Complete Works of Frontinus

by Frontinus

  [2] Idem, cum videret suos pugnae signum inconsulte flagitantes crederetque rupturos imperium, nisi congrederentur, permisit turmae equitum ad lacessendos hostes ire laborantique submisit alias et sic recepit omnes tutiusque et sine noxa ostendit, quis exitus flagitatam pugnam mansisset. Obsequentissimis inde eis usus est.

  [2] When the same Sertorius saw his men rashly demanding the signal for battle and thought them in danger of disobeying orders unless they should engage the enemy, he permitted a squadron of cavalry to advance to harass the foe. When these troops became involved in difficulties, he sent others to their relief, and thus rescued all, showing more safely, and without injury, what would have been the outcome of the battle they had demanded. After that he found his men most amenable.

  [3] Agesilaus Lacedaemonius, cum adversus Thebanos castra super ripam posuisset multoque maiorem hostium manum esse intellegeret et ideo suos arcere a cupiditate decernendi vellet, dixit responso deum se ex collibus pugnare iussum et ita exiguo praesidio ad ripam posito accessit in colles. Quod Thebani pro metu interpretati transierunt flumen et, cum facile depulissent praesidium, ceteros insecuti avidius iniquitate locorum a paucioribus victi sunt.

  [3] When Agesilaus, the Spartan, was fighting against the Thebans and had encamped on the bank of a stream, being aware that the forces of the enemy far outnumbered his own, and wishing therefore to keep his men from the desire of fighting, he announced that he had been bidden by a response of the gods to fight on high ground. Accordingly, posting a small guard on the bank, he withdrew to the hills. The Thebans, interpreting this as a mark of fear, crossed the stream, easily dislodged the defending troops, and, following the rest too eagerly, were defeated by a smaller force, owing to the difficulties of the terrain.

  [4] Scorylo, dux Dacorum, cum sciret dissociatum armis civilibus populum Romanum neque tamen sibi temptandum arbitraretur, quia externo bello posset concordia inter cives coalescere, duos canes in conspectu popularium commisit iisque acerrime inter ipsos pugnantibus lupum ostendit, quem protinus canes omissa inter se ira adgressi sunt. Quo exemplo prohibuit barbaros ab impetu Romanis profuturo.

  [4] Scorylo, a chieftain of the Dacians, though he knew that the Romans were torn with the dissensions of the civil wars, yet did not think he ought to venture on any enterprise against them, inasmuch as a foreign war might be the means of uniting the citizens in harmony. Accordingly he pitted two dogs in combat before the populace, and when they became engaged in a desperate encounter, exhibited a wolf to them. The dogs straightway abandoned their fury against each other and attacked the wolf. By this illustration, Scorylo kept the barbarians from a movement which could only have benefited the Romans.

  XI. Quemadmodum Incitandus Sit ad Proelium Exercitus

  XI. How to arouse an Army’s Enthusiasm for battle

  [1] M. Fabius et Cn. Manlius consules adversus Etruscos propter seditiones detractante proelium exercitu ultro simulaverunt cunctationem, donec milites probris hostium coacti pugnam deposcerent iurarentque se ex ea victores redituros.

  [1] When the consuls Marcus Fabius and Gnaeus Manlius were warring against the Etruscans, and the soldiers mutinied against fighting, the consuls on their side feigned a policy of delay, until soldiers, wrought upon by the taunts of the enemy, demanded battle and swore to return from it victorious.

  [2] Fulvius Nobilior, cum adversus Samnitium numerosum exercitum et successibus tumidum parvis copiis necesse haberet decertare, simulavit unam legionem hostium corruptam a se ad proditionem imperavitque ad eius rei fidem tribunis et primis ordinibus et centurionibus, quantum quisque numeratae pecuniae aut auri argentique haberet, conferret, ut repraesentari merces proditoribus posset; se autem his qui contulissent pollicitus est consummata victoria ampla insuper praemia daturum. Quae persuasio Romanis alacritatem attulit et fiduciam, unde etiam praeclara victoria commisso statim bello parata est.

