Sicily, that at last even
those who were besieged at Syracuse took courage; and thinking that
half their forces would be sufficient for the defence of the city,
they divided the business of the war between them in such a manner,
that Epicydes superintended the defence of the city, while
Hippocrates, in conjunction with Himilco, prosecuted the war against
the Roman consul. The latter, having passed by night through the
intervals between the posts, with ten thousand foot and five hundred
horse, was pitching a camp near the city Acrillae, when Marcellus came
upon them, while engaged in raising the fortifications, on his return
from Agrigentum, which was already occupied by the enemy, having
failed in his attempt to get there before the enemy by expeditious
marching, Marcellus calculated upon any thing rather than meeting with
a Syracusan army at that time and place; but still through fear of
Himilco and the Carthaginians, for whom he was by no means a match
with the forces he had with him, he was marching with all possible
circumspection, and with his troops so arranged, as to be prepared for
any thing which might occur.

36. It happened that the caution he had observed with intent to guard
him against the Carthaginians, proved useful against the Sicilians.
Having caught them in disorder and dispersed, employed in forming
their camp, and for the most part unarmed, he cut off all their
infantry. Their cavalry, having commenced a slight engagement, fled to
Acrae with Hippocrates. This battle having checked the Sicilians in
their purpose of revolting from the Romans, Marcellus returned to
Syracuse, and a few days after Himilco, being joined by Hippocrates,
encamped on the river Anapus, about eight miles distant from that
place. Nearly about the same time, fifty-five ships of war of the
Carthaginians, with Bomilcar as commander of the fleet, put into the
great harbour of Syracuse from the sea, and a Roman fleet of thirty
quinqueremes landed the first legion at Panormus; and so intent were
both the contending powers upon Sicily, that the seat of war might
seem to have been removed from Italy. Himilco, who thought that the
Roman legion which had been landed at Panormus, would doubtless fall a
prey to him on its way to Syracuse, was mistaken in his road; for the
Carthaginian marched through the inland parts of the country, while
the legion, keeping along the coast, and attended by the fleet, came
up with Appius Claudius, who had