Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 15 - Chapter 1

<head lang="la">I. Res Italiae Et Africae</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntwn">λαβόντων</w> <w lemma="ai%29xmalw%2Ftous">αἰχμαλώτους</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="forthgou%5Cs">φορτηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="nh%3Das">νῆας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="e%29cai%2Fsion">ἐξαίσιον</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fws">βαρέως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fferen">ἔφερεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="parh%7Crh%3Dsqai">παρῃρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fan">χορηγίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29xqroi%3Ds">ἐχθροῖς</w> <w lemma="pareskeua%2Fsqai">παρεσκευάσθαι</w> <w lemma="dayi%2Fleian">δαψίλειαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fwn">ἀναγκαίων</w>,

<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="baru%2Fteron">βαρύτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="parabebhke%2Fnai">παραβεβηκέναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkous">ὅρκους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29gei%2Fresqai">ἐγείρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.

<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="proxeirisa%2Fmenos">προχειρισάμενος</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkion">Λεύκιον</w> <w lemma="%2Ase%2Frgion">Σέργιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkion">Λεύκιον</w> <w lemma="%2Abai%2Fbion">Βαίβιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkion">Λεύκιον</w> <w lemma="%2Afa%2Fbion">Φάβιον</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w> <w lemma="dialecome%2Fnous">διαλεξομένους</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhlw%2Fsontas">δηλώσοντας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="keku%2Frwke">κεκύρωκε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn:">Ῥωμαίων·</w>

<w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Apopli%2Fw%7C">Ποπλίῳ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fmmata">γράμματα</w> <w lemma="diasafou%3Dnta">διασαφοῦντα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>.

<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paragenhqe%2Fntes">παραγενηθέντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fna">Καρχηδόνα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhton">σύγκλητον</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="paraxqe%2Fntes">παραχθέντες</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Flegon">ἔλεγον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn">ἐνεστώτων</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="parrhsi%2Fas">παρρησίας</w>,

<w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29namimnh%2Fskontes">ἀναμιμνήσκοντες</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="presbeutai%2F">πρεσβευταί</w>, <w lemma="paragenhqe%2Fntes">παραγενηθέντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Atu%2Fnhta">Τύνητα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parelqo%2Fntes">παρελθόντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29spa%2Fsainto">ἀσπάσαιντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="proskunh%2Fsaien">προσκυνήσαιεν</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w>,

<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peso%2Fntes">πεσόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="a%29gennw%3Ds">ἀγεννῶς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="katafiloi%3Den">καταφιλοῖεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sunedri%2Fw%7C">συνεδρίῳ</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nasta%2Fntes">ἀναστάντες</w> [<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w>] <w lemma="kathgorh%2Fsaien">κατηγορήσαιεν</w> <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnas">γενομένας</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29qeth%2Fsaien">ἀθετήσαιεν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%2F">αὐτοί</w>.

<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoei%3Dn">ἀγνοεῖν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fqoien">πάθοιεν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneka">ἕνεκα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="e%29de%2Fonto">ἐδέοντο</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="paqei%3Dn">παθεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fkeston:">ἀνήκεστον·</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsesqai">ἔσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Fran">σφετέραν</w> <w lemma="a%29bouli%2Fan">ἀβουλίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fdeicin">ἀπόδειξιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kaloka%29gaqi%2Fas">καλοκἀγαθίας</w>.

<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="mnhmoneu%2Fonta">μνημονεύοντα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> [<w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w>] <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sunedri%2Fw%7C">συνεδρίῳ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftas">γεγονότας</w> <w lemma="e%29kplh%2Fttesqai">ἐκπλήττεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="ti%2Fni">τίνι</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fontes">πιστεύοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pelanqa%2Fnonto">ἐπελανθάνοντο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="r%28hqe%2Fntwn">ῥηθέντων</w>, <w lemma="a%29qetei%3Dn">ἀθετεῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dsi">τολμῶσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkous">ὅρκους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w>.

<w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fba%7C">Ἀννίβᾳ</w> <w lemma="pepoiqo%2Ftes">πεποιθότες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="parou%2Fsais">παρούσαις</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dsi">τολμῶσι</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>, <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w> <w lemma="fronou%3Dntes:">φρονοῦντες·</w>

<w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29de%2Fnai">εἰδέναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnoi">ἐκεῖνοι</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftos">ἔτος</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgontes">φεύγοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alaki%2Fnion">Λακίνιον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="ka%29kei%3D">κἀκεῖ</w> <w lemma="sugkekleisme%2Fnoi">συγκεκλεισμένοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="poliorkou%2Fmenoi">πολιορκούμενοι</w>, <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%5Cs">ἑαυτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29kseswko%2Ftes">ἐκσεσωκότες</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fkousi">ἥκουσι</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w>.

