<w lemma="%2Atw%3Dn">Τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunapto%2Fntwn">συναπτόντων</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="parece%2Fbhmen">παρεξέβημεν</w>, <w lemma="paralabo%2Fntes">παραλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="mia%3Ds">μιᾶς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w> <w lemma="poihso%2Fmeqa">ποιησόμεθα</w> <w lemma="kefalaiw%2Fdh">κεφαλαιώδη</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhn">μνήμην</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgw%7C">λόγῳ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqou%3D">ἀγαθοῦ</w> <w lemma="texni%2Ftou">τεχνίτου</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dgma">δεῖγμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fn">ἕν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="proenegka%2Fmenoi">προενεγκάμενοι</w>, <w lemma="fanera%5Cn">φανερὰν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fswmen">ποιήσωμεν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%2Fa">οἵα</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w>.
<w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aka%2Fnnan">Κάνναν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="perigeno%2Fmenos">περιγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29gkrath%5Cs">ἐγκρατὴς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="fulatto%2Fntwn">φυλαττόντων</w> <w lemma="o%29ktakisxili%2Fwn">ὀκτακισχιλίων</w>, <w lemma="zwgrh%2Fsas">ζωγρήσας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="sunexw%2Frhse">συνεχώρησε</w> <w lemma="diape%2Fmpesqai">διαπέμπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fkw%7C">οἴκῳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="lu%2Ftrwn">λύτρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proxeirisame%2Fnwn">προχειρισαμένων</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftous">ἐπιφανεστάτους</w>, <w lemma="o%28rki%2Fsas">ὁρκίσας</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D">ἦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29panh%2Fcein">ἐπανήξειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fn">αὐτόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpemye">ἐξέπεμψε</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w>.
<w lemma="ei%28%3Ds">εἷς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proxeirisqe%2Fntwn">προχειρισθέντων</w> <w lemma="e%29kporeuo%2Fmenos">ἐκπορευόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frakos">χάρακος</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w>, <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fsas">φήσας</w> <w lemma="e%29pilelh%3Dsqai">ἐπιλελῆσθαι</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fkamye">ἀνέκαμψε</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kataleifqe%5Cn">καταλειφθὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="a%29pelu%2Feto">ἀπελύετο</w>, <w lemma="nomi%2Fzwn">νομίζων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29naxwrh%2Fsews">ἀναχωρήσεως</w> <w lemma="tethrhke%2Fnai">τετηρηκέναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="leluke%2Fnai">λελυκέναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkon">ὅρκον</w>.
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="paragenome%2Fnwn">παραγενομένων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deome%2Fnwn">δεομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakalou%2Fntwn">παρακαλούντων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhton">σύγκλητον</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="fqonh%3Dsai">φθονῆσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28alwko%2Fsi">ἑαλωκόσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29a%3Dsai">ἐᾶσαι</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="mna%3Ds">μνᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkaston">ἕκαστον</w> <w lemma="katabalo%2Fnta">καταβαλόντα</w> <w lemma="swqh%3Dnai">σωθῆναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fous:">ἀναγκαίους·</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sugxwrei%3Dn">συγχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban:">Ἀννίβαν·</w>
<w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fous">ἀξίους</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%2Fs:">αὑτούς·</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29podedeiliake%2Fnai">ἀποδεδειλιακέναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fcion">ἀνάξιον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="pepoihke%2Fnai">πεποιηκέναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhs">Ῥώμης</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29poleifqe%2Fntas">ἀπολειφθέντας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29polome%2Fnwn">ἀπολομένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="perilhfqe%2Fntas">περιληφθέντας</w> <w lemma="u%28poxeiri%2Fous">ὑποχειρίους</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flois">μεγάλοις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxas">μάχας</w> <w lemma="peripeptwko%2Ftes">περιπεπτωκότες</w> <w lemma="e%29lattw%2Fmasi">ἐλαττώμασι</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpos">ἔπος</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29sterhme%2Fnoi">ἐστερημένοι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fpw">οὔπω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prosdokw%3Dntes">προσδοκῶντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kfe%2Fresqai">ἐκφέρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>,
<w lemma="diakou%2Fsantes">διακούσαντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fpontos">πρέποντος</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fcantes">εἴξαντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sumforai%3Ds">συμφοραῖς</w> <w lemma="w%29ligw%2Frhsan">ὠλιγώρησαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntwn">δεόντων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="logismoi%3Ds">λογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="parei%3Ddon">παρεῖδον</w>,
<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="sunido%2Fntes">συνιδόντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="bou%2Fletai">βούλεται</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29porh%3Dsai">εὐπορῆσαι</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="filo%2Ftimon">φιλότιμον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxais">μάχαις</w> <w lemma="e%29cele%2Fsqai">ἐξελέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntitattome%2Fnwn">ἀντιταττομένων</w>, <w lemma="u%28podei%2Fcas">ὑποδείξας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28tthme%2Fnois">ἡττημένοις</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%5Cs">ἐλπὶς</w> <w lemma="a%29polei%2Fpetai">ἀπολείπεται</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>,
