Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 47

1
<w lemma="kataplhtto%2Fmenos">καταπληττόμενος</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flw%7C">παραβόλῳ</w>. <w lemma="me%2Fgista">μέγιστα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="suneba%2Flleto">συνεβάλλετο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="to%2Flman">τόλμαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="probraxe%2Fwn">προβραχέων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fas">ἐμπειρίας</w> <w lemma="a%29kribw%3Ds">ἀκριβῶς</w> <w lemma="seshmeiw%3Dsqai">σεσημειῶσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fsploun:">εἴσπλουν·</w>
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<w lemma="u%28pera%2Fras">ὑπεράρας</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="faino%2Fmenos">φαινόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpeit%27">ἔπειτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fmbane">ἐλάμβανε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgon">πύργον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Drran">πρῶρραν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="tetramme%2Fnois">τετραμμένοις</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgois">πύργοις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29piprosqei%3Dn">ἐπιπροσθεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpasi:">ἅπασι·</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpou">τρόπου</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnws">μόνως</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="ou%29ri%2Fas">οὐρίας</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fsploun">εἴσπλουν</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmatos">στόματος</w> <w lemma="eu%29stoxei%3Dn">εὐστοχεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodi%2Fou">Ῥοδίου</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmh%7C">τόλμῃ</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fsantes">πιστεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="a%29peqa%2Frrhsan">ἀπεθάρρησαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29do%2Ftwn">εἰδότων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn:">ποιεῖν·</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="dusxrhstou%2Fmenoi">δυσχρηστούμενοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnonti">συμβαίνοντι</w> <w lemma="xwnnu%2Fein">χωννύειν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fma">στόμα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fnos">λιμένος</w> <w lemma="e%29pexei%2Frhsan">ἐπεχείρησαν</w>.
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fnuon">ἤνυον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fqos">βάθος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhqe%5Cn">μηθὲν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29mballome%2Fnwn">ἐμβαλλομένων</w> <w lemma="sth%3Dnai">στῆναι</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="summei%3Dnai">συμμεῖναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2F">ὑπό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="klu%2Fdwnos">κλύδωνος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3D">ῥοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fas">βίας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="r%28iptou%2Fmenon">ῥιπτούμενον</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="katafora%3D%7C">καταφορᾷ</w> <w lemma="parwqei%3Dsqai">παρωθεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaskorpi%2Fzesqai">διασκορπίζεσθαι</w>,
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxonta">ἔχοντα</w> <w lemma="bra%2Fxea">βράχεα</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fsth">συνέστη</w> <w lemma="xw%3Dma">χῶμα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="pollh%3Ds">πολλῆς</w> <w lemma="talaipwri%2Fas">ταλαιπωρίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="tetrh%2Frhs">τετρήρης</w> <w lemma="e%29ktre%2Fxousa">ἐκτρέχουσα</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29ka%2Fqise">ἐκάθισε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="u%28poxei%2Frios">ὑποχείριος</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w>, <w lemma="diafe%2Frousa">διαφέρουσα</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3D%7C">κατασκευῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nauphgi%2Fas">ναυπηγίας</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="krath%2Fsantes">κρατήσαντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plhrw%2Fmati">πληρώματι</w> <w lemma="katarti%2Fsantes">καταρτίσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pile%2Fktw%7C">ἐπιλέκτῳ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29sple%2Fontas">εἰσπλέοντας</w>, <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ro%2Fdion">Ῥόδιον</w>, <w lemma="e%29peth%2Froun">ἐπετήρουν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhn">τύχην</w> <w lemma="ei%29spleu%2Fsas">εἰσπλεύσας</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fgeto">ἀνήγετο</w> <w lemma="fanerw%3Ds">φανερῶς</w>. <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="katabolh%3Ds">καταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tetrh%2Frh">τετρήρη</w> <w lemma="sunecormh%2Fsasan">συνεξορμήσασαν</w>, <w lemma="gnou%5Cs">γνοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nau%3Dn">ναῦν</w> <w lemma="dietra%2Fph">διετράπη</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsen">ὥρμησεν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="katataxh%2Fswn:">καταταχήσων·</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plhrw%2Fmatos">πληρώματος</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3D%7C">παρασκευῇ</w> <w lemma="katalambano%2Fmenos">καταλαμβανόμενος</w>, <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29pistre%2Fyas">ἐπιστρέψας</w> <w lemma="h%29nagka%2Fsqh">ἠναγκάσθη</w> <w lemma="sumbalei%3Dn">συμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="kataproterou%2Fmenos">καταπροτερούμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibatikoi%3Ds">ἐπιβατικοῖς</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29klogh%5Cn">ἐκλογὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29xqroi%3Ds">ἐχθροῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28poxei%2Frios">ὑποχείριος</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="kurieu%2Fsantes">κυριεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="new%5Cs">νεὼς</w> <w lemma="eu%29%3D">εὖ</w> <w lemma="kateskeuasme%2Fnhs">κατεσκευασμένης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katarti%2Fsantes">καταρτίσαντες</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29kw%2Flusan">ἐκώλυσαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="katatolmw%3Dntas">κατατολμῶντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fontas">πλέοντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilu%2Fbaion">Λιλύβαιον</w>.
What tended most to give him confidence was that from experience he had accurately noted the course to be followed through the shoals in entering.
For as soon as he had crossed and come into view, he would get the sea-tower on the Italian side on his bows so that it covered the whole line of towers turned towards <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>; and this is the only way that a vessel running before the wind can hit the mouth of the harbour in entering.
Several others who had local knowledge, gaining confidence from the "Rhodian's" audacity, undertook to do the same, and in consequence the Romans, to whom this was a great annoyance, tried to fill up the mouth of the harbour.
For the most part indeed their attempt was resultless, both owing to the depth of the sea, and because none of the stuff that they threw in would remain in its place or hold together in the least, but all they shot in used to be at once shifted and scattered as it was sinking to the bottom, by the surge and the force of the current.
However, in one place where there were shoals a solid bank was formed at the cost of infinite pains, and on this a four-banked ship which was coming out at night grounded and fell into the hands of the enemy.
This ship was of remarkably fine build, and the Romans, after capturing it and manning it with a select crew, kept watch for all the blockade-runners
and especially for the "Rhodian." It so happened that he had sailed in that very night, and was afterwards sailing out quite openly, but, on seeing the four-banked vessel putting out to sea again together with himself and recognizing it, he was alarmed.
At first he made a spurt to get away from it, but finding himself overhauled owing to the good oarsmanship of its crew he had at length to turn and engage the enemy.
Being no match for the boarders, who were numerous and all picked men, he fell into the enemy's hands. His ship was, like the other, very well built,
and the Romans when they were in possession of her fitted her out too for this special service and so put a stop to all this venturesome blockade-running at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a>.