Polybius, Histories

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Book 2 - Chapter 33

1
<w lemma="%2Adokou%3Dsi">Δοκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mfro%2Fnws">ἐμφρόνως</w> <w lemma="kexrh%3Dsqai">κεχρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xilia%2Frxwn">χιλιάρχων</w> <w lemma="u%28podeica%2Fntwn">ὑποδειξάντων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dna">ἀγῶνα</w> <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstous">ἑκάστους</w>.
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<w lemma="sunewrako%2Ftes">συνεωρακότες</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="qumoi%3Ds">θυμοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fthn">πρώτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29ke%2Fraion">ἀκέραιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D%7C">ᾖ</w>, <w lemma="foberw%2Ftato%2Fn">φοβερώτατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Agalatiko%5Cn">Γαλατικὸν</w> <w lemma="fu%3Dlon">φῦλον</w>,
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<w lemma="ai%28%2F">αἵ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxairai">μάχαιραι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="kataskeuai%3Ds">κατασκευαῖς</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhtai">εἴρηται</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w>, <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi">ἔχουσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fthn">πρώτην</w> <w lemma="katafora%5Cn">καταφορὰν</w> <w lemma="kairi%2Fan">καιρίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="a%29pocustrou%3Dntai">ἀποξυστροῦνται</w>, <w lemma="kampto%2Fmenai">καμπτόμεναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dkos">μῆκος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pla%2Ftos">πλάτος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="dw%3D%7C">δῷ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29nastrofh%5Cn">ἀναστροφὴν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnois">χρωμένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29rei%2Fsantas">ἐρείσαντας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="a%29peuqu%3Dnai">ἀπευθῦναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="podi%2F">ποδί</w>, <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fprakton">ἄπρακτον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="deute%2Fran">δευτέραν</w> <w lemma="plhgh%5Cn">πληγὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn:">αὐτῶν·</w>
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<w lemma="a%29nado%2Fntes">ἀναδόντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="xili%2Farxoi">χιλίαρχοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="triari%2Fwn">τριαρίων</w> <w lemma="do%2Frata">δόρατα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kato%2Fpin">κατόπιν</w> <w lemma="e%29festw%2Ftwn">ἐφεστώτων</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftais">πρώταις</w> <w lemma="spei%2Frais">σπείραις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraggei%2Flantes">παραγγείλαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metalh%2Fyews">μεταλήψεως</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ci%2Ffesi">ξίφεσι</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbalon">συνέβαλον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltoi%3Ds">Κελτοῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="do%2Frata">δόρατα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftais">πρώταις</w> <w lemma="kataforai%3Ds">καταφοραῖς</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnwn">χρωμένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Agalatw%3Dn">Γαλατῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29xreiwqh%3Dnai">ἀχρειωθῆναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="maxai%2Fras">μαχαίρας</w> <w lemma="sundramo%2Fntes">συνδραμόντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%5Cs">Κελτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29pra%2Fktous">ἀπράκτους</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsan">ἐποίησαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29felo%2Fmenoi">ἀφελόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Frsews">διάρσεως</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdio%2Fn">ἴδιόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="%2Agalatikh%3Ds">Γαλατικῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhdamw%3Ds">μηδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fnthma">κέντημα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ci%2Ffos">ξίφος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein:">ἔχειν·</w>
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<w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="katafora%3Ds">καταφορᾶς</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyews">διαλήψεως</w> <w lemma="o%29rqai%3Ds">ὀρθαῖς</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenoi">χρώμενοι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="maxai%2Frais">μαχαίραις</w>, <w lemma="praktikou%3D">πρακτικοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kenth%2Fmatos">κεντήματος</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxontos">ὑπάρχοντος</w>, <w lemma="tu%2Fptontes">τύπτοντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ste%2Frna">στέρνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpa">πρόσωπα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plhgh%5Cn">πληγὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="plhgh%3D%7C">πληγῇ</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frontes">φέροντες</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiran">διέφθειραν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="paratacame%2Fnwn">παραταξαμένων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xilia%2Frxwn">χιλιάρχων</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aflami%2Fnios">Φλαμίνιος</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="o%29rqw%3Ds">ὀρθῶς</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="kexrh%3Dsqai">κεχρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnw%7C">προειρημένῳ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnw%7C">κινδύνῳ</w>. <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29fru%5Cn">ὀφρὺν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fktacin">ἔκταξιν</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeire">διέφθειρε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai+kh%3Ds">Ῥωμαϊκῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdion">ἴδιον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="u%28poleipo%2Fmenos">ὑπολειπόμενος</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fda">πόδα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="spei%2Frais">σπείραις</w> <w lemma="a%29naxw%2Frhsin">ἀναχώρησιν</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="piesqh%3Dnai">πιεσθῆναι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fra%7C">χώρᾳ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w>, <w lemma="r%28i%2Fptein">ῥίπτειν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29stoxi%2Fan">ἀστοχίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtos">προεστῶτος</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%2F">ἀλλά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="pollw%3D%7C">πολλῷ</w> <w lemma="nikh%2Fsantes">νικήσαντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Frais">σφετέραις</w> <w lemma="a%29retai%3Ds">ἀρεταῖς</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpon">εἶπον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pamplhqou%3Ds">παμπληθοῦς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fas">λείας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgwn">ὀλίγων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sku%2Flwn">σκύλων</w> <w lemma="krath%2Fsantes">κρατήσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29panh%3Dlqon">ἐπανῆλθον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>.
The Romans are thought to have managed matters very skilfully in this battle, their tribunes having instructed them how they should fight, both as individuals and collectively.
For they had observed from former battles that Gauls in general are most formidable and spirited in their first onslaught,
while still fresh, and that, from the way their swords are made, as has been already explained, only the first cut takes effect; after this they at once assume the shape of a , being so much bent both length-wise and side-wise that unless the men are given leisure to rest them on the ground and set them straight with the foot, the second blow is quite ineffectual.
The tribunes therefore distributed among the front lines the spears of the triarii who were stationed behind them, ordering them to use their swords instead only after the spears were done with.
They then drew up opposite the Celts in order of battle and engaged. Upon the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gaul&groupId=598&placeId=1108">Gaul</a> slashing first at the spears and making their swords unserviceable the Romans came to closed quarters, having rendered the enemy helpless by depriving them of the power of raising their hands and cutting, which is the peculiar and only stroke of the Gauls, as their swords have no points.
The Romans, on the contrary, instead of slashing continued to thrust with their swords which did not bend, the points being very effective. Thus, striking one blow after another on the breast or face, they slew the greater part of their adversaries. This was solely due to the foresight of the tribunes,
the Consul Flaminius being thought to have mismanaged the battle by deploying his force at the very edge of the river-bank and thus rendering impossible a tactical movement peculiar to the Romans, as he left the lines no room to fall back gradually.
For had the troops been even in the slightest degree pushed back from their ground during the battle, they would have had to throw themselves into the river, all owing to their general's blunder.
However, as it was, they gained a decisive victory by their own skill and valour, as I said, and returned to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> with a quantity of booty and many trophies.