Polybius, Histories

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Book 15 - Chapter 8

1
<w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpen">εἶπεν</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="u%28polabw%5Cn">ὑπολαβὼν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fas">Ἰβηρίας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fous">αἰτίους</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w>, <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds:">προφανῶς·</w>
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<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllista">κάλλιστα</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w>. <w lemma="ma%2Frturas">μάρτυρας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="periqe%2Fntas">περιθέντας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kra%2Ftos">κράτος</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frxousi">ἄρχουσι</w> <w lemma="xeirw%3Dn">χειρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29di%2Fkwn">ἀδίκων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29munome%2Fnois">ἀμυνομένοις</w>.
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<w lemma="ble%2Fpein">βλέπειν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dtton">ἧττον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrwpi%2Fnwn">ἀνθρωπίνων</w> <w lemma="stoxa%2Fzesqai">στοχάζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>. "
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="diabai%2Fnein">διαβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="e%29kxwrh%2Fsas">ἐκχωρήσας</w> <w lemma="prou%2Fteinas">προύτεινας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fseis">διαλύσεις</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fomai%2F">οἴομαί</w> <w lemma="se">σε</w> <w lemma="diayeusqh%3Dnai">διαψευσθῆναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="su%5C">σὺ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkwn">ἄκων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="a%29phlla%2Fghs">ἀπηλλάγης</w>, <w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diaba%2Fntes">διαβάντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w> <w lemma="e%29krath%2Fsamen">ἐκρατήσαμεν</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Flhfe">εἴληφε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="parallagh%2Fn">παραλλαγήν</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Flqomen">ἤλθομεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fras">πέρας</w>;
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<w lemma="h%28tthqe%2Fntwn">ἡττηθέντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dehqe%2Fntwn">δεηθέντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="sou%3D">σοῦ</w> <w lemma="politw%3Dn">πολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29qe%2Fmeqa">ἐθέμεθα</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="e%29ggra%2Fptous">ἐγγράπτους</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%3Ds">αἷς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="sou%3D">σοῦ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="proteinome%2Fnois">προτεινομένοις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ai%29xmalw%2Ftous">αἰχμαλώτους</w> <w lemma="a%29podou%3Dnai">ἀποδοῦναι</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="lu%2Ftrwn">λύτρων</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="paraxwrh%3Dsai">παραχωρῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katafra%2Fktwn">καταφράκτων</w>, <w lemma="pentakisxi%2Flia">πεντακισχίλια</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w> <w lemma="prosenegkei%3Dn">προσενεγκεῖν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmhra">ὅμηρα</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="suneqe%2Fmeqa">συνεθέμεθα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous:">ἀλλήλους·</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29presbeu%2Fsamen">ἐπρεσβεύσαμεν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhton">σύγκλητον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fran">ἡμετέραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmon">δῆμον</w>, <w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologou%3Dntes">ὁμολογοῦντες</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokei%3Dn">εὐδοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gegramme%2Fnois">γεγραμμένοις</w>, <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmenoi">δεόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tuxei%3Dn">τυχεῖν</w>. <w lemma="e%29pei%2Fsqh">ἐπείσθη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="sugkath%2F%7Cnese">συγκατῄνεσε</w>. <w lemma="tuxo%2Fntes">τυχόντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%29ci%2Foun">ἠξίουν</w> <w lemma="h%29qe%2Fthsan">ἠθέτησαν</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w>, <w lemma="paraspondh%2Fsantes">παρασπονδήσαντες</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpetai">λείπεται</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>;
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<w lemma="su%5C">σὺ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mh%5Cn">ἐμὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="metalabw%5Cn">μεταλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpon">εἶπον</w>. <w lemma="a%29felei%3Dn">ἀφελεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="baru%2Ftata">βαρύτατα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29pitagma%2Ftwn">ἐπιταγμάτων</w>; <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="a%29%3Dqla">ἆθλα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paranomi%2Fas">παρανομίας</w> <w lemma="didaxqw%3Dsi">διδαχθῶσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29%3D">εὖ</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntas">ποιοῦντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="paraspondei%3Dn:">παρασπονδεῖν·</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fntes">τυχόντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29ciou%3Dsi">ἀξιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="o%29fei%2Flwsin">ὀφείλωσιν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w>;
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<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="nuni%5C">νυνὶ</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28kethri%2Fas">ἱκετηρίας</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fntes">τυχόντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Floun">παρεκάλουν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="braxei%2Fas">βραχείας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="e%29pela%2Fbonto">ἐπελάβοντο</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="se%2F">σέ</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29xqroi%3Ds">ἐχθροῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fxrhntai">κέχρηνται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="barute%2Frou">βαρυτέρου</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="prosepitaxqe%2Fntos">προσεπιταχθέντος</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29nenegkei%3Dn">ἀνενεγκεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmw%7C">δήμῳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fsews">διαλύσεως</w>, <w lemma="u%28fai%2Fresin">ὑφαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poioume%2Fnois">ποιουμένοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nafora%5Cn">ἀναφορὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="diabou%2Flion">διαβούλιον</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fras">πέρας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Frwn">ἡμετέρων</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgwn">λόγων</w>; <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pitroph%5Cn">ἐπιτροπὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28ma%3Ds">ὑμᾶς</w> <w lemma="dido%2Fnai">διδόναι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="maxome%2Fnous">μαχομένους</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w>".
Hannibal having spoken so, Scipio replied. He said that neither for the war about <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, nor for that about <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a>, were the Romans responsible,
but the Carthaginians were evidently the authors of both, as Hannibal himself was well aware. The gods, too, had testified to this by bestowing victory not on the unjust aggressors but on those who had taken up arms to defend themselves.
No one, he said, was more awake than himself to the fickleness of Fortune and as far as it was in his power he took into consideration the uncertainty of human affairs.
"But as for the conditions you propose," he continued, "if before the Romans had crossed to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> you had retired from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and then proposed them, I think your expectations would not have been disappointed.
But now that you have been forced reluctantly to leave <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, and that we, having crossed into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>, are in command of the open country, the situation is manifestly much changed.
And — for this is the most important question — what is the position we have now reached?
When your countrymen were beaten and begged for peace we framed a treaty in writing in which it was stipulated, in addition to your present proposals, that Carthaginians should give up their prisoners without ransom, that they should surrender their ships of war, and that they should pay us five thousand talents, and finally that they should give hostages for the performance of those conditions.
We jointly sent envoys to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> to submit them to the senate and the people, we Romans stating that we agreed to the terms offered and you Carthaginians entreating that they might be accepted.
The senate agreed and the people also gave their consent. The Carthaginians, after their request had been granted, most treacherously violated the peace.
What remains to be done? Put yourself in my place and tell me. Shall we withdraw the most onerous of the conditions imposed? That would be to reward your countrymen for their treachery and teach them to continue to betray their benefactors.
Or shall we grant their present request in the hope of earning their gratitude? But now after obtaining their request by earnest supplication, the moment they conceived the slightest hope from your return, they at once treated us as enemies and foes.
If we added some conditions even more onerous we might in that case refer the treaty to our popular assembly, but if we withdraw some of the conditions it would be useless even of the make mention of this conference at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>.
Of what further use then is our interview? Either put yourselves and your country at our mercy or fight and conquer us."