Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 71

1
<w lemma="%2Atau%3Dt%27">Ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="sunorw%3Dn">συνορῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullogizo%2Fmenos">συλλογιζόμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29fi%2Fstato">ἀφίστατο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="logismoi%3Ds">λογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bia%2Fzesqai">βιάζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3Dn">πολιορκεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proqu%2Fmws">προθύμως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou:">τόπου·</w>
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<w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fkeito">ἐπέκειτο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arka%2Fsi">Ἀρκάσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polemhth%2Frion">πολεμητήριον</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%3Drxe">ὑπῆρχε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hlei%2Fois">Ἠλείοις</w> <w lemma="a%29sfale%2Fs">ἀσφαλές</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="krathqe%5Cn">κρατηθὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmelle">ἔμελλε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arka%2Fdwn">Ἀρκάδων</w> <w lemma="prokei%3Dsqai">προκεῖσθαι</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hlei%2Fwn">Ἠλείων</w> <w lemma="o%28rmhth%2Frion">ὁρμητήριον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frcein">ὑπάρξειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxois">συμμάχοις</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fkairon">εὔκαιρον</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fsas">ὁρμήσας</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmh%7C">γνώμῃ</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggelle">παρήγγελλε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsin">Μακεδόσιν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="fwti%5C">φωτὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29ristopoiei%3Dsqai">ἀριστοποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dieskeuasme%2Fnous">διεσκευασμένους</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmous">ἑτοίμους</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>.
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="diaba%5Cs">διαβὰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29eru%2Fmanqon">Ἐρύμανθον</w> <w lemma="ge%2Ffuran">γέφυραν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpodw%5Cn">ἐμποδὼν</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fntos">στάντος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdocon">παράδοξον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataplhktikw%3Ds">καταπληκτικῶς</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29ripi%2Fdan">Εὐριπίδαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="dihpo%2Froun">διηπόρουν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnousi">συμβαίνουσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pepei%3Dsqai">πεπεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdou">ἐφόδου</w> <w lemma="tolmh%3Dsai">τολμῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="prosbalei%3Dn">προσβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bia%2Fzesqai">βιάζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="o%29xura%5Cn">ὀχυρὰν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnion">χρόνιον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fsasqai">συστήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fstasin">περίστασιν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="logizo%2Fmenoi">λογιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="dihpi%2Fstoun">διηπίστουν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w>, <w lemma="dedio%2Ftes">δεδιότες</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndon">ἔνδον</w> <w lemma="sunestame%2Fnos">συνεσταμένος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>. <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%28w%2Frwn">ἑώρων</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w>,
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<w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxh">τείχη</w> <w lemma="bohqh%2Fsontes">βοηθήσοντες</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Froi">μισθοφόροι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hlei%2Fwn">Ἠλείων</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w> <w lemma="u%28perde%2Fcion">ὑπερδέξιον</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dlqon">ἐξῆλθον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29piqhso%2Fmenoi">ἐπιθησόμενοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="diata%2Fcas">διατάξας</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="prosoi%2Fsontas">προσοίσοντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxei">τείχει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmakas">κλίμακας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fsas">μερίσας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllous">ἄλλους</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="salpigktw%3Dn">σαλπιγκτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29podou%5Cs">ἀποδοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma">σύνθημα</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prosbolh%5Cn">προσβολὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxesi">τείχεσι</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="h%29mu%2Fnonto">ἠμύνοντο</w> <w lemma="gennai%2Fws">γενναίως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxontes">κατέχοντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="klima%2Fkwn">κλιμάκων</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Frripton:">ἀπέρριπτον·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%2F">ἥ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fa">χορηγία</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="belw%3Dn">βελῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fleipen">ἐνέλειπεν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3Ds">παρασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="gegenhme%2Fnhs">γεγενημένης</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%2F">οἵ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="kateplh%2Fttonto">κατεπλήττοντο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28ife%2Fntos">ῥιφέντος</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="klima%2Fkwn">κλιμάκων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="kato%2Fpin">κατόπιν</w> <w lemma="a%29mellh%2Ftws">ἀμελλήτως</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fbaine">ἐπέβαινε</w>,
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<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="trape%2Fntes">τραπέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffeugon">ἔφευγον</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29kro%2Fpolin">ἀκρόπολιν</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fbhsan">ἐπέβησαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akrh%3Dtes">Κρῆτες</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28perde%2Fcion">ὑπερδέξιον</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w> <w lemma="e%29pecelqo%2Fntas">ἐπεξελθόντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="summi%2Fcantes">συμμίξαντες</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkasan">ἠνάγκασαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="ou%29deni%5C">οὐδενὶ</w> <w lemma="ko%2Fsmw%7C">κόσμῳ</w> <w lemma="r%28i%2Fyantas">ῥίψαντας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpla">ὅπλα</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgein">φεύγειν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="e%29pikei%2Fmenoi">ἐπικείμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosfe%2Frontes">προσφέροντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="suneise%2Fpeson">συνεισέπεσον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhs:">πύλης·</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="katalhfqh%3Dnai">καταληφθῆναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Aywfi%2Fdioi">Ψωφίδιοι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fknwn">τέκνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gunaikw%3Dn">γυναικῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pexw%2Frhsan">ἀπεχώρησαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkran">ἄκραν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29ripi%2Fdan">Εὐριπίδαν</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="diasw%7Czome%2Fnwn:">διασῳζομένων·</w>
Philip observing and reflecting on all this, was on the one hand deterred by his judgement from any attempt to carry the town by force or besiege it,
but was again strongly disposed thereto when he considered the advantages of its situation. For just as it was now a menace to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> and Arcadia and a secure place of arms for the Eleans, so, if it were taken, it would be a bulwark defending Arcadia and an excellent base of operations for the allies against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Elis&groupId=560&placeId=1048">Elis</a>.
These considerations finally prevailed, and he gave orders to the Macedonians to get all of them their breakfasts at daybreak and then prepare for action and hold themselves in readiness.
This having been done, he crossed the bridge over the Erymanthus, no one opposing him owing to the unexpectedness of the movement, and unhesitatingly marched on the town in formidable array.
Euripidas and all in the town were wholly take aback by this, as they had been convinced that the enemy would neither venture to attempt to assault by storm such a strong city, nor would open a lengthy siege at this disadvantageous season of the year.
In this very conviction they now began to entertain suspicions of each other, fearing lest Philip had arranged with some of those inside the city for its betrayal. But when they saw no signs of such project among themselves, the greater number of them ran to the walls for help, while the mercenaries of the Eleans issued from one of the gates higher up the hill to attack the enemy.
The king ordered the bearers of the scaling-ladders to set them up at three separate spots, and similarly dividing the rest of his Macedonians into three bodies, gave the signal by the sound of trumpet and attacked the wall simultaneously from every side.
At first the holders of the city offered a stout resistance and threw down many of the assailants from the ladders,
but when their supply of missiles and other requisites began to fall short — their preparations having been made on the spur of the moment — and the Macedonians were showing no sign of fear, the place of each man thrown off the ladder being instantly taken by the man next behind him, the defenders at length turned their backs and all fled to the citadel, while of the king's forces the Macedonians mounted the wall, and the Cretans, attacking the mercenaries who had sallied from the upper gate, forced them to fly in disorder, throwing away their shields.
Pressing close on their heels and cutting them down, they entered the gate together with them, and thus the city was taken from every side at once.
The Psophidians with their wives and children retreated to the citadel together with Euripidas' force and the rest of the fugitives,