§24.34.1et habuisset tanto impetu coepta res fortunam, nisi unus homo Syracusis ea tempestate fuisset.
And the undertaking begun with such great force would have been successful, had there not been one man in Syracuse at that time.
§24.34.2Archimedes is erat, unicus spectator caeli siderumque, mirabilior tamen inventor ac machinator bellicorum tormentorum operumque, quibus quicquid hostes ingenti mole agerent, ipse perlevi momento ludificaretur.
This was Archimedes, a unique observer of the heaven and stars, but an even more wonderful inventor and constructor of warlike engines and works, by which, whatever the enemy did with huge effort, he himself would mock with very little exertion.
§24.34.3muros per inaequalis ductos colles, pleraque alta et difficilia aditu, submissa quaedam et quae planis vallibus adiri possent, ut cuique aptum uisum est loco, ita genere omni tormentorum instruxit.
The walls, built along unequal hills, for the most part high and difficult of access, but in some parts low and able to be approached through flat valleys, he equipped, as it seemed suited to each location, with every kind of artillery.
§24.34.4Achradinae murum, qui, ut ante dictum est, mari adluitr, sexaginta quinqueremibus Marcellus oppugnabat.
Marcellus was attacking the wall of Achradina, which, as has been said before, is washed by the sea, with sixty quinqueremes.
§24.34.5ex ceteris navibus sagittarii funditoresque et velites etiam, quorum telum ad remittendum inhabile imperitis est, vix quemquam sine vulnere consistere in muro patiebantur.
From the other ships, archers, slingers, and even light-armed soldiers, whose missile is difficult for the inexperienced to throw back, scarcely allowed anyone to stand on the wall without a wound.
§24.34.6hi, quia spatio missilibus opus est, procul muro tenebant naves.
These, because space is needed for missiles, kept their ships far from the wall.
iunctae aliae binae quinqueremes demptis interioribus remis, ut latus lateri adplicaretur, §24.34.7cum exteriore ordine remorum velut una navis agerentur, turres contabulatas machinamentaque alia quatiendis muris portabant.
Other quinqueremes, joined two by two with the inner oars removed so that side might be applied to side, while they were driven by the outer bank of oars as if they were a single ship, carried many-storied towers and other devices for shaking the walls.
§24.34.8adversus hunc navalem apparatum Archimedes variae magnitudinis tormenta in muris disposuit.
Against this naval apparatus Archimedes arranged engines of various sizes on the walls.
in eas, quae procul erant, navis saxa ingenti pondere emittebat, propiores levioribus eoque magis crebris petebat telis; §24.34.9postremo, ut sui volnere intacti tela in hostem ingererent, murum ab imo ad summum crebris cubitalibus fere cavis aperuit, per quae cava pars sagittis pars scorpionibus modicis ex occulto petebant hostem.
Against those ships which were far off, he discharged stones of huge weight; those closer he attacked with lighter and therefore more frequent missiles; finally, so that his own men, untouched by wounds, might shower missiles upon the enemy, he opened the wall from bottom to top with numerous apertures of about a cubit's width, through which some with arrows, some with moderate scorpions, attacked the enemy from hiding.
§24.34.10quae propius quaedam subibant naves, quo interiores ictibus tormentorum essent, in eas tollenone super murum eminente ferrea manus, firmae catenae inligata, cum iniecta prorae esset gravique libramento plumbi recelleret ad solum, suspensa prora navem in puppim statuebat; §24.34.11dein remissa subito velut ex muro cadentem navem cum ingenti trepidatione nautarum ita undae adfligebat, ut, etiamsi recta reciderat, aliquantum aquae acciperet.
As for certain ships that came closer, in order to be inside the range of the blows of the engines, an iron hand, fastened to a strong chain, was thrown upon their prow from a crane projecting over the wall, and when, by a heavy counterweight of lead, it swung back toward the ground, it suspended the prow and stood the ship upright on its stern; then, suddenly released, it dashed the ship, falling as if from the wall, into the waves with great terror of the sailors, so that, even if it fell back upright, it shipped a considerable amount of water.
§24.34.12ita maritima oppugnatio est elusa omnisque spes eo versa, ut totis viribus terra adgrederentur.
Thus the maritime assault was frustrated, and all hope was turned to attacking by land with all their strength.
§24.34.13sed ea quoque pars eodem omni apparatu tormentorum instructa erat Hieronis inpensis curaque per multos annos, Archimedis unica arte.
But that part also had been equipped with all the same apparatus of engines at the expense and care of Hiero through many years, by the unique skill of Archimedes.
§24.34.14natura etiam adiuvabat loci, quod saxum, cui inposita muri fundamenta sunt, magna parte ita proclive est, ut non solum missa tormento, sed etiam quae pondere suo provoluta essent, graviter in hostem inciderent.
The nature of the place also helped, because the rock, upon which the foundations of the wall are laid, is for the largest part so steep that not only things sent from an engine, but also those which were rolled down by their own weight, fell heavily upon the enemy.
§24.34.15eadem causa ad subeundum arduum aditum instabilemque ingressum praebebat.
The same cause presented a steep approach and an unstable footing for those drawing near.
§24.34.16ita consilio habito quoniam omnis conatus ludibrio esset, absistere oppugnatione atque obsidendo tantum arcere terra marique commeatibus hostem placuit.
Thus, a council having been held, since every attempt was a mockery, it was decided to desist from the assault and, merely by blockading, to cut off the enemy from provisions by land and sea.