Page 697 be concluded to be of singular Advantage to them in the worst of Fortune; for if the City were taken, the remembrance of their Kindness might plead and prevail for their Pardon: It's clear therefore that the Rhodians manifested singular Prudence in the Management of this Affair.
Demetrius had even now undermin'd the City, when a Deserter very opportunely came in and inform'd the City, that the Miners were approach'd almost within the Walls: Upon which, the Rhodians drew a deep Trench all along the Wall that was now ready to be tumbled down, and forthwith fell to Countermining; and at length met the Enemy under Ground, and so prevented the Mine from proceeding any further: And while both Parties guarded the Mines, some of Demetrius his Soldiers with Money brib'd Athenagoras, the Captain of the Guard for the Rhodians: He was a Milesian, sent thither by Ptolemy, and Captain of the Mercenaries, who having promis'd to betray the City, appointed a Day on which Demetrius should send some one of the chiefest of his Commanders, who should enter in the Night through the Mines into the City, and find out a Place fit and convenient to receive the Soldiers. Athenagoras having now rais'd up the Hopes and Expectations of the Demetrians, discovers the whole Intrigue to the Senate. The King, according to the Compact, sends one of his Noblemen, Alexander a Macedonian: But the Rhodians seiz'd him as soon as he peep'd up out of the Mine; but crown'd Athenagoras with a Crown of Gold, and for a Reward, gave him Five Talents of Silver; and then made it their Business to engage the rest of the Mercenaties and Strangers to be faithful to the People all the ways they could. However,
Demetrius having now finish'd all his Engines, and plain'd and laid even every place under the Walls, brought up his Helepolis in the middle, and so order'd his Testudoes for filling up of Trenches and Ditches, (which were Eight in Number,) that he plac'd Four on each side of the Helepolis. To each of these was adjoin'd a Gallery, that they who went in and out might execute what was commanded without any Danger. He had likewise two other Testudoes that bore Battering Rams, far larger than the rest; for both of them were a Hundred and twenty Cubits long, strongly arm'd with Iron, and their Heads resembled the Beak of a Ship, and were easily mov'd forward by the help of Wheels; but to do effectual Execution, they were forc'd on by a Thousand Men at least.
Being ready to bring up his Engines to the Walls, he fill'd every Story in the Helepolis with as many Engines for shooting of Stones, Arrows, and Darts, as each would hold. Then he sent his Sea-Forces to the Haven and the Places adjoining, and order'd his Land-Army to the rest of the Wall where any approach could possibly be made. At length, at one Signal and Word of Command all set up a shout together, and with great Violence storm'd the City on every side: And at the very time that the Walls were shaking and trembling with the Strokes of the Battering Rams, and Stones shot from the Engines, in came Ambassadors from Cnidus, and intreated him to forbear all further Proceedings by force of Arms, and promis'd, that they would persuade the Rhodians to submit (as far as it was possible) to his Commands. The King hereupon remitted his Heat, and Ambassadors were sent from both sides, who banded Matters to and fro, but could not come to any Agreement. Whereupon he resolutely renew'd the Assault, and batter'd down one of the strongest Towers built of Four-square Stone, and so shook the whole space between the Towers, that the Besieg'd could not pass that way to the Bulwarks.
But at this time, King Ptolemy sent a great Fleet with Provision to the Rhodians; in which were Three hundred thousand Artabans of Corn, Beans, and Pease: These making a straight course for Rhodes, Demetrius sent Shipping after them, in order to seize the Provision for the use of his own Camp: But the Ptolemeans, (hoising up all their Sails,) by the favour of a fair Gale of Wind arriv'd safe at their Port, and so those that were sent after them by Demetrius, return'd as they went. Cassander likewise sent Ten thousand Medimnas of Barly to the Rhodians, and Lysimachus Forty thousand of Wheat, and as much of Barly.
The Town thus supply'd with Plenty of Provision, their languishing Spirits now reviv'd; and thereupon judging it much to their Advantage if they could ruine the Enemies Engines, they got together abundance of Fire-balls, and other Engines for shooting of Fire, and plac'd them and all their other Artillery upon the Walls; and the next Night, about the second Watch, on a sudden they play'd continually upon the Enemies Guard with their Shot of Arrows, Darts, Stones, and other Weapons; and making use also of all sorts of Fire-Engines, they grievously wounded and galled all that came flocking into that Part: Hereupon the Demetrians (who were altogether surpriz'd by so sudden and unexpected an Attack) being mightily concern'd for their Engines and their other Works,