Enemies relying vpon the aduantage of the place might charge him in the Reare The which was presently put in practise for that the Etoliens hauing drawne together three thousand men neuer approaching neere vnto Philip whilest hee held the high Countrey made their Ambushes in scattred places vnder the command of Alexander But when the Rearward began to march they entred into Therme charging them vpon the Taile When as the allarum was giuen the Etoliens relying much vpon the aduantage of places pursued them with great courage But Philip hauing wisely prouided for the future had left the Sclauonians in Ambush vnder a certaine Hill with many others that were armed with Targets Who seeing the pursuite of the Etoliens they marcht against him with great fury and presently slew sixe or seauen score and tooke as many the rest saued themselues by infamous and shamefull flight The Acarnanians and Mercenaries after they had gotten the victory they presently set fire on Paphia and when they had past the streights with great speed they found the Macedonians Phillip seated his Campe neere vnto Methape staying for his men And parting from thence after he had razed it he comes to a Towne called Atres Then continuing his way for three dayes together hee wasted the whole Countrey The day following he planted his Campe neere vnto Conope where he stayed the next day After which hee march't at the breake of day towards Strate where hee past the Riuer of Acheloe and lodged within a Bowes shoote of the Towne drawing the Inhabitants often to skirmish For he had beene aduertised that there were three thousand Etolien foote within it and about foure hundred Horse with fiue hundred Candiots When as no man durst come forth hee raised his Campe againe and at the first tooke his way towards the Fenns to recouer his ships But when as the Reare of his Army began to passe the Towne a number of Etolien Horse-men make a sally and charge them They were presently followed by a Troupe of Candiots and many Etoliens came to succour their Horse-men the Acarnaniens being in danger turned head against the Enemy and the Combate began betwixt them The Victory was long in suspence Finally Philip sent the Sclanonians to succour the Mercenaries Wherefore the Etoliens being vanquished fled of all sides Those which the King had sent pursued the greatest part of them to the Gates and walls of the Towne whereof there were a hundred slaine in the chase the rest durst no more shew themselues in Field By this meanes the Kings Army retired without danger to their ships After which Philip planted his Campe and gaue thankes vnto the Gods for the good fortune which he had obtained according to his desire And making a Banquet he inuited all the Captaines It seemed true that he had past by dangerous places into the which no man before him durst lead an Army But he not onely past them but did what he would and returned without losse or danger Moreouer Megalee and Leonce discontented at the Kings good fortune hauing sworne to Appelles to hinder all his enterprizes which they could not effect for that all things succeeded happily to Philip were present at this Supper sad and pensiue so as they discouered easily vnto the King and to the other assistants what their hearts were But when the Tables were taken away and they were well inflamed with their free drinking they returned to their Tents seeking for Arate Whom when they met vpon the way they vsed many iniurious speeches against him and began to assault him with stones But for that much people came of either side to succour them there grew a great mutiny in the Campe. Philip hearing the Trumpet sent men to inquire and to pacifie this tumult To whom Arate declaring the businesse as it had past and referring himselfe to the testimony of those that were present hee returned presently vnto his Tent. Leonce retired secretly out of the presse Philip causeth Megalee and Crinon to be called with whom he was much offended And when as they answered him proudly that they would neuer cease vntill they had beene reuenged of Arate The King incensed therewith condemned them presently in twelue thousand Crownes and to bee committed to Prison Three dayes after he calls for Arate and intreates him not to care promising him to giue order for all things when as opportunity shall serue Leonce aduertised of the imprisonment of Megalee came with force to the Kings Tent immagining that Philip considering his youth would alter his sentence for feare Being come before the King he demanded what man was so hardy to lay hand on Megalee and who had committed him to Prison But when as the King answered boldly that hee had done it Leonce went away amazed and in a manner sighing Philip setting sayle with his Fleete came presently to Leucade where after he had appointed men to diuide the spoile he called all his friends to iudge Megalee There Arate laied before them the outrages of Leonce the great wrongs he suffred in the time of Antigonus the Conspiracy he made with Appelles and the hinderance he gaue at Palea To all which things he produced witnesses Whereunto when Megalee nor Crinon could not answere any thing they were condemned by all the assembly Whereupon Crinon remained a Prisoner But Megalee was deliuered vpon Leonces caution This was the estate of Appelles and his Confederates whose Fortune was not such as they expected For hoping to tertifie Arate and to doe what they would with the King and by this meanes to preuaile in their wills all things succeeded contrary In the meane time Licurgus retires out of the Messeniens Countrey hauing done nothing worthy of memory Afterwards parting from Lacedemon with an Army he tooke the Towne of Elea and besieged the Fort whereinto the Cittizens were retired where after hee had stayed there some time and seeing his labour lost he returned againe to Sparta And when as the Esienses ouer ran the Countrey of the Dimenses some Horse men which were in Ambush and come to succour them put them easily to flight and slew a good number of Gaules taking Prisoners those of the Townes of Polymede of Egia Agisipolis and Diode of Dime Dorimache was gone in the beginning with an Army onely
in the Reare he pursued the rest and tooke them and their Towne At the same time Cereâ— being one of Ptolomes Commander left it By the meanes whereof Antiochus gained many other Captaines For soone after Hippolochus of Thessaly came to yeeld himselfe to him with three hundred horse And when he had put a Garrison into Aâ—tabyre he proceeded in his iourney pursuing his enterprize and in passing the Country tooke Pelle Came Gepre In the meane time the people of of Arabia agreeing together followed his party Autiochus growing into greater hope drawing victuals from them went farther into the Country and presently tooke Gallate with the Garrison of the Abillatins of whom Nicie a Kinsman and Allie to Nemne was Commander And although that Gadare which at that time seemed impregnable for its scituation held out yet hee tooke it suddainly in besieging it and setting vp his Engines And hauing newes afterwards that a good number of Enemies were drawne together into Rabatamassane a Towne of Arabia and spoyled all the Arabians Countrey which held his party he went suddainly thither with his Army and planted his Campe neere vnto the Mountaines among the which the Towne is scituated And when vpon a view he had discouered that it was not to be forced but in two places he set vp his Engines and other things necessary to force a Towne whereof he gaue the charge to Nicarchus and Theodote and in the meane time attends his other affaires These men carefull of the Battery striued with emulation who should first ouerthrow the Wall whereupon a great part fell sooner then they could imagine This done they fought continually day and night striuing to lose no time And although the Siege continued long yet they could not preuaile in regard of the multitude of men which defended it vntill that a Prisoner shewed them a little Riuer where the besieged fetch their water the which they stopt vp with Pallisadoesâ— stones and such like things Then being out of hope of water they yeelded to the Enemies By this meanes the King hauing it in his hands he gaue it in guard to Nicarchus with a sufficient strength and he sent Hippolichus and Ceree who as we haue sayd had abandoned Ptolomy into the Countrey of Samaria with fiue thousand Foote giuing them charge to continue there for the defence thereof and to preserue all the people which were vnder his obedience From thence he parts with his whole Army and comes to Ptolomais to passe the Winter there When the Pednelissenses had beene the same Summer besieged by the Selgenses and were in great danger they sent to demand succours from Acâ—eus When he had heard them willingly and promised to doe it they endured the Siege with great courage growing more resolute by the hope of succours Finally Acheus sent Gâ—rsyere with sixe thousand Foot and fiue hundred Horse giuing him charge to vse all diligence to succour the Pednelassenses The Selgenses aduertised by the Spies of his comming recouered the streights which are about a place which they call Eschelle with the greatest part of their Army and stop vp all the passages Garsyere entring by force into Myliade and planting his Campe neare â—nto a Towne called Candois he vsed this stratagem seeing that he could not passe for that the Selgenses kept all the passages He began to raise his Campe and to retire making shew that it was impossible for him to succour the Pednelissenses for that the streights of the Country were held by the Enemy The Selgenses thinking they had beene gone as men despairing to be able to succour them retired some to the Campe the rest returned to the Citty to recouer Victuals But Garsyere comes suddainiy backe to the streights whereas finding them abandoned he set men to guard them vnder the command of Captaine Phayle and from thence hee comes with his forces to Perge whereas staying some time hee sent Embassadours to Pamphilia and the other Townes to acquaint them with the insolency of the Selgenses and to solicite them to enter into league with Acheâ—s and to succour the Pednelissenses The Scâ—genses at the same time sent a Captaine with an Army hoping to chase Phayle from the streights But for that matters succeeded otherwise then they expected and lost many of their men in fighting they gaue ouer their Enterprize yet for all this they did not raise their Siege but were more attentiue then before to set vp their Engines In the meane time the Ettenenses which inhabite the Mountaines aboue Syde sent eight thousand men armed to Garsyere and the Aspendiens foure thousand The Sydetes made no shew to send any succours for that they were Friends to Antiochus and hated the Aspendiens Garsyere came to ednelisse accompanied with the Troupes of the Allies thinking at his comming to raise the Siege But when he saw that the Selgenses were nothing amazed he set himselfe downe neere vnto them The Pednelissenses were so opprest with want of Victuals as they could no longer endure the hunger wherefore Garsyere seeing it necessary to vse diligence prepared two thousand men euery one laden with a Mine of Wheat and sent them by night to the Towne The Selgenses aduertised hereof charged them presently and slew the greatest part of them and tooke all the Wheate Wherewith they grew so glorious as they not onely besieged the Towne but they attempted the Enemies Campe. It is the custome of the Selgenses to bee alwaies bold and audatious Wherefore in leauing sufficient forces in their Campe they suddainly assailed the Enemy in diuers place And when the Alarum grew hot so as the Campe was forced in some places Garsyere amazed at this great and suddaine accident and hauing no great hope hee caused the Horse-men to goe forth by a certaine place which was not guarded whom the Selgenses thinking they had fled for feare of being defeated did not pursue nor made any accompt of them These Horse-men turning a little about charged the Enemy suddainly in the Reare fighting with great fury Then Garsyeres Foot-men who seemed to wauer turned head being re-united and fell vpon the Enemy By this meanes the Selgenses being thus enuironed in the end fled The Pednelissenses taking courage hereat made a sally and beate them out of the Campe which had the guard In the chase Garsyere made a great â—laughter for there were aboue ten thousand men slaine of those which remained the Allies retired to their houses and the Selgenses to their Countrey taking their way by the Mountaines The next day Garsyere parts with his Army and makes haste to passe the Mountaines and to approach the Towne before that the Selgenses being amazed with this fresh flight should prouide for any thing Who being full of heauinesse and feare as well for the little hope they had of succours from their Allies considering the losse they had made with them amazed with this fresh misfortune were in great doubt of safety
