Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 14 - Chapter 1

<head lang="la">II. Res A Scipione In Africa Gestae</head><w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fpatoi">ὕπατοι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fnonto">ἐγίνοντο</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>,

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fh%7C">Λιβύῃ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="paraxeimasi%2Fan">παραχειμασίαν</w> <w lemma="punqano%2Fmenos">πυνθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29cartu%2Fein">ἐξαρτύειν</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%2Fn">παρασκευήν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dtton">ἧττον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itu%2Fkhs">Ἰτύκης</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>.

<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aso%2Ffaka">Σόφακα</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29fi%2Fstato">ἀφίστατο</w>, <w lemma="diepe%2Fmpeto">διεπέμπετο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="a%29festa%2Fnai">ἀφεστάναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w>, <w lemma="pepeisme%2Fnos">πεπεισμένος</w> <w lemma="metakale%2Fsein">μετακαλέσειν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas:">συμμαχίας·</w>

<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29pegi%2Fnwske">ἀπεγίνωσκε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paidi%2Fskhs">παιδίσκης</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="ko%2Fron">κόρον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="ei%28%2Fleto">εἵλετο</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Afoi%2Fnikas">Φοίνικας</w> <w lemma="fili%2Fas">φιλίας</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fusikh%5Cn">φυσικὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdwn">Νομάδων</w> <w lemma="a%28yikori%2Fan">ἁψικορίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpous">ἀνθρώπους</w> <w lemma="a%29qesi%2Fan">ἀθεσίαν</w>.

<w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fa%7C">διανοίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiki%2Flas">ποικίλας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="katorrwdei%3Dn">κατορρωδεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</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>, <w lemma="e%29pela%2Fbeto%2F">ἐπελάβετό</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="a%29formh%3Ds">ἀφορμῆς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w>.

<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="diapempome%2Fnwn">διαπεμπομένων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aso%2Ffaka%2F">Σόφακά</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fggeilan">ἀνήγγειλαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pantodapw%3Dn">παντοδαπῶν</w> <w lemma="cu%2Flwn">ξύλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fulla%2Fdos">φυλλάδος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fneu">ἄνευ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="paraxeimasi%2Fa%7C">παραχειμασίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kateskeuake%2Fnai">κατεσκευακέναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="skhna%2Fs">σκηνάς</w>,

<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdwn">Νομάδων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="kala%2Fmwn">καλάμων</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pisunagome%2Fnous">ἐπισυναγομένους</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fulla%2Fdos">φυλλάδος</w> <w lemma="skhnopoiei%3Dsqai">σκηνοποιεῖσθαι</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29nto%2Fs">ἐντός</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrou">τάφρου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frakos">χάρακος</w>.

<w lemma="nomi%2Fsas">νομίσας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="paradocota%2Fthn">παραδοξοτάτην</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>, <w lemma="pragmatikwta%2Fthn">πραγματικωτάτην</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsin">σφίσιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="puro%5Cs">πυρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%2Fn">ἐπιβολήν</w>, <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%2Fn">κατασκευήν</w>.

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aso%2Ffac">Σόφαξ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplion">Πόπλιον</w> <w lemma="diapostolai%3Ds">διαποστολαῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%2F">ἀεί</w> <w lemma="pws">πως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="kath%2Fnta">κατήντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhn">γνώμην</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="de%2Foi">δέοι</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="a%29palla%2Fttesqai">ἀπαλλάττεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhs">Λιβύης</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frous">ἀμφοτέρους</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="katei%3Dxon">κατεῖχον</w>.

<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fwn">ἀκούων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29nei%2Fxeto:">ἀνείχετο·</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdi">Νομάδι</w> <w lemma="braxei%3Dan">βραχεῖαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmfasin">ἔμφασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29poih%2Fsato">ἐποιήσατο</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29postellome%2Fnwn">ἀποστελλομένων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29duna%2Ftou">ἀδυνάτου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Flletai">ἐπιβάλλεται</w>.

<w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aso%2Ffaka">Σόφακα</w> <w lemma="koufisqe%2Fnta">κουφισθέντα</w> <w lemma="pollaplasi%2Fws">πολλαπλασίως</w> <w lemma="e%29pirrwsqh%3Dnai">ἐπιρρωσθῆναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29piplokh%2Fn">ἐπιπλοκήν</w>.