"<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nenikhko%2Ftes">νενικηκότες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3D">ἐκεῖ</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dsan">παρῆσαν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmellon">ἔμελλον</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="dusi%5C">δυσὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxais">μάχαις</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28ma%3Ds">ὑμᾶς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="nenikhko%2Ftas">νενικηκότας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="a%29mfido%2Fcous">ἀμφιδόξους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</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="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sfalh%3Dnai">σφαλῆναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w>. <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntos">συμβάντος</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fous">ποίους</w> <w lemma="e%29pikale%2Fsesqe">ἐπικαλέσεσθε</w>"

<w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> "<w lemma="qeou%2Fs">θεούς</w>; <w lemma="poi%2Fois">ποίοις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenoi">χρώμενοι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgois">λόγοις</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kratou%2Fntwn">κρατούντων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fleon">ἔλεον</w> <w lemma="e%29pispa%2Fsesqe">ἐπισπάσεσθε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28autw%3Dn">ἑαυτῶν</w> <w lemma="sumfora%2Fs">συμφοράς</w>;

<w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="u%28ma%3Ds">ὑμᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29pokleisqh%2Fsesqai">ἀποκλεισθήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="qew%3Dn">θεῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29qesi%2Fan">ἀθεσίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29bouli%2Fan">ἀβουλίαν</w>."

<head>I. Affairs of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and Africa</head>The Carthaginians having captured the Roman transports and a vast quantity of supplies, Scipio was much disturbed, as not only had he been deprived of his own supplies, but the enemy had thus procured for themselves abundance of provisions.

What aggrieved him still more was that the Carthaginians had violated the late solemn agreement and that the war had thus been rekindled from a fresh source.

He, therefore, at once appointed as legates Lucius Sergius, Lucius Baebius, and Lucius Fabius, and dispatched them to confer with the Carthaginians about what had occurred and at the same time to inform them that the Roman people had ratified the treaty:

for dispatches had just arrived for Scipio informing him of this fact.

On arriving at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> they first of all addressed the senate, and afterwards being brought before the popular assembly, spoke with great freedom about the situation.

In the first place they reminded the assembly that when the Carthaginian envoys came to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tunis&groupId=1051&placeId=1849">Tunis</a> to the Romans and presented themselves before the council, they not only saluted the gods and did obeisance to Earth, as is the custom with other men,

but that they debased themselves by falling prostrate on the ground and kissing the feet of the members of the council; and that afterwards when they got up again they accused themselves of having been alone guilty of breaking the original treaty between the Romans and the Carthaginians.

Therefore, they said, they were well justified in any punishment they inflicted on them, but in the name of the common fortune of mankind they had entreated them not to proceed to extremities, but rather let their folly afford a proof of the generosity of the Romans.

The general himself, they said, and those what had been present then at the council, when they called this to mind, were amazed and asked themselves whence the Carthaginians had the assurance now to ignore what they said on that occasion and to venture on breaking this last solemn treaty.

It seemed almost evident that they ventured to act thus relying on Hannibal and the forces with him.

In this confidence they were most ill-advised; for everyone knew quite well, that for the last two years Hannibal and his troops, after abandoning every part of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, had fled to the Lacinian promontory, and that, shut in there and almost besieged, they only just succeeded in saving themselves and leaving for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>.

"And even," they said, "if they had been coming after a victory in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and were about to give battle to us, who have beaten you in two successive battles, your expectation of success should be quite uncertain and you should not only contemplate the prospect of victory but that of a further defeat.

And then what gods will you have to invoke, and on what plea will you be able to supplicate the victors to take pity on your calamity?

Will not your faithlessness and folly exclude you for almost all hope for the mercy of gods and men?"

