by Frontinus
[5] Alexander oppugnaturus Leucadiam commeatibus abundantem prius castella, quae in confinio erant, cepit omnesque ex his Leucadiam passus est confugere, ut alimenta inter multos celerius absumerentur.
[5] When Alexander was about to besiege Leucadia, a town well-supplied with provisions, he first captured the fortresses on the border and allowed all the people from these to flee for refuge to Leucadia, in order that the food-supplies might be consumed with greater rapidity when shared by many.
[6] Phalaris Agrigentinus, cum quaedam loca munitione tuta in Sicilia oppugnaret, simulato foedere frumenta, quae residua habere se dicebat, apud eos deposuit; deinde data opera, ut camerae tectorum, in quibus id conferebatur, rescissae pluviam reciperent, [id] fiducia conditi commeatus proprio tritico abusos initio aestatis adgressus inopia compulit ad deditionem.
[6] Phalaris of Agrigentum, when besieging certain places in Sicily protected by fortifications, pretended to make a treaty and deposited with the Sicilians all the wheat which he said he had remaining, taking pains, however, that the chambers of the buildings in which the grain was stored should have leaky roofs. Then when the Sicilians, relying on the wheat which Phalaris had deposited with them, had used up their own supplies, Phalaris attacked them at the beginning of summer and as a result of their lack of provisions forced them to surrender.
V. Quemadmodum Persuadeatur Obsidionem Permansuram
V. How to Persuade the Enemy that the Siege will be Maintained
[1] Clearchus Lacedaemonius, exploratum habens Thracas omnia victui necessaria in montes comportasse unaque spe sustentari, quod crederent eum commeatus inopia recessurum, per id tempus, quo legatos eorum venturos opinabatur, aliquem ex captivis in conspectu iussit occidi et membratim tamquam alimenti causa in contubernia distribui. Thraces nihil non facturum perseverantiae causa eum credentes, qui tam detestabiles epulas sustinuisset experiri, in deditionem venerunt.
[1] When Clearchus, the Spartan, had learned that the Thracians had conveyed to the mountains all things necessary for their subsistence and were buoyed up by the sole hope that he would withdraw in consequence of lack of supplies, at the time when he surmised their envoys would come, he ordered one of the prisoners to be put to death in full view and his body to be distributed in pieces among the tents, as though for the mess. The Thracians, believing that Clearchus would stick at nothing in order to hold out, since he brought himself to try such loathsome food, delivered themselves up.
[2] Ti. Gracchus, Lusitanis dicentibus in X annos cibaria se habere et ideo obsidionem non expavescere, “undecimo”, inquit, “anno vos capiam”. Qua voce perterriti Lusitani, quamvis instructi commeatibus, statim se dediderunt.
[2] When the Lusitanians told Tiberius Gracchus that they had supplies for ten years and for that reason stood in no fear of a siege, he answered: “Then I’ll capture you in the eleventh year.” Terror-stricken by this language, the Lusitanians, though well supplied with provisions, at once surrendered.
[3] A. Torquato Graecam urbem oppugnanti cum diceretur iuventutem ibi studiose iaculis et sagittis exerceri, “pluris eam”, inquit, “propediem vendam.”
[3] When Aulus Torquatus was besieging a Greek city and was told that the young men of the city were engaged in earnest practice with the javelin and bow, he replied: “Then the price at which I shall presently sell them shall be higher.”
VI. De Districtione Praesidiorum Hostium
VI. On Distracting the Attention of a Hostile Garrison
[2] Scipio, Hannibale in Africam reverso, cum plura oppida, quae ratio illi in potestatem redigenda dictabat, firmis praesidiis diversae partis obtinerentur, subinde aliquam manum submittebat ad infestanda ea. Novissime etiam tamquam direpturus civitates aderat, deinde simulato metu refugiebat. Hannibal, ratus veram esse eius trepidationem, deductis undique praesidiis, tamquam de summa rerum decertaturus insequi coepit. Ita consecutus Scipio, quod petierat, nudatas propugnatoribus urbis per Masinissam et Numidas cepit.
[1] When Hannibal had returned to Africa, many towns were still held by strong forces of the Carthaginians. Scipio’s policy demanded that these towns should be reduced. Accordingly he often sent troops to assault them. Finally he would appear before the towns as though bent on sacking them, and would then retire, feigning fear. Hannibal, thinking his alarm real, withdrew the garrison from all points, and began to follow, as though determined to fight a decisive battle. Scipio, having thus accomplished what he intended, with the assistance of Masinissa and the Numidians, captured the towns, which had thus been stripped of their defenders.
