Polybius, Histories

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Book 11 - Chapter 32

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<w lemma="%2Ato%2Fte">Τότε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29pw%5Cn">εἰπὼν</w> <w lemma="diafh%3Dke">διαφῆκε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fan">ἐκκλησίαν</w>. <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pau%2Frion">ἐπαύριον</w> <w lemma="a%29nazeu%2Fcas">ἀναζεύξας</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paragenhqei%5Cs">παραγενηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhra">Ἴβηρα</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="dekatai%3Dos">δεκαταῖος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peraiwqei%5Cs">περαιωθεὶς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="teta%2Frth%7C">τετάρτῃ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="prosestratope%2Fdeuse">προσεστρατοπέδευσε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w>, <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dna%2F">αὐλῶνά</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fas">στρατοπεδείας</w>.
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<w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dna">αὐλῶνα</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fbale%2F">προσέβαλέ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="qre%2Fmmata">θρέμματα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parepome%2Fnwn">παρεπομένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdw%7C">στρατοπέδῳ</w>, <w lemma="sunta%2Fcas">συντάξας</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmous">ἑτοίμους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Agai+%2Fw%7C">Γαΐῳ</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="grosfoma%2Fxous">γροσφομάχους</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Ftace">ἐπέταξε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xilia%2Frxwn">χιλιάρχων</w> <w lemma="tisi%5C">τισὶ</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzein">παρασκευάζειν</w>.
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<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibh%2Frwn">Ἰβήρων</w> <w lemma="e%29pipeso%2Fntwn">ἐπιπεσόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qre%2Fmmat%27">θρέμματ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29cafh%3Dke">ἐξαφῆκε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="grosfoma%2Fxwn">γροσφομάχων</w> <w lemma="tina%2Fs">τινάς</w>. <w lemma="ginome%2Fnhs">γινομένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="sumplokh%3Ds">συμπλοκῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosbohqou%2Fntwn">προσβοηθούντων</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frois">ἑκατέροις</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w>, <w lemma="sune%2Fsth">συνέστη</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgas">μέγας</w> <w lemma="a%29krobolismo%5Cs">ἀκροβολισμὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pezw%3Dn">πεζῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dna">αὐλῶνα</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="paradido%2Fntos">παραδιδόντος</w> <w lemma="eu%29lo%2Fgous">εὐλόγους</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fqesin">ἐπίθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fios">Γάιος</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmous">ἑτοίμους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suntaxqe%5Cn">συνταχθὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fleto">ἐπεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29krobolizome%2Fnois">ἀκροβολιζομένοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29potemo%2Fmenos">ἀποτεμόμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parwrei%2Fas">παρωρείας</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dna">αὐλῶνα</w> <w lemma="skedasqe%2Fntas">σκεδασθέντας</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="diafqarh%3Dnai">διαφθαρῆναι</w>. <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w>,
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<w lemma="parocunqe%2Fntes">παροξυνθέντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Frbaroi">βάρβαροι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diagwnia%2Fsantes">διαγωνιάσαντες</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prohtth%3Dsqai">προηττῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcwsi">δόξωσι</w> <w lemma="katapeplh%3Dxqai">καταπεπλῆχθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dgon">ἐξῆγον</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="fwti%5C">φωτὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pare%2Ftatton">παρέταττον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpasan">ἅπασαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftoimos">ἕτοιμος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhras">Ἴβηρας</w> <w lemma="a%29logi%2Fstws">ἀλογίστως</w> <w lemma="sugkatabai%2Fnontas">συγκαταβαίνοντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dna">αὐλῶνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fttontas">τάττοντας</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdois">ἐπιπέδοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fmene">ἐπέμενε</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsasqai">χρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="parembolh%3D%7C">παρεμβολῇ</w>,
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<w lemma="pisteu%2Fwn">πιστεύων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppeu%3Dsi">ἱππεῦσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fois">ἰδίοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pezoi%3Ds">πεζοῖς</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="o%28molo%2Fgou">ὁμολόγου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="susta%2Fdhn">συστάδην</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxas">μάχας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismo%5Cn">καθοπλισμὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibh%2Frwn">Ἰβήρων</w>.
After making this speech he dismissed the meeting. Next day he set out on the march. He reached the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ebro&groupId=549&placeId=1031">Ebro</a> on the tenth day and crossing it took up on the fourth day after this a position in front of the enemy, leaving a valley between his own camp and theirs.
On the following day he drove into this valley some of the cattle that followed the army, ordering Laelius to hold his cavalry in readiness and some of the tribunes to prepare the velites for action.
Very soon, upon the Spaniards throwing themselves on the cattle, he sent some of the velites against them, and the engagement which ensued developed, as reinforcements came up from each side, into a sharp infantry skirmish round the valley.
The opportunity was now an excellent one for attacking, and Laelius, who, as he had been ordered, was holding his cavalry in readiness, charged the enemy's skirmishers, cutting them off from the hillside, so that most of them scattered about the valley and were cut down by the horsemen.
Upon this the barbarians were irritated and being in extreme anxiety lest it should be thought that this reverse at the outset had created general terror among them, they marched out in full force as soon as day dawned and drew up in order of battle.Scipio was ready for the emergency, but noticing that the Spaniards had the imprudence to descend en masse into the valley and to draw up not only their cavalry but their infantry on the level ground, he bided his time wishing that as many as possible of them should take up this position.
He had great confidence in his own horse and still greater in his infantry, because in a pitched battle hand-to-hand they were much superior to the Spaniards both as regards their armament and as regards the quality of their men.