Scipio Briefs His Troops
Such is the nature of this city's situation. The side
of the Roman camp which faced the city therefore was
secured, without any artificial means, by the lagoon and the
sea. The neck of land lying between these two, and connecting the city with the continent, Scipio did not fence off
with a stockade, although it abutted on the middle of his
camp,—either for the sake of making an impression upon the
enemy, or by way of suiting the arrangement to his own design,
—that he might have nothing to hamper the free egress and
return of his troops to and from the camp. The circuit of
the city wall was not more than twenty stades formerly,—
though I am aware that it has been stated at forty stades;
but this is false, as I know from personal inspection and not
from mere report,—and in our day it has been still farther
contracted.
The fleet arrived to the hour, and Publius then thought it
time to summon a meeting of his men and to
encourage them to the undertaking by the use
of the same arguments by which he had convinced himself, and which I have just now
detailed. He pointed out to them that the plan was practicable; and briefly summing up the blow which their success
would be to their enemies, and the advantage it would be to
themselves, he ended by promising crowns of gold to those
who first mounted the walls, and the usual rewards to those who
displayed conspicuous gallantry. And finally he declared that
"Poseidon had appeared to him in his sleep, and originally
suggested his plan to him; and had promised to give him such
signal aid in the actual hour of battle that his assistance should
be made manifest to all." The skilful mixture in this speech
of accurate calculation with promises of gold crowns, and a
reference to Divine Providence, created a great impression and
enthusiasm in the minds of the young soldiers.
