ith oars, to throw themselves backwards with
their arms drawn to their breasts; and then to throw their bodies and arms
forward in one regular motion, the instant their commanding officer gave
the signal. In two months, one hundred galleys of five benches of oars,
and twenty of three benches, were built; and after some time had been
spent in exercising the rowers on shipboard, the fleet put to sea, and
went in quest of the enemy. The consul Duillius had the command of it.

(M109) The Romans coming up with the Carthaginians near the coast of Myle,
they prepared for an engagement.(666) As the Roman galleys, by their being
clumsily and hastily built, were neither very nimble nor easy to work;
this inconvenience was supplied by a machine invented for this occasion,
and afterwards known by the name of the Corvus,(667) (_Crow_, or _Crane_,)
by the help of which they grappled the enemy's ships, boarded them, and
immediately came to close engagement. The signal for fighting was given.
The Carthaginian fleet consisted of a hundred and thirty sail, under the
command of Hannibal.(668) He himself was on board a galley of seven
benches of oars, which had once belonged to Pyrrhus. The Carthaginians,
thoroughly despising enemies who were utterly unacquainted with sea
affairs, imagined that their very appearance would put them to flight, and
therefore came forward boldly, with little expectation of fighting; but
firmly imagining they should reap the spoils, which they had already
devoured with their eyes. They were nevertheless a little surprised at the
sight of the above-mentioned engines, raised on the prow of every one of
the enemy's ships, and which were entirely new to them. But their
astonishment increased, when they saw these engines drop down at once; and
being thrown forcibly into their vessels, grapple them in spite of all
resistance. This changed the form of the engagement, and obliged the
Carthaginians to come to close engagement with their enemies, as though
they had fought them on land. They were unable to sustain the attack of
the Romans: a horrible slaughter ensued, and the Carthaginians lost
fourscore vessels, among which was the admiral's galley, he himself
escaping with difficulty in a small boat.

So considerable and unexpected a victory raised the courage of the Romans,
and seemed to redouble their vigour for the continuance of the war.
Extraordinary honours were bestowed on the consul Duillius, who was the
first R