Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 18

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<w lemma="%2Akata%5C">Κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrios">Δημήτριος</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sunei%3Dnai">συνεῖναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Adima%2Flhn">Διμάλην</w> <w lemma="a%29cio%2Fxrewn">ἀξιόχρεων</w> <w lemma="froura%5Cn">φρουρὰν</w> <w lemma="ei%29se%2Fpemye">εἰσέπεμψε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozou%2Fsas">ἁρμοζούσας</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="loipw%3Dn">λοιπῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoliteuome%2Fnous">ἀντιπολιτευομένους</w> <w lemma="e%29panei%2Fleto">ἐπανείλετο</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frise">ἐνεχείρισε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>,
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<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28potetagme%2Fnwn">ὑποτεταγμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29pile%2Fcas">ἐπιλέξας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrwdesta%2Ftous">ἀνδρωδεστάτους</w> <w lemma="e%28cakisxili%2Fous">ἑξακισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fsthse">συνέστησε</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Afa%2Fron">Φάρον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="a%29fiko%2Fmenos">ἀφικόμενος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuri%2Fda">Ἰλλυρίδα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmewn">δυνάμεων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w> <w lemma="qarrou%3Dntas">θαρροῦντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Adima%2Flhs">Διμάλης</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthti">ὀχυρότητι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="paraskeuai%3Ds">παρασκευαῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Flwton">ἀνάλωτον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>, <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeirei%3Dn">ἐγχειρεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrine">ἔκρινε</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="kataplh%2Fcasqai">καταπλήξασθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w>.
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<w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnas">ἡγεμόνας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosagagw%5Cn">προσαγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frga">ἔργα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Frcato">ἤρξατο</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3Dn">πολιορκεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="kra%2Ftos">κράτος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Frais">ἡμέραις</w> <w lemma="e%28pta%5C">ἑπτὰ</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Ftthse">ἥττησε</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds">ψυχαῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dsan">παρῆσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pasw%3Dn">πασῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="e%29pitre%2Fpontes">ἐπιτρέποντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dido%2Fntes">διδόντες</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prosdeca%2Fmenos">προσδεξάμενος</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstous">ἑκάστους</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozou%2Fsais">ἁρμοζούσαις</w> <w lemma="o%28mologi%2Fais">ὁμολογίαις</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Afa%2Fron">Φάρον</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrion">Δημήτριον</w>.
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<w lemma="punqano%2Fmenos">πυνθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="o%29xura%5Cn">ὀχυρὰν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntwn">διαφερόντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28qroi%3Dsqai">ἡθροῖσθαι</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fais">χορηγίαις</w> <w lemma="e%29chrtu%3Dsqai">ἐξηρτῦσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllais">ἄλλαις</w> <w lemma="paraskeuai%3Ds">παρασκευαῖς</w>, <w lemma="u%28fewra%3Dto">ὑφεωρᾶτο</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="dusxerh%3D">δυσχερῆ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poluxro%2Fnion">πολυχρόνιον</w> <w lemma="sumbh%3D%7C">συμβῇ</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="proorw%2Fmenos">προορώμενος</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%2Fsato">ἐχρήσατο</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="toiw%3D%7Cde%2F">τοιῷδέ</w> <w lemma="tini">τινι</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnei">γένει</w> <w lemma="strathgh%2Fmatos">στρατηγήματος</w>.
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<w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fploun">ἐπίπλουν</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fmati">στρατεύματι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="a%29pebi%2Fbasen">ἀπεβίβασεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="u%28lw%2Fdeis">ὑλώδεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koi%2Flous">κοίλους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>,
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<w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="nausi%5Cn">ναυσὶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fplei">ἔπλει</w> <w lemma="prodh%2Flws">προδήλως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fggista">ἔγγιστα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fna">λιμένα</w>.
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<w lemma="sunorw%3Dntes">συνορῶντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrion">Δημήτριον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katafronou%3Dntes">καταφρονοῦντες</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fna">λιμένα</w>, <w lemma="kwlu%2Fsontes">κωλύσοντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2F">ἀπό</w>
While this was taking place Demetrius, getting wind of the Romans\' purpose, at once sent a considerable garrison to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Dimale&groupId=539&placeId=1014">Dimale</a> with the supplies requisite for such a force. In the other cities he made away with those who opposed his policy and placed the government in the hands of his friends
while he himself, selecting six thousand of his bravest troops, quartered them at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharos&groupId=879&placeId=1586">Pharos</a>.
The Roman Consul, on reaching <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a> with his army and observing that the enemy were very confident in the natural strength of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Dimale&groupId=539&placeId=1014">Dimale</a> and the measures they had taken for its defence, there being also a general belief that it was impregnable, decided to attack it first, wishing to strike terror into them.
Having given instructions to his officers and erected batteries in several places he began to besiege it.
By capturing it in seven days, he at one blow broke the spirit of all the enemy,
so that from every city they at once flocked to surrender themselves unconditionally to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>.
Having accepted their submission and imposed suitable conditions on each he sailed to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharos&groupId=879&placeId=1586">Pharos</a> to attack Demetrius himself.
Learning that the city was very strong, that a large force of exceptionally fine troops was assembled within it and that it was excellently furnished with supplies and munitions of war, he was apprehensive that the siege might prove difficult and long.
In view of this, therefore, he employed the following impromptu stratagem.
Sailing up to the island at night with his whole force he disembarked the greater part of it in certain well-wooded dells,
and at daybreak with twenty ships sailed openly against the harbour which lies nearest to the town.
Demetrius, seeing the ships and contemptuous of their small number, sallied from the city down to the harbour to prevent the enemy from landing. On his encountering them