Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 1 - Chapter 6

1
<w lemma="%2A%29%2Fetos">Ἔτος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29neisth%2Fkei">ἐνειστήκει</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29go%5Cs">Αἰγὸς</w> <w lemma="potamoi%3Ds">ποταμοῖς</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fan">ναυμαχίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29nneakaide%2Fkaton">ἐννεακαιδέκατον</w>, <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fktrois">Λεύκτροις</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="e%28kkaide%2Fkaton">ἑκκαιδέκατον</w>,
2
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antalki%2Fdou">Ἀνταλκίδου</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnhn">λεγομένην</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Apersw%3Dn">Περσῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29ku%2Frwsan">ἐκύρωσαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="presbu%2Fteros">πρεσβύτερος</w> <w lemma="%2Adionu%2Fsios">Διονύσιος</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29elle%2Fporon">Ἐλλέπορον</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="nenikhkw%5Cs">νενικηκὼς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhnas">Ἕλληνας</w> <w lemma="e%29polio%2Frkei">ἐπολιόρκει</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rh%2Fgion">Ῥήγιον</w>, <w lemma="%2Agala%2Ftai">Γαλάται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="kra%2Ftos">κράτος</w> <w lemma="e%28lo%2Fntes">ἑλόντες</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w> <w lemma="katei%3Dxon">κατεῖχον</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Akapetwli%2Fou">Καπετωλίου</w>.
3
<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="sponda%5Cs">σπονδὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fseis">διαλύσεις</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokoume%2Fnas">εὐδοκουμένας</w> <w lemma="%2Agala%2Ftais">Γαλάταις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nelpi%2Fstws">ἀνελπίστως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sunauch%2Fsews">συναυξήσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29pole%2Fmoun">ἐπολέμουν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29stugei%2Ftonas">ἀστυγείτονας</w>.
4
<w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alati%2Fnwn">Λατίνων</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrei%2Fan">ἀνδρείαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxais">μάχαις</w> <w lemma="e%29pituxi%2Fan">ἐπιτυχίαν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pole%2Fmoun">ἐπολέμουν</w> <w lemma="%2Aturrhnoi%3Ds">Τυρρηνοῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fpeita">ἔπειτα</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltoi%3Ds">Κελτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Asauni%2Ftais">Σαυνίταις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29natola%5Cs">ἀνατολὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w> <w lemma="suntermonou%3Dsi">συντερμονοῦσι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alati%2Fnwn">Λατίνων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fra%7C">χώρᾳ</w>.
5
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%2Fnwn">Ταραντίνων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="a%29se%2Flgeian">ἀσέλγειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbon">φόβον</w> <w lemma="e%29pispasame%2Fnwn">ἐπισπασαμένων</w> <w lemma="%2Apu%2Frron">Πύρρον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftei">ἔτει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Agalatw%3Dn">Γαλατῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdou">ἐφόδου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adelfou%5Cs">Δελφοὺς</w> <w lemma="fqare%2Fntwn">φθαρέντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peraiwqe%2Fntwn">περαιωθέντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w>,
6
<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="%2Aturrhnou%5Cs">Τυρρηνοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asauni%2Ftas">Σαυνίτας</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="pepoihme%2Fnoi">πεποιημένοι</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%5Cs">Κελτοὺς</w> <w lemma="pollai%3Ds">πολλαῖς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxais">μάχαις</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="nenikhko%2Ftes">νενικηκότες</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="o%29qnei%2Fwn">ὀθνείων</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqhko%2Fntwn">καθηκόντων</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="polemh%2Fsontes">πολεμήσοντες</w>, <w lemma="a%29qlhtai%5C">ἀθληταὶ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftes">γεγονότες</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinoi%5C">ἀληθινοὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Asauni%2Ftas">Σαυνίτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%5Cs">Κελτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnwn">ἀγώνων</w>.
7
<w lemma="u%28posta%2Fntes">ὑποστάντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="gennai%2Fws">γενναίως</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="teleutai%3Don">τελευταῖον</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apu%2Frron">Πύρρον</w> <w lemma="e%29kbalo%2Fntes">ἐκβαλόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="e%29pole%2Fmoun">ἐπολέμουν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katestre%2Ffonto">κατεστρέφοντο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="koinwnh%2Fsantas">κοινωνήσαντας</w> <w lemma="%2Apu%2Frrw%7C">Πύρρῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.
8
<w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws">παραδόξως</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kou%3Dntas">οἰκοῦντας</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn">Κελτῶν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3Dn">πολιορκεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frhsan">ἐνεχείρησαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxontas">κατέχοντας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rh%2Fgion">Ῥήγιον</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>.
It was, therefore, the nineteenth year after the battle of Aegospotami and the sixteenth before that of Leuctra, the year in which the Spartans ratified the peace known as that of Antalcidas with the King of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Persia&groupId=871&placeId=1571">Persia</a>,
that in which also Dionysius the Elder, after defeating the Italiot Greeks in the battle at the river Elleporos, was besieging <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>, and that in which the Gauls, after taking <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> itself by assault, occupied the whole of that city except the Capitol.
The Romans, after making a truce on conditions satisfactory to the Gauls and being thus contrary to their expectation reinstated in their home and as it were now started on the road of aggrandizement, continued in the following years to wage war on their neighbours.
After subduing all the Latins by their valour and the fortune of war, they fought first against the Etruscans, then against the Celts, and next against the Samnites, whose territory was conterminous with that of the Latins on the East and North.
After some time the Tarentines, fearing the consequences of their insolence to the Roman envoys, begged for the intervention of Pyrrhus. (This was in the year preceding the expedition of those Gauls who met with the reverse at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Delphi&groupId=534&placeId=363">Delphi</a> and then crossed to Asia.)
The Romans had ere this reduced the Etruscans and Samnites and had vanquished the Italian Celts in many battles, and they now for the first time attacked the rest of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> not as if it were a foreign country, but as if it rightfully belonged to them.
Their struggle with the Samnites and Celts had made them veritable masters in the art of war, and after bravely supporting this war with Pyrrhus and finally expelling himself and his army from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, they continued to fight with and subdue those who had sided with him.
When, with extraordinary good fortune, they had reduced all these peoples and had made all the inhabitants of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> their subjects excepting the Celts, they undertook the siege of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a> now held by certain of their compatriots.