Complete Works of Frontinus

by Frontinus

  [6] Aegyptii conflicturi acie in eis campis, quibus iunctae paludes erant, alga eas contexerunt commissoque proelio fugam simulantes in insidias hostes evocaverunt, qui rapidius per ignota invecti loca limo inhaeserunt circumventique sunt.

  [6] The Egyptians, when about to engage in battle on a plain near a marsh, covered the marsh with seaweed, and then, when the battle began, feigning flight, drew the enemy into a trap; for the latter, while advancing too swiftly over the unfamiliar ground, were caught in the mire and surrounded.

  [7] Viriathus, ex latrone dux Celtiberorum, cedere se Romanis equitibus simulans usque ad locum voraginosum et praealtum eos perduxit et, cum ipse per solidos ac notos sibi transitus evaderet, Romanos ignaros locorum immersosque limo cecidit.

  [7] Viriathus, who from being a bandit became leader of the Celtiberians, on one occasion, while pretending to give way before the Roman cavalry, led them on to a place full of deep holes. There, while he himself made his way out by familiar paths that afforded good footing, the Romans, ignorant of the locality, sank in the mire and were slain.

  [8] Fulvius imperator Cimbrico bello collatis cum hoste castris equites suos iussit succedere ad munitiones eorum lacessitisque barbaris simulata fuga regredi. Hoc cum per aliquot dies fecisset, avide insequentibus Cimbris, animadvertit castra eorum solita nudari. Itaque per partem exercitus custodita consuetudine ipse cum expeditis post castra hostium consedit occultus effusisque eis ex more repente adortus et desertum proruit vallum et castra cepit.

  [8] Fulvius, commander in the Cimbrian war, having pitched his camp near the enemy, ordered his cavalry to approach the fortifications of the barbarians and to withdraw in pretended flight, after making an attack. When he had done this for several days, with the Cimbrians in hot pursuit, he noticed that their camp was regularly left exposed. Accordingly, maintaining his usual practice with part of his force, he himself, with light-armed troops, secretly took a position behind the camp of the enemy, and as they poured forth according to their custom, he suddenly attacked and demolished the unguarded rampart and captured their camp.

  [9] Cn. Fulvius, cum in finibus nostris exercitus Faliscorum longe nostro maior castra posuisset, per suos milites quaedam procul a castris aedificia succendit, ut Falisci suos id fecisse credentes spe praedae diffunderentur.

  [9] Gnaeus Fulvius, when a force of Faliscans far superior to ours had encamped on our territory, had his soldiers set fire to certain buildings at a distance from the camp, in order that the Faliscans, thinking their own men had done this, might scatter in hope of plunder.

  [10] Alexander Epirotes adversus Illyrios conlocata in insidiis manu quosdam ex suis habitu Illyriorum instruxit et iussit vastare suam [id est Epiroticam] regionem. Quod cum Illyrii viderent fieri, ipsi passim praedari coeperunt eo securius, quod praecedentes veluti pro exploratoribus habebant; a quibus ex industria in loca iniqua deducti caesi fugatique sunt.

  [10] Alexander, the Epirote, when waging war against the Illyrians, first placed a force in ambush, and then dressed up some of his own men in Illyrian garb, ordering them to lay waste his own, that is to say, Epirote territory. When the Illyrians saw that this was being done, they themselves began to pillage right and left — the more confidently since they thought that those who led the way were scouts. But when they had been designedly brought by the latter into a disadvantageous position, they were routed and killed.

  [11] Leptines quoque Syracusanus adversus Carthaginienses vastari suos agros et incendi villas castellaque quaedam imperavit. Carthaginienses, a suis id fieri rati, et ipsi tamquam in adiutorium exierunt exceptique ab insidiatoribus fusi sunt.

  [11] Leptines, the Syracusan, also, when waging war against the Carthaginians, ordered his own lands to be laid waste and certain farm-houses and forts to be set on fire. The Carthaginians, thinking this was done by their own men, went out themselves also to help; whereupon they were set upon by men lying in wait, and were put to rout.

  [12] Maharbal, missus a Carthaginiensibus adversus Afros rebellantes, cum sciret gentem avidam esse vini, magnum eius modum mandragora permiscuit, cuius inter venenum ac soporem media vis est. Tum proelio levi commisso ex industria cessit. Nocte deinde intempesta relictis intra castra quibusdam sarcinis et omni vino infecto fugam simulavit; cumque barbari occupatis castris in gaudium effusi avide medicatum merum hausissent et in modum defunctorum strati iacerent, reversus aut cepit eos aut trucidavit.

