登陆注册
15401800000085

第85章

The other rams before the other gates began to be in motion.Men might be seen mounting from step to step in the hollow wheels of the tympanums.The pulleys and caps grated, the rope curtains were lowered, and showers of stones and showers of arrows poured forth simultaneously; all the scattered slingers ran up.Some approached the rampart hiding pots of resin under their shields; then they would hurl these with all their might.This hail of bullets, darts, and flames passed above the first ranks in the form of a curve which fell behind the walls.But long cranes, used for masting vessels, were reared on the summit of the ramparts; and from them there descended some of those enormous pincers which terminated in two semicircles toothed on the inside.They bit the rams.The soldiers clung to the beam and drew it back.The Carthaginians hauled in order to pull it up; and the action was prolonged until the evening.

When the Mercenaries resumed their task on the following day, the tops of the walls were completely carpeted with bales of cotton, sails, and cushions; the battlements were stopped up with mats; and a line of forks and blades, fixed upon sticks, might be distinguished among the cranes on the rampart.A furious resistance immediately began.

Trunks of trees fastened to cables fell and rose alternately and battered the rams; cramps hurled by the ballistas tore away the roofs of the huts; and streams of flints and pebbles poured from the platforms of the towers.

At last the rams broke the gates of Khamon and Tagaste.But the Carthaginians had piled up such an abundance of materials on the inside that the leaves did not open.They remained standing.

Then they drove augers against the walls; these were applied to the joints of the blocks, so as to detach the latter.The engines were better managed, the men serving them were divided into squads, and they were worked from morning till evening without interruption and with the monotonous precision of a weaver's loom.

Spendius returned to them untiringly.It was he who stretched the skeins of the ballistas.In order that the twin tensions might completely correspond, the ropes as they were tightened were struck on the right and left alternately until both sides gave out an equal sound.Spendius would mount upon the timbers.He would strike the ropes softly with the extremity of his foot, and strain his ears like a musician tuning a lyre.Then when the beam of the catapult rose, when the pillar of the ballista trembled with the shock of the spring, when the stones were shooting in rays, and the darts pouring in streams, he would incline his whole body and fling his arms into the air as though to follow them.

The soldiers admired his skill and executed his commands.In the gaiety of their work they gave utterance to jests on the names of the machines.Thus the plyers for seizing the rams were called "wolves,"and the galleries were covered with "vines"; they were lambs, or they were going to gather the grapes; and as they loaded their pieces they would say to the onagers: "Come, pick well!" and to the scorpions:

"Pierce them to the heart!" These jokes, which were ever the same, kept up their courage.

Nevertheless the machines did not demolish the rampart.It was formed of two walls and was completely filled with earth.The upper portions were beaten down, but each time the besieged raised them again.Matho ordered the construction of wooden towers which should be as high as the towers of stone.They cast turf, stakes, pebbles and chariots with their wheels into the trench so as to fill it up the more quickly; but before this was accomplished the immense throng of the Barbarians undulated over the plain with a single movement and came beating against the foot of the walls like an overflowing sea.

They moved forward the rope ladders, straight ladders, and sambucas, the latter consisting of two poles from which a series of bamboos terminating in a moveable bridge were lowered by means of tackling.

They formed numerous straight lines resting against the wall, and the Mercenaries mounted them in files, holding their weapons in their hands.Not a Carthaginian showed himself; already two thirds of the rampart had been covered.Then the battlements opened, vomiting flames and smoke like dragon jaws; the sand scattered and entered the joints of their armour; the petroleum fastened on their garments; the liquid lead hopped on their helmets and made holes in their flesh; a rain of sparks splashed against their faces, and eyeless orbits seemed to weep tears as big as almonds.There were men all yellow with oil, with their hair in flames.They began to run and set fire to the rest.They were extinguished in mantles steeped in blood, which were thrown from a distance over their faces.Some who had no wounds remained motionless, stiffer than stakes, their mouths open and their arms outspread.

The assault was renewed for several days in succession, the Mercenaries hoping to triumph by extraordinary energy and audacity.

Sometimes a man raised on the shoulders of another would drive a pin between the stones, and then making use of it as a step to reach further, would place a second and a third; and, protected by the edge of the battlements, which stood out from the wall, they would gradually raise themselves in this way; but on reaching a certain height they always fell back again.The great trench was full to overflowing; the wounded were massed pell-mell with the dead and dying beneath the footsteps of the living.Calcined trunks formed black spots amid opened entrails, scattered brains, and pools of blood; and arms and legs projecting half way out of a heap, would stand straight up like props in a burning vineyard.

The ladders proving insufficient the tollenos were brought into requisition,--instruments consisting of a long beam set transversely upon another, and bearing at its extremity a quadrangular basket which would hold thirty foot-soldiers with their weapons.

