Polybius, Histories

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Book 14 - Chapter 10

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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmas">γνώμας</w>. <w lemma="kriqe%2Fntwn">κριθέντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontes">μέλλοντες</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dn">πλεῖν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bouleuthri%2Fou">βουλευτηρίου</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dgon">προῆγον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="nau%2Farxos">ναύαρχος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds:">ναῦς·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipoi%5C">λοιποὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalei%2Fas">ἀσφαλείας</w> <w lemma="proenoou%3Dnto">προενοοῦντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Fonto">ἐβουλεύοντο</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w>. <w lemma="%2Akai%5C">Καὶ</w> [<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w>] <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w>,
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<w lemma="katage%2Fmontos">καταγέμοντος</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdou">στρατοπέδου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fas">λείας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fn%27">μηδέν᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipra%2Fttein">ἀντιπράττειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkein">εἴκειν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrine">ἔκρινε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="lafu%2Frwn">λαφύρων</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="parape%2Fmyai">παραπέμψαι</w> <w lemma="parembolh%2Fn">παρεμβολήν</w>,
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<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="stratei%2Fan">στρατείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fzwnon">εὔζωνον</w> <w lemma="katalabe%2Fsqai">καταλαβέσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Atu%2Fnhti">Τύνητι</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stratopedeu%3Dsai">στρατοπεδεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="suno%2Fyei:">συνόψει·</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29kfobh%2Fsein">ἐκφοβήσειν</w> <w lemma="u%28pela%2Fmbane">ὑπελάμβανε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataplh%2Fcein">καταπλήξειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgas">ὀλίγας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="plhrw%2Fmata">πληρώματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sitarxi%2Fas">σιταρχίας</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmas">ἑτοίμας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="nausi%5Cn">ναυσὶν</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fnonto">ἐγίνοντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagwgh%3D%7C">ἀναγωγῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnois:">προκειμένοις·</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Atu%2Fnhta">Τύνητα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fugo%2Fntwn">φυγόντων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parafulatto%2Fntwn">παραφυλαττόντων</w> <w lemma="kate%2Flabe">κατέλαβε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Atu%2Fnhs">Τύνης</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxei">ἀπέχει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnos">Καρχηδόνος</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnoptos">σύνοπτος</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="diafe%2Frei">διαφέρει</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthti">ὀχυρότητι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fusikh%3D%7C">φυσικῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xeiropoih%2Ftw%7C">χειροποιήτῳ</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhtai">εἴρηται</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="katestratopedeuko%2Ftwn">κατεστρατοπεδευκότων</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fgonto">ἀνήγοντο</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="nausi%5Cn">ναυσὶν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w>, <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itu%2Fkhn">Ἰτύκην</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="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fploun">ἀνάπλουν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dediw%5Cs">δεδιὼς</w> <w lemma="mh%2F">μή</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sfe%2Fteron">σφέτερον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="nautiko%5Cn">ναυτικὸν</w> <w lemma="sumbh%3D%7C">συμβῇ</w>, <w lemma="dietara%2Ftteto">διεταράττετο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29nuponoh%2Ftws">ἀνυπονοήτως</w> <w lemma="diakeime%2Fnwn">διακειμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29paraskeu%2Fws">ἀπαρασκεύως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w>.
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<w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29nastratopedeu%2Fsas">ἀναστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="h%29pei%2Fgeto">ἠπείγετο</w> <w lemma="bohqh%2Fswn">βοηθήσων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fois">ἰδίοις</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasi">πράγμασι</w>.
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<w lemma="katalabw%5Cn">καταλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="katafra%2Fktous">καταφράκτους</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29caire%2Fseis">ἐξαιρέσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosagwga%5Cs">προσαγωγὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29rga%2Fnwn">ὀργάνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29%3D">εὖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntws">δεόντως</w> <w lemma="e%29chrtume%2Fnas">ἐξηρτυμένας</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fan">ναυμαχίαν</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fkista">ἥκιστα</w> <w lemma="pareskeuasme%2Fnas">παρεσκευασμένας</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flou">ὅλου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dnos">χειμῶνος</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="kathrtisme%2Fnon">κατηρτισμένον</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntana%2Fgesqai">ἀντανάγεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="naumaxei%3Dn">ναυμαχεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29pognou%2Fs">ἀπογνούς</w>, <w lemma="sunormi%2Fsas">συνορμίσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="katafra%2Fktous">καταφράκτους</w> <w lemma="nh%3Das">νῆας</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fsthse">περιέστησε</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftais">ταύταις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="forthgou%5Cs">φορτηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fttaras">τέτταρας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fqos">βάθος</w>,
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<w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="kaqelo%2Fmenos">καθελόμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28stou%5Cs">ἱστοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kerai%2Fas">κεραίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fzeuce">ἔζευξε</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="biai%2Fws">βιαίως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flas">ἀλλήλας</w>,
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<w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fsthma">διάστημα</w> <w lemma="poiw%3Dn">ποιῶν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fsq%27">ὥσθ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28phretikoi%3Ds">ὑπηρετικοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kplei%3Dn">ἐκπλεῖν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaplei%3Dn">διαπλεῖν</w>.
As soon as the vote had been taken, those senators who were to sail for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> proceeded directly from the senate-house to sea, and the admiral went strange on board his ship. The remainder made it their business to see to the defences of the city and met frequently to discuss points of detail.
Scipio\'s camp was now full of booty, as he met with no resistance but all gave way to him no matter what he attempted, and he decided to send off the great part of the booty to his original camp, and taking with him his army thus lightened to seize on the entrenched position before <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tunis&groupId=1051&placeId=1849">Tunis</a> and to encamp in full view of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>.
For this he thought would be the most effective means of striking the Carthaginians with terror and dismay. The Carthaginians had got ready in a few days the crews and stores for their ships and were about to put to sea to execute their purpose, when Scipio arrived at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tunis&groupId=1051&placeId=1849">Tunis</a> and upon its garrison taking to flight occupied the place.
<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tunis&groupId=1051&placeId=1849">Tunis</a> is situated at a distance of about 120 stades from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, and is visible from nearly the whole town. As I have previously stated, both nature and art have contributed to render it a very strong place.
Just as the Romans had encamped there the Carthaginian fleet was putting to sea on its way to Utica.
Scipio when he saw the enemy under way was much disturbed, as he feared that something untoward might happen to his own fleet, since no one expected to be attacked or had made any preparations for such a contingency.
He, therefore, at once broke up his camp and marched hastily to the help of his own people.
Finding that his warships were well provided with facilities for supporting moving forward siege-machines, and in general for all siege operations, but were quite unprepared for a naval action, while the enemy's fleet had during the whole winter been equipping for this very purpose, he abandoned any idea of advancing and offering battle, but anchoring his warships in a line placed round them the transports three or four deep, and then taking down the masts and yards lashed the transports securely to each other with these, leaving a small interval for dispatch-boats to pass in and out.