  [12] Maharbal, sent by the Carthaginians against rebellious Africans, knowing that the tribe was passionately fond of wine, mixed a large quantity of wine with mandragora, which in potency is something between a poison and a soporific. Then after an insignificant skirmish he deliberately withdrew. At dead of night, leaving in the camp some of his baggage and all the drugged wine, he feigned flight. When the barbarians captured the camp and in a frenzy of delight greedily drank the drugged wine, Maharbal returned, and either took them prisoners or slaughtered them while they lay stretched out as if dead.

  [13] Hannibal, cum sciret sua et Romanorum castra in eis locis esse, quae lignis deficiebantur, ex industria in regione deserta plurimos armentorum greges intra vallum reliquit, qua velut praeda Romani potiti in summis lignationis angustiis insalubribus se cibis oneraverunt. Hannibal, reducto nocte exercitu, securos eos et semicruda graves carne maiorem in modum vexavit.

  [13] Hannibal, on one occasion, aware that both his own camp and that of the Romans were in places deficient in wood, deliberately abandoned the district, leaving many herds of cattle within his camp. The Romans, securing possession of these as booty, gorged themselves with flesh, which, owing to the scarcity of firewood, was raw and indigestible. Hannibal, returning by night with his army, finding them off their guard and gorged with raw meat, inflicted great loss upon them.

  [14] Ti. Gracchus in Hispania, certior factus hostem inopem commercio laborare, instructissima castra omnibus esculentis deseruit; quae adeptum hostem et repertis intemperanter repletum gravemque reducto exercitu subito oppressit.

  [14] Tiberius Gracchus, when in Spain, upon learning that the enemy were suffering from lack of provisions, provided his camp with an elaborate supply of eatables of all kinds and then abandoned it. When the enemy had got possession of the camp and had gorged themselves to repletion with the food they found, Gracchus brought back his army and suddenly crushed them.

  [15] Chii, qui adversus Erythraeos bellum gerebant, speculatorem eorum in loco edito deprehensum occiderunt et vestem eius suo militi dederunt, qui ex eodem iugo Erythraeos signo dato in insidias evocavit.

  [15] The Chians, when waging war against the Erythreans, caught an Erythrean spy on a lofty eminence and put him to death. They then gave his clothes to one of their own soldiers, who, by giving a signal from the same eminence, lured the Erythreans into an ambush.

  [16] Arabes, cum esset nota consuetudo eorum, qua de adventu hostium interdiu fumo, nocte igne significare instituerant, ut sine intermissione ea fierent, praeceperunt, adventantibus autem adversariis intermitterentur; qui cum cessantibus luminibus existimarent ignorari adventum suum, avidius ingressi oppressique sunt.

  [16] The Arabians, since their custom of giving notice of the arrival of the enemy by means of smoke by day, and by fire at night, was well known, issued orders on one occasion that these practices should continue without interruption until the enemy actually approached, when they should be discontinued. The enemy, imagining from the absence of the fires that their approach was unknown, advanced too eagerly and were overwhelmed.

  [17] Alexander Macedo, cum hostis in saltu editiore castra communisset, subducta parte copiarum praecepit his, quos relinquebat, ut ex more ignes excitarent speciemque praeberent totius exercitus; ipse per avias regiones circumducta manu hostem superiore adgressus loco depulit.

  [17] Alexander of Macedon, when the enemy had fortified their camp on a lofty wooded eminence, withdrew a portion of his forces, and commanded those whom he left to kindle fires as usual, and thus to give the impression of the complete army. He himself, leading his forc
es around through untravelled regions, attacked the enemy and dislodged them from their commanding position.

  [18] Memnon Rhodius [rex], cum equitatu praevaleret et hostem in collibus se continentem in campos vellet deducere, quosdam ex militibus suis sub specie perfugarum misit in hostium castra, qui affirmarent exercitum Memnonis tam perniciosa seditione furere, ut subinde aliqua pars eius dilaberetur. Huic affirmationi ut fidem faceret, passim in conspectu hostium iussit parva castella muniri, velut in ea se recepturi essent qui dissidebant. Hac persuasione sollicitati, qui in montibus se continuerant, in plana descenderunt et, dum castella temptant, ab equitatu circumventi sunt.

