Adversus hunc navalem apparatum Archimedes variae magnitudinis tormenta in muria disposuit. In eas, quae procul erant, naves saxa ingenti pondere emittebat, propiores levioribus eoque magis crebris petebat telis; postremo, ut sui vulnere intacti tela {5} in hostem ingererent, murum ab imo ad summum crebris cubitalibus fere cavis aperuit, per quae cava pars sagittis pars scorpionibus modicis ex occulto petebant hostem. Quae propius quaedam subibant naves, quo interiores ictibus tormentorum essent, in {10} eas tollenone super murum eminente ferrea manus, firmae catenae illigata, cum iniecta prorae esset gravique libramento plumbi recelleret ad solum, suspensa prora navem in puppim statuebat; dein remissa subito velut ex muro cadentem navem cum {15} ingenti trepidatione nautarum ita undae affligebat, ut, etiam si recta reciderat, aliquantum aquae acciperet, Ita maritima oppugnatio est elusa omnisque spes eo versa, ut totis viribus terra aggrederentur. Sed ea quoque pars eodem omni apparatu tormehtorum instructa {20} erat Hieronis impensis curaque per multos annos, Archimedis unica arte. LIVY, xxiv, 34. [Linenotes: 1. +adversus ... apparatum+, i.e. to oppose the elaborate naval attack by Marcellus on the seaward defences of Achradina. 7. +cubitalibus fere cavis+ = _with holes_ (fr. +cavum+ = noun) _about 1½ feet square_, +cubitalibus+ (_cubitum_) = _a cubit long_. Polybius has a _palm_ long, about 3 inches. This is more probable. 8. +scorpionibus+ = _crossbows_ or _manuballistae_. 10. +quo interiores ... essent+ = _so as to be too close in to be hit by_ (+intertores ictibus+) _the engines_. 10-12. +in eas+ (sc. +proras+) +iniecta+ = _on their bows was dropped_ ... 11. +tollenone+ = _from a swing beam_, supported at the centre of gravity by a strong fixed fulcrum. 12-13. +cum (ferrea manus) gravique ... ad solum+ = lit. _when (the grappling-iron) swung back_ (+recelleret+) _to the ground by a heavyweight of lead_. ‘This is incorrect; it was not the grappling-iron, but the other (_inland_) end of the lever which was brought down to the ground.’ --Rawlins. 15. +remissa+ (sc. +ferrea manus+) = _the grappling-hook was (then) suddenly let go_. 16. +ita undae affligebat+ = _was dashed with such violence on the disturbed water_ (+undae+).] +Cause of the War.+ Soon after the death of Hiero in 216 B.C., his whole family was murdered, and the supreme power in Syracuse fell into the hands of the two brothers, Hippocrates and Epicydes, Hannibal’s agents. C31 SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C. _Marcellus laments over Syracuse._