Here Leonnatus the Macedonian, observing one of the Italians very intent upon Pyrrhus, riding up towards him, and changing places as he did, and moving as he moved: “Do you see, sir,” said he, “that barbarian on the black horse with white feet? He seems to be one that designs some great and dangerous thing, for he looks constantly at you, and fixes his whole attention, full of vehement purpose, on you alone, taking no notice of others. Be on your guard, sir, against him.”
”Leonnatus,” said Pyrrhus, “it is impossible for any man to avoid his fate, but neither he nor any other Italian shall have much satisfaction in engaging with me.”
While they were in this discourse, the Italian, lowering his spear and quickening his horse, rode furiously at Pyrrhus, and run his horse through with his lance; at the same instant Leonnatus ran his through. Both horses falling, Pyrrhus’s friends surrounded him and brought him off safe, and killed the Italian, bravely defending himself. He was by birth a Frentanian, captain of a troop, and named Oplacus.
This made Pyrrhus use greater caution, and now seeing his horse give ground, he brought up the infantry against the enemy, and changing his scarf and his arms with Megacles, one of his friends, and obscuring himself, as it were, in his, charged upon the Romans, who received and engaged him, and a great while the success of the battle remained undetermined; and it is said there were seven turns of fortune both of pursuing and being pursued. And the change of his arms was very opportune for the safety of his person, but had like to have overthrown his cause and lost him the victory; for several falling upon Megacles, the first that gave him his mortal wound was one Dexous, who, snatching away his helmet and his robe, rode at once to Laevinus, holding them up, and saying aloud he had killed Pyrrhus.
These spoils being carried about and shown among the ranks, the Romans were transported with joy, and shouted aloud; while equal discouragement and terror prevailed among the Greeks, until Pyrrhus, understanding what had happened, rode about the army with his face bare, stretching out his hand to his soldiers, and telling them aloud it was he.
tl;dr:
Pyrrus is in battle when one of his friends comes up to him and says that one of the Roman horsemen is totally going to charge at him and try to get the kill. Pyrrhus says he’s not too worried about it, at which point the Roman charges them and Pyrrhus barely gets away. This freaks him out a little, so he switches armor with one of his friends so that he wouldn’t have a target on his back anymore. The friend, wearing Pyrrhus’ armor, then charges the Romans and dies. The Roman who kills him then declared that he’s killed Pyrrhus, and the moral for Pyrrhus’ forces plummets, to the point where he has to then ride in front of the whole army and declare that he didn’t actually die. Oops!
Source:
Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Pyrrhus." Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 532-33. Print.
Further Reading:
Publius Decius Mus / Dexous: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publius_Decius_Mus_(consul_279_BC)
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