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means of proof； most deserve our admiration。 It is not possible to
find in all geometry more difficult and intricate questions； or more
simple and lucid explanations。 Some ascribe this to his natural
genius； while others think that incredible effort and toil produced
these； to all appearances； easy and unlaboured results。 No amount of
investigation of yours would succeed in attaining the proof； and
yet； once seen； you immediately believe you would have discovered
it； by so smooth and so rapid a path he leads you to the conclusion
required。 And thus it ceases to be incredible that （as is commonly
told of him） the charm of his familiar and domestic Siren made him
forget his food and neglect his person； to that degree that when he
was occasionally carried by absolute violence to bathe or have his
body anointed； he used to trace geometrical figures in the ashes of
the fire； and diagrams in the oil on his body； being in a state of
entire preoccupation； and； in the truest sense； divine possession with
his love and delight in science。 His discoveries were numerous and
admirable； but he is said to have requested his friends and
relations that； when he was dead； they would place over his tomb a
sphere containing a cylinder； inscribing it with the ratio which the
containing solid bears to the contained。
Such was Archimedes； who now showed himself； and so far as lay in
him the city also； invincible。 While the siege continued； Marcellus
took Megara； one of the earliest founded of the Greek cities in
Sicily； and capturing also the camp of Hippocrates at Acilae； killed
above eight thousand men； having attacked them whilst they were
engaged in forming their fortifications。 He overran a great part of
Sicily； gained over many towns from the Carthaginians； and overcame
all that dared to encounter him。 As the siege went on； one Damippus； a
Lacedaemonian； putting to sea in a ship from Syracuse； was taken。 When
the Syracusans much desired to redeem this man； and there were many
meetings and treaties about the matter betwixt them and Marcellus；
he had opportunity to notice a tower into which a body of men might be
secretly introduced； as the wall near to it was not difficult to
surmount； and it was itself carelessly guarded。 Coming often
thither； and entertaining conferences about the release of Damippus；
he had pretty well calculated the height of the tower； and got ladders
prepared。 The Syracusans celebrated a feast to Diana； this juncture of
time； when they were given up entirely to wine and sport； Marcellus
laid hold of； and before the citizens perceived it； not only possessed
himself of the tower； but； before the break of day； filled the wall
around with soldiers； and made his way into the Hexapylum。 The
Syracusans now beginning to stir； and to be alarmed at the tumult；
he ordered the trumpets everywhere to sound； and thus frightened
them all into flight； as if all parts of the city were already won；
though the most fortified； and the fairest； and most ample quarter was
still ungained。 It is called Acradina； and was divided by a wall
from the outer city； one part of which they call Neapolis； the other
Tycha。 Possessing himself of these； Marcellus； about break of day；
entered through the Hexapylum； all his officers congratulating him。
But looking down from the higher places upon the beautiful and
spacious city below； he is said to have wept much； commiserating the
calamity that hung over it； when his thoughts represented to him how
dismal and foul the face of the city would be in a few hours； when
plundered and sacked by the soldiers。 For among the officers of his
army there was not one man that durst deny the plunder of the city
to the soldiers' demands； nay； many were instant that it should be set
on fire and laid level to the ground： but this Marcellus would not
listen to。 Yet he granted； but with great unwillingness and
reluctance； that the money and slaves should be made prey； giving
orders； at the same time； that none should violate any free person；
nor kill； misuse； or make a slave of any of the Syracusans。 Though
he had used this moderation； he still esteemed the condition of that
city to be pitiable； and； even amidst the congratulations and joy；
showed his strong feelings of sympathy and commiseration at seeing all
the riches accumulated during a long felicity now dissipated in an
hour。 For it is related that no less prey and plunder was taken here
than afterward in Carthage。 For not long after they obtained also
the plunder of the other parts of the city； which were taken by
treachery； leaving nothing untouched but the king's money； which was
brought into the public treasury。 But nothing afflicted Marcellus so
much as the death of Archimedes； who was then； as fate would have
it； intent upon working out some problem by a diagram； and having
fixed his mind alike and his eyes upon the subject of his speculation；
he never noticed the incursion of the Romans； nor that the city was
taken。 In this transport of study and contemplation； a soldier；
unexpectedly coming up to him； commanded him to follow to Marcellus；
which he declining to do before he had worked out his problem to a
demonstration； the soldier； enraged； drew his sword and ran him
through。 Others write that a Roman soldier； running upon him with a
drawn sword； offered to kill him； and that Archimedes； looking back；
earnestly besought him to hold his hand a little while； that he
might not leave what he was then at work upon inconclusive and
imperfect； but the soldier； nothing moved by his entreaty； instantly
killed him。 Others again relate that； as Archimedes was carrying to
Marcellus mathematical instruments； dials； spheres； and angles； by
which the magnitude of the sun might be measured to the sight； some
soldiers seeing him； and thinking that he carried gold in a vessel；
slew him。 Certain it is that his death was very afflicting to
Marcellus； and that Marcellus ever after regarded him that killed
him as a murderer； and that he sought for his kindred and honoured
them with signal favours。
Indeed； foreign nations had held the Romans to be excellent soldiers
and formidable in battle； but they had hitherto given no memorable
example of gentleness； or humanity； or civil virtue； and Marcellus
seems first to have shown to the Greeks that his countrymen were
most illustrious for their justice。 For such was his moderation to all
with whom he had anything to do； and such his benignity also to many
cities and private men； that； if anything hard or severe was decreed
concerning the people of Enna； Megara； or Syracuse； the blame was
thought to belong rather to those upon whom the storm fell； than to
those who brought it upon them。 One example of many I will
commemorate。 In Sicily there is a town called Engyum； not indeed
great； but very ancient and ennobled by the presence of the goddesses；
called the Mothers。 The temple； they say； was built by the Cretans；
and they show some spears and brazen helmets； inscribed with the names
of Meriones； and （with the same spelling as in Latin） of Ulysses；
who consecrated them to the goddesses。 This city highly favouring
the party of the Carthaginians