Polybius, Histories

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Book 9 - Chapter 8

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<w lemma="%2Adokei%3D">Δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dikai%2Fws">δικαίως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmh%2Fnasqai">ἐπισημήνασθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="a%29reta%5Cs">ἀρετὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fas">φιλοτιμίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="polemei%3Dn">πολεμεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29epaminw%2Fndan">Ἐπαμινώνδαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%3Don">Θηβαῖον</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fzousi">θαυμάζουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w>, <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenos">παραγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Atege%2Fan">Τεγέαν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewrh%2Fsas">θεωρήσας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fous">Λακεδαιμονίους</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="pandhmei%5C">πανδημεὶ</w> <w lemma="paragegono%2Ftas">παραγεγονότας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Amanti%2Fneian">Μαντίνειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="h%28qroiko%2Ftas">ἡθροικότας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="paratacome%2Fnous">παραταξομένους</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fois">Θηβαίοις</w>,
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<w lemma="deipnopoih%2Fsasqai">δειπνοποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w> <w lemma="paraggei%2Flas">παραγγείλας</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dge">ἐξῆγε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29piginome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγινομένης</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frous">εὐκαίρους</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="prokatalabe%2Fsqai">προκαταλαβέσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>,
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<w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergasa%2Fmenos">ἐνεργασάμενος</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w>, <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedai%2Fmona">Λακεδαίμονα</w>,
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<w lemma="prosmi%2Fcas">προσμίξας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fthn">τρίτην</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws">παραδόξως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalabw%5Cn">καταλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aspa%2Frthn">Σπάρτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bohqhso%2Fntwn">βοηθησόντων</w>, <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%3Ds">ἀγορᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29bia%2Fsato">ἐβιάσατο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsxe">κατέσχε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29stramme%2Fnous">ἐστραμμένους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>.
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<w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fas">περιπετείας</w>, <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="au%29tomo%2Flou">αὐτομόλου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fkta">νύκτα</w> <w lemma="diapeso%2Fntos">διαπεσόντος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amanti%2Fneian">Μαντίνειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diasafh%2Fsantos">διασαφήσαντος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aghsila%2Fw%7C">Ἀγησιλάῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="basilei%3D">βασιλεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bohqou%2Fntwn">βοηθούντων</w> <w lemma="paragenome%2Fnwn">παραγενομένων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="katalh%2Fyews">καταλήψεως</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>,
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<w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29pesfa%2Flh">ἀπεσφάλη</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Ftan">Εὐρώταν</w> <w lemma="a%29ristopoihsa%2Fmenos">ἀριστοποιησάμενος</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="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frma">ὥρμα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="u%28postrofh%3Ds">ὑποστροφῆς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28do%2Fn">ὁδόν</w>,
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<w lemma="sullogizo%2Fmenos">συλλογιζόμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="sumbh%2Fsetai">συμβήσεται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="parabebohqhko%2Ftwn">παραβεβοηθηκότων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aspa%2Frthn">Σπάρτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="katalei%2Fpesqai">καταλείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amanti%2Fneian:">Μαντίνειαν·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fous">Θηβαίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenos">χρησάμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3D%7C">ἐνεργῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="nuktoporei%2Fa%7C">νυκτοπορείᾳ</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fmisge">προσέμισγε</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Amantinei%2Fa%7C">Μαντινείᾳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w>, <w lemma="e%29rh%2Fmw%7C">ἐρήμῳ</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fsh%7C">ὑπαρχούσῃ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bohqhso%2Fntwn">βοηθησόντων</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%3Doi">Ἀθηναῖοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="spouda%2Fzontes">σπουδάζοντες</w> <w lemma="metasxei%3Dn">μετασχεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fous">Θηβαίους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnos">ἀγῶνος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fois">Λακεδαιμονίοις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fan">συμμαχίαν</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dsan">παρῆσαν</w>.
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<w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="prwtoporei%2Fas">πρωτοπορείας</w> <w lemma="sunaptou%2Fshs">συναπτούσης</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aposeidw%3Dnos">Ποσειδῶνος</w> <w lemma="i%28ero%2Fn">ἱερόν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28pta%5C">ἑπτὰ</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fois">σταδίοις</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fthdes">ἐπίτηδες</w> <w lemma="suneku%2Frhsen">συνεκύρησεν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%2Fous">Ἀθηναίους</w> <w lemma="e%29pifai%2Fnesqai">ἐπιφαίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amantinei%2Fas">Μαντινείας</w> <w lemma="u%28perkei%2Fmenon">ὑπερκείμενον</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffon:">λόφον·</w>
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<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="e%29mble%2Fyantes">ἐμβλέψαντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kataleleimme%2Fnoi">καταλελειμμένοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amantine%2Fwn">Μαντινέων</w> <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29qa%2Frrhsan">ἐθάρρησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibh%3Dnai">ἐπιβῆναι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kwlu%3Dsai">κωλῦσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="suggrafei%3Ds">συγγραφεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fmfontai">ἐπιμέμφονται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>, <w lemma="fa%2Fskontes">φάσκοντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fni">ἡγεμόνι</w> <w lemma="pepra%3Dxqai">πεπρᾶχθαι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqw%3D%7C">ἀγαθῷ</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3D%7C">στρατηγῷ</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="krei%2Fttw">κρείττω</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fttw">ἥττω</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29epaminw%2Fndan">Ἐπαμινώνδαν</w>.
We are fully justified, I think, on this occasion in noting with admiration the high courage and determined spirit which both Romans and Carthaginians displayed in the war.
To take a somewhat similar instance, Epaminondas of Thebes is universally admired for his conduct in the following circumstances. On reaching <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> with the allies, and discovering that the Lacedaemonians had arrived at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> in full strength and had collected their allies there with the object of giving battle to the Thebans,
he ordered his troops to take their supper at an early hour, and a little after nightfall led them out as if he was anxious to occupy in time some favourable ground for the battle.
Having conveyed this impression to people in general he advanced and marched straight on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, and reaching that city in about the third hour of the day took it by surprise, and finding no one there to defend it forced his way as far as the market-place, occupying all that part of the town which faces the river.
A mischance however occurred, a deserter having escaped in the night to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> and informed King Agesilaus of the facts, so that upon the Spartans coming up to help just as the city was being occupied,
Epaminondas was disappointed of his hope, but after breakfasting on the banks of the Eurotas, and refreshing his troops after their hard march, he marched back again by the same road,
reckoning that since the Lacedaemonians and their allies had come to the help of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> would now be left without defenders,
as indeed was the case. Exhorting the Thebans, therefore, to exert themselves, and marching rapidly all night, he reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> about midday, finding it with scarcely a soul to defend it.
But just at this time the Athenians, who were anxious to take part in the battle against the Thebans, arrived to help the Lacedaemonians, as stipulated in their treaty of alliance.
So at the very time that the leading column of the Thebans had reached the temple of Poseidon, which is at seven stades distance from the town, the Athenians happened as if by design to appear on the hill above <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>.
When the few Mantineans who were left in the town saw the Athenians, they just managed to pluck up enough courage to man the wall and keep off the assault of the Thebans.
Writers, therefore, very properly apportion the blame for the ill-success of these operations, when they tell us that the commander di all that behoved a good general, and that Epaminondas here overcame his enemies but was worsted by Fortune.