<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="ginome%2Fnou">γινομένου</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="diapempo%2Fmenoi">διαπεμπόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis:">πλεονάκις·</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w> <w lemma="a%29parathrh%2Ftws">ἀπαρατηρήτως</w>.

<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%3Ds">αἷς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%2F">ἀεί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragmatikw%3Dn">πραγματικῶν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stratiwtikw%3Dn">στρατιωτικῶν</w>, <w lemma="r%28upw%3Dntas">ῥυπῶντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tapeinou%2Fs">ταπεινούς</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="doulika%5Cs">δουλικὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29sqh%3Dtas">ἐσθῆτας</w> <w lemma="diaskeua%2Fzwn">διασκευάζων</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29postellome%2Fnwn">ἀποστελλομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpempe">ἐξέπεμπε</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proso%2Fdous">προσόδους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29so%2Fdous">εἰσόδους</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Fran">ἑκατέραν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parembolh%5Cn">παρεμβολὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29cereunh%3Dsai">ἐξερευνῆσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katopteu%3Dsai">κατοπτεῦσαι</w>.

<w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%3Dai">στρατοπεδεῖαι</w>, <w lemma="mi%2Fa">μία</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fbas">Ἀσδρούβας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="pezw%3Dn">πεζῶν</w> <w lemma="trismuri%2Fwn">τρισμυρίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="trisxili%2Fwn">τρισχιλίων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fllh">ἄλλη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="a%29festw%3Dsa">ἀφεστῶσα</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdwn">Νομάδων</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousa">ἔχουσα</w>, <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="pentakismuri%2Fous">πεντακισμυρίους</w>.

<w lemma="h%28%5C">ἣ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="eu%29e%2Ffodos">εὐέφοδος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="skhna%5Cs">σκηνὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuei%3Ds">εὐφυεῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpurismo%5Cn">ἐμπυρισμὸν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdas">Νομάδας</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29rti%2Fws">ἀρτίως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpon">εἶπον</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="cu%2Flwn">ξύλων</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w>, <w lemma="a%28plw%3Ds">ἁπλῶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fnnais">κάνναις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kala%2Fmois">καλάμοις</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="skhnopoii%2Fas">σκηνοποιίας</w>.

<head>II. Scipio in Africa</head>The consuls, then, were engaged in these matters, but Publius Scipio, who was in winter quarters in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>, hearing that the Carthaginians were getting a fleet ready, occupied himself in making his own naval preparations, but continued to prosecute none the less the siege of Utica.

Nor did he entirely abandon his hope of winning over <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a>, but sent frequent messages to him their armies being at no great distance from each other, feeling sure of inducing him to abandon the Carthaginian alliance.

He thought it indeed not at all unlikely that he had already grown tired of the girl for whose sake he had chosen the cause of the Carthaginians, and tired generally of his friendship for Phoenicians, as Scipio well knew the natural tendency of the Numidians to grow disgusted with what pleased them and how lightly they always break their faith to gods and men alike.

At present his mind was much distracted and agitated by various apprehensions, as he feared an attack owing to the enemy's superiority in numbers, and he gladly availed himself of the following occasion when it offered itself.

Some of his messengers to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a> reported that the Carthaginians in their winter camp had made their huts from all kinds of wood and branches without any mixture of earth,

that the first Numidians to arrive had constructed theirs with reeds, while the others who kept joining the army from the cities had used nothing but branches for the present, some of them being encamped inside but most outside the trench and palisade.

Scipio, therefore, thinking that an attempt to fire the camp would be a complete surprise for the enemy and very serviceable to himself, began to take the necessary measures.

<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a> in his communications with Scipio always kept harking back to the opinion that the Carthaginians ought to evacuate <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and the Romans do the same as regards <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>, each nation continuing to occupy the points they held between these two countries.

Scipio had previously refused entirely to listen to this proposal, but he now ordered his messengers to throw out slight hints to the Numidian prince that the attainment of this end was but beyond the bounds of possibility.

<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a> was very much relieved in consequence and became much more disposed than he had been to engage in parleys,

the consequence being that the messengers became more numerous and their visits more frequent, some of them at times spending several days in the hostile camp without any objection being made.

Scipio on such occasions used to send in the company of his envoys certain expert observers and certain of his officers, looking mean and dirty fellows, disguised as they were nit habit of slaves, with the object of exploring and inspecting undisturbed the approaches and the entrances of both camps.

