<w lemma="%2A%29epanenexqeisw%3Dn">Ἐπανενεχθεισῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sunqhkw%3Dn">συνθηκῶν</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="prosdecame%2Fnou">προσδεξαμένου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmou">δήμου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kurw%2Fsantos">κυρώσαντος</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ie%2Frwna">Ἱέρωνα</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fseis">διαλύσεις</w>, <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrinon">ἔκρινον</w> <w lemma="e%29caposte%2Fllein">ἐξαποστέλλειν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w>,
<w lemma="nomi%2Fzontes">νομίζοντες</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kekoufi%2Fsqai">κεκουφίσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="proskexwrhko%2Ftos">προσκεχωρηκότος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnontes">ὑπολαμβάνοντες</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="eu%29porh%2Fsein">εὐπορήσειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fois">ἀναγκαίοις</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ie%2Frwna">Ἱέρωνα</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmion">πολέμιον</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fta">γεγονότα</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="o%28losxere%2Fsteron">ὁλοσχερέστερον</w> <w lemma="e%29mplekome%2Fnous">ἐμπλεκομένους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Flabon">ὑπέλαβον</w> <w lemma="barute%2Fras">βαρυτέρας</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3Dsqai">προσδεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3Ds">παρασκευῆς</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntofqalmei%3Dn">ἀντοφθαλμεῖν</w> <w lemma="dunh%2Fsontai">δυνήσονται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxein">συνέχειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="cenologh%2Fsantes">ξενολογήσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipe%2Fras">ἀντιπέρας</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Aligusti%2Fnous">Λιγυστίνους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%2Fs">Κελτούς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhras">Ἴβηρας</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsteilan">ἀπέστειλαν</w>.
<w lemma="o%28rw%3Dntes">ὁρῶντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akraganti%2Fnwn">Ἀκραγαντίνων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuesta%2Fthn">εὐφυεστάτην</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsan">οὖσαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%5Cs">παρασκευὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="baruta%2Fthn">βαρυτάτην</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29parxi%2Fas">ἐπαρχίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqroisan">συνήθροισαν</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="xorh%2Fgia">χορήγια</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w>, <w lemma="o%28rmhthri%2Fw%7C">ὁρμητηρίῳ</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnontes">κρίνοντες</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ie%2Frwna">Ἱέρωνα</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%5C">στρατηγοὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="a%29nakexwrh%2Fkeisan:">ἀνακεχωρήκεισαν·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="katastaqe%2Fntes">κατασταθέντες</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkios">Λεύκιος</w> <w lemma="%2Aposto%2Fmios">Ποστόμιος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ako%2Fintos">Κόιντος</w> <w lemma="%2Amami%2Flios">Μαμίλιος</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w>.
<w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akra%2Fganta">Ἀκράγαντα</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%5Cs">παρασκευὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnwsan">ἔγνωσαν</w> <w lemma="tolmhro%2Fteron">τολμηρότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeirei%3Dn">ἐγχειρεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin:">πράγμασιν·</w>
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flla">ἄλλα</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dkan">παρῆκαν</w>, <w lemma="fe%2Frontes">φέροντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fmati">στρατεύματι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akra%2Fganta">Ἀκράγαντα</w> <w lemma="prosh%2Freisan:">προσήρεισαν·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stratopedeu%2Fsantes">στρατοπεδεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fois">σταδίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fkleisan">συνέκλεισαν</w> <w lemma="e%29nto%5Cs">ἐντὸς</w> <w lemma="teixw%3Dn">τειχῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>.
<w lemma="a%29kmazou%2Fshs">ἀκμαζούσης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="si%2Ftou">σίτου</w> <w lemma="sunagwgh%3Ds">συναγωγῆς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="profainome%2Fnhs">προφαινομένης</w> <w lemma="xroni%2Fou">χρονίου</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kqumo%2Fteron">ἐκθυμότερον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fontos">δέοντος</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="stratiw%3Dtai">στρατιῶται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sitologei%3Dn">σιτολογεῖν</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="katido%2Fntes">κατιδόντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="e%29skedasme%2Fnous">ἐσκεδασμένους</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>, <w lemma="e%29celqo%2Fntes">ἐξελθόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fqento">ἐπέθεντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sitologou%3Dsin">σιτολογοῦσιν</w>. <w lemma="treya%2Fmenoi">τρεψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frakos">χάρακος</w> <w lemma="a%28rpagh%5Cn">ἁρπαγὴν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29fedrei%2Fas">ἐφεδρείας</w>.
