Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 1 - Chapter 40

1
<w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proestw%5Cs">προεστὼς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fbas">Ἀσδρούβας</w>, <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29podeiliw%3Dntas">ἀποδειλιῶντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="progegenhme%2Fnais">προγεγενημέναις</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcesin">παρατάξεσιν</w>, <w lemma="puqo%2Fmenos">πυθόμενος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3Dn">στρατηγῶν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28misei%2Fas">ἡμισείας</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29phlla%2Fxqai">ἀπηλλάχθαι</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akaiki%2Flion">Καικίλιον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Apano%2Frmw%7C">Πανόρμῳ</w> <w lemma="diatri%2Fbein">διατρίβειν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxonta">ἔχοντα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="stratia%3Ds">στρατιᾶς</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenon">βουλόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29fedreu%3Dsai">ἐφεδρεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="karpoi%3Ds">καρποῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29kmazou%2Fshs">ἀκμαζούσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugkomidh%3Ds">συγκομιδῆς</w>,
2
<w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilubai%2Fou">Λιλυβαίου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsen">ὥρμησεν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katestratope%2Fdeusen">κατεστρατοπέδευσεν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frois">ὅροις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apanormi%2Ftidos">Πανορμίτιδος</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akaiki%2Flios">Καικίλιος</w>,
3
<w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="katateqarrhko%2Fta">κατατεθαρρηκότα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spouda%2Fzwn">σπουδάζων</w> <w lemma="e%29kkalei%3Dsqai">ἐκκαλεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w>, <w lemma="sunei%3Dxe">συνεῖχε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftas">στρατιώτας</w> <w lemma="e%29nto%5Cs">ἐντὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dn">πυλῶν</w>.
4
<w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="e%29pairo%2Fmenos">ἐπαιρόμενος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fbas">Ἀσδρούβας</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dntos">τολμῶντος</w> <w lemma="a%29ntecie%2Fnai">ἀντεξιέναι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Akaikili%2Fou">Καικιλίου</w>, <w lemma="qrase%2Fws">θρασέως</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fsas">ὁρμήσας</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fmati">στρατεύματι</w> <w lemma="kath%3Dre">κατῆρε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stenw%3Dn">στενῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Apanormi%3Dtin">Πανορμῖτιν</w>.
5
<w lemma="fqei%2Frontos">φθείροντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="karpou%5Cs">καρποὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenen">ἔμενεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnhs">ὑποκειμένης</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhs">γνώμης</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Akaiki%2Flios">Καικίλιος</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29cekale%2Fsato">ἐξεκαλέσατο</w> <w lemma="diabh%3Dnai">διαβῆναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>.
6
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="diebi%2Fbasan">διεβίβασαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="thnikau%3Dta">τηνικαῦτα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnous">εὐζώνους</w> <w lemma="e%29caposte%2Fllwn">ἐξαποστέλλων</w> <w lemma="h%29re%2Fqize">ἠρέθιζε</w>, <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29kta%2Fcai">ἐκτάξαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkase">ἠνάγκασε</w>.
7
<w lemma="sunqeasa%2Fmenos">συνθεασάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fqeto">προέθετο</w>, <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kinh%2Ftwn">εὐκινήτων</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrou">τάφρου</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbale">παρενέβαλε</w>, <w lemma="prosta%2Fcas">προστάξας</w>, <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fzh%7C">ἐγγίζῃ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>, <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="be%2Flesin">βέλεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29fqo%2Fnws">ἀφθόνως</w>,
8
<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kpie%2Fzwntai">ἐκπιέζωνται</w>, <w lemma="katafeu%2Fgein">καταφεύγειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffron">τάφρον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="o%28rmwme%2Fnous">ὁρμωμένους</w> <w lemma="ei%29sakonti%2Fzein">εἰσακοντίζειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptonta">προσπίπτοντα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cwn:">ζῴων·</w>
9
<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%3Ds">ἀγορᾶς</w> <w lemma="banau%2Fsois">βαναύσοις</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frein">φέρειν</w> <w lemma="prose%2Ftace">προσέταξε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="be%2Flh">βέλη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraba%2Fllein">παραβάλλειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="qeme%2Flion">θεμέλιον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w>.
10
<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="shmei%2Fas">σημείας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="laio%5Cn">λαιὸν</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnhs">κειμένης</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhs">πύλης</w> <w lemma="e%29festh%2Fkei">ἐφεστήκει</w>, <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="e%29paposte%2Fllwn">ἐπαποστέλλων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29krobolizome%2Fnois">ἀκροβολιζομένοις</w>.
11
<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="o%28losxereste%2Fran">ὁλοσχερεστέραν</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sumplokh%5Cn">συμπλοκὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntifilodocou%3Dntes">ἀντιφιλοδοξοῦντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lefa%2Fntwn">ἐλεφάντων</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%2Ftai">ἐπιστάται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fban">Ἀσδρούβαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="poih%3Dsai">ποιῆσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prote%2Frhma">προτέρημα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="prokinduneu%2Fontas:">προκινδυνεύοντας·</w> <w lemma="treya%2Fmenoi">τρεψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="sunedi%2Fwcan">συνεδίωξαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffron">τάφρον</w>.
