Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 33

1
<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fas">πορείας</w> <w lemma="poioume%2Fnous">ποιουμένους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28malw%3Dn">ὁμαλῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fas">στρατοπεδείας</w> <w lemma="tiqe%2Fntas">τιθέντας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdois">ἐπιπέδοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xwri%2Fwn">χωρίων</w>, <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="cenizo%2Fmenoi">ξενιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="dietre%2Fponto">διετρέποντο</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fspeudon">ἔσπευδον</w> <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fsai">ἐγγίσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
2
<w lemma="suna%2Fyantes">συνάψαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fthn">πρώτην</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="katestratope%2Fdeusan">κατεστρατοπέδευσαν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="a%29posxo%2Fntes">ἀποσχόντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>.
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<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="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtes">προεστῶτες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Fonto">ἐβουλεύοντο</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="prakte%2Fon">πρακτέον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fn:">παρόν·</w>
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="polloi%5C">πολλοὶ</w> <w lemma="proqu%2Fmws">προθύμως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="sustrefo%2Fmenoi">συστρεφόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnoma">ὄνομα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aca%2Fnqippon">Ξάνθιππον</w> <w lemma="a%29nabow%3Dntes">ἀναβοῶντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ca%2Fgein">ἐξάγειν</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="w%29%2F%7Conto">ᾤοντο</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="taxi%2Fsthn">ταχίστην</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%5C">στρατηγοὶ</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlwn">ὄχλων</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fan">προθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Acanqi%2Fppou">Ξανθίππου</w> <w lemma="diamarturome%2Fnou">διαμαρτυρομένου</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="parie%2Fnai">παριέναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>, <w lemma="parh%2Fggeilan">παρήγγειλαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqei">πλήθει</w> <w lemma="diaskeua%2Fzesqai">διασκευάζεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Acanqi%2Fppw%7C">Ξανθίππῳ</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Ftreyan">ἐπέτρεψαν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fs">ὥς</w> <w lemma="pot%27">ποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Frein">συμφέρειν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan">ἐξουσίαν</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Ffantas">ἐλέφαντας</w> <w lemma="e%29cagagw%5Cn">ἐξαγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="metw%2Fpw%7C">μετώπῳ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsthse">κατέστησε</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flagga">φάλαγγα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29posth%2Fmati">ἀποστήματι</w> <w lemma="summe%2Ftrw%7C">συμμέτρῳ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="kato%2Fpin">κατόπιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsthse">ἐπέστησε</w>.
7
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="decio%5Cn">δεξιὸν</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbalen">παρενέβαλεν</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29kinhtota%2Ftous">εὐκινητοτάτους</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppeu%3Dsin">ἱππεῦσιν</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frou">ἑκατέρου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fratos">κέρατος</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fsthsen">προέστησεν</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="sunido%2Fntes">συνιδόντες</w> <w lemma="paratattome%2Fnous">παραταττομένους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w> <w lemma="a%29ntech%2F%7Cesan">ἀντεξῄεσαν</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmws">ἑτοίμως</w>.
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<w lemma="kataplhtto%2Fmenoi">καταπληττόμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proorw%2Fmenoi">προορώμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lefa%2Fntwn">ἐλεφάντων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>, <w lemma="proqe%2Fmenoi">προθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="grosfoma%2Fxous">γροσφομάχους</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flais">ἀλλήλαις</w> <w lemma="kato%2Fpin">κατόπιν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fstasan">ἵστασαν</w> <w lemma="shmei%2Fas">σημείας</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29me%2Frisan">ἐμέρισαν</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w>.
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpasan">σύμπασαν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="braxute%2Fran">βραχυτέραν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsqen">πρόσθεν</w>, <w lemma="baqute%2Fran">βαθυτέραν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsantes">ποιήσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntws">δεόντως</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29stoxasme%2Fnoi">ἐστοχασμένοι</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w>, <w lemma="pollaplasi%2Fous">πολλαπλασίους</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="h%29sto%2Fxhsan">ἠστόχησαν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28autw%3Dn">ἑαυτῶν</w> <w lemma="proaire%2Fseis">προαιρέσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstous">ἑκάστους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqhkan">ἔθηκαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozou%2Fsas">ἁρμοζούσας</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ko%2Fsmw%7C">κόσμῳ</w>, <w lemma="karadokou%3Dntes">καραδοκοῦντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="e%29piqe%2Fsews">ἐπιθέσεως</w>.
When the Romans saw that the Carthaginians were marching through the flat country and pitching their camps on level ground, they were surprised indeed and somewhat disturbed by this in particular, but yet were anxious on the whole to get into contact with the enemy.
On coming into touch they encamped on the first day at a distance of about ten stades from him.
On the following day the Carthaginian government held a council to discuss what should be done for the present and the means thereto.
But the troops, eager as they were for a battle, collecting in groups and calling on Xanthippus by name, clearly indicated their opinion that he should lead them forward at once.
The generals when they saw the enthusiasm and keenness of the soldiers, Xanthippus at the same time imploring them not to let the opportunity slip, ordered the troops to get ready and gave Xanthippus authority to conduct operations as he himself thought most advantageous.
Acting on this authority, he sent the elephants forward and drew them up in a single line in front of the whole force, placing the Carthaginian phalanx at a suitable distance behind them.
Some of the mercenaries he stationed on the right wing, while the most active he placed together with the cavalry in front of both wings.
The Romans, seeing the enemy drawn up to offer battle, issued forth to meet them with alacrity.
Alarmed at the prospect of the elephants' charge, they stationed the velites in the van and behind them the legions many maniples deep, dividing the cavalry between the two wings.
In thus making their whole line shorter and deeper than before they had been correct enough in so far as concerned the coming encounter with the elephants, but as to that with the cavalry, which largely outnumbered theirs, they were very wide of the mark.
When both sides had made that general and detailed disposition of their forces that best suited their plan, they remained drawn up in order, each awaiting a favourable opportunity to attack.