Polybius, Histories

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Book 18 - Chapter 25

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<w lemma="%2Agenome%2Fnhs">Γενομένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="sumptw%2Fsews">συμπτώσεως</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fas">βίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kraugh%3Ds">κραυγῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28perballou%2Fshs">ὑπερβαλλούσης</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frwn">ἀμφοτέρων</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="sunalalazo%2Fntwn">συναλαλαζόντων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="e%29pibow%2Fntwn">ἐπιβοώντων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizome%2Fnois">ἀγωνιζομένοις</w>, <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29kplhktiko%5Cn">ἐκπληκτικὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parastatiko%5Cn">παραστατικὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29gwni%2Fas">ἀγωνίας</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="decio%5Cn">δεξιὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="lamprw%3Ds">λαμπρῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2Fllatte">ἀπήλλαττε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="u%28perdeci%2Fou">ὑπερδεξίου</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenon">ποιούμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Frei">βάρει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w> <w lemma="u%28pere%2Fxon">ὑπερέχον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="diafora%3D%7C">διαφορᾷ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismou%3D">καθοπλισμοῦ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%3Dsan">ἐνεστῶσαν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="paralla%2Ftton:">παραλλάττον·</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="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fmena">ἐχόμενα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kinduneuo%2Fntwn">κινδυνευόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29posta%2Fsei">ἀποστάσει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29wnu%2Fmwn">εὐωνύμων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="dihnuko%2Fta">διηνυκότα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28perbola%5Cs">ὑπερβολὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pefai%2Fneto">ἐπεφαίνετο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkrois">ἄκροις</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftos">Τίτος</w>, <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnous">δυναμένους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="ste%2Fgein">στέγειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kpiezoume%2Fnous">ἐκπιεζουμένους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29wnu%2Fmwn">εὐωνύμων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29polwlo%2Ftas">ἀπολωλότας</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fda">πόδα</w> <w lemma="poioume%2Fnous">ποιουμένους</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29naxw%2Frhsin">ἀναχώρησιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="decioi%3Ds">δεξιοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fresi">μέρεσι</w> <w lemma="kataleipome%2Fnas">καταλειπομένας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>,
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<w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="a%29formh%2Fsas">ἀφορμήσας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunqeasa%2Fmenos">συνθεασάμενος</w> [<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w>] <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="sunexh%3D">συνεχῆ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="diagwnizome%2Fnois">διαγωνιζομένοις</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>*, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkrwn">ἄκρων</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikatabai%2Fnonta">ἐπικαταβαίνοντα</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkrois">ἄκροις</w> <w lemma="e%29festw%3Dta">ἐφεστῶτα</w>, <w lemma="proqe%2Fmenos">προθέμενος</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="prosh%3Dge">προσῆγε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fas">σημαίας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="paraggelou%3Dnt%27">παραγγελοῦντ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="susth%3Dnai">συστῆναι</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenoi">δυνάμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdion">ἴδιον</w> <w lemma="sxh%3Dma">σχῆμα</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="dusxerei%2Fas">δυσχερείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizome%2Fnois">ἀγωνιζομένοις</w> <w lemma="e%28po%2Fmenoi">ἑπόμενοι</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fas">πορείας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="prosede%2Fcanto">προσεδέξαντο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="ptohqe%2Fntes">πτοηθέντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaspasqe%2Fntes">διασπασθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fklinan">ἐνέκλιναν</w>.
As the encounter of the two armies was accompanied by deafening shouts and cries, both of them uttering their war-cry and those outside the battle also cheering the combatants, the spectacle was such as to inspire terror and acute anxiety.
Philip's right wing acquitted themselves splendidly in the battle, as they were charging from higher ground and were superior in the weight of their formation, the nature of their arms also giving them a decided advantage on the present occasion.
But as for the rest of his army, those next to the force actually engaged were still at a distance from the enemy and those on the left had only just surmounted the ridge and come into view of the summits.
Flamininus, seeing that his men could not sustain the charge of the phalanx, but that since his left was being forced back, some of them having already perished and others retreating slowly, his only hope of safety lay in his right, hastened to place himself in command there,
and observing that those of the enemy who were next the actual combatants were idle, and that some of the rest were still descending to meet him from the summits and others had halted on the heights, placed his elephants in front and led on his legions to the attack.
The Macedonians now, having no one to give them orders and being unable to adopt the formation proper to the phalanx, in part owing to the difficulty of the ground and in part because they were trying to reach the combatants and were still in marching order and not in line,
did not even wait until they were at close quarters with the Romans, but gave way thrown into confusion and broken up by the elephants alone.