Page:Frontinus - The stratagems, and, the aqueducts of Rome (Bennet et al 1925).djvu/161

 STRATAGEMS, II. iii. 14-16

helmets, in order to avoid being visible in consequence of the reflection, and to take their place in a defile by a hill. Then he commanded his cavalry to advance on the plain and to act as a screen to the infantry, but to withdraw at the first onset of the enemy, and, as soon as they reached the infantry, to disj^erse to the flanks. When this manoeuvre had been executed, suddenly the force of infantry rose up, revealing its position, and pouring with unex- pected attack upon the enemy who were heedlessly bent on pursuit, thus cut them to pieces.^

When Mark /Antony was engaged in battle with the Parthians and these were showering his army with innumerable arrows, he ordered his men to stop and form a testtido.^ The arrows passed over this without harm to the soldiers, and the enemy's supply was soon exhausted.^

When Hannibal was contending against Scipio in Africa, having an army of Carthaginians and auxili- aries, part of whom were not only of different nationalities, but actually consisted of Italians, he placed eighty elephants in the forefront, to throw the enemy into confusion. Behind these he stationed auxiliary Gauls, Ligurians, Balearians, and Moors, that these might be unable to run away, since the Carthaginians were standing behind them, and in order that, being placed in front, they might at least harass the enemy, if not do him damage. In the second line he placed his own countrymen and the Macedonians, to be fresh to meet the exhausted Romans ; and in the rear the Italians, whose lovalty he distrusted and whose indifference he feared, inasmuch as he had dragged most of them from Italy against their will.

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