And to a ciuill man that wherein they Discourse of the Actions of Nations Citties and Potentates whereunto applying our selues plainly and disposing all our Treaty to these things wee direct and guide our selues by a certaine kinde of Discourse as wee haue formerly promised It is true wee direct most Readers to that which is not much pleasing and delightfull Finally wee haue at large deliuered the cause why in reproouing the other parts of a History wee will thus write the Actions There is no hinderance that for the better expressing and declaration wee should not briefly aduertise the Reader heereof But as many of these things are related in diuers manners of Genealogies Fables and Collonies and moreouer of Races Alliances and Possessions it will be necessary for him that would Write to speake consequently of strange things as proper which were an infamous thing Or if he will not hee must labour in vaine in promising publiquely to pursue and Comment of those things which haue bin sufficiently declared and deliuered to posterity by the ancient For this cause and for many others we haue left them receiuing a relation of Actions For that first that as many new things offer themselues often so it is very necessary to vse a new kinde of Discourse The which happens not in the beginning of the Relation so as we deliuer the subsequent Actions And secondly for that this kinde hath beene before and is most profitable by the which the experience of things and Policies haue so much preuailed with vs as they which haue a desire to know the Actions may helpe themselues by an easie way in all that which happens by the course of time Wherefore hauing no such regard to the pleasure and delight of those which shall reade and peruse our Commentaries as to the profit of the Hearers we haue leauing the other parts fixed vpon this Finally they which shall diligently consider of our Commentaries wil be more certaine witnesses When as Hannibal had inclosed the Campe of Appius Claudius being at the siege of Capoua at the first hee vsed skirmishes seeking to draw the Enemy to Battaile But when as no man presented himselfe in the end he besieged them which was an Enterprize wherein hee was frustrated aswell as of the first although the Horse-men of the Wings assailed them in Troupes casting Darts into their Campe with great cries And the foote-men charge them by Bands labouring to breake the Pallisado Yet they could not diuert the Romans from their former resolution repulsing those which assailed the Pallisadoe with great strength and Courage And being well armed they went not out of the Campe with their Ensignes Hannibal bearing these things impatiently and the rather for that the Romans could not any way bee annoyed from the Towne studied what order he might take for the present Affaires For my part I thinke that the case falling out thus seemes to haue made not onely the Carthaginians to doubt but all other men to whom the knowledge thereof hath come Who will not wonder hearing how the Romans haue often beene vanquished by the Carthaginians and durst not present themselues nor fight with them haue not abandoned their Fort beeing in the open field It is certaine that in times past they had alwayes Camped onely at the bottome or foote of Mountaines against the Enemies But now being in a faire Plaine and in the openest place of all Italy besieging a strong Towne they were assailed by them of all sides against whom they durst not once thinke or immagine to make head being so much disheartned And although the Carthaginians preuailed continually fighting yet they were no lesse annoyed by the vanquished Finally I hold this to be the cause that they consider the Enterprize one of another That is to say that the Troupes of Hannibals Horse-men purchased the Victory to the Carthaginians and a defeate to the Romans Wherefore the vanquished made suddaine sallies after the fight They also lodg'd their Troupes in such a place as the Horse-men could not annoy them The case falling out thus neere vnto Capoua was common to them both The Romans in trueth durst not come foorth to fight beeing terrified with the Enemies horse They kept themselues within their Fort knowing well that the Cauallery vanquishing them in fight they could not annoy them The Carthaginians likewise could not with reason stay long with so great a number of Horses For that the Romans had for that â—ause wasted the whole Countrey Neither could they giue order to haue Hay and Barley brought on Horse-backe so great a way vnto their Cauallery and Sumpters Neither durst the Carthaginians besiege the Enemy without Horse being fortified with Ditches and Pallisadoes Against the which in fighting without Winges vppon an equall danger they should hazard an vncertaine Fortune They feared likewise that the Roman Subiects would ioyne with them and succour them and that cutting of their necessary Victualls they would draw him into great distresse Hannibal considering these things hauing opinion that they could not raise the siege directly he takes another aduice Finally he makes his reckoning that if in stealing away suddainly he should shew himselfe about Rome he might do something that might be profitable for the Carthaginians affaires the inhabitants beeing amazed with such a new accident Or if that did not succeede hee should force Appius Army to raise the sâ—ege to succour and supply their Countrey or else foorth-with diuide themselues so as they which should succour the Country and they which remained at the siege would be easie to vanquish Considering these things hee sent a certaine Lybian messenger to Capoua perswading him to retire to the Romans and so into the Citty prouiding wisely by this meanes that his Letters might bee safely carried He feared much that the Capouans seeing his departure would yeilde following the Romans party as destitute of hope For this cause hee acquaints them with his intention by Letters for the which he sends the Lybian after the departure of his Army to the end that knowing his resolution and dislodging they should maintaine the siege couragiously When as they which besieged Capoua had intreated the people of Rome for assistance that Hannibal held them besieged they were all in great doubt and feare for that the present Affaires required a finall end and therefore they sought by frequent Embassies and attempts to assist that party concerning the Generall The Capouans on the other side after they had receiued the Letters by the Lybian and knowne the Carthaginians aduice hold good against the Enemy resoluing to aduenture and trie their Fortune Wherefore Hannibal hauing fedde his Army the fifth day after his comming and leauing fires burning he rais'd his Campe so as he was not discouered by the Enemy Taking then the difficult way by the Saunitide discouering gaining by his Cauallery the nearest places to his way he past the Riuer of Annion secretly whilest that the Inhabitants of Rome were
in suspence for Capoua and that Warre Approaching in such sort as he planted his Campe within forty Furlongs of Rome And as he assailed it by this meanes it happened that they of the City were troubled and dismayed with feare for that this accident came suddainly and contrary to their hope and that Hannibal had not formerly besieged the City so neare They had also a conceit that he approaching so neare the City their Army besieging Capoua must of necessity be defeated The men flye to the Walles and out of the City to places of aduantage The Women on the other side make professions about the Temples washing the pauement with their haire It was a thing they were accustomed to doe if at any time the Countrey were in great danger When as Hannibal was thus incampt thinking to assaile the City the day following there happened an admirable and casuall accident working for the preseruation of the Romans Caius and Publius had taken an Oath of the Souldiers which had beene leuied to come to Rome the the same day in Armes They also made another Leuie so as at a certaine time a great number of men of Warre transported themselues suddainly to Rome With the which the Captaines made a bold sally and planting their Campe before the City they restrained Hannibals fury The Carthaginians in truth at the first made such an attempt as they despaired not to take the City by assault But seeing the Enemies to hold a Campe and aduertised by a Prisoner of that which had happened they desisted from their Enterprize to take the Towne falling to spoile the Countrey and to fire their houses so as at the first they brought a wonderfull booty vnto their Campe as being come to this kind of hunting to the which neuer Enemy thought to attaine And when as afterwards the Consuls taking courage had planted themselues within Eleuen Furlongs of the Enemies Campe Hannibal lost all hope of taking the City notwithstanding the great spoiles which hee had made and which is more he parts at the breake of day with his Army keeping a good reckoning of dayes in the which according to his aduice taken from the beginning he was in hope that Appius aduertised of the danger of the City would wholly raise the siege and that he would succour Rome or leauing some portion of the Army and taking the greatest part he would make haste to succour his Countrey either of which happening his affaires would succeed well But Publius breaking the Bridges of the said Riuer forced him to passe his Army at a Fourde being alwayes in the taile of him and annoying him much It is true he could not defeate him for the great number of Horses and the dexterity of the Numidians fit for all purposes yet he retired to his Fort hauing recouered a great part of the booty and taken about three hundred men Afterwards imagining that the Carthaginians hastned their retreate for scare hee pursued them in the Reare by Skirmishes In the beginning Hannibal made haste pursuing his designe But when as on the fift day he had beene aduertised that Appius continued still at the siege of Capoua he stayed then suddainly receiuing those which pursued him he charg'd them in the Night making a great slaughter and chasing the rest out of their Fort. When as the day following he saw the Romans retired to a certaine Hill strong by scituation and rampred he despaires to take them Yet making his voyage by Daunia and Brette hee assailes the neighbour places to Rhegium so suddainly as he had in a manner taken the City yet he surprised all those that were stragling in the Fields with a great number of the Rheginois at his comming In my opinion we ought with reason to obserue at that time the vertue and enuy of the Romans and the Carthaginians in the conduct of the Warre For as all the World wonders at Epaminundas Generall of the Thebeins in this that when he was come with the Allies of the Warre to Tegee and was aduertised that the Lacedemonians were with their league at Mantinea assembling there to giue Battaile to the Thebeins hee gaue order to his Troupes to feede presently By this meanes hee causeth his Army to march in the Euening as it were to recouer some conuenient places to put them in Battaile VVhen he had drawne many into this conceite hee parts to assaile the City of Lacedemon VVhere entring about three houres in the Night contrary to all hope and finding it naked and destitute of helpe he tooke it and kept it on that side which was paued to the Riuer As this disaster happened with a great alteration and that a certaine Fugitiue flying to Mantinea had aduertised King Agesilaus of that which happened and that they of the league made haste to succour Lacedemon hee was out of hope to bee able to keepe it But when he had fed neare vnto the Riuer of Erota and had drawne his Army together after that he had suffered many miseries and dangers he returnes to Mantinea taking the same way with hope to finde it destitue and vnfurnished of Lacedemonians and their league as being gone to succour Lacedemon the which succeeded accordingly Wherefore giuing courage to the Thebeins and marching in the Night with great labour and toile hee arriued by noone at Mantinea being destitute and void of succours It is true that the Athenians who at that time held the party of the Lacedemonians against the Thebeins were come to their succours When the foreward of the Thebeins arriued at the Temple of Possidon standing seuen Furlongs from the Towne it happened as a thing fore-cast that at the same instant the Atheniens shewed themselues vpon a Hill neare to Mantinea who being discouered by them which remained in the Towne they went to the VValles taking courage to repulse the Thebeins attempts Historiographers therefore haue reason to complaine of the said actions saying that the Commander had done all that was fitting for a wiser and more excellent Captaine then the Enemies were and that Epaminundas was vanquished by Fortune Some others likewise may say with reason that the like hapned vnto Hannibal For who will not wonder at this Commander in obseruing that hee endeauoured to raise the siege in assailing the Enemy by Skirmishes And when hee was therein frustrated in his attempts hee assailed Rome it selfe And when this Enterprize did not succeed for the casuall euents hee againe endeauoured turning head with his Army to charge the Enemy and to try if hee might trouble those which besieged Capoua And when in the end he preuailed not in his Enterprize he resolued to annoy the Enemy in ruining them of Rhegium It is true that some one will happily iudge that at this day the Romans are to bee preferred before the Lacedemonians Who vpon the first aduertisment parting together deliuered Lacedemon yet losing Mantinea for their parts But the Romans
