ng the boats to
shore, and hastily landing the ladders and the men, each man pressing
forward to gain the land the shortest way, they hindered one another
by their very haste and eagerness.

45. In the mean time, the Carthaginians had now filled the walls again
with armed men, who were supplied with a great quantity of missiles
from the immense stores which they had laid up. But neither men nor
missiles, nor any thing else, so effectually defended them as the
walls themselves, for very few of the ladders were equal to the height
of them, and all those which were longer than the rest were
proportionably weaker. Accordingly, those who were highest being
unable to mount from them, and being followed, nevertheless, by
others, they broke from the mere weight upon them. Some, though the
ladders stood, a dizziness having come over their eyes in consequence
of the height, fell to the ground. And as men and ladders were every
where tumbling down, while the boldness and alacrity of the enemy were
increased by the mere success, the signal for retreat was sounded,
which afforded hopes to the besieged, not only of present rest after
such a laborious contest, but also for the future, as it appeared
their city could not be taken by scalade and siege. To raise works
they considered would be attended with difficulty, and would give time
to their generals to bring them assistance. Scarcely had the first
tumult subsided, when Scipio ordered other fresh and unfatigued troops
to take the ladders from those who were tired and wounded and assault
the city with increased vigour. Having received intelligence that the
tide was ebbing, and having before been informed by some fishermen of
Tarraco who used to pass through the lake, sometimes in light boats,
and, when these ran aground, by wading, that it afforded an easy
passage to the wall for footmen, he led some armed men thither in
person. It was about mid-day, and besides that the water was being
drawn off naturally, in consequence of the tide receding, a brisk
north wind rising impelled the water in the lake, which was already in
motion, in the same direction as the tide, and rendered it so shallow,
that in some parts the water reached only to the navel, while in
others it scarcely rose above the knees. Scipio, referring this
discovery, which he had made by his own diligence and penetration, to
the gods and to miracle, which had turned the course of the sea,
withdrawn it from the lake, and o