the　army　into　great　semicircles　so　as　to　encompass　Carthage　the
  better。　The　hoplites　of　the　Mercenaries　were　placed　in　the　first　rank；
  and　behind　them　the　slingers　and　horsemen；　quite　at　the　back　were　the
  baggage；　chariots；　and　horses；　and　the　engines　bristled　in　front　of
  this　throng　at　a　distance　of　three　hundred　paces　from　the　towers。
  Amid　the　infinite　variety　of　their　nomenclature　（which　changed　several
  times　in　the　course　of　the　centuries）　these　machines　might　be　reduced
  to　two　systems：　some　acted　like　slings；　and　the　rest　like　bows。
  The　first；　which　were　the　catapults；　was　composed　of　a　square　frame
  with　two　vertical　uprights　and　a　horizontal　bar。　In　its　anterior
  portion　was　a　cylinder；　furnished　with　cables；　which　held　back　a　great
  beam　bearing　a　spoon　for　the　reception　of　projectiles；　its　base　was
  caught　in　a　skein　of　twisted　thread；　and　when　the　ropes　were　let　go　it
  sprang　up　and　struck　against　the　bar；　which；　checking　it　with　a　shock；
  multiplied　its　power。
  The　second　presented　a　more　complicated　mechanism。　A　cross…bar　had　its
  centre　fixed　on　a　little　pillar；　and　from　this　point　of　junction　there
  branched　off　at　right　angles　a　short　of　channel；　two　caps　containing
  twists　of　horse…hair　stood　at　the　extremities　of　the　cross…bar；　two
  small　beams　were　fastened　to　them　to　hold　the　extremities　of　a　rope
  which　was　brought　to　the　bottom　of　the　channel　upon　a　tablet　of
  bronze。　This　metal　plate　was　released　by　a　spring；　and　sliding　in
  grooves　impelled　the　arrows。
  The　catapults　were　likewise　called　onagers；　after　the　wild　asses　which
  fling　up　stones　with　their　feet；　and　the　ballistas　scorpions；　on
  account　of　a　hook　which　stood　upon　the　tablet；　and　being　lowered　by　a
  blow　of　the　fist；　released　the　spring。
  Their　construction　required　learned　calculations；　the　wood　selected
  had　to　be　of　the　hardest　substance；　and　their　gearing　all　of　brass；
  they　were　stretched　with　levers；　tackle…blocks；　capstans　or　tympanums；
  the　direction　of　the　shooting　was　changed　by　means　of　strong　pivots；
  they　were　moved　forward　on　cylinders；　and　the　most　considerable　of
  them；　which　were　brought　piece　by　piece；　were　set　up　in　front　of　the
  enemy。
  Spendius　arranged　three　great　catapults　opposite　the　three　principle
  angles；　he　placed　a　ram　before　every　gate；　a　ballista　before　every
  tower；　while　carroballistas　were　to　move　about　in　the　rear。　But　it　was
  necessary　to　protect　them　against　the　fire　thrown　by　the　besieged；　and
  first　of　all　to　fill　up　the　trench　which　separated　them　from　the
  walls。
  They　pushed　forward　galleries　formed　of　hurdles　of　green　reeds；　and
  oaken　semicircles　like　enormous　shields　gliding　on　three　wheels；　the
  workers　were　sheltered　in　little　huts　covered　with　raw　hides　and
  stuffed　with　wrack；　the　catapults　and　ballistas　were　protected　by　rope
  curtains　which　had　been　steeped　in　vinegar　to　render　them
  incombustible。　The　women　and　children　went　to　procure　stones　on　the
  strand；　and　gathered　earth　with　their　hands　and　brought　it　to　the
  soldiers。
  The　Carthaginians　also　made　preparations。
  Hamilcar　had　speedily　reassured　them　by　declaring　that　there　was
  enough　water　left　in　the　cisterns　for　one　hundred　and　twenty…three
  days。　This　assertion；　together　with　his　presence；　and　above　all　that
  of　the　zaimph　among　them；　gave　them　good　hopes。　Carthage　recovered
  from　its　dejection；　those　who　were　not　of　Chanaanitish　origin　were
  carried　away　by　the　passion　of　the　rest。
  The　slaves　were　armed；　the　arsenals　were　emptied；　and　every　citizen
  had　his　own　post　and　his　own　employment。　Twelve　hundred　of　the
  fugitives　had　survived；　and　the　Suffet　made　them　all　captains；　and
  carpenters；　armourers；　blacksmiths；　and　goldsmiths　were　intrusted　with
  the　engines。　The　Carthaginians　had　kept　a　few　in　spite　of　the
  conditions　of　the　peace　with　Rome。　These　were　repaired。　They
  understood　such　work。
  The　two　northern　and　eastern　sides；　being　protected　by　the　sea　and　the
  gulf；　remained　inaccessible。　On　the　wall　fronting　the　Barbarians　they
  collected　tree…trunks；　mill…stones；　vases　filled　with　sulphur；　and
  vats　filled　with　oil；　and　built　furnaces。　Stones　were　heaped　up　on　the
  platforms　of　the　towers；　and　the　houses　bordering　immediately　on　the
  rampart　were　crammed　with　sand　in　order　to　strengthen　it　and　increase
  its　thickness。
  The　Barbarians　grew　angry　at　the　sight　of　these　preparations。　They
  wished　to　fight　at　once。　The　weights　which　they　put　into　the　catapults
  were　so　extravagantly　heavy　that　the　beams　broke；　and　the　attack　was
  delayed。
  At　last　on　the　thirteenth　day　of　the　month　of　Schabar；at　sunrise；a
  great　blow　was　heard　at　the　gate　of　Khamon。
  Seventy…five　soldiers　were　pulling　at　ropes　arranged　at　the　base　of　a
  gigantic　beam　which　was　suspended　horizontally　by　chains　hanging　from
  a　framework；　and　which　terminated　in　a　ram's　head　of　pure　brass。　It
  had　been　swathed　in　ox…hides；　it　was　bound　at　intervals　with　iron
  bracelets；　it　was　thrice　as　thick　as　a　man's　body；　one　hundred　and
  twenty　cubits　long；　and　under　the　crowd　of　naked　arms　pushing　it
  forward　and　drawing　it　back；　it　moved　to　and　fro　with　a　regular
  oscillation。
  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