his defence and guard And when he saw his Father in danger and enuironed by the Enemy accompanied onely with two or three Horse hauining receiued a dangerous wound he began at the first to encourage his company to succour his Father But when they wauered for the great multitude of the Enemies hee cast himselfe desperafely as it seemes and charged them couragiously Afterwards when the rest were forced to fight the Enemies amazed with feare ceas'd the Combare Old Publius being thus preserued contrary to all hope hee was the first who in hearing of them all called him his Sauiour When by this action the fame of his prowesse and dexterity began he afterwards ingag'd himselfe in greater dangers whensoeuer the supreame hope of the Countrey required it by necessity This was not with a courage relying in Fortime but of a iudicious Captaine Afterwards Lucius his elder Brother aspiring to the Dignity of Edile the which among the Romans was the Noblest command of the Youth and that by custome they made choise of two Ediles among the Paricij and that there were many at that time which aim'd at it he was long before he durst demand it of his Brother When the Election grew neare and that he had made a coniecture by the humour of the multiude that his Brother would hardly obtaine it seeing himselfe on the other side in great fauour with the people and might attaine vnto his attempt if with their consent he vndertooke the cause he fell into this conceit When he saw his Mother visite the Temples and sacrifice vnto the Gods for his Brother and that she entertained a great hope of the future which she had in singular recommendation and that his Father being then Commander of the Army in the sayd War had sayled into Spaine he told his Mother that hee had one dreame twice and that it seemed vnto him that he returned being made Edile with his Brother from the place to goe vnto their house And that running vnto the doore shee had saluted them with imbracings When hee had ended this Speech the Mother being very passionate with an effeminate affection and answering I know not what shee added Oh that I might see that Day will you saies he that wee make a tryall Whereunto consenting for that she did not thinke he would dare to attempt so great a matter considering that he was very young shee required as it were in sport that he should presently prouide him a long Cloake For they which stand for gouernment are accustomed to be so attired In regard of his Mother shee had no eonfidence in his words Publius when he had this braue Robe went suddainly to the place his Mother being yet asleepe When the Multitude had receiued him with amazement as well for this nouelty contrary to all hope as for the loue and affection they had formerly borne him and afterwards drawing to the place appointed he was neare vnto his Brother many adiudg'd this gouernment not onely to Publius but also to his Brother for the loue of him and being both of them created Ediles in this manner they returned to their house When the Mother had receiued the newes she ran vnto the Gate and with affection and loue saluted them Wherefore although that Publius disdained Dreames yet it seemed by this action to all those which haue heard speake of it that he had speech with the Gods not only sleeping but much more in the day waking But for that he was bountifull and pleasing in his words and had well obserued the affection of the Commons towards him and had accommodated the time to the people and his Mother hee not onely perfected his Enterprize but also seemed to haue dispatcht in by some Diuine inspirarinn They without doubt which cannot duely consider the occasions nor the causes and dispositions of euery thing by the vice of Nature or ignorance and dulnesse referre vnto the Gods and Fortune the causes of things which are decided by industry and discreete reason These things I speake for the Readers to the end that falling through errour into the vulgar opinions of this man they should not leaue good and commendable graces that were in him that is to say his Dextity and Industry In regard of that which I speake of him it will appeare manifest by his actions Publius Scipio being then Generall of the Army in Spaine calling his Troupes together he aduised them not to be amazed for the aduentures and disgraces past For the Romans had neuer beene vanquished by the prowesse of the Carthaginians but by the treason of the Celtiberians And the rashnesse of the Commanders seperated one from another for that they trusted in them which are things he sayd were then among the Enemies For besides that they made Warre being farre distant one from another they offer'd outrages to their Allies and made them Enemies And that for this cause some were already sent home and the rest will speedily when they shall be assured come when you haue once past the Riuer not so much for the good will they beare you as to seeke a reuenge for the wrongs receiued by the Carthaginians But moreouer the Captaines are in dissention among themselues and will not willingly ioyne together to fight with you And being thus diuided they would be defeated and fall easily into their hands Wherefore he perswaded them that considering these things they should passe the Riuer boldly promising to giue good order for the rest When he had vsed this speech vnto the other Captaines he left his colleague Marcus vpon the passage of the Riuer accompanied with three thousand Foote and fiue hundred Horse to the end hee might succour his Companions being in the Riuer hee himselfe past with the rest of his Army holding his intention secret from all the World Hee resolued things which he did not impart to many men His resolution was to lay siege to the City of Carthage scitnate in Spaine by the way of course The which euery man might vnderstand and that it is an excellent presumption of his esteeme whereof of I haue formerly spoken For as hee was but seuen and twenty yeares old he gaue himselfe first to things which in the iudgement of the World seemed desperate for the great precedent dangers and misfortunes leauing all things that were vulgar and easie and resolued and attempted those which seemed impossible vnto the Enemie euery one of which required an exact wisedome knowledge and vnderstanding In the beginning being yet at Rome when hee had considered by himselfe and eniquired diligently of the treason of the Celtiberians and of the diuision in the Armies what might happen and what fortune had befalne his Father he was nothing amazed at the Carthaginians neither did he faint as many vsually doe But after that he vnderstood that the Allies on this side the Riuer of Ebro continued constant in their Friendship and that the Commanders of the Carthaginians were in discord
the Children willing them to reioyce and that within few dayes they should see their Parents In like manner he perswades the rest to be of good hope and to write vnto their Cities and Friends that first of all they had their liues saued and were well intreated And that secondly the Romans would send them all home to their houses in safety if their Friends could imbrace their alliance This Speech being ended he gaue the most commodious spoiles of the Army to euery one according to his Race and age as to Children Feathers and Bracelets and to young men Swords When as among the Captiues the Wife of Mandonin the Brother of Andobale King of the Lecheteins had cast her selfe at his feete demanding with teares that he would haue a better respect to her honesty then the Carthaginians had had being moued with compassion he demanded of her what necessary things she wanted Shee was an aged woman and carried the shew of some great Dignity And when she held her peace he calls for those which had the charge of the women who presenting themselues and affirming that the Carthaginians had furnished the Women with all things necessary she touching his knees againe repeared the same words Scipio viewing her and thinking that they vnto whom he had then giuen the charge shewed themselues lyers through negligence commaunded the Women not to be discontented and that hee would giue order to place other Commissaries to the end nothing should be wanting that was needfull for them Then staying a little Captaine she said thou mistakest my words if thou doest thinke that I require thy assistance to content the bellie Then Scipio hearing her conceite and obseruing in her face the vigour of Andobales daughters and of many other Potentates was forced to weep for that this Lady discouered her Calamitie in few words Wherefore when it appeared that he vnderstood her conceit taking her by the Hand as he did the rest willing them to reioyce promising to haue them in as great recommendation as his owne sisters and children and that according to his promise hee would appoint trusty and confident men to haue the Charge ouer them Finally hauing deliuered vnto the Questors all the Wealth found in the publicke Treasure of the Carthaginians which amounted to aboue eighteene hundred Thousand Crownes So as ioyning them vnto other twelue hundred Thousand which the Questor of Rome had the whole summe would be aboue three millions At the same time certaine Young men hauing taken a Virgin passing in the flower of her age and the beauty of her body all the rest of the Women knowing that Scipio tooke delight in it they came vnto him bringing this Virgin and staying him told him that they presented her vnto him Publius amazed and-wondring at her beauty if I were sayth he a priuate person there is no gift could be more pleasing vnto me But being a great Commaunder there is nothing lesse in my affection Letting them vnderstand as it feemes by this answere that in time of rest and idlenesse the vse of such things is pleasing to young men But when affaires do presse it ingenders in them which vse them great hinderances both in body and minde Finally hee thankt the young men And calling for the father of the Virgin hee restored her vnto him giuing him charge to marry her as he thought good to some Cittizen By this meanes hauing made shew of the Chastity and modesty of his Heart he became very pleasing to the Subiects These things being thus ordained and the rest of the Prisoners deliuered to the Captaines of Thousands hee sent Caius Lelyus to Rome to the fiue Yeares Sacrifices with the Carthaginians and the other prisoners of note to make knowne in their Countrey the accidents which had happened Many in truth which despaired of the Warre in Spaine applied themselues vnto the present in diuers manners resuming Courage againe where as the newes was directed publickly Scipio staying some time at Carthage practised the Army at Sea continually And hee taught the Captaines of Thousands this kinde of Exercise for the Foote-men He appointed the Souldiers to runne thirty furlongs armed on the first day And on the second they should all furbush and cleanse their armes And on the third they should rest But on the fourth they should fight with Swords of Wood couered with Leather and with plummets teaching them to cast Darts And on the fift to fall to their running as in the beginning In like manner he solicited the Artizans and Workemen carefully to the end that nothing should bee wanting in the true Exercises of Armes He also appointed part of the Commissaries to this Worke and went vp and downe daily soliciting euery man vnto that which was necessary Finally whilst the Armie at Land practised often before the Citie the Marriners vsed their Exercises at Sea with their turnings and returnings And they which should be in the Citie should Furbush Forge and Worke and that all should be carefully imploied to prepare Armes There is no man but would haue held the City for a shoppe of Warre according to the saying of Xenophon if he had seene it then As all things seemed good vnto him and conueniently dispatcht for necessary vse and that consequently hee had put a Garrison into the Citie and rampred the Wals he dislodgeth with his Army as bending both by Sea and Land towards Tarragone hauing the Hostages with him He marcht with his Army as in his iudgement such marches are requisite in all occasions In the which hee must alwayes accustome the Horse-men as to mannage a Horse to handle a Iauelin and moreouer to bound and gallop and to turne on the right hand or the left Sometimes they disbanded the Commanders of ten out of the midst of the Army and they which commaunded twenty vpon the two wings and sometimes they drew them together and stayed them according to the troupes of horsemen vpon the wings or else they made an extent of two wings by an interposition or by the pollicy of the Captaines of the reareward In regard of their exercise in a throng hee sayed it was not necessary as hauing one course vpon the way They must in all alarums bee accustomed to charge the enemy and to make their retreate that they should alwayes approach as nimbly as they could marching vnited and in the same order They must moreouer obserue the spaces betwixt the bands for if the horsemen vndergoing the danger breake their rankes there was nothing so dangerous nor preiudiciall When hee had taught them all these things especially to the Captaines hee enters into Citties to inquire first if most of them obeyed the things which had beene commanded them and finally if they which had the gouerment of Citties were sufficient to execute the constitutions with iudgement holding nothing more necessary then the Prudence of Gouernors These things being thus ordred hee assembles the horsemen of Citties in a certaine
and ioyfull hearts Andobale had before sent vnto Publius but when he approached neere vnto this Country he came vnto him accompanied with his friends Where after he had spoken vnto him hee concluded the League of friendship which he formerly had with the Carthaginians giuing him to vnderstand what seruice and loyalty hee had obserued towards him and finally he exposeth the outrages and iniuries which hee and his had suffered intreating him to be the Iudge of that which he sayd And if he seemed to accuse the Carthaginians vniustly hee might certainly know that he would neuer keepe his faith to the Romans If being forced for the necessary respect of many iuiuries hee had desisted from his affection yet he had good hope that ioyning to the Romans to keep his faith firme with them After he had vsed many such Speeches he made an end To whom Publius answering sayd that he beliued it and had vnderstood the outrages of the Carthaginians which they had vsed to other Spaniards and their lasciuiousnesse towards their Wiues and daughters Of whom notwithstanding he hauing taken many reduced rather into the estate of Captives and slaues then Hostages hee hath kept them with such honesty as the Parents themselues could not haue done And when as Andobale and his Company confest it and making an obeisance vnto him they saluted him as King the assistants obserued those words Publius blushing commands them to be of good hope promising them they should finde curtesie and fauour with the Romans and presently deliuers them their Daughters and the day following makes an accord with them The principall Articles of their Accord was that they should follow the Roman Princes and obey them willingly These things thus concluded they returne vnto their Campe and come with their Army to that of Publius and making Warre with the Romans they march with them against Asdrubal The Commaunder of the Carthaginians staying neere to Catolâ—gne fast by the City of Babylis and neere vnto the Mines of Gold and Siluer he changed his Campe when he was aduertised of the comming of the Romans so as he had the riuer at his backe in manner of a Rampire and in front and on the sides a Pallisadoe with a sufficient depth for the Fortification there was finally a length in the Vallies sufficient to put them in battaile And as for the side of the Hill there were vsually men When as Publius approacht he was ready to hazard the Combate although hee were in doubt seeing the aduantage and force of the places where the Enemy lay in Campe. But when he had contained himselfe two