The historical library of Diodorus the Sicilian in fifteen books : the first five contain the antiquities of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece, the islands, and Europe : the last ten an historical account of the affairs of the Persians, Grecians, Macedonians and other parts of the world : to which are added the fragments of Diodorus that are found in the Bibliotheca of Photius : together with those publish'd by H. Valesius, L. Rhodomannus, and F. Ursinus / made English by G. Booth ..., Esq.

Out of the 24th BOOK.

Eclog. 1. THE Carthaginians, after they had raz'd the City Selinunte, transplanted the Citizens to Lilybeum. But the R••mans sail'd with 240 long Gallies, and 60 * 1.1 round Vessels, and all other sorts of Shipping to Panormus, and thence to Lilybeum, which now they began to besiege; and fortify'd themselves by a Trench drawn all along from Sea to Sea. Then they prepar'd them * 1.2 Engines to cast Stones, battering Rams and * 1.3 En∣gines not only to batter, but pluck the Stones by violence out of the Walls, and all other things necessary for the raising of Mounts and Bulwarks. Then they fill'd 15 of their round Vessels with Stones, and cast them into the Mouth of the Harbour to choak it up. The Roman Army amounted to the number of 110000 Men, of whom 60000 Foot and 700 Horse were order'd to carry on the Siege. But 4000 Men with Corn and Provi∣sion were sent from Carthage to the Besieged, which greatly heartned them and * 1.4 Atarbus their Governor. When the Romans understood that Relief was got into the City, they fill'd up the Mouth of the Harbour a second time, and made a Bomb with Anchors and great Pieces of Timber; but the Wind which then blew high, and the violent Surges of the Sea, broke all asunder. The Romans likewise made another * 1.5 Engine to cast mighty Stones; but the Carthaginians rais'd another Wall within, and the Romans fill'd up the City Trench with Earth, which was 60 Cubits broad, and 40 deep. And whilst a Skir∣mish was fought on that side of the Walls towards the Sea, the R••mans plac'd an Ambush on the other side, and the Soldiers within making Sallies out of the Town to help them that were engag'd at the Sea-side, those that lay in Ambush (having Scaling-Ladders ready mounted) gain'd the first Wall; which being known, the Carthaginian Com∣mander fell furiously upon them, and kill'd 10000 upon the Place, and put the rest to flight, and burnt all the Roman Engines, battering Rams, Instruments to cast Stones, and all their Works and Fortifications. After this, the Carthaginians seeing that their Horse was of no use to them in the strait and narrow Passages, sent them away to Drapanum. Then presently came in strong Recruits to the Carthaginians; but the Romans (by the burning of their Engines, and through want of Provision, and the breaking out of the Plague amongst them,) were reduc'd to great Straits, (for only the Romans and their Confederates eat Flesh,) and so a great Distemper seiz'd them, that in a very few days there dy'd 10000, so that they were very earnest to breast up the Siege; but Hiero, King of Syracuse, sent them a great quantity of Corn, which again encourag'd them to con∣tinue. Afterwards the Romans chose another Consul, and gave the Command of the Army to Claudius the Consul, the Son of Appius, who taking charge of the Army, stop'd up the Mouth of the Port as his Predecessor had done, but the Sea bore down and car∣ry'd all away again. Moreover Claudius thinking himself able to do great Things, fur∣nish'd out 210 of the best Ships, and arriv'd at Drapanum, and there engag'd with the Carthaginians in a Sea-fight, and was beaten, and lost 117 of his Ships, and 20000 Men. There never happen'd so great a Fight at Sea, and so absolute a Victory, either among * 1.6 the Carthaginians, or any other about these times; and that which was more to be ad∣mir'd was, That tho' the Carthaginians were in so great Danger, and had only 90 Sail, yet they lost not one Man, and had but a very few wounded.—With 30 Sail, * 1.7 which intercepted the Corn and Provision belonging to the Romans, and carry'd it to Drapanum, and taking thence what remain'd that was useful, they came to Lilybeum, and loaded the Besieg'd with all kind of Provision. And now Carthalo the General came from Carthage with 70 long Ships or Men of War, and as many loaden with Corn, who also set upon the Romans and sunk some of their Vessels, and carry'd off four others that lay at Anchor. But after he heard that the Roman Fleet was set forth from Syracuse, ha∣ving call'd a Council of War, he went out to Sea against them with 220 Sail of the best Ships he had. When the Fleets came in sight one of another near the Coasts of Gela, the Romans (struck with a Pannick Fear) attack'd about and hasted to Phintiades, lea∣ving all their Transport Ships loaden with Provision, and other Vessels, behind them. But the Carthaginians making a swift Pursuit after them, there happened a fierce Engagement; In which, the Carthaginians sunk 50 of their great Men of War, and 60 other long Gal∣lies, * 1.8 and disabled 13. After the Fight, the Carthaginians sail'd to the River Alycus, and there took care of their wounded Men. In the mean time, Junius the Consul not know∣ing what was done, loos'd from Messina with 36 long Gallies and many Ships of Burden, and having pass'd Pachynus, and gain'd the Port of Phintiades, upon Intelligence of what had happen'd he was amaz'd; and the Carthaginians making up upon him with their whole Navy, he burnt 12 of the most useless of his own Ships, and sail'd with the rest to∣wards

