Polybius, Histories

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Book 11 - Chapter 15

1
<w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dunatou%3D">δυνατοῦ</w> <w lemma="diakatei%3Dxe">διακατεῖχε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frous">μισθοφόρους</w>, <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29no%2Fmatos">ὀνόματος</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Dn">καλῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parocu%2Fnwn">παροξύνων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnas:">ἡγεμόνας·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28w%2Fra">ἑώρα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="e%29kbiazome%2Fnous">ἐκβιαζομένους</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ptohqei%5Cs">πτοηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffeugen">ἔφευγεν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29qumh%2Fsas">ἀθυμήσας</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsth">ἀπέστη</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>*, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28postei%2Flas">ὑποστείλας</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fras">κέρας</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="parapesei%3Dn">παραπεσεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="diw%2Fkontas">διώκοντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunos">κίνδυνος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftois">πρώτοις</w> <w lemma="te%2Flesi">τέλεσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="falaggitw%3Dn">φαλαγγιτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29spi%2Fda">ἀσπίδα</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fnwn">κλίνων</w>, <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="dro%2Fmou">δρόμου</w>, <w lemma="thrw%3Dn">τηρῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w>.
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<w lemma="katalabo%2Fmenos">καταλαβόμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29kleifqe%2Fnta">ἐκλειφθέντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="o%29ce%2Fws">ὀξέως</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29pete%2Ftmhto">ἀπετέτμητο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="diw%2Fkontas">διώκοντας</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28perde%2Fcios">ὑπερδέξιος</w> <w lemma="e%29gego%2Fnei">ἐγεγόνει</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fratos">κέρατος</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="falaggi%2Ftas">φαλαγγίτας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Flei">παρεκάλει</w> <w lemma="qarrei%3Dn">θαρρεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="paraggei%2Flh%7C">παραγγείλῃ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pagwgh%5Cn">ἐπαγωγὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nami%2Fc:">ἀναμίξ·</w>
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<w lemma="%2Apoluai%2Fnw%7C">Πολυαίνῳ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Ftace">ἐπέταξε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopoli%2Fth%7C">Μεγαλοπολίτῃ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="perileipome%2Fnous">περιλειπομένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="diakekliko%2Ftas">διακεκλικότας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fugh%5Cn">φυγὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuriou%5Cs">Ἰλλυριοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qwraki%2Ftas">θωρακίτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frous">μισθοφόρους</w> <w lemma="sunaqroi%2Fsanti">συναθροίσαντι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3Ds">σπουδῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29fedreu%2Fein">ἐφεδρεύειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Frati">κέρατι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnodon">ἐπάνοδον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="diw%2Fgmatos">διώγματος</w> <w lemma="a%29naxwrou%2Fntwn">ἀναχωρούντων</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="paragge%2Flmatos">παραγγέλματος</w>, <w lemma="e%29parqe%2Fntes">ἐπαρθέντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fais">διανοίαις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnwn">εὐζώνων</w> <w lemma="proterh%2Fmati">προτερήματι</w>, <w lemma="katabalo%2Fntes">καταβαλόντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sari%2Fsas">σαρίσας</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pagwgh%5Cn">ἐπαγωγὴν</w> <w lemma="proa%2Fgontes">προάγοντες</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrou">τάφρου</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dlos">χεῖλος</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="dido%2Fntos">διδόντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="metame%2Fleian">μεταμέλειαν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="xersi%5Cn">χερσὶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="a%29nastre%2Ffein">ἀναστρέφειν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrou">τάφρου</w> <w lemma="katafronh%2Fsantes">καταφρονήσαντες</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fbasin">κατάβασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pollou%3D">πολλοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fq%27">μήθ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdwr">ὕδωρ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="tin%27">τιν᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29gri%2Fan">ἀγρίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Flhn">ὕλην</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="a%29nepista%2Ftws">ἀνεπιστάτως</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w>.
<head>Defeat of the Lacedaemonians</head>Meanwhile the Achaean general was doing all he could to rally the mercenaries, addressing the officers by name, and urging them to stand; but when he saw that they were hopelessly beaten, he did not run away in a panic nor give up the battle in despair, but, withdrawing under cover of his phalanx, waited until the enemy had passed him in their pursuit, and left the ground on which the fighting had taken place empty, and then immediately gave the word to the front companies of the phalanx to wheel to the left, and advance at the double, without breaking their ranks. He thus swiftly occupied the ground abandoned by his mercenaries, and at once cut off the pursuers<pb n="61" />from returning, and got on higher ground than the enemy's right wing. He exhorted the men to keep up their courage, and remain where they were, until he gave the word for a general advance; and he ordered Polybius of Megalopolis<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note21">See on<ref target="b27c4" targOrder="U">27, 4</ref>.</note>to collect such of the Illyrians and body armour men and mercenaries as remained behind and had not taken part in the flight, and form a reserve on the flank of the phalanx, to keep a look-out against the return of the pursuers.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note22">The fight at the dyke.</note>Thereupon the Lacedaemonians, excited by the victory gained by the light-armed contingent, without waiting for the word of command, brought their sarissae to the charge and rushed upon the enemy. But when in the course of their advance they reached the edge of the dyke, being unable at that point to change their purpose and retreat when at such close quarters with the enemy, and partly because they did not consider the dyke a serious obstacle, as the slope down to it was very gradual, and it was entirely without water or underwood growing in it, they continued their advance through it without stopping to think.