by Frontinus
[14] When Gaius Aelius, a city praetor, was holding court on one occasion, a woodpecker lighted upon his head. The soothsayers were consulted and made answer that, if the bird should be allowed to go, the victory would fall to the enemy, but that, if it were killed, the Roman people would prevail, though Gaius and all his house should perish. Aelius, however, did not hesitate to kill the woodpecker. Our army won the day, but Aelius himself, with fourteen others of the same family, was slain in battle. Certain authorities do not believe that the man referred to was Gaius Caelius, but a certain Laelius, and that they were Laelii, not Caelii, who perished.
[15] P. Decius, primo pater, postea filius, in magistratu se pro re publica devoverunt admissisque in hostem equis adepti victoriam patriae contulerunt.
[15] Two Romans bearing the name Publius Decius, first the father, later the son, sacrificed their lives to save the State during their tenure of office. By spurring their horses against the foe they won victory for their country.
[16] P. Crassus, cum bellum adversus Aristonicum in Asia gerens inter Elaeam et Myrinam in hostium copias incidisset vivosque abduceretur, exsecratus in consule Romano captivitatem virga, qua ad equum erat usus, oculum Thracis, a quo tenebatur, eruit atque ab eo per dolorem concitato transverberatus dedecus servitutis, ut voluerat, effugit.
[16] When waging war against Aristonicus in Asia somewhere between Elaea and Myrina, Publius Crassus fell into the hands of the enemy and was being led away alive. Scorning the thought of captivity for a Roman consul, he used the stick, with which he had urged on his horse, to gouge out the eye of the Thracian by whom he was held captive. The Thracian, infuriated with the pain, stabbed him to death. Thus, as he desired, Crassus escaped the disgrace of servitude.
[17] M. Cato, Censorii filius, in acie decidente equo prolapsus, cum se recollegisset animadvertissetque gladium excidisse vaginae, veritus ignominiam redit in hostem exceptisque aliquot vulneribus, reciperato demum gladio, reversus est ad suos.
[17] Marcus, son of Cato the Censor, in a certain battle fell off his horse, which had stumbled. Cato picked himself up, but noticing that his sword had slipped out of its scabbard and fearing disgrace, went back among the enemy, and though he received a number of wounds, finally recovered his sword and made his way back to his comrades.
[18] Petilini a Poenis obsessi parentes et liberos propter inopiam eiecerunt, ipsi coriis madefactis et igne siccatis foliisque arborum et omni genere animalium vitam trahentes undecim menses obsidionem toleraverunt.
[18] The inhabitants of Petelia, when they were blockaded by the Carthaginians, sent away the children and the aged, on account of the shortage of food. They themselves, supporting life on hides, moistened and then dried by the fire, on leaves of trees, and on all sorts of animals, sustained the siege for eleven months.
[19] Hispani Consabrae obsessi eadem omnia passi sunt nec oppidum Hirtuleio tradiderunt.
[19] The Spaniards, when blockaded at Consabra, endured all these same hardships; nor did they surrender the town to Hirtuleius.
[20] Casilini obsidente Hannibale tantam inopiam perpessi sunt, ut CC denariis murem venisse proditum memoriae sit eiusque venditorem fame perisse, emptorem autem vixisse. Fidem tamen servare Romanis perseveraverunt.
[20] The story goes that the inhabitants of Casilinum, when blockaded by Hannibal, suffered such shortage of food that a mouse was sold for two hundred denarii, and that the man who sold it died of starvation, while the purchaser lived. Yet the inhabitants persisted in maintaining their loyalty to the Romans.
[21] Cyzicum cum oppugnaret Mithridates, captivos eius urbis produxit ostenditque obsessis, arbitratus futurum, ut miseratione suorum compelleret ad deditionem oppidanos; at illi cohortati ad patiendam fortiter mortem captivos servare Romanis fidem perseveraverunt.
[21] When Mithridates was besieging Cyzicus, he paraded the captives from that city and exhibited them to the besieged, thinking thus to force the people of the town to surrender, through compassion for their fellows. But the townspeople urged the prisoners to meet death with heroism, and persisted in maintaining their loyalty to the Romans.
