Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 70

1
<w lemma="strathgou%5Cs">στρατηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fqw">Μάθω</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aspe%2Fndion">Σπένδιον</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fskwn">Γέσκων</w> <w lemma="e%28w%2Fra">ἑώρα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="a%29katastasi%2Fan">ἀκαταστασίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="taraxh%2Fn">ταραχήν</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstou">πλείστου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdi">πατρίδι</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Fron">συμφέρον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29poqhriwqe%2Fntwn">ἀποθηριωθέντων</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fousi">κινδυνεύουσι</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds">προφανῶς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasi">πράγμασι</w>,
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<w lemma="pareba%2Flleto">παρεβάλλετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosekarte%2Frei">προσεκαρτέρει</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtas">προεστῶτας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnwn">λαμβάνων</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnh">γένη</w> <w lemma="sunaqroi%2Fzwn">συναθροίζων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakalw%3Dn">παρακαλῶν</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="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fwn">Λιβύων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpw">οὐδέπω</w> <w lemma="kekomisme%2Fnwn">κεκομισμένων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sitarxi%2Fas">σιταρχίας</w>, <w lemma="oi%29ome%2Fnwn">οἰομένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29podedo%2Fsqai">ἀποδεδόσθαι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosio%2Fntwn">προσιόντων</w> <w lemma="qrase%2Fws">θρασέως</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fskwn">Γέσκων</w> <w lemma="e%29piplh%3Dcai">ἐπιπλῆξαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prope%2Fteian">προπέτειαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fqw">Μάθω</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29paitei%3Dn">ἀπαιτεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleuen">ἐκέλευεν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="diwrgi%2Fsqhsan">διωργίσθησαν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fnta">τυχόντα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29nastrofh%5Cn">ἀναστροφὴν</w> <w lemma="do%2Fntes">δόντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="diarpa%2Fzein">διαρπάζειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fxeira">πρόχειρα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="sullamba%2Fnein">συλλαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fskwna">Γέσκωνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fqw">Μάθω</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aspe%2Fndion">Σπένδιον</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnontes">ὑπολαμβάνοντες</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fxist%27">τάχιστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29kkauqh%3Dnai">ἐκκαυθῆναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fnomo%2Fn">παράνομόν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceian">πράξειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fspondon">παράσπονδον</w>, <w lemma="sunh%2Frgoun">συνήργουν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlwn">ὄχλων</w> <w lemma="a%29ponoi%2Fais">ἀπονοίαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29poskeuh%5Cn">ἀποσκευὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fmasi">χρήμασι</w> <w lemma="dih%2Frpazon">διήρπαζον</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fskwna">Γέσκωνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fsantes">δήσαντες</w> <w lemma="u%28bristikw%3Ds">ὑβριστικῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="fulakh%5Cn">φυλακὴν</w> <w lemma="paredi%2Fdosan">παρεδίδοσαν</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pole%2Fmoun">ἐπολέμουν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="fanerw%3Ds">φανερῶς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>, <w lemma="sunwmosi%2Fas">συνωμοσίας</w> <w lemma="a%29sebei%3Ds">ἀσεβεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="koina%5C">κοινὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqh">ἔθη</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ce%2Fnous">ξένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibuko%5Cs">Λιβυκὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29piklhqei%5Cs">ἐπικληθεὶς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemos">πόλεμος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabe">ἔλαβε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2Fn">ἀρχήν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fqw">Μάθω</w> <w lemma="suntelesa%2Fmenoi">συντελεσάμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fna">προειρημένα</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fstellon">ἐξαπέστελλον</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w>, <w lemma="parakalou%3Dntes">παρακαλοῦντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fan">ἐλευθερίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmenoi">δεόμενοι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunepilamba%2Fnesqai">συνεπιλαμβάνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmws">ἑτοίμως</w> <w lemma="sunupakousa%2Fntwn">συνυπακουσάντων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fstasin">ἀπόστασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fas">βοηθείας</w> <w lemma="proqu%2Fmws">προθύμως</w> <w lemma="e%29capostello%2Fntwn">ἐξαποστελλόντων</w>, <w lemma="dielo%2Fntes">διελόντες</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3Dn">πολιορκεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frhsan">ἐνεχείρησαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itu%2Fkhn">Ἰτύκην</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ippakri%2Ftas">Ἱππακρίτας</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="bou%2F">βού</w>
Gesco saw how complete was the disorganization and disturbance, but valuing more than anything the interest of his country and foreseeing that if these troops became utterly deaf to all considerations of humanity, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> would evidently be in the gravest danger,
he persisted, at great personal risk, in his conciliatory efforts, sometimes conferring privately with their officers,
and at other times summoning and addressing meetings of the separate nations. The Libyans, however, had not yet received their pay, and considering it overdue, came to him to demand it in a very insolent manner, when Gesco, thinking to rebuke their presumption, told them to go and ask Mathos their "General" for it. This aroused their anger to such a pitch, that without a moment's delay
they, first of all, seized on what money they could lay their hands on and next arrested Gesco and the Carthaginians who were with him.
As for Mathos and Spendius, thinking that the most expeditious means of setting war ablaze would be to commit some violation of law or good faith, they co-operated in the excesses of the soldiery, plundering the personal effects as well as the money-chests of the Carthaginians, and after subjecting Gesco and those with him to the outrage of putting them in fetters, gave them into custody.
From this time forward they were at open war with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, having bound themselves by certain impious oaths contrary to the principles recognized by all mankind.
Such then was the origin and beginning of the war against the mercenaries, generally known as the Libyan war.
Mathos, having so far carried out his purpose, at once sent envoys to the Libyan towns urging them to strike a blow for liberty and imploring their support and practical assistance.
Hereupon, when nearly all the Libyans had agreed to join in the revolt against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> and willingly contributed troops and supplies, they divided their forces into two and undertook the sieges of Utica and Hippacritae, since these cities had refused to participate in the rebellion.