<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29qismw%3Dn">ἐθισμῶν</w> <w lemma="diafora%5C">διαφορὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="se%2Fswke">σέσωκε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fstimon">πρόστιμον</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="qa%2Fnato%2Fs">θάνατός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="proeme%2Fnw%7C">προεμένῳ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fugo%2Fnti">φυγόντι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29fedrei%2Fas">ἐφεδρείας</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="pollaplasi%2Fous">πολλαπλασίους</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w> <w lemma="u%28posta%2Fntes">ὑποστάντες</w> <w lemma="gennai%2Fws">γενναίως</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fbalon">ἀπέβαλον</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29xqrw%3Dn">ἐχθρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkteinan">ἀπέκτειναν</w>.
<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kuklw%2Fsantes">κυκλώσαντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fpw">οὔπω</w> <w lemma="diaspw%3Dntas">διασπῶντας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiran">διέφθειραν</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pikei%2Fmenoi">ἐπικείμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="foneu%2Fontes">φονεύοντες</w> <w lemma="sunedi%2Fwcan">συνεδίωξαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.
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<head>The Siege of Agrigentum</head>When the text of this treaty reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, and the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note45">The Carthaginians alarmed at Hiero's defection make great efforts to increase their army in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>.</note>people had approved and confirmed the terms made with Hiero, the Roman government thereupon decided not to send all their forces, as they had intended doing, but only two legions. For they thought that the gravity of the war was lessened by the adhesion of the king, and at the same time that the army would thus be better off for provisions. But when the Carthaginian government saw that Hiero had become their enemy, and that the<pb n="18" />Romans were taking a more decided part in Sicilian politics, they conceived that they must have a more formidable force to enable them to confront their enemy and maintain their own interests in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note46">They select Agrigentum as their headquarters.</note>Accordingly, they enlisted mercenaries from over sea —a large number of Ligurians and Celts, and a still larger number of Iberians—and despatched them to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>. And perceiving that Agrigentum possessed the greatest natural advantages as a place of arms, and was the most powerful city in their province, they collected their supplies and their forces into it, deciding to use this city as their headquarters for the war.On the Roman side<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note47">B.C. 262.</note>a change of commanders had now taken place. The Consuls who made the treaty with Hiero had gone home, and their successors, Lucius Postumius and Quintus Mamilius, were come to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> with their legions.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note48">The new Consuls, Lucius Postumius Megellus and Quintus Mamilius Vitulus, determine to lay siege to Agrigentum.</note>Observing the measure which the Carthaginians were taking, and the forces they were concentrating at Agrigentum, they made up their minds to take that matter in hand and strike a bold blow. Accordingly they suspended every other department of the war, and bearing down upon Agrigentum itself with their whole army, attacked it in force; pitched their camp within a distance of eight stades from the city; and confined the Carthaginians within the walls.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note49">The Carthaginians make an unsuccessful sally.</note>Now it was just harvest-time, and the siege was evidently destined to be a long one: the soldiers, therefore, went out to collect the corn with greater hardihood than they ought to have done. Accordingly the Carthaginians, seeing the enemy scattered about the fields, sallied out and attacked the harvesting-parties. They easily routed these; and then one portion of them made a rush to destroy the Roman entrenchment, the other to attack the pickets. But the peculiarity of their institutions saved the Roman fortunes, as it had often done before. Among them it is death for a man to desert his post, or to fly from his station on any pretext whatever. Accordingly on this, as on other occasions, they gallantly held their ground against opponents many times their own number; and though they lost many of<pb n="19" />their own men, they killed still more of the enemy, and at last outflanked the foes just as they were on the point of demolishing the palisade of the camp. Some they put to the sword, and the rest they pursued with slaughter into the city.
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Walbank Commentary