Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 19

1
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fwn">χορηγίων</w>. <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnos">προειρημένος</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%5Cr">ἀνὴρ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2F">ὑπό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="no%2Fsou">νόσου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ndei%2Fas">ἐνδείας</w> <w lemma="a%29sqenw%3Ds">ἀσθενῶς</w> <w lemma="diakeime%2Fnous">διακειμένους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loimikh%5Cn">λοιμικὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fstasin">κατάστασιν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sfe%2Ftera">σφέτερα</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzwn">νομίζων</w> <w lemma="a%29cio%2Fxrea">ἀξιόχρεα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29riqmo%5Cn">ἀριθμὸν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="loiph%5Cn">λοιπὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpasan">ἅπασαν</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%5Cn">σπουδὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hraklei%2Fas">Ἡρακλείας</w>, <w lemma="paraggei%2Flas">παραγγείλας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Anomadikoi%3Ds">Νομαδικοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppeu%3Dsi">ἱππεῦσι</w> <w lemma="proporeu%2Fesqai">προπορεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fsasi">συνεγγίσασι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraki">χάρακι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fwn">ἐναντίων</w> <w lemma="e%29reqi%2Fzein">ἐρεθίζειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peira%3Dsqai">πειρᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kkalei%3Dsqai">ἐκκαλεῖσθαι</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29kkli%2Fnasin">ἐκκλίνασιν</w> <w lemma="a%29poxwrei%3Dn">ἀποχωρεῖν</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="summi%2Fcwsi">συμμίξωσι</w>.
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<w lemma="praca%2Fntwn">πραξάντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suntaxqe%5Cn">συνταχθὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdwn">Νομάδων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosmica%2Fntwn">προσμιξάντων</w> <w lemma="qate%2Frw%7C">θατέρῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qu%5Cs">εὐθὺς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29cexe%2Fonto">ἐξεχέοντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qrase%2Fws">θρασέως</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fkeinto">ἐπέκειντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fsin">Νομάσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbues">Λίβυες</w> <w lemma="u%28pexw%2Froun">ὑπεχώρουν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fggelma">παράγγελμα</w>, <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fmican">συνέμιξαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna:">Ἄννωνα·</w> <w lemma="loipo%2Fn">λοιπόν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="perixuqe%2Fntes">περιχυθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fkeinto">ἐπέκειντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkteinan">ἀπέκτειναν</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="sunedi%2Fwcan">συνεδίωξαν</w>.
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<w lemma="genome%2Fnwn">γενομένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29pestratope%2Fdeusan">ἐπεστρατοπέδευσαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna">Ἄννωνα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>, <w lemma="katalabo%2Fmenoi">καταλαβόμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffon">λόφον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="%2Ato%2Fron">Τόρον</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxontes">ἀπέχοντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>.
6
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dnas">μῆνας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28losxere%5Cs">ὁλοσχερὲς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttontes">πράττοντες</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29krobolizo%2Fmenoi">ἀκροβολιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsthn">ἑκάστην</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="diapurseuome%2Fnou">διαπυρσευομένου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diapempome%2Fnou">διαπεμπομένου</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna">Ἄννωνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhlou%3Dntos">δηλοῦντος</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqh">πλήθη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="limo%5Cn">λιμὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnei">ὑπομένει</w>, <w lemma="polloi%5C">πολλοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="au%29tomolou%3Dsi">αὐτομολοῦσι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndeian">ἔνδειαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnw">ἔγνω</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="strathgo%2Fs">στρατηγός</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dtton">ἧττον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ferome%2Fnwn">φερομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29cagago%2Fntes">ἐξαγαγόντες</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fballon">συνέβαλλον</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5Cn">πολὺν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29tre%2Fyanto">ἐτρέψαντο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="prokinduneu%2Fsantas">προκινδυνεύσαντας</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frous">μισθοφόρους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peso%2Fntwn">πεσόντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="loipa%5Cs">λοιπὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29festhkui%2Fas">ἐφεστηκυίας</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="suntaraxqh%3Dnai">συνταραχθῆναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Afoini%2Fkwn">Φοινίκων</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w>.
