<w lemma="di%2Fous">δίους</w>. <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunei%5Cs">συνεὶς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afabi%2Fou">Φαβίου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdou">ἐφόδου</w> <w lemma="kataplh%2Fcasqai">καταπλήξασθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29cagagw%5Cn">ἐξαγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fsas">συνεγγίσας</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraki">χάρακι</w> <w lemma="pareta%2Fcato">παρετάξατο</w>. <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fnas">μείνας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pecio%2Fntos">ἐπεξιόντος</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="a%29nexw%2Frhsen">ἀνεχώρησεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="parembolh%2Fn">παρεμβολήν</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Afa%2Fbios">Φάβιος</w> <w lemma="diegnwkw%5Cs">διεγνωκὼς</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="paraba%2Fllesqai">παραβάλλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w>, <w lemma="stoxa%2Fzesqai">στοχάζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalei%2Fas">ἀσφαλείας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28potattome%2Fnwn">ὑποταττομένων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fmene">ἔμενε</w> <w lemma="bebai%2Fws">βεβαίως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyews">διαλήψεως</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w>.
<w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="katefronei%3Dto">κατεφρονεῖτο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parei%3Dxe">παρεῖχε</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29podedeiliakw%5Cs">ἀποδεδειλιακὼς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katapeplhgme%2Fnos">καταπεπληγμένος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkase">ἠνάγκασε</w> <w lemma="paromologh%3Dsai">παρομολογῆσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugxwrei%3Dn">συγχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="nounexe%2Fsteron">νουνεχέστερον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="fronimw%2Fteron">φρονιμώτερον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fna">οὐδένα</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="periestw%3Dsi">περιεστῶσι</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w>.
<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="prosemartu%2Frhse">προσεμαρτύρησε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="logismoi%3Ds">λογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w>. <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w>.
<w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="gegumna%2Fsqai">γεγυμνάσθαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fths">πρώτης</w> <w lemma="h%28liki%2Fas">ἡλικίας</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemikoi%3Ds">πολεμικοῖς</w>, <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fni">ἡγεμόνι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="sunteqramme%2Fnw%7C">συντεθραμμένῳ</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paidomaqei%3D">παιδομαθεῖ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrois">ὑπαίθροις</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w>,
<w lemma="nenikhke%2Fnai">νενικηκέναι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fa%7C">Ἰβηρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxas">μάχας</w>, <w lemma="di%5Cs">δὶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="a%29pegnwko%2Ftas">ἀπεγνωκότας</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn:">νικᾶν·</w>
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="stratia%5Cn">στρατιὰν</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%3Drxe">ὑπῆρχε</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fs">οἷός</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="sugkatabai%2Fnein">συγκαταβαίνειν</w>, <w lemma="prodh%2Flou">προδήλου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29lattw%2Fsews">ἐλαττώσεως</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs:">ὑπαρχούσης·</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="sfe%2Ftera">σφέτερα</w> <w lemma="proterh%2Fmata">προτερήματα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="logismoi%3Ds">λογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29naxwrh%2Fsas">ἀναχωρήσας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="die%2Ftribe">διέτριβε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29xei%2Frize">ἐχείριζε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.
<w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proterh%2Fmata">προτερήματα</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="a%29kata%2Ftripta">ἀκατάτριπτα</w> <w lemma="xorh%2Fgia">χορήγια</w>
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When he learnt that Fabius had arrived, Hannibal, wishing to strike such a blow as would effectually cow the enemy, led his forces out and drew them up in order of battle at a short distance from the Roman camp, but after waiting some time, as nobody came out to meet him, he retired again to his own camp. For Fabius, having determined not to expose himself to any risk or to venture on a battle, but to make the safety of the army under his command his first and chief aim, adhered steadfastly to this purpose. At first, it is true, he was despised for this, and gave people occasion to say that he was playing the coward and was in deadly fear of an engagement, but as time went on, he forced everyone to confess and acknowledge that it was impossible for anyone to deal with the present situation in more sensible and prudent manner. Very soon indeed facts testified to the wisdom of his conduct, and this was no wonder. For the enemy\'s forces had been trained in actual warfare constantly from their earliest youth, they had a general who had been brought up together with them and was accustomed from childhood to operations in the field, they had won many battles in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> and had twice in succession beaten the Romans and their allies, and what was most important, they had cast to the winds everything else, and their only hope of safety lay in victory. The circumstances of the Roman army were the exact opposite, and therefore Fabius was not able to meet the enemy in a general battle, as it would evidently result in a reverse, but on due consideration he fell back on those means in which the Romans had the advantage, confined himself to these, and regulated his conduct of the war thereby. These advantages of the Romans lay in inexhaustible supplies of provisions and men.
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Walbank Commentary