A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Greek Invasion of Italy 365
mass of his soldiers to follow him quietly and in good order,
while he pushed on with the picked troops to join the
Romans, who all made way for him and received him as
their dictator with silence and respect. He then took the
gold from the scales and gave it to his lictors, and ordered Rome, 27;
the Gauls to take the scales and the beam and depart; " for World, 355.
it is the custom of the Romans," he said, "to defend their
country not with gold but with iron."
In this way Rome was strangely taken and yet more Plutarch,
strangely rescued, after the Gauls had held it more than
ten months.
III.
Pyrrhus
He was indeed a soldier worthy to command soldiers,
the only king of the age in whom could be traced any likeness
to the great Alexander.
his movements in
By the fire and the energy of
the field of battle, Pyrrhus revived the
image of that hero; other kings mimicked him only in
their behavior and in the trappings and state of royalty,
We can form an opinion of his knowledge and skill in
military affairs from the writings which he has left on these
Plutarch,
subjects. It is said, too, that Antigonus when asked who Greece, 318;
was the greatest general answered, " Pyrrhus, if he lives wotld, 359 f
to be old," for he was speaking of the generals of his time
only. Hannibal, however, considered Pyrrhus to have
been the best general that ever lived for skill and resource,
placing Scipio next and himself third, as is written in the
life of Scipio.
In fact Pyrrhus devoted the whole of his intellect to the
art of war; for he regarded it as the only study fit for a
king, and held all other occupations frivolous. . . .
As he desired some new adventures, he embraced the
following opportunity. Rome was at war with the Taren-