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
11. By chance one of Antiochus’s soldiers, when he had come to Samos on
account of private business, being seized as a spy, is brought to
Panormus to the admiral. This man, it is uncertain whether through fear
or treachery towards his countrymen, disclosed all things to him,
inquiring what was going on at Ephesus: that the fleet lay in harbour,
fully equipped and ready for sea; that all the rowers had been sent to
Magnesia (at Sipylus); that very few of the ships had been hauled on
land; that the docks were shut, and that never was the business of the
fleet conducted with greater diligence. But the mind of Pausistratus,
prepossessed by misplaced confidence and vain hopes, caused these things
not to be attended to as true. Polyxenidas, having fully adjusted all
his measures, having called in the rowers from Magnesia, and launched
hastily the ships that were in dock, by night, after wasting the day not
so much in preparation as because he was unwilling that the fleet should
be seen going to sea, set sail after sun-set with seventy decked ships,
and, the wind being contrary, put into the harbour of Pygelia before
daylight. Where when he had rested during the day, for the same reason
as before, he passed over, in the night to the nearest part of the
Samian territory. From this place, having ordered a certain Nicander, a
chief pirate, to sail with five decked ships to Palinurus, and thence to
lead his armed men by the shortest road through the fields towards
Panormus, and so to come behind the enemy; he himself, in the mean
time, with his fleet in two divisions, in order that it might command
the mouth of the harbour on both sides, proceeded to Panormus.
Pausistratus was at first confused for a little, as the thing was
unexpected; but afterwards, being an old soldier, having quickly
regained his courage, and judging that the enemy would be more easily
repelled by land than by sea, he marched his armed forces in two bodies
to the promontories, which, by their heads projecting into the deep,
formed the harbour; under the impression that he could easily repel the
enemy by weapons on both sides, from the two promontories. When the
sight of Nicander on the land had disconcerted this undertaking, having
suddenly changed his design, he ordered all to go on board the ships.
Then truly a great confusion arose among soldiers and sailors alike, and
a sort of flight to the ships took place, when they perceived themselves
surrounded by land and sea at the same time. Pausistratus supposed that
the only way of safety was to force through the narrow entrance of the
port, and push out into the open sea; and after that he saw his men
embarked, ordering the rest to follow, he himself the first, with ship
urged vigorously by the oars, pressed to the mouth of the harbour. Just
as his ship was clearing the entrance, Polyxenidas, with three
quinqueremes, surrounded it. The vessel, shattered by their beaks, sunk;
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