Polybius, Histories

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Book 15 - Chapter 12

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<w lemma="teroi">τεροι</w>. <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frois">ἑκατέροις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="eu%29treph%3D">εὐτρεπῆ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Anomadikw%3Dn">Νομαδικῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="a%29krobolizome%2Fnwn">ἀκροβολιζομένων</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lefa%2Fntwn">ἐλεφάντων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sa%2Flpiggas">σάλπιγγας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="buka%2Fnas">βυκάνας</w> <w lemma="a%29naboh%3Dsai">ἀναβοῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="diataraxqe%2Fnta">διαταραχθέντα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="pali%2Fssuta">παλίσσυτα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bebohqhko%2Ftwn">βεβοηθηκότων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdwn:">Νομάδων·</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Amasanna%2Fsan">Μασαννάσαν</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="e%29yilw%2Fqh">ἐψιλώθη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="laio%5Cn">λαιὸν</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="sumpeso%2Fnta">συμπεσόντα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="grosfoma%2Fxois">γροσφομάχοις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="xwri%2Fw%7C">χωρίῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcewn">παρατάξεων</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpasxe">ἔπασχε</w> <w lemma="kaka%2F">κακά</w>, <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fei">ἐποίει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>,
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<w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftou">ὅτου</w> <w lemma="pefobhme%2Fna">πεφοβημένα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="diasthma%2Ftwn">διαστημάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpese">ἐξέπεσε</w>, <w lemma="decame%2Fnwn">δεξαμένων</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5C">αὐτὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="decio%5Cn">δεξιὸν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="parafugo%2Fnta">παραφυγόντα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="sunakontizo%2Fmena">συνακοντιζόμενα</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpesen">ἐξέπεσεν</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alai%2Flios">Λαίλιος</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Ffantas">ἐλέφαντας</w> <w lemma="taraxh%3D%7C">ταραχῇ</w> <w lemma="sumbalw%5Cn">συμβαλὼν</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkase">ἠνάγκασε</w> <w lemma="fugei%3Dn">φυγεῖν</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> <w lemma="protropa%2Fdhn">προτροπάδην</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fkeito">ἐπέκειτο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgousin">φεύγουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29kqu%2Fmws:">ἐκθύμως·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmoion">ὅμοιον</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fei">ἐποίει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amasanna%2Fsas">Μασαννάσας</w>.
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flagges">φάλαγγες</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fterai">ἀμφότεραι</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fdhn">βάδην</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flais">ἀλλήλαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sobarw%3Ds">σοβαρῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29ph%2F%7Cesan">ἐπῄεσαν</w>, <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="paragegono%2Ftwn:">παραγεγονότων·</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fxontes">ἐπέχοντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29ggu%5Cs">ἐγγὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Ftria">πάτρια</w> <w lemma="sunalala%2Fcantes">συναλαλάξαντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumyofh%2Fsantes">συμψοφήσαντες</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ci%2Ffesi">ξίφεσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="qureou%5Cs">θυρεοὺς</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fballon">προσέβαλλον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w>,
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Froi">μισθοφόροι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="a%29dia%2Fkriton">ἀδιάκριτον</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Foun">ἐποίουν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fwnh%5Cn">φωνὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parhllagme%2Fnhn:">παρηλλαγμένην·</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="poihth%5Cn">ποιητὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="qrou%3Ds">θροῦς</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fa">ἴα</w> <w lemma="gh%3Drus">γῆρυς</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fllh">ἄλλη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="glw%3Dssa">γλῶσσα</w>, <w lemma="polu%2Fklhtoi">πολύκλητοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsan">ἔσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndres">ἄνδρες</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29rti%2Fws">ἀρτίως</w> <w lemma="e%29chriqmhsa%2Fmhn">ἐξηριθμησάμην</w>.
When all was ready for battle on both sides, the Numidian horse having been skirmishing with each other for some time, Hannibal ordered the drivers of the elephants to charge the enemy.
When the trumpets and bugles sounded shrilly from all sides, some of the animals took fright and at once turned tail and rushed back upon the Numidians who had come up to help the Carthaginians, and Massanissa attacking simultaneously, the Carthaginian left wing was soon left exposed.
The rest of the elephants falling on the Roman velites in the space between the two main armies,
both inflicted and suffered much loss, until finally in their terror some of them escaped through the gaps in the Roman line with Scipio's foresight had provided, so that the Romans suffered no injury, while others fled towards the right and, received by the cavalry with showers of javelins, at length escaped out of the field.
It was at this moment that Laelius, availing himself of the disturbance created by the elephants, charged the Carthaginian cavalry
and forced them to headlong flight. He pressed the pursuit closely, as likewise did Massanissa.
In the meanwhile both phalanxes slowly and in imposing array advanced on each other, except the troops which Hannibal had brought back from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, who remained in their original position.
When the phalanxes were close to each other, Romans fell upon their foes, raising their war-cry and clashing their shields with their spears as is their practice,
while there was a strange confusion of shouts raised by the Carthaginian mercenaries, for, as Homer says, their voice was not one, but<quote><l>Mixed was the murmur, and confused the sound,</l><l>Their names all various,</l></quote>as appears from the list of them I gave above.