<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29nergou%3Dntes">ἐνεργοῦντες</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="krioi%3Ds">κριοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%2F">ἀεί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fluon">παρέλυον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="teixw%3Dn:">τειχῶν·</w>
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29du%2Fnanto">ἐδύναντο</w> <w lemma="bia%2Fsasqai">βιάσασθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ptwma%2Ftwn">πτωμάτων</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntoikodomi%2Fan">ἀντοικοδομίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndon">ἔνδον</w> <w lemma="e%29nergo%5Cn">ἐνεργὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxesqai">μάχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="gennai%2Fws">γενναίως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fptontos">πίπτοντος</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%2Fs">Αἰτωλούς</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29porou%2Fmenoi">ἀπορούμενοι</w> <w lemma="kath%2Fnthsan">κατήντησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="metalleu%2Fein">μεταλλεύειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29ru%2Fgmasin">ὀρύγμασιν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w>.
<w lemma="a%29sfalisa%2Fmenoi">ἀσφαλισάμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgon">ἔργον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="triw%3Dn">τριῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prou+parxo%2Fntwn">προϋπαρχόντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="skepa%2Fsantes">σκεπάσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pimelw%3Ds">ἐπιμελῶς</w> [<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Frigga">σύριγγα</w>] <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ge%2Frrois">γέρροις</w>, <w lemma="proeba%2Flonto">προεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="stoa%5Cn">στοὰν</w> <w lemma="para%2Fllhlon">παράλληλον</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxei">τείχει</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fqra">πλέθρα</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="w%29%2Frutton">ὤρυττον</w> <w lemma="a%29diapau%2Fstws">ἀδιαπαύστως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fkta">νύκτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="diadoxh%3Ds">διαδοχῆς</w>.
<w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28kana%5Cs">ἱκανὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fnqanon">ἐλάνθανον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndon">ἔνδον</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frontes">φέροντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xou%3Dn">χοῦν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="su%2Friggos">σύριγγος</w>.
<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgas">μέγας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="swro%5Cs">σωρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kferome%2Fnhs">ἐκφερομένης</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnoptos">σύνοπτος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtes">προεστῶτες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="poliorkoume%2Fnwn">πολιορκουμένων</w> <w lemma="w%29%2Frutton">ὤρυττον</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffron">τάφρον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fswqen">ἔσωθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w> <w lemma="para%2Fllhlon">παράλληλον</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxei">τείχει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="stoa%3D%7C">στοᾷ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgwn">πύργων</w>. <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fqos">βάθος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxen">ἔσχεν</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%2Fn">ἱκανόν</w>,
<w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqhkan">ἔθηκαν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Dxon">τοῖχον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrou">τάφρου</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29ggu%5Cs">ἐγγὺς</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxei">τείχει</w> <w lemma="xalkw%2Fmata">χαλκώματα</w> <w lemma="sunexh%3D">συνεχῆ</w>, <w lemma="lepto%2Ftata">λεπτότατα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="kataskeuai%3Ds">κατασκευαῖς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrou">τάφρου</w> <w lemma="pario%2Fntes">παριόντες</w> <w lemma="h%29krow%3Dnto">ἠκροῶντο</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="yo%2Ffou">ψόφου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29rutto%2Fntwn">ὀρυττόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29shmeiw%2Fsanto">ἐσημειώσαντο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="e%29dh%2Flou">ἐδήλου</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xalkwma%2Ftwn">χαλκωμάτων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sumpaqei%2Fas">συμπαθείας</w>, <w lemma="w%29%2Frutton">ὤρυττον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fswqen">ἔσωθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikarsi%2Fan">ἐπικαρσίαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousan">ὑπάρχουσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhn">ἄλλην</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffron">τάφρον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tei%3Dxos">τεῖχος</w>, <w