Page:Frontinus - The stratagems, and, the aqueducts of Rome (Bennet et al 1925).djvu/179

 STRATAGEMS, II. iv. i8-v. 2

The Faliscans and Tarquinians disguised a number of their men as priests, and had them hold torches and snakes in front of them, like Furies. Thus they tlirew the army of the Romans into panic. ^

On one occasion the men of Veii and Fidenae snatched up torches and did the same thing.^

When Atheas, king of the Scythians, was contend- ing against the more numerous tribe of the Triballi, he commanded that herds of asses and cattle should be brought up in the rear of the enemy's forces by women, children, and all the non-combatant popula- tion, and that spears, held aloft, should be carried in front of these. Then he spread abroad the rumour that reinforcements were coming to him from the more distant Scythian tribes. By this declaration he forced the enemy to withdraw.^

V. On Ambushes

Romulus, when he had drawn near to Fidenae, distributed a portion of his troops in ambush, and pretended to Hee. When the enemy recklessly followed, he led them on to the point where he was holding his men in hiding, whereupon the latter, attacking from all sides, and taking the enemy off their guard, cut them to j)iecesin their onward rush.^

The consul Quintus Fabius Maximus, having been sent to aid the Sutrians against the Etruscans, caused the full brunt of the enemy's attack to fall upon himself. Then, feigning fear, he retired to higher ground, as though in retreat, and when the enemy rushed upon him pell-mell he attacked, and not merely defeated them in battle but captured their camp.^

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