The Germany and the Agricola of TacitusTacitus, Cornelius
History
The Germany and the Agricola of Tacitus
Tacitus, Cornelius
Agricola, Gnaeus Julius, 40-93; Germanic peoples -- Early works to 1800; Statesmen -- Rome -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
37. Those of the Britons who, yet disengaged from the fight, sat on the
summits of the hills, and looked with careless contempt on the smallness
of our numbers, now began gradually to descend; and would have fallen on
the rear of the conquering troops, had not Agricola, apprehending this
very event, opposed four reserved squadron of horse to their attack,
which, the more furiously they had advanced, drove them back with the
greater celerity. Their project was thus turned against themselves; and
the squadrons were ordered to wheel from the front of the battle
and fall upon the enemy's rear. A striking and hideous spectacle
now appeared on the plain: some pursuing; some striking: some making
prisoners, whom they slaughtered as others came in their way. Now, as
their several dispositions prompted, crowds of armed Britons fled before
inferior numbers, or a few, even unarmed, rushed upon their foes,
and offered themselves to a voluntary death. Arms, and carcasses, and
mangled limbs, were promiscuously strewed, and the field was dyed in
blood. Even among the vanquished were seen instances of rage and valor.
When the fugitives approached the woods, they collected, and surrounded
the foremost of the pursuers, advancing incautiously, and unacquainted
with the country; and had not Agricola, who was everywhere present,
caused some strong and lightly-equipped cohorts to encompass the ground,
while part of the cavalry dismounted made way through the thickets,
and part on horseback scoured the open woods, some disaster would have
proceeded from the excess of confidence. But when the enemy saw their
pursuers again formed in compact order, they renewed their flight, not
in bodies as before, or waiting for their companions, but scattered
and mutually avoiding each other; and thus took their way to the most
distant and devious retreats. Night and satiety of slaughter put an end
to the pursuit. Of the enemy ten thousand were slain: on our part three
hundred and sixty fell; among whom was Aulus Atticus, the praefect of a
cohort, who, by his juvenile ardor, and the fire of his horse, was borne
into the midst of the enemy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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