Polybius, Histories

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Book 18 - Chapter 32

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<w lemma="poiou%3Dsi">ποιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w>. <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="tekmai%2Fresqai">τεκμαίρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nuni%5C">νυνὶ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29cisw%2Fsantes">ἐξισώσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%2Ftacin">παράταξιν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fllousi">συμβάλλουσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="metwphdo%5Cn">μετωπηδὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggas">φάλαγγας</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29fedreu%2Fei">ἐφεδρεύει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="summi%2Fsgei">συμμίσγει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="loipo%2Fn">λοιπόν</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kpie%2Fswsin">ἐκπιέσωσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="falaggi%3Dtai">φαλαγγῖται</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="prosba%2Fllontes">προσβάλλοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kpiesqw%3Dsin">ἐκπιεσθῶσιν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="le%2Flutai">λέλυται</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>
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<w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%28po%2Fmenoi">ἑπόμενοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28poxwrou%3Dsin">ὑποχωροῦσιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgontes">φεύγοντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="proskeime%2Fnous">προσκειμένους</w> <w lemma="a%29polei%2Fpousi">ἀπολείπουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fas">οἰκείας</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="de%2Fdotai">δέδοται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29fedreu%2Fousi">ἐφεδρεύουσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fsthma">διάστημα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="katei%3Dxon">κατεῖχον</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhke%2Fti">μηκέτι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="o%28rma%3Dn">ὁρμᾶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pareispeso%2Fntas">παρεισπεσόντας</w> <w lemma="plagi%2Fous">πλαγίους</w> <w lemma="pari%2Fstasqai">παρίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="nw%2Ftou">νώτου</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="falaggi%2Ftais">φαλαγγίταις</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</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="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proterh%2Fmata">προτερήματα</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D%7C">ᾖ</w> <w lemma="fula%2Fcasqai">φυλάξασθαι</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w>, <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%2Fas">ἀληθείας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>;
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="poreuqh%3Dnai">πορευθῆναι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="pantodapw%3Dn">παντοδαπῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnous">χρωμένους</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggi">φάλαγγι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katastratopedeu%3Dsai">καταστρατοπεδεῦσαι</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frous">εὐκαίρους</w> <w lemma="prokatalabe%2Fsqai">προκαταλαβέσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poliorkh%3Dsai%2F">πολιορκῆσαί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poliorkhqh%3Dnai">πολιορκηθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcois">παραδόξοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanei%2Fais">ἐπιφανείαις</w> <w lemma="peripesei%3Dn:">περιπεσεῖν·</w>
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fpanta">ἅπαντα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28opa%5Cs">ῥοπὰς</w> <w lemma="poiei%3D">ποιεῖ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerei%3Ds">ὁλοσχερεῖς</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntacis">σύνταξις</w> <w lemma="du%2Fsxrhstos">δύσχρηστος</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fxrhstos">ἄχρηστος</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="falaggi%2Fthn">φαλαγγίτην</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fgma">τάγμα</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fxesqai">παρέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fxrhstos:">εὔχρηστος·</w>
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<w lemma="pa%3Ds">πᾶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Dos">Ῥωμαῖος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="kaqoplisqei%5Cs">καθοπλισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fsh%7C">ὁρμήσῃ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Frmostai">ἥρμοσται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifa%2Fneian">ἐπιφάνειαν</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftoimo%2Fs">ἕτοιμός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="de%2Fh%7C">δέῃ</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fein">κινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fan">σημαίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="eu%29xrhsti%2Fas">εὐχρηστίας</w> <w lemma="diaferou%2Fshs">διαφερούσης</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flh">τέλη</w> <w lemma="sunecakolouqei%3D">συνεξακολουθεῖ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsesi">προθέσεσι</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w>.
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<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w> <w lemma="h%28ghsa%2Fmhn">ἡγησάμην</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhn">μνήμην</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</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="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="dialamba%2Fnein">διαλαμβάνειν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="h%28tth%2Fqhsan">ἡττήθησαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29pi%2Fstw%7C">ἀπίστῳ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29oike%2Fnai">ἐοικέναι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="diaporh%2Fsein">διαπορήσειν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpetai">λείπεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntagma">σύνταγμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismou%3D">καθοπλισμοῦ</w>.
the likelihood of the result I now indicate requiring no argument but only the evidence of actual facts.
For the Romans do not make their line equal in force to the enemy and expose all the legions to a frontal attack by the phalanx, but part of their forces remain in reserve and the rest engaged the enemy.
Afterwards whether the phalanx drives back by its charge the force opposed to it or is repulsed by this force,
its own peculiar formation is broken up. For either in following up a retreating foe or in flying before an attacking foe, they leave behind the other parts of their own army, upon which the enemy's reserve have room enough in the space formerly held by the phalanx to attack no longer in front but appearing by a lateral movement on the flank and rear of the phalanx.
When it is thus easy to guard against the opportunities and advantages of the phalanx, but impossible to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of the proper moment to act against it, to one kind of formation naturally proves in reality superior to the other.
Again, those who employ the phalanx have to march through and encamp in every variety of country; they are compelled to occupy favourable positions in advance, to besiege certain positions and to be besieged in others, and to meet attacks from quarters the least expected.
For all such contingencies are parts of war, and victory sometimes wholly and sometimes very largely depends on them.
Now in all these matters the Macedonian formation is at times of little use and at times of no use at all, because the phalanx soldier can be of service neither in detachments nor singly, while the Roman formation is efficient.
For every Roman soldier, once he is armed and sets about his business, can adapt himself equally well to every place and time and can meet attack from every quarter.
He is likewise equally prepared and equally in condition whether he has to fight together with the whole army or with a part of it or in maniples or singly.
So since in all particulars the Romans are much more serviceable, Roman plans are much more apt to result in success than those of others.
I thought it necessary to speak on this subject at some length because many Greeks on the actual occasions when the Macedonians suffered defeat considered the event as almost incredible, and many will still continue to wonder why and how the phalanx comes to be conquered by troops armed in the Roman fashion.