Walbank Commentary

Overview

15.0.0 - 15.16.0

Affairs in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> (203–2): the battle of Zama The battle of the Great Plains (xiv. 8) was followed by the defeat and capture of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a> by C. Laelius and Masinissa near Cirta (Livy, xxx. 11–15, with the story of Sophonisba's marriage to Masinissa and suicide; App. Lib. 27–28, Zon. ix. 12; Diod. xxvii. 6–7). The Carthaginians now asked for peace from Scipio who, having failed to take Utica, had returned to the camp at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tunis&groupId=1051&placeId=1849">Tunis</a>, and later to Castra <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cornelia&groupId=495&placeId=930">Cornelia</a>. Scipio proposed terms (cf. 1. 2 n., 8. 7 n.) which were accepted at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> (1. 3, 4. 8, 8. 9). Meanwhile a Roman convoy from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> was scattered by a gale and the transports driven ashore on the island of Aegimurus (Djezret Djamr) at the entrance to the bay of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, and to the west of the C. Bon peninsula. The Carthaginian people sent Hasdrubal to collect these (Livy, xxx. 24. 5–12; App. Lib. 34; Dio, xvii. 75; Zon. ix. 13; Diod. xxvii. 11–12). This is the situation at the opening of 1. Meanwhile Hannibal had left <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and landed at Lepcis Minor near Hadrumetum (Livy, xxx. 19. 12, 25. 11–12); and he encamped at the latter town (5. 3). The chronology of these events is disputed. Ovid, Fasti, vi. 769–70, 'superat Masinissa Syphacem, et cecidit telis Hasdrubal ipse suis', refers these events to 22 June; but it is not clear which Hasdrubal is meant and whether the two incidents are from one battle or two. For discussion see De Sanctis, iii. 2. 575 (reference to Campi Magni in both lines); Scullard, Scip. 324–5 (separate references to the battle near Cirta and to the Metaurus). In the one case the battle of the Great Plains and in the other the battle near Cirta will have been fought in about June 203. This evidence cannot be pressed in view of uncertainty as to how the calendar was running at this time; but Scullard's view is consistent with a chronology dating the burning of the camps to early March and the battle of the Great Plains to late April (xiv. 7. 9 n.). The dispatch of Carthaginian ambassadors to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> will probably fall in autumn 203 (Scullard, Scip. 326). Hannibal was still in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> when peace negotiations were opened (cf. 8. 12; Livy, xxx. 16) and was back in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> when the Carthaginians broke them off (1. 10); but the exact date of his return is controversial. Livy puts it in A.U.C. 551 = 203/2 B.C.; for his statement (Livy, xxx. 29. 1) that Hannibal marched to Zama paucis diebus after reaching Hadrumetum is due to a misunderstanding of 5. 3, his source, where <w lang="el-GR">μετὰ δέ τι</w>v<w lang="el-GR">ας? ἡμέρας</w> has nothing to do with the disembarkation (De Sanctis, iii. 2. 586–7). De Sanctis, ibid., suggests plausibly that Livy has identified P.'s year Ol. 144, 1 = 204/3 with <milestone unit="page" n="440">[440]</milestone> A.U.C. 551 and so has given the impression that Hannibal returned just before the end of that year, i.e. in February or March, 202; whereas in fact in Polybius, his source, the year 204/3 (and book xiv) will have ended with Hannibal's return in autumn 203, and book xv (203/2) will have opened with his rest at Hadrumetum. For further discussion see De Sanctis, iii. 2. 586–8; Scullard, Scip. 326–7.

Specifics

15.1.1 - 15.1.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰς φορτηγοὺς νῆας</w>?:</emph> the Roman transports driven ashore at Aegimurus and the mainland west of C. Bon (above 1–16 n.). Livy (xxx. 24. 5–12) dates this under A.U.C. 551 = 203/2; it probably took place towards the end of that consular year, in the early months of 202.