lemma="stoxazo%2Fmenoi">στοχαζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sumpesei%3Dn">συμπεσεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Foi">ἐναντίοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29fi%3Dxqai">ἀφῖχθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tei%3Dxos">τεῖχος</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diestulwke%2Fnai">διεστυλωκέναι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%5Cn">ἱκανὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="meta%2Fllou">μετάλλου</w>, <w lemma="sune%2Fpeson">συνέπεσον</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29ma%2Fxonto">ἐμάχοντο</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sari%2Fsais">σαρίσαις</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn:">γῆν·</w> <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29du%2Fnanto">ἠδύναντο</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proba%2Fllesqai">προβάλλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="qureou%5Cs">θυρεοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Frra">γέρρα</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w>,
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="thnika%2Fd%27">τηνικάδ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fqeto%2F">ὑπέθετό</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="poliorkoume%2Fnois">πολιορκουμένοις</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fqon">πίθον</w> <w lemma="proqeme%2Fnous">προθεμένους</w> <w lemma="a%28rmosto%5Cn">ἁρμοστὸν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pla%2Ftos">πλάτος</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="meta%2Fllw%7C">μετάλλῳ</w> <w lemma="truph%3Dsai">τρυπῆσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="puqme%2Fna">πυθμένα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diw%2Fsantas">διώσαντας</w> <w lemma="au%29li%2Fskon">αὐλίσκον</w> <w lemma="sidhrou%3Dn">σιδηροῦν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fson">ἴσον</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="teu%2Fxei">τεύχει</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dsai">πλῆσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fqon">πίθον</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flon">ὅλον</w> <w lemma="pti%2Flwn">πτίλων</w> <w lemma="leptw%3Dn">λεπτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="puro%5Cs">πυρὸς</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w> <w lemma="mikro%5Cn">μικρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29mbalei%3Dn">ἐμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fqou">πίθου</w> <w lemma="peristo%2Fmion:">περιστόμιον·</w>
<w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="sidhrou%3Dn">σιδηροῦν</w> <w lemma="pw%3Dma">πῶμα</w> <w lemma="trhma%2Ftwn">τρημάτων</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dres">πλῆρες</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmati">στόματι</w> <w lemma="periqe%2Fntas">περιθέντας</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29sa%2Fgein">εἰσάγειν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="meta%2Fllou">μετάλλου</w>, <w lemma="neu%2Fonti">νεύοντι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmati">στόματι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous:">ὑπεναντίους·</w>
<w lemma="o%28po%2Fte">ὁπότε</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fsaien">ἐγγίσαιεν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>, <w lemma="perisa%2Fcantas">περισάξαντας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="xei%2Flh">χείλη</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fqou">πίθου</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="trh%2Fmata">τρήματα</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="katalipei%3Dn">καταλιπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frou">ἑκατέρου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="diwqou%3Dntes">διωθοῦντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sari%2Fsas">σαρίσας</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29a%2Fsousi">ἐάσουσι</w> <w lemma="prosie%2Fnai">προσιέναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fqw%7C">πίθῳ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous:">ὑπεναντίους·</w>
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntas">λαβόντας</w> <w lemma="a%29sko%2Fn">ἀσκόν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3D%7Cper">ᾧπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="xalkei%3Ds">χαλκεῖς</w> <w lemma="xrw%3Dntai">χρῶνται</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosarmo%2Fsantas">προσαρμόσαντας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29lo%5Cn">αὐλὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="sidhrou%3Dn">σιδηροῦν</w> <w lemma="fusa%3Dn">φυσᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmati">στόματι</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pti%2Flois">πτίλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29gkei%2Fmenon">ἐγκείμενον</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29pagome%2Fnous">ἐπαγομένους</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29lo%5Cn">αὐλὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%2Fs">ἐκτός</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29kka%2Fhtai">ἐκκάηται</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pti%2Fla">πτίλα</w>. <w lemma="genome%2Fnwn">γενομένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="proei%2Frhtai">προείρηται</w>,
<w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kapnou%3D">καπνοῦ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="drimu%2Fthti">δριμύτητι</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fron">διαφέρον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pti%2Flwn">πτίλων</w>, <w lemma="fe%2Fresqai%2F">φέρεσθαί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="me%2Ftallon">μέταλλον</w>.
