advantages are spoken of with great admiration by Sylla。
As they lay thus encamped； they seemed to the enemy a contemptible
number； for there were not above fifteen hundred horse； and less
than fifteen thousand foot。 Therefore the rest of the commanders；
over…persuading Archelaus and drawing up the army； covered the plain
with horses； chariots； bucklers； targets。 The clamour and cries of
so many nations forming for battle rent the air； nor was the pomp
and ostentation of their costly array altogether idle and
unserviceable for terror； for the brightness of their armour；
embellished magnificently with gold and silver； and the rich colours
of their Median and Scythian coats； intermixed with brass and
shining steel； presented a flaming and terrible sight as they swayed
about and moved in their ranks； so much so that the Romans shrunk
within their trenches； and Sylla； unable by any arguments to remove
their fear； and unwilling to force them to fight against their
wills； was fain to sit down in quiet； ill…brooking to become the
subject of barbarian insolence and laughter。 This； however； above
all advantaged him； for the enemy； from contemning of him； fell into
disorder amongst themselves； being already less thoroughly under
command； on account of the number of their leaders。 Some few of them
remained within the encampment； but others； the major part； lured
out with hopes of prey and rapine； strayed about the country many
days' journey from the camp； and are related to have destroyed the
city of Panope； to have plundered Lebadea； and robbed the oracle
without any orders from their commanders。
Sylla； all this while； chafing and fretting to see the cities all
around destroyed； suffered not the soldiery to remain idle； but
leading them out； compelled them to divert the Cephisus from its
ancient channel by casting up ditches； and giving respite to none；
showed himself rigorous in punishing the remiss； that growing weary of
labour； they might be induced by hardship to embrace danger。 Which
fell out accordingly； for on the third day； being hard at work as
Sylla passed by； they begged and clamoured to be led against the
enemy。 Sylla replied； that this demand of war proceeded rather from
a backwardness to labour than any forwardness to fight； but if they
were in good earnest martially inclined； he bade them take their
arms and get up thither； pointing to the ancient citadel of the
Parapotamians； of which at present； the city being laid waste； there
remained only the rocky hill itself； steep and craggy on all sides；
and severed from Mount Hedylium by the breadth of the river Assus；
which； running between； and at the bottom of the same hill falling
into the Cephisus with an impetuous confluence； makes this eminence
a strong position for soldiers to occupy。 Observing that the enemy's
division； called the Brazen Shields； were making their way up thither；
Sylla was willing to take first possession； and by the vigorous
efforts of the soldiers； succeeded。 Archelaus； driven from hence； bent
his forces upon Chaeronea。 The Chaeroneans who bore arms in the
Roman camp beseeching Sylla not to abandon the city； he despatched
Gabinius； a tribune； with one legion； and sent out also the
Chaeroneans； who endeavoured； but were not able to get in before
Gabinius； so active was he； and more zealous to bring relief than
those who had entreated it。 Juba writes that Ericius was the man sent；
not Gabinius。 Thus narrowly did our native city escape。
From Lebadea and the cave of Trophonius there came favourable
rumours and prophecies of victory to the Romans； of which the
inhabitants of those places gave a fuller account； but as Sylla
himself affirms in the tenth book of his Memoirs； Quintus Titius； a
man of some repute among the Romans who were engaged in mercantile
business in Greece； came to him after the battle won at Chaeronea； and
declared that Trophonius had foretold another fight and victory on the
place； within a short time。 After him a soldier； by name Salvenius；
brought an account from the god of the future issue of affairs in
Italy。 As to the vision； they both agreed in this； that they had
seen one who in stature and in majesty was similar to Jupiter
Olympius。
Sylla； when he had passed over the Assus； marching under the Mount
Hedylium； encamped close to Archelaus； who had intrenched himself
strongly between the mountains Acontium and Hedylium； close to what
are called the Assia。 The place of his intrenchment is to this day
named from him； Archelaus。 Sylla； after one day's respite； having left
Murena behind him with one legion and two cohorts to amuse the enemy
with continual alarms； himself went and sacrificed on the banks of
Cephisus； and the holy rites ended； held on towards Chaeronea to
receive the forces there and view Mount Thurium； where a party of
the enemy had posted themselves。 This is a craggy height running up in
a conical form to a point called by us Orthopagus； at the foot of it
is the river Morius and the temple of Apollo Thurius。 The god had
his surname from Thuro； mother of Chaeron； whom ancient record makes