[2] P. Cornelius Scipio, intellecta difficultate expugnandi Delminum, quia concursu omnium defendebatur, adgredi alia oppida coepit et evocatis ad sua defendenda singulis vacuatam auxiliis Delminum cepit.
[2] Publius Cornelius Scipio, appreciating the difficulty of capturing Delminus, because it was defended by the concerted efforts of the population of the district, began to assault other towns. Then, when the inhabitants of the various towns had been called back to defend their homes, Scipio took Delminus, which had been left without support.
[3] Pyrrhus, Epirotarum rex, adversus Illyrios, cum civitatem, quae caput gentis erat, redigere in potestatem suam vellet, eius desperatione ceteras urbes petere coepit consecutusque est, ut hostes fiducia velut satis munitae urbis eius ad tutelam aliarum dilaberentur; quo facto revocatis ipse rursus omnibus suis vacuam eam defensoribus cepit.
[3] Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, in his war against the Illyrians, aimed to reduce their capital, but despairing of this, began to attack the other towns, and succeeded in making the enemy disperse to protect their other cities, since they had confidence in the apparently adequate fortification of the capital. When he had accomplished this, he recalled his own forces and captured the town, now left without defenders.
[4] Cornelius Rufinus consul, cum aliquanto tempore Crotona oppidum frustra obsedisset, quod inexpugnabile faciebat assumpta in praesidium Lucanorum manus, simulavit se coepto desistere. Captivum deinde magno praemio sollicitatum misit Crotona, qui tamquam ex custodia effugisset, persuasit discessisse Romanos. Id verum Crotonienses arbitrati dimisere auxilia destitutique propugnatoribus inopinati et invalidi capti sunt.
[4] The consul Cornelius Rufinus for some time besieged the city of Crotona, without success, since it had been made impregnable by the arrival of a band of Lucanian reinforcements. He therefore pretended to desist from his undertaking, and by offers of great rewards induced a certain prisoner to go to Crotona. This emissary, by feigning to have escaped from custody, persuaded the inhabitants to believe his report that the Romans had withdrawn. The people of Crotona, thinking this to be true, dismissed their allies. Then, weakened by being stripped of their defenders, they were surprised and captured.
[5] Mago, dux Carthaginiensium, victo Cn. Pisone et in quadam turre circumsesso, suspicatus ventura ei subsidia perfugam misit, qui persuaderet appropinquantibus captum iam Pisonem; qua ratione deterritis eis reliqua victoriae consummavit.
[5] Mago, general of the Carthaginians, having defeated Gnaeus Piso and having blockaded the tower wherein he had taken refuge, suspecting that reinforcements would come to his relief, sent a deserter to persuade the approaching troops that Piso was already captured. Having thus scared them off, Mago made his victory complete.
[6] Alcibiades in Sicilia, cum Syracusanos capere vellet, ex Catiniensibus, apud quos tum exercitum continebat, quendam exploratae sollertiae submisit ad Syracusanos. Is in publicum consilium introductus persuasit infestissimos esse Catinienses Atheniensibus et, si adiuvarentur a Syracusanis, futurum, ut opprimerent eos et Alcibiadem; qua re adducti Syracusani universis viribus Catinam petituri processerunt, relicta ipsorum urbe, quam a tergo adortus Alcibiades ac desolatam, ut speraverat, afflixit.
[6] Alcibiades, wishing to capture the city of Syracuse in Sicily, chose from among the people of Catana, where he was encamped, a certain man of tested shrewdness and sent him to the Syracusans. This man, when brought before the public assembly of the Syracusans, pe
rsuaded them that the people of Catana were very hostile to the Athenians, and that, if assisted by the Syracusans, they would crush the Athenians and Alcibiades along with them. Induced by these representations, the Syracusans left their own city and set out in full force to join the people of Catana, whereupon Alcibiades attacked Syracuse from the rear, and finding it unprotected, as he had hoped, brought it under subjection.
[7] Cleonymus Atheniensis Troezenios, qui praesidio Crateri tenebantur, adgressus tela quaedam, in quibus scriptum erat venisse se ad liberandam eorum rem publicam, intra muros iecit et eodem tempore captivos quosdam conciliatos sibi remisit, qui Craterum detractarent. Per hoc consilium seditione intestina apud obsessos concitata admoto exercitu potitus est civitate.
[7] When the people of Troezen were held in subjection by troops under the command of Craterus, the Athenian Cleonymus made an assault on the town and hurled within its walls missiles inscribed with messages stating that Cleonymus had come to liberate their state. At the same time certain prisoners whom he had won over to his side were sent back to disparage Craterus. By this plan he stirred up internal strife among the besieged and, bringing up his troops, gained possession of the city.
