Complete Works of Frontinus

by Frontinus

  [41] Melanthus, the Athenian general, on one occasion came out for combat, in response to the challenge of the king of the enemy, Xanthus, the Boeotian. As soon as they stood face to face, Melanthus exclaimed: “Your conduct is unfair, Xanthus, and contrary to agreement. I am alone, but you have come out with a companion against me.” When Xanthus wondered who was following him and looked behind, Melanthus dispatched him with a single stroke, as his head was turned away.

  [42] Iphicrates Atheniensis ad Cherronessum, cum sciret Lacedaemoniorum ducem Anaxibium exercitum pedestri itinere ducere, firmissimam manum militum eduxit e navibus et in insidiis conlocavit, naves autem omni[um] tamquam onustas milite palam transnavigare iussit; ita securos et nihil exspectantes Lacedaemonios a tergo ingressus itinere oppressit fuditque.

  [42] Iphicrates, the Athenian, on one occasion in the Chersonesus, aware that Anaxibius, commander of the Spartans, was proceeding with his troops by land, disembarked a large force of men from his vessels and placed them in ambush, but directed his ships to sail in full view of the enemy, as though loaded with all his forces. When the Spartans were thus thrown off their guard and apprehended no danger, Iphicrates, attacking them by land from the rear as they marched along, crushed and routed them.

  [43] Liburni, cum vadosa loca obsedissent, capitibus tantum eminentibus fidem fecerunt hosti alti maris ac triremem, quae eos persequebatur, implicatam vado ceperunt.

  [43] The Liburnians on one occasion, when they had taken a position among some shallows, by allowing only their heads to appear above the surface of the water, caused the enemy to believe that water was deep. In this way a galley which followed them became stranded on the shoal, and was captured.

  [44] Alcibiades, dux Atheniensium, in Hellesponto adversus Mindarum, Lacedaemoniorum ducem, cum amplum exercitum et plures naves haberet, nocte expositis in terram quibusdam militum suorum, parte quoque navium post quaedam promunturia occultata, ipse cum paucis profectus ita, ut contemptu sui hostem invitaret, eundem insequentem fugit, donec in praeparatas insidias perduceret. Aversum deinde et egredientem in terram per eos, quos ad hoc ipsum exposuerat, cecidit.

  [44] Alcibiades, commander of the Athenians at the Hellespont against Mindarus, leader of the Spartans, having a large army and numerous vessels, landed some of his soldiers by night, and hid part of his ships behind certain headlands. He himself, advancing with a few troops, so as to lure the enemy on in scorn of his small force, fled when pursued, until he finally drew the foe into the trap which had been laid. Then attacking the enemy in the rear, as he disembarked, he cut him to pieces with the aid of the troops which he had landed for this very purpose.

  [45] Idem, navali proelio decertaturus, constituit malos quosdam in promunturio praecepitque his quos ibi relinquebat, ut, cum commissum proelium sensissent, panderent vela. Quo facto consecutus est, ut hostes aliam classem in auxilium ei supervenire arbitrati verterentur.

  [45] The same Alcibiades, on one occasion, with about to engage in a naval combat, erected a number of masts on a headland, and commanded the men whom he left there to spread sails on these as soon as they noticed that the engagement had begun. By this means he caused the enemy to retreat, since they imagined another fleet was coming to his assistance.

  [46] Memnon Rhodius navali proelio, cum haberet ducentarum navium classem et hostium naves elicere ad proelium vellet, ita ordinavit suos, ut paucarum navium malos erigeret easque primas agi iuberet; hostes procul conspicati numerum arborum et ex eo navium quoque coniectantes obtulerunt se certamini et a pluribus occupati superatique sunt.

  [46] Memnon, the Rhodian, in a naval encounter, possessing a fleet of two hundred ships, and wishing to lure the vessels of the enemy out to battle, made arrangements for raising the masts of only a few of his ships, ordering these to proceed first. When the enemy from a distance saw the number of masts, and from that inferred the number of vessels, they offered battle, but were fallen upon by a larger number of ships and defeated.

  [47] Timotheus, dux Atheniensium, adversus Lacedaemonios navali acie decertaturus, cum instructa classis eorum ad pugnam processisset, ex velocissimis navibus viginti praemisit, quae omni arte varioque flexu eluderent hostem; ut primum deinde sensit minus agiliter moveri adversam partem, progressus praelassatos facile superavit.