15.1.2 - 15.1.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοὺς ὅρκους καὶ τὰς συνθήκας</w>:</emph> cf. 8. 7 n., 17. 3. In response to the Punic request for peace after the capture of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a> (1–16 n.) Scipio proposed terms to include surrender of all prisoners, deserters, and refugees, evacuation of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gaul&groupId=598&placeId=1108">Gaul</a>, and all islands between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>, abandonment of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a>, surrender of all but twenty ships and payment of an indemnity of 5,000 talents together with 500,000 modii of wheat and 300,000 of barley; so Livy, xxx. 16. 12, who says that some authors gave 5,000 pounds of silver instead of 5,000 talents. App. Lib. 32, adds that the Carthaginians were also to be debarred from recruiting mercenaries and were to be restricted within the 'Phoenician trenches', and that Masinissa was to have the Massyli and any other of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a>'s dominions he could take (which seems correct: cf. De Sanctis, iii. 2. 616). The Carthaginians were to keep thirty ships, according to Appian; see 8. 7. Plut. Mor. 196 D mentions the surrender of ships and elephants and the payment of an indemnity. According to Livy, xxx. 23. 1–8, the Senate rejected the Punic offer on the motion of M. Valerius Laevinus. Dio, xvii. 74, states that the terms were accepted at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. Appian, Lib. 31–32, reports that the Senate authorized Scipio to conclude peace: his terms were accepted and the Punic envoys left for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> to receive the oaths of the consuls while Roman envoys left for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> to receive the oaths of the Punic magistrates. But before the former could leave <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> news arrived of the attack on the Roman convoy, Scipio's protest and the attack on the Roman envoys, whereupon the Senate sent back the Punic envoys as enemies to Scipio, who restored them to their homes. Recently a further source for these negotiations has appeared in P. Ryl. iii, pp. 114 ff., no. 491, pl. v (ed. C. Roberts), a second-century B.C. papyrus containing an extract from an unknown but contemporary or all but contemporary writer on the Second Punic War. This is a brief account, apparently of the swearing of oaths and handing over of prisoners, probably by the Carthaginians, of the return of Roman and Carthaginian envoys to Scipio's camp and to <milestone unit="page" n="441">[441]</milestone> <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, and finally of the rejection of the peace terms and breaking off of the truce by the Carthaginians. Roberts's suggestion (cf. Klotz, WJ, 1946, 153–4) that the extract may be from P.'s account of events after Zama must certainly be rejected, for (a) the breaking off of the truce is neither recorded nor probable then, (b) despite some parallels in vocabulary, the scale of the narrative excludes P. as its author. There seems no doubt that the occasion is the truce of 203–2, and that the fragment gives a more pro-Carthaginian version than the others we possess. There is, for instance, no reference to the Punic attack on the Roman supplies, nor any place for one; but again the scale may have led to compression. Hoffmann's argument (Hermes, 1941, 270–82; cf. Treu, Aegyptus, 1953, 46–56) that this extract from what is little more than an epitome (cf. v. 33. 2) deserves preference to P., and that the attack on the supplies is to be dismissed as a pro-Roman distortion, is unconvincing. On this papyrus see further Gelzer, Vom römischen Staat, i. 69 ff.; M. Gigante, Aegyptus, 1950, 77–92; M. Treu, ibid. 1953, 30–56. On the relationship between P. Ryl. 491 and P. see A. Lippold, Consules (Bonn, 1963), 64–66; S. Mazzarino, Il pensiero storico classico (Bari, 1966), ii. 1. 133 f.; Lehmann, Entretiens sur Polybe, 183–6, 196–200. Lehmann argues that the papyrus account was written perhaps some decades before P.'s version of these events (which he dates late); it is not to be preferred to P.

15.1.3 - 15.1.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πρεσβευτάς</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxx. 25. 2; App. Lib. 34; Dio, xvii. 75; Zon. ix. 13. The nomina are given as <w lang="el-GR">Σερούϊον, Σείτιον</w> (or <w lang="el-GR">Σίτιον)</w> and <w lang="el-GR">Φάβιον</w> (or <w lang="el-GR">Φαμιον</w>, without accent, in N). The Livian MSS. have L. (or M.) (Baebius), M. Servilius (L. Sergius in three fifteenth-century MSS.) and L. Fabius. Conway and Walters read 'L. Baebium L. Sergium L. Fabium'. Gronovius corrected <w lang="el-GR">Σερούιον</w> to <w lang="el-GR">Σέργιον</w> and Schweighaeuser read <w lang="el-GR">Βαίβιον</w> for <w lang="el-GR">Σείτιον</w> in view of Livy; Casaubon had already noted the mention of Baebius in 4. 1. L. Baebius may be L. Baebius Dives, praetor in 189 (Livy, xxxvii. 57. 1–2); but L. Sergius and L. Fabius are unknown, and L. is not found elsewhere as a Fabian praenomen (since in Dion. Hal. ix. 67 L. Fabius is an error for L. Aebutius Helva, the consul of 463). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κεκύρωκε τὰς συνθήκας κτλ</w>.:</emph> cf. 4. 8, 8. 9; clearly to be accepted in preference to Livy (above, § 2 n.).

15.1.5 - 15.1.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν σύγκλητον . . . τοὺς πολλούς</w>:</emph> on the two Carthaginian councils see i. 21. 6 n.

