§31.17.1Abydeni primo tormentis per muros dispositis non terra modo adeuntis aditu arcebant, sed navium quoque stationem infestam hosti faciebant; §31.17.2postea, cum et muri pars strata ruinis et ad interiorem raptim oppositum murum cuniculis iam perventum esset, legatos ad regem de condicionibus tradendae urbis miserunt.
The Abydenes at first, by means of artillery distributed along the walls, not only kept those approaching by land from access, but also made the anchorage of the ships dangerous for the enemy; afterwards, when both a part of the wall had been laid in ruins and the inner wall hastily built opposite had already been reached by mines, they sent envoys to the king concerning the conditions of surrendering the city.
§31.17.3paciscebantur autem, ut Rhodiam quadriremem cum sociis navalibus Attalique praesidium emitti liceret atque ipsis urbe excedere cum singulis vestimentis.
Now they were bargaining that the Rhodian quadrireme with its naval allies and the garrison of Attalus should be allowed to be sent away, and that they themselves might depart from the city with a single garment each.
§31.17.4quibus cum Philippus nihil pacati nisi omnia permittentibus respondisset, adeo renuntiata haec legatio ab indignatione simul ac desperatione iram accendit, §31.17.5ut ad Saguntinam rabiem versi matronas omnis in templo Dianae, pueros ingenuos virginesque, infantes etiam cum suis nutricibus in gymnasio includi iuberent, §31.17.6aurum et argentum in forum deferri, vestem pretiosam in navis Rhodiam Cyzicenamque, quae in portu erant, coici, sacerdotes victimasque adduci et altaria in medio poni.
When Philip had replied to them that there would be nothing of peace unless they surrendered everything unconditionally, this embassy, when reported back, so kindled their anger from a mixture of indignation and despair, that, turning to the Saguntine madness, they ordered all the matrons to be shut up in the temple of Diana, the free-born boys and virgins, and even the infants with their nurses in the gymnasium, the gold and silver to be brought down into the forum, the precious clothing to be thrown into the Rhodian and Cyzicene ships which were in the harbor, the priests and victims to be brought, and altars to be set up in the midst.
§31.17.7ibi delecti primum, qui, ubi caesam aciem suorum pro diruto muro pugnantem vidissent, extemplo coniuges liberosque interficerent, aurum argentum vestemque, §31.17.8quae in navibus esset, in mare deicerent, tectis publicis privatisque, quam plurimis locis possent, ignes subicerent; §31.17.9id se facinus perpetraturos praeeuntibus exsecrabile carmen sacerdotibus iureiurando adacti; §31.17.10tum militaris aetas iurat neminem vivum nisi victorem acie excessurum.
There, first of all, men were chosen who, when they should see their line of battle fighting in front of the ruined wall cut to pieces, were immediately to kill their wives and children, and to throw the gold, silver, and clothing, which was in the ships, into the sea, and to set fire to the public and private buildings in as many places as they could; to the performance of this deed they were bound by an oath, with the priests dictating the accursed formula; then those of military age swore that no one would leave the battle alive except as a victor.
hi memores deorum adeo pertinaciter pugnaverunt, ut, cum proelium nox diremptura esset, rex prior, territus rabie eorum, pugna abstiterit.
Bearing the gods in mind, they fought so stubbornly that, when night was about to break off the battle, the king first, terrified by their madness, desisted from the fight.
§31.17.11principes, quibus atrocior pars facinoris delegata erat, cum paucos et confectos vulneribus ac lassitudine superesse proelio cernerent, luce prima sacerdotes cum infulis ad urbem dedendam Philippo mittunt.
The leading men, to whom the more horrible part of the deed had been delegated, when they saw that only a few, exhausted by wounds and fatigue, survived the battle, at first light sent the priests with woollen bands to surrender the city to Philip.