<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Azakanqai%3Doi">Ζακανθαῖοι</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpempon">ἔπεμπον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29gwniw%3Dntes">ἀγωνιῶντες</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proorw%2Fmenoi">προορώμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="lanqa%2Fnein">λανθάνειν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ginome%2Fnhn">γινομένην</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Froian">εὔροιαν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.
<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="parakhkoo%2Ftes">παρακηκοότες</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteilan">ἐξαπέστειλαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29piskeyome%2Fnous">ἐπισκεψομένους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prospipto%2Fntwn">προσπιπτόντων</w>.
<w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="pepoihme%2Fnos">πεποιημένος</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fqeto">προέθετο</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmewn">δυνάμεων</w> <w lemma="paraxeima%2Fswn">παραχειμάσων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Akainh%5Cn">Καινὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%2Ftis">ἥτις</w> <w lemma="w%28sanei%5C">ὡσανεὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsxhma">πρόσχημα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="basi%2Fleion">βασίλειον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w>.
<w lemma="katalabw%5Cn">καταλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="presbei%2Fan">πρεσβείαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dou%5Cs">δοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnteucin">ἔντευξιν</w> <w lemma="dih%2Fkoue">διήκουε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn">ἐνεστώτων</w>.
<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="diemartu%2Fronto">διεμαρτύροντο</w> <w lemma="%2Azakanqai%2Fwn">Ζακανθαίων</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxesqai">ἀπέχεσθαι</w> — <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Fra%7C">σφετέρᾳ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstei">πίστει</w> — <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhra">Ἴβηρα</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="diabai%2Fnein">διαβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fbou">Ἀσδρούβου</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnas">γενομένας</w> <w lemma="o%28mologi%2Fas">ὁμολογίας</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fos">νέος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="w%29%2Fn">ὤν</w>, <w lemma="plh%2Frhs">πλήρης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="polemikh%3Ds">πολεμικῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%3Ds">ὁρμῆς</w>, <w lemma="e%29pituxh%5Cs">ἐπιτυχὴς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parwrmhme%2Fnos">παρωρμημένος</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxqran">ἔχθραν</w>,
<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="khdo%2Fmenos">κηδόμενος</w> <w lemma="%2Azakanqai%2Fwn">Ζακανθαίων</w>, <w lemma="e%29neka%2Flei">ἐνεκάλει</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="mikroi%3Ds">μικροῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmprosqen">ἔμπροσθεν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w>, <w lemma="stasiazo%2Fntwn">στασιαζόντων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pitroph%5Cn">ἐπιτροπὴν</w> [<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dialu%3Dsai">διαλῦσαι</w>] <w lemma="a%29di%2Fkws">ἀδίκως</w> <w lemma="e%29pane%2Flointo%2F">ἐπανέλοιντό</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proestw%2Ftwn:">προεστώτων·</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="perio%2Fyesqai">περιόψεσθαι</w> <w lemma="parespondhme%2Fnous:">παρεσπονδημένους·</w> <w lemma="pa%2Ftrion">πάτριον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29dikoume%2Fnwn">ἀδικουμένων</w> <w lemma="periora%3Dn:">περιορᾶν·</w>
<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="diepe%2Fmpeto">διεπέμπετο</w>, <w lemma="punqano%2Fmenos">πυνθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="%2Azakanqai%3Doi">Ζακανθαῖοι</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fontes">πιστεύοντες</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fa%7C">συμμαχίᾳ</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="tattome%2Fnwn">ταττομένων</w> <w lemma="a%29dikou%3Dsi">ἀδικοῦσι</w>.
<w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="plh%2Frhs">πλήρης</w> <w lemma="a%29logi%2Fas">ἀλογίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qumou%3D">θυμοῦ</w> <w lemma="biai%2Fou:">βιαίου·</w> <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinai%3Ds">ἀληθιναῖς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fais">αἰτίαις</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%3Dto">ἐχρῆτο</w>, <w lemma="kate%2Ffeuge">κατέφευγε</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="profa%2Fseis">προφάσεις</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgous:">ἀλόγους·</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fper">ἅπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29w%2Fqasi">εἰώθασι</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proegkaqhme%2Fnas">προεγκαθημένας</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28rma%5Cs">ὁρμὰς</w> <w lemma="o%29ligwrou%3Dntes">ὀλιγωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkontos">καθήκοντος</w>.