For there were two of them, one occupied by Hasdrubal with thirty thousand foot and three thousand horse, and another at a distance of ten stades belonging to the Numidians and containing about ten thousand horse and fifty thousand foot.

The latter was the easiest to attack and the huts very suitable for setting on fire, since the Numidians, as I just said, used neither wood nor earth for their huts, but only reeds and matting.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

14.1.0 - 14.10.0

Scipio in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> Scipio returned from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> in 206 (xi. 33. 8) and was elected consul for 205 (Livy, xxviii. 38. 6) with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> as his province (Livy, xxviii. 38. 12), to which <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> was subsequently added (Livy, xxviii. 40–45). Scipio went to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> to prepare for the invasion of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> (Livy, xxix. 1) and C. Laelius raided <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> (Livy, xxix. 1. 14, 3. 6–5. 1). In 204, as proconsul (Livy, xxix. 13. 3), Scipio crossed to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> and gained some successes; he also undertook the siege of Utica (Livy, xxix. 24–36; Val. Max. iii. 7. 1, viii. 3. 3; Frontin. Strat. i. 12. 1, ii. 7. 4; App. Lib. 10–17; Dio. fg. 57, 63–9; Zon. ix. 11–12). The present fragment opens in the winter of 204–3. P.'s source or sources cannot be <milestone unit="page" n="424">[424]</milestone> <figure> <graphic url="14001.gif" scale="100%" /> </figure> 15. THE AFRICAN CAMPAIGNING AREA (Based on Veith, Schlachtfelder, iii, 2, Karte 11 a) recovered with any certainty; he draws on good information for Scipio but he is also well informed about the African side, and as De Sanctis (iii. 2. 649) points out, the distances of 30 and 7 stades in 8. 2 point to a Greek source, for they do not represent conversions from milia passuum. Whether Fabius' history extended down to the end of the war is uncertain (cf. Walbank, JRS, 1959, 195; Hoffmann, Historia, 1960, 317 (after 200)).

14.1.0 - 14.5.0

The burning of the camps: Livy, xxx. 3–6, follows P.; Appian, Lib. 17–23 makes the whole thing almost a spontaneous reaction to an attack by <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a> on Masinissa, which is also mentioned by Zon. ix. 12, who connects the burning of the camps with the battle of the Great Plains; see also Frontin. Strat. i. 1. 3, 2. 1, ii. 5. 29; auct. de uir. ill. 49. 13; Sil. It. xvii. 89 ff. <milestone unit="page" n="427">[427]</milestone>

Specifics

14.1.1 - 14.1.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">αἱ προεκθέσεις τῶν πράξεων</w>:</emph> 'the introductory surveys of events'. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">εἰς ἐπίστασιν ἄγουσι</w>:</emph> 'arouse the attention of the reader'; cf. xi. 1 a 2.

14.1.2 - 14.1.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοὺς κατὰ τὴν Ἰταλίαν καὶ Λιβύην πολέμους</w>?:</emph> the plural is curious, for these are both aspects of the same war against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ποία τις ἡ καταστροφὴ καὶ τί τὸ τέλος</w>:</emph> 'what was the final outcome': there is no clear distinction between the two nouns; cf. vi. 8. 6, <w lang="el-GR">τὸ τέλος αὐτῶν . . . τῆς καταστροφῆς</w>.

14.1.3 - 14.1.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰ . . . ἔργα καὶ λόγους</w>:</emph> the two conventional parts of historywriting; cf. Thuc. i. 22; Plato, Tim. 19 c; Ephorus, FGH, 70 F 9; Dion. Hal. Imit. 3. 3; ad Pomp. 3. 20; Thuc. 25, 55; Quint. x. 1. 101.

14.1.4 - 14.1.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰς προαιρέσεις τῶν βασιλέων</w>:</emph> P. refers to Philip V and Antiochus, and probably has in mind the pact against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> (xv. 20. 1 f.), and the events leading up to the Second Macedonian War, which brings the Romans decisively into the Balkan peninsula. <w lang="el-GR">προαίρεσις</w> includes both character (cf. 12. 5) and policy. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἃ γὰρ πρότερον ἐλέγετο περὶ αὐτῶν</w>:</emph> 'what was hitherto only rumoured about them'.

