Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 15

1
<w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fna">εἰρημένα</w> <w lemma="skopei%3Dn">σκοπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="pa%2Frestin">πάρεστιν</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%3Dnos">Φιλῖνος</w> <w lemma="a%29rxo%2Fmenos">ἀρχόμενος</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="deute%2Fras">δευτέρας</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblou">βύβλου</w> <w lemma="fhsi%5C">φησὶ</w> <w lemma="proskaqh%3Dsqai">προσκαθῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnh%7C">Μεσσήνῃ</w> <w lemma="polemou%3Dntas">πολεμοῦντας</w> <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fous">Συρακοσίους</w>,
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<w lemma="paragenome%2Fnous">παραγενομένους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qu%5Cs">εὐθὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29celqei%3Dn">ἐξελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fous:">Συρακοσίους·</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntas">λαβόντας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="plhga%5Cs">πληγὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29panelqei%3Dn">ἐπανελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn:">Μεσσήνην·</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="e%29kporeuqe%2Fntas">ἐκπορευθέντας</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="plhga%5Cs">πληγὰς</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="zwgri%2Fa%7C">ζωγρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratiwtw%3Dn">στρατιωτῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28kanou%5Cs">ἱκανοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29pobalei%3Dn">ἀποβαλεῖν</w>.
3
<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29pw%5Cn">εἰπὼν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ie%2Frwna%2F">Ἱέρωνά</w> <w lemma="fhsi">φησι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhn">γενομένην</w> <w lemma="sumplokh%5Cn">συμπλοκὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="fronei%3Dn">φρονεῖν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="skhna%5Cs">σκηνὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29mprh%2Fsanta">ἐμπρήσαντα</w> <w lemma="fugei%3Dn">φυγεῖν</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakou%2Fsas">Συρακούσας</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="frou%2Fria">φρούρια</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="katalipei%3Dn">καταλιπεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kei%2Fmena">κείμενα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras:">χώρας·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29klipo%2Fntas">ἐκλιπόντας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="dielei%3Dn">διελεῖν</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoiei%3Dsqai">ἀντιποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tolma%3Dn">τολμᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti:">ἔτι·</w> <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunqewrh%2Fsantas">συνθεωρήσαντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnous">ἡγουμένους</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29podedeiliako%2Ftas">ἀποδεδειλιακότας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlous">ὄχλους</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fsasqai">βουλεύσασθαι</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnein">κρίνειν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata:">πράγματα·</w>
5
<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%28pome%2Fnous">ἑπομένους</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="porqei%3Dn">πορθεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fwn">Συρακοσίων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakou%2Fsas">Συρακούσας</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="proskaqi%2Fsantas">προσκαθίσαντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibale%2Fsqai">ἐπιβαλέσθαι</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3Dn">πολιορκεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29moi%5C">ἐμοὶ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="a%29logi%2Fas">ἀλογίας</w> <w lemma="plh%2Frh">πλήρη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diastolh%3Ds">διαστολῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3Dtai">προσδεῖται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="poliorkou%3Dntas">πολιορκοῦντας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nikw%3Dntas">νικῶντας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sumplokai%3Ds">συμπλοκαῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fqeto">ὑπέθετο</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgontas">φεύγοντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w> <w lemma="e%29kxwrou%3Dntas">ἐκχωροῦντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="poliorkoume%2Fnous">πολιορκουμένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds">ψυχαῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29podedeiliako%2Ftas">ἀποδεδειλιακότας</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Ffhnen:">ἀπέφηνεν·</w>
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<w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ttwme%2Fnous">ἡττωμένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poliorkoume%2Fnous">πολιορκουμένους</w> <w lemma="u%28pesth%2Fsato">ὑπεστήσατο</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="diw%2Fkontas">διώκοντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="kratou%3Dntas">κρατοῦντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="poliorkou%3Dntas">πολιορκοῦντας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakou%2Fsas">Συρακούσας</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fdeice">ἀπέδειξε</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="suna%2F%7Cdein">συνᾴδειν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnatai:">δύναται·</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w>; <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fseis">ὑποθέσεις</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftas">πρώτας</w> <w lemma="yeudei%3Ds">ψευδεῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumbaino%2Fntwn">συμβαινόντων</w> <w lemma="a%29pofa%2Fseis">ἀποφάσεις</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28%3Dtai">αὗται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%3Ds:">ἀληθεῖς·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29cexw%2Frhsan">ἐξεχώρησαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asurako%2Fsioi">Συρακόσιοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakou%2Fsas">Συρακούσας</w> <w lemma="e%29pole%2Fmoun">ἐπολέμουν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dto%2Fs">οὗτός</w> <w lemma="fhsi">φησι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29exe%2Ftlan">Ἐχέτλαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsh%7C">μέσῃ</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnhn">κειμένην</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fwn">Συρακοσίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="e%29parxi%2Fa%7C">ἐπαρχίᾳ</w>.