<w lemma="tosou%3Dt%27">τοσοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsxon">ἀπέσχον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="poih%3Dsai%2F">ποιῆσαί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29cioume%2Fnwn">ἀξιουμένων</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fwn">οἰκείων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fleon">ἔλεον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnas">ἐσομένας</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="e%29poih%2Fsanto">ἐποιήσαντο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fonos">πλείονος</w>,
<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="logismou%5Cs">λογισμοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fdeican">ἀπέδειξαν</w> <w lemma="kena%2Fs">κενάς</w>, <w lemma="a%29peipa%2Fmenoi">ἀπειπάμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Ftrwsin">διαλύτρωσιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nomoqe%2Fthsan">ἐνομοθέτησαν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="maxome%2Fnous">μαχομένους</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="qnh%2Fskein">θνήσκειν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="ou%29demia%3Ds">οὐδεμιᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fan">σωτηρίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28ttwme%2Fnois">ἡττωμένοις</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fmenoi">προθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29nne%2Fa">ἐννέα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="presbeutw%3Dn">πρεσβευτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29qelonth%5Cn">ἐθελοντὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkon">ὅρκον</w> <w lemma="a%29naxwrou%3Dntas">ἀναχωροῦντας</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpemyan">ἐξέπεμψαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sofisa%2Fmenon">σοφισάμενον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lu%3Dsai">λῦσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkon">ὅρκον</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fsantes">δήσαντες</w> <w lemma="a%29pokate%2Fsthsan">ἀποκατέστησαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w>,
<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="xarh%3Dnai">χαρῆναι</w> <w lemma="nikh%2Fsanta">νικήσαντα</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="suntribh%3Dnai">συντριβῆναι</w> <w lemma="kataplage%2Fnta">καταπλαγέντα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsimon">στάσιμον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="megalo%2Fyuxon">μεγαλόψυχον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="diabouli%2Fois">διαβουλίοις</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Cod. Urb. fol. 94 exc. ant. p. 192.</foreign>]
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But, drawing now upon the period immediately subsequent to the date at which I abandoned my narrative to enter on this digression, I will make brief and summary mention of one occurrence; so that, as if exhibiting a single specimen of a good artist's work, I may make manifest not by words only but by actual fact the perfection and strength of principle of the Republic such as it then was.
Hannibal, when, after his victory over the Romans at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cannae&groupId=430&placeId=797">Cannae</a>, the eight thousand who garrisoned the camp fell into his hands, after making them all prisoners, allowed them to send a deputation to those at home on the subject of their ransom and release.
Upon their naming ten of their most distinguished members, he sent them off after making them swear that they would return to him.
One of those nominated just as he was going out of the camp said he had forgotten something and went back, and after recovering the thing he had left behind again took his departure, thinking that by his return he had kept his faith and absolved himself of his oath.
Upon their arrival in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> they begged and entreated the senate not to grudge the prisoners their release, but to allow each of them to pay three minae and return to his people; for Hannibal, they said, had made this concession.
The men deserved to be released, for they had neither been guilty of cowardice in the battle nor had they done anything unworthy of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>; but having been left behind to guard the camp, they had, when all the rest had perished in the battle, been forced to yield to circumstances and surrender to the enemy.
But the Romans, though they had met with severe reverses in the war, and had now, roughly speaking, lost all their allies and were in momentary expectation of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> itself being placed in peril,
after listening to this plea, neither disregarded their dignity under the pressure of calamity, nor neglected to take into consideration every proper step;
but seeing that Hannibal's object in acting thus was both to obtain funds and to deprive the troops opposed to him of their high spirit, by showing that, even if defeated, they might hope for safety,
they were so far from acceding to this request, that they did not allow their pity for their kinsmen, or the consideration of the service the men would render them, to prevail,
but defeated Hannibal's calculation and the hopes he had based on them by refusing to ransom the men, and at the same time imposed by law on their own troops the duty of either conquering or dying in the field, as there was no hope of safety for them if defeated.
Therefore after coming to this decision they dismissed the nine delegates who returned of their own free will, as bound by their oath, while as for the man who had thought to free himself from the oath by a ruse they put him in irons and returned him to the enemy;
so that Hannibal's joy at his victory in the battle was not so great as his dejection, when he saw with amazement how steadfast and high-spirited were the Romans in their deliberations.
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Walbank Commentary