Plataea

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University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1902 - 76 pages
 

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Page 18 - ... choosing a space between two of the towers. Those who carried the ladders went first and placed them against the wall ; they were followed by twelve others armed only with sword and breastplate, under the command of Ammeas the son of Coroebus : he was the first to mount ; after him came the twelve, six ascending the wall and proceeding towards each of the two towers on the right and left.
Page 18 - ... they that came after carried targets at their backs, that they might be the more expedite to get up, which targets they were to deliver to them when they came to the enemy. At length, when most of them were ascended, they were heard by the watchmen that were in the towers ; for one of the Plataeans, taking hold of the battlements, threw down a tile, which made a noise in the fall, and presently there was an alarm; and the army run to the wall, for in the dark and stormy night they knew not what...
Page 17 - ... battlements and kept guard from the towers, which were not far from each other and were covered overhead. Such was the plan of the wall with which Plataea was invested. When the Plataeans had completed their preparations they took advantage of a night on which there was a storm of wind and rain and no moon, and sallied forth. They were led by the authors of the attempt. First of all they crossed the ditch which surrounded the town ; then they went forward to the wall of the enemy. The guard did...
Page 19 - Meanwhile the Plataeans were scaling the walls. The first party had mounted, and, killing the sentinels, had gained possession of the towers on either side. Their followers now began to occupy the passages, lest the enemy should come through and fall upon them. Some of them placed ladders upon the wall against the towers, and got up more men. A shower of missiles proceeding both from the upper and lower parts of the towers kept off all assailants. Meanwhile the main body of the Plataeans, who were...
Page 20 - ... down to the last man of them all, got safely over the ditch, though with great exertion and only after a hard struggle ; for the ice in it was not frozen hard enough to bear, but was half water, as is commonly the case when the wind is from the east and not from the north. And the snow which the east wind brought in the night had greatly swollen the water, so that they could scarcely accomplish the passage. It was the violence of the storm, however, which enabled them to escape at all.
Page 18 - ... rushed out upon the wall; for in the dark and stormy night they did not know what the alarm meant. At the same time, in order to distract their attention, the Plataeans who were left in the city made a sally against the Peloponnesian wall on the side opposite to the place at which their friends were getting over. The besiegers were in great excitement, but every one remained at his own post, and dared not stir to give assistance, being at a loss to imagine what was happening. The three hundred...
Page 19 - ... passages, lest the enemy should come through and fall upon them. Some of them placed ladders upon the wall against the towers, and got up more men. A shower of missiles proceeding both from the upper and lower parts of the towers kept off all assailants. Meanwhile the main body of the Plataeans, who were still below, applied to the wall many ladders at once, and, pushing down the battlements, made their way over through the space between the towers. As each man got to the other side he halted...
Page 24 - ... them the firstfruits in their season of that friendly land in which they rest ; we were their allies too, who in times past had fought at their side ; and if you now pass an unjust sentence, will not your conduct strangely contrast with ours ? Reflect : when Pausanias buried them here, he thought that he was laying them among friends and in friendly earth. But if you put us to death and make Plataea one with Thebes, are you not robbing your fathers and kindred of the honour which they enjoy,...
Page 19 - ... excitement, but every one remained at his own post, and dared not stir to give assistance, being at a loss to imagine what was happening. The three hundred who were appointed to act in any sudden emergency marched along outside the walls towards the spot from which the cry proceeded, and fire-signals indicating danger were raised towards Thebes. But the Plataeans in the city had numerous counter signals ready on the wall, which they now lighted and held up, thereby hoping to render the signals...
Page 18 - ... they were near the enemy. A considerable number had now ascended, when they were discovered by the guards. One of the Plataeans, taking hold of the battlements, threw down a tile which made a noise in falling: immediately a shout was raised and the enemy rushed out upon the wall; for in the dark and stormy night they did not know what the alarm meant. At the same time, in order to distract their attention, the Plataeans who were left in the city made a sally against the Peloponnesian wall on...

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