<w lemma="a%29polipo%2Fntes">ἀπολιπόντες</w> <w lemma="fulakh%5Cn">φυλακὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>. <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qerei%2Fas">θερείας</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="katastaqe%2Fntes">κατασταθέντες</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frxontes">ἄρχοντες</w> <w lemma="%2Agna%2Fios">Γνάιος</w> <w lemma="%2Aseroui%2Flios">Σερουίλιος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fios">Γάιος</w> <w lemma="%2Asemprw%2Fnios">Σεμπρώνιος</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fpleusan">ἀνέπλευσαν</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flw%7C">στόλῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Frantes">διάραντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29fw%2Frmhsan">ἀφώρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w>.
<w lemma="komizo%2Fmenoi">κομιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstas">πλείστας</w> <w lemma="a%29poba%2Fseis">ἀποβάσεις</w>. <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%3Ds">αἷς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29cio%2Flogon">ἀξιόλογον</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttontes">πράττοντες</w> <w lemma="paregi%2Fnonto">παρεγίνοντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alwtofa%2Fgwn">Λωτοφάγων</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5C">ἣ</w> <w lemma="kalei%3Dtai">καλεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Amh%3Dnigc">Μῆνιγξ</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxei">ἀπέχει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="mikra%3Ds">μικρᾶς</w> <w lemma="%2Asu%2Frtews">Σύρτεως</w>.
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntes">προσπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="bra%2Fxea">βράχεα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29peiri%2Fan">ἀπειρίαν</w>, <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="a%29mpw%2Ftews">ἀμπώτεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqisa%2Fntwn">καθισάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dlqon">ἦλθον</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nelpi%2Fstws">ἀνελπίστως</w> <w lemma="meta%2F">μετά</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29penexqei%2Fshs">ἐπενεχθείσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>, <w lemma="e%29kri%2Fyantes">ἐκρίψαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Frh">βάρη</w> <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29kou%2Ffisan">ἐκούφισαν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>.
<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="fugh%3D%7C">φυγῇ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="e%29poih%2Fsanto">ἐποιήσαντο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fploun">ἀπόπλουν</w>. <w lemma="a%28ya%2Fmenoi">ἁψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fmyantes">κάμψαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilu%2Fbaion">Λιλύβαιον</w> <w lemma="kaqwrmi%2Fsqhsan">καθωρμίσθησαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fnormon">Πάνορμον</w>.
<w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Frou">πόρου</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fpeson">περιέπεσον</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dni">χειμῶνι</w> <w lemma="thlikou%2Ftw%7C">τηλικούτῳ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="a%29pobalei%3Dn">ἀποβαλεῖν</w>. <w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmh%7C">Ῥώμῃ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntwn">συμβάντων</w>,
<w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="filo%2Ftimoi">φιλότιμοι</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumptwma%2Ftwn">συμπτωμάτων</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="a%28qroi%2Fzein">ἁθροίζειν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkasqe%2Fntes">ἀναγκασθέντες</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsthsan">ἀπέστησαν</w>,
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="pezikai%3Ds">πεζικαῖς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28poloi%2Fpous">ὑπολοίπους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="strathgou%5Cs">στρατηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fstellon">ἀπέστελλον</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkion">Λεύκιον</w> <w lemma="%2Akaiki%2Flion">Καικίλιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fion">Γάιον</w> <w lemma="%2Afou%2Frion">Φούριον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%28ch%2Fkonta">ἑξήκοντα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29plh%2Frwsan">ἐπλήρωσαν</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%5Cs">ἀγορὰς</w> <w lemma="komi%2Fzein">κομίζειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w>.
<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnwn">εἰρημένων</w> <w lemma="peripeteiw%3Dn">περιπετειῶν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikude%2Fstera">ἐπικυδέστερα</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w>.
<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="a%29dew%3Ds">ἀδεῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pekra%2Ftoun">ἐπεκράτουν</w> <w lemma="e%29kkexwrhko%2Ftwn">ἐκκεχωρηκότων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="pezikai%3Ds">πεζικαῖς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpasxon">ἔπασχον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgws:">ἀλόγως·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w>, <w lemma="diadoqei%2Fshs">διαδοθείσης</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmhs">φήμης</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fh%7C">Λιβύῃ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="diaspa%2Fsai">διασπάσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="diafqei%2Frai">διαφθείραι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>,
<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="kata%2Ffoboi">κατάφοβοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Ffantas">ἐλέφαντας</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29niautou%5Cs">ἐνιαυτοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilubaii%2Ftidi">Λιλυβαιίτιδι</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fra%7C">χώρᾳ</w>, <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aselinounti%2Fa%7C">Σελινουντίᾳ</w> <w lemma="paratatto%2Fmenoi">παραταττόμενοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cc">ἓξ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fois">σταδίοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29qa%2Frrhsan">ἐθάρρησαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="kata%2Frcai">κατάρξαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28malou%5Cs">ὁμαλοὺς</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="sugkatabh%3Dnai">συγκαταβῆναι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="dedio%2Ftes">δεδιότες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lefa%2Fntwn">ἐλεφάντων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>.
