Читать книгу Art of War - Sun-tzu - Страница 19

Pyrrhus advanced, and encamped in the plain between the cities of Pandosia and Heraclea, hoping to attack the Romans as they were coming over, scattered and disordered. But when he saw a vast number of shields appearing above the water, and the horse following them in good order, gathering his men in a closer body, himself at the head of them, he began the charge. While exposing his hands and body in the fight, and bravely repelling all that engaged him, he still guided the battle with steady and undisturbed reason. After being almost killed by a horseman, Pyrrhus used greater caution, and changed his scarf and his arms with Megacles, one of his friends, and, obscuring himself, as it were, in his, charged upon the Romans. The change of his arms was very opportune for the safety of his person, not having done so would have overthrown his cause and lost him the victory; for several falling upon Megacles, the first that gave him his mortal wound was one Dexous, who, snatching away his helmet and his robe and holding them up, said aloud he had killed Pyrrhus. These spoils being carried about and shown among the ranks, the Romans were transported with joy, and shouted aloud; while equal discouragement and terror prevailed among the Greeks, until Pyrrhus, understanding what had happened, rode about the army with his face bare, stretching out his hand to his soldiers, and telling them aloud it was he. At last, the elephants more particularly began to distress the Romans, whose horses, before they came near, not enduring them, went back with their riders; and upon this, he commanded the Thessalian cavalry to charge them in their disorder, and routed them with great loss.

(adapted from: Parallel Lives by Plutarch)

Hannibal stripping the dead Romans after battle, 19th century.

Engraving.