Polybius, Histories

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Book 15 - Chapter 2

1
<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="dialexqe%2Fntes">διαλεχθέντες</w> <w lemma="a%29nexw%2Frhsan:">ἀνεχώρησαν·</w>
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgoi">ὀλίγοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="sunainou%3Dntes">συναινοῦντες</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="parabai%2Fnein">παραβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28mologi%2Fas">ὁμολογίας</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politeuome%2Fnwn">πολιτευομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bouleuome%2Fnwn">βουλευομένων</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fws">βαρέως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fferon">ἔφερον</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkais">συνθήκαις</w> <w lemma="e%29pitaga%2Fs">ἐπιταγάς</w>, <w lemma="dusxerw%3Ds">δυσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nei%2Fxonto">ἀνείχοντο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="presbeutw%3Dn">πρεσβευτῶν</w> <w lemma="parrhsi%2Fan">παρρησίαν</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fsqai">προέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kathgme%2Fna">κατηγμένα</w> <w lemma="ploi%3Da">πλοῖα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxon">συνέχον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mikra%5Cs">μικρὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="nikh%2Fsein">νικήσειν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w>.
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<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdoce">ἔδοξε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w> <w lemma="a%29napokri%2Ftous">ἀναποκρίτους</w> <w lemma="e%29caposte%2Fllein:">ἐξαποστέλλειν·</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="politeuome%2Fnwn">πολιτευομένων</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="prokei%2Fmenon">προκείμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpou">τρόπου</w> <w lemma="sugxe%2Fai">συγχέαι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="sunedreu%2Fsantes">συνεδρεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="mhxanw%3Dntai%2F">μηχανῶνταί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="presbeutw%3Dn">πρεσβευτῶν</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalei%2Fas">ἀσφαλείας</w> <w lemma="a%29nakomisqw%3Dsin">ἀνακομισθῶσιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="parembolh%2Fn">παρεμβολήν</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28toi%2Fmazon">ἡτοίμαζον</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="trih%2Freis">τριήρεις</w> <w lemma="parapo%2Fmpous">παραπόμπους</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="nau%2Farxon">ναύαρχον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fban">Ἀσδρούβαν</w> <w lemma="diepe%2Fmyanto">διεπέμψαντο</w> <w lemma="parakalou%3Dntes">παρακαλοῦντες</w> <w lemma="e%28toima%2Fsai">ἑτοιμάσαι</w> <w lemma="ploi%3Da">πλοῖα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="parembolh%3Ds">παρεμβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fn%27">ἵν᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29peida%5Cn">ἐπειδὰν</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="parape%2Fmpousai">παραπέμπουσαι</w> <w lemma="nh%3Des">νῆες</w> <w lemma="a%29poli%2Fpwsi">ἀπολίπωσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29panaxqe%2Fnta">ἐπαναχθέντα</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kataponti%2Fsh%7C">καταποντίσῃ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%2Fs">πρεσβευτάς</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29fw%2Frmei">ἐφώρμει</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nautiko%5Cn">ναυτικὸν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itu%2Fkhs">Ἰτύκης</w> <w lemma="e%29gkeime%2Fnous">ἐγκειμένους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="diataca%2Fmenoi">διαταξάμενοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fban">Ἀσδρούβαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpempon">ἐξέπεμπον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29nteila%2Fmenoi">ἐντειλάμενοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="trih%2Frwn">τριήρων</w>, [<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w>] <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="paralla%2Fcwsi">παραλλάξωσι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Amaka%2Fran">Μακάραν</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>, <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="a%29polipo%2Fntas">ἀπολιπόντας</w> <w lemma="a%29poplei%3Dn">ἀποπλεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="po%2Frw%7C">πόρῳ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%2Fs:">πρεσβευτάς·</w>
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="sunora%3Dn">συνορᾶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="parembolh%2Fn:">παρεμβολήν·</w>
