ἱστορίαι Historiai
Liv. 31.39 The History of Rome, Livy; served verbatim
The consul was resting when the news was to him of the arrival of the herald and the reason of his coming. All his reply was that an interview would be granted on the following morning. This was just what Philip wanted, as it Lrave him the night and a part of the following day in which to get the start of his opponent. He took the road over the 血ountains, which he玩而that the Roman general would not attempt with his heavy column. At daybreak the consul granted the armistice and dismissed the herald and not long rds became aware that the enemy had disappeared. owing in what direction to follow him he spent some in came.collectine corn. Then he marched to Stuberra and zathered out of Pelaaonia the corn which was in the fields. From there he advanced to Fluuma without, so far, discovenng the route which the enemv bad taken. Philip at first fixed his camp at Bryanium and then advancing by cross-roads created a sudden alarm amongst the enemy. The Romans in consequence left Pluinna and encamped by the river Osphagus. The’ king pitched his camp not far away妙a river which the natives call Erigonus, and carried his intrenchment along the bank. Then, having definitely ascertained that the Romans intended to march to Eordaea, he determined to anticipate them and occupied a narrow pass with the obi ect of making it impossible for the enemy to馋ss‘ through it. He barricaded it in various ways, in some parts with rampart, in others with fosse, in other places with piled-up stones to serve as a wall, and elsewhere with tree-trunks as the nature of the ground or the materials allowed, until, as he believed, he had made a road which was naturally difficult, absolutely impassable by the obstacles which he had placed across every exit. The country was mostly forest, difficult for troops to work in, especially for the Macedonian phalanx, for unless they can make a kind of china。二de frise with the extraordinarily long spears which they hold in front of their shields-and this requires a free and open space-they are of no use whatever. The Thracians with their pikes, which were also of an enormous length. were hampered and obstructed by the branches on all sides. The Cretan cohort was the only one that was of any service, and this only to a very limited extent, for though when attacked by an unprotected horse and rider they could discharge their arrows with effect, there was not sufficient force in their missiles to penetrate the Roman shields nor was there any exposed part of -the body at which they could take aim. Finding therefore that mode of attack useless, they pelted the enemy with the stones which were lying all over the ravine. This caused more noise than刘ury, but the drumming on their shields checked the advance of the Romans for a few minutes. They soon ceased to pay any attention to them, and some of them forming a shield-roof over their heads forced their way through the enemv in front. while others by making a short 气J砂,r circuit gained the crest of the hill and drove the Macedonians from their posts of observation. Escape was almost impossible on such difficult ground. and the greater number were slain. 几J / V

The Greek stands ready in the workroom; the English is served. Both faces will read together.

← Liv. 31.38 contents Liv. 31.40 →

Filed here — the addresses this episode attests; counted by the house’s first pass
Philip — a candidate entry

The History of Rome, Livy — translated by Rev. Canon Roberts, 1912
Apparatus shelf + pinned Wikisource — Livy, The History of Rome (Rev. Canon Roberts translation, Everyman's Library) · Rev. Canon Roberts, Everyman's Library (J. M. Dent & Sons / E. P. Dutton), first issue 1912; six volumes
license: public-domain (the Roberts translation's Everyman first issue is 1912, pre-1930; Wikisource dates the translation 1905 — either way decades inside the US public domain; digital-door text carries no additional rights)