同类推荐
  • 秘传外科方

    秘传外科方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 金箓十回度人午朝转经仪

    金箓十回度人午朝转经仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 才调集

    才调集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 情梦柝

    情梦柝

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 养正遗规

    养正遗规

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 公子慕衡

    公子慕衡

    “咦?你是谁?”“呵!我是你二哥,更是你的爱人。”温润如玉的衡公子和腹黑冷情的南宫王爷,究竟是敌人,还是爱人,亦或即是敌人又是爱人。可那又怎么可能呢?且看我们天下闻名的衡公子,如何在爱人和敌人之间转换。。。
  • 大明星之我绝对不是抖M

    大明星之我绝对不是抖M

    我要声明的是,我绝对不是抖M,可是为什么在别人骂我的时候我会觉得心里很爽呢?
  • 开启中学生智慧的100个哲理故事

    开启中学生智慧的100个哲理故事

    罗斯·斯图特说:“一则故事能改善与他人之关系,移人情性,使人恍然大悟,认识到‘我们同在一片蓝天下’;一则故事可使我们沉思生存之意义;一则故事或使我们依然接受原有的真理,或给我们以新的视野和方式去体察大千世界、芸芸众生。”本书精选了100个活泼生动、浅显易懂却饱含人生智慧的哲理故事,每则故事后都配以“精彩哲思”、“慧语箴言”,对故事的内涵进行挖掘和阐述,揭示生活的哲理、人生的智慧、成功的钥节,让中学生朋友在轻松愉快的阅读中领悟做事做人的准则,学到处理日常事务的方法,引导他们养成良好的行为习惯,从而走上快乐成功的人生旅程。
  • 轻狂天涯

    轻狂天涯

    海角天涯,青春年华。故事千家,你我升华。各色芳华,陌路成家。人生无常,莫负青春年华!
  • 末世之草根

    末世之草根

    这只是一个幻想出来的世界!该作品的任何事物、名称等都是作者幻想出来的,如有雷同,纯属巧合!这不是一部架构精美的作品。我跟那些看过小说的读者一样,纯粹的想要满足自己冲动的创作热情而已。
  • EXO:妖孽!偷心执事

    EXO:妖孽!偷心执事

    (唯十二)|||“小幽,身为你的执事,当然要贴身保护你啊!”“可洗澡就不用贴身了吧?”|||“小幽,身为你的执事,当然要替你打算一日三餐的问题,外面的食物不卫生,还是吃我做的吧!”“可,你确定你做的这团黑乎乎的东西能吃?”|||“小幽,身为你的执事,当然要没日没夜的保护你!”“可以啊,可大晚上的,瞅着我睡觉真的好么?”|||“小幽,身为你的执事,当然要不畏严寒的保护你啊!”“可以啊!可你钻进我的被窝是几个意思?”|||“小幽,身为你的执事,当然要抛弃男女之别来保护你啊!”“可以啊!喂喂喂!你的手往哪摸?不可以啊!”|||{大家放心入坑哦!!甜文,宠文!要给谁加戏一定要告诉溯雨哦!!溯雨扣扣:3327644281}
  • 轩皇录

    轩皇录

    千古江山,气吞万里如虎。五代十国群雄逐鹿后周大将赵匡胤借口北汉与辽联合南侵率军出大梁,至陈桥驿授意将士给他穿上黄袍拥立他为帝。他第二位夫人王氏的三个孩子均夭折,但是其中一位被一位高人所救寄放在平民之中躲过了一场杀劫。且看这位身报杀父杀母之仇的柔弱少年如何在这看似太平盛世,其实杀机四伏的北宋之中历尽艰难险恶开展出一段荡气回肠的传奇之旅,在仇恨和国家危难之间究竟是克己奉公还是一己之私中做出选择……
  • 加油吧,实习生

    加油吧,实习生

    我,像大多数人一样,走到实习的单位,面对着迷茫和未知,走进实习生活,开始认识和了解这个混乱交错的体系……
  • 千缘成仙

    千缘成仙

    何为正、又何为邪。若道存我心,一念成佛、一痴沦魔。世间修道之人何其多,成仙之人又多少。有多少人因为他人议论停下了自己的脚步,又有多少人能看破红尘。世间繁华过千载,百年红粉成枯骨。他只是一个别人从监狱里带出来的附属品,早些年在监狱看了许多世态。终于要在大千世界开始自己的新征途......
  • 血火沙中界

    血火沙中界

    天意莫测神鬼泣,怒马芸峥血火行。月光磨剑侠客意,逆流行舟少年情。当凡人与修炼者共生共存,当刀剑之间失去尊卑,当人性的本质在所有人面前展现,又将迸发出怎样的精彩?一沙一世界,一界一个局。少年低调却不失轻狂,人情凶险却不失真爱,世界明了却不失神秘。没有没道理的一飞冲天,没有没缘由的爱恨情仇,亦没有不败的命运。不讲没蕴意的话,不挖无所谓的坑。一个慢热型的小说,只为一个耐心的读者。