VII. De Fluminum Derivatione et Vitiatione Aquarum
VII. On Diverting Streams and Contaminating Waters
[1] P. Servilius Isauram oppidum, flumine ex quo hostes aquabantur averso, ad deditionem siti compulit.
[1] Publius Servilius diverted the stream from which the inhabitants of Isaura drew their water, and thus forced them to surrender in consequence of thirst.
[2] C. Caesar in Gallia Cadurcorum civitatem amne cinctam et fontibus abundantem ad inopiam aquae redegit, cum fontes cuniculis avertisset et fluminis usum per sagittarios arcuisset.
[2] Gaius Caesar, in one of his Gallic campaigns, deprived the city of the Cadurcia of water, although it was surrounded by a river and abounded in springs; for he diverted the springs by subterranean channels, while his archers shut off all access to the river.
[3] Q. Metellus in Hispania citeriore in castra hostium humili loco posita fluvium ex superiore parte immisit et subita inundatione turbatos per dispositos in hoc ipsum insidiatores cecidit.
[3] Lucius Metellus, when fighting in Hither Spain, diverted the course of a river and directed it from a higher level against the camp of the enemy, which was located on low ground. Then, when the enemy were in a panic from the sudden flood, he had them slain by men whom he had stationed in ambush for this very purpose.
[4] Alexander apud Babylona, quae media flumine Euphrate dividebatur, fossam pariter et aggerem instituit, ut in usum eius existimarent hostes egeri terram; atque ita subito flumine averso per alveum veterem, qui siccatus ingressum praebebat, urbem intravit.
[4] At Babylon, which is divided into two parts by the river Euphrates, Alexander constructed both a ditch and an embankment, the enemy supposing that the earth was being taken out merely to form the embankment. Alexander, accordingly, suddenly diverting the stream, entered the town along the former river bed, which had dried up and thus afforded an entrance to the town.
[5] Semiramis adversus eosdem Babylonios eodem Euphrate averso idem fecisse dicitur.
[5] Semiramis is said to have done the same thing in the war against the Babylonians, by diverting the same Euphrates.
[6] Clisthenes Sicyonius ductum aquarum in oppidum Crisaeorum ferentem rupit; mox adfectis siti restituit aquam elleboro corruptam, qua usos profluvio ventris deficientes cepit.
[6] Clisthenes of Sicyon cut the water-pipes leading into the town of the Crisaeans. Then when the townspeople were suffering from thirst, he turned on the water again, now poisoned with hellebore. When the inhabitants used this, they were so weakened by diarrhoea that Clisthenes overcame them.
VIII. De Iniciendo Obsessis Pavore
VIII. On Terrorizing the Besieged
[1] Philippus, cum Prinassum castellum nulla vi capere posset, terram ante ipsos muros egessit simulavitque agi cuniculum; castellani, quia subrutos se existimarant, dediderunt.
[1] When Philip was unable by the utmost exertions to capture the fortress of Prinassus, he made excavations of earth directly in front of the walls and pretended to be constructing a tunnel. The men within the fortress, imagining that they were being undermined, surrendered.
[2] Pelopidas Thebanus Magnetum duo oppida simul oppugnaturus non ita longo spatio distantia, quo tempore ad alterum eorum exercitum admovebat, praecepit, ut ex composito ab aliis castris quattuor equites coronati notabili alacritate velut victoriam nuntiantes venirent. Ad cuius simulationem curavit, ut silva, quae in medio erat, incenderetur, praebitura speciem urbis ardentis; praeterea quosdam captivorum habitu eodem iussit perduci. Qua asseveratione perterriti qui obsidebantur, dum in parte iam se superatos existimant, defecerunt.
[2] Pelopidas, the Theban, on one occasion planned to make a simultaneous attack on two towns of the Magnetes, not very far distant from each other. As he advanced against one of these towns, he gave orders that, in accordance with preconcerted arrangements, four horsemen should come from the other camp with garlands on their heads and with the marked eagerness of those who announce a victory. To complete the illusion, he arranged to have a forest between the two cities set on fire, to give the appearance of a burning town. Besides this, he ordered certain prisoners to be led along, dressed in the costume of the townspeople. When the besieged had been terrified by these demonstrations, deeming themselves already defeated in one quarter, they ceased to offer resistance.
