Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 17

1
<w lemma="tosth%3Ds">τοστῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tettarakosth%3Ds">τετταρακοστῆς</w> <w lemma="o%29lumpia%2Fdos">ὀλυμπιάδος</w>. <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="a%29nazeu%2Fcas">ἀναζεύξας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akainh%3Ds">Καινῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w>, <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aza%2Fkanqan">Ζάκανθαν</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkonti">καθήκοντι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fpodi">πρόποδι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%29reinh%3Ds">ὀρεινῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sunaptou%2Fshs">συναπτούσης</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Frata">πέρατα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fas">Ἰβηρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltibhri%2Fas">Κελτιβηρίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxei">ἀπέχει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%28pta%5C">ἑπτὰ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w>.
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<w lemma="ne%2Fmontai">νέμονται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dntes">κατοικοῦντες</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fmforon">πάμφορον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frousan">διαφέρουσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%3D%7C">ἀρετῇ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fas">Ἰβηρίας</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="parastratopedeu%2Fsas">παραστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="e%29nergo%5Cs">ἐνεργὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>, <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="proorw%2Fmenos">προορώμενος</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fxrhsta">εὔχρηστα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="kra%2Ftos">κράτος</w> <w lemma="e%28lei%3Dn">ἑλεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%2Fn">αὐτήν</w>.
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<w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Flabe">ὑπέλαβε</w> <w lemma="parele%2Fsqai">παρελέσθαι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fsasqai">συστήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fa%7C:">Ἰβηρίᾳ·</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kataplhca%2Fmenos">καταπληξάμενος</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="eu%29taktote%2Frous">εὐτακτοτέρους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fpeisto">ἐπέπειστο</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fsein">παρασκευάσειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tattome%2Fnous">ταττομένους</w>, <w lemma="eu%29labeste%2Frous">εὐλαβεστέρους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tokra%2Ftoras">αὐτοκράτορας</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibh%2Frwn">Ἰβήρων</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29polipw%5Cn">ἀπολιπὼν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fpisqen">ὄπισθεν</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmion">πολέμιον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsesqai">ποιήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%29%2Fmprosqen">τοὔμπροσθεν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w>.
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<w lemma="xwri%2Fs">χωρίς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="eu%29porh%2Fsein">εὐπορήσειν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xorhgiw%3Dn">χορηγιῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="u%28pela%2Fmbanen">ὑπελάμβανεν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>, <w lemma="proqumi%2Fan">προθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nerga%2Fsesqai">ἐνεργάσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesin">δυνάμεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnhs">ἐσομένης</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%2Fas">ὠφελείας</w>, <w lemma="prokale%2Fsesqai">προκαλέσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fnoian">εὔνοιαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fkw%7C">οἴκῳ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29postalhsome%2Fnwn">ἀποσταλησομένων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="lafu%2Frwn">λαφύρων</w>.
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<w lemma="toiou%2Ftois">τοιούτοις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenos">χρώμενος</w> <w lemma="dialogismoi%3Ds">διαλογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fkeito">προσέκειτο</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fa%7C">πολιορκίᾳ</w>, <w lemma="tote%5C">τοτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fdeigma">ὑπόδειγμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqei">πλήθει</w> <w lemma="poiw%3Dn">ποιῶν</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenos">γινόμενος</w> <w lemma="au%29tourgo%5Cs">αὐτουργὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w> <w lemma="talaipwri%2Fas">ταλαιπωρίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="parakalw%3Dn">παρακαλῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqh">πλήθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="didou%5Cs">διδοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w>.
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<w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kakopa%2Fqeian">κακοπάθειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frimnan">μέριμναν</w> <w lemma="u%28pomei%2Fnas">ὑπομείνας</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="mhsi%5C">μησὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="kra%2Ftos">κράτος</w> <w lemma="ei%28%3Dle">εἷλε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.
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<w lemma="ku%2Frios">κύριος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="swma%2Ftwn">σωμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fmat%27">χρήματ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fas">ἰδίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fqeto">παρέθετο</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sw%2Fmata">σώματα</w> <w lemma="die%2Fneime">διένειμε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fan">ἀξίαν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sustrateuome%2Fnwn">συστρατευομένων</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpemye">ἐξέπεμψε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcas">πράξας</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="dieyeu%2Fsqh">διεψεύσθη</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="logismoi%3Ds">λογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Ftuxe">ἀπέτυχε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftas">στρατιώτας</w> <w lemma="proqumote%2Frous">προθυμοτέρους</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhse">ἐποίησε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fein">κινδυνεύειν</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmous">ἑτοίμους</w> <w lemma="pareskeu%2Fase">παρεσκεύασε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paraggello%2Fmenon">παραγγελλόμενον</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%2Fs">αὐτός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xrhsi%2Fmwn">χρησίμων</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kateirga%2Fsato">κατειργάσατο</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xorhgiw%3Dn">χορηγιῶν</w> <w lemma="paraqe%2Fsews">παραθέσεως</w>.
Hannibal at the same time quitted <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=New Carthage&groupId=791&placeId=1430">New Carthage</a> with his army and advanced towards <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Saguntum&groupId=938&placeId=1673">Saguntum</a>.
This city lies on the seaward foot of the range of hills connecting Iberia and Celtiberia, at a distance of about seven stades from the sea.
The territory of the Saguntines yields every kind of crop and is the most fertile in the whole of Iberia.
Hannibal, now encamping before the town, set himself to besiege it vigorously, foreseeing that many advantages would result from its capture.
First of all he thought that he would thus deprive the Romans of any prospect of a campaign in Iberia, and secondly he was convinced that by this blow he would inspire universal terror, and render the Iberian tribes who had already submitted more orderly and those who were still independent more cautious,
while above all he would be enabled to advance safely with no enemy left in his rear.
Besides, he would then have abundant funds and supplies for his projected expedition, he would raise the spirit of his troops by the booty distributed among them and would conciliate the Carthaginians at home by the spoils he would send them.
From all these considerations he actively pursued the siege, now setting an example to the soldiers by sharing personally the fatigue of the battering operations, now cheering on the troops and exposing recklessly to danger.
At length after eight months of hardship and anxiety he took the city by storm.
A great booty of money, slaves, and property fell into his hands. The money, as he had determined, he set aside for his own purposes, the slaves he distributed among his men according to rank, and the miscellaneous property he sent off at once to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>.
The result did not deceive his expectations, nor did he fail to accomplish his original purpose; but he both made his troops more eager to face danger and the Carthaginians more ready to accede to his demands on them, while he himself, by setting aside these funds, was able to accomplish many things of much service to him.