Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 14 - Chapter 7

1
<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fyontos:">συνάψοντος·</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</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="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="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w>, <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fwn">ἀκούων</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fnein">ἐπιμένειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aso%2Ffaka">Σόφακα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%28qroi%2Fzein">ἁθροίζειν</w> <w lemma="stratia%2Fn">στρατιάν</w>, <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dge">ἐξῆγε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fballe">παρενέβαλλε</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itu%2Fkhs">Ἰτύκης</w>. <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nei%2Fmas">νείμας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="lafu%2Frwn">λαφύρων</w> *
2
? <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="e%29mpo%2Frous">ἐμπόρους</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w> *
3
? <w lemma="lusitelw%3Ds:">λυσιτελῶς·</w> <w lemma="kalh%3Ds">καλῆς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="u%28pografome%2Fnhs">ὑπογραφομένης</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftos">γεγονότος</w> <w lemma="eu%29tuxh%2Fmatos">εὐτυχήματος</w>, <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmws">ἑτοίμως</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parou%3Dsan">παροῦσαν</w> <w lemma="w%29fe%2Fleian">ὠφέλειαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="stratiw%3Dtai">στρατιῶται</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="dieti%2Fqento">διετίθεντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpo%2Frois">ἐμπόροις</w>.
4
<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basilei%3D">βασιλεῖ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdwn">Νομάδων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29naxw%2Frhsin:">ἀναχώρησιν·</w>
5
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltibh%2Frwn">Κελτιβήρων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29panthsa%2Fntwn">ἀπαντησάντων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fabban">Ἄββαν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%2Ftines">οἵτινες</w> <w lemma="e%29tu%2Fgxanon">ἐτύγχανον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="e%29cenologhme%2Fnoi">ἐξενολογημένοι</w>, <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="tetrakisxili%2Fwn">τετρακισχιλίων</w>, <w lemma="pisteu%2Fontes">πιστεύοντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="xersi%5C">χερσὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftais">ταύταις</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsthsan">ἐπέστησαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="braxu%2F">βραχύ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds">ψυχαῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29qa%2Frrhsan">ἐθάρρησαν</w>.
6
<w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paidi%2Fskhs">παιδίσκης</w>, <w lemma="h%28%2Ftis">ἥτις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="quga%2Fthr">θυγάτηρ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fbou">Ἀσδρούβου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w>, <w lemma="gunh%5C">γυνὴ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aso%2Ffakos">Σόφακος</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w>. <w lemma="proei%3Dpon">προεῖπον</w>, <w lemma="deome%2Fnhs">δεομένης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="liparou%2Fshs">λιπαρούσης</w> <w lemma="mei%3Dnai">μεῖναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="katalipei%3Dn">καταλιπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftois">τοιούτοις</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29pei%2Fsqh">ἐπείσθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fsxe">προσέσχε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="parakaloume%2Fnois">παρακαλουμένοις</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fs">Νομάς</w>.
7
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mikra%5C">μικρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fzein">ἐλπίζειν</w> <w lemma="pareskeu%2Fasan">παρεσκεύασαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akelti%2Fbhres:">Κελτίβηρες·</w> <w lemma="a%29nti%5C">ἀντὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="tetrakisxili%2Fwn">τετρακισχιλίων</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2Fggellon">ἀπήγγελλον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w> <w lemma="a%29nuposta%2Ftous">ἀνυποστάτους</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds">ψυχαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismoi%3Ds">καθοπλισμοῖς</w>.
8
<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmhs">φήμης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xudai%2Fou">χυδαίου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pandh%2Fmou">πανδήμου</w> <w lemma="lalia%3Ds">λαλιᾶς</w> <w lemma="metewrisqe%2Fntes">μετεωρισθέντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="diplasi%2Fws">διπλασίως</w> <w lemma="e%29perrw%2Fsqhsan">ἐπερρώσθησαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoih%2Fsasqai">ἀντιποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w>.
9
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Frais">ἡμέραις</w> <w lemma="tria%2Fkonta">τριάκοντα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Amega%2Fla">Μεγάλα</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmena">καλούμενα</w> <w lemma="balo%2Fmenoi">βαλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="sunestratope%2Fdeuon">συνεστρατοπέδευον</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fsi">Νομάσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akelti%2Fbhrsin">Κελτίβηρσιν</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttous">ἐλάττους</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="trismuri%2Fwn">τρισμυρίων</w>.
The Roman general both occupied himself with preparations for the siege of Utica and now, on hearing that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a> remained faithful and that the Carthaginians were again collecting an army, led out his own forces and encamped before that city.
He also at the same time distributed the booty, but sent about their business the merchants who were making too good an affair of it; for as their recent success had made them form a rosy picture of the future, the soldiers attached no value to their actual booty and were very ready to dispose of it to the merchants for a song.
The Numidian prince and his friends had at first decided to continue their retreat and seek their homes,
but when they were met near Abba by the Celtiberians who had been hired by the Carthaginians and who numbered over four thousand, the reliance they placed on this additional force made them halt and pluck up a little courage.
And when at the same time the young girl, who was, as I have said, the daughter of the general, Hasdrubal, and wife of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a>, begged and entreated him to remain and not desert the Carthaginians at such a critical time, the Numidian prince suffered himself to be persuaded and yielded to her prayers.
The Celtiberian contributed also not a little to inspire the Carthaginians with hope. For instead of four thousand it was announced that they were ten thousand, and that their personal courage and their armament rendered them invincible in the field.
These reports and the vulgar gossip of the rabble raised so much the spirits of the Carthaginians that their confidence in being able to take the field once more against the enemy was redoubled.
Finally in thirty days they encamped and entrenched themselves on the so‑called Great Plain together with the Numidians and Celtiberians, the whole force numbering not less than thirty thousand.