14.1.5 - 14.1.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οὐ τὰς ἐκ τῶν δυεῖν ἐτῶν πράξεις κτλ</w>.:</emph> cf. ix. 1. 1, <w lang="el-GR">ἐν δυσὶ βυβλίοις . . . τὴν ἐξήγησιν</w>.

14.1.1 - 14.1.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οἱ μὲν οὖν ὕπατοι</w>:</emph> this will refer to the res Italiae of 203, which would precede the res Africae; hence the consuls are those of A.U.C. 551 = 203 B.C., Cn. Servilius Cn.f. Cn.n. Caepio and C. Servilius C.f. P.n. Geminus (Livy, xxix. 38. 3). Caepio had received the surrender of several Bruttian towns (Livy, xxix. 38. 1; above, xiii. 10. 1–3 n.); Geminus was in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Etruria&groupId=582&placeId=1089">Etruria</a>, and advanced thence into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gaul&groupId=598&placeId=1108">Gaul</a> to rescue his father and Lutatius Catulus from captivity (Livy, xxx. 19. 6–8).

14.1.2 - 14.1.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐν τῇ Λιβύῃ κατὰ τὴν παραχειμασίαν</w>:</emph> for Scipio's winter quarters see 6. 7; the Castra <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cornelia&groupId=495&placeId=930">Cornelia</a> was placed towards the north end of the ridge, which runs south-west to north-east, a little to the east of Utica; at this period it projected into the sea at the site of Galaat el Andeliss, and the camp was probably on the highest point, at the base of the actual promontory, with the naval station on the <milestone unit="page" n="425">[425]</milestone> west; cf. Livy, xxix. 35. 13–14; Caesar, BC, ii. 24. 2; Veith, AS, iii. 2. 583–6; Gsell, iii. 220 n. 2; Scullard, Scip. 196–7 n. 2. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πυνθανόμενος ἐξαρτύειν στόλον</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxx. 3. 4, 'classem paratam instructamque ad commeatus intercipiendos habebant'. On the Punic failure to use their fleet see Thiel, 160. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐγίνετο . . . περὶ ταύτην τὴν παρασκευήν</w>:</emph> 'he busied himself with similar preparations'; cf. 2. 1–2. Scipio's war-fleet at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> amounted to only forty ships (Livy, xxix. 25. 10, 26. 3; see Thiel, 156 n. 422). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">περὶ τὴν τῆς Ἰτύκης πολιορκίαν</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxx. 3. 3, 'neque Scipio ullo tempore hiemis belli opera remiserat . . . Uticam obsidebat'. But P. probably means simply 'he was concerned with the siege'; cf. v. 36. 1, <w lang="el-GR">ἐγίνοντο περὶ τὴν ἀναίρεσιν τοῦ Μάγα</w>. This is the meaning of the phrase in 7. 1, where it occurs before he has marched out the following spring to besiege the city, cf. De Sanctis, iii. 2. 649. Clearly Scipio could not carry on the siege of Utica through the winter, shut up in his camp; elsewhere Livy (xxix. 35. 12) has the facts: 'ut Scipio, cum quadraginta ferme dies nequiquam omnia experiens obsedisset Uticam, abscederet inde irrito incepto.' See Gsell, iii. 221 n. 7; Scullard, Scip. 196 n. 1. On Utica see i. 70. 9 n.; G. Ville, RE, Suppl.-B. ix, 'Utica', cols. 1869–94 (with plan at cols. 1871–2).

14.1.3 - 14.1.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῆς κατὰ τὸν Σόφακα . . . ἐλπίδος</w>:</emph> on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a>, king of the Masaesyli, see xi. 24 a 4, where Scipio visited him in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διεπέμπετο δὲ συνεχῶς</w>:</emph> according to Appian (Lib. 17) and Dio (fg. 57. 72; cf. Zon. ix. 12), <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a> began the negotiations; and Valerius Antias (Livy, xxx. 3. 6) spoke of a visit of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a> to the Roman camp.

14.1.4 - 14.1.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῆς παιδίσκης</w>:</emph> cf. 7. 6; Sophonisba, the daughter of Hasdrubal, whom her father gave in marriage to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a> to win his support (Livy, xxix. 23. 4; Diod. xxvii. 7; Dio, fg. 57. 51; Zon. ix. 11); the form of the name in the best Livian MSS. is Sophoniba (Livy, xxx. 12. 11); but the Punic form is Saphanbaal (Gsell, iii. 197 n. 3; De Sanctis, iii. 2. 532 n. 137). The story of her suicide to avoid imprisonment is romanticized in the tradition, probably including P.; De Sanctis, loc. cit., attributes this to Ennius. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἁψικορίαν</w>:</emph> 'quickness to tire', and so 'fickleness'.

