Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 2 - Chapter 34

1
<w lemma="%2Atw%3D%7C">Τῷ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftei">ἔτει</w>, <w lemma="diapresbeusame%2Fnwn">διαπρεσβευσαμένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn">Κελτῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhs">εἰρήνης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsein">ποιήσειν</w> <w lemma="u%28pisxnoume%2Fnwn">ὑπισχνουμένων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fspeusan">ἔσπευσαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="katastaqe%2Fntes">κατασταθέντες</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fpatoi">ὕπατοι</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkos">Μάρκος</w> <w lemma="%2Aklau%2Fdios">Κλαύδιος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Agna%2Fios">Γνάιος</w> <w lemma="%2Akornh%2Flios">Κορνήλιος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="sugxwrhqh%3Dnai">συγχωρηθῆναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>.
2
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29potuxo%2Fntes">ἀποτυχόντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnantes">κρίναντες</w> <w lemma="e%29cele%2Fgcai">ἐξελέγξαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="teleutai%2Fas">τελευταίας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>, <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="misqou%3Dsqai">μισθοῦσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodano%5Cn">Ῥοδανὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Agaisa%2Ftwn">Γαισάτων</w> <w lemma="%2Agalatw%3Dn">Γαλατῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="trismuri%2Fous:">τρισμυρίους·</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="paralabo%2Fntes">παραλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmw%7C">ἑτοίμῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosedo%2Fkwn">προσεδόκων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>.
3
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%5C">στρατηγοὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fras">ὥρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="a%29nalabo%2Fntes">ἀναλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dgon">ἦγον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29inso%2Fmbrwn">Ἰνσόμβρων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>.
4
<w lemma="parageno%2Fmenoi">παραγενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peristratopedeu%2Fsantes">περιστρατοπεδεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axe%2Frras">Ἀχέρρας</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5C">ἣ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fdou">Πάδου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29alpeinw%3Dn">Ἀλπεινῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29rw%3Dn">ὀρῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29polio%2Frkoun">ἐπολιόρκουν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w>.
5
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Finsombres">Ἴνσομβρες</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenoi">δυνάμενοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prokatalhfqh%3Dnai">προκαταληφθῆναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuei%3Ds">εὐφυεῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="speu%2Fdontes">σπεύδοντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lu%3Dsai">λῦσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axerrw%3Dn">Ἀχερρῶν</w>, <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="diabiba%2Fsantes">διαβιβάσαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fdon">Πάδον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ana%2Frwn">Ἀνάρων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="e%29polio%2Frkoun">ἐπολιόρκουν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuo%2Fmenon">προσαγορευόμενον</w> <w lemma="%2Aklasti%2Fdion">Κλαστίδιον</w>. <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntos">προσπεσόντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnontos">συμβαίνοντος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%3Ds">στρατηγοῖς</w>,
6
<w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkos">Μάρκος</w> <w lemma="%2Aklau%2Fdios">Κλαύδιος</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pezikw%3Dn">πεζικῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29pei%2Fgeto">ἠπείγετο</w>, <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w> <w lemma="bohqh%3Dsai">βοηθῆσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="poliorkoume%2Fnois">πολιορκουμένοις</w>.
7
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltoi%5C">Κελτοὶ</w> <w lemma="puqo%2Fmenoi">πυθόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>, <w lemma="lu%2Fsantes">λύσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%2Fntwn">ὑπήντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pareta%2Fcanto">παρετάξαντο</w>.
8
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppeu%3Dsin">ἱππεῦσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdou">ἐφόδου</w> <w lemma="tolmhrw%3Ds">τολμηρῶς</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntwn">προσπεσόντων</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntei%3Dxon:">ἀντεῖχον·</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="periistame%2Fnwn">περιισταμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="nw%2Ftou">νώτου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w>, <w lemma="dusxrhstou%2Fmenoi">δυσχρηστούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29tra%2Fphsan">ἐτράπησαν</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w>.
9
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polloi%5C">πολλοὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeso%2Fntes">ἐμπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmatos">ῥεύματος</w> <w lemma="diefqa%2Frhsan">διεφθάρησαν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="kateko%2Fphsan">κατεκόπησαν</w>.
10
<w lemma="e%29%2Flabon">ἔλαβον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axe%2Frras">Ἀχέρρας</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="si%2Ftou">σίτου</w> <w lemma="gemou%2Fsas">γεμούσας</w>, <w lemma="e%29kxwrhsa%2Fntwn">ἐκχωρησάντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Amedio%2Flanon">Μεδιόλανον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Agalatw%3Dn">Γαλατῶν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fsper">ὅσπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="kuriw%2Ftatos">κυριώτατος</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29inso%2Fmbrwn">Ἰνσόμβρων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>.
