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his love and delight in science。 His discoveries were numerous and
admirable； but he is said to have requested his friends and
relations that； when he was dead； they would place over his tomb a
sphere containing a cylinder； inscribing it with the ratio which the
containing solid bears to the contained。
Such was Archimedes； who now showed himself； and so far as lay in
him the city also； invincible。 While the siege continued； Marcellus
took Megara； one of the earliest founded of the Greek cities in
Sicily； and capturing also the camp of Hippocrates at Acilae； killed
above eight thousand men； having attacked them whilst they were
engaged in forming their fortifications。 He overran a great part of
Sicily； gained over many towns from the Carthaginians； and overcame
all that dared to encounter him。 As the siege went on； one Damippus； a
Lacedaemonian； putting to sea in a ship from Syracuse； was taken。 When
the Syracusans much desired to redeem this man； and there were many
meetings and treaties about the matter betwixt them and Marcellus；
he had opportunity to notice a tower into which a body of men might be
secretly introduced； as the wall near to it was not difficult to
surmount； and it was itself carelessly guarded。 Coming often
thither； and entertaining conferences about the release of Damippus；
he had pretty well calculated the height of the tower； and got ladders
prepared。 The Syracusans celebrated a feast to Diana； this juncture of
time； when they were given up entirely to wine and sport； Marcellus
laid hold of； and before the citizens perceived it； not only possessed
himself of the tower； but； before the break of day； filled the wall
around with soldiers； and made his way into the Hexapylum。 The
Syracusans now beginning to stir； and to be alarmed at the tumult；
he ordered the trumpets everywhere to sound； and thus frightened
them all into flight； as if all parts of the city were already won；
though the most fortified； and the fairest； and most ample quarter was
still ungained。 It is called Acradina； and was divided by a wall
from the outer city； one part of which they call Neapolis； the other
Tycha。 Possessing himself of these； Marcellus； about break of day；
entered through the Hexapylum； all his officers congratulating him。
But looking down from the higher places upon the beautiful and
spacious city below； he is said to have wept much； commiserating the
calamity that hung over it； when his thoughts represented to him how
dismal and foul the face of the city would be in a few hours； when
plundered and sacked by the soldiers。 For among the officers of his
army there was not one man that durst deny the plunder of the city
to the soldiers' demands； nay； many were instant that it should be set
on fire and laid level to the ground： but this Marcellus would not
listen to。 Yet he granted； but with great unwillingness and
reluctance； that the money and slaves should be made prey； giving
orders； at the same time； that none should violate any free person；
nor kill； misuse； or make a slave of any of the Syracusans。 Though
he had used this moderation； he still esteemed the condition of that
city to be pitiable； and； even amidst the congratulations and joy；
showed his strong feelings of sympathy and commiseration at seeing all
the riches accumulated during a long felicity now dissipated in an
hour。 For it is related that no less prey and plunder was taken here
than afterward in Carthage。 For not long after they obtained also
the plunder of the other parts of the city； which were taken by
treachery； leaving nothing untouched but the king's money； which was
brought into the public treasury。 But nothing afflicted Marcellus so
much as the death of Archimedes； who was then； as fate would have
it； intent upon working out some problem by a diagram； and having
fixed his mind alike and his eyes upon the subject of his speculation；
he never noticed the incursion of the Romans； nor that the city was
taken。 In this transport of study and contemplation； a soldier；
unexpectedly coming up to him； commanded him to follow to Marcellus；
which he declining to do before he had worked out his problem to a
demonstration； the soldier； enraged； drew his sword and ran him
through。 Others write that a Roman soldier； running upon him with a
drawn sword； offered to kill him； and that Archimedes； looking back；
earnestly besought him to hold his hand a little while； that he
might not leave what he was then at work upon inconclusive and
imperfect； but the soldier； nothing moved by his entreaty； instantly