  [18] Memnon, the Rhodian, being superior in cavalry, and wishing to draw down to the plains an enemy who clung to the hills, sent certain of his soldiers under the guise of deserters to the camp of the enemy, to say that the army of Memnon was inspired with such a serious spirit of mutiny that some portion of it was constantly deserting. To lend credit to this assertion, Memnon ordered small redoubts to be fortified here and there in view of the enemy, as though the disaffected were about to retire to these. Inveigled by these representations, those who had been keeping themselves on the hills came down to level ground, and, as they attacked the redoubts, were surrounded by the cavalry.

  [19] Harrybas, rex Molossorum, bello petitus a Bardyli Illyrio, maiorem aliquanto exercitum habente, amolitus imbelles suorum in vicinam regionem Aetoliae famam sparsit, tamquam urbes ac res suas Aetolis concederet. Ipse cum his, qui arma ferre poterant, insidias in montibus et locis confragosis distribuit. Illyrii timentes, ne quae Molossorum erant ab Aetolis occuparentur, velut ad praedam festinantes neglectis ordinibus accelerare coeperunt; quos dissipatos, nihil tale exspectantes, Harrybas ex insidiis fudit fugavitque.

  [19] When Harrybas, king of the Molossians, was attacked in war by Bardylis, the Illyrian, who commanded a considerably larger army, he dispatched the non-combatant portion of his subjects to the neighbouring district of Aetolia, and spread the report that he was yielding up his towns and possessions to the Aetolians. He himself, with those who could bear arms, placed ambuscades here and there on the mountains and in other inaccessible places. The Illyrians, fearful lest the possessions of the Molossians should be seized by the Aetolians, began to race along in disorder, in their eagerness for plunder. As soon as they became scattered, Harrybas, emerging from his concealment and taking them unawares, routed them and put them to flight.

  [20] T. Labienus C. Caesaris legatus adversus Gallos ante adventum Germanorum, quos auxilio his venturos sciebat, confligere cupiens diffidentiam simulavit positisque in diversa ripa castris profectionem edixit in posterum diem. Galli, credentes eum fugere, flumen, quod medium erat, instituerunt transmittere. Labienus circumacto exercitu inter ipsas superandi amnis difficultates eos cecidit.

  [20] Titus Labienus, lieutenant of Gaius Caesar, eager to engage in battle with the Gauls before the arrival of the Germans, who, he knew, were coming to their aid, pretended discouragement, and, pitching his camp across the stream, announced his departure for the following day. The Gauls, imagining that he was in flight, began to cross the intervening river. Labienus, facing about with his troops, cut the Gauls to pieces in the very midst of their difficulties of crossing.

  [21] Hannibal, cum explorasset neglegenter castra Fulvi, Romani ducis, munita, ipsum praeterea multa temere audere, prima luce, cum densiores nebulae praestarent obscuritatem, paucos equites munitionum nostrarum vigilibus ostendit; quo Fulvius repente movit exercitum. Hannibal per a[d]versam partem castra eius occupavit et illa in tergum Romanorum effusus octo milia fortissimorum militum cum ipso duce trucidavit.

  [21] Hannibal, on one occasion, learned that the camp of Fulvius, the Roman commander, was carelessly fortified and that Fulvius himself was taking many rash chances besides. Accordingly, at daybreak, when dense mists afforded cover, he permitted a few of his horsemen to show themselves to the sentries of our fortifications; whereupon Fulvius suddenly advanced. Meanwhile, Hannibal, at a different point, entered Fulvius’s camp, and overwhelming the Roman rear, slew eight thousand of the bravest soldiers along with their commander himself.

  [22] Idem Hannibal, cum inter Fabium dictatorem et Minucium magistrum equitum divisus esset exercitus et Fabius occasionibus immineret, Minucius pugnandi cupiditate flagraret, castra in campo, qui medius inter hostes erat, posuit et, cum partem peditum in confragosis rupibus celasset, ipse ad evocandum hostem misit, qui proximum tumulum occuparent. Ad quos opprimendos cum eduxisset copias Minucius, insidiatores ab Hannibale dispositi subito consurrexerunt et delessent Minuci exercitum, nisi Fabius periclitantibus subvenisset.