daies and was in feare that Mago and Asdrubal the sonne of Gescon comming he might be inuironed round he resolued to fight and to hazard a battaile Making therefore another Army he labours to gaine the Pallisado In regard of those that were lightly armed and the choise footmen he sends them to the side of a Hill giuing them charge to assaile and to view the Enemies forces And when that this was done with great Courage the Commander of the Carthaginians attends the euent from the beginning But when he saw his men prest and in danger by the courage of the Romans he drawes his Army into the field and plants in neere the side of the Hill relying vpon the opportunitie of the place At the same time Publius sends his brauest men to succour those that were in danger and stayed the rest ready He takes the one halfe and assailes the Hill vpon the left side of the Enemy fighting against the Carthaginians And deliuers the rest to Lelyus giuing him charge to assaile the Enemy on the right hand When this was done Asdrubal drawes his Army out of the Fort. He had hitherto kept it relying vpon the fortified places hauing an opinion that the Enemies durst not assaile him But for that this charge of the Romans came vnexpected hee puts his Army into Battaile later then was needfull The Romans vndergoing the danger of the fight whilest that the Enemies were not yet vpon the Wings they not only assailed the Hill without danger but in approaching slew those which crost them whilest that the Enemies made ready their battaile forcing those to turne which prepared themselues and made head against them When as Asdrubal according to his first resolution saw his Army giue backe and shamefully repuls'd hee had no will to fight vnto the last gaspe Taking therefore the Treasure and the Elephants and all those hee could draw together in the flight he retires to the Riuer of Tagus and to the Hills of the Perinee Mountaines and to the Gaules inhabiting there Scipio held it not fit to pursue the Victorie suddainly doubting the comming of the other Commaunders Finally he gaue the bootie of the Fort to the Souldiers The day following he drawes together all the Prisoners whereof there were ten Thousand foote and two Thousand horse to dispose of them All the Spaniards of that Countrey which were allied vnto the Carthaginians come and submit themselues to the fauour of the Romans And when he had giuen them audience they saluted Scipio as King The which Edecon beganne when he did his obeisance and after him Andobale with his friends Scipio at that time regarded not their words but was silent But when after the Battaile all saluted him as King he was mooued therewith so as hee forbad it Drawing all the Spaniards together he told them that he would be truely Royall and so held but hee would not be called a King by no man liuing This done hee ordained they should call him Chiefe or Commaunder It is not without cause that we may iustly commend the magnanimity of this man By the which being yet young hauing the fauour of Fortune such as all the Subiects had him in so great esteeme as they saluted him by so excellent a name yet hee was alwaies so continent as hee would not accept of this will and humour of the Subiects But he will wonder much more at the excellency of his magnanimitie if hee lookes to the last daies of his life when besides the valiant exploits which hee hath done in Spaine hee hath ruined the Carthaginians and made subiect vnto the Romans many good Countries in Lybia from the Philenin Altars to the pillars of Hercules Hee hath also ruined Asia and the Assirian Kings Finally hee hath reduced to the obedience of the Romans the best and greatest part of the World And therefore if hee had pleased hee might well haue imbraced the opportunity to vsurpe a royall power in these Countries which hee hath inuaded and taken The disdaine of such things as Scipio hath wisely done surpasseth not onely humane nature but a diuine This magnanimity doth so much excell other men as no man would demaund of the Gods a greater fauour I meane then a Crowne the which hee hath so often refused being deliuered vnto him by fortune and hath had
in fighting exceeded their first station Yet the Tyrants souldiers had for a time the better considering their multitude and dexterity with their Armes and Experience The which did not happen without cause For as the multitude in Comminalties is more cheerefull in Combats in Warre then the Subiects which are Enemies to Tyrants so strange Souldiers taking pay of Monarches excell those of Common-weales And as some Subiects fight for liberty and some are in danger of seruitude some also of the Mercenaries fight for a certaine profit others for the defence of their Liues But a popular power puts not her liberty into the hands of Mercenaries after they haue defeated their Enemies Whereas a Tyrant the greater Enterprize he makes the more souldiers he hath need off For as he doth more outrages so he hath more watchers ouer his life The safety then of Monarches consists in the good affection and forces of his forreine Souldiers Wherefore then it hapned that the forreine Souldiers fought with such great Courage and Resolution as the Sclauonians and Horacites being in front of them could not indure their Charge flying all as repuls'd towards Mantinia seauen Furlongs distant Then that which some men held in doubt was made plaine and certaine It is manifest that many actions in Warre breed Experience of things so do they ignorance It is a great matter for him that hath purchased Authority in the beginning to extend it farther But it is a farre greater matter to fixe vpon him whose first attempts haue not beene successefull and to consider the indiscretion of the vnfortunate and to obserue their faults You shall oftentimes see that they which seeme to haue the better are within a short space frustrated of all in generall And againe they which at the first were beaten haue by their industry restored all the which appeared then betwixt these two Princes For when the bands of Souldiers which the Acheins had wauered and that the left wing was broken Machanides leauing his good Fortune and the Victory of those of the Wing and to assaile the others in Front and finally to attend the Victory he did nothing of all this but scattred with the Mercenaries without order like a young man he pursued the Chase as if feare had not beene able to pursue those which fled vnto the Gates The Chiefe of the Acheins imployed all his power to stay the Mercenaries with cries and perswasions calling to the rest of their Commaunders But when he saw them forcibly repuls'd he was not amazed if they turned head or despairing abandoned the place but he with-drew the Wing which charged and pursued them And when the place where the danger was was abandoned he sent presently to the first Legionaries that they should couer themselues with their Targets and in keeping order he went speedily before Being come suddainly to the place abandoned hee defeated the pursuers hauing great aduantage vpon the Enemies battailion Hee likewise perswaded the Legionaries to haue a good Courage and resolution and not to budge vntill hee gaue them order to march close in Battaile against the Enemy And as for Polybius the Megalopolitaine hauing gathered together the remainder of the Sclauonians which had turned Head with the armed men and the Strangers he enioynes him to haue a great care to keepe the Battallion in good order and to looke to those which were retired from the Chase. The Lacedemonians likewise resuming Courage and strength for that they were esteemed the most valiant charged the Enemies with their Iauelings without Commaund And as in this pursuite they were come vnto the brinke of the Ditch and had no more time to returne for that they were in the Enemies hands and that finally they forsooke and disdained the Ditch for that it had many descents and was drie and without Trees they ranne into it without any discretion As this occasion offers it selfe against the Enemy Phylopomen hauing fore-seene it long before he then Commaunded all the Legionaries to aduance with their Iauelings And when as all the Acheins with one resolution had cast themselues vpon the Enemies with horrible cries hauing formerly broken the battalion of the Lacedemonians descending into the Ditch they turne Head with great Courage against the Enemy which held the higher ground It is true that a great part was defeated aswell by the Acheins as their owne men That which I haue spoken happens not by chance but by the prouidence of the Commaunder who had suddainly made this Ditch Philopomen fled not from the Battaile as some had conceiued But considering and aduising dilligently like a good Commaunder of all things in particular that if Machanides should lead his Army thither it would happen that by ignorance of the Ditch he would fall into danger with his Battalion as it succeeded in Effect And if considering the difficulty of the Ditch hee should seeme to feare and turne Head hee should then be wonderfully frustrated of his Enterprize and Designe for that hee should haue the Victory without fight Machanides beeing defeated by a vnfortunate disaster It had happened to many which had vndertaken a Battaile that finding themselues insufficient to ioyne with the Enemy some in regard of the disaduantage of places others for the multitude and some for other causes and by this same meanes shewing and expressing themselues in their flight to bee of little Experience some hoping to be stronger vpon the Reare and others that they might escape the Enemy safely Among the which were these Commaunders But Philopomen was not deceiued in his fore-sight by whose endeauour it happened that the Lacedemonians made a speedy flight And when hee saw his Legions to vanquish hee laboured to bring that vnto an ende which remained of an absolute Victory Which was that Machanides should not escape and therefore knowing him to be at the pursuite of the Chase on that side of the Ditch which lay towards the City with his Mercenaries had not beene retired and with drawne he attends his comming But when as Machanides flying after the Chase saw his Army turne head and hearing that all hope was lost for him he laboured with his forreine Souldiers in turning head to escape thorough the Enemies dispersed and scattred in their Chase. Whereunto they likewise hauing regard stayed with him in the beginning feeding themselues with the same hope of safety But when as at their comming they saw the Acheins keepe the Bridge vpon the Ditch then all amazed they abandon him and fled euery man looking to his owne preseruation And when the Tyrant despaired of the passage of the Bridge he went directly to the Ditch and endeauours to finde a passage Philopomen knowing the Tyrant by his purple Robe and the caparrisson of his Horse leaues Polybius there and giues him charge to keepe the passage carefully not sparing any of the Mercenaries for that most commonly they fauour and support the Tyrant of Lacedemon In regard of himselfe he takes Polyene Cyparissâ—e and
Simie of whom he then made vse marching against the Tyrant and his Company on the other side of the Ditch Machanides had at that time two men with him that is to say Anaxidamus and a strange Souldier When hee prest his Horse to take a certaine commodious passage of the Ditch Philopomen doubling vpon him gaue him a mortall wound with a Iaueling and soone after another killing the Tyrant valiantly The like happened to Anaxidamus by the Horse-men which marcht with him The third man despairing of the passage escaped the danger by flight whilest they slew the other two After their death Simies Company stript them and brought away the Head and Armes of the Tyrant to make his death knowne vnto the Troupes whereby they might with more diligence pursue the Enemies into their City the which serued much to moue the Commons For by this meanes they reduced the City of Tegea vnder their obedience after which prize they camped neare vnto the Riuer of Erota after they had made themselues Maisters of the Champion Countrey And as they could not chase the Enemy out of their Countrey for a long time they then wasted all the Lacedemonian Prouinces without feare hauing lost few men in Battaile and the Lacedemonians aboue foure thousand besides many Prisoners and the taking of all their Baggage and Armes Of Hannibal and the Carthaginians ANd therefore who will not wonder at the gouernment vertue and power of this man in his valiant exploits of War decided in Field hauing regard to the length of time and knowing Hannibal as well in Battailes as encounters as in sieges of Townes alterations and euents of times and in the fulnesse of all the Enterprizes and resolutions according to the which hee hath made Warre in Italy against the Romans for the space of seuenteene yeares and hauing neuer broken vp his Campe but kept it still entire as vnder a good Leader and commanded so great a multitude either without mutiny towards him or among themselues although he did not imploy in his Army men of one Nation not of one Race He had vnder his command Lybians Spaniards Phenicians Italians and Grecians among the which the Lawes nor customes nor the Language had any thing common But the industry of the Commander made this great multitude of different Nations obedient to the Commandments of one man according to his desire although the Euents were not alwayes answerable but diuers and that many times Fortune smiled vpon him and was sometimes opposite These things considered you may safely say in wondring at the vertue of this Commander in that which concernes this point that if hee had first assailed the other Countries of the World and then the Romans he would haue preuailed in all that he had attempted But seeing at this day hee hath begun the Warre against those which hee should haue assailed last hee hath made both the beginning and the ending Asdrubal hauing drawne together the Souldiers from those places where they had wintred prepares for his voyage and campes neare vnto a City called Elinge building a Pallisadoe on the side of the Mountaine with plaine spaces before fit for skirmishes and encounters Hee had three score and ten thousand Foote foure thousand Horse and two