The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 04 : $b Greece to the Roman Conquest
History
The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 04 : $b Greece to the Roman Conquest
World history
Mnasippus, perceiving what had happened, armed himself, and hastened,
with all the heavy-armed troops that he had, to the succour of his men,
ordering also the captains and centurions to lead out the mercenaries.
Some of the captains observing that “it was not easy for those to have
their men obedient who gave them no subsistence,” he struck one of them
with his staff, and another with the handle of his spear. Thus they all
came out without spirit, and with feelings of hatred towards their
general; a state of mind by no means favourable for fighting. However,
when he had drawn up his force, he put to flight those of the enemy that
were near the gates of the city, and pressed forward in pursuit of them;
but the pursued, when they were close to the wall, faced about, and
hurled stones and darts at him from the tombs; while others, sallying
forth from the other gates, fell, in a dense body, upon the extremity of
his line. Mnasippus’ men there, being formed but eight deep, and thinking
their wing too weak, endeavoured to wheel round, but when they began
to withdraw from their position, the enemy rushed upon them as if they
were going to flee, when they themselves no longer attempted to turn,
and those that were nearest to them took to flight. Mnasippus, at the
same time, was unable to support the party that were in difficulties, as
the enemy were pressing upon him in front, and he was continually left
with fewer and fewer men. At last the enemy, collecting in a body, made
a general attack upon those remaining with Mnasippus, now reduced to
a very small number indeed; while the people from the city, observing
how things stood, sallied forth, and, after killing Mnasippus, joined
in a general pursuit. The pursuers would probably have taken the camp
and entrenchment, had they not observed the crowd in the market, and
that of the servants and slaves, and, imagining it an efficient body of
defenders, retraced their steps. The Corcyræans however erected a trophy,
and restored the dead under a truce.
After this affair, the people in the city grew bolder, while those
without were in extreme dejection; for it was said that Iphicrates was
almost at hand; and the Corcyræans actually proceeded to fit out their
vessels. But Hypermenes, who had been second in command to Mnasippus,
manned all the Lacedæmonian ships that were there, and, sailing round
to the encampment, loaded them every one with slaves and other effects,
and sent them off. He himself, with the marines, and such of the other
soldiers as survived, stayed to guard the entrenchment; but at last these
also got on board in the utmost disorder and sailed away, leaving behind
them a great quantity of corn and wine, and a number of slaves and sick
persons; for they were extremely afraid that they would be surprised in
the island by the Athenians. However, they arrived in safety at Leucas.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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