<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fwn">χορηγίων</w>. <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnos">προειρημένος</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%5Cr">ἀνὴρ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2F">ὑπό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="no%2Fsou">νόσου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ndei%2Fas">ἐνδείας</w> <w lemma="a%29sqenw%3Ds">ἀσθενῶς</w> <w lemma="diakeime%2Fnous">διακειμένους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loimikh%5Cn">λοιμικὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fstasin">κατάστασιν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sfe%2Ftera">σφέτερα</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzwn">νομίζων</w> <w lemma="a%29cio%2Fxrea">ἀξιόχρεα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>,
<w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29riqmo%5Cn">ἀριθμὸν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="loiph%5Cn">λοιπὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpasan">ἅπασαν</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%5Cn">σπουδὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hraklei%2Fas">Ἡρακλείας</w>, <w lemma="paraggei%2Flas">παραγγείλας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Anomadikoi%3Ds">Νομαδικοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppeu%3Dsi">ἱππεῦσι</w> <w lemma="proporeu%2Fesqai">προπορεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fsasi">συνεγγίσασι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraki">χάρακι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fwn">ἐναντίων</w> <w lemma="e%29reqi%2Fzein">ἐρεθίζειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peira%3Dsqai">πειρᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kkalei%3Dsqai">ἐκκαλεῖσθαι</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29kkli%2Fnasin">ἐκκλίνασιν</w> <w lemma="a%29poxwrei%3Dn">ἀποχωρεῖν</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="summi%2Fcwsi">συμμίξωσι</w>.
<w lemma="praca%2Fntwn">πραξάντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suntaxqe%5Cn">συνταχθὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdwn">Νομάδων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosmica%2Fntwn">προσμιξάντων</w> <w lemma="qate%2Frw%7C">θατέρῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qu%5Cs">εὐθὺς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29cexe%2Fonto">ἐξεχέοντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qrase%2Fws">θρασέως</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fkeinto">ἐπέκειντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fsin">Νομάσιν</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbues">Λίβυες</w> <w lemma="u%28pexw%2Froun">ὑπεχώρουν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fggelma">παράγγελμα</w>, <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fmican">συνέμιξαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna:">Ἄννωνα·</w> <w lemma="loipo%2Fn">λοιπόν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="perixuqe%2Fntes">περιχυθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fkeinto">ἐπέκειντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkteinan">ἀπέκτειναν</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="sunedi%2Fwcan">συνεδίωξαν</w>.
<w lemma="genome%2Fnwn">γενομένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29pestratope%2Fdeusan">ἐπεστρατοπέδευσαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna">Ἄννωνα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>, <w lemma="katalabo%2Fmenoi">καταλαβόμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffon">λόφον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="%2Ato%2Fron">Τόρον</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxontes">ἀπέχοντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dnas">μῆνας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28losxere%5Cs">ὁλοσχερὲς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttontes">πράττοντες</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29krobolizo%2Fmenoi">ἀκροβολιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsthn">ἑκάστην</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w>.
<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="diapurseuome%2Fnou">διαπυρσευομένου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diapempome%2Fnou">διαπεμπομένου</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna">Ἄννωνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhlou%3Dntos">δηλοῦντος</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqh">πλήθη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="limo%5Cn">λιμὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnei">ὑπομένει</w>, <w lemma="polloi%5C">πολλοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="au%29tomolou%3Dsi">αὐτομολοῦσι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndeian">ἔνδειαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnw">ἔγνω</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="strathgo%2Fs">στρατηγός</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dtton">ἧττον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ferome%2Fnwn">φερομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29cagago%2Fntes">ἐξαγαγόντες</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fballon">συνέβαλλον</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5Cn">πολὺν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29tre%2Fyanto">ἐτρέψαντο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="prokinduneu%2Fsantas">προκινδυνεύσαντας</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frous">μισθοφόρους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w>.
<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peso%2Fntwn">πεσόντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="loipa%5Cs">λοιπὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29festhkui%2Fas">ἐφεστηκυίας</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="suntaraxqh%3Dnai">συνταραχθῆναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Afoini%2Fkwn">Φοινίκων</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w>.