and thirty Elephants Publius Scipio on the other side sends Marcus Iunius to Lochis to receiue the Bands which hee had leiued being three thousand Foote and fiue hundred Horse In regard of the other Allies he accompanies them taking his way to the place appointed When hee was come to Catalongne and to the places which were about Becyle and had ioyned his Army with Marcus and with the Troupes of Colichante he fell into a great perplexity for the apparent dangers For in truth he had not a sufficient Roman Army without the forces of the Allies to hazard a Battaile It seemed an vnsafe thing foolish and rash for those which put their hope in the forces of their Allies to hazard a Battaile But as he was for a time in suspence and that the affaires concluded that he must vse the Allies he came to fight with the Spaniards to the end that by this meanes he might make the Enemy imagine that hee fought with his whole Army This being resolu'd he marches with all his Troups being forty fiue thousand Foot and about three thousand Horse And when he was neare the Carthaginians so as he might well be discouered he camps about certaine little Hils right against the Enemy Asdrubal thinking to haue found a fit time to charge the Romans in Camping he fell vpon their Campe with the greatest part of his Horse-men and Massanissa with the Numades hauing a conceite to surprize Scipio suddainly But he hauing formerly fore-seene the future he layd an Ambush of Horse-men behinde a certaine Hill equall in number to those of the Carthaginians who charging by surprize many in the beginning turning head in regard of this vnexpected Charge of the Romans fell from their Horses others affronting the Enemies fought valiantly But for the dexterity of the Roman Horse-men in fighting the Carthaginians being troubled and discontented after some little resistance gaue backe retiring in the beginning in good order But when the Romans pursued them they tooke their flight vnder the Campe. This done the Romans assure themselues the more to vndergoe the danger and the Carthaginians did the contrary The dayes following they draw their Armies into the Plaine which lay betwixt them and making skirmishes as well of Horse-men as of their most valiant Foote and trying one another they resolued to Battaile It seemed then that Scipio had practised a double stratagem For when he saw Asdrubal slow in ordring of his forces and to put the Lybians in the midst and the Elephants vpon the two wings Then as hee was accustomed to obserue the opportunity of the time and to make head against the Lybians by Romans and to mingle the Spaniards vpon the wings on the day which hee resolued to fight hee doth now the contrary giuing by this meanes great comfort to his forces for the Victory and weakning the Enemy Presently at the Sunne-rising he giues all the Souldiers notice by men appointed that all they which were to fight armed should stand before the Pallisadoe This done when they had obeyed him cheerefully for the hope they had conceiued for the future he sends the Horse-men before and the ablest Souldiers giuing them charge to approach the Enemies Campe and that in skirmishing couragiously they should begin the Battaile For his part he marcheth at Sun-rising with the Footmen And being come into the midst of the field he drew his Army in Battaile after another forme then he had bin accustomed For he put the Spaniards in the midst and the Romans vpon the wings When as the Horse-men approacht the Pallisadoe and that the rest of the Army was in sight and ready the Carthaginians had scarce time
all amazed and terrified by these accidents The Authors of these mischiefes being whipt and slaine and drawne through the midst of them the rest were assured in common by the Commander and Princes that no man hereafter should be punished by any man for the remembrance of this fact Wherefore they came all to the Milleniers and sweare absolutely to obey the Commandments of the Princes and not to consent to any thing against the City of Rome When as Scipio had corrected the Mischiefe newly growne hee settles his Army in its former estate Then suddainly drawing it together within Carthage he made his complaints of the rashnesse and wickednesse of Andobale towards them and after he had made a long speech of his disloyalty he incensed the hearts of many against the sayd Potentate Finally he put them in minde of their encounters against the Spaniards and Carthaginians whilest they were vnder the Carthaginian Commanders Of whom as they had beene alwayes victorious there was no cause he sayd to be in doubt or feare but that comming againe to fight with the Spaniards vnder Andobale they would be defeated Wherefore he sayd he would make no more vse of the Spaniards to fight and that hee would vndergoe the danger with the Romans alone to the end it may be manifest to all the world that wee haue not chased the Carthaginians out of Spaine with the helpe of Spaniards but by a Roman vertue and that by our owne dexterity wee haue vanquished them with the Celtiberians This Speech being ended hee perswaded them to liue in Concord and that they would vndertake this present danger if euer they vndertooke any with great assurance In regard of the meanes of the victory he assures them that with the helpe of the Gods he will take order The Commons conceiued so great a courage and confidence as all of them carryed a countenance like vnto those which behold their Enemies and prepare to fight His words being ended hee sent backe the assembly The next day hee raiseth his Campe and marcheth and being come on the tenth day to a Riuer he passeth it foure dayes after then he plants himselfe before the Enemies hauing recouered a certaine Plaine betwixt his Campe and theirs The day following he sent forth towards the Enemy vpon the Plaine some Cattell which followed the Army and commands Caius to keepe certaine Horse-men in a readinesse and to the Chiefe of the Milleniers to prepare Archers and Slingers When the Spaniards had fallen suddainly vpon the Cattell he sent certaine Souldiers that were Archers The Combat beginning and the Souldiers running vnto it on either side in good numbers there grew a great Skirmish of Foot-men neare vnto the Plaine When a fit occasion was offred to assaile the Enemy and that Caius had his Horse-men ready as he had commanded him he chargeth the Foot-men and repulseth them from the Plaine to the places neare vnto the Mountaines to the end they might be scattred and slaine in great numbers When this happened the Barbarians were moued fearing that being vanquished in skirmish before they came to the Battaile they should seeme to haue fainted wherefore at the Sun-rising they drew their Army in good order to Field preparing for the Battaile Publius Scipio was ready to giue it But when hee saw the Spaniards descend without reason into the Plaine and not onely to put their Hors-men in order but also their Foot he stayed to the end that a greater number might assemble in this order of Battaile hauing confidence in his Cauallery and much more in his Foot-men for that they should come to an equall Combat and fight hand to hand and that the Armes and men which he had were more excellent then the Spaniards But for that it seemes necessity prest him he directed his Army against those which were in Battaile against the Mountaine drawing foure Cohorts out of the Campe towards those that were descended into the Plaine Finally Caius Lelyus led his Horse-men against the Enemy by the Hils which come from the Campe vnto the Plaine and chargeth the Spaniards Horse in the Reare and in fighting stayes them to the end they should not succour their Foot The Enemies Foot being destitute of the helpe of their Cauallery in whom hauing put their trust they had descended into the Plaine were forced and annoyed in the Combate the which likewise happened to the Horse-men For when as inclosed in the streight they could not fight at ease their defeate was greater then that of the Enemy for that their Foot-men were on the side and their Enemies in Front and their Horse-men were charged in the Reare The Combat being after this manner they which descended were in a manner all defeated They which were ioyning vnto the Mountaine fled They were the most valiant and the third part of the Army with whom Andobale escaped recouering a certaine Fort. Scipio hauing ended the Warres of Spaine drew to Tarracona to carry a great triumph of ioy and a glorious Victory to his Countrey Desiring them to be present at the Creation of Consuls hee sayles to Rome being accompanied by Caius deliuering the Army to Iunius and Marcus hauing giuen order for all the affaires of Spaine Of King Antiochus IT was in truth Ewthydemes Magnes to whom he answered saying that Antiochus laboured to chase him out of his Kingdome vniustly and that he had not rebelled to the end he might enioy the Principality of the Bactrians And when he had vsed a long speech tending to that end hee intreated Teleus that by his meanes he might obtaine a truce and that he would informe Antiochus that hee did not enuy his royall Name For that if he did not yeeld to his accords neither of them should liue in safety For there was a great descent of Tartariens which would be dangerous to either of them and if they entred the Region it would vndoubtedly be reduced vnder the subiection of Barbarians These words being ended hee sends Teleus to King Antiochus When the King had long ruminated to what end this businesse would tend he heard the proposition which was made by Teleus concerning a truce When Teleus was returned going and comming often from the one to the other Euthydemes in the end sent his Sonne Demetrius to confirme the Accord Whom when the King had receiued graciously and holding the Young man worthy to reigne as well for his outward shew as for his excellent dexterity of Eloquence hee first promiseth to giue him one of his Daughters and to his Father the Name of King Finally after hee had past in writing the Pactions and Accords sworne he raiseth his Campe and sends Victuals freely to his Army When hee had receiued the Elephants which Euthydemes had sent hee passeth Mount Caucasus and after that hee came into India he renewed the League with Sophasine King of the Indies where after he had receiued an hundred and fifty Elephants and had againe giuen Victuals
Alexander tooke his course towards Syria hee followed him and when he approached vnto the streights hee Camped neare vnto the Riuer of Pyre Finally that the compasse of that place was not aboue foureteene Furlongs from thence and from the Sea vnto the hilly Countreyes and that the sayd Riuer falls into the Sea trauersing the said places First by the sides of the Mountaine ending at the Plaine and then by the Field hauing his Banks rough and not easie to come vnto These things supposed he sayd that when as Alexander turning head came neare vnto Darius his aduice and that of his Princes was to order his Battaile within his Campe as hee had formerly done and to helpe himselfe with this Riuer as with a Rampire for that it ran neare vnto his Campe. Finally he ordred his Horse-men vpon the Sea-shoare and vpon their Reare the Mercenaries so as neare vnto the Riuer they were ioyned in one and the Targetteers were placed in the Mountaines It is a difficult thing to consider how hee ordred these before the Battalion seeing that the Riuer past neare vnto the Campe the multitude likewise being so great They were as Calisthenes sayth thirty thousand Horse and as many Mercenaries It is an easie thing to know what space will containe these For they order their Rankes according to the true vse of eight in a great Troupe of Horse euery one requiring a space in Front to the end they may turne easily To eight hundred of which a Furlong sufficeth and ten to eight Thousand and foure to three Thousand fiue hundred So as this space of foureteene furlongs is fill'd with twelue Thousand Horse If then he hath ordred all this Troupe of Horse in Battaile it wants not much but being tripled the order hath beene made without any space betwixt In what place then hath he ordered the multitude of Souldiers but in the Reare of the Horse-men But hee will say no and that they fought with the Macedonians at their first comming Of necessitie there must be an vniting made seeing that the order of the Horse-men held the moiety of the place towards the Sea the other towards the Mountaines being kept by the Mercenaries Hereby we may inferre how close the Horse men were vnited and what space there must be from the Riuer vnto the Campe. Then hee sayth that when the Enemies approached Darius being in the midst of his Armie called vnto him the Mercenaries and their Wing But we may doubt how this is spoken For it is necessarie that the Horse-men and Mercenaries should be ioyned about the middest of this same place When as Darius was in the middest of his Mercenaries how hath he call'd them Finally hee sayth that the Horse-men of the right Wing fought with Alexander at his first comming and that hee receiued them valliantly and fought with them in front and that the Combate of eyther side was very furious In regard of that which was spoken by him that the Riuer was in the middest as a little before we haue deliuered hee hath forgotten himselfe Finally he writes things of Alexander like vnto these He saith that hee past into Asia accompanied with fortie Thousand foot and foure Thousand fiue hundred Horse And as he would haue aduanced there came vnto him out of Macedony other fiue Thousand foote and eight hundred Horse And although that for the affaires of his long absence he had left three thousand foote and three hundred Horse yet he had fortie two thousand remaining These things presupposed hee sayth that Alexander was aduertised of Darius descent into Sicilia so hee was not aboue a hundred furlongs from him and that he had alreadie past the streights of the Countrie and for this cause turning head he repast them againe putting the great Battalion in Front then the Horse-men and after all the rest of the baggage of the Army And when he came afterwards into the plaine that all the baggage being packt vp hee commaunded that being mingled with the Battalion they should make their rankes containing