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 engineer himself。
When； therefore； the Romans assaulted the walls in two places at
once； fear and consternation stupefied the Syracusans； believing
that nothing was able to resist that violence and those forces。 But
when Archimedes began to ply his engines； he at once shot against
the land forces all sorts of missile weapons； and immense masses of
stone that came down with incredible noise and violence； against which
no man could stand； for they knocked down those upon whom they fell in
heaps； breaking all their ranks and files。 In the meantime huge
poles thrust out from the walls over the ships sunk some by the
great weights which they let down from on high upon them； others
they lifted up into the air by an iron hand or beak like a crane's
beak and； when they had drawn them up by the prow； and set them on end
upon the poop； they plunged them to the bottom of the sea； or else the
ships； drawn by engines within； and whirled about； were dashed against
steep rocks that stood jutting out under the walls； with great
destruction of the soldiers that were aboard them。 A ship was
frequently lifted up to a great height in the air （a dreadful thing to
behold）； and was rolled to and fro； and kept swinging； until the
mariners were all thrown out； when at length it was dashed against the
rocks； or let fall。 At the engine that Marcellus brought upon the
bridge of ships； which was called Sambuca； from some resemblance it
had to an instrument of music； while it was as yet approaching the
wall； there was discharged a piece of rock of ten talents weight； then
a second and a third； which； striking upon it with immense force and a
noise like thunder； broke all its foundation to pieces； shook out
all its fastenings； and completely dislodged it from the bridge。 So
Marcellus； doubtful what counsel to pursue； drew off his ships to a
safer distance； and sounded a retreat to his forces on land。 They then
took a resolution of coming up under the walls； if it were possible；
in the night； thinking that as Archimedes used ropes stretched at
length in playing his engines； the soldiers would now be under the
shot； and the darts would； for want of sufficient distance to throw
them； fly over their heads without effect。 But he； it appeared； had
long before framed for such occasions engines accommodated to any
distance； and shorter weapons； and had made numerous small openings in
the walls； through which； with engines of a shorter range；
unexpected blows were inflicted on the assailants。 Thus； when they who
thought to deceive the defenders came close up to the walls； instantly
a shower of darts and other missile weapons was again cast upon
them。 And when stones came tumbling down perpendicularly upon their
heads； and； as it were； the whole wall shot out arrows at them； they
retired。 And now； again； as they were going off； arrows and darts of a
longer range inflicted a great slaughter among them； and their ships
were driven one against another； while they themselves were not able
to retaliate in any way。 For Archimedes had provided and fixed most of
his engines immediately under the wall； whence the Romans； seeing that
indefinite mischief overwhelmed them from no visible means； began to
think they were fighting with the gods。
Yet Marcellus escaped unhurt； and deriding his own artificers and
engineers； 〃What；〃 said he； 〃must we give up fighting with this
geometrical Briareus； who plays pitch…and…toss with our ships； and；
with the multitude of darts which he showers at a single moment upon
us； really outdoes the hundred…handed giants of mythology？〃 And；
doubtless； the rest of the Syracusans were but the body of
Archimedes's designs； one soul moving and governing all； for； laying
aside all other arms； with this alone they infested the Romans and
protected themselves。 In fine； when such terror had seized upon the
Romans； that； if they did but see a little rope or a piece of wood
from the wall； instantly crying out； that there it was again；
Archimedes was about to let fly some engine at them； they turned their
backs and fled； Marcellus desisted from conflicts and assaults；
putting all his hope in a long siege。 Yet Archimedes possessed so high
a spirit； so profound a soul； and such treasures of scientific
knowledge； that though these inventions had now obtained him the
renown of more than human sagacity； he yet would not deign to leave
behind him any commentary or writing on such subjects； but；
repudiating as sordid and ignoble the whole trade of engineering；
and every sort of art that lends itself to mere use and profit； he
placed his whole affection and ambition in those purer speculations
where there can be no reference to the vulgar needs of life；
studies； the superiority of which to all others is unquestioned； and
in which the only doubt can be whether the beauty and grandeur of
the subjects examined； of the precision and cogency of the methods and
means of proof； most deserve our admiration。 It is not possible to
