Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 39

1
<w lemma="a%29polipo%2Fntes">ἀπολιπόντες</w> <w lemma="fulakh%5Cn">φυλακὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>. <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qerei%2Fas">θερείας</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="katastaqe%2Fntes">κατασταθέντες</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frxontes">ἄρχοντες</w> <w lemma="%2Agna%2Fios">Γνάιος</w> <w lemma="%2Aseroui%2Flios">Σερουίλιος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fios">Γάιος</w> <w lemma="%2Asemprw%2Fnios">Σεμπρώνιος</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fpleusan">ἀνέπλευσαν</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flw%7C">στόλῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Frantes">διάραντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29fw%2Frmhsan">ἀφώρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w>.
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<w lemma="komizo%2Fmenoi">κομιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstas">πλείστας</w> <w lemma="a%29poba%2Fseis">ἀποβάσεις</w>. <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%3Ds">αἷς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29cio%2Flogon">ἀξιόλογον</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttontes">πράττοντες</w> <w lemma="paregi%2Fnonto">παρεγίνοντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alwtofa%2Fgwn">Λωτοφάγων</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5C">ἣ</w> <w lemma="kalei%3Dtai">καλεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Amh%3Dnigc">Μῆνιγξ</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxei">ἀπέχει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="mikra%3Ds">μικρᾶς</w> <w lemma="%2Asu%2Frtews">Σύρτεως</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntes">προσπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="bra%2Fxea">βράχεα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29peiri%2Fan">ἀπειρίαν</w>, <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="a%29mpw%2Ftews">ἀμπώτεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqisa%2Fntwn">καθισάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dlqon">ἦλθον</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nelpi%2Fstws">ἀνελπίστως</w> <w lemma="meta%2F">μετά</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29penexqei%2Fshs">ἐπενεχθείσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>, <w lemma="e%29kri%2Fyantes">ἐκρίψαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Frh">βάρη</w> <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29kou%2Ffisan">ἐκούφισαν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="fugh%3D%7C">φυγῇ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="e%29poih%2Fsanto">ἐποιήσαντο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fploun">ἀπόπλουν</w>. <w lemma="a%28ya%2Fmenoi">ἁψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fmyantes">κάμψαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilu%2Fbaion">Λιλύβαιον</w> <w lemma="kaqwrmi%2Fsqhsan">καθωρμίσθησαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fnormon">Πάνορμον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Frou">πόρου</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fpeson">περιέπεσον</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dni">χειμῶνι</w> <w lemma="thlikou%2Ftw%7C">τηλικούτῳ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="a%29pobalei%3Dn">ἀποβαλεῖν</w>. <w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmh%7C">Ῥώμῃ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntwn">συμβάντων</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="filo%2Ftimoi">φιλότιμοι</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumptwma%2Ftwn">συμπτωμάτων</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="a%28qroi%2Fzein">ἁθροίζειν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkasqe%2Fntes">ἀναγκασθέντες</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsthsan">ἀπέστησαν</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="pezikai%3Ds">πεζικαῖς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28poloi%2Fpous">ὑπολοίπους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="strathgou%5Cs">στρατηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fstellon">ἀπέστελλον</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkion">Λεύκιον</w> <w lemma="%2Akaiki%2Flion">Καικίλιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fion">Γάιον</w> <w lemma="%2Afou%2Frion">Φούριον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%28ch%2Fkonta">ἑξήκοντα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29plh%2Frwsan">ἐπλήρωσαν</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%5Cs">ἀγορὰς</w> <w lemma="komi%2Fzein">κομίζειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnwn">εἰρημένων</w> <w lemma="peripeteiw%3Dn">περιπετειῶν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikude%2Fstera">ἐπικυδέστερα</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w>.
