33.9
After the
Roman troops who had been engaged had retired through the intervals
between the leading maniples, Quinctius ordered the trumpets to sound the
advance. Seldom, it is said, has such a battle-shout been raised at the
beginning of an action, for both armies happened to shout at the same
moment, not only those actually engaged, but even the Roman reserves and
the Macedonians who were just then appearing on the field. On the right the
king, aided mainly by the higher ground on which he was fighting, had the
advantage. On the left, where that part of the phalanx which formed the rear
was only just coming up, all was confusion and disorder. The centre stood
and looked on as though it were watching a fight in which it had no concern.
The newly-arrived part of the phalanx, in column instead of in line of battle,
in marching rather than in fighting formation, had hardly reached the crest of
the hill. Though Quinctius saw that his men were giving ground on the left
he sent the elephants against these unformed troops and followed up with a
charge, rightly judging that the rout of a part would involve the rest. The
result was not long in doubt; the Macedonians in front, terrified by the
animals, instantly turned tail, and when these were repulsed the rest followed
them. One of the military tribunes, seeing the position, suddenly made up his
mind what to do, and leaving that part of his line which was undoubtedly
winning, wheeled round with twenty maniples and attacked the enemy's right
from behind. No army when attacked in the rear can fail to be shaken, but
the inevitable confusion was increased by the inability of the Macedonian
phalanx, a heavy and immobile formation, to face round on a new front. To
make matters worse, they were at a serious disadvantage from the ground,
for in following their repulsed enemy down the hill they had left the height
for the enemy to make use of in his enveloping movement. Assailed on both
sides they lost heavily, and in a short time they flung away their arms and
took to flight.
