The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 807 pages of information about The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36.

The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 807 pages of information about The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36.
and Heraclea, yet they defended neither; but one half of them fled to the tops of the mountains, while the others shut themselves up in Heraclea.  The king himself, plainly confessing that, so far from daring to meet us in battle on the level plain, he durst not even encamp in open ground, has abandoned all that tract in front, which he boasted of having taken from us and Philip, and has hid himself behind the rocks; not even appearing in the opening of the pass, as it is said the Lacedaemonians did formerly, but drawing back his camp completely within it.  What difference is there, as a demonstration of fear, between this and his shutting himself up within the walls of a city to stand a siege?  But neither shall the straits protect Antiochus, nor the hills which they have seized, the Aetolians.  Sufficient care and precaution have been used on every quarter, that you shall have nothing to contend with in the fight but the enemy himself.  On your parts, you have to consider, that you are not fighting merely for the liberty of Greece; although, were that all, it would be an achievement highly meritorious to deliver that country now from Antiochus and the Aetolians, which you formerly delivered from Philip; and that the wealth in the king’s camp will not be the whole prize of your labour; but that the great collection of stores, daily expected from Ephesus, will likewise become your prey; and also, that you will open a way for the Roman power into Asia and Syria, and all the most opulent realms to the extremity of the East.  What then must be the consequence, but that, from Gades to the Red Sea, we shall have no limit but the ocean, which encircles in its embrace the whole orb of the earth; and that all mankind shall regard the Roman name with a degree of veneration next to that which they pay to the divinities?  For the attainment of prizes of such magnitude, prepare a spirit adequate to the occasion, that, to-morrow, with the aid of the gods, we may decide the matter in the field.”

18.  After this discourse he dismissed the soldiers, who, before they went to their repast, got ready their armour and weapons.  At the first dawn, the signal of battle being displayed, the consul formed his troops with a narrow front, adapted to the nature and the straitness of the ground.  When the king saw the enemy’s standards in motion, he likewise drew out his forces.  He placed in the van, before the rampart, a part of his light infantry; and behind them, as a support, close to the fortifications, the main strength of his Macedonians, whom they call Sarissophori.  On the left wing of these, at the foot of the mountain, he posted a body of javelin-bearers, archers, and slingers; that from the higher ground they might annoy the naked flank of the enemy:  and on the right of the Macedonians, to the extremity of the works, where the deep morasses and quicksands, stretching thence to the sea, render the place impassable, the elephants with their usual guard; in the rear of them,

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The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.