<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%5C">στρατηγοὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsantes">παρακαλέσαντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqh">πλήθη</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="braxe%2Fwn">βραχέων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunupodei%2Fcantes">συνυποδείξαντες</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="nikh%2Fsantes">νικήσαντες</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fa%7C">ναυμαχίᾳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsontai">ποιήσονται</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="h%28tthqe%2Fntes">ἡττηθέντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Fras">σφετέρας</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fsousin">κινδυνεύσουσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fwn">ἀναγκαίων</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeilan">παρήγγειλαν</w> <w lemma="e%29mbai%2Fnein">ἐμβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>.
<w lemma="proqu%2Fmws">προθύμως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fntwn">ποιούντων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paraggello%2Fmenon">παραγγελλόμενον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proora%3Dsqai">προορᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnwn">εἰρημένων</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qarsw%3Ds">εὐθαρσῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fgonto">ἀνήγοντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataplhktikw%3Ds">καταπληκτικῶς</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="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%5C">στρατηγοὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozo%2Fmenoi">ἁρμοζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftatton">ἔταττον</w> <w lemma="nau%3Dn">ναῦν</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w> <w lemma="a%29natei%2Fnantes">ἀνατείναντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="decio%5Cn">δεξιὸν</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="kuklw%2Fsontes">κυκλώσοντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="i%28sta%2Fntes">ἱστάντες</w> <w lemma="a%29ntiprw%2Frrous">ἀντιπρώρρους</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="te%2Ftarton">τέταρτον</w> <w lemma="eu%29w%2Fnumon">εὐώνυμον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcews">τάξεως</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Foun">ἐποίουν</w>,
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikampi%2Fw%7C">ἐπικαμπίῳ</w> <w lemma="neu%3Don">νεῦον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w>.
<w lemma="h%28gou%3Dnto">ἡγοῦντο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="deciou%3D">δεξιοῦ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Frws">κέρως</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fplous">ἐπίπλους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="penth%2Freis">πεντήρεις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="taxunautou%2Fsas">ταχυναυτούσας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28perke%2Frasin">ὑπερκέρασιν</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwn">Ἄννων</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akra%2Fganta">Ἀκράγαντα</w> <w lemma="leifqei%5Cs">λειφθεὶς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcei:">παρατάξει·</w>
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29wnu%2Fmwn">εὐωνύμων</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fleian">ἐπιμέλειαν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkas">Ἀμίλκας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Atundari%2Fda">Τυνδαρίδα</w> <w lemma="naumaxh%2Fsas:">ναυμαχήσας·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fshn">μέσην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%2Fsato%2F">ἐχρήσατό</w> <w lemma="tini">τινι</w> <w lemma="strathgh%2Fmati">στρατηγήματι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dna">ἀγῶνα</w> <w lemma="toiw%2F%7Cde">τοιῴδε</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="sunqeasame%2Fnwn">συνθεασαμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="lepto%5Cn">λεπτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29ktetame%2Fnous">ἐκτεταμένους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poihsame%2Fnwn">ποιησαμένων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsous">μέσους</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunos">κίνδυνος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabe">ἔλαβε</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w>.
<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsa">μέσα</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="paragge%2Flmatos">παραγγέλματος</w> <w lemma="klina%2Fntwn">κλινάντων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="fugh%5Cn">φυγὴν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="diaspa%2Fsai">διασπάσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28pexw%2Froun">ὑπεχώρουν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3Ds">σπουδῆς</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kato%2Fpin">κατόπιν</w> <w lemma="h%29kolou%2Fqoun">ἠκολούθουν</w> <w lemma="e%29kqu%2Fmws">ἐκθύμως</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtos">πρῶτος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteros">δεύτερος</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flos">στόλος</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fkeito">ἐπέκειτο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgousin">φεύγουσιν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fton">τρίτον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Ftarton">τέταρτον</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="a%29pespa%3Dto">ἀπεσπᾶτο</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="r%28umoulkou%2Fntwn">ῥυμουλκούντων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%28pphgou%5Cs">ἱππηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="triari%2Fwn">τριαρίων</w> <w lemma="summeno%2Fntwn">συμμενόντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunefedreuo%2Fntwn">συνεφεδρευόντων</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%5Cn">ἱκανὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkoun">ἐδόκουν</w> <w lemma="a%29pespake%2Fnai">ἀπεσπακέναι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w>, <w lemma="sunqh%2Fmatos">συνθήματος</w> <w lemma="a%29rqe%2Fntos">ἀρθέντος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkou">Ἀμίλκου</w> <w lemma="new%5Cs">νεὼς</w> <w lemma="meteba%2Flonto">μετεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbalon">συνέβαλον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pikeime%2Fnois">ἐπικειμένοις</w>.