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="a%29dew%3Ds">ἀδεῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pekra%2Ftoun">ἐπεκράτουν</w> <w lemma="e%29kkexwrhko%2Ftwn">ἐκκεχωρηκότων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="pezikai%3Ds">πεζικαῖς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpasxon">ἔπασχον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgws:">ἀλόγως·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w>, <w lemma="diadoqei%2Fshs">διαδοθείσης</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmhs">φήμης</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fh%7C">Λιβύῃ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="diaspa%2Fsai">διασπάσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="diafqei%2Frai">διαφθείραι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="kata%2Ffoboi">κατάφοβοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Ffantas">ἐλέφαντας</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29niautou%5Cs">ἐνιαυτοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilubaii%2Ftidi">Λιλυβαιίτιδι</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fra%7C">χώρᾳ</w>, <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aselinounti%2Fa%7C">Σελινουντίᾳ</w> <w lemma="paratatto%2Fmenoi">παραταττόμενοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cc">ἓξ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fois">σταδίοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29qa%2Frrhsan">ἐθάρρησαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="kata%2Frcai">κατάρξαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28malou%5Cs">ὁμαλοὺς</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="sugkatabh%3Dnai">συγκαταβῆναι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="dedio%2Ftes">δεδιότες</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>.
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<w lemma="%2Aqe%2Frman">Θέρμαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alipa%2Fran">Λιπάραν</w> <w lemma="e%29cepolio%2Frkhsan">ἐξεπολιόρκησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29ntexo%2Fmenoi">ἀντεχόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29reinw%3Dn">ὀρεινῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusdiaba%2Ftwn">δυσδιαβάτων</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pezikoi%3Ds">πεζικοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="ptoi%2Fan">πτοίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="duselpisti%2Fan">δυσελπιστίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnwsan">ἔγνωσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metamelei%2Fas">μεταμελείας</w> <w lemma="a%29ntilamba%2Fnesqai">ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katasth%2Fsantes">καταστήσαντες</w> <w lemma="strathgou%5Cs">στρατηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fion">Γάιον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ati%2Flion">Ἀτίλιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkion">Λεύκιον</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Flion">Μάλιον</w> <w lemma="nauphgou%3Dntai">ναυπηγοῦνται</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="ska%2Ffh">σκάφη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fgrafon">κατέγραφον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqroizon">συνήθροιζον</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w>.
Their successors, Gnaeus Servilius and Gaius Sempronius, put to sea with their whole fleet as soon as it was summer
and after crossing to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> proceeded thence to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>, and sailing along the coast, made a number of descents in which they accomplished nothing of importance, and finally reached the isle of the Lotus-eaters, which is called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Meninx&groupId=754&placeId=1374">Meninx</a> and is not far distant from the lesser Syrtis.
Here, owing to their ignorance of these seas, they ran on to some shoals, and, on the tide retreating
and the ships grounding fast, they were in a most difficult position. However, as the tide unexpectedly rose again after some time, they managed with difficulty to lighten their ships by throwing overboard all heavy objects.
Their departure now was so hasty as to resemble a flight, and having made <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>
and rounded Cape <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a> they anchored at Panormus. As they were rashly crossing the open sea on the way hence to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> they again encountered such a terrific storm that they lost more than a hundred and fifty ships.
The Roman Government upon this, although in all matters they are exceedingly ambitious of success, still on the present occasion, owing to the magnitude and frequency of the disasters they met with, were obliged by the force of circumstances to renounce the project of getting another fleet together.
Relying now solely on their land forces, they dispatched to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> with some legions the Consuls Lucius Caecilius and Gaius Furius and only manned sixty ships to revictual the legions.
The above disasters resulted in the prospects of the Carthaginians becoming once more brighter;
for they had now undisturbed command of the sea, the Romans having retired from it, and they had great hopes of their army.
These hopes were not unjustified, for the Romans, when the report circulated regarding the battle in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> that the elephants had broken the Romans\' ranks and killed most of their men,
grew so afraid of the beasts that for the two years following this period, though often both in the district of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a> and in that of Selinus they were drawn up at a distance of five or six stades from the enemy, they never dared to begin a battle, and in fact never would come down at all to meet the enemy on flat ground, so much did they dread a charge of the elephants.
During this period all they accomplished was the reduction by siege of Therma and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lipara&groupId=692&placeId=1266">Lipara</a>, keeping as they did to mountainous and difficult country.
Consequently the Government, observing the timidity and despondency that prevailed in their land forces, changed their minds and decided to try their fortunes at sea again.
In the consulship of Gaius Atilius and Lucius Manlius we find them building fifty ships and actively enrolling sailors and getting a fleet together.