Polybius, Histories

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Book 18 - Chapter 26

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<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%28po%2Fmenoi">ἑπόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkteinon:">ἔκτεινον·</w>
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<w lemma="ei%28%3Ds">εἷς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xilia%2Frxwn">χιλιάρχων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w>, <w lemma="shmai%2Fas">σημαίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="sumfronh%2Fsas">συμφρονήσας</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>, <w lemma="mega%2Fla">μεγάλα</w> <w lemma="suneba%2Fleto">συνεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="kato%2Frqwsin">κατόρθωσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="propeptwko%2Ftas">προπεπτωκότας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="piezou%3Dntas">πιεζοῦντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Frei">βάρει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sfe%2Fteron">σφέτερον</w> <w lemma="eu%29w%2Fnumon">εὐώνυμον</w>, <w lemma="a%29polipw%5Cn">ἀπολιπὼν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="deciou%3D">δεξιοῦ</w> <w lemma="nikw%3Dntas">νικῶντας</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="katafanw%3Ds">καταφανῶς</w>, <w lemma="e%29pistre%2Fyas">ἐπιστρέψας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizome%2Fnous">ἀγωνιζομένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kato%2Fpin">κατόπιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigeno%2Fmenos">ἐπιγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fballe">προσέβαλλε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="nw%2Ftou">νώτου</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsi">Μακεδόσι</w>.
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="falaggitw%3Dn">φαλαγγιτῶν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="a%29duna%2Ftou">ἀδυνάτου</w> <w lemma="kaqestw%2Fshs">καθεστώσης</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fein">κινδυνεύειν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fkeito">ἐπέκειτο</w> <w lemma="ktei%2Fnwn">κτείνων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="posi%2Fn">ποσίν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnous">δυναμένους</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w>,
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<w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="r%28i%2Fyantes">ῥίψαντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpla">ὅπλα</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgein">φεύγειν</w> <w lemma="h%29nagka%2Fsqhsan">ἠναγκάσθησαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w>, <w lemma="sunepiqeme%2Fnwn">συνεπιθεμένων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="e%29gkekliko%2Ftwn">ἐγκεκλικότων</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxai%3Ds">ἀρχαῖς</w>,
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<w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpa">εἶπα</w>, <w lemma="tekmairo%2Fmenos">τεκμαιρόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fpeisto">ἐπέπειστο</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn:">νικᾶν·</w>
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<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunqeasa%2Fmenos">συνθεασάμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Ffnw">ἄφνω</w> <w lemma="r%28iptou%3Dntas">ῥιπτοῦντας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpla">ὅπλα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="nw%2Ftou">νώτου</w> <w lemma="prosbeblhko%2Ftas">προσβεβληκότας</w>, <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou">κινδύνου</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgwn">ὀλίγων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pezw%3Dn">πεζῶν</w> <w lemma="suneqew%2Frei">συνεθεώρει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fla">ὅλα</w>.
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<w lemma="katanoh%2Fsas">κατανοήσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="di%2Fwgma">δίωγμα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="laiou%3D">λαιοῦ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Frws">κέρως</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkrois">ἄκροις</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="prospela%2Fzontas">προσπελάζοντας</w>, <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgein">φεύγειν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fsous">ὅσους</w> <w lemma="e%29du%2Fnato">ἐδύνατο</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="sunaqroi%2Fsas">συναθροίσας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqra%7Ckw%3Dn">Θρᾳκῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftos">Τίτος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgousin">φεύγουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%28po%2Fmenos">ἑπόμενος</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalabw%5Cn">καταλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28perbolai%3Ds">ὑπερβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkrois">ἄκροις</w> <w lemma="e%29piballou%2Fsas">ἐπιβαλλούσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="eu%29wnu%2Fmous">εὐωνύμους</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsth">ἐπέστη</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="o%29rqa%5Cs">ὀρθὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nasxo%2Fntwn">ἀνασχόντων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sari%2Fsas">σαρίσας</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsin">Μακεδόσιν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="paradidw%3Dsin">παραδιδῶσιν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="metaba%2Fllwntai">μεταβάλλωνται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous:">ὑπεναντίους·</w>
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="puqo%2Fmenos">πυθόμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fan">αἰτίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnontos">συμβαίνοντος</w> <w lemma="parakatei%3Dxe">παρακατεῖχε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="fei%2Fsasqai">φείσασθαι</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnwn">κρίνων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29podedeiliako%2Ftwn">ἀποδεδειλιακότων</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftou">Τίτου</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="dianooume%2Fnou">διανοουμένου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prohgoume%2Fnwn">προηγουμένων</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipeso%2Fntes">ἐπιπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="u%28perdeci%2Fou">ὑπερδεξίου</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fferon">προσέφερον</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiron">διέφθειρον</w>, <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgoi">ὀλίγοι</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffugon">διέφυγον</w> <w lemma="r%28i%2Fyantes">ῥίψαντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpla">ὅπλα</w>.
Most of the Romans followed up these fugitives and continued to put them to the sword: but one of the tribunes with them, taking not more than twenty maniples and judging on the spur of the moment what ought to be done, contributed much to the total victory.
For noticing that the Macedonians under Philip had advanced a long way in front of the rest, and were by their weight forcing back the Roman left, he quitted those on the right, who were now clearly victorious, and wheeling his force in the direction of the scene of combat and thus getting behind the Macedonians, he fell upon them in the rear.
As it is impossible for the phalanx to turn right about face or to fight man to man, he now pressed his attack home, killing those he found in his way, who were incapable of protecting themselves, until the whole Macedonian force were compelled to throw away their shields and take to flight, attacked now also by the troops who had yielded before their frontal charge and who now turned and faced them.
Philip at first, as I said, judging from the success of those under his own leadership, was convinced that his victory was complete,
but now on suddenly seeing that the Macedonians were throwing away their shields and that the enemy had attacked them in the rear, retired with a small number of horse and foot to a short distance from the scene of action and remained to observe the whole scene.
When he noticed that the Romans in pursuit of his left wing had already reached the summits, he decided to fly, collecting hastily as many Thracians and Macedonians as he could.
Flamininus, pursuing the fugitives and finding when he reached the crest of the ridge that the ranks of the Macedonian left were just attaining the summits, at first halted.
The enemy were now holding up their spears, as is the Macedonian custom when they either surrender or go over to the enemy,
and on learning the significance of this he kept back his men, thinking to spare the beaten force.
But while he was still making up his mind some of the Romans who had advanced further fell on them from above and began to cut them down. Most of them perished, a very few escaping after throwing as their shields.