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<w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gkli%2Fmatos">ἐγκλίματος</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerou%3Ds">ὁλοσχεροῦς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="diefqa%2Frhsan">διεφθάρησαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hra%2Fkleian">Ἡράκλειαν</w> <w lemma="a%29pexw%2Frhsan:">ἀπεχώρησαν·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="e%29kuri%2Feusan">ἐκυρίευσαν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29piskeuh%3Ds">ἐπισκευῆς</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nukto%2Fs">νυκτός</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katorqwma%2Ftwn">κατορθωμάτων</w> <w lemma="xara%5Cn">χαρὰν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ko%2Fpon">κόπον</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cqumo%2Fteron">ῥᾳθυμότερον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="fulakai%3Ds">φυλακαῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="xrhsame%2Fnwn">χρησαμένων</w>, <w lemma="a%29pelpi%2Fsas">ἀπελπίσας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsas">νομίσας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuh%3D">εὐφυῆ</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fan">σωτηρίαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsas">μέσας</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fktas">νύκτας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="cenika%5Cs">ξενικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w>.
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<w lemma="xw%2Fsas">χώσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="formoi%3Ds">φορμοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29xu%2Frwn">ἀχύρων</w> <w lemma="sesagme%2Fnois">σεσαγμένοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrous">τάφρους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqe">ἔλαθε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="a%29pagagw%5Cn">ἀπαγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pelqou%2Fshs">ἐπελθούσης</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fntes">συνέντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29ragi%2Fas">οὐραγίας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="kaqaya%2Fmenoi">καθαψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flas">πύλας</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mpodw%5Cn">ἐμποδὼν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28stame%2Fnou">ἱσταμένου</w>, <w lemma="pareispeso%2Fntes">παρεισπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="dih%2Frpasan">διήρπασαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="swma%2Ftwn">σωμάτων</w>, <w lemma="pollh%3Ds">πολλῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pantodaph%3Ds">παντοδαπῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w>.
In the next place Hanno, perceiving that the Romans were weakened by disease and privation, owing to an epidemic having broken out among them, and thinking that his own troops were in fit fighting condition,
took with him all his elephants, about fifty in number, and all the rest of his force, and advanced rapidly from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heraclea&groupId=624&placeId=1147">Heraclea</a>. He had ordered the Numidian horse to precede him, and approaching the enemy\'s fortified camp to provoke him and attempt to draw his cavalry out, after which they were to give way and retired until they rejoined himself.
The Numidians acting on these orders advanced up to one of the camps, and the Roman cavalry at once issued forth and boldly attacked them.
The Libyans retreated as they had been ordered until they joined Hanno's army and then, wheeling round and encircling the enemy, they attacked them, killing many and pursuing the rest as far as the camp.
After this Hanno encamped opposite the Romans, occupying the hill called Torus, at a distance of about ten stades from the enemy.
For two months they remained stationary, without any action more decisive than shooting at each other every day:
but as Hannibal kept on announcing to Hanno by fire-signals and messengers from the city that the population could not support the famine, and that deserters to the enemy were numerous owing to privation, the Carthaginian general decided to risk battle, the Romans being no less eager for this owing to the reasons I stated above.
Both therefore led out their forces to the space between the camps and engaged.
The battle lasted for long, but at the end the Romans put to flight the advanced line of Carthaginian mercenaries,
and as the latter fell back on the elephants and the other divisions in their rear, the whole Phoenician army was thrown into disorder.
A complete rout ensued, and most of them were put to the sword, some escaping to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heraclea&groupId=624&placeId=1147">Heraclea</a>. The Romans captured most of the elephants and all the baggage.
But after nightfall, while the Romans, partly from joy at their success and partly from fatigue, had relaxed the vigilance of their watch, Hannibal, regarding his situation as desperate, and thinking for the above reasons that this was a fine opportunity for saving himself, broke out of the city about midnight with his mercenaries.
By filling up the trenches with baskets packed tightly with straw he managed to withdraw his force in safety unperceived by the enemy.
When day broke the Romans became aware of what had happened, and, after slightly molesting Hannibal's rear-guard, advanced with their whole force to the gates.
Finding nobody to oppose them they entered the city and plundered it, possessing themselves of many slaves and a quantity of booty of every description.