<w lemma="dos">δος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpleon">ἔπλεον</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w>. <w lemma="dia%2Frantes">διάραντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fron">πόρον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosmi%2Fcantes">προσμίξαντες</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akamarinai%2Fwn">Καμαριναίων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fra%7C">χώρᾳ</w> <w lemma="thlikou%2Ftw%7C">τηλικούτῳ</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fpeson">περιέπεσον</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dni">χειμῶνι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Ftais">τηλικαύταις</w> <w lemma="sumforai%3Ds">συμφοραῖς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fws">ἀξίως</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28perbolh%5Cn">ὑπερβολὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntos">συμβάντος</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%2Fkonta">ἑξήκοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tetta%2Frwn">τεττάρων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fais">τριακοσίαις</w> <w lemma="nausi%5Cn">ναυσὶν</w> <w lemma="o%29gdoh%2Fkonta">ὀγδοήκοντα</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="perileifqh%3Dnai">περιλειφθῆναι</w> <w lemma="ska%2Ffh">σκάφη</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipw%3Dn">λοιπῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28pobru%2Fxia">ὑποβρύχια</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="r%28axi%2Fas">ῥαχίας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="spila%2Fsi">σπιλάσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29krwthri%2Fois">ἀκρωτηρίοις</w> <w lemma="katagnu%2Fmena">καταγνύμενα</w> <w lemma="plh%2Frh">πλήρη</w> <w lemma="poih%3Dsai">ποιῆσαι</w> <w lemma="swma%2Ftwn">σωμάτων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nauagi%2Fwn">ναυαγίων</w>.
<w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fzw">μείζω</w> <w lemma="peripe%2Fteian">περιπέτειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28ni%5C">ἑνὶ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28storh%3Dsqai">ἱστορῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbe%2Fbhken">συμβέβηκεν</w>. <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fan">αἰτίαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhn">τύχην</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnas">ἡγεμόνας</w> <w lemma="e%29panoiste%2Fon:">ἐπανοιστέον·</w>
<w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kubernhtw%3Dn">κυβερνητῶν</w> <w lemma="diamarturame%2Fnwn">διαμαρτυραμένων</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dn">πλεῖν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibuko%5Cn">Λιβυκὸν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w> <w lemma="e%29stramme%2Fnhn">ἐστραμμένην</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="traxei%3Dan">τραχεῖαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusproso%2Frmiston">δυσπροσόρμιστον</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpw">οὐδέπω</w> <w lemma="katalh%2Fgein">καταλήγειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmasi%2Fan">ἐπισημασίαν</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pife%2Fresqai:">ἐπιφέρεσθαι·</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29wri%2Fwnos">Ὠρίωνος</w>
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kuno%5Cs">κυνὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pitolh%3Ds">ἐπιτολῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29qeni%5C">οὐθενὶ</w> <w lemma="prossxo%2Fntes">προσσχόντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpleon">ἔπλεον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgioi">πελάγιοι</w>, <w lemma="spouda%2Fzonte%2Fs">σπουδάζοντές</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fplw%7C">παράπλῳ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftos">γεγονότος</w> <w lemma="eu%29tuxh%2Fmatos">εὐτυχήματος</w> <w lemma="fantasi%2Fa%7C">φαντασίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kataplhca%2Fmenoi">καταπληξάμενοι</w> <w lemma="proslabe%2Fsqai">προσλαβέσθαι</w>.
<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="mikrw%3Dn">μικρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdwn">ἐλπίδων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneka">ἕνεκα</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flois">μεγάλοις</w> <w lemma="perituxo%2Fntes">περιτυχόντες</w> <w lemma="a%29tuxh%2Fmasi">ἀτυχήμασι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29bouli%2Fan">ἀβουλίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnwsan">ἔγνωσαν</w>.
<w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenoi">χρώμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fa%7C">βίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proteqe%5Cn">προτεθὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%29o%2Fmenoi">οἰόμενοι</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="e%29pitelei%3Dn">ἐπιτελεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="doca%2Fntwn">δοξάντων</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="katorqou%3Dsi">κατορθοῦσι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fn">ὁρμήν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tisi%5C">τισὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds">προφανῶς</w> <w lemma="sfa%2Fllontai">σφάλλονται</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flist%27">μάλιστ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpous">ἀνθρώπους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frga">ἔργα</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="katorqou%3Dsi">κατορθοῦσι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fous">παραπλησίους</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fa%7C">βίᾳ</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spani%2Fws">σπανίως</w> <w lemma="a%29potugxa%2Fnousi:">ἀποτυγχάνουσι·</w>
<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fxon">περιέχον</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="paraba%2Fllwntai">παραβάλλωνται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="biaiomaxw%3Dsi">βιαιομαχῶσι</w>, <w lemma="mega%2Flois">μεγάλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29lattw%2Fmasi">ἐλαττώμασι</w> <w lemma="peripi%2Fptousin">περιπίπτουσιν</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumbh%2Fsetai">συμβήσεται</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsxein">πάσχειν</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="diorqw%2Fswntai">διορθώσωνται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="to%2Flman">τόλμαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fan">βίαν</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fontai">οἴονται</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="plwto%5Cn">πλωτὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poreuto%2Fn">πορευτόν</w>.
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<head>The Roman Fleet Wrecked</head>The passage was effected in safety, and the coast of Camarina was reached: but there they experienced so terrible a storm, and suffered so dreadfully, as almost to beggar description.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note109">The fleet is lost in a storm.</note>The disaster was indeed extreme: for out of their three hundred and sixty-four vessels eighty only remained. The rest were either swamped or driven by the surf upon the rocks and headlands, where they went to pieces and filled all the seaboard with corpses and wreckage. No greater catastrophe is to be found in all history as befalling a fleet at one time. And for this Fortune was not so much to blame as the commanders themselves. They had been warned again and again by the pilots not to steer along the southern coast of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> facing the Libyan sea, because it was exposed and yielded no safe anchorage; and because, of the two dangerous constellations, one had not yet set and the other was on the point of rising (for their voyage fell between the rising of Orion and that of the Dog Star).<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note110">Between June 28 and July 26.</note>Yet they<pb n="43" />attended to none of these warnings; but, intoxicated by their recent success, were anxious to capture certain cities as they coasted along, and in pursuance of this idea thoughtlessly exposed themselves to the full fury of the open sea. As far as these particular men were concerned, the disaster which they brought upon themselves in the pursuit of trivial advantages convinced them of the folly of their conduct. But it is a peculiarity of the Roman people as a whole to treat everything as a question of main strength; to consider that they must of course accomplish whatever they have proposed to themselves; and that nothing is impossible that they have once determined upon. The result of such self-confidence is that in many things they do succeed, while in some few they conspicuously fail, and especially at sea. On land it is against men only and their works that they have to direct their efforts: and as the forces against which they exert their strength do not differ intrinsically from their own, as a general rule they succeed; while their failures are exceptional and rare. But to contend with the sea and sky is to fight against a force immeasurably superior to their own: and when they trust to an exertion of sheer strength in such a contest the disasters which they meet with are signal. This is what they experienced on the present occasion: they have often experienced it since; and will continue to do so, as long as they maintain their headstrong and foolhardy notion that any season of the year admits of sailing as well as marching.
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Walbank Commentary