Cum igitur ad concertationem fuerit ventum, lapide rotundo fundae imposito, quaterni altrinsecus iuvenes repagula quibus incorporati sunt funes, explicantes retrorsus, stilum paene supinum inclinant: itaque demum sublimis adstans magister, claustrum quod totius operis continet vincula, reserat malleo forti perculsum, unde absolutus ictu volucri stilus, et mollitudine offensus cilicii, saxum contorquet, quicquid incurrerit collisurum.
Then, when there is a battle, a round stone is placed in the sling and four young men on each side turn back the bar with which the ropes are connected and bend the pole almost flat. Then finally the gunner, standing above, strikes out the pole-bolt, which holds the fastenings of the whole work, with a strong hammer, thereupon the pole is set free, and flying forward with a swift stroke, and meeting the soft hair-cloth, hurls the stone, which will crush whatever it hits.
final_alignments\Ammianus_Marcellinus_Book23.json