The Roman History

AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS, BOOK XIV.

Thus it devours the land, unless you meet it opportunely.

Whether the Roman army was in close-knit ranks or, at times, scattered, they were overwhelmed by a vast multitude of the enemy. This tribe The Isaurians, born and raised among the high and winding ridges of the mountains, leaps through those peaks as if they were flat and soft plains, provoking those in their path from a distance with missiles and terrifying them with savage howling. Our infantry were forced several times to climb high cliffs to pursue them; even if, with slipping feet, they reached the highest summits by grasping at shrubs or briars, they were nonetheless unable to deploy their battle lines among the narrow and pathless ways. They could not even plant their feet with firm effort, while the enemy, running about the rocks, rolled down sheared-off boulders from above. Thus, our men would either retreat dangerously down the slopes or, fighting bravely out of dire necessity, be crushed by the falling of massive weights.

The blows of sedition are not easily repelled; and its beginnings must be seriously opposed.

Therefore, with watchful caution, it was subsequently observed that whenever the raiders began to seek the heights of the mountains, the soldiers would yield to the disadvantage of the terrain. But when the enemy could be found on the plains—which happened continually—they were permitted neither to exert their arms nor to brandish the two or three spears they carry; instead, they were slaughtered like helpless cattle.

Rebels must be pursued with force and skill, and restrained by the sword.

The stubborn spirit of rebels spares no labor to persist in an evil undertaking.

Therefore, these same bandits, fearing Lycaonia A region in central Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, consisting largely of level steppes. because it is for the most part level ground, knew from frequent evidence that they would be no match for our men in a pitched battle original: "congressione stataria." This refers to formal, set-piece battles where Roman heavy infantry, with their superior training and equipment, almost always defeated irregular tribal forces.. Consequently, they sought Pamphylia by devious paths. This region had long been untouched by war, but out of fear of devastation and slaughter, it was now fortified on all sides by great garrisons, with soldiers spread throughout all the neighboring areas. Hurrying rapidly, then, so that they might outrun the rumor of their movement by excessive speed, and trusting in their physical vigor and agility, the rebels slowly emerged onto the hilltops via winding paths. And when, having overcome these arduous difficulties, they reached the banks of the deep and swirling river Melas The modern Manavgat River; "Melas" means "black" or "dark" in Greek., which protects the surrounding inhabitants like a wall, they rested for a short time as the night deepened, waiting for the light.

At length, [their plans] become vain...

For they believed that, with no one hindering their crossing, they could devastate everything in their path by an unexpected attack; but in vain... original: "incassum." The text cuts off mid-sentence, preparing the reader for the failure of the Isaurian ambush on the following page.