Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 52

1
<w lemma="%2Ata%2F">Τά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="polemika%5Cs">πολεμικὰς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Fs">εἰκός</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fmeinon">ἄμεινον</w> <w lemma="a%29skou%3Dsi">ἀσκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzontai">παρασκευάζονται</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Ftrion">πάτριον</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="palaiou%3D">παλαιοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qalattourgei%3Dn">θαλαττουργεῖν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pezika%5Cs">πεζικὰς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="dh%2F">δή</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w> <w lemma="a%29skou%3Dsi">ἀσκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w> <w lemma="spoudh%2Fn">σπουδήν</w>, <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pezikw%3Dn">πεζικῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="o%29ligwrou%3Dsi">ὀλιγωροῦσι</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28ppikw%3Dn">ἱππικῶν</w> <w lemma="braxei%3Da%2Fn">βραχεῖάν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w>.
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<w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="cenikai%3Ds">ξενικαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frois">μισθοφόροις</w> <w lemma="xrw%3Dntai">χρῶνται</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w>, <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwri%2Fois">ἐγχωρίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politikai%3Ds">πολιτικαῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29podekte%2Fon">ἀποδεκτέον</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnhs">ἐκείνης</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon:">μᾶλλον·</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="eu%29yuxi%2Fais">εὐψυχίαις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fas">ἐλευθερίας</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Frais">σφετέραις</w> <w lemma="a%29retai%3Ds">ἀρεταῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="e%29parkei%2Fais">ἐπαρκείαις</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%29%2Fn">κἄν</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="ptai%2Fswsi">πταίσωσι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%2Fs">ἀρχάς</w>, <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29nama%2Fxontai">ἀναμάχονται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w>, <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnoi">ἐκεῖνοι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnizo%2Fmenoi">ἀγωνιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fknwn">τέκνων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnantai">δύνανται</w> <w lemma="lh%3Dcai">λῆξαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%29rgh%3Ds">ὀργῆς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnousi">μένουσι</w> <w lemma="yuxomaxou%3Dntes">ψυχομαχοῦντες</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="perige%2Fnwntai">περιγένωνται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29xqrw%3Dn">ἐχθρῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nautika%5Cs">ναυτικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="polu%2F">πολύ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="leipo%2Fmenoi">λειπόμενοι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="proei%3Dpon">προεῖπον</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pikratou%3Dsi">ἐπικρατοῦσι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29reta%2Fs:">ἀρετάς·</w>
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<w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mikra%5C">μικρὰ</w> <w lemma="sumballome%2Fnhs">συμβαλλομένης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nautikh%3Ds">ναυτικῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibatw%3Dn">ἐπιβατῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29yuxi%2Fa">εὐψυχία</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fsthn">πλείστην</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fxetai">παρέχεται</w> <w lemma="r%28oph%5Cn">ῥοπὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w>.
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<w lemma="diafe%2Frousi">διαφέρουσι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsei">φύσει</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="%2A%29italiw%3Dtai">Ἰταλιῶται</w> <w lemma="%2Afoini%2Fkwn">Φοινίκων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fwn">Λιβύων</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="swmatikh%3D%7C">σωματικῇ</w> <w lemma="r%28w%2Fmh%7C">ῥώμῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxikai%3Ds">ψυχικαῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmais:">τόλμαις·</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29qismw%3Dn">ἐθισμῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fwn">νέων</w> <w lemma="paro%2Frmhsin">παρόρμησιν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="r%28hqe%5Cn">ῥηθὲν</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%5Cn">ἱκανὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="shmei%3Don">σημεῖον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmatos">πολιτεύματος</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3Ds">σπουδῆς</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dtai">ποιεῖται</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftous">τοιούτους</w> <w lemma="a%29potelei%3Dn">ἀποτελεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnein">ὑπομένειν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tuxei%3Dn">τυχεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdi">πατρίδι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%3D%7C">ἀρετῇ</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmhs">φήμης</w>.
But to pass to differences of detail, such as, to begin with, the conduct of war, the Carthaginians naturally are superior at sea both in efficiency and equipment, because seamanship has long been their national craft, and they busy themselves with the sea more than any other people;
but as regards military service on land the Romans are much more efficient.
They indeed devote their whole energies to this matter, whereas the Carthaginians entirely neglect their infantry, though they do pay some slight attention to their cavalry.
The reason of this is that the troops they employ are foreign and mercenary, whereas those of the Romans are natives of the soil and citizens.
So that in this respect also we must pronounce the political system of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> to be superior to that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, the Carthaginians continuing to depend for the maintenance of their freedom on the courage of a mercenary force but the Romans on their own valour and on the aid of their allies.
Consequently even if they happen to be worsted at the outset, the Romans redeem defeat by final success, while it is the contrary with the Carthaginians.
For the Romans, fighting as they are for their country and their children, never can abate their fury but continue to throw their whole hearts into the struggle until they get the better of their enemies.
It follows that though the Romans are, as I said, much less skilled in naval matters, they are on the whole successful at sea owing to the gallantry of their men;
for although skill in seamanship is of no small importance in naval battles, it is chiefly the courage of the marines that turns the scale in favour of victory.
Now not only do Italians in general naturally excel Phoenicians and Africans in bodily strength and personal courage, but by their institutions also they do much to foster a spirit of bravery in the young men.
A single instance will suffice to indicate the pains taken by the state to turn out men who will be ready to endure everything in order to gain a reputation in their country for valour.