Page:Frontinus - The stratagems, and, the aqueducts of Rome (Bennet et al 1925).djvu/185

 STRATAGEMS, II. v. 10-13

ordering them to lay waste his own, that is to sa}^ E|)irote territory. When the Illyrians saw that this was being done, they themselves began to pillage right and left — the more confidently since they thouglit that those who led the way wei'e scouts. But when they had been designedly brought by the latter into a disadvantageous position, they were routed and killed.

Leptines, the Syracusan, also, when waging war against the Carthaginians, ordered his own lands to be laid waste and certain farm-houses and forts to be set on fire. The Carthaginians, thinking this was done by their own men, went out themselves also to help ; whereupon they were set upon by men lying in wait, and were put to rout.^

Maliarbal,- sent by the Carthaginians against the rebellious Africans, knowing that the tribe was passionately fond of Avine, mixed a large quantity ot wine with mandragora, which in potency is something between a poison and a soporific. Then after an insignificant skirmish he deliberately withdrew. At dead of night, leaving in the camp some of his baggage and all the drugged wine, he feigned flight. When the barbarians captured the camp and in a frenzy of delight greedilv drank the drugged wine, Maliarbal returned, and either took them prisoners or slaughtered them while they lay stretched out as if dead.^

Hannibal, on one occasion, aware that both his own camp and that of the Romans were in places deficient in wood, deliberately abandoned the district, leaving many herds of cattle within his camp. The Romans, securing possession of these as booty, gorged themselves with flesh, which, owing to

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