37.29
When
the fleet had been brought round to the city, the sailors and soldiers went
ashore to obtain for each ship its share of the provisions, and especially of
the wine. Not a single man was aware of the proximity of Polyxenidas.
Towards midday a countryman was brought before the praetor, and reported
that a fleet had been lying in front of the island of Macris for two days, and
that a few hours ago some of the vessels looked as if they were preparing to
sail. The praetor was considerably alarmed at this unexpected intelligence,
and ordered the trumpeters to sound the assembly, so that those who were
dispersed over the fields might come back, whilst the military tribunes were
sent into the city to hurry the soldiers and sailors on board. The disorder was
just like that caused by an outbreak of fire or the capture of a city: some
were running into the city to recall their comrades, others were running out
of the city to rejoin their ships, and amidst confused orders, wild shouting,
and the braying of the trumpets, there was a general rush to the ships. Hardly
anyone could make out his own ship or get near it for the tumult, and the
confusion might have been attended with serious danger both on sea and
land had it not been for the prompt action of the praetor. Leaving Eudamus
to conduct his own operations, Aemilius led the way out of the harbour into
the open sea, and meeting each ship as it came up, assigned its place in the
line. Eudamus with his Rhodians remained along shore, in order that they
might embark without confusion and each ship sail out as soon as it was
ready. Thus the first line was formed under the praetor's eye, the Rhodians
brought up the rear, and the combined fleet sailed out to sea in battle
formation, as though the enemy were actually in sight. They were between
Myonnesus and the point of Corycus when they got their first view of the
enemy. The king's fleet, which was advancing in a long column, two ships
abreast, also deployed into line and extended its left far enough to be able to
envelop the Roman right. When Eudamus saw this, and realised that the
Romans could not make their line equal in length to that of the enemy, and
that their right would be enveloped, he speeded up his ships, which were by
far the swiftest in the whole fleet, and after extending his line as far as the
enemy's, placed his own vessel opposite to that of Polyxenidas.