<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="mikrw%3D%7C">μικρῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="e%29ptaiko%2Ftes">ἐπταικότες</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nandri%2Fan">ἀνανδρίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnwn">ἡγουμένων</w> <w lemma="a%29bouli%2Fan">ἀβουλίαν</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29nepeptw%2Fkeisan">ἐνεπεπτώκεισαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="dusxerh%3D">δυσχερῆ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w>.
<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdwn">Νομάδων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqnos">ἔθνος</w> <w lemma="sunepitiqe%2Fmenon">συνεπιτιθέμενον</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttw">ἐλάττω</w>, <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29rga%2Fzeto">εἰργάζετο</w> <w lemma="kaka%5C">κακὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbon">φόβον</w> <w lemma="sumfeugo%2Fntwn">συμφευγόντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="dusqumi%2Fa">δυσθυμία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="limo%5Cs">λιμὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerh%2Fs">ὁλοσχερής</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prosdoki%2Fan">προσδοκίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkos">Μάρκος</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="e%29sfalme%2Fnous">ἐσφαλμένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzwn">νομίζων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fpw">οὔπω</w> <w lemma="krath%2Fsein">κρατήσειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="a%29gwniw%3Dn">ἀγωνιῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="sumbh%3D%7C">συμβῇ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29piparagino%2Fmenon">ἐπιπαραγινόμενον</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhs">Ῥώμης</w> <w lemma="fqa%2Fsanta">φθάσαντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigrafh%5Cn">ἐπιγραφὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w>, <w lemma="proukalei%3Dto">προυκαλεῖτο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fseis">διαλύσεις</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29sme%2Fnws">ἀσμένως</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fsantes">ἀκούσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpemyan">ἐξέπεμψαν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftous">πρώτους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras:">ἄνδρας·</w> <w lemma="oi%28%5C">οἳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summi%2Fcantes">συμμίξαντες</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsxon">ἀπέσχον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28e%2Fpein">ῥέπειν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmais">γνώμαις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fontes">ἀκούοντες</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnein">ὑπομένειν</w> <w lemma="e%29du%2Fnanto">ἐδύναντο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fros">βάρος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pitagma%2Ftwn">ἐπιταγμάτων</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkos">Μάρκος</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="kekrathkw%5Cs">κεκρατηκὼς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="sunexw%2Frei">συνεχώρει</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="w%29%2F%7Ceto">ᾤετο</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Friti">χάριτι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dwrea%3D%7C">δωρεᾷ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein:">λαμβάνειν·</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="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnois">γενομένοις</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28poxeiri%2Fois">ὑποχειρίοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="sunecakolouqh%2Fsai">συνεξακολουθήσαι</w> <w lemma="baru%2Fteron">βαρύτερον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="prostagma%2Ftwn">προσταγμάτων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="dusaresth%2Fsantes">δυσαρεστήσαντες</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proteinome%2Fnois">προτεινομένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29panh%3Dlqon">ἐπανῆλθον</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosko%2Fyantes">προσκόψαντες</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="baru%2Fthti">βαρύτητι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkou">Μάρκου</w>.
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="diakou%3Dsan">διακοῦσαν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proteino%2Fmena">προτεινόμενα</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29pegnwko%5Cs">ἀπεγνωκὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrwdw%3Ds">ἀνδρωδῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsth">ἔστη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gennai%2Fws">γενναίως</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnein">ὑπομένειν</w> <w lemma="ei%28%2Fleto">εἵλετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgou">ἔργου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29genne%5Cs">ἀγεννὲς</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fcion">ἀνάξιον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="u%28pomei%3Dnai">ὑπομεῖναι</w>.
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<head>Distress at Carthage</head>The Carthaginians were now indeed in evil case. It<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note96">Distress at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, which is heightened by an inroad of Numidians.</note>was not long since they had sustained a disaster at sea: and now they had met with one on land, not from any failure of courage on the part of their soldiers, but from the incompetency of their commanders. Simultaneously with these misfortunes, they were suffering from an inroad of the Numidians, who were doing even more damage to the country than the Romans. The terror which they inspired drove the country folk to flock for safety into the city; and the city itself had to face a serious famine as well as a panic, the former from the numbers that crowded into it, the latter from the hourly expectation of a siege.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note97">Spring of B. C. 255. Regulus proposes harsh terms.</note>But Regulus had different views. The double defeat sustained by the Carthaginians, by land as well as by sea, convinced him that the capture of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> was a question of a very short time; and he was in a state of great anxiety lest his successor in the Consulship should arrive from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> in time to rob him of the glory of the achievement. He therefore invited the Carthaginians to make terms. They were only too glad of the proposal, and sent their leading citizens to meet him. The meeting took place: but the commissioners could not bring their minds to entertain his proposals; they were so severe that it was almost more than they could bear to listen to them at all. Regulus regarded himself as practically master of the city, and considered that they ought to regard any concession on his part as a matter of favour and pure grace.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note98">The terms rejected.</note>The Carthaginians on the other hand concluded that nothing worse could be imposed on them if they suffered capture than was now enjoined. They therefore returned home without accepting the offers of Regulus, and extremely exasperated by his unreasonable harshness. When the Carthaginian Senate<pb n="37" />heard the conditions offered by the Roman general, though they had almost relinquished every hope of safety, they came to the gallant and noble resolution that they would brave anything, that they would try every possible means and endure every extremity, rather than submit to terms so dishonourable and so unworthy of their past history.
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Walbank Commentary