<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%3Dn">κακοπαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusxrhstei%3Dsqai">δυσχρηστεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kwlu%2Fein">κωλύειν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fq%27">οὔθ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnein">ὑπομένειν</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnous">δυναμένους</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29ru%2Fgmasi">ὀρύγμασι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kapno%2Fn">καπνόν</w>.
<w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lambanou%2Fshs">λαμβανούσης</w> <w lemma="tribh%5Cn">τριβὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="presbeu%2Fein">πρεσβεύειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnw">ἔγνω</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>. —
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<head>Smoking Out the Enemy</head>By assiduously working the battering rams the Romans were always breaking down this or that part of the wall. But yet they could not succeed in storming any of these breaches, because the besieged were energetic in raising counter walls, and the Aetolians fought with determined gallantry on the debris.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note54">The Romans begin mining operations.</note>They, therefore, in despair had recourse to mines and underground tunnels. Having safely secured the central one of their three works, and carefully concealed the shaft with wattle screens, they erected in front of it a covered walk or stoa about two hundred feet long, parallel with the wall; and beginning their digging from that, they carried it on unceasingly day and night, working in relays.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note55">Counter-mines by the besieged.</note>For a considerable number of days the besieged did not discover them carrying the earth away through the shaft; but when the heap of earth thus brought out became too high to be concealed from those inside the city, the commanders of the besieged garrison set to work vigorously digging a trench inside, parallel to the wall and to the stoa which faced the towers. When the trench was made to the required depth, they next placed in a row along the side of the trench nearest the wall a number of brazen vessels made very thin; and, as they walked along the bottom of the trench past these, they listened for the noise of the digging outside. Having marked the spot indicated by any of these brazen vessels, which were extraordinarily sensitive and vibrated to the sound outside, they began digging from within, at right angles to the trench, another underground tunnel leading under the wall, so calculated as to exactly hit the enemy's tunnel. This was soon accomplished, for the Romans had not only brought their mine up to the wall, but had under-pinned a considerable length of it on either side of their mine; and thus the two parties found themselves face to face. At first they conducted this underground fighting with their spears: but as neither side could do much good, because<pb n="285" />both parties protected themselves with shields and wattles, some one suggested another plan to the defenders.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note56">The Romans smoked out.</note>Putting in front of them an earthenware jar, made to the width of the mine, they bored a hole in its bottom, and, inserting an iron funnel of the same length as the depth of the vessel, they filled the jar itself with fine feathers, and putting a little fire in it close to the mouth of the jar, they clapped on an iron lid pierced full of holes. They carried this without accident through the mine with its mouth towards the enemy. When they got near the besiegers they stopped up the space all round the rim of the jar, leaving only two holes on each side through which they thrust spears to prevent the enemy coming near the jar. They then took a pair of bellows such as blacksmiths use, and, having attached them to the orifice of the funnel, they vigorously blew up the fire placed on the feathers near the mouth of the jar, continually withdrawing the funnel in proportion as the feathers became ignited lower down. The plan was successfully executed; the volume of smoke created was very great, and, from the peculiar nature of feathers, exceedingly pungent, and was all carried into the faces of the enemy. The Romans, therefore, found themselves in a very distressing and embarrassing position, as they could neither stop nor endure the smoke in the mines.<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note57">Smoking out an enemy in a mine was one of the regular manœuvres. See Aen. Tact. 37. It was perhaps suggested by the illegal means taken by workmen in the silver mines to annoy a rival; for we find an Athenian law directed against it. See Demosth.<bibl n="Dem. 37.36" default="NO" valid="yes"><title>in Pantaen.</title>§ 36</bibl>.</note>The siege being thus still further protracted the Aetolian commander determined to send an envoy to the Consul. . . .
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Walbank Commentary