Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 58

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<w lemma="%2Aou%29">Οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqo%5Cs">ἀγαθὸς</w> <w lemma="brabeuth%5Cs">βραβευτὴς</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh">τύχη</w> <w lemma="metabiba%2Fsasa">μεταβιβάσασα</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="prou+pa%2Frxontos">προϋπάρχοντος</w> <w lemma="a%29qlh%2Fmatos">ἀθλήματος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="parabolw%2Fteron">παραβολώτερον</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnisma">ἀγώνισμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttw">ἐλάττω</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fkleisen">συνέκλεισεν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkas">Ἀμίλκας</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Feruka">Ἔρυκα</w> <w lemma="throu%2Fntwn">τηρούντων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="korufh%3Ds">κορυφῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="r%28i%2Fzan">ῥίζαν</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpomen">εἴπομεν</w>, <w lemma="katela%2Fbeto">κατελάβετο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29eruki%2Fnwn">Ἐρυκίνων</w>, <w lemma="h%28%2Ftis">ἥτις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="korufh%3Ds">κορυφῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="r%28i%2Fzh%7C">ῥίζῃ</w> <w lemma="stratopedeusa%2Fntwn">στρατοπεδευσάντων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnein">ὑπομένειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="poliorkoume%2Fnous">πολιορκουμένους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="korufh%5Cn">κορυφὴν</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxontas">κατέχοντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="a%29pi%2Fstws">ἀπίστως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="a%29nte%2Fxein">ἀντέχειν</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="proskeime%2Fnwn">προσκειμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xorhgiw%3Dn">χορηγιῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="parakomizome%2Fnwn">παρακομιζομένων</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsodon">πρόσοδον</w> <w lemma="a%29ntexome%2Fnois">ἀντεχομένοις</w>.
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<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="e%29ntau%3Dqa">ἐνταῦθα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsais">πάσαις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="poliorkhtikai%3Ds">πολιορκητικαῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fais">ἐπινοίαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fais">βίαις</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="e%29ndei%2Fas">ἐνδείας</w> <w lemma="a%29nasxo%2Fmenoi">ἀνασχόμενοι</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29piqe%2Fsews">ἐπιθέσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w>,
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<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="%2Afa%2Fbio%2Fs">Φάβιός</w> <w lemma="fhsin">φησιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29cadunatou%3Dntes">ἐξαδυνατοῦντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="perikakou%3Dntes">περικακοῦντες</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29paqei%3Ds">ἀπαθεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29h%2Ftthtoi%2F">ἀήττητοί</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndres">ἄνδρες</w> <w lemma="i%28ero%5Cn">ἱερὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsan">ἐποίησαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ste%2Ffanon">στέφανον</w>.
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<w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> '<w lemma="kei%2Fnous">κείνους</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pikrath%3Dsai">ἐπικρατῆσαι</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fth">ἔτη</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpw%7C">τόπῳ</w> <w lemma="diagwnisame%2Fnous">διαγωνισαμένους</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllou">ἄλλου</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpou">τρόπου</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fsin">κρίσιν</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ata%5C">Τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Feruka">Ἔρυκα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pezika%5Cs">πεζικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxe">ἔσχε</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w>. <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmat%27">πολιτεύματ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frwn">ἀμφοτέρων</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxomaxou%3Dsi">ψυχομαχοῦσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29genw%3Dn">εὐγενῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29rni%2Fqwn">ὀρνίθων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnoi%2F">ἐκεῖνοί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="a%29polwleko%2Ftes">ἀπολωλεκότες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pte%2Frugas">πτέρυγας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29dunami%2Fan">ἀδυναμίαν</w>, <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="yuxh%3D%7C">ψυχῇ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnontes">μένοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29kba%2Fllousi">ἐκβάλλουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="plhga%2Fs">πληγάς</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="au%29toma%2Ftws">αὐτομάτως</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="peripeso%2Fntes">περιπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairi%2Fws">καιρίως</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="diadra%2Fcwntai">διαδράξωνται</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="sumbh%3D%7C">συμβῇ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="propesei%3Dn:">προπεσεῖν·</w>
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<w lemma="oi%28%2F">οἵ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fmnontes">κάμνοντες</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fnois">πόνοις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxeian">συνέχειαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2Flgoun">ἀπήλγουν</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="parele%2Flunto">παρελέλυντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parei%3Dnto">παρεῖντο</w>
<head>Hamilcar Besieges the Romans at Eryx</head>Presently however Fortune, acting like a good umpire in<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note148">Siege of Eryx, B. C. 244.</note>the games, transferred them by a bold stroke from the locality just described, and the contest in which they were engaged, to a struggle of greater danger and a locality of narrower dimensions. The Romans, as we have said, were in occupation of the summit of Eryx, and had a guard stationed at its foot. But Hamilcar managed to seize the town which lay between these two spots. There ensued a siege of the Romans who were on the summit, supported by them with extraordinary hardihood and adventurous daring: while the Carthaginians, finding themselves between two hostile armies, and their supplies brought to them with difficulty, because they were in communication with the sea at only one point and by one road, yet held out with a determination that passes belief. Every contrivance which skill or force could sustain did they put in use against each other, as before; every imaginable privation was submitted to; surprises and pitched battles were alike tried: and finally they left the combat a drawn one, not, as Fabius says, from utter weakness and misery, but like men still unbroken and unconquered. The fact is that before either party had got completely the better of the other, though they had maintained the conflict for another two years, the war happened to be decided in quite a different manner.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note149">B. C. 243-242.</note>Such was the state of affairs at Eryx and with the forces<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note150">The obstinate persistence of the Romans and Carthaginians.</note>employed there. The two nations engaged were like well-bred game-cocks that fight to their last gasp. You may see them often, when too weak to use their wings, yet full of pluck to the end, and striking again and again. Finally, chance brings them the opportunity of once more grappling, and they hold on until one or other of them drops down dead.<pb n="67" />