A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

612 PYRRHUS. PYRRHUS.
wished for opportunity presented itself. The Ta- own business and retire to Epeirus. Fearing to
rentines, against whom the Romans had declared remain inactive any longer, although he was not yet
war, sent an embassy to Pyrrhus in the summer joined by his allies, Pyrrhus marched out against
of this year, begging him in the name of all the the Romans with his own troops and the Taren.
Italian Greeks to cross over to Italy in order to tines. He took up his position between the towns
conduct the war against the Romans. They told of Pandosia and Heracleia, on the left or northern
him that they only wanted a general, and that bank of the river Siris. The Romans were enthey would supply him with an army of 350,000 camped on the southern bank of the river, and they
foot, and 20,000 horse, as all the nations of south- were the first to begin the battle. They crossed
ern Italy would flock to his standard. This was the river and were immediately attacked by the
tco tempting an offer to be resisted. It realized one cavalry of Pyrrhus: who led them to the charge in
of the earliest dreams of his ambition. The con- person, and distinguished himself as usual by the
quest of Rome would naturally lead to the sove- most daring acts of valour. The Romans, howreignty of Sicily and Africa; and he would then ever, bravely sustained the attack; and Pyrrhus,
be able to return to Greece with the united forces finding that his cavalry could not decide the day,
of Italy, Sicily, and Carthage, to overcome his ordered his infantry to advance. The battle was
rivals in Greece, and reign as master of the world. still contested most furiously; seven times did
He therefore eagerly promised the Tarentines to both armies advance and retreat; and it was not
come to their assistance, notwithstanding the re- till Pyrrhus brought forward his elephants, which
monstrances of his wise and faithful counsellor bore down every thing before them, that the RoCineas; but as he would not trust the success of his mans took to flight. The Thessalian cavalry comenterprize to the valour and fidelity of Italian troops, pleted the rout. The Romans fled in the utmost
he began to make preparations to carry over a confusion across the river Siris, leaving their camp
powerful army with him. These preparations occu- to the conqueror. The battle had lasted all day,
pied him during the remainder of this year and the and it was probably the fall of night alone which
beginning of the next. The Greek princes did saved the Roman army from complete destruction.
every thing to favour his views, as they were glad Those who escaped took refuge in an Apulian town,
to get rid of so powerful and dangerous a neighbour. which Niebuhr conjectures to have been Venusia.
Alltigonus supplied him with ships, Antiochus with The number of the slain in either army is differently
money, and Ptolemy Ceraunus with troops. He stated; but the loss of Pyrrhus, though inferior to
left as guardian of his kingdom his son Ptolemy that of the Romans, was still very considerable,
by his first wife Antigone, who was then only a and a large proportion of his officers and best troops
youth of fifteen years of age. (Justin. xvii. 2, had fallen. He is reported to have said, as he
xviii. 1.) viewed the field of battle, "Another such vicPyrrhus crossed over to Italy early in B. C. 280, tory, and I must return to Epeirus alone." He
in the thirty-eighth year of his age. He took with acted with generosity after the battle, burying
him 20,000 foot, 3000 horse, 2000 archers, 500 the dead bodies of the Romans like those of his
slingers, and either 50 or 20 elephants, having own troops, and treating his prisoners with kindpreviously sent Milo, one of his generals, with a ness.
detachment of 3000 men. (Plut. PyrrTr. 15; This victory was followed by important results.
Justin. xvii. 2.) Such was his impatience to ar- The allies of Pyrrhus, who had hitherto kept aloof,
rive at Tarentum in time to enter upon military joined him now; and even many of the subjects of
operations early in the spring, that he set sail be- Rome espoused his cause. But Pyrrhus had
fore the stormy season of the year had passed; and bought his victory dearly, and must have learnt
he had scarcely put out to sea before a violent by the experience of the late battle the difficulty he
tempest arose, which dispersed his fleet. He him- would have to encounter in conquering Rome. He
self hardly escaped with his life, and arrived at therefore sent his minister Cineas to Rome with
Tarentum with only a small part of his army. proposals of peace, while he himself collected the
After a time the scattered ships gradually made forces of the allies and marched slowly towards
their appearance; and after collecting his troops, Central Italy. The terms which he offered were
he began to make preparations to carry on the those of a conqueror. He proposed that the Rowar with activity. The inhabitants of Taren- mans should recognise the independence of the
tum were a giddy and licentious people, unac- Greeks in Italy, should restore to the Samnites,
customed to the toils of war, and unwilling to Lucanians, Apulians, and Bruttians, all the posendure its hardships. They accordingly attempted sessions which they had lost in war, and should
to evade entering the ranks of the army, and be- make peace with himself and the Tarentines. As
gan to make complaints in the public assemblies soon as peace was concluded on these terms, he
respecting the demands of Pyrrhus and the conduct promised to return all the Roman prisoners withof his troops; bat Pyrrhus forthwith treated them out ransom. Cineas, whose persuasive eloquence
as their master rather than as their ally, shut up was said to have won more towns for Pyrrhus than
the theatre and all other public places, and com- his arms, neglected no means to secure the favour
pelled their young men to serve in his ranks. of the Romans for his master, and to induce them
Notwithstanding al4 the activity of Pyrrhus the to accept the peace. The prospects of the republic
Romans were the first in the field. The consul seemed so dark and threatening that many memM. Valerius Laevinus marched into Lucania; but bers of the senate thought that it would be
as the army of Pyrrhus was inferior to that of the more prudent to comply with his demands; and
Romans, he attempted to gain time by negotia- this party would probably have carried the day,
tion, in order that he might be joined by his Italian had it not been for the patriotic speech of the aged
allies. He accordingly wrote to the consul, offer- Ap. Claudius Caecus, who denounced the idea
ing to arbitrate between Rome and his Italian of a peace with a victorious foe with such effect,
allies; but Laevinus bluntly told him to mind his that the senate resolved to decline the proposals of