Complete Works of Frontinus

by Frontinus

  [1] Romani, obsessi in Capitolio, ad Camillum ab exilio implorandum miserunt Pontium Cominium, qui, ut stationes Gallorum falleret, per saxa Tarpeia demissus tranato Tiberi Veios pervenit et perpetrata legatione similiter ad suos rediit.

  [1] When the Romans were besieged in the Capitol, they sent Pontius Cominius to implore Camillus to come to their aid. Pontius, to elude the pickets of the Gauls, let himself down over the Tarpeian Rock, swam the Tiber, and reached Veii. Having accomplished his errand, he returned by the same route to his friends.

  [2] Campani, diligenter Romanis, a quibus obsessi erant, custodias agentibus, quendam pro transfuga subornatum miserunt, qui occultatam balteo epistulam inventa effugiendi causa [occasione] ad Poenos pertulit.

  [2] When the Romans were maintaining careful guard against the inhabitants of Capua, whom they were besieging, the latter sent a certain fellow in the guise of a deserter, and he, finding an opportunity to escape, conveyed to the Carthaginians a letter which he had secreted in his belt.

  [3] Venationi quoque et pecoribus quidam insuerunt litteras membranis mandatas.

  [3] Some have written messages on skins and then sewed these to the carcasses of game or sheep.

  [4] Aliqui et iumento in aversam partem infulserunt, dum stationes transeunt.

  [4] Some have stuffed the message under the tail of a mule while passing the picket-posts.

  [5] Nonnulli interiora vaginarum inscripserunt.

  [5] Some have written on the linings of scabbards.

  [6] L. Lucullus, Cyzicenos obsessos a Mithridate ut certiores adventus sui faceret, cum praesidiis hostium teneretur introitus urbis, qui unus et angustus ponte modico insulam continenti iungit, militem e suis nandi et nauticae artis peritum iussit insidentem duobus inflatis utribus litteras insutas habentibus, quos ab inferiore parte duabus regulis inter se distantibus commiserat, ire septem milium passuum traiectum. Quod ita perite gregalis fecit, ut cruribus velut gubernaculis dimissis cursum dirigeret et procul visentis, qui in statione erant, marinae specie beluae deciperet.

  [6] When the Cyzicenes were besieged by Mithridates, Lucius Lucullus wished to inform them of his approach. There was a single narrow entrance to the city, connecting the island with the mainland by a small bridge. Since this was held by forces of the enemy, he sewed some letters up inside two inflated skins and then ordered one of his soldiers, an adept in swimming and boating, to mount the skins, which he had fastened together at the bottom by two strips some distance apart, and to make the trip of •seven miles across. So skilfully did the soldier do this that, by spreading his legs, he steered his course as though by rudder, and deceived those watching from a distance by appearing to be some marine creature.

  [7] Hirtius consul ad Decimum Brutum, qui Mutinae ab Antonio obsidebatur, litteras subinde misit plumbo scriptas, quibus ad brachium religatis milites Scultennam amnem tranabant.

  [7] The consul Hirtius often sent letters inscribed on lead plates to Decimus Brutus, who was besieged by Antonius at Mutina. The letters were fastened to the arms of soldiers, who then swam across the Scultenna River.

  [8] Idem columbis, quas inclusas ante tenebris et fame affecerat, epistulas saeta ad collum religabat easque a propinquo, in quantum poterat, moenibus loco emittebat. Illae lucis cibique avidae altissima aedificiorum petentes excipiebantur a Bruto, qui eo modo de omnibus rebus certior fiebat, utique postquam disposito quibusdam locis cibo columbas illuc devolare instituerat.

  [8] Hirtius also shut up pigeons in the dark, starved them, fastened letters to their necks by a hair, and then released them as near to the city walls as he could. The birds, eager for light and food, sought the highest buildings and were received by Brutus, who in that way was informed of everything, especially after he set food in certain spots and taught the pigeons to alight there.

  XIV. De Introducendis Auxiliis et Commeatibus Suggerendis

  XIV. On Introducing Reinforcements and Supplying Provisions

  [1] Bello civili, cum Ategua urbs in Hispania Pompeianarum partium obsideretur, Maurus inter noctem tamquam Caesarianus tribuni cornicularius vigiles quosdam excitavit; ex quibus cum tesseram accepisset, ali[qu]os excitans constantia fallaciae suae per medias Caesaris copias praesidium Pompei transduxit.