[22] Segovienses, cum a Viriatho his liberi et coniuges redderentur, praeoptaverunt spectare supplicia pignorum suorum quam a Romanis deficere.
[22] The inhabitants of Segovia, when Viriathus proposed to send them back their wives and children, preferred to witness the execution of their loved ones rather than to fail the Romans.
[23] Numantini, ne se dederent, fame mori praefixis foribus domuum suarum maluerunt.
[23] The inhabitants of Numantia preferred to lock the doors of their houses and die of hunger rather than surrender.
VI. De Affectu et Moderatione
VI. On Good Will and Moderation
[1] Q. Fabius hortante filio, ut locum idoneum paucorum iactura caperet, “visne”, inquit, “tu ex illis paucis esse?”
[1] Quintus Fabius, upon being urged by his son to seize an advantageous position at the expense of losing a few men, asked: “Do you want to be one of those few?”
[2] Xenophon, cum equo veheretur et pedites iugum quoddam occupare iussisset, unum ex eis obmurmurantem audiens facile tam laboriosa sedentem imperare, desiluit et gregalem equo imposuit, cursu ipse ad destinatum iugum contendens. Cuius facti ruborem cum perpeti miles non posset, irridentibus commilitonibus sponte descendiFor. Xenophontem vix universi perpulerunt, ut conscenderet equum et laborem suum in necessaria duci munera reservaret.
[2] When Xenophon on one occasion happened to be on horseback and had just ordered the infantry to take possession of a certain eminence, he heard one of the soldiers muttering that it was an easy matter for a mounted man to order such difficult enterprises. At this Xenophon leaped down and set the man from the ranks on his horse, while he himself hurried on foot with all speed to the eminence he had indicated. The soldier, unable to endure the shame of this performance, voluntarily dismounted amid the jeers of his comrades. It was with difficulty, however, that the united efforts of the troops induced Xenophon to mount his horse and to restrict his energies to the duties which devolved upon a commander.
[3] Alexander, cum hieme duceret exercitum, residens ad ignem recognoscere praetereuntis copias coepit; cumque conspexisset quendam prope exanimatum frigore, considere loco suo iussit dixitque ei: “si in Persis natus esses, in regia sella resedisse tibi capital foret, in Macedonia nato conceditur.”
[3] When Alexander was marching at the head of his troops one winter’s day, he sat down by a fire and began to review the troops as they passed by. Noticing a certain soldier who was almost dead with the cold, he bade him sit in his place, adding: “If you had been born among the Persians, it would be a capital crime for you to sit on the king’s seat; but since you were born in Macedonia, that privilege is yours.
[4] Divus Augustus Vespasianus, cum quendam adulescentem honeste natum, militiae inhabilem, angustiarum rei familiaris causa deductum ad longiorem ordinem rescisset, censu constituto honesta missione exauctoravit.
[4] When the Deified Vespasianus Augustus learned that a certain youth, of good birth, but ill adapted to military service, had received a high appointment because of his straitened circumstances, Vespasian settled a sum of money on him, and gave him an honourable discharge.
VII. De Variis Consiliis
VII. On Sundry Maxims and Devices
[1] C. Caesar dicebat idem sibi esse consilium adversus hostem, quod plerisque medicis contra vitia corporum, fame potius quam ferro superandi.
[1] Gaius Caesar used to say that he followed the same policy towards the enemy as did many doctors when dealing with the physical ailments, namely, that of conquering the foe by hunger rather than by steel.
[2] Domitius Corbulo dolabra [id est operibus] hostem vincendum esse dicebat.
[2] Domitius Corbulo used to say that the pick was the weapon with which to beat the enemy.
[3] L. Paulus imperatorem senem moribus dicebat esse oportere, significans moderatiora sequenda consilia.
[3] Lucius
Paulus used to say that a general ought to be an old man in character, meaning thereby that moderate counsels should be followed.
[4] Scipio Africanus fertur dixisse, cum eum parum quidam pugnacem dicerent: “imperatorem me mater, non bellatorem peperit.”
[4] When people said of Scipio Africanus that he lacked aggressiveness, he is reported to have answered: “My mother bore me a general, not a warrior.”
