<w lemma="ni%2Fwn">νίων</w>. <w lemma="%2A%29imi%2Flkwn">Ἰμίλκων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tetagme%2Fnos">τεταγμένος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="strathgo%2Fs">στρατηγός</w>, <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fan">προθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fas">βοηθείας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paragegono%2Ftwn">παραγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29peiri%2Fan">ἀπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="periestw%2Ftwn">περιεστώτων</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Dn">κακῶν</w>,
<w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fois">ἀκεραίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29poxrh%2Fsasqai">ἀποχρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w> <w lemma="o%28rmai%3Ds">ὁρμαῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="puro%5Cs">πυρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fqesin">ἐπίθεσιν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>, <w lemma="sunh%3Dge">συνῆγε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fan:">ἐκκλησίαν·</w>
<w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fponta">πρέποντα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parasth%2Fsas">παραστήσας</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28perba%2Fllousan">ὑπερβάλλουσαν</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29paggeliw%3Dn">ἐπαγγελιῶν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndragaqh%2Fsasi">ἀνδραγαθήσασι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnas">ἐσομένας</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fritas">χάριτας</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dwrea%5Cs">δωρεὰς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w>,
<w lemma="o%28moqumado%5Cn">ὁμοθυμαδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmainome%2Fnwn">ἐπισημαινομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bow%2Fntwn">βοώντων</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllein">μέλλειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgein">ἄγειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29paine%2Fsas">ἐπαινέσας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deca%2Fmenos">δεξάμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fan">προθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29fh%3Dke">ἀφῆκε</w>, <w lemma="paraggei%2Flas">παραγγείλας</w> <w lemma="a%29napau%2Fesqai">ἀναπαύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peiqarxei%3Dn">πειθαρχεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnois:">ἡγουμένοις·</w>
<w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sugkale%2Fsas">συγκαλέσας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtas">προεστῶτας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="die%2Fneime">διένειμε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzontas">ἁρμόζοντας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fqesin">ἐπίθεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma">σύνθημα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29piqe%2Fsews">ἐπιθέσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29dh%2Flwse">ἐδήλωσε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fsi">ἡγεμόσι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28potetagme%2Fnwn">ὑποτεταγμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="e%28wqinh%3Ds">ἑωθινῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="fulakh%3Ds">φυλακῆς</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peiqarxhsa%2Fntwn">πειθαρχησάντων</w>, <w lemma="e%29cagagw%5Cn">ἐξαγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="fwti%5C">φωτὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frei">ἐνεχείρει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proora%3Dsqai">προορᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29rgw%3Ds">ἀργῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29paraskeu%2Fws">ἀπαρασκεύως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmws">ἑτοίμως</w> <w lemma="e%29boh%2Fqoun">ἐβοήθουν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmenon">δεόμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diema%2Fxonto">διεμάχοντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29rrwme%2Fnws">ἐρρωμένως</w>.
<w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="braxei%3D">βραχεῖ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="sumpeso%2Fntwn">συμπεσόντων</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%5Cn">ἀγὼν</w> <w lemma="para%2Fbolos">παράβολος</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous:">τείχους·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttous">ἐλάττους</w> <w lemma="dismuri%2Fwn">δισμυρίων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%2Fsw%7C">ὅσῳ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcews">τάξεως</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="a%29nami%5Cc">ἀναμὶξ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="proaire%2Fseis">προαιρέσεις</w>, <w lemma="tosou%2Ftw%7C">τοσούτῳ</w> <w lemma="lampro%2Fteros">λαμπρότερος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunos">κίνδυνος</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tosou%2Ftou">τοσούτου</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="zugo%5Cn">ζυγὸν</w> <w lemma="oi%28onei%5C">οἱονεὶ</w> <w lemma="monomaxikh%3Ds">μονομαχικῆς</w> <w lemma="sunestw%2Fshs">συνεστώσης</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizome%2Fnous">ἀγωνιζομένους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fas">φιλοτιμίας</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%2F">ἥ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kraugh%5C">κραυγὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fstremma">σύστρεμμα</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fron">διαφέρον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Dqen">ἀρχῆθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="taxqe%2Fntes">ταχθέντες</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tre%2Fyasqai">τρέψασθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fsqai">προέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w>, <w lemma="thlikau%2Fthn">τηλικαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fan">φιλοτιμίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%2Fn">σπουδήν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29cw%3Dsai">ἐξῶσαι</w> <w