45>" On the Peftiiential Diep which 
umphantly to their ftation, at the fame time that Mawes 
compelled Epicides to take refuge within the walls of Achra- 
dina. After this, both of the Roman commanders flrength~ 
ened their encampments. > 
Such was the progrefs and ftate of the war when a pefti- 
lence, common to both armies, appeared both in the camp 
of the allies and of Crifpinus, and naturally diverted their 
ttention from hoftile operations: for the autamna! feafon, 
their unhealthy fituation, and the heat, (much more intole- 
‘rable without than in the city,) affected almoft every perfon 
in ether camp. At firft they became fick, and died, fimply 
from the effects of the feafon and the unhealthinefs of their 
fituation: afterwards, fays the hiftorian, the care and contact 
of the fick fpread the difeafe ; fo that thofe who were attacked 
with it perifhed, neglected and foriaken, or their attendants 
fell vigtims to their humanity. Deaths and funerals paifled 
before the view in rapid fucceffion, and day and night re- 
founded with lamentations. At length thefe feenes of cala- 
mity became fo familiar, that they not only neither wept, 
nor lamented the dead, but even ceafed to remove, or yet to 
inter them. Their lifelefs bodies lay extended in heaps, in 
the very fight of thofe who expected a fimilar fate; while -— 
“he dead infeed the fick, and the fick thefe who were in 
health, as well with fear as with the corruption and peflife-> 
rous exhalations from the bodies: fo that, impatient of life, 
and defirous rather to fall by the fword, fome fingly invaded 
the ftations of the enemy. The plague raged with far greater 
violence in the Carthaginien than in the Roman camp; for 7 
the Romans, from long refidence in the vicinity of syracufe, 
had become accuftomed to the air and water. As foon as — 
the Sicilian auxiliaries of the Carthaginians perceived that 
the difeafe fpread from the infalubrity of the place, they’ 
betook themfelves to their neare(i citics; but the. Carthagi. — 
nians, admitted into no city, together with their generals, — 
Himilco and Hippocrates, totally perithed. Marcellus, ob- 
ferving how faft the diforder increafed, drew the remainde ~ 
of his troops into the city, where, under fhelter, and in the 
fhade of the houfes, they regained health and vigour, note - 
withftanding 
