of the dead； and there is a proverb derived from the custom； used of
one who is dangerously sick； that he has need of nothing but
parsley。 So to ease their minds； and free them from any
superstitious thoughts or forebodings of evil； Timoleon halted； and
concluded an address suitable to the occasion； by saying； that a
garland of triumph was here luckily brought them； and had fallen
into their hands of its own accord； as an anticipation of victory： the
same with which the Corinthians crown the victors in the Isthmian
games； accounting chaplets of parsley the sacred wreath proper to
their country； parsley being at that time still the emblem of
victory at the Isthmian； as it is now at the Nemean sports； and it
is not so very long ago that the pine first began to be used in its
place。
Timoleon； therefore； having thus bespoke his soldiers； took part
of the parsley； and with it made himself a chaplet first； his captains
and their companies all following the example of their leader。 The
soothsayers then； observing also two eagles on the wing towards
them； one of which bore a snake struck through with her talons； and
the other； as she flew； uttered a loud cry indicating boldness and
assurance； at once showed them to the soldiers； who with one consent
fell to supplicate the gods； and call them in to their assistance。
It was now about the beginning of summer； and conclusion of the
month called Thargelion； not far from the solstice； and the river
sending up a thick mist； all the adjacent plain was at first
darkened with the fog； so that for a while they could discern
nothing from the enemy's camp； only a confused buzz and
undistinguished mixture of voices came up to the hill from the distant
motions and clamours of so vast a multitude。 When the Corinthians
had mounted； and stood on the top； and had laid down their bucklers to
take breath and repose themselves； the sun coming round and drawing up
the vapours from below； the gross foggy air that was now gathered
and condensed above formed in a cloud upon the mountains； and； all the
under places being clear and open； the river Crimesus appeared to them
again； and they could descry the enemies passing over it； first with
their formidable four…horse chariots of war； and then ten thousand
footmen bearing white shields； whom they guessed to be all
Carthaginians； from the splendour of their arms； and the slowness
and order of their march。 And when now the troops of various other
nations； flowing in behind them； began to throng for passage in a
tumultuous and unruly manner； Timoleon； perceiving that the river gave
them opportunity to single off whatever number of their enemies they
had a mind to engage at and bidding his soldiers observe how their
forces were divided into two separate bodies by the intervention of
the stream； some being already over； and others still to ford it； gave
Demaretus command to fall in upon the Carthaginians with his horse；
and disturb their ranks before they should be drawn up into form of
battle； and coming down into the plain himself forming his right and
left wing of other Sicilians； intermingling only a few strangers in
each； he placed the natives of Syracuse in the middle； with the
stoutest mercenaries he had about his own person； and waiting a little
to observe the action of his horse； when they saw they were not only
hindered from grappling with the Carthaginians by the armed chariots
that ran to and fro before the army； but forced continually to wheel
about to escape having their ranks broken； and so to repeat their
charges anew； he took his buckler in his hand； and crying out to the
foot that they should follow him with courage and confidence； he
seemed to speak with a more than human accent； and a voice stronger
than ordinary； whether it were that he naturally raised it so high
in the vehemence and ardour with his mind to assault the enemy； or
else； as many then thought； some god or other spoke with him。 When his
soldiers quickly gave an echo to it； and besought him to lead them
on without any further delay； he made a sign to the horse； that they
should draw off from the front where the chariots were； and pass
sidewards to attack their enemies in the flank； then； making his
vanguard firm by joining man to man and buckler to buckler； he
caused the trumpet to sound； and so bore in upon the Carthaginians。
They； for their part； stoutly received and sustained his first
onset； and having their bodies armed with breast…plates of iron； and
helmets of brass on their heads； besides great bucklers to cover and
secure them； they could easily repel the charge of the Greek spears。
But when the business came to a decision by the sword； where mastery
depends no less upon art than strength； all on a sudden from the
mountain…tops violent peals of thunder and vivid flashes of
lightning broke out； following upon which the darkness； that had
been hovering about the higher grounds and the crests of the hills；
descending to the place of battle and bringing a tempest of rain and
of wind and hail along with it； was driven upon the Greeks behind； and
