<w lemma="%2Aou%29">Οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="g%27">γ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="kath%2Fnta">κατήντα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="logismou%2Fs">λογισμούς</w>.
<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akapu%2Fhn">Καπύην</w> <w lemma="e%29pifane%2Fstata">ἐπιφανέστατα</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%5Cn">ἀρετὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllos">κάλλος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftth%7C">θαλάττῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpori%2Fois">ἐμπορίοις</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="katatre%2Fxousin">κατατρέχουσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fontes">πλέοντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w>.
<w lemma="perie%2Fxousi">περιέχουσι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftas">ἐπιφανεστάτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fstas">καλλίστας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w>.
<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Asenoesanoi%5C">Σενοεσανοὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akumai%3Doi">Κυμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adikaiarxi%3Dtai">Δικαιαρχῖται</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fmontai">νέμονται</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="%2Aneapoli%3Dtai">Νεαπολῖται</w>, <w lemma="teleutai%3Don">τελευταῖον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Anoukeri%2Fnwn">Νουκερίνων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqnos">ἔθνος</w>.
<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mesogai%2Fou">μεσογαίου</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w> <w lemma="%2Akalhnoi%5C">Καληνοὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Atiani%3Dtai">Τιανῖται</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dsi">κατοικοῦσι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fw">ἕω</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fan">μεσημβρίαν</w> <w lemma="%2Adau%2Fnioi">Δαύνιοι</w>*
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Anwlanoi%2F">Νωλανοί</w>. <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsa">μέσα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pasw%3Dn">πασῶν</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="makariwta%2Fthn">μακαριωτάτην</w> <w lemma="gegonui%3Dan">γεγονυῖαν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="%2Akapu%2Fhn">Καπύην</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pieike%2Fstatos">ἐπιεικέστατος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="muqogra%2Ffois">μυθογράφοις</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fwn">πεδίων</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgetai">λέγεται</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos:">λόγος·</w> <w lemma="prosagoreu%2Fetai">προσαγορεύεται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="%2Aflegrai%3Da">Φλεγραῖα</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftera">ἕτερα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanw%3Dn">ἐπιφανῶν</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fwn:">πεδίων·</w> <w lemma="qeou%2Fs">θεούς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29rike%2Fnai">ἠρικέναι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllos">κάλλος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%5Cn">ἀρετὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>.
<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="o%29xura%5C">ὀχυρὰ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="duse%2Fmbola">δυσέμβολα</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa:">πεδία·</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftth%7C">θαλάττῃ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fresi">ὄρεσι</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flois">μεγάλοις</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnth%7C">πάντῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%2Fsi">συνεχέσι</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fxetai">περιέχεται</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolai%5C">εἰσβολαὶ</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousi">ὑπάρχουσι</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="mesogai%2Fou">μεσογαίου</w> <w lemma="stenai%5C">στεναὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fsbatoi">δύσβατοι</w>,
<w lemma="mi%2Fa">μία</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asauni%2Ftidos">Σαυνίτιδος</w>, <w lemma="deute%2Fra">δευτέρα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alati%2Fnhs">Λατίνης</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Floipos">κατάλοιπος</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28irpi%2Fnous">Ἱρπίνους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmellon">ἔμελλον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="katastratopedeu%2Fsantes">καταστρατοπεδεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fatron">θέατρον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="kataplh%2Fcesqai">καταπλήξεσθαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="paralo%2Fgw%7C">παραλόγῳ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w>, <w lemma="e%29kqeatriei%3Dn">ἐκθεατριεῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="fugomaxou%3Dntas">φυγομαχοῦντας</w>, <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="o%28molo%2Fgou">ὁμολόγου</w> <w lemma="fanh%2Fsesqai">φανήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w> <w lemma="kratou%3Dntes">κρατοῦντες</w>.
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Hannibal, however, had sufficient reason for reckoning as he did. The plain round Capua is the most celebrated in all <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, both for its fertility and beauty, and because it is served by those sea-ports at which voyagers to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> from nearly all parts of the world land. It also contains the most celebrated and finest cities in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>. On the coast lie <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sinuessa&groupId=979&placeId=1731">Sinuessa</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyme&groupId=510&placeId=960">Cyme</a>, and Dicaearchea, and following on these <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Naples&groupId=785&placeId=1422">Naples</a> and finally Nuceria. In the interior we find on the north Cales and Teanum and east and south Caudium<note place="end" resp="tr" id="note10"><emph rend="bold">Caudium:</emph>The text has Daunii.</note>and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Nola&groupId=796&placeId=1439">Nola</a>, while in the very middle of the plain lies Capua, once the wealthiest of cities. The mythical tale concerning this plain, and other celebrated plains which like it are called Phlegraean, has indeed much semblance of probability; for it was quite natural that they should have been a special cause of strife among the gods owing to their beauty and fertility. Besides the above advantages the whole plain of Capua is strongly protected by nature and difficult of approach, being completely surrounded on one side by the sea and for the greater part by lofty mountain-ranges, through which there are only three passes from the interior, all of them narrow and difficult, one from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Samnium&groupId=943&placeId=1678">Samnium</a>, the second from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Latium&groupId=673&placeId=1231">Latium</a>, and the third from the country of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hirpini&groupId=634&placeId=1165">Hirpini</a>. The Carthaginians, then, by quartering themselves in this plain made of it a kind of theatre, in which they were sure to create a deep impression on all by their unexpected appearance, giving a spectacular exhibition of the timidity of their enemy and themselves demonstrating indisputably that they were in command of the country.
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Walbank Commentary