  [2] Fulvius Nobilior, deeming it necessary to fight with a small force against a large army of the Samnites who were flushed with success, pretended that one legion of the enemy had been bribed by him to turn traitor; and to strengthen belief in this story, he commanded the tribunes, the “first rank,” and the centurions to contribute all the ready money they had, or any gold and silver, in order that the price might be paid the traitors at once. He promised that, when victory was achieved, he would give generous presents besides to those who contributed for this purpose. This assurance brought such ardour and confidence to the Romans that they straightway opened battle and won a glorious victory.

  [3] C. Caesar adversus Germanos et Ariovistum pugnaturus confusis suorum animis pro contione dixit, nullius se eo die opera nisi decimae legionis usurum. Quo consecutus est, ut decimani tamquam praecipuae fortitudinis testimonio cogerentur et ceteri pudore, ne penes alios gloria virtutis esset.

  [3] Gaius Caesar, when about to fight the Germans and their king, Ariovistus, at a time when his own men had been thrown into panic, called his soldiers together and declared to the assembly that on that day he proposed to employ the services of the tenth legion alone. In this way he caused the soldiers of this legion to be stirred by his tribute to their unique heroism, while the rest were overwhelmed with mortification to think that reputation for courage should rest with others.

  [4] Q. Fabius, quia egregie sciebat et Romanos eius esse libertatis, quae contumelia exasperaretur, et a Poenis nihil iustum aut moderatum exspectabat, misit legatos Carthaginem de condicionibus pacis. Quas cum illi iniquitatis et insolentiae plenas rettulissent, exercitus Romanorum ad pugnandum concitatus est.

  [4] Quintus Fabius Maximus, since he knew full well that the Romans possessed a spirit of independence which was roused by insult, and since he expected nothing just or reasonable from the Carthaginians, sent envoys to Carthage to inquire about terms of peace. When the envoys brought back proposals full of injustice and arrogance, the army of the Romans was stirred to combat.

  [5] Agesilaus, Lacedaemoniorum dux, cum prope ab Orchomeno, socia civitate, castra haberet comperissetque plerosque ex militibus pretiosissima rerum deponere intra munimenta, praecepit oppidanis, ne quid ad exercitum suum pertinens reciperetur, quo ardentius dimicaret miles, qui sciret sibi pro omnibus suis pugnandum.

  [5] When Agesilaus, general of the Spartans, had his camp near the allied city of Orchomenos and learned that very many of his soldiers were depositing their valuables within the fortifications, he commanded the townspeople to receive nothing belonging to his troops, in order that his soldiers might fight with more spirit, when they realised that they must fight for all their possessions.

  [6] Epaminondas dux Thebanorum adversus Lacedaemonios dimicaturus, ut non solum viribus milites sui, verum etiam affectibus adiuvarentur, pronuntiavit in contione destinatum Lacedaemoniis, si victoria poterentur, omnes virilis sexus interficere, uxoribus autem eorum et liberis in servitutem abductis Thebas diruere. Qua denuntiatione concitati primo impetu Thebani Lacedaemonios expugnaverunt.

  [6] Epaminondas, general of the Thebans, on one occasion, when about to engage in battle with the Spartans, acted as follows. In order that his soldiers might not only exercise their strength, but also be stirred by their feelings, he announced in an assembly of his men that the Spartans had resolved, in case of victory, to massacre all males, to lead the wives and children of those executed into bondage, and to raze Thebes to the ground. By this announcement the Thebans were so roused that they overwhelmed the Spartans at the first onset.

  [7] Leotychidas, dux Lacedaemoniorum, classe pugnaturus eodem die, quo vicerant socii, quamvis ignarus actae rei vulgavit nuntiatam sibi victoriam partium, quo constantiores ad pugnam milites haberet.

  [7] When Leotychides, the Spartan admiral, was on the point of fighting a naval battle on the very day when the allies had been victorious, although he was ignorant of the fact, he nevertheless announced that he had received news of the victory of their side, in order that in this way he might find his men more resolute for the encounter.

  [8] Aulus Postumius proelio, quo cum Lati
nis conflixit, oblata specie duorum in equis iuvenum animos suorum erexit, Pollucem et Castorem adesse dicens, ac sic proelium restituit.

  [8] When two youths, mounted on horseback, appeared in the battle which Aulus Postumius fought with the Latins, Postumius roused the drooping spirits of his men by declaring that the strangers were Castor and Pollux. In this way he inspired them to fresh combat.

