<w lemma="%2Atou%3D">Τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pursei%2Fas">πυρσείας</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnous">γένους</w>, <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="parexome%2Fnou">παρεχομένου</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemikoi%3Ds">πολεμικοῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29nerga%2Fstou">ἀνεργάστου</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxontos">ὑπάρχοντος</w>, <w lemma="xrh%2Fsimon">χρήσιμον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai%2F">εἶναί</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="paradramei%3Dn">παραδραμεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzousan">ἁρμόζουσαν</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhn">μνήμην</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cs">καιρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fda">μερίδα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>, <w lemma="megi%2Fsthn">μεγίστην</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemikoi%3Ds">πολεμικοῖς</w>, <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon:">δῆλον·</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="sunagwnisma%2Ftwn">συναγωνισμάτων</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fsthn">πλείστην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi">ἔχουσι</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pursoi%2F">πυρσοί</w>.
<w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgone">γέγονε</w>, <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergei%3Dtai">ἐνεργεῖται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="me%2Flei">μέλει</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28merw%3Dn">ἡμερῶν</w> <w lemma="triw%3Dn">τριῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tetta%2Frwn">τεττάρων</w> <w lemma="o%28do%5Cn">ὁδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxonti">ἀπέχοντι</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w>.
<w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="deome%2Fnois">δεομένοις</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikouri%2Fas">ἐπικουρίας</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdocon">παράδοξον</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="boh%2Fqeian">βοήθειαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pursw%3Dn">πυρσῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29paggeli%2Fas">ἀπαγγελίας</w>.
<w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="a%28plh%3Ds">ἁπλῆς</w> <w lemma="ginome%2Fnhs">γινομένης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pursei%2Fas">πυρσείας</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nwfelh%3D">ἀνωφελῆ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnois">χρωμένοις</w>.
<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sunqhma%2Ftwn">συνθημάτων</w> <w lemma="w%28risme%2Fnwn">ὡρισμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="suntelei%3Dn:">συντελεῖν·</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29ori%2Fstwn">ἀορίστων</w> <w lemma="u%28parxo%2Fntwn">ὑπαρχόντων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dsta">πλεῖστα</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffuge">διέφυγε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pursw%3Dn">πυρσῶν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnwn">εἰρημένων</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29wreo%5Cn">Ὠρεὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apepa%2Frhqon">Πεπάρηθον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="%2Axalki%2Fda">Χαλκίδα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fresti">πάρεστι</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flos">στόλος</w>, <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="diasafei%3Dn">διασαφεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="sunqeme%2Fnois:">συνθεμένοις·</w>
<w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="metaba%2Fllontai%2F">μεταβάλλονταί</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politw%3Dn">πολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="prodido%2Fasin">προδιδόασιν</w>, <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fnos">φόνος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgonen">γέγονεν</w>, <w lemma="h%29%2F">ἤ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w>, <w lemma="pro%2Flhyin">πρόληψιν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> —
<w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws">παραδόξως</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmena">γινόμενα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="sumbouli%2Fas">συμβουλίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29pikouri%2Fas">ἐπικουρίας</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3Dtai">προσδεῖται</w> — <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffuge">διέφυγε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pursw%3Dn">πυρσῶν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>.
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29nede%2Fxeto">ἐνεδέχετο</w> <w lemma="pronohqh%3Dnai">προνοηθῆναι</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma">σύνθημα</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w>.
|
<head>Fire signals</head>The method of signalling by fire, which is of the highest utility in the operations of war, has never before been clearly expounded; and I think I shall be doing a service if I do not pass it over, but give an account of it adequate to its importance. Now that opportuneness is of the utmost moment in all undertakings, and pre-eminently so in those of war, no one doubts; and of all the things which contribute to enable us to hit the proper time nothing is more efficacious than fire signals. For they convey intelligence sometimes of what has just happened, sometimes of what is actually going on; and by paying proper attention to them one can get this information at three or four days' journey off, and even more: so that it continually happens that the help<pb n="42" />required may be unexpectedly given, thanks to a message conveyed by fire signals. Now, formerly, as the art of signalling by fire was confined to a single method, it proved in very many cases unserviceable to those employing it. For as it was necessary to employ certain definite signals which had been agreed upon, and as possible occurrences are unlimited, the greater number of them were beyond the competence of the fire signals to convey. To take the present instance: it was possible by means of the signals agreed upon to send the information that a fleet had arrived at Oreus or Peparethos or <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Chalcis&groupId=457&placeId=853">Chalcis</a>; but it was impossible to express that "certain citizens had gone over to the enemy," or "were betraying the town," or that "a massacre had taken place," or any of those things which often occur, but which cannot be all anticipated. Yet it is precisely the unexpected occurrences which demand instant consideration and succour. All such things then were naturally beyond the competence of fire signalling, inasmuch as it was impossible to adopt an arbitrary sign for things which it was impossible to anticipate.
|
|
Walbank Commentary