with their points slanting upwards; and in this manner they form a kind of rampart which covers their heads, and secures them against those darts which may be carried in their flight beyond the first ranks, and fall upon those that are behind.  But when the whole body advances to charge the enemy, even the hindmost ranks are of no small use and moment.  For as they press continually upon those that are before them, they add by their weight alone great force to the attack, and deprive also the foremost ranks of the power of drawing themselves backwards or retreating.  Such, then, is the disposition of the phalanx, with regard both to the whole and the several parts.  Let us now consider the arms, and the order of battle, of the Romans; that we may see by the comparison in what respects they are different from those of the Macedonians.

“To each of the Roman soldiers, as he stands in arms, is allotted the same space likewise of three feet.  But as every soldier in the time of action is constantly in motion, being forced to shift his shield continually, that he may cover any part of his body against which a stroke is aimed, and so vary the position of his sword, so as either to push, or to make a falling stroke, there must also be a distance of three feet, the least that can be allowed for performing these motions with advantage, between each soldier and the man that stands next to him, both upon his side and behind him.  In charging, therefore, against the phalanx, every single Roman, as he has two Macedonians opposite to him, has also ten spears, which he is forced to encounter.  But it is not possible for a single man to cut down these spears with his sword, before they can take their effect, against him.  Nor is it easy on the other hand to force his way through them.  For the men that are behind add no weight to the pressure, nor any strength to the swords of those that are in the foremost rank.  It will be easy, therefore, to conceive, that, while the phalanx retains its own proper position and strength, no troops, as I before observed, can ever support the attack of it in front.”

Polybius, Book xvii.  Ex. iii. in Hampden’s translation, 1773.]

[Footnote 35:  The ‘pileum,’ a close-fitting felt cap, was given by the Romans to slaves on the occasion of their enfranchisement, as a sign of freedom.]

[Footnote 36:  Livy xxxix, chapter 51.]

[Footnote 37:  In Greek warfare, any one who killed an enemy in battle was entitled to dispose of his body and arms as he thought fit.  Plutarch means that by the laws of war Hannibal belonged to Scipio, and that Flamininus had no right to interfere between them.]

COMPARISON OF PHILOPOEMEN AND TITUS.