11
<w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="podo%5Cs">ποδὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pakolouqh%2Fsantos">ἐπακολουθήσαντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Agnai+%2Fou">Γναΐου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosbalo%2Fntos">προσβαλόντος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Ffnw">ἄφνω</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Amedio%2Flanon">Μεδιόλανον</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fan">ἡσυχίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxon:">ἔσχον·</w>
12
<w lemma="a%29poluome%2Fnou">ἀπολυομένου</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axe%2Frras">Ἀχέρρας</w>, <w lemma="e%29pecelqo%2Fntes">ἐπεξελθόντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29ragi%2Fas">οὐραγίας</w> <w lemma="a%28ya%2Fmenoi">ἁψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="qrase%2Fws">θρασέως</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="nekrou%5Cs">νεκροὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsan">ἐποίησαν</w>, <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fugei%3Dn">φυγεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkasan">ἠνάγκασαν</w>,
13
<w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Agna%2Fios">Γνάιος</w> <w lemma="a%29nakalesa%2Fmenos">ἀνακαλεσάμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="prwtoporei%2Fas">πρωτοπορείας</w> <w lemma="parw%2Frmhse">παρώρμησε</w> <w lemma="sth%3Dnai">στῆναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumbalei%3Dn">συμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
14
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="peiqarxh%2Fsantes">πειθαρχήσαντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3D%7C">στρατηγῷ</w> <w lemma="diema%2Fxonto">διεμάχοντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pikeime%2Fnous">ἐπικειμένους</w> <w lemma="eu%29rw%2Fstws">εὐρώστως</w>.
15
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltoi%5C">Κελτοὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29tu%2Fxhma">εὐτύχημα</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fnantes">μείναντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="poso%5Cn">ποσὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qarsw%3Ds">εὐθαρσῶς</w>, <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="trape%2Fntes">τραπέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffeugon">ἔφευγον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="parwrei%2Fas">παρωρείας</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Agna%2Fios">Γνάιος</w> <w lemma="e%29pakolouqh%2Fsas">ἐπακολουθήσας</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="e%29po%2Frqei">ἐπόρθει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Ame">Με</w>
Next year the Celts sent ambassadors begging for peace and engaging to accept any conditions, but the new Consuls Marcus Claudius and Gnaeus Cornelius strongly urged that no peace should be granted them.
On meeting with a refusal, the Celts decided to resort to their last hope and again appealed to the Gaesatae on the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhone&groupId=933&placeId=1667">Rhone</a>, and hired a force of about thirty thousand men. When they had these troops they kept them in readiness and awaited the attack of the enemy.
The Roman Consuls, when the season came, invaded the territory of the Insubres with their legions.
Encamping round a city called Acerrae lying between the Po and the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a>, they laid siege to it.
The Insubres could not come to the assistance of the besieged, as the Romans had occupied all the advantageous positions, but, with the object of making the latter raise the siege, they crossed the Po with part of their forces, and entering the territory of the Anares, laid siege to a town there called Clastidium.
On the Consuls learning of this, Marcus Claudius set off in haste with the cavalry and a small body of infantry to relieve the besieged if possible.
The Celts, as soon as they were aware of the enemy's arrival, raised the siege and advancing to meet them, drew up in order of battle.
When the Romans boldly charged them with their cavalry alone, they at first stood firm, but afterwards, being taken both in the rear and on the flank, they found themselves in difficulties and were finally put to rout by the cavalry unaided,
many of them throwing themselves into the river and being swept away by the current, while the larger number were cut to pieces by the enemy.
The Romans now took Acerrae, which was well stocked with corn, the Gauls retiring to Mediolanum the chief place in the territory of the Insubres.
Gnaeus followed close on their heels, and suddenly appeared before Mediolanum.
The Gauls at first did not stir, but, when he was on his way back to Acerrae, they sallied out, and made a bold attack on his rear, in which they killed a considerable number of the Romans and even forced a portion of them to take to flight,
until Gnaeus, calling back the forces in advance, urged the fugitives to rally and withstand the enemy.
After this the Romans, on their part obeying their Consul, continued to fight vigorously with their assailants,
and the Celts after holding their ground for a time, encouraged as they were by their momentary success, were shortly put to flight and took refuge on the mountains. Gnaeus, following them, laid waste the country and took Mediolanum itself by assault,