Polybius, Histories

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Book 15 - Chapter 7

1
<w lemma="per">περ</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="nhpi%2Fois">νηπίοις</w> <w lemma="paisi%5C">παισὶ</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnh:">χρωμένη·</w> <w lemma="se%5C">σὲ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29gwniw%3D">ἀγωνιῶ</w>, <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplie">Πόπλιε</w>, <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w>" <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> "<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fon">νέον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="komidh%3D%7C">κομιδῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="soi">σοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="kexwrhke%2Fnai">κεχωρηκέναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fpw">μηδέπω</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeptwke%2Fnai">ἐμπεπτωκέναι</w> <w lemma="palirru%2Fmhn">παλιρρύμην</w>, <w lemma="mh%2Fpot%27">μήποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="peisqh%3D%7Cs">πεισθῇς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29moi%3Ds">ἐμοῖς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgois">λόγοις</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsi">οὖσι</w> <w lemma="pistoi%3Ds">πιστοῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="sko%2Fpei">σκόπει</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28no%5Cs">ἑνὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgwn">λόγων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29mi%5C">εἰμὶ</w> <w lemma="toigarou%3Dn">τοιγαροῦν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnos">ἐκεῖνος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Aka%2Fnnais">Κάνναις</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="e%29gkrath%5Cs">ἐγκρατὴς</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="meta%2F">μετά</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stratopedeu%2Fsas">στρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tettara%2Fkonta">τετταράκοντα</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fois">σταδίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29bouleuo%2Fmhn">ἐβουλευόμην</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="u%28mw%3Dn">ὑμῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28mete%2Fras">ὑμετέρας</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="e%29da%2Ffous">ἐδάφους</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%2F">ἐστί</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="xrhste%2Fon">χρηστέον</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fh%7C">Λιβύῃ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Freimi">πάρειμι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="se%5C">σὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Don">Ῥωμαῖον</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29mautou%3D">ἐμαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w> <w lemma="koinologhso%2Fmenos">κοινολογησόμενος</w>. <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="ble%2Fponta">βλέποντα</w> <w lemma="parakalw%3D">παρακαλῶ</w> <w lemma="se">σε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="fronei%3Dn">φρονεῖν</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrwpi%2Fnws">ἀνθρωπίνως</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fesqai">βουλεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn:">ἐνεστώτων·</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqw%3Dn">ἀγαθῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Dn">κακῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%29la%2Fxiston">τοὐλάχιστον</w> <w lemma="ai%28rei%3Dsqai">αἱρεῖσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Floito">ἕλοιτο</w> <w lemma="nou%3Dn">νοῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w> <w lemma="o%28rma%3Dn">ὁρμᾶν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Dos">οἷος</w> <w lemma="soi%5C">σοὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fsthken">ἐνέστηκεν</w>; <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="nikh%2Fsas">νικήσας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="sautou%3D">σαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fch%7C">δόξῃ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="prosqh%2Fseis">προσθήσεις</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w>, <w lemma="h%28tthqei%5Cs">ἡττηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="semna%5C">σεμνὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kala%5C">καλὰ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frdhn">ἄρδην</w> <w lemma="a%29nairh%2Fseis">ἀναιρήσεις</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="proti%2Fqemai">προτίθεμαι</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nuni%5C">νυνὶ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgwn">λόγων</w>;
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<w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="h%29mfisbhth%2Fsamen">ἠμφισβητήσαμεν</w>, <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> — <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fa">Σικελία</w>, <w lemma="%2Asadrw%2F">Σαδρώ</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w> — <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fpote">μηδέποτε</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29nta%3Drai">ἀντᾶραι</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon:">πόλεμον·</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="nh%2Fsous">νήσους</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fsai">ὅσαι</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dntai">κεῖνται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhs">Λιβύης</w>, <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fpeismai">πέπεισμαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalesta%2Ftas">ἀσφαλεστάτας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29ndocota%2Ftas">ἐνδοξοτάτας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="soi%5C">σοὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>."
But I fear that you, Publius, both because you are very young and because success has constantly attended you both in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> and in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>, and you have never up to now at least fallen into the counter-current of Fortune, will not be convinced by my words, however worthy of credit they may be.
Consider things by the light of one example, an example not drawn from remote times, but from our own.
I, then, am that Hannibal who after the battle of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cannae&groupId=430&placeId=797">Cannae</a> became master of almost the whole of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, who not long afterwards advanced even up to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, and encamping at forty stades from the walls deliberated with myself how I should treat you and your native soil.
And now here am I in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> on the point of negotiating with you, a Roman, for the safety of myself and my country.
Consider this, I beg you, and be not overproud, but take such counsel at the present juncture as a mere man can take, and that is ever to choose the most good and the least evil.
What man of sense, I ask, would rush into such danger as that which confronts you now? If you conquer you will add but little to the fame of your country and your own, but if you suffer defeat you will utterly efface the memory of all that was grand and glorious in your past.
What then is the end I would gain by this interview?
I propose the all the countries the were formerly a subject of dispute between us, that is <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a>, shall belong to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> shall never make war upon <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> on account of them. Likewise that the other islands lying 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> shall belong to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>.
Such terms of peace would, I am convinced, be most secure for the Carthaginians and most honourable to you and to all the Romans."