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parape%2Fmpontes">παραπέμποντες</w>, <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suntaxqe%5Cn">συνταχθὲν</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fllacan">παρήλλαξαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>, <w lemma="a%29spasa%2Fmenoi">ἀσπασάμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="e%29pane%2Fpleon">ἐπανέπλεον</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkion">Λεύκιον</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28fewrw%3Dnto">ὑφεωρῶντο</w> <w lemma="deino%2Fn">δεινόν</w>, <w lemma="nomi%2Fsantes">νομίσαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="parape%2Fmpontas">παραπέμποντας</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29ligwri%2Fan">ὀλιγωρίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="proapolipei%3Dn">προαπολιπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="poso%5Cn">ποσὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29dusxe%2Frainon">ἐδυσχέραινον</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="monwqe%2Fntas">μονωθέντας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dn">πλεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pana%2Fgontai">ἐπανάγονται</w> <w lemma="trisi%5C">τρισὶ</w> <w lemma="trih%2Fresin">τριήρεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="u%28pobolh%3Ds">ὑποβολῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parabalo%2Fntes">παραβαλόντες</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai+kh%3D%7C">Ῥωμαϊκῇ</w> <w lemma="penth%2Frei">πεντήρει</w> <w lemma="trw%3Dsai">τρῶσαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>, <w lemma="u%28poxwrou%2Fshs">ὑποχωρούσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="new%2Fs">νεώς</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="katastrw%2Fmatos">καταστρώματος</w> <w lemma="e%29pibh%3Dnai">ἐπιβῆναι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gennai%2Fws">γενναίως</w> <w lemma="a%29mu%2Fnesqai">ἀμύνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras:">ἄνδρας·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="parabolh%3Ds">παραβολῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="prosmaxo%2Fmenoi">προσμαχόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kateti%2Ftrwskon">κατετίτρωσκον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Ftas">ἐπιβάτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiron">διέφθειρον</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>,
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<w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="katido%2Fntes">κατιδόντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pronomeu%2Fontas">προνομεύοντας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fas">ἰδίας</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fas">στρατοπεδείας</w> <w lemma="parabohqou%3Dntas">παραβοηθοῦντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ai%29gialo%5Cn">αἰγιαλὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fbalon">ἐξέβαλον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nau%3Dn">ναῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibatw%3Dn">ἐπιβατῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="diefqa%2Frhsan">διεφθάρησαν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="presbeutai%5C">πρεσβευταὶ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws">παραδόξως</w> <w lemma="e%29cesw%2Fqhsan">ἐξεσώθησαν</w>.
The ambassadors after making this speech took their departure.
There were but few among the Carthaginians who approved of adhering to the treaty. The majority both of their leading politicians and of those who took part in the deliberation objected to its harsh conditions, and with difficulty tolerated the bold language of the ambassadors. Besides this, they were not disposed to give up the ships they had brought into port and the supplies they contained.
But above all they had no slight hopes of conquering with the assistance of Hannibal, but were on the contrary most sanguine. The popular assembly decided simply to dismiss the ambassadors without a reply,
but those of the politicians who had determined by any and every means to stir up the war again held a meeting and contrived the following plan.
They declared that all due care should be taken to ensure the safe arrival of the ambassadors at their own camp and at once prepared two triremes to escort them. Then they sent to the admiral, Hasdrubal, begging him to have some ships ready not far from the Roman camp, so that when the Romans were left by the ships that escorted them they might bear down upon them and sink them.
For the Carthaginian fleet was now anchored off the coast close to Utica.
Having given these instructions to Hasdrubal they sent off the Romans. They had ordered the commanders of the triremes, as soon as they passed the river Macar, to leave the ambassadors in the strait and return,
this being a spot from which the enemy's camp could already be seen.
The escort acting on their orders, as soon as they had passed the river-mouth saluted the Romans and sailed back.
Lucius and his colleagues were unsuspicious of any danger but were somewhat put out, thinking it was due to negligence that the escort had left them too soon.
But as they were continuing their voyage alone three Carthaginian triremes bore down on them as they had been directed to do. When they came up to the Roman quinquereme they could not ram her as she avoided the strokes, nor could they board her as her crew made a gallant resistance.
But running alongside of her and circling round her they kept on shooting the men on board and killing a number of them, until the Romans, seeing that the men from their own camp who were foraging on the coast were running down to the beach to assist them, managed to run their ship ashore.
Most of the men on board had been killed in the action, but the ambassadors, wonderful to say, escaped.