Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 107

1
<w lemma="%2Ato%5Cn">Τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dna">χειμῶνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29arinh%5Cn">ἐαρινὴν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w> <w lemma="die%2Fmeinan">διέμειναν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntistratopedeu%2Fontes">ἀντιστρατοπεδεύοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois:">ἀλλήλοις·</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paradido%2Fntos">παραδιδόντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29petei%2Fwn">ἐπετείων</w> <w lemma="karpw%3Dn">καρπῶν</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fan">χορηγίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29ki%2Fnei">ἐκίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Agerou%2Fnion">Γερούνιον</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frakos">χάρακος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w>.
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<w lemma="kri%2Fnwn">κρίνων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Frein">συμφέρειν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29nagka%2Fsai">ἀναγκάσαι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxesqai">μάχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w>, <w lemma="katalamba%2Fnei">καταλαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aka%2Fnnhs">Κάννης</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnhs">προσαγορευομένης</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkran">ἄκραν</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="si%3Dton">σῖτον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="loipa%5Cs">λοιπὰς</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w> <w lemma="a%28qroi%2Fzesqai">ἁθροίζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akanu%2Fsion">Κανύσιον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn:">τόπων·</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="parakomi%2Fzesqai">παρακομίζεσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="kateska%2Ffqai">κατεσκάφθαι</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3Ds">παρασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkras">ἄκρας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="katalhfqei%2Fshs">καταληφθείσης</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mikra%5Cn">μικρὰν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fpese">συνέπεσε</w> <w lemma="taraxh%5Cn">ταραχὴν</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis:">δυνάμεις·</w>
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w> <w lemma="e%29dusxrhstou%3Dnt%27">ἐδυσχρηστοῦντ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kateilh%3Dfqai">κατειλῆφθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>.
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<w lemma="pe%2Fmpontes">πέμποντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29punqa%2Fnonto">ἐπυνθάνοντο</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fswsi">ἐγγίσωσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="dunhso%2Fmenoi">δυνησόμενοι</w> <w lemma="fugomaxei%3Dn">φυγομαχεῖν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="katafqeirome%2Fnhs">καταφθειρομένης</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="metew%2Frwn">μετεώρων</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fais">διανοίαις</w>,
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Fsanto">ἐβουλεύσαντο</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxesqai">μάχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fllein">συμβάλλειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>. <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Agna%2Fion">Γνάιον</w> <w lemma="e%29pisxei%3Dn">ἐπισχεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="diesa%2Ffhsan">διεσάφησαν</w>, <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftous">ὑπάτους</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fstellon">ἐξαπέστελλον</w>.
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<w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29mi%2Flion">Αἰμίλιον</w> <w lemma="a%29poble%2Fpein">ἀποβλέπειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29perei%2Fdesqai">ἀπερείδεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstas">πλείστας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="loipou%3D">λοιποῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="kaloka%29gaqi%2Fan">καλοκἀγαθίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mikroi%3Ds">μικροῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrwdw%3Ds">ἀνδρωδῶς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumfero%2Fntws">συμφερόντως</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="kexeirike%2Fnai">κεχειρικέναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuriou%5Cs">Ἰλλυριοὺς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.
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<w lemma="proe%2Fqento">προέθεντο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpot%27">οὐδέποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gego%2Fnei">ἐγεγόνει</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>, <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstou">ἑκάστου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pentakisxili%2Fous">πεντακισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2F">καθά</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fkamen">εἰρήκαμεν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ei%2F">ἀεί</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="te%2Fttara">τέτταρα</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="proxeiri%2Fzontai">προχειρίζονται</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnei">λαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tetrakisxili%2Fous">τετρακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pa%5Cn">ἐπὰν</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="o%28losxereste%2Fra">ὁλοσχερεστέρα</w> <w lemma="profai%2Fnhtai">προφαίνηται</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fa">χρεία</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstw%7C">ἑκάστῳ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdw%7C">στρατοπέδῳ</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dsi">ποιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="pentakisxili%2Fous">πεντακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fous">τριακοσίους</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pezw%3Dn">πεζῶν</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="pa%2Frison">πάρισον</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dsi">ποιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai+koi%3Ds">Ῥωμαϊκοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fpan">ἐπίπαν</w> <w lemma="tripla%2Fsion">τριπλάσιον</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%2Fseis">ἡμίσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="do%2Fntes">δόντες</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frw%7C">ἑκατέρῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftwn">ὑπάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29caposte%2Fllousin">ἐξαποστέλλουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28no%5Cs">ἑνὸς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftou">ὑπάτου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnousi">κρίνουσι</w>, <w lemma="spani%2Fws">σπανίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="xrw%3Dntai">χρῶνται</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>.
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<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29kplagei%3Ds">ἐκπλαγεῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Ffoboi">κατάφοβοι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="te%2Fttarsin">τέτταρσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai+koi%3Ds">Ῥωμαϊκοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="proh%2F%7Crhnto">προῄρηντο</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w>.
All through the winter and spring the two armies remained encamped opposite each other, and it was not until the season was advanced enough for them to get supplies from the year's crops that Hannibal moved his forces out of the camp near Geronium.
Judging that it was in his interest to compel the enemy to fight by every means in his power, he seized on the citadel of a town called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cannae&groupId=430&placeId=797">Cannae</a>,
in which the Romans had collected the corn and other supplies from the country round Canusium, conveying hence to their camp from time to time enough to supply their wants.
The city itself had previously been razed, but the capture now of the citadel and stores caused no little commotion in the Roman army; for they were distressed at the fall of the place
not only owing to the loss of their supplies, but because it commanded the surrounding district.
They continued, therefore, to send constant messages to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> asking how they should act, stating that if they approached the enemy they would not be able to escape a battle, as the country was being pillaged and the temper of all the allies was uncertain.
The Senate decided to give the enemy battle, but they ordered Servilius to wait, and dispatched the Consuls to the front.
It was to Aemilius that the eyes of all were directed; and they placed their chiefest hope in him, owing to his general high character, and because a few years previously he was thought to have conducted the Illyrian war with courage and advantage to the state.
They decided to bring eight legions into the field, a thing which had never been done before by the Romans, each legion consisting of about five thousand men apart from the allies.
For, as I previously explained, they invariably employ four legions, each numbering about four thousand foot and two hundred horse,
but on occasions of exceptional gravity they raise the number of foot in each legion to five thousand and that of the cavalry to three hundred.
They make the number of the allied infantry equal to that of the Roman legions, but, as a rule, the allied cavalry are three times as numerous as the Roman.
They give each of the Consuls half of the allies and two legions when they dispatch them to the field,
and most of their wars are decided by one Consul with two legions and the above number of allies, it being only on rare occasions that they employ all their forces at one time and in one battle.
But now they were so alarmed and anxious as to the future that they decided to bring into action not four legions but eight.