Polybius, Histories

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Book 2 - Chapter 3

1
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="lafu%2Frwn">λαφύρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigrafh%5Cn">ἐπιγραφὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w>. <w lemma="dedogme%2Fnwn">δεδογμένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fra%7C">ἡμέρᾳ</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%2Flhyin">παράληψιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w>, <w lemma="prosple%2Fousin">προσπλέουσιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmboi">λέμβοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amediwni%2Fan">Μεδιωνίαν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fggista">ἔγγιστα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illurioi%5C">Ἰλλυριοὶ</w> <w lemma="pentakisxi%2Flioi">πεντακισχίλιοι</w>.
2
<w lemma="kaqormisqe%2Fntes">καθορμισθέντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="e%29nergo%5Cn">ἐνεργὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="laqrai%2Fan">λαθραίαν</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fbasin">ἀπόβασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnh%7C">εἰθισμένῃ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcei">τάξει</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dgon">προῆγον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spei%2Fras">σπείρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fan">στρατοπεδείαν</w>.
3
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fntes">συνέντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcw%7C">παραδόξῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmh%7C">τόλμῃ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuriw%3Dn">Ἰλλυριῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kplagei%3Ds:">ἐκπλαγεῖς·</w> <w lemma="pefronhmatisme%2Fnoi">πεφρονηματισμένοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pollou%3D">πολλοῦ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnou">χρόνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katapisteu%2Fsantes">καταπιστεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fais">ἰδίαις</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesin">δυνάμεσιν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="poso%5Cn">ποσὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qarsw%3Ds">εὐθαρσῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</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="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28plitw%3Dn">ὁπλιτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fas">στρατοπεδείας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdois">ἐπιπέδοις</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fballon">παρενέβαλλον</w>, <w lemma="me%2Frei">μέρει</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tini">τινι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppou">ἵππου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnois">εὐζώνοις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28perdeci%2Fous">ὑπερδεξίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frakos">χάρακος</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnous">κειμένους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="prokatela%2Fmbanon">προκατελάμβανον</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illurioi%5C">Ἰλλυριοὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29lafrou%5Cs">ἐλαφροὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdou">ἐφόδου</w> <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntes">προσπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqei">πλήθει</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="e%29ce%2Fwsan">ἐξέωσαν</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="sugkinduneu%2Fontas">συγκινδυνεύοντας</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkasan">ἠνάγκασαν</w> <w lemma="a%29poxwrh%3Dsai">ἀποχωρῆσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fa">βαρέα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w>.
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<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="u%28perdeci%2Fou">ὑπερδεξίου</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fw%7C">πεδίῳ</w> <w lemma="tetagme%2Fnous">τεταγμένους</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="e%29tre%2Fyanto">ἐτρέψαντο</w>, <w lemma="sunepiqeme%2Fnwn">συνεπιθεμένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amediwni%2Fwn">Μεδιωνίων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkteinan">ἀπέκτειναν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="ai%29xmalw%2Ftous">αἰχμαλώτους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabon:">ἔλαβον·</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29poskeuh%3Ds">ἀποσκευῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illurioi%5C">Ἰλλυριοὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcantes">πράξαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suntaxqe%5Cn">συνταχθὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diakomi%2Fsantes">διακομίσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29poskeuh%5Cn">ἀποσκευὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhn">ἄλλην</w> <w lemma="w%29fe%2Fleian">ὠφέλειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmbous">λέμβους</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fgonto">ἀνήγοντο</w>, <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w>
This decree had been passed, and next day the election was to be held, and the new Strategus was to enter at once into office, as is the practice of the Aetolians, when that night a hundred boats containing a force of five thousand Illyrians arrived at the nearest point on the coast to Medion.
Anchoring there they landed, as soon as it was daylight, with promptitude and secrecy, and forming in the order customary in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a>, advanced by companies on the Aetolian camp.
The Aetolians, on becoming aware of it, were taken aback by the unexpected nature and boldness of the attack, but having for many years ranked very high in their own estimation and relying on their strength, they were more or less confident.
Stationing the greater part of their hoplites and cavalry on the level ground just in front of their lines, they occupied with a portion of their cavalry and their light-armed infantry certain favourable positions on the heights in front of the camp.
The Illyrians, charging their light infantry, drove them from their positions by their superior force and the weight of their formation, compelling the supporting body of cavalry to fall back on the heavy-armed troops.
After this, having the advantage of attacking the latter, who were drawn up on the plain, from higher ground, they speedily put them to flight, the Medionians also joining in the attack from the city.
They killed many Aetolians and took a still larger number of prisoners, capturing all their arms and baggage.
The Illyrians, having thus executed the orders of their king, carried off to their boats the baggage and other booty and at once set sail for home.