  [9] Archidamus Lacedaemonius adversus Arcades bellum gerens arma in castris statuit et circa ea duci equos noctu clam imperavit. Quorum vestigia mane, tamquam Castor et Pollux perequitassent, ostendens affuturos eosdem ipsis proeliantibus persuasit.

  [9] Archidamus, the Spartan, when waging war against the Arcadians, set up weapons in camp, and ordered horses to be led around them secretly at night. In the morning, pointing to their tracks and claiming that Castor and Pollux had ridden through the camp, he convinced his men that the same gods would also lend them aid in the battle itself.

  [10] Pericles, dux Atheniensium, initurus proelium, cum animadvertisset lucum, ex quo utraque acies conspici poterat, densissimae opacitatis, vastum alioquin et Diti patri sacrum, ingentis illic staturae hominem, altissimis coturnis et veste purpurea et coma venerabilem, in curru candidorum equorum sublimem constituit, qui dato signo pugnae proveheretur et voce Periclem nomine appellans cohortaretur eum diceretque deos Atheniensibus adesse. Quo paene ante coniectum teli hostes terga verterunt.

  [10] On one occasion when Pericles, general of the Athenians, was about to engage in battle, noticing a grove from which both armies were visible, very dense and dark, but unoccupied and consecrated to Father Pluto, he took a man of enormous stature, made imposing by high buskins, purple robes, and flowing hair, and placed him in the grove, mounted high on a chariot drawn by gleaming white horses. This man was instructed to drive forth, when the signal for battle should be given, to call Pericles by name, and to encourage him by declaring that the gods were lending their aid to the Athenians. As a result, the enemy turned and fled almost before a dart was hurled.

  [11] L. Sulla, quo paratiorem militem ad pugnandum haberet, praedici sibi a diis futura simulavit, postremo etiam in conspectu exercitus, priusquam in aciem descenderet, signum modicae amplitudinis, quod Delphis sustulerat, orabat petebatque, promissam victoriam maturaret.

  [11] Lucius Sulla, in order to make his soldiers readier for combat, pretended that the future was foretold him by the gods. His last act, before engaging in battle, was to pray, in the sight of his army, to a small image which he had taken from Delphi, entreating it to speed the promised victory.

  [12] C. Marius sagam quandam ex Syria habuit, a qua se dimicationum eventus praediscere simulabat.

  [12] Gaius Marius had a certain wisewoman from Syria, from whom he pretended to learn in advance the outcome of battles.

  [13] Q. Sertorius, cum barbaro et rationis indocili milite uteretur, cervam candidam insignis formae per Lusitaniam ducebat et ab ea se, quae agenda aut vitanda essent, praenoscere asseverabat, ut barbari ad omnia tamquam divinitus imperata oboedirent.

  [Hoc genere strategematon non tantum ea parte utendum est, qua imperitos existimabimus esse, apud quos his utemur, sed multo magis ea, qua talia erunt, quae excogitabuntur, ut a diis monstrata credantur.]

  [13] Quintus Sertorius, employing barbarian troops who were not amenable to reason, used to take with him through Lusitania a beautiful white deer, and claimed that from it he knew in advance what ought to be done, and what avoided. In this way he aimed to induce the barbarians to obey all his commands as though divinely inspired.

  [This sort of stratagem is to be used not merely in cases when we deem those to whom we apply it simple-minded, but much more when the ruse invented is such as might be thought to have been suggested by the gods.]

  [14] Alexander Macedo sacrificaturus inscripsit medicamento haruspicis manum, quam ille extis erat suppositurus. Litterae significabant victoriam Alexandro dari. Quas cum iecur calidum rapuisset et a rege militi esset ostensum, auxit animum tamquam deo spondente victoriam.

  [14] Alexander of Macedon on one occasion, when about to make sacrifice, used a preparation to inscribe certain letters on the hand which the priest was about to place beneath the vitals. These letters indicated that victory was vouchsafed to Alexander. When the steaming liver had received the impress of these characters and had been displayed by the king to the soldiers, the circumstances raised their spirits, since they thought that the god gave them assurance of victory.

