wards
of Sicily also.

XXVI. Thus did Pyrrhus fail in his Italian and Sicilian expeditions,
after spending six years of constant fighting in those countries,
during which he lost a great part of his force, but always, even in
his defeats, preserved his reputation for invincible bravery, being
thought, in warlike skill and personal strength and daring, to be by
far the first prince of his age. Yet he always threw away the
advantages which he gained, in following some chimerical scheme of
further conquest, being unable to take proper measures for the present
because of his eagerness for the future. On this account Antigonus
likened him to a player who made many good throws with the dice, but
who did not know how to use them. He carried back to Epirus with him
eight thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry, and, having no
money, began to look out for a war, by which he might support his
army. Some of the Gauls now joined him, and he at once invaded
Macedonia, where Antigonus, the son of Demetrius, was now king, with
the intention of plundering the country. Soon, however, as he took
several cities, and two thousand Macedonian soldiers deserted their
colours and joined him, he began to entertain more ambitious designs,
marched against Antigonus himself, and was able to surprise his army,
near the issue of a defile, by a sudden attack in the rear.
Notwithstanding the general confusion, however, a strong body of
Gauls, who formed the rear-guard, withstood him manfully, but, after a
vigorous resistance, were nearly all cut to pieces, while the
elephants, whose retreat was cut off, were surrendered by their
leaders. After gaining such an advantage as this, Pyrrhus, trusting to
his good fortune, and without calculating the numbers opposed to him,
advanced to attack the Macedonian phalanx, which was full of disorder
and consternation at the defeat of the rear-guard. No attempt was made
by them to strike a blow. Pyrrhus stretched out his hand and called
the Macedonian officers by their names, and they at once went over to
him, and were followed by all their men. Antigonus escaped to the
sea-coast, where he still retained some cities in their obedience.

Pyrrhus, considering that his victory over the Gauls was the most
glorious part of his recent success, hung the finest of their arms and
spoils in the temple of Athene Itonis, with the following epigram.

"These spoils doth Pyrrhus the Molossian king,
From the brave Ga