Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 45

1
<w lemma="ni%2Fwn">νίων</w>. <w lemma="%2A%29imi%2Flkwn">Ἰμίλκων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tetagme%2Fnos">τεταγμένος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="strathgo%2Fs">στρατηγός</w>, <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fan">προθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fas">βοηθείας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paragegono%2Ftwn">παραγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29peiri%2Fan">ἀπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="periestw%2Ftwn">περιεστώτων</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Dn">κακῶν</w>,
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<w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fois">ἀκεραίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29poxrh%2Fsasqai">ἀποχρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w> <w lemma="o%28rmai%3Ds">ὁρμαῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="puro%5Cs">πυρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fqesin">ἐπίθεσιν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>, <w lemma="sunh%3Dge">συνῆγε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fan:">ἐκκλησίαν·</w>
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<w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fponta">πρέποντα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parasth%2Fsas">παραστήσας</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28perba%2Fllousan">ὑπερβάλλουσαν</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29paggeliw%3Dn">ἐπαγγελιῶν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndragaqh%2Fsasi">ἀνδραγαθήσασι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnas">ἐσομένας</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fritas">χάριτας</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dwrea%5Cs">δωρεὰς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28moqumado%5Cn">ὁμοθυμαδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmainome%2Fnwn">ἐπισημαινομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bow%2Fntwn">βοώντων</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllein">μέλλειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgein">ἄγειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29paine%2Fsas">ἐπαινέσας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deca%2Fmenos">δεξάμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fan">προθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29fh%3Dke">ἀφῆκε</w>, <w lemma="paraggei%2Flas">παραγγείλας</w> <w lemma="a%29napau%2Fesqai">ἀναπαύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peiqarxei%3Dn">πειθαρχεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnois:">ἡγουμένοις·</w>
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<w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sugkale%2Fsas">συγκαλέσας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtas">προεστῶτας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="die%2Fneime">διένειμε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzontas">ἁρμόζοντας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fqesin">ἐπίθεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma">σύνθημα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29piqe%2Fsews">ἐπιθέσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29dh%2Flwse">ἐδήλωσε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fsi">ἡγεμόσι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28potetagme%2Fnwn">ὑποτεταγμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="e%28wqinh%3Ds">ἑωθινῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="fulakh%3Ds">φυλακῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peiqarxhsa%2Fntwn">πειθαρχησάντων</w>, <w lemma="e%29cagagw%5Cn">ἐξαγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="fwti%5C">φωτὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frei">ἐνεχείρει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</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="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proora%3Dsqai">προορᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29rgw%3Ds">ἀργῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29paraskeu%2Fws">ἀπαρασκεύως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmws">ἑτοίμως</w> <w lemma="e%29boh%2Fqoun">ἐβοήθουν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmenon">δεόμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diema%2Fxonto">διεμάχοντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29rrwme%2Fnws">ἐρρωμένως</w>.
