PYRRHUS AND THE ROMANS. 329

On beholding these strange monsters, terrible alike
to horse and rider, the Roman cavalry fell back in
confusion. The horses could not be brought to face
their huge opponents. Their disorder broke the
ranks of the infantry. Pyrrhus charged them with
his Thessalian cavalry, and the Roman army was
soon in total rout, leaving its camp to the mercy of
its foes.

During the battle Pyrrhus, knowing that the
safety of his army depended on his own life,
exchanged his arms, helmet, and scarlet cloak for
the armor of Megacles, one of his officers. The
borrowed splendor proved fatal to Megacles. The
Romans made him their mark. Every one struck
at him. He was at last struck down and slain, and
his helmet and cloak were carried to Lavinus, the
Roman commander, who had them borne in triumph
along his ranks. Pyrrhus, fearing that this mistake
might prove fatal, at once threw off his helmet and
rode bareheaded along his own line, to let his soldiers
see that he was still alive, and that a scarlet cloak
was not a king.

The battle over, Pyrrhus surveyed the field, strewn
thickly with the dead of both armies, his valiant
soul moved to a new respect for his foes.

“Tf I had such soldiers,” he cried, “I could con-
quer the world.” Then, noting the numbers of his
own dead, he added, “ Another such victory, and I
must return to Epirus alone.”

He sent Cineas, his wise counsellor, to Rome to
offer terms of peace. Nearly four thousand of his
army had fallen, and these largely Grecks; the

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