Book fragments
But having fallen in with him he gained an extremely fortunate victory.
In all these things the Aetolians had been deceived.
And some he honoured with gold cloths and spears, because he wished that his promises should agree with his performances.
He wrote in bitter and frantic terms, calling them fiends and murderers in his letter, if they abandoned the positions thus disgracefully, before they had suffered or witnessed any hardship.
There is a courage in words too which can despise death.
Before he had been rejoined by the stragglers of the skirmishing parties.
Being utterly at a loss, at last he rested his chance of escape from the difficulty which was upon him on some such hope as this.
None of the citizens being aware of what was taking place owing to the distance, for the city was a large one.
But trusting to them he undertook the war against Ariarathes.
Harpyia is a city in Illyria near Encheleae, to which Baton, charioteer of Amphiaraus, removed after the latter’s disappearance.
And he waited for the coming of Hasdrubal.
Hearing all this through the curtain the king laughed.
Foreseeing and fearing the fierce temper and obstinacy of the men.
At that time, persuaded that he was enduring a fiery test, he was released from the suspicion.
He thought therefore that it was dangerous to have shared in their enterprise when their plan had failed and come to an end.
Having urged the soldiers to make haste, and exhorted the tribunes to engage.
Thinking it better and safer not to be present at the hour of the enemy’s opportunity, nor when they were under the influence of popular excitement and fury.
Whenever it is possible to obtain satisfaction from those who have wronged us either by law or by any other settled forms of justice.
Having drawn his army from the pass he encamped.
And then they took up some sort of order, as though by mutual consent, and fought the battle in regular formation.
That which causes the most pain at the time involves also the most signal revulsion of joy.
Having ordered the pilots to steer the ships as fast as they could to Elaea.
They not only drove themselves off the stage, but ruined also all Greece.
But he, from his long experience of war, did not all lose his presence of mind.
He persuades them by reckoning all the wealth he considered they would gain in the battle.
The Romans had been inspired by some divine influence, and having fortified their courage with irresistible might . . .
To signalise some by favours, and others by punishments, that they might be a warning to the rest.
And they, being persuaded, and throwing themselves in the way of the enemy’s charge, died gallantly.
He tried to take the city by an intrigue, having long secured a party of traitors within it.
He brought up the transports, by lading which with rocks and sinking them at the mouth of the harbour he planned to shut out the enemy entirely from the sea.
Though I have much more to say, I fear lest some of you may think that I am unnecessarily diffuse.
They are reserving themselves for an opportunity, and are quite ready to meet them again.
To be eager for life and to cling to it is a sign of the greatest baseness and weakness.
He was feeling something like starters in horse races, which are started by the raising of torches.
Their boldness transgresses the bounds of propriety, and their actions are a violation of duty.
Seeing that the Carthaginians had obeyed all injunctions in the most honourable spirit.
To have fifty ships built entirely new, and to launch fifty of those already existing from the docks.
Lucius being appointed to go on a mission to the Lapateni and speak to them in favour of an unconditional surrender, was unprepared for the task before him.
Of all the determining forces in war the most decisive of failure or success is the spirit of the combatants.
Having mentioned summarily the defeats they had sustained, and putting before them the successes of the Macedonians.