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<w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="braxei%3D">βραχεῖ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="sumpeso%2Fntwn">συμπεσόντων</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%5Cn">ἀγὼν</w> <w lemma="para%2Fbolos">παράβολος</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous:">τείχους·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttous">ἐλάττους</w> <w lemma="dismuri%2Fwn">δισμυρίων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fsw%7C">ὅσῳ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcews">τάξεως</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="a%29nami%5Cc">ἀναμὶξ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="proaire%2Fseis">προαιρέσεις</w>, <w lemma="tosou%2Ftw%7C">τοσούτῳ</w> <w lemma="lampro%2Fteros">λαμπρότερος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunos">κίνδυνος</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tosou%2Ftou">τοσούτου</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="zugo%5Cn">ζυγὸν</w> <w lemma="oi%28onei%5C">οἱονεὶ</w> <w lemma="monomaxikh%3Ds">μονομαχικῆς</w> <w lemma="sunestw%2Fshs">συνεστώσης</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizome%2Fnous">ἀγωνιζομένους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fas">φιλοτιμίας</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%2F">ἥ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kraugh%5C">κραυγὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fstremma">σύστρεμμα</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fron">διαφέρον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Dqen">ἀρχῆθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="taxqe%2Fntes">ταχθέντες</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tre%2Fyasqai">τρέψασθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fsqai">προέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w>, <w lemma="thlikau%2Fthn">τηλικαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fan">φιλοτιμίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%2Fn">σπουδήν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29cw%3Dsai">ἐξῶσαι</w> <w lemma="speu%2Fdontes">σπεύδοντες</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dcai">εἶξαι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dntes">τολμῶντες</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fan">προθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29tai%3Ds">αὐταῖς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnontes">μένοντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Frais">χώραις</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fqnhskon">ἀπέθνησκον</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28%2F">οἵ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29namemigme%2Fnoi">ἀναμεμιγμένοι</w>, <w lemma="da%3D%7Cda">δᾷδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stuppi%2Fon">στυππίον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="tolmhrw%3Ds">τολμηρῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptontes">προσπίπτοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fballon">ἐνέβαλλον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="mhxanai%3Ds">μηχαναῖς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxaton">ἔσχατον</w> <w lemma="paragene%2Fsqai">παραγενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnous">δυναμένους</w> <w lemma="katakrath%3Dsai">κατακρατῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fwn">ἐναντίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnw%7C">κινδύνῳ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29poqnh%2Fskontas">ἀποθνήσκοντας</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneka">ἕνεκα</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpratten">ἔπραττεν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnous">δυναμένους</w> <w lemma="krath%3Dsai">κρατῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w>, <w lemma="a%29nakalei%3Dsqai">ἀνακαλεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="salpistai%3Ds">σαλπισταῖς</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="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29lqo%2Fntes">ἐλθόντες</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="a%29pobalei%3Dn">ἀποβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fs">παρασκευάς</w>, <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29kra%2Fthsan">ἐκράτησαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="dieth%2Frhsan">διετήρησαν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w>.
Himilco, the commander of the garrison, seeing that all were full of spirit and confidence, the original garrison owing to the arrival of relief, and the newcomers owing to their ignorance as yet of the perilous situation,
desired to avail himself of this fresh spirit in both parties and make another attempt to fire the enemy's works. He therefore summoned the soldiers to a general assembly,
and addressing them at some length in words suitable to the occasion, roused them to great enthusiasm by his lavish promises of reward to those who distinguished themselves personally, and his assurance that the force as a whole would be duly recompensed by the Government.
On their all applauding him and shouting to him not to delay but to lead them on at once, he dismissed them for the present after praising them and expressing his pleasure at their eagerness, ordering them to retire to rest early and obey their officers.
Soon afterwards he summoned the commanding officers and assigned to each his proper place in the assault, giving them the watchword and informing them of the hour. He ordered all the commanders with the whole of their forces to be on the spot at the morning watch,
and his orders having been executed, he led the whole force out as it was getting light and attacked the works in several places.
The Romans, who had foreseen what was coming, were not idle or unprepared, but promptly ran to defend the threatened points and opposed a vigorous resistance to the enemy.
Soon the whole of both forces were engaged, and a desperate fight was going on all round the walls, the salliers numbering not less than twenty thousand and the force outside being rather more numerous.
Inasmuch as they were fighting confusedly and in no order, each man as he thought best, the battle was all the more fierce, such a large force being engaged man to man and company to company, so that there was something of the keenness of single combat in the whole contest.
It was, however, particularly at the siege-works themselves that there was most shouting and pressure.
For those on both sides whose task from the outset was on the one hand to drive the defenders from the works, and on the other not to abandon them, exhibited such emulation and resolution, the assailants doing their very best to turn the Romans out, and the latter refusing to give way, that
at last owing to this resolute spirit the men remained and fell on the spot where they had first stood. Yet, in spite of all, the bearers of pine-brands, tow, and fire intermingled with the combatants, attacked the engines from every side, hurling the burning matter at them with such pluck that the Romans were in the utmost peril, being unable to master the onset of the enemy.
But the Carthaginian general, observing that many were falling in the battle, and that his object of taking the works was not being attained, ordered his trumpeters to sound the retreat.
Thus the Romans who had come very near losing all their siege-material, at length were masters of their works, and remained in secure possession of them.