Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 25

1
<w lemma="%2Atw%3D%7C">Τῷ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29niautw%3D%7C">ἐνιαυτῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fios">Γάιος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ati%2Flios">Ἀτίλιος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Atundari%2Fda">Τυνδαρίδα</w> <w lemma="kaqormisqei%5Cs">καθορμισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunqeasa%2Fmenos">συνθεασάμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29ta%2Fktws">ἀτάκτως</w> <w lemma="paraple%2Fonta">παραπλέοντα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w>, <w lemma="paraggei%2Flas">παραγγείλας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fois">ἰδίοις</w> <w lemma="plhrw%2Fmasin">πληρώμασιν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fpesqai">ἕπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnois">ἡγουμένοις</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="o%28moploou%2Fsas">ὁμοπλοούσας</w>.
2
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="sunido%2Fntes">συνιδόντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mbai%2Fnontas">ἐμβαίνοντας</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nagome%2Fnous">ἀναγομένους</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftous">πρώτους</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="proeilhfo%2Ftas">προειληφότας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w>, <w lemma="e%29pistre%2Fyantes">ἐπιστρέψαντες</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2Fntwn">ἀπήντων</w>.
3
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kuklw%2Fsantes">κυκλώσαντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiran">διέφθειραν</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w> <w lemma="nau%3Dn">ναῦν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgon">ὀλίγον</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Ftandron">αὔτανδρον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabon">ἔλαβον</w>. <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28phresi%2Fais">ὑπηρεσίαις</w> <w lemma="e%29chrtume%2Fnh">ἐξηρτυμένη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="taxunautou%3Dsa">ταχυναυτοῦσα</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffuge">διέφυγε</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws">παραδόξως</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>,
4
<w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipai%5C">λοιπαὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29piple%2Fousai">ἐπιπλέουσαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="sunhqroi%2Fzonto">συνηθροίζοντο</w>. <w lemma="geno%2Fmenai">γενόμεναι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="metw%2Fpw%7C">μετώπῳ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fballon">συνέβαλλον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%2Fndrous">αὐτάνδρους</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabon">ἔλαβον</w>, <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fdusan">κατέδυσαν</w>. <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipai%5C">λοιπαὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="a%29pexw%2Frhsan">ἀπεχώρησαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aliparai%2Fas">Λιπαραίας</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnas">καλουμένας</w> <w lemma="nh%2Fsous">νήσους</w>.
5
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%29ek">Ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fas">ναυμαχίας</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzontes">νομίζοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29fa%2Fmillon">ἐφάμιλλον</w> <w lemma="pepoih%3Dsqai">πεποιῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="o%28losxere%2Fsteron">ὁλοσχερέστερον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstasqai">συνίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="nautika%5Cs">ναυτικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="a%29nte%2Fxesqai">ἀντέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.
6
<w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pezikai%5C">πεζικαὶ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpracan">ἔπραξαν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhs">μνήμης</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="mikra%5Cs">μικρὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tuxou%2Fsas">τυχούσας</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="kate%2Ftriyan">κατέτριψαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w>.
7
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="paraskeuasa%2Fmenoi">παρασκευασάμενοι</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpon">εἶπον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29piferome%2Fnhn">ἐπιφερομένην</w> <w lemma="qerei%2Fan">θερείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fxqhsan">ἀνήχθησαν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tria%2Fkonta">τριάκοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fais">τριακοσίαις</w> <w lemma="makrai%3Ds">μακραῖς</w> <w lemma="nausi%5C">ναυσὶ</w> <w lemma="katafra%2Fktois">καταφράκτοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsxon">κατέσχον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29naxqe%2Fntes">ἀναχθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpleon">ἔπλεον</w> <w lemma="decia%5Cn">δεξιὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w>, <w lemma="ka%2Fmyantes">κάμψαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fxunon">Πάχυνον</w> <w lemma="u%28perh%3Dran">ὑπερῆραν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Feknomon">Ἔκνομον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pezo%5Cn">πεζὸν</w> <w lemma="stra%2Fteuma">στράτευμα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>.
9
<w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fais">τριακοσίαις</w> <w lemma="nausi%5C">ναυσὶ</w> <w lemma="katafra%2Fktois">καταφράκτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29napleu%2Fsantes">ἀναπλεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="%2Alilubai%2Fw%7C">Λιλυβαίῳ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fsxon">προσέσχον</w>, <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hra%2Fkleian">Ἡράκλειαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aminw%2F%7Can">Μινῴαν</w> <w lemma="kaqwrmi%2F">καθωρμί</w>
Next year Gaius Atilius Regulus the Roman Consul, while anchored off Tyndaris, caught sight of the Carthaginian fleet sailing past in disorder. Ordering his crews to follow the leaders, he dashed out before the rest with ten ships sailing together.
The Carthaginians, observing that some of the enemy were still embarking, and some just getting under weigh, while those in the van had much outstripped the others, turned and met them.
Surrounding them they sunk the rest of the ten, and came very near to taking the admiral's ship with its crew. However, as it was well manned and swift, it foiled their expectation and got out of danger.
The rest of the Roman fleet sailed up and gradually got into close order. As soon as they faced the enemy, they bore down on them and took ten ships with their crews, sinking eight. The rest of the Carthaginian fleet withdrew to the islands known as Liparaean.
The result of this battle was that both sides thought that they had fought now on equal terms, and both threw themselves most thoroughly into the task of organizing naval forces
and disputing the command of the sea, while in the mean time the land forces accomplished nothing worthy of mention, but spent their time in minor operations of no significance.
The Romans, therefore, after making preparations as I said, for the coming summer, set to sea with a fleet of three hundred and thirty decked ships of war and put in to Messene.
Starting again from there they sailed with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> on their right hand, and doubling Cape Pachynus they came round to Ecnomus, because their land forces too happened to be just in that neighbourhood.
The Carthaginians, setting sail with three hundred and fifty decked vessels, touched at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a>, and proceeding thence came to anchor off <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heraclea&groupId=624&placeId=1147">Heraclea</a> Minoa.