14.1.5 - 14.1.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὢν δὲ περὶ πολλὰ κτλ</w>.:</emph> 'since his mind was much distracted'. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸν ἔξω κίνδυνον</w>:</emph> 'a battle in the open country'.

14.1.7 - 14.1.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοὺς μὲν ἐξ ἀρχῆς</w></emph> 'those who first arrived'. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοὺς δ</w>f <w lang="el-GR">ἐ</w></emph> 〈 <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πι</w></emph> 〉 <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">συναγομένους</w>:</emph> 'those who kept joining'.

14.1.8 - 14.1.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ταύτην τὴν κατασκευήν</w>:</emph> 'the following trick'.

14.1.10 - 14.1.10

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῆς ἐπιβολῆς . . . ἧς ἐπιβάλλεται</w>:</emph> 'the course he wished to see adopted' (Shuckburgh).

14.1.13 - 14.1.13

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῶν πραγματικῶν . . . καὶ στρατιωτικῶν</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxx. 4. 1, 'primos ordines spectatae uirtutis atque prudentiae'; but P. seems <milestone unit="page" n="426">[426]</milestone> to mean 'men of tried experience' contrasted with 'men of military skill'. Paton translates 'expert observers' and 'certain of his officers'; the two categories are partially but not wholly exclusive.

14.1.14 - 14.1.14

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">δύο . . . στρατοπεδεῖαι</w>:</emph> not identifiable with certainty, but Veith's proposed site has great plausibility. Scipio was encamped for the winter at the so-called Castra <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cornelia&groupId=495&placeId=930">Cornelia</a> (6. 7; Livy, xxix. 35. 13; Caesar, BC, ii. 24. 2) on a rocky peninsula about 3 km. east of Utica (above, 1. 2 n.). Veith (AS, iii. 2. 586–9 and map 13 a) places Hasdrubal's camp on the site of the village Douar Touba, which lies on the south-east side of the eminence Koudiat Touba, the southern end of the ridge running south-south-east from Castra <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cornelia&groupId=495&placeId=930">Cornelia</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a>'s camp on Koudiat el Mabtouka, which lies to the west of Douar Touba: the distance between the two camps as shown on Veith's map is 2 km., and this is considerably more than the 10 stades (1 km.) mentioned by P. Scullard (Scip. 199 n. 1) suggests that the camps were perhaps on Koudiat Touba and on the hill to the north-east (54 m.: not named on Veith's map), which are exactly 10 stades apart; Veith thinks P. gave the distance to the nearest 10 stades. Either site fits the distance of 60 stades from Castra <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cornelia&groupId=495&placeId=930">Cornelia</a> (4. 1). At this time the Bagradas (Wadi Medjerda) flowed well to the south-east of Koudiat Touba (i. 75. 5 n.), not between this hill and Koudiat el Mabtouka, as at present. Against the position for the two camps suggested by Tissot, Gographie compare de la province romaine d'Afrique, i. (Paris, 1884), 554, on the south slope of Djebel Menzel Roul (Djebel Menzel-el-Ghoul), immediately southwest of Utica, see the arguments of Veith, AS, iii. 2. 588–9. Carthaginian numbers. P. here gives Hasdrubal 30,000 foot and 3,000 horse and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a> 50,000 foot and 10,000 horse, a total of 93,000. According to Appian, Lib. 9, Hasdrubal at the beginning of the campaign had armed 13,200 men (a more reliable figure than the 27,000 given in App. Lib. 13 from a different source; De Sanctis, iii. 2. 583; Scullard, Scip. 319–20). Clearly the figures given now for the two camps are too large: they are larger than any army <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> ever assembled, and Hasdrubal can hardly have doubled his force since Scipio landed. It is likely that at some stage the figures have been inflated to the glory of Scipio, and De Sanctis (iii. 2. 584; cf. Scullard, Scip. 320) plausibly suggests 30,000 infantry plus 3,000– 5,000 cavalry for the combined force.

Polybius, Histories

Bibliography

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Walbank Commentary

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