<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aca%2Fnqippon">Ξάνθιππον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="paraggei%3Dlai">παραγγεῖλαι</w> <w lemma="proa%2Fgein">προάγειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaspa%3Dn">διασπᾶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28ppeu%3Dsin">ἱππεῦσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frou">ἑκατέρου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fratos">κέρατος</w> <w lemma="kuklou%3Dn">κυκλοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosba%2Fllein">προσβάλλειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>,
<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqh">ἔθη</w> <w lemma="suneyo%2Ffhsan">συνεψόφησαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplois">ὅπλοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunalala%2Fcantes">συναλαλάξαντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kera%2Ftwn">κεράτων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffugon">ἔφυγον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pollaplasi%2Fous">πολλαπλασίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pezw%3Dn">πεζῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="taxqe%2Fntes">ταχθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="laiou%3D">λαιοῦ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Frws">κέρως</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29kkli%2Fnontes">ἐκκλίνοντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katafronou%3Dntes">καταφρονοῦντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="decio%5Cn">δεξιὸν</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn:">Καρχηδονίων·</w> <w lemma="treya%2Fmenoi">τρεψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fkeinto">ἐπέκειντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katedi%2Fwkon">κατεδίωκον</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Ffantas">ἐλέφαντας</w> <w lemma="taxqe%2Fntwn">ταχθέντων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtoi">πρῶτοι</w> <w lemma="sumpeso%2Fntes">συμπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fas">βίας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cwn">ζῴων</w> <w lemma="e%29cwqou%2Fmenoi">ἐξωθούμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katapatou%2Fmenoi">καταπατούμενοι</w> <w lemma="swrhdo%5Cn">σωρηδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="xeirw%3Dn">χειρῶν</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmw%7C">νόμῳ</w> <w lemma="diefqei%2Fronto">διεφθείροντο</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcews">τάξεως</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fsthma">σύστημα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fqos">βάθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29festw%2Ftwn">ἐφεστώτων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="tino%5Cs">τινὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29dia%2Fspaston">ἀδιάσπαστον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmeinen">ἔμεινεν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29sxa%2Ftas">ἐσχάτας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w> <w lemma="kuklou%2Fmenoi">κυκλούμενοι</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="h%29nagka%2Fzonto">ἠναγκάζοντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="strefo%2Fmenoi">στρεφόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fein">κινδυνεύειν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fswn">μέσων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lefa%2Fntwn">ἐλεφάντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsqen">πρόσθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29kbiazo%2Fmenoi">ἐκβιαζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="nw%2Ftou">νώτου</w> <w lemma="parista%2Fmenoi">παριστάμενοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%29ke%2Fraion">ἀκέραιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suntetagme%2Fnhn">συντεταγμένην</w> <w lemma="e%29mpi%2Fptontes">ἐμπίπτοντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flagga">φάλαγγα</w> <w lemma="diefqei%2Fronto">διεφθείροντο</w>,
<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="ponou%3Dntes">πονοῦντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="sunepath%2Fqhsan">συνεπατήθησαν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28perfuou%3Ds">ὑπερφυοῦς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fas">βίας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cwn">ζῴων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipoi%5C">λοιποὶ</w> <w lemma="sunhkonti%2Fsqhsan">συνηκοντίσθησαν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpw%7C">τόπῳ</w>, <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgoi">ὀλίγοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="fugh%5Cn">φυγὴν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29sw%3Dn">οὐσῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pedinw%3Dn">πεδινῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28poxwrh%2Fsewn">ὑποχωρήσεων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="a%29pw%2Fllunto">ἀπώλλυντο</w>, <w lemma="pentako%2Fsioi">πεντακόσιοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkou">Μάρκου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w> <w lemma="fugo%2Fntes">φυγόντες</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgon">ὀλίγον</w> <w lemma="u%28poxei%2Frioi">ὑποχείριοι</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> '<w lemma="kei%2Fnw%7C">κείνῳ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="e%29zwgrh%2Fqhsan">ἐζωγρήθησαν</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpeson">ἔπεσον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="o%29ktakosi%2Fous">ὀκτακοσίους</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="laio%5Cn">λαιὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="taxqe%2Fntes">ταχθέντες</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29sw%2Fqhsan">ἐσώθησαν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="di%2Fwgma">δίωγμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou">κινδύνου</w>,
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="diefqa%2Frh">διεφθάρη</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkou">Μάρκου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="fugo%2Fntwn">φυγόντων</w>.
<w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="shmei%3Dai">σημεῖαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="swqei%3Dsai">σωθεῖσαι</w> <w lemma="die%2Fpeson">διέπεσον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aspi%2Fda">Ἀσπίδα</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws:">παραδόξως·</w>
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="nekrou%5Cs">νεκροὺς</w> <w lemma="skuleu%2Fsantes">σκυλεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29xmalw%2Ftwn">αἰχμαλώτων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgontes">ἄγοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29panh%3Dlqon">ἐπανῆλθον</w> <w lemma="perixarei%3Ds">περιχαρεῖς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="parou%3Dsin">παροῦσιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.
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<head>Roman Defeat</head>No sooner had Xanthippus given the order to the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note102">The battle.</note>men on the elephants to advance and disperse the lines in front of them, and to his cavalry to outflank both wings and charge the enemy, than the Roman army—clashing their shields and spears together after their usual custom, and simultaneously raising their battle-cry— charged the enemy. The Roman cavalry being far outnumbered by the Carthaginians were soon in full retreat on both wings. But the fortune of the several divisions of the infantry was various. Those stationed on the left wing— partly because they could avoid the elephants and partly because they thought contemptuously of the mercenaries— charged the right wing of the Carthaginians, succeeded in driving them from their ground, and pursued them as far as their entrenchment. Those stationed in front of the elephants were less fortunate. The maniples in front were thrown into utter confusion by the crushing weight of the animals: knocked down and trampled upon by them they perished in heaps upon the field; yet owing to its great depth the main body remained for a time unbroken. But it was not for long.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note103">The Romans are beaten and annihilated.</note>The maniples on the rear found themselves outflanked by the cavalry, and were forced to face round and resist them: those on the other hand who forced their way to the front through the elephants,<pb n="40" />and had now those beasts on their rear, found themselves confronted by the phalanx of Carthaginians, which had not yet been in action and was still in close unbroken order, and so were cut to pieces. This was followed by a general rout. Most of the Romans were trampled to death by the enormous weight of the elephants; the rest were shot down in their ranks by the numerous cavalry: and there were only a very few who attempted to save themselves by flight. But the flatness of the country was unfavourable to escape in this manner. Some of the fugitives were destroyed by the elephants and cavalry; while only those who fled with the general Regulus, amounting perhaps to five hundred, were after a short pursuit made prisoners with him to a man.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note104">Regulus made prisoner.</note>On the Carthaginian side there fell about eight hundred of the mercenaries, those namely who had been stationed opposite the left wing of the Romans. On the part of the Romans about two thousand survived. These were those whom I have already described as having chased the Carthaginian right wing to their entrenchment, and who were thus not involved in the general engagement. The rest were entirely destroyed with the exception of those who fled with Regulus. The surviving maniples escaped with considerable difficulty to the town of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Aspis&groupId=374&placeId=706">Aspis</a>. The Carthaginians stripped the dead, and taking with them the Roman general and the rest of their prisoners, returned to the capital in a high state of exultation at the turn their affairs had now taken.
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Walbank Commentary