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<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="sugxwrei%3Dn">συγχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fseis">ὑποθέσεις</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="yeudei%3Ds">ψευδεῖς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nikw%2Fntwn">νικώντων</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w> <w lemma="sumplokai%3Ds">συμπλοκαῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28tthme%2Fnous">ἡττημένους</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fws">συγγραφέως</w> <w lemma="a%29phgge%2Flqai">ἀπηγγέλθαι</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Afili%3Dnon">Φιλῖνον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fan">πραγματείαν</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w>, <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afa%2Fbion">Φάβιον</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="deixqh%2Fsetai">δειχθήσεται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzontas">ἁρμόζοντας</w> <w lemma="pepoih%2Fmeqa">πεποιήμεθα</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parekba%2Fsews">παρεκβάσεως</w>, <w lemma="e%29panelqo%2Fntes">ἐπανελθόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="peiraso%2Fmeqa">πειρασόμεθα</w> <w lemma="prostiqe%2Fntes">προστιθέντες</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqina%5Cs">ἀληθινὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29nnoi%2Fas">ἐννοίας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgein">ἄγειν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="braxe%2Fwn">βραχέων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnontas">ἐντυγχάνοντας</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w>.
The truth of what I have just said is evident from what follows. Philinus, in commencing his narrative at the outset of his second Book, tells us that
the Carthaginians and Syracusans were besieging Messene, that the Romans reaching the city by sea, at once marched out against the Syracusans, but after being severely handled returned to Messene. They next sallied out against the Carthaginians and were not only worsted but lost a considerable number of prisoners.
After making these statements he says that Hiero after the engagement so far lost his wits as not only to burn his camp and tents and take flight to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> the same night, but to withdraw all his garrisons from the forts which menaced the territory of Messene.
The Carthaginians, likewise, he tells us, after the battle at once quitted their camp and distributed themselves among the towns, not even daring to dispute the open country further: their leaders, he says, seeing how dispirited the ranks were, resolved not to risk a decisive engagement,
and the Romans following up the enemy not only laid waste the territory of the Carthaginians and Syracusans, but sat down before <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> and undertook its siege.
This account is, it seems to me, full of inconsistencies and does not require a lengthy discussion.
For those whom he introduced as besieging Messene and victorious in the engagements, he now represents as in flight and abandoning the open country and finally besieged and dispirited,
while those whom he represented as defeated and besieged are now stated to be in pursuit of their foes, and at once commanding the open country and finally besieging <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a>.
It is absolutely impossible to reconcile the two assertions, and either his initial statements or his account of what followed must be false.
But the latter is true; for as a fact the Carthaginians and Syracusans abandoned the open country, and the Romans at once began to lay siege to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> and, as he says, even to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Echetla&groupId=552&placeId=1035">Echetla</a> too, which lies between the Syracusan and Carthaginian provinces.
We must therefore concede that Philinus's initial statements are false, and that, while the Romans were victorious in the engagements before Messene, this author announces that they were worsted.
We can trace indeed the same fault throughout the whole work of Philinus and alike through that of Fabius, as I shall show when the occasion arises.
Now that I have said what is fitting on the subject of this digression, I will return to facts and attempt in a narrative that strictly follows the order of events to guide my readers by a short road to a true notion of this war.