Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 75

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<w lemma="%2Adio%2Fper">Διόπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzonta">χειρίζοντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkan">Ἀμίλκαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikalou%2Fmenon">ἐπικαλούμενον</w> <w lemma="%2Aba%2Frkan">Βάρκαν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="proesth%2Fsanto">προεστήσαντο</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpempon">ἐξέπεμπον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%3Dta">ἐνεστῶτα</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="strathgo%2Fn">στρατηγόν</w>, <w lemma="do%2Fntes">δόντες</w> <w lemma="e%28bdomh%2Fkonta">ἑβδομήκοντα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Ffantas">ἐλέφαντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pisunhgme%2Fnous">ἐπισυνηγμένους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="hu%29tomolhko%2Ftas">ηὐτομοληκότας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="politikou%5Cs">πολιτικοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pezou%2Fs">πεζούς</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpantas">σύμπαντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fthn">πρώτην</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="kataplhca%2Fmenos">καταπληξάμενος</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcw%7C">παραδόξῳ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Ftthse">ἥττησε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="yuxa%5Cs">ψυχὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fluse">ἔλυσε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itu%2Fkhs">Ἰτύκης</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29fa%2Fnh">ἐφάνη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcios">ἄξιος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqei">πλήθει</w> <w lemma="prosdoki%2Fas">προσδοκίας</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="praxqe%5Cn">πραχθὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w>. <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gewlo%2Ffwn">γεωλόφων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pizeugnu%2Fntwn">ἐπιζευγνύντων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29xe%2Fna">αὐχένα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fptonta">συνάπτοντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fna">Καρχηδόνα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="dusba%2Ftwn">δυσβάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xeiropoih%2Ftous">χειροποιήτους</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="diekbola%5Cs">διεκβολὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fqw">Μάθω</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffwn">λόφων</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frws">εὐκαίρως</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnous">κειμένους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="fulakai%3Ds">φυλακαῖς</w> <w lemma="dieilhfe%2Fnai">διειληφέναι</w>,
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnou">προσαγορευομένου</w> <w lemma="%2Amaka%2Fra">Μακάρα</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w> <w lemma="diei%2Frgontos">διείργοντος</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmatos">ῥεύματος</w> <w lemma="a%29ba%2Ftou">ἀβάτου</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxontos">ὑπάρχοντος</w>, <w lemma="mia%3Ds">μιᾶς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="gefu%2Fras">γεφύρας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="di%2Fodon">δίοδον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w>, <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="w%29%7Ckodomhko%2Ftas">ᾠκοδομηκότας</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdw%7C">στρατοπέδῳ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibai%2Fnein">ἐπιβαίνειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="qe%2Flontas">θέλοντας</w> <w lemma="diapesei%3Dn">διαπεσεῖν</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="laqei%3Dn">λαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="ble%2Fpwn">βλέπων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkas">Ἀμίλκας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmatos">πράγματος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnwn">λαμβάνων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dusxrhstei%3Dn">δυσχρηστεῖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="dienoh%2Fqh">διενοήθη</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="e%29kbolh%5Cn">ἐκβολὴν</w> <w lemma="sunqewrh%2Fsas">συνθεωρήσας</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fmwn">ἀνέμων</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fseis">στάσεις</w> <w lemma="a%29poqinou%2Fmenon">ἀποθινούμενον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fma">στόμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tenagw%2Fdh">τεναγώδη</w> <w lemma="ginome%2Fnhn">γινομένην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fma">στόμα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Frodon">πάροδον</w>, <w lemma="poih%2Fsas">ποιήσας</w> <w lemma="eu%29treph%3D">εὐτρεπῆ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdw%7C">στρατοπέδῳ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kru%2Fptwn">κρύπτων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29th%2Frei">ἐτήρει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmptwma">σύμπτωμα</w>.
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<w lemma="parapeso%2Fntos">παραπεσόντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w>, <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29cormh%2Fsas">ἐξορμήσας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqe">ἔλαθε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="fwti%5C">φωτὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="diabiba%2Fsas">διαβιβάσας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>.
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<w lemma="parado%2Fcou">παραδόξου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmatos">πράγματος</w> <w lemma="fane%2Fntos">φανέντος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkas">Ἀμίλκας</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dgen">προῆγεν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fou">πεδίου</w>, <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w>
The Carthaginians, in consequence, seeing that he was mismanaging matters, again appointed Hamilcar Barcas to the command
and dispatched him to the war on hand, giving him seventy elephants, all the additional mercenaries they had been able to collect, and the deserters from the enemy, besides their burgher forces, horse and foot, so that in all he had about ten thousand men.
Hamilcar, on his very first expedition, struck terror into the enemy by the unexpectedness of the attack, cowing their spirit, raising the siege of Utica, and showing himself worthy of his past exploits and of the high expectations of the populace.
What he accomplished in this campaign was as follows. On the neck of land connecting <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> is a chain of hills difficult of access and with several passes to the country artificially cut in them. Mathos had posted guards in all those spots which were favourable for the passage of the hills.
In addition to this there is a river called Macaras<note place="end" resp="tr" id="note9"><emph rend="bold">Macaras:</emph>The same as Bagraclas.</note>which shuts off in certain places the access from the town to the country. This river is for the most part unfordable owing to the volume of water, and there is only one bridge, which Mathos had also secured, building a town at the bridge-head.
So that not only was it impossible for the Carthaginians to reach the country with an army, but it was not even an easy matter for single persons wishing to get through to elude the vigilance of the enemy.
Hamilcar, seeing all these obstacles, after passing in review every means and every chance of surmounting this difficulty about a passage, thought of the following plan.
He had noticed that when the wind blew strongly from certain quarters the mouth of the river got silted up and the passage became shallow just where it falls into the sea. He therefore got his force ready to march out, and keeping his project to himself, waited for this to occur.
When the right time came he started from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> at night, and without anyone noticing him, had by daybreak got his army across at the place mentioned.
Both those in the city and the enemy were taken by surprise, and Hamilcar advanced through the plain making for the guardians of the bridge.