  [1] In the Civil War, when the Spanish city of Ategua, belonging to Pompey’s party, was under blockade, one night a Moor, pretending to be a tribune’s adjutant belonging to the Caesarian party, roused certain sentries and got from them the password. He then roused others, and by continuing his deception, succeeded in conducting reinforcements for Pompey through the midst of Caesar’s troops.

  [2] Hannibale obsidente Casilinum, Romani far in doliis secunda aqua Volturni fluminis demittebant, ut ab obsessis exciperetur. Quibus cum obiecta per medium amnem catena Hannibal obstitisset, nuces sparsere. Quae cum aqua ferente ad oppidum defluerent, eo commeatu sociorum necessitatem sustentaverunt.

  [2] When Hannibal was besieging Casilinum, the Romans sent big jars of wheat down the current of the Volturnus, to be picked up by the besieged. After Hannibal stopped these by throwing a chain across the river, the Romans scattered nuts on the water. These floated down stream to the city and thus sustained the necessities of the allies.

  [3] Hirtius Mutinensibus obsessis ab Antonio salem, quo maxime indigebant, cupis conditum per amnem Scultennam intromisit.

  [3] When the inhabitants of Mutina were blockaded by Antonius, and were greatly in need of salt, Hirtius packed some in jars and sent it in to them by way of the Scultenna River.

  [4] Idem pecora secunda aqua demisit, quae excepta sustentaverunt necessariorum inopiam.

  [4] Hirtius also sent down the river carcasses of sheep, which were received and thus furnished the necessities of life.

  XV. Quemadmodum Efficiatur ut Abundare Videantur quae Deerunt

  XV. How to Produce the Impression of Abundance of what is Lacking

  [1] Romani, cum a Gallis Capitolium obsideretur, in extrema iam fame panem in hostem iactaverunt consecutique, ut abundare commeatibus viderentur, obsidionem, donec Camillus subveniret, toleraverunt.

  [1] When the Capitol was besieged by the Gauls, the Romans, in the extremity of famine, threw bread among the enemy. They thus produced the impression that they were well supplied with food, and so withstood the siege till Camillus came.

  [2] Athenienses adversus Lacedaemonios idem fecisse dicuntur.

  [2] The Athenians are said to have employed the same ruse against the Spartans.

  [3] Hi, qui ab Hannibale Casilini obsidebantur, ad extremam famem pervenisse crediti, cum etiam herbas alimentis eorum Hannibal, arato loco qui erat inter castra ipsius et moenia, praeriperet, semina in praeparatum locum iecerunt, consecuti, ut habere viderentur, quo victum sustentarent usque ad satorum proventum.

  [3] The inhabitants of Casilinum, when blockaded by Hannibal, were thought to have reached the starvation point, since Hannibal had cut off from their food supply even their use of the growing herbs by ploughing the ground between his camp and the city walls. The ground being thus made ready, the besiegedº flung seed into it, thus giving the impression that they had enough wherewith to sustain life even till harvest time.

  [4] Reliqui ex Variana clade, cum obsiderentur, quia defici frumento videbantur, horrea tota nocte circumduxerunt captivos, deinde praecisis manibus dimiserunt; hi circumsedentibus suis persuaserunt, ne spem maturae expugnationis reponerent in fame Romanorum, quibus ingens alimentorum copia superesset.

  [4] When the survivors of the Varian disaster were under siege and seemed to be running short of food, they spent an entire night in leading prisoners round their store-houses; then, having cut off their hands, they turned them loose. These men persuaded the besieging force to cherish no hope of an early reduction of the Romans by starvation, since they had an abundance of food supplies.

  [5] Thraces in arduo monte obsessi, in quem hostibus accessus non erat, collato viritim exiguo tritico paucas oves paverunt et egerunt in hostium praesidia; quibus exceptis et occisis, cum frumenti
vestigia in visceribus earum apparuissent, opinatus hostis magnam vim tritici superesse eis, qui inde etiam pecora pascerent, recessit ab obsidione.

  [5] When the Thracians were besieged on a steep mountain inaccessible to the enemy, they got together by individual contributions a small amount of wheat. This they fed to a few sheep which they then drove among the forces of the enemy. When the sheep had been caught and slaughtered, and traces of wheat had been found in their intestines, the enemy raised the siege, imagining that the Thracians had a surplus of wheat, inasmuch as they fed it even to their sheep.

