The History of Rome, Books 37 to the End: with the Epitomes and Fragments of the Lost Books — John Shaqi
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
considered it as dishonourable, that the fleet of Eumenes should assist
the consul in conveying the legions into Asia, that he should be
fettered by bearing to the besieged Colophon an assistance destined to
have an uncertain end. Eudamus, the Rhodian, (who had before prevailed
upon him to stay at Samos, when he wished to go to the Hellespont,) with
all the other officers, pressed him to comply, representing “how much
more eligible it would be, either to relieve confederates from a siege,
or to vanquish that fleet which he had vanquished before, and to take
from the enemy the entire possession of the sea, than, deserting his
allies, and delivering Asia to Antiochus by land and sea, to depart from
his own part of the war to the Hellespont, when the fleet of Eumenes was
sufficient for that station.”
27. They accordingly, having set sail from Samos in quest of provisions,
their stock being consumed, were preparing to pass over to Chios. Samos
served as a granary to the Romans, and thither all the store-ships sent
from Rome directed their course. When they had sailed round from the
city to the back of the island, which looks northward towards Chios and
Erythræ, and were preparing to cross over, the prætor is informed by a
letter, that a vast quantity of corn had arrived at Chios, from Italy;
but that the vessels laden with wine were detained by storms. At the
same time accounts were received, that the people of Teos had furnished
large supplies of provisions to the king’s fleet, and had promised five
thousand vessels of wine. On this the prætor immediately changed his
course, and steered away to Teos, resolved either to make use of the
provisions prepared for the enemy, with the consent of the inhabitants,
or to treat them as foes. When they had turned their prows to the land,
about fifteen vessels appeared in sight near Myonnesus, which the prætor
at first supposed to belong to the king’s fleet, and hastened to pursue.
It appeared afterwards, that they were piratical cutters and galleys.
They, having ravaged the sea-coast of Chios, returning with booty of
every kind, betook themselves to flight when they saw the fleet on the
open sea. They had much the advantage in swiftness, their galleys being
lighter and constructed for the purpose, and were nearer the land;
therefore before the fleet could overtake them, they made their escape
to Myonnesus. And the prætor, unacquainted with the place, followed in
expectation of forcing their ships from it out of the harbour. Myonnesus
is a promontory between Teos and Samos. It consists of a hill rising
from a pretty large base to a sharp top, in the shape of an obelisk.
From the land it has access by a narrow path towards the sea, cliffs
undermined by the waves terminate it, so that in some places the
superimpending rocks project beyond the vessels that lie at anchor. The
ships not daring to approach lest they should be exposed to the weapons
of the pirates, who stood above on the cliffs, wasted the day to no
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