The Europa Barbarorum Quotes Project

[machinor]

Thanks. Appian's telling of the Mithridatic Wars is actually quite a good read. I just found another good one. At the battle of Orchomenus the Roman soldiers are frightened by the superior Pontic cavalry and are about to rout. Sulla's reaction:


... ἐξήλατο του̂ ἵππου, καὶ σημει̂ον ἁρπάσας ἀνὰ τὸ μεταίχμιον ἔθει μετὰ τω̂ν ὑπασπιστω̂ν, κεκραγώς: "εἴ τις ὑμω̂ν, ὠ̂ ̔Ρωμαι̂οι, πύθοιτο, που̂ Σύλλαν τὸν στρατηγὸν ὑμω̂ν αὐτω̂ν προυδώκατε, λέγειν, ἐν ̓Ορχομενῳ̂ μαχόμενον."

[Sulla] leaped from his horse, seized a standard, ran out between the two armies with his shield-bearers, exclaiming, "If you are ever asked, Romans, where you abandoned Sulla, your general, say that it was at the battle of Orchomenus."

Appian, The Mithridatic Wars, VII.46


One might also only quote the part Sulla shouts, but I think the whole thing about him jumping off his horse and running in between the two armies with a standard is quite cool too. Also note: the Greek text uses the term "hypaspiston" (also "shield-bearers" in this translation) for his bodyguards.