  [15] Idem fecit Sudines haruspex proelium Eumene cum Gallis commissuro.

  [15] The soothsayer Sudines did the same thing when Eumenes was about to engage in battle with the Gauls.

  [16] Epaminondas Thebanus adversus Lacedaemonios, fiduciam suorum religione adiuvandam ratus, arma, quae ornamentis affixa in templis erant, nocte subtraxit persuasitque militibus deos iter suum sequi, ut proeliantibus ipsis adessent.

  [16] Epaminondas, the Theban in his contest against the Spartans, thinking that the confidence of his troops needed strengthening by an appeal to religious sentiment, removed by night the weapons which were attached to the decorations of the temples, and convinced his soldiers that the gods were attending his march, in order to lend their aid in the battle itself.

  [17] Agesilaus Lacedaemonius, cum quosdam Persarum cepisset, quorum habitus multum terroris praefert, quotiens veste tegitur, nudatos militibus suis ostendit, ut alba corpora et umbratica contemnerentur.

  [17] Agesilaus, the Spartan, on one occasion captured certain Persians. The appearance of these people, when dressed in uniform, inspired great terror. But Agesilaus stripped his prisoners and exhibited them to his soldiers, in order that their delicate white bodies might excite contempt.

  [18] Gelo, Syracusarum tyrannus, bello adversum Poenos suscepto, cum multos cepisset, infirmissimum quemque praecipue ex auxiliaribus, qui nigerrimi erant, nudatum in conspectum suorum produxit, ut persuaderet contemnendos.

  [18] Gelo, tyrant of Syracuse, having undertaken war against the Carthaginians, after taking many prisoners, stripped all the feeblest, especially from among the auxiliaries, who were very swarthy, and exhibited them nude before the eyes of his troops, in order to convince his men that their foes were contemptible.

  [19] Cyrus, rex Persarum, ut concitaret animos popularium, tota die in excidenda silva quadam eos fatigavit; deinde postridie praestitit eis liberalissimas epulas et interrogavit, utro magis gauderent. Cumque ei praesentia probassent, “atqui per haec”, inquit, “ad illa perveniendum esOf; nam liberi beatique esse, nisi Medos viceritis, non potestis”, atque ita eos ad cupiditatem proelii concitavit.

  [19] Cyrus, king of the Persians, wishing to rouse the ambition of his men, employed them an entire day in the fatiguing labour of cutting down a certain forest. Then on the following day he gave them a most generous feast, and asked them which they liked better. When they had expressed their preference for the feast, he said: “And yet it is only through the former that we can arrive at the latter; for unless you conquer the Medes, you cannot be free and happy.” In this way he roused them to the desire for combat.

  [20] L. Sulla, quia adversus Archelaum praefectum Mithridatis apud Pirea pigrioribus ad proelium militibus utebatur, opere eos fatigando compulit ad poscendum ultro pugnae signum.

  [20] Lucius Sulla, in the campaign against Archelaus, general of Mithridates, found his troops somewhat disinclined for battle at the Piraeus. But by imposing tiresome tasks upon his men he brought them to the point where they demanded the signal for battle of their own accord.

  [21] Fabius Maximus veritus, ne qua fiducia navium, ad quas refugium erat, minus constanter pugnaret exercitus, incendi eas, priusquam iniret proelium, iussit.

  [21] Fabius Maximus, fearing that his troops would fight less resolutely in consequence of their reliance on their ships, to which it was possible to retreat, ordered the ships to be set on fire before the battle began.

  XII. De Dissolvendo Metu, Quem Milites ex Ominibus

  XII. On Dispelling the Fears Inspired in Soldiers by Ad
verse Omens

  [1] Scipio, ex Italia in Africam transportato exercitu, cum egrediens nave prolapsus esset et ob hoc attonitos milites cerneret, id quod trepidationem afferebat, constantia et magnitudine animi in hortationem convertit et “plaudite”, inquit, “milites, Africam oppressi.”

  [1] Scipio, having transported his army from Italy to Africa, stumbled as he was disembarking. When he saw the soldiers struck aghast at this, by his steadiness and loftiness of spirit he converted their cause of concern into one of encouragement, by saying: “Congratulate me, my men! I have hit Africa hard.”