Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 60

1
<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fnoian">ὑπόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntos">προσπεσόντος</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pepleuke%2Fnai">πεπλευκέναι</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flw%7C">στόλῳ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoiei%3Dsqai">ἀντιποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>, <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="kath%2Frtizon">κατήρτιζον</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plhrw%2Fsantes">πληρώσαντες</w> <w lemma="si%2Ftou">σίτου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpempon">ἐξέπεμπον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29llei%2Fpein">ἐλλείπειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Feruka">Ἔρυκα</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fwn">ἀναγκαίων</w>.
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<w lemma="kate%2Fsthsan">κατέστησαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nautikh%3Ds">ναυτικῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna:">Ἄννωνα·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="a%29naxqei%5Cs">ἀναχθεὶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fras">κατάρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28iera%5Cn">Ἱερὰν</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnhn">καλουμένην</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fspeude">ἔσπευδε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="laqw%5Cn">λαθὼν</w> <w lemma="diakomisqh%3Dnai">διακομισθῆναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</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="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%5Cs">ἀγορὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29poqe%2Fsqai">ἀποθέσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koufi%2Fsai">κουφίσαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>, <w lemma="proslabw%5Cn">προσλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Ftas">ἐπιβάτας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fous">ἐπιτηδείους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aba%2Frkan">Βάρκαν</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="summi%2Fsgein">συμμίσγειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aluta%2Ftios">Λυτάτιος</w> <w lemma="sunei%5Cs">συνεὶς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna">Ἄννωνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullogisa%2Fmenos">συλλογισάμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pezou%3D">πεζοῦ</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fmatos">στρατεύματος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fstous">ἀρίστους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpleuse">ἔπλευσε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29gou%3Dssan">Αἰγοῦσσαν</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilubai%2Fou">Λιλυβαίου</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnhn">κειμένην</w>.
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<w lemma="ka%29ntau%3Dqa">κἀνταῦθα</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fponta">πρέποντα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="diesa%2Ffei">διεσάφει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kubernh%2Ftais">κυβερνήταις</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnhs">ἐσομένης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Frion">αὔριον</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fas">ναυμαχίας</w>.
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<w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28wqinh%2Fn">ἑωθινήν</w>, <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="u%28pofainou%2Fshs">ὑποφαινούσης</w>, <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fois">ἐναντίοις</w> <w lemma="foro%5Cn">φορὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnemon">ἄνεμον</w> <w lemma="katarre%2Fonta">καταρρέοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lampro%2Fn">λαμπρόν</w>, <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dusxerh%3D">δυσχερῆ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fploun">ἀνάπλουν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29nti%2Fon">ἀντίον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pneu%3Dma">πνεῦμα</w>, <w lemma="koi%2Flhs">κοίλης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="traxei%2Fas">τραχείας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="dihpo%2Frei">διηπόρει</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="parou%3Dsi">παροῦσι</w>.
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<w lemma="sullogizo%2Fmenos">συλλογιζόμενος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="paraba%2Fllhtai">παραβάλληται</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dnos">χειμῶνος</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntos">ὄντος</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna">Ἄννωνα</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsetai">ποιήσεται</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dna">ἀγῶνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nautika%5Cs">ναυτικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fmonta">γέμοντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ska%2Ffh">σκάφη</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="thrw%3Dn">τηρῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29di%2Fan">εὐδίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katame%2Fllwn">καταμέλλων</w> <w lemma="e%29a%2Fsh%7C">ἐάσῃ</w> <w lemma="dia%3Drai">διᾶραι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summi%3Dcai">συμμῖξαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w>, <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="eu%29kinh%2Ftous">εὐκινήτους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kekoufisme%2Fnas">κεκουφισμένας</w> <w lemma="a%29gwniei%3Dtai">ἀγωνιεῖται</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fstous">ἀρίστους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pezou%3D">πεζοῦ</w> <w lemma="strateuma%2Ftwn">στρατευμάτων</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkou">Ἀμίλκου</w> <w lemma="to%2Flman">τόλμαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="foberw%2Fteron:">φοβερώτερον·</w>
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrine">ἔκρινε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="parei%3Dnai">παρεῖναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%3Dta">ἐνεστῶτα</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn:">καιρόν·</w> <w lemma="sunidw%5Cn">συνιδὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="i%28stiodromou%2Fsas">ἱστιοδρομούσας</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fgeto">ἀνήγετο</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3Ds">σπουδῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plhrwma%2Ftwn">πληρωμάτων</w> <w lemma="eu%29xerw%3Ds">εὐχερῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29nafero%2Fntwn">ἀναφερόντων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="klu%2Fdwna">κλύδωνα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%29eci%2Fais">εὐεξίαις</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ktei%2Fnas">ἐκτείνας</w> <w lemma="nau%3Dn">ναῦν</w> <w lemma="a%29nti%2Fprwr">ἀντίπρωρ</w>
When the unexpected news reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> that the Romans were at sea with a fleet and were again disputing the naval supremacy, they at once got their ships ready,
and filling them with corn and other provisions, dispatched their fleet on its errand, desiring that the troops at Eryx should be in no need of necessary supplies.
Hanno, whom they had appointed to command the naval force, set sail and reached the so‑called Holy Isle from whence he designed to cross as soon as possible to Eryx, unobserved by the enemy, and, after lightening the ships by disembarking the supplies, to take on board as marines the best qualified mercenaries together with Barcas himself and then engage the enemy.
Lutatius, learning of Hanno\'s arrival and divining his intentions, took on board a picked force from the army and sailed to the island of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Aegusa&groupId=291&placeId=573">Aegusa</a> which lies off <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a>.
There, after exhorting his troops as became the occasion, he informed the captains that the battle would take place next day.
In the early morning, just as day was breaking, he saw that a brisk breeze was coming down favourable to the enemy, but that it had become difficult for himself to sail up against the wind, the sea too being heavy and rough. At first he hesitated much what to do under the circumstances,
but reflected that if he risked an attack now that the weather was stormy, he would be fighting against Hanno and the naval forces alone and also against heavily laden ships,
whereas if he waited for calm weather and by his delay allowed the enemy to cross and join the army, he would have to face ships now lightened and manageable as well as the pick of the land forces and above all the bravery of Hamilcar which was what they dreaded most at that time.
He therefore decided not to let the present opportunity slip. When he saw the Carthaginian ships under full sail he at once got under weigh. As his crews easily mastered the waves owing to their good training, he soon brought his fleet into a single line with their prows to the enemy.