To Seius Tubero, his Lieutenant, he committed the horse and the
field; the infantry so disposed, that part might pass the level approaches
into the wood, and the rest force the ramparts; this was the most arduous
task, and to himself he reserved it; the rest he left to his Lieutenants.
Those who had the even ground to traverse, broke easily in; but they who
were to assail the rampart, were as grievously battered from above, as if
they had been storming a wall. The General perceived the inequality of
this close attack, and drawing off the legions a small distance, ordered
the slingers to throw, and the engineers to play, to beat off the enemy:
immediately showers of darts were poured from the engines, and the
defenders of the barrier, the more bold and exposed they were, with the
more wounds they were beaten down. Germanicus, having taken the rampart,
first forced his way, at the head of the Praetorian cohorts, into the
woods, and there it was fought foot to foot; behind, the enemy were begirt
with the morass, the Romans with the mountains or the rivers; no room for
either to retreat, no hope but in valour, no safety but in victory.
Pages:
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176