Polybius, Histories

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Book 9 - Chapter 9

1
<w lemma="%2Ato%5C">Τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpoi">εἴποι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prosbalo%2Fnta">προσβαλόντα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="peiraqh%3Dnai">πειραθῆναι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnwn">ἀγώνων</w> <w lemma="lu%2Fein">λύειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="a%29popeso%2Fnta">ἀποπεσόντα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="prosbolh%3Ds">προσβολῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%3Dsai">ὁρμῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kaqiko%2Fmenon">καθικόμενον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tau%29toma%2Ftou">ταὐτομάτου</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fas">περιπετείας</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="u%28postrofh%3Ds">ὑποστροφῆς</w> <w lemma="suntri%3Dyai">συντρῖψαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28pome%2Fnous">ἑπομένους</w>, <w lemma="e%29fedreu%3Dsai">ἐφεδρεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fnhma">κίνημα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akapu%2Fhn">Καπύην</w> <w lemma="poliorkou%3Dntas">πολιορκοῦντας</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="teleutai%3Don">τελευταῖον</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="lh%2Fcanta">λήξαντα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29xqrw%3Dn">ἐχθρῶν</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fbhn">βλάβην</w> <w lemma="a%29poskh%3Dyai">ἀποσκῆψαι</w>, <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nasta%2Ftous">ἀναστάτους</w> <w lemma="poih%3Dsai">ποιῆσαι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rhgi%2Fnous">Ῥηγίνους</w>,
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<w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmh%2Fnaito">ἐπισημήναιτο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fsai">θαυμάσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fna">ἡγεμόνα</w>;
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="a%29mei%2Fnous">ἀμείνους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fneien">κρίνειεν</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fth%7C">πρώτῃ</w> <w lemma="prosaggeli%2Fa%7C">προσαγγελίᾳ</w> <w lemma="sunekxuqe%2Fntes">συνεκχυθέντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Aspa%2Frthn">Σπάρτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fswsan">ἔσωσαν</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amanti%2Fneian">Μαντίνειαν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fbalon:">ἀπέβαλον·</w>
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<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fda">πατρίδα</w> <w lemma="diefu%2Flacan">διεφύλαξαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flusan">ἔλυσαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmeinan">ἔμειναν</w> <w lemma="a%29saleu%2Ftws">ἀσαλεύτως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bebai%2Fws">βεβαίως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="teqarrhko%2Ftws">τεθαρρηκότως</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fkeinto">προσέκειντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akapuanoi%3Ds">Καπυανοῖς</w>.
9
<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="e%29gkwmi%2Fou">ἐγκωμίου</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhtai%2F">εἴρηταί</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> — <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="e%29peshmhna%2Fmhn">ἐπεσημηνάμην</w> — <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnwn">ἡγουμένων</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frois">ἀμφοτέροις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="mello%2Fntwn">μελλόντων</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzein">χειρίζειν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="koina%5Cs">κοινὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>,
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<w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29namimnhsko%2Fmenoi">ἀναμιμνησκόμενοι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyin">ὄψιν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnontes">λαμβάνοντες</w> <w lemma="zhlwtai%5C">ζηλωταὶ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnwntai">γίνωνται</w> * <w lemma="para%2Fbolon">παράβολον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kindunw%3Ddes">κινδυνῶδες</w>, <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalh%3D">ἀσφαλῆ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="to%2Flman">τόλμαν</w>, <w lemma="qaumasi%2Fan">θαυμασίαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ei%2Fmnhston">ἀείμνηστον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalh%5Cn">καλὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katorqwqe%2Fnta">κατορθωθέντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diayeusqe%2Fnta">διαψευσθέντα</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="nw%3D%7C">νῷ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnhtai">γένηται</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pratto%2Fmena">πραττόμενα</w>. <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fatella">Ἄτελλα</w>,
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<w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="%2A%29opikw%3Dn">Ὀπικῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="%2Akapu%2Fhs">Καπύης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aneapo%2Flews">Νεαπόλεως</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="e%29qniko%5Cn">ἐθνικὸν</w> <gap /><w lemma="%2A%29atellano%2Fs">Ἀτελλανός</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="e%29na%2Fth%7C">ἐνάτῃ</w> <w lemma="“%2A%29atellanoi%5C">“Ἀτελλανοὶ</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fdosan">παρέδοσαν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%2Fs”">αὑτούς”</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Atw%3Dn">Τῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="poliorkou%2Fntwn">πολιορκούντων</w> <w lemma="%2Ata%2Franta">Τάραντα</w> <w lemma="%2Abomi%2Flkas">Βομίλκας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="nau%2Farxos">ναύαρχος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="summaxh%2Fsein">συμμαχήσειν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fsths">πλείστης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="dunhqei%5Cs">δυνηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pikourh%3Dsai">ἐπικουρῆσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndon">ἔνδον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsqai">θέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fan">στρατοπεδείαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqen">ἔλαθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29nalw%2Fsas">ἀναλώσας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fan">χορηγίαν</w>. <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="paraklh%2Fsews">παρακλήσεως</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="a%29fike%2Fsqai">ἀφικέσθαι</w> <w lemma="e%29kbiasqei%5Cs">ἐκβιασθεὶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="u%28posxe%2Fsewn">ὑποσχέσεων</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flwn">μεγάλων</w>, <w lemma="u%28%2Fsteron">ὕστερον</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28kethri%2Fas">ἱκετηρίας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndon">ἔνδον</w> <w lemma="a%29popleu%3Dsai">ἀποπλεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="a%29phnagka%2Fsqh">ἀπηναγκάσθη</w>.
Very much the same may be said of Hannibal.
Who can refuse admiration to this general, who considers
how he first fell on the enemy and attempted to raise the siege by a series of combats,
how failing in his attack he marched on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> itself, and then when his design on the city was frustrated by the merest accident, how he turned round and not only broke up the enemy, but waited a reasonable time to see if the force besieging Capua had made any movement,
and how finally, still holding to his purpose, he swept down to damage his enemies, and all but destroyed <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>?
As for the Romans, we must pronounce that they behaved better on this occasion than the Lacedaemonians.
For the latter, flocking off to the rescue when the news first reached them, saved <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> indeed, but as for as it depended on them lost <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>,
while the Romans not only preserved their native town, but far from raising the siege remained firm and unshaken in their purpose, and henceforth pressed the Capuans with greater confidence.
It is not for the purpose of extolling the Romans or the Carthaginians that I have offered these remarks — I have often had occasion to bestow praise on both peoples — but rather for the sake of the leaders of both these states, and of all, no matter where, who shall be charged with the conduct of public affairs,
so that by memory or actual sight of such actions as these, they be moved to emulation, and not shrink from undertaking designs, which may seem indeed to be fraught with risk and peril, but on the contrary are courageous without being hazardous, are admirable in their conception, and their excellence, whether the result be success or failure alike, will deserve to live in men's memories for ever, always provided that all that is done is the result of sound reasoning. . . .
When the Romans were besieging Tarentum Bomilcar, the Carthaginian admiral, came with a very large force to its help, and finding himself unable to render any assistance to those in the town, as the Roman camp was so securely defended, he used up his supplies before he was well aware of it. He had been forced to come by urgent entreaties and large promises, and he was now compelled to sail off at the earnest request of the inhabitants.