The History of Rome, Books 37 to the End: with the Epitomes and Fragments of the Lost BooksLivy
History
The History of Rome, Books 37 to the End: with the Epitomes and Fragments of the Lost Books
Livy
Rome -- History
lying incommodiously for one party or the other, as chance directed,
were great obstructions to their movements; and here the plunderer,
there the defender of the booty, fell. The fortune of the fight was
variable, according as the ground was favourable or unfavourable to this
party or that, and according to the spirit of the combatants, and their
numbers, for some had come in contact with a stronger party than
themselves, others with a weaker. On both sides, however, great numbers
fell. The night was now approaching, when the Thracians retired from
the fight, not for the purpose of avoiding wounds or death, but because
they had got enough of booty.
41. The first division of the Romans encamped beyond the pass, in open
ground, round the temple of Bendis;[36] the second division remained in
the middle of the defile, surrounded by a double rampart, to guard the
baggage. Next day, having carefully examined the ground before they put
themselves in motion, they rejoined the first. In that battle, although
part of the baggage was lost, while a great part of the attendants and
many of the soldiers perished, (since the fight was carried on through
almost the whole extent of the defile,) yet the heaviest loss sustained
was in the death of Quintus Minucius Thermus, a brave and gallant
officer. The army arrived that day at the Hebrus, and thence passed
through the country of the Ænians, by the temple of Apollo, whom the
natives call Zerynthius. Another defile, as rugged and uneven as the
former, awaits them around Tempyra (this is the name of the place); but,
as there were no woods near, it afforded no cover for an ambuscade.
Hither assembled the Thrausians, (who are also a Thracian tribe,) with
the same hope of plunder; but because the bare valleys had this effect,
that they were visible at a distance besetting the defile, there was
less terror and tumult among the Romans; for, although they were obliged
to fight on disadvantageous ground, yet it was in a regular battle, in
an open field, and a fair encounter. Advancing in close order, with the
war-shout, and falling on the enemy, they soon drove them off the
ground, and put them to flight. Afterwards the rout and massacre began
to take place, for the narrow passes actually impeded them. The
victorious Romans encamped at a village of the Maronites, called Sare.
Next day, after marching through an open country, the plain of Priate
received them, where they halted three days, to receive supplies of
corn, partly from the country of the Maronites, who made a voluntary
contribution, and partly from their own ships, which attended them with
stores of every kind. From this post there was one day’s march to
Apollonia, whence they proceeded through the territory of Abdera to
Neapolis. All this march through the Grecian colonies was performed in
security. The rest of their march through the midst of the Thracians,
though not harassed, was full of apprehension, by day and night, until
they arrived in Macedon.
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