fell only at their backs； but discharged itself in the very faces of
the barbarians； the rain beating on them； and the lightning dazzling
them without cessation； annoyances that in many ways distressed at any
rate the inexperienced； who had not been used to such hardships；
and； in particular； the claps of thunder； and the noise of the rain
and hail beating on their arms； kept them from hearing the commands of
their officers。 Besides which； the very mud also was a great hindrance
to the Carthaginans； who were not lightly equipped； but； as I said
before； loaded with heavy armour； and then their shirts underneath
getting drenched； the foldings about the bosom filled with water； grew
unwieldy and cumbersome to them as they fought； and made it easy for
the Greeks to throw them down； and； when they were once down；
impossible for them； under that weight； to disengage themselves and
rise again with weapons in their hands。 The river Crimesus； too；
swollen partly by the rain； and partly by the stoppage of its course
with the numbers that were passing through； overflowed its banks；
and the level ground by the side of it； being so situated as to have a
number of small ravines and hollows of the hillside descending upon
it； was now filled with rivulets and currents that had no certain
channel； in which the Carthaginians stumbled and rolled about； and
found themselves in great difficulty。 So that； in fine； the storm
bearing still upon them； and the Greeks having cut in pieces four
hundred men of their first ranks； the whole body of their army began
to fly。 Great numbers were overtaken in the plain； and put to the
sword there； and many of them； as they were making their way back
through the river； falling foul upon others that were yet coming over；
were borne away and overwhelmed by the waters； but the major part；
attempting to get up the hill so as to make their escape； were
intercepted and destroyed by the light…armed troops。 It is said
that； of ten thousand who lay dead after the fight； three thousand； at
least； were Carthaginian citizens； a heavy loss and great grief to
their countrymen； those that fell being men inferior to none among
them as to birth； wealth； or reputation。 Nor do their records
mention that so many native Carthaginians were ever cut off before
in any one battle； as they usually employed Africans； Spaniards； and
Numidians in their wars； so that if they chanced to be defeated； it
was still at the cost and damage of other nations。
The Greeks easily discovered of what condition and account the slain
were by the richness of their spoils； for when they came to collect
the booty； there was little reckoning made either of brass or iron； so
abundant were better metals； and so common were silver and gold。
Passing over the river they became masters of their camp and
carriages。 As for captives； a great many of them were stolen away
and sold privately by the soldiers but about five thousand were
brought in and delivered up for the benefit of the public； two hundred
of their chariots of war were also taken。 The tent of Timoleon then
presented a most glorious and magnificent appearance； being heaped
up and hung round with every variety of spoils and military ornaments；
among which there were a thousand breastplates of rare workmanship and
beauty； and bucklers to the number of ten thousand。 The victors
being but few to strip so many that were vanquished； and having such
valuable booty to occupy them； it was the third day after the fight
before they could erect and finish the trophy of their conquest。
Timoleon sent tidings of his victory to Corinth； with the best and
goodliest arms he had taken as a proof of it； that he thus might
render his country an object of emulation to the whole world； when； of
all the cities of Greece； men should there alone behold the chief
temples adorned； not with Grecian spoils； nor offerings obtained by
the bloodshed and plunder of their own countrymen and kindred； and
attended； therefore； with sad and unhappy remembrances； but with
such as had been stripped from barbarians and enemies to their nation；
with the noblest titles inscribed upon them； titles telling of the
justice as well as fortitude of the conquerors； namely； that the
people of Corinth； and Timoleon their general； having redeemed the
Greeks of Sicily from Carthaginian bondage； made oblation of these
to the gods； in grateful acknowledgment of their favour。
Having done this； he left his hired soldiers in the enemy's
country to drive and carry away all they could throughout the
subject…territory of Carthage； and so marched with the rest of his
army to Syracuse； where he issued an edict for banishing the
thousand mercenaries who had basely deserted him before the battle；
and obliged them to quit the city before sunset。 They； sailing into
Italy； lost their lives there by the hands of the Bruttians； in
spite of a public assurance of safety previously given them； thus
receiving； from the divine power； a just reward of their own
treachery。 Mamercus； however； the tyrant of Catana； and Hicetes； after
all； either envying Tim