15.1.6 - 15.1.6

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οἱ παρ</w>f <w lang="el-GR">ἐκείνω</w>v <w lang="el-GR">πρεσβευταί</w>:</emph> sent to Scipio after <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syphax&groupId=993&placeId=1751">Syphax</a>'s capture; according to Livy, xxx. 16. 3, they were triginta seniorum principes, who formed the members of the inner senate (i. 21. 6 n.). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸ συνέ?δριον</w>:</emph> Scipio's advisory council: cf. xiv. 2. 11 n. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">καθάπερ ἔστιν ἔθος τοῖς ἄλλοις ἀνθρώποις</w>:</emph> and so permissible behaviour; cf. Livy, xxx. 16. 4, 'more adulantiumaccepto, credo, ritu ex ea regione ex qua oriundi erantprocubuerunt'. <w lang="el-GR">τὴν γῆν προσκυνεῖν</w> is to prostrate oneself and worship the earth; cf. Soph. O.C. 1654, <w lang="el-GR">γῆν τε προσκυνοῦνθ</w>f <w lang="el-GR">ἅμα καὶ τὸν θεῶν Ὄλυμπον</w>.

15.1.7 - 15.1.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰς ἐξ ἀρχῆς γενομένας συνθήκας</w>:</emph> cf. 17. 3; both passages are ambiguous for the reasons given in iii. 21. 7 n. Here the words <w lang="el-GR">ἐξ ἀρχῆς</w> suggest the Treaty of Catulus; in that case the Carthaginians <milestone unit="page" n="442">[442]</milestone> have changed their attitude towards this treaty since the opening of the war, when they argued that it had no relevance to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Saguntum&groupId=938&placeId=1673">Saguntum</a> (iii. 21. 3–5). But this is, of course, a Roman account of what took place.

15.1.8 - 15.1.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῆς τύχης ἕ?νεκα τῶν ἀνθρώπων</w>:</emph> for this appeal to the vulnerability of all men in relation to Tyche cf. ii. 4. 5 n., and below, 6. 8.

15.1.9 - 15.1.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀθετεῖν . . . τοὺς ὅρκους καὶ τὰς συνθήκας</w>:</emph> cf. § 2 n.

15.1.10 - 15.1.10

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ταῖς μετὰ τούτου . . . δυνάμεσι</w>:</emph> it is clear that Hannibal was now back in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> <w lang="el-GR">(ἥκουσι νῦν)</w>; cf. 1–16 n. on the chronology of his return (probably late autumn 203).

15.1.11 - 15.1.11

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">δεύτερον ἔτος . . . εἰς τοὺς περὶ Λακίνιον τόπους</w>:</emph> according to Livy, xxviii. 46. 16, Hannibal spent the winter of 205 propter Iunonis Laciniae templum (cf. App. Hann. 57, <w lang="el-GR">τὴν πόλιν</w> (sc. <w lang="el-GR">Κρότωνα) εὔκαιρον ἡγούμενος εἶναι, καὶ ταμιεῖον αὐτὴν ἑαυτῷ καὶ ὁρμητήριον ἐπὶ τὰς ἄλλας τιθέμενος)</w>. But P. seems to be thinking of the period after the defection of the cities of the Bruttii in 204 (cf. Livy, xxix. 38. 1, quoted above in xiii. 10. 1–3 n.). See De Sanctis, iii. 2. 539 n. 147, 542 n. 152. On the inscription set up by Hannibal in the temple of Juno cf. iii. 33. 18 n.

15.1.12 - 15.1.12

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">δυσὶ μάχαις</w>:</emph> the battle of the Tower of Agathocles, to the southwest of Utica (204; cf. Livy, xxix. 34; App. Lib. 14; Veith, AS, iii. 2. 580–3; Scullard, Scip. 191–4), and the battle of the Great Plains (above, xiv. 8).

15.1.14 - 15.1.14

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">παρὰ θεῶν</w>:</emph> cf. 8. 2 n.

Addenda & corrigenda

15.1.2 - 15.1.2

on the relationship between P. Ryl. 491 and P. see A. Lippold, Consules (Bonn, 1963), 64–66; S. Mazzarino, Il pensiero storico classico (Bari, 1966), ii. 1. 133 f.; Lehmann, Entretiens sur Polybe, 183–6, 196–200. Lehmann argues that the papyrus account was written perhaps some decades before P.'s version of these events (which he dates late); it is not to be preferred to P.

Polybius, Histories

Bibliography

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Walbank Commentary

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