d of 65,000 men, from whence he directed his
march on Delphi. The town of Delphi was built on the slope of one
of the peaks of Parnassus, in the midst of a natural excavation,
and being almost entirely surrounded with precipices, it was left
unprotected by any artificial fortifications: above the town, on
the north, was situated the magnificent temple of Apollo, filled
with native offerings of the Greeks. The possession of this
treasure was the main object of the Brenn. The Gaulish army, on
their arrival before Delphi, dispersed over, and pillaged the
surrounding country for the remainder of the day; thus losing the
most favourable opportunity of assaulting the town."

The _denouement_ of the tragedy we shall give in Thierry's own words:--

"During the night, Delphi received from all sides, by the mountain
paths, numerous reinforcements from the neighbouring people. There
arrived successively 1200 well-armed AEtolians, 400 heavy-armed men
from Amplussa, and a detachment of Phocians, who, with the citizens
of Delphi, formed a body of 4000 men. At the same time, they
learned that the brave AEtolian army, after having defeated
Comlutis, had retaken the road to Elatia, and, increased by bands
of the Phocians and Boeotians, laboured to prevent the junction
of the Gaulish army of Heraclea with the division which besieged
Delphi.

"During the same night, the camp of the Gauls was the theatre of
the greatest debauchery; and when day dawned, the greater portion
of them were still intoxicated: nevertheless, it was necessary to
make the assault without loss of time, for the Brenn already
perceived how much the delay of a few hours had cost him. He drew
out his troops then in battle array, enumerating to them anew all
the treasures which they had before their eyes, and those which
awaited them in the temple: he then gave the signal for the
escalade. The attack was vigorous, and was sustained by the Greeks
with firmness. From the summit of the narrow and steep slope by
which the assailants had to ascend in order to approach the town,
the besieged poured down a multitude of arrows and stones, not one
of which fell harmless. Several times the Gauls covered the ascent
with their dead; but every time they returned to the charge with
courage, and at last forced th