Polybius, Histories

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Book 10 - Chapter 46

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<w lemma="%2A%28%2Fotan">Ὅταν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="sunqe%2Fmenoi">συνθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="xwrisqw%3Dsin">χωρισθῶσιν</w>, <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w> <w lemma="deh%2Fsei">δεήσει</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fptran">διόπτραν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29li%2Fskous">αὐλίσκους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousan">ἔχουσαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipurseu%2Fein">ἀντιπυρσεύειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="decio%5Cn">δεξιὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29w%2Fnumon">εὐώνυμον</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="qewrei%3Dn">θεωρεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fptran">διόπτραν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="o%29rqa%5C">ὀρθὰ</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="platei%3Da">πλατεῖα</w> <w lemma="pephge%2Fnai">πεπηγέναι</w>,
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<w lemma="parapefra%2Fxqai">παραπεφράχθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="decio%5Cn">δεξιὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29w%2Fnumon">εὐώνυμον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fqos">βάθος</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29ndro%2Fmhkes">ἀνδρόμηκες</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pursou%5Cs">πυρσοὺς</w> <w lemma="ai%29rome%2Fnous">αἰρομένους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fa%2Fsin">φάσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29kribh%3D">ἀκριβῆ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>, <w lemma="kaqairoume%2Fnous">καθαιρουμένους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kru%2Fyin">κρύψιν</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28toimasqe%2Fntwn">ἑτοιμασθέντων</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frois">ἀμφοτέροις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flh%7C">βούλῃ</w> <w lemma="dhlw%3Dsai">δηλῶσαι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> "<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratiwtw%3Dn">στρατιωτῶν</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29pokexwrh%2Fkasi">ἀποκεχωρήκασι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>," <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="diale%2Fcai">διαλέξαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fcewn">λέξεων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fsai">ὅσαι</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29laxi%2Fstwn">ἐλαχίστων</w> <w lemma="gramma%2Ftwn">γραμμάτων</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnantai">δύνανται</w> <w lemma="tau%29to%5C">ταὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="dhlou%3Dn">δηλοῦν</w>,
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<w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="a%29nti%5C">ἀντὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> "<w lemma="%2Akrh%3Dtes">Κρῆτες</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="hu%29tomo%2Flhsan">ηὐτομόλησαν</w>." <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fmmat%27">γράμματ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttw">ἐλάττω</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%2Fsewn">ἡμίσεων</w>, <w lemma="diasafei%3Dtai">διασαφεῖται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%29to%2Fn">ταὐτόν</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="grafe%2Fntos">γραφέντος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pina%2Fkion">πινάκιον</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="dhlwqh%2Fsetai">δηλωθήσεται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pursoi%3Ds">πυρσοῖς</w>. <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fmma">γράμμα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fppa:">κάππα·</w>
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<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="deute%2Fra%7C">δευτέρᾳ</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fdi">μερίδι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="deute%2Frw%7C">δευτέρῳ</w> <w lemma="platei%2Fw%7C">πλατείῳ</w>. <w lemma="deh%2Fsei">δεήσει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pursou%5Cs">πυρσοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29wnu%2Fmwn">εὐωνύμων</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Frein">αἴρειν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29podexo%2Fmenon">ἀποδεχόμενον</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="platei%3Don">πλατεῖον</w> <w lemma="e%29piskopei%3Dn">ἐπισκοπεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29%3Dt%27">εἶτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="deciw%3Dn">δεξιῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29rei%3D">ἀρεῖ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w>, <w lemma="diasafw%3Dn">διασαφῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fppa:">κάππα·</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fmpton">πέμπτον</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="deute%2Fras">δευτέρας</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fdos">μερίδος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="deh%2Fsei">δεήσει</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pina%2Fkion">πινάκιον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29podexo%2Fmenon">ἀποδεχόμενον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pursou%2Fs">πυρσούς</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29%3Dta">εἶτα</w> <w lemma="te%2Fttaras">τέτταρας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29wnu%2Fmwn">εὐωνύμων</w>, <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="r%28w%3D">ῥῶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="teta%2Frths">τετάρτης</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fdos">μερίδος</w>. <w lemma="ei%29%3Dta">εἶτα</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="deciw%3Dn:">δεξιῶν·</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="teta%2Frths">τετάρτης</w>. <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="r%28w%3D">ῥῶ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffei">γράφει</w> [<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dexo%2Fmenos">δεχόμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pursou%2Fs:">πυρσούς·</w>] <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w>.
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<w lemma="prodhlou%3Dtai">προδηλοῦται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prospi%3Dpton">προσπῖπτον</w> <w lemma="w%28risme%2Fnws">ὡρισμένως</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w>,
Upon their separating after coming to this understanding each of them must first have on the spot a telescope with two tubes, so that with the one he can observe the space on the right of the man who is going to signal back and with the other that on the left.
The tablets must be set straight up in order next the telescope,
and there must be a screen before both spaces, as well the right as the left, ten feet in length and of the height of a man so that by this means the torches may be seen distinctly when raised and disappear when lowered.
When all has been thus got ready on both sides, if the signaller wants to convey, for instance, that about a hundred of the soldiers have deserted to the enemy, he must first of all choose words which will convey what he means in the smallest number of letters, e.g. instead of the above "Cretans a hundred deserted us," for thus the letters are less than one half in number, but the same sense is conveyed.
Having jotted this down on a writing-tablet he will communicate it by the torches as follows:
The first letter is kappa. This being in the second division is on tablet number two, and, therefore, he must raise two torches on the left, so that the receiver may know that he had to consult the second tablet.
He will now raise five torches on the right, to indicate that it is kappa, this being the fifth letter in the second division, and the receiver of the signal will note this down on his writing tablet.
The dispatcher will then raise four torches on the left as rho belongs to the fourth division, and then two on the right, rho being the second letter in this division. The receiver writes down rho and so forth. This device enables any news to be definitely conveyed.