became the most faithful assistant and ally of Marcellus； and a most
keen discoverer of those that attempted innovation and sedition。
These were many； and had entered into a conspiracy to plunder the
baggage of the Romans； when they should make an irruption against
the enemy。 Marcellus； therefore； having marshalled his army within the
city； placed the baggage near to the gates； and； by an edict；
forbade the Nolans to go to the walls。 Thus； outside the city； no arms
could be seen； by which prudent device he allured Hannibal to move
with his army in some disorder to the city； thinking that things
were in a tumult there。 Then Marcellus； the nearest gate being； as
he had commanded； thrown open； issuing forth with the flower of his
horse in front； charged the enemy。 By and by the foot； sallying out of
another gate； with a loud shout joined in the battle。 And while
Hannibal opposes part of his forces to these； the third gate also is
opened； out of which the rest break forth； and on all quarters fall
upon the enemies； who were dismayed at this unexpected encounter；
and did but feebly resist those with whom they had been first engaged；
because of their attack by these others who sallied out later。 Here
Hannibal's soldiers； with much bloodshed and many wounds； were
beaten back to their camp； and for the first time turned their backs
to the Romans。 There fell in this action； as it is related； more
than five thousand of them； of the Romans； not above five hundred。
Livy does not affirm that either the victory or the slaughter of the
enemy was so great； but certain it is that the adventure brought great
glory to Marcellus； and to the Romans； after their calamities； a great
revival of confidence； as they began now to entertain a hope that
the enemy with whom they contended was not invincible； but liable like
themselves to defeats。
Therefore； the other consul being deceased； the people recalled
Marcellus； that they might put him into his place； and； in spite of
the magistrates； succeeded in postponing the election till his
arrival； when he was by all the suffrages created consul。 But
because it happened to thunder； the augurs accounting that he was
not legitimately created； and yet not daring； for fear of the
people； to declare their sentence openly； Marcellus voluntarily
resigned the consulate； retaining however his command。 Being created
proconsul； and returning to the camp at Nola； he proceeded to harass
those that followed the party of the Carthaginians； on whose coming
with speed to succour them； Marcellus declined a challenge to a set
battle； but when Hannibal had sent out a party to plunder； and now
expected no fight； he broke out upon him with his army。 He had
distributed to the foot long lances； such as are commonly used in
naval fights； and instructed them to throw them with great force at
convenient distances against the enemies； who were inexperienced in
that way of darting； and used to fight with short darts hand to
hand。 This seems to have been the cause of the total rout and open
flight of all the Carthaginians who were then engaged； there fell of
them five thousand； four elephants were killed； and two taken； but
what was of the greatest moment； on the third day after； more than
three hundred horse； Spaniards and Numidians mixed； deserted to him； a
disaster that had never to that day happened to Hannibal； who had kept
together in harmony an army of barbarians； collected out of many
various and discordant nations。 Marcellus and his successors in all
this war made good use of the faithful service of these horsemen。
He now was a third time created consul； and sailed over into Sicily。
For the success of Hannibal had excited the Carthaginians to lay claim
to that whole island； chiefly because； after the murder of the
tyrant Hieronymus； all things had been in tumult and confusion at
Syracuse。 For which reason the Romans also had sent before to that
city a force under the conduct of Appius； as praetor。 While
Marcellus was receiving that army； a number of Roman soldiers cast
themselves at his feet； upon occasion of the following calamity。 Of
those that survived the battle at Cannae； some had escaped by
flight； and some were taken alive by the enemy； so great a
multitude； that it was thought there were not remaining Romans
enough to defend the wall of the city。 And yet the magnanimity and
constancy of the city was such； that it would not redeem the
captives from Hannibal； though it might have done so for a small
ransom； a decree of the senate forbade it； and chose rather to leave
them to be killed by the enemy； or sold out of Italy； and commanded
that all who had saved themselves by flight should be transported into
Sicily； and not permitted to return into Italy； until the war with
Hannibal should be ended。 These； therefore； when Marcellus was arrived
in Sicily； addressed themselves to him in great numbers； and casting
themselves at his feet； with much lamentation and tears humbly
besought him to admit them to honourable service； and promised to make
it appear by their future fidelity and exertions that that defeat
