Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 62

1
<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w>, <w lemma="prospesou%2Fshs">προσπεσούσης</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29prosdokh%2Ftws">ἀπροσδοκήτως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Ftths">ἥττης</w>, <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmai%3Ds">ὁρμαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fais">φιλοτιμίαις</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftoimoi">ἕτοιμοι</w> <w lemma="polemei%3Dn">πολεμεῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="logismoi%3Ds">λογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29chpo%2Froun">ἐξηπόρουν</w>.
2
<w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="xorhgei%3Dn">χορηγεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fa%7C">Σικελίᾳ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesin">δυνάμεσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>, <w lemma="kratou%2Fntwn">κρατούντων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn:">ὑπεναντίων·</w> <w lemma="a%29pogno%2Fntes">ἀπογνόντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prodo%2Ftai">προδόται</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w>, <w lemma="poi%2Fais">ποίαις</w> <w lemma="xersi%5Cn">χερσὶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fois">ποίοις</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fsin">ἡγεμόσιν</w> <w lemma="polemh%2Fseian">πολεμήσειαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w>.
3
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="o%29ce%2Fws">ὀξέως</w> <w lemma="diapemya%2Fmenoi">διαπεμψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aba%2Frkan">Βάρκαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Ftreyan">ἐπέτρεψαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnw%7C">ἐκείνῳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsen">ἐποίησεν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgon">ἔργον</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnos">ἡγεμόνος</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqou%3D">ἀγαθοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="froni%2Fmou">φρονίμου</w>.
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<w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%5Cs">ἐλπὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnois">ὑποκειμένοις</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flwn">παραβόλων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="deinw%3Dn">δεινῶν</w> <w lemma="dokou%2Fntwn">δοκούντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pare%2Flipen">παρέλιπεν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="polemei%3Dn">πολεμεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllos">ἄλλος</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnwn">ἡγεμόνων</w>, <w lemma="e%29ch%2Flegcen">ἐξήλεγξεν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fsth">περιέστη</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="katelei%2Fpeto">κατελείπετο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sw%2F%7Czein">σῴζειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28potattome%2Fnous">ὑποταττομένους</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fnu">πάνυ</w> <w lemma="nounexw%3Ds">νουνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pragmatikw%3Ds">πραγματικῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fcas">εἴξας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="parou%3Dsin">παροῦσιν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="spondw%3Dn">σπονδῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fsewn">διαλύσεων</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fstelle">ἐξαπέστελλε</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%2Fs">πρεσβευτάς</w>.
6
<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="nomiste%2Fon">νομιστέον</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnos">ἡγεμόνος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="ble%2Fpein">βλέπειν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpesqai">λείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>.
7
<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alutati%2Fou">Λυτατίου</w> <w lemma="proqu%2Fmws">προθύμως</w> <w lemma="decame%2Fnou">δεξαμένου</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="parakalou%2Fmena">παρακαλούμενα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suneide%2Fnai">συνειδέναι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Frois">σφετέροις</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasi">πράγμασι</w> <w lemma="tetrume%2Fnois">τετρυμένοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fmnousin">κάμνουσιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmw%7C">πολέμῳ</w>, <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29piqei%3Dnai">ἐπιθεῖναι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="diafora%3D%7C">διαφορᾷ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="tinw%3Dn">τινῶν</w> <w lemma="sunqhkw%3Dn">συνθηκῶν</w> <w lemma="diagrafeisw%3Dn:">διαγραφεισῶν·</w>
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"<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Dsde">τοῖσδε</w> <w lemma="fili%2Fan">φιλίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmw%7C">δήμῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="sundokh%3D%7C">συνδοκῇ</w>. <w lemma="e%29kxwrei%3Dn">ἐκχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="polemei%3Dn">πολεμεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ie%2Frwni">Ἱέρωνι</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pife%2Frein">ἐπιφέρειν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpla">ὅπλα</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fois">Συρακοσίοις</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fwn">Συρακοσίων</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxois">συμμάχοις</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29podou%3Dnai">ἀποδοῦναι</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="lu%2Ftrwn">λύτρων</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ai%29xmalw%2Ftous">αἰχμαλώτους</w>. <w lemma="a%29rguri%2Fou">ἀργυρίου</w> <w lemma="katenegkei%3Dn">κατενεγκεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftesin">ἔτεσιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w> <w lemma="disxi%2Flia">δισχίλια</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diako%2Fsia">διακόσια</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29boi+ka%2F">Εὐβοϊκά</w>."
Even on hearing of this unexpected defeat the Carthaginians, had they let themselves be guided by passion and ambition, would readily have continued the war, but when it came to a matter of cool calculation they were quite at a loss.
For one thing they were no longer able to send supplies to their forces in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> as the enemy commanded the sea, and if they abandoned and in a manner betrayed them, they had neither other men nor other leaders with whom to pursue the war.
They therefore at once sent a message to Barcas giving him full powers to deal with the situation. Hamilcar acted thoroughly like the good and prudent leader he was.
As long as there had been some reasonable hope in the situation he had left no means, however perilous and venturesome it seemed, unemployed, and if there ever was a general who put to proof in a war every chance of success, it was he.
But now that fortunes were reversed and there was no reasonable prospect left of saving the troops under his command, he showed his practical good sense in yielding to circumstance and sending an embassy to treat for peace.
For our opinion should be that a general ought to be qualified to discern both when he is victorious and when is beaten.
Lutatius readily consented to negotiate, conscious as he was that the Romans were by this time worn out and enfeebled by the war, and he succeeded in putting an end to the contest by a treaty more or less as follows.
"There shall be friendship between the Carthaginians and Romans on the following terms if approved by the Roman people. The Carthaginians to evacuate the whole of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> and not to make war on Hiero or bear arms against the Syracusans or the allies of the Syracusans.
The Carthaginians to give up to the Romans all prisoners without ransom. The Carthaginians to pay to the Romans by instalments in twenty years two thousand two hundred Euboean talents."