Polybius, Histories

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Book 10 - Chapter 39

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<w lemma="%2Ath%5Cn">Τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhn">ἄλλην</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%28toima%2Fsas">ἑτοιμάσας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="sunei%3Dxen">συνεῖχεν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraki">χάρακι</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="grosfoma%2Fxous">γροσφομάχους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pezw%3Dn">πεζῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pile%2Fktous">ἐπιλέκτους</w> <w lemma="e%29cafiei%5Cs">ἐξαφιεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleue">ἐκέλευε</w> <w lemma="prosba%2Fllein">προσβάλλειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29fru%5Cn">ὀφρὺν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katapeira%2Fzein">καταπειράζειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="e%29fedrei%2Fas">ἐφεδρείας</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fntwn">ποιούντων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paraggelqe%5Cn">παραγγελθὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29yu%2Fxws">εὐψύχως</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29karado%2Fkei">ἐκαραδόκει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon:">συμβαῖνον·</w> <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="to%2Flman">τόλμαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="piezome%2Fnous">πιεζομένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsxontas">πάσχοντας</w>, <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dge">ἐξῆγε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbale">παρενέβαλε</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29fru%2Fn">ὀφρύν</w>, <w lemma="pisteu%2Fwn">πιστεύων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w>.
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnous">εὐζώνους</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pafh%3Dke">ἐπαφῆκε</w>, <w lemma="sunta%2Fcas">συντάξας</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="prokinduneu%2Fousi">προκινδυνεύουσι</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmous">ἑτοίμους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%2Fseis">ἡμίσεις</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w>, <w lemma="perielqw%5Cn">περιελθὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29fru%5Cn">ὀφρὺν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="laio%5Cn">λαιὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>, <w lemma="prose%2Fballe">προσέβαλλε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%2Fseis">ἡμίσεις</w> <w lemma="%2Alaili%2Fw%7C">Λαιλίῳ</w> <w lemma="dou%5Cs">δοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="decia%5C">δεξιὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnontos">συμβαίνοντος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fbas">Ἀσδρούβας</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fas">στρατοπεδείας</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dge">ἐξῆγε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin:">δύναμιν·</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fmene">ἐπέμενε</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fwn">πιστεύων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pepeisme%2Fnos">πεπεισμένος</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fpote">μηδέποτε</w> <w lemma="tolmh%2Fsein">τολμήσειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeirei%3Dn">ἐγχειρεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds:">αὐτοῖς·</w> <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prosdoki%2Fan">προσδοκίαν</w> <w lemma="gegenhme%2Fnhs">γεγενημένης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29piqe%2Fsews">ἐπιθέσεως</w> <w lemma="kaquste%2Frei">καθυστέρει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kta%2Fcews">ἐκτάξεως</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpw">οὐδέπω</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="kateilhfo%2Ftwn">κατειληφότων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kera%2Ftwn">κεράτων</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fbhsan">ἐπέβησαν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29fru%2Fn">ὀφρύν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosa%2Fgontes">προσάγοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="paremballo%2Fntwn">παρεμβαλλόντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kinoume%2Fnwn">κινουμένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptontas">προσπίπτοντας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="plagi%2Fwn">πλαγίων</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fneuon">ἐφόνευον</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paremba%2Fllontas">παρεμβάλλοντας</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29pistrofh%3Ds">ἐπιστροφῆς</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgein">φεύγειν</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkazon">ἠνάγκαζον</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fbas">Ἀσδρούβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="dialogismou%2Fs">διαλογισμούς</w>, <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="klinou%2Fsas">κλινούσας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diatetramme%2Fnas">διατετραμμένας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="yuxomaxei%3Dn">ψυχομαχεῖν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29sxa%2Fths">ἐσχάτης</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29pedoki%2Fmaze">ἀπεδοκίμαζε</w>,
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<w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fmata">χρήματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="feugo%2Fntwn">φευγόντων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsous">ὅσους</w> <w lemma="h%29du%2Fnato">ἠδύνατο</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="e%29pispasa%2Fmenos">ἐπισπασάμενος</w>, <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29naxw%2Frhsin">ἀναχώρησιν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ata%2Fgon">Τάγον</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Apurh%2Fnhs">Πυρήνης</w> <w lemma="u%28perbola%5Cs">ὑπερβολὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dntas">κατοικοῦντας</w> <w lemma="%2Agala%2Ftas">Γαλάτας</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="podo%5Cs">ποδὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fpesqai">ἕπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fban">Ἀσδρούβαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dto">ἡγεῖτο</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Frein">συμφέρειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dedie%2Fnai">δεδιέναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3Dn">στρατηγῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="e%29fh%3Dke">ἐφῆκε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftais">στρατιώταις</w> <w lemma="diarpa%2Fzein">διαρπάζειν</w>.
Getting the rest of his forces ready for battle he kept them inside the camp, and sending off the velites and a picked force of foot he ordered them to throw themselves on the ridge and attack the enemy's covering force.
They executed his order with great gallantry, and at first the Carthaginian commander remained waiting for the result. But when he saw that, owing to the dashing courage of the Romans, his men were hard pressed and in an evil plight, he led out his forces and drew them up near the ridge, relying on the strength of the position.
Scipio at once dispatched the whole of his light-armed troops with orders to support the force which had commenced the attack, and having the rest of his army ready, he himself took one half of it and skirting the ridge to the left of the enemy fell upon the Carthaginians;
the other half he gave to Laelius with orders to attack the enemy on their right in a similar manner.
While this was happening Hasdrubal was still engaged in leading his forces out of the camp. For up to now he had waited there relying on the strength of the position and convinced that the enemy would never venture to attack him: thus, owing to the unexpectedness of the assault, he was too late in deploying his troops.
The Romans fighting on the wings, since the enemy had not yet occupied the ground on their wings, not only succeeded in safely mounting the ridge, but as the enemy were still forming up and in motion when they attacked, slaughtered some of them by falling on their flank and compelled those who were getting into formation to turn and fly.
Hasdrubal, as had been his original intention, when he saw his troops giving way and in disorder, declined to fight it out to the death,
but taking his money and his elephants and drawing off after him as many of the fugitives as he could, retreated along the River <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tagus&groupId=1000&placeId=1762">Tagus</a> in the direction of the pass over the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pyrenees&groupId=921&placeId=1650">Pyrenees</a> and of the Gauls who inhabited that part of the country.
Scipio did not think it advisable to follow Hasdrubal, as he was afraid of being attacked by the other generals, but gave the enemy's camp up to his soldiers to plunder.