Page:Frontinus - The stratagems, and, the aqueducts of Rome (Bennet et al 1925).djvu/147

 STRATAGEMS, II. ii. 3-7

of battle on a hill. This move made victory easy for him, since the darts, hurled from higher ground against the barbarians charging from below, straight- wav put them to Hight.^

When LucuUus was planning to fight Mithridates and Tigranes at Tigranocerta in Greater Armenia, lie himself swiftly gained the level top of the nearest hill with a part of his troops, and then rushed down upon the enemy posted below, at the same time attacking their cavalry on the flank. When the cavalry broke and straightway threw the infantry into confusion, Lucullus followed after them and gained a most notable victory. ^

^entidius, when fighting against the Parthians, would not lead out his soldiers until the Parthians were within five hundred paces. Thus by a rapid advance he came so near them that, meeting them at close quarters, he escaped their arrows, which they shoot from a distance. By this scheme, since he exhibited a certain show of confidence, he quickly subdued the barbarians.^

At Numistro, when Hannibal was expecting a battle with Marcellus, he secured a position where his Hank was protected by hollows and precipitous roads. By thus making the ground serve as a defence, he won a victory over a most renowned commander.*

Again at Cannae, when Hannibal learned that the ^'olturnus River, at variance with the nature of other streams, sent out high winds in the morning, Avhich carried swirling sand and dust, he so marshalled his line of battle that the entire fury of the elements fell on the rear of his own troops, but struck the Romans in the face and eyes. Since this difficulty