rhus marched to Tarentum; Kineas, as soon as he
heard of his arrival, bringing out the Tarentine army to meet him.
When he reached the city he did nothing to displease the Tarentines
until his fleet returned to the coast and he had assembled the greater
part of his army. But then, as he saw that the populace, unless ruled
by a strong hand, could neither help him nor help themselves, but
intended to stay idling about their baths and entertainments at home,
while he fought their battles in the field, he closed the gymnasia
and public walks, in which the people were wont to waste their time in
empty talk about the war. He forbade all drinking, feasting, and
unseasonable revels, and forced the people to take up arms, proving
himself inexorable to every one who was on the muster-roll of
able-bodied citizens. This conduct made him much disliked, and many of
the Tarentines left the city in disgust; for they were so unused to
discipline, that they considered that not to be able to pass their
lives as they chose was no better than slavery.

When news came that Laevinus, the Roman consul, was marching to attack
him with a large force, and was plundering the country of Lucania as
he advanced, while Pyrrhus's allies had not yet arrived, he thought it
a shameful thing to allow the enemy to proceed any farther, and
marched out with his army. He sent before him a herald to the Roman
general, informing him that he was willing to act as arbitrator in the
dispute between the Romans and the Greek cities of Italy, if they
chose to terminate it peacefully. On receiving for an answer that the
Romans neither wished for Pyrrhus as an arbitrator, nor feared him as
an enemy, he marched forward, and encamped in the plain, between the
city of Pandosia and Heraklea. Learning that the Romans were close by,
and were encamping on the farther side of the river Siris[41] he rode
up to the river to view them; and when he observed their even ranks,
their orderly movements, and their well-arranged camp, he was
surprised, and said to the nearest of his friends: "These barbarians,
Megakles, have nothing barbarous in their military discipline; but we
shall soon learn what they can do." He began indeed already to feel
some uncertainty as to the issue of the campaign, and determined to
wait until his allies came up, and till then to observe the movements
of the Romans, and prevent their crossing the river. They however,
perceiving his object, at once crossed th