Polyaenus
Stratagems of War
Translated by E. Shepherd. F.R.S.
Unchanged reprint of the Edition: London 1793.
Ares Publishers, Inc.
5.18 Agathostratus
The Rhodians being engaged in a war with Ptolemy, whose fleet then lay at Ephesus; Chremonidas, Ptolemy’s admiral, embarked, and put to sea, intending to give the Rhodians battle. Agathostratus sailed with the Rhodian fleet as far as Melia: and having shewn himself to the enemy, as if declining an action, returned into port. The enemy gave a general cheer, at seeing the Rhodians retreat, and returned also into port. When Agathostratus with all expedition putting to sea again, in a close compact line bore down upon them, just as they were landing at the temple of Venus; and vigorously attacking them thus unprepared for action, obtained a complete victory.
5.35 Nearchus
Nearchus the Cretan made himself master of Telmissus, then in the hands of Antipatridas, by the following stratagem. He sailed into the harbour: when Antipatridas, who was an old acquaintance of his, came out from the fort to him, and asked him if he was on particular business; and whether he was in want of any thing. The Cretan told him, he had some music girls on board, and some slaves that were in irons, whom he should be glad to leave on shore with him: which Antipatridas readily granted. The women were accordingly conducted into the fort; and the slaves carrying their instruments and baggage attended them. In the flutes were concealed small swords, and targets in the baskets: which, as soon as they had entered the castle, those, who had attended them thither, immediately laid hold on; possessed themselves of the fort, and made Nearchus master of Telmissus.
5.44 Memnon
[1] Memnon, having determined on a war with Leucon tyrant of the Bosphorus, in order to acquaint himself with his force, and the population of the country, dispatched Archibiades in a vessel to Byzantium, as his ambassador to Leucon, to treat with him of an alliance. And with him he sent an eminent musician, an Olynthian, Aristonicus by name, the most celebrated artist of his day: that whatever towns he touched at in his passage, Aristonicus might publicly entertain them with his musical abilities; and, the inhabitants of course crowding to the theatres to hear him, the ambassador might be enabled from the number of men he saw there to form some estimate of the population of the respective places.
[2] Memnon, when encamped on a plain before the enemy, to decoy them from an advantageous post they had taken, retreated to a greater distance from them; and drew up only a part of his army, to induce the enemy to suspect some disaster in his camp. And to support such suspicion, he at the same time dispatched a revolter over to them, to inform them a mutiny had taken place in his army; and that not venturing to trust his troops, he had for fear of an attack from the enemy retreated to a greater distance. His retreat, and the diminished appearance of his army, conspired to confirm the information of the revolter: they ventured therefore to quit their post, and offered him battle. When the army of Memnon, instead of being divided by mutinies, in one firm body marched out, attacked the enemy, and obtained a complete victory.
[3] Chares having besieged Aristonymus in Methymna, Memnon sent an embassy to him, desiring him to desist from any further hostilities against Aristonymus, who was his father’s friend and ally; and whom he should, if he persisted in the siege, the next night with a powerful force relieve. Chares ridiculed an embassy of that import: supposing it impossible by the next night to transport so far an army of the magnitude he pretended. But Memnon, as soon as he had dispatched the embassy, marched his forces five furlongs, and embarked twelve hundred men: with orders as soon as ever they were landed at the fort, to kindle a fire, and attack the enemy. Such an unexpected attack in the dark, and a fire at the same time blazing, induced Chares to make a precipitate retreat; supposing Memnon had with all the force pretended possessed himself of the citadel.
[4] Memnon with a body of five thousand troops advanced against Magensia; and, at the distance of forty furlongs from the city which was defended by Parmenio and Attalus with a force of ten thousand men, pitched his camp; and fortified it. This done, he led his forces out: but, on the enemy’s advance, sounded a retreat; and marched back his army into the camp. The enemy retreated in the same manner. Memnon again drew up his army, and as soon as the enemy advanced against him, he again retreated. The enemy also according to his movements regulated their own: advancing to the field when he marched out, and retreating when he retreated. At last, after the enemy had retreated from the field, put off their arms, and were at dinner, Memnon immediately returned and attacked them. Rising hastily from their meal, some without arms, others hastily snatching them up, and all in great confusion, before they had time to form their phalanx, he had secured a victory: many being cut to pieces, and many taken prisoners; and those, who escaped, fled for refuge to the city.
[5] When Memnon advanced against Cyzicum, he put a Macedonian cap upon his head, and made all his army do the same. The Cyzicenian generals, observing from the walls their appearance, supposed it to be Chalcus the Macedonian, their friend and ally, marching with a body of troops to their assistance; and had opened their gates to receive him. They however discovered their error just soon enough to correct it, and shut their gates against him: when Memnon contented himself with ravaging their country.
6.48 Mentor
Mentor, having got Hermaeus into his power, wrote letters in his name to all the cities, that were under his authority; ordering them to receive as their governor the person, whom he had charged with the delivery of the respective letters: which he sealed with Hermaeus’s seal. Knowing his seal, in obedience to the mandate of the letters, the people surrendered their several cities into the hands of Mentor’s officers.