<w lemma="%2Aqe%2Frman">Θέρμαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alipa%2Fran">Λιπάραν</w> <w lemma="e%29cepolio%2Frkhsan">ἐξεπολιόρκησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29ntexo%2Fmenoi">ἀντεχόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29reinw%3Dn">ὀρεινῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusdiaba%2Ftwn">δυσδιαβάτων</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pezikoi%3Ds">πεζικοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="ptoi%2Fan">πτοίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="duselpisti%2Fan">δυσελπιστίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnwsan">ἔγνωσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="metamelei%2Fas">μεταμελείας</w> <w lemma="a%29ntilamba%2Fnesqai">ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katasth%2Fsantes">καταστήσαντες</w> <w lemma="strathgou%5Cs">στρατηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fion">Γάιον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ati%2Flion">Ἀτίλιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkion">Λεύκιον</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Flion">Μάλιον</w> <w lemma="nauphgou%3Dntai">ναυπηγοῦνται</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="ska%2Ffh">σκάφη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fgrafon">κατέγραφον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqroizon">συνήθροιζον</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w>.
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<head>The Carthaginians Prosperous</head>But next summer the new Consuls Gnaeus Servilius<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note113">B. C. 253. Coss. Gn. Servilius Caepio G. Sempronius Blaesus.</note>and Gaius Sempronius put again to sea with their full strength, and after touching at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> started thence for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>. There, as they coasted along the shore, they made a great number of descents upon the country without accomplishing anything of importance in any of them. At length they came to the island of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lotophagi&groupId=698&placeId=1279">Lotophagi</a> called Mēnix, which is not far from the Lesser Syrtis. There, from ignorance of the waters, they ran upon some shallows; the tide receded, their ships went aground, and they were in extreme peril. However,<pb n="45" />after a while the tide unexpectedly flowed back again, and by dint of throwing overboard all their heavy goods they just managed to float the ships. After this their return voyage was more like a flight than anything else. When they reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> and had made the promontory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a> they cast anchor at Panormus. Thence they weighed anchor for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, and rashly ventured upon the open sea-line as the shortest; but while on their voyage they once more encountered so terrible a storm that they lost more than a hundred and fifty ships.The Romans after this misfortune, though they are eminently persistent in carrying out their undertakings, yet owing to the severity and frequency<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note114">B. C. 252.</note>of their disasters, now yielded to the force of circumstances and refrained from constructing another fleet.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note115">B. C. 251. Coss. Lucius Caecilius Metellus, G. Furius Pacilus.</note>All the hopes still left to them they rested upon their land forces: and, accordingly, they despatched the Consuls Lucius Caecilius and Gaius Furius with their legions to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>; but they only manned sixty ships to carry provisions for the legions. The fortunes of the Carthaginians had in their turn considerably improved owing to the catastrophes I have described. They now commanded the sea without let or hindrance, since the Romans had abandoned it; while in their land forces their hopes were high. Nor was it unreasonable that it should be so. The account of the battle in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> had reached the ears of the Romans: they had heard that the elephants had broken their ranks and had killed the large part of those that fell: and they were in such terror of them, that though during two years running after that time they had on many occasions, in the territory either of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a> or Selinus, found themselves in order of battle within five or six stades of the enemy, they never plucked up courage to begin an attack, or in fact to come down upon level ground at all, all because of their fear of an elephant charge.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note116">B. C. 252-251.</note>And in these two seasons all they did was to reduce Therma and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lipara&groupId=692&placeId=1266">Lipara</a> by siege, keeping close all the while to mountainous districts and such as were difficult to cross. The timidity and want of confidence thus displayed<pb n="46" />by their land forces induced the Roman government to change their minds and once more to attempt success at sea.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note117">B. C. 250.</note>Accordingly, in the second consulship of Caius Atilius and Lucius Manlius, we find them ordering fifty ships to be built, enrolling sailors and energetically collecting a naval armament.
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Walbank Commentary