Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 20

1
<w lemma="%2Ath%3Ds">Τῆς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ggeli%2Fas">ἀγγελίας</w> <w lemma="a%29fikome%2Fnhs">ἀφικομένης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgklhton">σύγκλητον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akra%2Fganta">Ἀκράγαντα</w>, <w lemma="perixarei%3Ds">περιχαρεῖς</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fais">διανοίαις</w> <w lemma="e%29parqe%2Fntes">ἐπαρθέντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="logismw%3Dn">λογισμῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29rkou%3Dnto">ἠρκοῦντο</w> <w lemma="seswke%2Fnai">σεσωκέναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amamerti%2Fnous">Μαμερτίνους</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnais">γενομέναις</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%2Fais">ὠφελείαις</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fsantes">ἐλπίσαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="e%29kbalei%3Dn">ἐκβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nh%2Fsou">νήσου</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fdosin">ἐπίδοσιν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="lh%2Fyesqai">λήψεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="logismoi%3Ds">λογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fais">ἐπινοίαις</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pezika%5Cs">πεζικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="e%28w%2Frwn">ἑώρων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="proxwrou%3Dnta:">προχωροῦντα·</w>
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akra%2Fganta">Ἀκράγαντα</w> <w lemma="poliorkh%2Fsantas">πολιορκήσαντας</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="katastaqe%2Fntes">κατασταθέντες</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%5C">στρατηγοὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkios">Λεύκιος</w> <w lemma="%2Aou%29ale%2Frios">Οὐαλέριος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftos">Τίτος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29otaki%2Flios">Ὀτακίλιος</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkoun">ἐδόκουν</w> <w lemma="e%29ndexome%2Fnws">ἐνδεχομένως</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzein">χειρίζειν</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>.
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="a%29koniti%5C">ἀκονιτὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pikratou%2Fntwn">ἐπικρατούντων</w> <w lemma="e%29zugostatei%3Dt%27">ἐζυγοστατεῖτ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemos:">πόλεμος·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w>, <w lemma="katexo%2Fntwn">κατεχόντων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akra%2Fganta">Ἀκράγαντα</w>, <w lemma="pollai%5C">πολλαὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="proseti%2Fqento">προσετίθεντο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="mesogai%2Fwn">μεσογαίων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29gwniw%3Dsai">ἀγωνιῶσαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pezika%5Cs">πεζικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="a%29fi%2Fstanto">ἀφίσταντο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="paraqalatti%2Fwn">παραθαλαττίων</w>, <w lemma="katapeplhgme%2Fnai">καταπεπληγμέναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dntes">ὁρῶντες</w> <w lemma="ai%29ei%5C">αἰεὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Ftera">ἑκάτερα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="r%28opa%5Cs">ῥοπὰς</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnonta">λαμβάνοντα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="porqoume%2Fnhn">πορθουμένην</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nautikh%3Ds">ναυτικῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29blabh%3D">ἀβλαβῆ</w> <w lemma="diame%2Fnousan">διαμένουσαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunembai%2Fnein">συνεμβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fkista%2F">ἥκιστά</w> <w lemma="me">με</w> <w lemma="parw%2Frmhsen">παρώρμησεν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhn">μνήμην</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoei%3Dsqai">ἀγνοεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2Fn">ἀρχήν</w>, <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fte">πότε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fbhsan">ἐνέβησαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w>.
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<w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="tribh%5Cn">τριβὴν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnonta">λαμβάνοντα</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Flonto">ἐπεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="nauphgei%3Dsqai">ναυπηγεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="ska%2Ffh">σκάφη</w>, <w lemma="penthrika%5C">πεντηρικὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%2Fn">ἑκατόν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="trih%2Freis">τριήρεις</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="nauphgw%3Dn">ναυπηγῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29pei%2Frwn">ἀπείρων</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="penth%2Freis">πεντήρεις</w> <w lemma="nauphgi%2Fas">ναυπηγίας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="kexrh%3Dsqai">κεχρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftois">τοιούτοις</w> <w lemma="ska%2Ffesin">σκάφεσιν</w>, <w lemma="pollh%5Cn">πολλὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="parei%3Dxen">παρεῖχεν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="dusxe%2Freian">δυσχέρειαν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fdoi">συνίδοι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="megalo%2Fyuxon">μεγαλόψυχον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fbolon">παράβολον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="ai%28re%2Fsews">αἱρέσεως</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="eu%29lo%2Fgous">εὐλόγους</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="kaqa%2Fpac">καθάπαξ</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="nw%3D%7C">νῷ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnontes">λαμβάνοντες</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="tolmhrw%3Ds">τολμηρῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frhsan">ἐνεχείρησαν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="pri%5Cn">πρὶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="peiraqh%3Dnai">πειραθῆναι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmatos">πράγματος</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qu%5Cs">εὐθὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibale%2Fsqai">ἐπιβαλέσθαι</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="naumaxei%3Dn">ναυμαχεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="progo%2Fnwn">προγόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi">ἔχουσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemoni%2Fan">ἡγεμονίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29dh%2Friton">ἀδήριτον</w>.
