Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 58

1
<w lemma="%2Aou%29">Οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqo%5Cs">ἀγαθὸς</w> <w lemma="brabeuth%5Cs">βραβευτὴς</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh">τύχη</w> <w lemma="metabiba%2Fsasa">μεταβιβάσασα</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="prou+pa%2Frxontos">προϋπάρχοντος</w> <w lemma="a%29qlh%2Fmatos">ἀθλήματος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="parabolw%2Fteron">παραβολώτερον</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnisma">ἀγώνισμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttw">ἐλάττω</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fkleisen">συνέκλεισεν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkas">Ἀμίλκας</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Feruka">Ἔρυκα</w> <w lemma="throu%2Fntwn">τηρούντων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="korufh%3Ds">κορυφῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="r%28i%2Fzan">ῥίζαν</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpomen">εἴπομεν</w>, <w lemma="katela%2Fbeto">κατελάβετο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29eruki%2Fnwn">Ἐρυκίνων</w>, <w lemma="h%28%2Ftis">ἥτις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="korufh%3Ds">κορυφῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="r%28i%2Fzh%7C">ῥίζῃ</w> <w lemma="stratopedeusa%2Fntwn">στρατοπεδευσάντων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnein">ὑπομένειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="poliorkoume%2Fnous">πολιορκουμένους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="korufh%5Cn">κορυφὴν</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxontas">κατέχοντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="a%29pi%2Fstws">ἀπίστως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="a%29nte%2Fxein">ἀντέχειν</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="proskeime%2Fnwn">προσκειμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xorhgiw%3Dn">χορηγιῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="parakomizome%2Fnwn">παρακομιζομένων</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsodon">πρόσοδον</w> <w lemma="a%29ntexome%2Fnois">ἀντεχομένοις</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="e%29ntau%3Dqa">ἐνταῦθα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsais">πάσαις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="poliorkhtikai%3Ds">πολιορκητικαῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fais">ἐπινοίαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fais">βίαις</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="e%29ndei%2Fas">ἐνδείας</w> <w lemma="a%29nasxo%2Fmenoi">ἀνασχόμενοι</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29piqe%2Fsews">ἐπιθέσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w>,
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<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="%2Afa%2Fbio%2Fs">Φάβιός</w> <w lemma="fhsin">φησιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29cadunatou%3Dntes">ἐξαδυνατοῦντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="perikakou%3Dntes">περικακοῦντες</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29paqei%3Ds">ἀπαθεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29h%2Ftthtoi%2F">ἀήττητοί</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndres">ἄνδρες</w> <w lemma="i%28ero%5Cn">ἱερὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsan">ἐποίησαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ste%2Ffanon">στέφανον</w>.
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<w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> '<w lemma="kei%2Fnous">κείνους</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pikrath%3Dsai">ἐπικρατῆσαι</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fth">ἔτη</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpw%7C">τόπῳ</w> <w lemma="diagwnisame%2Fnous">διαγωνισαμένους</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllou">ἄλλου</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpou">τρόπου</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fsin">κρίσιν</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ata%5C">Τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Feruka">Ἔρυκα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pezika%5Cs">πεζικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxe">ἔσχε</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w>. <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmat%27">πολιτεύματ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frwn">ἀμφοτέρων</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxomaxou%3Dsi">ψυχομαχοῦσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29genw%3Dn">εὐγενῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29rni%2Fqwn">ὀρνίθων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnoi%2F">ἐκεῖνοί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="a%29polwleko%2Ftes">ἀπολωλεκότες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pte%2Frugas">πτέρυγας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29dunami%2Fan">ἀδυναμίαν</w>, <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="yuxh%3D%7C">ψυχῇ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnontes">μένοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29kba%2Fllousi">ἐκβάλλουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="plhga%2Fs">πληγάς</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="au%29toma%2Ftws">αὐτομάτως</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="peripeso%2Fntes">περιπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairi%2Fws">καιρίως</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="diadra%2Fcwntai">διαδράξωνται</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="sumbh%3D%7C">συμβῇ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="propesei%3Dn:">προπεσεῖν·</w>
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<w lemma="oi%28%2F">οἵ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fmnontes">κάμνοντες</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fnois">πόνοις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxeian">συνέχειαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2Flgoun">ἀπήλγουν</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="parele%2Flunto">παρελέλυντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parei%3Dnto">παρεῖντο</w>
But Fortune, however, like a good umpire, unexpectedly shifted the scene and changed the nature of the contest, confining both in a narrower field, where the struggle grew even more desperate.
The Romans, as I said, had garrisons at Eryx on the summit of the mountain and at the foot. Hamilcar now seized the town which lies between the summit and the spot at the foot where the garrison was.
The consequence of this was that the Romans on the summit — a thing they had never expected — remained besieged and in considerable peril, and that the Carthaginians, though it is scarcely credible, maintained their position though the enemy were pressing on them from all sides and the conveyance of supplies was not easy, as they only held one place on the sea and one single road connecting with it. However, here again both sides employed every device and effort that the siege demanded:
both endured every kind of privation and both essayed every means of attack and every variety of action.
At length not, as Fabius Pictor says, owing to their exhaustion and sufferings, but like two uninjured and invincible champions, they left the contest drawn.
For before either could get the better of the other, though the struggle in this place lasted for another two years, the war had been decided by other means.
Such then was the condition of affairs at Eryx and as far as regarded land forces. We may compare the spirit displayed by both states to that of game cocks engaged in a death-struggle.
For we often see that when these birds have lost the use of their wings from exhaustion, their courage remains as high as ever and they continue to strike blow upon blow, until closing involuntarily they get a deadly hold of each other, and as soon as this happens one or the other of the two will soon fall dead.
So the Romans and Carthaginians, worn out by their exertions owing to the continual fighting, at length began to be despairing, their strength paralysed and their resources exhausted by protracted taxation and expense.