[3] Cyrus, Persarum rex, incluso Sardibus Croeso, qua praeruptus mons nullum aditum praestabat ad moenia, malos exaequantis altitudinem iugi subrexit, quibus simulacra hominum armata Persici habitus imposuerat, noctuque eos monti admovit. Tum prima luce ex altera parte muros adgressus. Ubi orto sole simulacra illa armatorum referentia habitum refulserunt, oppidani captam urbem a tergo credentes et ob hoc in fugam dilapsi victoriam hostibus concesserunt.
[3] Cyrus, king of the Persians, at one time forced Croesus to take refuge in Sardis. On one side a steep hill prevented access to the town. Here near the walls Cyrus erected masts equal to the height of the ridge of the hill, and on them placed dummies of armed men dressed in Persian uniforms. At night he brought these to the hill. Then at dawn he attacked the walls from the other side. As soon as the sun rose and the dummies, flashing in the sunlight, revealed the garb of warriors, the townspeople, imagining that their city had been captured from the rear, scattered in flight and left the field to the enemy.
IX. De Irruptione ex Diversa Parte quam Exspectabimur
IX. On Attacks from an Unexpected Quarter
[1] Scipio apud Carthaginem sub discessum aestus maritimi, secutus deum, ut dicebat, ducem, ad muros urbis accessit et cedente stagno, qua non exspectabatur, irrupit.
[1] Scipio, when fighting before Carthage, approached the walls of the city, just before the turn of the tide, guided, as he said, by some god. Then, when the tide went out in the shallow lagoon, he burst in at that point, the enemy not expecting him there.
[2] Fabius Maximus, Cunctatoris filius, apud Arpos praesidio Hannibalis occupatos, considerato situ urbis, sescentos milites obscura nocte misit, qui per munitam eoque minus frequentem oppidi partem scalis evecti in murum portas revellerent. Hi adiuti decidentium aquarum sono, qui operis strepitum obscurabat, iussa peragunt; ipse dato signo ab alia parte adgressus cepit Arpos.
[2] Fabius Maximus, son of Fabius Cunctator, finding Arpi occupied by Hannibal’s forces, first inspected the site of the town, and then sent six hundred soldiers on a dark night to mount the walls with scaling-ladders at a part of the town which was fortified and therefore less guarded, and to tear down the gates. These men were aided in the execution of their orders by the noise of the falling rain, which deadened the sound of their operations. In another quarter, Fabius himself made an attack at a given signal and captured Arpi.
[3] C. Marius bello Iugurthino apud flumen Mulucham, cum oppugnaret castellum in monte saxeo situm, quod una et angusta se
mita adibatur, cetera parte velut consulto praecipiti, nuntiato sibi per Ligurem quendam ex auxiliis gregalem militem, qui forte aquatum progressus, dum per saxa montis cocleas legit, ad summa pervenerat, erepi posse in castellum, paucos centuriones perfectissimos cum velocissimis militibus, quibus aeneatores immiscuerat, misit capite pedibusque nudis, ut prospectus nisusque per saxa facilior foret, scutis gladiisque tergo aptatis. Hi Ligure ducente loris et clavis, quibus in ascensu nitebantur, adiuti, cum ad posteriora et ob id vacua defensoribus castelli pervenissent, concinere et tumultuari, ut praeceptum erat, coeperunt. Ad quod constitutum Marius constantius adhortatus suos acrius instare castellanis coepit, quos ab imbelli multitudine suorum revocatos, tamquam a tergo capti essent, insecutus castellum cepit.
[3] In the Jugurthine War Gaius Marius was at one time besieging a fortress situated near the Mulucha river. It stood on a rocky eminence, accessible on one side by a single narrow path, while the other side, as though by special design, was precipitous. It happened that a certain Ligurian, a common soldier from among the auxiliaries, had gone out to procure water, and, while gathering snails among the rocks of the mountain, had reached the summit. This man reported to Marius that it was possible to clamber up to the stronghold. Marius accordingly sent a few centurions in company with his fleetest soldiers, including also the most skilful trumpeters. These men went bare-headed and bare-footed, that they might see better and make their way more easily over the rocks; their shields and swords were fastened to their backs. Guided by the Ligurian, and aided by straps and staffs, with which they support themselves, they made their way up to the rear of the fortress, which, owing to its position, was without defenders, and then began to sound their trumpets and make a great uproar, as they had previously been directed. At this signal, Marius, steadfastly urging on his men, began to advance with renewed fury against the defenders of the fortress. The latter were recalled from the defence by the populace, who had lost heart under the impression that the town had been captured from the rear, so that Marius was enabled to press on and capture the fort.