Syracuse, hoping to be secur'd by Hiero. But near Camarina a Storm arose, which drave him upon the Shallows and Rocks, the Winds being very fierce and boistrous: But the Carthaginians having recover'd Pachynus, anchor'd in a safe and secure Harbour. The Romans being thus distress'd, lost all their Transport Sips of Corn and Provision, and * 1.9 105 long Gallies, so that there were only two that escap'd, and most of their Men pe∣rish'd. Junius with those two, and those Men that were preserv'd, came to the Camp at * 1.10 Lilybeum: He surpriz'd Erix in the night, and wall'd Aegothalus, which is now call'd Acellus, and put in there a Garrison of 800 Men. But when Carthalo had intelligence, that the Places about Eryx were possess'd by the Enemy, he wasted thither a considerable Body of Men in the night, and assaulted the Garrison of Agothalus and took the Castle, and so succeeding in his Design; some he put to the Sword, and the rest fled to Eryx, where was a Garrison of 3000 Men. In the first Sea-fight the Romans lost 35000 Men, and as many were taken Prisoners.

11. In the Territory of Catana there was a Castle call'd Italium, which was assaulted by Barcas the Carthaginian.—For the Counsels and Stratagems of the Commanders being communicated to their Friends, were discover'd by some Deserters to the Enemy, which terrifi'd the Soldiers, and possess'd them with an expectation of some imminent Danger. But Barcas arriving there in the night, landed his Men, and was the first that led them to Eryx (which was 30 Stages distant) and took the City, and put most of them to the Sword, and those that surviv'd he remov'd to * 1.11 Drapanum.—Always and in every Concern it's known by Experience, that the Observance of good Rule and Or∣der has produc'd many good and great Effects.—

12. But Calatinus the Consul sail'd into Sicily with 300 long Gallies, and other Shipping, to the number of 1000 in the whole, and cast Anchor at the Mart-Town of the Eryceans. Hanno likewise arriv'd * 1.12 in the Sacred Island from Carthage with 250 long Gallies, and other Ships of Burden; thence he came to Eryx.—The Romans fell on, and a sharp and obstinate Engagement there was on both sides, in which the Carthaginians lost 117 Ships, and among those 20 with all their Men. But the Romans—80, 30 * 1.13 for their own Charge and Expence, and 50 to divide for Spoil, and 6000 Prisoners, (as Philinus re∣ports,) but as others 4040; the rest of the Fleet got safe with a fair Wind to Carthage.—For Valour signifi'd nothing, when the Fleet was so dispers'd, that it had no body to fly unto, but was by the Sea (as it were) deliver'd up into the hands of the Enemy. So * 1.14 that after the War had continu'd between the Romans and the Carthaginians for the space of 24 years, and Lilybeum had been besieg'd 10 years, a Peace was concluded. * 1.15

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lil••beum resi••g'd by the Romans.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  Call'd by the Romans, Te∣studines.
• * 1.4

  Adherbal.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  Th•• Romans beaten at Sea by the Cartha∣ginians.
• * 1.7

  Note: Not one Man lost in a great Sea-fight.
• * 1.8

  The Romans beaten again at Sea.
• * 1.9

  A Storm upon the Romans, who lost 105 Gallies, and all their Transport-Ships.
• * 1.10

  Now call'd Marsala.
• * 1.11

  Now call'd Trapano.
• * 1.12

  Hieronesus, Polyb. l. 1. one of the Lypari Islands near Sicily, dedi∣cated to Aeolus and Vulcan.
• * 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.14

  * 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.15

  The end of the first Punick War, Olymp. 134. Ant. Ch. 240.