  [22] Once, when the Roman army had been divided between the dictator Fabius and Minucius, master of the horse, and Fabius was watching for a favourable opportunity, while Minucius was burning with eagerness for battle, the same Hannibal pitched his camp on the plain between the hostile armies, and having concealed a portion of his troops among rough rocks, sent others to seize a neighbouring hillock, as a challenge to the foe. When Minucius had led out his forces to crush these, the men placed here and there in ambush by Hannibal suddenly sprang up, and would have annihilated Minucius’s army, had not Fabius come to help them in their distress.

  [23] Idem Hannibal, cum ad Trebiam in conspectu haberet Semproni Longi consulis castra, medio amne interfluente, saevissima hieme Magonem et electos in insidiis posuit. Deinde Numidas equites ad eliciendam Semproni credulitatem adequitare vallo eius iussit, quibus praeceperat, ut ad primum nostrorum incursum per nota refugerent vada. Hos consul et adortus temere et secutus ieiunum exercitum in maximo frigore transitu fluminis rigefecit. Mox torpore et inedia affectis Hannibal suum militem opposuit, quem ad id ignibus oleoque et cibo foverat; nec defuit partibus Mago, quin terga hostium in hoc ordinatus caederet.

  [23] When the same Hannibal was encamped in the depths of winter at the Trebia, with the camp of the consul, Sempronius Longus, in plain view and only the river flowing between, he placed Mago and picked men in ambush. Then he commanded Numidian cavalry to advance up to Sempronius’s fortifications, in order to lure forth the simple-minded Roman. At the same time, he ordered these troops to retire by familiar fords at our first onset. By heedlessly attacking and pursuing the Numidians, the consul gave his troops a chill, as a result of fording the stream in the bitter cold and without breakfast. Then, when our men were suffering from numbness and hunger, Hannibal led against them his own troops, whom he had got in condition for that purpose by warm fires, food, and rubbing down with oil. Mago also did his part, and cut to pieces the rear of his enemy at the point where he had been posted for the purpose.

  [24] Idem ad Trasumennum, cum arta quaedam via inter lacum et radices montis in campos patentes duceret, simulata fuga per angustias ad patentia evasit ibique castra posuit ac nocte dispositis militibus et per collem, qui imminebat, et in lateribus angustiarum prima luce, nebula quoque adiutus, aciem direxit. Flaminius velut fugientem insequens, cum angustias esset ingressus, non ante providit insidias, quam simul a fronte, lateribus, tergo circumfusus ad internicionem cum exercitu caederetur.

  [24] At Trasimenus, where a narrow way, running out between the lake and the base of the hills, led out to the open plain, the same Hannibal, feigning flight, made his way through the narrow road to the open districts and pitched his camp there. Then, posting soldiers by night at various points over the rising ground of the hill and at the ends of the defile, at daybreak, under cover of a fog, he marshalled his line of battle. Flaminius, pursuing the enemy, who seemed to be retreating, entered the defile and did not see the ambush until he was surrounded in front, flank, and rear, and was annihilated with his army.

  [25] Idem Hannibal adversus Iunium dictatorem nocte intempesta DC equitibus imperavit, ut in plures turmas segregati per vices sine intermissione circa castra hostium se ostentarent. Ita tota nocte Romanis in vallo statione ac pluvia, quae forte continua fuerat, inquietatis confectisque, cum receptui signum mane Iunius dedisset, Hannibal suos requietos eduxit et cast
ra eius invasit.

  [25] The same Hannibal, when contending against the dictator Junius, ordered six hundred cavalrymen to break up into a number of squadrons, and at dead of night to appear in successive detachments without intermission around the camp of the enemy. Thus all night long the Romans were harassed and worn out by sentry duty on the rampart and by the rain, which happened to fall continuously, so that in the morning, when Junius gave the signal for recall, Hannibal led out his own troops, who had been well rested, and took Junius’s camp by assault.

  [26] Epaminondas Thebanus in eundem modum, cum Lacedaemonii ad Isthmon vallo ducto Peloponeson tuerentur, paucorum opera levis armaturae tota nocte inquietavit hostem. Ac deinde prima luce revocatis suis, cum Lacedaemonii se recepissent, subito universum exercitum, quem quietum habuerat, admovit et per ipsa munimenta destituta propugnatoribus irrupit.

  [26] In the same way, when the Spartans had draw entrenchments across the Isthmus and were defending the Peloponnesus, Epaminondas, the Theban, with the help of a few light-armed troops, harassed the enemy all night long. Then at daybreak, after he had recalled his own men and the Spartans had also retired, he suddenly moved forward the entire force which he had kept at rest, and burst directly through the ramparts, which had been left without defenders.