[5] C. Marius Teutono provocanti eum et postulanti, ut prodiret, respondit, si cupidus mortis esset, laqueo posse eum vitam finire; cum deinde instaret, gladiatorem contemptae staturae et prope exactae aetatis obiecit ei dixitque, si eum superasset, cum victore congressurum.
[5] When a Teuton challenged Gaius Marius and called upon him to come forth, Marius answered that, if the man was desirous of death, he could end his life with a halter. Then, when the fellow persisted, Marius confronted him with a gladiator of despicable size, whose life was almost spent, and told the Teuton that, if he would first defeat this gladiator, he himself would then fight with him.
[6] Q. Sertorius, quod experimento didicerat imparem se universo Romanorum exercitui, ut barbaros quoque inconsulte pugnam deposcentis doceret, adductis in conspectum duobus equis, eorum praevalido alteri, alteri admodum exili duos admovit iuvenes similiter electos, robustum et gracilem. Ac robustiori imperavit equi exilis universam caudam abrumpere, gracili autem valentioris per singulos pilos vellere; cumque gracili successisset quod imperatum erat, validissimus cum infirmis equi cauda sine effectu luctaretur, “naturam”, inquit Sertorius, “Romanarum virium per hoc vobis exemplum ostendi, milites: insuperabiles sunt universas adgredienti; easdem lacerabit et carpet, qui per partes attemptaverit.”
[6] After Quintus Sertorius had learned by experience that he was by no means a match for the whole Roman army, and wished to prove this to the barbarians also, who were rashly demanding battle, he brought into their presence two horses, one very strong, the other very feeble. Then he brought up two youths of corresponding physique, one robust, the other slight. The stronger youth was commanded to pull out the entire tail of the feeble horse, while the slight youth was commanded to pull out the hairs of the strong horse, one by one. Then, when the slight youth had succeeded in his task, while the strong one was still struggling vainly with the tail of the weak horse, Sertorius observed: “By this illustration I have exhibited to you, my men, the nature of the Roman cohorts. They are invincible to him who attacks them in a body; yet he who assails them by groups will tear and rend them.”
[7] Valerius Laevinus consul, cum intra castra sua exploratorem hostium deprehendisset magnamque copiarum suarum fiduciam haberet, circumduci eum iussit terrendique hostis causa exercitus suos visendos speculatoribus eorum, quotiens voluissent, patere.
[7] The consul Valerius Laevinus, having caught a spy within his camp, and having entire confidence in his own forces, ordered the man to be led around, observing that, for the sake of terrifying the enemy, his army was open to inspection by the spies of the enemy, as often as they wished.
[8] Caedicius primipilaris, qui in Germania post Varianam cladem obsessis nostris pro duce fuit, veritus, ne barbari ligna, quae congesta erant, vallo admoverent et castra eius incenderent, simulata lignorum inopia, missis undique, qui ea furarentur, effecit, ut Germani universos truncos amolirentur.
[8] Caedicius, a centurion of the first rank, who acted as leader in Germany, when, after the Varian disaster, our men were beleaguered,º was afraid that the barbarians would bring up to the fortifications the wood which they had gathered, and would set fire to his camp. He therefore pretended to be in need of fuel, and sent out men in every direction to steal it. In this way he caused the Germans to remove the whole supply of felled trees.
[9] Cn. Scipio bello navali amphoras pice et taeda plenas in hostium classem iaculatus, quarum iactus et pondere foret noxius et diffundendo, quae continuerant, alimentum praestaret incendio.
[9] Gnaeus Scipio, in a naval combat, hurled jars filled with pitch and rosin among the vessels of the enemy, in order that damage might result both from the weight of the missiles and from the scattering of their contents, which would serve as fuel for a conflagration.
[10] Hannibal regi Antiocho monstravit, ut in hostium classem vascula iacularetur viperis plena, quarum metu perterriti milites a dimicatione et nauticis ministeriis impedirentur.
[10] Hannibal suggested to King Antiochus that he hurl jars filled with vipers among the ships of the enemy, in order that the crews, through fear of these, might be kept from fighting and from performing their nautical duties.
[11] Idem fecit iam cedente classe sua Prusias.
[11] Prusias did the same, when his fleet was by now giving way.a
[12] M. Porcius Cato, in classem hostium cum transiluisset, deturbatis ex ea Poenis eorumque armis et insignibus inter suos distributis multas naves hostium, quos sociali habitu fefellerat, mersit.