first about two and thirtie in number then of sixteene and of eight neere the Enemy These Speeches haue lesse reason then the former For as the furlong containes in these spaces sixteene hundred men when a rancke is of eighteene men so as they be euery one separated a Fathome it is manifest and doth plainly appeare that the ten will containe sixteene Thousand men and twentie double the number The which may easily appeare for that when as Alexander ordred his Army by sixeteene men in a rancke it was very necessary that the place should bee of twenty Furlongs and yet all the Cauallerie remained and ten thousand Foote Finally hee saith that hee led his whole Army in Front against the Enemies being yet forty Furlongs off But that is so strange as wee can hardly imagine any thing more insensible Where shall wee finde such spaces in the Champion Countrey euen in Cilicia that a Battaile set in order holding twenty Furlongs in breadth and forty in length may march in the Front There are so many hinderances to order this forme of Battaile as they can hardly be numbred Moreouer â—he sayings of Calisthenes giue no sufficient arguments to purchase credite For hee sayth that the Torrents which fall from the Mountaines make so many and such great Moores and Fenns as he assures vs that a great number of Persians perished there in the flight But would Darius suddainly shew himselfe against the Enemy Is there nothing more easie then a Battalion broken and scattred in Front But how much more easie is it to order a Battaile in a conuenient passage then to leade an Army directly to fight being broken and scattred in woody and crooked places And therefore it were better to leade in Army close and vnited and double rather then Quadruple By this meanes it would not be impossible to finde the meanes to passe and to put the Battaile in order and with ease if hee might by his Scouts discouer the comming of the Enemy But Calisthenes besides the rest orders not the Horse men in Battaile when he led the Army in Field being in Front ordring the Foote-men equally It is also a strange thing when hee saith that Alexander being neare the Enemy comprehended the order of his Battalion of eight for a Ranke So it is manifest that necessarily the length of this Battalion contained the space of about forty Furlongs But if they haue beene as the Poet said close together so as they haue beene ioyned one to another Yet it would be necessary that the place should containe Twenty Furlongs And yet he saith there were but foureteene and that in such sort as one part was towards the Sea and a moiety of the Army vpon the right hand and that moreouer all the armed men had place sufficient on the side of the Mountaines to the end they might not bee supprest by the Enemy holding the borders of the Hills Wee know well
and planted my Campe within forty Furlongs studying what I should doe with you and your Countrey Now I come into Affricke to thee a Roman to conferre with thee of my lafety and of that of the Carthaginians I pray thee consider this and grow not proud but courteously conferre of the present affaires that is that thou wouldst choose of good things the greatest and of bad the least What man of iudgement will make choice of the danger which is neare him if hee obserue it well For the which if thou obtainest the Victory thou shalt much increase thy glory and that of thy Countrey whereas if thou beest vanquished thou shalt vtterly lose through thine owne fault all thy pompe and magnificence and precedent commodity But to what end doe I vse these words To this that all that for the which wee haue formerly contended may remaine to the Romans as Sicily Sardinia and Spaine and that the Carthaginians in regard thereof may neuer make Warre against them The like also to be done of the other Ilands which lye betwixt Italy and Affricke and let them belong to the Romans I beleeue confidently that these accords and agreements will hereafter bring safety to the Carthaginians and to thee and the Romans great glory and honour Thus much spake Hannibal Scipio answering to these things the Romans sayd they haue not beene the Authors but the Carthaginians of the Warre which hath past for Sicily nor of that of Spaine whereof they must know that Hannibal had beene the chiefe Author and that the Gods are witnesses whom I pray to impart the vertue not to those which are the Authors of out-rages but to those that defend themselues Yet I consider what the Nature of Fortune is and with all my power haue searcht into humane affaires If before the Romans passage into Affricke and that parting out of Italy thou hadst propounded these accords I am of Opinion thou hadst not beene frustrated of thy hope But now thou hast abandoned Italy against thy will and that being in Affricke we haue held our Campe in the open Plaine it is manifest that matters are much changed Withall which is a great matter we are come hither thy Citizens being partly vanquished and suing for a peace we haue past in writing the accords that were sworne in the which besides that which thou now propoundest these Articles were comprehended that the Carthaginians should haue no couered vessels that they should pay three Millions of Gold restore the Captiues without Ransome and giue hostages These were the accords which past betwixt vs for the which wee and they came to the Senate and to our people Wee haue protested that that these accords thus reduced to Writing seemed good vnto vs The Carthaginians intreated that they might enioy the said agreements The Senate obeyed and the people in like manner gaue their consent thereunto The Carthaginians after they had obtained what they had demanded haue transgressed and broken the accords What remaines now to be done Be thou in my place and iudge Shall wee take the grieuances out of the conditions to the end you may suffer no punishments for the transgression and that you may be taught hereafter to preuaricare against your benefactors Or else hauing obtained that which you demaund you should not be bound vnto vs But what When thy people now in suing had obtained their request they presently intreated vs as Enemies after they had conceiued some little hope of thee If the burthens had beene too heauy they might haue required an abatement from the people and if they had remitted any Articles of the accord the Senate doubtlesse would haue made no long delay But to what end tend our words Submit your selues and your Country to our protection or vanquish fighting Hannibal and Scipio hauing discoursed after this manner being of contrary opinions retire The day following at Sunne-rising they put their Armies into Battaile whereof the Carthaginians were to fight for their safety and for Affricke and the Romans for the vniuersall Empire What is hee who considering these things can without compassion heare the relation No man shall euer finde more warlike Armies nor more fortunate Commanders nor more excellent Wrestlers in the Stratagems of Warre nor greater rewards propounded vnto them by Fortune For they which should obtaine the Victory should not onely bee Lords of Affricke and Asia but also of all the other parts of the World which are at this time mentioned in Histories the which soone after succeeded Scipio put his Army in Battaile after this manner First he ordred those that were lightly armed by certaine spaces after whom he placed the Bands of the Principals and not according to the spaces of the first Ensignes as the Romans had beene accustomed but distant one from another in regard of the multitude of the Enemies Elephants and vpon the Reare hee appoints the Triarij As for the Wings hee gaue charge of the left to Caius Lelyus with the Italian Horse-men and the right to Massanissa with all the Numidians that were vnder his charge Finally hee fill'd the spaces of the first Ensignes with forked Iauelings to whom he commanded to begin the Skirmish and if they were repuls'd and forc'd to giue backe by the violence of the Elephants that they which should bee separated should retire by the straight spaces to the Reare of the Army and they which should be enuironed should retire to the Ensignes by the crosse spaces These things being thus ordred he makes an Oration in few words to his Army and yet proper for the euent of the affaires He intreats them to remember their precedent Battailes and to behaue themselues like braue men worthy of the Roman Name setting before their eyes that hauing the Victory they should not onely be Lords of all Affricke but moreouer they should purchase the Empire and gouernment of the rest of the World If the fortune of the Warre succeeded otherwise thee which dyed fighting valiantly should haue an honourable graue hauing died for their Countrey whereas they that should turne head should liue the remainder of their daies in great ignominy and misery for there is no place in Africke that can shelter them in theire flight finally if they fall into the Carthaginians hands they which haue any iudgement vnderstand well what the euent will bee and God forbid that any of you should make triall of it when as fortune propounds vnto vs great rewards of euery side shall wee not bee the most simple Idiotts in the world if when of good things they present the best vnto vs wee choose with a desire of life the worst of bad wherefore in propounding these two either to vanquish or dye hee incourageth them to match against the enemy for being in this humour they must with a dispaire of life alwayes vanquish their enemies in making head Scipio inflamed the hearts of his Souldiers after this manner In regard of Hannibal hee
those which are in the Reare and vpon the Flanckes As Homer teacheth when hee sayth the Target assures the Target the Head-peece the Head-peece and the Man the Man The Head-peeces adorned with Horses haire touch one another with their braue Crests tending that they should be ioyned together and close As these things are spoken with good reason and trueth it is apparently necessary that the Pikes should be charged according to those that go before passing betwixt them the length of ten foot and a halfe By this meanes they may visibly know of what force the preparation and order of a Battallion is hauing the length of sixteene Ranckes Whereof they which exceed the fifth cannot fight with their Pâ—kes For this cause they cannot fight hand to hand nor man to man but they support them at their backes vntill they take breath to the end that the first ranke may hold a firme order repulsing all manner of force with their Pikes which passing the first might charge vpon the reare For in marching after this â—manner they presse the fore-most with the weight of their bodies to make a more violent charge For it is impossible for the fore-most to turne backe This being the order of a Macedonian Battalion aswell in particular as in generall wee must by way of comparison speake of the properties and differences of the Roman Armes and of their ordering of a Battaile The Romans haue three foote space with their Armes The which in fighting they mooue from man to man for that euery man couers his body with his Target the which they also vse when any occasion of Combate is offered They commonly fight with the Sword by transport and apart Wherefore it is manifest that these men haue betwixt them a Retreate and space of three foote at the least betwixt him that goes before and the other which followes to fight more at ease whereby it happens that a Roman standing still contaynes the space of two Macedonian Souldiers beeing in the first Ranke So as he must offer himselfe and fight against ten Pikes All which one cannot cut if hee would holding them in his hands Neyther can the following Forces any way assist the first Ranke neyther to assaile nor to mannage their Armes So as wee may easily coniecture that it is impossible for any man liuing to sustaine and defend the violence of a Macedonian Battallion in Front if as wee haue formerly sayd it retaynes its propriety and force for what cause then doe the Romans Vanquish Whence comes it that Macedonian Battallions are frustrated of their Hope of Victory It is for that the Roman Ordonance hath in Battaile infinite places and times commodious for the Combate and the Macedonians haue onely place and time when it may bee seruiceable and commodious And therefore if vpon some necessity the Aduersaries â—all suddainly vpon the Macedonian Battallions when they are to giue Battaile it is likely that they which make vse of it would be alwayes the Masters But if they can diuert or turne it which is an easie thing of what amazement and great terrour will this Ordonance be Moreouer it is very playne and manifest that a Macedonian Battallion hath neede of Plaines and Euen ground without any let or incumbance as Ditches Springs Vallies Hills and Water-courses for all these things may disturbe breake and make frustrate their desire and intention It is as a man may say in manner impossible to finde a Countrey of twenty Furlongs I speake of no more where none of the afore-mentioned things are found It is without any question or doubt a rare thing and which no reasonable man will deny Yet I will allow there are some found If the Enemies do not direct and guide themselues thether but passing on ruine the Townes Villages Cities and whole Regions of their Friends and Allies what profite then will grow by this kinde of Ordonance If it stayes in places of aduantage it cannot giue succours to its friends nor preserue it selfe For Victuals Munition and succours may bee very easily intercepted by an Enemy if without any opposition hee be master of the field If likewise in leauing places of aduantage a Macedonian Battalion seekes to execute some enterprize hee is in danger of the Enemy For although that some one goes to field and doth not at one time offer his Army to the fury of the Macedonian Battalion diuerting himselfe for a time during the fight wee may easily coniecture by that which the Romans doe at this day what will happen The coniecture of that which wee say must not bee taken from the effect They doe not present their Battalion in such an indifferent place as they must suddenly fight with all their forces in front One part fights the other stirres not Moreouer if at any time the Macedonians presse their Enemies eagerly and are afterward repuls'd by them the proper order of the Battalion is broken For they leaue the rest of the Army whether they pursue those that are retired or flye from those which charge them The which being done they leaue vnto the Enemy the place which they had held not to charge in front but to serue them vpon the flancke or in the reare to succour those of the Battalion Why it is not probable that it should bee easie for a Roman Battalion to obserue time and aduantage and not for a Macedonian seeing the differences are great according to the truth of the said things Moreouer it is necessary for those which make vse of the Macedonian Ordonance to passe through all sorts of Countries and to plant their Campe and finally to seaze vpon commodious places and to besieged and indure sieges and to present himselfe against the Enemy All these things are requirest in warre Sometimes also the generall moments which are great serue much for the victory all which are not easie for a Macedonian Ordonance yea sometimes they are vnprofitable for that the souldier can neyther serue in rancke nor man to man Whereas the Roman is fit and profitable for these things For euery Roman comming to fight with his Armes is actiue for all times and places and for all charges and hath generally one Ordonance whither he be to fight in Troupe with the whole Army or particularly Ensigne to Ensigne or Man to Man Wherefore as the commodity is most excellent so many times the end and conclusion of the Battaile is more prosperous and successefull vnto the Romans then to others I haue therefore thought it necessary and conuenient to vse a long Discourse concerning these things for that there are many Grecians at this day which hold it incredible that the Macedonians should be vanquished and ouercome being ignorant of the cause and meanes whereby a Macedonian Ordonance is vanquished by the Roman Armes When as Philip had vsed all possible meanes hee could in this Battaile and yet was preuented of the Victory hee foorth-with made great hast passing by Tempe to recouer
