Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 50

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<w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Frais">ἡμέραις</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="poreuqei%5Cs">πορευθεὶς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="o%29ktakosi%2Fous">ὀκτακοσίους</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Frcato">ἤρξατο</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpeis">Ἄλπεις</w> <w lemma="a%29nabolh%3Ds">ἀναβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstois">μεγίστοις</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="peripesei%3Dn">περιπεσεῖν</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnois">κινδύνοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdois">ἐπιπέδοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29pei%2Fxonto">ἀπείχοντο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnes">ἡγεμόνες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29allobri%2Fgwn">Ἀλλοβρίγων</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="dedio%2Ftes">δεδιότες</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="parape%2Fmpontas">παραπέμποντας</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frous:">βαρβάρους·</w> <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnoi">ἐκεῖνοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29phlla%2Fghsan">ἀπηλλάγησαν</w>,
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Frcanto">ἤρξαντο</w> <w lemma="proa%2Fgein">προάγειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dusxwri%2Fas">δυσχωρίας</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sunaqroi%2Fsantes">συναθροίσαντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29allobri%2Fgwn">Ἀλλοβρίγων</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnes">ἡγεμόνες</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%2Fn">ἱκανόν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="prokatela%2Fbonto">προκατελάβοντο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frous">εὐκαίρους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nabolh%2Fn">ἀναβολήν</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkruyan">ἔκρυψαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w>, <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiran">διέφθειραν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="stra%2Fteuma">στράτευμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn:">Καρχηδονίων·</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katafanei%3Ds">καταφανεῖς</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="mega%2Fla">μεγάλα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fblayan">ἔβλαψαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttw">ἐλάττω</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%2Fs">ἑαυτούς</w>.
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<w lemma="gnou%5Cs">γνοὺς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="prokate%2Fxousin">προκατέχουσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Frbaroi">βάρβαροι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frous">εὐκαίρους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="katastratopedeu%2Fsas">καταστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28perbolai%3Ds">ὑπερβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fmene">ἐπέμενε</w>,
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<w lemma="proe%2Fpemye">προέπεμψε</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaqhgoume%2Fnwn">καθηγουμένων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Agalatw%3Dn">Γαλατῶν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kataske%2Fyasqai">κατασκέψασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="praca%2Fntwn">πραξάντων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suntaxqe%2Fn">συνταχθέν</w>, <w lemma="e%29pignou%5Cs">ἐπιγνοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pimelw%3Ds">ἐπιμελῶς</w> <w lemma="pareutaktou%3Dsi">παρευτακτοῦσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="throu%3Dsi">τηροῦσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmioi">πολέμιοι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fktas">νύκτας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="parakeime%2Fnhn">παρακειμένην</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29palla%2Fttontai">ἀπαλλάττονται</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozo%2Fmenos">ἁρμοζόμενος</w> <w lemma="sunesth%2Fsato">συνεστήσατο</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dgen">προῆγεν</w> <w lemma="e%29mfanw%3Ds">ἐμφανῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fsas">συνεγγίσας</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="dusxwri%2Fais">δυσχωρίαις</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="katestratope%2Fdeuse">κατεστρατοπέδευσε</w>. <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w>, <w lemma="sunta%2Fcas">συντάξας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pura%5C">πυρὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%2Fein">καίειν</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="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Flipe">κατέλιπε</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeiota%2Ftous">ἐπιτηδειοτάτους</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnous">εὐζώνους</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsas">ποιήσας</w> <w lemma="dih%3Dlqe">διῆλθε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="stena%5C">στενὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fkta">νύκτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsxe">κατέσχε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="prokatalhfqe%2Fntas">προκαταληφθέντας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="a%29pokexwrhko%2Ftwn">ἀποκεχωρηκότων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frwn">βαρβάρων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqeian">συνήθειαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.
After a ten days\' march of eight hundred stades along the bank of the Isère<note place="end" resp="tr" id="note7"><emph rend="bold">the Isère:</emph>Polybius says simply "the river."</note>Hannibal began the ascent of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a> and now found himself involved in very great difficulties. For as long as they had been in flat country, the various chiefs of the Allobroges had left them alone, being afraid both of the cavalry and of the barbarians who were escorting them. But when the latter had set off on their return home, and Hannibal\'s troops began to advance into the difficult region, the Allobrogian chieftains got together a considerable force and occupied advantageous positions on the road by which the Carthaginians would be obliged to ascend. Had they only kept their project secret, they would have utterly annihilated the Carthaginian army, but, as it was, it was discovered, and though they inflicted a good deal of damage on Hannibal, they did more injury to themselves; for the Carthaginian general having learnt that the barbarians had seized on these critical positions, encamped himself at the foot of the pass, and remaining there sent on in advance some of his Gaulish guides, to reconnoitre and report on the enemy\'s plan and the whole situation. His orders were executed, and on learning that the enemy remained most strictly at their post during the day-time but retired at night to a neighbouring township, he adapted his measures to this intelligence and arranged the following plan. He advanced openly with his whole army, and on approaching the difficult points he encamped not far from the enemy. As soon as it was night, he ordered the fires to be lit, and leaving the greater part of his forces there, took the men most fitted for the enterprise, whom he had lightened of their accoutrements, and passing through the narrow part of the road occupied the posts abandoned by the enemy, who had retired as usual to the town.