[12] Marcus Porcius Cato, having boarded the ships of the enemy, drove from them the Carthaginians. Then, having distributed their weapons and insignia among his own men, he sank many ships of the enemy, deceiving them by their own equipment.
[13] Athenienses, cum subinde a Lacedaemoniis infestarentur, diebus festis, quos sacros Minervae extra urbem celebrabant, omnium quidem colentium imitationem expresserunt, armis tamen sub veste celatis. Peracto ritu suo non statim Athenas reversi, sed protinus inde raptim acto Lacedaemonem versus agmine eo tempore, quo minime timebantur, agrum hostium, quibus subinde praedae fuerant, ultro depopulati sunt.
[13] Inasmuch as the Athenians had been subject to repeated attacks by the Spartans, on one occasion, in the course of a festival which they were celebrating outside the city in honour of Minerva, they studiously affected the rôle of worshippers, yet with weapons concealed beneath their clothing. When the ceremonial was over, they did not immediately return to Athens, but at once marched swiftly upon Sparta at a time when they were least feared, and themselves devastated the lands of an enemy whose victims they had often been.
[14] Cassius onerarias naves, non magni ad alia usus, accensas opportuno vento in classem hostium misit et incendio eam consumpsit.
[14] Cassius set fire to some transports which were of no great use for anything else, and sent them with a fair wind against the fleet of the enemy, thereby destroying it by fire.b
[15] M. Livius, fuso Hasdrubale hortantibus eum quibusdam, ut hostem ad internicionem persequeretur, respondit: “aliqui et supersint, qui de victoria nostra hostibus nuntient.”
[15] When Marcus Livius had routed Hasdrubal, and certain persons urged him to pursue the enemy to annihilation, he answered: “Let some survive to carry to the enemy the tidings of our victory!”
[16] Scipio Africanus dicere solitus est hosti non solum dandam esse viam ad fugiendum, sed etiam muniendam.
[16] Scipio Africanus used to say that a road not only ought to be afforded the enemy for flight, but that it ought even to be paved.
[17] Paches Atheniensis affirmavit incolumes futuros hostes, si deponerent ferrum; eisque obsecutis condicionibus universos, qui in sagulis ferreas fibulas habuissent, interfici iussit.
[17] Paches, the Athenian, on one occasion declared that the enemy would be spared, if they put aside the steel. When they had all complied with these terms, he ordered the entire number to be executed, since they had steel brooches on their cloaks.
[18] Hasdrubal subigendorum Numidarum causa ingressus fines eorum resistere parantibus affirmavit ad capiendos se venisse elephantos, quibus ferax est Numidia; ut hoc permitterent, poscentibus pretium cum promisisset, ea persuasione avocatos adortus sub leges redegit.
[18] When Hasdrubal had invaded the territory of the Numidians for the purpose of subduing them, and they were preparing to resist, he declared that he had come to capture elephants, an animal in which Numidia abounds. For this privilege they demanded money, and Hasdrubal promised to pay it. Having by these representations thrown them off the scent, he attacked them and brought them under his power.
[19] Alcetas Lacedaemonius, ut Thebanorum commeatum facilius ex inopinato adgrederetur, in occulto paratis navibus, tamquam unam omnino haberet triremem, vicibus in ea remigem exercebat; quodam deinde tempore omnis naves in Thebanos transnavigantis immisit et commeatibus eorum potitus est.
[19] Alcetas, the Spartan, in order the more easily to make a surprise attack on a supply convoy of the Thebans, got ready his ships in a secret place, and exercised his rowers by turns on a single galley, as though that was all he had. Then at a certain time, as the Theban vessels were sailing past, he sent all his ships against them and captured their supplies.
[20] Ptolomaeus adversus Perdiccam exercitu praevalentem, ipse invalidus, omne pecudum genus, religatis ad tergum, quae traherent, sarmentis, agendum per paucos curavit equites; ipse praegressus cum copiis, quas habebat, effecit, ut pulvis, quem pecora excitaverant, speciem magni sequentis exercitus moveret, cuius exspectatione territum vicit hostem.