the Romans in Italy Asdrubal brother to Hannibal slaine The Celts slaine sleeping The number of the dead An accord betwixt the Romans and the Etoliens Phylopemen makes Warre against Machanides Tyrant of Lacedemon The order of Philopomens Battaile The order of Machanides Army The safety of Monarches Machanides slaine Anaxidamus slaine Tegea taken The exellency of Hannibal Diuers Nations vnder the leading of Hannibal Asdrubal camps neere to Elinge Publius Scipio drawes his Army together Asdrubal chargeth the Romans A suddaine charge of the Romans against the Carthaginians The double policy of Scipio Scipio puts his men in battaile Asdrubal puts his men in Battaile A disorder by the Elephants A defect in the Text. A good Comparison The wisedome of Scipio Publius Scipio assembles his Army Three causes of the peoples mutiny against Princes The inconstancy of the people A punishment of the Mutines Scipio's Speech to his Army Scipio layes a baite for the Enemy The Spaniards put themselues in Battaile The order of Scipio's Battaile A defeate of the Spaniards The manner of the Lybians liuing The Iland of Cyruon not well knowne by Tymeus The manner of breeding Swine in Italy The City of the Locrines The Collony of the Locrines according vnto Aristotle A defect in the Text. Two kinds of vntruth Tymeus reprehensible Agathocles cruell A parcell corrupted Zaleucus the Law-giuer Cosmopole A seuere sentence A witâ—â—nswer of a Young man Of the Voyage of Alexander against Darius Galâ—sthenes The reprehension of Calisthenes An excuse of Alexander vpon Calisthenes The Warre like vnto a Disease The Acheins free from fraud Heraclides malicious The vices of Heraclides The force of truth Nabis Tyrant of the Lacedemonians Apege the Wife of Nabis Vtica besieged by Scipio Pedisca the wife of Syphax The Campe of Asdrubal of 30000. Foote and 3000. Horse The Campe of Syphax of 10000 Horse and 50000. Foote A custome of the Romans during their repast Massanissa Scipio drawes to the Enemies Campe. Lelius assailes Syphax his Campe by fire Scipio sets Asdrubals Campe on fire The flight of Asdrubal The Carthaginian Senate hoâ—â—â—â— Councell Scipio attends the Siege of Bysarthe 4000. Celtiberians come to succour the Carthaginians Scipio drawes towards the Enemy The order of Battaile of the Romans Army The order which Syphax and Asdrubal held The beginning of the Battaile The defeate of the Celtiberians Syphax retires in safety The adulec of the Romans The pursuit of the Romans after Syphax Diuers opinions of the Carthaginians concerning their Warre Tunie taken by Scipio Lucius Ser uinus Lucius Citinus and Lucius Fabius sent Emâ—â—ssadourâ— to Carthage A remonstrance of the Roman Embassadours to the Carthaginians A Conspiracy of the Carthaginians against the Roman Embassadors Hannibal sends to Tycheus Athia Lieutenant at Sea for Scipio The Carthaginian Embassadours stayed by Ethias The Carthaginians preâ—â—e Hannibal The Clemency of Scipio vnto Hannibals spies The comming of Massanissa to Scipio's Camp The enterview of Hannibal and Scipio Hannibals Speech to Scipio Scipio's answer to Hannibal Articles comprehended in the Accords past betwixt Scipio and the Carthaginians The order of Scipio's Battaile Scipio's Speech to his Army The order of Hannibal his Battaile The beginning of the Battaile by the Elephants The strength of the Battaile The great fury of the fight The victory of the Romans against the Carthaginians Hannibal flies to Adrumetum Hannibal vanquished by fortune A defect of the 〈◊〉 Zachantia spoiled by the Carthaginians The Articles of Accord propounded by Scipio to the Carthaginians Hanibal forceth a Citizen A good comparison Embassadours wronged by Philip. The Rhodiens declared Enemies to Philip. Danae a prisoner Moeragena saues himselfe naked Oenanthe sad A mutiny of the people Agâ—thoclea shewes her Papps vnto the Macedonians Phylon slaine Agathocles slaine Nicon and Agathoclea slaine The Egyptians cruell The cruelty of Virgins Agathocles and Denis Sicilians The saying of Scipio Two ends in Histories Attalus chargeth Philips Army at Sea The number of Philips ships and of his Enemies Democrates Captaine Generall to Philip sunkt Erythee a town in Asia The Pollicy of Attalus his Souldiers The losse of ships which Philip made The causes why Philip challenges the Victory to himselfe The death of Theophiliscus Prinasse besieged by Philip. The Gulfe of Neptune The City of Miletum built The Image of Diana Syphax King of the Masaisylins A man may be commended and blamed according to the diuersity of his Actions Of the profit of Abydos and Sestes A comparison of the streight of Abydos with that of Gibeltar The City of the Abydeins The Abydeins besieged by Philâ—p The course which the Abydeins take in despaire The prowesse of the Abydeins Marcus Emilius sâ—nt to Philip. The braue answere of Philip to Marcus Emilius The cruelty of the Abydeins to themselues The forme of Philopomenes Letters to the Cities A sally out of Pelene vpon the Acheins Philips Company The wise answere of Philip. The Articles which Dionisodorus demanded of Philip. Asesymbrotes demands for the Rhodiens The demands of the Acheins and Etoliens Alexander against Philip. Philips answer A strange Custome of the Etoliens Philip lands The Articles agreed on by Philip. Another assembly aâ— Thronye Philips cause sent to Rome Embassadours sent to Rome by Titus the Etolienâ— Acheins and Athenians Philips Embassadors reiected Warre declared against Philip. The Commendation of Titus The Grecians delicate of their Bodies A difference betwixt the Romans Stakes and the Grecians Titus plants his Campeneare to Pherees An encounter of the foretunneâ—s The Romans charged by the Macedonians The Nature of the Etoliens as well on force as Horsebacke Titus puts his Army in Battaile A Battaile betwixt the Romans and Philip of Macedony The signe which the Macedonians giue when they yeild The victory of the Romans Number of the dead on either side The Romans haue bin Vanquished by the pollicy of Hannibal Order of the Romans Armes For what cause the Romans Vanquish Philips retreate into Macedony Antiochus makes an assembly at Lysmachia Antiochus answere to the Romans Scope puâ— to death by poyson Altars set vp by Dicearâ—hus to cruelty and iniquiry
long and tedious and farre from Italy It hapned at that time that when as Demetrius King of the Sclauonians forgat the many fauours which the Romanes had done him for that hee saw them prest on the one side with the feare of the Gaules and on the ther by the Carthaginians and that all his hope was in the King of Macedon for that hee had bin a pertaker of that Warre which Antigonus made against Cleomenes ruining the Townes of the Sclauonians which were subiect to the Romanes forcing the Citty and exceeding the bounds limitted in the Treaty The like hee did to most parts of the Iland of Cyclades So as he ruined all like a Tempest beeing accompanied with fifty strong Vessels Whereof the Romanes being aduertised seeing at that time the Principallity of Macedon to Triumph they laboured with all their present meanes to pacifie the affaires of Sclauonia hoping it would prooue easie And that soone after they should punish the basenesse of the Sclauonians and the ingratitude of Demetrius But matters past otherwise then they expected For whilest they imploy their time therein Hannibal takes Sagont much sooner then they conceiued So as the Warre grew hot not in Spaine but against the Citty of Rome and thoroughout all Italy Yet the Romanes pursuing their enterprize sent Lucius Emilius into Sclauonia the first yeare of the hundred and fifteth Olympiade with a very great Army to keep that Prouince in peace and from future danger Hannibal parting from Carthagena with his whole Army goes to Sagont a Towne scituated beyond the Riuer of Ebro at the foote of the Mountaine which deuides Spaine from the Celtiberiens about a mile distant from the Sea The people of this Countrey exceede all the rest of Spaine in abundance of fruites and in multitudes of men and they are the most Warlike Hannibal entring into these limits with his Army and hauing ruined all the Countrey he besiedged it with all manner of Engines conceiuing that the taking thereof would prooue wonderfull commodious for his present Affaires First he considered that he should depriue the Romanes of all hope to make Warre in Spaine and that moreouer he should strike a great terrour into the rest and that by this meanes the Townes of Spaine reduced already vnder his obedience would keepe their faith the better Besides it was likely that they which desired to liue still in their liberty would soone yeild And that thirdly he immagined that he might then confidently pursue the Remainder leauing no enemy behind him He hoped more ouer to gather much Treasure for the intertainement of his War and that he should gaine the hearts of the Souldiers for the booty that euery one should get at the sacke of the Towne and that finally he should purchase the loue of the Cittizens remayning in Carthage with presents that he will send them of the spoiles Beeing mooued with these reasons he wholy attends the siege of this Towne and inflames the hearts of the Souldiers spurring them on sometimes with rage against the Enemy sometimes with hope of Recompence and sometimes he serues them for an example aswell in making the Engines and approaching them to the Wals as in going sometimes to those places which were most dangerous Finally hee performed all things so extraordinary well as if hee had beene but a simple Souldier And when he had toyl'd his Body and minde herein for the space of eight moneths in the end he forced Sagont Whereas after he had made a great booty of gold and siluer and taken many men he kept the money for the charges of the War as he had formerly resolued deuiding the Prisoners among the Souldiers according vnto their seuerall dignities and set the rest of the spoile vnto Carthage After these things hee was not deceiued in his hope so as things succeeded according to his desire for his Souldiers were much more ready to vndergoe all dangers and the Carthaginians much more ready to please him Moreouer this booty of money was a great meanes for the enterprize he had in hand During these actions Demetrius King of the Sclauonians discouering the enterprize and preparation of the Romans hee presently caused the Towne of Dimale to bee carefully furnished with men and victuals and as for the other Townes of Sclauonia hee chased away those that were of a contrary faction suffering none but such as held his party Then hee made choice of sixe thousand old Souldiers out of his Army and put himselfe into Phare In the meane time the Consull Emilius arriues safely in Sclauonia with his Army where being aduertised that the Enemies were confident and resolute for that they were in hope that the descent of the Romans should not preuaile against them relying much in the scituation and munition of Dimale hee thought good before all things to doe his vttermost endeauour to take it thinking as it afterwards happened that this being taken all the rest amazed with feare would easily yeeld vnto the Romans And after that hee had made some speeches vnto the Souldiers hee planted his Engines of Battery against the Towne and besieged it which being forced on the seauenth day did so much amaze the Enemies as presently Embassies came from all the rest of Sclauonia yeelding vnto the Romans The which being receiued into Friendship and hauing treated with euery one according to their condition hee causeth his Army to march directly to Phare whereas the King of the Sclauonians made his abode But for that hee found this Towne strong by scituation and mann'd with the choise of the Army and moreouer well furnished with Victuals and all kinds of munition hee feared the siege would bee long and difficult Finally being long in supence he takes this counsell Hee vseth all diligence and labour to gaine the Iland in the Night and doth lodge a great part of his Army in the thickest of the Forrest as for himselfe at the breake of day hee gaines the neerest Port vnto the Towne with twenty shipps The Sclauonians seeing the Enemies shipps and making no accompt of their number they goe forth with a great Fleete to hinder the landing of the Romans where they charg'd them and for a time the Combate was very furious there comming still Succours vnto them from the Towne by files so as in the end all the Citty was drawne thither Then the Romans who had layne all night in Ambush in the Forrest hearing the noise ranne with all speed by couered places and gaining a little Hill which was strong by nature within the Towne and Port they tooke from their Enemies all meanes of returne The which the Sclauonians well perceiuing they leaue their first enterprize to repulse the Enemy and drawing together in one troupe they encourage one another as men resolued to go and fight against those which held the Hill On the other side the Romans seeing the Sclauonians approach put themselues in battell and charg'd
