Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 22

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<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fsantes">συνεγγίσαντες</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fntes">συνέντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmptwma">σύμπτωμα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Agna%2Fion">Γνάιον</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="diepe%2Fmponto">διεπέμποντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fion">Γάιον</w> <w lemma="%2Abi%2Flion">Βίλιον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmenon">ἡγούμενον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pezh%3Ds">πεζῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fmenon">ἀνέμενον</w>,
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fontes">ἀκούοντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fnonto">ἐγίνοντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%5Cn">παρασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="naumaxei%3Dn">ναυμαχεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="fau%2Flwn">φαύλων</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="kataskeuai%3Ds">κατασκευαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="duskinh%2Ftwn">δυσκινήτων</w>, <w lemma="u%28poti%2Fqetai%2F">ὑποτίθεταί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="boh%2Fqhma">βοήθημα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29piklhqe%2Fntas">ἐπικληθέντας</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ko%2Frakas">κόρακας</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w>.
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<w lemma="stu%3Dlos">στῦλος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Frra%7C">πρώρρᾳ</w> <w lemma="stroggu%2Flos">στρογγύλος</w> <w lemma="ei%28sth%2Fkei">εἱστήκει</w>, <w lemma="mh%3Dkos">μῆκος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%29rguiw%3Dn">ὀργυιῶν</w> <w lemma="tetta%2Frwn">τεττάρων</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pla%2Ftos">πλάτος</w> <w lemma="triw%3Dn">τριῶν</w> <w lemma="palaistw%3Dn">παλαιστῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fmetron">διάμετρον</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="korufh%3Ds">κορυφῆς</w> <w lemma="troxili%2Fan">τροχιλίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxen">εἶχεν</w>, <w lemma="perieti%2Fqeto">περιετίθετο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kli%3Dmac">κλῖμαξ</w> <w lemma="e%29pikarsi%2Fais">ἐπικαρσίαις</w> <w lemma="sani%2Fsi">σανίσι</w> <w lemma="kaqhlwme%2Fnh">καθηλωμένη</w>, <w lemma="pla%2Ftos">πλάτος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="podw%3Dn">ποδῶν</w> <w lemma="tetta%2Frwn">τεττάρων</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dkos">μῆκος</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cc">ἓξ</w> <w lemma="o%29rguiw%3Dn">ὀργυιῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="trh%3Dma">τρῆμα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sanidw%2Fmatos">σανιδώματος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="para%2Fmhkes">παράμηκες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fbaine">περιέβαινε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="stu%3Dlon">στῦλον</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftas">πρώτας</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmakos">κλίμακος</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29rguia%2Fs">ὀργυιάς</w>. <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxen">εἶχεν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dru%2Ffakton">δρύφακτον</w> <w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Fran">ἑκατέραν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pimh%2Fkh">ἐπιμήκη</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="go%2Fnu">γόνυ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fqos">βάθος</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fratos">πέρατος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="prosh%2Frmosto">προσήρμοστο</w> <w lemma="sidhrou%3Dn">σιδηροῦν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fperon">ὕπερον</w> <w lemma="a%29pwcusme%2Fnon">ἀπωξυσμένον</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxon">ἔχον</w> <w lemma="daktu%2Flion">δακτύλιον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="korufh%3Ds">κορυφῆς</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flon">ὅλον</w> <w lemma="fai%2Fnesqai">φαίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sitopoiikai%3Ds">σιτοποιικαῖς</w> <w lemma="mhxanh%2Fsesin">μηχανήσεσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="daktu%2Flion">δακτύλιον</w> <w lemma="e%29nede%2Fdeto">ἐνεδέδετο</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flws">κάλως</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29mbola%5Cs">ἐμβολὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="e%29cai%2Frontes">ἐξαίροντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ko%2Frakas">κόρακας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="stu%2Flw%7C">στύλῳ</w> <w lemma="troxili%2Fas">τροχιλίας</w> <w lemma="a%29fi%2Fesan">ἀφίεσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fstrwma">κατάστρωμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29llotri%2Fas">ἀλλοτρίας</w> <w lemma="new%5Cs">νεὼς</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Drran">πρῶρραν</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ntiperia%2Fgontes">ἀντιπεριάγοντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plagi%2Fwn">πλαγίων</w> <w lemma="prospiptou%2Fsas">προσπιπτούσας</w> <w lemma="e%29mbola%2Fs">ἐμβολάς</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sani%2Fsi">σανίσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katastrwma%2Ftwn">καταστρωμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29mpage%2Fntes">ἐμπαγέντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ko%2Frakes">κόρακες</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="sundh%2Fsaien">συνδήσαιεν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pla%2Fgiai">πλάγιαι</w> <w lemma="paraba%2Floien">παραβάλοιεν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flais">ἀλλήλαις</w>, <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29peph%2Fdwn">ἐπεπήδων</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Drran">πρῶρραν</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ko%2Frakos">κόρακος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="sunexei%3Ds">συνεχεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon:">ἔφοδον·</w>
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmenoi">ἡγούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="e%29pifa%2Fneian">ἐπιφάνειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ske%2Fpazon">ἐσκέπαζον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qurew%3Dn">θυρεῶν</w> <w lemma="probolai%3Ds">προβολαῖς</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28po%2Fmenoi">ἑπόμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plagi%2Fwn">πλαγίων</w> <w lemma="h%29sfa%2Flizon">ἠσφάλιζον</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cs">πλευρὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="dru%2Ffakton">δρύφακτον</w> <w lemma="u%28pertiqe%2Fmenoi">ὑπερτιθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Ftus">ἴτυς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fth%7C">τοιαύτῃ</w> <w lemma="kexrhme%2Fnoi">κεχρημένοι</w> <w lemma="pa">πα</w>
<head>The Victory of Mylae</head>When the Romans had neared the coasts of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> and learnt the disaster which had befallen Gnaeus, their first step was to send for Gaius Duilius, who was in command of the land forces. Until he should come they stayed where they were; but at the same time, hearing that the enemy's fleet was no great way off, they busied themselves with preparations for a sea-fight. Now their ships were badly fitted out and not easy to manage, and so some one suggested to them as<pb n="25" />likely to serve their turn in a fight the construction of what were afterwards called "crows." Their mechanism was this.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note64">The "<foreign lang="la">corvi</foreign>" or "crows," for boarding,</note>A round pole was placed in the prow, about twenty-four feet high, and with a diameter of four palms. The pole itself had a pulley on the top, and a gangway made with cross planks nailed together, four feet wide and thirty-six feet long, was made to swing round it. Now the hole in the gangway was oval shaped, and went round the pole twelve feet from one end of the gangway, which had also a wooden railing running down each side of it to the height of a man's knee. At the extremity of this gangway was fastened an iron spike like a miller's pestle, sharpened at its lower end and fitted with a ring at its upper end. The whole thing looked like the machines for braising corn. To this ring the rope was fastened with which, when the ships collided, they hauled up the "crows," by means of the pulley at the top of the pole, and dropped them down upon the deck of the enemy's ship, sometimes over the prow, sometimes swinging them round when the ships collided broadsides. And as soon as the "crows" were fixed in the planks of the decks and grappled the ships together, if the ships were alongside of each other, the men leaped on board anywhere along the side, but if they were prow to prow, they used the "crow" itself for boarding, and advanced over it two abreast. The first two protected their front by holding up before them their shields, while those who came after them secured their sides by placing the rims of their shields upon the top of the railing. Such were the preparations which they made; and having completed them they watched an opportunity of engaging at sea.