heights, to prevent the army from being
attacked on the flank, for it was observed that the enemy were placing
a strong body of cavalry and light infantry on their wings, with the
view of adapting that part of their battle to ready and easy
manoeuvres, their design being to extend their line and to surround the
Romans.

XVIII. In the mean time the Chaeroneians, whom Sulla had placed under
the command of Ericius, went round Thurium without being perceived,
and all at once showed themselves to the enemy, who immediately
falling into great confusion, took to flight and sustained
considerable loss, but chiefly from themselves; for as they did not
stand their ground, but ran down the hill, they got entangled among
their own spears and shoved one another down the rocks, while the
Chaeroneians pressing upon them from above, wounded them in the parts
which were unprotected; and there fell of the enemy to the number of
three thousand. Part of those who got safe to the foot of the hill,
being met by Murena, whose troops were already in order of battle, had
their retreat cut off and were destroyed: the rest forced their way to
the army of Archelaus, and, falling upon the line in disorder, caused
a general alarm and confusion, and some loss of time to the generals;
and this did them no small harm, for Sulla promptly led his forces
against the enemy while they were still in disorder, and by quickly
traversing the interval between the two lines, deprived the
scythe-bearing chariots[239] of all opportunity of being effective.
The efficacy of the chariots depends mainly on the space they
traverse, by which they acquire velocity and momentum; but when the
space is small their attack is ineffectual and feeble, just like
missiles that have not been propelled with due force. Now this
happened to the barbarians. The first chariots were driven on without
any vigour, and came feebly against the ranks of the Romans, who
easily pushed them aside, and, clapping their hands and laughing,
called for more, as the people do in the horse-races of the
Circus.[240] Upon this the infantry joined battle; the barbarians
pushed forward their long spears and endeavoured by locking their
shields to maintain their ranks in line: the Romans hurled their
javelins, and then drawing their swords, endeavoured to beat aside the
spears, that they might forthwith close with the enemy; for they were
irritated at seeing drawn up in front of the enemy fifteen thousand