  [7] Thrasybulus, dux Milesiorum, cum longa obsidione milites sui angerentur ab Halyatte, qui sperabat eos ad deditionem fame posse compelli, sub adventum legatorum Halyattis frumentum omne in forum compelli iussit et conviviis sub id tempus institutis per totam urbem epulas praestitit; atque ita persuasit hosti superesse ipsis copias, quibus diuturnam sustinerent obsidionem.

  [7] The Milesians were at one time suffering a long siege at the hands of Alyattes, who hoped they could be starved into surrender. But the Milesian commander, Thrasybulus, in anticipation of the arrival of envoys from Alyattes, ordered all the grain to be brought together into the market-place, arranged for banquets to be held on that occasion, and provided sumptuous feasts throughout the city. Thus he convinced the enemy that the Milesians had abundance of provisions with which to sustain a long siege.

  XVI. Qua Ratione Proditoribus et Transfugis Occurratur

  XVI. How to Meet the Menace of Treason and Desertion

  [1] Claudius Marcellus, cognito consilio L. Bantii Nolani, qui corrumpere ad defectionem populares studebat et Hannibali gratificabatur, quod illius beneficio curatus inter Cannenses saucius et ex captivitate remissus ad suos erat, quia interficere eum, ne supplicio eius reliquos concitaret Nolanos, non audebat, arcessitum ad se allocutus est, dicens fortissimum militem eum esse, quod antea ignorasset, hortatusque est, ut secum moraretur, et super verborum honorem equo quoque donavit. Qua benignitate non illius tantum fidem, sed etiam popularium, quae ex illo pendebat, sibi obligavit.

  [1] A certain Lucius Bantius of Nola on one occasion cherished the plan of rousing his fellow-citizens to revolt, as a favour to Hannibal, by whose kindness he had been tended when wounded among those engaged at Cannae, and by whom he had been sent back from captivity to his own people. Claudius Marcellus, learning of his purpose and not daring to put him to death, for fear that by his punishment he would stir up the rest of the people of Nola, summoned Bantius and talked with him, pronouncing him a very valiant soldier (a fact which Marcellus admitted he had not previously known), and urging him to remain with him. Besides these compliments, he presented him also with a horse. By such kindness he secured the loyalty, not only of Bantius, but also of his townspeople, since their allegiance hinged on his.

  [2] Hamilcar, dux Poenorum, cum frequenter auxiliares Galli ad Romanos transirent et iam ex consuetudine ut socii exciperentur, fidissimos subornavit ad simulandam transitionem, qui Romanos excipiendorum causa eorum progressos ceciderunt. Quae sollertia Hamilcari non tantum ad praesentem profuit successum, sed in posterum praestitit, ut Romanis veri quoque transfugae forent suspecti.

  [2] When the Gallic auxiliaries of Hamilcar, the Carthaginian general, were in the habit of crossing over to the Romans and were regularly received by them as allies, Hamilcar engaged his most loyal men to pretend desertion, while actually they slew the Romans who came out to welcome them. This device was not merely of present aid to Hamilcar, but caused real deserters to be regarded in future as objects of suspicion in the eyes of the Romans.

  [3] Hanno, Carthaginiensium imperator, in Sicilia, cum comperisset Gallorum mercennariorum circiter quattuor milia conspirasse ad transfugiendum ad Romanos, quod aliquot mensum mercedes non receperant, animadvertere autem in eos non auderet metu seditionis, promisit prolationis iniuriam liberalitate pensaturum. Quo nomine gratias agentibus Gallis per tempus idoneum praedaturos pollicitus fidelissimum dispensatorem ad Otacilium consulem misit, qui, tamquam rationibus interversis transfugisset, nuntiavit nocte proxima Gallorum quattuor milia, quae praedatum forent missa, posse excipi. Otacilius nec statim credidit transfugae nec tamen rem spernendam ratus disposuit in insidiis lectissimam manum suorum. Ab ea Galli excepti dupliciter Hannonis consilio satisfecerunt; et Romanos ceciderunt et ipsi omnes interfecti sunt.

