Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 51

1
<w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxos">Ἀντίοχος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenos">παραγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29fra%2Fthn">Εὐφράτην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosanalabw%5Cn">προσαναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dtis">αὖτις</w> <w lemma="e%29cw%2Frma">ἐξώρμα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antio%2Fxeian">Ἀντιόχειαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Amugdoni%2Fa%7C">Μυγδονίᾳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tropa%5Cs">τροπὰς</w> <w lemma="xeimerina%5Cs">χειμερινὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fmeine">ἐπέμεινε</w>, <w lemma="qe%2Flwn">θέλων</w> <w lemma="a%29pode%2Fcasqai">ἀποδέξασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifora%5Cn">ἐπιφορὰν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dnos">χειμῶνος</w>.
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<w lemma="mei%2Fnas">μείνας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tettara%2Fkonq%27">τετταράκονθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dgen">προῆγεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbban">Λίββαν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29podoqe%2Fntos">ἀποδοθέντος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dse">ἐκεῖσε</w> <w lemma="diabouli%2Fou">διαβουλίου</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fa%7C">ποίᾳ</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="proa%2Fgein">προάγειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Amo%2Flwna">Μόλωνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fqen">πόθεν</w> <w lemma="kexrh%3Dsqai">κεχρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fas">πορείας</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fais">χορηγίαις</w> — <w lemma="e%29tu%2Fgxane">ἐτύγχανε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Amo%2Flwn">Μόλων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ababulw%3Dna">Βαβυλῶνα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxwn">ὑπάρχων</w> —
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<w lemma="%2A%28ermei%2Fa%7C">Ἑρμείᾳ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fgrin">Τίγριν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w>, <w lemma="proballome%2Fnous">προβαλλομένους</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto%2Fn">τοῦτόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alu%2Fkon">Λύκον</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aka%2Fpron">Κάπρον</w>,
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<w lemma="%2Azeu%3Dcis">Ζεῦξις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnwn">λαμβάνων</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="o%29fqalmw%3Dn">ὀφθαλμῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29pw%2Fleian">ἀπώλειαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29epige%2Fnous">Ἐπιγένους</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29gwni%2Fa">ἠγωνία</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="faino%2Fmenon">φαινόμενον</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prodh%2Flou">προδήλου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoi%2Fas">ἀγνοίας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ermei%2Fan">Ἑρμείαν</w> <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29qa%2Frrhse">ἐθάρρησε</w> <w lemma="sumbouleu%2Fein">συμβουλεύειν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="diabate%2Fon">διαβατέον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fgrin">Τίγριν</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29pologizo%2Fmenos">ἀπολογιζόμενος</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="loiph%5Cn">λοιπὴν</w> <w lemma="dusxe%2Freian">δυσχέρειαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fas">πορείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="de%2Foi">δέοι</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsantas">διανύσαντας</w> <w lemma="i%28kanou%5Cs">ἱκανοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="dielqo%2Fntas">διελθόντας</w> <w lemma="o%28do%5Cn">ὁδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="h%28merw%3Dn">ἡμερῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fc">ἕξ</w>, <w lemma="paragene%2Fsqai">παραγενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Abasilikh%5Cn">Βασιλικὴν</w> <w lemma="diw%2Fruxa">διώρυχα</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnhn:">καλουμένην·</w>
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<w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="prokatalhfqei%2Fshs">προκαταληφθείσης</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fbasin">διάβασιν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w>, <w lemma="e%29pisfalh%3D">ἐπισφαλῆ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds">προφανῶς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29rh%2Fmou">ἐρήμου</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29poxw%2Frhsin">ἀποχώρησιν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnhn">ἐσομένην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndeian">ἔνδειαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="diabh%3Dnai">διαβῆναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fgrin">Τίγριν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fdhlon">πρόδηλον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29pedei%2Fknue">ἀπεδείκνυε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meta%2Fnoian">μετάνοιαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsklisin">πρόσκλισιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="basilei%3D">βασιλεῖ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apollwnia%3Dtin">Ἀπολλωνιᾶτιν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlwn">ὄχλων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh%7C">ἀνάγκῃ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbw%7C">φόβῳ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2Amo%2Flwni">Μόλωνι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prostatto%2Fmenon">προσταττόμενον</w>,
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<w lemma="pro%2Fdhlon">πρόδηλον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dayi%2Fleian">δαψίλειαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%5Cn">ἀρετὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</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="a%29pe%2Ffaine">ἀπέφαινε</w> <w lemma="diakleisqhso%2Fmenon">διακλεισθησόμενον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Amo%2Flwna">Μόλωνα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amhdi%2Fan">Μηδίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pano%2Fdou">ἐπανόδου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%29parkei%2Fas">ἐπαρκείας</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkasqh%2Fsesqai">ἀναγκασθήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fn">αὐτόν</w>, <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Flontos">θέλοντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="metabale%2Fsqai">μεταβαλέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w>
Antiochus, on reaching the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Euphrates&groupId=138&placeId=377">Euphrates</a>, gave his troops a rest and then resumed his march. Arriving at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Antioch in Mygdonia&groupId=334&placeId=649">Antioch in Mygdonia</a> at about the winter solstice, he remained there, wishing to wait until the extreme rigour of the winter should be over.
After passing forty days there he went off to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libba&groupId=684&placeId=1253">Libba</a>,
and at a council held to determine what was the best line of advance against Molon and whence supplies for the march should be obtained — Molon being now in the neighbourhood of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Babylon&groupId=387&placeId=320">Babylon</a> —
Hermeias advised marching along the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tigris&groupId=255&placeId=510">Tigris</a>, so that their flank should be covered by this river and by the Lycus and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Caprus&groupId=436&placeId=810">Caprus</a>.
Zeuxis, having the fate of Epigenes before his eyes, was afraid of the consequences if he stated his own view, but nevertheless, as Hermeias was obviously wrong, he plucked up courage to advise crossing the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tigris&groupId=255&placeId=510">Tigris</a>,
giving as his reasons the general difficulty of the march along the river, and the fact that they would, after passing through a considerable extent of country, have to undertake a six days' march through the desert before reaching the king's canal.
As this was held by the enemy, it would be impossible to cross, and a subsequent retreat through the desert would obviously be attended with great risk, especially as they would be badly off for provisions.
If, on the contrary, they crossed the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tigris&groupId=255&placeId=510">Tigris</a>, he pointed out that the population of the Apolloniatis would evidently resumed their allegiance and join the king, since it was not by their own choice but from necessity and fear that they now yielded obedience to Molon.
It was also evident, he said, that the army would be plenteously furnished with provisions owing to the fertility of the country.
But the most important consideration was that Molon\'s retreat to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a> and his sources of supplies from that province would be cut off,
and that therefore he would be obliged to give battle, or if he refused, his troops would soon go over to the king.