<w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gkli%2Fmatos">ἐγκλίματος</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerou%3Ds">ὁλοσχεροῦς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="diefqa%2Frhsan">διεφθάρησαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hra%2Fkleian">Ἡράκλειαν</w> <w lemma="a%29pexw%2Frhsan:">ἀπεχώρησαν·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="e%29kuri%2Feusan">ἐκυρίευσαν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29piskeuh%3Ds">ἐπισκευῆς</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nukto%2Fs">νυκτός</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katorqwma%2Ftwn">κατορθωμάτων</w> <w lemma="xara%5Cn">χαρὰν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ko%2Fpon">κόπον</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cqumo%2Fteron">ῥᾳθυμότερον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="fulakai%3Ds">φυλακαῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="xrhsame%2Fnwn">χρησαμένων</w>, <w lemma="a%29pelpi%2Fsas">ἀπελπίσας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsas">νομίσας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuh%3D">εὐφυῆ</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fan">σωτηρίαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsas">μέσας</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fktas">νύκτας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="cenika%5Cs">ξενικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w>.
<w lemma="xw%2Fsas">χώσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="formoi%3Ds">φορμοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29xu%2Frwn">ἀχύρων</w> <w lemma="sesagme%2Fnois">σεσαγμένοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrous">τάφρους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqe">ἔλαθε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="a%29pagagw%5Cn">ἀπαγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pelqou%2Fshs">ἐπελθούσης</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fntes">συνέντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29ragi%2Fas">οὐραγίας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="kaqaya%2Fmenoi">καθαψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flas">πύλας</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mpodw%5Cn">ἐμποδὼν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28stame%2Fnou">ἱσταμένου</w>, <w lemma="pareispeso%2Fntes">παρεισπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="dih%2Frpasan">διήρπασαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="swma%2Ftwn">σωμάτων</w>, <w lemma="pollh%3Ds">πολλῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pantodaph%3Ds">παντοδαπῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w>.
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<head>Fall of Agrigentum</head>He saw that the Romans were reduced by disease<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note54">Hanno tempts the Roman cavalry out and defeats them.</note>and want, owing to an epidemic that had broken out among them, and he believed that his own forces were strong enough to give them battle: he accordingly collected his elephants, of which he had about fifty, and the whole of the rest of his army, and advanced at a rapid pace from Heracleia; having previously issued orders to the Numidian cavalry to precede him, and to endeavour, when they came near the enemies' stockade, to provoke them and draw their cavalry out; and, having done so, to wheel round and retire until they met him. The Numidians did as they were ordered, and advanced up to one of the camps. Immediately the Roman cavalry poured out and boldly charged the Numidians: the Libyans retired, according to their orders, until they reached Hanno's division: then they wheeled round; surrounded, and repeatedly charged the enemy; killed a great number of them, and chased the rest up to their stockade. After this affair Hanno's force encamped over against the Romans, having seized the hill called Torus, at a distance of about a mile and a quarter from their opponents.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note55">After two months, Hanno is forced to try to relieve Agrigentum, but is defeated in a pitched battle, and his army cut to pieces.</note>For two months they remained in position without any decisive action, though skirmishes took place daily. But as<pb n="21" />Hannibal all this time kept signalling and sending messages from the town to Hanno,— telling him that his men were impatient of the famine, and that many were even deserting to the enemy owing to the distress for food,—the Carthaginian general determined to risk a battle, the Romans being equally ready, for the reasons I have mentioned. So both parties advanced into the space between the camps and engaged. The battle lasted a long time, but at last the Romans turned the advanced guard of Carthaginian mercenaries. The latter fell back upon the-elephants and the other divisions posted in their rear; and thus the whole Punic army was thrown into confusion. The retreat became general: the larger number of the men were killed, while some effected their escape into Heracleia; and the Romans became masters of most of the elephants and all the baggage. Now night came on, and the victors, partly from joy at their success, partly from fatigue, kept their watches somewhat more carelessly than usual; accordingly Hannibal, having given up hope of holding out, made up his mind that this state of things afforded him a good opportunity of escape.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note56">Hannibal escapes by night; and the Romans enter and plunder Agrigentum.</note>He started about midnight from the town with his mercenary troops, and having choked up the trenches with baskets stuffed full of chaff, led off his force in safety, without being detected by the enemy. When day dawned the Romans discovered what had happened, and indeed for a short time were engaged with Hannibal's rear; but eventually they all made for the town gates. There they found no one to oppose them: they therefore threw themselves into the town, plundered it, and secured a large number of captives, besides a great booty of every sort and description.
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Walbank Commentary