founder of Chaeronea。 Others assert that the cow； which Apollo gave to
Cadmus for a guide； appeared there； and that the place took its name
from the beast； Thor being the Phoenician word for cow。
At Sylla's approach to Chaeronea； the tribune who had been appointed
to guard the city led out his men in arms； and met him with a
garland of laurel in his hand； which Sylla accepting； and at the
same time saluting the soldiers and animating them to the encounter；
two men of Chaeronea； Homoloichus and Anaxidamus； presented themselves
before him； and offered； with a small party； to dislodge those who
were posted on Thurium。 For there lay a path out of sight of the
barbarians； from what is called Petrochus along by the Museum； leading
right down from above upon Thurium。 By this way it was easy to fall
upon them and either stone them from above or force them down into the
plain。 Sylla； assured of their faith and courage by Gabinius； bade
them proceed with the enterprise； and meantime drew up the army； and
disposing the cavalry on both wings； himself took command of the
right； the left being committed to the direction of Murena。 In the
rear of all； Galba and Hortensius； his lieutenants； planted themselves
on the upper grounds with the cohorts of reserve； to watch the motions
of the enemy； who； with numbers of horse and swift…footed； light…armed
infantry； were noticed to have so formed their wing as to allow it
readily to change about and alter its position； and thus gave reason
for suspecting that they intended to carry it far out and so to
inclose the Romans。
In the meanwhile； the Chaeroneans； who had Ericius for commander
by appointment of Sylla； covertly making their way around Thurium； and
then discovering themselves； occasioned a great confusion and rout
among the barbarians； and slaughter； for the most part； by their own
hands。 For they kept not their place； but making down the steep
descent； ran themselves on their own spears； and violently sent each
other over the cliffs the enemy from above pressing on and wounding
them where they exposed their bodies； insomuch that there fell three
thousand about Thurium。 Some of those who escaped； being met by Murena
as he stood in array； were cut off and destroyed。 Others breaking
through to their friends and falling pell…mell into the ranks；
filled most part of the army with fear and tumult； and caused a
hesitation and delay among the generals； which was no small
disadvantage。 For immediately upon the discomposure； Sylla coming full
speed to the charge； and quickly crossing the interval between the
armies； lost them the service of their armed chariots； which require a
considerable space of ground to gather strength and impetuosity in
their career； a short course being weak and ineffectual； like that
of missiles without a full swing。 Thus it fared with the barbarians at
present； whose first chariots came feebly on and made but a faint
impression； the Romans； repulsing them with shouts and laughter；
called out； as they do at the races in the circus； for more to come。
By this time the mass of both armies met； the barbarians on one side
fixed their long pikes； and with their shields locked close
together； strove so far as in them lay to preserve their line of
battle entire。 The Romans； on the other side； having discharged
their javelins； rushed on with their drawn swords； and struggled to
put by the pikes to get at them the sooner； in the fury that possessed
them at seeing in the front of the enemy fifteen thousand slaves； whom
the royal commanders had set free by proclamation； and ranged
amongst the men of arms。 And a Roman centurion is reported to have
said at this sight； that he never knew servants allowed to play the
masters； unless at the Saturnalia。 These men； by their deep and
solid array； as well as by their daring courage； yielded but slowly to
the legions； till at last by slinging engines； and darts； which the
Romans poured in upon them behind； they were forced to give way and
scatter。
As Archelaus was extending the right wing to encompass the enemy；
Hortensius with his cohorts came down in force； with intention to
charge him in the flank。 But Archelaus wheeling about suddenly with
two thousand horse； Hortensius； out…numbered and hard pressed； fell
back towards the higher grounds； and found himself gradually getting
separated from the main body and likely to be surrounded by the enemy。
When Sylla heard this； he came rapidly up to his succour from the
right wing； which as yet had not engaged。 But Archelaus； guessing
the matter by the dust of his troops； turned to the right wing； from
whence Sylla came； in hopes to surprise it without a commander。 At the
same instant； likewise； Taxiles； with his Brazen Shields； assailed
Murena； so that a cry coming from both places； and the hills repeating
it around； Sylla stood in suspense which way to move。 Deciding to
resume his own station he sent in aid to Murena four cohorts under
Hortensius； and commanding the fifth to follow him； returned hastily
to the right wing； which of itself held its ground on equal te