Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 57

1
<w lemma="fh%3Ds">φῆς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="a%29podou%3Dnai">ἀποδοῦναι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon:">λόγον·</w> <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntwn">διαφερόντων</w> <w lemma="puktw%3Dn">πυκτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="gennaio%2Fthsi">γενναιότησι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%29eci%2Fais">εὐεξίαις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="stefa%2Fnou">στεφάνου</w> <w lemma="sugkatasta%2Fntes">συγκαταστάντες</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="diama%2Fxwntai">διαμάχωνται</w> <w lemma="plhgh%5Cn">πληγὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="plhgh%3D%7C">πληγῇ</w> <w lemma="tiqe%2Fntes">τιθέντες</w> <w lemma="a%29diapau%2Fstws">ἀδιαπαύστως</w>, <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsths">ἑκάστης</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plhgh%3Ds">πληγῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizome%2Fnois">ἀγωνιζομένοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="qewme%2Fnois">θεωμένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergei%2Fas">ἐνεργείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frou">ἑκατέρου</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fas">φιλοτιμίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fas">ἐμπειρίας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29yuxi%2Fas">εὐψυχίας</w>, <w lemma="i%28kanh%5Cn">ἱκανὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3Dn">στρατηγῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpous">τρόπους</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29n%27">ἀν᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsthn">ἑκάστην</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fdras">ἐνέδρας</w>, <w lemma="a%29ntene%2Fdras">ἀντενέδρας</w>, <w lemma="e%29piqe%2Fseis">ἐπιθέσεις</w>, <w lemma="prosbola%2Fs">προσβολάς</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffwn">γράφων</w> <w lemma="e%29cariqmou%2Fmenos">ἐξαριθμούμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29fi%2Fkoito">ἐφίκοιτο</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fousin">ἀκούουσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Frantos">ἀπέραντος</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nwfelh%5Cs">ἀνωφελὴς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagnw%2Fsews">ἀναγνώσεως</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnoito">γίνοιτο</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fa:">χρεία·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kaqolikh%3Ds">καθολικῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29pofa%2Fsews">ἀποφάσεως</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flous">τέλους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fas">φιλοτιμίας</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flqoi">ἔλθοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="strathghma%2Ftwn">στρατηγημάτων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnhs">ὑποκειμένης</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsews">περιστάσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29pinohma%2Ftwn">ἐπινοημάτων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="para%2Fbolon">παράβολον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Faion">βίαιον</w> <w lemma="a%29nhko%2Fntwn">ἀνηκόντων</w> <w lemma="to%2Flman">τόλμαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="parelei%2Ffqh">παρελείφθη</w>.
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<w lemma="kri%2Fsin">κρίσιν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerh%3D">ὁλοσχερῆ</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn:">ἦν·</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2F">αἵ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frwn">ἀμφοτέρων</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29fa%2Fmilloi">ἐφάμιλλοι</w>, <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frakas">χάρακας</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="a%29pro%2Fsita">ἀπρόσιτα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthta">ὀχυρότητα</w>, <w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fsthma">διάστημα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="sumptw%2Fseis">συμπτώσεις</w> <w lemma="a%29pau%2Fstous">ἀπαύστους</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w>, <w lemma="o%28losxere%5Cs">ὁλοσχερὲς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="suntelei%3Dsqai">συντελεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fn">μηδέν</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="diafqei%2Fresqai">διαφθείρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sumploka%2Fs">συμπλοκάς</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="xeirw%3Dn">χειρῶν</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmw%7C">νόμῳ</w> <w lemma="peripeso%2Fntas:">περιπεσόντας·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="e%29gkli%2Fnantes">ἐγκλίναντες</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="deinou%3D">δεινοῦ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalei%2Fais">ἀσφαλείαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kindu%2Fneuon">ἐκινδύνευον</w>.
For as in a boxing-match when two champions, both distinguished for pluck and both in perfect training, meet in the decisive contest for the prize, continually delivering blow for blow, neither the combatants themselves nor the spectators can note or anticipate every attack or every blow,
but it is possible, from the general action of each, and the determination that each displays, to get a fair idea of their respective skill, strength, and courage, so it was with these two generals.
The causes or the modes of their daily ambuscades, counter-ambuscades, attempts, and assaults were so numerous that no writer could properly describe them, while at the same time the narrative would be most tedious as well as unprofitable to the reader.
It is rather by a general pronouncement about the two men and the result of their rival efforts that a notion of the facts can be conveyed.
Nothing was neglected; neither traditional tactics nor plans suggested by the occasion and by actual pressure of circumstances, nor those strokes which depend on a bold and strong initiative.
Yet there were several reasons why no decisive success could be obtained. For the forces on each side were evenly matched; their trenches were so strong as to be equally unapproachable, and the camps were at a quite small distance from each other,
this being the chief reason why there were daily conflicts at certain points, but no decisive engagement.
The losses in these combats consisted only of those who fell in the hand-to-hand fighting, while the side which once gave way used to get out of danger at once behind their defences, from whence they would issue again and resume the fight.