Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 3.djvu/624

Rh 612 PYRRHUS. wished for opportunity presented itself. The Ta- rentines, against whom the Romans had declared war, sent an embassy to Pyrrhus in the summer of this year, begging him in the name of all the Italian Greeks to cross over to Italy in order to conduct the war against the Romans. They told him that they only wanted a general, and that they would supply him with an army of 350,000 foot, and 20,000 horse, as all the nations of south- ern Italy would flock to his standard. This was too tempting an offer to be resisted. It realized one of the earliest dreams of his ambition. The con- quest of Rome would naturally lead to the sove- reignty of Sicily and Africa ; and he would then be able to return to Greece with the united forces of Italy, Sicily, and Carthage, to overcome his rivals in Greece, and reign as master of the world. He therefore eagerly promised the Tarentines to come to their assistance, notwithstanding the re- monstrances of his Avise and faithful counsellor Cineas ; but as he would not trust the success of his enterprize to the valour and fidelity of Italian troops, lie began to make preparations to carry over a 'powerful army with him. These preparations occu- pied him dunng the remainder of this year and the beginning of the next. The Greek princes did every thing to favour his views, as they were glad to get rid of so powerful and dangerous a neighbour. Antigonus supplied him with ships, Antiochus with money, and Ptolemy Ceraunus with troops. He left as guardian of his kingdom his son Ptolemy by his first wife Antigone, who was then only a youth of fifteen years of age. (Justin, xvii. 2, xviii. 1.) Pyrrhus crossed over to Italy early in B. c. 280, in the thirty-eighth year of his age. He took with him 20,000 foot, 3000 horse, 2000 archers, 500 slingers, and either 50 or 20 elephants, having previously sent Milo, one of his generals, with a detachment of 3000 men. (Plut. Pyrrh. 15 ; Justin, xvii. 2.) Such was his impatience to ar- rive at Tarentum in time to enter upon military operations early in the spring, that he set sail be- fore the stormy season of the year had passed ; and he had scarcely put out to sea before a violent tempest arose, which dispersed his fleet. He him- self hardly escaped with his life, and arrived at Tarentum with only a small part of his army. After a time the scattered ships gradually made their appearance ; and after collecting his troops, he began to make preparations to carry on the war with activity. The inhabitants of Taren- tum were a giddy and licentious people, unac- customed to the toils of war, and unwilling to endure its hardships. They accordingly attempted to evade entering the ranks of the army, and be- gan to make complaints in the public assemblies respecting the demands of Pyrrhus and the conduct of his troops ; but Pyrrhus forthwith treated them as their master rather than as their ally, shut up the theatre and all other public places, and com- pelled their young men to serve in his ranks. Notwithstanding all the activity of Pyrrhus the Romans were the first in the field. The consul M. Valerius Laevinus marched into Lucania ; but as the army of Pyrrhus was inferior to that of the Romans, he attempted to gain time by negotia- tion, in order that he might be joined by his Italian allies. Pie accordingly wrote to the consul, offer- ing to arbitrate between Rome and his Italian allies ; but Laevinus bluntly told him to mind his PYRRHUS. own business and retire to Epeirus. Fearing to remain inactive any longer, although he was not yet joined by his allies, Pyrrhus marched out against the Romans with his own troops and the Taren- tines. He took up his position between the towns of Pandosia and Heracleia, on the left or northern bank of the river Siris. The Romans were en- camped on the southern bank of the river, and they were the first to begin the battle. They crossed the river and were immediately attacked by the cavalry of Pyrrhus. who led them to the charge in person, and distinguished himself as usual by the most daring acts of valour. The Romans, how- ever, bravely sustained the attack ; and Pyrrhus, finding that his cavalry could not decide the day, ordered his infantry to advance. The battle was still contested most furiously ; seven times did both armies advance and retreat ; and it was not till Pyrrhus brought forward his elephants, which bore down every thing before them, that the Ro- mans took to flight. The Thessalian cavalry com- pleted the rout. The Romans fled in the utmost confusion across the river Siris, leaving their camp to the conqueror. The battle had lasted all day, and it was probably the fall of night alone which saved the Roman army from complete destruction. Those who escaped took refuge in an Apulian town, which Niebuhr conjectures to have been Venusia. The number of the slain in either army is differently stated ; but the loss of Pyrrhus, though inferior to that of the Romans, was still very considerable, and a large proportion of his officers and best troops had fallen. He is reported to have said, as he viewed the field of battle, "Another such vic- tory, and I must return to Epeirus alone." He acted with generosity after the battle, burying the dead bodies of the Romans like those of his own troops, and treating his prisoners with kind- ness. This victory was followed by important results. The allies of Pyrrhus, who had hitherto kept aloof, joined him now ; and even many of the subjects of Rome espoused his cause. But Pyrrhus had bought his victory dearly, and must have learnt by the experience of the late battle the difficulty he would have to encounter in conquering Rome. He therefore sent his minister Cineas to Rome with proposals of peace, while he himself collected the forces of the allies and marched slowly towards Central Italy. The terms which he offered were those of a conqueror. He proposed that the Ro- mans should recognise the independence of the Greeks in Italy, should restore to the Samnites, Lucanians, Apulians, and Bruttians, all the pos- sessions which they had lost in war, and should make peace with himself and the Tarentines. As soon as peace was concluded on these terms, he promised to return all the Roman prisoners with- out ransom. Cineas, whose persuasive eloquence was said to have won more towns for Pyrrhus than his arms, neglected no means to secure the favour of the Romans for his master, and to induce them to accept the peace. The prospects of the republic seemed so dark and threatening that many mem- bers of the senate thought that it would be more prudent to comply with his demands; and this party would probably have carried the day, had it not been for the patriotic speech of the aged Ap. Claudius Caecus, who denounced the idea of a peace with a victorious foe with such effect, that the senate resolved to decline the proposals of I