Page:Frontinus - The stratagems, and, the aqueducts of Rome (Bennet et al 1925).djvu/261

 STRATAGEMS, III. m. 15

the citizens to relapse into a feeling of security, and was thus enabled to hand the city over to Cursor, since it was left unguarded.^

Marcus Marcelhis, having tempted a certain Sosistratus of Syracuse to turn traitor, learned from him that the guards would be less strict on a holiday w'hen a cei'tain citizen named Epicydes was to make a generous distribution of wine and food. So, taking advantage of the gaiety and the consequent laxness of discipline, he scaled the walls, slew the sentinels, and threw open to the Roman army a city already made famous as the scene of noted victories. 2

When Tarquinius Superbus was unable to induce Gabii to surrender, lie scourged his son Sextus Avith rods and sent him among the enemy, where he arraigned the cruelty of his father and persuaded the Gabians to utilize his hatred against the king. Accordingly he was chosen leader in the war, and delivered Gabii over to his father.^

Cyrus, king of the Persians, having })roved the loyalty of his attendant Zopyrus, deliberately muti- lated his face and sent him among the enemy. In consequence of their belief in his wrongs, he was regarded as implacably hostile to Cyrus, and pro- moted this belief by running up and discharging his weapons against Cyrus, whenever an engagement took place, till finally the city of the Babylonians Mas entrusted to him and by him delivered into the hands of Cyrus.*

Philip, when prevented from gaining possession of the town of the Sanians, bribed one of their generals, ApoUonides, to turn traitor, inducing him to plant a cart laden with dressed stone at the

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