  [47] Timotheus, leader of the Athenians, when about to engage in a naval encounter with the Spartans, as soon as the Spartan fleet came out arrayed in line of battle, sent ahead twenty of his swiftest vessels, to baulk the enemy in every way by various tactics. Then as soon as he observed that the enemy were growing less active in their manoeuvres, he moved forward and easily defeated them, since they were already worn out.

  VI. De Emittendo Hoste, ne Clausus Proelium ex

  VI. On Letting the Enemy Escape, lest, Brought to Bay, He Renew the Battle in Desperationa

  [1] Gallos eo proelio, quod Camilli ductu gestum est, desiderantes navigia, quibus Tiberim transirent, senatus censuit transvehendos et commeatibus quoque prosequendos.

  Eiusdem generis hominibus postea per Pomptinum agrum fugientibus via data est, quae Gallica appellatur.

  [1] When the Gauls, after the battle fought under Camillus’s generalship, desired boats to cross the Tiber, the Senate voted to set them across and to supply them with provisions as well.

  On a subsequent occasion also a free passage was afforded to the people of the same race when retreating through the Pomptine district. This road goes by the name of the “Gallic Way.”

  [2] T. Marcius, eques Romanus, cui duobus Scipionibus occisis exercitus imperium detulit, cum circumventi ab eo Poeni, ne inulti morerentur, acrius pugnarent, laxatis manipulis et concesso fugae spatio dissipatos sine periculo suorum trucidavit.

  [2] Titus Marcius, a Roman knight, on whom the army conferred the supreme command after the two Scipios were slain, succeeded in enveloping the Carthaginians. When the latter, in order not to die unavenged, fought with increasing fury, Marcius opened up the maniples, afforded room for escape, and as the enemy became separated, slaughtered them without danger to his own men.

  [3] C. Caesar Germanos inclusos, ex desperatione fortius pugnantis, emitti iussit fugientisque adgressus est.

  [3] When certain Germans whom Gaius Caesar had penned in fought the more fiercely from desperation, he ordered them to be allowed to escape, and then attacked them as they fled.

  [4] Hannibal, cum ad Trasumennum inclusi Romani acerrime pugnarent, diductis ordinibus fecit eis abeundi potestatem euntesque sine suorum sanguine stravit.

  [4] At Trasimenus, when the Romans had been enveloped and were fighting with the greatest fury, Hannibal opened up his ranks and gave them an opportunity of escape, whereupon, as they fled, he overwhelmed them without loss of his own troops.

  [5] Antigonus, rex Macedonum, Aetolis, qui in obsidionem ab eo compulsi fame urguebantur statuerantque eruptione facta commori, viam fugae dedit; atque ita infracto impetu eorum insecutus aversos cecidit.

  [5] When the Aetolians, blockaded by Antigonus, king of the Macedonians, were suffering from famine and had resolved to make a sally in face of certain death, Antigonus afforded them an avenue of flight. Thus having cooled their ardour, he attacked them from the rear and cut them to pieces.

  [6] Agesilaus Lacedaemonius adversus Thebanos, cum acie confligeret intellexissetque hostes locorum condicione clausos ob desperationem fortius dimicare, laxatis suorum ordinibus apertaque Thebanis ad evadendum via, rursus in abeuntis contraxit aciem et sine iactura suorum cecidit aversos.

  [6] Agesilaus, the Spartan, when engaged in battle with the Thebans, noticed that the enemy, hemmed in by the character of the terrain, were fighting with greater fury on account of their desperation. Accordingly he opened up his ranks and afforded the Thebans a way of escape. But when they tried to retreat, he again enveloped them, and cut them down from behind without loss of his own troops.

  [7] Cn. Manlius consul, cum ex acie reversus capta ab Etruscis Romanorum castra invenisset, omnibus portis statione circumdatis inclusos host
es in eam rabiem efferavit, ut ipse in proelio caderet. Quod ut animadverterunt legati eius, ab una porta remota statione exitum Etruscis dederunt et effusos persecuti, occurrente altero consule Fabio, ceciderunt.

  [7] Gnaeus Manlius, the consul, on returning from battle found the camp of the Romans in possession of the Etruscans. He therefore posted guards at all the gates and roused the enemy, thus shut up within, to such a pitch of fury that he himself was slain in the fighting. When his lieutenants realized the situation, they withdrew the guards from one gate and afforded the Etruscans an opportunity of escape. But when the latter poured forth, the Romans pursued them and cut them to pieces, with the help of the other consul, Fabius, who happened to come up.

