Polybius, Histories

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Book 2 - Chapter 28

1
<w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="sumbaino%2Fntwn">συμβαινόντων</w>. <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29mi%2Flion">Αἰμίλιον</w> <w lemma="a%29khkoo%2Ftes">ἀκηκοότες</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Api%2Fsas">Πίσας</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fploun">κατάπλουν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fpw">οὔπω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prosdokw%3Dntes">προσδοκῶντες</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5C">αὐτὰ</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fzein">συνεγγίζειν</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffon">λόφον</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnos">ἀγῶνος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnwsan">ἔγνωσαν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="e%29ggu%5Cs">ἐγγὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fas">οἰκείας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w>.
2
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="bohqh%2Fsontas">βοηθήσοντας</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fstellon">ἐξαπέστελλον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffw%7C">λόφῳ</w> <w lemma="diagwnizome%2Fnois">διαγωνιζομένοις</w>, <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnas">εἰθισμένας</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w> <w lemma="diakosmh%2Fsantes">διακοσμήσαντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dgon">προῆγον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>.
3
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltoi%5C">Κελτοὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpewn">Ἄλπεων</w> <w lemma="%2Agaisa%2Ftous">Γαισάτους</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnous">προσαγορευομένους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftacan">ἔταξαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29p%27">ἀπ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29ra%3Ds">οὐρᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifa%2Fneian">ἐπιφάνειαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="prosedo%2Fkwn">προσεδόκων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29mi%2Flion">Αἰμίλιον</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Finsombras:">Ἴνσομβρας·</w>
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Atauri%2Fskous">Ταυρίσκους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fde">τάδε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fdou">Πάδου</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dntas">κατοικοῦντας</w> <w lemma="%2Aboi%2Fous">Βοίους</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbalon">παρενέβαλον</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fan">ἐναντίαν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsin">στάσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontas">ἔχοντας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w>, <w lemma="ble%2Fpontas">βλέποντας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Agai+%2Fou">Γαΐου</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28ma%2Fcas">ἁμάξας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunwri%2Fdas">συνωρίδας</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frou">ἑκατέρου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fratos">κέρατος</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fsthsan">παρέστησαν</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fan">λείαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parakeime%2Fnwn">παρακειμένων</w> <w lemma="o%29rw%3Dn">ὀρῶν</w> <w lemma="fulakh%5Cn">φυλακὴν</w> <w lemma="peristh%2Fsantes">περιστήσαντες</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fqroizon">ἥθροιζον</w>.
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<w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisto%2Fmou">ἀμφιστόμου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn">Κελτῶν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="kataplhktikh%5Cn">καταπληκτικὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="praktikh%5Cn">πρακτικὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w>.
7
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Finsombres">Ἴνσομβρες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aboi%3Doi">Βοῖοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nacuri%2Fdas">ἀναξυρίδας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29petei%3Ds">εὐπετεῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sa%2Fgwn">σάγων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Ftacan">ἐξέταξαν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Agaisa%2Ftai">Γαισάται</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="filodoci%2Fan">φιλοδοξίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Frsos">θάρσος</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29porri%2Fyantes">ἀπορρίψαντες</w> <w lemma="gumnoi%5C">γυμνοὶ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtoi">πρῶτοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsthsan">κατέστησαν</w>, <w lemma="u%28polabo%2Fntes">ὑπολαβόντες</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsesqai">ἔσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="praktikw%2Ftatoi">πρακτικώτατοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="batw%2Fdeis">βατώδεις</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="e%29mple%2Fkesqai">ἐμπλέκεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29fa%2Fmmasi">ἐφάμμασι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parapodi%2Fzein">παραποδίζειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</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="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffon">λόφον</w> <w lemma="e%29neisth%2Fkei">ἐνειστήκει</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunos">κίνδυνος</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fpasin">ἅπασιν</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnoptos">σύνοπτος</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tosou%2Ftou">τοσούτου</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstou">ἑκάστου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="a%29nami%5Cc">ἀναμὶξ</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w> <w lemma="sumpeptwko%2Ftos">συμπεπτωκότος</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fion">Γάιον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fpaton">ὕπατον</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizo%2Fmenon">ἀγωνιζόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="xeirw%3Dn">χειρῶν</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmw%7C">νόμῳ</w> <w lemma="teleuth%3Dsai">τελευτῆσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kefalh%5Cn">κεφαλὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fas">βασιλέας</w> <w lemma="e%29panenexqh%3Dnai">ἐπανενεχθῆναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn:">Κελτῶν·</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fsantas">κινδυνεύσαντας</w> <w lemma="e%29rrwme%2Fnws">ἐρρωμένως</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29pikrath%3Dsai">ἐπικρατῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</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="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pezikw%3Dn">πεζικῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="su%2Fneggus">σύνεγγυς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdion">ἴδιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qaumasto%5Cn">θαυμαστὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="parou%3Dsin">παροῦσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnois">δυναμένοις</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyin">ὄψιν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w>
Aemilius, who had heard of the landing of the legions at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pisa&groupId=904&placeId=1625">Pisa</a> but had not any idea that they were already so near him, now, when he saw the fight going on round the hill, knew that the other Roman army was quite close.
Accordingly, sending on his cavalry to help those who were fighting on the hill, he drew up his infantry in the usual order and advanced against the foe.
The Celts had drawn up facing their rear, from which they expected Aemilius to attack, the Gaesatae from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a> and behind them the Insubres,
and facing in the opposite direction, ready to meet the attack of Gaius' legions, they placed the Taurisci and the Boii from the right bank of the Po.
Their wagons and chariots they stationed at the extremity of either wing and collected their booty on one of the neighbouring hills with a protecting force round it.
This order of the Celtic forces, facing both ways, not only presented a formidable appearance, but was well adapted to the exigencies of the situation.
The Insubres and Boii wore their trousers and light cloaks,
but the Gaesatae had discarded these garments owing to their proud confidence in themselves, and stood naked, with nothing but their arms, in front of the whole army, thinking that thus they would be more efficient, as some of the ground was overgrown with brambles which would catch in their clothes and impede the use of their weapons.
At first the battle was confined to the hill, all the armies gazing on it, so great were the numbers of cavalry from each host combating there pell-mell.
In this action Gaius the Consul fell in the mellay fighting with desperate courage, and his head was brought to the Celtic kings; but the Roman cavalry, after a stubborn struggle, at length overmastered the enemy and gained possession of the hill.
The infantry were now close upon each other, and the spectacle was a strange and marvellous one, not only to those actually present at the battle, but to all who could afterwards picture it to themselves from the reports.