killed him。 Others again relate that； as Archimedes was carrying to
Marcellus mathematical instruments； dials； spheres； and angles； by
which the magnitude of the sun might be measured to the sight； some
soldiers seeing him； and thinking that he carried gold in a vessel；
slew him。 Certain it is that his death was very afflicting to
Marcellus； and that Marcellus ever after regarded him that killed
him as a murderer； and that he sought for his kindred and honoured
them with signal favours。
Indeed； foreign nations had held the Romans to be excellent soldiers
and formidable in battle； but they had hitherto given no memorable
example of gentleness； or humanity； or civil virtue； and Marcellus
seems first to have shown to the Greeks that his countrymen were
most illustrious for their justice。 For such was his moderation to all
with whom he had anything to do； and such his benignity also to many
cities and private men； that； if anything hard or severe was decreed
concerning the people of Enna； Megara； or Syracuse； the blame was
thought to belong rather to those upon whom the storm fell； than to
those who brought it upon them。 One example of many I will
commemorate。 In Sicily there is a town called Engyum； not indeed
great； but very ancient and ennobled by the presence of the goddesses；
called the Mothers。 The temple； they say； was built by the Cretans；
and they show some spears and brazen helmets； inscribed with the names
of Meriones； and （with the same spelling as in Latin） of Ulysses；
who consecrated them to the goddesses。 This city highly favouring
the party of the Carthaginians； Nicias； the most eminent of the
citizens； counselled them to go over to the Romans； to that end acting
freely and openly in harangues to their assemblies； arguing the
imprudence and madness of the opposite course。 They； fearing his power
and authority； resolved to deliver him in bonds to the
Carthaginians。 Nicias； detecting the design； and seeing that his
person was secretly kept in watch； proceeded to speak irreligiously to
the vulgar of the Mothers； and showed many signs of disrespect； as
if he denied and contemned the received opinion of the presence of
those goddesses； his enemies the while rejoicing that he； of his own
accord； sought the destruction hanging over his head。 When they were
just now about to lay hands upon him； an assembly was held； and here
Nicias； making a speech to the people concerning some affair then
under deliberation； in the midst of his address； cast himself upon the
ground； and soon after； while amazement （as usually happens on such
surprising occasions） held the assembly immovable； raising and turning
his head round； he began in a trembling and deep tone； but by
degrees raised and sharpened his voice。 When he saw the whole
theatre struck with horror and silence； throwing off his mantle and
rending his tunic he leaps up half naked； and runs towards the door；
crying out aloud that he was driven by the wrath of the Mothers。
When no man durst； out of religious fear； lay hands upon him or stop
him； but all gave way before him； he ran out of the gate； not omitting
any shriek or gesture of men possessed and mad。 His wife； conscious of
his counterfeiting； and privy to his design； taking her children
with her； first cast herself as a suppliant before the temple of the
goddesses； then； pretending to seek her wandering husband； no man
hindering her； went out of the town in safety； and by this means
they all escaped to Marcellus at Syracuse。 After many other such
affronts offered him by the men of Engyum； Marcellus； having taken
them all prisoners and cast them into bonds； was preparing to
inflict upon them the last punishment； when Nicias； with tears in
his eyes； addressed himself to him。 In fine； casting himself at
Marcellus's feet； and deprecating for his citizens； he begged most
earnestly their lives； chiefly those of his enemies。 Marcellus；
relenting； set them all at liberty； and rewarded Nicias with ample
lands and rich presents。 This history is recorded by Posidonius the
philosopher。
Marcellus； at length recalled by the people of Rome to the immediate
war at home； to illustrate his triumph； and adorn the city； carried
away with him a great number of the most beautiful ornaments of
Syracuse。 For； before that； Rome neither had； nor had seen； any of
those fine and exquisite rarities； nor was any pleasure taken in
graceful and elegant pieces of workmanship。 Stuffed with barbarous
arms and spoils stained with blood； and everywhere crowned with
triumphal memorials and trophies； she was no pleasant or delightful
spectacle for the eyes of peaceful or ref