Polybius, Histories

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Book 9 - Chapter 5

1
<w lemma="%2A%28%5Ca">Ἃ</w> <w lemma="dianohqei%5Cs">διανοηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpemye">ἐξέπεμψε</w> <w lemma="grammatofo%2Fron">γραμματοφόρον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akapu%2Fhn">Καπύην</w>, <w lemma="pei%2Fsas">πείσας</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fwn">Λιβύων</w> <w lemma="au%29tomolh%3Dsai">αὐτομολῆσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>, <w lemma="ka%29kei%3Dqen">κἀκεῖθεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="pronohqei%5Cs">προνοηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gramma%2Ftwn">γραμμάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalei%2Fas:">ἀσφαλείας·</w>
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<w lemma="pa%2Fnu">πάνυ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29gwni%2Fa">ἠγωνία</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="qewrh%2Fsantes">θεωρήσαντες</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29pallatto%2Fmenon">ἀπαλλαττόμενον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akapuanoi%2F">Καπυανοί</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="diatrape%2Fntes">διατραπέντες</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29phlpisme%2Fnoi">ἀπηλπισμένοι</w>, <w lemma="paradw%3Dsi">παραδῶσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%2Fs">ἑαυτούς</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fyas">γράψας</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nazugh%5Cn">ἀναζυγὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsteile">ἀπέστειλε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbun">Λίβυν</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fntes">συνέντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xwrismo%5Cn">χωρισμὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qarsw%3Ds">εὐθαρσῶς</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnoien">ὑπομένοιεν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmh%7C">Ῥώμῃ</w> <w lemma="prospeptwko%2Ftwn">προσπεπτωκότων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akapu%2Fhn">Καπύην</w>, <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="parestratopedeukw%5Cs">παρεστρατοπεδευκὼς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3D">πολιορκεῖ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="o%29rqoi%5C">ὀρθοὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fais">διανοίαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%2Ffoboi">περίφοβοι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fla">ὅλα</w> <w lemma="diateinou%2Fshs">διατεινούσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29nesthkui%2Fas">ἐνεστηκυίας</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fsews:">κρίσεως·</w>
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29capostolai%3Ds">ἐξαποστολαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="paraskeuai%3Ds">παρασκευαῖς</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="o%28%2Floi">ὅλοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="e%29neneu%2Fkeisan">ἐνενεύκεισαν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akapuanoi%5C">Καπυανοὶ</w> <w lemma="komisa%2Fmenoi">κομισάμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbuos">Λίβυος</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fmmata">γράμματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gno%2Fntes">γνόντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w>, <w lemma="kri%2Fnontes">κρίνοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29cele%2Fgcai">ἐξελέγξαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w>. <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fmpthn">πέμπτην</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fas">παρουσίας</w>,
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<w lemma="deipnopoihsa%2Fmenos">δειπνοποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalipw%5Cn">καταλιπὼν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pura%5C">πυρὰ</w> <w lemma="kaio%2Fmena">καιόμενα</w>, <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhse">ἐποίησε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nazugh%5Cn">ἀναζυγὴν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="sunei%3Dnai">συνεῖναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w>.
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<w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenos">χρησάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fais">πορείαις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asauni%2Ftidos">Σαυνίτιδος</w> <w lemma="e%29nergoi%3Ds">ἐνεργοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%2Fsi">συνεχέσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28do%5Cn">ὁδὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="ai%29ei%5C">αἰεὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="proporei%2Fais">προπορείαις</w> <w lemma="e%29cereunw%2Fmenos">ἐξερευνώμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prokatalamba%2Fnwn">προκαταλαμβάνων</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmh%7C">Ῥώμῃ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fais">διανοίαις</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akapu%2Fhn">Καπύην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3D">ἐκεῖ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqe">ἔλαθε</w> <w lemma="diaba%5Cs">διαβὰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ani%2Fwna">Ἀνίωνα</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fsas">συνεγγίσας</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="tettara%2Fkonta">τετταράκοντα</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="a%29posxw%5Cn">ἀποσχὼν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhs">Ῥώμης</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parembolh%2Fn">παρεμβολήν</w>.
With this project in his mind he sent a letter-bearer to Capua, inducing one of the Libyans to desert to the Roman camp and thence to the city, taking every precaution for the security of the letter.
For he was in great dread lest the Capuans on witnessing his departure should think he despaired of saving them and in their consternation surrender to the Romans.
He therefore wrote explaining his purpose in leaving, and sent off the Libyan, so that when they heard of his purpose and learnt why he had left they might continue to sustain the siege courageously.
Now when the news from Capua first reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> that Hannibal had encamped parallel to their lines and was besieging them, it caused universal excitement and dismay, as they felt that the impending decision would influence the whole war.
Consequently the whole attention of everyone was at present directed to the preparation and dispatch of succour to that quarter.
The Capuans on receiving the letter from the Libyan, and on understanding the Carthaginian plan, continued to maintain their resistance, being resolved to try the chance of this expedient.
Hannibal on the fifth day from his arrival, after giving his men their supper, left his fires burning and retreated in such a manner that none of the enemy had any notion of what was happening.
By a series of rapid marches through <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Samnium&groupId=943&placeId=1678">Samnium</a>, and by sending his outposts on each day to reconnoitre and occupy the district near the road, he succeeded,
while the minds of the Romans were still occupied with Capua and what was happening there, in crossing the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Anio&groupId=331&placeId=642">Anio</a> unperceived and getting so near to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> that he established his camp at a distance of not more than forty stades from the walls.