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<w lemma="marturi%2Fw%7C">μαρτυρίῳ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsaito">χρήσαιτο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mou%3D">ἐμοῦ</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdocon">παράδοξον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmhs:">τόλμης·</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29pexei%2Frhsan">ἐπεχείρησαν</w> <w lemma="diabiba%2Fzein">διαβιβάζειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="kata%2Ffraktos">κατάφρακτος</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%3Drxen">ὑπῆρχεν</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="makro%5Cn">μακρὸν</w> <w lemma="ploi%3Don">πλοῖον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmbos">λέμβος</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%28%3Ds">εἷς</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%2Fnwn">Ταραντίνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alokrw%3Dn">Λοκρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29eleatw%3Dn">Ἐλεατῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aneapolitw%3Dn">Νεαπολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="sugxrhsa%2Fmenoi">συγχρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="penthkonto%2Frous">πεντηκοντόρους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="trih%2Freis">τριήρεις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="dieko%2Fmisan">διεκόμισαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w>.
15
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="porqmo%5Cn">πορθμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29panaxqe%2Fntwn">ἐπαναχθέντων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mia%3Ds">μιᾶς</w> <w lemma="new%5Cs">νεὼς</w> <w lemma="katafra%2Fktou">καταφράκτου</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fan">προθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="propesou%2Fshs">προπεσούσης</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pokei%2Flasan">ἐποκείλασαν</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="u%28poxei%2Frion">ὑποχείριον</w>, <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="paradei%2Fgmati">παραδείγματι</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenoi">χρώμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flou">στόλου</w> <w lemma="nauphgi%2Fan">ναυπηγίαν</w>,
16
<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29peiri%2Fan">ἀπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29kwlu%2F">ἐκωλύ</w>
<head>The Romans Build Ships</head>Great was the joy of the Roman Senate when the news<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note57">This success inspires the Senate with the idea of expelling the Carthaginians from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>.</note>of what had taken place at Agrigentum arrived. Their ideas too were so raised that they no longer confined themselves to their original designs. They were not content with having saved the Mamertines, nor with the advantages gained in the course of the war; but conceived the<pb n="22" />idea that it was possible to expel the Carthaginians entirely from the island, and that if that were done their own power would receive a great increase: they accordingly engaged in this policy and directed their whole thoughts to this subject. As to their land forces they saw that things were going on as well as they could wish.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note58">B. C. 261.</note>For the Consuls elected in succession to those who had besieged Agrigentum, Lucius Valerius Flaccus and Titus Otacilius Crassus, appeared to be managing the Sicilian business as well as circumstances admitted. Yet so long as the Carthaginians were in undisturbed command of the sea, the balance of success could not incline decisively in their favour. For instance, in the period which followed, though they were now in possession of Agrigentum, and though consequently many of the inland towns joined the Romans from dread of their land forces, yet a still larger number of seaboard towns held aloof from them in terror of the Carthaginian fleet. Seeing therefore that it was ever more and more the case that the balance of success oscillated from one side to the other from these causes; and, moreover, that while <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> was repeatedly ravaged by the naval force, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> remained permanently uninjured; they became eager to get upon the sea and meet the Carthaginians there.It was this branch of the subject that more than anything else induced me to give an account of this war at somewhat greater length than I otherwise should have done. I was unwilling that a first step of this kind should be unknown,— namely how, and when, and why the Romans first started a navy.It was, then, because they saw that the war they had undertaken lingered to a weary length, that they first thought of getting a fleet built, consisting of a hundred quinqueremes and twenty triremes. But one part of their undertaking caused them much difficulty.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note59">The Romans boldly determine to build ships and meet the Carthaginians at sea.</note>Their shipbuilders were entirely unacquainted with the construction of quinqueremes, because no one in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> had at that time employed vessels of that description. There could be no more signal proof of the courage, or rather the extraordinary audacity of the Roman enterprise. Not only had they no resources for it<pb n="23" />of reasonable sufficiency; but without any resources for it at all, and without having ever entertained an idea of naval war,— for it was the first time they had thought of it,—they nevertheless handled the enterprise with such extraordinary audacity, that, without so much as a preliminary trial, they took upon themselves there and then to meet the Carthaginians at sea, on which they had for generations held undisputed supremacy. Proof of what I say, and of their surprising audacity, may be found in this. When they first took in hand to send troops across to Messene they not only had no decked vessels but no war-ships at all, not so much as a single galley: but they borrowed quinqueremes and triremes from Tarentum and Locri, and even from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Elea&groupId=557&placeId=1044">Elea</a> and Neapolis; and having thus collected a fleet, boldly sent their men across upon it.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note60">A Carthaginian ship used as a model.</note>It was on this occasion that, the Carthaginians having put to sea in the Strait to attack them, a decked vessel of theirs charged so furiously that it ran aground, and falling into the hands of the Romans served them as a model on which they constructed their whole fleet. And if this had not happened it is clear that they would have been completely hindered from carrying out their design by want of constructive knowledge.