had been received rather by misfortune than by cowardice。 Marcellus；
pitying them； petitioned the senate by letters； that he might have
leave at all times to recruit his legions out of them。 After much
debate about the thing； the senate decreed they were of opinion that
the commonwealth did not require the service of cowardly soldiers；
if Marcellus perhaps thought otherwise； he might make use of them；
provided no one of them be honoured on any occasion with a crown or
military gift； as a reward of his virtue or courage。 This decree stung
Marcellus； and on his return to Rome； after the Sicilian war was
ended； he upbraided the senate that they had denied to him； who had so
highly deserved of the republic； liberty to relieve so great a
number of citizens in great calamity。
At this time Marcellus； first incensed by injuries done him by
Hippocrates； commander of the Syracusans （who； to give proof of his
good affection to the Carthaginians； and to acquire the tyranny to
himself； had killed a number of Romans at Leontini）； besieged and took
by force the city of Leontini； yet violated none of the townsmen； only
deserters； as many as he took； he subjected to the punishment of the
rods and axe。 But Hippocrates； sending a report to Syracuse； that
Marcellus had put all the adult population to the sword； and then
coming upon the Syracusans； who had risen in tumult upon that false
report； made himself master of the city。 Upon this Marcellus moved
with his whole army to Syracuse； and encamping near the wall； sent
ambassadors into the city to relate to the Syracusans the truth of
what had been done in Leontini。 When these could not prevail by
treaty； the whole power being now in the hands of Hippocrates； he
proceeded to attack the city both by land and by sea。 The land
forces were conducted by Appius： Marcellus； with sixty galleys； each
with five rows of oars； furnished with all sorts of arms and missiles；
and a huge bridge of planks laid upon eight ships chained together；
upon which was carried the engine to cast stones and darts；
assaulted the walls； relying on the abundance and magnificence of
his preparations； and on his own previous glory； all which； however；
were； it would seem； but trifles for Archimedes and his machines。
These machines he had designed and contrived； not as matters of
any importance； but as mere amusements in geometry； in compliance with
King Hiero's desire and request； some little time before； that he
should reduce to practice some part of his admirable speculation in
science； and by accommodating the theoretic truth to sensation and
ordinary use； bring it more within the appreciation of the people in
general。 Eudoxus and Archytas had been the first originators of this
far…famed and highly…prized art of mechanics； which they employed as
an elegant illustration of geometrical truths； and as means of
sustaining experimentally； to the satisfaction of the senses；
conclusions too intricate for proof by words and diagrams。 As； for
example； to solve the problem； so often required in constructing
geometrical figures； given the two extremes； to find the two mean
lines of a proportion； both these mathematicians had recourse to the
aid of instruments； adapting to their purpose certain curves and
sections of lines。 But what with Plato's indignation at it； and his
invectives against it as the mere corruption and annihilation of the
one good of geometry； which was thus shamefully turning its back
upon the unembodied objects of pure intelligence to recur to
sensation； and to ask help （not to be obtained without base
supervisions and depravation） from matter； so it was that mechanics
came to be separated from geometry； and； repudiated and neglected by
philosophers； took its place as a military art。 Archimedes； however；
in writing to King Hiero； whose friend and near relation he was； had
stated that given the force； any given weight might be moved； and even
boasted； we are told； relying on the strength of demonstration； that
if there were another earth； by going into it he could remove this。
Hiero being struck with amazement at this； and entreating him to
make good this problem by actual experiment； and show some great
weight moved by a small engine； he fixed accordingly upon a ship of
burden out of the king's arsenal； which could not be drawn out of
the dock without great labour and many men； and； loading her with many
passengers and a full freight； sitting himself the while far off； with
no great endeavour； but only holding the head of the pulley in his
hand and drawing the cords by degrees； he drew the ship in a
straight line； as smoothly and evenly as if she had been in the sea。
The king； astonished at this； and convinced of the power of the art；
prevailed upon Archimedes to make him engines accommodated to all
the purposes； offensive and defensive； of a siege。 These the king
himself never made use of； because he spent almost all his life in a
profound quiet and the highest affluence。 But the apparatus was； in
most opportune time； ready at hand for the Syracusans； and with it
also the