them fighting with great resolution and courage The other part of the Army at Sea landed march't and prest the enemy in the Reare Wherefore for as much as the Romans charg'd them on all sides and that the Sclauonians were prest before and behind the Combate was long and cruell Finally the Romans had the Victory The greatest part of the Sclauonians were most miserablely slaine some saued themselues within the Towne and the rest fled into the Desarts of the Iland Demetrius the Night following saued himselfe contrary to the opinion of all the World by meanes of certaine Vessels which hee had appointed in three places for his safety the case so happening and retired to Phillip King of Macedon with whom hee spent the Remainder of his dayes Hee was a man of great courage and ouerweening but of little iudgement in Martiall affaires And therefore hee ended according to the life which hee had formerly led For when as at Phillips desire hee had begunne to besiege the Towne of the Messenians hee was most shamefully slaine by the Enemy for his great and ouerweening boldnesse But wee will speake of these things more particularly when wee shall come vnto that time When as Emilius had so suddainly gotten Phare hee razed the Towne to the ground And hauing within few dayes reduced the rest of the Townes of Sclauonia to the Romane obedience and decided all the affaires of the Prouince as hee had resolued hee returnes to Rome in the beginning of Autumne where hee was receiued with wonderfull great glory triumph and good esteeme of all men to haue done not onely like a wise and discreete man but like a resolute But when in the meane time newes came to Rome of the razing of Sagont some haue written that the Lords of the Romane Councell were not of opinion to make Warre and they alledge causes and reasons which held them in suspence But what can bee spoken more vnreasonably How is it likely that they which the yeere before had signified Warre vnto the Carthaginians if they entred the Sagontins Countrey should now growe doubtfull whether after the taking of Sagont they should make Warre or not But is there any thing lesse worthy of credit to say that the Senate on the one side was wonderfully heauy and afflicted as if all had beene vtterly lost On the other side that the Fathers brought all their Children to the Senare so as they were aboue twelue yeeres of age and that being partakers of the Councell they neuer reuealed or made knowne the secrets to any Without doubt these things are neither true nor likely vnlesse the Romans haue that gift of nature to bee wise from their Cradles We haue discoursed sufficiently of these writings which are of Cherea and Solilus neither haue they so much shew of a History as of old wiues Tales and are like vnto those which they vsually tell in Barbers shops The Romans then after the newes of the taking of Sagont and the murther of their Allies sent presently an Embassie to Carthage to let them vnderstand two things whereof the one seemed to bee of consequence for ignomy and losse of the Carthaginions and the other had a shew to draw their Empire in hazard For they demaunded that they should either deliuer Hannibal to bee punished for the breach of the publique Faith or else they should hold themselues assured of Warre When as the Embassadours were come to Carthage and that the Senate had giuen them audience they deliuered their Commission which was not without the indignation of of the Carthaginians who made choice of Hanno to debate their Right who at the first made no accompt of Asdrubals treatie as hauing neuer beene made with the Romans and if it were so the Carthaginians were not bound vnto it for that Asdrubal had exceeded his Commission and had done it without the authority of the Senate or people of Carthage Whereunto hee alleadged in the like case that the Romans had beene of opinion that the accord made in Sicily by the Consull Luctatius should bee broken for that it had beene made without the authority of the people of Rome Finally hee insisted still vpon this accord whilest his Speech continued and reade it often saying that there was no mention made of Ebro and that the Allies of the one and of the other were onely reserued and that moreouer it did nothing concerne the Sagontins for that at the time of the accord they were not allied vnto the Romans The Embassadours repuls'd with great words this contention concerning the right of the accorde as a thing which concernes the honour of the people of Rome saying that the quarrels might bee decided if the Sagontins were in there entire But now that Sagont is razed and that the faith and accords are wickedly broken they should either deliuer the Authour of the Crime to the Romans to the end that all the World might know that Sagont hath not beene ouerthrowne and ruined with the consent of the Carthaginians Or if they will not but confesse that the Towne hath beene destroyed with their consent that they should prepare to Warre Thus ended their discourse which they held more amply and in generall I haue held it most necessary not to passe ouer this particular in silence to the end the truth may not bee hidden to those which deale in publique affaires or which haue cause to consider exactly of these things Or else haue a desire to know whether they erre being deceiued by the ignorance and sottishnesse of Historiographers for want of knowledge of the treaties which from the first Punique Warre vnto our times haue beene made betwixt the Romans and the Carthaginians The first then was made betwixt these two Nations immediately after that the name of King was chased out of Rome Lucius Iunius Brutus and Marcus Valerius being Consuls vnder whom also a Temple was dedicated to Iupiter Capitolinus eight and twenty yeeres before the first voyage of Xerxes into Greece the which wee haue interpreted with the greatest diligence wee could possibly Beleeue me the Romane tongue hath beene so changed since that time vnto our dayes as they which are the best instructed in Antiquities vnderstand not much of it but with great difficulty This accord containes in a manner thus much The people of Rome and the Carthaginians shall liue in Amity and Friendship The like shall their Allies doe The Romans and their Allies shall not saile beyond the Promontory of Beauty vnlesse they be forced by storme or the violence of their Enemies If any one takes Port for these causes hee shall not buy nor take anything but what necessity shall require for Sacrifices and for Ships And that within the fift day they shall set faile for their retreate They which shall arriue there for the trade of Merchandize shall be free except the duties which belong vnto the Register and to the Citty who shall giue
them opportunity The Elephants were very vsefull to the Carthaginians for wheresoeuer they marcht the place was assured from Enemies for that they durst not approach neere them hauing not bin accustomed vnto them On the ninth day they came vnto the top of the Alpes and there they planted their Campe two daies partly to refresh the Souldiers which were weary with toile and partly to retire those that were straied During which time many Horses freed from their burthens and following the Rout of the Army recouered the Campe. Those places were then full of Snow for it was in Nouember Whereby the Souldiers grew in a manner into despaire being tired and vext with so many Crosses The which Hannibal perceiuing he draws them together resoluing to make a Speech vnto them For the effecting whereof he had but one occasion which was to shew them Italy so neere and the fertillity thereof In truth it is so neere the foot of the Mountaines as if it be well obserued the Hils seeme to serue as Rampiers to Italy And therefore he shewed it them from a high Hill from whence they might see the whole Extent The like he did of the plaines about Poe lying at the foot of the Mountains relating vnto them the friendship of the Gaules inhabiting those Countries and the Territory of Rome wherewith he reuiued their spirits Three dayes after he began to dislodge the Enemy making no attempt against them but after a Theeuing manner Yet he had no lesse losse at the descent of the Mountaines by reason of the bad Country and the coldnesse of the Snow then he had at the ascent by the attempt of his Enemies For they which did stumble in any sort fell presently into a Gulfe considering that the place was narrow and rough by nature And all the Country newly couered with Snow so as there was no shew of any path neither could they hold their footing It is true the men accustomed vnto so many miseries did easily indure this Trouble In the meane time they came to another Rocke where as neither the Elephants nor Horse could passe for a late fall of the ground had streightned the Way two hundred paces which had formerly bin as large Here againe the Army began to be troubled and tormented Hannibal in the beginning laboured to lead his Army by vncough and vnknowne places whereas neuer soule had bin But for that the Snow hindred them that they could not passe he desisted from his Enterprize There had Snow fallen newly this yeare vpon the old which was yet whole and entire vpon the which they had firme footing for that which was newly fallen was soft and not very thicke But after that it had bin trodden and beaten by so many men and horses no man could keep his footing As it happens to those which go vpon places which are slippery with durt where their footing failes them For that they marcht vpon the Ice and vpon the Snow that was moulten Moreouer the men which was more miserable falling back-wards for that they could not keep their footing in those slippery places tumbled downe into the Caues and hollow places where they laboured to rise vpon their Hands and Knees The Horses of burthen fell sometimes brake the Ice and could not stirre for that they were laden and could not retire their feete out of the Ice Then Hannibal frustrate of his former hope for that the men and Horses laboured in vaine planted his Campe vpon the top of the Mountaine hauing cleansed the place of great difficulty Then he Commaunded them all to leuile the way vnto the Rocke where they were to passe The which was done with much toile When as the way was made in one day for the Horses and Sumpters he caused them presently to passe seating his Campe in those places that were without Snow and there to feed In the meane time he giues charge to the Numidians to make a way for the Elephants The which was effected with great difficulty they being in a manner dead for hunger for the tops of the Mountaines are without Grasse or Trees for that they are continually couered with Snow It is true that the Vallies of either side of the Mountaines hauing goodly Pastures and Trees and places which are very well inhabited When as Hannibal had drawne all his Troupes together he began to pursue his course and hauing past the Rocke aboue mentioned in three daies he came vnto the Plaine hauing lost the greatest part of his Army aswell by the Enemy and Riuers in his way as by the roughnesse of the Mountaine in passing them and not only men but also Horses and Carriages Finally hauing recouered Italy in this manner fiue moneths after his departure from Carthage and past the mountaines in fifteene daies he enters boldly into the Countries about Poe and Millan hauing yet remaining about ten thousand two hundred foot Affricans eight thousand Spanriards and sixe thousand Horse at the most This he testifies in a pillar where the whole number of his Army is set downe at Lauynium At the same time Publius Cornelius Scipio the Consull hauing sent his brother into Spaine to make head against Asdrubal he sail'd to Pysa with few men taking his way through Tuscany where he receiued the Army of the Pretors Manlius and Attilius which they had against the Bullonois and marcht directly to the Riuer of Poe to fight with the Enemy before he had refresht himselfe Seeing we haue turn'd our Discourse to the Warre of Italy and to the Commaunders of these two people we haue thought it good to deliuer in few words some things which are not vnfitting for a Historiographer before we come to those which haue bin acted in that Prouince It may be some one will demaund of me how it happens that seeing we haue handled the Affaires of Lybia and Spaine at large yet we haue not spoken of Hercules Pillars nor of that Arme of the Sea which diuides Affricke from Europe nor in like manner of the great Sea or Ocean nor of those things which depend thereon nor of the Ilands of England Scotland nor likewise of the abundance of Tinne Gold and Siluer wherewith Spaine abounds It is certaine that the auncient Historiographers haue spoken many things and diuers being of contrary opinions It is true we haue not omitted them as thinking that they were not fitting for a History but we haue done it to the end that our Relation might not be diuided nor diuert the Readers often from the order of the History Being of opinion that these things should be deliuered with all possible truth in time and place and not out of season And therefore no man ought to maruaile if in the following Bookes we passe on when we shall come to these passages for we do it of purpose and for the reasons aboue mentioned If there be any one that desires to heare them at euery passage he may well be compared to