30 PYRRHUS.

who required him either to perform what he came for, and continue with them in a war against the Eomans, or leave the city as he found it. He returned no pleasing answer, but commanded them to be quiet and attend his time, and so sailed away. Being arrived in Sicily, what he had designed in his hopes was confirmed effectually, and the cities frankly surrendered to him ; and wherever his arms and force were necessary, nothing at first made any considerable resistance. For advancing with thirty thousand foot, and twenty-five hundred horse, and two hundred ships, he totally routed the Phoenicians, and overran their whole province, and Eryx being the strong- est town they held, and having a great garrison in it, he resolved to take it by storm. The army being in readi- ness to give the assault, he put on his arms, and coming to the head of his men, made a vow of plays and sacri- fices in honor to Hercules, if he signalized himself in that day's action before the Greeks that dwelt in Sicily, as be- came his great descent and his fortunes. The sign being given by sound of trumpet, he first scattered the barba- rians with his shot, and then brought his ladders to the wall, and was the first that mounted upon it himself, and, the enemy appearing in great numbers, he beat them back ; some he threw down from the walls on each side, others he laid dead in a heap round about him with his sword, nor did he receive the least wound, but by his very aspect inspired terror in the enemy ; and gave a clear demonstration that Homer was in the right, and pronounced according to the truth of fact, that fortitude alone, of all the virtues, is wont to display itself in divine transports and frenzies. The city being taken, he offered to Hercides most magnificently, and exhibited all varie- ties of shows and plays. A sort of barbarous people about Messena, called Mamertines, gave much trouble to the Greeks, and put