HELMET AND SPEAR _STORIES FROM THE WARS OF THE GREEKS AND ROMANS_ By the REV. A.J. CHURCH, M.A. Sometime Professor of Latin in University College, London Author of "Stories from Homer," etc. "Yea, but of war the righteous last event In highest Heaven is born, And from great Zeus with saving power is sent." Aeschylus, _Seven against Thebes_. NEW YORK THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 66 Fifth Avenue 1900 [Illustration: Flight of the Persians after Marathon.] PREFACE I have told again in this volume some familiar stories, using mostly the original authorities, but availing myself, where it was possible, of the help of Plutarch, whose biographies are always rich in picturesque details. These narratives never lose their interest, and they have this special significance, that they illustrate what we all at least desire to believe, that results of abiding good come out of the losses and sorrows of war. I have sought to draw out this thought with some detail in my Epilogue. A.J.C. Ightham, Sevenoaks. _September 8, 1900._ CONTENTS _BOOK I_ GREECE AND PERSIA. THE DEFENCE PAGE I. THE MEN OF MARATHON 2 II. THE LION KING 11 III. IN THE STRAITS 21 IV. THE WOODEN WALLS 29 V. THE BATTLES ON THE PLAIN AND ON THE SHORE 44 _BOOK II_ GREECE AND CARTHAGE I. THE LORD OF SYRACUSE 65 II. THE STORM FROM AFRICA 75 III. DIONYSIUS THE TYRANT 99 IV. THE DELIVERER FROM CORINTH 110 _BOOK III_ GREECE AND PERSIA. THE ATTACK I. THE FIGHT ON THE RIVER 123 II. THE IRRESISTIBLE PHALANX 135 III. THE ARMY OF THE HUNDRED PROVINCES 143 _BOOK IV_ ROME AND CARTHAGE I. THE SERVANTS OF MARS 154 II. FOR THE RULE OF THE SEA 159 III. THE MARTYR PATRIOT 166 IV. THE SONS OF LIGHTNING 174 V. THE AVALANCHE FROM THE ALPS 183 VI. THE DISASTER AT THE LAKE 194 VII. THE OVERTHROW AT CANNÆ 202 VIII. THE SECRET MARCH 213 IX. HANNIBAL'S LAST BATTLE 224 X. THE BLOTTING OUT OF CARTHAGE 232 _BOOK V_ ROME AND THE BARBARIANS. THE RISE I. THE DAY OF ALLIA 242 II. APOLLO THE DEFENDER 253 III. THE SWARM FROM THE NORTH 261 IV. BEYOND THE PYRENEES 275 V. ACROSS EUPHRATES 286 VI. THE CONQUESTS OF CÆSAR 302 VII. FURTHEST BRITAIN 323