Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 75

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<w lemma="%2Adio%2Fper">Διόπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzonta">χειρίζοντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkan">Ἀμίλκαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikalou%2Fmenon">ἐπικαλούμενον</w> <w lemma="%2Aba%2Frkan">Βάρκαν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="proesth%2Fsanto">προεστήσαντο</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpempon">ἐξέπεμπον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%3Dta">ἐνεστῶτα</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="strathgo%2Fn">στρατηγόν</w>, <w lemma="do%2Fntes">δόντες</w> <w lemma="e%28bdomh%2Fkonta">ἑβδομήκοντα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Ffantas">ἐλέφαντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pisunhgme%2Fnous">ἐπισυνηγμένους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="hu%29tomolhko%2Ftas">ηὐτομοληκότας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="politikou%5Cs">πολιτικοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pezou%2Fs">πεζούς</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpantas">σύμπαντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fthn">πρώτην</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="kataplhca%2Fmenos">καταπληξάμενος</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcw%7C">παραδόξῳ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Ftthse">ἥττησε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="yuxa%5Cs">ψυχὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fluse">ἔλυσε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itu%2Fkhs">Ἰτύκης</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29fa%2Fnh">ἐφάνη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcios">ἄξιος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqei">πλήθει</w> <w lemma="prosdoki%2Fas">προσδοκίας</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="praxqe%5Cn">πραχθὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w>. <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gewlo%2Ffwn">γεωλόφων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pizeugnu%2Fntwn">ἐπιζευγνύντων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29xe%2Fna">αὐχένα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fptonta">συνάπτοντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fna">Καρχηδόνα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="dusba%2Ftwn">δυσβάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xeiropoih%2Ftous">χειροποιήτους</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="diekbola%5Cs">διεκβολὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fqw">Μάθω</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffwn">λόφων</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frws">εὐκαίρως</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnous">κειμένους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="fulakai%3Ds">φυλακαῖς</w> <w lemma="dieilhfe%2Fnai">διειληφέναι</w>,
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnou">προσαγορευομένου</w> <w lemma="%2Amaka%2Fra">Μακάρα</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w> <w lemma="diei%2Frgontos">διείργοντος</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmatos">ῥεύματος</w> <w lemma="a%29ba%2Ftou">ἀβάτου</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxontos">ὑπάρχοντος</w>, <w lemma="mia%3Ds">μιᾶς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="gefu%2Fras">γεφύρας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="di%2Fodon">δίοδον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w>, <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="w%29%7Ckodomhko%2Ftas">ᾠκοδομηκότας</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdw%7C">στρατοπέδῳ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibai%2Fnein">ἐπιβαίνειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="qe%2Flontas">θέλοντας</w> <w lemma="diapesei%3Dn">διαπεσεῖν</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="laqei%3Dn">λαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="ble%2Fpwn">βλέπων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkas">Ἀμίλκας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmatos">πράγματος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnwn">λαμβάνων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dusxrhstei%3Dn">δυσχρηστεῖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="dienoh%2Fqh">διενοήθη</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="e%29kbolh%5Cn">ἐκβολὴν</w> <w lemma="sunqewrh%2Fsas">συνθεωρήσας</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fmwn">ἀνέμων</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fseis">στάσεις</w> <w lemma="a%29poqinou%2Fmenon">ἀποθινούμενον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fma">στόμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tenagw%2Fdh">τεναγώδη</w> <w lemma="ginome%2Fnhn">γινομένην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fma">στόμα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Frodon">πάροδον</w>, <w lemma="poih%2Fsas">ποιήσας</w> <w lemma="eu%29treph%3D">εὐτρεπῆ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdw%7C">στρατοπέδῳ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kru%2Fptwn">κρύπτων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29th%2Frei">ἐτήρει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmptwma">σύμπτωμα</w>.
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<w lemma="parapeso%2Fntos">παραπεσόντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w>, <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29cormh%2Fsas">ἐξορμήσας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqe">ἔλαθε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="fwti%5C">φωτὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="diabiba%2Fsas">διαβιβάσας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>.
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<w lemma="parado%2Fcou">παραδόξου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmatos">πράγματος</w> <w lemma="fane%2Fntos">φανέντος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkas">Ἀμίλκας</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dgen">προῆγεν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fou">πεδίου</w>, <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w>
<head>Hamilcar Barcas Becomes Commander in Chief</head>The Carthaginians, therefore, when they saw his mismanagement of the campaign, once more placed<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note184">Hamilcar Barcas takes the command.</note>Hamilcar Barcas at the head of affairs; and despatched him to the war as commander-in-chief, with seventy elephants, the newly-collected mercenaries, and the deserters from the enemy; and along with them the cavalry and infantry enrolled from the citizens themselves,<pb n="84" />amounting in all to ten thousand men. His appearance from the first produced an immediate impression. The expedition was unexpected; and he was thus able, by the dismay which it produced, to lower the courage of the enemy. He succeeded in raising the siege of Utica, and showed himself worthy of his former achievements, and of the confidence felt in him by the people. What he accomplished on this service was this.A chain of hills runs along the isthmus connecting Carthage<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note185">He gets his men across the Macaras.</note>with the mainland, which are difficult of access, and are crossed by artificial passes into the mainland; of these hills Mathōs had occupied all the available points and posted guards there. Besides these there is a river called Macaras (Bagradas), which at certain points interrupts the passage of travellers from the city to the mainland, and though for the most part impassable, owing to the strength of its stream, is only crossed by one bridge. This means of egress also Mathōs was guarding securely, and had built a town on it. The result was that, to say nothing of the Carthaginians entering the mainland with an army, it was rendered exceedingly difficult even for private individuals, who might wish to make their way through, to elude the vigilance of the enemy. This did not escape the observation and care of Hamilcar; and while revolving every means and every chance of putting an end to this difficulty about a passage, he at length hit upon the following. He observed that where the river discharges itself into the sea its mouth got silted up in certain positions of the wind, and that then the passage over the river at its mouth became like that over a marsh. He accordingly got everything ready in the camp for the expedition, without telling any one what he was going to do; and then watched for this state of things to occur. When the right moment arrived, he started under cover of night; and by daybreak had, without being observed by any one, got his army across this place, to the surprise of the citizens of Utica as well as of the enemy. Marching across the plain, he led his men straight against the enemy who were guarding the bridge.