Polybius, Histories

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Book 10 - Chapter 7

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<w lemma="%2A%29%2Feti">Ἔτι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28storw%3Dn">ἱστορῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmh%7C">Ῥώμῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="punqano%2Fmenos">πυνθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29pimelw%3Ds">ἐπιμελῶς</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="prodosi%2Fan">προδοσίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltibh%2Frwn">Κελτιβήρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="diazeugmo%5Cn">διαζευγμὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullogizo%2Fmenos">συλλογιζόμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pate%2Fra">πατέρα</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peripe%2Fteian">περιπέτειαν</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="katepe%2Fplhkto">κατεπέπληκτο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Ftthto">ἥττητο</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="yuxh%3D%7C">ψυχῇ</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="polloi%2F">πολλοί</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="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29nto%5Cs">ἐντὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhros">Ἴβηρος</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fwn">ἀκούων</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="fili%2Fa%7C">φιλίᾳ</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnas">ἡγεμόνας</w> <w lemma="stasia%2Fzein">στασιάζειν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w>, <w lemma="u%28bri%2Fzein">ὑβρίζειν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28potattome%2Fnous">ὑποταττομένους</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qarsw%3Ds">εὐθαρσῶς</w> <w lemma="die%2Fkeito">διέκειτο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh%7C">τύχῃ</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fwn">πιστεύων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sullogismoi%3Ds">συλλογισμοῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="parageno%2Fmeno%2Fs">παραγενόμενός</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="a%29nakinw%3Dn">ἀνακινῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstou">ἑκάστου</w> <w lemma="punqano%2Fmenos">πυνθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fous">ἐναντίους</w>, <w lemma="hu%28%2Friske">ηὕρισκε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="dih%7Crhme%2Fnas:">διῃρημένας·</w>
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fgwna">Μάγωνα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29punqa%2Fneto">ἐπυνθάνετο</w> <w lemma="diatri%2Fbein">διατρίβειν</w> <w lemma="e%29nto%5Cs">ἐντὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hraklei%2Fwn">Ἡρακλείων</w> <w lemma="sthlw%3Dn">στηλῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akoni%2Fois">Κονίοις</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnois">προσαγορευομένοις</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fban">Ἀσδρούβαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fskwnos">Γέσκωνος</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ata%2Fgou">Τάγου</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fma">στόμα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alusitanh%2Fn">Λυσιτανήν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fban">Ἀσδρούβαν</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3Dn">πολιορκεῖν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarphtanoi%3Ds">Καρπητανοῖς</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fna">οὐδένα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttw">ἐλάττω</w> <w lemma="de%2Fx%27">δέχ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28merw%3Dn">ἡμερῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28do%5Cn">ὁδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxein">ἀπέχειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akainh%3Ds">Καινῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>.
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<w lemma="nomi%2Fzwn">νομίζων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="sunie%2Fnai">συνιέναι</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnh%7C">κρίνῃ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fein">κινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pisfale%5Cs">ἐπισφαλὲς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prohtth%3Dsqai">προηττῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pollaplasi%2Fous">πολλαπλασίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="sumbalei%3Dn">συμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="fugomaxh%2Fsantos">φυγομαχήσαντος</w>, <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnwn">ἐπιγενομένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmewn">δυνάμεων</w>, <w lemma="sugkleisqh%3D%7C">συγκλεισθῇ</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w>, <w lemma="kata%2Ffobos">κατάφοβος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29tai%3Ds">αὐταῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Agnai+%2Fw%7C">Γναΐῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="qei%2Fw%7C">θείῳ</w>
For from the very outset, having learnt by careful inquiries at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> the facts about the treachery of the Celtiberians and the separation of the Roman armies, and reaching the conclusion that his father\'s defeat was due to these causes,
he was not in terror of the Carthaginians nor broken in spirit like most people.
When subsequently he heard that the allies on the Roman side of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ebro&groupId=549&placeId=1031">Ebro</a> remained friendly, and that the Carthaginian commanders had fallen out with each other and were treating their subjects tyrannically, he felt full confidence in the result of his expedition, relying not on chance but on inference from the facts.
For on his arrival in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> he set everyone on the alert and inquired from everyone about the circumstances of the enemy, and thus learnt that the Carthaginian forces were divided into three bodies.
Mago, he heard, was posted on this side of the pillars of Hercules in the country of the people called Conii; Hasdrubal, son of Gesco, was in Lusitania near the mouth of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tagus&groupId=1000&placeId=1762">Tagus</a>; and the other Hasdrubal was besieging a city in the territory of the Carpetani: none of them being within less than ten days\' march from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=New Carthage&groupId=791&placeId=1430">New Carthage</a>.
He thought, then, that if he decided to engage the enemy it would be extremely dangerous to risk a battle with all the three at once, both because his predecessors had been defeated and because the enemy were greatly superior in numbers,
while if he made a dash at one of the three and upon his declining an engagement found himself shut in somewhere by the other hostile forces coming up to help, he feared that he might meet with a disaster such as befel his uncle and father.