<w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>. <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fqw">Μάθω</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aspe%2Fndion">Σπένδιον</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dtton">ἧττον</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3Dsqai">πολιορκεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbainen">συνέβαινεν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3Dn">πολιορκεῖν</w>.
<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkan">Ἀμίλκαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndeian">ἔνδειαν</w> <w lemma="kaqi%2Fstasan">καθίστασαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkasqh%3Dnai">ἀναγκασθῆναι</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="dialu%3Dsai">διαλῦσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>.
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="a%28qroi%2Fsantes">ἁθροίσαντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fstous">ἀρίστους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fwn">Λιβύων</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pentakismuri%2Fous">πεντακισμυρίους</w>, <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aza%2Frzas">Ζάρζας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbus">Λίβυς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="tattome%2Fnous">ταττομένους</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipara%2Fgein">ἀντιπαράγειν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrois">ὑπαίθροις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkan">Ἀμίλκαν</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="pedinw%3Dn">πεδινῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="a%29pei%2Fxonto">ἀπείχοντο</w>, <w lemma="katapeplhgme%2Fnoi">καταπεπληγμένοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Anarau%2Fan">Ναραύαν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29reinou%5Cs">ὀρεινοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stenou%5Cs">στενοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29peirw%3Dnto">ἐπειρῶντο</w> <w lemma="prokatalamba%2Fnein">προκαταλαμβάνειν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmais">τόλμαις</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpesqai">λείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29peiri%2Fan">ἀπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="e%29lattou%3Dsqai">ἐλαττοῦσθαι</w>.
<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Foike">ἔοικε</w>, <w lemma="sunidei%3Dn">συνιδεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%2Fas">ἀληθείας</w> <w lemma="phli%2Fkhn">πηλίκην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fa">ἐμπειρία</w> <w lemma="meqodikh%5C">μεθοδικὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strathgikh%5C">στρατηγικὴ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamis">δύναμις</w> <w lemma="a%29peiri%2Fas">ἀπειρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tribh%3Ds">τριβῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgou">ἀλόγου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stratiwtikh%3Ds">στρατιωτικῆς</w>.
<w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fais">χρείαις</w> <w lemma="a%29potemno%2Fmenos">ἀποτεμνόμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugklei%2Fwn">συγκλείων</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqo%5Cs">ἀγαθὸς</w> <w lemma="petteuth%5Cs">πεττευτὴς</w> <w lemma="a%29maxei%5C">ἀμαχεὶ</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeire">διέφθειρε</w>,
<w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28losxere%2Fsi">ὁλοσχερέσι</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnois">κινδύνοις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fdras">ἐνέδρας</w> <w lemma="a%29nuponoh%2Ftous">ἀνυπονοήτους</w> <w lemma="e%29pago%2Fmenos">ἐπαγόμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2F%7Crei">ἀνῄρει</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nelpi%2Fstws">ἀνελπίστως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws">παραδόξως</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fktwr">νύκτωρ</w> <w lemma="e%29pifaino%2Fmenos">ἐπιφαινόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fplhtten:">ἐξέπληττεν·</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsous">ὅσους</w> <w lemma="la%2Fboi">λάβοι</w> <w lemma="zwgri%2Fa%7C">ζωγρίᾳ</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fballe">παρέβαλλε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fois">θηρίοις</w>.
<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pistratopedeu%2Fsas">ἐπιστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nuponoh%2Ftws">ἀνυπονοήτως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="a%29fue%2Fsi">ἀφυέσι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29fue%2Fsi">εὐφυέσι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fgage">ἤγαγε</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsews">περιστάσεως</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dntas">τολμῶντας</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29podra%3Dnai">ἀποδρᾶναι</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnous">δυναμένους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrw%7C">τάφρῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraki">χάρακι</w> <w lemma="perieilh%3Dfqai">περιειλῆφθαι</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="limou%3D">λιμοῦ</w> <w lemma="sunagome%2Fnous">συναγομένους</w> <w lemma="e%29sqi%2Fein">ἐσθίειν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkasqh%3Dnai">ἀναγκασθῆναι</w>,
<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="daimoni%2Fou">δαιμονίου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29moibh%5Cn">ἀμοιβὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pife%2Frontos">ἐπιφέροντος</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flas">πέλας</w> <w lemma="a%29sebei%2Fa%7C">ἀσεβείᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paranomi%2Fa%7C">παρανομίᾳ</w>.
<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29to%2Flmwn">ἐτόλμων</w> <w lemma="e%29cie%2Fnai">ἐξιέναι</w>, <w lemma="prodh%2Flou">προδήλου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Ftths">ἥττης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="timwri%2Fas">τιμωρίας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%28liskome%2Fnois">ἁλισκομένοις</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fsews">διαλύσεως</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28peno%2Foun">ὑπενόουν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhn">μνήμην</w>, <w lemma="suneido%2Ftes">συνειδότες</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pepragme%2Fna">πεπραγμένα</w>.
<w lemma="prosane%2Fxontes">προσανέχοντες</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Atu%2Fnhtos">Τύνητος</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fais">βοηθείαις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnwn">ἡγουμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29paggeli%2Fas">ἐπαγγελίας</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fmenon">ὑπέμενον</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>.
|
<head>Hamilcar's Tactical Superiority</head>The assistance thus obtained from these allies encouraged the Carthaginians to maintain their resistance: while Mathōs and Spendius found themselves quite as much in the position of besieged as in that of besiegers; for Hamilcar's force reduced them to such distress for provisions that they<pb n="94" />were at last compelled to raise the siege.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note198">B. C. 238. Hamilcar, with assistance from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, surrounds Mathōs and Spendius.</note>However, after a short interval, they managed to muster the most effective of the mercenaries and Libyans, to the number in all of fifty thousand, among whom, besides others, was Zarzas the Libyan, with his division, and commenced once more to watch and follow on the flank of Hamilcar's march. Their method was to keep away from the level country, for fear of the elephants and the cavalry of Narávas; but to seize in advance of him all points of vantage, whether it were rising ground or narrow pass. In these operations they showed themselves quite a match for their opponents in the fury of their assault and the gallantry of their attempts; but their ignorance of military tactics frequently placed them at a disadvantage. It was, in fact, a real and practical illustration of the difference between scientific and unscientific warfare: between the art of a general and the mechanical movements of a soldier. Like a good draught-player, by isolating and surrounding them, he destroyed large numbers in detail without coming to a general engagement at all; and in movements of more importance he cut off many without resistance by enticing them into ambushes; while he threw others into utter dismay by suddenly appearing where they least expected him, sometimes by day and sometimes by night: and all whom he took alive he threw to the elephants. Finally, he managed unexpectedly to beleaguer them on ground highly unfavourable to them and convenient for his own force; and reduced them to such a pitch of distress that, neither venturing to risk an engagement nor being able to run away, because they were entirely surrounded by a trench and stockade, they were at last compelled by starvation to feed on each other: a fitting retribution at the hands of Providence for their violation of all laws human and divine in their conduct to their enemies. To sally forth to an engagement they did not dare, for certain defeat stared them in the face, and they knew what vengeance awaited them if they were taken; and as to making terms, it never occurred to them to mention it, they were conscious that they had gone too far for that. They still hoped for the arrival of relief from Tunes, of which their<pb n="95" />officers assured them, and accordingly shrank from no suffering however terrible.
|
Walbank Commentary