Polybius, Histories

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Book 18 - Chapter 31

1
<w lemma="%2Ati%2Fs">Τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fa">αἰτία</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sfa%2Fllon">σφάλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flagci">φάλαγξι</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnous">χρωμένους</w>;
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="a%29ori%2Fstous">ἀορίστους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnatai">δύναται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28th%3Ds">αὑτῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pitelei%3Dn">ἐπιτελεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipa%2Flois">ἀντιπάλοις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="sugkatabai%2Fnein">συγκαταβαίνειν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="me%2Flloien">μέλλοιεν</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnesqai">κρίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w>, <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="fe%2Fresqai">φέρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prwtei%3Don">πρωτεῖον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flagci">φάλαγξι</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnous:">χρωμένους·</w>
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29kkli%2Fnein">ἐκκλίνειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w>, <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="fobero%5Cn">φοβερὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntagma">σύνταγμα</w>;
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdwn">ἐπιπέδων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="yilw%3Dn">ψιλῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flagc">φάλαγξ</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpo%2Fdion">ἐμπόδιον</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w>, <w lemma="le%2Fgw">λέγω</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrous">τάφρους</w>, <w lemma="e%29krh%2Fgmata">ἐκρήγματα</w>, <w lemma="sunagkei%2Fas">συναγκείας</w>, <w lemma="o%29fru%3Ds">ὀφρῦς</w>, <w lemma="r%28ei%3Dqra">ῥεῖθρα</w> <w lemma="potamw%3Dn">ποταμῶν</w>, <w lemma="o%28mologou%2Fmeno%2Fn">ὁμολογούμενόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w>.
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<w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fna">προειρημένα</w> <w lemma="parapodi%2Fzein">παραποδίζειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lu%2Fein">λύειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="i%28kana%5C">ἱκανὰ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fn">μηδέν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxei">ὑπάρχει</w>, <w lemma="sxedo%2Fn">σχεδόν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnato%2Fn">ἀδύνατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%2F">μή</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w>, <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="spa%2Fnion">σπάνιον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pa%3Ds">πᾶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="o%28mologh%2Fseien">ὁμολογήσειεν</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstw">ἔστω</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="eu%28rh%3Dsqai">εὑρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftous">τοιούτους</w>. <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> [<w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w>] <w lemma="polemou%3Dntes">πολεμοῦντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="sugkatabai%2Fnwsi">συγκαταβαίνωσι</w>, <w lemma="periporeuo%2Fmenoi">περιπορευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="porqw%3Dsi">πορθῶσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w>, <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Ffelos">ὄφελος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w>;
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<w lemma="me%2Fnousa">μένουσα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fois">ἐπιτηδείοις</w> <w lemma="au%28th%3D%7C">αὑτῇ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%3Dn">ὠφελεῖν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnait%27">δύναιτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28auth%5Cn">ἑαυτὴν</w> <w lemma="sw%2F%7Czein">σῴζειν</w>.
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<w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w> <w lemma="parakomidai%5C">παρακομιδαὶ</w> <w lemma="kwluqh%2Fsontai">κωλυθήσονται</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="a%29koniti%5C">ἀκονιτὶ</w> <w lemma="kratw%3Dsi">κρατῶσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn:">ὑπαίθρων·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29polipou%3Dsa">ἀπολιποῦσα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fous">οἰκείους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flhtai%2F">βούληταί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w>, <w lemma="eu%29xei%2Frwtos">εὐχείρωτος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdous">ἐπιπέδους</w> <w lemma="sugkataba%2Fs">συγκαταβάς</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sfe%2Fteron">σφέτερον</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pagwgh%5Cn">ἐπαγωγὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28poba%2Flh%7C">ὑποβάλῃ</w>, <w lemma="braxe%2Fa">βραχέα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fugomaxh%2Fsh%7C">φυγομαχήσῃ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou">κινδύνου</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qew%2Frhton">εὐθεώρητον</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbhso%2Fmenon">συμβησόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w>
What then is the reason of the Roman success, and was is it that defeats the purpose of those who use the phalanx?
It is because in war the time and place of action is uncertain and the phalanx has only one time and one place in which it can perform its peculiar service.
Now, if the enemy were obliged to adapt themselves to the times and places required by the phalanx when a decisive battle was impending, those who use the phalanx would in all probability, for the reasons I stated above, always get the better of their enemies;
but if it is not only possible but easy to avoid its onset why should one any longer dread an attack of a body so constituted?
Again, it is acknowledged that the phalanx requires level and clear ground with no obstacles such as ditches, clefts, clumps of trees, ridges and water courses,
all of which are sufficient to impede and break up such a formation.
Every one would also acknowledge that it is almost impossible except in very rare cases to find spaces of say twenty stades or even more in length with no such obstacles.
But even if we assume it to be possible, supposing those who are fighting against us refuse to meet us on such ground, but force round sacking the cities and devastating the territory of our allies, what is the use of such a formation?
For by remaining on the ground that suits it, not only is it incapable of helping its friends but cannot even ensure its own safety.
For the arrival of supplies will easily be prevented by the enemy, when they have undisturbed command of the open country.
But if the phalanx leaves the ground proper to it and attempts any action, it will be easily overcome by the enemy.
And again, if it is decided to engage the enemy on level ground, but instead of availing ourselves of our total force when the phalanx has its one opportunity for charging, we keep out of action even a small portion of it at the moment of the shock, it is easy to tell what will happen from what the Romans always do at present,