Polybius, Histories

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Book 10 - Chapter 8

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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apopli%2Fw%7C">Ποπλίῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="patri%5C">πατρὶ</w> <w lemma="peripe%2Fsh%7C">περιπέσῃ</w> <w lemma="sumforai%3Ds">συμφοραῖς</w>. <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="a%29pedoki%2Fmase">ἀπεδοκίμασε</w>, <w lemma="punqano%2Fmenos">πυνθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhn">προειρημένην</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fna">Καρχηδόνα</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fxesqai">παρέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w>, <w lemma="me%2Fgista">μέγιστα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fptein">βλάπτειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%3Dta">ἐνεστῶτα</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fn">αὐτόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29chta%2Fkei">ἐξητάκει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="paraxeimasi%2Fa%7C">παραχειμασίᾳ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29do%2Ftwn">εἰδότων</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29kou%2Fwn">ἀκούων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fnas">λιμένας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flw%7C">στόλῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nautikai%3Ds">ναυτικαῖς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnh">μόνη</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhs">Λιβύης</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgion">πελάγιον</w> <w lemma="di%2Farma">δίαρμα</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>,
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29poskeua%5Cs">ἀποσκευὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fsas">ἁπάσας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28mh%2Frous">ὁμήρους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fas">Ἰβηρίας</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fximoi">μάχιμοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndres">ἄνδρες</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fhsan">εἴησαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkran">ἄκραν</w> <w lemma="throu%3Dntes">τηροῦντες</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fpot%27">μηδέποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnein">ὑπολαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="kratou%2Fntwn">κρατούντων</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fas">Ἰβηρίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoh%2Fsei">ἐπινοήσει</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="poliorkh%3Dsai">πολιορκῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dhmiourgiko%5Cn">δημιουργικὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fnauson">βάναυσον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qalattourgo%5Cn">θαλαττουργὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxon">ἀπέχον</w> <w lemma="polemikh%3Ds">πολεμικῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fas">ἐμπειρίας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="u%28pela%2Fmbanen">ὑπελάμβανεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w>, <w lemma="parado%2Fcou">παραδόξου</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanei%2Fas">ἐπιφανείας</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsin">θέσιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnos">Καρχηδόνος</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="periexou%2Fshs">περιεχούσης</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="li%2Fmnhs">λίμνης</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w> <w lemma="h%29gno%2Fei">ἠγνόει</w>,
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<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tinwn">τινων</w> <w lemma="a%28lie%2Fwn">ἁλιέων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29neirgasme%2Fnwn">ἐνειργασμένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="e%29chta%2Fkei">ἐξητάκει</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="tenagw%2Fdhs">τεναγώδης</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fmnh">λίμνη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bath%5C">βατὴ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai%2F">γίνεταί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29poxw%2Frhsis">ἀποχώρησις</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="dei%2Flhn">δείλην</w> <w lemma="o%29yi%2Fan">ὀψίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="sullogisa%2Fmenos">συλλογισάμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="kaqiko%2Fmenos">καθικόμενος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fyei">βλάψει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Frois">σφετέροις</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasi">πράγμασι</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fdosin">ἐπίδοσιν</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fsei">παρασκευάσει</w>,
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<w lemma="diapesw%5Cn">διαπεσὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnatai">δύναται</w> <w lemma="sw%2F%7Czein">σῴζειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28potattome%2Fnous">ὑποταττομένους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="qalattokratei%3Dn">θαλαττοκρατεῖν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="a%29sfali%2Fshtai">ἀσφαλίσηται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fan">στρατοπεδείαν</w> — <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xere%5Cs">εὐχερὲς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="a%29pespa%2Fsqai">ἀπεσπάσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> —
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="a%29fe%2Fmenos">ἀφέμενος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w>
<head>Why <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=New Carthage&groupId=791&placeId=1430">New Carthage</a> is a Desirable Target</head>He therefore rejected that idea altogether: but being<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note13">He determines to attempt <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=New Carthage&groupId=791&placeId=1430">New Carthage</a>.</note>informed that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=New Carthage&groupId=791&placeId=1430">New Carthage</a> was the most important source of supplies to the enemy and of damage to the Romans in the present war, he had taken the trouble to make minute inquiries about it during the winter from those who were well informed. He learnt that it was nearly the only town in Iberia which possessed a harbour suitable for a fleet and naval force; that it lay very conveniently for the Carthaginians to make the sea passage from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>; that they in fact had the bulk of their money and war material in it, as well as their hostages from the whole of Iberia; that, most important of all, the number of fighting men garrisoning the citadel only amounted to a thousand,—because no one would ever suppose that, while the Carthaginians commanded nearly the whole of Iberia, any one would conceive the idea of assaulting this<pb n="8" />town; that the other inhabitants were exceedingly numerous, but all consisted of craftsmen, mechanics, and fisher-folk, as far as possible removed from any knowledge of warfare. All this he regarded as being fatal to the town, in case of the sudden appearance of an enemy. Nor did he moreover fail to acquaint himself with the topography of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=New Carthage&groupId=791&placeId=1430">New Carthage</a>, or the nature of its defences, or the lie of the lagoon: but by means of certain fishermen who had worked there he had ascertained that the lagoon was quite shallow and fordable at most points; and that, generally speaking, the water ebbed every day towards evening sufficiently to secure this. These considerations convinced him that, if he could accomplish his purpose, he would not only damage his opponents, but gain a considerable advantage for himself; and that, if on the other hand he failed in effecting it, he would yet be able to secure the safety of his men owing to his command of the sea, provided he had once made his camp secure,—and this was easy, because of the wide dispersion of the enemy's forces. He had therefore, during his residence in winter quarters, devoted himself to preparing for this operation to the exclusion of every other: and in spite of the magnitude of the idea which he had conceived, and in spite of his youth, he concealed it from all except Gaius Laelius, until he had himself decided to reveal it.