<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fnoian">ὑπόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntos">προσπεσόντος</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pepleuke%2Fnai">πεπλευκέναι</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flw%7C">στόλῳ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoiei%3Dsqai">ἀντιποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>, <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="kath%2Frtizon">κατήρτιζον</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>,
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plhrw%2Fsantes">πληρώσαντες</w> <w lemma="si%2Ftou">σίτου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpempon">ἐξέπεμπον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29llei%2Fpein">ἐλλείπειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Feruka">Ἔρυκα</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpeda">στρατόπεδα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fwn">ἀναγκαίων</w>.
<w lemma="kate%2Fsthsan">κατέστησαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nautikh%3Ds">ναυτικῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna:">Ἄννωνα·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="a%29naxqei%5Cs">ἀναχθεὶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fras">κατάρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28iera%5Cn">Ἱερὰν</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnhn">καλουμένην</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fspeude">ἔσπευδε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="laqw%5Cn">λαθὼν</w> <w lemma="diakomisqh%3Dnai">διακομισθῆναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</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="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%5Cs">ἀγορὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29poqe%2Fsqai">ἀποθέσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koufi%2Fsai">κουφίσαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>, <w lemma="proslabw%5Cn">προσλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Ftas">ἐπιβάτας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fous">ἐπιτηδείους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aba%2Frkan">Βάρκαν</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="summi%2Fsgein">συμμίσγειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aluta%2Ftios">Λυτάτιος</w> <w lemma="sunei%5Cs">συνεὶς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna">Ἄννωνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullogisa%2Fmenos">συλλογισάμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pezou%3D">πεζοῦ</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fmatos">στρατεύματος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fstous">ἀρίστους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpleuse">ἔπλευσε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29gou%3Dssan">Αἰγοῦσσαν</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilubai%2Fou">Λιλυβαίου</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnhn">κειμένην</w>.
<w lemma="ka%29ntau%3Dqa">κἀνταῦθα</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fponta">πρέποντα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="diesa%2Ffei">διεσάφει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kubernh%2Ftais">κυβερνήταις</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnhs">ἐσομένης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Frion">αὔριον</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fas">ναυμαχίας</w>.
<w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28wqinh%2Fn">ἑωθινήν</w>, <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="u%28pofainou%2Fshs">ὑποφαινούσης</w>, <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fois">ἐναντίοις</w> <w lemma="foro%5Cn">φορὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnemon">ἄνεμον</w> <w lemma="katarre%2Fonta">καταρρέοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lampro%2Fn">λαμπρόν</w>, <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dusxerh%3D">δυσχερῆ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fploun">ἀνάπλουν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29nti%2Fon">ἀντίον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pneu%3Dma">πνεῦμα</w>, <w lemma="koi%2Flhs">κοίλης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="traxei%2Fas">τραχείας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="dihpo%2Frei">διηπόρει</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="parou%3Dsi">παροῦσι</w>.
<w lemma="sullogizo%2Fmenos">συλλογιζόμενος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="paraba%2Fllhtai">παραβάλληται</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dnos">χειμῶνος</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntos">ὄντος</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fannwna">Ἄννωνα</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsetai">ποιήσεται</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dna">ἀγῶνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nautika%5Cs">ναυτικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fmonta">γέμοντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ska%2Ffh">σκάφη</w>,
<w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="thrw%3Dn">τηρῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29di%2Fan">εὐδίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katame%2Fllwn">καταμέλλων</w> <w lemma="e%29a%2Fsh%7C">ἐάσῃ</w> <w lemma="dia%3Drai">διᾶραι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summi%3Dcai">συμμῖξαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w>, <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="eu%29kinh%2Ftous">εὐκινήτους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kekoufisme%2Fnas">κεκουφισμένας</w> <w lemma="a%29gwniei%3Dtai">ἀγωνιεῖται</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fstous">ἀρίστους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pezou%3D">πεζοῦ</w> <w lemma="strateuma%2Ftwn">στρατευμάτων</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkou">Ἀμίλκου</w> <w lemma="to%2Flman">τόλμαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="foberw%2Fteron:">φοβερώτερον·</w>
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrine">ἔκρινε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="parei%3Dnai">παρεῖναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%3Dta">ἐνεστῶτα</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn:">καιρόν·</w> <w lemma="sunidw%5Cn">συνιδὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="i%28stiodromou%2Fsas">ἱστιοδρομούσας</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fgeto">ἀνήγετο</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3Ds">σπουδῆς</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plhrwma%2Ftwn">πληρωμάτων</w> <w lemma="eu%29xerw%3Ds">εὐχερῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29nafero%2Fntwn">ἀναφερόντων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="klu%2Fdwna">κλύδωνα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%29eci%2Fais">εὐεξίαις</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ktei%2Fnas">ἐκτείνας</w> <w lemma="nau%3Dn">ναῦν</w> <w lemma="a%29nti%2Fprwr">ἀντίπρωρ</w>
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<head>Battle of the Aegusian Islands</head>That the Romans should have a fleet afloat once more,<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note153">The Carthaginians send Hanno with a fleet.</note>and be again bidding for the mastery at sea, was a contingency wholly unexpected by the Carthaginians. They at once set about fitting out their ships, loaded them with corn and other provisions, and despatched their fleet: determined that their troops round Eryx should not run short of necessary provisions. Hanno, who was appointed to command the fleet, put to sea and arrived at the island called Holy Isle. He was eager as soon as possible, if he could escape the observation of the enemy, to get across to Eryx; disembark his stores; and having thus lightened his ships, take on board as marines those of the mercenary troops who were suitable to the service, and Barcas with them; and not to engage the enemy until he had thus reinforced himself. But Lutatius was informed of the arrival of Hanno's squadron, and correctly interpreted their design. He at once took on board the best soldiers of his army, and crossed to the Island of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Aegusa&groupId=291&placeId=573">Aegusa</a>, which lies directly opposite <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a>. There he addressed his forces some words suitable to the occasion, and gave full instructions to the pilots, with the understanding that a battle was to be fought on the morrow.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note154">10th March B. C. 241. A strong breeze is blowing.</note>At daybreak the next morning Lutatius found that a strong breeze had sprung up on the stern of the enemy, and that an advance towards them in the teeth of it would be difficult for his ships. The sea too was rough and boisterous: and for a while he could not make up his mind what he had<pb n="69" />better do in the circumstances. Finally, however, he was decided by the following considerations. If he boarded the enemy's fleet during the continuance of the storm, he would only have to contend with Hanno, and the levies of sailors which he had on board, before they could be reinforced by the troops, and with ships which were still heavily laden with stores: but if he waited for calm weather, and allowed the enemy to get across and unite with their land forces, he would then have to contend with ships lightened of their burden, and therefore in a more navigable condition, and against the picked men of the land forces; and what was more formidable than anything else, against the determined bravery of Hamilcar.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note155">Lutatius however decides to fight.</note>He made up his mind, therefore, not to let the present opportunity slip; and when he saw the enemy's ships crowding sail, he put to sea with all speed. The rowers, from their excellent physical condition, found no difficulty in overcoming the heavy sea, and Lutatius soon got his fleet into single line with prows directed to the foe.
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Walbank Commentary