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[6] And at last, after turning over many plans, we resolved upon a plan which speedy action made the safer, namely, to oppose four scorpions 1 to those same ballistae; but while they were being moved exactly opposite and cautiously put in place (an act calling for the greatest skill) the most sorrowful of days dawned upon us, showing as it did formidable bands of Persians along with troops of elephants, than whose noise and huge bodies the human mind can conceive nothing more terrible.

1 The scorpion was an engine for hurling stones, also called onager, “wild ass.” It is described in xxiii. 4, 4 ff.

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