find in all geometry more difficult and intricate questions； or more
simple and lucid explanations。 Some ascribe this to his natural
genius； while others think that incredible effort and toil produced
these； to all appearances； easy and unlaboured results。 No amount of
investigation of yours would succeed in attaining the proof； and
yet； once seen； you immediately believe you would have discovered
it； by so smooth and so rapid a path he leads you to the conclusion
required。 And thus it ceases to be incredible that （as is commonly
told of him） the charm of his familiar and domestic Siren made him
forget his food and neglect his person； to that degree that when he
was occasionally carried by absolute violence to bathe or have his
body anointed； he used to trace geometrical figures in the ashes of
the fire； and diagrams in the oil on his body； being in a state of
entire preoccupation； and； in the truest sense； divine possession with
his love and delight in science。 His discoveries were numerous and
admirable； but he is said to have requested his friends and
relations that； when he was dead； they would place over his tomb a
sphere containing a cylinder； inscribing it with the ratio which the
containing solid bears to the contained。
Such was Archimedes； who now showed himself； and so far as lay in
him the city also； invincible。 While the siege continued； Marcellus
took Megara； one of the earliest founded of the Greek cities in
Sicily； and capturing also the camp of Hippocrates at Acilae； killed
above eight thousand men； having attacked them whilst they were
engaged in forming their fortifications。 He overran a great part of
Sicily； gained over many towns from the Carthaginians； and overcame
all that dared to encounter him。 As the siege went on； one Damippus； a
Lacedaemonian； putting to sea in a ship from Syracuse； was taken。 When
the Syracusans much desired to redeem this man； and there were many
meetings and treaties about the matter betwixt them and Marcellus；
he had opportunity to notice a tower into which a body of men might be
secretly introduced； as the wall near to it was not difficult to
surmount； and it was itself carelessly guarded。 Coming often
thither； and entertaining conferences about the release of Damippus；
he had pretty well calculated the height of the tower； and got ladders
prepared。 The Syracusans celebrated a feast to Diana； this juncture of
time； when they were given up entirely to wine and sport； Marcellus
laid hold of； and before the citizens perceived it； not only possessed
himself of the tower； but； before the break of day； filled the wall
around with soldiers； and made his way into the Hexapylum。 The
Syracusans now beginning to stir； and to be alarmed at the tumult；
he ordered the trumpets everywhere to sound； and thus frightened
them all into flight； as if all parts of the city were already won；
though the most fortified； and the fairest； and most ample quarter was
still ungained。 It is called Acradina； and was divided by a wall
from the outer city； one part of which they call Neapolis； the other
Tycha。 Possessing himself of these； Marcellus； about break of day；
entered through the Hexapylum； all his officers congratulating him。
But looking down from the higher places upon the beautiful and
spacious city below； he is said to have wept much； commiserating the
calamity that hung over it； when his thoughts represented to him how
dismal and foul the face of the city would be in a few hours； when
plundered and sacked by the soldiers。 For among the officers of his
army there was not one man that durst deny the plunder of the city
to the soldiers' demands； nay； many were instant that it should be set
on fire and laid level to the ground： but this Marcellus would not
listen to。 Yet he granted； but with great unwillingness and
reluctance； that the money and slaves should be made prey； giving
orders； at the same time； that none should violate any free person；
nor kill； misuse； or make a slave of any of the Syracusans。 Though
he had used this moderation； he still esteemed the condition of that
city to be pitiable； and； even amidst the congratulations and joy；
showed his strong feelings of sympathy and commiseration at seeing all
the riches accumulated during a long felicity now dissipated in an
hour。 For it is related that no less prey and plunder was taken here
than afterward in Carthage。 For not long after they obtained also
the plunder of the other parts of the city； which were taken by
treachery； leaving nothing untouched but the king's money； which was
brought into the public treasury。 But nothing afflicted Marcellus so
much as the death of Archimedes； who was then； as fate would have
it； intent upon working out some problem by a diagram； and having
fixed his mind alike and his eyes upon the subject of his speculation；
he never noticed the incursion of the Romans； nor that the city was
taken。 In this transport of study and contemplation； a soldier；
unexpectedly coming up to him； commanded him to follow to Marcellus；
which he declining to do before he had w