  [8] Themistocles victo Xerxe volentes suos pontem rumpere prohibuit, cum docuisset aptius esse eum expelli Europa, quam cogi ex desperatione pugnare. Idem misit ad eum, qui indicaret, in quo periculo esset, nisi fugam maturaret.

  [8] When Xerxes had been defeated and the Athenians wished to destroy his bridge, Themistocles prevented this, showing that it was better for them that Xerxes should be expelled from Europe than be forced to fight in desperation. He also sent to the king a messenger to tell him in what danger he would be, in case he failed to make a hasty retreat.

  [9] Pyrrhus, Epirotarum rex, cum quandam civitatem cepisset clausisque portis ex ultima necessitate fortiter dimicantes eos, qui inclusi erant, animadvertisset, locum illis ad fugam dedit.

  [9] When Pyrrhus, king of the Epirotes, had captured a certain city and had noticed that the inhabitants, shut up inside, had closed the gates and were fighting valiantly from dire necessity, he gave them an opportunity to escape.

  [10] Idem inter praecepta imperatoria memoriae tradidit, non esse pertinaciter instandum hosti fugienti, ne non solum ea re fortius ex necessitate resisteret, sed ut postea quoque facilius acie cederet, cum sciret non usque ad perniciem fugientibus instaturos victores.

  [10] The same Pyrrhus, among many other precepts on the art of war, recommended never to press relentlessly on the heels of an enemy in flight — not merely in order to prevent the enemy from resisting too furiously in consequence of necessity, but also to make him more inclined to withdraw another time, knowing that the victor would not strive to destroy him when in flight.

  VII. De Dissimulandis Adversis

  VII. On Concealing Reverses

  [1] Tullus Hostilius, rex Romanorum, commisso adversus Veientes proelio, cum Albani deserto exercitu Romanorum proximos peterent tumulos eaque res turbasset nostrorum animos, clare pronuntiavit iussu suo Albanos id fecisse, ut hostem circumveniret. Quae res et terrorem Veientibus et Romanis fiduciam attulit remque inclinatam consilio restituit.

  [1] Tullus Hostilius, king of the Romans, on one occasion had engaged in battle with the Veientines, when the Albans, deserting the army of the Romans, made for the neighbouring hills. Since this action disconcerted our troops, Tullus shouted in a loud voice that the Albans had done that by his instructions, with the object of enveloping the foe. This declaration struck terror into the hearts of the Veientines and lent confidence to the Romans. By this device he turned the tide of battle.

  [2] L. Sulla, cum praefectus eius, comitante non exigua equitum manu, commisso iam proelio ad hostis transfugisset, pronuntiavit iussu suo id factum; eaque ratione militum animos non tantum a confusione retraxit, sed quadam etiam spe utilitatis, quae id consilium secutura esset, confirmavit.

  [2] When a lieutenant of Lucius Sulla had gone over to the enemy at the beginning on an engagement, accompanied by a considerable force of cavalry, Sulla announced that this had been done by his own instructions. He thereby not merely saved his men from panic, but encouraged them by a certain expectation of advantage to result from this plan.

  [3] Idem, cum auxiliares eius missi ab ipso circumventi ab hostibus et interfecti essent verereturque, ne propter hoc damnum universus trepidaret exercitus, pronuntiavit auxiliaris, qui ad defectionem conspirassent, consilio a se in loca iniqua deductos. Ita manifestissimam cladem ultionis simulatione velavit et militum animos hac persuasione confirmavit.

  [3] The same Sulla, when certain auxiliary troops dispatched by him had been surrounded and cut to pieces by the enemy, fearing that his entire army would be in a panic on account of this disaster, announced that he had purposely placed the auxiliaries in a place of danger, since they had plotted to desert. In this way he veiled a very palpable reverse under the guise of discipline, and encouraged his soldiers by convincing them that he had done this.

  [4] Scipio, cum Syphacis legati nuntiarent ei regis sui nomine, ne fiducia societatis eius ex Sicilia in Africam transiret, veritus, ne confunderentur animi suorum abscisa spe peregrinae societatis, dimisit propere legatos et famam diffudit, tamquam ultro a Syphace accerseretur.

