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left wing of other Sicilians； intermingling only a few strangers in
each； he placed the natives of Syracuse in the middle； with the
stoutest mercenaries he had about his own person； and waiting a little
to observe the action of his horse； when they saw they were not only
hindered from grappling with the Carthaginians by the armed chariots
that ran to and fro before the army； but forced continually to wheel
about to escape having their ranks broken； and so to repeat their
charges anew； he took his buckler in his hand； and crying out to the
foot that they should follow him with courage and confidence； he
seemed to speak with a more than human accent； and a voice stronger
than ordinary； whether it were that he naturally raised it so high
in the vehemence and ardour with his mind to assault the enemy； or
else； as many then thought； some god or other spoke with him。 When his
soldiers quickly gave an echo to it； and besought him to lead them
on without any further delay； he made a sign to the horse； that they
should draw off from the front where the chariots were； and pass
sidewards to attack their enemies in the flank； then； making his
vanguard firm by joining man to man and buckler to buckler； he
caused the trumpet to sound； and so bore in upon the Carthaginians。
They； for their part； stoutly received and sustained his first
onset； and having their bodies armed with breast…plates of iron； and
helmets of brass on their heads； besides great bucklers to cover and
secure them； they could easily repel the charge of the Greek spears。
But when the business came to a decision by the sword； where mastery
depends no less upon art than strength； all on a sudden from the
mountain…tops violent peals of thunder and vivid flashes of
lightning broke out； following upon which the darkness； that had
been hovering about the higher grounds and the crests of the hills；
descending to the place of battle and bringing a tempest of rain and
of wind and hail along with it； was driven upon the Greeks behind； and
fell only at their backs； but discharged itself in the very faces of
the barbarians； the rain beating on them； and the lightning dazzling
them without cessation； annoyances that in many ways distressed at any
rate the inexperienced； who had not been used to such hardships；
and； in particular； the claps of thunder； and the noise of the rain
and hail beating on their arms； kept them from hearing the commands of
their officers。 Besides which； the very mud also was a great hindrance
to the Carthaginans； who were not lightly equipped； but； as I said
before； loaded with heavy armour； and then their shirts underneath
getting drenched； the foldings about the bosom filled with water； grew
unwieldy and cumbersome to them as they fought； and made it easy for
the Greeks to throw them down； and； when they were once down；
impossible for them； under that weight； to disengage themselves and
rise again with weapons in their hands。 The river Crimesus； too；
swollen partly by the rain； and partly by the stoppage of its course
with the numbers that were passing through； overflowed its banks；
and the level ground by the side of it； being so situated as to have a
number of small ravines and hollows of the hillside descending upon
it； was now filled with rivulets and currents that had no certain
channel； in which the Carthaginians stumbled and rolled about； and
found themselves in great difficulty。 So that； in fine； the storm
bearing still upon them； and the Greeks having cut in pieces four
hundred men of their first ranks； the whole body of their army began
to fly。 Great numbers were overtaken in the plain； and put to the
sword there； and many of them； as they were making their way back
through the river； falling foul upon others that were yet coming over；
were borne away and overwhelmed by the waters； but the major part；
attempting to get up the hill so as to make their escape； were
intercepted and destroyed by the light…armed troops。 It is said
that； of ten thousand who lay dead after the fight； three thousand； at
least； were Carthaginian citizens； a heavy loss and great grief to
their countrymen； those that fell being men inferior to none among
them as to birth； wealth； or reputation。 Nor do their records
mention that so many native Carthaginians were ever cut off before
in any one battle； as they usually employed Africans； Spaniards； and
Numidians in their wars； so that if they chanced to be defeated； it
was still at the cost and damage of other nations。
The Greeks easily discovered of what condition and account the slain
were by the richness of their spoils； for when they came to collect
the booty； there was little reckoning made either of brass or iron； so
abundant were better metals； and so common were silver and gold。
Passing over the river they became masters of their camp and
carriages。 As for captives； a great many of them were stolen away
and sold privately by the soldiers but about five thousand were
brought in and delivered up for the benefit of the public； two hundred
of their chariots of war were also taken。 The tent of Timoleon then
presented a most glorious and magnificent appearance； being heaped
up and hung round with every variety of spoils and military ornaments；
among which there were a thousand breastplates of rare workmanship and
beauty； and bucklers to the number of ten thousand。 The victors
being but few to strip so many that were vanquished； and having such
valuable booty to occupy them； it was the third day after the fight
before they could erect and finish the trophy of their conquest。
Timoleon sent tidings of his victory to Corinth； with the best and
goodliest arms he had taken as a proof of it； that he thus might
render his country an object of emulation to the whole world； when； of
all the cities of Greece； men should there alone behold the chief
temples adorned； not with Grecian spoils； nor offerings obtained by
the bloodshed and plunder of their own countrymen and kindred； and
attended； therefore； with sad and unhappy remembrances； but with
such as had been stripped from barbarians and enemies to their nation；
with the noblest titles inscribed upon them； titles telling of the
justice as well as fortitude of the conquerors； namely； that the
people of Corinth； and Timoleon their general； having redeemed the
Greeks of Sicily from Carthaginian bondage； made oblation of these
to the gods； in grateful acknowledgment of their favour。
Having done this； he left his hired soldiers in the enemy's
country to drive and carry away all they could throughout the
subject…territory of Carthage； and so marched with the rest of his
army to Syracuse； where he issued an edict for banishing the
thousand mercenaries who had basely deserted him before the battle；
and obliged them to quit the city before sunset。 They； sailing into
Italy； lost their lives there by the hands of the Bruttians； in
spite of a public assurance of safety previously given them； thus
receiving； from the divine power； a just reward of their own
treachery。 Mamercus； however； the tyrant of Catana； and Hicetes； after
all； either envying Timoleon the glory of his exploits； or fearing him
as one that would keep no agreement； or having any peace with tyrants；
made a league with the Carthaginians； and pressed them much to send
a new army and commander into Sicily； unless they would be content
to hazard all and to be wholly ejected out of that island。 And in
consequence of this； Gisco was despatched with a navy of seventy sail。
He took numerous Greek mercenaries also into pay； that being the first
time they had ever been enlisted for the Carthaginian service； but
then it seems the Carthaginians began to admire them； as the most
irresistible soldiers of all mankind。 Uniting their forces in the
territory of Messena； they cut off four hundred of Timoleon's paid
soldiers； and within the dependencies of Carthage； at a place called
Hierae； destroyed； by an ambuscade； the whole body of mercenaries that
served under Euthymus the Leucadian； which accidents； however； made
the good fortune of Timoleon accounted all the more remarkable； as
these were the men that； with Philomelus of Phocis and Onomarchus； had
forcibly broken into the temple of Apollo at Delphi； and were
partakers with them in the sacrilege； so that being hated and
shunned by all； as persons under a curse； they were constrained to
wander about in Peloponnesus； when； for want of others； Timoleon was
glad to take them into service in his expedition for Sicily； where
they were successful in whatever enterprise they attempted under his
conduct。 But now； when all the important dangers were past； on his
sending them out for the relief and defence of his party in several
places； they perished and were destroyed at a distance from him； not
all together； but in small parties； and the vengeance which was
destined for them； so accommodating itself to the good fortune which
guarded Timoleon as not to allow any harm or prejudice for good men to
arise from the punishment of the wicked； the benevolence and
kindness which the gods had for Timoleon was thus as distinctly
recognized in his disasters as in his successes。
What most