the author of his suffering, swam the stream, and thus set an example for the rest to make the same venture.[1]
When the Carthaginian admirals were about to equip their fleet, but lacked broom,[2] they cut off the hair of their women and employed it for making cordage.[3]
The Massilians and Rhodians did the same.
Marcus Antonius, when a refugee from Mutina, gave his soldiers bark to use as shields.[4]
Spartacus and his troops had shields made of osiers and covered with hides.[5]
This place, I think, is not inappropriate for recounting that famous deed of Alexander of Macedon. Marching along the desert roads of Africa, and suffering in common with his men from most distressing thirst, when some water was brought him in a helmet by a soldier, he poured it out upon the ground in the sight of all, in this way serving his soldiers better by his example of restraint than if he had been able to share the water with the rest.[6]
VIII. On Distracting the Attention of the Enemy
When Coriolanus was seeking to avenge by war the shame of his own condemnation, he prevented the ravaging of the lands of the patricians, while burning and harrying those of the plebeians, in order to arouse discord whereby to destroy the harmony of the Romans.[7]
- ↑ 218 B.C. Cf. Livy xxi. xxviii. 5-12.
- ↑ The Spanish broom, used for making rope.
- ↑ 146 B.C. Cf. Flor. ii. xv. 10.
- ↑ 43 B.C.
- ↑ 73 B.C. Cf. Flor. iii. xx. 6.
- ↑ 332–331 b.c. Cf. Polyaen iv. iii. 25. Curt. vii. v. 9–12 and Plut. Alex. 42 have a slightly different version.
- ↑ 489 B.C. Cf. Livy ii. xxxix. 5-8; Plut. Coriol. 27
