Polybius, Histories

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Book 15 - Chapter 11

1
<w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29poih%2Fsato">ἐποιήσατο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parai%2Fnesin">παραίνεσιν</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29gdoh%2Fkonta">ὀγδοήκοντα</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frous">μισθοφόρους</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsthse">ἐπέστησε</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29riqmo%2Fn">ἀριθμόν</w>. <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="%2Aligusti%3Dnoi">Λιγυστῖνοι</w>, <w lemma="%2Akeltoi%2F">Κελτοί</w>, <w lemma="%2Abaliarei%3Ds">Βαλιαρεῖς</w>, <w lemma="%2Amaurou%2Fsioi">Μαυρούσιοι</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kato%2Fpin">κατόπιν</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbale">παρενέβαλε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwri%2Fous">ἐγχωρίους</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbuas">Λίβυας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fkontas">ἥκοντας</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w>, <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdion">στάδιον</w> <w lemma="a%29posth%2Fsas">ἀποστήσας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="protetagme%2Fnwn">προτεταγμένων</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Frata">κέρατα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="h%29sfali%2Fsato">ἠσφαλίσατο</w>, <w lemma="qei%5Cs">θεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="laio%5Cn">λαιὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdas">Νομάδας</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="decio%5Cn">δεξιὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fous">ἰδίους</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftas">στρατιώτας</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkaston">ἕκαστον</w> <w lemma="parakalei%3Dn">παρακαλεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nafe%2Frontas">ἀναφέροντας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ni%2Fkhs">νίκης</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28auto%5Cn">ἑαυτὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="paragegenhme%2Fnas">παραγεγενημένας</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis:">δυνάμεις·</w>
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<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleuse">ἐκέλευσε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnous">ἡγουμένους</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="sumbhso%2Fmena">συμβησόμενα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fknwn">τέκνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gunaikw%3Dn">γυναικῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29cariqmei%3Dsqai">ἐξαριθμεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tiqe%2Fnai">τιθέναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="o%29fqalmw%3Dn">ὀφθαλμῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllws">ἄλλως</w> <w lemma="pws">πως</w> <w lemma="e%29kbh%3D%7C">ἐκβῇ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w>. <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Foun">ἐποίουν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paraggelqe%2Fn">παραγγελθέν</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="paragegono%2Ftas">παραγεγονότας</w> <w lemma="e%29piporeuo%2Fmenos">ἐπιπορευόμενος</w> <w lemma="h%29ci%2Fou">ἠξίου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Flei">παρεκάλει</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="mnhsqh%3Dnai">μνησθῆναι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="e%28ptakaidekae%2Ftous">ἑπτακαιδεκαέτους</w> <w lemma="sunhqei%2Fas">συνηθείας</w>, <w lemma="mnhsqh%3Dnai">μνησθῆναι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnwn:">ἀγώνων·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="a%29htth%2Ftous">ἀηττήτους</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftas">γεγονότας</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpot%27">οὐδέποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29poleloipe%2Fnai">ἀπολελοιπέναι</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="h%29ci%2Fou">ἠξίου</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="o%29fqalmw%3Dn">ὀφθαλμῶν</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nariqmh%2Ftwn">ἀναριθμήτων</w> <w lemma="proterhma%2Ftwn">προτερημάτων</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Atrebi%2Fan">Τρεβίαν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pate%2Fra">πατέρα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnou">ἡγουμένου</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Aturrhni%2Fa%7C">Τυρρηνίᾳ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aflami%2Fnion">Φλαμίνιον</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aka%2Fnnas">Κάννας</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhn">γενομένην</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29mi%2Flion">Αἰμίλιον</w>,
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<w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29reta%5Cs">ἀρετὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fas">ἀξίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fsews">συγκρίσεως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifero%2Fmenon">ἐπιφερόμενον</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgwn">λέγων</w> <w lemma="a%29nable%2Fpein">ἀναβλέπειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleue">ἐκέλευε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="katopteu%2Fein">κατοπτεύειν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin:">τάξιν·</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttous">ἐλάττους</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="pollosto%5Cn">πολλοστὸν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnisame%2Fnwn">ἀγωνισαμένων</w>, <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29retai%3Ds">ἀρεταῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgkrisin">σύγκρισιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29htth%2Ftous">ἀηττήτους</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fou">ἀκεραίου</w> <w lemma="dihgwni%2Fsqai">διηγωνίσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29kgo%2Fnous">ἐκγόνους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fyana">λείψανα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28tthme%2Fnwn">ἡττημένων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fa%7C">Ἰταλίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pefeugo%2Ftwn">πεφευγότων</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> [<w lemma="w%29%2F%7Ceto">ᾤετο</w>] <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="katalu%3Dsai">καταλῦσαι</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtos">προεστῶτος</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proshgori%2Fan">προσηγορίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnisame%2Fnous">ἀγωνισαμένους</w> <w lemma="eu%29yu%2Fxws">εὐψύχως</w> <w lemma="bebaiw%3Dsai">βεβαιῶσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="diadedome%2Fnhn">διαδεδομένην</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmhn">φήμην</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="a%29htth%2Ftwn">ἀηττήτων</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Atau%3Dta">Ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Flesan">παρεκάλεσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2F">ἀμφό</w>
Such was the substance of Scipio's harangue. Hannibal placed in front of his whole force his elephants, of which he had over eighty, and behind them the mercenaries numbering about twelve thousand. They were composed of Ligurians, Celts, Balearic Islanders, and Moors.
Behind these he placed the native Libyans and Carthaginians, and last of all the troops he had brought over from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> at a distance of more than a stade from the front lines.
He secured his wings by cavalry, placing the Numidian allies on the left and the Carthaginian horse on the right.
He ordered each commanding officer of the mercenaries to address his own men, bidding them be sure of victory as they could rely on his own presence and that of the forces that he had brought back with him.
As for the Carthaginians, he ordered their commanders to set before their eyes all the sufferings that would befall their wives and children if the result of the battle were adverse. They did as they were ordered,
and Hannibal himself went the round of his own troops, begging and imploring them to remember their comradeship of seventeen years and the number of the battles they had previously fought against the Romans.
"In all these battles," he said, "you proved so invincible that you have not left the Romans the smallest hope of ever being able to defeat you.
Above all the rest, and apart from your success in innumerable smaller engagements, keep before your eyes the battle of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Trebia&groupId=1044&placeId=1838">Trebia</a> fought against the father of the present Roman general, bear in mind the battle of the Trasimene against Flaminius, and that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cannae&groupId=430&placeId=797">Cannae</a> against Aemilius,
battles with which the action in which we are about to engage is not worthy of comparison either in respect to the numbers of the forces engaged or the courage of the soldiers."
He bade them, as he spoke thus, to cast their eyes on the ranks of the enemy. Not only were they fewer, but they were scarcely a fraction of the forces that had formerly faced them, and for courage they were not to be compared with those.
For then their adversaries were men whose strength was unbroken and who had never suffered defeat, but those of to‑day were some of them the children of the former nand some the wretched remnant of the legions he had so often vanquished and put to flight in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>.
Therefore he urged them not to destroy the glorious record of themselves and their general, but, fighting bravely, to confirm their reputation for invincibility.
Such was the substance of the harangues of the two generals.