<w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnos">ἀγῶνος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="susta%2Fntos">συστάντος</w> <w lemma="karterou%3D">καρτεροῦ</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="taxunautei%3Dn">ταχυναυτεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29kperiple%2Fontes">ἐκπεριπλέοντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prosio%2Fntes">προσιόντες</w> <w lemma="o%29ce%2Fws">ὀξέως</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29poxwrou%3Dntes">ἀποχωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="perih%3Dsan">περιῆσαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w>,
<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="biaiomaxei%3Dn">βιαιομαχεῖν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sumploka%5Cs">συμπλοκὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sundei%3Dn">συνδεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ko%2Fracin">κόραξιν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fsantas">ἐγγίσαντας</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sunagwnizome%2Fnwn">συναγωνιζομένων</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frwn">ἀμφοτέρων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3Dn">στρατηγῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyei">ὄψει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnwn">ἡγουμένων</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dtton">ἧττον</w> <w lemma="e%29pikudeste%2Fras">ἐπικυδεστέρας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>.
<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh">μάχη</w> <w lemma="toiau%2F">τοιαύ</w>
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<head>The Battle of Ecnomus</head>Meanwhile the Carthaginian commanders had briefly<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note81">The disposition of the Carthaginian fleet.</note>addressed their men. They pointed out to them that victory in this battle would ensure the war in the future being confined to the question of the possession of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>; while if they were beaten they would have hereafter to fight for their native land and for all that they held dear. With these words they passed the word to embark. The order was obeyed with universal enthusiasm, for what had been said brought home to them the issues at stake; and they put to sea in the full fervour of excited gallantry, which might well have<pb n="31" />struck terror into all who saw it. When their commanders saw the arrangement of the enemies' ships they adapted their own to match it. Three-fourths of their force they posted in a single line, extending their right wing towards the open sea with a view of outflanking their opponents, and placing their ships with prows facing the enemy; while the other fourth part was posted to form a left wing of the whole, the vessels being at right angles to the others and close to the shore. The two Carthaginian commanders were Hanno and Hamilcar. The former was the general who had been defeated in the engagement at Agrigentum.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note82"><ref target="b1c19" targOrder="U">ch. 19</ref>.</note>He now commanded the right wing, supported by beaked vessels for charging, and the fastest sailing quinqueremes for outflanking, the enemy.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note83"><ref target="b1c25" targOrder="U">ch. 25</ref>.</note>The latter, who had been in the engagement off Tyndaris, had charge of the left wing. This officer, occupying the central position of the entire line, on this occasion employed a stratagem which I will now describe.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note84">The battle.</note>The battle began by the Romans charging the centre of the Carthaginians, because they observed that it was weakened by their great extension. The ships in the Carthaginian centre, in accordance with their orders, at once turned and fled with a view of breaking up the Roman close order. They began to retire with all speed, and the Romans pursued them with exultation. The consequence was that, while the first and second Roman squadrons were pressing the flying enemy, the third and fourth "legions" had become detached and were left behind, —the former because they had to tow the horse-transports, and the "Triarii" because they kept their station with them and helped them to form a reserve. But when the Carthaginians thought that they had drawn the first and second squadron a sufficient distance from the main body a signal was hoisted on board Hamilcar's ship, and they all simultaneously swung their ships round and engaged their pursuers. The contest was a severe one. The Carthaginians had a great superiority in the rapidity with which they manœuvred their ships. They darted out from their line and rowed round the enemy: they approached them with ease, and retired with despatch. But the Romans, no less than the Carthaginians, had their reasons<pb n="32" />for entertaining hopes of victory: for when the vessels got locked together the contest became one of sheer strength: their engines, the "crows," grappled all that once came to close quarters: and, finally, both the Consuls were present in person and were witnesses of their behaviour in battle.
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Walbank Commentary