Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 88

1
<w lemma="%2Ata%5C">Τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flla">ἄλλα</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhs">Λιβύης</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%2Fkouse">ὑπήκουσε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois:">Καρχηδονίοις·</w>
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<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ippakritw%3Dn">Ἱππακριτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itukai%2Fwn">Ἰτυκαίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29demi%2Fan">οὐδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29formh%5Cn">ἀφορμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousai">ἔχουσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="dia%2Flusin">διάλυσιν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="katalei%2Fpesqai">καταλείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Fous">ἐλέους</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="suggnw%2Fmhs">συγγνώμης</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftas">πρώτας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%28marti%2Fas">ἁμαρτίας</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="metrio%2Fths">μετριότης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fkeston">ἀνήκεστον</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeu%2Fein">ἐπιτηδεύειν</w> <w lemma="e%28kousi%2Fws">ἑκουσίως</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="parastratopedeu%2Fsantes">παραστρατοπεδεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwn">Ἄννων</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aba%2Frkas">Βάρκας</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkasan">ἠνάγκασαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28mologi%2Fas">ὁμολογίας</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fseis">διαλύσεις</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokoume%2Fnas">εὐδοκουμένας</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</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="%2Alibuko%5Cs">Λιβυκὸς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemos">πόλεμος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="a%29gagw%5Cn">ἀγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fstasin">περίστασιν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxe">ἔσχε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="kurieu%3Dsai">κυριεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhs">Λιβύης</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fous">αἰτίους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29posta%2Fsews">ἀποστάσεως</w> <w lemma="timwrh%2Fsasqai">τιμωρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="kataci%2Fws:">καταξίως·</w>
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fras">πέρας</w>, <w lemma="a%29gago%2Fntes">ἀγαγόντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ne%2Foi">νέοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="qri%2Fambon">θρίαμβον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ki%2Fan">αἰκίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29napedei%2Fcanto">ἐναπεδείξαντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fqw">Μάθω</w>.
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<w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fth">ἔτη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fttara%2Fs">τέτταράς</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dnas">μῆνας</w> <w lemma="e%29pole%2Fmhsan">ἐπολέμησαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Froi">μισθοφόροι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsmen">ἴσμεν</w> <w lemma="a%29koh%3D%7C">ἀκοῇ</w> <w lemma="maqo%2Fntes">μαθόντες</w>, <w lemma="polu%2F">πολύ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllous">ἄλλους</w> <w lemma="w%29mo%2Fthti">ὠμότητι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paranomi%2Fa%7C">παρανομίᾳ</w> <w lemma="dienhnoxo%2Fta">διενηνοχότα</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asardo%2Fnos">Σαρδόνος</w> <w lemma="au%29tomolhsa%2Fntwn">αὐτομολησάντων</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhqe%2Fntes">ἐκκληθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Flonto">ἐπεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dn">πλεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhn">προειρημένην</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w>. <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="a%29ganaktou%2Fntwn">ἀγανακτούντων</w>,
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<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kaqhkou%2Fshs">καθηκούσης</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Asardw%2F%7Cwn">Σαρδῴων</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraskeuazome%2Fnwn">παρασκευαζομένων</w> <w lemma="metaporeu%2Fesqai">μεταπορεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29posth%2Fsantas">ἀποστήσαντας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w>,
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<w lemma="labo%2Fmenoi">λαβόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29formh%3Ds">ἀφορμῆς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="e%29yhfi%2Fsanto">ἐψηφίσαντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>, <w lemma="fa%2Fskontes">φάσκοντες</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asardoni%2Fous">Σαρδονίους</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%2Fn">παρασκευήν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws">παραδόξως</w> <w lemma="diapefeugo%2Ftes">διαπεφευγότες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29fuw%3Ds">ἀφυῶς</w> <w lemma="diakei%2Fmenoi">διακείμενοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nalamba%2Fnein">ἀναλαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxqeian">ἀπέχθειαν</w>,
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<w lemma="ei%29%2Fcantes">εἴξαντες</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsthsan">ἀπέστησαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asardo%2Fnos">Σαρδόνος</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xi%2Flia">χίλια</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diako%2Fsia">διακόσια</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fqhkan">προσέθηκαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29nade%2Fcasqai">ἀναδέξασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>. <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29pra%2Fxqh">ἐπράχθη</w>.
The rest of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> at once submitted to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> after the battle,
but Hippacritae and Utica still held out, feeling they had no reasonable grounds to expect terms in view of their having been so proof to all considerations of mercy and humanity when they first rebelled.
This shows us that even in such offences it is most advantageous to be moderate and abstain from unpardonable excesses willingly.
However, Hanno besieging one town and Barcas the other soon compelled them to accept such conditions and terms as the Carthaginians thought fit to impose.
This Libyan war, that had brought <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> into such peril, resulted not only in the Carthaginians regaining possession of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>, but in their being able to inflict exemplary punishment on the authors of the rebellion.
The last scene in it was a triumphal procession of the young men leading Mathos through the town and inflicting on him all kinds of torture.
This war had lasted for three years and four months, and it far excelled all wars we know of in cruelty and defiance of principle.
The Romans about the same time, on the invitation of the mercenaries who had deserted to them from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a>, undertook an expedition to that island.
When the Carthaginians objected on the ground that the sovereignty of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a> was rather their own than <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>\'s, and began preparations for punishing those who were the cause of its revolt,
the Romans made this the pretext of declaring war on them, alleging that the preparations were not against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a>, but against themselves.
The Carthaginians, who had barely escaped destruction in this last war, were in every respect ill-fitted at this moment to resume hostilities with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>.
Yielding therefore to circumstances, they not only gave up <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a>, but agreed to pay a further sum of twelve hundred talents to the Romans to avoid going to war for the present. Such then was the nature of these events.