<w lemma="po%2Fsw%7C">πόσῳ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fmeinon">ἄμεινον</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fesqai">οἴεσθαι</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="a%29podou%3Dnai">ἀποδοῦναι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="%2Asardo%2Fna">Σαρδόνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pitaxqe%2Fntas">ἐπιταχθέντας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="fo%2Frous">φόρους</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="sunepiqe%2Fmenoi">συνεπιθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="a%29di%2Fkws">ἀδίκως</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabon:">ἔλαβον·</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%2F">μή</w>, <w lemma="fa%2Fnai">φάναι</w> <w lemma="polemh%2Fsein">πολεμήσειν</w>;
<w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsan">οὖσαν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fan">αἰτίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinh%5Cn">ἀληθινὴν</w> <w lemma="parasiwpw%3Dn">παρασιωπῶν</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousan">ὑπάρχουσαν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Azakanqai%2Fwn">Ζακανθαίων</w> <w lemma="pla%2Fttwn">πλάττων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgws">ἀλόγως</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="a%29di%2Fkws">ἀδίκως</w> <w lemma="kata%2Frxein">κατάρχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w>.
<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="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="polemhte%2Fon">πολεμητέον</w> <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29do%2Ftes">εἰδότες</w>, <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fpleusan">ἀπέπλευσαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fna">Καρχηδόνα</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="qe%2Flontes">θέλοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pimartu%2Frasqai">ἐπιμαρτύρασθαι</w> <w lemma="ka%29kei%2Fnous:">κἀκείνους·</w>
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fa%7C">Ἰταλίᾳ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="polemh%2Fsein">πολεμήσειν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Flpisan">ἤλπισαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fa%7C">Ἰβηρίᾳ</w>, <w lemma="xrh%2Fsesqai">χρήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="o%28rmhthri%2Fw%7C">ὁρμητηρίῳ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Azakanqai%2Fwn">Ζακανθαίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w>.
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But the Saguntines sent repeated messages to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, as on the one hand they were alarmed for their own safety and foresaw what was coming, and at the same time they wished to keep the Romans informed how well things went with the Carthaginians in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a>. The Romans, who had more than once paid little attention to them, sent on this occasion legates to report on the situation. Hannibal at the same time, having reduced the tribes he intended, arrived with his forces to winter at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=New Carthage&groupId=791&placeId=1430">New Carthage</a>, which was in a way the chief ornament and capital of the Carthaginian empire in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a>. Here he found the Roman legates, to whom he gave audience and listened to their present communication. The Romans protested against his attacking <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Saguntum&groupId=938&placeId=1673">Saguntum</a>, which they said was under their protection, or crossing the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ebro&groupId=549&placeId=1031">Ebro</a>, contrary to the treaty engagements entered into in Hasdrubal\'s time. Hannibal, being young, full of martial ardour, encouraged by the success of his enterprises, and spurred on by his long-standing enmity to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, in his answer to the legates affected to be guarding the interests of the Saguntines and accused the Romans of having a short time previously, when there was a party quarrel at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Saguntum&groupId=938&placeId=1673">Saguntum</a> and they were called in to arbitrate, unjustly put to death some of the leading men. The Carthaginians, he said, would not overlook this violation of good faith for it was from of old the principle of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> never to neglect the cause of the victims of injustice. To <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, however, he sent, asking for instructions, since the Saguntines, relying on their alliance with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, were wronging some of the peoples subject to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>. Being wholly under the influence of unreasoning and violent anger, he did not allege the true reasons, but took refuge in groundless pretexts, as men are wont to do who disregard duty because they are prepossessed by passion. How much better would it have been for him to demand from the Romans the restitution of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a>, and at the same time of the tribute which they had so unjustly exacted, availing themselves of the misfortunes of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, and to threaten war in the event of refusal! But as it was, by keeping silent as to the real cause and by inventing a non-existing one about <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Saguntum&groupId=938&placeId=1673">Saguntum</a>, he gave the idea that he was entering on the war not only unsupported by reason but without justice on his side. The Roman legates, seeing clearly that war was inevitable, took ship for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> to convey the same protest to the Government there. They never thought, however, that the war would be in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, but supposed they would fight in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Saguntum&groupId=938&placeId=1673">Saguntum</a> for a base.
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Walbank Commentary