12
<w lemma="prospeso%2Fntwn">προσπεσόντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="titrwskome%2Fnwn">τιτρωσκομένων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w> <w lemma="toceuo%2Fntwn">τοξευόντων</w>, <w lemma="sunakontizome%2Fnwn">συνακοντιζομένων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nergoi%3Ds">ἐνεργοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="puknoi%3Ds">πυκνοῖς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28ssoi%3Ds">ὑσσοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gro%2Fsfois">γρόσφοις</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fwn">ἀκεραίων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrou">τάφρου</w> <w lemma="diatetagme%2Fnwn">διατεταγμένων</w>,
13
<w lemma="sumbelh%3D">συμβελῆ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmena">γινόμενα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katatraumatizo%2Fmena">κατατραυματιζόμενα</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="dietara%2Fxqh">διεταράχθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strafe%2Fnta">στραφέντα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w> <w lemma="e%29fe%2Freto">ἐφέρετο</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="katapatou%3Dnta">καταπατοῦντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafqei%2Fronta">διαφθείροντα</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w> <w lemma="sugxe%2Fonta">συγχέοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataspw%3Dnta">κατασπῶντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w>.
14
<w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katidw%5Cn">κατιδὼν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Akaiki%2Flios">Καικίλιος</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dge">ἐξῆγε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds:">ἐνεργῶς·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumpesw%5Cn">συμπεσὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="plagi%2Fou">πλαγίου</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w> <w lemma="tetaragme%2Fnois">τεταραγμένοις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fous">ἀκεραίους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suntetagme%2Fnous">συντεταγμένους</w> <w lemma="troph%5Cn">τροπὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fei">ἐποίει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="i%29sxura%5Cn">ἰσχυρὰν</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%2Fkteinen">ἀπέκτεινεν</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkase">ἠνάγκασε</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgein">φεύγειν</w> <w lemma="protropa%2Fdhn">προτροπάδην</w>.
15
<w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29indoi%3Ds">Ἰνδοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabe">ἔλαβε</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipw%3Dn">λοιπῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29indou%5Cs">Ἰνδοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29perrifo%2Ftwn">ἀπερριφότων</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="perielasa%2Fmenos">περιελασάμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29kuri%2Feuse">ἐκυρίευσε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w>.
16
<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pitelesa%2Fmenos">ἐπιτελεσάμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftios">αἴτιος</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasi">πράγμασι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29naqarrh%3Dsai">ἀναθαρρῆσαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pezika%5Cs">πεζικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="krath%3Dsai">κρατῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w>.
<head>Roman Victory at Panormus</head>Meanwhile Hasdrubal noticed the terror displayed by<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note118">B. C. 251.</note>the Romans whenever they had lately found themselves in the presence of the enemy. He learnt also that one of the Consuls had departed and gone to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, and that Caecilius was lingering in Panormus with the other half of the army, with the view of protecting the corn-crops of the allies just then ripe for the harvest.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note119">Skirmishing at Panormus.</note>He therefore got his troops in motion, marched out, and encamped on the frontier of the territory of Panormus. Caecilius saw well enough that the enemy had become supremely confident, and he was anxious to draw him on; he therefore kept his men within the walls. Hasdrubal imagined that Caecilius dared not come out to give him battle. Elated with this idea, he pushed boldly forward with his whole army and marched over the pass into the territory of Panormus. But though he was destroying all the standing crops up to the very walls of the town, Caecilius was not shaken from his resolution, but kept persistently to it, until he had induced him to cross the river which lay between him and the town. But no sooner had the Carthaginians got their elephants and men across, than Caecilius commenced sending out his light-armed troops to harass them, until be had forced them to get their whole army into fighting order. When he saw that everything was happening as he designed it, he placed some of his light troops to line the wall and moat, with instructions that if the elephants came within range they should pour volleys of their missiles upon them; but that whenever they found themselves being forced from their ground by them, they should retreat into the moat, rush out of it again, and hurl darts at the elephants which happened to be nearest. At the same time he gave orders to the armourers in the market-place to carry the missiles and heap them up outside at the foot of the wall.<pb n="47" />Meanwhile he took up his own position with his maniples at the gate which was opposite the enemy's left wing, and kept despatching detachment after detachment to reinforce his skirmishers. The engagement commenced by them becoming more and more general, a feeling of emulation took possession of the officers in charge of the elephants. They wished to distinguish themselves in the eyes of Hasdrubal, and they desired that the credit of the victory should be theirs: they therefore, with one accord, charged the advanced skirmishing parties of the enemy, routed them with ease, and pursued them up to the moat. But no sooner did the elephants thus come to close quarters than they were wounded by the archers on the wall, and overwhelmed with volleys of pila and javelins which poured thick and fast upon them from the men stationed on the outer edge of the moat, and who had not yet been engaged,—and thus, studded all over with darts, and wounded past all bearing, they soon got beyond control. They turned and bore down upon their own masters, trampling men to death, and throwing their own lines into utter disorder and confusion. When Caecilius saw this he led out his men with promptitude. His troops were fresh; the enemy were in disorder; and he charged them diagonally on the flank: the result was that he inflicted a severe defeat upon them, killed a large number, and forced the rest into precipitate flight. Of the elephants he captured ten along with their Indian riders: the rest which had thrown their Indians he managed to drive into a herd after the battle, and secured every one of them. This achievement gained him the credit on all hands of having substantially benefited the Roman cause, by once more restoring confidence to the army, and giving them the command of the open country.