Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 12

1
<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakou%2Fsas">Συρακούσας</w>. <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fra%7C">ἡμέρᾳ</w> <w lemma="gnou%5Cs">γνοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappios">Ἄππιος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Flusin">ἀπόλυσιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="eu%29qarsh%5Cs">εὐθαρσὴς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrine">ἔκρινε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllein">μέλλειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeirei%3Dn">ἐγχειρεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>.
2
<w lemma="paraggei%2Flas">παραγγείλας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftais">στρατιώταις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fra%7C">ὥρᾳ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qerapei%2Fan">θεραπείαν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="fwti%5C">φωτὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w>.
3
<w lemma="sumbalw%5Cn">συμβαλὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkteine">ἀπέκτεινε</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkase">ἠνάγκασε</w> <w lemma="fugei%3Dn">φυγεῖν</w> <w lemma="protropa%2Fdhn">προτροπάδην</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="parakeime%2Fnas">παρακειμένας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w>.
4
<w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenos">χρησάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%29tuxh%2Fmasi">εὐτυχήμασι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lu%2Fsas">λύσας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>, <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29piporeuo%2Fmenos">ἐπιπορευόμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29dew%3Ds">ἀδεῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29po%2Frqei">ἐπόρθει</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fwn">Συρακοσίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summaxou%2Fntwn">συμμαχούντων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoioume%2Fnou">ἀντιποιουμένου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn:">ὑπαίθρων·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="teleutai%3Don">τελευταῖον</w> <w lemma="proskaqi%2Fsas">προσκαθίσας</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fleto">ἐπεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3Dn">πολιορκεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakou%2Fsas">Συρακούσας</w>.
5
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%28h">Ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fth">πρώτη</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fbasis">διάβασις</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fde">ἥδε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%2Fs">καιρούς</w>,
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<w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="oi%29keiota%2Fthn">οἰκειοτάτην</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnantes">κρίναντες</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w>, <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="e%29poihsa%2Fmeqa">ἐποιησάμεθα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fstasin">ἐπίστασιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nadramo%2Fntes">ἀναδραμόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Frhma">ἀπόρημα</w> <w lemma="katalipei%3Dn">καταλιπεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="a%29podei%2Fcewn">ἀποδείξεων</w>.
7
<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fte">πότε</w> <w lemma="ptai%2Fsantes">πταίσαντες</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdi">πατρίδι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Frcanto">ἤρξαντο</w> <w lemma="prokoph%3Ds">προκοπῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fte">πότε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="krath%2Fsantes">κρατήσαντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pixeirei%3Dn">ἐπιχειρεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Flonto">ἐπεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w> <w lemma="u%28pela%2Fbomen">ὑπελάβομεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="parakolouqh%3Dsai">παρακολουθῆσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllousi">μέλλουσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kefa%2Flaion">κεφάλαιον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%3Ds">ὑπεροχῆς</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntws">δεόντως</w> <w lemma="suno%2Fyesqai">συνόψεσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fzein">θαυμάζειν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%2Fn">ἐάν</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w> <w lemma="prosanatre%2Fxwmen">προσανατρέχωμεν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftwn">ἐπιφανεστάτων</w> <w lemma="politeuma%2Ftwn">πολιτευμάτων</w>.
9
<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsomen">ποιήσομεν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="katanoei%3Dn">κατανοεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fnwn">τίνων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkastoi">ἕκαστοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fte">πότε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="o%28rmhqe%2Fntes">ὁρμηθέντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="parege%2Fnonto">παρεγένοντο</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fseis">διαθέσεις</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%3Ds">αἷς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousi">ὑπάρχουσι</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w>. <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="pepoih%2Fkamen">πεποιήκαμεν</w>.
On the following day Appius, learning of the result of this action and encouraged thereby, decided not to delay but to attack the Carthaginians.
He ordered his troops to be in readiness early and sallied forth at break of day.
Engaging the enemy he slew many of them and compelled the rest to retreat in disorder to neighbouring cities.
Having raised the siege by these successes, he advanced fearlessly, devastating the territory of the Syracusans and of their allies, no one disputing the open country with him. Finally he sat down before <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> and commenced to besiege it.
Such then was the occasion and motive of this the first crossing of the Romans from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> with an armed force, an event which I take to be the most natural starting-point of this whole work.
I have therefore made it my serious base, but went also somewhat further back in order to leave no possible obscurity in my statements of general causes.
To follow out this previous history — how and when the Romans after the disaster to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> itself began their progress to better fortunes, and again how and when after conquering <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> they entered on the path of foreign enterprise — seemed to me necessary for anyone who hopes to gain a proper general survey of their present supremacy.
My readers need not therefore be surprised if, even in the further course of this work, I occasionally give them in addition some of the earlier history of the most famous states;
for I shall do so in order to establish such a fundamental view as will make it clear in the sequel starting from what origins and how and when they severally reached their present position. This is exactly what I have just done about the Romans.