  [3] Hanno, commander of the Carthaginians in Sicily, learned on one occasion that about four thousand Gallic mercenaries had conspired to desert to the Romans, because for several months they had received no pay. Not daring to punish them, for fear of mutiny, he promised to make good the deferred payment by increasing their wages. When the Gauls rendered thanks for this, Hanno, promising that they should be permitted to go out foraging at a suitable time, sent to the consul Otacilius an extremely trustworthy steward, who pretended to have deserted on account of embezzlement, and who reported that on the coming night four thousand Gauls, sent out on a foraging expedition, could be captured. Otacilius, not immediately crediting the deserter, nor yet thinking the matter ought to be treated with disdain, placed the pick of his men in ambush. These met the Gauls, who fulfilled Hanno’s purpose in a twofold manner, since they not only slew a number of the Romans, but were themselves slaughtered to the last man.

  [4] Hannibal simili consilio se a transfugis ultus est. Nam cum aliquos ex militibus suis sciret transisse proxima nocte nec ignoraret exploratores hostium in castris suis esse, palam pronuntiavit non debere transfugas vocari sollertissimos milites, qui ipsius iussu exierint ad excipienda hostium consilia. Auditis quae pronuntiavit, rettulerunt exploratores ad suos. Tum comprehensi a Romanis transfugae et amputatis manibus remissi sunt.

  [4] By a similar plan Hannibal took vengeance on certain deserters; for, being aware that some of his soldiers had deserted on the previous night, and knowing that spies of the enemy were in his camp, he publicly proclaimed that the name of “deserter” ought not to be applied to his cleverest soldiers, who at his order had gone out to learn the designs of the enemy. The spies, as soon as they heard this pronouncement, reported it to their own side. Thereupon the deserters were arrested by the Romans and sent back with their hands cut off.

  [5] Diodotus, cum praesidio Amphipolim tueretur et duo milia Thracum suspecta haberet, quae videbantur urbem direptura, mentitus paucas hostium naves proximo litori applicuisse easque diripi posse; qua spe stimulatos Thracas emisit ac deinde clausis portis non recepit.

  [5] When Diodotus was holding Amphipolis with a garrison, and entertained suspicions of two thousand Thracians, who seemed likely to pillage the city, he invented the story that a few hostile ships had put in at the shore near by and could be plundered. When he had incited the Thracians at that prospect, he let them out. Then, closing the gates, he refused to admit them again.

  XVII. De Eruptionibus

  XVII. On Sorties

  [1] Romani, qui in praesidio Panhormitanorum erant, veniente ad obsidionem Hasdrubale raros ex industria in muris posuerunt defensores; quorum paucitate contempta cum incautus muris succederet Hasdrubal, eruptione facta ceciderunt eum.

  [1] When Hasdrubal came to besiege Panormus, the Romans, who were in possession of the town, purposely placed a scanty number of defenders on the walls. In contempt of their small numbers, Hasdrubal incautiously approached the walls, whereupon they made a sortie and slew him.

  [2] Aemilius Paulus, universis Liguribus improviso adortis castra eius, simulato timore militem diu continuit; deinde fatigato iam hoste quattuor portis eruptione facta stravit cepitque Ligures.

  [2] When the Ligurians with their entire force made a surprise attack on the camp of Aemilius Paulus, the latter feigned fear and for a long time kept his troops in camp. Then, when the enemy were exhausted, making a sortie by the four gates, he defeated the Ligurians and made them prisoners.

  [3] Livius praefectus Romanorum arcem Tarentinorum tenens misit ad Hasdrubalem legatos, abire uti sibi incolumi liceret; ea simulatione ad securitatem perductum hostem eruptione facta cecidit.


  [3] Livius, commander of the Romans, when holding the citadel of the Tarentines, sent envoys to Hasdrubal, requesting the privilege of withdrawing undisturbed. When by this feint he had thrown the enemy off their guard, he made a sortie and cut them to pieces.

  [4] Cn. Pompeius circumsessus ad Dyrrachium non tantum obsidione liberavit suos, verum etiam post eruptionem, quam opportuno et loco et tempore fecerat, Caesarem ad castellum, quod duplici munitione instructum erat, avide irrumpentem exterior ipse circumfusus corona obligavit, ut ille inter eos, quos obsidebat, et eos, qui extra circumvenerant, medius non leve periculum et detrimentum senserit.

  [4] Gnaeus Pompey, when besieged near Dyrrhachium, not only released his own men from blockade, but also made a sally at an opportune time and place; for just as Caesar was making a fierce assault on a fortified position surrounded by a double line of works, Pompey, by this sortie, so enveloped him with a cordon of troops that Caesar incurred no slight peril and loss, caught, as he was, between those whom he was besieging and those who had surrounded him from the outside.