lemma="speu%2Fdontes">σπεύδοντες</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dcai">εἶξαι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dntes">τολμῶντες</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fan">προθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29tai%3Ds">αὐταῖς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnontes">μένοντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Frais">χώραις</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fqnhskon">ἀπέθνησκον</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28%2F">οἵ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29namemigme%2Fnoi">ἀναμεμιγμένοι</w>, <w lemma="da%3D%7Cda">δᾷδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stuppi%2Fon">στυππίον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="tolmhrw%3Ds">τολμηρῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptontes">προσπίπτοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fballon">ἐνέβαλλον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="mhxanai%3Ds">μηχαναῖς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxaton">ἔσχατον</w> <w lemma="paragene%2Fsqai">παραγενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnous">δυναμένους</w> <w lemma="katakrath%3Dsai">κατακρατῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fwn">ἐναντίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnw%7C">κινδύνῳ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29poqnh%2Fskontas">ἀποθνήσκοντας</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneka">ἕνεκα</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpratten">ἔπραττεν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnous">δυναμένους</w> <w lemma="krath%3Dsai">κρατῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w>, <w lemma="a%29nakalei%3Dsqai">ἀνακαλεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="salpistai%3Ds">σαλπισταῖς</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29lqo%2Fntes">ἐλθόντες</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="a%29pobalei%3Dn">ἀποβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fs">παρασκευάς</w>, <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29kra%2Fthsan">ἐκράτησαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="dieth%2Frhsan">διετήρησαν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w>.
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<head>Running the Blockade</head>Himilco, the general in command at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a>, now<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note124">A sally from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a>.</note>saw that both divisions of his troops were in high spirits and eager for service,—the original garrison owing to the presence of the reinforcement, the newly arrived because they had as yet had no experience of the hardships of the situation. He wished to take advantage of the excited feelings of both parties, before they cooled, in order to organise an attempt to set fire to the works of the besiegers. He therefore summoned the whole army to a meeting, and dwelt upon the themes suitable to the occasion at somewhat greater length than usual. He raised their zeal to an enthusiastic height by the magnitude of his promises for individual acts of courage, and by declaring the favours and rewards which awaited them as an army at the hands of the Carthaginians. His speech was received with lively marks of<pb n="52" />satisfaction; and the men with loud shouts bade him delay no more, but lead them into the field. For the present, however, he contented himself with thanking them and expressing his delight at their excellent spirit, and bidding them go early to rest and obey their officers, dismissed them. But shortly afterwards he summoned the officers; assigned to them severally the posts best calculated for the success of the undertaking; communicated to them the watchword and the exact moment the movement was to be made; and issued orders to the commanders to be at the posts assigned with their men at the morning watch. His orders were punctually obeyed: and at daybreak he led out his forces and made attempts upon the siege-works at several points. But the Romans had not been blind to what was coming, and were neither idle nor unprepared. Wherever help was required it was promptly rendered; and at every point they made a stout resistance to the enemy. Before long there was fighting all along the line, and an obstinate struggle round the entire circuit of the wall; for the sallying party were not less than twenty thousand strong, and their opponents more numerous still. The contest was all the hotter from the fact that the men were not fighting in their regular ranks, but indiscriminately, and as their own judgment directed; the result of which was that a spirit of personal emulation arose among the combatants, because, though the numbers engaged were so great, there was a series of single combats between man and man, or company and company. However, it was at the siege-works themselves that the shouting was loudest and the throng of combatants the densest. At these troops had been massed deliberately for attack and defence. The assailants strove their utmost to dislodge the defenders, the defenders exerted all their courage to hold their ground and not yield an inch to the assailants,— and with such emulation and fury on both sides, that they ended by falling at their posts rather than yield. But there were others mingled with these, carrying torchwood and tow and fire, who made a simultaneous attack upon the batteringrams at every point: hurling these fiery missiles against them with such audacity, that the Romans were reduced to the last extremity of danger, being quite unable to overpower the<pb n="53" />attack of the enemy.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note125">It fails.</note>But the general of the Carthaginians, seeing that he was losing large numbers in the engagement, without being able to gain the object of the sortie, which was to take the siege-works, ordered his trumpeters to sound a recall. So the Romans, after coming within an ace of losing all their siege-gear, finally kept possession of the works, and were able to maintain them all without dispute.
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Walbank Commentary