  [4] When the envoys of King Syphax told Scipio in the name of their king not to cross over to Africa from Sicily in expectation of an alliance, Scipio, fearing that the spirits of his men would receive a shock, if the hope of a foreign alliance were cut off, summarily dismissed the envoys, and spread abroad the report that he was expressly sent for by Syphax.

  [5] Q. Sertorius, cum acie decertaret, barbarum, qui ei nuntiaverat Hirtuleium perisse, pugione traiecit, ne et in aliorum id notitiam perferret et ob hoc animi suorum infirmarentur.

  [5] Once when Quintus Sertorius was engaged in battle, he plunged a dagger into the barbarian who had reported to him that Hirtuleius had fallen, for fear the messenger might bring this news to the knowledge of others and in this way the spirit of his own troops should be broken.

  [6] Alcibiades Atheniensis, cum ab Abydenis proelio urgueretur subitoque magno cursu tristem adventare animadvertisset tabellarium, prohibuit palam dicere, quid afferret. Dehinc secreto sciscitatus, a Pharnabazo regio praefecto classem suam oppugnari, celatis et hostibus et militibus proelium finit ac protinus ad eripiendam classem ducto exercitu opem tulit suis.

  [6] When Alcibiades, the Athenian, was hard pressed in battle by the Abydenes and suddenly noticed a courier approaching at great speed and with dejected countenance, he prevented the courier from telling openly what tidings he brought. Having privately learned that his fleet was beset by Pharnabazus, the commander of the king, he concealed the fact both from the enemy and from his own soldiers, and finished the battle. Then straightway marching to rescue his fleet, he bore aid to his friends.

  [7] Hannibalem venientem in Italiam tria milia Carpetanorum reliquerunt; quos ille, exemplo ne et ceteri moverentur, edixit a se esse dimissos et insuper in fidem eius rei paucos levissimae operae domos remisit.

  [7] When Hannibal entered Italy, three thousand Carpetani deserted him. Fearing that rest of his troops might be affected by their example, he proclaimed that they had been discharged by him, and as further proof of that, he sent home a few others whose services were of very little importance.

  [8] L. Lucullus, cum animadvertisset Macedonas equites, quos in auxilio habebat, subito consensu ad hostem transfugere, signa canere iussit et turmas, quae eos sequerentur, immisit. Hostis committi proelium ratus transfugientes telis excepit. Macedones, qui viderent neque recipi se ab adversariis et premi ab his, quos deserebant, necessario ad iustum proelium conversi hostem invaserunt.

  [8] When Lucius Lucullus noticed that the Macedonian cavalry, whom he had as auxiliaries, were suddenly deserting to the enemy in a body, he ordered the trumpets to sound and sent out squadrons to pursue the deserters. The enemy, thinking that an engagement was beginning, received the deserters with javelins, whereupon the Macedonians, seeing that they were not welcomed by the enemy and were attacked by those whom they were deserting, were forced to resort to a genuine battle and assaulted the enemy.

  [9] Datames, dux Persarum, adversum Autophradaten in Cappadocia, cum partem equitum suorum transfugere comperisset, ceteros omnes venire secum iussit assecutusque transfugas collaudavit, quod eum alacriter praecessissent, hortatusque est eos etiam, ut fortiter hostem adorerentur. Pudor transfugis attulit paenitentiam et consilium suum, quia non putabant dep
rehensum, mutaverunt.

  [9] Datames, commander of the Persians against Autophradates in Cappadocia, learning that part of his cavalry were deserting, ordered the rest of his troops to follow with him. Upon coming up with the deserters, he commended them for outstripping him in their eagerness, and also urged them to attack the enemy courageously. Seized with shame and penitence, the deserters changed their purpose, imagining that it had not been detected.

  [10] T. Quintius Capitolinus consul cedentibus Romanis ementitus est in altero cornu hostes fugatos et ita confirmatis suis victoriam rettulit.

  [10] The consul Titus Quinctius Capitolinus, when the Romans yielded ground in battle, falsely claimed that the enemy had been routed on the other flank. By thus lending courage to his men, he won a victory.

  [11] Cn. Man[i]lius adversus Etruscos, vulnerato collega M. Fabio, qui sinistrum cornu ducebat, et ob id ea parte cedente, quod etiam occisum crederent consulem, cum turmis equitum occurrit, clamitans et collegam vivere et se dextro cornu vicisse; qua constantia redintegratis animis suorum vicit.